9:57am:

10:01am: Steve Jobs is on stage and talking about the new Apple Stores.

10:06am: Apple states that 120 million iOS devices have been shipped since it’s launched, this includes iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad.

10:08am: iOS 4.1 will fix a lot of bugs such as proximity sensor, Bluetooth, and iPhone 3G performance.

10:09am: With the new version of iOS, there will be an HDR function in the camera app.

10:11am: Game Center, announced during the iOS 4 event, will finally be available in the new iOS 4.1. Game Center brings together all your games, to check leaderboards, challenge others and even earn achievements.

10:15am: iOS 4.1 will be available sometime next week for iPod Touch and iPhone.

10:16am: A sneak peek at iOS 4.2, it will bring everything from the iPhone/iPod Touch to the iPad. It will be available in November of this year. It will have a few new features such as printing and AirPlay. AirPlay is AirTunes, renamed, allowing users to stream content from/to their devices.

10:17am: Steve Jobs is demonstrating iOS 4.2 right now.

10:20am: Jobs is now quoting sales figures for iPods, 275 million devices sold.

10:21am: New designs for all the iPod this year.

10:22am: Unlike the previous generation of the Shuffle, the new model actually has buttons! Very similar to the 2nd generation shuffle. It includes VoiceOver for songs, playlists, and even when the battery needs charging. Has a battery life of 15 hours and the 2GB version will be available for $49.

10:24am: The new Nano is going to have multitouch. It’s very small, it even comes with a clip, similar to the Shuffle. Also, nearly half as small with 24 hour audio playback.

10:27am: Jobs is demoing the Nano right now.

10:32am: New iPod Touch is even thinner and includes the same retina display as the new iPhone 4. It also includes the Apple A4 chip, 3 axis gaming, and FaceTime as well. Additionally a rear facing camera with HD video recording and it has 40 hours of video playback.

10:35am: All the new iPods will be available starting today, but pre-orders will begin today.

10:36am: Steve is now showing off the new iPod commercials.

10:38am: On to iTunes, more stats: 11.7 billion songs, 450 million TV episodes, 100 million movies and 35 million books.

10:39am: iTunes 10 will have a new logo, a few tweaks to the interface.

10:41am: iTunes 10 will have Ping, a social network for music discovery. This will allow users to see what people they follow are listening to. Artists can also be followed through Ping, so when the artist has upcoming events or new songs, it will automatically be available to followers.

10:44am: With Ping, users can be as public or private as they want, meaning they can choose to approve every single person that wants to follow them, or just be public and let anyone follow without the need for approval.

10:46am: Steve is demoing Ping for iTunes 10.

10:50am: Ping will not only be available for the computer, but for the iPod Touch and iPhone as well. “Ping is a social network for music.”

10:51am: And now the obligatory “One more thing…”

10:51am: This is all about the Apple TV. Jobs admits that the product was not the hit that everyone wanted it to be, but customers who used it were really happy.

10:54am: Introducing a new Apple TV for today, it’s a quarter the size of the original. On the back it has HDMI, Wi-Fi and a power slot.

10:55am: No more storage or purchasing on the Apple TV. Users can only rent movies and TV shows.

10:56am: For first run movies, the HD version will be $4.99. To rent TV shows, it’ll be $0.99 per show. As of now, only ABC and Fox have gotten onboard.

10:58am: Netflix users can stream movies through the device for free, can also stream content from the computer, YouTube or Flickr.

11:00am: Jobs is now Demoing the new Apple TV.

11.08am: The new Apple TV will be cut from $299 to $99 and will be available in  the next 4 weeks.

11:13am: Chris Martin from Coldplay is now on stage and performing.

For those who are not familiar, Plants vs Zombies is a tower defense-esque game. Players defend their home by placing down a variety of plants to ward off incoming waves of zombies. As with any tower defense game, progressing through the game will provide stronger plants as well different enemies. A variety of zombies attack including football players, Zamboni drivers, and pole-vaulters are challenges. To complete the game, one must defend all parts of the home. Progressing from the front yard, to the backyard, and finally, to the roof.

Popcap states that the DS adaptation will feature gameplay from the original, including Adventure, Survival, Puzzle modes, and even mini-games. In addition, the company states that it will also have some exclusive game content as well. Gamestop is now taking pre-orders for the game, which will retail for $19.99.

Although Plants vs Zombies is quite popular on iOS devices, I don’t believe that creating a DS version will yield the same results. The allure of the game was being able to play for 5-10 minutes such as when standing in line or riding the bus. Additionally, a game on a mobile device, ensures that the owner will have it with him at all times, making the $2.99 investment more tolerable. The price increase to $19.99 may be the downfall of the game, unless a significant amount of new content is added.

Links: Popcap Games

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The Captivate also comes packed with 16GB of storage with support for microSD card expansion. With a 32GB microSD card, users can have nearly 48GB of total storage. On the other hand, the Epic 4G only offers 1GB of internal storage, bringing the total to just a mere 33GB with a 32GB microSD card. Other embedded features include a panorama mode, Bluetooth 3.0, microUSB, WiFi, and TV Output.

We have a full in-depth review in the works, so stay tuned. Also, check out our EVO 4G and Droid X reviews if you haven’t already. But for now, enjoy our high-res Captivate product shot gallery:

As always, we have a bonus. This time around, we lined up the Samsung Captivate with the Samsung Epic 4G, both of which are Galaxy S devices. While the Epic 4G looks great, is lightweight, and feels great to hold, the Captivate offers a sharper, slimmer look. Naturally, that’s mainly due to the lack of a slide-out physical keyboard. We’ll also line these devices up with Verizon’s Fascinate, another Galaxy S device, as soon as we get our hands on it.

While you are waiting for Samsung Captivate review, please feel free to subscribe to our RSS Feed or subscribe to Email Notifications. And if you are wondering, we’re also on Twitter and Facebook.

Links: ATT.com | Samsung.com

Blizzard’s hasn’t changed its original Starcraft formula: you still harvest Vespene gas and mine for minerals with Drones, SCVs or Probes. For those familiar with the game, Terran, Protoss, and Zerg races are still duking it out. If you’re like me and didn’t know much about the Starcraft universe, it’s worth checking out the tutorials that Blizzard includes. Everything from information on how to play the game to data on units and tech-trees is available.

These groups hope to increase their revenue by raising the fees FM radio stations pay to broadcast content. By also creating legislation that requires smart phones to come equipped with FM radios, the amount of potential listeners will increase, bringing in more money to these organizations. Naturally, the cell phone industry is strongly opposed to the idea because embedding an additional FM tuner module costs more and requires a considerable amount of testing.

These manufacturers have some legitimate complaints regarding the proposal. First, an FM module effects power consumption in phones, a constraint that is already considerably restrictive. Second, there are concerns that a government mandate, which requires FM equipment, is not the right way to address the issue. Finally, manufacturers argue that introducing new hardware is not profitable and forces them to add features that most consumers don’t demand anyway.

On the other hand, there are some good reasons for the inclusion of FM receivers on mobile devices. One such use would be for emergency broadcasting or situations where local governments would need to send out warnings to the public. This could be particularly effective in the event of a hurricane tornado warning. The situation is somewhat analogous to how emergency broadcasts work on TV. Local governments can suspend cable broadcasts temporarily to make important public announcement. Similarly, on mobile phones, FM Radios is a potential medium for emergency service broadcasts for the public. FM broadcasting is also accessible in more locations than 3G networks, making it a safer medium as well.

FM broadcasters would likely experience a significant increase in their audience, meaning more advertising revenue. However, the benefits are not enough for cell phone companies to readily accept a mandate due to the costs involved. As a compromise, some have proposed to make some of the extra royalty money paid by FM broadcasters available to compensate manufacturers for new costs. Such a compromise could solve the cost issue, however, it’s still hard to say as there are other various factors. Problems such as device performance, power consumption, and financial resources are still issues.

As with most debates, the parties involved have conflicting interests. A winning proposal needs to ensure that competitive business practices are preserved and FM radio reaches more mobile devices. Whether it involves compensating manufacturers or restructuring the royalty system, legislators must make sure there isn’t simply a mandate to equip devices. It will definitely be interesting to see how the situation plays out. If so, FM radio could become a standard in phones in the near future.

Links: National Association of Broadcasters

Image Courtesy Morberg (via flickr)

Setup and Configuration
Getting started with AKG’s Perception 120 USB couldn’t be easier since it requires barely any experience with audio equipment and minimal computer skills for that matter. The packaging includes a few items in addition to the microphone: a mini desk tripod stand, a swivel mount, a lengthy USB cable, and an instruction manual. Competing solutions such as Shure’s PG-27USB, which we wrote about recently, fails to include a stand or mounting bracket. Assembling the microphon takes just less than a minute or two. While the tripod isn’t exactly the most robust of stands, it’s still a welcome inclusion. Fortunately, since the Perception 120 USB is compatible with any standard mount, finding alternate solutions isn’t an issue.

As for software configuration, setup also took a mere minute or two. After plugging the included USB cable from the microphone into my Windows 7 laptop, my machine automatically detected and installed the necessary drivers. I didn’t need to install programs from a CD or download anything from the web. It was nearly instantaneous. Unfortunately, after launching applications like Audacity for a test recording or Skype for a video call, I found that my internal laptop microphones were still set as the default device. The issue was easily fixed once I set the AKG Perception device as the “default recording device” in the Sound section of the Windows Control Panel. Programs including Audacity and Skype also include the option to manually select a recording device as well, but tweaking the setting in the Control Panel makes the changes go into effect system-wide.

I should note that the Perception 120 USB is entirely compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OS X as well. I didn’t try it on all the mentioned operating systems, but it did work with my XP netbook and I probably wouldn’t be surprised to find it working with Ubuntu either.

How Does It Work?
For those wondering, the technology inside the Perception 120 USB is actually fairly impressive. AKG has long offered a standard condenser Perception 120 microphone, but it differs from the USB model in a few ways. The original model, just like any condenser microphone on the market, is analog technology. It sports a 3-pin XLR connector and requires a powered mixer for use. Getting audio onto a computer requires an RCA to 3.5mm cable or a XLR-to-USB solution such as the one Shure offers.

On the other hand, the Perception 120 USB model features an analog-to-digital converter inside. While the extra components do make the body somewhat heavier, it offers a few advantages for those trying to cut costs and simplify their setup. Without the need of any extra equipment, the Perception 120 USB connects directly to a computer’s USB port for power and transmits audio back simultaneously. And for those wondering, it’s quite similar to the concept behind the Blue Microphones Snowball, we reviewed last year. This is AKG’s first digital USB-enabled micophone, but it is already pretty impressive.

Audio Quality
When it comes to talking about audio quality, I should disclose something quite important: I’m not an expert. But here’s what I can tell you. As someone who creates video and audio recordings from time to time, I’ve used many microphones. Just for reference, this includes everything from the one that comes built-into a laptop’s bezel, a cheap 3.5 mm solution, a wired headset, a wireless Bluetooth one, and even ones inside external webcams. But more importantly, for a comparison, I’ve also heavily used the Snowball and PG-27USB. After extensive use, one thing is clear, this is one of the best microphones I’ve used. While this might be fairly entry-level for some professionals, this is probably better than anything you already own.

Finding the appropriate levels for optimal quality isn’t difficult. There are only two switches on the front to enable a bass-cut filter and an attenuation pad. The bass-cut filter reduces disturbances from mechanical vibrations and wind noise while the attenuation pad drops gain for close-up use and instruments. In a fairly quiet room with minimal audible disturbances, I found the microphone sounding the best from about 2 feet away with both the extra settings disabled.

I recorded bits of audio from the Snowball and this microphone to find the results astounding. While the Snowball was my favorite USB microphone of choice for sometime, it too picks up a hint of background noise and rumbling sounds from my computer. I also found the Snowball chopping off at highs quicker, turning them into faint hisses. On the other hand, the AKG Perception was immune to breathing sounds, static, pops, and vibrations. After playing back just a few seconds of recordings, the differences were clear: AKG’s microphone sounded significantly better.

To further put my claims to the test, I had a few others blindly pick when I sounded best by switching between microphones during a Skype conference call. They all picked the AKG for the best sounding audio every time. Considering that it managed to isolate and eliminate just about any background noise aside from my voice, it’s pretty impressive. Although above the price range of a microphone that the average person would consider, this is great for those taking their first step into professional audio.

However, there’s one thing this microphone lacks: a built-in monitor. Shure’s PG27-USB, while not too much more expensive, lets users directly plug a pair of earphones into the microphone. While it’s not something everyone needs, a zero-latency monitor is simply one of the easiest ways to fine tune a microphone to make sure that everything sounds right without having to check the output from another source.

The Bottom Line
For those taking the leap into the realm of professional microphones, the AKG Perception 120 USB is a great place to start. It offers the convenience of a plug-and-play device that requires no additional equipment without sacrificing any quality. The packaging even includes all the essentials from a tripod to a USB cable to get started. But let’s make one thing clear: this isn’t for everyone. If you only intend to make a Skype once in a blue moon, you probably don’t need this. However if you place important VoIP business calls along with a HD camera, this is an excellent solution.

Even if you are a professional, the Perception 120 USB is a great all-in-one travel solution. You won’t need to carry an extra XLR-to-USB converter, an amplifier, or a mixer with you. While there are numerous USB microphones on the market now, picking a brand-name item is quite important. AKG has a long-established reputation that’s synonymous with professional audio. While I don’t have the expertise to distinguish the quality differences between this microphone and the Shure PG-27USB, I can say that picking a brand name like AKG is a great decision. For those ready to make a purchase, the Perception 120 USB has a MSRP of $199, but it goes for as little as $135 through retailers such as Amazon if you shop around. With a great all-in-one package, this microphone won’t disappoint.

Buy: $135 on Amazon (no tax + ships free)
Links: AKG.com Perception 120 USB

Just how small is the SSD? With dimensions of 16 x 20 x 1.85 mm and weighing in at less than a gram, it is roughly the size of a postage stamp. Using conventional Serial ATA (SATA), the SSD is actually an Integrated SSD (ISSD) that can be embedded into other devices. Therefore, it’s not an external drive or a flash memory card, but is an actual integrated circuit (IC) that can be soldered directly onto a motherboard. It should be noted that you won’t actually be able to go out and buy one of these, however, this same technology might soon be introduced into many different types of devices. Some of those devices include smartphones, tablet computers, netbooks, and even routers.

In terms of capacity, the drive ranges from 4GB all the way to 64GB. Taking a step away from conventional drives, the embedded drive approach seems more promising, especially in mobile applications. The tradeoff between capacity and size is really unbeatable. Normally, 64GB SSD drives come in lengths between 50-76 mm long. In comparison, the ISSD has a length of only 16mm, making it almost 4 times smaller. Of course, when comparing disk drive sizes, there’s absolutely no contest. A 64GB hard-disk would dwarf an ISSD. Not to mention, there is a significant weight reduction as well compared to other drives making ISSD a perfect replacement.

Apart from size, SSD drives are also known for their speed. An advantage of using a SSD as opposed to a regular disk drive is the startup time. In addition to better overall performance, a device using a SSD will boot much faster than one that uses a disk drive. SanDisk’s new drive boasts 160MB/second and 100MB/second sequential read/write speeds respectively, both of which are very close to full size SSD speeds. It’s nice to see that the drive hasn’t taken too much of a performance hit being so small, however, the numbers SanDisk has claimed are always subject to change.

As of now, SanDisk has released the ISSD’s for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to evaluate. That means that manufacturers are currently testing out the SSDs in order to see how well they work in potential devices. No OEMs have picked up the device so far, however, that may change soon. Hopefully, before we see the SSDs in other devices, it would be nice if they were offered as external drives manufactured by SanDisk itself. If not, we’ll just have to wait until they start making their way into many mobile devices.

Link: SanDisk.com

Ozmodchips USB drive claims to do many of the things that Sony has been trying to prevent ever since modchipping first began back in 1994, when the Playstation first hit markets. All you have to do is put the USB drive into one of the Playstation 3’s available USB ports and voila you have a PS3 that can now duplicate games onto the hard drive, play games from the hard drive, make and run Homebrew applications, and it can STILL play games online.  And looking at the above video, it seems that it actually can do what it’s advertising. The person in the video has the USB drive plugged in with God of War 3 in the disk drive; however, he boots the system up from some sort of root and chooses InFamous that is apparently on the hard drive. Then the PS3 reads InFamous and runs it perfectly fine. The device seems like the Playstation hacker’s gift from the gods.

But the device does have a few limitations. On the Ozmodchips Q&A, the device only allows Playstation 3 games to be dumped onto the hard drive, which means that your old PS2, PS1, or even your Blu-rays won’t be able to be as convenient to access as your Ps3 games. The USB drive also works on existing firmwares, and if this is in fact real, you can bet that Sony will be releasing a quick 3.42+ firmware that will find whatever exploit the device is using and shut it down.

Skatter Tech cannot confirm whether or not this is in fact the real thing, and only those that really really want to be the pioneers for a jailbroken PS3 should pay the $169.99 sticker price. But if it is in fact the real thing, then it is a major win for consumers who want more out of their PS3.

Links: Ozmodchips | Sony Playstation

In Nintendo’s press release, the company stated that the Wii was able to open its market to a brand new audience and made gamers out of people that never picked up a controller.

Kids started playing with their parents and grandparents, people got up off the couch and got active, and seniors and baby boomers formed virtual bowling leagues.

You may have seen those hokey Wii commercials of grandparents skiing down a virtual slope with their grandkids next to them, but you have to admit that because of the Wii, parents and grandparents are now gamers. This is due in large part to a controller that is more intuitive than any before it. Built with an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and paired with a more traditional joystick, the controller plus nunchuck combo just makes sense to new gamers. Instead of having to move the analog stick to control your car, all users have to do is turn their remote, and the car turns with them. It made teaching someone how to play, easier than ever before, at the same time making it more fun to play with someone else. Racing against your friend or having a cook off became an entirely different experience with the Wiimote because you felt like you were actually controlling the character. In doing so, Nintendo was able to do the something that every video game system aspires to do—it made you feel like you were in the game. It’s these notions of making you be a part of the game along with making the game as easy as possible to play for new and old gamers became essential building blocks for Nintendo to compete against Sony and Microsoft.

Moreover, with the release of Wii Fit, the Wii’s intuitive motion controls became even better. Up until that point, developers and consumers were beginning to discover how much movement the Wii demanded. People were beginning to look at the system as an all in one machine for entertainment and exercise, and once the Wii Balance Board was released, the system solidified its self as the all in one machine. In fact, system sales boomed once the Wii Fit was released and reinvigorated sales at a relatively low point in the console’s history. On top of that, Wii Fit has now gone on to become the third best selling console game in history with 22.61 million copies sold. It’s a testament not only to the wishes of Wii users to exercise and be entertained but also to Wii for choosing to develop a system that innovated new ways of playing rather than build on the old ones.

However, with both Microsoft Kinect and Playstation Move are on the horizon, the next 4 years could be very different for Nintendo. It would seem that both Microsoft and Sony have finally realized that motion controls are a legitimate aspect of gaming, and both company’s attempts at breaching that market have been minimal at best. However, both Kinect and Move seem to have quite a bit of potential, and since both are paired with machines that can run circles around the Wii, the question that I can’t help but ask is what will Nintendo do next? The Wii is marketed as a gaming machine that got people “off the couch”, but what happens when Kinect and Move can do that too? It’s a question that I don’t have the answers to, but upcoming games including a new Metroid game and a rerelease of the classic FPS Goldeneye, Nintendo is certainly covered for the foreseeable future. However, if Kinect connects and Move moves audiences to buy one of the newly price reduces PS3’s, Nintendo will have to develop something new and original once again in order to continue their market domination.

Buy: Wii | Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3
Links: Nintendo | Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3

The first set of Verizon Wireless 3G phones to support the Skype app will be the LG Chocolate Touch, Samsung Reality, and LG enV TOUCH, which we reviewed last year. While some Skype mobile iterations run on WiFi networks, the new BREW version runs entirely on Verizon’s 3G network. And that’s because those feature phones don’t have WiFi built in. Unfortunately, Verizon customers with only a calling and texting plan aren’t eligible for using Skype. Using the app requires either the 25MB / month data plan which goes for $10 / month or the unlimited $30 / month option. (We’re still awaiting word from Skype on whether using the app will drain the few megabytes of data offered to customers on the $10 monthly plan and we will post an update soon.)

For those that have one of the mentioned devices and a data plan, Skype will offer a few benefits. For instance, Skype-to-Skype calls are entirely free and customers can take advantage of discounted international call rates. Skype users with the BREW app can call Skype users whether they are on their PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, or another platform. Unfortunately, domestic calls to other mobile phones or landlines will continue to knock minutes off your calling plan.

For smartphones users, this news is pretty irrelevant, but LG enV TOUCH, LG Chocolate Touch, Samsung Reality are likely rejoicing. It’s probably only a matter of time before other BREW devices also get support for the app. And for those wondering, the app is entirely free. While these phones don’t have the bells and whistles of a smartphone, small additions that come around from time to time like these make a purchase worthwhile.

Links: Skype.com | Official Announcement
Related: Skype Mobile Launches for Verizon

Editors Note: This article was co-written by Chris Tung and Sahas Katta

Update 8/19: We reached out to our friends at Skype for a comment on exactly how the app uses data. According to their spokesperson, voice calls will not consume any data. It is channeled through Verizon’s voice network. However, a data plan is required for the app because downloading the BREW app, loading the contact list, and sending/receiving chat messages will consume data. Fortunately, due to the partnership the consumed data is “zero rated” according to Skype’s representative. That means, despite a 25MB transfer cap for the $10 per monthly plan, Skype won’t eat up any extra data.

“We’re really approaching this as we would a console, so we have to deliver the breadth of games and the quality people expect from Xbox,”  - Kevin Unangst, senior director of PC & mobile gaming.

Early games for the platform includes titles such as “Uno” and “Bejeweled,” but better graphics intensive games are expected soon after. The initial set of title offerings might be somewhat humoring to iPhone owners who have first person shooter games such as Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies available for sometime. Microsoft also plans to release companions to Xbox 360 games such as Halo: Waypoint, a Xbox Live hub where users can view Halo videos and get involved with the community. Hardcore fans will find games such as these a great way to stay update while away from their console. Unfortunately, that companion title won’t do much for game play. This is where other titles such as Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst comes in. Unlike the limited mobile Halo experience, this game will offer additional game play. While the type of game play will be entirely different, it will still be related. Other popular Xbox Live Arcade games such as Rocket Riot will also debut on the Windows Phone 7 platform.

While the Xbox Live integration is great, Microsoft also plans to leave the Windows Phone 7 platform open to games that have never been on the Xbox before. This is to ensure that those who don’t own Xbox 360 consoles won’t feel left in the dark. This opens up the possibilities for titles such as Angry Birds or Plants and Zombies, which are popular iOS titles, to reach the Windows Phone 7 platform. Microsoft is working closely with third-party developers to make ensure a set of quality games by the time the gizmo debuts later this year.

As Apple’s App Store has proven, mobile games are very popular. Microsoft’s choice to integrate Xbox Live functionality into the phone is clearly a wise decision. Although Windows Phone 7 does not have a user base to support it yet, loyal Xbox Live users and fans will likely adopt the platform quickly. If Microsoft wants to overtake Apple when it comes to mobile gaming, it needs to think outside the box. Implementing ideas such as companion games is a step in the right direction to regain a foothold in the market. Hopefully, it won’t turn out the way the Sony PocketStation did when they tried to add a mobile element to console gaming.

Links: Windows Phone 7

Last week, Sharath Shroff and I had a chance to sit down with Sprint’s Trevor Van Normal of Handset Product Marketing and Caroline Semerdjian from Corporate Communications. We were lucky enough to get an early hands-on preview of the Epic 4G and had managed to get some questions answered.

Samsung Media Hub
Much like the Blockbuster App on the Droid X (and Droid 2), Samsung’s pre-installed Media Hub application brings movies to the Epic over the air. The service offers the option to both purchase and rent movies at fairly reasonable prices. Rentals were as affordable as $3 for a 24 hour licence and pricing for purchases reach up to $20. Unlike Blockbuster’s app, the Samsung Media Hub offers progressive viewing, meaning that you can begin watching a show while it is still downloading. There are indicators to show the amount downloaded and the current position of playback.

While the progressive viewing feature may lead some to believe that it has advantageous over Netflix and Hulu technologies, which require a constant internet connection, there are still a few drawbacks. Even if a movie is completely downloaded onto the phone’s storage, the DRM technology requires momentary internet access to initiate playback of a file. This means if you are in a dead zone, in another country, or on a plane, the Samsung Media Hub movies won’t work even if already saved.

Android v2.1 to v2.2 Upgrade
While the HTC EVO 4G already received the long-awaited Froyo update earlier this month, the Epic 4G will ship with v2.1 on August 31st. According the Sprint representatives we spoke with, they expect a 7-8 week turn around time to release the update. That’s also the same amount of time it took Sprint, collaborating with HTC, to distribute the update for the EVO. Sprint also stated that software updates spend nearly 30 days in their test labs to ensure a bug free product. And of course, when it’s ready, Sprint will push it to devices over the air. They are working closely with Samsung to ensure a fast release.

Touch Wiz 2.5 Interface
While I walked  into our meeting assuming that the Epic 4G was running Touch Wiz 3.0 interface, which appears on other Samsung devices, it turns out that this smart phone is running something older. According to Trevor Van Norman, the Touch Wiz interface isn’t the older v2.0, but he also said it wasn’t v3.0 either. It’s apparently an “in between version,” which he labeled v2.5. I asked whether the upcoming Froyo update would include Samsung’s new Touch Wiz 3.0 interface, but he wasn’t entirely sure (or wasn’t allowed to tell us).

Despite the lack of the latest Touch Wiz interface, according to Sprint, the interface is faster and less obtrusive compared to HTC Sense. As some who’s used both a stock install of Android as well as the EVO, which sports HTC Sense, there are quite a few differences. A less integrated interface, like Touch Wiz, might just be something certain customers may prefer due to a more-simplistic nature anyways.

Qik Video Chat
Since the Epic 4G sports a front-facing camera like the HTC EVO 4G, we wanted to double-check cross-device compatibility for video calls. We were glad to hear that calls placed with the pre-installed Qik app would work perfectly across both devices whether on a 3G, 4G, or WiFi network. While that’s great, I should note that the Epic 4G only has a 0.3 megapixel front facing camera versus the 1.3 megapixel camera featured on the EVO 4G. We’ll be publishing a video demo of video calls in action, so stick around for that. But as a heads up, video quality coming from the EVO 4G looked significantly clearer and more colorful than the front-facing camera on the Epic 4G. Also, we don’t know if this is a temporary bug, but video from the Epic 4G was also “squished” as you can see in the image above. Hopefully, a “Qik for Epic 4G” app in the Android Marketplace will fix that.

Mobile Hotspot App
Like the HTC EVO 4G, the Samsung Epic 4G also sports an integrated mobile hotspot. Whether on a 3G or 4G network, the smart phone will offer the ability to share a WiFi internet connection with up to 5 devices. We asked Sprint why this phone didn’t support up to 8 users like the EVO and received an interesting response. According to the representative, Sprint’s research has apparently shown that the majority of their customers who subscribe to the $30 / month tethering data plan only use the hotspot with a single device at a time. And the number of customers that use it with two, three, or more devices exponentially decreases. While that’s no excuse for limiting features, I’m guessing it won’t be a problem for most customers either.

Other Notes

• Epic 4G isn’t locked down to the 30 FPS limit like the EVO 4G. A video game he demonstrated to us reached over 60 FPS and remained over 50 FPS for the most part.
• San Francisco Bay Area will have 4G by the end of this year. Some people in the area may get signal already due to extensive tests being conducted in the area.
• There is a currently a 1 Mbps upload speed cap on 4G networks. Sprint is working with Clearwire to, hopefully, lift the cap in the near future.
• Also another odd finding? The 4G radio won’t stay on when WiFi is on. It’s one or the other. The EVO allows for both radios to be on simultaneously.

Samsung Galaxy S Accessories
Sprint also showed off 3 official Galaxy S branded accessories for the Epic 4G that will go on sale through their retail and online stores. The first was a desk stand which charges the phone with a microUSB port. There’s a line out audio jack in the back for connecting to a set of speakers. Sprint will also offer an external Samsung battery pack charger. While you can recharge a second battery by swapping it out with the one in the phone, this can help speed up the process for heavy users. Finally, there was also a neat little leather holster case for the phone. There’s not much more to say about the latter, but it’s a welcome option for those who want an non-3rd-party case.

Links: Sprint.com Epic 4G
Related: Droid 2 vs. Epic 4G Infographic

Update 8/18: Sprint’s Corporate Communications team was kind enough to answer some of the questions you folks had for us. According to him, there will be an update to the Qik App which will solve the issues mentioned previously. The Epic 4G sports 1GB of ROM, not 512 MB. The phone runs TouchWiz 2.5, not version 3.0 because “There were some changes to allow for support of the portrait to landscape transitions on Epic, which is the reason for the different version number.”

While we aren’t done with our review yet, here’s a set of our very own product shots. If you weren’t around yesterday, be sure to check out our set of Motorola Droid 2 photos as well.

And as an added bonus, I lined it up besides the HTC EVO 4G. While I thought the Epic 4G would be significantly thicker, the difference wasn’t too noticeable. However, the EVO was surprisingly shorter. And that struck me as odd, considering that the Epic only has a 4-inch display, while the EVO sports a 4.3-inch screen. On that note, viewing angles, colors, black levels, pixel density, and depth of the Super AMOLED screen on the Epic 4G is significantly better than the EVO 4G. Samsung’s build quality is also strikingly good and the slider mechanism feels very solid. I was disappointed to find the power button off to the side and the microUSB port on the top. Both are oddly positioned compared to recent flood smartphones. Aside from that, the OS is very responsive and the TouchWiz 2.5 interface doesn’t appear to slow things down. According to Sprint, Froyo v2.2 is estimated to be about 7-8 weeks away.

That’s about all I have for now. Stay tuned by subscribing to our RSS Feed or sign up for Email Notifications. You can find us Facebook and Twitter as well!

Links: Sprint.com Epic 4G

Getting back to the interesting part, as our interview wrapped up, we asked Chuck Lorre how he liked his iPhone 4. He said the following: “It’s a lot of fun, it’s a shitty phone.” – Chuck Lorre

For The Big Bang Theory fans, Wozniak will make his appearance on the second episode of the upcoming fourth season. So be sure to schedule your TiVos in time.

Links: CBS.com The Big Bang Theory

If you haven’t seen our Droid 2 vs Epic 4G infographic, that’s worth a glance. We also have a full in-depth review in the works, but in the meantime, check out the Motorola Droid 2 gallery:

And as an added bonus, here are a few shots of the Droid 2 lined up besides the Droid X. This phone’s metal rim makes it feel heavier and more robust than the Droid X. While the plastic and rubber casing makes the Droid X feel somewhat cheaper, the Droid 2 clearly offers a expensive-looking quality build. As for size comparison, the Droid X is significantly thinner except for the hump at the top which brings it to approximately the same thickness.

Waiting for our in-depth review? Feel free to subscribe to our RSS Feed or sign up for Email Notifications. You can find us Facebook and Twitter as well!

Links: Motorola.com | VerizonWireless.com

Editor’s Note: Photography by Sahas Katta

(Click to enlarge infographic. Feel free to blog or share with friends, but please credit our hard work.)

What are your thoughts on these devices? Which one will you buy? Did we miss anything in our infographic? Corrections, errors, or suggestions? Let us know in the comments!

Our in-depth reviews of the Epic 4G and Droid 2 are on their way. Feel free to read our EVO 4G and Droid X reviews in the meantime. If you want to stay updated, we offer RSS Feeds and daily Email Subscriptions. And of course, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Links: SamsungMobileUSA.com | Apple.com | Motorola.com

Editor’s note: Sahas Katta and Sharath Shroff also contributed to this infographic.

Update 8/16/2010 12:23 PM: Infographic has been updated to add Talk Time for Epic 4G and fix the FM Radio error for the Droid 2. Update 8/18/2010 1:46 PM: Infographic has been modified again to fix the error for FM Radio category for the Epic 4G. We are still awaiting confirmation on Standby Time.

The fight over net neutrality legislation currently being waged has many key players, of those, Google has on numerous occasions come out in support of net neutrality. On the other hand, Verizon, as well as other telecom companies, oppose the regulations. Now, in a surprising turn of events, both Google and Verizon have negotiated an agreement on broadband policy that undermines efforts from net neutrality advocates to keep the Internet fair.

Over the past several years, Google has been one of the main advocates for net neutrality on the business front. The company has played a significant role in helping the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gather support for strong net neutrality policy. The reported dealings with Verizon, however, now undermine any efforts from FCC chairman Julius Genachowski to issue tough new regulations of the broadband industry. That said, the manner in which Genachowski has responded to the situation is weak to say the least. Though he has expressed support, meaning strong net neutrality legislation, his forcefulness in the negotiation process has been non-existent. Therefore, Google and Verizon have been able to set the agenda by having conversations before a plan from the FCC is released.

Before Google and Verizon released their set of proposals, Google CEO Eric Schmidt had made an important distinction between Google’s and most other advocate’s views on net neutrality. According to Schmidt, net neutrality laws should not allow providers to prioritize websites based on economic advantage, however, content should be prioritized based on the type of service. This means that it’s ok for a provider to prioritize video content over email content, at the same time not prioritizing a specific video services over one another. Most net neutrality advocates would argue against such a view because there is no clear way to distinguish between necessary prioritization and that based on economic interests.

Initially, there was much speculation as to whether Google was formulating its agreement based on this subtly distinct view of net neutrality or simply through the notion of tiered Internet. However, it is pretty clear that Google is leaning towards the latter, a position that isn’t even justifiable by the company’s initial nuanced view of net neutrality. In it’s public policy blog, Google has outlined the main aspects of its discussions with Verizon which are laid out as legislative framework for the FCC to follow. At first glance the goals stated seem true to the idea of a neutral Internet, but on closer inspection, they are riddled with obvious loopholes.

First, Google takes the position of supporting FCC enforceability of regular wire line networks, however, it does not support the same for wireless networks. Therefore, as smart phones and mobile Internet devices become prevalent, net neutrality will not be enforceable on them. Wireless providers would be free to control content as they wished. Take a device like the iPhone that is already subject to a fair amount of control by Apple. Now imagine your Apple device being subject to even more control as the Internet on it is no longer an unrestricted medium as well. That goes for Android based devices as well, which are grounded by many open source principles.

As a consolation, Google and Verizon have proposed transparency rules for wireless networks. Transparency rules, however, delegate little authority to even the FCC to respond to potential abuses. So, when we see bigger players paying for better services from carriers, consumers can watch it all play out in the open and be able to do nothing about it. Also, as the Internet shifts to mobile platforms, providers have more incentives to move key services to wireless networks, making it harder for regulatory agencies to have a say.

Probably one of the most dangerous propositions in Google and Verizon’s deal is the differentiation by both companies of “new services,” from “the public Internet.” In the spirit of so-called ‘innovation,’ the proposal would allow the creation of new broadband services to be differentiated from conventional online services. Essentially, service providers would be able to initiate contracts with other big companies to provide the next big product. Of course, Google has no self-interests in formulating such a proposal, right? Right.

What we have here is a classic case of big corporations scratching the backs of other big corporations. It’s pretty easy to see how Google might take advantage of such a proposal by partnering up with Verizon to monopolize certain services. Also, how do we know providers won’t take services that are free to the public now, and sell them later to consumers as “differentiated services?” For example, Youtube might be free for users now, but what’s going to stop Verizon from partnering up with Google to offer Youtube at a price, and under the pretense that it is a “differentiated service?” Therefore, this proposal is nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing in favor of prioritization.

The sheer size and weight that Google carries makes its dealings with Verizon worrisome. In some sense, Google is already a gatekeeper of the Internet. It’s search engine is the most widely used in the world and has helped the company amass vast amounts of data. The company’s financial strength is in many ways unparalleled giving it the ability to shape and influence public policy. The fact that it has been a key figure in the fight for net neutrality makes the company’s negotiations with Verizon an underhanded blow to net neutrality advocates and consumers.

Having Google on the side of the consumer is essential because ultimately, money speaks in Washington. That fact has been made more evident after Genachowski’s response to the deal. It is not up to the FCC and only a strong push from consumers and net neutrality advocates will get the agency to be more forceful with its position. If Google and Verizon are allowed to set the terms of the debate, however, we can kiss strong net neutrality legislation goodbye.

Related: Net Neutrality | New Rulings on DMCA
Link: Google And Verizon Deal | Save The Internet Campaign

According to Facebook’s change log, version 1.3 brings new features including “video playback, the ability to view and RSVP for events, respond to friend requests without leaving the app, and an updated homepage.” Much like the famous notification drawer on Android devices, the Facebook app adds another draggable “Notifications” bar at the bottom. Oddly, clicking on a notification redirect users to http://touch.facebook.com in Android’s native web browser. There’s also a photo reel at the bottom of the app’s home screen, which displays newly uploaded images. The updated app also makes it easier to update your status and search for friends.

While Android users initially welcomed these new features, forums were soon filled with complains. Due to a bug, the application began causing rapid battery drain. Many users resorted to uninstalling the app entirely. Three days later, Facebook officially recognized the issue and released an update (version 1.3.1) to solve the problem. And within a week, Facebook released yet another update, this time adding support for Android OS 1.5 devices and claiming to fix other bugs.

I’ve been using Facebook for Android on my HTC EVO 4G for the past few months and while I appreciate the recent improvements, there are still some things worth mentioning. First, although I prefer the Android platform over iOS, I still found the Facebook app on my iPhone 3GS better. The user interface isn’t consistent and doesn’t look like other native apps. While Facebook for iOS has instantaneous push notifications, the Android app only checks at specified time intervals. Despite setting the refresh interval to 30 minutes, notifications for comments, new messages, and requests rarely get delivered on time, if at all. As for the newly added Contact Sync, which I was initially excited to use as a replacement for HTC’s Facebook Sync, it caused more problems than I could possibly imagine. My contacts suddenly had 3-4 duplicated entires for the same numbers retrieved from Facebook and the phone began responding very slowly. After disabling the feature, the issues went away.

While I still have the app installed, I’ve found Facebook Touch, which runs in the browser, a whole lot better. The interface is consistent, it’s fast, and clean. The mobile version, hilariously, provides more information than the app from the Android Marketplace. For those who own smartphones with 4.3 inch displays such as the Droid X or EVO 4G, viewing the full-fledged web page isn’t too difficult either. While I’ll trust that Facebook is working on a much-needed major revamp for Android users, I’ll stick to using Facebook from my web browser until then.

Links: Facebook.com/skattertech

Although designed and optimized for Windows 7, Trillian 5 also runs on XP and Vista. The new interface is highly scalable to accommodate different screen sizes whether it’s a low resolution netbook or a high resolution monitor. And for those that enjoy tweaking the application, Trillian 5 is highly customizable with tons of custom settings, themes, and more. And if you don’t run Windows, Cerulean Studios is also working on a Mac version, which is still in beta. And for smartphone users, a mobile iteration of Trillian is available for iOS devices: iPhone and iPod Touch. The company has apps for Android and BlackBerry phones in the works as well.

While Trillian has offered support for AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo!, Google, Facebook Chat, Jabber, and Skype for sometime, the upcoming release adds integration for Foursquare and LinkedIn. (Facebook chat protocols are revamped to use XMPP too.) The new Foursquare plugin isn’t limited to viewing activities of friends, but rather lets users check-in to locations using the native GPS support in Windows 7. While this doesn’t necessarily fall into the category of “chat,” it’s a mobile location-based social networking service that has grown tremendously. And that goes hand-in-hand with revamped versions Facebook and Twitter news streams that Trillian 5 brings. As for the LinkedIn plugin, it lets users view their Network Activity and share updates with their connections.

While Trillian’s Chat History feature is an amazing addition for referencing previous conversations, it had one major issue. For those with multiple machines or mobile phones running a second or third instance of the application, chat logs at every location were unsynchronized. The text of a conversation that took place on a laptop wouldn’t appear on you desktop. Trillian 5 links and maintains consistent copies of conversations on every machine using the company’s network infrastructure. This feature conveniently allows for beginning a conversation on your mobile phone and continuing it, undisrupted, on another machine.

For those that get exhausted checking various social networks in their browser and having to install multiple chat clients to communicate with different sets of friends, I’d highly recommend giving Trillian 5 a test run. While it’s still in beta, even the older Trillian 4 series has a lot to offer. And if it’s something you are considering purchasing, Cerulean Studios currently offers Trillian Pro for just $15.

Links: Trillian 5 Tour | Download Trillian 5 Beta

Editors Note: This article was co-written and edited by Sahas Katta.

The feature packed application serves as a platform that allows students to manage all of their eTextBooks, class materials, and even notes. NOOKstudy, available for both Mac and PC, is primarily aimed at college students. According to Barnes and Noble, it was developed in collaboration with students and professors to help suit the needs of today’s students.

The revolutionary NOOKstudy allows users to view multiple books simultaneously. Take the scenario of a college research paper. Students will now be able to open and read through multiple books regarding the topic rather than having to close one before opening another. The platform even allows students to highlight and take notes on top of the content they are reading, which may come in handy for students. Better yet, the NOOKstudy organizes and makes notes searchable for future reference.

Barnes and Noble stated that NOOKstudy will be compatible with the company’s entire digital catalog. Given the fact that the company already has contracts with many college campuses to distribute educational material, the service already has a huge base to tap into. The NOOKstudy might appealing to students since it can potentially save them up to 40% on textbooks. As a college student , I have to say, that sounds pretty enticing. While I originally despised the entire digital media trend because I was unable to take notes and make comments while reading, the NOOKstudy now offers a solution.

For penny saving college students, the NOOKstudy may help drive down the prices on textbooks. Even if Barnes and Noble fails to revolutionize the digital textbook industry on it’s own, existing and emerging competitors will surely bridge the gap with affordable pricing structures. Study smarter, not harder? Sounds like something every single student out there wants. Since Barnes and Nobles is already a part of so many universities, the NOOKstudy definitely has potential.

Links: BarnesandNoble.com/NookStudy