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US Update: LG E90, Skyfire, EVO Shift 4G, iPad 2
Apple prepping a second, smaller iPad 2?
Gran Turismo sales tops 60 million units worldwide
HTC EVO Shift 4G spied, launching January 9th?
Skyfire for Android 3.0.1 adds SD support
LG E90: slimmest LED monitor to date
Teatime Tech: Mass Effect 3, Android Market restrictions and NOVA 2 landing date
N.O.V.A. 2 for iPhone: launch date and video trailer
Android Market: 10 things a tablet needs
Godzilla of tech patent lawsuits flops over lack of specifics

US Update: LG E90, Skyfire, EVO Shift 4G, iPad 2

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 07:00 PM PST

Fresh off some well-deserved R&R, we're back at it again with your daily dose of tech news, something we like to call the US Update. In today's update, we take a look at LG's new E90 super-slim LED monitor, an update for Skyfire for Android, the HTC EVO Shift 4G and more.

The world of computer gaming is about to change with this morning's announcement of the LG E90 LED monitor. This ultra slim monitor features a two millisecond response time and one of the most stylish designs to date. Skyfire for Android version 3.0.1 has been released. Included in the update is the ability to move the app to your SD card and to upload files directly from the browser.

The HTC EVO Shift 4G has been photographed and all signs point to a January 9th release date. We expect to see more on the device at CES in Las Vegas this January, but for now we know it will be Sprint's version of the HTC Desire Z. Sony has published Gran Turismo worldwide sales totals and we're happy to report the franchise has topped 60 million units sold worldwide since the 1997 release of its first title. Sony also confirmed Gran Turismo 5 for the PS3 has sold over 5.5 million units wide as of December 6th.

Lats up this morning is the latest rumor on the Apple iPad 2. According to a report published in Reuters this morning, Apple is working on two versions of the second-generation iPad, a 9.7 inch and a 7-inch variant. Details are a little sparse at the moment so we recommend taking this news with a grain of salt, but we'd love to see it materialize into a product launch.

That wraps up things this fine morning from the states. Thanks for spending your morning with us as we break the headlines fresh off the press from our side of the world. Until tomorrow, this is Nick saying over and out.

Apple prepping a second, smaller iPad 2?

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 06:00 PM PST

We've given you a thorough dose of Apple iPad 2 news over the past few weeks, but today we have a shocking twist. An unknown source has confirmed to Reuters that a second, smaller iPad 2 will be joining the larger 9.7-inch model early next year.

There might be two iPads to choose from next year when the second-generation, iPad 2 goes on sale. According to Reuters, their source has confirmed the revamped iPad will have the front and rear cameras and a higher resolution screen as we've previously reported. However, a second supply chain source confirmed that "Apple is preparing a smaller iPad, almost half the size of the current model".

The smaller iPad would likely feature a seven inch display, assuming of course the rumor pans out. This is certainly not the first rumor we've heard on Apple products and it won't be the last. For the time being, we'll try to forget about the rant on seven inch tablets by Steve Jobs in October and remain optimistic a second, smaller iPad does exist.

via Reuters

Gran Turismo sales tops 60 million units worldwide

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 05:00 PM PST

It's time to break out those calculators, Gran Turismo sales have just topped 60 million units worldwide. In a press release from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. this morning, sales totals were tallied from December 1997 until December 6, 2010 and we've got the results.

Whether you game on the Playstation, Playstation 2, PSP or Playstation 3, Gran Turismo is the racing simulator of choice. In the ninth installment of the series, Gran Turismo 5 for the PS3, Sony has added a completely new physics engine for improved feel for steering turns and drifts and added an impressive line-up of more than 1,000 licensed karst and cars from the world's top manufacturers.

The improvements have been well received and as of December 6, more than 5.5 million units of Gran Turismo 5 have been sold worldwide. Those 5.5 million units bring the current sales total for the Gran Turismo Series to 61.41 million. With stereoscopic 3D support and racing with up to 10 players through PSN, sales of GT 5 should grow even stronger this holiday season.

Here's your breakdown of the worldwide Gran Turismo 5 sales: 0.55 million sold in Japan, 1.25 million sold in North America, 3.56 million sold in Europe, 0.16 million sold in Asia. You've read our review and you know we think Gran Turismo 5 is "one of the best driving games available on the Playstation 3", clearly the world agrees.

Now that we've run down the sales totals and broke the latest data for the franchise it's time to sound off. Let us know what you think about the Gran Turismo franchise as a whole and when you expect GT 5 to match the 10.86 million units sold of Gran Turismo 4. Do you think we'll ever see Gran Turismo 5 bread the 14.80 million units of GT 3?

via Sony

HTC EVO Shift 4G spied, launching January 9th?

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Whether you call it the HTC EVO Shift 4G, HTC Knight or HTC Speedy, the device has been photographed and all rumors point to a January 9th release date. For the GSM folks, the EVO Shift 4G is a HTC Desire Z variant, ready to break cover for an official announcement at CES and we've got the scoop.

The image below of the HTC EVO Shift 4G is the first time we've seen the phone in crisp, high-resolution detail. Confirming the four-row QWERTY keypad, the photograph also gives us an idea on styling and further proof that the recessed screen will add further protection for the occasional drop.

A rumored feature in the EVO Shift 4G is the front-facing camera. A close inspection of the photo shows what looks to be a camera just to the left of the speaker at the top of the phone. This could just be a proximity or light sensor, but judging by Sprint's focus on video calling, we'll opt for the former.

Following the release of the photo, additional details on the EVO Shift 4G surfaced when an inventory screenshot was leaked. The HTC A7373 is listed with a January 9 release date, a likely date since Sprint has been known to launch products on Sundays. Rumors back in October suggested that we'd see the device launch on January 6 so this release date seems right in line with earlier predictions.

FCC approval, bluetooth and WiFi certifications will likely surface soon, but for certain we'll see the Sprint HTC EVO Shift 4G at CES in January. With a January 9th release date, the Shift 4G could be the first device showcased and then launched at the event, so stay tuned.

via AndroidCentral | Coming Soon

Skyfire for Android 3.0.1 adds SD support

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 03:00 PM PST

Head to the Android Market, a new version of Skyfire (version 3.0.1) is available, complete with a few new features and many bug fixes. If you've been waiting to move Skyfire to your SD card to free up memory and currently run Android 2.2 or higher, it's time to upgrade.

Skyfire 3.0 for Android was a hit, in fact we use it as our primary browser on all of our Android handsets. However, the team at Skyfire has received reports that there are still some infrequent crashes and according to their blog, "that's simply not acceptable". With the launch of Skyfire 3.0.1, the team has made it very easy to send anonymous logs, a feature they hope will help stop future bugs immediately.

So what's the new version of Skyfire for Android bring to the table? First and foremost, you can now move the app to your SD card. The feature is available to all Android devices running 2.2 (FroYo) or higher. Simply head to "Manage Applications" and go into "Settings" to make the switch.

The second key feature is an improved download workflow. File downloads will not happen in the background and a notification will be placed in the system tray, not much different from how we are notified when downloading apps in the Android Market.

The third and final big change is also for FroYo users. In Skyfire 3.0.1 you can now upload files from within the web browser. This means that if you are a fan of file sharing sites that do not currently offer a standalone app — you can do it from the browser. If you'd like to give the feature a go, simply head to uploadgeek.com and upload a photo.

To download Skyfire for Android version 3.0.1 simply head to the Android Market and search "Skyfire" or if you have the app installed you can simply do the update.

via Skyfire

LG E90: slimmest LED monitor to date

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:00 PM PST

The world of fast-action sports and gaming is set to be redefined with the LG E90 LED monitor. The E90 is the company's slimmest LED monitor to date at just 7.2mm in depth. With a 2 millisecond response time, we could be looking at the future of computer gaming, are you ready?

Response times are the biggest complaint of PC gamers when looking to make the switch to a LCD monitor. Even the slightest bit of lag can mean the difference between a frag or a kill streak, but LG hopes to end this concern with the new E90 LED monitor.

So what makes the LG E90 stand out from the competition? The 2 ms response time and 7.2mm depth are nice, but LG took things a step further by adding the power supply and the socket connecting the monitor with the PC on the back of the stand. A solution LG calls EZ-cabling.

With energy consumption reduced up to 40 percent compared to conventional CCFL-backlit LCD monitor, the LG E90 not only lowers your power bill, it's also better for the environment. There's no need to worry about halogen and mercury since neither is used in the manufacturing of this LED display.

"The E90 is the result of advanced technology and beautiful design coming together in perfect alignment," said Si-hwan Park, Vice President of LG's monitor division. "With its revolutionary features in terms of design and picture quality, the E90 is the leading example of the company's "SUPER LED" monitor line that is setting new benchmarks for style and performance."

With LG's Image Booster software, even blurry streaming content is enhanced when viewing content from Hulu or YouTube. At the end of the day you have a stylish, ultra-slim LED monitor that delivers perfect performance whether your are gaming, watching a movie or sports. This is the first of many steps in turning your computer monitor into a TV replacement without sacrificing features or quality.

There's no word on pricing or an exact release date just yet, but LG has told us the E90 "will be available starting this month in select markets". We'll try to track down more details, but for now you can rest assure we'll put the monitor through its paces at CES in January.

Coming Soon | LG

Teatime Tech: Mass Effect 3, Android Market restrictions and NOVA 2 landing date

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 10:30 AM PST

It’s wrapping up time for you, but not for the tech news: that just keeps on coming, but now’s as good a time as any to catch up on everything today so far. it’s all waiting for you here in our teatime tech roundup.

The big news right now is in gaming: the VGAs went down over the weekend, and we got a look at some brand new trailers, including ones for Mass Effect 3 and Uncharted 3. In handheld gaming meanwhile, NOVA 2 got a launch date for iPhone.

That’s not all though, as it’s been a juicy few hours for fans of Google’s Android mobile OS. The Android Market is all set to get a makeover to finally make app shopping a bit easier, but remember that not every tablet has access to the store. What decides whether they get the greenlight? We took a look at Google’s restrictions to find out. That, and our Sony Ericsson LiveView Android remote ultimate guide is out now for your perusal.

Still want more news? Bounce on over to the homepage and help yourself to it all as it breaks!

N.O.V.A. 2 for iPhone: launch date and video trailer

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 09:04 AM PST

Gameloft will be launching N.O.V.A. 2 for iPhone on 16 December. Click through for a full video of the trailer for the upcoming sequel to last year’s N.O.V.A, with new enemies, weapons, and powers.

N.O.V.A stands for Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance, and to put it simply, is a bit like Halo. N.O.V.A. 2 also features improved AI, a larger range of weapons and powers, with more diversified gameplay, meaning you can now run, shoot, fall, drive a motorbike, or pilot a giant mech. In N.O.V.A. 2 multiplayer maps there’s now space for up to 10 players, and you can explore new locations that are optimised for Retina display.

Android Market: 10 things a tablet needs

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 07:56 AM PST

Just because that tablet you've got your eye on is running Android doesn't mean you'll be able to access the Android Market. While the criteria are complicated, there are a number of telltale signs that should give you an idea of whether that tablet runs Android Market or a wonky alternative Android app store. Click through for our easy ten point checklist.

First, a bit of explanation: While Android is an open platform, people can use it in whatever way they want (i.e. for different tablets and devices), so in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem, devices that want to have Android Market need to pass compatibility requirements. To get Android Market they need to conform to Google's "Compatibility Definition Document", which details the specs required by a device, and looks pretty manageable, until you get to the appendixes and resources…

1. Soft Keyboard
The tablet has to have at least one soft keyboard implementation, which means it has to have a touch sensitive keyboard built in.

2. Touchscreen
The tablet has to have a touchscreen, but it doesn't have to be capacitive, it can be resistive.

3. Home, Menu and Back functions
A tablet has to have home, menu and back buttons. These functions are "essential to the Android navigation paradigm", and they must be available at all times when you're using the device, no matter what application you've got running. They don't have to be hardware buttons, but Google says they "should" be. If they aren't hardware, they have to be available and accessible at all times, and "not obscure or interfere with the available application display area".

4. HTML5
An Android tablet clamouring for Android Market has to include a modern HTML5 capable browser.

5. Camera
Google states that a device has to have a rear facing camera, with a resolution of at least 2MP to qualify for Android Market, which is often a feature missed off budget Android tablets.

6. Accelerometer, GPS and Bluetooth
The tablet has to have an accelerometer, GPS receiver and Bluetooth.

7. Phone function
Despite the suggestion that the phone function was tagged on to the Samsung Galaxy Tab so it could qualify for Android Market, it isn’t actually required. The compatibility document says: “Android 2.2 is compatible with devices that are not phones. However, if a device implementation does include GSM or CDMA telephony, it MUST implement the full support for the API for that technology.” Which means that if you don’t have a phone function, you still have to keep the nuts and bolts of coding in there.

8. Notifications
The Google Compatibility document says that to pass, a device has to have sound, vibration and light notifications, and also a status bar.

9. Connectivity
The Android compatibility document requires a device to have support for “wireless high-speed data networking”. This means that there has to be at least one wireless data standard, that can run at 200kbps or more. It does not have to have 3G.

10. Memory
Google requires that tablets have at least 92MB of memory.

This list is not exhaustive. The Compatibility Definition Document is enormous, with pages of information about the magical inner working of the devices, but this should give you a good idea of whether that Android tablet you've got your eye on is likely to have Android Market without having to root around in FAQs.

Even if a device adheres to the myriad requirements of the CCD though, it still may not pass and be granted Android Market, as there's another stage to the Google requirements called the Compatibility Test Suite, which runs 20,000 test cases on the device for bugs, glitches, and missing components.This stops buggy devices from passing the Android compatibility tests, and makes sure that if you’ve got an Android tablet or smartphone, you won’t encounter any major glitches or limitations in your gadget that stop you running Android apps.

What do you think of the Google compatibility tests? Surprised at anything in the list? Drop us a line and tell us what you think…

Godzilla of tech patent lawsuits flops over lack of specifics

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 07:36 AM PST

The Godzilla of tech patent lawsuits that dropped a couple of months ago, has rolled onto its back and begged to be tickled. Ot at least that’s what it must seem like to all those listed. Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder, dropped the suit at the end of August, claiming that he owned the technology behind basic web functions like suggested reading and pop up stock quotes. He was claiming against just about everybody: Google, Facebook, eBay, Apple, Yahoo!, AOL, YouTube and others, but not Amazon.

Now, the lawsuit has fallen to bits, because Allen forgot to point out where the patents he said were being violated were actually being used. Woops. Judge Marsha Pechman said that Allen had “failed to identify the infringing products or devices with any specificity.” Allen now has until 28 December to amend his complaint, but it’s not looking hopeful.

[via PC Pro]

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Monday, 13 December 2010

Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

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