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US Update: iPhone Skype video calls, LED keyboard, Galaxy Player, Streak 7
Dell Streak 7 Android tablet coming to T-mobile
Samsung Galaxy Player the iPod touch killer?
Android fragmentation hurts 15 minute refund window
Luxeed U5 LED illuminated keyboard brings 430 colors to gaming
iOS update: 2011 iPhone, Skype video calls, iPad best of 2010
10 most disappointing gadgets of 2010

US Update: iPhone Skype video calls, LED keyboard, Galaxy Player, Streak 7

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 07:00 PM PST

We hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend and we're back again to deliver the best in the world of tech. In today's US Update we give you a rundown of the latest from iOS, show you the new Luxeed LED illuminated keyboard, explain the current Android Market issues and more.

First up, the daily iOS update. Digitimes is reporting that Apple will ship between 20 and 21 million iPhone in Q1 2011. Skype for iPhone and iPod touch is coming. A leaked document shows the service, but it was pulled from Skype's websites minute after being published. The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg has named the Apple iPad the best product of 2010.

The Luxeed U5 LED illuminated keyboard is available in both black and white. The keyboard offers 430 programmable color diodes. This could be the perfect gift for the gamer in your family.

After EA mobile did their 99 cent sale for Android games it seems the "f word" is back in the headlines, fragmentation. The new 15 minute refund window is becoming a problem now that new 3D titles require downloads in excess of 100MB. These games simply require more than 15 minutes to download, making the refund window void.

Samsung is looking to challenge the iPod touch at CES 2011. The company has announced the Samsung Galaxy Player, an Android-powered media player that features a 1 GHz processor and WVGA Super Clear LCD display. The device will run Android 2.2 at launch and is expected to compete with Apple's music player line up.

Last in this morning is new on the Dell Streak 7. This seven inch version of the Dell Streak also runs Android and will be available on T-mobile USA. Other carrier launches are unknown at this time, but since it is a GSM device we'd expect to see a European launch as well. The device will be unveiled at CES 2011 along with the Galaxy Player.

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.

Dell Streak 7 Android tablet coming to T-mobile

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 06:00 PM PST

T-mobile USA is eying an Android tablet for 2011, the Dell Streak 7. After launching HSPA+, the carrier is looking to capitalize on Android and their newly-crowned 4G network with a seven inch tablet powered by Android 2.2 early next year.

Among the many major announcements expected at CES 2011 is T-mobile USA's Dell Streak 7. A leaked roadmap back in February showed a tablet landing in early 2011, we know know that tablet will be the Streak 7. Unlike the original Dell Streak which sports a five inch display, T-mobile believes a seven inch variety could be the answer.

Only time will tell, but for now we have to ask. Do you think the Dell Streak 7 stands a chance against the Samsung Galaxy Tab? How about the new dual-core Tegra2 tablets running Honeycomb set to be announced at CES? It's time to sound off!

Coming Soon | Dell | TBD

Samsung Galaxy Player the iPod touch killer?

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 05:00 PM PST

A Samsung-branded music player, dubbed the Galaxy Player, will be unveiled at CES 2011 next week. The device is rumored to sport a front-facing VGA camera and be offered in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB storage capacities. Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Player.

After battling the iPhone 4 with the Epic 4G and the iPad with the Galaxy Tab, Samsung has its sights set on the iPod touch. The Samsung Galaxy Player (model YP-GB1) will run Android 2.2 Froyo and feature a 1 GHz CPU like the Galaxy S smartphones. The Galaxy Player will feature a Super Clear LCD touchscreen running at WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixel), T-DMB and SoundAlive audio enhancing technology.

When it comes to imaging, the Galaxy Player will offer two cameras — the front-facing VGA camera and a rear-facing 3.2 megapixel. The 1 GHz processor will support HD video playback so you'll have no problem showing off your movies. Connection options include WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0.

If 32GB is not enough storage capacity for your states, the Samsung Galaxy Player also features a microSD card slot. GPS, Android Market, Samsung Apps and a 1200 mAh battery are also in tow. Samsung should make a huge showing at CES 2011 in the PMP market (personal media player).

Current rumors hint at an unveiling of two other Samsung Android media devices, the YP-G50 and possibly the YP-GB70. Samsung looks to be ready to challenge the Apple iPod touch in 2011. Our only concern is that the current music player is not up to par with the music experience on iOS. If Samsung hopes to deter iPod touch buyers, they'll really need to improve the overall music experience on Android.

So tell us what you think about the Samsung Galaxy Player. Will Samsung be able to challenge the iPod touch with and Android music player? Let us know!

Coming Soon | Samsung | TBD

Android fragmentation hurts 15 minute refund window

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

With over 80 percent of Android users running Android 2.x or higher, it seemed as though Android fragmentation was a thing of the past. Unfortunately it looks like the change in the Android Market, limiting refunds to a 15 minute window, is causing some unforeseen problems.

Gone are the days of a 24 hour window to decide whether you'd like to keep your game or be issued a refund in the Android Market. The new Android Market shortened the refund window to 15 minutes and unfortunately that poses a problem for games that require a large download.

Google recently increased the max size of apps to 50MB, but 3D games easily go over that limit and developers have created their own distribution methods to deliver extra data files. This process takes place after the initial purchase and exceeds the 15 minute window.

Here's the issue. When you download a game from the Android Market, the 15 minute refund window begins when you accept the purchase. For these new 3D games, secondary content begins after the initial game downloads and depending on the title that could be hundreds of megs. Depending on your Internet connection, a 100MB download to your Android phone over WiFi could easily take longer than 15 minutes.

During the past week when EA mobile decided to slash the price on their apps to just 99 cents, the extent of Android fragmentation manifested itself in serious complaints. Not that long ago another developer, Gameloft, offered 20 titles in the Android Market. After incompatibility among handsets they eventually pulled 19 of those titles except for one — Asphalt HD. EA Mobile will be in a similar situation, but now instead of being able to refund users — they'll have to bear the brunt of complaints.

We can't expect the developers to take all the blame nor can we expect Google to revise their 15 minute window. In comparison, iOS devices do not have a refund window for purchases and their App Store seems to be doing just fine. The issue here is that the Android Market has so many different handsets running UI overlays and running at different screen resolutions. In theory this should not pose a problem, but clearly users are having issues installing certain games on certain handsets.

Certainly there's a solution here. We want to hear from you. Tell us what steps you think Google, developers and Android users should take to fix this problem? Is the solution entirely in Google's hands? Should we revert to the 24 hour window? Let us know your fix.

via AndroidandMe

Luxeed U5 LED illuminated keyboard brings 430 colors to gaming

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 03:00 PM PST

Looking for a new spin on the conventional illuminated gaming keyboard? Luxeed has you covered with their U5 programmable LED illuminated keyboard which delivers 430 color choices to your liking. Whether you are looking for the Luxeed U7 Japanese layout or the U5 English layout, this could be the must-have gadget for the gamer in your family this holiday season.

The days of pre-defined keys on your keyboard is coming to a close. Whether you use a Windows, Linux or Mac computer, you've undoubtedly wanted more freedom and customization for your machine. This is where the Luxeed U5 LED illuminated keyboard comes into play.

With translucent keys and 430 programmable color diodes, you can create the perfect keyboard for your situation. Whether that means assigning letters or numbers to different keys or it means coloring those keys, you have the freedom to choose. To help get you started, Luxeed has included several preset effects such as spark, rainbow and slideshow. If the preset effects are not to your liking you can program each key individually for the ultimate customization.

Once you've designed your dream keyboard by programming the individual keys, you can save it as a preset. There's four preset buttons to choose from and by default the keyboard ships without a separate numeric keyboard. Since the Luxeed U5 LED illuminated keyboard is targeted at gamers, it's worth noting that it features an anti-ghosting capability.

There's several models of the Luxeed illuminated keyboard. There's the Luxeed U5, offering in both black and white with English keys and there's the Luxeed U7, which has the Japanese layout and comes in black and white. The price is a little steep, but given the unprecedented customization options, the Luxeed Illuminated keyboards should never get old. Simply program the buttons for a fresh take.

Luxeed U5 | Amazon | $151 black or white

iOS update: 2011 iPhone, Skype video calls, iPad best of 2010

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 02:00 PM PST

Huge news for iOS users is coming in this morning. Digitimes has reported their 2011 iPhone shipment forecasts, a leaked document on Skype shows that video calling is coming to the iPhone and Walt Mossberg from the Wall Street Journal named the Apple iPad the best product of 2010.

Apple will reportedly ship between 20 and 21 million iPhones in Q1 2011, 14 to 15 million will be GSM (WCDMA) while the other five to six million will be CDMA phones (likely due out on Verizon Wireless in the US). Compared to 2010, Digitimes has reported that Apple shipped a total of 47 million iPhones, 15.5 million came from Q4 2010. In other Digitimes news, the website has confirmed that Foxconn will be the exclusive manufacturer of the iPad 2 and the device is still on track for shipment within 100 days.

Skype iPhone and iPod touch users will soon have a chance to enjoy their conversion with video. In document temporarily released on the company's website, Skype video calls were confirmed for iPhone and iPod touch users. The video calls will be compatible with the Skype desktop client software (both PC and Mac) as long as you are running Skype for Windows version 4.2 and above or Skype for Mac OS X version 2.8 and above. Now for the rub — Skype video calls will work over WiFi and 3G connections, however they do not support group video calls.

The most vocal man in tech, Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg, has named the best and worst products of 2010. Topping the list of best products was the Apple iPad. If you are curious why he selected Apple's tablet, it all comes down to the new iOS 4.2 update and the "huge selection of apps". Until the Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablets release in 2011, don't expect much to change in the tablet space as "the iPad continues to stay ahead of the competition".

Now that you are all caught up with iOS news for today, let us know what you think about the 2011 iPhone shipment forecasts; will Apple be able to meet the production volumes?

10 most disappointing gadgets of 2010

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 03:30 AM PST

It’s the electrical equivalent of the Raspberries: the 10 most disappointing gadgets of 2010, as rated (or in many cases, panned) by the gadget experts here at Electricpig. Read on and see what they are!

It’s worth stressing that this isn’t a list of the worst gadgets of 2010, although the new Apple TV and Next Android tablet would easily make that too. These are the gadgets that promised the world, and didn’t quite deliver on those expectations. Of course, we’re not autocrats, and you’re entitled to your opinion too: tell us which gizmos we’ve missed off below in the comments!

iPhone 4
Now before you jump down our throats, hear us out: the iPhone 4 is fantastic. it’s the best mobile of 2010, but its Achilles’ heel – that infamous death grip – that drops calls is its only failing. What could iPhone haters have latched onto if not that? There is almost nothing else wrong with it.

Apple’s handling of the situation didn’t help matters. All it had to do was say that overall, iPhone 4 reception is better, but it has a bigger weakspot than previous models. But it didn’t quite join those dots, instead leaving a lot of customers angry and confused.

Apple TV
The new Apple TV has so much potential, it hurts: it’s tiny, cheap at £99, beautiful and dead quiet. But Apple has utterly failed to capitalise on it, actually stripping out features from the original Apple TV. In the UK at least, there’s nothing to watch, and no sign of that changing any time soon.

Puma Phone
Sagem’s fashion phone collaboration put a big smile on our face at Mobile World Congress way back in February, with its silly messages, fitness apps and solar panel. In the end though, it was only the packaging that proved remotely entertaining: the browser was busted, the solar panel didn’t work, and the touchscreen was about as finger friendly as soup.

BlackBerry Torch 9800
RIM execs talked up BlackBerry 6 far too much, calling it a leap beyond the competition. This was out and out false, but the new operating system wasn’t the big let down for the BlackBerry Torch 9800 slider: it was the combination of huge girth and a low-res screen from 2007 that consigned this one to the dustbin of history.

Nokia N8
Although we actually quite liked the Nokia N8, thanks to its astounding camera and fun extra features, this was Nokia’s opportunity to show why it deserved to be the world’s number one phone manufacturer, after the disastrous N97 in 2009, and it completely failed to deliver on the UI. Symbian 3 is a vast improvement over S60 for touchscreen phones, but it’s still unpleasant to use, with screen flashes and a ropey keyboard. As we said in our review, why should your non-geek customer have to put up with this when for the same price you could have an iPhone or HTC Desire? We’re still not sure.

Next Android tablet
One of the first high street Android tablets to appear on UK shelves in the run up to Christmas turned out to be a frustrating and utterly maddening experience, as you can see here. If we were president of the world, we’d ban resistive touchscreens for ever and imprison executives of companies still using them.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
Given Sony Ericsson chose to announce this phone six months before launch, it’s no wonder it failed to live up to the hype: its first foray into Android – and only its third true smartphone – arrived rocking a version of Android that was well out of date (1.6), and had no multitouch gestures.

iPod nano 6G
We always dreamed of an iPod nano with a touchscreen, but well, we also imagined it running iOS. Apple’s latest revision of its most popular iPod ever adds a 1.54-inch touchscreen, which is certainly easy to use, and looks the part. The problem is, video is now out, and it’s not any cheaper: as we said in our review, you’re essentially playing a £100 mark up over the shuffle for the privilege of choosing an exact track rather than a playlist. Also, it doesn’t come with headphones sporting an inline remote. What’s up with that?

PlayStation Move
Sony’s much hyped motion controller works. In certain scenarios and contexts, it’s much more accurate than Kinect for Xbox 360, and we’d say its its equal when it comes to multiplayer potential. But Sony completely failed to deliver on a solid launch line up of PS3 Move games, and there’s no sense of a vanguard arriving anytime soon either. Only Sports Champions will keep you coming back again and again.

Palm Pre Plus
We honestly love webOS, we really do. And at £100, the Palm Pixi Plus is staggeringly good value. But the second edition Pre brought little new to the table. It’s as though Palm’s engineer’s, knackered after creating a new phone and OS, simply decided to shove a bit more RAM in when price fell and knocked off for a year. Bad battery life and a shaky sliding mechanism meant the Palm Pre Plus could never compete with this year’s iPhone and top end Android blowers.

Made for Life

Monday, 27 December 2010

Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

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