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US Update: Ma-Touch1 Magic Mouse, Playboy for iPad, Windows Phone 7
Super Monkey Ball 2 coming to XBox Live for Windows Phone 7
Playboy for iPad confirmed: Apple re-thinking policy?
AMD Embedded G-series: ready for a cable box powered by AMD Fusion?
Starbucks adds mobile payments: trade iPhone or BlackBerry for coffee
Sanwa Ma-Touch1: the Magic Mouse for your PC
Modern Combat 2 Black Pegasus for Android review: first impressions
Teatime Tech: Nintendo 3DS UK price and date, Samsung Galaxy S 2 and an Android tablet roundup
Nintendo 3DS launch: photos
Nintendo 3DS: Mii avatars

US Update: Ma-Touch1 Magic Mouse, Playboy for iPad, Windows Phone 7

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 07:00 PM PST

Once again it's time to start off your day with a daily dose of tech. In today's US Update we take a look at the Sanwa Ma-Touch 1, the Magic Mouse for PC users, followed by AMD's Embedded G-series, Starbucks new mobile payment plans, details on Playboy for iPad and more.

Not keen on switching to a Mac to enjoy the Magic Mouse? Don't fret, the Sanwa Ma-Touch1 mouse has you covered with all the gestures you've seen your Apple enemies enjoy for years. Starbucks has released a new application for iOS and BlackBerry which allows payment via the iPod touch, iPhone or any BlackBerry smartphone. Simply present the phone at the register and open the app to have the barcode scanned.

AMD has unveiled the Embedded G-series, a CPU/GPU solution which has a low power draw and DirectX 11 support. The future of set top boxes and connected TVs could be changed forever. Mr. Hugh Hefner has confirmed via Twitter that Playboy for iPad is coming this March. The uncensored web site will offer a digital subscription that provides access to the entire Playboy library. A censored version will be sold in the Apple App Store following the launch.

Last up this morning is confirmation that Super Monkey Ball 2 is coming to Xbox Live for Windows Phone 7 devices next week. We've got the entire line up for the next month of launches, so take a look at the full list here.

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.

Super Monkey Ball 2 coming to XBox Live for Windows Phone 7

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

A list of upcoming Xbox Live titles for Windows Phone 7 has just been released thanks to an Achievement info glitch. Headlining the upcoming launch titles is Super Monkey Ball 2, Deal or No Deal and Zombie Attack 2: Second Wave. Read on for the full list.

By way of xbox360achievements.com, we are pleased to bring you a list of next month of Xbox Live titles headed to Windows Phone 7. The list includes: Deal or No Deal, Game Chest – Board Games, Centipede (Game Room), Backgammon, I Dig It, Implode XL, Super Monkey Ball 2 and Zombie Attack 2: Second Wave.

As wpcentral.com points out, this list might not be the most accurate — but we'll know for certain next week. For now, rest assured knowing there will be a fresh collection of gaming titles for Windows Phone 7 week in and week out. Any of these games catch your eye?

via WPCentral

Playboy for iPad confirmed: Apple re-thinking policy?

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 03:24 PM PST

Confirmed via a tweet from Mr. Playboy himself, Hugh Hefner, the entire Playboy catalog will be coming to the Apple iPad this March. Complete in uncensored glory, PlayBoy for iPad will encompass the entire magazine, from the first issue to the last — and yes, that means every centerfold and photo spread. Is Apple changing its content policy?

The official tweets read, "Big news! Playboy — both old & new — will be available on iPad beginning in March" and “The iPad version of Playboy will include the whole magazine from the first issue to the latest." Now before you go thinking Apple has approved a bona fide Playboy app, think again.

Playboy for iPad was produced by digital magazine publisher Bondi Digital. According to Bondi Digital co-founder David Anthony, "you’ll be able to access [Playboy] via the browser in your tablet and use the same password to access it on your computer”. Essentially they are simply selling a digital subscription with an optimized web layout for the iPad (likely based on HTML5).

However, an actual App will be sold in the Apple App Store – the catch is it will be censored. Since Apple has no control over the web sites you visit, the optimized web site will fill the void. It's not quite as nice as having a stand-alone client that could store the content on the internal storage, but Bondi Digital has the chops to make the right kind of user experience.

It's time to render a verdict. Do you think that a HTML5 based solution is the meal ticket or is it time for Apple to loosen it's grips on the App Store and offer some adult content? Go ahead and sound off in the comments and let your voice be heard!

via Twitter | Fox News

AMD Embedded G-series: ready for a cable box powered by AMD Fusion?

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 02:52 PM PST

At CES 2011 the two chip players, Intel and AMD, released their next generation Sandy Bridge and Fusion technologies. Now it's time to take AMD Fusion to the world of embedded systems. Based on the "Bobcat" core and support for DirectX 11, AMD Embedded G-Series could be the future of home cinema.

In the world of ultra-slim desktops, set top boxes and home theater PCs, onboard graphics have often failed to deliver the performance necessary for demanding video applications. CES 2011 presented two solutions to this conundrum: Intel Sandy Bridge and AMD Fusion. AMD has maintained a sizable lead in integrated graphics compared to Intel's GMA and H55 chipsets. That lead will continue as Sandy Bridge and Fusion battle it out in 2011.

"The AMD Embedded G-Series, based on AMD Fusion technology, delivers a complete, full-featured embedded platform and incorporates the new low-power, x86 CPU based on the "Bobcat" core with a world-class DirectX® 11-capable GPU and parallel processing engine on a single piece of silicon."

AMD's G-series platform for Fusion APUs (accelerated processor units) will combine the low power consumption of a 1.6 GHz x86 processor with a third generation unified video decoder. In the real world this means that you'll have a chip the size of a penny which can handle videos and applications with ease.

Even better, the G-series platform for Fusion APUs has a low power draw (9 to 18 W of TDP) and does not require airflow to cool the processor. The end result is less power consumption in a smaller device. The entire package could literally be contained "within a light switch".

Now that we have CPU and GPU technology on a single-die, the next wave of set top boxes, connected TVs and even home theater systems will be more powerful than ever. Using the power of AMD's G-series platform for Fusion APUs, the next wave of Google TVs could have the power necessary to deliver performance that meets our expectations. The possibilities are endless and we simply can't wait to see the technology rolled out. Anyone else ready for a single box in the living room?

Coming Soon | AMD | TBD

Starbucks adds mobile payments: trade iPhone or BlackBerry for coffee

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 01:56 PM PST

Whether you use an iPhone, iPod touch or BlackBerry smartphone, you can now forget the cash and instead use your trusty gadget to buy your cup of Joe. The Starbucks Card mobile app for BlackBerry and iOS is now being accepted in nearly 6,800 U.S. company-operated Starbuck stores. Is this the future of mobile payments?

Before we dive in, Android users just sit tight — Starbucks has assured us that a version of the Starbucks Card mobile app for Android is coming soon. Now that we've got that out of the way here's the deal with Starbucks app. Following a very successful mobile payment test program, Starbucks went live with the new method of payment across 6,800 company-operated stores and more than 1,000 Starbucks in U.S. Target locations.

If you're wondering why offer the app for iOS and BlackBerry and not Windows Phone 7 or Android, the answer is based on data mining. According to Starbucks, more than 33 percent of U.S. Starbucks customers use smart phones, of which 75 percent use either a BlackBerry or iPhone. While Android controls the lion share of U.S. smartphone market share, it appears those users are not quite as fond of Starbucks as the iOS and BlackBerry folks.

So how does the Starbucks Card mobile app work? Essentially you are simply taking the physical Starbucks Card you'd normally purchase and instead of carrying it around in your wallet, a digital copy (barcode) is used in its place. When you step up to the counter simply fire up the app and the employee working the register will scan the barcode. The whole system ties back into the Starbucks Card account so if your funds are running low, simply head to the website and reload the card with any major credit card — iPhone users can also pay via PayPal.

So that's the skinny on the Starbucks Card mobile app. While this is not the NFC solution we were hoping to see, largely because there's very few devices with native NFC support, mobile payments are a step in the right direction. In the U.S. this remains a relatively new opportunity, so I ask that you cut us some slack. If you happen to give the app a go, feel free to drop us a line and let us know how the experience worked out for you.

Out Now | Free | Starbucks

Sanwa Ma-Touch1: the Magic Mouse for your PC

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 01:08 PM PST

If you’ve been eying the Magic Mouse for the Mac, but your PC roots have you grounded in your decision to stick with Windows 7 – we have the solution. Introducing the Ma-Touch1 Series mouse from Sanwa. Complete with a wireless transmitter and all the scrolling and panning features of the Magic Mouse, the Ma-Touch1 Series could be the perfect fix for the PC user.

Much like the Apple Magic Mouse, the Sanwa Ma-Touch1 mouse operates wirelessly, but instead of bluetooth it operates on a 2.4GHz RF radio link with the same 10m range. In the world of PCs, gamers depend largely on the resolution of the mouse for aiming accuracy, the Ma-Touch1 offers 1000 dpi — not the best, but not too shabby for a general purpose mouse.

The Ma-Touch1 will be available in four color choices: black, white, silver and red. Without physical buttons, the top of the mouse operates like a Magic Mouse — click the left side for a single click or the right side for double. You can also scroll up and down a page by moving a single finger on the surface. If you want to move forward or backward as you browse the web simply swipe two fingers either left or right.

At the end of the day this truly is the Magic Mouse experience geared toward the PC user. If you’re looking for a native solution to bridge the gap, the Sanwa Ma-Touch1 has you covered with support for Windows 7, Vista, XP and 2000.

Out Now | Sanwa | 46 GBP

Modern Combat 2 Black Pegasus for Android review: first impressions

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 10:05 AM PST

Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus was, and continues to be a major hit on iOS gadgetry. What about Android devices? Mobile game developer Gameloft isn’t leaving Google addicts behind. Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus is coming to Android phones later this month, with better controls, graphics and an overall better gameplay experience. We headed over to Gameloft’s London HQ to touch it up ahead of launch.

If you’re an Apple iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad user, and like playing games on your iOS devices, there’s a good chance you’ve played the mobile military hit, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus.

Players take on the role of a solider tasked with bringing terrorists to a grisly bullet-shaped end across 12 battlefields set across the Middle East, Europe and South America.

The great news for Android mobile owners feeling left out, is that Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus is heading for Android OS-equipped devices such as the HTC Desire HD and the Samsung Galaxy S, which we were able to play it on today. Unusually, each Android version of Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus will be tweaked especially for each compatible device for the best possible experience, free of bugs, Gameloft tells us. The build we tested wasn’t quite the final one you’ll see for sale, but it already looks and plays sweetly. Gameloft couldn’t tell us an exact release date, but it’ll be arriving in January from Gameloft’s Mobile Games store – not the Android Market.

Check out our Best Android games Top 5 now

On a Samsung Galaxy S, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus for Android looks great. Promises of better controls and visuals look like holding true. Gameplay felt very responsive, almost too responsive at first. But once we got to grips playing in jungle, arctic and levels that had us sniping enemies the experience is still about as close as you’ll get to a console first-person shooter. Switching between weapons is pretty instant too, with no visible sign of slowdown or judder. One touch we did enjoy was the exaggeration of headshot sequences. Notch a headshot and the screen will zoom in on your handiwork in a morbidly enjoyable slow motion sequence. It just looks better now.

As for game content, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus on Android will essentially be the same game you’ll find on the App Store, except with tweaked visuals and controls for a smoother experience. Android users will get the usual 12 battlefields, 15 real-world military weapons and fabulous 10-player multiplayer of old across 4 modes: Battle, Team Battle, Defuse the Bomb and Capture the Flag.

We’ll be looking to get more of a play after it’s release, but we can definitely say that Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus should give Android users something to look forward to.

Out January 2011 | £TBC | Gameloft

Teatime Tech: Nintendo 3DS UK price and date, Samsung Galaxy S 2 and an Android tablet roundup

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 10:01 AM PST

It’s been quite the afternoon in gadgetry, with Nintendo outing all the launch details for the Nintendo 3DS handheld. We were there live of course: all the headlines from there, plus the rest of today’s stories are waiting for you after the jump in our roundup.

First up, the long awaited confirmation of Nintendo 3DS price and launch date in the UK arrived. We also got more details on the launch titles for the 3D gaming handheld, new Mii importing options and more – be sure to check out our photo gallery of the whole affair in Amsterdam,.

Elsewhere, in mobile Samsung has been teasing a successor to the Samsung Galaxy S expected to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month, and we rounded up the Android tablets of note so far in our Android tablet review: group test.

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

Nintendo 3DS launch: photos

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 08:42 AM PST

We’re live from the Nintendo 3DS launch event in Amsterdam today, getting the latest on launch titles, trying them out, and chinwagging with execs from the company. It’s also one strange locale, with Nintendo 3DS models chained to both tables and, er, women. Click the pic and jump through to see our gallery of the Nintendo 3DS event in photos.

Nintendo 3DS: Mii avatars

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 08:28 AM PST

The Nintendo 3DS will carry the Mii Maker to build your own avatar. With Mii make you can either import Mii characters you’ve already lovingly crafted on your Wii, or (and we prefer this option) you can use the camera built into the Nintendo 3DS to take a picture of yourself which will then be transformed into a Nintendo 3DS Mii. The Mii Maker works by using the camera to automatically create a Mii which you can then edit from there. To the left you’ll see the Mii avatar of Ninty boss Saturo Iwata. Your Mii is not just an avatar either: Mii will be shared via StreetPass and will let you play FaceRaisers, an AR shooting game.You can also save the Mii to an SD card as an image, and from there you can use it in the same way as any other digital photo.