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US Update: Nokia C7 BMW, Galaxy S movie, iPad 2
Kevin Rose says no Retina display on iPad 2
Sony Ericsson profits climb as handset shipments fall in Q4 2010
Meg Whitman joins HP board of directors
Gilette’s new 80 blade razor
Nintendo 3DS launch games review: first impressions
Kim Dae-Woo films “Age of Milk” with Galaxy S smartphone
Drive your BMW with the Nokia C7
Google CEO Schmidt replaced by co-founder Page
Facebook: improved mobile app for feature phones

US Update: Nokia C7 BMW, Galaxy S movie, iPad 2

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 05:24 PM PST

The work week has come to a close and now it's time to jump start your weekend with a morning jolt of tech news. In today's US Update we show you a video of a Nokia C7 being used to control a BMW, the first professional-film recorded with a Galaxy S smart phone, the latest details on the iPad 2 display and more.

Ever wanted to use your Nokia handset to control your car? Well that's exactly what Nokia Asia demonstrated with the help of An Jiaxuan and his friend who used a Nokia C7 to control a BMW. The video shows the entire process and honestly, it's a must watch!

Korean film maker Kim Dae-Woo used a Samsung Galaxy S smartphone to film his latest work, "Age of Milk". We've got part one of the video, with a run length of 12 minutes 50 seconds, we recommend you give it a go.

HP has announced a mix up in the board of directors. Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, will be joining the board along with four other members. Is this what HP needs as they look to take webOS into 2011?

Sony Ericsson has posted their fourth quarter 2010 financial results. Handset shipments continued to drop, but net profit was $10.7 million, a significant improvement compared to the $225 million net loss reported in the year-ago period. 2011 will bring the Sony Playstation Phone and Xperia Arc — will these two handsets turn the company around?

Last up this morning is more news on the iPad 2 display. Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, has confirmed the second-generation iPad will not have a Retina display. After his initial reports claimed it would have a higher resolution screen, it seems his new sources are dismissing those rumors. So which is it?

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 Monday, this is Nick saying over and out.

Kevin Rose says no Retina display on iPad 2

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 05:08 PM PST

The debate over the screen resolution of the upcoming iPad 2 has taken a turn for the worse today. Digg founder, Kevin Rose has joined Daring Fireball's John Grubber, in the belief that the iPad 2 will not feature a Retina display. Here's the latest on the Apple iPad 2 display saga.

Depending who you ask, the iPad 2 is destined for resolution greatness or destined to remain constant. Both DigiTimes and Engadget have reported that the iPad 2 will offer a Retina display running at 2048 by 1536 pixels. With close ties to component makers, DigiTimes has an above average track record when it comes to nailing the fine print in Apple products. Meanwhile, Engadget is among the most highly respected tech blogs (other than Electricpig) and has an even better score card.

On the other front, Kevin Rose has his own set of sources within Apple who originally confirmed the display has a "higher dpi", but not technically a Retina display. Today he provided additional insight via SMS, saying the iPad 2 will have "no change in resolution". The news from Kevin Rose today corroborates a similar claim made by Daring Fireball's John Gruber who says an iPad with a Retina display is "too good to be true".

For now, there's evidence to support both claims. There are double-resolution UI elements for the iPad in the iBooks 1.1 application which would tie in nicely to the higher-resolution display. However, the cost of such a high resolution would be very difficult for Apple to maintain the current pricing. For now, whether or not the iPad 2 will feature a Retina display is anyone's guess.

Do you think the Apple iPad 2 will feature a Retina display? Is this the feature that Apple must bring to the table to differentiate itself from the upcoming Android 3.0 tablets? Sound off.

via 9to5Mac

Sony Ericsson profits climb as handset shipments fall in Q4 2010

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 04:07 PM PST

Sony Ericsson, the joint venture between Japan's Sony and Sweden's Ericsson, has just reported its fourth quarter 2010 financial results. On the recovery were profits, reportedly $10.7 million — a significant improvement to the $225 million net loss reported in the year-ago period. On the decline were handset shipments, falling to 11.2 units — down 23 percent from the 14.6 million units posted in the fourth quarter of 2009.

It's no secret, Sony Ericsson needs to start updating their Android handsets. It took nearly eight months for the company's flagship X10 to be updated from Android 1.6 to Android 2.1, and there's still no telling when they'll land a 2.2 or 2.3 update. Slow updates were the likely cause of the fourth quarter drop in handset shipments. CEO Bert Nordberg said on the company's earnings conference call that they will try to use new products to "boost profitability and market share".

Here are some of the highlights of the fourth quarter 2010 financials: net profit was $10.7 million, up from the $225 million net loss reported in the year-ago period; sales fell to $2.05 billion, down from $2.35 billion in the year-ago period; global market share is three percent in units and five percent in value.

In terms of handsets, Sony Ericsson's overall handset shipments fell to 11.2 million units, down 23 percent from the 14.6 million posted in the fourth quarter of 2009. To combat the growing decline Sony Ericsson plans to streamline the portfolio and focus on higher-end smart phones. The average selling price of handsets dropped to $183 from $207 in the third quarter, which the company blames on price erosion, foreign exchange rates and product mix.

There's certainly plenty of room for improvement at Sony Ericsson and hopefully devices such as the Sony Playstation phone and the Xperia Arc will help the once dominant manufacturer return to the forefront of mobile technology. Do you think that Sony Ericsson still has a chance in the high-end smart phone game, or has the company missed the mark with their last line up of smart phones and now in a case of too little too late? Sound off.

via FierceWireless

Meg Whitman joins HP board of directors

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 03:27 PM PST

We just broke news on the shake up currently underway at Google, now it's time to talk HP. Hewlett Packard has announced a move to shake up its board of directors following the resignation of CEO Mark Hurd. Chairman Ray Lane has added five new directors including from eBay CEO Meg Whitman, here's what you need to know.

Anyway you dice it, HP's board has been under fire for years. The company recently suggested an independent review of the board's decision with Mark Hurd and now looks to Chairman Ray Lane to shake things up. The new directors include Shumeet Banerji, CEO of Booz & Company; Gary Reiner, former CEO of GE; Patricia Russo, former CEO at Alcatel-Lucent; Dominique Senequier, CEO AXA Private Equity; and Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay.

The new directors bring a combination of private equity expertise and a bit of tech savvy. This should prove very helpful for both acquisitions and in planning the future of the tech giant. As far as the current board is concerned, HP has confirmed that incumbent directors Joel Hyatt, John Joyce, Robert Ryan and Lucille Salhany won't stand for re-election.

In lighter news, HP is still on track to unveil their webOS tablets on February 9th at the "webOS event" in San Francisco. We'll be ready to "Think Big, Think Small, Think Beyond", and if our inside scoops are any indication, we know exactly what HP plans to unveil in a little over two weeks.

via HP

Gilette’s new 80 blade razor

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 03:07 PM PST

It had to happen. One razor manufacturer has gone completely loopy and crammed so many blades into their new razor that the others can’t compete. How are Wilkinson Sword going to fight back against this? Gillette’s new MagmaCore Extreme packs in 80 blades! 80! Thankfully, every single one of them is fictional, but this is still a genuine Gillette creation. Confused? Read on, see the ad, and we’ll explain.

Gillette’s marketing team haven’t lost the plot, instead they’re gently poking fun at themselves and the rest of the razor industry. “You might have seen our recent advertising which says “We will not be adding more blades” the company explains. “New Gillette Fusion ProGlide won’t have extra blades, it features better blades – and a better shave. But we thought it would be fun to let our imagination go wild and see what would happen if we did indeed, “just add more blades.”

The result is this spoof advert for a Gillette razor with 80 blades. Nice to see another company with a sense of humour, isn’t it?

Nintendo 3DS launch games review: first impressions

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 03:03 PM PST

The Nintendo 3DS launch games (or at least the ones that its deigned to show so far) are a pretty impressive bunch of titles with gameplay that makes the punch of that extra-dimension really worth having. But we can’t show you that. We can’t even show you the Nintendo 3DS screen in its conventional 2D mode. Around the vast warehouse on the outskirts of Amsterdam which Nintendo transmogrified into Nintendo 3DS launch world for the day, there were signs declaring ABSOLUTELY NO PHOTOGRAPHY OF SCREENS ALLOWED. Lucky we got our Nintendo 3DS hands on last year.

Now, trust us, we tried to snatch some snaps of the screen but Nintendo PR were quick to pounce and had hired in a veritable army of Nintendo 3DS t-shirt wearing goons to keep folk from taking snaps of the 3DS screen in action. So it is then that we bring you this preview of the Nintendo 3DS games lacking the visual evidence we’d usually love to give you of what the game will be like. Instead, here’s our run down of the 5 best games we saw, the one we wanted to play and the one you really shouldn’t bother with…

But first…

What is the Nintendo 3DS screen like?

It’s sharp in 2D mode with colours that really pop. Flick the slider into full 3D and the Nintendo 3DS suddenly gets a little trickier to handle. You need to get the viewing angle spot on for the effect to work at its best and some games suit the treatment more than others. Zelda and Nintendogs were both seriously enhanced by the 3D makeover but other titles like Steel Diver (a tech demo fleshed out into a full submarine game) and Dead Or Alive: Dimensions (the ‘highlights’ of the series rebaked with 3D) were underwhelming.

And now…the Nintendo 3DS launch games!

Pro-Evolution Soccer 3D

Pro-Evolution Soccer may have been erroneously described as Konami’s “most-exciting franchise” during the Nintendo 3DS launch (Metal Gear Solid holds that crown, surely?) but Pro-Evolution Soccer 3D was a great way to demonstrate the 3DS’s extra-dimensional smarts. It’s graphically sharp with visuals that are a big leap forward from DS versions of the game and the motion of players and gameplay are smooth with fluid passing and shots. The new player’s eye view (Player Cam) is also a great addition for making you feel more immersed in the game. The downside? Getting the right angle for the 3D effect to be at its best is tricky.

Dead Or Alive Dimensions

The fighting game makes its return after 5 years off the shelves and…it’s OK. The game delivers more of the same from a series that plundered its best ideas early on. There’s scantily clad women, insanely muscular male characters and Konami has banged pretty much every character you can think of into the game. If you’re a Dead Or Alive fan then adding 3D will just enhance your joy but for gamer’s without an allegiance to the franchise it’ll look frustratingly samey.

Nintendogs

It’s easy to be disparaging about Nintendogs and the other pet patting games but it’s not deserved. In Nintendogs on the 3DS, you get to play with more customisable animals and a clever use of face detection to make pets come to you when your face is closer and fear you if you’re new, makes for an intriguing experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

The Nintendo 3DS update of Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has great graphics that belie the age of the original game (Ocarina of Time is just over 12 years old). The camera angles can be a bit wayward at time but the 3D update is justified for a classic from Nitendo’s storied past.

Super Street Fighter IV 3D

Another port, Super Street Fighter IV 3D looks amazing on the Nintendo 3DS and comes with a novel camera placement (just over your character’s shoulder) and a range of moves that look amazing during battles. Unlike Dead Or Alive, Super Street Fighter IV 3D justified its extra-dimension with great aplomb.

Special mentions

Biggest disappointment

Steel Diver

Based on a tech demo that’s been doing the round for years, Steel Diver is a Nintendo 3DS game that comes off like the Hunt For Red October reimagined by a simpleton. It’s a really basic submarine adventure puzzle game with irritating controls and only the barest minimum of good use of 3D on show. You’d be hard pushed to spend more than few minutes with the game and more than any other, this is the Nintendo 3DS title that would give you a headache.

Most exciting upcoming game

Super Paper Mario 3D

Only visible behind glass, the Super Paper Mario 3D demo looked delightful with the flat planes of paper making the 3D effect most effective. With launch games arriving from March 25 up until E3, we’re hoping Super Paper Mario 3D will be one of the earlier titles. It’s the one that most old-school Nintendo fans will enjoy most and the 3D really does make a difference.

Jump into the comments and let us know: are you excited by the Nintendo 3DS launch titles? Which ones are you most looking forward to seeing?

Out March 25 | From around £229 | Nintendo

Kim Dae-Woo films “Age of Milk” with Galaxy S smartphone

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 02:57 PM PST

Following in the footsteps of Korean director Park Chan-wook's film "Night Fishing" which was shot entirely with iPhone 4s, another Korean director is taking a stab at using a smartphone to film a movie. Director Kim Dae-Woo's "Age of Milk" is the first professionally-made movie shot with a Samsung Galaxy S smartphone.

Part 1 of "Age of Milk" runs 12 minutes and 50 seconds, more than enough time to experience the power of using the Galaxy S for videography. Since the film was shot using the Samsung Galaxy S you can choose to watch the clip in up to 720P HD resolution. Overall, the quality looks very impressive and other than the frame rate, most wouldn't even notice it was shot with a smartphone.

What's next for the world of smartphone feature films? Anyone want to take a guess and which phone will be used to shoot a professional movie next?

via Akihabaranews

Drive your BMW with the Nokia C7

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 02:29 PM PST

The Nokia C7 might not be a flagship handset from the Finnish manufacturer, but being able to control your BMW with the phone certainly raises its mark. In conjunction with Nokia Asia, An Jiaxuan and his friend were able to demonstrate the potential of the C7 through a series of controlled tests – ultimately leading up to turning a BMW into a giant remote controlled car.

With just 20 days to code the software, An Jiaxuan and his friend began on a remarkable quest to realize their dream of controlling their BMW with the Nokia C7. Following the 20 days of coding, the tandem began testing the controls for seven subjects, ranging from dolls to air conditioning units, to ensure their software worked as desired.

When it came time to test the software on the BMW, the controls worked better than expected. In the video demonstration above you can see the team was successful in their efforts and even able to have a bit of fun at the same time. Ever wonder what it would be like to sit back and control your car as you sped by a parking enforcement officer?

For their next project, An Jiaxuan and his friend plan on using their software to control an airplane. A huge leap in complexity, but if anyone can get the job done, these two look like ones to do it. Anyone else want to take a driving test using their Nokia C7 to control the car instead of actually sitting in it? Sounds like a fun time.

via SymbianWorld

Google CEO Schmidt replaced by co-founder Page

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 01:39 PM PST

Google CEO and sometime tech boogeyman, Eric Schmidt, is to step aside as the internet giant's co-founder Larry Page becomes CEO on April 4.

Schmidt, who has drawn criticism in recent months over his stances on security and privacy, will become Google's executive chairman while Page takes charge of day to day operations.

As Google announced the change, Schmidt tweeted "Day-to-day adult supervision no longer needed!"

Meanwhile, Page said Schmidt has done “an outstanding job leading Google for the last decade. The results speak for themselves.”

Facebook: improved mobile app for feature phones

Posted: 20 Jan 2011 07:57 AM PST

Facebook has announced on the Facebook Blog the launch of a new mobile app for feature phone users. Mark Heynen, a program manager at Facebook, (who apparently “still loves his flip phone) said: “Smartphones have offered better features for sharing with friends but aren’t used by most people around the world… The Facebook for Feature Phones app works on more than 2,500 devices from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG and other manufacturers.” The new Facebook mobile app improves navigation from the home screen, better contact synchronization, and fast scrolling of photos and friend updates.