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Google Navigation updated, Samsung bluetooth headsets, Angry Birds Facebook: US Update
HTC Flyer takes off with one million orders!
Angry Birds for Facebook lands next month
Dell planning massive M18x gaming laptop?
Samsung expands Bluetooth line: HM1610, HM3600 AND Modus 6450
Avoid traffic and save time with Google Maps Navigation beta
iPhone 5 antenna rumours, Fujifilm Finepix X100 hands on: Teatime Tech
Best iPhone apps: app of the day = Skyscanner
Fujifilm Finepix X100: hands on!
YouView: Sir Alan supplants Kip Meek

Google Navigation updated, Samsung bluetooth headsets, Angry Birds Facebook: US Update

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 04:00 PM PST

Top of the morning, it's time to start the day off right with a dose of tech news. In today's US Update we bring you the latest on the Google Maps Navigation beta update, unveils Samsung's 2011 Bluetooth headset line up, show you how to be the first to play Angry Birds for Facebook and more.

Tired of dealing with traffic on your daily commute and have a shiny new Android phone in your pocket? Alas, Google Maps Navigation beta now supports real time traffic when creating alternate routes. Just use the app as normal and the fastest route will now be calculated based on current and historical traffic data, real-time.

Samsung introduced three new Bluetooth headsets today: the HM1610, HM3600 and Modus 6450. The headsets are priced $39.99, $59.99 and $99.99 respectively and should be a great addition to their line. More hints of a possible 18-inch Dell M18x gaming laptop have surfaced on Dell's support site. The M18x is currently listed under Alienware Laptops, begging the question 'is the M18x for real?'

Angry Birds is headed to Facebook. On the official Angry Birds Facebook fan page, you can now sign up to be the first to know about availability and even gain access to exclusive content. The game's developers have confirmed Angry Birds for Facebook lands next month.

Wrapping up this morning's news is an update on the HTC Flyer. Acording to the Chinese news outlet Commercial Times, the HTC Flyer will be priced around $600 and HTC has already placed an order for one million units due by August 2011.

That wraps up the best in tech for this fine morning. As always I'm Nick Marshall and I'll be back tomorrow, thanks.

HTC Flyer takes off with one million orders!

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 03:02 PM PST

HTC is banking on the success of their inaugural tablet in unprecedented fashion. The tech giant has reportedly ordered one million units for August 2011 availability. According to the Chinese news outlet Commercial Times, the HTC Flyer will be priced around $600, cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Tab but more expensive than the entry level iPad 2 set to debut later this week.

A introductory order of one million units is certainly a good sign for HTC fans hoping to pick up their own Flyer this summer as is the $600 price point. Unfortunately without confirmation from HTC on either the release date or pricing, this information is speculation at best. Track records aside, assuming HTC follows through with an August release and the aforementioned pricing, would you consider the switch to a smaller, 7-inch display? Keeping in mind the Motorola Xoom and Apple iPad 2 should be widely available by the end of March, is August too far down the road to keep you interested in the HTC Flyer? Let us know in the comments.

via DigiTimes

Angry Birds for Facebook lands next month

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 02:43 PM PST

Want to be the first to know the exact moment Angry Birds for Facebook becomes available and gain access to exclusive content? We thought so. According to the official Angry Birds Facebook page, all you need to do is 'Like' their page and you're good to go.

More than 1.2 million people have clicked the 'Like' button on the official Angry Birds Facebook page. When the game goes live on the social network next month, even existing iOS and Android users should pay attention. According to Rovio's CEO Mikael Hed, "there will be completely new aspects to it that just haven't been experience in any other platform" and "the pigs will have a more prominent role".

If your Angry Bird playing has come to a grinding halt as of late, the new Facebook refresh might be exactly what the doctor ordered. With Angry Birds coming to Facebook, what will the future look like for the competition? I think Mafia Wars and Farmville just got a whole lot less interesting.

Coming Soon | Facebook | Angry Birds

Dell planning massive M18x gaming laptop?

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 02:17 PM PST

The eagle-eyed folks at geek.com have spotted a mysterious Alienware laptop listed in Dell's support page, dubbed the M18x. As the name suggests, this 18-inch laptop could be the creme de la creme for gaming enthusiasts hoping to bring a desktop experience on the road. According to the rumors, the screen on this bad boy would measure a whopping 18.4-inches diagonally.

A quick jump over to Dell's support site and as clear as day you'll see the M18x listed under the heading: Alienware Laptops. Clicking the link will send you over to the M17x support page and adjusting the url to /M18x/ lands you with a 404 page no found. Dell has denied rumors of the Alienware M18x laptop, but that hasn't stopped the forums.

The latest rumors hint at dual AMD 6970M (CrossfireX) or dual nVidia GTX 460M (SLI) graphics, but at this point it is all speculation. The ball is now in Dell's court. Anyone care to guess when we might see the Dell M18x gaming laptop become official. Feel free to drop your dream specs into the comments as well.

Coming Soon | Dell | TBD

Samsung expands Bluetooth line: HM1610, HM3600 AND Modus 6450

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 01:27 PM PST

Samsung has unveiled its Bluetooth offerings for 2011 boasting its new multi-point technology, voice commands, SoundAlive stereo-audio enhancements and even Android application support. There's three new models to choose from: the HM1610, HM3600 and Modus 6450, all priced under 61.48 GBP ($99.99).

First on the chopping block, the Samsung Modus 6450 dual handset with advanced stereo experience. The Modus 6450 can be used as a mono-style headset for placing calls or quickly transform to a stereo headset with the included stereo ear bud. Based on the HM3500, the Modus 6450 adds Android application support, voice command functionality and EQ settings. Other highlights include up to 6 hours of talk time, 180 hours of standby, dual-mic noise/echo cancellation, led display for battery/call status, active pairing and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. Pricing is set for $99.99

Next on the agenda, the Samsung HM3600. With on-ear design and advanced pairing options, the HM3600 also features dual mic noise reduction and echo cancellation, along with voice prompts, advanced multipoint technology, up to 9 hours of talk time, 300 hours standby, and only weighs 13 grams. The HM3600 is priced at $59.99.

Rounding out the group is the Samsung HM1610. As the most affordable of the group ($39.99), the HM1610 features near end enhanced audio technology, single-mic noise reduction and echo cancellation, wind noise reduction, active pairing, a2dp mono music streaming, bluetooth 3.0 +EDR and up to 6 hours of talk/250 hours standby mode.

Overall Samsung has a nice group of Bluetooth accessories to kick off 2011. Whether you go with the most advanced Modus 6450 or the basic HM1610, odds are you'll find something both affordable and functional to pair nicely with your smartphone. The real test awaits once we get review units in for these headsets.

Coming Soon | Samsung | $39.99 – $99.99

Avoid traffic and save time with Google Maps Navigation beta

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 01:02 PM PST

There is certainly a distinct advantage to owning an Android device — timely Google core app updates. In the latest Google Maps Navigation beta, Google has outdone itself with automatic routing based on real-time traffic conditions. The bottom line is that Google Maps Navigation is about to save you quite a bit of time on your daily commute.

Sometimes when apps are updated the interface or basic functions change. With Google Maps Navigation beta, the changes happen in the background, simply start Navigation as usual and choose your desired destination. Previously Navigation would simply choose the fastest route without taking traffic conditions into account.

The new algorithm applies current and historical traffic to select the fastest route. Now for the best news: the free update is now available in North America and Europe (where Navigation and real-time traffic data are available).

Out Now | Android Market | Free

iPhone 5 antenna rumours, Fujifilm Finepix X100 hands on: Teatime Tech

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 09:54 AM PST

Another day is drawing to a close, but before you hit the door and head home, grab a cuppa and sit down to browse through the afternoon's top tech stories: it's teatime tech time!

The iPad 2 has broken cover, so it's time to get excited about the next iOS gizmo: the iPhone 5, likely to launch in the summer. That may be a few months off, but the rumours are already beginning to waft around. The first one is that Apple is dropping the iPhone 4's glass back in favour of curvy aluminium, and that the Apple logo will act as the iPhone 5's antenna.

Next up, feast your peepers on our hands-on photos of the gloriously retro, gloriously high end Fujifilm Finepix X100, snapped earlier today at the Focus On Imaging show in Birmingham.

Need a bigger news fix? Head on over to the homepage and check out everything else we've covered today.

Best iPhone apps: app of the day = Skyscanner

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:09 AM PST

With Apple’s tendency to announce events at the drop of a hat and the profusion of conferences that are inconveniently not held in my living room, I often find myself booking flights at the last minute. Today’s best iPhone apps entry is a brilliant tool for dealing with that problem.

Skyscanner is one our must-have travel iPhone apps. It uses your iPhone’s GPS to find out where you are in the world and show you flight options from the nearest airports. It has data from 600 airlines and travel agents and pulls all the flight options you need together in one place. It also makes it really easy to share flight details with other people. To include that amount of handy functionality in a free app is pretty awesome.

Thanks to Luci for the tip

Out now | £free | iTunes

Fujifilm Finepix X100: hands on!

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:07 AM PST

The Fujifilm Finepix X100 is quite simply the most exciting thing the venerable camera-hawker has released in a long time, and I just got the chance to give this vintage snapper a poke and a prod at the Focus On Imaging show in sunny Birmingham.

It's a truly gorgeous piece of engineering that immediately brings to mind the classic 35mm cameras of yore. Solidly built, pleasingly hefty in the hand and dripping with understated elegance, the Fujifilm Finepix X100 is the equal of the Leica X1 in terms of build quality.

Despite being smaller than the Leica X1 (and half the price), the Fujifilm Finepix X100 sports a similar sensor: it's APS-C, the same size as the sensor in a DSLR. The dinky Fujinon lens has a maximum aperture of F/2 (set by twisting a dial) and a beautifully smooth manual focus ring. It also has a fixed focal length of 23mm, so there's no zoom.

There's an optical viewfinder with an electronic overlay, and this can be switched to a true through-the-lens electronic viewfinder if you wish. It's a lovely touch.

The Fujifilm Finepix X100 is due to launch at the end of March, with a price tag of £999.

YouView: Sir Alan supplants Kip Meek

Posted: 07 Mar 2011 07:44 AM PST

YouView is swapping its non-exec, ousting Kip Meek in favour of Sir Alan Sugar. That’s right, Meek has been fired in favour of professional finger-pointer and part-time gadget reviewer Suralan. We hope he takes his expertise on the subject of the Apple iPlayer with him.

YouView seems to be in a bad way. It’s now delayed until 2012, and even Meek is happy to step down and let Suralan take the reins. Meek said: “"It has been apparent for some time that the YouView board would benefit from additional expertise in consumer marketing and technology delivery. Lord Sugar clearly supplies this.”

Can Sir Alan Sugar save YouView? Shout out in the comments!