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Android loves BlackBerry PlayBook, CTIA awards, Galaxy Tab 10.1: US Update
Duke Nuke Forever delayed: here we go again
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 actually thicker than iPad 2?
HTC EVO 3D and Galaxy Tab 10.1 walk away winners at CTIA Wireless 2011
HTC Scribe technology welcomes third party developers
BlackBerry PlayBook plays nice with Android apps
iPad 2 launch, Nokia E7 and an Apple TV toppled: Teatime Tech
Digital Stream DPS-1000 review: Better than the Apple TV
iPad 2: Why it’s the tradesman’s tablet of choice
Nokia E7 UK pre-orders open: Will you stick with Symbian?

Android loves BlackBerry PlayBook, CTIA awards, Galaxy Tab 10.1: US Update

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 05:46 PM PDT

Hot off the press, it's your morning dose of tech news. In today's US Update we kick things off with a press release from RIM confirming the BlackBerry PlayBook will run Android apps. Then we jump on over to Laptop Magazine's CTIA Wireless awards where the EVO 3D walked away with top honors and more.

The BlackBerry Playbook will support both BlackBerry Java and Android apps. RIM has outlined the details in a press release this morning. HTC has confirmed their Scribe technology, the magic behind that pen on the HTC Flyer, will be available for third party developers.

The HTC EVO 3D took top honors at CTIA Wireless, earning the best in show and best smartphone awards by Laptop Magazine. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was also a winner, earning the best tablet award. In other Galaxy Tab 10.1 news, we have images that show the Galaxy Tab 10.1 on hand at CTIA Wireless is thicker than the iPad 2. Did Samsung throw us for a loop?

Last up this morning is news on the Duke Nukem Forever release. Unfortunately it appears we'll be waiting even longer than expected as Gearbox software released a video this morning confirming the change of plans. The US release is set for June 14 and the international release will be June 10. That wraps up the latest and greatest in the tech world this morning. As always I'm Nick Marshall and I'll see you again tomorrow.

Duke Nuke Forever delayed: here we go again

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 05:37 PM PDT

We've developed quite the love hate relationship with Duke Nukem Forever. After years of waiting, 14 to be exact, we were finally promised Randy Pitchford (Gearbox president) that the game would be released May 3. Today, the game of games has been delayed until June 14 in the US and June 10 internationally.

Sometimes I wonder if my growing desire to play Duke Nukem Forever will be the death of me. As a rumor the game sat on a shelf in my mind for years, but once the announcement became official last year, I knew it was destiny. Some may say it's ironic that I've been a fan of a game which has won Wired's Vaporware of the Year Award more than once, but my friends — that's love.

Not quite a very special message from Gearbox Software, but at least they have a sense of humor with the whole release date fiasco. We run and gun in June my friends, I'll be joining in on June 14th when the game launches in the US.

via PCMag

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 actually thicker than iPad 2?

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 04:56 PM PDT

As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. Photos of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the iPad 2 side-by-side from CTIA Wireless this week have us confused. As the self-described "world's thinnest and lightest tablets", along with a spec sheet to back the claim, is the Galaxy Tab 10.1 actually thinner than the iPad 2?

Two photos were released this afternoon showing the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 next to the Apple iPad 2. Without a doubt, the iPad 2 is thinner. On paper, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 should best the iPad 2's thinness by a narrow margin. However, in the real world it appears this is not the case. What's the deal?

The most likely explanation is that Samsung was only showing off prototypes of the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 at CTIA Wireless. Since the iPad 2 is a final production unit, we'd imagine even Apple had to shave off a sliver or two before hitting the assembly line.

We'll have to wait until we get our hands on a Galaxy Tab 10.1 retail unit before rendering an official verdict. Hopefully the Galaxy Tabs hit the cardio machines before June 8th.

via InformationWeek

HTC EVO 3D and Galaxy Tab 10.1 walk away winners at CTIA Wireless 2011

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 04:23 PM PDT

Drumroll please. The HTC EVO 3D is the hands-down favorite at CTIA Wireless 2011, taking home the best smartphone and best in show awards. Meanwhile the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 received top honors as the best tablet. Here's the full list of winners for Best of CTIA Wireless 2011, selected by Laptop magazine.

We've taken care of the best smartphone, best in show and best tablet awards. The best business app goes to ContentProtect Mobile Security Suite — not surprising given the growing number of malware threats. Gogobeans won the award for best entertainment app while the fresh and clean Jabra Freeway was the best accessory. Last up was Wysips, winning the award for best enabling technology.

Given the amazing specs of the HTC EVO 3D, do you think anyone else stood a chance in the CTIA Wireless awards for best smartphone and best in show? Sound off.

via Laptop Magazine

HTC Scribe technology welcomes third party developers

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 04:05 PM PDT

HTC has opened the door for third party developers hoping to get their sketch on with the company's Scribe technology. The technology will first grace the HTC Flyer by way of an optional pen accessory, complete with a pressure-sensitive tip, ready for action with the tablet's built in apps like Sketchbook and Notes.

The HTC Flyer is the first Android tablet that works with a pen. At first glance, the Flyer looks to uses a stylus like a first-generation Palm PDA. However, HTC's Keith Nowak is quick to point out that the Flyer uses a pen, not a stylus. "A stylus is just a dead stick. A stylus is used for navigation, but you don't need the pen to navigate the Flyer".

The magic of the HTC Flyer is not the pen, it's the technology behind the pen — Scribe. According to Keith Nowak, "[Scribe] will be opened up to third-party development". The first thing that comes to mind is the gaming potential of a pressure-sensitive accessory.

Even if the extend of third party development was using the pen to play Fruit Ninja, I think we'd be on to something big. What applications do you see in the near future for third party developers and HTC's Scribe technology?

via AndroidGuys

BlackBerry PlayBook plays nice with Android apps

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 03:42 PM PDT

The rumors are true, RIM has come forward this afternoon with details on the BlackBerry PlayBook application support. Both BlackBerry Java and Android apps will grace the slate launching April 19th in North America. Say hello to over 200,000 Android apps my PlayBook friends.

Here's the scoop. For Android developers hoping to cash in on the PlayBook there will be two optional "app players". Put simply, these "app players" allow you to download BlackBerry Java apps and Android apps (version 2.3) and run them on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

For existing BlackBerry and Android developers, RIM has promised quick and easy porting to the BlackBerry Tablet OS "thanks to a high degree of API compatibility". Now the catch, the new app players will not be available for demo until BlackBerry World in early May. Also, the Android apps mentioned in the press release are version 2.3, Gingerbread.

A bittersweet announcement, we know, but still promising nonetheless. Having access to Android apps on the BlackBerry PlayBook should certainly spark some interest, don't you think?

April 19 | RIM via engadget

iPad 2 launch, Nokia E7 and an Apple TV toppled: Teatime Tech

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 10:54 AM PDT

Is your alarm clock set yet? Apple’s iPad 2 launches in the UK tomorrow, and we’ve got all the details on it plus much more for you before you head home, right here in our teatime tech news roundup.

First up, there’s no avoiding Apple’s slate. It’s going on sale at various locations across the country tomorrow, so we’ve gathered all the essential details you need to know about it right here. We also got an unusual perspective on it, and found out how the tablet could help tradesmen boost their small businesses.

Over in mobile meanwhile, Nokia’s flagship phone, the Nokia E7, went up for pre-order in the UK, but is it already too late for this beautiful handset, cursed with a terminal operating system?

Finally, we reviewed the Digital Stream DPS-10000 media streamer – turns out it’s quite the catch.

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

Digital Stream DPS-1000 review: Better than the Apple TV

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 10:40 AM PDT

The Digital Stream DPS-1000 isn’t the smallest media streamer we’ve ever seen. It’s far from the most beautiful, and it lacks the smooth, sleek interface of the new Apple TV. But unless you own a complete array of iOS devices for AirPlay streaming, we’d still recommend it over Cupertino’s own attention grabbing set top box. Read on for our Digital Stream DPS-1000 review and we’ll explain why.

In the same vein as the Asus O!Play HD2, the Digital Stream DPS-1000 is a low price (£89.99) little box that sits under your telly, and streams media from the internet and your local network through to your flatscreen.

It’s certainly not as powerful as the Boxee Box, and lacks the IPTV offerings of the Sony PlayStation 3, but, it’s markedly cheaper – it’s the sort of thing we can see tech savvy teens and young adults installing in their parents’ living rooms to give them BBC iPlayer and shut them up. In a good way.

Buy the Digital Stream DPS-1000 now

Design and build

It's in offensive enough, if cheap looking

The Digital Stream DPS-1000 isn’t as outlandish as the Boxee Box, as gorgeous as the second generation Apple TV or as mutely compact as Western Digital’s HD Media Players. It’s simply a metal shell lacerated with “speed” holes, and a black front face. You can park it under the telly and forget about it, as it’s far smaller than your average PVR. Around the back however, it still finds space for HDMI-out, Ethernet, two USB ports and a SCART socket if you’re still kicking it with a cathode-ray boobtube, so it’ll work on almost any telly.

I think you should see a doctor, that swelling doesn't look healthy

Sadly, the remote is a catastrophe. Now don’t get us wrong, the buttons are all laid out correctly. It’s just we’ve never seen any bit of consumer electronics which looks quite so much like a root vegetable. The bulbous end with which you grip it is an offence to our sensibilities. The keyboard button, which brings up an on screen QWERTY, is also rather picky and choosy about which apps it’ll let you do this in – more on that below though.

Best media streamer Top 5

Other than the irksome problem of typing in login details with a remote control (Which you only need to do once, and you can have several profiles for different users), set up was painless. That is if you’re plugging it straight into your router for a hard wired connection. The Digital Stream DPS-1000 is supposedly Wi-Fi friendly, but it’s bring your own dongle and we weren’t able to test this feature. Hope your router’s in your living room!

Software

The Onyx Media Browser is easy to use and feature packed

The big selling point of the Digital Stream DPS-1000 is the software it runs: Oregan Networks’ Onyx Media Browser. You might not have heard of it before, but it’s the secret sauce to the rather delightful Cello internet TVs sold by Marks & Spencers which we’ve lauded before. The experience is almost identical in fact – it’s just like buying one for a no-net telly and plugging it in.

Now we can’t say that it’s a particularly pleasant UI, or even very fast, but it is simple, and packed with options. As well as BBC iPlayer streaming, there’s support for Lovefilm, Blinkbox and a variety of video podcasts, plus home network streaming. Basically, almost everything the Apple TV does, and then some.

A la carte movie streaming? You got it.

BBC iPlayer and Lovefilm are exactly what we’ve come to expect from set top boxes: standard definition and slightly muddy picture, but they get the job done. Of much more note is Blinkbox, which allows you to stream new release movies a la carte (Lovefilm requires a subscription, and its online viewing selection is still rather meagre). We watched Due Date (£2.99 for 24 hours, with a 30 day limit on first pressing play) on it with no hitches, and playback began instantly. If you’re lacking a games console with movie download service, this is the next best thing, and will definitely come in handy on a rainy day.

Also worthy of note is the set top box’s local media playback skills. You can pop in a memory stick into one of the two USB ports and play back just about any file: to our surprise, it handle even HD MP4 and MLV files without stuttering, as well as your usual DivX AVI files.

You can play back just about any HD movie file off USB

You can also stream media from your home network. PCs will work just fine, and it played nicely with all our server software on our Mac, like EyeConnect and even PS3 Media Server, though only standard definition videos play over the network, it appears.

Sadly, the www. button on the Digital Stream Internet Television’s remote will set you up for a fall: there’s no web browser yet.

Verdict

Forget the Apple TV. Without an iPhone or iPad, it does nothing. The Digital Stream DPS-1000 does more for less, and is still head smackingly easy to set up.

If you have an Xbox 360 or Sony PS3, there’s no need for it, but if you’re new to this media streaming, IPTV lark, it’s a great entry point, and a perfect set top box to shut your technophobic parents up if they’re continually asking how to use this iPlayer thing. Bravo.

iPad 2: Why it’s the tradesman’s tablet of choice

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 09:52 AM PDT

The iPad 2 has plenty of apps to let you use it as a virtual easel, but would you laugh if we told you it was perfectly suited to help painters boost their business as well? Paint and precious touchscreens don’t sound like a great mix, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll see it’s a match made in heaven. Our sister site BizGene‘s laid out just why it’s the slate to use for tradesmen, and just as crucially, why they’d even need a tablet.

Check out the cogent argument right here, and if you do DIY for a living, perhaps consider letting them know your thoughts on what you’d like to see next. Will you be queuing up tomorrow?

Nokia E7 UK pre-orders open: Will you stick with Symbian?

Posted: 24 Mar 2011 09:08 AM PDT

When we first copped the Nokia E7 QWERTY smartphone back in September, we were blown away. It’s one of the most beautiful, astoundingly designed phones we’ve ever seen. You’d have thought then, that today’s news that it’s up for pre-order in the UK at long last would be cause for celebration. The thing is, with Nokia dumping Symbian for Windows Phone 7, is there any point investing in it any more? You tell us, right here.

Head on over to Nokia’s UK online store right now and you can pre-order a Nokia E7, either on a £35 per month contract on T-Mobile or Vodafone, £469 Pay As You Go or £499, for delivery in late April. That wait itelf is galling, especially since the Nokia E7 is shipping internationally already, but what we want to know is if you’ve been lusting after this metal beauty with a 4-inch AMOLED screen, do you still want it, knowing that Nokia is all but giving up on Symbian as a smartphone OS?

Nokia E7 review roundup

Last month, Nokia announced its earth shattering plans to switch to Windows Phone 7, but since we’re not expecting the first Microkia phones until next year, that’s a long wait in between, and Nokia is still hoping to sell plenty of smartphones in the meantime.

The good news is we’re expecting our own Nokia E7 review unit imminently, so you can expect a full verdict long before then. Will you be buying? Let us know in the comments.

(via NokNok)

Made for Life

Friday, 25 March 2011