Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

HDHomeRun PRIME, Android 3.1 roll out, HTC Holiday: US Update
At&t has a pair of Android aces up its sleeve: HTC Holiday, HTC Lead
What is Apple planning to launch for its 10th retail anniversary?
Motorola Xoom WiFi models missing Android Market Movies tab?
Toshiba enters the ranks of pixel density elite, Retina display now second place
Silicon Dust HDHomeRun PRIME available for pre-order, Windows Media Center Narnia within reach
HTC Flyer review: A Galaxy Tab killer a tad too late
Samsung 3D video on demand launches, saves you from watching Megamind over and over again
Vodafone Smart budget Android phone outed: Is this the new Orange San Francisco?
LA Noire, Android tablet troubles and the Apple iPadMac: Lunchtime Lowdown

HDHomeRun PRIME, Android 3.1 roll out, HTC Holiday: US Update

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:22 PM PDT

Ladies and gentlemen feast your eyes on the top five stories breaking headlines and hearts this side of the pond. We kick things off with the release of the HDHomeRun PRIME, a networked CableCARD tuner which aims to please the media center enthusiast in your life. Android 3.1 is hitting some Motorola Xoom WiFi owners, but it's missing the Movie rental feature. We close the show with two new HTC smartphones that pack a punch, the HTC Holiday and Lead.

The Silicon Dust HDHomeRun PRIME is unlike any other solution on the market. Simply rent a multi-stream CableCARD from your provider, connect the HDHomeRun PRIME to your router, run the setup and you'll have three HD streams which you can access from any Windows machine in your home. Today, Toshiba introduced its 4-inch HD display, running at a jaw-dropping 720×1280 for an industry best 367ppi. Taking the title from Apple's Retina display is no small feat.

Owners of the Motorola Xoom WiFi edition are reporting the Movies tab is not available inside the Android Market. It appears Verizon Wireless customers with their 3G variant will be receiving the royal treatment this time around. This Thursday, May 19th is Apple's 10th retail anniversary and with it may come the launch of a new (or improved) product. BGR is reporting "Apple may be planning something big" and they've even outlined the logistics of the operation.

Not to be confused with the Samsung Infuse 4G, the HTC Holiday will be At&t's second giant Android smartphone with a 4.5-inch display (qHD). Powered by the Qualcomm 1.2 GHz dual-core MSM8660 chipset, the Holiday features a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera and 8-megapixel rear shooter all atop Google's latest, Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. That wraps up the latest and greatest in the world of tech news this fine morning. As always I'm Nick Marshall and I'll see you again tomorrow.

At&t has a pair of Android aces up its sleeve: HTC Holiday, HTC Lead

Posted: 16 May 2011 03:45 PM PDT

Queue the Karate Kid closing credits because here comes the best, around. At&t, thanks in part to HTC's master craftsmanship, will land two Android powerhouses very soon to make good on the its promise of 12 Android devices in 2011. The HTC Holiday and HTC Lead are two names worth getting acquainted with — let's see what these beasts are packing under the hood.

Not to be confused with the Samsung Infuse 4G, the HTC Holiday will be At&t's second giant Android smartphone with a 4.5-inch display (qHD). Powered by the Qualcomm 1.2 GHz dual-core MSM8660 chipset, the Holiday features a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera and 8-megapixel rear shooter all atop Google's latest, Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. As standard with top-tier smartphones, the Holiday features Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi b/g/n. No word on LTE 4G connectivity, but seeing as Verizon holds a commanding lead in that department we wouldn't expect more than HSPA+, ala pseudo 4G.

Next up, the HTC Lead, a 4.3-inch WVGA packing Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread workhorse. Like the Holiday, the Lead also uses Qualcomm's 1.2 GHz dual-core MSM8660 chipset, but looks come up a bit short in the photo department. There's no front-facing camera in sight, the rear shooter is 5-megapixel and there's 768MB of RAM onboard. Bluetooth 3.0 is a go, as is WiFi b/g/n support.

So which will it be — the HTC Holiday or HTC Lead? Expect more details very soon on both of these handsets along with additional roll outs to a country/network near you.

via 911Sniper | PocketNow

What is Apple planning to launch for its 10th retail anniversary?

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:59 PM PDT

This Thursday, May 19th is Apple's 10th retail anniversary and with it may come the launch of a new (or improved) product. BGR is reporting "Apple may be planning something big" and they've even outlined the logistics of the operation. The question remains — what is Apple planning to launch next Monday?

A few weeks ago Apple updated the iMac line, adding second-generation Intel Sandy Bridge processors, Thunderbolt ports and new graphics cards. A month before that we saw the MacBook Pro line refreshed. Traditionally Apple holds an iPod event (Music) and iPhone event (WWDC) so we wouldn't expect either line to be updated.

This leaves the MacBook Air, Mac Mini or Mac Pro. If we had to pick a favorite, the Mac Mini would be the most logical choice. The Core2Duo chip is in desperate need of a refresh and although the MacBook Air also uses a similar chip, the flash-based storage more than compensates. Another possibility is that Apple is unveiled an entirely new product or service. Could this be key to unlocking the mysterious server farm on the East Coast?

If BGR's source is correct, Apple employees will begin putting up black curtains at retail stores this weekend. A mandatory meeting on Sunday, May 22nd, will lead up to Monday's launch and you can rest assure we'll be on hand to find out exactly what Apple has planned.

So what will it be: Mac Pro, Mac Mini, MacBook Air, or a new product or service? Let the voting begin!

Coming Soon | Apple | TBD

Motorola Xoom WiFi models missing Android Market Movies tab?

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:37 PM PDT

The Android 3.1 update rollout currently underway promises performance improvements, browser stability, new USB device support and Movies. Unfortunately, owners of the Motorola Xoom WiFi edition are reporting the Movies tab is not available inside the Android Market. It appears Verizon Wireless customers with their 3G variant will be receiving the royal treatment this time around.

Renting movies on the Motorola Xoom and then connecting the tablet to a HDTV via HDMI does not sound like a bad idea. After receiving the Android 3.1 update on our Xoom review unit this weekend (Verizon edition), we had the pleasure of browsing the movie rentals (priced $1.99 to $4.99 in HD) and must admit, it's a slick interface.

Over on the official Motorola support forums, the following message was delivered: "The new Movies tab in the Android Market will not appear on updated Wi-Fi-only Motorola Xooms immediately after the update. Google will make that available in the near future. Motorola Xooms from Verizon will be able to use the Movies service after the 3.1 update."

Fellow Xoom owners in attendance who have received the Android 3.1 update — we need to hear from you. Will the delayed movie rental functionality make or break the Android 3.1 experience? Also, have you noticed any significant performance boosts since updating? Sound off.

Coming Soon | Motorola | Free

Toshiba enters the ranks of pixel density elite, Retina display now second place

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:19 PM PDT

The race to produce a display with the highest pixel density has a new leader. Today, Toshiba introduced its 4-inch HD display, running at a jaw-dropping 720×1280 for an industry best 367ppi. Taking the title from Apple's Retina display is no small feat, let's find out more about Toshiba's amazing screen.

Toshiba's amazing 4-inch HD display not only bests the Retina display in sheer pixel density, it also delivers a 1500:1 contrast ratio and 176 degree wide-viewing angle. While these new displays are not the highest ppi on record, they look poised to be the most accessible, at least at wide-scale consumer level. The question is which smartphone manufacturer will land the highly-coveted partnership?

For those not interesting in carting around a 4-inch smartphone, Toshiba also unveiled a 3.3-inch screen running at 480×864. Thought it falls short of its 4-inch brother's 367ppi, the 3.3-inch screen still scores a respectable 300ppi. Expect more display announcements this week as the 2011 Society for Information Display (SID) International Symposium continues.

Coming Soon | Toshiba | TBD

Silicon Dust HDHomeRun PRIME available for pre-order, Windows Media Center Narnia within reach

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:00 PM PDT

The elephant in the room for Windows Media Center users has long been availability of native HD content from cable providers. Following ATI's brief stint with external CableCARD tuners, workarounds were achieved by using the Hauppauge HD-PVR or more recently, the Centon InfiniTV 4. Today, a new and affordable networked CableCARD solution exists, say hello to the Silicon Dust HDHomeRun PRIME.

Windows Media Center (WMC) is a beautiful piece of software included with every Windows build since Media Center 2005. In Microsoft's latest, Windows 7, WMC offers an unparalleled user interface, besting even the latest TiVo boxes. Unfortunately, until today, being able to bring your HD cable content in WMC is easier said than done.

The Silicon Dust HDHomeRun PRIME is unlike any other solution on the market. Simply rent a multi-stream CableCARD from your provider, connect the HDHomeRun PRIME to your router, run the setup and you'll have three HD streams which you can access from any Windows machine in your home. If you have a Xbox 360 you can add the console to as an Extender inside the Media Center Setup and share those same HD tuners. You'll also be able to share your recorded TV library throughout your home.

If that's not the dream Windows Media Center experience, we're not exactly sure what is. It's just too bad it took an extra five years to reach this point. The Silicon Dust HDHomeRun PRIME is now available for pre-order with an official release date set for July 25.

July 25 | Silicon Dust | $249.99 (£154.38)

HTC Flyer review: A Galaxy Tab killer a tad too late

Posted: 16 May 2011 08:45 AM PDT

The HTC Flyer is a very different type of slate computer. It’s no iPad or Eee Pad, but a virtual Filofax designed to be carried at all times: it’s almost a return to the era of the Palm Pilot and the PDA. But on crack. Read on and find out whether it’s worth slapping down for one here in our HTC Flyer review.

Super slate design

Any smartphone fan could probably have guessed what the Flyer looked like long before its unveiling in February: those hallmark handsome curves and smudge free silver are HTC through and through. That’s no bad thing though, and we love the look and feel of the 420g device. Sure, at 13.2mm deep it’s not thin but you can fit it in your pocket, and the prerequisite ports, such as the micro USB slot for charging, and 3.5mm audio are all present and accounted for.

The top edge is a little creaky (it’s removable to get at the SIM card hole and microSD slot) but the bezel will make you forgive all. It’s the first we’ve seen on a tablet to sport capacitive buttons that move as you do, from the bottom to the side as you move to landscape. It’s a lovely little touch which makes using an Android OS designed for mobiles all the more easier on a larger tablet.

As for the screen, it’s a pleasant enough LCD panel, with a 1024×600 resolution. It’s not as juicy as Asus’s IPS display on the Eee Pad Transformer, but colours and viewing angles are respectable, and the capacitive touch response is never in question.

We’ve said this before, but we can’t overstate just how different in dimensions 7-inch tablets are to the likes of the iPad: you could fit two Flyers onto the top of one of Apple’s devices, they’re that much titchier. As such, it’s much more suited as an on the go, rather than on the sofa device: the smaller size makes typing easier, and the 3G connection (in the high end model) helps here too.

Gingerbread going stale ?

The HTC Flyer runs Android 2.3, AKA “Gingerbread”, rather than Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” designed for tablets, which we’ve seen in larger efforts from Motorola, Asus and Acer already. On paper, this should have some drawbacks: Android 2.3 doesn’t natively support such a high resolution, and apps can end up looking rather stretched, failing to take advantage of all the screen space a larger slate offers.

That’s not the case here though: HTC’s removed the stupid dialling phone functionality of the Samsung Galaxy Tab and included its HTC Sense overlay, and it works a treat here. As well as the wizzy scrolling homescreens and Facebook and Twitter integration of every HTC Android phone, you get all the awesome features HTC includes on top of Android, including HTC Locations mapping, its Connected Media streaming DLNA app and a few new ones, including an eReader apps and HTC Watch.

This last one is worthy of note, since it’s a first for Android in the UK (US users are due a Google Movies on demand app shortly): an app to rent movies. At the time of publication, HTC still hadn’t switched on the service but it’s expected to go live any day now, and the trailers available to view give you an idea of what to expect. In short, you can rent and download new release titles to your tablet, just as you can on an iPad with iTunes. We’ve seen it running on the HTC Sensation, and we have to say, it’s a great option to have if you’re facing a long flight – it’s just a pity that there’s no way to shove these to a TV (like an HDMI port, for instance).

Check out our best Android tablet Top 5 here

That cross-platform functionality of Sense is a double-edged sword however. While the HTC Flyer runs Android 2.3 rather than Honeycomb (HTC says an update is coming, but we’ll see), the fact remains that it doesn’t do much more than an Android phone. You don’t get the extra Honeycomb apps and seamless notification system, just the same apps, same games, same experience as on a smartphone. Hell, even file format support is the same (Flash video, but not MKV clips, which the slower Galaxy Tab has no problem playing back).

As such, if you have an Android blower already, the HTC Flyer is a much harder sell. If you don’t however, you’re in for a treat with Android: it’s full of apps and wondrous extensions.

Doodle pad delight

As if to make up for the lack of Honeycomb, HTC has included an impressive stylus with the HTC Flyer. A quick primer: modern capacitive touchscreens respond to large areas, rather than precise points, of pressure, which is why they’re easier to use with fingers than those old Windows Mobile handsets with their cruddy ear-bud stylii. Unusually, HTC has included one with the HTC Flyer, and it’s really quite marvellous: tap the screen and you can simply draw on top of what’s being shown, whether it’s a web page or an eBook. These can then be saved to a notes service (with extra text, if you need) that integrates with our favourite cloud scrapbook, Evernote.

We had great fun jotting down memos and drawing sketches, but we can see a much more potent use as a tool for notetaking: you could jot down lecture notes while grabbing links to relevant material online. It’s the first time a device with a stylus has felt like it has a purpose in a good long time.

Buy the HTC Flyer now

We’re not going to complain that only HTC’s own bundled apps support saved doodles, since we can’t expect other developers to get onboard instantly, and you can still grab screenshots with your writing on any app you like. If we have one gripe, it’s that there’s nowhere to put the damn stylus, bar a little cloth ring on the outside of the included case. Considering it’s rather expensive (£47.99 on its own), we can see this becoming a real bugbear on such a portable device. Otherwise, HTC’s magic tablet pen is a force for good.

Camera skills and speed performance

The five megapixel camera on the HTC Flyer is, as you might have guessed, really quite bobbins. Which is fine. Tablets aren’t meant to take stellar photos (See our iPad 2 Flickr analysis for proof), so we’ll settle for washy stills for the option of a 1.3MP front cam for web chats. The Flyer runs Android 2.3.3 rather than 2.3.4 so video chat isn’t supported in Google Talk, sadly, but there are other free apps which still make use of it. 720p video samples from the rear camera met with a bit more success however: we’ll have a HD video sample clip up online for you to peruse soon, once YouTube processes the upload.

As for speed itself: the 1.5GHz CPU inside may not be a dual-core chip, but it’s certainly fast enough to handle any Android games and apps on the Market with no stutter. Of course, that you can’t play a lot of HD video clips on it due to lack of codec support covers up its weaknesses: it is however, more than fast enough for everything else. Battery life was also very pleasing: we got a solid day and half of use with 3G, Wi-Fi and Syncing all on.

Verdict

There’s no question that this is the best 7-inch tablet on the market right now. Comparisons with the iPad and 10-inch slates are inevitable, but are only relevant because both are slightly luxurious product types that people want rather than need. If you need something with power and portability you can get away with wearing in a back pocket and not a backpack, this is it.

That said, it is awfully expensive, and right now, it’s missing the ace extra features and potential of Honeycomb. If a super pocketable tablet is what you’re after, we wouldn’t blame you for opting for the cheaper and freshly Gingerbread-filled Samsung Galaxy Tab instead.

Samsung 3D video on demand launches, saves you from watching Megamind over and over again

Posted: 16 May 2011 06:57 AM PDT

Samsung has launched a 3D video on demand service for its web connected smart TVs in the UK, letting you at long last watch more than the same film your 3D Blu-ray player came bundled with for the umpteenth time. Read on for the details.

Let’s just put a pin on the topic of whether 3D movies are enjoyable to watch or not: it’s hard to dispute that the current line up for 3D Blu-ray discs are rather lacklustre. Piranha 3D? Monsters vs Aliens? Yeah, you’re alright thanks.

So it’s good to see Samsung trying to address this with a new avenue for 3D content, beyond Blu-ray and premium TV channels: video on demand. Its free Explore 3D app for 3D Samsung smart TVs just rolled out today in the UK, with 20 videos for you to gawp at for nada – Samsung says 70 will be available by the end of the year.

Regardless of their quality, the move is an important step: 3D Blu-rays are far too expensive and not everyone likes golf, 3D or no, so a free and easy source for stereoscopic viewing could make the technology much more appealing to the mass market.

The list of supported TVs is listed below: let us know in the comments what you make of it.

8000
D7000
D6500
D6100
D8000
D6900
D5520

Out Now | £free | Samsung

Vodafone Smart budget Android phone outed: Is this the new Orange San Francisco?

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:45 AM PDT

The big red network’s just announced a new Android smartphone, the Vodafone Smart. It’s a sequel of sorts to the rather woeful Vodafone 845, but this time it’s sporting much more spruced up specs: though the screen is a mere 2.8-inches wide with a 320×240 resolution, it is capacitive so it reacts to finger presses rather than a fusty stylus. It’s also running a more recent version of Android 2.2, and comes with various back plates you can switch in and out.

The Vodafone Smart will be available on Pay As You Go on release, though a launch date and price are still TBC. However, it’ll have to come in well under £90 if it’s to beat the ZTE-made Orange San Francisco, which packs more pixels per pound than any other handset we’ve ever tested. We’ll keep you posted, and in the meantime click the gallery for images.

LA Noire, Android tablet troubles and the Apple iPadMac: Lunchtime Lowdown

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:14 AM PDT

It’s been another busy morning in tech: let’s see just what went down in our bite-sized, super digestible lunchtime lowdown news round up, shall we? Read on, chaps and chapesses.

First up, let’s talk computing. Nvidia’s pull-no-punches boss has admitted that Android tablet sales haven’t lived up to his expectations so far, while on the Apple side of things, we caught sight of some intriguing designs that hint at a future iPad/iMac hybrid computer.

In gaming meanwhile, the PlayStation Network is back online of a fashion, and we asked you whether the security crisis has left its reputation in tatters, while LA Noire nears its release date: we’ve got everything you need to know about the game here in our feature.

Finally, in mobile, Samsung confirmed details about the global roll out of Android 2.3 on the Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab slate.

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