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Apple iCloud, PS Vita is NGP, Apple MVNO: US Update
Last.fm Friend Finder rolls out: Find your mates in an instant
Kogan Agora Chromium OS notebook first to hit the UK – next week!
Motorola Atrix now available on T-Mobile, Orange exclusivity ends
Apple MVNO patent: Will Apple be your official iPhone carrier?
PS Vita is the NGP, just ask Sony!
4G in the UK explained: The state of the nation
Sign ups now open for Google TV Slingbox beta program
Apple iCloud update: Google Earth goes live, domain registered, video streaming confirmed
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Android 3.1 UK update: turn your tablet into a games console

Apple iCloud, PS Vita is NGP, Apple MVNO: US Update

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:45 AM PDT

The work week is winding to a close, but the tech news is pouring in this afternoon. We've got the latest scoop on Apple's iCloud service, Sony has all but confirmed the NGP will be called the PS Vita and Apple could be planning its own MVNO network for the iPhone. This and more on today's US Update.

This afternoon Apple's $1b data center in North Carolina appeared on Google Maps. After being blurred from Google's service late last year, today's news could only mean one thing — this is where iCloud servers will be hosted. Slingbox is now taking sign ups for the Google TV beta program. The company is reportedly launching a flash-based web site optimized for Google TV products to access both the Slingbox Solo and Pro-HD.

Sony's E3 teaser page has revealed the latest in a long series of NGP leaks — the NGP will be called the PS Vita. Hidden within the HTML code of the site are explicit references to PS Vita, which combined with the leaks earlier this week could mean only one thing — NGP = PS Vita. Apple's 2006 MVNO patent is back in the headlines this afternoon after the company filed for an extension. We've got the scoop on how the MVNO would work and why we desperately need it to happen.

Last up this morning is the release of the Motorola Atrix on T-Mobile. After promising you a Wednesday launch, the carrier has delivered and you can pick up your dual-core super phone starting today for free on all 24-month contract of £35.75 or more per month. That wraps up the latest and greatest in this fine world of tech news. As always I'm Nick Marshall and I'll see you tomorrow.

Last.fm Friend Finder rolls out: Find your mates in an instant

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:32 AM PDT

We’ve just confirmed that Last.fm‘s Friend Finder service, which scours your Facebook friends and email contacts to match them with Last.fm users, is now in beta for subscribers. A public release for all users is expected “soon”, a Last.fm developer tells us. If you’re a paid up user, you can test it out at last.fm/findfriends and let us know how you get on.

Kogan Agora Chromium OS notebook first to hit the UK – next week!

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT

The Kogan Agora Chromium OS notebook is up for order, with the first units sneaking into the UK next week, making it the first to go on sale here, and beating Google’s official Chrome OS netbook partners to the punch.

On paper, it sounds a bit miserable: for £289 you get an 11.6-inch screen, 30GB SSD, 1GB of RAM, a 1.3GHz Celeron processor, 3.5 hour battery and HDMI out. But with the open source backbone of Chrome OS, Chromium OS installed, that should be more than enough – so long as you’re in reach of Wi-Fi, since there’s no 3G SIM card slot, and the browser-based operating system relies heavily on the cloud.

Whether Google’s endorsed Samsung And Acer Chromebooks can provide a superior experience, we’ll just have to wait and see – we’ll let you know with full reviews soon.

Out next week | £269 | Kogan

Motorola Atrix now available on T-Mobile, Orange exclusivity ends

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT

As promised, the super phone that's actually a laptop trapped inside a phone is now available on T-Mobile. With the carrier's other half (Orange) ending its exclusivity period, the dual-core Motorola Atrix can be had for free on 24-month contracts of £35.75 or more per month. If long-term commitments are not your thing, you can take the Atrix home for £50 to £350 with a short or no-term stints.

We've had our fair share of hands-on time with the Motorola Atrix and it's dual-core superpowers, but today all of T-Mobile's customers can join in. With a price that's right, the Atrix should receive a warm reception for anyone looking to replace a smartphone and laptop with a one-two punch. For now, the laptop dock is not listed on T-Mobile's websites, but we imagine it'll appear shortly somewhere in the neighborhood of £299.99 (the same price Orange currently charges). A hefty fee, we know, but still a lot cheaper than buying a separate laptop.

So, who is heading out to pick up the Motorola Atrix today? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think.

via AndroidCentral

Apple MVNO patent: Will Apple be your official iPhone carrier?

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 07:15 AM PDT

Apple's stronghold on the iPhone ecosystem could be mounting, at least if the company's latest patent filing comes to fruition. In a move which looks to establish the Cupertino-based company as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), it is not outside the realm of possibility your next iPhone could be powered by the Apple cellular network — worldwide virtual network comprised of at least three traditional carriers.

Just have a look for yourself at the image above for an idea of the propose Apple MVNO layout. At the helm will be Apple, the MVNO Server, which connects through three separate Interfaces to three separate Network Operators, better known as carriers. In order for the proposed system to work, Apple has also introduced its own Home Location Register — a central database where all networks' customer SIM card details are stored.

With dozens of carriers to piggyback on, the Apple MVNO could establish itself as the official iPhone network of choice. As an iPhone customer the proposed MVNO could be a godsend. Imagine your iPhone could seamlessly hop between carriers depending on network capacity. The Apple MVNO is a sound concept; it improves QoS, reduces carrier load and promotes a global network. Unfortunately, as Unwired View points out, Apple filed the original patent way back in 2006 and just today filed an extension. With that being said, as an At&t iPhone user, the Apple MVNO couldn't come soon enough.

via Unwired View

PS Vita is the NGP, just ask Sony!

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:45 AM PDT

Uncertainty over the official name for Sony's NGP looks to be settling. In the latest twist of events, evidence has surfaced in the HTML code on Sony's E3 teaser page which explicitly mentions the PS Vita. We've heard the NGP referred to as the PS Vita once before, but this time it comes straight from Sony — the NGP is the PS Vita and here's why.

Let's begin with a recap. Earlier this week Game Pundit did some digging around in domain names and tracked down some leaked images suggesting the Sony NGP would be called the PS Vita. Today, NeoGAF user go freak took to the source code on Sony's E3 teaser page and found the page was "stuffed with HTML that points to a PS Vita".

In addition, a Google Search shows PS Vita is a registered trademark of Sony. While absolute certainty is impossible at this point, the evidence mounting is rather strong. However, there is one other possibility — much like the movie 'Inception', PS Vita is a codename of the NGP codename of the PlayStation Portable.

Expect official word from Sony on the NGP/PS Vita at E3 this month. If you're looking for the source code yourself, it has since been modified by Sony (likely a cover up).

via Kotaku

4G in the UK explained: The state of the nation

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:19 AM PDT

You've probably heard a lot about 4G of late, with blisteringly fast download speeds set to change the way we use our mobiles. Some handsets already on sale are being classified as 4G, but are they worth checking out? Exactly how much faster is it than 3G? And when will we be seeing it rolled out completely in the UK?

We've spoken to industry experts for the full lowdown on everything you need to know about 4G, and it's a mighty exciting prospect, not just for those heavily into their phones, but for those in rural areas in need of some decent broadband. So no matter if you’re a technophile or technophobe, read on to find out just what it means for you after the break.

What is 4G?
The first thing to note is there's some confusion over what actually classifies as 4G. (Yes, we know, not like technology companies to make things unnecessarily complicated.) Current 3G networks generally support 7.2Mbps HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) peak download speed, but that's in the process of being upgraded to HSPA+, giving peak download speeds of 21.6Mbps.

"HSPA+ has interference cancellation, making it great for weak signal areas," says Phil Sheppard, director of network strategy at Three UK, so it'll help spread broadband to areas that are traditionally weak. Dongles that use HSPA+, such as the Huawei E367, on sale now, use an external aerial, that also helps with reception.

But HSPA+ isn't true 4G, even though some companies might refer to it as. "HSPA+ is a subset of 4G, but it's built on the 3G network," says Jonathan Morris, editor of What Mobile magazine. "Three UK is rolling out HSPA+ now, with devices such as the Huawei." Vodafone also has HSPA+ in the network, so phones like the Samsung Galaxy S2 can take advantage of the extra speed, though a spokesperson would not state where in the country it is active.

Now things get even more complicated, but bear with us. There's another strand of HSPA+ called dual carrier, which can achieve 42Mbps peak download speeds. (3G will also be going strong for years yet, narrowing the gap between it and 4G.) "We should be rolling our dual carrier next year," says Sheppard, "but the story after that is all about LTE."

LTE is the real deal. While HSPA+ and dual carrier might be referred to as 4G, especially in the US, LTE comes packing peak download speeds of about 150-160Mbps. Obviously this is a theoretical maximum, but according to Sheppard, the average speed will move from about 1.7Mbps at the moment to between 5 and 10Mbps. Now that's a difference you're sure to notice.

What'll it be like to use?
As an idea, at 50Mbps you can download a gigabyte in about four minutes, so this is the biggest change to internet use since broadband did away with dial-up modems.

"HSPA+ and LTE are completely different user experiences," says Rob Joyce, head of the LTE trial at O2. "Because the networks are supporting non HSPA terminals as well, HSPA+ is like giving someone a Ferrari but putting them on the M4 in rush hour. In some conditions, you might not even notice the difference between HSPA+ and regular 3G. But LTE is like having a clear motorway ahead of you."

Sounds amazing, but what's happening right now?
Well, the spectrum has to be auctioned, just as the 3G spectrum was back in 2001. Ofcom announced a couple of months ago this should take place next year; it's proposed its rules for the auction, the networks are currently looking them over, and will come back to them with any quibbles. "There are two bands up for auction," explains Ben Timmons, senior director, marketing and business development at Qualcomm, "a 2.6GHz band, and the 800MHz."

The 800MHz has further reach, and hence is the more attractive prospect, while the 2.6GHz is better for densely populated areas like cities. Operators will bid for a chunk of either or both. "Ofcom wants to avoid the 800MHz spectrum being dominated by one or two operators, so it's proposing a cap on how much each operator can own," adds Timmons. Some operators may not be too happy with what they're proposing, so it could take a while…

"The 2.6GHz spectrum can be allocated straight away, but the 800MHz is dependant on the digital TV switchover, as it uses the same frequency, so can't be allocated until that happens next year. There is a strong desire to get spectrum out there, but there are lots of complications. We're a big country, with lots of history, and lots of operators."

"It's a complicated auction," says Joyce. And there are certain restrictions too. "Some bands aren't available until late next year, as they're reserved for broadcasters filming the Olympics. The 2.6GHz band is reserved between June and September for the BBC to use wireless cameras, and the 800 for its wireless mics. Theoretically spectrum will be free straight after, but it's most likely the networks will be rolled out, then we'll see it in operation in 2013."

What about the rest of the world?
Other countries seem have got their spectrum in order. Most Scandinavian countries have allocated theirs, and the US has rolled out LTE with a few 4G mobiles on sale, such as the HTC Thunderbolt.

Unusually, the US is the only place with an emphasis on LTE handsets, Timmons points out, noting that carriers in other nations are focussed on broadband and getting it to hard to reach areas. "It's down to the more competitive nature of the operators in the US," he says, "but as well there's more freedom with what you can do with the spectrum." When the German authorities auctioned off their good spectrum, they made sure they had to supply the rural areas first, those lacking decent broadband coverage.

But I want it now. Is there any way I can just sample it?
Well yes there is, if you live in the South West. Everything Everywhere has teamed up with BT Wholesale for a live trial of LTE in Cornwall this September. The companies will supply 4G dongles, wi-fi routers plugged into 4G antennas, and mobiles to 200 people around the St Newlyn East area of South Newquay, a 25 square kilometres area where around 700 residences have limited or no access to broadband.

"We're looking to get personal feedback from people," says Matt Sears, a spokesperson for Everything Everywhere. "We want to see, can it achieve 100Mbps plus, with 200 people using it at once? What is the average speed people will get? Will it be a solution to the Digital Britain report, where the government specified it wanted 100% broadband coverage by next year with a minumum speed of 2Mbps? To be honest, we don't know what to expect." (If you live in the area and want to register for the trial, sign up here.)

O2 has been trialling LTE in six sites around Slough since 2009, spanning a 5km area. "We started with handsets the size of shoeboxes," says Joyce, the man heading it up. "Now we're down to using Samsung dongles the size of a regular USB stick. In perfect conditions we got 150Mbps, and the peak using dongles was 100Mbps. More typically speeds were between five and 50Mbps – at the top end of that, you could still download a gigabyte of data in about four minutes, half that at the very peak speed." O2 is planning a much larger, city-based trial later in the year, so look out for news of it soon.

And handsets? The Samsung Galaxy S 2 is equipped for HSPA+, and is on sale now, but we'll have to wait a little longer for true 4G devices. Florain Seiche, President of HTC for Europe, Middle East and Asia, told us a 4G HTC phone will come to Europe “probably in the next couple of years,” stressing that customer experience and simply reaching customers both come before tech specs. “Our goal is to be able to broaden that reach,” he added.

But there are problems with 4G. LTE is a data only service – when it was thought up years ago, everyone thought by this point we'd all be calling each other exclusively using voice over IP. So for voice calls, LTE will revert to the 3G network. It's not a major drawback, but as Three UK's Phil Sheppard notes, "it's not ideal." He predicts that by 2013 VOIP will be standard on mobiles.

What'll come next is LTE Advanced, which offers a theoretical maximum download speed of 1Gbps. "The really exciting thing is that 150Mbps isn't the end of the road for LTE," says Joyce. "With gig speeds comes a whole new raft of possibilities – you could constantly be recording everything you see, storing it to a cloud service. If you wanted to know what someone said to you, you could rewind it like catch-up TV. It'd be especially handy on a drunk night out. Cloud computing for business will be huge, and online mobile gaming instantaneous."

So there you have it, big changes are coming soon, and it's only the beginning…

Additional reporting by Ben Sillis

Image via jbtaylor

Sign ups now open for Google TV Slingbox beta program

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:15 AM PDT

Own a Slingbox and Google TV yet still trying to figure out how to get both boxes to play nice? Well, you could sit tight and wait for the Android software update promised at Google I/O or you could take the initiative and sign up now at slingbox.com for the company's beta program. Unlike the Android app, the beta program will reportedly grant access to a flash-based website — similar to version available for Mac and PC users.

Not sold on the idea of using Slingbox on your Google TV? We understand, but the takeaway here is that the beta is free and opens the door to some interesting possibilities. As Dave Zatz from zatznotfunny.com suggests, a more exciting solution would be to see Roku launch a Slingbox channel. With Roku boxes starting at $60, you'd have the most affordable SlingCatcher on the planet. I for one would pick up a Roku box in a heart beat if that were the case.

Coming Soon | Slingbox | Free

Apple iCloud update: Google Earth goes live, domain registered, video streaming confirmed

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 05:48 AM PDT

Apple's iCloud headquarters is all but confirmed following this morning's reveal on Google Earth. The company's mysterious $1b data center in North Carolina has pulled back the blurry curtain and now renders in crisp satellite detail. In addition to the North Carolina house of tech, Apple has reportedly paid $4.5m for the icloud.com domain, now secured until 2018.

Steve Jobs has all of his cloud-streaming ducks in a row. On Monday at WWDC, the CEO will unveil the iCloud streaming services. We've covered the possibilities before, but now we know with certainly; Apple has the infrastructure to serve up billion-dollar content. Meanwhile the $4.5m payday for icloud.com's previous owner, Xcerion, took place in April when the company moved its services from icloud.com to cloudme.com.

Cnet is reporting that Apple has reached licensing agreements with three of the top four record companies, including EMI Music, Warner Music and Sony Music. Universal Media Group, which happens to be the industry's largest label, is the lone hold out. However, sources close to the matter say an agreement will be reached very soon.

Now the question remains — will Apple introduce both video and audio streaming with its iCloud service? Yesterday's trademark filing would indicate yes. The company filed for trademark rights to the iCloud name with the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union, listing various classifications, including one for "electronic storage of data, text, images, audio and video".

Coming Soon | Apple | TBD

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Android 3.1 UK update: turn your tablet into a games console

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 05:19 AM PDT

Good news if you’ve grabbed an Asus Eee Pad Transformer – your Android 3.1 update should be arriving over the air any minute now. Catching up with US Motorola Xoom owners, it turns your Asus slate into an Android games console…

Since Android Honeycomb was a little bit rushed, Android 3.1 brings a smoother user interface to the Asus Eee Pad Transformer with new app transitions and an optimised launcher. There’s also new resizeable homescreen widgets, improved 3D performance and an expanded Recent Apps list along with stability improvements and bug fixes.

But our favourite inclusion in the Android 3.1 update is the ability to hook peripherals up to your tablet. That includes obvious things like camera, keyboards and mice but it’s support for Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers that’s most intriguing. Hook one up and you’ve got yourself a makeshift console. Time to fire up Angry Birds…again.

Out now | £free | Asus (via MobileBurn)

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