Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

---

• Top 5 reasons the Google Chromebook should fear the 2011 MacBook Air
• Nokia Connection 2011: Five things we want to see next week
• RIM ships 500,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks, leaves Motorola Xoom in its wake
• LG Optimus 3D finally launches, promises flicker-free 3D playback
• Motorola Xoom 2 spotted in Verizon Wireless video ad?
• Motorola Milestone 3 becomes official, heads to China with CDMA support
• Win a Chromebook on Electricpig – just unlock this cryptic puzzle!
• BlackBerry is down but not out: how RIM can turn it around
• BBC News app hitting Samsung TVs: Is this the end of rolling news channels?
• Panasonic Toughbook Android tablet: most durable droid ever!

Top 5 reasons the Google Chromebook should fear the 2011 MacBook Air Posted: 17 Jun 2011 10:23 AM PDT With the Acer and Samsung Google Chomebooks now readily available in North America, Chrome OS is showing signs of significant growth since its Cr-48 prototypes. Unfortunately during that time Apple has been hard at work on its MacBook Air refresh. 1. OS X Lion Chrome OS boots in 8 seconds and resumes instantly. The MacBook Air, by way of solid state memory, shares these same features (though more like 16 seconds). Once you've turned on the Chromebook you are greeted with a fullscreen Chrome browser. Apple's upcoming OS refresh also offers fullscreen apps and even boots from Safari. 2. Speed A dual-core Atom processor is a step up from a first-generation Netbook, but the 2011 MacBook Air is bring Sandy Bridge chops. Up from the low voltage Core2Duo processor found in the original, the next generation MBA adds most of the same upgrades found in the recent MacBook Pro refresh. Given the Samsung Series 5 WiFi Chromebook's $429.99 price point, a $999.99 MacBook Air is not so discerning. Additionally, open box (current generation) MacBook Airs can be had for $839.99 on Amazon Warehouse deals. 3. Mac App Store Apps have become a way of life. For a laptop that lives and breaths in a web browser, well crafted apps are mission critical. Apple's Mac App Store not only has more apps, it has loads of developers ready to fight for your business. Technical accolades win headlines, but Apple has proven quality apps can define a device. The iPhone is a prime example. 4. Cost Under normal conditions a laptop without a 3G data connection is not a deal breaker. Unfortunately without Internet, the Chomebook offers little functionality. All of your content is stored in the cloud which is as much a blessing as it is a curse. When you purchase the 3G Chromebook (Acer or Samsung) in the U.S., you're given 100MB of data for the month. Additional data usage comes out of your pocket. When you factor in this cost, the price difference between a MacBook Air and Chromebook evaporates. 5. Multi-tasking Want to multi-task on Chrome OS? Good luck. The full screen browser experience occupies all of the Chromebook's 12-inch display. While this is plenty of room to view a spreadsheet, OS X Spaces delivers up to 16 virtual desktops, allowing dozens apps to be managed simultaneously. This leads to increased productivity and for business users — higher profitability. Google is targeting both the education and business segments with monthly, per user, rental fees for its Chromebook. Until the productivity can match a standard notebook, the 2011 MacBook Air, with its ability to run both OS X and Windows, will remain a fierce competitor. Related posts: Samsung Series 5: First ever Google Chromebook laptop £349 – but is it any good? Samsung Series 5: First ever Google Chromebook costs £349, will launch 24th June Win a Chromebook on Electricpig – just unlock this cryptic puzzle!

Nokia Connection 2011: Five things we want to see next week Posted: 17 Jun 2011 09:21 AM PDT Nokia Connection 2011 goes down in Singapore on Tuesday, and we’re expecting big things from the stumbling phone giant. No fewer than four vice presidents will be speaking at the summit, along with CEO Stephen Elop, who we’re promised “will set the stage for a number of exciting Nokia product and service launches.” But what? Here are five things we’re hoping to see next week… A Nokia MeeGo phone already The Nokia-MeeGo-Intel relationship has had many twists and turns. We’re expecting a phone running the operating system…sometime. And an advert did leak out a while ago, making it look like a rather swanky Nokia E7. Hopefully, Nokia Connection 2011 will see its debut, at long, long last. More details on the first Nokia Windows Phone Elop briefly pulled out a prototype at a San Diego conference earlier this month, and we know the first handset is coming in Q4 this year. But let’s have a name, some more details, a picture. Anything to help keep that flame alive. Nokia’s map plans for Windows Phone One of Nokia’s biggest weapons is its mapping prowess. It owns Navteq and Ovi Maps (with free turn by turn navigation) is easily the best thing Symbian still has going for it. Elop’s made clear that he plans to share the wealth with other Windows Phone partners, such as Samsung, but what exactly will we see? Nokia Maps on all Windows Phones? Here’s hoping. S40 stepping up a gear Nokia’s dumping its smarter Symbian and Symbian S60 platforms to concentrate on the low power S40 for emerging markets. But Nokia’s been peddling the same basic S40 phones for years now: it needs to step up and show us what it can really do with the barebones software. Can it beat the Nokia C3? A Nokia tablet Nokia boss Elop said back in April that he doesn’t want Nokia to “be the 201st tablet on the market that you can’t tell from all of the others. We have to take a uniquely Nokia prospective and so the teams are working very hard on something that would be differentiating relative to everything else that’s going on in the market.” What that could be, we’re not sure either (a MeeGo slate? A Chrome OS netbook?) but we’d be interested to see just how Nokia intends to get in on this growing market. Related posts: Official: First Nokia Windows Phone due Q4 2011 Nokia Windows Phone 7: 2011 and 2012 are big years for change Nokia World next week: 5 things we might see

RIM ships 500,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks, leaves Motorola Xoom in its wake Posted: 17 Jun 2011 08:26 AM PDT Amidst the Wall Street hoopla surrounding Research in Motion, yesterday's Q1 fiscal 2012 results actually revealed several impressive findings. Namely, the company shipped 500,000 BlackBerry Playbooks during its first quarter of availability. That's twice the number of Motorola Xooms shipped in its first quarter. Even more impressive than the number of PlayBooks is that RIM managed to reach these figures despite delays and limited availability. If RIM had kicked off with a worldwide launch instead of a North America-only affair, who knows how many 7-inch slates would have been shipped. Let's clear the air. Yes, RIM's share of the global smartphone market is on the decline — falling from 19.7 percent in the year-ago period to 12.9 percent. Additionally, RIM's shares have dropped 38 percent since the company issued its profit warning. Despite all this negativity, RIM posted net revenue of $4.9 billion, up 16 percent from the year-ago quarter. This 16 percent increase was a result of a 67 percent growth in revenue outside the U.S. and Canada year-over-year in the quarter. With the reaction on Wall Street who would have thought BlackBerry shipments were up. RIM shipped 13.2 million BlackBerry smartphones in the quarter, up from 11.2 million in the year-ago period. An impressive start to the BlackBerry PlayBook, increased smartphone shipments and significant net revenue growth usually receive praise from investors. Unfortunately for RIM, there's no love when it comes to trading and Wall Street's expectations have proved to be a daunting obstacle. via RIM Related posts: One million BlackBerry PlayBooks expected to ship in Q1 2011 BlackBerry PlayBook launch beats Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom? Motorola shipped more than 250,000 Xoom tablets in Q1 2011

LG Optimus 3D finally launches, promises flicker-free 3D playback Posted: 17 Jun 2011 07:30 AM PDT We've handled the Optimus 3D and even compared the device to our favorite Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S 2. Today, after considerable delay, the LG Optimus 3D finally launched. Ever since Mobile World Congress we've been itching to get another spin with the LG Optimus 3D. Touting a 'tri-dual' configuration consisting of dual cores, dual-channel and dual memory, the Optimus 3D claims it maximizes efficiency leading to noticeably smoother, faster and longer multi-tasking. Here's your refresher course in all things Optimus 3D. Up front is a 4.3-inch WVGA display capable of showing off brilliant 1080p HD content in 2D or 3D content in 720p. Using special software, the phone can convert both 2D photo and video content into 3D on the fly. There's also free software that'll covert 2D games into 3D coming later this year. Europe will have dibs on the LG Optimus 3D, followed by launches in more than 60 markets over the next several weeks. Ready to try the world's first 3D augmented reality browser? Coming Soon | LG | TBD Related posts: HTC EVO 3D vs LG Optimus 3D: battle for glasses-free 3D kicks off LG LW6500 Cinema 3D TV: flicker free 3D with affordable glasses LG Optimus 3D: glasses-free 3D smartphone headed to MWC 2011

Motorola Xoom 2 spotted in Verizon Wireless video ad? Posted: 17 Jun 2011 06:53 AM PDT A video released by Verizon Wireless yesterday shows off what looks to be the successor to the Motorola Xoom, the Xoom 2. The tablet in question lacks the trademark Motorola M branding and uses a different camera than the current Xoom. Is this the quadcore Kal-el (Tegra 3) Xoom 2 currently in development? There's nothing like a tablet mystery to close out the work week. Moments after releasing the video on YouTube, Verizon quickly turned the video private, only adding fuel to the speculation that this is the Motorola Xoom 2. The next tablet headed for Verizon is a 4G LTE capable Samsung Galaxy 10.1, clearly not the tablet pictured above. When the video did work, the unannounced tablet showed off an Android Honeycomb lock screen so there's a possibility neither Motorola or Samsung created this device. If this is not the Motorola Xoom 2, what is it? We need your help cracking the case. (We've included the video below, just in case Verizon changes it from Private to Public) Related posts: Motorola Mobility banks 28 percent of sales on Verizon Wireless Motorola Xoom looks to out-business the BlackBerry PlayBook [video] Motorola Xoom Android tablet eyes on: photos, video and impressions

Motorola Milestone 3 becomes official, heads to China with CDMA support Posted: 17 Jun 2011 06:31 AM PDT Remember that Motorola Milestone 3 drama from earlier this week? Well apparently, the Milestone 3 is real, it's just not intended to make a GSM debut like the two previous generations. Dubbed the XT883 and destined for a launch in China, the smartphone will launch on China Telecom this year. Officially China Telecom says by the third quarter, though we know all too well how release date promises turn out. As the rumors suggested, the Motorola Milestone 3 features a dual-core processor and a 4.0-inch qHD resolution display. A five-row QWERTY keyboard, 8-megapixel camera with LED flash 1080p video-capable, front-facing camera, 16GB of internal storage and Android 2.3 Gingerbread round out the specs. Since the XT883, Motorola Milestone 3, is headed to China it should come as no surprise the phone come preloaded with SHOP4APPS China, Motorola's own app market designed for the Chinese market. One tidbit of information that we found very interesting is the Milestone 3 is listed as an "Android World Phone with calling capabilities in more than 200 countries". While there are CDMA networks around the world, 200 countries sounds more like the XT883 features a GSM SIM card slot. There's no mention in the press release to GSM capabilities, but historically any phone listed as a world phone has GSM chops. I guess we'll know later this year. Coming Q3 2011 | Motorola | TBD Related posts: Official: Motorola Milestone hitting UK 7 December Motorola Milestone XT720 official: Motoroi comes to the UK! Motorola Milestone 2 official for the UK: slide out QWERTY and Android 2.2

Win a Chromebook on Electricpig – just unlock this cryptic puzzle! Posted: 17 Jun 2011 04:45 AM PDT Last month at Google I/O, Google unveiled the new Chromebooks from Acer and Samsung – the first of a totally new kind of connected computer. The first devices will ship on 24 June, but play your cards right and you can win one before then. We’ve teamed up with the folks at Google to give you the chance to win one of three Chromebooks. All you have to do is crack an exclusive conundrum before anyone else. Get your thinking cap on, and read on to find out how you can be in with a chance of winning. UPDATE: Not solved it yet? We’ve updated the post with a few clues for you. Google has worked with their expert puzzle master to design a puzzle that should keep you busy for a while. If you're up to the challenge and are one of the first three to come up with the correct solution, you can win a new Chromebook! Note that this is only available to UK residents and you have to be 18 years or older to enter. Please see the official rules here. Good luck, and get cracking! Clue 1: Look at the speedometer Clue 2: Solve for one number Click here to see the puzzle Related posts: Samsung Series 5: First ever Google Chromebook costs £349, will launch 24th June Samsung Chromebook teardown shocker: materials alone are worth £196 Google music streaming: PushLife adds another piece to the puzzle

BlackBerry is down but not out: how RIM can turn it around Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:35 AM PDT It’s easy to round on RIM right now. The BlackBerry PlayBook arrived to lukewarm reviews, O2 canned it yesterday, and overnight it’s earnings call revealed a drastic drop in profits from $934m in the previous quarter to $695m. The company has announced a new round of layoffs and the number of people excited about new BlackBerry releases would probably fit into a small pub function room. But BlackBerry is far from dead and there’s plenty it can do to arrest the decline and put itself back in the fight with Android and the iPhone. As strange as it sounds given low sales (it’s shipped 500,000 but it’s not clear how many are sat on the shelves) and the lacklustre response, the BlackBerry PlayBook was a good start. RIM just needs to go further and faster… RIM should focus on three things to get back on track: 1) make a change at the top 2) realise that it has to be cool rather than saying it is and 3) work hard to keep the remaining BlackBerry fanatics onside. First up – the bosses. RIM has an odd set up with co-CEOs Jim Balsille and Mike Lazardis at the helm. As much as the pair try to persuade the world and, more importantly, RIM’s shareholders, that they’re the best tag team this side of the WWE, having two bosses inevitably means compromise. To get BlackBerry back on track, the company needs a singular visionary to take charge and give the rest of RIM the confidence to get out there and make something innovative. If anyone should be losing their jobs, it’s Balsille and Lazaridis. Next, RIM needs to put all its efforts into making products that stand out in the market rather than, as it did with the BlackBerry Torch, just offering up a touchscreen, batting its eyelashes and wondering if that’ll do. The latest BlackBerry ads try to pitch its phone as tools for hip world travellers but in the end its customers who decide whether your product is cool. BlackBerry needs to get word of mouth on its side again. It’s still seen as reliable and trustworthy by the people running enterprise systems but the staff using now crave iPhones or Android devices. RIM can’t just make phones that cater to keyboard obsessives. At the other end of the spectrum from BlackBerry-touting suits, there’s still a strong contingent of teenagers addicted to the privacy of BlackBerry Messenger which keeps their chats hidden from parents’ prying eyes. RIM needs to do more to harness them, to turn them from fickle consumers into long term BlackBerry fans. Failing to launch the BlackBerry PlayBook with a native email client and at a price that finds it unfavourably compared to the iPad 2 was a mistake. But by investing time in building up the QNX OS, RIM is putting in place the building blocks for a potential turnaround. It musn’t try to emulate Apple to dig itself out of the hole. The iPhone gained its attention by doing thing differently and doing it well. RIM has the talent in its organisation to create something that stands out. Apple’s made the game about apps but there’s still space for other innovations to wow consumers. Having a BlackBerry was once truly cool and it could be again but RIM has to get out of its cycle of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. To count the company out would be premature but serious changes are needed and they’re needed now. Related posts: Blackberry PlayBook: not tied to a Blackberry, it stands alone! Techie Breakie: Google Maps gets turn by turn Google Maps for mobile to get turn by turn?

BBC News app hitting Samsung TVs: Is this the end of rolling news channels? Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:07 AM PDT BBC’s director of future media, Ralph Rivera, has just announced a surprise news service for “connected televisions”: a BBC News app. It’s rolling out on Samsung Smart TVs today via the Samsung Apps Store, and we’ve got the first details on it. UPDATE: Video! We’re at BAFTA in London this morning, where Rivera has just whipped the covers off the new service, which lets you choose the stories you want to watch, rather than waiting for them to roll around again on BBC News 24 or Sky News. With your remote, you can choose from a few dozen stories, see the latest VTs on each, and even pull up the accompanying news report as full screen text, with the video still playing in the background. It’s definitely a smart move, though for now only limited to Samsung Smart TVs. But the BBC’s mandate means it’ll be bringing it to more platforms with time: Rivera wouldn’t name which TV lines would get it when we pressed him, but did say it wouldn’t be hard to port. “It’s a web delivered experience, and because of that any device that supports the specification we can deliver this experience on,” he said. “We’re seeing the emergence of the post-PC world, and we embrace that as the opportunity to deliver our experiences on whatever piece of glass they choose,” he said. Related posts: Samsung Galaxy S Gingerbread update rolling out now! Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Hitting Vodafone UK Techie Breakie: Samsung cameras ahoy, Sky News for Android and Philip’s 3D TV plans

Panasonic Toughbook Android tablet: most durable droid ever! Posted: 17 Jun 2011 02:46 AM PDT If the current selection of Android tablets isn’t quite rugged enough for your liking, Panasonic is here to help. It’s revealed the Panasonic Toughbook Tablet – an Android device with the same seriously sturdy covering it’s been adding to laptops since 1993… The Panasonic Toughbook comes with a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 matching 10in display but instead of the glossy TFT panels favoured by the Galaxy Tab line, the HTC Flyer and the Motorola Xoom, it’ll have a matte XGA display for easier reading in outdoor environments. Panasonic hasn’t outed pricing for the Panasonic Toughbook yet and it doesn’t seem to be running Android Honeycomb in the press photos. Hopefully it’ll get it when it arrives this winter in time to please construction workers craving a techy Christmas present. Out November 2011 | £TBC | Panasonic Related posts: Panasonic Toughbook H1 Field unbreakable tablet outed Panasonic Toughbook goes counter terrorist! Panasonic Toughbook CF-C1 rugged multitouch laptop outed

You are subscribed to email updates from Electricpig.co.uk - The UK's fastest-growing tech news site To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610