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- Sony Ericsson Xperia active, HTC Puccini, Google TV 2.0: US Update
- Google TV 2.0 interface outed: next generation hardware photographed
- HTC to slay the iPad 2 with Honeycomb tablet announcement on June 27th?
- Google Maps and iOS reign supreme in UK mobile applications usage
- Why BT is now Nintendo’s biggest rival
- Sony Ericsson txt announced: entertains with SMS focus
- Sony Ericsson Xperia active withstands the elements, keeps dust and water at bay
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Gingerbread phone outed
- An Apple iOS TV set? It’s time to switch off this rumour
- Slingplayer Boxee Box app revealed
| Sony Ericsson Xperia active, HTC Puccini, Google TV 2.0: US Update Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:45 AM PDT
Joining the Sony Ericsson announcements today are two new devices, the Xperia active and the txt. The Xperia active features a dust and water proof design (up to 90 seconds) that incorporates wet finger tracking, ensuring perfect touch accuracy whether wet or dry. Meanwhile the Sony Ericsson txt includes a hardware QWERTY keyboard and focuses on its deep roots in SMS, Facebook and Twitter. GSMA and comScore have revealed that nearly 8.8 million UK mobile owners used an app that connected to the Internet during April 2011. The 8.8 million users consisted of 65 percent iOS, 31 percent Android, 1 percent Symbian and 3 percent other. On Monday June 27, HTC is expected to unveil the HTC Puccini. The slate will ship with Android 3.1 Honeycomb and include 4G support for AT&T's HSPA+ network. Unlike the HTC Flyer which uses the pen/stylus, Pucinni will be all fingers. The slate is rumored to use a 1280 x 800 pixel display and feature Qualcomm's MSM8660 1.5GHz dual-core processor. Last up this morning is an update on Google TV. A privileged friend of the Mountain View squad has released images of the upcoming Google TV 2.0 interface and details on the next-gen set top box. Ready to see apps on the big screen? That wraps up the latest and greatest in the world of tech. As always I'm Nick Marshall and I'll see you tomorrow. Related posts:
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| Google TV 2.0 interface outed: next generation hardware photographed Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:45 AM PDT
Google TV 2.0 is based on Android 3.1 and like most things Google, is currently in beta. The homely set top box lacks any identifiers to its creator, but does includes a Logitech keyboard. Inside is Intel's CE4100 system-on-a-chip which was built "specifically for web connected set top boxes". How this chip compares to the current Sony and Logitech Atom-based units remains to be seen. The new interface shares a strong resemblance to Android Honeycomb. Outside of its core features are just two apps: Clock and Live TV. According to Geek.com, Google TV 2.0 includes a full-blown version of Chrome with TV-optimized enhancements. The browser refresh will prove invaluable to both Flash and plugin-in support.
Unfortunately today's leak does not provide an update on the UK release of Google TV. Google promised the Google TV 2.0 update would launch later this year but that leaves us with six months of uncertainty. While extremely promising, Google TV looks to be headed the way of the original Apple TV unless we see a timely update and UK release. via Geek Related posts:
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| HTC to slay the iPad 2 with Honeycomb tablet announcement on June 27th? Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:03 AM PDT
We've known for some time HTC was planning a larger tablet. Codenamed Puccini, the soon-to-be announced slate will ship with Android 3.1 Honeycomb and include 4G support for AT&T's HSPA+ network. Unlike the HTC Flyer which uses the pen/stylus, Pucinni will be all fingers. The slate is rumored to use a 1280 x 800 pixel display and feature Qualcomm’s MSM8660 1.5GHz dual-core processor. Existing HTC Flyer owners are also expected to be in for a treat Monday. ITProPortal is reporting a HTC Flyer running Android 3.2 Honeycomb will be showcased. A release date for the HTC Flyer Android 3.2 update is expected at the event. There's still many questions left unanswered surrounding the HTC Puccini — namely the price. Will HTC look to undercut the £600 32GB HTC Flyer or will this be another overpriced tablet reserved for the rich and famous? Coming Soon | HTC | TBD Related posts:
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| Google Maps and iOS reign supreme in UK mobile applications usage Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:00 AM PDT
Surprisingly the world's most popular social networking site, Facebook, finished third with 3.5 million unique visitors. Google Mobile and YouTube rounded out the top five with 2.6 million and 2.4 million respectively. Now for the shocker. The 8.8 million UK connection app users consisted of 65 percent iOS, 31 percent Android, 1 percent Symbian and 3 percent other. It appears Android does not dominate all facets of mobile — at least in this survey. Since February of last year, the application key measurement report has been tracking and ranking the most popular connected applications in the UK. Each month a report provides Internet behaviors and detailed analysis of access methods. via GSM World Related posts:
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| Why BT is now Nintendo’s biggest rival Posted: 22 Jun 2011 06:49 AM PDT
But does Nintendo have a strong enough fanbase to see off OnLive? Will people really buy a whole new console when they can play using the gear they already have, plus a subscription? Read on for some expert predictions.
The reason OnLive presents such a challenge to the Wii U is that it allows you effectively to get the same experience but with your existing kit. Because OnLive's remote server farms do most of the graphics work, you can play the latest blockbusters on your tablet or even netbook. All you need is a decent internet connection. And with BT tying it into its broadband packages, it looks set to reach a far larger audience than it otherwise would have when it launches here in the Autumn. So with a greater range of games available, not just the traditional Nintendo titles, does OnLive pose a real threat to the Wii U's success? "OnLive is a very impressive piece of technology that in my opinion has been hugely overlooked by the gaming press," says Andy Robinson, deputy editor at CVG. But he thinks it'll follow in the Wii U's footsteps, rather than act as a real challenge to Nintendo. "With assistance from game developers OnLive's streaming service can indeed be used in a similar way to the Wii U tech, with an iPad used as a second screen and touch controller for a HD television video game. However I'd expect this 'Wii U' style of OnLive gaming to become more popular based on Nintendo's potential success – and not to challenge it." Others think that OnLive's relatively unknown status, as compared to Nintendo, will count against it, and it has a pretty steep hill to climb to compete with such a giant of gaming. "OnLive is very low-profile in the mass market compared to Nintendo," says Jane Douglas, section editor at GameSpot. "Many 'casual' gamers who own Wiis and DSs will be thoroughly familiar with Nintendo but never have heard of OnLive. OnLive would have to work pretty hard to make those consumers take notice, if it does go after potential Wii U buyers." The concept of playing proper PC games on a netbook without a CD drive may be too much for some casual gamers to get their heads around, but with BT behind it maybe OnLive could pose if not a serious threat, maybe an alternative to the Wii U's tablet-style gameplay. A final note on price: while if you've already got a tablet or netbook, OnLive sounds like a steal, if you have to buy an iPad 2 to play it’s not such a bargain. "The cost of an iPad – if you don't already have one – will likely be significantly more than the launch price of a WiiU console," says Robinson. But then you could argue that's just another reason to buy that iPad 2 that's been on your wish list for some time now… We contacted OnLive for comment but didn’t hear back in time for publication. Related posts:
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| Sony Ericsson txt announced: entertains with SMS focus Posted: 22 Jun 2011 06:30 AM PDT
To satisfy the needs of the most avid messenger, a dedicated SMS shortcut key and "friends" application headline the Sony Ericsson txt. A hardware QWERTY keyboard brings the phone to life while Wi-Fi and its 3.2-megapixel camera allow for easy photo and video sharing. Let's be clear, the Sony Ericsson txt is not meant to compete with top-tier smartphones. This phone is focused on its messaging prowess, destined to bring a hardware QWERTY keyboard to the Sony Ericsson line up. The text features a modest 2.6-inch 240 x 320 pixel scratch resistant display, 100MB of internal memory, microSD card support (up to 32GB), quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, FM radio, 1000 mAh battery and Bluetooth. The txt will be available in Q3 2011 and ship in four color choices: white, black, pink and blue. Coming Q3 2011 | Sony Ericsson | TBD Related posts:
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| Sony Ericsson Xperia active withstands the elements, keeps dust and water at bay Posted: 22 Jun 2011 05:50 AM PDT
The Xperia active also includes built-in GPS, barometer and compass. The icing on the cake is the realtime heart rate and pulse monitoring (enabled by ANT+ wireless networking technology), which combined with the preloaded iMapMyFitness app, transforms the phone into the perfect training companion. Despite the fitness and lifestyle focus, no compromises have been made to the feature set. Sony Ericsson has included a 3-inch 320 x 480 pixel Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine, a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with HD video capability and a 1 GHz processor. Most importantly, the Xperia active ships with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Coming Q3 2011 | Sony Ericsson | TBD Related posts:
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| Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Gingerbread phone outed Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:43 AM PDT
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread installed, and Sony Ericsson’s new Facebook Inside Xperia integration that’s just hit the Xperia Arc. It’s a fair bit smaller, with a 3.3-inch touchscreen, but it still packs an 8.1 megapixel camera and the same sharp 854×480 resolution, and measures just 9.4mm thin. Sony’s Reality Display and Mobila Bravia engine also return, although the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray is missing its bigger brothers’ HDMI connection. Sounds curious right? As far as we can tell, its smaller 3.3-inch screen makes it a replacement for last year’s fast-selling Xperia X8. It’s out in Q3 in black, white, gold and pink shades, and we’ll have more details on it ASAP. Out Q3 2011 | £TBC | Sony Ericsson Related posts:
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| An Apple iOS TV set? It’s time to switch off this rumour Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:05 AM PDT
The idea comes up every few months with the promise that next time Steve Jobs takes to the stage, he really, really will unveil a TV with a glowing Apple logo set into the bezel. The latest incarnation of the 'true' Apple television set rumour is a claim from DailyTech that a "former Apple executive" says we'll get our hands on one this year. Here's why it's the worst kind of phooey…
Steve Jobs has long talked about the Apple TV (the little black box rather than the mythical screen) as a "hobby" but in its new cheaper, smaller incarnation it's actually been selling well. Apple doesn't need to make a television set. Where would the advantage for it come from? TVs tend to be high cost, long-term purchases with low margins. That's not the area Apple likes to exist in. Sure it loves a high price point but it also wants a product with a much shorter lifespan. Apple iterates and the television set in your living room isn't primed for that. When iOS 5 arrives in the autumn, it will bring app mirroring via Apple TV along with it. That's another step in a continuing evolution where Apple's eco-system piggybacks happily on the television set you've already got. Of course, Apple could do something wild and create a beautiful screen that allows you to easily upgrade the hardware as new technology arrives. But that hardly fits its MO. Apple may reach a point in the future where it creates iMac screens and Cinema Displays of a size to rival HD TVs but that is some way off. Though it's always slightly foolish to discount radical ideas when Steve Jobs is involved, the Apple television set rumour continues to feel like wishful thinking and until something more concrete emerges, it's a rumour that needs switching off. Related posts:
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| Slingplayer Boxee Box app revealed Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:02 AM PDT
It reports that the Slingplayer Boxee Box app takes its design cues from the current SlingPlayer mobile apps and appeared to work like a charm. It will also be coming to Google TV but since we’re still waiting for Google to bring it to this side of the Atlantic, that’s by-the-by. Sling says the SlingPlayer Boxee Box app will pop up in the list available apps in the next month and will be free during the beta period. There’s no word on the price once it graduates to a finished service yet but we’ll be chasing Sling for more details. Out TBC | £TBC | SlingPlayer (via Engadget) Related posts:
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