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- Alps smartphone projector lens is smaller than the tip of a pencil
- Nintendo 3DS sales fall 50 percent in Japan before price cut
- Record Asus Eee Pad Transformer shipments signal the fall of the Asus Eee PC
- Skype for Android adds video calling to 17 new devices, requires Android Gingerbread
- Sharp enters the tablet wars with the 7-inch A01SH Galapagos
- TDK SDG3B SSD series extends the lifespan of solid state drives for tablets and thin PCs
- Why watching the rally needs a good dose of tech
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 out today: where to save, what to get, and must have apps
- PlayStation Vita UK launch: not until next year
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection DLC is all zombies
| Alps smartphone projector lens is smaller than the tip of a pencil Posted: 04 Aug 2011 09:11 AM PDT
Pico handheld projectors have proven to be useful tools in both business and in-home entertainment. Last year when Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Beam smartphone with built-in projector, we began to wonder whether this was a gimmick or actually the future of smartphones. Personally, the addition of a projector is not worth any potential risk in device failure. The Alps FLGS3 lens might change my stance. Imagine if an existing smartphone such as the Galaxy S II could add a built-in projector without compromising thinness or design. Would you rather have a smartphone with a glasses-free 3D display or built-in projector? via Geeky-Gadgets Related posts:
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| Nintendo 3DS sales fall 50 percent in Japan before price cut Posted: 04 Aug 2011 08:45 AM PDT
In Japan the Sony PSP remains king, selling over 36 thousand consoles last week, up from 26 thousand the week before. For Nintendo, sales of its handhelds (DSi XL, DSi and DS) remained stagnant with 5,267 units, 4,625 units and 138 units respectively. Sony continued to dominate traditional consoles with PS3 sales of 20,704 units compared to the Nintendo Wii with 18,232 and Xbox 360 with 1,616 units sold. If a price cut can't turnaround sales for the Nintendo 3DS, what can? via GamesIndustry Related posts:
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| Record Asus Eee Pad Transformer shipments signal the fall of the Asus Eee PC Posted: 04 Aug 2011 08:15 AM PDT
According to the source, Asus netbooks such as the Eee PC line are no longer "mainstream products in the IT market" due to declining orders. The dip in demand for Asus netbooks will be offset by the increased demand in Asus tablets in 2011. Additonally the source believes that Asus notebook market share may not advance in 2011 because demand in Europe and the US is "still unclear". Let us know what you think about the shift from netbooks to tablets. The Asus Eee PC netbook line is more affordable than the Eee Pad Transformer, but the demand is down? How do you explain the trend? via DigiTimes Related posts:
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| Skype for Android adds video calling to 17 new devices, requires Android Gingerbread Posted: 04 Aug 2011 07:45 AM PDT
If your smartphone is running Android Froyo, video calls will be limited to the rear-facing camera. The issue has nothing to do with Skype, but instead is a result of a limitation of Froyo. Put simply, you'll need Android Gingerbread in order to use both rear and front-facing cameras. Now that you've heard the bad news, let's breakdown the list of 17. Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Droid Charge, Samsung Galaxy Tab, HTC Desire, HTC Thunderbolt, HTC Sensation, HTC EVO 4G, HTC EVO 3D, HTC Incredible S, HTC Desire HD, HTC Flyer, LG Revolution, Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY, Sony Ericsson Xperia ray, Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro and Acer A5. We'd say that's not a bad haul for the second update to Skype for Android with video calling. Own one of the new 17 supported devices? Let us know how the app is working out. Out Now | Skype | Free Related posts:
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| Sharp enters the tablet wars with the 7-inch A01SH Galapagos Posted: 04 Aug 2011 07:15 AM PDT
Under the hood you'll find 1 GB of RAM alongside 8GB of internal storage. There's also a 2-megapixel front-facing and 5-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash. Other highlights to the A01SH Galapagos include Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. Since this is a Wi-Fi only affair, you'll need to supply your own 3G data connection if you plan on taking the slate on the road. The Sharp A01SH Galapagos goes on sales later this month in Japan, but a release in Europe and North America is also a possibility. August | Sharp | TBD Related posts:
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| TDK SDG3B SSD series extends the lifespan of solid state drives for tablets and thin PCs Posted: 04 Aug 2011 06:41 AM PDT
The TDK SDG3B series of solid state drives is not likely to win a speed award anytime soon, but then again the primary applications are tablets and thin PCs. Where the SDG3B series excels is its improved lifespan thanks to an advanced static wear leveling function and new data randomizer function. The combination helps distribute data writing among all of the flash memory blocks, maximizing the lifespan of the semiconductor storage. The TDK SDG3B series is scheduled to start production in September. While a retail launch is not likely, these SSDs will be powering ATMs, LTE base stations, security terminals, disaster prevention equipment and even railway and transportation equipment like automatic gates. September | TDK | TBD Related posts:
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| Why watching the rally needs a good dose of tech Posted: 04 Aug 2011 04:11 AM PDT Last week, Electricpig was in attendance at the World Rally Championship 2011 leg in Finland. Sixty-six drivers hurtled around dirt tracks and country roads as spectators crowded behind low ropes on either side, all eager to catch a glimpse of their heroes flying past. And that’s the problem – it was the briefest of glimpses. Shouldn’t we expect a bit more in this day and age?
For all the roaring engines and enormous jumps, the rally, as we discovered, is not quite the spectator support you’d imagine it to be. The various stages of the rally, which takes place over three days, are spread all over the country, and finding a spot to watch is no mean feat. You can’t exactly type “dirt track” into a satnav and expect to be guided straight there, and it doesn’t help that many roads are closed off for use of the rally cars and security cars in between stages. Even brochures with the map of the stages costs a hefty €10. The length of the course doesn’t make it much of a television sport either, unless you’re happy to settle for edited highlights. Even the fastest driver, Sebastien Loeb, takes two hours and 39 minutes to finish, and he’s flying – it’s obviously not possible to perch cameras at every bend and straight. But to our surprise, you can’t even count on accurate times mid-way through stages either. Watching the times come in on the WRC’s website, we were puzzled to see some simply not being reported. When we asked, a member of the Ford Abu Dhabi team said that GPS tracking isn’t completely reliable, which is true, especially through towering Finnish woodland – but they also implied that some drivers deliberately turned these off so only their final times were recorded and visible. In fact, the only way to really stay abreast of what’s happening is to tune into the radio: either local broadcasts, or the (admittedly excellent) World Rally Radio online broadcasts from the WRC. But think about that for a second: the only way to really “watch” rallying is through the radio. Shouldn’t there be a better solution? Ford and Peugeot both sponsor one such offering, iRally, an app for iPhone that offers news, videos, stage times and links to World Rally Radio. What happens if you don’t have an iPhone? You could download the WRC’s own mobile app. It’s free. It’s fast. You can even see where all the racers are along the course in a map overview. Ford even uses this to show team members and journalists back at the garage what’s going on – with a Nokia phone plugged into a flatscreen TV mounted on the wall. But here’s the problem: it’s a Nokia exclusive. That’s all very well in Finland, the home of Nokia and the only place we’ve ever been where more people can be seen brandishing a Nokia N8 than an iPhone. But what about everyone else around the world addicted to the sport? Symbian is all but dead: Nokia is canning the platform, sending away the staff who worked on it to an outsourcing firm, and concentrating on its first Windows Phone 7 handset, due out late this year. Doubtless an exclusive deal with Nokia provided the WRC with a beefy cash lump sum, but it’s not a long term solution for finding new fans, and keeping them in the loop. Yet even in the heart of the north Finnish countryside, we still had full bars of 3G on our phone. There’s surely a solution here: whether it’s more video broadcast live, or live streams of cameras mounted to the vehicles. Right now, watching the rally is disturbingly like watching cricket: you wait for hours for a brief buzz of action, and spend the rest of the time glued to the radio (and steadily getting plastered). For a sport where the cars hit speeds that take their leave of the ground, that’s not a flattering comparison. Back at Ford’s huge headquarters in the service park in Jyvåskylä is the new street Ford Focus, on show for passing fans. It lacks the gaping exhaust and enormous suspension of its rally equivalent, but it’s still full of cutting edge tech, including a system that actually reverse parks for you. Isn’t it time such a thrilling sport moves to the bleeding edge too? Related posts:
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| Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 out today: where to save, what to get, and must have apps Posted: 04 Aug 2011 03:57 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is on sale from today, but what do you need to know before you spend? Well how about where to find the best price, the best accessories, and the best apps once you've unwrapped it? It just so happens we've got all the above right here. Read on for all your Galaxy Tab 10.1 needs.
The Wi-Fi only version has hit stores today, with the 3G and Wi-Fi model coming later in the month. The Wi-Fi only is being sold exclusively through DSG stores, so Currys or Dixons are your best best, with both stocking it for £399. If you want to pre-order the 16GB 3G and Wi-Fi model (due for release on the 23rd of August), Passiontec.co.uk is your best bet, stocking it for a very reasonable £485.92, while the cheapest option for the 32GB model is Currys, who'll be stocking it for £579. Now you've made your choice, onto the accessories… £23.30 If you're at work but want to keep eyes on your Tab while you're working, this is perfect. The dock lets it sit up in landscape mode for full operation while at your desk. Or you could just have a movie playing as it charges, so you can take a well earned watch come quiet time. £39.99 An official cover, this opens like a book with holes for accessing all your connections while it's safely ensconced, so you won’t need to take it out no matter what you want to do. It also folds back on itself and acts as a stand, propping up your Galaxy Tab in landscape mode. Great for train journeys.
£29.99 Similar to the official Samsung option, this folds open and comes with an integrated Bluetooth keyboard, effectively turning it into a laptop. Or maybe more a netbook, considering the 10.1-inch screen. Battery life for the keyboard lasts 45 hours, and goes to auto sleep after 10 minutes of no use, making it last longer. £22 A bit more stylish than the other cases available, this soft leather pouch looks more like a manbag than the others. Or a leather document holder, whichever you prefer. It'll also take up less space in your bag, as it'll fold down, so is handy if you're just throwing it in your luggage for a business trip. £21.99 The Galaxy Tab 10.1 may not have an HDMI cable, but why should you let that stop you hooking it up to a TV? This cable lets you do just that, connecting the Tab's USB port and adapting it to an HDMI out, so you can plug straight into the big screen and enjoy. £23.02 The Tab comes with up to 64GB storage, but if you opt for a smaller option, or just if you want to add more to the top end version, this adapter will let you plug in an SD or microSD card. It's also handy if you're on the move with a camera and just want to check our your photos on the big screen. And apps? We can think of a few… £0.63 Lists what's trending on Twitter, and tells you exactly why that is. It shows what's trending where you are, a sample of tweets about the topic, and you don't even need a Twitter account. Invaluable if you want to stay up to date with the latest fads. Free One of the simplest ways of letting people know where you are – there's no social network to sign up to, just send a Glympse to anyone via email, SMS, Facebook or Twitter. £2.45 A drum machine-cum-sampler that turns your Tab into a music maker. You can load on your own samples from an SD card, and it gives you all the options you'd expect, including looping and real time playback and editing. £1.99 The iconic slice 'em-up is here optimised for NVIDIA Tegra based Android devices, just like the Tab, so the action will be more frantic than ever. If you're yet to experience the madness, all we can say is jump in now… Free The thinking man's browser of choice for life on the move, Opera is about the quickest out there, compressing web pages, saving you money on your tariff. And version 6.1 has a new, sleek look, making it easier to use than ever. Related posts:
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| PlayStation Vita UK launch: not until next year Posted: 04 Aug 2011 03:35 AM PDT
It’s disappointing news, especially as just this week we had our hopes raised by that Blockbuster leaflet which suggested the PlayStation Vita would launch here in October. It seems odd that Sony is willing to let the PlayStation Vita miss out on Christmas lists in the Europe and the US since 40% of its revenue came from those markets last year. Still the revelation is bound to put smiles on the faces of Nintendo execs who have been struggling to sell the Nintendo 3DS. Wondering whether the PlayStation Vita will be worth the wait? Check out our PlayStation Vita guide. Out TBC | £229.99 | Sony (via Bloomberg) Related posts:
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| Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection DLC is all zombies Posted: 04 Aug 2011 03:03 AM PDT
Along with the maps, Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection will include an enhanced zombie soundtrack adding three new songs and zombie moon dashboard theme. If you’ve already grabbed the Hardened or Prestige edition of the game you’ll get the updated maps and new content for free. If not, Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection will set you back 1200 MS points. Sadly there’s no news on the PS3 version of the DLC yet. Out August 24 | 1200 MS points | Call of Duty: Black Ops Related posts:
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