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HTC Desire Froyo update delayed on Orange
Hotmail push email headed for iPhone and Windows Phone 7
Firefox Fennec browser hits Android and Nokia N900
DJ Hero 2 track list revealed
Android tablet offers glasses-free 3D
iPhone 4 gets dual SIM adapter
iTunes fake app reviews scandal: PR firm backs down
LG making enormous flexi e-paper for tablets and e-readers
Samsung NX100 camera incoming?
YouTube Movies UK offers free full-length films: terrible flicks ahoy!

HTC Desire Froyo update delayed on Orange

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 09:45 AM PDT

Orange customers hoping for the HTC Desire Froyo update are going to have to wait a little longer than previously thought. Over on Twitter, the firm’s PR man Conor Maples has reported that HTC has delayed the update.

The HTC Desire Froyo update is now expected to “drop” on Orange phones in mid-September. It’s already available for unlocked HTC Desire handsets, as well as on Vodafone customers’ HTC Desire phones, so Orange users may well feel a touch miffed that they’re being left out of the party.

As Ben said in our full HTC Desire Froyo update review, the update offers a raft of major improvements to the phone, including the ability to install apps to SD card, new voice commands, a Wi-Fi hotspot function and of course Flash support. It doesn’t do much to improve battery life, sadly, but despite this disappointment we still think it’s an incredible update.

We’ll give you a nudge when Orange manages to release the HTC Desire Froyo update.

Out mid-Sept | £free | Orange Twitter

Hotmail push email headed for iPhone and Windows Phone 7

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 09:30 AM PDT

Hotmail is about to getting an upgrade that’ll mean push updates from your Microsoft-powered mail on the iPhone, Android devices and its upcoming Windows Phone 7 handset. Microsoft is activating Exchange Activesync on the Hotmail servers this Monday, bringing the feature to millions of mobiles…

Hotmail was one of the original webmail services and though Gmail gets more publicity, more people rely on a hotmail.com address. When Microsoft throws the big switch marked PUSH EMAIL over at Hotmail HQ on Monday, it’ll allow the estimated 360 million Hotmail users to receive instant email updates on their mobiles.

Initially, this will just be of interest to iPhone and Android users (the latter almost certainly having jumped ship to Gmail already) but we reckon the real reason for the move is Windows Phone 7. Microsoft’s new smartphone effort will needs to have integrated email sorted if it is to compete with Google’s Android, never mind the iPhone, and offering an easy path for Hotmail/Windows Live users is a good first step.

Hotmail’s push email uses Exchange Activesync, which has been available on the iPhone since iOS 2.0 and hit Android in version 2.1 (Eclair).

Monday 30th August | £free | Hotmail (via CNet)

Firefox Fennec browser hits Android and Nokia N900

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 09:19 AM PDT

Mozilla has officially launched its Fennec mobile browser – essentially Firefox for mobiles – for Android handsets, plus the Nokia N900. Read on to find out what you’ll get if you take the plunge and stick the alpha version of Fennec on your phone…

A pre-alpha version of Firefox Fennec has been available for Android since late April, but this version is the “full” alpha. So while it’s still not the entirely finished article, it’s certainly deemed fit for purpose. Among its various features is built-in Firefox Sync, which keeps your Firefox tabs and bookmarks synced across various different devices (phone, laptop, iPod touch etc.).

To get Firefox Fennec, which offers pinch-to-zoom support, to work on your Android phone, you’ll need it to be running Android OS version of at least 2.x. And also be aware that even then you might experience issues as it’s only an alpha version. Firefox Fennec is already available for Symbian and Windows Mobile phones.

Out now | £free | Mozilla blog (via Gizmodo)

DJ Hero 2 track list revealed

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 08:45 AM PDT

Good news DJ Hero fans! Activision has released the full list of tracks the will make up plastic turntabalism sequel DJ Hero 2. The 105 tracks make for an eclectic mix of hip hop, dance and pop with some surprising – and welcome – old school grooves.

Everyone who splurged on the plastic turntable and fader for the original DJ Hero can look forward to a second game to justify their outlay. DJ Hero 2 is on the way soon and Activision has released the listof 105 tracks that you will be scratching your way through in the game’s story mode.

As well as the expected hip hop contingent represented by 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Kanye, et al Activision has managed to bring together some dance tracks from the likes of Basement Jaxx, Deadmau5 and Nightcrawlers. Ageing fans of the turntablist’s art will also be able to relive their misspent youth with old school classics from Grandmaster Flash, M|A|R|R|S and even Stevie Wonder. Oh, and there is a Metallica song on there too. Possibly as a sorbet to cleanse the palette.

Here’s the full tracklisting. Let us know what you think of it in the comments and feel free to add your suggestions for songs that shouldh ave made the grade.

• 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman – “California Love Remix”
• 50 Cent – “In Da Club”
• Adamski – “Killer”
• Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force – “Planet Rock”
• Armand Van Helden – “I Want Your Soul”
• A-Trak – “Say Whoa”
• B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars – “Nothin’ On You”
• Basement Jaxx – “Where’s Your Head At”
• BlakRoc feat. Pharoahe Monch & RZA – “Dollaz & Sense”
• Busta Rhymes – “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”
• Calvin Harris – “I’m Not Alone”
• Chamillionaire – “Ridin’”
• Chic – “Good Times”
• Chic – “Le Freak”
• Clinton Sparks, DJ Class, & Jermaine Dupri – “Favorite DJ”
• Daft Punk – “Human After All”
• Damian Marley – “Welcome To Jamrock”
• David Guetta & Chris Willis – “Love Is Gone”
• David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi – “Memories”
• David Guetta vs. The Egg – “Love Don’t Let Me Go (Walking Away)”
• Deadmau5 – “Ghosts N Stuff”
• Deadmau5 & Kaskade – “I Remember”
• Deee-Lite – “Groove Is In The Heart”
• Dillinja and Skibadee – “Twist ‘Em Out”
• Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden – “Bonkers”
• DJ Qbert – “Super Battle Breaks”
• DJ Shadow – “Midnight In A Perfect World”
• DJ Shadow feat. Q-Tip and Lateef The Truth Speaker – “Enuff (DJ Fresh Remix)”
• Donna Summer – “Bad Girls”
• Edwin Starr – “War”
• Eminem – “Not Afraid”
• Estelle feat. Kanye West – “American Boy”
• Flo Rida – “Low”
• Flo Rida feat. Will.I.Am – “In The Ayer”
• Gorillaz feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack – “Stylo”
• Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five feat. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee – “The Message”
• Harold Faltermeyer – “Axel F”
• House Of Pain – “Jump Around”
• Iyaz – “Replay”
• Janet Jackson – “Nasty”
• Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.”
• Justice – “Waters Of Nazareth”
• Kanye West – “Heartless”
• Kanye West – “Love Lockdown”
• Kaskade & Deadmau5 – “Move For Me”
• Kelis – “Acapella (David Guetta Extended Mix)”
• Kool & The Gang – “Jungle Boogie”
• Lady Gaga – “Lovegame”
• Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”
• Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis – “Just Dance”
• Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins – “Get Low”
• Lil’ Wayne – “Go DJ”
• Lil’ Wayne feat. Static Major – “Lollipop”
• LL Cool J – “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”
• M.I.A. – “Galang”
• M|A|R|R|S – “Pump Up The Volume”
• Major Lazer feat. VYBZ Kartel – “Pon De Floor”
• Malcolm McLaren – “Buffalo Gals”
• Metallica – “The Day That Never Comes”
• Missy Elliott – “Get Ur Freak On”
• MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E. – “Bounce”
• Nas feat. Keri Hilson – “Hero”
• Naughty By Nature – “O.P.P.”
• Nelly – “Hot In Herre”
• New Boyz – “You’re A Jerk”
• New Order – “Blue Monday”
• Newcleus – “Jam On It”
• Nightcrawlers – “Push The Feeling On (MK Mix 95)”
• Orbital – “The Box”
• Pirate Soundsystem – “Bashy Bashy”
• Pitbull – “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”
• Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes – “Don’t Cha”
• Rihanna – “Pon De Replay”
• Rihanna – “Rude Boy”
• Robin S – “Show Me Love (Stonebridge Radio Edit)”
• Salt N Pepa – “Push It”
• Sam Cooke – “Chain Gang”
• Sam Sparro – “B&G” a/k/a “Black & Gold”
• Sean Paul – “Infiltrate”
• Sean Paul – “Get Busy”
• Snoop Dogg – “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?”
• Snow – “Informer”
• Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em – “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”
• Sparfunk & D-Code – “Apocalypse”
• Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”
• Talib Kweli – “Get By”
• The Chemical Brothers – “Leave Home”
• The Chemical Brothers feat. Q-Tip – “Galvanize”
• The Crystal Method – “Busy Child (Still Busy After All These Years Remix)”
• The Jackson 5 – “ABC”
• The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Mase & Diddy – “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems”
• The Prodigy – “Omen”
• The Prodigy – “Firestarter”
• Tiësto – “Speed Rail”
• Tiësto & Sneaky Sound System – “I Will Be Here”
• Tiësto vs Diplo – “Come On”
• Tiga – “You Gonna Want Me”
• Timbaland feat. Drake – “Say Something”
• Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. – “The Way I Are”
• Tweet feat. Missy Elliott – “Oops (Oh My)”
• Walter Murphy – “A Fifth Of Beethoven”
• Warren G feat. Nate Dogg – “Regulate”
• Wayne Smith – “Under Mi Sleng Teng”
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)”
• Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West – “Put On”

Date TBC | £tbc | DJ Hero 2

Android tablet offers glasses-free 3D

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 08:42 AM PDT

The Nintendo 3DS and the rumoured Toshiba TV aren’t the only tech products offering 3D without glasses. An Android tablet dubbed the Supernova X1 also uses auto-stereoscopic technology to put images into three dimensions and have them visible with the naked eye.

The Android tablet, manufactured by Chinese firm Rockchip, uses very similar technology to that featured in the Nintendo 3DS – so there will be a button that simply switches between 2D and 3D viewing.

The Supernova X1 is only at the prototype stage at present, and little is known about potential specifications, pricing and availability. That could all change at next week’s IFA expo in Berlin, where the Android tablet will get its official debut. We’ll be in attendance so keep it here for more news…

Out TBC | £TBC | Rockchip (via CrunchGear)

iPhone 4 gets dual SIM adapter

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 07:46 AM PDT

Fancy running two SIMs on your iPhone 4? Well, a new gizmo helpfully dubbed the “iPhone 4 Dual SIM Adapter Case” is engineered to let you do just that. This transparent plastic shell has space for a pair of SIMs, and even lets you flip between them without rebooting your iPhone 4.

Apparently the switchover isn’t instantaneous – the iPhone 4 takes a minute or so to flip from one to the other – but it’s easy to do. You simply pick the SIM you want to change to from the SIM Applications settings menu. You’ll need to be running iOS 4, 4.0.1 or 4.0.2, mind you.

The case works by snaking a connector into the iPhone 4’s SIM tray. This connector can also be hooked up to two SIMs, which are placed in holders inside the case but outside the iPhone 4. Clever stuff.

Out now | $28.99 | USBfever (via SlashGear)

iTunes fake app reviews scandal: PR firm backs down

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 07:45 AM PDT

The iTunes App Store is no stranger to the odd fake review but a recent case has made big news after games PR firm Reverb Communications settled a complaint with the US Federal Trade Commission. It had been accused of submitting reviews for its clients apps to iTunes.

It is a not unusual to find lackluster apps on iTunes with loads of shoddy one-star ratings plus a few incongruous five-star OMG BEST GAME EVAR ratings thrown into the mix. We usually just assume the developer’s mum has managed to get an iTunes account to stick her oar in.

At least one culprit may now have been found but rather than a proud parent, it looks like a PR company was giving a helping hand to its clients.

The US Federal Trade Commission has announced that Reverb Communications settled charges of deceptive advertising which alleged it had employees post fake “independent” reviews of apps by the firm’s clients on iTunes without disclosing their identities.

Under the settlement, Reverb – whose clients have included Rock Band 3 developers Harmonix and Star Trek Online makers Cryptic Studios – must remove all existing review posts and is barred from making further endorsements without explicitly stating their relationship to their clients.

Let us know: have you spotted any suspicious reviews on the iTunes App Store? And how much attention do you pay to the ratings before you grab an app?

Out now | £varies | iTunes (via MCV/New York Times)

LG making enormous flexi e-paper for tablets and e-readers

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 07:30 AM PDT

The LG push into tablet devices got an extra boost today, after news that LG would be developing a range of flexible and colour e-papers for its tablets and e-readers. The most exciting part is the size: they're going to be massive. LG says it will be starting production before the end of the year, on flexible e-papers as big as 19 inches.

It's not just the tablet devices that will benefit either, LG also says it will also make colour e-papers of up to 9.7 inches.

For us, this conjures up both exciting images beyond tablet devices, of Minority Report style interfaces, and newspapers like Harry Potter's Hogwart's broadsheet, but also terrifying ones. Imagine The Sun in full multimedia flexible e-paper glory… It sends a bit of a shiver down your spine doesn't it?

There are doubts about the possibilities of the technology though. LG seems confident that it will be able to put this display technology for tablets into production later in the year, but, as T3 reports, Plastic Logic, another company planning to manufacture these sorts of tablet and flexible paper displays, the process ran up against too many problems, and it switched its focus to the next generation of e-readers.

[via T3]

Samsung NX100 camera incoming?

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 06:42 AM PDT

As Micro Four Thirds-style cameras go, the Samsung NX10 is a mighty impressive effort – and now it’s getting a new stablemate. Samsung has started shipping out invites to a Photokina launch event for a product it promises will “take the camera industry by storm” – and it looks set to be the Samsung NX100.

The Samsung NX100 was apparently leaked in a promo video earlier this month. The clip (since removed from the web) showed a retro style body that closely resembles the likes of the Panasonic GF1 and Olympus EPL-1. The Samsung NX10 sports a more DSLR-style shape, so the Samsung NX100 could represent something of a change in direction for the NX range.

Alongside the Samsung NX100, we’re also expecting Samsung to reveal some new accessories and additional lenses for the NX range. In the case of the latter, a new compact kit zoom and dinky 20mm pancake have been previously mentioned, so look out for those.

Photokina 2010 takes place from 21 September, and you can expect a bevy of other new camera and kit launches alongside the Samsung NX100’s.

Out TBC | £TBC | Samsung (via Slashgear)

YouTube Movies UK offers free full-length films: terrible flicks ahoy!

Posted: 27 Aug 2010 06:02 AM PDT

YouTube has launched a new service showing full-length films. The YouTube Movies sections includes flicks from Sony Pictures and BlinkBox. As well as some well-known stars and decent movies, its also a treasure trove of truly awful and ultra-kitsch films. Can we interest you in Invasion of the Bee Girls?

YouTube unveiled a YouTube Rentals service in the US early this year but for the moment the UK YouTube Movies section is free and ad-supported. It includes 400 films so far with a scattering of movies featuring big names (including Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Jodie Foster and Brad Pitt).

YouTube Movies also seems like a treasure trove for fans of kung-fu films and schlocky horror. There's a big selection of lesser-known Jackie Chan vehicles and a whole section stuffed full of movies with titles like OC Babes And The Slasher Of Zombietown.

To access more explicit flicks like Naked Run (about a nudist who battles a corrupt congressman) you'll need to login to YouTube to prove you’re over 18, comfortable with nudity, violence and watching an utterly terrible movie.

YouTube previously added on-demand TV shows from Channel 4 and Channel 5. YouTube says it may add paid for films to the UK version of the YouTube Movies site in the future.

Take a look at YouTube Movies yourself and hit the comments with the most bizarre or utterly awful films you find in its archives. We're pretty taken with Wasp Woman and Silent Night, Bloody Night.

Out now | £free | YouTube Movies

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Saturday, 28 August 2010

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