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hutchinj
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Posts by hutchinj
iFrogz’ Boost speaker out now
Feb 23rd
Even a couple of months after the fact, I have to say that iFrogz’ Boost speaker was one of the most interesting things I saw at CES this year. It’s a little box speaker that works, more or less, like magic. There are no wires or hookups necessary. All you do is set the Boost speaker down, put your iPhone right on top of it as seen above, and then the speaker somehow amplifies your iPhone. It’s not super loud, but it’s more than enough for just a desk speaker, or maybe something small in the bedroom.
As far as I can tell, it simply works by “listening in” to whatever is coming out of your iPhone’s speaker with a really close-up microphone, and then just amplifying that audio as best it can (the device is powered with a few batteries, so that would make sense, if it’s making more sound on its own). What’s most surprising about all of this, however, is how exact the unit must be — I moved the iPhone around quite a bit on the unit, and it really only works if the iPhone is sitting in exactly the right place, which means that mic, if that’s indeed what’s happening, must be very finely tuned.
At any rate, the Boost is an interesting device — there are quite a few speakers out there, but I haven’t seen anything like this, that doesn’t require any wires or hookups at all (aside from the old school megaphone style amplifiers, I mean). The Boost is available for $39.99, and if you have a place to use it, it might be worth picking up.
Article source: http://www.tuaw.com/2012/02/22/ifrogz-boost-speaker-out-now/
Apple, Proview meet in Shanghai court
Feb 23rd
It’s a battle of David and Goliath as near-bankrupt Proview International fights world-leader Apple over rights to the iPad trademark in China. The two companies met in a Shanghai court on Wednesday to argue why each one should retain ownership of the highly coveted iPad name. According to reports from the New York Times, Reuters and the AP, the court session lasted four hours and was filled with heated comments from both sides.
Proview’s lawyer Xie Xianghui asserted that “Apple has no right to sell iPads under that name.” Apple’s lawyer retorted with a scathing assessment of Proview, “Proview has no product, no markets, no customers and no suppliers. It has nothing.” Apple also pointed out that it sells a lot of products in China and a ban on iPad sales would “not only hurt Apple sales but it would also hurt China’s national interest.”
The local district judge’s day ended without a ruling. There was also no indication on how long this case may take. Estimates from lawyers suggest a decision is weeks or possibly even months away.
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izwgO0OWo5…
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/14/us-apple-proview-i…
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/technology/apple-defends-r…
Article source: http://www.tuaw.com/2012/02/22/apple-proview-meet-in-shanghai-court/
Gadzooks! Zooka’s wireless speaker bar is a hit on Kickstarter
Feb 23rd
Last week I heard about a new Bluetooth wireless speaker for iOS devices that sounded pretty interesting, but since it was “just” a Kickstarter campaign and we get a lot of product pitches for speakers in production, I completely forgot about it. That was until today, when I found out that the Zooka Wireless Speaker Bar has completely blown by its funding goal of $25,000 with 25 days left to go.
The Zooka looks like a pretty cool product, although in my opinion the jury will be out until we have a chance to actually try one. Zooka works with any iOS device, but is most striking when it is attached to an iPad. The device has a speaker at each end of a silicone tube that can be used as an iPad grip, and it features internal rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries for up to 8 hours of amped-up sound.
There are plans to make Zookas in a variety of colors — orange, fluorescent green, dark blue, brown, tan, and black — and high-level backers even get the opportunity to get a limited edition glow-in-the-dark version.
Check out the video below for a demonstration of this unique take on a Bluetooth tablet speaker.
Source: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1733547063/zooka-bluetoo…
Article source: http://www.tuaw.com/2012/02/22/gadzooks-zookas-wireless-speaker-bar-is-a-hit-on-kickstarter/
T-Mobile asks FCC to block Verizon spectrum deal
Feb 23rd
T-Mobile is urging federal regulators to block Verizon’s planned spectrum acquisition from SpectrumCo, a joint venture formed by Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks. Verizon’s pending purchase could be worth $3.9 billion and would help the company build out its nationwide LTE network. In a filing late Tuesday, T-Mobile said the Federal Communications Commission should block the deal because it would place an “excessive concentration” of wireless spectrum in Verizon’s hands, reports the Associated Press. The AWS bands that Verizon is looking to acquire uses the same frequencies that T-Mobile uses for its HSPA+ network. T-Mobile claims that the nation’s No.1 carrier already has a large amount of spectrum and does not need any more, and T-Mobile can “quickly, more intensively, and more efficiently” put the spectrum to use compared to Verizon. MetroPCS, the nation’s fifth-largest wireless provider, also urged the FCC to block the deal, claiming both parties had not provided enough information to prove that the acquisition is in the public’s best interest. Verizon and SpectrumCo hope to close the deal by the middle of this year.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/jkHVmrQK1K0/Google to sell Android-based heads-up display glasses by year’s end
Feb 23rd
The New York Times claims to have confirmed previous rumors stating that Google is developing Android-based glasses with a built-in heads-up display (HUD). While earlier rumors suggested that the glasses were not ready for a mass roll out, the Times quotes unnamed Google employees who said “the glasses will go on sale to the public by the end of the year.” The HUD glasses will reportedly come equipped with a 3G or 4G data connection, a number of sensors including motion and GPS, and they are expected to cost “around the price of current smartphones,” or between $250 and $600.
Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/05Grn_72nBU/
ASUS Transformer Prime bootloader unlocking tool now available
Feb 23rd
As promised, ASUS has released a bootloader unlocking tool for the Transformer Prime. The tool is packaged in an APK that can be downloaded from the company’s website. Once downloaded and installed, the Transformer Prime will have the ability to run custom ROMS, however ASUS warns that unlocking your bootloader will void your warranty. “Once you activate the [unlock app] you will not be able to recover your ASUS product (“Original Product”) back to original locked conditions,” ASUS stated. “You also acknowledge ASUS does not guarantee service satisfaction to any Revised Product, including events involving paid service requested by you to be performed to the Revised Product.”
Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/QlYTE8lFwYc/
Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G to launch in late March for $149.99
Feb 23rd
T-Mobile Announces March Availability for Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
The latest addition to T-Mobile’s fastest 4G device lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G keeps consumers entertained and connected
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Feb. 22, 2012 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.,1 today confirmed the upcoming March availability of the Samsung Galaxy S® Blaze™ 4G, exclusively from T-Mobile®. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is the latest addition to the successful Galaxy S line of products, and T-Mobile’s newest fast 4G smartphone to take advantage of 4G (HSPA+42) technology, providing customers with the ability to browse the Web faster than the average home Internet2 connection while on the go.
Consumers are increasingly demanding more from their smartphones — keeping them entertained, staying connected with loved ones and enabling them to complete more tasks using a single device. A recent T-Mobile survey3 found 79 percent of smartphone users are less likely to carry other technology devices, such as cameras, laptops and GPS devices, when they have their smartphone.
T-Mobile’s newest 4G smartphone offers a variety of features and applications to help consumers be entertained and have access to the information they need when they need it. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G entertainment offerings make it easy for T-Mobile customers to stream their favorite movies on Netflix®, enjoy live or on-demand TV programs on T-Mobile® TV in mobile HD4 or download a popular movie or TV show using Samsung Media Hub. Additionally, the smartphone features TeleNav GPS Navigator, which provides hands-free, voice-guided turn-by-turn driving directions, real-time traffic alerts, full-color 3-D moving maps and local alerts, helping customers get to where they need to go. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also comes preloaded with a
Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/3D_XZJBJ24I/
LG unveils Optimus 3D Max Android phone ahead of MWC
Feb 23rd
LG WOWS THE WORLD AGAIN WITH OPTIMUS 3D MAX AT MWC 2012
More Than Just Glasses-Free 3D, Optimus 3D Max
Pushes the Boundaries of Power Features and PerformanceSEOUL, Feb. 22, 2012 – Following in the footsteps of last year’s glasses-free 3D smartphone, LG Electronics will publicly unveil the Optimus 3D Max at the 2012 Mobile World Congress (MWC). With powerful 3D technology and sleeker design, the Optimus 3D Max provides a complete 3D entertainment platform and marks a big leap forward in the ever-expanding 3D ecosystem.
“The Optimus 3D Max was born from LG’s constant efforts to bring user entertainment experience to a higher level,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The introduction of the Optimus 3D last year ushered in a new era for smartphones and Optimus 3D Max is real proof of LG’s commitment to portable 3D entertainment.”
LG Optimus 3D Max is equipped with diverse innovations and offers users with advancements including:
■ True Performance Muscle with Latest Mobile Technologies
LG Optimus 3D Max is a powerful smartphone in both 2D and 3D mode and a pleasure to view with LG’s exclusive brightened display. 3G’s network speed has been also improved to HSPA+ 21Mbps. LG Tag+ offers advanced NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities designed to promote greater user convenience. One of its benefits is automatic setting changes which are possible by creating predefined tags that are customized to certain modes such as car-mode, office-mode or sleep-mode. Depending on location, the predefined tags will automatically adjust various phone settings including Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS and sound volume.Beyond its already innovative features, attendees of MWC 2012 will see some of the future benefits that will be made available through a Maintenance Release or an application available
Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/Mv8UzWEEdys/
Apple to build new data center in Oregon
Feb 23rd
Apple confirmed on Tuesday that it plans to build a second data center in Prineville, Oregon. The Cupertino-based company will build the server farm on a 160-acre piece of land it purchased for $5.6 million, reports KTVZ News. “We purchased the land and it’s for a data center,” Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said. The new facility will be very close to a data center Facebook opened last year. Crook County Judge Mike McCabe revealed that the social networking site “kind of helped recruit” Apple to Crook County and allowed the company’s representatives to tour its facility last summer. On Monday, Apple revealed its data center located in North Carolina was awarded LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the only data center of its size to have received the certification.
ASUS UK: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Coming To Transformer In The Next Week
Feb 23rd
After ASUS’s Singapore Facebook stated an Android 4.0 OTA would be hitting the OG Transformer as late as March, it now seems that ASUS UK’s Facebook page is indicating that said update will be landing in the next week:
A quick refresher on the TF101 ICS Update that you are all so patiently waiting for. Our engineers are working hard on getting this ready for you as soon as possible and are still aiming for a February release. As always as soon as we hear any further news or a definitive date we will let you know.
While different regions do have differing release time frames for various reasons (eg, language support), you’d think ASUS would go about announcing this sort of information in a way that might be slightly, uh, organized. Still, good news for Transformer owners holding out for some Android 4.0 action, given that they’ve been waiting since CES.
We’ll see if ASUS makes good on this promise in the coming week.
ASUS UK Facebook via AndroidCommunity
Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AndroidPolice/~3/jOx6bfgjF0Q/story01.htm