The iPhone 4S hit stores today, now being offered through AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. The telephone is identical on all carriers with each needing to distinguish based on other factors like network speed, reliability, customer service, as well as information plan terms. If you re still undecided about that carrier and network speed is key to your decision, then definitely check out this speed test video of all 3 iPhone 4S models side-by-side after the cut.

AT&T has been touting that its iPhone 4S will be the fastest because the device supports the carrier’s HSPA+ enhanced 3G network, while on Verizon to Sprint, we d be getting just standard 3G speeds. But in the below video, you ll see that Verizon and AT&T are neck to neck with Sprint generally behind.

However, the SpeedTest.net comparison shows AT&T method ahead with a download speed of 0.65Mbps, Verizon with 0.26Mbps, as well as Sprint with 0.16Mbps. The tester claims that the results have been similar no matter how he arranged the positions of the devices.

Although the comparison isn’t exactly scientific, it does give you an idea of what you may expect. But speeds will additionally depend on which part of the nation we re located along with other factors. Sprint looks clearly to be the slowest, but they are hoping to offset that with unlimited information plans. And if you re still debating on whether to upgrade, then ensure to check out our full iPhone 4S review and our iOS 5 review.


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If we ve been paying attention to the monthly sales reports from research firm NPD, we understand that Nintendo is having many trouble. The game company, that not extended ago dominated the gaming room, is now an after-thought for many consumers. As well as in turn, the business s financial performance is slipping.

For its part, Nintendo has kept a brave face, saying that it believes good times are ahead. The business points to increased interest in the 3DS, solid titles launching for that platform, as well as next many years release of the Wii U to make its case.

But those of us who have been watching Nintendo over the last year or and so understand better: the company is in deep trouble, as well as its prospects for future success in the game business are certainly not almost as great as the company would have we believe.

Simply put, times are tough at Nintendo.

But is there a fast fix in sight? A few might say that the Wii U is that fix, but I just don’t see it. As far as we can tell and so far, the Wii U looks to be a fine competitor to the Xbox 360 as well as PlayStation 3. But how will it hold up against the successors to those devices? If I had to guess, certainly not all that well.

I’m also think of claims that the 3DS will eventually take off and help bolster Nintendo’s earnings. Unfortunately for Nintendo, 3D just isn’t all that appealing to many consumers now. Exactly what s more, the 3DS’ 3D effect, whilst interesting for a while, tends to get old before long as well as the novelty of the device starts to wear off.

"It’s time for something fresh - and unexpected"

And so, that leaves us with software. There’s no debating that Nintendo has the best software library in the world. With Mario, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, so other franchises, the games themselves can be Nintendo’s ticket to future success. The just issue is, Nintendo seems to be running out of really clean tips.
Is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 3D really the best the company can do? Certain, it’s a classic, but is it really something that the vast majority of consumers - including those that currently don’t own a 3DS - really desire? I don’t think and so.

Although Nintendo fans might disagree with this sentiment, I’m starting to think that the game business s software is becoming overused. It’s time for anything fresh - as well as unexpected.

Alas, I don’t necessarily believe that there is a quick fix to Nintendo’s issues. The business has too many problems - and too many competitive threats - for it to quickly turn things around. At this point, I think Nintendo will need to spend over a year trying to fix its ailing business before it can even come close to matching its former place of glory.

The Wii was a wildly popular device for many years, as well as the DS was a portable success, but lookin ahead, I just don’t think there’s is a lot to be excited regarding with Nintendo’s business.


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Those of we utilizing the Kindle that Amazon is now calling the “Kindle Keyboard,” aka the Kindle 3, is glad to hear that today there’s a software update available that gives we access to Kindle Cloud for the personal documents. This is the same cloud that the Kindle 4 has access to, the one that, as usually, you ve access to every ebook you ve ever bought from Amazon, complete with all the notes and highlights we ve left in them. Now we get your own archived personal documents too!

Get this update NOW through Amazon’s simple to use update process - certainly not only will you get the update to be able to access the personal documents, there’s additionally an expansion of elements you ve already been enjoying, including Whispersync of last page read, bookmarks, and annotations to your archived personal documents that have been converted into Kindle format. Can you resist such good updates all included in this free update?

All we ve got to do to reach this update on your Kindle 3 is, beginning from the Home screen, is hit Settings. From there you ll see the Kindle version at the bottom of the display. If you see Version Kindle 3.1? or earlier, you ve got an update coming to you. To download, simply head to Amazon or hit one of the following links:

Kindle Keyboard Wi-Fi: Download 3.3 ?Your serial number will start with “B008?
Kindle Keyboard 3G (Free 3G + Wi-Fi) – U.S. and Canadian Customers*: Download 3.3?Your serial number will start with “B006???Kindle Keyboard 3G (Free 3G + Wi-Fi) – European Customers*: Download 3.3?Your serial number will start with “B00A”

If we re unsure of the Kindle serial number, just check at the bottom of your Settings menu simply such as we did for the Kindle software version. When you ve got the software downloaded, we ll have to transfer it to your Kindle device. To do this, once again follow directions as provided by Amazon:

1. Transfer software to your Kindle Keyboard: Turn your Kindle Keyboard on and connect it to your computer using the USB cable. Drag and drop the new update file from your computer to the root Kindle drive. (The drive contains a number of folders – such as “audible,” “documents,” and “music” – and is typically displayed as a “device” icon).
2. Monitor file transfer and disconnect: Check your file transfer progress to ensure file transfer to your Kindle Keyboard is complete before disconnecting. After the file has transferred successfully, eject the Kindle to safely disconnect Kindle Keyboard from your computer. Disconnect the USB cable from your Kindle Keyboard and your computer.
3. Start the software update: Go to the Home screen, press the Menu key, and select “Settings.” Press the Menu key again, and then select “Update Your Kindle.” (This option will be grayed out if the most recent update has already been installed or if the file transfer was not successful.) Select “Ok” when prompted if you want to perform an update. Your Kindle Keyboard will restart twice during the update. After the first restart, you will see “Your Kindle is Updating”.
4. Once the update is complete: Your Kindle Keyboard will automatically restart a second time. When you go to the Settings page, you should notice Version: Kindle 3.3 at the bottom of the screen. Once you see this, you know your update is complete.

Got it? Any troubles, ask below or perhaps go straight to Amazon for support. Get in the cloud!

BONUS have a consider the Kindle Touch while you re at it.


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Motorola today unveiled two new Bluetooth headsets called the Elite Silver and the Elite Flip. Both headsets pack NFC chips, which means pairing the headsets with NFC-equipped handsets is as easy as tapping the two together. They also work with Motorola’s My MotoSpeak app so that users can compose and send text messages by voice as well as listen to incoming texts.

Both headsets feature HD Audio Plus for boosted voice quality and CrystalTalk dual-mic technology for noise cancellation. Motorola also boasts that the Class 1 Bluetooth technology used has an extended connection range of up to 300 feet.



The Elite Silver is the more discrete of the two with a wrap around design and weighs less than half an ounce. It boasts up to 15 hours of talk time when combined with its special storage case that allows the headset to be charged while stowed away. The Elite Flip is a larger headset with much of the same features and TrueComfort technology for three distinct wearing styles, but only has up to 6 hours of talk time.



The headsets will be available through Motorola’s website starting October 24 with the Elite Silver priced at $129.99 and the Elite Flip priced at $99.99.


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Motorola’s phones were tanking available after the Razr flip phone years ago was and so popular. The company hadn’t had a really desirable phone till it embraced Android as well as started anew in popularity. Motorola is now set to revive that Razr name with a brand new smartphone dubbed the Droid Razr. A brand new rumor has surfaced with a tipster claiming that the Droid Razr will be a telephone to watch.

In fact that tipster claims that the hardware inside is faster than the iPhone 4S. The smartphone is expected to go official on October 18, but the tip sheds light on the hardware before that release. The unverified tip claims the smartphone will run a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and has 1GB of RAM. The iPhone 4S has 512MB of RAM.




The screen is said to be a 4.3-inch device similar to the qHD offering on the Droid X2 as well as Bionic. The smartphone will also apparently support LTE 4G connectivity and is said to be the thinnest LTE smartphone to date. Other rumors point to the Droid Razr being in Verizon stores today.


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The following concept design comes from a workshop held yearly by Sony, the product being here a hand-held device that records sounds, attaches them to symbols, and stamps them on objects for later scanning. Whenever we scan a symbol later on, the device plays back the sound we recorded at an earlier date. Can you imagine the possibilities this easy set of functions could hold? Fantabulous!

This device is conceptualized by Shan Hao Cheng, as well as is created with the Sony brand on it because of the event that Sony holds yearly in China. I must remind you, as I must remind everyone who happens upon an early concept design post like this, that the product isn’t but brought up to speed with the technology needed to execute it. Due to the fact designers in this Sony event are allowed to design without exact execution in mind, the imagination can run wild, as well as the designs can essentially be magic.

We’ve got anything similar to this available right now in QR-code creating as well as scanning, but this concept right here is all contained inside a single object. Because we know that taking a concept as well as filtering it down to a single device that can contain the entirety of the proposed activity will work - Apple’s iPhone, for example, works quite well in this method - we know that this device could well become somewhat of a hit if it have been to evet reach the production floor as well as stores. Such as all concept designs, this you needs to be pushed forward with one thing: money.

Would definitely you buy it? How regarding if we were a teacher hunting to do many conceptual projects with your students? Possibly if you have been a graffiti writer? What about music artists lookin to have people running around a city scanning musical codes?

Have at it!


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Spotify has landed on the Boxee Box, providing subcribers to the streaming music service a way to hear to tracks, and access playlists as well as artist information, from their set-top box. The latest in a amount of implementations of Spotify in standalone home entertainment systems, the Boxee app also gives access to the Exactly what s New section, flagging up the latest content to arrive in the catalog.

What we can’t do is create to manage Spotify playlists, something Boxee reckons is best left to computers as well as tablets. You ll need a Premium Spotify account in order to use the Boxee Box integration, priced at $9.99 to €9.99 per month, and of course a Boxee Box to access it on. They’re currently running at around $180 online.

Spotify previously announced a deal with Western Digital to put the music service on the WD TV Live range, joining an existing line-up of hardware from partners including Sonos as well as Onkyo. More details on Spotify here.


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It’s time for the latest and hopefully last date change for the launch of the Star Wars MMORPG - The Old Republic. This is a game that, for the lay individual, is comparable to World of Warcraft in its scope, allowing players to create their own character with who they’ll be able to experience the entire Star Wars universe as it unfolds before them. Have battles, accomplish missions, swing a few lightsabers around, the whole shebang.

The newest word on this future game is that there will be a international release - with North America as well as the European territories on the list thus far as well as no sign of greater Asia - on December 20th, 2011.
As those of you that ve been waiting for this game for years understand already, this game was set for the end of 2012 already, originally set to release somewhere around whenever Diablo III would be dropped - instead D3 was delayed until 2012 as well as Star Wars is now free to become the biggest MMORPG release of the season. Once The Old Republic is released, international support will be provided by the Ireland-based base already nearing readiness now.

BioWare and LucasArts tell us that those that have pre-ordered the game as well as have or perhaps will redeem their Pre-Order Code at the Code Redemption Center at SWTOR.com before the game officially gets released is eligible for Early Game Access plus an in-game “Color Stone” to instantly change the color of the weapon’s “visual effects.” Your blaster blasts and your own lightsaber blades, essentially. Those that want to pre-order the game still can at the SWTOR pre-order page right this second. Grab it!


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If you ve been following along with the epic telling of Target Superstore’s future in the Mobile business with your humble narrator, we understand that they’re certainly having an interesting time selling Android tablets. Amid the Apple’s iPad 2 sitting always at least you aisle away from the Android selection in a MUCH nicer showing than the Android tablets have ever had as well as the smartphone wall being dominated by 2 iPhone displays 3 times the size of any other smartphone, one would definitely think that Apple would be dominating. As it turns out, one Android tablet in certain can be jumping off the shelves.

It’s the Acer Iconia Tab A500 (aka the Wi-fi version of the A501, available carried by AT&T) that we’ve got a tip on here, the pictures above as well as below from none other than the Roseville, Minnesota Target place, also known to be the first Target store on earth. The sign you see above shows that this tablet, though featured in this week’s ad, is low on stock, even after having been sitting on the shelves for months and months. Does this mean that Android tablet sales are finally choosing up?

Perhaps it has anything to do with the big re-arrangement of tablets that happened last week? They moved the Android tablets from 2 aisles away from the mobile section to right on top of it, this putting them above the iPad 2 and perhaps right in the faces of those who would definitely never have otherwise realized such things existed. Chances are this had ANYTHING to do with the low stock, but more possible had been seeing a bit more awareness of the Android tablet market on the whole.

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Trimble is a name that many outdoors enthusiasts will understand. Trimble makes a bunch of different handheld GPS devices to help you navigate in the woods or perhaps on the trials. The company has a brand new app for the iPad that is called the Backpacker Map Maker app as well as is specifically for the iPad. The touch user interface of the app allows the hiker or perhaps backpacker to find just where they would like to go using seamless topographical maps.

The app has maps for the US and Canada as well as allows them to see, create, as well as annotate maps right on the tablet screen. It also offers aerial, hybrid, street, as well as terrain maps. Access to over 68,000 USGS topo maps that are stacked together as well as enhanced in MyTopo mode is included. A wealth of other features makes this a very useful app.



It has place search to find campgrounds and peaks. Dual maps let the user turn on dual map mode for precise trip planning with street maps as well as topo maps on screen at once. The trip plans is saved to the cloud, waypoints is marked, and has a ruler tool, as well as a digital compass. The app also has GPS coordinates. The app is free for the next seven days and then it will be a paid app.


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Absolutely nothing beats a leaked document that shows a device that we are all waiting to finally see living as well as breathing in the public’s hands. Except for possibly a document that tells us how a lot the carrier plans to make us spend on mentioned device. The two many sought after devices to hit Verizon this year are close to release, the Galaxy Nexus as well as the HTC Rezound. Definitely not that there aren’t other devices that many people are hunting forward too, but the high-end devices are always the go to ones.

According to Verizon’s MAP’D devices list, you can see that both of these mega devices will hit the store running at a cool 300 bones. Sounds regarding right for Verizon. They tend to put their top end devices at that cost point.

We can also see the MAP’D dates listed to the right. The end date usually is when there are the price of the device to start to decrease. Usually certainly not more than $50 bucks, but still. If your time for upgrade is running around April, we can would like to hold of a yet another month or perhaps and so to save a little more coin.


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User designgears has simply posted an update for the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy S II over at RootsWiki.  The updated version is currently only for individuals with rooted devices, but if the leak is out, the real deal won’t be far behind.

The update is reported to fix a number of areas that user have been complaining regarding and the following has been noted:

Known Issues:

• Home button haptic doesn’t work

Fixes:

• Home button lag
• Lockscreen bug

New Features:

• Overscoll glow

If your rooted an can’t wait for the official launch of the firmware update, head over to this thread on RootzWiki as well as get the downloads going.


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Phones are coming out faster than you can read the news and many of them are amazing super-phones that not just act as a phone, and turn into mini computers and full media streaming devices that you can connect to the HDTV too.  Because there is thus a great deal going on right now with telephone announcements and releases, we decided to find out just what you are doing about it!

We’ve picked some of the top devices currently available or coming around the corner  as well as we’d such as to understand which device your own thinking about buying.  If we such as to expand ever further, be sure to leave us your own thoughts in the comments below when you ve created the vote in the poll.

We understand that we haven’t included every rumor or future devices, but we think think this is a good list of the current technology solutions thus here are a couple of the major releases just happening in the industry and a few simply around the corner, including:



The Samsung Galaxy S II is the to of the list for many of you today.  Available on almost ever major network except Verizon, it’s the fastest telephone available today.



The HTC Amze is HTC’s latest offerring on the T-Mobile network.  Released on the same day and currently in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S II on T-Mobile.  With 4.3? HD Screen, it offers top notch specs that should last till your next upgrade is available.



Initially rumored to be launched on the Verizon Network, but expected to follow up closely with launch on most major networks,  The Nexus Prime is expected to be the first device to be released with Ice Cream Sandwich as well as super HD display.



The Motorola Atrix was the first device to provide a docking solution that turned the telephone into laptop as well as we assume that the Motorola Atrix 2 will offer the same solution to continue the Atrix path.
There are usually other devices coming down the road as well as we’ve probably missed something the thinking regarding buying.  If we don’t see the device in this list, allow us understand in the comments and we’ll add it.


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In this time of advanced gadgets and devices, you will think that the world becomes a better place. But that can be far from the truth. It is also a time exactly where many parents have become more concerned regarding their child’s have safety in a gadget-filled environment where privacy and safety can be breached. But it will also take new gadgets to keep parents worries at ease in this aspect. There are now devices such as the new Amber Alert GPS V3.

With the marketplace for child security devices on the up, there are brand new such devices that are being introduced to address the want. You of the recent ones introduced is the Amber Alert GPS V3 device designed especially for kids. In partnership with AT&T to provide wireless connectivity, this portable child GPS tracker will help parents keep track of their kid’s whereabouts.

The Amber Alert GPS V3 can provide parents the ability to create “Zones” around their home, their kid’s school to a certain area in the neighborhood. This device can provide parents with timely alerts through email or text whenever their child enters or exits a certain zone. The V3 device also functions in tandem with information from the National Sex Offender database. The device can alert parents if their child is in 500 meters of a registered sex offender’s home. The device also comes with an SOS button that a child can activate whenever a parents immediate help is needed. The Amber Alert GPS V3 is now available for pre-order at the Amber Alert site. Actual pricing info has certainly not yet been provided.


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Those that wear earbuds anywhere appears to have this problem- how to conveniently store their earbuds whenever definitely not in use as well as get it out definitely not tangled up whenever they do. It is an almost constant bother that can happen to almost any earbud-using individual. But now a unique solution has been offered in the form of the Budwrap Earbud Organizer Wrist Band.

It is such a simple solution to a nagging problem- organizing and keeping those earbud wires tangle free by winding them around a similarly unique wrist band. Like that, it is quite easy for users to store when definitely not utilized and take out when they feel on making use of it. The Budwrap is the brainchild of Mark Williams a graphic  designer as well as a digital media instructor based in Texas. The inventor has placed this unique item at Kickstarter with the hopes of coming up with the required cash from interested backers to put his invention into production, a US$3 pledge at a time. Of course, interested backers can pledge US$15 to get a fully packaged Budwrap sent right into their doorstep when plans push through..

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With headphones today, it is certainly not simply about good sound quality anymore. Wireless convenience has additionally become a popular (if definitely not a common) feature in many brand new headphones today. There are now wireless models like the upcoming Logitech Wireless Headsets that can be utilized generally for almost anything that one needs headphones for.



The Logitech Wireless Headset is a Bluetooth enabled device that can be wirelessly paired up with other Bluetooth enabled devices including smartphones as well as tablets. This allows users to be able to freely roam around in a range of 33 feet while listening to music files from their tablets or taking calls from their smartphones. This wireless headset feature laser tuned drivers that produce rich stereo sound with minimal distortion. It additionally comes with a noise canceling mic that can reduce background noise to transmit clearer vocal sounds that the other party can hear.

What makes the Logitech Wireless Headset also convenient is the fact that it is foldable for easy storage and handling when certainly not being utilized. Its rechargeable electric battery is good enough for up to 6 hours of use. This wireless headset is currently available for pre-orders at Logitech for US$70.


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Microsoft has finalized its acquisition of Skype, five months after it was first announced. Under the new deal, that is said to cost $8.5 billion, Skype CEO Tony Bates is reassigned as the president of the new Skype Division of Microsoft and must report directly to Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer. Many of Skype employees, that are stationed in offices around the world, will stay in the team. These offices include outposts in the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Sweden, Russia, the Czech Republic, as well as Estonia.

“By bringing together the best of Microsoft and the best of Skype, we are committed to empowering consumers and businesses around the world to connect in brand new methods,” mentioned Bates.
Although the deal has been completed, the acquisition remains under review in many nations.


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When 1 plans to set up a clean sound system, he may be expected to fork out those dollars in order to come up with a quality setup. But this is not necessarily the case as well as there are affordable but good quality sets available out there. 1 of them is this Monoprice 8 Inch Powered Subwoofer.

The Monoprice 8 Inch Powered Subwoofer features a system that can make up to 60 RMS output. It has a frequency response in a range of 50Hz to 250 Hz. This subwoofer provides several input options that allows it to be used with any existing 5.1 amplifier system. But what makes it very attractive is its price. This powered subwoofer is available at Monoprice for just US$57.


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Beats by Dr Dre recently unveils two brand new sets of headphones at their Holiday Release party. The Beats Wireless on-ear headphones comes with controls on the cans, thus allowing you to change the amount, skip track, and power the device on and off. These headphones are rechargable and use Bluetooth connectivity, to sync it with the smartphone and the music stops every time you get a call.



Meanwhile, the flagship Beats Studio HD Powered Isolation Headphones will come in extra color options for the vacations. Traditionally, the device was just available in black, white, as well as red. Beginning October 16, we can additionally get them in blue, orange, magenta, as well as purple. The Beats Studio HD additionally comes with an extra Monster iSoniTalk headphone cable that comes with a built-in microphone and a call answer button in case somebody rings we whilst chilling out.

The Beats Wireless headphones is available exclusively at Apple Stores later this year, with a suggested retail cost of $279; while the brand new Beats Studio HD will cost $299.


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Panasonic Japan has announced 2 new Android-powered tablets that cater to the local market. The Panasonic BizPad JT-580VT comes with a 7-inch LCD screen, whilst the JT-581VT has a 10.1-inch LCD. Both tablets run on Android 3.2 and are tweaked for enterprise users.



The tablets are ruggedly-designed, creating them withstand against accidental drops, dust, as well as water. Panasonic claims the larger of the 2 tablets can absorb drops from as high as 80 centimeters, while the smaller you can handle 120 centimeters.

Both devices also feature an ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core processor, 1GB memory, 16GB flash, an NFC reader, a replaceable battery, Bluetooth 2.1, a USB port, GPS, microSD slot, and even infrared.



The 7-inch model (pictured) weighs just 400 grams comes with a 1024 x 600 resolution screen, optional 3G, a 5-megapixel camera, and WiFi. It is expected to go on sale in December. Meanwhile, the 10-inch tablet comes in at 700 grams as well as features a 1280 x 800 resolution screen, a 1.3-megapixel camera, as well as WiFi. It will go on sale in January 2012. No word but on whether the BizPads is sold outside Japan.


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You know how incredibly popular a certain device is when accessories for it are being introduced in the market before the very device is yet to be made available to the public. This seems to be the case for the upcoming Apple iPhone 4S. While the iPhone 4S is yet to reach consumer’s hands, there are already accessories like this Slider Bluetooth Keyboard being made available and ready for those future iPhone 4S owners.



The Slider Bluetooth Keyboard from Concord Keystone is designed to give the iPhone 4S a phone case that comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for those who wish and yearn for the more traditional way of typing on their device. It can be paired with the iPhone 4S wirelessly via Bluetooth. The keyboard also comes with its own rechargeable battery so that it won’t be sharing power use with the smart phone. The Slider Bluetooth Keyboard is available at Concord Keystone for US$50.


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While we wait for the Nokia to unveil its first Windows Phone-based device, the Finland-based company still clings to its Symbian roots by introducing the Nokia 603. The Symbian Belle handset is powered by a 1GHz processor. Specs include a 3.5-inch scratch-resistant capacitive touchscreen with 640 x 360 resolution (which is optimized for use in sunlight), 2GB of internal memory, 32GB microSD card slot, a 5-megapixel camera, NFC capabilities, and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity.



The handset comes preloaded with Maps, as well as social networking games and apps. Users will also be able to capture, edit, and share photos to friends.



Judging from its press release, Nokia 603 is tagetted to loyal Nokies who want a smartphone that offers the latest in technology without feeling left out to the iPhone and BlackBerry users around them. The handset is available in six different back cover colors (black, white, fuchsia, green, yellow, and blue).

Nokia is also taking this opportunity to introduce its Luna Bluetooth Headset, which also supports NFC and works for up to eight hours of extended talk time.



The Nokia 603 will cost 200 euros (about US$275), while the Luna headset will be priced at 70 euros (around $96). Both products are expected to be shipped in fourth quarter of 2011.


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Here is a cool concept for a camera- a ball affixed with many camera sensors that can capture 360-degree panoramic photos. Make that ball throwable and capture photos when thrown as it reaches its highest point, simply to add some fun element. That is exactly what the researchers at Technische Universitat in Berlin has just developed, a Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera.

Although the Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera may seem such as a fun toy to play with, it's quite a complex piece of device. This unique ball is equipped with 36 2MP cellphone camera modules evenly distributed as well as encased around a 3D printed sphere. The ball is then padded to protect the gadgets encased inside it whenever thrown.

The Throwable Panoramic Ball also contains an accelerometer that calculates its movement. Whenever it reaches the peak height when thrown, it automatically snaps a single stitched photograph in 360 degree panorama. The capture image can then be uploaded to a PC through a USB connection. The developers of this unique ball shaped throwable camera intend to show it off Siggraph Asia 2011 in December with hopes to find a few interested investors for it. But for now, this Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera remains an interesting concept.


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Computer hardware company Smart Modular Technologies has announced a new line of SSDs (solid-state drives) that may drive out the competition. The Smart Optimus drives come in capacities ranging from 200GB all the way to 1.6TB. Not only Smart is bringing out the biggest single SSD in the market (measuring 2.5 inches at the longest), but also the fastest, which uses Serial Attached SCSI interface to make the hardware reach speeds of up to 1000MBps on reading and 500MBps on writing, or so they claim. It is hard to believe such speeds, as even the best consumer-grade SSDs can only do about half of that. The Smart Optimus SSDs also feature “Guardian Technology,” which helps extend the life of the drive and keep data in order so it can be read off that really fast speeds.

SMT has yet to announce the price range of its Optimus SSD line, although they describe the hardware as “cost-effective.” In other words, completely the opposite.

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Brando is the company to look for when you want to get your dose of weird with some USB on the side. The company has all manner of weird things for you to check out. The latest oddity from Brando is this optical USB scale mouse. When the palm cover is in place it looks like your normal mouse. Pop that cover off and you have a digital scale underneath.

I guess the idea is that you can use the scale to weigh things like mail you need to send. The little digital scale can weigh 0.1g to 500g. It has a scale that can be changed to read in grams, ounces, gn, and ct. The scale needs a pair of AAA batteries for power and the first set is included. The display on the scale is backlit so you can see it in the dark.

The scale also has a calibration setting and a memory button. The mouse measures 120 x 64 x 35mm and the scale measures 59 x 59 x 20mm. If you need one of these for weighing things at your desk you can get one now for $22.

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Acer’s founder has described both tablets and Ultrabooks as short-term “fads” and scolded PC manufacturers to look to Apple’s “outside-the-box thinking” with the iPad; however, the outspoken ex-exec is also unconvinced by Steve Jobs’ insistence that we now live in a “post-PC” world. Stan Shih, who founded what we now know as Acer in 1976, argued that – in contrast to Apple’s marginalization of the computer – PCs remain the basis of the IT industry.

Tablets, he suggested, are developed from that base, DigiTimes reports, and so future products “still need to go through the PC platform” as add-ons. Although Apple deserves praise for its iPad creativity, Shih says, tablets are still simply value-adds on top of PC sales.

The Acer founder’s comments are seemingly in line with the opinions of the company’s board, which clashed with former CEO Gianfranco Lanci over what’s believed to be his intention to focus more on smartphones and tablets and less on notebooks and PCs. Lanci’s replacement – picked from the IT Products Group – took the role with the promise to “aggressively yet cautiously develop data-consumption products, tablet PCs and smartphones based on the solid foundation of the main PC business”; reports, meanwhile, suggested that the company was restructuring so as to be more like Apple.

That caution is perhaps sensible, given Acer has dramatically scaled back its estimated tablet shipments for 2011 in the face of relative Honeycomb apathy and strong iPad sales. In fact, the company slashed its expectations by a whopping 60-percent. Customers, Shih reckons, are mainly driven by low pricing and convenience.

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If you are the sort that likes to wear designer clothing, you might fancy a tablet that has a designer name attached to it as well. Pierre Cardin has announced a new tablet that has a 7-inch screen with capacitive multi-touch support and a resolution of 800 x 480. It’s more than a bit strange to me to see clothing designers offering up tablets.

The tablet uses a Samsung S5PVV210 Cortex A8 processor at 1GHz and has 512MB of DDRII RAM. Internal storage is 4GB and the tablet has a microSD card for expansion with up to 16GB more storage. The Android OS on the tablet is Android 2.2 Froyo. Other features of the tablet introduce a mini USB port, HDMI output, and integrated WiFi.

The tablet also supports 3G connectivity, but you have to buy an optional 3G dongle to get that connectivity. The front camera on the tablet is a 1.3MP unit and the table can shoot 720p video to your TV. The battery inside is a 4400mAh unit and the tablet can access the Android Market. The tablet is available now for £275. This looks almost exactly like the UMPC that Pierre Cardin we saw back in 2009.

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HTC has acquired Dashwire, the company responsible for the Dashworks mobile sync client and Awesome Drop file sync app. The deal – which will see HTC spend up to $18.5m buying up Dashwire’s shares – will net HTC not only a way to easily transfer files such as music, video and images between PC/Mac and its Android smartphones, but offer a browser-based remote dashboard allowing access to data and control of apps loaded onto the device.

The Dashwire system supports remote access of contacts, SMS, calendar, calls, voicemail, multimedia, memory card content and social networking integration, and in effect allows users to sync their data with the cloud as well as access it through various browser-based widgets. There’s also Dashpush, a push-API which promises to deliver text, photos, apps, music and advertising in real-time to a mobile device, regardless of platform or carrier.

HTC already has HTCSense.com, it’s online portal allowing users of recent Android devices to log in, track their phone’s location, lock it, read SMS messages and send them, and access contacts. With Dashwire’s technology, that interactivity could be increased more fully throughout the smartphone.

Samsung experimented with a similar technology on the Galaxy S II, in the shape of Kies air, which provides browser based access to content stored on the handset. However, Kies air demands that both computer and phone be on the same local network, and has only basic multimedia sharing and social networking functionality.

HTC is yet to say exactly what it intends to do with Dashwire, only saying that “HTC expands cloud services with Dashwire long-term investment.” Nonetheless, with custom software, sync and cloud services being one way of differentiating Android devices, and manufacturers from each other, we’re expecting the firm to rapidly bolster Sense with the new technology.

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We have talked quite a bit about Ultrabooks around here. Most of the chatter has centers on how much the thin notebooks will cost to build and what they will sell for when they hit the market. DigiTimes is reporting that a shortage of aluminum chassis materials is pushing some of the vendors that will be making Ultrabooks to use fiberglass.

Fiberglass is a lightweight and strong material. It has been used in vehicle construction to save weight for a very long time. In fact, notable performance cars like the Corvette make extensive use of fiberglass. DigiTimes reports that the shortage of materials and the lathes required to make the aluminum frames along with the expense of adding more CNC lathes is causing a shortage.

The two main makers of aluminum chassis for notebooks are supplying Apple leaving availability tight for other players. A fiberglass chassis maker called Mitac Precision in Taiwan has pointed out that it makes a fiberglass chassis that is about as strong as aluminum and $5-$10 cheaper than a magnesium-aluminum alloy one allowing for a price on the market for a notebook using the fiberglass chassis of $50 to $100 less than one using magnesium-aluminum chassis.

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Last month the cool looking, but very expensive DSLR body cap from LockCircle surfaced for about $100. The thing was meant to replace the cap all DSLRs come with made from cheap plastic that locks onto the lens area to keep dirt and debris from getting inside the camera body. The LockCircle is certainly aimed at the pro or serious amateur shooter that wants all the protection they can get.

If you thought, the price of the cap was ridiculous and wondered what justified the price, check out the video below that shows the LockCircle cap being made. The video follows the creation of one of the caps from its start as a round disc of solid billet aluminum. The thing spins in a computer controlled lathing machine and little slivers of aluminum fly as the cap takes shape.

Some of the parts of the video you can’t see well thanks to the cooling fluid being sprayed on the cap. The coolest part to me is the end when the laser is zapping the knurled handgrip and marking it with the letters. I always wondered what laser etching looked like when it was being applied and now I know. This is a really cool video so check it out.

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