Apple may unveil the 11.6 inch MacBook Air on 20th October

Boy you just can’t keep Apple out of the rumor mill can you? Thankfully, this time the rumor is not about a Verizon iPhone or a 2nd gen iPad. According to AppleInsider and its multiple sources, the Cupertinos are planning on unveiling the 11.6 inch MacBook Air at their Back to the Mac event which kicks of this Wednesday.

Not a lot can be said about the characteristics of the upcoming MacBook Air model. All we know is that it will be 11.6 inch in size. It is believed that the upcoming MacBook Air may not be getting a traditional hard disk or a Solid State Drive (SSD). Don’t be surprised if Apple’s slim netbook brings something called an SSD card that is more like a RAM and doesn’t have a traditional drive enclosure.

This begs the question as to why Apple is introducing a SSD card like thing? First and foremost it will help Cupertinos lower down the MacBook Air price which may get the consumers attention. Other advantages are performance oriented such as Faster Boot times and wake up from sleep mode at a speed similar to the ones experienced by iPhone and iPad users.

[via VentureBeat]

Samsung rolls out Froyo update for its high selling Galaxy S smartphone

Samsung Galaxy S, the electronic makers most successful Android device to date has received a firmware update which it truly deserves. Yup, that’s right folks Froyo update has been made available for Samsung’s high selling smartphone.

The update can become yours via Kies, Samsung’s unique in-house software upgrade program. In case you don’t have Kies, you  can get it from the Samsung mobile website (http://www.samsungmobile.com). There are multiple reasons to be excited about this update Adobe Flash 10.1 support, faster performance and much more listed below:

Google MapsTM with Navigation: GPS navigation system with voice guidanceAdobe® Flash® Player 10.1: Allow the web browser to make full use of the whole webSetup Wizard: Quickly customize the GALAXY S and access networks with easeHome Screen/Menu Preview and Edit : Preview by pinch-zoomSearch in-Browser : Google™, Translate, Wikipedia, Dictionary

Here’s how the Froyo roll out has been planned:

The Android 2.2 upgrade will be available from the mid of October 2010 in the Nordic region and gradually rolled out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East Asia, North America, Africa and rest of the world.

Do give us your feedback once you get Froyo up and running on your sexy looking Samsung Galaxy S.

[via Samsung]

App Store is now home to more than 300,000 iOS apps

Apple’s high profile App Store just keeps reaching new heights. According to the data shared by Mobclix, an analytics company, the Cupertino’s App Store app count has gone past the magical 300,000 mark which off course includes both paid and free apps.

The 300,000th app made its way to the App Store Yesterday (16th October 2010). The store reached this milestone in around a little more than two years time which itself says a lot about the popularity of the iOS apps as a platform and also how much developers love writing apps for Apple’s mobile platform.

Yesterday saw Apple providing entry ticket to more than 1000 apps which would have brought smiles on the makers of the apps because we all know how difficult it is to get the Cupertinos approval.

Currently, App Store has around 300,975 apps, 206,828 of which are paid and the remaining 94,147 apps are free. It would be interesting to know how many of these apps are universal apps but sadly we don’t have the count of the universal apps. I just wonder if the iPad specific apps have had a major say in the App Store reaching this milestone.

[via VentureBeat]

US Cellular announces Samsung Mesmerize

US Cellular certainly knows which Android smartphones to play host to. The US based telecom carrier has announced Samsung Mesmerize which in reality is the US Cellular version of the high flying and high selling Samsung Galaxy S.

Here’s what made the US based telecom operators choose this attractive device:

Customers told us they want access to the newest phones and the Samsung Mesmerize is an impressive Android-powered device for people who want to stay connected to work, entertainment and the people who matter most to them.

Just to refresh your memory, the phone will become equipped with a 1 Ghz processor alongwith a 4 inch AMOLED touchscreen, 5 MP camera, WiFi and other normal suspects one has become accustomed to seeing from the modern device.

One thing which I am not happy to see is the phone running Eclair or Androd 2.1 as some of you like to call it. Samsung Mesmerize is scheduled to get Froyo update later this year.

Samsung Mesmerize will go live for sale starting from 27th October. The handset will cost $199 after $80 mail in rebate.

This happens to be the carrier’s third Android device, the second one being the high selling HTC Desire. US Cellular is not done with Android devices for the year as it plans to unleash two new Android devices in LG Apex (in November) and the LG Optimus (in December).

[via PhAndroid]

Yahoo Messenger for iPhone updated, now does video chat over 3G

We told you about Yahoo’s plans of rolling out a Yahoo Messenger for iPhone update and we have been proven right. Yahoo Messenger for iPhone 2.0 has landed on the App Store and brings with it video and voice chat for iPhone users.

Here’s the official description of the app:

Connect with your IM friends using video and voice with the newest Yahoo! Messenger app for your iPhone. Make free voice and video calls to your Messenger friends, low cost calls to land line or mobile phones, video calls—plus get new features like multitasking, instant notifications and free SMS.

I know the official description has you all excited but If I was you I won’t be that excited. Here’s why – the voice and video chat features are limited to iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS users. Want another shocking fact? Here you go – The app brings multi-tasking support for iPhone 4/3GS owners only.
This begs the question as to why iPod Touch  users have been left wanting?  I would like to take this opportunity to take my words of Yahoo prepping a FaceTime killer app back the reasons to which are crystal clear.
In case you own iPhone 4/3GS and want to take advantage of the video and voice chat capability, you need to have iOS 4.1 running on your device. Be sure to share your app experience with us.
Download Yahoo Messenger for iPhone 2.0 (iTunes link)

TweetDeck for Android 1.0 hits the Android Market

Here comes one more social networking mobile app for you to choose from for your Android powered handset. TweetDeck folks have unleashed v1.0 of their Android native app which can be downloaded from the Android Market.

TweetDeck for Android 1.0 is a social networking app that lets you control, monitor and posts updates not only to your Twitter accounts but also enables you to keep in touch with your precious Facebook, Foursquare and Google Buzz account.
In case you had taken the beta versions for a spin, you won’t be getting anything new from the app except for it being a stable release since it doesn’t have the beta tag attached to it.
Here’s the official announcement

It’s been a crazy couple months here at TweetDeck. We announced our public beta of Android TweetDeck on August 12th and since then we’ve done 11 releases, crushed millions of bugs and listened to a tonne of feedback. Today we’re ready to officially launch our Android app and make it available to everyone via the Android Market.

The app can be downloaded from the Android Market by searching for TweetDeck.
[via TweetDeck]

Verizon Wireless iPad start selling from 28th October

Apple has big plans for the coming holiday season and here’s why – Apple has decided to partner up with Verizon Wireless and offer its growing iPad consumer base one more source from where to purchase the magical Apple Tablet.

America’s largest and most reliable 3G network as quoted by Apple itself will be offering iPad on a standalone basis. Besides that it will be offering iPad bundled with a Mobile Hotspot. Here is how the bundle price plan stands

Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month.

Verizon Wireless will start selling the 9.7 inch HD quality screen possessed Tablet from 28^thOctober that’s two weeks from now. All of the 2,000 Verizon stores located throughout the US will be offering the iPad for sale. In case you forgot, another giant retailer chain in Walmart will start selling the iPad from tomorrow.

Facebook and Skype will bring together contacts, communication

connectivity shared among the two online giants.

This totally fits in line with Facebook’s goal of having a presence across every single form of media and communication. It already spans across literally thousands, if not tens of thousands, of websites because of the integrated “Like” buttons and third-party site log-in services. And let’s face it: the mere fact that TV shows encourage viewers to go to their Facebook pages is nothing short of amazing for the social networking site.

Skype, which has 124 million active users, is by far the world’s leading VoIP provider. That’s clearly one thing Facebook does not have yet and it of course could not choose a better partner than Skype.

The deal could also bridge the two services in other ways – users could receive their Skype messages on Facebook, or Skype users can click on one of their contacts to see his or her latest Facebook activity.

This will reportedly all be integrated into the next version of Skype. It’s unclear when that will be, or when any noticeable changes from this partnership will be visible on Facebook.

Samsung launches iPad rival Tab

Samsung’s Tab runs on Google’s rival operating system Android, and is the first device that analysts say presents credible opposition to the iPad, which proved there was a market for the intuitive touch- screen interfaces that small tablet computers allow.

Samsung did not announce pricing details for the device, which with an 18cm screen will be 10cm smaller than an iPad.

However, prices will likely be heavily subsidised by the US carriers, much as they subsidise mobile phones to customers who commit to lengthy contracts for air time.

Samsung’s Tab will also weigh just half as much as an iPad, and will come with a car dock to allow on-screen navigation.

The device is as comfortable to use standing on a crowded train as it is relaxing on the couch at home, said Omar Khan, Samsung’s chief strategy officer in a statement announcing the launch.

The design makes it completely pocketable in your pants or jacket.

The device is the first of an expected wave of tablet computers powered by Android, which according to a report by Gartner research, will surpass iPad sales within three to four years, just as Android-powered phones are overtaking the iPhone.

Another major challenge to the iPad will come from Motorola, whose chief executive Sanjay Jha said will release a tablet computer early next yea

Android apps Now available at Amazon.com

Ironically, even though Google earned its colossal company status because of its search engine prowess, searching on the Android  Market store proves to usually be a tedious ordeal – not because it turns up bad results but because the interface of the app store itself is clunky.
Amazon will take a 30% cut of all sales, according to the Wall Street Journal. Developers keep all the rest of the proceeds, so long as they agree that they won’t offer the same apps anywhere else at a lower price.
Microsoft tried something similar with its Xbox Live downloadable titles but decided to pull it when sales went below expectations. Downloadable PlayStation games have also been up for sale at Amazon as well.t
The Android Market has 80,000 apps in its arsenal, compared to the leading Apple App Store, which has 250,000 apps.
Amazon and Google hope this will make Android developing more enticing for developers. They have largely avoided Android, or put them on the back burner, because of a low interest level among users.
By providing a more organized, centralized place for people to buy apps, it should boost sales and give a higher profile to all Android apps.

Microsoft announces ten Windows Phone 7 handsets for 30 countries

the US. The phones will find their way to over 60 cellphone operators in more than 30 countries this year. Microsoft tapped Dell, HTC, LG, and Samsung to deliver the Snapdragon-based handsets with a carrier list that includes AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Vodafone, TELUS, América Móvil, Deutsche Telekom AG, Movistar, O2, Orange, SFR, SingTel, and Telstra. And that’s just for the first wave — Microsoft has even more handsets coming in 2011 including the first for Sprint and Verizon in the US. Here’s the lineup of 480 x 800 pixel (WVGA) phones announced today:
HTC 7 Surround — The 3.8-inch T8788 with slideout speaker for AT&T and TelusHTC HD7 — Schubert comes of age as a 4.3-inch HD2 cousin for T-Mobile and beyondHTC 7 Trophy — the 3.8-inch Spark headed to international carriersHTC 7 Mozart – another heavily leaked int’l player with 3.7-inch displayDell Venue Pro — 4.1-inch portrait QWERTY slider for T-Mobile we broke as LightningSamsung Focus — AT&T’s 4-inch Super AMOLED slate we broke as CetusSamsung Omnia 7 — the i8700 is a 4-inch Super AMOLED jobbie for EuropeLG Optimus 7/7Q — the E900 is the official 3.8-inch global workhorseLG Quantum — AT&T’s 3.5-inch landscape slider first seen as the C900HTC 7 Pro — a 3.6-inch QWERTY slider for Sprint (2011)
“Glance and Go,” is the slogan Microsoft is using to differentiate itself from an already crowded smartphone market. Something we’ve already seen alluded to in that leaked AT&T ad. As Ballmer notes, “Microsoft and its partners are delivering a different kind of mobile phone and experience – one that makes everyday tasks faster by getting more done in fewer steps and providing timely information in a ‘glance and go’ format.” He’s referring to WP7′s customizable Live Tiles, of course. Xbox Live integration is another biggie with EA Games just announcing its first Xbox Live-enabled wares coming to Windows Phone 7 in the fall including “Need for Speed Undercover,” “Tetris,” “Monopoly,” and “The Sims 3.” The other big differentiators are the slick Metro UI, integrated support for Zune media and Zune Pass subscriptions, Bing search and maps, Windows Live including the free Find My Phone service, and Microsoft Office Mobile.

HTC enter the WP 7 arena by announcing 5 Windows Phone 7 handsets

The HTC 7 Surround has a 3.8-inch touchscreen and a slide-out speaker with integrated Dolby Mobile and SRS WOW HD technology for hi-fi sound. The speaker-board slide out is very much similar to a keypad slideout. The Surround also has a stand that folds-out in order to let users set it up and watch mobile TV or videos on the handset. The HTC 7 Surround will only be available in the U.S., through AT&T, and in Canada, through Telus.
HTC 7 Mozart

O2 Is Offering Tempting And Cheap Contract Deals On Apple IPhone 4

Apple iPhone 4 has such charm that spontaneously catches attention of people. To add more grace to its beauty, it is embedded with so many latest features and applications. Apple iPhone 4 is the only handset of the year which got a very grand reception when launched in the market. The craze for this handset was so much that people queued up in long queues before a day of its release.
This craze still in the air where this handset is not launched yet. Due to this delay, many professional gangs of traders are buying heavy stocks of contract free iPhones from Apple store to sell abroad. In this way those gangs are making more profit and there has been found a decrease in the profit of Apple.
Let’s find out what are all those fascinating and astonishing features and applications of Apple iPhone 4 that make it a must buy phone.The display of the handset is designed by Apple but its is manufactured by LG. The front of the Apple iPhone 4 is adorned by LED backlit TFT LCD capacitive touch screen that is 3.5 inches wide. The back panel of the handset is loaded with a 5 mega pixel rear facing camera with an LED flash. There is an additional front facing camera that is basically provided for video calling.

Lovefilm headed for Sony PS3

Soon you will be able to watch movies on your Sony Playstation 3. Well, though Sony had initially designed the Sony PlayStation for high end gaming but innovations are part of Sony and they love to experiment. Though people sitting and reading this in the US won’t understand what Lovefilms is but to explain it in short Lovefilm to UK is what Netflix is for America.

Official: Sony Google TV HDTVs

Sony’s much awaited Google TV is official after all the wait and the wait seems worth it. The launch includes four different HDTVs (the 46 incher, 40 incher, 32 incher and 24 incher) with prices ranging from $599 to $1,399. These HDTVs come packed with white set top box (which carries with itself some killer looks) with built in Blu-ray player costing $399. If you’re ready to shell out some money then you surely are going to enjoy an experience of a lifetime.

Naked-Eye 3D laptop from Toshiba launching next year

Stop grinning! We don’t literally mean naked when we say Naked-Eye. It is a brand name that Toshiba has opted for their yet to be launched laptop. Toshiba loves to experiment and they just don’t give up. 3D technology for televisions and gaming was a great idea but many will agree that its never been quite perfect. After the announcement of 3D TVs that won’t require custom made glasses for 3D experience, Toshiba has come up with laptops that will do the same and of course you won’t be required to wear any silly 3D glasses to enjoy 3D experience on your laptop.

Glass On The iPhone 4 Breaks 82 Percent More Than On The 3GS

s reception problems were its Achilles Heel? A new study invites you to think again. An analysis by SquareTrade suggests that the glass on the iPhone 4 is more fragile than on the last-generation iPhone 3GS, breaking 82 percent more often.

After analyzing an impressive 20,000 iPhone accidents that took place within the first four months of ownership, the firm also found that 4.7 percent of iPhone 4 owners report an accident within the first four months of ownership, compared to 2.8 percent of 3GS owners, which amounts to a 68 percent increase in accident claims.

Moreover, SquareTrade estimates that 15.5 percent of iPhone 4 owners will have an accident within the first year of buying their phone, compared to 7.8 percent of 3GS owners. It’s unclear how the firm arrived at this figure…more

Tags: Glass Break, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4

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