IdeaPad S205 hits Lenovo webstore, starts at $499

The first of Lenovo's CES-announced S Series, the S205, sauntered into the computer manufacturer's online store this week, albeit lacking the 8GB DDR3 SDRAM option mentioned at its announcement. The base model sells for $499, sporting a 1.60Ghz dual-core AMD Fusion E-350 CPU, an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768 resolution) 16:9 widescreen panel, 3GB of DDR3 SDRAM, ATI Mobility Radeon 6310 graphics, and a 350GB HDD. Two higher cost configurations score an extra gig of RAM, an optional Bluetooth radio, and a 500GB or 750GB HDD. The lesser of the higher end models can be had for a $429 at LogicBuy until Wednesday, if you can live without Bluetooth (which man did for thousands of years, but you know what we mean).

[Thanks, Tim!]IdeaPad S205 hits Lenovo webstore, starts at $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink LogicBuy  |  Lenovo  | Email this | Comments

Saic Amkor Technology Cosmote Mobile Telecom Jds Uniphase Volt Information Sciences

Google bids $900 million for Nortel's patents to protect against litigation trolls

Nortel, once one of the biggest telecoms company in the world but now in the death throes of bankruptcy, has selected Google's $900 million bid for its patent portfolio as the stalking horse bid. This doesn't mean that Google will automatically win Nortel's massive array of telecoms patents, but it does mean that Google is the preferred buyer.

Google, which has a history of lobbying for patent law reform, has been the target of many patent litigation suits. Google's relative infancy means that it has a lot less patents in the vault than big-hitters like Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, and buying Nortel's portfolio of 6,000 patents could provide better protection against patent litigation in the future. It's worth noting that both Apple and RIM have showed interested in the portfolio, too.

Mashable speculates that the patents -- which are nearly all telecoms-related -- will be used to defend against Oracle's attacks on Android's use of Java. We reckon that Google is simply looking to cover its future endeavors in the world of networking. In the absence of patent law reform, and continued threats to net neutrality, owning a bunch of telecoms patents sounds like a very sensible move.Google bids $900 million for Nortel's patents to protect against litigation trolls originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Anixter International Amphenol Motorola Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Bt Group

HBO Go hits iOS and Android, free for subscribers

Don't ditch that premium cable subscription just yet. The long-anticipated HBO Go app just hit the iOS App Store and Android Market, bringing original HBO series and a variety of blockbuster films to your mobile device. You'll need an HBO subscription with your cable provider to get past the login screen, but unlocking all that the service has to offer using our Verizon FiOS account took just a second, and we were off and running with Avatar less than a minute after launching the app. We'll have a full hands-on later today, but if you're an HBO subscriber with an iOS or Android slab, head over to your device's respective store to download the free app.

[Thanks, Jason]HBO Go hits iOS and Android, free for subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Android Market, iOS App Store  | Email this | Comments

Network Appliance Grupo Iusacell Qlogic Yahoo Intuit

Dodge is a space-shooter in which you have no weapons

Space-shooters are usually a fairly fiery affair, with many types of guns, weapon upgrades, power-ups and more. Dodge does away with all of that, while keeping the very essence of a space shooter: Dark background, fast action, and stuff blowing up all over the place.

Your vector-looking spacecraft is the fastest thing on the screen, most of the time. And as the header implies, you have absolutely no weapons; you can't get any, either. All you have is agility and maneuverability.

Your opponents shoot heat-seeking missiles at you; the missiles lock on and start tracking you. The trick is to dodge the missiles while putting them in the path of one of your enemies, thus letting them have a taste of their own medicine.

There are three types of enemies, at least in the first few levels: "simple" spaceships which fire slow projectiles, "tanks" which seem to be more serious and take more hits to destroy, and "circles." The circles simply explode, spewing twenty or thirty very fast projectiles. This sounds dangerous, but is actually great once you learn to use them; they are very destructive for tanks, and can even blow up other circles.

The soundtrack is very techno, but it meshes very well with this type of game. Intense fun!Dodge is a space-shooter in which you have no weapons originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Logitech International Adobe Systems International Business Machines (Ibm) Alliance Data Systems International Game Technology

IdeaPad S205 hits Lenovo webstore, starts at $499

The first of Lenovo's CES-announced S Series, the S205, sauntered into the computer manufacturer's online store this week, albeit lacking the 8GB DDR3 SDRAM option mentioned at its announcement. The base model sells for $499, sporting a 1.60Ghz dual-core AMD Fusion E-350 CPU, an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768 resolution) 16:9 widescreen panel, 3GB of DDR3 SDRAM, ATI Mobility Radeon 6310 graphics, and a 350GB HDD. Two higher cost configurations score an extra gig of RAM, an optional Bluetooth radio, and a 500GB or 750GB HDD. The lesser of the higher end models can be had for a $429 at LogicBuy until Wednesday, if you can live without Bluetooth (which man did for thousands of years, but you know what we mean).

[Thanks, Tim!]IdeaPad S205 hits Lenovo webstore, starts at $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink LogicBuy  |  Lenovo  | Email this | Comments

Ibasis Salesforce Com Hypercom Finisar Methode Electronics

The Best Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]

Dude! What's up with your mouse? Wait, what are you doing? Why is it turning into a motorcycle!? More »

Comcast China Mobile Network Appliance Grupo Iusacell Qlogic

Formula 1 cars set to go all electric in the pit lane from 2013 onwards, racing purists outraged already

Formula 1, the pinnacle of gas-powered racing, is more often at odds with the eco-conscious electric car movement than in tune with it, but here's an exception to that rule. The FIA, the sport's governing body, announced back in December of last year a move to a hybrid four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is still on track to be introduced in the 2013 season, and Williams boss Adam Parr has now enlightened us on some of the benefits of the new power setup. Noting that future cars' kinetic energy recovery system will be four times as powerful as on current models, Parr says enough electric juice will be available to power each one-seater through its journey into and out of the pit lane. That would mean that at least for the tame, speed-restricted portions of a race, the F1 gas guzzlers you know and love will be humming along in almost perfect silence while using good old electricity. Unfortunately, it's exactly that lack of vroom vroom that old timers like Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo are afraid of, describing the new hybrid stuff as sounding "terrible" and insisting on the sport sticking to its V8 roots. Then again, as Parr says, if you don't move with the times, the times leave you behind.Formula 1 cars set to go all electric in the pit lane from 2013 onwards, racing purists outraged already originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET  |  Reuters  | Email this | Comments

Ims Health Klatencor International Business Machines Quantum Sonic Automotive

Amped Wireless' UA600EX adapter quadruples your laptop's WiFi range when you're on a boat

For every gadget you can use on land, there has to be one you can use at sea, right? Just in time for yachting season, Amped Wireless released the weatherproof UA600EX High Power Wireless-N 600mW Pro USB Adapter, which promises to extend your notebook's WiFi range in areas where there are no hotspots to be mooched. That sounds ideal for boating, but thanks to some flexible mounting options and one heavy-duty 26.5-foot cable, it should also come in handy everywhere from offices to RVs. The single-band UA600EX runs on the 2.4GHz spectrum, and although the company stops short of saying just how many feet of leeway you can expect, it does claim to quadruple your computer's range -- whatever that happens to be. If you have a hankering to watch Deadliest Catch on your next fishing trip, you can nab one of these bad boys at the source link for a cool $110.Continue reading Amped Wireless' UA600EX adapter quadruples your laptop's WiFi range when you're on a boatAmped Wireless' UA600EX adapter quadruples your laptop's WiFi range when you're on a boat originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Amped Wireless  | Email this | Comments

Ingram Micro Canon Sandisk Arian Semiconductor Equipment Ibasis

Booq Viper Slider Case for iPad 2

The Gadgeteer has reviewed a lot of Booq cases over the years.� They make cases and bags for Apple products, so it’s no surprise they’ve introduced the Viper Slider Case for iPad 2. This two-piece case slides over the back of the iPad 2; the bottom half slides off so you can use the iPad [...]

Sun Microsystems Asustek Computer Moodys Nintendo Google

CrunchGear Week in Review: Target Edition

Here are some stories from the past week on CrunchGear: This Is A Mini Crossbow Made Of Gold The Chargepad Is Panasonic?s New Wireless Charging Solution For Mobile Chargers Review: Antec Rockus 2.1 Speakers Moleskine App Perfect For Writing About The Sweet Fern, Growing Ankle High Nintendo Sees Profit Falling 66%, Announces Wii Successor For [...]

Sykes Enterprises Inorated Lawson Software Perot Systems Alltel Informatica

Security firm RSA attacked using Excel-Flash one-two sucker punch

It has emerged that the underlying cause of RSA's SecurID gaffe was the recently-reported zero-day vulnerability found in Adobe's Flash Player.

The exploit, which used specially-crafted Flash embedding in Excel spreadsheets, was first reported on March 15 and has since been fixed. RSA was hacked sometime in the first half of March when an employee was successfully spear phished and opened an infected spreadsheet. As soon as the spreadsheet was opened, an advanced persistent threat (APT) -- a backdoor Trojan -- called Poison Ivy was installed. From there, the attackers basically had free reign of RSA's internal network, which led to the eventual dissemination of data pertaining to RSA's two-factor authenticators.

The attack is reminiscent of the APTs used in the China vs. Google attacks from last year -- and indeed, Uri Rivner, the head of new technologies at RSA is quick to point out that that other big companies are being attacked, too: "The number of enterprises hit by APTs grows by the month; and the range of APT targets includes just about every industry. Unofficial tallies number dozens of mega corporations attacked [...] These companies deploy any imaginable combination of state-of-the-art perimeter and end-point security controls, and use all imaginable combinations of security operations and security controls. Yet still the determined attackers find their way in."

What we'd like to know, though, is whether the attack on RSA was caused by Adobe's lackadaisical approach to patching Flash -- or was it the other way around? Was it the RSA attack that first brought the zero-day vulnerability to Adobe's attention?Security firm RSA attacked using Excel-Flash one-two sucker punch originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jack Henry and Associates Standard Microsystems Sra International Idt Hon Hai Precision Ind

AT&T posts update guide for the Motorola Atrix 4G

Hey, how about that. The Motorola Atrix 4G is getting its update today -- just like we first told you it would. For some, a visual learning experience is needed and for the Motorola Atrix 4G users out there now getting the update we advised was coming, AT&T has now posted the a full how-to via their device support pages in case you need complete guidance through it. If that's not quite enough -- or if you run into issues, that's not a problem either. You can head on into the Atrix 4G forums, read the change log and ask help from those who have the update.Source: AT&TAT&T posts update guide for the Motorola Atrix 4G posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories

Mobile Telesystems Openwave Systems Directv Group Infocus International Rectifier

HBO Go hits iOS and Android, free for subscribers

Don't ditch that premium cable subscription just yet. The long-anticipated HBO Go app just hit the iOS App Store and Android Market, bringing original HBO series and a variety of blockbuster films to your mobile device. You'll need an HBO subscription with your cable provider to get past the login screen, but unlocking all that the service has to offer using our Verizon FiOS account took just a second, and we were off and running with Avatar less than a minute after launching the app. We'll have a full hands-on later today, but if you're an HBO subscriber with an iOS or Android slab, head over to your device's respective store to download the free app.

[Thanks, Jason]HBO Go hits iOS and Android, free for subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Android Market, iOS App Store  | Email this | Comments

Perot Systems Alltel Informatica Atandt Rf Micro Devices

Google holds back on open-sourcing Honeycomb, heralds massive shift for Android

Google, in an interesting but not entirely unexpected twist, will not be open-sourcing Android 3.0 Honeycomb for the foreseeable future.

Historically, Android is usually open-sourced via the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) a few days or weeks after the code is finalized. While this departure from the norm won't affect OEMs like HTC and Motorola that have access to internal builds of Android, small-time developers will likely have to wait months before rolling their own distributions.

As to why Google is holding back Honeycomb, its reasons are actually rather rational. Honeycomb, while originally intended to run on all mobile form factors, is only ready for deployment on tablets. "To make our schedule to ship the tablet, we made some design tradeoffs," says Andy Rubin, the head of Google's Android group. "We didn't want to think about what it would take for the same software to run on phones. It would have required a lot of additional resources and extended our schedule beyond what we thought was reasonable. So we took a shortcut."

In other words, Google wants to prevent OEMs and homebrew developers like Cyanogen from rolling their own smartphone versions of Honeycomb -- it doesn't want to see the same bitter-tasting tabletified bastardization that occurred with Android 2.1 and 2.2 last year.Continue reading Google holds back on open-sourcing Honeycomb, heralds massive shift for AndroidGoogle holds back on open-sourcing Honeycomb, heralds massive shift for Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Atandt Rf Micro Devices Itron Ems Technologies Progress Software

Spotify Breaking Into Streaming Movie Service? [Blip]

The Swedish streaming music company Spotify is looking to start offering movies, too, says Techcrunch. The service probably won't be available until fall, but subscribers will get to view movies before they're available for anyone else. TC also says the movies will be watchable worldwide. [TechCrunch]i More »

Atandt Rf Micro Devices Itron Ems Technologies Progress Software

O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only

O'reilly make some of the best computer books in the world. They also sell them as DRM-free e-books in a bunch of formats, including PDFs and Mobi for Kindle.

They usually offer one "Deal of the Day", which is a 50% discount code for a book chosen for that one day. But just for for today, they've created a discount code -- DDJPN -- that gives you a 50% discount on their entire catalog, and they give a part of the proceeds to aid Japan relief efforts.

So far they've raised over $60,000, and the day is still young. So if you've been recently hankering after some nerdy book (or three), now would be a great time to grab one.O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Synopsys Sun Microsystems Asustek Computer Moodys Nintendo

US Supreme Court says companies can force arbitration on class-acting consumers

Before today, Californian consumers were free to ignore the arbitration clause tucked in the fine print of every AT&T service contract because state law had declared them unconscionable -- which kept the courthouse doors open to class-acting consumers. However, in a ruling that no doubt pleases AT&T and others of its ilk, the highest court in the land has stripped the states of their power to so avoid arbitration with its ruling in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion. In an opinion penned by Justice Scalia (pictured), the Supremes said that the Federal Arbitration Act was passed to promote arbitration's quick and easy dispute resolution, and they couldn't have California (or any other state) contradicting the will of Congress by allowing lengthy group litigation when parties already agreed to private arbitration. That means companies are free to force customers to arbitrate their claims individually instead of joining together to file high-dollar class-action lawsuits, no matter what state laws say. Guess those large-scale litigation lawyers will have to look elsewhere to find the funds for their next Ferrari.US Supreme Court says companies can force arbitration on class-acting consumers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Ars Technica  |  SCOTUS [PDF]  | Email this | Comments

Verisign Hynix Semiconductor Sykes Enterprises Inorated Lawson Software Perot Systems

Words With Friends for Android updated, promises "smoother game experience"

As several of you noted in the comments to our post asking for cross-platform iOS/Android games, Words With Friends for Android does not provide the smoothest gaming experience... and that's being rather charitable.

You might be happy to hear that a couple of days ago Zynga released an update which promises to solve many of the Android-specific issues, such as notifications not popping up.

Sadly, installing the update is not a smooth experience; you have to manually uninstall the previous version, and then go to the Android Market and install it. What's nice is that it doesn't lose your saved games - this screenshot shows a game I've started before the update and continued after updating.

How's the new update working out for you? Let us know in the comments!Words With Friends for Android updated, promises "smoother game experience" originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Bt Group United Online Syntel

Why Facebook Doesn't Take a Cut From Its Deals [Blip]

So what kind of cut does Facebook take from its Deals partners? Try none. Zip. Zilch. Nada. A donut hole big enough to shove a "Like" thumb through. Then why, uh, do it? More »

Sun Microsystems Asustek Computer Moodys Nintendo Google

The Klhip Ultimate Nail Clipper Is Ultimately Just Expensive [Video]

Little else personifies the invention spirit than trying to take a common object—in this case a nail clipper—and attempting to improve it. And even if the Klhip ultimately falls short of being a revolution in keratin grooming, I have to give it points for trying. More »

Research in Motion Harris Dst Systems Automatic Data Processing L1 Identity Solutions

Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only

It's hard to believe: our world-spanning network, our Internet, which is the cornerstone of free speech and free society -- which, on a good day, is capable of causing populist revolutions -- is still crippled by banal geolocation restrictions. We are, of course, talking about Amazon's two latest offerings, both of which are only available in the United States. Last week it was the excellent Android Appstore for Android, and today it's the Amazon Cloud Player for Web and Android.

Along with Cloud Player, Amazon also launched Cloud Drive, which is basically just like any other cloud storage digital locker. It's not particularly feature rich, and there's no real reason to use it over something like SugarSync or SkyDrive -- it does work outside the US, however.

Its primary purpose, as far as we're concerned, is that it stores your your Cloud Player music in a subdirectory. You get 5GB of Cloud Drive storage for free, and then it's $1 per gigabyte per year if you need more space.

The Amazon Cloud Player itself will not, to put it bluntly, blow your mind. It works, but it's very much an early, and possibly rushed, release. Let's dive in to the Web and Android players for a closer look.Gallery: Amazon Cloud Player and Cloud Drive: on Web and AndroidContinue reading Amazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-onlyAmazon Cloud Player review: functional, not mind blowing, and still US-only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Koninklijke Kpn Skyworks Solutions Radisys Level 3 Communications Fiserv

Square gets financial backing from Visa, asks to see some ID

Everything's coming up Jack Dorsey these days. Last week Apple started stocking Square's iPhone credit card readers in its 235 US retail locations, and now, according to Reuters, Visa has put its plastic where its mouth is. The credit card giant has invested in the personal payments startup, scoring itself a spot on Square's advisory board in the process. No word on how much Visa is actually dropping on the company, but one thing stands to reason: it probably didn't make the deposit via Verifone. If you would like to invest in a Square reader, it'll cost you a lot less -- the company is still offering smartphone plug-ins for free on its site.Square gets financial backing from Visa, asks to see some ID originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Reuters  | Email this | Comments

Cdw Western Digital Ims Health Klatencor International Business Machines

VMware adds Mozy to its cloud and virtualization empire

Mozy is one of the most popular cloud backup services around, with more than one million users storing around 70 petabytes of data. Its popularity apparently put it on the acquisition radar of VMware -- which has now made Mozy part of its virtualization empire.

VMware's official blog post makes it clear that the company wasn't so much interested in Mozy as a consumer offering. Rather, it's the inner workings of Mozy which piqued VMware's curiosity. CTO Steve Herrod says, "Over the past 5 years, Mozy has built one of the best examples of a globally distributed, large-scale cloud offering." He adds that the move will allow VMware to "further ramp our own cloud-related learning and accelerate new IP, scale, and capabilities" of its existing offerings.

Existing Mozy customers don't need to worry, of course. VMware has pledged to continue running Mozy's service without interruption.VMware adds Mozy to its cloud and virtualization empire originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kingston Technology Company Fei Company Electronic Arts Shaw Communications First Solar

Nook Color Becomes Dwarf Star in Tablet Universe

Barnes & Noble has unveiled a major update for its e-reader tablet, the Nook Color. The $249 e-reader lets customers have some tablet features without having to break the bank. The Nook Color now runs Android OS 2.2/Froyo and supports Adobe Flash Player. It includes full featured built-in email, an enhanced Web experience, additional interactivity with books and magazines, and a collection of apps.

Google Netgear Mentor Graphics Jack Henry and Associates Standard Microsystems

Daily Crunch: Them Edition

Video: German Spiderbot Hector Is 1m Long Kickstarter: The Flow Is A Capacitive Paintbrush, Kind Of Adidas Now Has The Lightest Shoe In All Of Basketball. You Might Even Call It Crazy Light. Review: Nike+ SportWatch GPS Lasers Suck, Says The War Nerd

Trimble Navigation Limited Mcafee Scientific Games Emc Kddi

LG Optimus Big brings a 4.3-inch NOVA display and 1GHz dual-core to the superphone party

What's big, mostly white, and set for a Korean launch tomorrow? That's right, the LG Optimus Big! This 4.3-inch whopper, LG's largest handset to date, touts a 1GHz dual-core processor, a slightly skinned Android 2.2 as its OS, HDMI output, a 5 megapixel camera, and 16GB of bult-in storage. That spec sheet sounds mighty close to the elder Optimus 2X that launched earlier in the year, though a couple of items have also been borrowed from the still unreleased Optimus Black. They are the NOVA display, which can crank all the way up to 700 nits of brightness, and WiFi Direct, which allows for wireless inter-device communication without the need for an intermediary WiFi access point. This big, delicious spec sandwich is hitting its home market on April 28th, but there's sadly no word on when and where else it might show up. Just keep an eye out for it, shouldn't be that hard to spot.LG Optimus Big brings a 4.3-inch NOVA display and 1GHz dual-core to the superphone party originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Engadget Spanish, BGR, UberGizmo  |  U+  | Email this | Comments

Asml Holding Seagate Technology Fairchild Semiconductor International Eclipsys Nanya Technology

Switch Hooks ? Never lose your keys again

I’ve always loved finding cool wall outlet gadgets, but until now, I haven’t seen any gadgets for light switches. Enter Switch Hooks. They are interchangeable plates that are compatible with traditional flip light switches and also newer more contemporary wide flip switches. The hook part of the product is located below the switch and offer [...]

Verifone Holdings Earthlink Arrow Electronics Liberty Global Qimonda

Some iPhone to Watch Over Me

Let's talk about privacy. Is it a violation of your privacy if your phone knows where you are at all hours of the day and keeps detailed records without your telling it to? What if the phone never tells anyone else -- doesn't beam your location to Steve Jobs or Larry Page or the Pope or anyone at all? OK, maybe it will tell your computer where you've been, but only when you sync up.

Rockwell Automation Autodesk Millicom Intl Cellular Nvidia Comcast

HTC Merge may launch April 29 on US Cellular after all?

The HTC Merge is once again rumored to launch on US Cellular come April 29.  We sort-of-kind-of already saw this when we posted some leaked internal US Cellular documents that gave us that date, but that was promptly denied by US Cellular, which said the Merge would be launching "later this spring."  Now a second set of different, but just as leaked documents sent to Engadget again say April 29. What we do know is that the Merge is available from Alltel and Cellular South, has an awesome sliding horizontal keyboard (check out our most recent hands-on), and once upon a time had Verizon branding all over its face.  After that, it's all a crap-shoot apparently.  Anyhow, if you're a US Cellular customer, the Merge may/possibly/hopefully/should/might-not be hitting the shelves this Friday.  Maybe.  [Engadget]HTC Merge may launch April 29 on US Cellular after all? posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories

Mcafee Scientific Games Emc Kddi Interdigital Communications

Alpha Bike Flips From Fixed to Free Electronically

Hey fixed-gear riders — get ready to weep. You know how you spent all that time and money building the most minimal, clean-lined machine possible? Well take a look at the Alpha bike. It’s so clean it doesn’t even have a chain.
The Alpha bike is the product of a year’s work by five mechanical engineering [...]

Syntel Factset Research Systems Trimble Navigation Limited Mcafee Scientific Games

A pocket for your pocket

Need a pocket for your pocket? �Then the new Maxpedition Mini Pocket organizer might be just for you. I love Maxpedition products. �They’re utilitarian and very well made. One thing I don’t like about wearing pants with cargo pockets is that smaller items tend to move around loosely. �The Maxpedition Mini Pocket looks like the [...]

First Solar on Semiconductor Logitech International Adobe Systems International Business Machines (Ibm)

Visualized: ring around the world of data center power usage

Facebook may have recently boasted about how energy efficient its data centers are, but it is still Facebook, and that means it consumes plenty of power regardless -- more than anyone else, in fact, according to Peer1's recent survey of the world's most visited websites. As you can see above, that bit of data has also been conveniently visualized by the company in a colorful chart (with a noticeable lack of green), and there's plenty more details where that came from for you to dive into in the infographic linked below.Visualized: ring around the world of data center power usage originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Boing Boing  |  Peer1  | Email this | Comments

Syntaxbrillian Amazoncom Nii Holdings Verisign Hynix Semiconductor

How the Police Get Your Phone Records [Giz Explains]

Every time I receive a call, my cell carrier takes note of the incoming telephone number, the time, date and duration of the conversation, and—because the call is sent through a network of cell towers—my location. As it turns out, I'm also carrying the right kind of smart phone, which means my device itself jots down my spot on the earth, as well. More »

Accenture Micron Technology Red Hat Trident Microsystems Spss

Print Photos Directly from Your Phone ? The Bolle BP-10 Photo Printer is Now Available in the US

Back in November, 2010, Julie told us about the Bolle BP-10 Photo Printer.� At the time, the printer was available as a pre-order from a European company.� Now, the Bolle is available as the iPhone Photo Printer from Hammacher Schlemmer.� It produces photo-quality prints directly from a docked iPhone or iPod touch.� Simply donwload a [...]

Grupo Iusacell Qlogic Yahoo Intuit Jda Software Group

Altaro Hyper-V Backup beta launched, only 250 places available

This one's for the sysadmins in the audience: Altaro, makers of our favorite "time machine for Windows" back solution, OopsBackup, have just announced a new product entering beta called Hyper-V Backup.


It's a backup solution for virtual machines running on Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization solution. If that sentence just seemed like a bunch of buzzwords crammed together, Hyper-V backup is not for you. But, if you actually use Hyper-V and are hankering for a good backup solution, Altaro might be worth checking out.

The beta run is limited - Altaro are looking for just 250 testers. All participants will get a free license key to the final, production version. So if you're interested in helping test Hyper-V Backup, get yourself over to Altaro now and join the beta.Altaro Hyper-V Backup beta launched, only 250 places available originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Network Appliance Grupo Iusacell Qlogic Yahoo Intuit

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

A leaked early version of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Messenger 6 has been making the rounds since late February, but images of the new app are just now beginning to appear. Over at CrackBerry, the crew has shared a handful of images of BBM 6 in action. Unfortunately, you won't get a glimpse at a chat or file transfer -- only the profile screens (after the break) and what you see above. All that's really revealed so far is the option to set custom contact and chat colors and BlackBerry OS 6.1-style icons.

CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leakBlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Standard Microsystems Sra International Idt Hon Hai Precision Ind Maximus

A Man Was Accused of Downloading Child Porn Because He Left His Wi-Fi Network Open [Crime]

If you need any reminder to lock up your home Wi-Fi network with a password, here it is: A man was accused of downloading thousands of images of child pornography. Disgusting and gross, right? Yup. But it wasn't him! Turns out, it was his neighbor that had tapped into his home's open Wi-Fi network who downloaded the child porn. More »

Asustek Computer Moodys Nintendo Google Netgear

Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon roadmap bumped back a little, expectations remain great

Seems like we just can't get ARM's next-generation Cortex-A15 system-on-chip out of our minds. Having figured as a headline item in LG's ARM licensing deal this morning, it's now shown up on a leaked Qualcomm roadmap, landing itself a lynchpin role in that company's Snapdragon future. Alas, Qualcomm had been promising for the earliest of its MSM8930 / 60 and APQ8064 Snapdragons to be sampling in Q2 of this year, but this latest schedule shows them as sampling at the end of 2011. This isn't hugely surprising in light of ARM's recent forecast of Cortex-A15 devices in "late 2012," but it'll be disappointing to users keen to be exploiting quad-GPU and quad-CPU mobile rigs as soon as humanly possible. Guess that just leaves us waiting for the NGP or NVIDIA's quad-core SOC in August. Hit the source link for more on Qualcomm's plans for the near and distant future.

[Thanks, Mike]Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon roadmap bumped back a little, expectations remain great originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Mobiletechworld  | Email this | Comments

Progress Software Apple Computer Tns Ses Cognizant Tech Solutions

Amazon Appstore for Android Test Drive hands on: surprisingly cool, but still US-only

When Amazon Appstore for Android launched last week, one of its primary features -- Test Drive -- was disabled just a few minutes after it opened. With no try-before-you-buy, no refund process, and 1-Click purchasing ready to strike at any moment, this caused some problems. Anyway, don't despair: Test Drive is now enabled.

Before you get your hopes up, Test Drive doesn't work with every app. The IMDb app works fine -- you can even watch movie trailers on it! -- but the Angry Birds games are sadly not enabled. Some games work surprisingly well, though, like Bubble Buster. There's very little latency, and the framerate is really rather good. The Test Drive experience is so true to life that you even get ads; how cool is that?Gallery: Amazon Appstore for Android Test DriveContinue reading Amazon Appstore for Android Test Drive hands on: surprisingly cool, but still US-onlyAmazon Appstore for Android Test Drive hands on: surprisingly cool, but still US-only originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Avnet Memc Electronic Materials Heartland Payment Systems Linear Technology Ingram Micro

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Monday, April 25

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you! Cartoonatic: Record Amazing Videos with awesome cartoon effects! [Free - iTunes link] [...]New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Monday, April 25 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Microchip Technology Vishay Intertechnology Emulex Rackable Systems Iomega

Microsoft, Yahoo Vet Starts Clipboard: ?Social Media With A Purpose?

This morning, an SEC filing revealed that Gary Flake, a former Overture vet who went on to found both Yahoo Research Labs and Microsoft's Live Labs, raised $1.39 million in funding for a stealthy new startup dubbed Clipboard (I'm not the only one who noticed).

Flake informed me that he wanted to avoid any publicity for now, but since Geekwire already posted on this: Flake is the sole founder of the fledgling Bellevue, Washington-based company, which is apparently building 'social media with a purpose' (which is still vague, admittedly).

Flake said he wouldn't disclose the names of the investors at this point, as some would like to be kept out of the spotlights, but we've learned that there are a little over a dozen investors involved, ranging from large institutional funds, mid-size seed VCs and angel groups, as well as a few individual investors.

Emulex Rackable Systems Iomega Iron Mountain Inorated America Movil

SugarSync unveils latest update, frees you from wires (and thinking)

Users of the popular SugarSync Android app should be on the lookout for a new update that introduces all sorts of automated cloud-syncing options.They call it AutoSync, and in a nutshell, this is what it does for you:Free your mobile photos – Liberate all those great mobile photos you’ve taken from your device, without ever having to think about it. AutoSync automatically backs them up and syncs them to your computer at pre-set intervals.Make your device more productive – No more emailing files to yourself to ensure you have the right version. Be productive from your device, and rest assured that the latest version will be automatically saved to the cloud and to your computers.Keep your mobile photos/memories safe – Even in the case of a lost device, you can be sure that your photos and memories are safe. AutoSync has been backing them up and syncing them in the background.Say goodbye to the hassle of wires and cables – Many users resist syncing and downloading photos and folders from their mobile devices simply because it is too complex and time consuming. Put the wires away, and let AutoSync take care of the rest.Download link and full presser are after the break.
SugarSync unveils latest update, frees you from wires (and thinking) posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories

Sykes Enterprises Inorated Lawson Software Perot Systems Alltel Informatica

New software uses facial recognition to defend against prying eyes

Having the right programs and hardware to keep the information on your display safe from prying eyes is never a bad idea, and new software from Oculis Labs offers a very interesting take on how to do just that. It's called PrivateEye, and it utilizes facial recognition to automatically pixelate the contents of your display when you look away.

If you step away from your system and someone else decides to sit down and poke around, PrivateEye will present a confusing jumble of garbled text. It'll even notify you if someone tries to peek over your shoulder -- and display a picture of your peeping Tom, throw up an alert, or sound an alarm.

Check out the video embed after the break, and share your thoughts in the comments!Continue reading New software uses facial recognition to defend against prying eyesNew software uses facial recognition to defend against prying eyes originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

International Business Machines Quantum Sonic Automotive Ikon Office Solutions Anixter International

B-Squares bring portable solar energy and Arduino compatibility to toy blocks (video)

We've seen plenty of portable solar chargers in our time, but few have looked quite as versatile as B-Squares -- a new collection of 3D modular energy storage devices that can be arranged in various configurations, according to the kind of gadget you're looking to juice. Developed by MIT grads Jordan McRae and Shawn Frayne, each solar-powered B-Square features a sticky microsuction surface, along with magnetic and electric contacts at each corner, making it easy to connect and arrange them in different formations. Rotating a single square will change its electrical circuit, depending on its adjacent connection. Some B-Squares, for example, feature LED surfaces, allowing you to create solar-powered lanterns, while others have solar panels, or simply serve as rechargeable battery sources. There's even a square devoted to Arduino boards, along with another surface designed to dock and charge iPhones. McRae and Frayne have already put together a full "recipe book" of different configurations, though the DIY route seems a lot more enticing to us. Their B-Squares are set to leave the prototype phase on May 1st, at an as yet unspecified price. Check them out in video action after the break.

[Thanks, Ryan]Continue reading B-Squares bring portable solar energy and Arduino compatibility to toy blocks (video)B-Squares bring portable solar energy and Arduino compatibility to toy blocks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  B-Squares  | Email this | Comments

National Instruments Accenture Micron Technology Red Hat Trident Microsystems

It's Earth Day! Wanna Donate to Worthwhile Non-Profit Organizations? [Green]

Farming! Tree Planting! Sustainable Housing!!! It's Earth Day and our good friends over at Philanthroper and TreeHugger have combined do-good powers to send money to non-profits interested in keeping the Earth inhabitable. But they need your help. More »

Miscrosoft Office Epicor Software Insight Enterprises Nikon Nuance Communications

Mitoza is a fun, freaky Web toy with an artistic look

While not a game per se, I found Mitoza intriguing enough to spend quite some time with it. You start off with a seed, and are then presented with two choices: you can either click a flower pot, or click a cute little birdie.

If you click the flower pot, a flower pot appears and the seed is planted inside. You're then presented with two further choices -- a water can or a bottle of fertilizer. Each choice you make causes your creation to morph, and presents you with two other choices.

There's no winning or losing, really. Each "game" usually lasts around four or five choices, at which point the plant/animal dies in some creative (but not too gruesome) way. At this point you instantly start over with a new seed.

The graphics are captivating; the whole thing has a cinematic feel to it, with a bit of artificial camera shake added for style.

All in all, it's a fun, peaceful way to spend a few minutes, and it might even make you think a little bit while you're at it.Mitoza is a fun, freaky Web toy with an artistic look originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Comcast China Mobile Network Appliance Grupo Iusacell Qlogic

Are You Sure You're Sober Enough To Be Sending That Text? [Apps]

My greatest alcohol-related fear is that in a drunken stupor I'll text my boss and tell him to do all manner of anatomically-impossible things to himself. More »

Qimonda Unisys Electronic Data Systems High Tech Computer Applied Materials

Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7

We've been looking at some pretty cool Kinect and Windows interactions for a while now, but we were hoping that the release of an official SDK would lead to even more coolness. Evoluce has stepped up, and is now offering Win&I -- a full-featured gesture control system for Windows 7.

The company claims that a range of up to four meters is supported, which should be perfect for just about any home theater setting. In the video embedded after the break, you can see an Evoluce demonstrator flip through a photo album, pan through a map, rearrange application windows, browse the Web, and control media playback. Two versions of Win&I are offered -- the home version goes for about 20 Euros, the business version for 40.

Anyone else having fun pretending his stance is a little "Iron Man"? We're tempted to put a repulsor on that hand.Continue reading Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Osi Systems Fair Isaac Intersections Saic Amkor Technology

How would you change Lenovo's ThinkPad X120e?

It's one of the first Fusion-based laptops out of the gate -- certainly one of the first with a semi-business-oriented shell -- and we found it to be one of the best modern ThinkPads we'd seen when reviewing it a few months back. Naturally, the quantity of machines shipping with the E-350 APU is swelling, but the X120e still touts one of the most unique feature sets available. For those who picked one up (for business or pleasure... we're hardly picky), we'd love to know how you'd tweak things. Are you satisfied with the build quality? The value? Would you encourage Lenovo to tweak a design that has remained largely constant for the better part of the last millennium? Would you have swapped out the APU for something a bit less integrated? Toss your thoughts in comments below; you never know if you'll be the dude / dudette that pushes the ThinkPad into its next evolution.How would you change Lenovo's ThinkPad X120e? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Commscope Electronics for Imaging Rogers Communications Taketwo Interactive Software Nokia

Google Chrome now uses SPDY HTTP replacement, halves page load time

We're not entirely sure of the time line here, but it looks like Google has now rolled out the SPDY HTTP replacement to its full bevy of Web services, including Gmail, Docs, and YouTube. If you're currently using Google's Chrome browser you're probably already using SPDY.

We originally reported on SPDY way back in November 2009, when Google introduced it as yet another experiment in making the Web faster, like Go, Native Client and speculative pre-connections. Over the last 18 months, though, SPDY support has found its way into the stable build of Chrome.

SPDY is basically a streamlined and more efficient version of HTTP. At its most basic, SPDY introduces parallel, multiplexed streams over a single TCP connection -- but at the same time, SPDY allows for prioritization, so that vital content (HTML) can be sent before periphery content (JavaScript, video). All in all, the SPDY protocol can halve page load times, which is obviously rather significant.

The best bit, though, is that SPDY is an open-source project. HTTP 1.1 is a lumbering beast that needs to be replaced before low-latency real-time computing really becomes a reality, and SPDY is one of the best options currently on the table. To be honest, we're not sure why SPDY hasn't received more coverage -- it's awesome in every way. At the moment, though, the only way to help speed up SPDY's proliferation, is with an experimental Apache mod.

As far as actually 'trying it out,' your best bet is downloading Chrome, hitting up some Google sites, and then checking chrome://net-internals to see your active SPDY sessions. SPDY is a transparent replacement for HTTP, though, and as such it's rather hard to see its effects. Google's sites definitely feel fast in Chrome, but there are more technologies than just SPDY at work.Google Chrome now uses SPDY HTTP replacement, halves page load time originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Harris Dst Systems Automatic Data Processing L1 Identity Solutions Novell

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 confirmed, faster-charging integrated battery detailed

Yesterday's speculation has turned into today's fact. The ultraslim Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is most definitely real, coming soon, and just so happens to be packing some fancy new battery technology as well. This intel comes straight from Lenovo's own servers, where a highly informative PDF (intended for reseller partners, but accessible to all) dishes the dirt on the upcoming laptop. The X1's "slice" battery won't be user-replaceable, but what you lose in flexibility will be made up for in sheer performance gains, as Lenovo is touting it'll last three times as long as a normal battery and will recharge 2.5 times faster than previous ThinkPad cells. That's thanks to some fanciness named RapidCharge that will revitalize the X1 to 80 percent within 30 minutes. The presentation slides show the X1 right alongside Lenovo's latest Edge models, the E420s and E220s, as part of "a new generation of ThinkPads," and given that both of those are now shipping, the ultraslim, but still unannounced, X1 can't be far behind. Finally, just for some added intrigue, we've also spotted mention of an "X Slate" within the document -- any ideas as to what that might look like?

[Thanks, Alexandr]Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad X1 confirmed, faster-charging integrated battery detailedLenovo ThinkPad X1 confirmed, faster-charging integrated battery detailed originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Lenovo [PDF]  | Email this | Comments

Quest Software Acer Powerchip Semiconductor Dlink Satyam Computer Services

Install the Windows Phone 7 NoDo update regardless of your carrier

Some of you who own Windows Phone 7 devices are still waiting for your pre-NoDo preparation update -- never mind NoDo itself. A few workarounds have been posted, but unfortunately they didn't work unless your carrier had completed testing and was ready to schedule the update.

Now, however, the Chevron WP7 team's Chris Walshie has delivered a handy little utility that will allow you to update any Windows Phone 7 device -- regardless of your carrier.


Download and install the Windows Phone Support Tool (x86 or x64) and the ChevronWP7 Updater (x86 or x64)

Launch ChevronWP7 Updater and select your language. If your language isn't listed, stop and do not update.

If were running WP7 build 7004 (you can verify in Zune) then run the updater twice.

Once the process completes, you should be able to copy and paste to your heart's content. Let's just hope all this update foolishness gets sorted out before we're supposed to receive Mango.Install the Windows Phone 7 NoDo update regardless of your carrier originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Manhattan Associates Miscrosoft Office Epicor Software Insight Enterprises Nikon

Evernote Web gets a new interface, Facebook sharing, and more

Evernote, the popular multi-platform 'digital memory' app, has done some serious re-tooling of its Web interface. In addition to a more polished UI that more closely mirrors the look of Evernote on the desktop, the update brings features like notebook stacks and snippet view to the Web.

Auto-saving is now enabled as well, and you can select multiple items by holding down the Cmd or Ctrl key on your Mac or Windows keyboard. If you've got items stored in your notebooks that you want to share with friends or co-workers, Evernote has improved that process, too. You can quickly post an item to Facebook, share it via email, or generate a Web sharing link to paste into an IM conversation or status update.

Head over to the Evernote Web login page to try out the new interface.Evernote Web gets a new interface, Facebook sharing, and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tns Ses Cognizant Tech Solutions Ixys Cypress Semiconductor

Green Data Centers Are Where It's At

It may be an increasingly digital, electronic and paperless world, but that doesn't mean it doesn't use a lot of energy. In particular, data centers -- those places that store, maintain, and manage all the bits and bytes that keep things humming -- use tremendous amounts of energy. Greening these centers, therefore, is one of the top priorities for many businesses.

Nanya Technology Si International Micros Systems Cisco Systems Hcl Technologies

AMD collects half a billion in Q1 profit, Fusion APUs now account for half of its laptop shipments

AMD's net income for the past quarter was $510 million, generated from $1.61 billion in total revenues. That should make happy reading for a company that's been raising similar gross revenues previously but finding itself losing cash -- though the more intriguing figures are a little deeper in its latest disclosure. CFO and interim CEO Thomas Seifert has noted that AMD "tripled" its Fusion APU shipments relative to last quarter -- meaning that at least 3.9 million units have made their way out to OEM partners in Q1 -- which now account for "roughly half" of the company's notebook shipments. In less upbeat news, average selling prices in both the microprocessor and graphics divisions were down sequentially, with AMD having to react to pressure from its traditional foes Intel and NVIDIA. You might surmise that with the mainstream Llano APU out and shipping to computer makers, AMD might have a happier second quarter, but the company's guidance is for revenues to be flat or slightly down. A final note of pride is reserved for the Radeon HD 6490M and HD 6750M GPUs, which figured prominently in Apple's latest MacBook Pro refresh and mark a bit of a coup for AMD, who's now responsible for all of Apple's discrete graphics across the MacBook Pro and iMac computing lines. Click the links below for even more intel on Advanced Micro Devices.Continue reading AMD collects half a billion in Q1 profit, Fusion APUs now account for half of its laptop shipmentsAMD collects half a billion in Q1 profit, Fusion APUs now account for half of its laptop shipments originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  AMD, Earnings call transcript (Seeking Alpha)  | Email this | Comments

Nii Holdings Verisign Hynix Semiconductor Sykes Enterprises Inorated Lawson Software

This Old Chinese Man Repairs Damaged Photos with Photoshop for Free [Photoshop]

Baojun Yuan, the man pictured above, learned Photoshop at 60 years old. He's now 76 and for the past decade or so has repaired over 2000 damaged photos and done it all for free. Yuan bought a computer and scanner himself and doesn't charge people because he jokingly says, "My teacher just taught me how to repair the photos, but he forgot to tell me how to charge". What a guy. Check out all the work Yuan has done for people here. [The Design Inspiration] More »

Perot Systems Alltel Informatica Atandt Rf Micro Devices

TweetDeck to launch as HTML5 Web app, now accepting beta testers

When TweetDeck landed in the Chrome Web Store, it seemed like an indication that it might eventually evolve into a pure HTML5 Web app. Now it looks as though that's exactly what's going to happen, with TweetDeck announcing that a new, not-just-for-Chrome Web client is ready for beta testing.

It's a natural progression for TweetDeck, especially since its originally Adobe Air app is practically all Web code. TweetDeck Web will sport a feature set which is nearly identical to the Chrome app, with the notable exception of Twitter streaming.

Initially, TweetDeck is targeting Firefox 4 and 3.6, Google Chrome, and Safari. Opera and Internet Explorer 9 won't be invited to the dance until a bit later on.

If you'd like to get in on the TweetDeck Web beta, head on over and register -- or sign up using your existing TweetDeck account.TweetDeck to launch as HTML5 Web app, now accepting beta testers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vishay Intertechnology Emulex Rackable Systems Iomega Iron Mountain Inorated

T-Mobile willing to knock $100 off G-Slate, if you ask nicely

Here's a little secret that T-Mobile didn't really intend for public consumption: if you give the company a ring you can nab an extra $100 off a G-Slate. The discount was emailed out to those who signed up for a special promotional offer T-Mo teased recently. Like most things, though, the internet got ahold of this juicy morsel and we're happy to tell you it's open to everyone. Just reference promo code GSLATE100 and you can pick up a shiny new Honeycomb tablet for $430 -- provided you have an existing voice plan or sign up for one, are willing to commit to a two-year data contract on top of that, and don't mind dealing with a mail-in rebate. If those caveats don't scare you off, go ahead and call. Just act quick, the offer ends April 27th. Check out the larger image after the break for full instructions.Continue reading T-Mobile willing to knock $100 off G-Slate, if you ask nicelyT-Mobile willing to knock $100 off G-Slate, if you ask nicely originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  TmoNews  | Email this | Comments

Triquint Semiconductor Lam Research Koninklijke Kpn Skyworks Solutions Radisys

(Try to) Map Your House with MagicPlan [Apps]

Should you ever need a floor plan of your home, bringing in a professional to do the measurements might be expensive. And time consuming! So MagicPlan wants to replace human work, automatically creating a map of your humble abode. More »

Sykes Enterprises Inorated Lawson Software Perot Systems Alltel Informatica

Samsung strikes back at Apple with ten patent infringement claims

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone: in the latest chapter of the Apple-Samsung dispute over their smartphones' resemblance, the latter company has just retaliated by filing lawsuits against Apple in three countries. Sammy's load of ammo includes five patent infringements in South Korea, two in Japan, and three in Germany, though we've yet to hear more details about these claims. Now we just sit back and enjoy the show -- popcorn, anyone?

[Thanks, Jake L.]

Update: Reuters has shed some light on the actual patents Samsung is alleging are being infringed. The news organization reports they relate to "power reduction during data transmission, 3G technology for reducing errors during data transmission, and wireless data communication technology."Samsung strikes back at Apple with ten patent infringement claims originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Samsung  | Email this | Comments

Cypress Semiconductor Fidelity National Information Svcs Bharti Airtel Avnet Memc Electronic Materials

Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game

I have a thing for physics games, and I've been known to post the occasional platformer or action game here and there. But Let it Slide is one of the brainiest games I've posted to date.

The idea is very simple, and far from original: You get a board with pieces arranged in a particular pattern; you have to slide those around until you get the special piece into its target location.

It's not even about finding out where the target location is - you can just hover over "dim tiles" and instantly see where you're supposed to bring the special piece. But getting it there is a whole different story.

There are five tutorial levels, which I strongly recommend you do. Then there are twenty "beginner" levels, but that's really a misnomer. If those are the beginner levels, I don't want to know what the intermediate and advanced levels look like!

Every time you finish a level you get a score based on how many clicks it took you - each level has a "par" (the minimum number of clicks it could be completed in), and your performance is compared to that gold standard. Because it's such a brainy game, getting it right is quite satisfying. I was downright proud of myself when I managed to finish a few levels. All in all, quite recommended, especially if you've got a few minutes of quiet. It might actually help you focus better later on.Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vishay Intertechnology Emulex Rackable Systems Iomega Iron Mountain Inorated

Personal Activity Monitor tracks time you spend using desktop apps

Up until a couple of years ago, I used to turn to RescueTime to figure out how I spend my time online. Then it got too complex, and I stopped using it. Personal Activity Monitor is like a vastly dumbed-down version of RescueTime, and I mean that as a compliment. It's free and bare-bones -- all it does is track what applications you're using and for how long.

A big drawback at this point is that it doesn't integrate with Web browsers to help you analyze how you spend your time on the Web. Still, if your work doesn't require constant Web app use, knowing how long you've used a browser overall might be enough to help you manage your time.


This is far from the only application in this space -- alternatives such as Slife and Chrometa are full-featured and impressive -- but PAM is good option for those who want a nice, simple tracker.Personal Activity Monitor tracks time you spend using desktop apps originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nuance Communications Texas Instruments Lexmark International Verifone Holdings Earthlink

Add playback hotkeys to Amazon Cloud Player with a Chrome extension

Sure, Amazon's Cloud Player works -- as long as you're in the U.S. or willing to do some tinkering -- but it's fairly simplistic at the moment. There are plenty of features missing which we'd like to see added -- but since Cloud Player is a Web app we don't have to wait for Amazon!

Google Chrome users, for example, can add playback hotkeys with an extension called keyMazony. Once installed, you'll have keyboard control of your Amazon Cloud Player queue. keyMazony commands will work as long as you're in the same Chrome window as Cloud Player, even if its tab doesn't have focus. The key combinations are customizable as well -- just make sure you don't set up a combo that conflicts with another extension or Chrome's built-in keyboard shortcuts.Add playback hotkeys to Amazon Cloud Player with a Chrome extension originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microchip Technology Vishay Intertechnology Emulex Rackable Systems Iomega

Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements

The crew in Oslo keeps plugging away at Opera 11.10, and the latest snapshot build includes a number of improvements to Opera's built-in email client -- as well as HTML5-related additions.

On the IMAP front, Opera now supports special folders like sent items, spam, and trash. It also better handles duplicate items in Gmail -- such as those which appear in all mail and under your custom labels.

Opera 11.10 now partially supports the HTML5 File API as well, which means your favorite Web apps (like Gmail) may soon begin adding Opera to the list of supported browsers.

You can download the latest Opera 11.10 snapshot for Windows, Mac, or Linux from the official release post.

Update: The Opera 11.10 RC is now available, as pointed out by SlashZaku in the comments. Thanks!Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spansion Teradata Commscope Electronics for Imaging Rogers Communications

AMD collects half a billion in Q1 profit, Fusion APUs now account for half of its laptop shipments

AMD's net income for the past quarter was $510 million, generated from $1.61 billion in total revenues. That should make happy reading for a company that's been raising similar gross revenues previously but finding itself losing cash -- though the more intriguing figures are a little deeper in its latest disclosure. CFO and interim CEO Thomas Seifert has noted that AMD "tripled" its Fusion APU shipments relative to last quarter -- meaning that at least 3.9 million units have made their way out to OEM partners in Q1 -- which now account for "roughly half" of the company's notebook shipments. In less upbeat news, average selling prices in both the microprocessor and graphics divisions were down sequentially, with AMD having to react to pressure from its traditional foes Intel and NVIDIA. You might surmise that with the mainstream Llano APU out and shipping to computer makers, AMD might have a happier second quarter, but the company's guidance is for revenues to be flat or slightly down. A final note of pride is reserved for the Radeon HD 6490M and HD 6750M GPUs, which figured prominently in Apple's latest MacBook Pro refresh and mark a bit of a coup for AMD, who's now responsible for all of Apple's discrete graphics across the MacBook Pro and iMac computing lines. Click the links below for even more intel on Advanced Micro Devices.Continue reading AMD collects half a billion in Q1 profit, Fusion APUs now account for half of its laptop shipmentsAMD collects half a billion in Q1 profit, Fusion APUs now account for half of its laptop shipments originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  AMD, Earnings call transcript (Seeking Alpha)  | Email this | Comments

Diebold Intel Mantech International Palm Imation

Reduce Your Expose to Mobile Phone Radiation with the Moshi Moshi 04i Handset

As seen in the photo, the Moshi Moshi 04i from Native Union looks like typical docking speakers for an iPhone, but it’s really a charge/sync dock for the iPhone and a removable Bluetooth handset for making calls.� The Bluetooth handset can connect with both your computer and your iPhone for VOIP and mobile calls.� Lifting [...]

Kddi Interdigital Communications Rockwell Automation Autodesk Millicom Intl Cellular

A Disaster In The Making? Sony?s PlayStation Network Suffers Prolonged Global Outage

Sony's PlayStation Network, its online service for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles, suffered from a major outage today, which remains ongoing. According to Sony's blog, the interruption in service may last into the long weekend -- for at least another "full day or two". The Sony Network currently has more than 70 million registered users, many of whom have taken to Twitter and other social networks to express their frustration over the prolonged downtime. Millions of unhappy gamers (and Netflix customers) a PlayStation outage makes.

Not to mention, the outage comes on the same day that Amazon?s cloud-based web services crashed, taking Reddit, Foursquare, and Quora (among others) with them. Unfortunately, it seems that today has become a fairly drastic example of the vulnerability of the cloud and the extent to which these outages can effect business-as-usual on the Web.

Mobile Telesystems Openwave Systems Directv Group Infocus International Rectifier

Windows 8 App Store images leaked?

Windows 8 images continue to leak onto the Internet, despite Microsoft's wallpaper-based pleas to those with access to the early releases. Today's installment courtesy CNBeta shows the upcoming Windows App Store, which will likely feature prominently in Windows 8.

We've got our doubts about the authenticity of the image. In addition to showing several of the built-in games which already ship with Windows, Opera is listed -- and a competing browser seems like an odd inclusion this early on. Of course, with the browser ballot still in place in the EU for quite some time, Microsoft would probably need to include rivals like Opera and Firefox to stay out of trouble. We're also not sure why Clickgamer is shown beneath Angry Birds instead of Rovio -- the game's actual publisher.

It's still early, of course, so it's entirely possible that the Windows App Store image is genuine but merely using placeholder images and text for now. Anyone else thinking Windows Marketplace might be a more logical name? You know, to keep things consistent with Windows Phone and keep Apple's legal eagles at bay.Windows 8 App Store images leaked? originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsemi F5 Networks Inventec Digital China Holdings Key

Opera 11.10 includes improved power saving features

Just recently, the Opera 11.10 release candidate was made available for download. It brought a handful of important feature additions -- like HTML5 File API support and IMAP enhancements -- and loads of bugfixes. Nestled in amongst the other details in the Opera team's announcement is one more interesting tidbit: Opera 11.10 offers improved battery optimizations.

The timing here is certainly interesting, what with Microsoft's recent report on how much power the top five Web browsers consume. In its findings, Opera 11 was fairly low in the standings. While we've not seen any new benchmarks yet, we're curious to know whether the Opera 11.10 RC offers any significant gains.

If you're running Opera 11.10 on a laptop, let us know if you're seeing an improvement in your battery life while browsing!Opera 11.10 includes improved power saving features originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Qualcomm Manhattan Associates Miscrosoft Office Epicor Software Insight Enterprises

This Bike Helmet Has Built-In Turn Signals [Genius]

Riding bicycles at night is dangerous. It's hard to see the road and it's even harder for people to see you. Sure, you can get light attachments for your helmet—but they all look goofy and cluttered. That's where the Blink Bike Helmet rides in. More »

Lsi Diebold Intel Mantech International Palm

Daily Crunch: Transaction Edition

Review: TDK 3 Speaker Boombox Study: Smartphone Users Wasting Hundreds Of Dollars Per Year On Unnecessary Contracts Woman Makes DIY Angry Bird Easter Eggs Amaze Your Friends With This Invisible Money Clip Pour Votre Plaisir: A USB Key Shaped Like A Padlock

Vishay Intertechnology Emulex Rackable Systems Iomega Iron Mountain Inorated