After rumors surfaced on the Web a few months back that a new version of ebook reader Kindle might be on the way, Amazon.com did its best to shoot them down, saying a new Kindle was not coming this year. Well, Boy Genius Report has gotten ahold of some photos that appear to be the Kindle 2, so we’re curious what Amazon has to say now. From the looks of the new device, Amazon has tried to address some of the criticisms of the Kindle, most of which revolve around its somewhat homely design and a few poorly placed buttons. The shape has been modified to make the new Kindle more attractive, but it appears Amazon is sticking with the same off-white color scheme–for better or worse.
The Boy Genius Report’s mole or “ninja,” has some comments about the new Kindle. First, ninja says the device is basically the same size as the older model, but is thinner and has “a slightly heavier feel, and it feels much sturdier.” The source indicates the new model uses the same cellular EV-DO network for downloads (it’s Sprint’s network in the current model) and a metal back is visible in some of the pictures. I particularly appreciated the look of the new leather carrying pouch for the device since I don’t like the existing Kindle’s protective case. There are more photos here. No word on when the next-generation Kindle will arrive, whether there will be a European model, or how much it will cost.
Source: RLSLOG
Tech News
Network operators Vodafone and Verizon Wireless will sell Research In Motion’s BlackBerry Storm smartphone from next month, the companies said Wednesday. The Storm will be available from Vodafone in the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Romania, Spain, Italy, France (via partner SFR), India, Australia and New Zealand from next month, and from Verizon Wireless in the U.S. With a touchscreen interface, the largest screen size ever on a BlackBerry device and a long list of features, the Storm will be a worthy competitor to Apple’s iPhone all over the world, according to Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight. Pricing will be announced in the coming weeks, according to RIM.
The Storm is the first touch-screen BlackBerry device and has what RIM calls a “clickable” screen: The user feels the screen being pressed and released, similar to the feeling of a key on a physical keyboard or a button on a mouse, which should make it easier to type, according to RIM. The touchscreen technology is very impressive, according to Wood, who describes the 3.26-inch, 480 by 360 pixel screen as a big key. “They have reinvented the touchscreen with the Storm. It’s not as good as a qwerty keyboard but it comes close,” he said. The Storm measures 112.5 millimeters x 62.2 mm x 13.95 mm and weighs 155 grams, compared to 115.5 mm x 62.1 mm x 12.3 mm and 133 grams for the iPhone. Users can surf the web and download email using either EV-DO Rev. A or HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access), but there is no Wi-Fi.
Source: PC World - RLSLOG
Tech News
The forward-thinking folks at Google have implemented a novel solution to prevent regretful drunken digital correspondence to friends, family, co-workers, and loved ones. Gmail engineer Jon Perlow is introducing Mail Googles, a new feature that will tease the bean before ill-conceived late night and weekend emails can be sent out. Mail Goggles are presently available in the Labs tab on Gmail settings. Once activated, users can select the days and times when they’re most likely to be recreating in a fashion unsuitable for CC’ing the entire office.
Default settings are the tender hours between 10 PM and 4 AM on Fridays and Saturday. Before an ill-conceived email is allowed to make its rounds, Mail Goggles offers the constitution a checkup by asking a series of math problems that must be solved in 60 seconds. Several levels of difficulty are available for drunken savants. To activate Mail Goggles, go into Gmail’s settings, and turn on Mail Goggles in the “Labs” tab. Then adjust how and when it works in the “General” tab.
Source: cNet - Register - RLSLOG
Tech News
By Khali Henderson
Triton Telecom Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cobian International, selected 9000 Carrier Ethernet Switch Router (CESR) and the XDMR Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP) from the ECI Telecom for a fiber network project in the Caribbean, spanning the distance of Florida, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The network is the first in the region to use submarine cable based on a native 10 gigabits system, supporting up to 40G per channel.
The 9000 CESR and XDM platforms will provide Triton with an end-to-end transport solution supporting both legacy SONET/SDH capabilities along with new IP traffic requirements with speeds of 10G and greater. This is the first time ECI’s optical and Ethernet gear have been used together.
Cobian estimated a 31 percent per year growth in bandwidth requirements in the region due to demand for more data capacity and video services.
The first leg of the network, called Seahorse-1, will traverse the ocean from Miami to Puerto Rico and is expected to go live in May 2009. It will be the only direct cable between the two points, which reduces potential points of failure, said Cobian CEO Joanne Negron, speaking to xchange from the COMPTEL PLUS Convention + Expo in Orlando this week.
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Tech News, World News
Nintendo’s hit DS portable machine will come with a digital camera that will allow players to mix images, scribble on photos and create new faces, the Japanese game maker said Thursday. The Nintendo DSi will go on sale in Japan on Nov. 1 for 18,900 yen ($180), and will be available overseas next year. Dates and other details for overseas plans will be announced later by the company’s regional units later, President Satoru Iwata said. Iwata said the revamped DS is meant to be the first toy camera for children and a tool for network-building and party fun for older people in the company’s ongoing quest to make gaming popular with everyone — not just a niche crowd. One in six Japanese already owns a DS, according to Kyoto-based Nintendo, which also makes Pokemon and Super Mario games. But the goal is to make the DS a must-have for every Japanese, Iwata said.
The improved DSi is thinner than the current DS model, and will have a bigger screen, he said. The machine also comes with an audio player, to play sound stored in a memory card. Users will be able to change the speed of the sound. In a demonstration, Iwata showed that players will be able to listen to a foreign language lesson at a slower speed, or distort music or voices to a shrill pitch for fun. Nintendo also demonstrated new game software for its hit Wii home console, including “Wii Music.” Players just need to jiggle their remote controller to feel as though they are playing any of 60 musical instruments, including a drum set, sitar, saxophone and piano, although there are only 50 preprogrammed melodies. Nintendo has sold 77.5 million Nintendo DS handheld devices worldwide, nearly 23 million in Japan, far outselling Sony Corp.’s rival offering, the PlayStation Portable, at 41 million globally — 10 million in Japan.
Source: AP - RLSLOG
Tech News
Lamborghini goes German aerodynamics rather than their normal Italian aesthetic with this design of their new Estoque concept car which made it’s debut in Pars hier, French for yesterday. Oh vous ne saviez pas?, French for Oh you didn’t know? LOL. - ICE
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Picture, Tech News
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ZUZhAuuOo&hl=en&fs=1]
Step onto the pitch and play professional football your way in FIFA 09. Powered by the third generation of the EA SPORTS football engine, FIFA 09 features more than 250 core gameplay additions and enhancements that deliver the most responsive, intelligent and realistic action ever for the series. Enjoy turning defenders with more controlled dribbling and ball control, snapping off precision shots with improved first-time shooting mechanics and firing beautifully timed passes with greater accuracy, placing the ball exactly where you want it. With new player momentum physics the speed and weight of the player determines everything from the distance of a slide tackle and the power of a header to the severity of player collisions and the height of a player’s jump. Plus, players now behave according to their physical attributes with larger, stronger players dominating collisions, battles for control of the ball, and position in challenges for two player headers.
General Features
* Polished, refined gameplay — Featuring 250 additions and enhancements to core gameplay, including new animation technology that creates more responsive first-time shooting and passing, faster and more controlled dribbling, and improved trapping, and new player momentum physics that delivers realistic player collisions, authentic jostling for the ball, and more variation in tackling.
Continue To The Making Of Fifa Soccer 09 - Hosted By Maurice Edu [HD]….
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Sports, Tech News, Video
Web radio stations live to fight another day. The House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill that Web radio stations have painted as life or death for their services. The Webcaster Settlement Act, which would allow Internet radio stations to negotiate with the music industry for a royalty rate lower than what Congress mandated last year, passed the House by a voice vote on Saturday. Proponents of the bill had predicted a close vote. Tim Westergren, founder of Net music service Pandora, said he was elated about triumphing in the House, which came after traditional radio broadcasters withdrew their opposition.
Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, said Saturday night that Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) had met with representatives of the group and addressed some of their concerns. As a result, the NAB dropped its opposition in the House and will not oppose the bill when it moves to the Senate for a vote, either Sunday or Monday. Webcasters are fighting for the right to negotiate with the music industry to reduce the royalty rates they must pay to stream music over the Web. Any deal must be approved by the federal government. Congress is expected to adjourn on Monday, and the Webcaster Settlement Act enables Internet radio stations to reach an agreement with the music industry while Congress is out of session.
Source: CBS - RLSLOG
Political, Tech News, US News
Google Inc., which is celebrating its 10th birthday this month, today unveiled a $10 million effort to implement ideas that can “change the world by helping as many people as possible.” As part of the Project 10^100 (pronounced Project 10 to the 100th), Google plans to ask its users to submit ideas until Oct. 20 for ways to improve people’s lives. Google will choose what it feels are the 100 best ideas and then allow its users to vote on which of them should be funded. The users will narrow the results to 20 finalists, and a panel of judges will choose up to five ideas that will receive funding, Google said.
Google noted that the ideas can be big or small, technology-driven or not. But they do have to have a potential positive impact on the world. The company cited an example of two people coming up with an idea to help millions of people carry water long distances by designing the Hippo Water Roller, a relatively inexpensive 24-gallon container that can be easily wheeled on the ground. The categories for the project include, but are not limited to, community, energy, environment, health, education, shelter and opportunities for people to better provide for themselves and their families.
Source: ComputerWorld - RLSLOG
Tech News
Sony has taken the covers off of the latest in their VAIO series of notebook computers. The VAIO TT Series of notebooks will be the worlds lightest Blu-ray capable computers available on the market. Sony’s goal with the TT series seems to be focused on packing a lot of power into an ultra portable device. Weighing in at only 2.87 pounds and being less than an inch thick, the new series of VAIO notebooks isn’t just about looks. Behind the carbon fiber shell (yes, seriously), you can find an Intel Centrino 2 processor and an optional dual channel 256GB (2 x 128GB) solid state drive with RAID technology. If the 11.1 inch 16:9 LED display is a little too small for you, there’s also an HDMI output so you can connect the notebook to your HD television of choice and watch your Blu-ray movies in full 1080p high definition.
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