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Amazon Announces New Generation of Kindles

Admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:06:33 +0000

Amazon has announced that it will release a new Kindle next month with dramatic improvements over its predecessors.

The third-generation Kindle is 15% lighter and 21% smaller than the second-generation model, though its display is the same size. And unlike its previous models, “Kindle Wi-Fi” will connect to the Internet using only Wi-Fi instead of a cellphone network as other Kindles do. It is also worth noting that the price of this new “WiFi only” device is $139, the “lowest price yet” for a Kindle.

Amazon is also introducing a model, with both Wi-Fi and 3G wireless, to replace the Kindle 2 for the same price of $189. Both new Kindles are smaller and lighter, with higher contrast screens and crisper text with 50 percent higher contrast for improved reading in low and bright light and it turns pages 20 percent faster.

Amazon intends to battle with other makers of e-readers such as Sony, Barnes & Noble and the Apple’s iPad. But the iPad price ranges from $499 to $829. The company expects that consumers will choose Kindle over those devices which doesn’t have a connection but in an affordable price. This would be an ideal gift for your children who are heading to college, your spouse in a book club and perhaps even Grandpa.

Even though the Kindle is not available in the market yet, there are bloggers and tech sites that were able to navigate the new device. According to a review by David Carnoy of Cnet, “The new model is clearly smaller and sleeker and the screen definitely pops a little more, much like the new Kindle DX’s screen does. The letters appear a little darker and Amazon has tweaked the font options, so they also appear slightly sharper.

The two new Kindle devices are available for pre-order now and will ship August 27.

If you already ordered an older model within the past 30 days, Amazon says you’ll be able to return that Kindle and get a new model when it ships. (For those who ordered a Kindle just outside that 30-day window, you can call Amazon customer support and see what they say).

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty in Stores Tomorrow

Admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:18:01 +0000

StarCraft is probably one of the most played PC game ever to be released that even it took 12 years before Blizzard released it’s sequel, the game is still being played anywhere.

Only a few hours away and we can get a hold on the most anticipated follow-up to the 1998’s epic real-time-strategy game. Finally, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty will be released on Tuesday, July 27, 2010.

Set in the 26th century in the distant part of the Milky Way galaxy, Starcraft II has three chapters; the first is Wings of Liberty which will be released in less than 24 hours. Later on, two expansion packs will add on to the game, fleshing out the fate of other races from within the game’s universe. “Heart of the Swarm” and “Legacy of the Void” doesn’t have a concrete release dates yet.

There will be three species: the Terrans, human exiles from Earth; the Zerg, a race of insectoid genetic assimilators; and the Protoss, a species with vast psionic power. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is said to continue the epic saga where it left off in StarCraft: Brood War.

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is being sold for $60. A Collector’s Edition is also available.

Fans in Asia and Europe can now enjoy the new Starcraft game as well as it goes live in these countries. Although they will only be available in digital download where gamers have to pay to monthly or daily fess to play.

Starcraft II is expected to sell about 6 – 7 million copies within it’s first fiscal year. It’s already top seller video games in Amazon pre-order.

Also, Blizzard released this expanded trailer for Starcraft II and it is pure awesomeness.

Click here for more Starcraft II Unlockable Contents.

Update: StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty in stores now. Hurry!

Consumer Reports Won’t Recommend Apple’s iPhone 4

Admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:42:06 +0000

Sorry iPhone lovers. Although iPhone 4 has the best resolution display ever, a multitasking feature, a 5mp camera, longer battery life and more, Consumer Reports announced that they cannot recommend the latest phone by Apple.

Engineers of Consumer Reports have just completed testing the iPhone 4 and they have verified one thing… The iPhone 4 ‘Death Grip’ is real!

Ever since the iPhone 4 went on sale in June, consumers started to complain about poor reception and if you hold the phone in a certain way, calls could drop. Apple tried to cover up this issue by saying that any phone which is gripped in a certain way will likely to lose its signal strength. They also issued a statement saying that the formula they use determine how many bars of signal strength to display is wrong, instead of acknowledging that there is a flaw to their hardware.

Consumer Reports further said that the iPhone 4 reception problem is caused by its antenna design. The test shows that even the smallest gesture can cause your signal to drop. Like when you are on a weak signal spot and your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone’s lower left side, a thing you can’t avoid especially if you’re left handed, you can lose all connection. Because of this issue, Consumer Reports stated that it cannot include iPhone 4 on its list of recommended smartphones.

The test was made in a controlled environment of CU’s radio frequency (RF) isolation chamber. Other phones including an iPhone 3GS and Palm pre were also tested but only iPhone 4 had an issue with loss of signal. Read more about the test here.

The ‘Death Grip’ will kill Apple, if they don’t do something about it that is. Consumer Reports has a rather funny solution on how to fix this problem though. “Cover the antenna gap with a piece of duct tape or another thick, non-conductive material.” It’s quite ironic to think that iPhone 4 is the most-hyped iPhone Apple has ever made. Who cares if the phone doesn’t work? As long as you look cool, right? (Insert sarcasm here).

Steve Jobs Emails to BoyGeniusReport Reader are Real?!

Admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:57:02 +0000

Since iPhone 4 was released, everyone seems to be complaining about the not getting calls even in a decent spot. It is such a bummer that almost all of you calls are dropped and suddenly, zero signal. Blame AT&T or Apple?

Apple issued a statement that you should not wrap your hands around the back of the phone. You have to hold the phone with your two fingers to avoid covering the antenna. That’s when the “iPhone Death Grip” started. It was ridiculous, really.

To make it even more interesting, there’s a rumor circulating online that about an emails between Steve Jobs and an iPhone 4 user. The user was a BoyGeniusReport reader and he shared his experience about the latest iPhone product. He is obviously a one unhappy customer of iPhone and BoyGeniusReport.com, a tech news site, is willing to share the conversation the happened between these guys.

Here’s how the conversation goes…

Unhappy iPhone Customer
Apple Engineer,
When we spoke, you would not tell me that there is a fix for this phone?
A friend just sent me this. [link]
I assume there is no fix then. If this is legit, I have lost all respect for apple and just want to go back to Verizon and get a nice Android phone. And don’t tell me they have the same issues, all our co-workers with Androids are just mocking us right now…. “Hey, I am going to go in the basement and continue my call. You can use my office on the 2nd floor so you can get a signal”. You are going to kill your brand over one product. Apple is coming off arrogant and rude. If there is no fix just tell people so they can return their phones. We have work to do. I have bought just about every apple product made in the last 20 years and this is the 1st time I am ashamed to be a MAC fan.
This is just sickening,

Steve Jobs:
No, you are getting all worked up over a few days of rumors. Calm down.

Unhappy iPhone Customer
I am really insulted… “Calm down”…. “rumors”… What arrogance. This is will be marked as the begging of the end of Apple. Seriously, DO THE RIGHT THING. I just had dinner with 3 people who had iPhone 4s we all cant make calls without dropping. There is no rumors it is reality.

Steve Jobs:
You are most likely in an area with very low signal strength.

Unhappy iPhone Customer
Stop with jackass comments. I have has every iphone made. They all had a bad signal but this is the so much worse X3. The whole country is is in a “low signal strength” in reality… all but apple campus and your house it seems? AT&T maps are a joke. I am in “excellent” to “good” coverage and on my iPhone 1, Iphone 3G, and my iPhone 3Gs, I could at least make a telephone call. After all, it is a phone. Iphone 4…. 5 bars….. touch the phone… ZERO bars call drops.
Steve. IT DOES NOT WORK! Geezzz I hope this this is not really you. Are we on a different MHz? I have yet to see an iPhone [4] work in Richmond when you hold it in your hand. It is not “isolated”. I was a big fan. But I am done.

Steve Jobs:
You may be working from bad data. Not your fault. Stay tuned. We are working on it.
Sent from my iPhone

Unhappy iPhone Customer
Retire, relax, enjoy your family. It is just a phone. Not worth it.

Apparently, the “Unhappy iPhone Customer” made a video about the iPhone 4’s now infamous “death grip”. Somehow, this video reached Apple and he was contacted by them. Of course, Apple denied that these exchanges of words ever happened and said it was false. BoyGeniusReport just continued to update their post showing the authenticity of the emails and screen shot of the conversations. This could all end up badly for Apple.

Can Droid X Compete with iPhone 4?

Admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:50:48 +0000

With the iPhone 4 hailed as the best smartphone in the market today, is there any smartphones that can compete with it?

Well, the new Droid X looks promising. Motorola has announced early Wednesday that the phone is coming to Verizon on July 15th for the cool sum of $200 after $100 rebate with a 2 year contract and if you have a contract ending in 2010 can upgrade.

Droid X boasts an 8-megapixel camera with 720p video recording, 1.0 Ghz processor, Wi-Fi capability, HDMI output, and a 4.3″ WVGA LCD display. 8 GB of flash memory is already included, with an additional 16GB on a MicroSD card. Unlike Apple, Motorola welcomes Adobe Flash with open arms as the first mobile device to be released that supports it.

For the Droid X’s specs:

• 4.3-inch, 854×480 display
• 8 megapixel camera
• 720p video recording
• 1GHz TI OMAP processor (successor to the chip in the original Droid)
• 8GB internal storage (plus microSD)
• HDMI out
• 720p video
• true multitouch keyboard, with pre-loaded Swype
• Wi-Fi hotspot powers for up to 5 devices.
• “High performance diversity antennas” for call quality
• Battery life comparable to the original Droid
• Three mics: for video and noise suppression
• It’s not getting Android 2.2 until late summer
• It’s $200 after $100 mail-in rebate when it comes out July 15—the bonus is that they’re pulling an AT&T, so anybody eligible for an upgrade anytime in 2010 can upgrade immediately.
• Standard unlimited $30 data plan; $20 extra for mobile hotspot powers which comes with 2GB. Another $20 nets you an extra 2GB of data a month.

Can Droid X by Motorola Compete with Apple’s iPhone 4? Will you be getting this instead of an iPhone 4?

Here’s an excerpt from their press release.

“Nine months ago, we made a commitment to our customers to bring the openness of Android to the Verizon Wireless network,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. ”Since then, we have introduced the top-selling Android phone in the marketplace today — the DROID by Motorola. DROID X takes that commitment to another level with exclusive content, faster processing speeds, and, of course, the reliability of our network.”

Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobile Devices and Home business added, “Motorola designed DROID X to push the extreme limits of Android innovation, and enable you to do even more with your mobile device. We are breaking down barriers so that you can experience the Web the way it was meant to be and create, share and view content like never before, either in your hand or in your home. Enterprise users will also find DROID X appealing with features including push e-mail and live widgets for e-mail and calendar updates.”

The New Xbox 360 Slim Ships Today for $299

Admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:19:12 +0000

Each year, gamers eagerly wait for the Electronic Entertainment Expo, commonly known as E3, where the latest gaming innovations are being unveiled and showcased.

One thing that got fans really excited was the new Xbox 360 Slim console. We already know that somewhere out there, Xbox 360 “Slim” exist because info about this was already leaked from Europe earlier this week. What we don’t know is that Microsoft is shipping the new device to retailers today.

Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment SVP Don Mattrick revealed the new console at the E3 today promising it has been “completely redesigned for the future of entertainment”.

The “Slim” features a 250 GB hard drive, a built-in Wi-Fi connection that supports the more recent (and faster) 802.11n protocol, five USB ports, and, like all other Xbox 360 models, support for Microsoft’s upcoming motion-sensing, controller-free device Kinect. The new box is in glossy black with touch-sensitive buttons and it is also “sleeker, smaller, [and] whisper-quiet.”

Mattrick also announced that those who attended Microsoft press conference this morning are going to receive a complimentary device and are getting theirs shipped today, lucky for them.

Xbox 360 Slim begins shipping to retailers in North America today, and should arrive at stores this week. The new Xbox 360 will cost $299. It will be available in UK on July 16, 2010, at £199.

Now, E3 2010 will remain at the LACC from June 14 to June 17. Stay tuned for more updates.

Telltale To Make Back to Future and Jurassic Park Games

Admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:33:13 +0000

It was already announced on Tuesday that Telltale Games will create a new series of video game based on Universal Studios’s Jurassic Park. Today, Telltale has added Back to the Future trilogy into their series of episodic games. These two trilogy franchises that are popular in the 80’s and 90’s are going into the digital world.

“I think it’s a prime time to reintroduce these properties in the digital world,” said Dan Connors, CEO at Telltale Games. “Telltale Games has always set out to be a great storytelling company. We’ve been honing our chops over the past six years, and we’re ready to take on these two iconic properties and continue to advance storytelling in games.”

Telltale has not yet specified the gameplay styles but Conners just added that the “Back to the Future” games may include a DeLorean time travel back to the 1970s while the “Jurassic Park” games would be intense and add new backstories to the series’ man-versus-dinosaur mythology.

“‘Jurassic Park‘ and ‘Back to the Future’ are two of our broadest and most beloved properties,” said Bill Kispert, interactive vice president at Universal Studios. “We were very interested in bringing them into the interactive space, but they’re not exactly the kind of properties that lend themselves to the stereotypical shoot-’em-up style of gameplay.”

“The games are going to exist within these worlds,” Telltale CEO Dan Connors explains. “I wouldn’t call these games sequels per se, but a new interpretation of their worlds for a new medium. For one generation, it’s an introduction to these series. For another generation, it’s a thing they can look back on and something they can share warmly with their family and friends.”

The Back to the Future game episodes is expected to be available for download this winter on the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, and Mac. And first Jurassic Park episode is coming before the end of the year.

What Apple iPhone 4 Has in Store for Us

Admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:09:20 +0000

Cool gadgets are rampaging all around the techie market but none of them can compete to the excitement that the new iPhone 4 gives. This is the most anticipated Steven Jobs iPhone to date and people are just clamoring to get their hands on one of this cool gadget. Unveiled at the WWDC 2010 Monday (June 7, 2010), we got a look (a real look and not just a glimpse) of what the real iPhone 4 is, and we weren’t disappointed.

Well, as far as looks are concerned the iPhone 4 sure is a winner. For its content however, its not yet tested so we have our doubts. There’s the front-facing camera with FaceTime video chat, the higher-resolution display, and the 5-megapixel camera with HD movie recording and an LED flash (finally), just to name a few features.

Just like the iPhone 3G S, iPhone 4 has a 3.5-inch display but its resolution is doubled to a 960-by-640-pixel IPS display. At 326 pixels per inch, this is the highest resolution available on a phone to date.

The iPhone 4 uses Apple’s A4 CPU, what Apple iPad is also using, and it is running on the newly renamed iOS 4 (an upgraded iPhone OS 4) operating system that makes it easier to multitask, edit videos and place FaceTime calls.

The iPhone 4 release date is finally confirmedand it will be on June 24, wherein it will finally be available for grabs in any AT&T stores and Apple Stores. The question on the Verizon iPhone was still unanswered. Seems like it won’t be shifting into another mobile network carrier for now, the iPhone 4 will remain under AT&T distribution.

With the iPhone 4 release date finally out, the new iPhone will be given a market price of $199 for $16GB while 32GB iPhone 4 will cost $299 with two year service contract with AT&T. The phone plan will also have a $15 will have the limit of 200MB per month. See more updates here from the WWDC 2010.

So its hot, it’s greatly in demand and it’s much anticipated. If you don’t want to be left behind, reserve one now and show off that iPhone 4 you are dying to have.

MSI Wind Pad 100 Unvieled at the Computex 2010

Admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:05:59 +0000

Do we see an Apple iPad competitor? MSI has unveiled an upcoming tablet computer at the Computex 2010 tradeshow, the MSI Wind Pad 100.

MSI CEO Joseph Hsu presented the MSI Wind Pad 100 and boasts that it will run on Windows 7 and a low-power 1.66GHz Intel Atom Z539 processor. It will have 2 GB of RAM and a 32 GB SSD (solid-state) hard drive. The new tablet weighs 800 grams and is set up with both 3G and WiFi. It has also two USB ports, an HDMI and a webcam. It’s basically like a netbook but without the keyboard.

The MSI Wind Pad 100 has a 10-inch, 1024 x 600, multi-touch capacitive screen and MSI is going to layer on a finger-friendly user interface for Windows. Although it only weighs 1.8 pounds, the tablet looks and feels kind of big for a tablet. About its battery life, MSI is promising this tablet will be capable of going at least 8 hours on a single charge

No exact date for the release of the MSI Wind Pad 100 yet but it will available on the market later this year for the price of about $499. They’ll still have plenty of time to finalize and iron out the tablet’s some features and interface issues.

Walmart’s iPhone 3G S 16GB Now at $97

Admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:07:45 +0000

The latest craze and the hottest deals for iPhone lovers. Retail store Walmart is selling the iPhone 3G S capacity of 16 gigabytes for only $ 97, while still using AT & T contract for two years. That’s $102 worth of savings!

“We are going to reduce the price on this most popular smartphone so our customers can realize these new savings as soon as possible,” said Mehrdad Akbar, senior category director for wireless for Walmart US.

This is a clear indication that Steve Jobs is going to introduce the new model of iPhone soon, the coveted iPhone 4G. They need to make sure that the shelves have enough space in the market when the new iPhone is launched.

Though we haven’t heard a work from Apple to confirm all of these speculations, Steve Jobs is expected to present the net generation of iPhone at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco that will be held from June 7 – 11.

Usually, Apple are good with keeping secrets and lets consumers assume what new product they’ll unveil. Until technology site, Gizmodo, got a hold of a prototype of the top-secret, next generation iPhone when an unfortunate software engineer lost in a California beer garden.

Now, the question is: Will you take advantage of Walmart’s $97 deal on 16GB iPhone 3G S or will you wait until Apple launches the next model of iPhone?