The Daily tech news: April 23rd 2010

uuk SlashGear The Daily Slash: April 23rd 2010 April 24, 2010 at 12:21 AM Welcome to Friday! The Daily tech news: April 23rd 2010 You made it! D0n't you f33l proud of yourself? We're proud of you for making it through your long, arduous, and probably ridiculously busy work week, and landing squarely right here, with us, for that edition 0f the Daily Slash. Tonight, in the Best of R3, we've g0t a pre-order option for an Android-based tablet, the life expectancy of the iPad Camera Kit accessory, and another kind of Samsung Galaxy S. In the Dredge 'Net, the police are looking into the iPhone HD/4G debacle, there's a kitchen out there that might destroy you, and even more bad news of Palm. The Best of R3 Media Archos 7 Home Tablet Up for Pre-Order: The Daily tech news: April 23rd 2010 As the tablet wars continue, we've got all sorts of combatants entering the ring at any one time. With this one, at least it looks pretty. The Archos 7 comes in two variations: a 2GB and 8GB model, and both of them are currently up for pre-order thanks to Amazon. The 2GB version will cost you a sweet $179, while the 8GB is only $199. So, obviously, there really shouldn't be a 2GB model. There's no official release date, but hey, pre-ordering is at least guaranteeing you'll get one when it does launch. [via Android Community] iPad Camera Kit Accessories Shipped, but Only Kind of: For 0ne lucky person out there, and a few more, we're sure, they managed to get their iPad's Camera Kit accessory. It comes with a USB-to-30-pin-connector, as well as another version that allows you use a MicroSD card as well. But, there's a big confusing part: Apple's still got the accessory listed as shipping in 2-3 weeks, even if you buy now. So, was stock really that small, that they already ran out again? Only Apple knows. Either way, that shouldn't stop you from ordering one – you never know what could happen. [via Everything iPad] Samsung Galaxy S Heading to South Korea, Maybe: The Samsung Galaxy S is one of those devices that's going to be big hit wherever it goes. And, while we know it's coming to the States in one fashion or another, there's also a few questions regarding where it's heading overseas. If this most recent Bluetooth spec sheet is any indication, it's heading to South Korea sooner than later. No official word from Samsung, of course, and the spec sheet only shows off a 4-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, Android, and TouchWiz 3.0, but our bet is on a future announcement that the Galaxy S is indeed a world phone. [via SlashPhone] The Dredge Net Computer Crime Task Force Spearheading iPhone HD/4G Investigating: Well, we can't say that we didn't see this coming. According to Cnet, Silicon Valley police are currently undergoing a probe regarding the recent iPhone HD/4G situation that involves Apple, two individuals, and a certain tech blog. The probe is apparently being tasked by a computer task force, which is led by the Santa Clara County district attorney's office. The probe is meant to determine whether or not there are sufficient grounds for Apple to press criminal charges. [via Cnet] The Living Kitchen Freaks Us Out: We love technology as much as you, and we are even looking forward to the future of technology probably a little bit more than what's healthy. But, when we see things like this, we can't help but feel a bit nervous. After all, there's seriously enough science-fiction out there to make us terrified of things like this, that there's no way we can't be terrified. The Living Kitchen is made of nanoscale self-organizing robots, which create a shape-shifting mass of matter that is specifically designed to turn into whatever you want. Yes, whatever you want. A faucet, showcase a previously hidden refrigerator, or turn into a stove. Ridiculous. And Ridiculously awesome. [via Yanko Design] Jon Rubinstein Heading Out of Palm: One of the more heart breaking rumors to hit the Interwebs today, consists of the current CEO of Palm, Jon Rubinstein, apparently leaving the company. TechCrunch brought it to the attention of the 'net first, and they do make some solid arguments for the proposition. After all, current executives at the company are being offered money to stay, and despite the fact that everyone has their fingers crossed for the company, it doesn't seem to be any good. Rubinstein is a great engineer, and he managed to manifest two amazing pieces of tech, together with a mobile Operating System that's just as good, but unfortunately the marketing, along with the opposition, were just too much to succeed. So, is Rubinstein out? We'll have to wait to find out, but we'd be willing to bet that he's sticking around until the bitter end. [via TechCrunch] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Xbox 360 USB storage update arrives today March 23rd reveal tipped for Verizon's Nexus One CDMA Nexus One stock already headed to Verizon? AT&T Employees Blocked From Vacationing in June HTC EVO 4G Makes an Appearance in Sprint Inventory System SlashGear Samson Go Mic Giveaway April 23, 2010 at 4:38 PM Samson is a company that's appeared here at SlashGear a couple of times, and each time it's with a better piece of tech. So, we thought we'd let you all share in the goodness, and give two lucky individuals out there the chance to win a Go Mic. Just follow the break, take a gander at the rules, and then go ahead and throw your hat into the giveaway. You never know, you may pull out a shiny new toy. What can the Go Mic do? Well, it's a USB microphone that clips directly to your laptop (or whatever else you need it to clip to). As Samson says, it's a perfect device to record music or podcasts, amongst other things. You can also use it for voice recognition software, iChat, or even web casting. It's a plug-and-play designed mic, so it will work with your Mac or PC without a problem. Basically, it's a great little microphone. So, here's the deal. Much like our previous giveaways, you're going to have to leave us a comment down below. However, this time around, you need to give us a creative, original reason why you want the Samson Go Mic. Whether it be for your new podcast you've been wanting to launch, but couldn't because you don't have a mic, or you're heading out to the Congo and you need a field recorder to catch your ideas, the sky is the limit. Yes, we'd like some realism, but hey, if you're creative enough, you might just get picked. Furthermore, be respectful of us, yourself, and the other participants. No cursing or other malicious content, please. You're only allowed one comment, so just make it the best comment you can. And finally, this content is going to last a week, so you've got some time to think of a comment if you need to. And next Friday we'll get in touch with the two winners. [Samson] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Samson unveils Q2U Recording Pack for home recording HP Magic Giveaway: And the winner is… SlashGear HP xw4600 Workstation Giveaway – and the winner is … Samson Go Mic is portable USB Microphone Samson adds XP40iw and XP510i to Expedition sound system line Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Xbox Live Integration Part of a Managed Portfolio April 23, 2010 at 3:59 PM Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 is doing a pretty good job of maintaining itself in the market, even if it is still months away before a launch. But, with videos like the one we saw earlier today, showcasing the Office Hub, how could it not be? This time around we don't have a video, but we do have some more information pertaining to the Xbox LIVE experience you should expect this holiday season on your handset. Andre Vrignaud is Microsoft's Director of Games Platform Strategy, and he has recently illuminated some details about how the game selection is going to take place in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. First and foremost, he wants to make sure that people understand that the system is going to work much in the same way that the system works for the Xbox LIVE Arcade titles selection process. The company has a managed portfolio, and they want to make sure that they do not saturate the market, and therefore negatively impact the products therein. Microsoft sees how the mobile gaming industry is evolving, and they've noticed that the one, most obvious problem is the "race to zero." This means that there are so many mixed-bag experiences in any one particular market, all of them at varying prices, that it becomes hard for any one title, no matter how great it is, to stand out amongst the over-sized crowd. We imagine ranking systems can do some good for sifting out the lower-quality titles, but when ranked titles go head-to-head, we concur that usually the free version will more than likely win out. Having too many, mixed quality titles available in any one marketplace just minimizes the overall quality of that marketplace, and Microsoft wants to do everything they can to make sure that doesn't happen. And the way they are going to make sure it doesn't, is to cultivate a steadily growing portfolio of titles that are released at regular intervals, much the same way they do with the games released through the Xbox LIVE Arcade. So, what does this mean for games developed for Windows Phone 7? There will be high quality titles, developed by first party publishers as well as third-party, that feature Xbox LIVE integration (which means Achivements, etcetera), that are released in a timely fashion, and that are priced aggressively for the ecosystem. On top of that, there will be other third-party publishers that release games for Windows Phone 7 that don't take part of the Xbox LIVE integration. So, in the face of Apple's upcoming Game Center (which is going to have months and months of up-time before Windows Phone 7 even hits the market), how do you think this strategy fares? [via WMPower User] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Windows Phone getting Xbox LIVE integration tips Microsoft job ad Microsoft Xbox Might Be Heading Beyond the Console Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Series Will Have 3D Gaming, Robust LIVE Integration Microsoft banning hacked consoles from Xbox live XBox 360 Dashboard Update Released Google Denies Navigation to iPhone Owners April 23, 2010 at 3:53 PM Earlier this morning we told you that the iPhone was getting Google Navigation, thanks to the fine folks over at Mountain View. Well, apparently that's not what Google meant at all. In a pretty stern approach, a Google spokesperson has come forward and blatantly said that the iPhone will not be getting the Navigation feature. According to PC World, Google has kept their promise to bring Google Navigation to other platforms, but that the iPhone Operating System is not included on that list. And while it's great that Google has given its free Maps Navigation to UK-based customers (whether you're on Android 1.6 or later), it doesn't look like iPhone users are going to be getting any of the free turn-by-turn goodness any time soon. If at all. The Google spokesperson went as far as to say that they had never said iPhone OS was included from the get-go, but that they did say it was coming to other platforms in the future. So, iPhone users out there don't get to jump on the pre-caching Navigation awesomeness. We're sure that upsets a few users out there, but does it rile up the whole bunch? There are some good features to Maps coming down the pipe for iPhone users, reportedly, so perhaps those features will satiate the appetite. Then again, getting turned down for a free app like Google Navigation is pretty disappointing. [via Android Community] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Pioneer unveils AVIC Feeds iPhone interface app for in-dash nav systems Google Maps Navigation headed to iPhone & other platforms UK Android users get Google Maps Navigation Nexus One update enables multitouch, Google Goggles, 3G fixes Google Maps Navigation hacked again: partial functionality restored Festo Bionic Handling Assistant Shows Humans and Machines Can Work Together [Video] April 23, 2010 at 3:21 PM Until they become sentient and ultimately lead to the destruction of human kind. Oh, wait, that's a movie. Anyway, we'd love to introduce you to the Bionic Handling Assitant, and the crazy mechanical arms that they are. And yes, those are pincers at the end of those long metallic trunks. The company behind the pair of arms believes these will improve some integral pieces of the machine/human equation, but we think they may terrify some folks. These bionic arms are designed from the inspiration of elephant trunks, and as you watch the video you'll understand where they may get that idea. The flexibility and movement of the arms definitely do elephant trunks justice. But it's those pincers that make us raise an eyebrow. Designed by Festo in Esslingen, Germany, the BHA was developed to study and improve the interaction between humans and machines. We weren't aware that needed to be studied or improved, but apparently it does. According to a quote from the company's product page, the BHA is a stark improvement over the traditional heavy industrial robots, and proves that direct contact with the machines is now no longer hazardous. The FinGripper (those pincers) is adaptive as well, changing its grip accordingly to the objects it is holding in its grip. There's no word on when the BHA could ever be tested in an actual scenario, let alone implemented in an actual human environment (we could see the medical field capitalizing on creations such as this), but we know it's coming. It's just the future, ladies and gentlemen, there's no need to panic. [via MedGadget] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Virtual Assistant from NEC Bionic Eye AR app for iPhone 3GS [Video] Rocket Powered Prosthetic Arm Does Not Mean You Can Fly Reach for the Robo-Raid! : Bionic Hornet brings nanotech to war Update on Bionic Commando: Rearmed Only 64 JooJoo tablets sold? April 23, 2010 at 11:54 AM Fusion Garage's JooJoo tablet wasn't exactly the storming success the company might have hoped for, and finally shipping only days in advance of the iPad going on sale certainly didn't help matters. So just how many JooJoo tablets were sold? Going by a shoddily constructed email that looks to have gone out to all of the company's customers, the total could be just 64. UneasySilence got their hands on a Fusion Garage email asking customers for feedback on the tablet, but the support staff responsible for writing it used the "To:" field rather than the "BCC:" one. That mean that all the owners could see each other's addresses (blanked out for privacy's sake in the image above) and, more importantly, they could be counted. The grand total is 64, which – if that's the sum total of JooJoo sales – would make for a particularly depressing launch. Of course, this could only be a partial list, but UneasySilence say they've had separate confirmation from another tipster that the figure is accurate. [via Twitter] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Fusion Garage's JooJoo Still Out of Customer's Hands JooJoo on track to meet March 25th ship date? Joojoo shipping date to be delayed until March 25th Fusion Garage announce JooJoo (aka CrunchPad): $499 on sale Friday Blump'it browser plugin turns any tablet into a JooJoo [Video] ASUS Eee PC T91 gets internal 3G hack [Video] April 23, 2010 at 11:46 AM ASUS always promised us a third version of their Eee PC T91 convertible touchscreen netbook – a 3G/GPS model to go alongside the regular and multitouch versions – but so far its proved scarce from store shelves. Arch netbook modder jkkmobile couldn't stand the wait, and so he decided to hack his T91 to add an internal 3G modem. Video demo after the cut Now, as we've seen before, internal 3G hacks can be as straightforward as squeezing in a stripped-down USB dongle, or as complex as soldering things to the mainboard. Unfortunately this particular T91 modification falls resolutely into the latter category, demanding you scratch away some contacts and solder in a SIM card reader, a PCI Express socket and a power cable. If you're brave enough to attempt it, then you'll hopefully end up with an internal card slot that can use any 3G/4G PCI Express modem to get you online while on the move. Of course, most people would probably find it easier to pick up a MiFi, but that's nowhere near as geekily-impressive. Relevant Entries on SlashGear iPod Touch to iPod Video hack makes your old iPod look new again Eee PC USB Flash and Bluetooth Hack Hack your Wii with only an SD card and a copy of Twilight Princess Video of the Day – iPhone Accelerometer fun, yes it's real! Microsoft knows about the Vista BIOS hack iPad Camera Kit finally in buyers' hands April 23, 2010 at 11:35 AM The first iPad Camera Connection Kit we've seen in the wild has apparently turned up for a quick unboxing demo, courtesy of iPad owner Jerrod H. His photos show the two dongles themselves – one USB, the other with an SD card slot – together with an image of the import process and another of the iPad offering to wipe the transferred images from the memory card. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound as though Apple have left the USB dongle open to anything but digital cameras. We'd hoped to be able to plug in other USB devices, such as USB drives, keyboards or maybe even a hub, but it looks like only photo imports will be supported. When plugged in, a transfer dialog is shown allowing you to choose which images to copy into the Photos app on the iPad; these are later sync'd to your computer via iTunes when you plug in the iPad. Strangely, the Apple Store online still lists the iPad Camera Kit as shipping within 2-3 weeks. However, one of the two user reviews on the product page suggests that their local Apple Store had stock, so it might be worth ringing around if you can't wait for delivery. [via Everything iPad and via Wired] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Apple iPad official accessories priced Apple iPad accessories: Keyboard Dock, case & more 74% iPad buyers were Mac owners, 66% had iPhones claims analyst Apple rumored to be working on another larger tablet, possibly based on Mac OS X Next generation iPhone and iPad likely to score OmniVision camera sensors Cisco 7-inch Android communications tablet in works? April 23, 2010 at 11:23 AM Chalk this one up as an unconfirmed rumor, but Cisco are the latest firm to be proffered as planning a tablet of their own. The speculation began during a CNET podcast, when a tipster contacted them suggesting the networking specialist was developing a 7-inch Android based touchscreen device with a focus on audio/video/WebEx collaboration. Among the tipped specs are a front-facing video camera, dual microphones with noise cancellation, and VPN support for remotely accessing enterprise machines. Integrated 3G/4G is unconfirmed. If true, it would be one of the few business-centric ultraportable tablets we've seen so far; however there's no suggestion of price, availability or – most importantly – official comment from Cisco themselves. [via Electronista] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Apple and Cisco Settle iPhone Trademark Lawsuit Two Archos Android home-use tablets at CeBIT 2010 ICD Ultra Android tablet gets fondled Cisco ushers in "next-generation internet", routing platform scales up to 332 Tbps/s [Video] Archos 5 160GB and 32GB Android Tablets now shipping in US Samsung BD-UP5000 Avatar playback problem: new firmware apparently incoming April 23, 2010 at 10:38 AM The Samsung BD-UP5000 may have offered the best of both worlds for fence-sitting indecisives unable to choose a side in the Blu ray/HD-DVD war, but it seems they're paying for that compromise now. Multiple complaints are being heard about the BD-UP5000's inability to play the new Avatar Blu-ray, a problem which Samsung confirm is down to the firmware. Initially, online support chats with Samsung's technical team only confirmed that the company was aware of the problem; they wouldn't, however, attach any sort of timescale to the release of new firmware that might address it. Since then, however, it looks like someone at Samsung has woken up to the number of complaints about the Blu ray playback, as one technical support person has apparently said that "I see that the issue is already escalated and a new firmware will be released with in a couple of days." That revelation came earlier on today, which suggests that the BD-UP5000 will get its new software sometime early next week. However, with the last update all the way back in 2008, there's understandably some skepticism that Samsung will address things so quickly this time around. [via CrunchGear] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Samsung BD-UP5000 BD HD-DVD Hybrid coming soon Samsung BD-UP5000 – Tackles both Blu-ray and HD DVD IFA 2007 – Samsung's dual-format BD-UP5000 Blu-ray and HD DVD player on display Samsung Updates BD-P1200 Blu-ray Player Firmware to Ver 2.1 Samsung BD-UP5000 Duo HD dual-mode DVD player to get US launch in December Sony PS3 3D games: graphics compromise for stereoscopic fun April 23, 2010 at 10:22 AM Sony are slowly ramping up for 3D gaming on the PS3, but until now we haven't know exactly how titles will be prepared for the stereoscopic experience. Digital Foundry have been talking to the Sony team responsible for the system, and unsurprisingly it's all pretty complex. Existing 2D titles – such as Wipeout – are either being retrofitted for 3D by basically halving the current visual content (in Wipeout's case, going roughly from 2D 1080p 60fps to 3D 720p 30fps) or by artificially adding in depth data using the same system as Sony Pictures do for some of their 3D feature films. Neither is perfect. Wipeout 3D loses some gameplay speed because of the extra processing the console has to perform, not to mention the drop in frames, while adding in artificial depth information does allow the title to keep its original resolution but can lead to stretched textures in areas where there are large degrees of parallax, e.g. at the backdrop. The end result is generally a more immersive environment, but it's an expensive and time-consuming process for studios to undertake. Digital Foundry reckon most developers will go for the artificial depth data route, but of course how many do that will be dependent on the uptake of 3D-capable HDTVs later on this year. [via Gizmodo] Relevant Entries on SlashGear PS3 Backwards Compatibility Not Quite There Yet MAINGEAR hops on 3D bandwagon, Prelude 2 features GeForce 3D Vision PS3 3D gaming due Summer 2010 More Bad PS3 News: GPU Clock Speeds Cut PS3 to get 3D enabled with Blitz Tech, work in progress 2012 Izh Hybrid Motorcycle concept packs 3D multifunction display [Video] April 23, 2010 at 9:51 AM There are plenty of good looking hybrid concepts out there, but Igor Chak's 2012 Izh Hybrid Motorcycle also tries to slip in some smartphone integration too. Chak envisages the bike – which would pair a traditional 140HP V-Twin gas engine with a 60kw electric motor in the rear hub – hitting 80mpg, but also having radar distance control, proximity sensors for blind-spots, and a massive 3D touchscreen LCD. It's there that we start to get a little worried. Concept video after the cut That LCD is packed full of tech, including WiFi, 4G connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS (ambitious stuff, but which should all be pretty widely available by 2012) and can be hooked up with your Android, iPhone, Symbian or other smartphone for remote use. Chak reckons it'll also show augmented reality views of what's ahead of you, overlaying graphics onto a live feed from a front-facing video camera. Thing is, we'd rather people on high-powered motorbikes were looking directly at the road and not down at an eye-catching 3D display (underneath what looks to be an equally eye-catching instrument cluster). Still, it's an attractive design and we can't argue with Chak's render video below. [via Born Rich] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Victory Motorcycles shows off stripped down Core concept Toyota FT-HS Hybrid on Steroids Live Luggage unveils powered 2012 sports bag Toyota shows off new, sleeker mini-Prius , FT-CH concept hybrid PMA 2009 : Samsung NX hybrid DSLR up-close Windows Phone 7 Office functionality gets new video demo April 23, 2010 at 9:27 AM Windows Mobile always felt like a business smartphone platform with – later on, at least – consumer-focused extras bolted on. When Microsoft announced Windows Phone 7 earlier this year, however, the new smartphone OS felt like a consumer platform with a few vague nods to business use. Now, thanks to the latest WP7 emulator build, we've got a better idea of how Office Hub functionality will work on the upcoming handsets. Video demo after the cut There's obviously the ability to open and make basic edits to documents, but more interesting is how the smartphone OS links into enterprise stores like SharePoint to access communal documentation. Of course, we'd still reach for our notebook if we wanted to do any heavy lifting, but all of a sudden the QWERTY 'board on the leaked Dell Lightning is looking a whole lot more tempting. [via WMPowerUser] Relevant Entries on SlashGear Windows Phone 7 Metro UI skin for WinMo 6.5 gets early alpha video demo WAD2 Windows Phone 7 theme boosts performance [Video] Windows Phone 7 to "democritise" the smartphone; TV integration coming? Unlocked Windows Phone 7 emulator gets video demos Windows Mobile 6.5 final build gets video demo on Diamond2 B&N nook v1.3 released: browser, games & Read In Store April 23, 2010 at 9:16 AM Barnes & Noble have announced a new firmware version for their dual-screen nook ebook reader. nook firmware v1.3 adds a new (beta) web browser, which uses the E Ink display for content and the touchscreen color LCD for navigation, together with faster page-turns, speedier ebook opening and some new games. Meanwhile the Read In Store feature – which allows nook owners to preview entire ebooks while connected to B&N store WiFi – has now been activated. Readers will be able to spend up to an hour reading an ebook, or – in a future addition – up to 20 minutes reading a newspaper or magazine on their nook. As for the firmware, B&N reckon navigation overall is improved, with an updated homescreen with quicker access to settings (including audio and WiFi) along with the new games – chess and sudoku – and the browser. nook units connected via WiFi will get the new firmware update automatically sometime over the coming week, but you can kick start the process by visiting nook.com/update and manually downloading it. We've got a nook unit incoming so we can judge the changes, but until then check out our original B&N nook review. Press Release: Barnes & Noble Launches More NOOK™ eBook Reader Firsts: Read In Store™ Experience and Apps with Games, Along With Web Browser and Enhanced Wi-Fi® Connectivity NOOK Customers Can Browse Complete eBooks for Free in Barnes & Noble Stores Enjoy Chess and Sudoku, Faster Page Turns, Enhanced Home Screen and More on Updated NOOK Software Now Available New York, New York – April 23, 2010 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller, announced more new firsts and features for its popular NOOK eBook Reader, including the breakthrough Read In Store experience (in beta) to browse complete eBooks in Barnes & Noble stores at no cost, as well as challenging games – the first Android applications available on the device – enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity and a basic Web browser (in beta). The new features, along with additional reading and device performance optimization, such as faster page turns and an enhanced home screen, are part of NOOK v1.3 software, which is now available. In Barnes & Noble stores, NOOK automatically connects to the fast and free Wi-Fi where NOOK customers can tap on the Shop button to now enjoy the beta Read In Store feature. Customers can read many complete eBooks available in Barnes & Noble's expansive eBookstore of more than one million digital titles, even if the physical book is not in stock. From current bestsellers to classics, customers can enjoy a wide variety of eBooks from hundreds of publishers, including all the major publishing houses. Soon, in-store visitors will also be able to virtually flip through leading daily newspapers and magazines covering news, finance and technology available in the eBookstore. NOOK customers can explore the content of as many digital titles as they wish, on any given day, including any available eBook for up to an hour per day; and to come, current-edition newspapers and magazines in the BN eBookstore will be available for up to 20 minutes per day. NOOK's Read In Store experience is another first for the retail and eBook arena, like the More In Store™ experience which offers NOOK owners access to free, exclusive content from leading authors and special discounts and promotions when in Barnes & Noble stores. "Our digital customers will feel at home in our stores with Read In Store, which puts a digital spin on the popular Barnes & Noble bookstore experience that millions of our customers enjoy each day. At no cost, NOOK customers can browse through our robust collection of digital content while enjoying their favorite beverage in our café," said Tony Astarita, Vice President, Digital Products, Barnes & Noble.com. "We know our customers enjoy discovering great reads in our bookstores. So, we worked closely with our valued publishing partners to offer this innovative digital experience for NOOK owners when they visit any of our 723 Barnes & Noble stores." Mr. Astarita added, "We also included new games and many other entertaining features to continue to deliver on our promise to make NOOK the most fun, easy-to-use eBook Reader for people who love to read." Other updates NOOK customers will enjoy with v1.3 software include: · Reading experience: To help customers get to their content conveniently and quickly, Barnes & Noble has continued to optimize NOOK's performance with improved page turn speed, faster access to previously opened eBooks, enhanced color touch screen navigation and more. · Games: From eBooks to rooks, play Chess against NOOK with one of three levels of difficulty, or get puzzled with Sudoku, choosing from four levels of play. Control the game using the color touch screen as the game board appears on the E Ink® display. · Wi-Fi connectivity: In addition to Barnes & Noble bookstores and other Wi-Fi hotspots, enjoy high-speed connectivity in even more places, such as those that require access to additional information through a Web browser including hotels and coffee shops. · Basic Web browser (Beta): While connected via Wi-Fi, explore the Web and check Internet-based e-mail accounts on the E Ink display, while using the color touch screen for navigation and to access the virtual keyboard. · Updated home screen: From the home menu (located on the lower color touch screen), get easy, direct access to existing features including Audio and Wi-Fi settings, as well as new features such as Games and beta Web browser. NOOK v1.3 is now available via manual download at www.nook.com/update with additional information and easy-to-follow directions. NOOKs connected to Wi-Fi will receive an automatic NOOK v1.3 update over the next week. About NOOK™, by Barnes & Noble NOOK marries innovative technology and sleek minimalist design with access to the Barnes & Noble's digital store of over one million eBooks, newspapers and magazines. NOOK's color touch screen for navigation along with a best-in-class E Ink display offer an immersive, enjoyable e-reading experience. It offers both 3G wireless and Wi-Fi access, is the first to offer digital lending for a wide selection of eBooks through its LendMe™ technology. In Barnes & Noble stores, NOOK customers can access free Wi-Fi connectivity, enjoy the beta Read In Store feature to browse many complete eBooks for free, and the More In Store program, which offers free, exclusive content and special promotions. NOOK is available for $259 in Barnes & Noble stores, www.nook.com and at Best Buy stores and www.bestbuy.com. To learn more and experience NOOK, visit www.nook.com. Follow our eBooks and other updates on www.twitter.com/NOOKBN and www.facebook.com/NOOKBN for information on NOOK updates, new eBook releases, Free Friday eBooks and more. To learn more about the free Barnes & Noble eReader software and Barnes & Noble eBookstore apps, visit www.bn.com/ebooks. About Barnes & Noble, Inc. Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller and a Fortune 500 company, operates 723 bookstores in 50 states. Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, also operates 639 college bookstores serving nearly 4 million students and over 250,000 faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States. Barnes & Noble is the nation's top bookseller brand for the seventh year in a row, as determined by a combination of the brand's performance on familiarity, quality, and purchase intent; the top bookseller in quality for the second year in a row and the number two retailer in trust, according to the EquiTrend® Brand Study by Harris Interactive®. Barnes & Noble conducts its online business through Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com), one of the Web's largest e-commerce sites, which also features more than one million titles in its eBookstore (www.bn.com/ebooks). Barnes & Nob! le customers can buy and read eBooks on the widest range of platforms, including NOOKTM by Barnes & Noble, eBook readers from partner companies, and hundreds of the most popular mobile and computing devices using free BN eReader software. General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company's corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com. Relevant Entries on SlashGear B&N nook in-store availability this week; "More In Store" content launching Barnes & Noble nook locator reveals which stores have demos Barnes & Noble nook gets working browser Barnes & Noble nook v1.2 firmware out: "noticeably faster" Apple Approves Opera Mini for iPhone Apple iPad: a skeptic's review April 23, 2010 at 9:06 AM I didn't intend to get an iPad. For a start, I'm in the UK, and – even before the recent news that Apple would be delaying the tablet's international release – there's no sign of them at my local Apple Store. Beyond that, though, while I could appreciate the design and the glowing feedback Vincent proffered from the iPad's launch, it just didn't seem like the device for me. And yet, when on Saturday April 3rd my US colleagues asked "would you like us to send you one?" I said yes. Since it arrived, around two weeks ago, I've gone through marvelling at the industrial design, puzzling over how to fit it into my daily routine, and finally – perhaps grudgingly – recognising its strengths (and, of course, its weakness! es). A little context first: I'm a MacBook Pro user, though only as of midway through last year, having been a Windows guy before that. I used an iPhone 3G as my daily phone for about three months when it first came out, but much prefer Android and the Nexus One in my pocket currently. To be honest, despite the iPad hype I'm a little more curious about Tegra 2 based tablets, like Notion Ink's Adam. I'm also a bit of a tablet geek, and one of the things the iPad was inevitably going to get compared to in my brain was HP Compaq's tc1100, the still-iconic tablet PC that I'm not alone in hoping the company refresh and relaunch someday. Okay, it ran Windows XP Tablet Edition (with its underrated handwriting recognition) and required a special stylus (and was pretty darn accurate as a result) but it was highly portable, surprisingly capable and had a brilliant twisting/folding QWERTY keyboard attachment that knocks Apple's iPad Keyboard Dock into a cocked hat. In contrast, my opinion of the iPad has been up and down. It's undeniably attractive hardware – the smooth, brushed aluminum back and single glass fascia, together with the finely bezelled edges – and it feels futuristic in your hands in a way that a regular tablet PC seldom does. That's perhaps because those regular tablets make accommodations for general use: they have USB ports, card readers and physical controls, whereas the iPad makes do with minimal connectivity and the fewest possible buttons and switches. If you're sneering at me for getting so excited about hand-feel, remember that for Apple it's half a technology purchase that they're pushing and half a lifestyle one, and I'm not alone in wanting my new – undeniably inessential – toy to feel good. The downside to those premium materials is that there's a fair amount of heft to cope with. The first night I took the iPad to bed – for some Amazon Kindle app reading, after all it was only our first date – I soon gave up trying to hold up the tablet and reached for my Kindle instead; in contrast the dedicated ereader felt far more manageable, though also much less solid. I was also a little afraid of dosing off and having the iPad drop on my face and break my nose. Rather than gripping the edge one-handed it can be easier sitting the iPad flat on your palm and typing with the other hand, though obviously that wouldn't necessarily work when trying to read in bed, and it feels a little precarious too. A few people I've shown the tablet to have commented that it's too slippery for their liking; everyone has been surprised by the weight. More worryingly, I wasn't entirely happy with the way the iPad works. iPhone OS undoubtedly has its benefits – it's highly consistent, relatively intuitive when it comes to navigation and control, and there are a wealth of third-party apps of course – but there are flaws too. Chief among these is the absence of multitasking – and it should be said that I'm talking from my own perspective here; your experience might vary. I don't think I'm asking too much for wanting to browse the web while having Twitter and Spotify running in the background, something I can happily do on Android. Some of this will be addressed by iPhone OS 4.0, which will bring with it multitouch support, but it's still not perfect. While streaming music services like Spotify will still be able to do their thing, services like Twitter will still have to use iPhone OS' attention-stealing pop up dialog boxes. If someone sends me an @-reply, and I've set it to flag those up, I'll have a push-notification box interrupting my browsing and demanding I deal with it right there and then. It's an ugly, half-hearted solution, and in comparison to OS X it feels incredible un-Apple. Ironically there's plenty of space on the iPad's top status bar to fit in "new message" icons, or Apple could borrow from Palm's webOS and have a subtle slide-up message at the bottom of the screen. There are some interesting solutions being pushed out by developers in the meantime, including various split screen browsers that let you log into Twitter's mobile page (or Facebook, or something else) while browsing on the other half of the screen, but they're still not ideal. Interestingly, I hadn't quite realised how frustrating the standard Safari browser experience was until I tried Atomic Web [iTunes link], which throws in page tabs among other things and feels far more desktop-like. Meanwhile apps like Boxcar act as an intermediary to Twitter, Facebook and other social networking, RSS, and email accounts, popping up push notifications when you've been replied to or sent a direct message. I'm not impressed at having to wait until fall 2010 for iPhone OS 4.0 to arrive on the iPad, potentially months after it makes its debut on the iPhone. If anything, it should be the other way round: doesn't multitasking make more sense on a larger device, one about which you're telling people they can leave their netbooks and notebooks at home and still do real work while mobile? There's also a frustrating limitation on App Store access outside the US, at least for those not using US iTunes accounts. While you can browse and buy iPad apps through iTunes on the desktop (and then sync them across) you can't sign into the App Store on the iPad itself with a non-US account. Hopefully that will change when the iPad officially launches in Europe, but of course that's now been delayed until sometime in May. Understandably, there's been some interest among colleagues, friends and family about the iPad, especially with them being so scarce outside of the US, and that's highlighted an interesting issue. Whereas the iPhone is considered a personal device, something you yourself use and are perhaps unlikely to hand around, the iPad feels more communal. Many have described it as a "coffee table tablet", for instance, or described their children discovering how entertaining games can be and "borrowing" it for hours on end. Problem is, with no user account functionality and no way to individually lock-down access to specific applications, I've found myself hovering around people to make sure they don't start digging through my email, say, or sending out tweets under my name from Twitterrific. If your iPad is a device the whole family can use, are you happy leaving your email signed in? As on the iPhone you can selectively limit ac! cess to Safari, iTunes, YouTube, installing apps and location through the general settings, but it would be good to see Apple add the same functionality for any software installed. It probably sounds like I've been terribly disappointed with my iPad experience, but in fact I'm gradually finding more and more ways to integrate it into my life. The mistake, perhaps, was in immediately trying to find how I could directly replace my usual workday tools with the new tablet. The sort of multitasking I do as a matter of course while blogging – flipping from browser to twitter to RSS to IM and more – isn't the best style of interacting with the iPad, and while you can certainly use it to prepare articles I'm still quicker on the MBP. However, the iPad comes into its own as a way of consuming content, whether that be reading or general browsing. The Atomic Web Browser makes the latter far more pleasurable, and I've been finding I much prefer to save longer articles to a "to read" notebook in Evernote on my laptop and then read them at leisure on the iPad later on. The 3.7-inch screen on my Nexus One ! feels awfully pokey now, and triaging email – with the exception of flagging messages, another bizarre omission on Apple's part – is something I'm finding faster and easier on the iPad. It's a device that's encouraging me to have more downtime, reading longer articles rather than hopping frenetically from topic to topic. Maybe the biggest eye-opener is battery life, though. While Apple quote 10hrs of average use, in reality you can comfortably exceed that. The takeaway message is that you can use the iPad and basically ignore the battery gauge most of the time. I used the Kleer wireless setup I described earlier in the week to stream music while browsing the web for a few hours, and the battery percentage hardly dropped. Try that on the MBP and I'd be scurrying for the power cord in relatively short order, or at least perpetually, painfully aware of what the gauge was doing. In a sense, it's similar to the sudden realisation of freedom that you felt when moving from dial-up to DSL/cable internet, the knowledge that you could dip in and check something whenever you felt like it, rather than having to go through the hassle of dialling in for a connection. Alternatively, it's like switching from metered to unlimited data on a cellphone: no more obsessively counting megabytes, just pick it up and do what you wanted to do. Power hungry that they are, that's not even a feeling you get with today's smartphones. Go in for some heavy browsing on the Nexus One, for instance, and soon it'll want to sit in its dock for a mid-day top up. The iPad is undoubtedly a luxury; it's hard, in my experience, to argue that it adequately replaces a laptop unless you really are doing the most basic of content production. Typing out an article or editorial, yes, but formatting it in Wordpress, uploading images and video, actually getting it to a stage where it's ready for public consumption? With the tools available today, that's beyond it. Most people will end up making compromises, though that's not to say they won't also get benefits along with it: battery life, intuitive browsing, fulsome media playback, just to name a few. If I hadn't been offered an import, I'd probably have waited first until official units arrived in UK stores and then second until iPhone OS 4.0 arrives; even then, I might not have chosen the iPad over some of the Android-based tablets we're waiting to see launch. Still, it has already carved itself a niche in my day: I spend less time poking at my phone and less time out of work hours sat at my laptop. For someone whose online experience is less bi-directional – as I've already said this is a personal view; thanks to my job I spend more time than most putting things online rather than consuming them – I can definitely see how the iPad experience would be even more alluring. I wouldn't go so far as to say "miraculous", and my credit card is still waiting on the day some accessories manufacturer "borrows" the tc1100 keyboard design, but I'm not quite the iPad skeptic I started out as. Looking for more on the Apple iPad? Check out our sister site, EverythingiPad.com Relevant Entries on SlashGear iPad UK launch April 24th says Apple Store employee iPad WiFi temperamental? Disconnects, short range & sluggishness all reported Apple iPad jailbreak already achieved [Video] Mini iPad coming Q1 2011 for sub-$400 insists analyst ColorWare offer madly priced iPad customization Make an iPad stand from the packing materials in its box April 23, 2010 at 8:14 AM If you are one of the many iPad buyers who are looking for new gadgets and accessories for you device, you don't always have to buy them. Some of the accessories that you want can be made yourself for free. Make has a cool idea for an iPad stand and the instructions that you need to make it. All you need is the packing material that came in the iPad box. You take the package insert that held the iPad in the box, the one with the big slit. You cut it in half, and then cut another slit across it to hold the iPad. The thing even lets you access the home button and will work in portrait or landscape modes. Cheap, easy, and green is hard to beat. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Reusable TV Packaging – Buy a TV, get a free stand DIY iPad stand, so simple a 10-year-old could… oh wait Universal Packaging System concept makes shipping stuff easier iPad more likely to be purchased by current Apple owners PC tablet concept has matching smartphone used as QWERTY keyboard Samsung LN46C750 46-inch 3D LCD TV ships April 23, 2010 at 7:56 AM If you have been waiting for a moderately priced 3D TV with a decent screen size to start shipping from a known maker of TVs, there is some good news today. Samsung is now shipping one of its new 46-inch 3D TVs. The set is the LN46C750 and it can be ordered on Amazon today for $1452.55 with free super saver shipping. The set is in stock and Amazon shows six of them are available. The resolution for the TV is 1080p and it has dual 10W speakers, wide color enhancer feature, and supports Skype on Samsung TV. This is certainly a cheap way to get into a 3D TV if you are in the market. Relevant Entries on SlashGear SyncMaster 940UX – Samsung ships first monitor with USB connector Samsung's 76, 87, and 89 DLP Line-Ups Get 2007 Update Samsung reveal latest LCD & Plasma price-list Samsung Ships the HL-S5679W LED DLP Samsung SENS G25 – 19-inch notebook Microsoft considering Xbox TV channel? April 23, 2010 at 7:44 AM With the major gaming consoles on very even footing when it comes to gaming and the available game titles today, the major consoles are looking to differentiate themselves from each other in different ways. Microsoft tired with Netflix to offer something the other consoles didn't have, but Sony and Nintendo quickly matched that offering. Microsoft is now said to be in talks with Peter Chernin, former President of News Corp., to create a new TV channel for the Xbox game console. The channel would be available exclusively to subscribers of Xbox Live. The addition of the TV channel would reportedly raise fees for Xbox Live by $1 or $2 each month. People close to the deal tell Bloomberg that the channel would have a mix of old shows and original programming. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Confirmed – No Blu-ray add-on for Xbox 360 Xbox 360 gets a price cut in Europe Microsoft: No Xbox 360 Price Cut This Year Microsoft banning hacked consoles from Xbox liv! e Microsoft neither confirms nor denies additional heatsinks in some Xbox 360s Asus Eee 1215N and 1201PN info surfaces in Italy [Updated with NVIDIA comment] April 23, 2010 at 7:35 AM I mentioned earlier this morning that rumors were surfacing that the Eee 1201PN netbook would offer next generation Ion without using Optimus tech. More information on the 1201PN and another netbook called the 1215N has surfaced in Italy. Update: According to NVIDIA, "ASUS decided to use the same motherboard without Optimus to go to market and launch Optimus later with the same design and a dual core CPU" – thanks Laura! According to Notebookitalia, the 1201PN netbook will use next generation Ion and will not have Optimus tech. The publication claims the machine is set to launch on May 10. A more interesting netbook is also being talked about called the Eee 1215N. The machine uses a new dual core Atom processor and uses Optimus tech along with next generation Ion. The machine is said to land in June. There is no word on pricing for either of these machines. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Asus ION 1201PN netbook may not have NVIDIA Optimus tech ASUS Eee PC 1201PN Ion 2 Pine View netbook official Asus R50A UMPC – Sports a GPS NVIDIA I! on 2 benchmarked: moderate improvement Michelle Kaufman Designs Contemporary Surfaces – Another Way to Go Green Universal Packaging System concept makes shipping stuff easier April 23, 2010 at 7:18 AM I think most of us have at one time or another sold off a bunch of the junk around our house we didn't need or want and then had to ship the stuff to buyers around the world. The hard thing for me is always finding a box that will fit whatever it is I am shipping. A new packaging concept called Universal Packaging System or UPS has surfaced and this could be the answer to my packing woes. The system is a square piece of cardboard with lines scored all over it. The lines are fold marks and make the cardboard easily fold into just about any shape. Once you get whatever you are trying to ship wrapped in the cardboard sheet, you simply tape it up and ship it off. This concept would also make storing your packing materials very easy since the sheets are thin. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Pantech concept wins design award Mercedes myCOMAND in-car PC concept demo Save Sliced Fingers – Pyranna packaging cutter Climbing U! P suitcase concept helps people tackle stairs with ease Altec Lansing Introduces a Cinematic Experience for the iPod PS3 gets MLB.TV streaming for live games April 23, 2010 at 7:10 AM Sony has announced a new service for the PS3 that baseball fans will really enjoy. SCEA and Major League Baseball have announced that MLB.TV will be coming to the PS3 via the PlayStation Network. The new service will allow MLB fans to stream live games in HD resolution. The service requires a subscription and will allow fans to watch every regular season game online. The service offers a calendar schedule for the entire season. Sony reports that the MLB.TV service will get a superior visual and interactive feature set with features exclusive to the PS3. The features include home and away game feeds, DVR functionality, scrollable linescore, MLB scorecards, and favorite team selection. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Microsoft makes Games for Windows Live a free service Xbox Live is having a sale on games Delisted XBLA games will still be hiding somewhere PSP homebrew adds ! Live TV streaming Netflix streaming officially hits PS3 today Origin computers offers Asus Rampage III Extreme mainboard April 23, 2010 at 6:57 AM Origin is one of the newest boutique makers of gaming PCs on the market. The company has announced that it will be the first maker to offer the new Asus Rampage III Extreme motherboard in gaming rigs. The Origin Genesis desktop will be the first machine to sport the new board. The Asus mainboard offers a host of overclocking features, USB 3.0 ports, and SATA III connectivity. The mainboard supports high-end Intel CPUs like the i7-980X extreme. The Asus board can also support both 3-way SLI from NVIDIA and CrossFireX from ATI. The Origin Genesis PC is available right not with prices starting from $1,999. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Asus offers pics of new Rampage III Extreme mainboard 5.5GHz from overclocked Intel Core i7 965 Extreme Asus has some new X48 motherboards ASUS Rampage III Extreme motherboard gets official Asus P6X58D Premium mainboard for Intel LGA1366 CPUs launches Asus ION 1201PN netbook may not have NVIDIA Optimus tech April 23, 2010 at 6:48 AM When NVIDIA unveiled its Optimus battery saving tech a while back many were really excited by the prospect of more run time from the battery and GPUs for multiple needs inside a computer. When Next Generation Ion came around from NVIDIA many though that the new Ion platform and Optimus tech were mutually exclusive. A rumor is going around that the Asus 1201PN netbook that will be using Next Generation Ion will in fact lack Optimus. That would presumably mean that the machine would have only the NG Ion GPU inside. This is certainly a rumor for now and there have been no official confirmations from Asus or NVIDIA that the machine will not use Optimus. If true, this could be a cost saving measure to allow the 1201PN to appeal to budget shoppers. Relevant Entries on SlashGear ASUS Eee PC 1201PN Ion 2 Pine View netbook official NVIDIA Ion 2 benchmarked: moderate improvement NVIDIA drops Optimus automatic graphics switching on notebook world NVIDIA Optimus teases frugal discrete notebook graphics Alienware M11x may get NVIDIA Optimus and new Intel CPUs this summer Club 3D offers Radeon HD 5550 512MB Noiseless Edition video card April 23, 2010 at 6:37 AM Most video cards use fans to keep the GPU and circuit boards running nice and cool. If you have multiple video cards in your PC or high-end cards that generate lots of heat, the noise from the fan can drive you crazy. Some video cards are offered in passively cooled editions to help reduce noise in the environment around you. Club 3D has unveiled just such a card called the ATI Radeon HD5550 Noiseless Edition. The video card uses the PCI-E 2.1 slot and has no fans. The GPU is clocked at 550MHz and the card uses 512MB of GDDR3 RAM. The memory is clocked at 800MHz and the card has memory bandwidth of 128-bit and 320 stream processors. Club 3D uses a dual heat pipe passive cooler to keep the card running cool despite lacking fans. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Club 3D unveils Radeon HD5450 Noiseless Edition ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition AMD launched Radeon HD 2900 Pro Pricing leaks for ATI Radeon HD 5970 Sapphire introduces the silent HD 2600 XT Ultimate Edition XFX stolen video card is actually a clever marketing ploy April 23, 2010 at 6:06 AM There have been stories and posts running rampant over the last week or so online after word leaked out that one of the new and cool XFX HD 5970 Black Edition Limited video cards had turned up online for sale. As the story went, the video card was one of 1000 made with an individual serial number. According to the story number 68 had gone missing from the factory and turned up on eBay for sale. The story made its way around the web and landed on forums and a bunch of tech websites with warnings to not buy the video card. XFX issued the email you see in the image above yesterday, still sticking to the story. If you happen to click on the little here link under the photo you are sent to a page on the Urban Dictionary website that reads: An advertising campaign cleverly disguised within a classic gaming plot scenario. Advertising that entertains as if the viewer is in middle of an actual game. "I know that this video series is total gamertainment, but it should be a real freakin' game, it's that good." It would have been better if the link lead to a nice big picture of Rick Astley, then we could have lol'ed in unison at all the people that were rickrolled. In fact if you fell for this, click this link and take your punishment like a man (or woman). Relevant Entries on SlashGear New OnStar feature kills the engine when your car is reported stolen Keypat Credit Card – One more hassle for your transactions CLEVER Tilting car H! ow does your video card stack up? HIS announces HD 4890 iCooler x4 video card ASUS Eee Pad launch at Computex; on market end of July 2010 April 23, 2010 at 5:34 AM Apple's iPad may have reached the market first, but ASUS and MSI are hot on their heels. ASUS chairman Jerry Shen has confirmed that the ASUS Eee Pad, the company's Android-based tablet, will make its press debut at Computex 2010 in early June, with a commercial launch in Q3 2010 (more specifically, late July, at least according to component makers). Meanwhile, MSI are also ramping up to launch their tablet, the M Pad, in Q3, though they're apparently watching to see response to the Eee Pad before deciding on precise shipments and marketing. The ASUS Eee Pad will be based on NVIDIA's Tegra chipset, and have features including USB connectivity, an integrated webcam and Adobe Flash support. Shih says the company have also "strengthened" the tablet's industrial design, in response to feedback regarding the iPad. Biggest drawback may be pricing. Shih reckons the Eee Pad will come in at NT$15,000-16,000 (US$479-510), though that's apparently "after bundling with telecom carrier services." Nonetheless, ASUS are expecting to ship 300,000 units by the end of the year. Relevant Entries on SlashGear ASUS Eee Pad Tegra 2 tablet tipped for Computex 2010; eReaders delayed? ASUS 10-inch Eee 1000-series official launch at Computex 2008 ASUS "killer product" in June says CEO: Tegra 2 tablet to launch? Asustek to produce $250 laptop Garmin-Asus nuvifone M10 confirmed for H1 2010 Launch in Europe and Asia Apple open NVIDIA GPUs for H.264 decoding: faster Flash a possibility April 23, 2010 at 5:15 AM A recently added Apple technical document has led to suggestions that Adobe Flash could take advantage of GPU hardware acceleration on certain OS X 10.6.3 MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac models. The Video Decode Acceleration framework can be used with NVIDIA's GeForce 9400M, GeForce 320M and GeForce GT 330M GPUs, and permits developers low-level access to their H.264 decoding capabilities. That could mean faster Flash performance and reduced CPU load. Flash and OS X are a common source of complaints for Mac users, predominantly because the performance of the Adobe technology is greatly underpar in comparison to the Windows experience. This new low-level GPU access would allow Adobe to push Flash decoding tasks to the video card, rather than relying on the CPU and forcing the whole system to slow down. Of course, it's not just Adobe that could benefit: any platform that uses H.264 video could be adapted to take advantage of the new GPU access. [via BGR; image via iFixit] Relevant Entries on SlashGear NVIDIA disables PhysX support when ATI GPU is installed Nvidia readies 65nm GPUs for fall this year ATI Radeon 4000 series graphics cards get into Mac computers AMD snags discrete notebook GPU market lead from NVIDIA NVIDIA 40nm GPUs expected by end of Q3 2009 Google Maps Navigation headed to iPhone & other platforms April 23, 2010 at 5:04 AM The launch of Google Maps Navigation on UK Android 1.6 and 2.x handsets this week could be just the beginning of the software's spread, according to the company's spokespersons. They confirmed that Google intends to push the free turn-by-turn app to other platforms, including Apple's iPhone OS, though they declined to give a definitive timescale for the launch. Hugo Barra, director of mobile products at Google, described the navigation market as having "been stagnant for a while" and in need of Google's "innovating". Google also confirmed that the Maps Navigation does not require a constant data connection throughout the journey, instead pre-caching the entire route when initially calculated. Of course, if you then deviate from the route, the handset will need to pull down new mapping data. "It needs a data connection when you ask for navigation," said Mobile Maps product manager Steve Lee,"but while driving to your destination, if you intermittently lose the connection, it will still carry on. As long as you stay on the route." Free PND functionality has proved to be a significant hit in recent months, with Nokia announcing that they have seen 10m downloads of their own free navigation app, Ovi Maps Navigation, since it was released as a no-cost update. In contrast, the TomTom iPhone PND app currently costs around $99. Relevant Entries on SlashGear UK Android users get Google Maps Navigation Google Maps Navigation hacked again: partial functionality restored Android 1.6 phones get Google Maps Navigation beta Google Maps Navigation hacked to work outside US [Updated] Google Maps Navigation hack blocked outside of US Project Natal "about all living room experiences": tailors content based on physical response April 23, 2010 at 4:42 AM Microsoft's plans to use Project Natal for more than just Xbox 360 gaming were clear from the start; Bill Gates spared little time before confirming that the Windows team was already eyeing up the motion-tracking hardware for their own purposes. Its taken a while, however, before they've told us exactly how else Natal might integrate with our lives outside of game-play. According to Marc Whitten, general manager of the Xbox 360 team at Microsoft, Project Natal is "about all living room experiences," down to tracking your favorite sports teams based on what jersey you're wearing or which referee decisions you'! re boo'ing. "Natal isn't just about gaming — it's about all living-room experiences. Imagine a sporting event — Natal could know which team you're for because it sees your jersey, or knows you thought a bad call was made when you yell 'boo.' It learns about you and gets smarter to create a more tailored entertainment experience" Marc Whitten, general manager Xbox 360 team, Microsoft Once it can track you, Project Natal can help build up a profile of what you're interested in (and, perhaps more importantly, what you're not interested in). On an Windows Media Center HTPC, for instance, the system could recognize that you follow certain sports teams, and thus pre-emptively record not only games in which they're playing but documentaries about them or other related content. We're thinking of a system like TiVo's thumbs-up/thumbs-down buttons, but based on your physical response rather than you manually having to rate things. "If you counted the number of buttons in your living room," Whitten reckons, "it would send a chill down your spine." Intuitive gestures for navigation and control seem the tip of the iceberg; still, we'll have to wait until Project Natal gets its official premiere on June 13th to find out more. Relevant Entries on SlashGear Project Natal will spread to HTPC and office claims Gates Project Natal and "New Xbox 360″ in 2H 2010 say insiders Project Natal tipped for October; response lag measured Microsoft Project Natal launch details leak Microsoft Project Natal Found in the Wild Again Velocity Micro Cruz Tablet: Android 2.1 slate for $300 April 23, 2010 at 4:18 AM Velocity Micro are no strangers to tablets – the company attempted to crack the market with the M5 MID back in 2009, a rebadged aigo P8860 – but we reckon they've a better chance this time around with the Cruz Tablet and Cruz Reader. Each model has a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, runs Android 2.1 and supports Flash 10.1, but the real boon is the price: the Cruz Tablet is expected to come in at $299.99, while the Cruz Reader will be $199.99. According to BestTabletReview, each model has an 800MHz processor, SD card slot, basic Android apps including browser and media player, an accelerometer, USB connectivity and a 3.5mm headphone socket, along with a user-replaceable battery, speaker and microphone. The 7.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inch Cruz Reader will be targeted, as the name suggests, at ereading duties, with the "Cruz Market" app store for downloading software and ebooks. Meanwhile the Cruz Tablet throws in a 2-megapixel front-facing webcam together with a docking station that charges the slate as well as allowing it to work as a digital picture frame. Engadget have acquired some live shots, and while the Cruz Tablet looks relatively generic we imagine there may be some fettling done before the models launch in summer 2010. Relevant Entries on SlashGear CES 2009: Velocity Micro NoteMagix M10 netbook & M5 MID NTT Hikari iFrame Android slate arrives in Japan 2010 Velocity Micro and JRTI offer new visual supercomputing workstations Archos A70HB Family Digital Assistant tipped for CeBIT 2010 French ExoPC Slate tablet machine tips up with Windows 7 HTC pull out of Palm purchase talks; only Lenovo left? April 23, 2010 at 4:06 AM After speculation that HTC were considering picking up Palm, the company has apparently decided against a deal after realising "there just weren't enough synergies to take the deal forward." That's what a source "with direct knowledge of the matter" is saying, with the implication being that only Lenovo are now left holding clandestine negotiations. Neither HTC nor Lenovo would comment on the record, and Palm are yet to respond. While an HTC acquisition was a popular possibility among the tech community – the company have been responsible for some of the more alluring smartphones of recent months – some analysts say they were right to be wary. "It's a good thing that HTC is dropping it because Palm has been losing money for a while now," said Macquarie Securities analyst Lu Chialin, "and when you look at the two companies, they share such a similar profile." Both Huawei and ZTE had also been tipped as potentially considering a Palm acquisition, but were later discounted. A Huawei source apparently claimed that talks with Palm "had stalled", while ZTE "had not been approached for a deal." Meanwhile Palm are pushing ahead with their own webOS roadmap, telling SlashGear earlier in the month that they would consider a licensing deal for the innovative platform. Relevant Entries on SlashGear HTC Looking to Acquire Palm Now? 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