IBLOG SPACE

Intel’s Atom N455 and N475 processors are apparently due for launch “shortly”, according to DigiTimes’ sources, after the chips were unofficially previewed back at CeBIT 2010 in March. They’ll supposedly be succeeded by the launch of the dual-core Atom N500 series in June, at which point we’re told Intel will spill the beans on their third-gen netbook platform. In comparison to the existing N450 and N470 processors, their N4×5 counterparts have the same core clock speed and general specifications, but support DDR3 memory rather than just DDR2. As for the N500, little about the chip is known for sure, but it’s expected to show up in the ASUS Eee PC 1215N netbook. The Atom N455 and N475 chips were seen running in the ASUS Eee PC 1018P, the company’s new flagship netbook. That’s been spotted in the wild recently, but we still don’t have final confirmation on release dates.

Steve Jobs has been sifting through his inbox again, answering emailed questions regarding the WiFi + 3G iPad and the possibility of an App Store for OS X. Two separate Mac-fans got in touch with the Apple CEO, with one asking whether Best Buy would be stocking the 3G-enabled version of the company’s new tablet on April 30th (the device’s official launch date) while the other was more curious about rumors that the company planned a desktop version of the iPhone’s App Store. Jobs has become known for the brevity of his emailed responses, and these two questions did nothing to counter that reputation. To the query of whether the iPad WiFi + 3G would be in Best Buy, he said “Yep”, while as for the talk of an official OS X App Store, he said “Nope”. The latter is good news, as speculation had it that Apple were planning to carry their somewhat draconian software approval systems over from iPhone OS and onto OS X. Titles would require, the rumors suggested, that apps be signed with Apple

Researchers at the University of Tokyo’s Ishikawa-Komuro Lab have developed a system of motion tracking for cellphones that brings a little Project Natal magic to your handset. Using a high-framerate camera attachment, the software can track the position of a finger held in front of the phone in 3D space, registering distance as well as fast-movement “clicks”. It’s not the first time we’ve seen cellphone cameras used to track movement and translate it into touch-free control. Sony Ericsson have used motion-tracking both for gaming and for alarm/call control, though neither system was as accurate as the University of Tokyo’s implementation. Theirs is capable of tracking movement across an on-screen QWERTY keyboard, selecting characters with a click-movement, together with allowing for contactless scrolling and even drawing on-screen. We saw a similar demonstration at MWC 2010 back in February, where Texas Instruments showed an OMAP3-based device using a regular webcam to track 3D ges

Intel’s Wireless Display technology is slowly proliferating among laptops, but WonderMedia reckon theirSmartStream system knocks it into a cocked hat. The media adapter uses the company’s PRIZM SoC to stream content via ethernet or WiFi from any notebook or PC, pumping it out on your HDTV complete with two-way communications for controlling the computer even if it’s in another room. A USB port on the SmartStream box allows you to plug in a keyboard or mouse (or perhaps one of those combination keyboard/trackball HTPC remotes). There’s no hardware to be plugged into the PC, though we’re guessing you do have to install some software; still, unlike Intel’s WiDi you don’t need a certain processor/GPU before you can use it. WonderMedia also bill the adapter as ideal for wireless office presentations, and interestingly a diagram on their site shows it working with smartphones too. No word on pricing or availability – nor what sort of ports the SmartStream box has, though we’re guessing HD

WowWee’s Rovio has already seen several DIY remote control hacks – whether it’s from your Android phone or via an E Ink board – but this is perhaps the best yet. Robert Oschler has hooked up an Emotiv Epoq EEG headset allowing him (with some nifty software in-between) to control Rovio using thoughts, facial gestures and head movements. The Epoq headset is billed as an alternative gaming controller, but as the first reviews suggested the experience can be frustrating. It looks as though Robert’s setup is more usable, however, hooking into the Emotiv SDK with his new Robodance 5 software; bizarrely, that means to move Rovio forward, he has to feel a little stressed and anxious: “After some experimentation I found a mood that I could easily summon was a combination of worry and sadness, a strong particular brand of feeling squarely behind my eyes” Robert Oschler Robodance 5 uses Skype to bridge the connection with the (WiFi enabled) Rovio, and so it doesn’t make any difference whether y

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

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 th

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.

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. Howe

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 envir

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

Well, this is... something. Out of seemingly nowhere, Motorola has just made the decision to shun Google's location services in favor of those from Skyhook, proudly becoming the "first Android device maker to abandon Google for its location services." According to the release -- which feels atypically jovial to us -- the device maker will marry Skyhook's GPS, WiFi and cellular location in the "vast majority" of its phone models, and since Skyhook will be baked into the OS, every single app can reap the benefits. Reportedly, developers are pretty stoked about the news, and it's pretty clear that Motorola is equally confident that Skyhook's location solution is the best on the market. Not like Google really needs any more frenemies right now, but hey -- you won't find us kvetching about anyone keeping the Big Shot on its toes.

We suspected that both Sprint and Verizon Wireless would eventually pick up RIM's hot-off-of-the-pressBlackBerry Bold 9650, and sure enough, the former has already come forward with a glowing press release stating as much. Starting on May 23rd (that's just under a month, for those operating sans any sense of time),Sprint loyalists will be able to score this very smartphone for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and 2-year contract. It'll reportedly be available in "all Sprint sale channels," tempting you with that 480 x 360 resolution display, BB OS 5, Wi-Fi module and 3.2 megapixel camera. So, VZW -- got a similar announcement you'd like to make?

RIM has a longstanding track record of refining its hardware with near-surgical precision -- from one generation of BlackBerry to the next, you almost always see a very careful, deliberate evolution, from the Storm2's revampedSurePress tech to the Bold 9700's optical pad and countless examples in between. "Evolution" is exactly how we'd describe the CDMA- and GSM-equipped Bold 9650, the Tour's spiritual successor that ditches the old name to join forces with the remainder of the Bold line. Dimensionally, the Bold 9650 is a dead ringer for the Tour -- it's still 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.56 inches -- but it packs on two-tenths of an ounce worth of weight in exchange for oft-requested WiFi support and an extra 256MB of internal storage (it's now up to 512MB total). The other big difference, of course, is the replacement of the dodgy trackball with an optical pad, continuing a trend that has now permeated throughout virtually all of RIM's lineup. Look for the Bol

As smartphones go, the original BlackBerry Pearl 8100 series' longevity is nothing short of astounding -- with some minor tweaks, the phone has lasted essentially unchanged for well over three years. Needless to say, it's time for the granddaddy of consumer-grade BlackBerrys to start collecting pension, so it's an awfully good thing that RIM has chosen its WES conference this week to announce the all-new Pearl 3G. Rumored as the Pearl 9100, the phone becomes RIM's very first with 802.11n WiFi support (in addition to 802.11b and g, naturally) and features a 3.2 megapixel camera, 256MB of internal storage with microSD expansion up to 32GB, GPS, triband HSDPA with quadband GSM / EDGE, and a 360 x 400 display. RIM is making the Pearl 3G available in "several lustrous colors" and two different keypad configurations -- numeric 14-key and the more traditional SurePress 20-key -- though there's no indication that the rumored QWERTY version will make it to retail (

The first European carrier for the Nexus One is all set to start offering Google's superphone for free on two-year contracts costing £35 ($54) or more per month. Pre-orders are being taken today and full retail availability is slated for April 30. It's kind of an anticlimax now that the Incredible has started stalking the American prairies, but we're sure there'll be plenty of Brits who've been waiting with bated breath for this. There'll be 18- and 24-month contract options, with prices starting at £25 per month, and a 1GB 3G data allowance is included together with a 1GB WiFi allowance via BT Openzone hotspots. Not exactly the most generous price plans we've ever heard of, but then the handset's looking eminently affordable with its zero cash up front requirement. Full PR after the break.

Oops, looks like The Street leaked RIM's big unveil for later this morning at its WES show: the BlackBerry Bold 9650 (pictured left looking very Tour like) and BlackBerry Pearl 3G. The Bold 9650 boasts 802.11b/g WiFi, a 3.2 megapixel cam, GPS, and support for US EV-DO Rev A networks or UMTS/HSPDA when abroad -- look for it to launch next month on Sprint. The Pearl 3G is headed to Bell, Telus, and Rogers in Canada with a 3.2 megapixel camera, 802.11n WiFi, GPS, and triband HSDPA data with quadband GSM / EDGE. Both feature RIM's new optical trackpad. Hold tight while we wait for more detail from RIM.

All in all, we thought the Droid Incredible was a pretty nifty phone, but in our full review we still called out a couple ways Verizon and HTC could make it a little more... well, you know. It seems Verizon has taken one of our suggestions to heart, because we've just learned the company will ship new phones with a 2GB microSDcard. No word on how long the promo offer will last or whether existing pre-orders are included, but we hear at least one early adopter got left out. We'll have to see if more speak up... like you, for instance. Let us know in comments if you get shortchanged.

We heard through the grapevine back at CTIA that Nokia's elusive N8 would be announced somewhere in the wide world this April, and sure enough, it looks as if the handset has popped up over in one of Russia's eleven nine time zones. Our pals at Mobile-Review have worked their magic once more on an up and coming handset, this time landing some serious face time with the planet's first Symbian^3 phone. Despite Nokia pushing the official reveal of said OS to Q3 (from Q2 previously), we're getting an early look at what exactly is to come here -- and if this review is any indication, Nokia's woes are about to become even more woeful. In short, critics panned the new system for being little more than a polished version of what Nokia's already offering, and they clearly noted that nothing here lived up to what Android and iPhone OS currently provide. In fact, they even went so far as to wonder who is inside of Nokia purposefully dragging down the brand; granted, it

Really now? KIRFing a phone and a UI is one thing, but claiming to have a 26-core CPU (!) capable of 8-gigaflop (!) floating point operation -- or the "equivalent of four iPads combined," apparently -- is one helluva stretch for a smartphone. This is apparently how awesome the QderoPateo Ouidoo will be. According to the launch event at the Shanghai World Expo on Friday, the too-good-to-be-true Divinitus CPU will help power the Ouidoo OS's augmented reality articulated naturality apps and 3D social-networking virtual world. The rest of the specs include 512MB RAM, 4GB ROM, 28GB of built-in storage, microSD expansion, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, built-in 3D map, accelerometer, digital compass, 5-megapixel camera with flash, 220 hours of standby battery life, and a sharp 3.5-inch 800 x 480 screen. No prices or even videos of the UI available yet, but our friends over at Engadget Chinese are promised a review unit in July or August -- around the time of the global launch (followe

Good morning to you too, Dell ! Android Central's just gotten hold of yet another leak from the Texan computer giant, only this time we have two new Android or Linux (as suggested by the Tux icon) Moblin devices. First, we have the Sparta netbook tablet featuring an 11-inch 1024 x 768 TFT display, ARM processor, optional connectivity modules (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth) and a unique swivel mechanism -- the screen appears to be rotatable within its frame. The second device is the Athens sub-0.9kg (1.98 pounds) netbook sporting the same screen size, ARM processor and optional connectivity modules. If all goes well, the Sparta and Athens should be launched in early and late Autumn respectively

iPhone and iPod touch users may have had a Sirius XM app for close to a year now, but it looks like Android users will soon finally be able to get in on some mobile streaming as well. While there's still no specific launch date, the app is apparently "coming soon," and looks to be mostly identical to its iPhone OS counterpart, complete with support for streaming over both WiFi and 3G. Somewhat curiously, however, Sirius XM seems to be saying that the app will only be available for the Droid and Nexus One, although that's a bit puzzling considering they're not the only Android 2.1-ready phones with fast processors (if those are indeed the only requirements).

When Christy Turlington Burns began to hemorrhage soon after the birth of her first child six years ago, she didn't think it was such a big deal. But when she learned that hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal death and that hundreds of thousands of women die in childbirth every year, the 41-year-old supermodel said she felt compelled to do something about it. On Saturday she makes her directorial debut at New York's Tribeca Film Festival with "No Woman, No Cry," a documentary designed to raise awareness and funding so that the number of maternal deaths are reduced. "I had a sort of experience that was a little bit of a survivor's guilt," said Turlington Burns, who is an advocate for maternal health for humanitarian group CARE. "I was fortunate, but think of all the women around the world who aren't. "I had a complication, which I honestly didn't think of as such a big deal at the time. I was in a place

After Paris, Milan and New Delhi, New York may soon get its own menswear fashion week, as the city currently dedicates only a small section to male clothes at the biannual New York Fashion Week (NYFW). NYFW is held twice a year in February and September and it currently has only a small section dedicated to male clothes. Now there is now a campaign to expand it, reports contactmusic.com. 'I've been a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for 10 years and we have been trying to figure out how to do that for 10 years. If we're going to try it, we have a better shot today than ever before, because we have a bigger design contingent,' said designer John Varvatos. Designers think the timing of the September shows are all wrong because it comes nearly three months after the menswear catwalks in Milan and Paris so business can be improved by having an independent men's fashion week. However, some believe an entire week is t

Roman Polanski's lawyer accused U.S. courts on Saturday of wanting to see the filmmaker "in shackles" after they rejected his bid to be sentenced in absentia for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Polanski skipped bail and fled the United States for France in 1978, and is now fighting extradition from Switzerland. Affirming the decision of a Los Angeles judge in January, a state appeals court ruled on Thursday that the 76-year-old filmmaker must return to California before he can be sentenced. "One gets the feeling that there's the desire to see him arrive in shackles, when there's no reason why Roman Polanski should be extradited, none at all," lawyer Herve Temime told Europe 1 radio. The court has also rejected a petition filed by Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, to have the case dismissed altogether. Polanski, who directed "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby", was charged in 1977 with r

Supermodel-turned-reality TV personality Paulina Porizkova has taken pot shots at Madonna and Kate Hudson for undergoing plastic surgery. 'Madonna no longer looks like Madonna what started as a sexy, well-shaped, and somewhat hairy Italian girl has ended as a cool Nordic blonde... she is starting to sort of melt away into the stew of the famous women over-fifty-high-cheek-boned blondes-who-cannot-frown,' aceshowbiz.com quoted her post as saying. Hitting on actress Kate Hudson, she added: 'She just looks like any California blonde actress. Instead of enhancing, she has diminished herself.' The 45-year-old is disgusted by ageing celebrities who go under the knife for vanity and is holding the pair up as examples of what can go wrong. Porizkova blasts the blondes in a blog post on Modelinia.com, criticising the pop superstar for her rumoured facelift and botox procedures.