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• DIY USB Floppy Disk Mixes the Best of Both Worlds
• Pillow Universal Remote Control Costs only $30
• Halo’s Master Chief Helmet is Wearable, Made of LEGOs
• iTunes Live Streaming Getting Announced Tomorrow?
• Motorola Mobility’s Separation Happening in January 2011
• Holiday Gift Guide 2010
• Gran Turismo 5′s Course Creation Feature Demoed on Video
• HTC Trophy Heading to Verizon in Early 2011
• Samsung Galaxy Tab for US Cellular Launching November 19th for $399
• Facebook Modern Messaging System Offers Full Social Integration and History
• Movie Review: Skyline
• Samsung Galaxy Tab for AT&T Launching November 21st
• Verizon Galaxy Tab Review
• Lenovo IdeaPad U260 12.5-inch ultraportable on sale today
• LG E2360V LED Display Review
• SlashGear Morning Wrap-up: November 15 2010
• Apple iTunes announcement “you’ll never forget” promised for Tuesday Nov 16
• Marshall Major headphones & Minor earphones get official
• HP Mini 1103 netbook due December from $299
• Nokia production line death sparks Indian investigation
• Nokia E7 clears FCC, pentaband WCDMA intact
• Android 3.0 MOTOPAD is Motorola & Google’s Honeycomb opener?
• Fujitsu P27T-6 IPS display shows 1bn colors; E, B & P LCD lines updated to LED
• Amazon EC2 GPU Instances offers on-demand GPU cluster processing in the cloud
• AMD join MeeGo project with Intel & Nokia: will use it with APUs
• Rumor pegs Sony Ericsson Xperia X7 and X7 Mini inbound in Q1
• Notion Ink: Over 20 custom Adam apps, plus 2nd EAP developer round
• Palm Pre 2 lands in UK
• Intel tips incoming Sandy Bridge processors
• Intel belatedly grab spotlight for record-breaking Tianhe-1A supercomputer

DIY USB Floppy Disk Mixes the Best of Both Worlds Posted: 15 Nov 2010 01:31 PM PST Back in the day, the floppy drive was all the rage. Being able to transport your data from one PC to another, all thanks to this small, square thing that could usually fit right into your pocket. Of course, back then, the paltry amount of space on those disks is laughable now, but at least they got the job done. So, what if you want to be able to carry all your data on a floppy disk in today’s world, just because you’re retro like that? Well, you could always start a do it yourself project, where you combine a floppy disk and flash memory. That’s exactly what this USB floppy is. You get the obvious floppy disk there, which will hide your USB cable as well as your flash storage, all in a neat little package. You just slide the metal disk protector to the side, and you’ll be able to access the single USB cable inside. Just plug that into your computer, and you’ll be able to access what’s there. To make it better, the designer put a small red LED in the write/protect switch, which will tell you when the flash storage is being accessed. Unfortunately, the USB floppy isn’t available to everyone, as it was just a do it yourself project. However, if you want to take the time, and you like floppy disks that much, you could probably get the job done on your own. [via Technabob]

Pillow Universal Remote Control Costs only $30 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 01:23 PM PST Remote controls are tricky little things. No matter how hard you try, there’s always going to be a day that you can’t find the one you’re looking for. But, a pillow is big enough that you probably don’t lose that all the time. Luckily enough, someone was crafty enough, or ingenious enough, to come up with the pillow remote control, so we get the best of both worlds. The pillow remote control is a throw pillow that’s a fully functional remote, too. It features sewn-in fabric buttons, which will let you turn up and down the volume, change the channel, as well as access the DVD, VCR, as well as your TV. It even has an option to change your input. The pillow universal remote control is available right now, if you’re so inclined, and it will only cost you $30. Just make sure you have 2 AAA batteries lying around, to power the thing. [via The Awesomer]

Halo’s Master Chief Helmet is Wearable, Made of LEGOs Posted: 15 Nov 2010 12:57 PM PST Despite the fact that we’re knee deep in the advancements of technology here, we still have a major soft spot for LEGOs. Especially when they get put to use other than buildings forts (though, those can be pretty cool, too). This time around, we get to see what it would look like to be the Master Chief, from Bungie’s prodigal Halo series of video games, exclusively available for Microsoft’s Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. The helmet, which is ridiculous in how accurate it is to the helmet in which it is based from, is made entirely of LEGOs. However, while that’s impressive in its own right, it gets really interesting when you realize that you can actually wear it. For those who purchased the Legendary Edition of Halo 3, you’ll remember that a Master Chief helmet was included in the package, but you couldn’t wear that one (without some work, anyway). This one is designed to be worn. It’s just a shame it’s right after Halloween. [via Brothers-Brick]

iTunes Live Streaming Getting Announced Tomorrow? Posted: 15 Nov 2010 12:43 PM PST The rumor mill about whatever it is that Apple will be announcing tomorrow, in regards to iTunes, is starting to pick up. With one particular screenshot bringing a lot of interest onto the table. A streaming music aspect to iTunes has been rumored about for awhile now, and it looks like digging through a property list file within iTunes 10.1 has turned up something quite interesting. Specifically, which you can see in the screenshot above, there’s made mention of “iTunes Live Stream.” As of right now, obviously, there’s nothing of that sort going on with iTunes 10.1, so it would seem that this could be the new feature that Apple will announce tomorrow. As for what that entails, exactly, that’s anyone’s guess at this point. However, rumors state that this could mean that you’ll not only get streaming music, but also streaming television programming. Right now, there’s so much speculation regarding whatever it is that Apple has up their sleeve, that they could come out of left field and announce something completely different. Stay tuned, as the announcement is scheduled for an early morning reveal, for those of you on the West Coast. [via Mac Rumors]

Motorola Mobility’s Separation Happening in January 2011 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 11:57 AM PST The separation between Motorola and Motorola Mobility hasn’t been a secret for awhile now, considering the two companies have been talking about it for almost two years now. These were serious talks, as Motorola believed that the Mobility side of the company was more of a liability than anything else, considering the popularity of Apple’s iPhone was only growing, and the hit that was the RAZR was long gone. But obviously Motorola Mobility has turned around, releasing several high-profile devices over the last year, all of which have focused primarily on Google’s Android mobile Operating System. So, while the split is still happening, Motorola Mobility will be a lot stronger than some had previously envisioned. The more precise time frame was announced at Motorola’s Solutions conference, by co-chief Greg Brown. While it was known that 2011 would see the separation finalized, it’s now been confirmed that it’s going to happen in January. Brown also mentioned that he belies the mobile side of Motorola will grow by up to five percent, and it would even be healthy enough for investments. A good sign for Motorola Mobility, and as long as they can continue their rise, especially with the aide of Android, they should continue to see a healthy growth through the years to come. [via Reuters]

Holiday Gift Guide 2010 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 11:56 AM PST Food, family, festivities: the holidays can be stressful, and that’s before you decide what should go inside the wrapping paper. SlashGear can’t help you with the cooking, but we can cut through the sales hyperbole and help you pick the best in consumer electronics so that the only disappointment this December is the brussels sprouts. In our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide we’ve picked our favorite cellphones, computers, accessories and more, so read on for the best in tech this season! (We’ll be updating the Holiday Gift Guide throughout the holiday season) Mobile Phones – Sprint HTC EVO 4G One of the stand-out Android-based handsets on the Now Network, the EVO 4G from HTC was Sprint's first 4G handset, and is still easily the biggest handset available on the network. The capacitive touchscreen display measures in at 4.3-inches, and features a resolution of 800 x 480. Under the hood you'll find a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, which makes the Android 2.2 mobile Operating System tick along nicely. To add the icing to the cake, you'll find HTC's Sense User Interface. Other features include a kick-stand to help you watch those movies on the big screen, and an 8MP camera with dual LED flash. There's an 8GB microSD card bundled with the device, and there's 512MB of RAM, along with 1GB of ROM. For the $199 price tag, the EVO 4G is still one of the best devices available on Sprint. [REVIEW] Samsung Epic 4G The second 4G handset to hit the Now Network, the Epic 4G features a plastic manufactured frame from Samsung. The Epic is the Galaxy S variant for the Sprint network, which shares many of the same features that the other Galaxy S devices have on the other networks. However, it's the differences that make the Epic stand out. First and foremost, it features a landscape slider with a full physical QWERTY keyboard. There's also a front-facing camera for video calls. Plus, the connectivity to 4G can't be ignored, as long as you're in a 4G-supported area. You'll find a 1GHz Hummingbird processor under the hood, along with Android 2.1 running the show. Samsung's proprietary TouchWiz 3.0 User Interface makes the interface clean and simple to use. Price wise, you'll be paying $249.99 to get your hands on the 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display. [REVIEW] Motorola i1 If you're looking for a rugged device, and one that has a physical build that impresses on every level, then the i1 is the device for you. A new addition to the Sprint line-up, just in time for the holiday shopping season, the Motorola i1 is the first push-to-talk Android-based handset, and utilizes the Sprint Nextel network. It's designed to be drop and dust-proof, so it will stand up to the rigors of your every day life. It has a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen HVGA display, and a 5MP on the back of the device. While it has the look and feel of the previously released MOTOBLUR devices, it's not actually connected to the BLUR servers, so the status updates won't be flooding your homescreens. The Motorola i1 features Android 1.5 under the hood. You can grab this device for a low price of $149.99. [REVIEW] Mobile Phones – Verizon Motorola Droid X The largest handset available on the Verizon network, the Motorola Droid X features a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 854 x 480. It's running a far more advanced version of Motorola's proprietary MOTOBLUR User Interface, and it's less intrusive, more intuitive and in-depth. The social networking aspect of the device is top-notch, especially with the Universal Inbox you can take full use of. Under the hood, you'll find a 1GHz OMAP processor, and a newly updated version of Android 2.2. On the back, you'll find an 8MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash. There's an HDMI port as well, allowing you to watch the videos you've recorded with the handset on your TV, or other external display. Motorola includes a 16GB microSD memory card in the box, which will add to the 8GB of on board storage already preinstalled. You can pick up the Droid X for $199.99 on a new, two-year contract. [REVIEW] Samsung Fascinate The second-largest handset for Verizon, the Samsung Fascinate shares plenty of features with its Galaxy S brethren which have their own place on other networks globally. The Fascinate features primarily a 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, along with the 1GHz Hummingbird processor under the hood. You can use the device as a 3G mobile hotspot, and you'll find integrated WiFi on board as well. Samsung features their proprietary TouchWiz 3.0 User Interface atop Android 2.1. On the back of the device, you'll find a 5MP camera on the back with LED flash. You can pick up the Fascinate for $199.99. [REVIEW] HTC Droid Incredible Featuring a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the Droid Incredible is a pillar for Verizon. Manufactured by HTC, the device features an updated version of Android 2.2, along with the company's Sense User Interface. You'll find a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, making sure that the device reacts to your touches as quickly as possible. There's an 8MP camera on the back of the device, with dual LED flash. The device just took a price cut for the holiday season, and can now be purchased for $149.99. [REVIEW] Mobile Phones – AT&T iPhone 4 The iPhone has been synonymous with the AT&T network since 2007, and in this holiday shopping season, it's no different. The latest version of the iPhone brings plenty of alterations and improvements over the previous model. First and foremost, the Retina Display offers up the sharpest resolution for any mobile phone available on the market now, with a resolution of 960 x 640 — with 326 pixels per inch, and a 800:1 contrast ratio. The device features a revolutionized body, compared to previous iPhone models, with an external antenna. You'll find a 1GHz A4 processor inside the device, and the most updated version of Apple's iOS 4 mobile Operating System. The device comes in two flavors: a 16GB model for $199, or a 32GB version for $299. You'll get access to iTunes, as well as the iBooks catalogue of reading material, and the App Store, where you'll be able to download all of your favorite apps right to your device. [REVIEW] Samsung Focus The Samsung Focus is one of the devices featuring Microsoft's brand new Windows Phone 7 mobile Operating System. AT&T is the premiere network partner for Microsoft in the United States, so it's no surprise that the carrier is getting the cream of the crop. The Focus, which is set to launch on November 8th for the network, features a 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, and is powered by a 1GHz processor. You'll find Windows Phone 7, in its unaltered glory, along with access to Xbox LIVE, as well as the Zune Marketplace. There's a 5MP camera on the back of the handset, and the Focus features 8GB of on board storage right out of the box. However, you'll be able to expand memory with an external microSD card, all the way up to 32GB. You'll be able to pick up the Focus this holiday season for $199.99. [REVIEW] Samsung Captivate The Galaxy S variant for AT&T, the Captivate was the first Galaxy S device to launch in the United States. Featuring a 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, along with Android 2.1 under the hood running the show, the Capacitive is easily the best Android-based handset available on AT&T at present. There's the same 1GHz Hummingbird processor inside, and you'll still find Samsung's proprietary TouchWiz 3.0 User Interface in full effect. The device is a 3G-enabled handset, as well. There's a 5MP camera on the back, which offers up HD video recording. There's WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity, as well as GPS. The Captivate can be yours for $199.99. [REVIEW] Mobile Phones – T-Mobile T-Mobile G2 The T-Mobile G2 is as true a successor to the original HTC G1 as anyone could expect, featuring a landscape slider physical QWERTY keyboard, and a vanilla Android experience. You'll find an 800MHz processor under the hood, and the ability to connect to T-Mobile's HSPA+ (4G) network. There's a 5MP camera on the back, and an 8GB microSD card included, preinstalled. If the G2 sounds like the perfect holiday present for a loved one, you can pick one up for $199.99. [REVIEW] HTC HD7 While AT&T may be the premiere carrier for Windows Phone 7 in the United States, that doesn't mean that there's no devices with the new mobile Operating System heading to any other network. T-Mobile is getting their own handset to promote the OS by the time this holiday shopping season kicks off, and they're doing so in a big way. With the upcoming launch of the HTC HD7, featuring the largest display of any Windows Phone 7 handset at 4.3-inches, WP7 and T-Mobile are looking to make a splash. There's a 1GHz processor inside, and you'll also find 576MB of RAM and 512MB of ROM. There's 16GB of flash memory on board thanks to the preinstalled microSD card, but it's not meant to be replaceable by the user, so there's no expandable memory. You'll find a 5MP camera on the back of the device, and like the HTC EVO 4G, there's a kick-stand on the back of the handset. The HD7 will be available soon for $199.99. [REVIEW] HTC myTouch 4G The myTouch brand is still alive and well for T-Mobile USA, and they've certainly added a worthy contender to the lineage with the release of the myTouch 4G. Much like the T-Mobile G2 before it, the myTouch 4G is perfectly capable of connecting to T-Mobile's HSPA+ (4G) network. You'll also find good use of the front-facing camera for video calls. On the back, there's a 5MP camera, with an LED flash. There's an 8GB microSD card included in the package as well, but there's room for expandable memory as well. Inside, a 1GHz processor makes sure that the whole show keeps clipping along at a nice pace. HTC has included a customized User Interface on the myTouch 4G, which is a bit like Sense, and yet different in some areas. The device also features WiFi calling. The myTouch 4G can be yours for only $199.99. [REVIEW]

Gran Turismo 5′s Course Creation Feature Demoed on Video Posted: 15 Nov 2010 11:43 AM PST When a video game has been in development as long as Gran Turismo 5, people expect there to be plenty of reasons why. Especially when it’s been delayed, several times. Luckily for the franchise fans out there, those that are still left anyway, it looks like the latest installment in the series is going to be packing plenty of features and extras to make the long development time make sense. One of those features happens to be an exhaustive tool for players to actually create their own courses, as they see fit. The new tool is just one of many that developer Polyphony Digital has included with the game, and it should be just another part of the icing on the cake for those who have been eagerly anticipating the game’s release. What’s better, though, is that players won’t have to wait until 2011 to play the game, or create their own tracks, as it’s been announced that Gran Turismo 5 will be out on retail shelves on November 24th, exclusively for Sony’s PlayStation 3 video game console. You can check out the Course Creation tool in the video below. It’s almost six minutes long, so be sure to get comfortable as you watch someone else create tracks, and race on them, long before you can get your hands on the game. Is anyone still excited for the release? [via GT Planet]

HTC Trophy Heading to Verizon in Early 2011 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 11:20 AM PST We heard earlier today that Verizon was excited to carry Microsoft’s Widows Phone 7 devices, as soon as Microsoft got them ready for the CDMA-based network. And now, thanks to a Verizon pamphlet, it looks like that day may be coming sooner than we imagined. And HTC seems to be leading the way. The HTC Trophy looks to be the first Windows Phone 7 device heading to Verizon, bringing yet another quad band global phone to Verizon’s ranks. The Trophy brings Windows Phone 7 to Verizon, courtesy of a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display. There’s a 5MP camera, including autofocus and LED flash, on the back, and you’ll find 16GB of on board storage, with 512MB of ROM. The brochure, which you can see above, is being passed around to Microsoft employees at the moment. The device also features integrated 802.11 b/g/n WiFI, as well as Bluetooth 2.1+EDR technology. The phone will cost $199 for Microsoft employees, and they have until December 31st to act on the special offer. There’s no exact date as to when we should expect to see the device land on Verizon’s shelves for consumers, but early 2011 is getting closer and closer. [via Engadget]

Samsung Galaxy Tab for US Cellular Launching November 19th for $399 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 10:59 AM PST While Verizon and AT&T may be opting to keep the Galaxy Tab as contract-free devices, it looks like US Cellular is taking a bit of a different route. The company has just officially announced that the Galaxy Tab, the tablet device from Samsung, will be heading to their network beginning November 19th. The first thing that some may notice is the distinct difference in pricing for the US Cellular version, versus the competition’s. You’ll have a two year contract to thank for that. However, US Cellular is doing something interesting. They’re calling it “no contract after the first.” It’s part of the carrier’s Belief Project, which will let customers purchase the tablet for only $399, after they sign the two-year agreement, but they’ll never have to sign another one after that. You’ll be able to still use the Tab, as well as the data connection tied to it, but you won’t be obligated, or coerced, into signing a new two-year contract, if you don’t want to. You’ll be able to connect to the Internet, and download applications, courtesy of integrated WiFi, or use US Cellular’s network. You’re still getting the 7-inch display, the 1GHz processor under the hood, and Android 2.2. You’ll also get Samsung’s Media Hub, which will let you download movies, and other media, right from the device. Data plans start at $14.99, and will get you 200MB per month. Or, you can opt in for the $54.99 plan, which will give you 5GB per month. Check out the full press release below, and be prepared for the November 19th launch date. Press Release SAMSUNG GALAXY TABTM AVAILABLE TO U.S. CELLULAR CUSTOMERS IN STORES AND AT USCELLULAR.COM ON NOVEMBER 19 With "no contract after the first" from The Belief Project, customers can purchase the mobile tablet for $399 with a two-year contract and never have to sign another one CHICAGO (November 15, 2010) – Holiday shoppers who want to get a head start on their gifts can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab from U.S. Cellular beginning Friday, Nov. 19. The carrier's first mobile tablet will retail for $399 after a $100 mail-in rebate and two-year contract. The Galaxy Tab's large 7-inch touchscreen creates a web browsing experience that is more like a PC and the vibrant graphics and 1 GHz processor deliver games with dazzling clarity. It's loaded with Samsung's Media Hub, a single source for buying and watching movies and TV shows that are optimized to fit the brilliant display. The Galaxy Tab can also be a convenient e-reader with free downloadable applications from Kindle and Nook. It's a world of information and entertainment that is still small enough to hold in one hand. Customers can access data on their Galaxy Tab via Wi-Fi or on U.S. Cellular's high-speed nationwide network. The carrier offers two rate plans that are tailored to match how often customers will use Wi-Fi for their data needs. The $14.99 plan is ideal for customers who will use Wi-Fi most of the time and comes with 200 MB of monthly network data usage on U.S. Cellular's network for those occasions when Wi-Fi isn't available. Customers who don't want to rely on a Wi-Fi connection can select U.S. Cellular's $54.99 plan, which provides 5GB of network data usage and can turn the Galaxy Tab into a mobile hotspot for other Wi-Fi devices. Customers who opt for the $54.99 plan will receive all the benefits of The Belief Project, U.S. Cellular's series of industry-leading initiatives designed to elevate the customer experience. All customers on a Belief Plan get automatic upgrades of their device at promotional prices every 18 months and get rewards just for being a customer that can be used for even faster upgrades. "We're bringing tremendous value to our customers through The Belief Project, with plans to match how they use their devices and products they really want, all backed by innovative services that make their lives easier," said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. About the Samsung Galaxy Tab The Galaxy Tab has a vibrant 7-inch WSVGA TFT touchscreen and is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor. The device operates on the Android 2.2™ platform, with full support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 and access to the more than 100,000 applications available on the Android Market™. It features two cameras, a 3 megapixel camera on the back with autofocus and zoom, and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat. The AllShare application allows customers to send video, audio and pictures from their Galaxy Tab to other DLNA-enabled devices, like TVs and computers. Avid readers can download the Kindle and Nook applications from the Android Market to take their favorite book titles everywhere they go. QuickOffice lets customers create, view and edit Microsoft Office files in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Adobe Acrobat support, making the Galaxy Tab a valuable tool for mobile professionals too. Everyone can use Google Mobile Services like Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™ and YouTube™. The Galaxy Tab is also preloaded with applications that turn it into an alarm clock, calendar and navigation system. The Galaxy Tab comes with a virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, allowing customers to input text quickly by sliding their finger over the keyboard in one continuous motion. It also features Samsung's Social Hub, an MP3 player and 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 3.0 and expandable memory up to 32GB. About The Belief Project Launched Oct. 1, The Belief Project recognizes customer loyalty with national bundled rate plans that offer customers the freedom to enjoy industry-leading benefits without signing continuous contracts – like automatic phone upgrades at promotional prices every 18 months that can be accelerated with points. With "no contract after the first," new customers fulfill an initial two-year commitment and never have to sign another contract again. Existing customers who switch to the new Belief Plans can simply finish the remainder of their term without extending their current contract. Customers automatically get valuable rewards just for being a customer that can be used for faster phone upgrades in as little as 10 months. Rewards can also be used to get additional lines, phones, accessories and ringtones. The Belief Project also includes the industry's only Phone Replacement program. If a customer's phone accidentally breaks or stops working, U.S. Cellular replaces it with the same or similar model at no additional cost. Customers also can save up to 5 percent on their monthly plans for setting up autopay and paperless billing. These innovative initiatives were developed to address consumers' common frustrations with wireless, elevate the customer experience and create a human relationship, not a contractual one. For more information about The Belief Project, visit uscellular.com. About U.S. Cellular U.S. Cellular is committed to fixing wireless one project at a time. The Chicago-based carrier, named one of Forbes Magazine's 2010 "Most Trustworthy Companies," recently unveiled The Belief Project, a series of industry-first, innovative solutions designed to elevate the customer experience. The Belief Project complements U.S. Cellular's growing catalog of cutting-edge phones, all backed by its high-speed nationwide network. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. You can also check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

Facebook Modern Messaging System Offers Full Social Integration and History Posted: 15 Nov 2010 10:37 AM PST “This is not an email killer.” That’s what Mark Zuckerberg said at the Facebook event, which is still going on as we write this. Indeed, the brand new Facebook “Modern Messaging System” is not an email killer, but it does incorporate the system. In fact, the new messaging system incorporates all sorts of social networking, and communication, right into the Facebook messaging system. Zuckerberg took the time to announce, and explain, just what the modern messaging system does, and how it will work in your every day life. Facebook is not just putting new features into their messaging system. They are actually giving it a complete overhaul, and focusing even more on the social communications between people. That’s what the new system is designed for. To help you talk to people, but so that you don’t have to do it in just one way: you want to start a conversation in a Facebook message, but want to keep it going through your standard email? You can do that. And yes, even SMS is included, too. The whole system is focused on seven tent poles. It has to seamless, informal, immediate, personal, simple, minimal, and short. The whole idea is to make it look like a conversation at all times. There’s a lot going on in the system, at all times, that’s part of a slow roll-out that people will receive in an invite form at first. The system is built on conserving your conversations, no matter how you access or send them, and keeping the history in tact. Basically, once you start a conversation in the new system, it will be saved. The whole history, for as long as you want it to. As Zuckerberg mentioned, looking back over the years will be something you can do with this new system. You will be able to get your hands on a @facebook email address, but you won’t need one. You can have it if you want it, but if you’re partial to your other email address, you can use that with the system as well. Zuckerberg and company have been pushing to make the system work right out of the gate, and you’ll have a lot more control over who sends you emails, where people get their messages that you send to them (you can choose email, Facebook Chat, or even their mobile phone), and how the conversation flows from one device to another. What if you want to view attachments, ranging from word files, to spreadsheets? Looks like Microsoft has managed to get their Office name included in the process, too, as it’s just become known that you’ll get Microsoft Office in the new messaging system. You’ll be able to view Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents, right from inside the new messaging system. Office Web Apps will help with all of that. And, if you’ve got Office installed on your computer, you’ll be able to download, save, and edit attachments. Facebook is making it possible for people to stay connected, even past their social networking site. You want to keep your conversation with your best friend in tact, and want to be able to keep up the conversation even when you step away from Facebook? You will be able to do that. All of the channels, through email, Instant Messaging, SMS, and Facebook Chat are streamlined, connected, and able to communicate. The system is set to roll out slowly, but invites are apparently being sent out. So, if you’re a lucky receiver of the invite, let us know in the comments how it goes for you, and what you think of the idea, and the result. We are including the recorded video of the announcement below, which Facebook is uploading to YouTube right now. If it hasn’t finished processing yet, it shouldn’t take too long, so if you’re interested in seeing Zuckerberg announce the new system, hit that refresh button.

Movie Review: Skyline Posted: 15 Nov 2010 10:30 AM PST I’ve heard the movie Skyline compared to Cloverfield, as the same movie but with better camerawork. It’s true that Skyline takes concepts from obvious influences, Cloverfield being one, but in many ways it also comes across as fresh and new. It isn't a very good movie, though it is mostly an enjoyable ride. But the best part about Skyline is that it’s a fair benchmark for just how far special effects have come in the decade or so. I can still remember seeing Independence Day in the theater during the summer of 1996. It was the biggest, loudest alien invasion movie I’d ever remembered seeing. I loved it. The effects were fantastic, the action was intense, and the movie was quite expensive. If Internet reports are believable, Independence Day cost around $75 Million to make. Now, that movie had much more expensive, talented actors, but remember that Will Smith was just starting his action movie career, and Randy Quaid and Jeff Goldblum have never been what I would consider A-list. Flash forward to today, and the movie Skyline is released for somewhere in the ballpark of $10- to $20 Million. Though there are fewer scenes with special effects, the movie looks fantastic. If there is one thing bringing this movie down, it isn’t the effects. The aliens look original and complicated. The ships look huge and detailed. It isn’t perfect, there are moments where it approaches a good cut scene from a modern video game more than a fantastic modern blockbuster. But it’s amazing what an artful set of special effects wizards can come up with on a meager budget today. That one thing bringing the movie down? The acting. It’s horrible. There isn’t a likeable character in the bunch. The movie revolves around a couple visiting friends in Los Angeles just as the alien invasion lands. The actors are all vaguely recognizable, some more than others. You’ve got the doctor friend from Scrubs. Claire’s meth-head boyfriend from Six Feet Under. Charlie’s heroin addict brother from Lost. The police sergeant from Dexter. See what I’m saying? All likeable actors, sure, but none of them are capable of inspiring empathy from the audience. Even when a major character dies, my reaction was more “Wow, I can’t believe they killed of THAT guy,” rather than, “Wow, it’s too bad he’s dead.” The plot is standard Alien invasion fare. The aliens come for no apparent reason and start collecting humans. Their method is fairly original, though there are huge holes in the plot. The alien lure is easy to escape. You either look in a different direction, or have someone push you out of the way at the right moment. Still, the movie seems to imply that only the five or six main characters on screen have managed to figure it out. There are a few others running around the city, but Los Angeles is emptied of its population in the first fifteen minutes or so of the film. The aliens are not content with simply collecting a couple million people. They need every last one, and so they expend what seems to be considerable resources, time and energy to find the cast of characters, who are hidden in a penthouse apartment. Of all the apartments in Los Angeles, the aliens almost instantly figure out where our heroes are hiding, and start hunting them down. So, they must have some pretty sensitive scanning equipment if they can find just the right apartment, right? Well, actually no, because they will never find you if you hid behind a sink, or close your blinds. The Cloverfield comparisons obviously come from the claustrophobic feeling created by the minimal space the characters cover. Ninety percent of the movie takes place in that one apartment. Five percent happens in a garage in the basement, and another five percent happens on the roof. But the characters never venture fifty feet from the apartment building. In some ways, that works. It’s a very nice apartment, with plenty of open windows and a fancy telescope hooked to the large screen television. In some other ways, it doesn’t work. One of the things I liked about Cloverfield (and I know I’m in the minority saying such a thing), is that it followed the character’s limited perspective through the entirety of New York City. You saw the subways, central park, the tall buildings, and the rest of the concrete jungle. In Skyline, you just see the apartment. Even when the characters look through the telescope, they’re either looking at at neighbors having sex (which leads to an out-of-place homophobic moment that makes the already snide characters even less likeable), or they’re looking at the giant ships hovering over the city. Eventually, the military shows up, but it seems to be much too late to help anyone. Wouldn’t a major city like Los Angeles be worth more than a few planes and a couple rescue helicopters? Apparently not. Though the military makes a good attempt, they ultimately show up under-prepared for no good reason. Like with Cloverfield, you start to get a feeling that the situation is inescapable for the main characters. That doesn’t make for a compelling movie when you’ve decided a half hour before the end that the story is not going to end well. SPOILER: I’m not going to give away the ending here, but I will say it ends with a somewhat optimistic twist, though I wouldn’t call it success or victory on anyone’s part. My biggest problem with Skyline, in fact, is that the movie ends too early. By the end, you have a good idea why the aliens have come, though it doesn’t quite seem like a good reason for an all-out invasion. But the movie ends just before the big climax. There’s been plenty of action, but the plot hasn’t really gone anywhere. The people are trapped. They try to make it out. Bad things happen, but just as things seem to be impossibly turning in their favor, the movie ends. Seriously, it’s as if the producers ran out of money and said: Okay, instead of actually creating the grand confrontation scene to end the movie, let’s just stop filming and the audience will be able to imagine it for themselves. The entire conceit of the plot reaches an apex in the moments before the credits roll, but you have no idea how things will turn out. Were they really hoping to film a sequel? Perhaps after the success of the low-budget District 9, the produces thought making a cheap sci-fi movie would be like printing money, and it would be easy to greenlight the next part? I can’t say I’d give them a chance again. If you love science fiction and want a fun ride with dazzling sights and sounds, you could do worse than show up for the bargain matinee of Skyline. But don’t expect a great movie, or even a movie that seems to have a beginning, middle AND an end.

Samsung Galaxy Tab for AT&T Launching November 21st Posted: 15 Nov 2010 10:19 AM PST Despite the fact that we’ve already reviewed the Galaxy Tab for Verizon, just today, it looks like AT&T wants to go ahead and make it official that the carrier is indeed launching the Galaxy Tab tablet device. We’ve been waiting for the announcement, so if you’ve been trying to guess when the Tab would launch on AT&T, November 21st has been chosen as the day of days. As far as a release date goes, November 21st is a Sunday. As far as features go, there’s nothing that’s going to be all that surprising for those who have been looking at the Tab as their tablet device of choice. You still get the 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display, you get Android 2.2 under the hood with full Flash Player support, and you have Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz 3.0 User Interface. But, AT&T has decided to go the Pay-As-You-Go data plans, which start at $14.99 for 250MB for 30 days. Or, you can do the $25 plan, which lasts for 30 days, and offers you 2GB of usage. If you use up all your data before the month is up, you can just buy more as you go. Pricing wise, if you’re looking at AT&T for your tablet needs, you’ll be paying $649.99. The Tab will be available at more than 2,200 AT&T locations across the United States, as well as online. That kicks off November 21st, so if you’re readying yourself for a tablet this holiday season, AT&T has a nice option for you. Check out the full press release below. Press Release DALLAS, NoV. 10, 2010— AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, today announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ will launch on Sunday, Nov. 21 on the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, and just in time for the holiday season. The Galaxy Tab will be available for $649. .99** at more than 2,200 AT&T company owned stores and online at Samsung Galaxy Tab (www.att.com/galaxytab). AT&T will offer two pay-as-you-go data plan options for the Galaxy Tab, a $14.99 pay-as-you-go plan for 30 days with up to 250 MB of usage and a $25 pay-as-you-go plan for 30 days with up to 2 GB of usage. If customers use all the data included in their plan before 30 days, they can purchase another pay-as-you go plan. For additional convenience, these plans can automatically renew every 30 days, when customers pay for these plans with a credit card or debit card. AT&T data plan subscribers also get access to AT&T's entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional charge. Subscribers can activate their service plan directly on the Galaxy Tab, without making a phone call or a visit to the store, whenever they need access to data within the allocated U.S. footprint. The data plans do not require a long-term contract. Customers have the option to change plans or purchase more data without penalty as needed. As a courtesy reminder, AT&T will notify customers with a text and email when their 30-day plan is close to expiring or when they are close to depleting the amount of data available in the plan. In addition to the domestic data plans, international passes are also available which provide data coverage in more than 100 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Plans start at $24.99. "Consumers are seeking cutting-edge mobile computing devices and we're proud to give them another great choice in our product portfolio," said David Haight, vice president of business development, AT&T Emerging Devices. "Samsung's Galaxy Tab is a sharp device boasting a brilliant screen for watching videos, a powerful processor and a host of cutting edge features that everyone in the family will enjoy. Pairing it with the nation's fastest mobile broadband network and most extensive Wi-Fi network gives AT&T Galaxy customers the best mobile broadband experience in the market." "We are excited to bring the Galaxy Tab to AT&T customers for the holiday season," said Omar Khan, Chief Strategy Officer, Samsung Mobile. "Its seven inch form factor, pocketable weight and robust feature set make it ideal for work and play. It's the kind of device users will want to carry with them every day." Powered by the Android™ 2.2 platform, the Samsung Galaxy Tab touts a 7-inch enhanced TFT touch screen, 1Ghz Hummingbird application processor, support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1, Media Hub – Samsung's own content service that offers an extensive library of acclaimed films and TV programming – Samsung Social Hub, dual cameras, and many additional features. For a limited time, AT&T customers will receive a $50 Media Hub Movie Rental credit with Galaxy Tab purchases.2 AT&T consumers will enjoy a rich web browsing experience with the mobile tablet, along with access to many forms of multimedia content on the 7-inch display, including movies, photos, ebooks and more – all on the go Also, users can communicate via e-mail or social networking with the optimized user interface. In addition to the numerous Samsung Mobile features, the AT&T-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab also features AT&T Connection Manager, which automatically connects users to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots to better manage data usage. Additional information on AT&T data plans for the Galaxy Tab is available at www.att.com/galaxytab. For more information on AT&T, please visit the AT&T website. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. ** Price established by AT&T for AT&T-owned retail locations. 1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q2 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports. 2 Galaxy Tab customers are required to register their device at www.samsung.com/register to receive their $50 Media Hub Movie Rental credit. For additional information and terms and conditions, please visit www.samsung.com/atttabpromo.com. Mobile broadband coverage not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Time begins expiring immediately upon activation whether you are using the service or not. Once you consume your allotted data or your time expires, whichever occurs first, your data access will cease. You forfeit any data you do not use within the plan's time period. Actual speed and coverage may vary. Coverage not available in all areas.Wi-Fi: largest claim based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access to AT&T Hot Spots requires active subscription to AT&T DataConnect Pass Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations. Plans should be purchased before traveling outside the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S.V.I. For available countries and carriers, see www.att.com/dataconnectglobal. Availability, quality of coverage while roaming are not guaranteed. Fees are non-refundable. For complete terms and conditions see DataConnect Pass/iPad™/Session-Based Wireless Data Services Agreement on att.com/wirelesslegal. About AT&T AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE®magazine. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at the AT&T Web Site. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at AT&T Newsroom, and as part of an RSS feed at AT&T RSS Feed. Or follow our news on Twitter @ATT. Find us on Facebook at the AT&T Facebook to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at AT&T Small Business Facebook

Verizon Galaxy Tab Review Posted: 15 Nov 2010 09:25 AM PST You can’t accuse Samsung of lacking ambition with their recent mobile device launches. After pushing out versions of the Galaxy S across all the major US carriers, they’re doing the same with the Samsung Galaxy Tab. We’ve already looked at the original European and T-Mobile USA versions of the 7-inch Froyo slate; now it’s the Verizon Wireless model on the SlashGear test bench. Read on for the full review. Hardware Compared to the European and T-Mobile versions of the Galaxy Tab which we’ve already reviewed, the Verizon model marks the most significant hardware changes. Even then, they’re relatively minor, though enough to boost the Verizon Tab into pole position when it comes to everyday use. Out goes the UMTS/WCDMA modem, replaced by a CDMA/EVDO Rev.A modem for data and messaging use on Verizon’s network. The relative benefits of CDMA and GSM service are well-argued; most important is whether your carrier of choice has coverage in the areas you’ll be looking to use the Tab. We’ve not noticed any specific differences in data performance between the T-Mobile and Verizon Tabs. Unfortunately, it does somewhat limit the Galaxy Tab’s mobility, since the Verizon version isn’t one of the carrier’s “Global” devices with both CDMA and UMTS/WCDMA connectivity for use abroad. Worth bearing in mind if you’re looking to the Tab as a netbook replacement for European travel. It’s also not voice enabled, like the other North American models but unlike the European Galaxy Tab. We’ve already seen a hack to enable voice functionality on the T-Mobile Tab – which requires a different SIM to the data-only card the carrier provides – but unlocking voice calls on the Verizon version may be trickier. So far we don’t know which modem has been included, and enabling the functionality will also depend on convincing Verizon customer support to activate voice service on the line. The better changes, however, are in the Tab’s physical design. The hardware is still ostensibly the same – a 7.48 x 4.74 x 0.47 inch slate weighing 13.58 ounces – but Verizon has given their Tab a more textured back-panel which left us more confident gripping the tablet. The regular Galaxy Tab’s gloss finish is surprisingly slippery. We also added a couple of self-adhesive textured pads, on the left and right of the tablet, which made a significant difference. Otherwise, the Verizon Galaxy Tab uses the same 7-inch 1024 x 600 LCD TFT display with a capacitive touchscreen, 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, microSD card slot, 3-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, and 1.3-megapixel front-facing webcam. Connectivity includes 3G, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, along with a PDMI port for charging and synchronizing; unfortunately there’s no microUSB port. For full details on the Galaxy Tab’s hardware, check out our original review. Software The overall Galaxy Tab experience is pretty much the same as from the original European version that we tested; rather than retread old ground, we’ll point you in the direction of that original review. As with T-Mobile, Verizon has attempted to differentiate its Galaxy Tab using various preloaded applications. Unfortunately, the one app we’d like to have seen – the carrier’s custom Skype software – is missing; you can download the regular Skype app from the Android Market, but that only allows WiFi VoIP calls in the US, whereas the custom app supports 3G calls. It seems Verizon really isn’t keen on Galaxy Tab users replacing their existing phones with the Froyo slate, though Google Voice runs over 3G and works well. What you do get is VZ Navigator, V CAST Music and V CAST APPS, the latter being Verizon’s own app store. That joins the Galaxy Tab’s regular Android Market access, together with Samsung’s own (sparsely filled) software download store. There’s a demo of the V CAST APPS store in the video above, along with V CAST MUSIC ($9.99 per month); the latter is certainly easier to use than Samsung’s own Media Hub app, which currently has a relatively limited selection of audio and video to download. So far Apple still has the upper hand when it comes to on-device media downloads, though Verizon loading Blockbuster On Demand and Slacker Radio do fill in the gaps a little, if you prefer streaming content. VZ Navigator works well on the large screen, though for most people Google Maps Navigator will be sufficient (and has the benefit of being free versus VZ Navigator’s $9.99 per month subscription). The integrated digital compass supports Street View panning, which is an eye-catching way to show off the Tab’s abilities. ThinkFree Office is also loaded, complete with a PDF viewer, and Verizon has changed Samsung’s custom on-screen keyboard to a (very similar) layout of their own. You still get Swype as an option, however. The grippier casing comes into its own when you’re using the Galaxy Tab for ebook reading, and indeed Verizon preinstall Amazon’s Kindle app which works well on the 7-inch display. At 1024 x 600 across a smaller panel than the iPad’s 1024 x 768 resolution, the Samsung actually has a higher pixel density; that adds up to crisper text. The Tab is also light enough to comfortably hold one-handed above your head, such as when lying in bed, whereas the metal and glass iPad soon gets tiring. Verizon’s Galaxy Tab isn’t cheap – it’s $599.99 with no subsidy option – but you’re also not getting locked into a minimum agreement. There are two month-to-month data plans on offer, priced at $20 for 1GB of data per month, or $35 for 3GB. That’s cheaper than T-Mobile’s data options, but does not include their unlimited messaging; instead you can pay per SMS/MMS message sent/received, or for a bundle (250 messages for $5; 500 messages for $10; or 5000 messages for $20 per month). There’s no extra charge for using Froyo’s mobile hotspot functionality, either, letting you share the Galaxy Tab’s 3G connection with up to five WiFi-connected devices, though their data use still comes out of your allowance. Wrap-Up It’s ironic but, for all Verizon’s work on custom apps, it’s the textured casing that makes the biggest difference to day to day use of their Galaxy Tab. A slightly more reassuring in-hand feel left us feeling far happier grabbing the Tab and using it for casual reading; of course, that’s something which a silicon case could address on other versions of the slate, or indeed some self-adhesive pads as we applied. The same Galaxy Tab frustrations still remain from the T-Mobile version, the lack of official voice support being top of our list. We’re a little less confident in hacks for the Verizon version opening that up, however, though VoIP support remains good. Verizon could score a significant win over its carrier rivals by allowing the Skype 3G app for use on the Tab; it seems, however, that the fear of users downsizing to a single device is too great for that to happen. Data costs are less than T-Mobile charges – albeit for 2GB less on the more expensive plan – though if you’re a frequent text message user the bundle fees will likely outweigh any difference. Unlike T-Mobile’s $399.99 Tab with a two-year agreement, Verizon isn’t offering any subsidy; that makes the $599.99 slate more expensive upfront, but cheaper in the long-term and with more flexibility in opting for mobile data. Unfortunately managing a data plan on the Verizon Tab isn’t quite as straightforward as on the iPad WiFi + 3G with its AT&T control panel. The longer we spend with the Galaxy Tab, the more we find ourselves using it. That, perhaps, is the definition of a companion device – something which gradually works its way into your daily life, becoming your go-to gadget for ereader, browsing or messaging. It’s still a relatively narrow niche, and there’s undoubtedly plenty of competition from Apple’s iPad, but if Google’s is your OS of choice, the Samsung Galaxy Tab remains the best 7-inch Android tablet around. Verizon Galaxy Tab unboxing & hands-on:

Lenovo IdeaPad U260 12.5-inch ultraportable on sale today Posted: 15 Nov 2010 09:14 AM PST Lenovo’s IdeaPad U260 has evolved from tempting leak to official product, and is hitting virtual shelves today. Priced from $899, the 12.5-inch U260 is yet to show up on the company’s webstore, but when it does it will have a choice of Intel’s 1.33GHz Core i3-380UM or 1.33GHz to 1.86GHz Core i5-470UM processors, an unspecified Core i7 option up to 4GB of DDR3 memory and a standard 320GB 5,400rpm hard-drive (or 128GB SSD). That’s all slotted into a distinctive, journal-styled casing made from magnesium-aluminum alloy, with a leather-patterned palm rest and glass touchpad. The display runs at 1366 x 768 with Intel HD graphics, and there are stereo 1W speakers, WiFi b/g/n, gigabit ethernet and Bluetooth as standard. Other ports include two USB 2.0, audio in/out, VGA and HDMI. We’re not quite sure what Lenovo’s “Breathable Keyboard” is for – perhaps it gives you that brilliant feeling of typing on lungs – but the 3.04lb U260 otherwise seems quite an interesting MacBook Air alternative. It’s set to go on sale sometime today. [via Notebooks] Press Release: Uncompromising Luxury You Can Touch: Lenovo's U-niquely Designed IdeaPad U260 is the World's First 12.5-Inch Ultraportable Laptop RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – November 15, 2010: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the IdeaPad U260, the world's first 12.5-inch ultraportable consumer laptop, giving users a 16:9 widescreen dimension in a 12-inch form factor for the first time. This latest addition to the IdeaPad U Series is all about luxury featuring a sleek, minimalistic design that includes a magnesium-aluminum alloy real metal cover, leather-patterned palm rest and glass touchpad. The IdeaPad U260 is high fashion in laptop form. Designed for consumers who enjoy a sophisticated sense of style, the U260 highlights premium details and craftsmanship that can be touched. Inspired by the silhouette of a classic leather-bound journal, the U260 exudes elegance with a "U" shaped outline and a specially engineered one-piece magnesium-aluminum alloy frame, making it stronger yet thinner and lighter. The exterior cover, which boasts a one-piece design without any breaks in the pattern, is made possible by the latest insert- molding injection technology. Its black leather-patterned palm rest is soft to the touch providing comfort and support for the user while giving a luxurious look. The stainless steel frame around the chiclet keyboard is the perfect complement to the leather-textured exterior. A durable, yet silky smooth glass touchpad with matte exterior etching gives just the right resistance for multi-touch functionality such as pinch-to-zoom photo browsing and web surfing. The U260 is available in mocha brown or clementine orange for those seeking a "pop" in their PC wardrobe. "The U260 is a design one can truly touch and feel that showcases the extreme attention our team places in every aspect of design, from mechanical to human interaction to color, material and finish," said Yingjia Yao, vice president, Innovation Design Center, Lenovo. "Our philosophy is that Idea product design should be simple, unique and provide value, and the IdeaPad U260 delivers just that through the high-quality selection of materials, advanced ergonomics and a signature design concept." Perfect for those who love to travel or executives who enjoy a classy laptop away from the office, the IdeaPad U260 is the right choice weighing in at less than three pounds and measuring just over a half-inch thin. The U260 is ergonomically designed with sleek curves, proportions and hinge mechanics for maximum comfort as it can be easily opened with one hand. Users will also enjoy standing out in a crowd with their uniquely designed, world's first 12.5-inch laptop powered by up to an Intel® Core™ i7 processor for impressive performance and long battery life. The U260 can be configured with up to 320GB of hard drive storage or up to 128GB of SSD flash-based storage providing plenty of room for music, photos and movies. With up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, consumers can enjoy a seamless multimedia experience when browsing multiple web pages and using applications. "The IdeaPad U260 is a luxury laptop for someone with discerning tastes that desires high quality and elegance paired with the freedom of immense mobility," said Dion Weisler, vice president, Business Operations, Lenovo. "This is one of numerous additions to the Idea portfolio, manifesting Lenovo's fun and fashionable PC consumer offerings, which are not only sophisticated but brimming with features. The U260 fits in seamlessly with today's 'on-the-go' lifestyle without sacrificing excellence for style." Additional features on the U260 include an industry leading Breathable Keyboard, an Intel® Advanced Cooling Technology that allows the PC to run cooler and maintain spill resistance.  Ambient Light Sensors on the U260 help protect users' eyes by automatically adjusting screen brightness based on lighting conditions and Lenovo's Active Protection System™ acts as an "airbag" for the hard drive to cushion data stored on the laptop in the event of a fall or drop. Those seeking entertainment and multimedia functionality will enjoy the U260's Dolby® Advanced Audio™ surround sound speakers, HDMI output for streaming high definition to an HDTV and an integrated web camera for Skype and video calling. The U260 comes with Genuine Microsoft Windows® 7 Home Basic or Premium and Lenovo Enhanced Experience for Windows 7, a unique Lenovo certification that delivers speedy boot-up and shutdown times, rich multimedia capabilities and easy system maintenance tools. Pricing and Availability The Lenovo IdeaPad U260 laptop will be available November 15, 2010 on lenovo.com starting at $899. For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

LG E2360V LED Display Review Posted: 15 Nov 2010 08:40 AM PST The new LG E2360V, the company would like us to believe, ticks not just one but three categories: it’s a Full HD panel, for entertainment, it’s fashionably slim, at just 12.9mm thick, and it’s also got some decent environmental credentials too. Still, at around $300 it’s not a cheap display, so how does the reality live up to the PR hype? Check out the SlashGear review after the cut. Hardware The LG E2360V has a 23-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD 16:9 panel using LED backlighting. LG quote a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio or 1,000:1 static contrast ratio and 5ms response time, while the inputs consist of D-SUB, DVI and HDMI; there’s also a 3.5mm headphones socket on the back. Unfortunately LG provide neither DVI or HDMI cables, only a regular VGA one. Aesthetically, there’s a lot to like about the E2360V. LG is making a big fuss about the E60 Series’ thinness, and indeed it’s just 12.9mm thick. The matching stand is similarly waifish, though the glossy black plastic – which also forms the screen bezel – is a fingerprint magnet. You won’t be touching it that often, however, since there’s only minimal tilt adjustment available; LG has also missed off a VESA mount on the back, so there’s no wall-bracket option. That’s a shame, as it’s a very light display and seems ideal for hanging off the wall. It’s also supposed to be reasonably Earth-friendly, meeting ENERGY STAR criteria (as, to be fair, most gadgets seem to these days) and LG claiming the E2360V uses around 45-percent less power than a “normal” 23-inch display. Performance First impressions of the E2360V are that it’s bright: too bright, in fact. Even if you work in an office with the harshest of overhead lighting, you shouldn’t have a problem ramping up the LG to compete. As for picture quality, there’s little to fault. Colors are bright, pleasantly saturated and vivid, and there’s a reasonable amount of adjustment available in the on-screen setup to tweak the settings to suit your preferences. We tested the E2360V with some fast-moving video, and found it to be blur-free, while it’s definitely one of the sharper, clearer displays we’ve used of late. Wrap-Up The LG E2360V is certainly stylish, and the screen quality is strong; it looks good, too, as long as you’re content to leave it on your desk. Our main complaints are in its flexibility: the trio of inputs are good, but the fixed desk stand lacks adjustment, there’s no rotation to flip the E2360V into portrait aspect, and the omission of a VESA mounting plate feels cheap considering the $300 sticker. Around $90 less gets you a 23-inch HP display with the same Full HD resolution, but a significantly less appealing case design. If you’re going to be looking at a monitor all day then you may as well grant desk-space to a good looking one, and we’d expect the E2360V’s street price to come in lower once retail picks up.

SlashGear Morning Wrap-up: November 15 2010 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 07:29 AM PST Good morning everybody in technology land, welcome back to SlashGear’s Morning Wrap-up. Today there are several rumors including a possible Motorola Motopad being a 7inch Android 3.0 debut, a possible 20+ custom Adam applications for the Notion Ink, Froyo for Dell Streak by the end of November, and maybe even a couple of opening bats for Honeycomb? Then we’ve got a review of a US version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab (T-Mobile version), a weeklong adventure with HTC HD7′s hardware, and a few words on why Don Reisinger can’t wait to get rid of his DVR. PLUS: Dual Core dreams in Galaxy 2. Now all we’ve got to do is plug our fingernails into our kneecaps as we wait and see if Android 2.3 Gingerbread is released today at this years Web 2.0 Summit. Hooray! R3 Media Network SlashPhone LG Vortex Heading To Verizon Walmart Give Away $100 Giftcard For Purchasing a Smartphone Android Community Motorola MOTOPAD to be 7-inch Android 3.0 debut? 20+ custom Adam apps claim Notion Ink Black Flyday helps you find shopping deals for holiday season PC World yank Toshiba's Folio 100 over poor buyer feedback? Another Dual-Core Samsung Phone Confirmation (Plus More Anzu) Gingerbread Comes Out Tomorrow(?) at Web 2.0 Summit Dell Streak to get Froyo at end of November SlashGear Apple iTunes announcement "you'll never forget" promised for Tuesday Nov 16 [FEATURED] Android 3.0 MOTOPAD is Motorola & Google's Honeycomb opener? Nokia production line death sparks Indian investigation Nokia E7 clears FCC, pentaband WCDMA intact AMD join MeeGo project with Intel & Nokia: will use it with APUs Rumor pegs Sony Ericsson Xperia X7 and X7 Mini inbound in Q1 Palm Pre 2 lands in UK Stun Fone was a viral marketing campaign HTC EVO Shift 4G trademark filing tips upcoming Android tablet? Free MeeGo IdeaPad S10-3t for developers as Intel get open-source serious T-Mobile Samsung Tab Review [REVIEW] A Week with the HTC HD7: Hardware [FEATURED] Verizon Ad Leaks Look at Pantech and LG LTE Modems Jolicloud Jolibook Official Press Photos Now Available (2 Sizes?) Why I can't wait to get rid of my DVR [COLUMN] To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

Apple iTunes announcement “you’ll never forget” promised for Tuesday Nov 16 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 07:19 AM PST “Tomorrow,” claims Apple, “is just another day. That you’ll never forget.” That’s the teaser that’s just gone live on Apple’s homepage, tipping a 10am Eastern announcement about iTunes that will be launched online first, rather than at a special event. The nature of the announcement is unknown, but there are plenty of recent rumors to choose from. Some form of streaming music service is perhaps the most persistent, perhaps the iTunes Live we’ve heard mutterings about so much in recent months, though it could also refer to the iOS 4.2 release which will be distributed through iTunes. We’ll be eagerly hitting refresh tomorrow at 10am Eastern or 7am Pacific (that’s 3pm London and midnight in Tokyo). Leave your guesses in the comments below!

Marshall Major headphones & Minor earphones get official Posted: 15 Nov 2010 07:06 AM PST After teasing us for the past few weeks, Marshall has finally outed its Marshall Major and Marshall Minor headphones and earphones. The affordably-priced pair cash in, unsurprisingly, on the near-legendary reputation of Marshall amps, but do seem to have a few abilities of their own; the Marshall Minor in-ear buds, for instance, have a special EarClick “lock” to increase stability, as well as an in-line microphone for hands-free use with your phone, while the Marshall Major earphones can fold down for easier transportation. The Major headphones come with a 6.3mm adapter and a 1m extension cable, and are constructed from the same vinyl used in Marshall amplifiers complete with the “original Marshall texture.” They’re priced at $99/€99 and available now. Meanwhile the Minor earphones come with a regular stereo adapter – for use with non-handsfree devices – a cable clip and four different sizes of earbud. They’re $59/€59 but currently sold-out.

HP Mini 1103 netbook due December from $299 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 06:55 AM PST HP has pushed out a new netbook, the HP Mini 1103, targeted at businesses and mobile users and expected to drop this December for $299. Powered by Intel’s Atom N455 (1.66GHz) and N475 (1.83GHz) processors, the Mini 1103 has a 10.1-inch WSVGA display, up to 2GB of RAM, either 160GB or 320GB 7,200rpm hard-drives and GMA 3150 graphics. There’s also three USB 2.0 ports, ethernet, VGA and audio in/out, as well as a media card reader, integrated stereo speakers and a microphone. A VGA webcam and WiFi b/g/n round out the standard specs, though Bluetooth, WiFi a/b/g/n and integrated 3G are all options. HP reckons the Mini 1103 – which has a 93-percent full-sized keyboard – is good for a full day’s runtime, though they fall short of actually providing estimates. With so much of the focus on tablets these days, it seems strange to be writing about netbooks again, but if you’re looking for the Windows 7 experience and actually intend to create documents rather than read them, the Mini 1103 is probably a better option.

Nokia production line death sparks Indian investigation Posted: 15 Nov 2010 06:42 AM PST News of an employee death at a Nokia manufacturing facility in India has broken, with a 22 year old assembly line worker killed at the company’s Sriperumbudur plant near Chennai on October 31. Full details on the incident are unknown – according to the statement Nokia gave us, which you can read after the cut, an investigation is still ongoing with the local authorities – but there are unconfirmed reports that the female employee was trapped while repairing a machine that loads sheet metal onto a magazine rack. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and we offer our condolences and deepest sympathies to the family of our colleague in India. As a mark of respect, we closed our facility in Chennai on November 1st and members of our senior management have met with the family of our colleague. We are investigating this tragic incident thoroughly and we are also collaborating with local authorities in India with full transparency. While it would inappropriate and insensitive to the family of our colleague to comment on the details of this accident until the full facts are known, we can say that the details being reported by some online media and tabloid publications are simply untrue.” Nokia statement Speculation has already begun about the reaction of the plant management and the nature of the hardware the employee was using, though so far nothing has been conclusively discovered and reports on the incident are scant. Nokia has promised full disclosure on the incident, and we’ll be keeping an eye on reports as more information breaks.

Nokia E7 clears FCC, pentaband WCDMA intact Posted: 15 Nov 2010 06:00 AM PST Nokia’s E7 has cleared the FCC, ahead of its promised launch in December 2010. Announced back at Nokia World 2010 in September, the E7 is the Finn’s full QWERTY version of the N8, running Symbian^3 on a 4-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display. Among the usual internal and external photos, the FCC filing also includes the E7′s user manual [pdf link], though there are no great surprises to be found inside. Still, the E7 alone may be interesting enough; as well as being pentaband UMTS/WCMDA – and so compatible with T-Mobile USA, AT&T and European 3G networks – it supports the same HDMI and USB On-The-Go connectivity as its N8 cousin. [via Cellfanatic]

Android 3.0 MOTOPAD is Motorola & Google’s Honeycomb opener? Posted: 15 Nov 2010 05:48 AM PST We’ve heard rumors about Google and Motorola having a priority relationship when it comes to developing Android tablets, and now there’s a little extra speculation to add to that murky picture. According to Mobile-Review, Google has picked Motorola’s MOTOPAD as the debut device for Android 3.0; more specifically, Motorola’s 7-inch version of the slate. The exact nature of that tablet is unclear, however. Verizon are tipped to be preparing a Motorola-made slate for Q1 2011, codenamed Stingray, while the company has also been connected with NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 chipset. We’re guessing the reference to a 7-inch MOTOPAD implies there are other sizes on the cards, most likely a 10-inch iPad rival. [via Android Community]

Fujitsu P27T-6 IPS display shows 1bn colors; E, B & P LCD lines updated to LED Posted: 15 Nov 2010 05:20 AM PST Fujitsu has refreshed its display range, switching wholesale to LED backlighting and offering some particularly high-spec models for graphics mavens. The new E Line, B Line and P Line displays kick off from the affordable, with the 22-inch E22W-6 LED, move through mainstream 19- and 22-inch models, B19-6 LED, B22W-6 LED proGREEN and B22W-6 LED, with four port USB hubs and height-adjustable stands, and then the 23-, 24- and 27-inch P23T-6 IPS, P24W-6 IPS and P27T-6 IPS capable of showing up to one billion colors. The Fujitsu P27T-6 IPS, for instance, has an IPS panel capable of showing 1.07bn colors – 102-percent of the NTSC color gamut – and has 3.7m pixels. It runs at 2560 x 1440 resolution and has DisplayPort, two HDMI, DualLink DVI and VGA inputs; Fujitsu reckons it offers some 80 percent more colors and pixels than a Full HD 40-inch TV set. The P Line displays also support Auto Pivot, rotating the screen orientation automatically if you flip the panel from landscape to portrait orientation; the B Line models can also be rotated, but you’ll need to adjust the screen orientation manually. No word on pricing at this stage, but all of the new displays will begin shipping this month. Full specs at the links below. P27T-6 IPS: https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-display-p27t-6-ips.pdf P24W-6 IPS: https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-display-p24w-6-ips.pdf P23T-6 IPS: https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-display-p23t-6-ips.pdf B22W-6 LED: https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-display-e22w-6-led-run.pdf B22W-6 LED proGREEN: https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-display-b22w-6-led-pro-green.pdf B19-6 LED: https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-display-b19-6-led.pdf E22W-6 LED: https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-display-e22w-6-led-run.pdf Press Release: Fujitsu Boosts LED Display Portfolio with New Models Updated portfolio offers widest range of displays options, combining performance with power savings Munich, November 15, 2010 Fujitsu today announced that it is the first mainstream vendor to complete the migration to LED backlighting for all of its display lines, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to environmental benefits and innovation. In updating its P, B and E Line displays to LED (light emitting diode) lighting, Fujitsu is the first vendor to complete the migration to a complete portfolio of mercury-free displays. End-users will appreciate the deeper contrasts and lower energy demands from LED displays. All Fujitsu display lines now use LED backlighting, meaning a reduction in power consumption to up to 30 percent less than even the latest ENERGY STAR requirements. Comfort features are prominent across the entire refreshed Fujitsu display line up. Designed for fatigue-free all-day working, the displays deliver new levels of outstanding picture brilliance through ultra-high contrast, and easy On Screen Display set-up. All three new series, the E Line, B Line and P Line, also feature Fujitsu's environmentally-friendly ECO key and a status LED confirming their switch to power-saving mode. With the different lines now all using LED technology, Fujitsu has the right display for every requirement, from all-round to superior. For standard business users looking for a cost-efficient option, the new E Line displays offer great value all-round performance for everyday office life, while also providing optimized picture and energy-saving features. For more intensive office use, Fujitsu has further enhanced the specification of its advanced B Line displays, which provide a smooth and comfortable viewing experience. Users can be certain of finding a comfortable and healthy working position thanks to the flexible, height adjustable stand, while four USB interfaces provide a convenient way to connect for external devices. Thanks to Fujitsu's DisplayView software tool, businesses can extend their PC manageability software to cover displays – as end-users' displays can be reset or adjusted remotely, while LED lighting cuts power consumption. Best-in-class adjustability is a hallmark of Fujitsu's new P and B Lines, which both add height-adjustable stands and Pivot – Auto-Pivot for the P Line – allowing the displays to be used in portrait format. At the top of the range, the superior segment P Line displays are ideal for power users who need ultimate graphics performance, thanks to the ability to show up to 1 Billion colors and 3.7 million pixels (P27) – some 80 percent more than a Full HD 40-inch TV set. P Line displays also offer rich features to meet specific requirements of graphic artists and medical professionals, such as optimized grey scale performance. The D-Mode key selects a factory-preset Gamma curve optimized according to the DICOM grayscale standard, making even the finest grayscale variations easy to spot. This delivers a picture quality that makes it possible to replace expensive diagnostic displays for many medical review environments. Fujitsu's proven energy saving solutions also feature in the P Line including 0-Watt in off-mode, Eco system and Auto Brightness Control. Rajat Kakar, Vice President Workplace Systems at Fujitsu Technology Solutions says: "Whatever the IT system, the display is truly the front end. Businesses who want comfortable viewing performance and power savings will find both in Fujitsu's updated display line. By migrating to LED backlight technology, we are committing to high environmental and performance standards. In addition to lowered power consumption, LED displays offer a long life cycle, underlining reliability and reducing environmental waste." Fujitsu's new displays are available in the CEMEA & I region, and can be ordered immediately, with delivery starting in mid-November.

Amazon EC2 GPU Instances offers on-demand GPU cluster processing in the cloud Posted: 15 Nov 2010 05:02 AM PST Amazon’s Web Services has just got a GPU boost, with the news that the company will be offering high-performance GPU computing as part of the new Amazon Cluster GPU Instances service. Intended for companies, organizations and schools that would like the processing grunt of clustered GPUs, but can’t afford their own dedicated hardware, Amazon EC2 GPU Instances uses the parallel processing skills of NVIDIA’s Tesla M2050 GPUs, the same hardware as found in the world record grabbing Tianhe-1A supercomputer. Obviously you don’t get quite as many GPUs as Tianhe-1A uses. Instead, Amazon provide 22 GB of memory and 33.5 EC2 Compute Units, and uses the Amazon EC2 Cluster network for low-latency communications. Each GPU Instance has two of the Tesla GPUs, for peak performance of more than one trillion double-precision FLOPS. As with Amazon’s other web services, pricing is on-demand and so if you don’t use the GPU crunching, you don’t pay for it. Full pricing details are here, and even free AWS users get a bundled allotment of GPU access. Press Release: Amazon Web Services Announces Amazon Cluster GPU Instances, a New Amazon EC2 Instance Type Delivering High-Powered Graphics Processing Unit (“GPU”) Computing in the AWS Cloud GPU processing is now less expensive and more accessible to a wide variety of graphics rendering and High Performance Computing (HPC) workloads SEATTLE, Nov 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Amazon Web Services LLC, an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ:AMZN), today announced Amazon Cluster GPU Instances, a new instance type designed to deliver the power of GPU processing in the cloud. GPUs are increasingly being used to accelerate the performance of many general purpose computing problems. However, for many organizations, GPU processing has been out of reach due to the unique infrastructural challenges and high cost of the technology. Amazon Cluster GPU Instances remove this barrier by providing developers and businesses immediate access to the highly tuned compute performance of GPUs with no upfront investment or long-term commitment. To get started using Amazon EC2 GPU Instances, visit: http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/hpc-applications/. Amazon Cluster GPU Instances provide 22 GB of memory, 33.5 EC2 Compute Units, and utilize the Amazon EC2 Cluster network, which provides high throughput and low latency for HPC and data intensive applications. Each GPU instance features two NVIDIA Tesla(R) M2050 GPUs, delivering peak performance of more than one trillion double-precision FLOPS. Many workloads can be greatly accelerated by taking advantage of the parallel processing power of hundreds of cores in the new GPU instances. Numerous industries – including oil and gas exploration, graphics rendering and engineering design – are using GPU processors to improve the performance of their critical applications. Amazon Cluster GPU Instances extend the options for running HPC workloads in the AWS cloud. Cluster Compute Instances, launched earlier this year, provide the ability to create clusters of instances connected by a low latency, high throughput network. Cluster GPU Instances give customers with HPC workloads an additional option to further customize their high performance clusters in the cloud. For those customers who have applications that can benefit from the parallel computing power of GPUs, Amazon Cluster GPU Instances can often lead to even further efficiency gains over what can be achieved with traditional processors. By leveraging both instance types, HPC customers can tailor their compute cluster to best meet the performance needs of their workloads. For more information on HPC capabilities provided by Amazon EC2, visit http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/hpc-applications. “We were pleased to introduce Cluster Compute Instances earlier this year for our customers who needed additional network and CPU performance for their large and complex HPC workloads,” said Peter De Santis, General Manager of Amazon EC2. “With Amazon Cluster GPU Instances, we are increasing the options available to our HPC customers by allowing them to choose between using high performance clusters with high performance CPUs or taking advantage of the unique processing abilities of GPU processors for applications that can benefit from the massive parallel processing power they provide. We’re looking forward to seeing the innovation this will enable.” Calgary Scientific provides advanced medical imaging visualization software and application web enablement technology. The company’s technology reduces time to treatment, which can drastically improve an acute care patient’s outcome. “For patients in critical care scenarios, every second cut from diagnosis to treatment can lead to a more positive outcome,” said Pierre Lemire, President and Chief Technology Officer, Calgary Scientific. “Calgary Scientific’s technology instantly connects all of the necessary specialists, images and patient data required when making a treatment decision. Providing this critical timesaving capability across broad geographies requires the power and affordability offered by Amazon Cluster GPU Instances. GPU instances will help Calgary Scientific bring imagery from patients in need to the required medical professional with minimum infrastructure expense to the medical enterprise.” BrightScope, Inc., a company that provides financial data and analytics, sees tremendous value in the ability to rapidly deploy Amazon Cluster GPU Instances. “Our 401k portfolio simulations and analytics are a great fit for cloud computing and we anticipate significant cost and time savings by using Amazon Cluster GPU Instances in the cloud,” said David Allison, Head of Engineering & Development, BrightScope, Inc. “The ability to leverage GPU computing without a large upfront capital investment is a big win for our organization, and we believe many other companies will see the same benefit.” mental images is an international provider of rendering and 3D Web services component software for entertainment, computer-aided design, scientific visualization, architecture and other industries that require sophisticated computer-generated images. “For the first time ever, AWS is putting the industry’s most powerful photo-realistic rendering technology within reach of anyone connected to the Internet,” said Rolf Herken, CEO and CTO of mental images. “The availability of NVIDIA Tesla(R) GPUs in the AWS cloud in the form of Amazon Cluster GPU Instances running the RealityServer(R) platform with the iray(R) renderer will provide architects, product designers, engineers, scientists and others with extraordinarily powerful tools that they can remotely access on mobile devices, PCs and other devices. Our tests have shown more than 90 percent scaling efficiency on clusters of up to 128 GPUs each.” Elemental Technologies is a leading provider of massively parallel video processing solutions for broadcast and online video customers. “Online media companies are challenged by the ever-increasing need to provide adaptive video streams to a growing array of viewing devices beyond the PC platform,” said Sam Blackman, CEO and co-founder of Elemental Technologies. “Harnessing Amazon EC2 allows Elemental customers to realize the full benefits of our soon-to-be released Accelerated Cloud Transcoding family of services. Our video processing software running on Amazon Cluster GPU Instances will help us keep up with demand in the expanding multi-screen video universe.”

AMD join MeeGo project with Intel & Nokia: will use it with APUs Posted: 15 Nov 2010 04:52 AM PST AMD has thrown in with Intel and Nokia, announcing support for MeeGo this morning. According to the press release, AMD will “provide engineering resources” to MeeGo development, with a mind to using the open-source OS in its embedded device plans “and create expanded market opportunities for our forthcoming Accelerated Processing Units.” The news was announced by Chris Schlaeger, Director of AMD Operating System, at the MeeGo Conference 2010 this morning. Schlaeger claims to have been tinkering with a Nokia N810 from the Maemo days, and is confident about MeeGo’s potential in APU computing: “We will put resources, invest time and money where we think we can put meaningful contributions. If you think GPU/CPU can't make a difference, beware.” Chris Schlaeger, Director of AMD Operating System AMD is already involved with The Linux Foundation, the organization hosting MeeGo, where it is a gold level member. [via My Nokia Blog] Press Release: AMD Joins MeeGo Linux Open Source Project for Next-Generation Mobile, Embedded Platforms AMD to Contribute Engineering Resources to Help Drive Linux-Based Open Source Operating System DUBLIN, IRELAND, Nov 15, 2010 — At the MeeGo Conference 2010, AMD (AMD 7.63, 0.00, 0.00%) today announced it has joined The Linux Foundation’s MeeGo open source Linux project, and will provide engineering expertise intended to help establish the technical foundations for next-generation mobile platforms and embedded devices. “MeeGo represents an exciting, open-source mobile operating system we expect to be adopted by mobile and embedded device makers over time,” said Ben Bar-Haim, corporate vice president, software development, AMD. “We are glad to provide engineering resources to joint industry efforts like MeeGo and expect that this operating system will help drive our embedded plans and create expanded market opportunities for our forthcoming Accelerated Processing Units.” “Built from the ground up for a whole new class of mobile computing devices, MeeGo gives companies like AMD and its partners unlimited opportunities to accelerate innovation for the next generation of computing,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. “As an existing Linux Foundation member, AMD will be an important and valuable contributor to the MeeGo Project.” The MeeGo Linux-based open-source operating system is primarily designed for mobile hardware platforms such as ultra-mobile notebooks, tablets, embedded in-vehicle infotainment systems and smart phones. The MeeGo project is hosted by The Linux Foundation, a non-profit consortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux. AMD is currently a gold level member of the Linux Foundation and has a seat on The Linux Foundation’s board of directors. About AMD Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 7.63, 0.00, 0.00%) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com. About MeeGo MeeGo is an open source, Linux project which brings together the Moblin project and Maemo into a single open source activity. MeeGo integrates the experience and skills of two significant development ecosystems, versed in communications and computing technologies. The MeeGo project believes these two pillars form the technical foundations for next generation platforms and usages in the mobile and device platforms space. For more information, visit http://meego.com. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Rumor pegs Sony Ericsson Xperia X7 and X7 Mini inbound in Q1 Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:31 AM PST We are taking this rumor with as much salt as we can pinch in our geeky fingers. A rumor is going around that a couple new smartphones are coming soon that have some nice sounding features. The new phones are according to the unconfirmed rumor supposed to be the Sony Ericsson Xperia X7 and the X7 Mini smartphones. According to said rumor, the new phones are coming in time for a Q1 2011 launch. The devices are rumored to run Windows Phone 7 and the big X7 is pegged for a 4.3-inch WVGA resolution screen and a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor. The big X7 is also supposed to have an 8MP camera good for still shots and 720p HD video with HDMI output. The smaller X7 Mini is rumored to have a 1GHz CPU, 3.5-inch WVGA display, a 10.1MP camera, and 720p video recording capability. It also has a 3x optical zoom, which is something that we don't see on camera phones typically. These things sound interesting and we will have to wait on confirmation from Sony Ericsson before we count this as legit. Did I mention these are both unconfirmed rumors?

Notion Ink: Over 20 custom Adam apps, plus 2nd EAP developer round Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:27 AM PST If there’s one thing our time with Android slates like the Samsung Galaxy Tab has shown us, it’s that apps that have been customized with a mind to the size of the display can make the difference between true usability or just-another-oversized-phone. We’d already heard that Notion Ink‘s software engineers were developing custom apps as part of the Adam tablet’s unique OS proposition, but now the company has confirmed that, rather than just email, calendar and contacts as are custom on the Galaxy Tab, Adam will have over twenty unique apps preloaded. That list will include email, calendar, paint, gallery, settings and a file browser, as well as a full Office suite. They’ll all slot into Notion Ink’s Eden UI, which consists of both paned “mini” windows – three to the tablet’s 10-inch touchscreen – and full-screen versions of each app. Meanwhile, Notion Ink has announced a second round of their early-access program, to cope with developer interest in the platform, together with throwing out a few new shots of hardware (and a screenshot of the dynamic weather app, which will apparently also work – in full-screen aspect – as Adam’s screensaver). The company expects the slate to go up for pre-order in December; more details on pricing here. [via Android Community]

Palm Pre 2 lands in UK Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:20 AM PST The Palm Pre was expected to do really well in the market and ultimately the phone failed. It sold better than some of the real epic failures like the Kin family from Microsoft, but Pre sales were nothing like what Palm and many people that waited for the phone expected. Palm was eventually gobbled up by HP and the first smartphone to trickle out from Palm since then is the Pre 2 and that device is available in the UK right now. The catch is that you have to buy the phone SIM free because there is no direct carrier support. After the failed original, you can hardly blame the carriers for not wanting to offer the second version of the device. If you like the idea of an unlocked and contract free Web OS 2.0 smartphone you can grab the thing up right now for £399. The phone can be purchased only at the Palm UK store. For that much green you get a 1GHz processor and a 5MP camera. The phone has multitasking and lots of other features. It sounds just like the original phone with some tweaks to the OS and hardware. Palms does say the design of the Pre 2 is more streamlined and it uses a 3.1-inch multi touch screen and has a slide out QWERTY keyboard.

Intel tips incoming Sandy Bridge processors Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:08 AM PST It’s always a great time to be a computer geek when new products are inbound from Intel. The entire ecosystem of hardware including mainboards tends to be updated when new processors are coming and the Intel Sandy Bridge offerings that are inbound are bringing other cool hardware like mainboards with them. One of the best-looking mainboards I have ever seen is the new Asus Sabertooth Sandy Bridge mainboard that is coming soon. We have also recently talked about some nice boards from Gigabyte that will support the new Intel processors. Intel has updated the line of Sandy Bridge processors that are coming with the unveiling of some new offerings. Intel will launch some new SB parts under the Huron River platform that are low-power offerings. The new parts will include a Core i7-2640LM, 2620LM, 2630LM, and a 260LM. In addition to the Core i7 parts there will also be several Core i5 offerings including the Core i5-2530UM. The Huron River platform uses a 32nm Sandy Bridge processor and the QS67/GM67 chipset and has a combination of other technology like the Centrino Ultimate-N/Advanced-N 6000 wireless chips or the Centrino Advanced-N/WiMAX 6000. Huron River will also have support for WiDi wireless display as well. Along with the Core parts will also be a new Celeron processor called the B801.

Intel belatedly grab spotlight for record-breaking Tianhe-1A supercomputer Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:06 AM PST Remember the Chinese Tianhe-1A supercomputer which NVIDIA took credit for “powering” with its Tesla GPUs back in October? It seems Intel would like some of the processing credit as well; they’ve pushed out a press release of their own, claiming it’s Intel Xeon 5600 series processors that “powers” the world’s fastest supercomputer. In fact, they’re both correct: Tianhe-1A combines 14,396 Intel Xeon processors with 7,168 NVIDIA Tesla M2050 GPUs, and manages 2.57 petaflops (quadrillions of calculations per second). Neither company is particularly keen to give the other much credit; Intel refers to NVIDIA’s input only as the vague “accompanied by accelerator cards”, while NVIDIA pointedly highlights the fact that to match Tianhe-1A’s performance solely using CPUs would require around 50,000 of the chips and double the floor space. Press Release: Intel Powers World's Fastest Supercomputer NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Tianhe-1A supercomputer, featuring more than 14,000 Intel® Xeon® 5600 series processors, is No. 1 supercomputer on 36th edition of Top500 list. Intel powers nearly 80 percent of systems on latest Top500 list, including four of the top six. Intel powers more than 90 percent of new systems on the Top500 list. Intel demonstrates applications powered by Intel® Many Integrated Core (MIC) architecture. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 14, 2010 – Intel Corporation today announced that its Intel® Xeon® 5600 series processors, announced earlier this year, are at the heart of the world's most powerful supercomputer, the Tianhe-1A. Located at the National Supercomputing Center in Tianjin, China, Tianhe-1A contains 14,396 Intel processors accompanied by accelerator cards, and has demonstrated groundbreaking performance of 2.57 petaflops (quadrillions of calculations per second). In partnership with Inspur, a computer manufacturer in China, Intel worked closely with the National Supercomputing Center and its technology partners to achieve this groundbreaking performance. The 36th edition of the TOP500 list of supercomputers, as announced at SC10, Nov. 13-19 in New Orleans, shows that nearly 80 percent of the world's top 500 systems have Intel processors inside. Such machines are increasingly featured in computers designed for geophysics, financial calculations and scientific research focusing on mainstream applications such as improving the safety of football players and enhancing medical imaging. According to the list, Intel chips now power four of the top six systems – in addition to the No. 1 system. Xeon® 5600 series processors are a key building block in the No. 3 system (Shenzhen), and the newly listed No. 4 system at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The New Intel® Xeon® Processor 7500 series is featured in the Bull Supernode system at CEA, newly listed at No. 6. Overall, 398 new systems on the list feature Intel processors. According to the list, Intel processors are in 90 percent of the systems newly listed in 2010. "Our Xeon processor roadmap continues to deliver hugely powerful supercomputers that are helping solve mankind's greatest challenges," said Rajeeb Hazra, general manager of Intel's High Performance Computing organization. "Securing the top position on the Top500 is a source of great pride for Intel, and demonstrates the tremendous leaps in performance and versatility that our processors are delivering across a range of compelling workloads." Additional Top500 Success In addition to the Tianjin supercomputer, 17,296 Intel chips power the No. 6 system on the list. The CEA system from Bull features the largest shared memory system built around the Xeon® 7500 series processor, achieving performance in excess of one petaflop. Another notable supercomputer hails from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Featuring Xeon® 5600 series processors within an NEC/HP system, this No. 4-ranked supercomputer achieved 2.4 petaflops. The semi-annual TOP500 list of supercomputers is the work of Hans Meuer of the University of Mannheim, Erich Strohmaier and Horst Simon of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, and Jack Dongarra of the University of Tennessee. The complete report is available at www.top500.org. Intel® Many Integrated Core (MIC) Demonstrations During SC10, Intel conducted demonstrations showcasing the real-world capabilities of the recently announced Intel® MIC architecture. These included using Intel® MIC architecture as a co-processor running financial derivative Monte Carlo demonstrations that boasted twice the performance of those conducted with prior generation technologies. The Monte Carlo application for Intel® MIC was generated using standard C++ code with an Intel® MIC-enabled version of the Intel® Parallel Studio XE 2011 software development tools, demonstrating how applications for standard Intel CPUs can scale to future Intel® MIC products. Intel also showcased breakthrough compressed medical imaging developed with Mayo Clinic on "Knights Ferry," the first Intel MIC design and development kits. This demonstration used compressed signals to rapidly create high-quality images, reducing the time a patient has to spend having an MRI.

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