Electronista | Gadgets for Geeks

Google admits Project Glass different from promotional video

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:51:00 GMT

Google has admitted that its Project Glass wearable display interface currently does not resemble what is shown in the demo video. The admission comes the same day the search giant patents the design of the Project Glass prototypes, showing what a prescription variant would look like....

Sprint CEO sees iPhone as 'quite profitable' by end of 2015

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:25:00 GMT

Sprint's deal with Apple for the iPhone will ultimately prove "quite profitable" for the carrier, said CEO Dan Hesse during a company shareholder meeting on Tuesday. The pact will end up costing $15.5 billion by the end of 2015, which has prompted some worried shareholders to challenge it. Hesse in fact recently returned $3.25 million in personal compensation back to Sprint when it was pointed out that the company hadn't factored in the impact of the iPhone before tallying worker bonuses....

Sorkin to pen Sony's Jobs biopic

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:26:00 GMT

Aaron Sorkin -- a writer for The West Wing, Sports Night, and HBO's upcoming The Newsroom -- has officially signed on to script Sony Pictures' forthcoming biopic about the late Steve Jobs. The film will be based on Walter Isaacson's bestselling biography on the Apple co-founder....

Analyst: Google gets less than $3 per device from ads

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:00 GMT

An analyst at Asymco has posted an analysis of Google's revenues from its Android operating system, estimating that Android nets Google approximately $2.75 in ad sales per device every year. The figure is dwarfed in comparison to Apple's take from iOS devices....

T-ray transmission record topped, 20x faster than Wi-Fi

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:25:00 GMT

Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have demonstrated transmission speeds of 3Gb/s at 542GHz, the BBC reports. This development could mean greatly increased wireless transmission speeds, up to 20 times faster than 802.11n Wi-Fi transmission rates and slightly faster than the 1.7Gbps speeds that Netgear claims for its new 802.11ac equipment....

Reuters sources support claims of 4-inch iPhone displays

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:11:00 GMT

Sources for Reuters are supporting Wall Street Journal claims that Apple is using 4-inch displays for the next iPhone, and has already begun to place orders for the new parts. As with the earlier report, Reuters says that LG Display, Sharp, and Japan Display are handling production, which is allegedly in early stages; full production orders could begin in June. iPhone assembly could start as soon as August, if Apple follows normal patterns. One source comments that it's still uncertain what share of display production each supplier will have....

NTT Docomo reveals summer phones, anime store

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:10:00 GMT

Japan's NTT Docomo has revealed its summer lineup of releases including 16 Android 4.0 smartphones, a tablet, a mobile phone for children and a mobile Wi-Fi router. The announcement comes at the same time as plans for the company's Dmarket content to be expanded to offer anime videos and music on a flat-rate basis for smartphones and tablets....

Plastic Logic won't build devices, to license tech instead

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:59:00 GMT

E-paper and device maker Plastic Logic revealed on Wednesday that it will stop plans to release a branded e-book reader using its own advanced e-paper display, SlashGear revealed. Instead, the company will turn its attention to developing license and technology partnerships in order to get its rugged plastic displays into devices made by other companies. As part of the announcement, the US development facility will be shut down, though a research and development center is expected to open in Russia....

GM to pull Facebook ads

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:33:00 GMT

General Motors has announced that it will cease advertising on Facebook, Agence France-Presse reports. The move could signal trouble for Facebook, which is currently attempting to allay prospective stockholder concerns in the run-up to its initial public offering....

Sprint to cease offering early upgrades on June 1

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:29:00 GMT

A leaked memo shared by TechnoBuffalo indicates that Sprint will put an end to its early upgrade program. Basically, the carrier let some users who were close to their hardware upgrade eligibility date -- say two weeks -- upgrade to a new phone. The change is due to "high costs," Sprint explained in the memo, and four other options are given to staff in order to appease customers....

Xiaomi intros cheaper, less powerful Youth Edition phone

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:41:00 GMT

The hot-selling Xiaomi Mi One just received a smaller brother, the cheaper and less powerful Youth Edition. The smartphone will cost 1,500 yuan (about $240) or 500 yuan ($50) less than the M1. Major specs such as the 4-inch, 854x480 touchscreen and eight-megapixel camera will be retained, as will the 4GB of built-in storage and 1,930mAh battery....

Verizon brings 4G network to 28 new markets, expands in 11

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:46:00 GMT

Verizon announced it will begin offering its 4G network services in 28 new cities on May 17. At the same time, it will expand coverage in 11 cities. This will bring the total 4G coverage of the carrier at 258 cities, covering over two thirds of the US population....

Leaked specs for HTC Ville C show Snapdragon S3 CPU

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:13:00 GMT

The specs of an upcoming handset, the HTC Ville C, have been spotted by BriefMobile. They reveal a version of the HTC One S (shown) that is reported to be less costly, mainly thanks to its Snapdragon S3 processor rather than the S4 in the One S. It's being billed as ultra-slim, though exactly how thin isn't known....

China Mobile still in talks for iPhone, chairman says

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:05:00 GMT

China Mobile is in talks with Apple to offer the iPhone, confirms Mobile chairman Xi Guohua. The executive made the statement on Wednesday at a shareholder meeting in Hong Kong, his first since replacing Wang Jianzhou, who retired in March. Apple has refused to comment, and Xi didn't elaborate much further at the meeting, saying he couldn't predict if a deal would be reached this year. "China Mobile and Apple both have the will to strengthen cooperation," he commented. "When there is more specific news, we will disclose it."...

T-Mobileís HTC Sensation 4G and Amaze 4G get ICS

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:54:00 GMT

T-Mobile has taken to Twitter to announce that its pair of HTC 4G smartphones will be upgraded to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The first device to get the update will be the Sensation 4G, which gets an over-the-air update starting today. Amaze 4G users can expect to get their taste of ICS starting from May 21....

WSJ says Apple has ordered 4-inch displays for next iPhone

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:20:00 GMT

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has placed orders for iPhone displays measuring ëat least 4-inches diagonallyí for its sixth generation iPhone expected in October. Citing ëpeople familiar with the situationí production on the new displays is set to begin next month. Apple is said to be working with LG, Sharp and Japan Display (a newly formed partnership between Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba) on the new screens, which can be expected to be Retina Display-class....

Samsung and HTC stock nosedive, both thanks to Apple

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:04:00 GMT

Samsung and HTC stock have both taken a hit thanks to separate actions instigated by Apple. Samsungís stock saw $10 billion wiped off its value following a report by DigiTimes indicating that Apple had placed a large order for DRAM from its struggling Japanese competitor Elpida. Separately, HTCís shares also slumped by over 6 percent following an Apple initiated ITC injunction being enforced by US Customs, stopping the importation of its hotly anticipated One X and EVO 4G LTE handsets....

Scytl to strengthen online voting on computer, mobile

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:35:00 GMT

Election software maker Scytl has announced the development of an improved online voting encryption technology. The Baltimore-based company claims the breakthrough guarantees end-to-end security for both computer-based online voting as well as mobile phone voting. Scytl provides voting services to 340,000 French citizens living abroad, some US troops deployed overseas, and provide internet balloting for 350,000 in the city of Halifax, amongst other clients....

US Customs holding HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE phones

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:50:00 GMT

HTC has confirmed that US Customs is holding shipments of the HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE smartphones. An International Trade Commission (ITC) ban is in place, preventing the customs release while a review of the shipments for non-infringement of Apple patents is underway. HTC has protested the hold, saying it believes the phones are no longer in violation of the sales injunction applied by the ITC....

Toshiba Canvio 3.0 drive adds Mac NTFS write support

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:45:00 GMT

Toshiba has added two higher-capacity models to its Canvio line. The line is now buttressed by the Canvio 3.0 and Canvio Basics 3.0, which now offer up to 1.5TB of storage space. The Canvio 3.0 includes software allowing OS X to both read and write the NTFS file system....

Google versus Oracle jury starts patent deliberation

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:10:00 GMT

The same California jury that couldn't decide on the "fair use" aspects of the Google versus Oracle is now debating Oracle's patent claims. Oracle began this suit in 2010, claiming that Android infringes on its Java patents. Google says that it has not infringed and furthermore, Oracle can't copyright certain parts of Java, an open source language. Closing arguments were made today in phase two of the three-phase, multi-year trial....

Apple files to dismiss Siri lawsuits

Wed, 16 May 2012 03:36:00 GMT

Apple has filed to dismiss a range of lawsuits filed against it over the performance of Siri, the digital assistant featured on the iPhone 4S. Apple contends in its motion that the plaintiffs in the case lack standing to pursue their case, have improperly interpreted Apple's advertising of Siri, and have failed to pursue other means of redress beyond litigation....

Google Docs gets new research tool

Wed, 16 May 2012 02:53:00 GMT

Google slipped a new feature into its Google Docs online productivity suite today, adding the ability to conduct Google searches within the document. In addition to making it easier to search for additional information, the new tool incorporates a number of other features, streamlining the construction of a research document. This marks the second major feature addition to Google Docs in as many weeks....

Baidu wants platform on Android, iOS, Windows

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:29:00 GMT

Fresh off the announcement of its new mobile phone, Chinese search company Baidu has told TechCrunch that it has big plans the Baidu Cloud Smart Terminal system that runs its new phone. Baidu wants to see Baidu Cloud make an appearance on all major mobile operating systems, including Windows Phone and iOS....

Apple iOS6 traces appear in developer's usage logs

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:40:00 GMT

An unnamed app developer informed 9to5Mac earlier today that users accessing its software had been identified as running iOS 6 by analytics. Other unidentified developers polled have also been seeing the hallmarks of the new iOS version since late April. Versions of iOS 5 appeared prior to the 2011 Apple World Wide Developer's Conference in the same manner....

Disney Corp may add ESPN to Apple TV

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:45:00 GMT

The Walt Disney Company's network executive Sean Bratches said in an interview today that Disney would consider allowing the WatchESPN service application on the Apple TV set top device. Prior authentication of cable access would be required to view. No deal is imminent....

Google expands partnerships for 'portfolio' of Nexus devices

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:31:00 GMT

Google is reportedly preparing to shift its Android strategy away from exclusive partnerships that have resulted in the existing Nexus-branded devices. The search giant is said to be embracing multiple hardware makers that will simultaneously develop different devices powered by the next major Android release, referred to as Jelly Bean, unnamed sources have told The Wall Street Journal (sub. required)....

Baidu releases low-cost smartphone

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:42:00 GMT

Chinese search giant Baidu has released its first smartphone, as it was rumored to be preparing to do last week. The Changhong H5018 is built by Foxconn and is powered by Baidu's own mobile platform, Baidu Cloud....

Netgear ships first 802.11ac router, intros USB adapter

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:40:00 GMT

Netgear has released its first 802.11ac router using the new Wi-Fi specification. The R6300 router, which is said to be capable of combined Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1750Mbps, ships at the same time as announcements for a more budget-conscious R6200 router and the A6200 Wi-Fi dongle, aiming to be the first 802.11ac dual-band USB adapter to market....

T-Mobile exec warns of additional layoffs

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:20:00 GMT

T-Mobile CEO Philip Humm has reportedly distributed a memo to employees warning of "difficult decisions" as the company prepares to announce further restructuring plans. The note does not detail the extent of such cuts, though the executive suggests it is forced to find a new strategy that "aligns our costs with our revenue realities" to help the company "return to growth."...

Retina update also coming to MacBook Air, sources say

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Apple will also announce Retina display-equipped MacBook Airs at this year's WWDC, supply chain sources for 9to5Mac say. The company is already believed to be preparing news of Retina MacBook Pros and iMacs, and an Air would complete the lineup of Macs with built-in displays. 9to5 claims that unlike the Pro, though, the Air's update will be almost entirely about the display, rather than incorporating any major design changes....

Chrome 19 stable release brings cross-platform tab sync

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:25:00 GMT

Google has announced that Chrome 19 is now available as a stable build, enabling users to try out the new features that were announced early last month. The latest overhaul to the company's browser broadens sync capabilities between devices and platforms. Users can open multiple tabs on the desktop browser, then pick up their Android 4.0 phone and access the same content from the mobile Chrome beta....

Open Mobile brings Android apps to Tizen

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:21:00 GMT

A company called Open Mobile has been demoing a method that allows devices running Tizen, Samsung and Intel's in-house mobile OS, to run apps intended for use on Android devices. As a video from The Handheld Blog shows, the technology could allow for future Tizen devices to circumvent the dearth of apps that typically plagues devices based on alternate operating systems....

BBC to stream 24 HD Olympic Games channels online

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:05:00 GMT

The BBC has explained how it will cover the London 2012 Olympic Games. The home-nation broadcaster will stream 24 live feeds in HD to cover every event, matching the increase in video feeds for digital broadcasts in the UK during the event....

HP loses battle over $190m IRS bill for shady tax dealings

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:02:00 GMT

A US Tax Court judge has ruled against HP in a lengthy legal case that centers around $190 million in tax payouts to the Internal Revenue Service. The agency years ago disputed the company's tax returns, accusing the company of exaggerating deductions through a complex series of international investments, known as foreign tax credit generation, to slash tax payouts in the US....

AT&T withdraws U-verse Xbox 360 bundle for improvements

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:40:00 GMT

AT&T has stopped sales of the U-verse bundle for Xbox 360, citing work to ìimprove and enhanceî the functionality, according to a message on its website. The bundle will not be up for sale again until the new functionality is added, a representative has told Multichannel....

Greenpeace stages iCloud protest at Apple's Cupertino HQ

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT

Environmental activist group Greenpeace has staged a protest at Apple's Cupertino headquarters, notes AppleInsider. Images were projected onto the main building overnight, including supportive messages from users on Twitter and Facebook. Activists also secured themselves inside a so-called "survival device," measuring 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Four activists dressed themselves as iPhones, complete with screens again displaying messages from Twitter and Facebook....

Sony, Panasonic in talks to team up on OLED production?

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:59:00 GMT

Sony and Panasonic are rumored to be in talks on teaming up to produce OLED panels for HDTVs, the Wall Street Journal revealed on Tuesday. This will help the two companies share the hefty production costs related to the manufacturing of the advanced panels. The negotiations are still in the early stage, the unnamed sources said, and may end up falling apart altogether or see other potential partners jump onboard the partnership....

Samsung details Android 4.0 updates for T-Mobile devices

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:39:00 GMT

Samsung has expanded its Android 4.0 update list to include several devices sold through T-Mobile. The carrier appears to have committed to Ice Cream Sandwich for several Galaxy handsets and two Galaxy Tabs....

Further reports suggest MacBook Pros going back to NVIDIA

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:27:00 GMT

Two new reports may reinforce claims that Apple is switching back to NVIDIA GPUs for the new MacBook Pro. The Verge cites a "trusted source" as saying Apple is migrating away from AMD video. ABC News is echoing the same view from its own sources, but further suggesting that Apple will use the GeForce GT 650M....

T-Mobile update for Sensation 4G to necessitate hotspot fee

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:12:00 GMT

When T-Mobile releases the Android 4.0 update for the HTC Sensation 4G tomorrow, it will bring with it a mandatory $15 per month charge for the wireless hotspot feature. According to PCMag, some users have thus far got the feature for free. Some other handsets due to get the latest OS soon at the carrier do not carry such a provision, however, including the Amaze 4G....

Analysts: iOS Chrome to spark browser wars

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:07:00 GMT

Google is likely to launch a version of its Chrome browser for Apple's iOS line of devices in the coming months, according to analysts at Macquarie Capital. Macquarie sees the iOS Chrome launch as the opening salvo in a new round of Browser Wars, the likes of which the Internet hasn't seen since the late 1990s....

DealNN roundup: SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard, only $34

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:20:00 GMT

Today's deals from DealNN include discounted keyboards, headphones, and more. Newegg.com has recently lowered the cost of the SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard with eight programmable hotkeys, two USB 2.0 ports, multiple media controls, and on-the-fly macro recording. Currently featured at DealNN, the gaming keyboard is now available for the discounted price of $34.99 and offers savings of up to $55....

Voyager Mobile delays launch due to network attack

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:19:00 GMT

Voyager Mobile, the new prepaid carrier that was due to launch on Tuesday, has announced it needs to delay the debut due to a malicious network attack on its website. Instead, the service and site will launch in the "very near future," though exactly when this will be remains to be seen. The carrier promises to bring contract-free, all-in plans that start at just $19 per month when users bring their own hardware....

Rumor has 7.85-inch iPad using thin-film touch technology

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:54:00 GMT

Apple's often-reported 7/7.85-inch iPad will use "G/F2" thin-film touch technology, a rumor from DigiTimes claims. The site says that Nitto will supply thin-film materials, while Nissha Printing and TPK will produce touchscreens. For Apple the advantage should not only be a thinner display, but also reduced costs, which may be essential if the tablet has a $200-250 pricetag rumored elsewhere....

KDDI to begin tests of Android-powered Smart TV Box

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:51:00 GMT

Japanese hardware maker KDDI announced this week it will begin consumer testing of a new Smart TV Box this summer. The device will run on Android 4.0 and connect to HDTVs and enable sharing of content between Android smartphones and tablets. Other details are scarce, though some form of web access is more than likely....

Lenovo brings Ivy Bridge chips to ThinkPad lineup

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:50:00 GMT

Lenovo has introduced a range of revised ThinkPad notebooks, each equipped with Intel's latest Ivy Bridge processors. Aside from the 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbonódubbed the "lightest 14-inch ultrabook in the industry"óthe company also added new models to its L, T, W, and X series....

Samsung Galaxy S III reaches FCC without LTE support

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:33:00 GMT

The FCC has posted a filing for the Samsung Galaxy S III without LTE onboard. The tested handset seems to be the global release version, which is limited to HSPA+ and EDGE, with the filing more a formality for handset imports to the US before the LTE variant is released....

Western Digital completes asset transfer to Toshiba

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:21:00 GMT

The FTC-imposed transfer of assets by hard drive maker Western Digital (WD) to Toshiba is now completed, the company announced on Tuesday. The move was required by regulatory bodies due to monopoly concerns after WD revealed its intention to purchase Hitachi's Viviti hard drive maker. Previously, Viviti was known as Hitachi Global Storage Technologies....

Review: Nokia Lumia 900

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:57:00 GMT

Nokia's Lumia 900 represents the pinnacle of the company's new smartphone strategy, pairing premium components with a unique design and Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system. In our full review, we try to determine if the LTE radio, large display and other high-end features will help Nokia and Microsoft fulfill their dream of finally reestablishing themselves in the US smartphone market....