Reviews Technology

The energy savings and the electrical Featured at Detroit

2012-01-12T12:29:00.004-06:00

To have already a few shows in Detroit, and for discussion with the American journalist B.Diem , it has never been much question of "fuel economy". Even in America, we hear about eco driving and saving energy. The test now is the MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent) in other words consumption ... Even if the power is never far away. Anyway, even if it is above all a business case is a huge step forward. The best example is provided by Ford, including the new Fusion (the Mondeo in Europe) is the only model to be launched with three energies at the same time (thermal, hybrid and plug-in hybrid).

But apart from this case very symbolic, it is rather the foreign manufacturers that have hosted the show. I propose to talk about the different energies starting with the hybrid.

Mercedes was the event with two new versions based on E-Class: E 300 Bluetec Hybrid a diesel (204 hp, 4.2 L/100 km) and E 400 hybrid gasoline (306 hp, 10.5 L/100 km). The first is for Europe, the second for the American market.
BMW was not left with the Active Hybrid 3, which contains the same ingredients as its big sister of the 5 Series. Ie: the six-cylinder engine Power Twin Turbo 306 HP (the 335i), an electric motor of 55 horsepower and a bonus of 8-speed automatic transmission. Series 3 Hybrid will be equipped with the ECO PRO mode allows the driver to choose between running sports + sports, comfort or economy. It features the recovery of braking energy, the gearshift indicator and many other features to minimize fuel consumption. As Active Hybrid 5, the derivative of the 3 Series will roll over short distances in all-electric mode up to 60 km / h.

In addition, we have seen also the Volkswagen Jetta hybrid, and - best of all - a concept that marks the return of the NSX in Acura (Honda) with a direct-injection V6 coupled to an electric motor.

The Detroit show also marks the arrival of the first plug-in hybrids among "major manufacturers" (Fisker has been the rule)

I have already mentioned the case of the Fusion / Mondeo which uses the technology of the C-Max energy we see in Europe in 2013. But this is not the only example.
Volvo introduced the XC60 example plug-in, which is well suited to the United States. This concept combines a 2 L 4-cylinder turbocharged 280 hp - coupled with a new 8-speed automatic gearbox - with an electric motor of 70 hp (and 200 Nm of torque). The latter is positioned on the rear axle, which can benefit the 4-wheel drive. It is powered by a lithium-ion battery of 12 kWh. With a total output of 350 bhp, the XC60 Hybrid competes easily with the V8 petrol. This explains the reference to T8 on his body.
As his cousin, the V60 D6 (which is a hybrid diesel), this concept offers three driving modes:
- In Pure: an electric mode with a range of 45 km (the EU test cycle)
- Hybrid: when the electric motor assists the gasoline engine, consumption drops to 2.3 L/100 km to 53 g of CO2 per km (again according to the NEDC)
- Power: the XC60 delivers maximum power with 380 Nm of torque and amazing perfs (0 to 100 km / h in 6.1 s)
In addition, this concept introduces a new method of charging the battery (SAVE) in stock. Just press a button to recover enough to make up to 20 km in urban areas.
Toyota, for its part, will launch the plug-in Prius in the course of the year, surprised the world with the concept NS4 prefiguring a new model for 2015. The Japanese automaker wants to reduce consumption by reducing the size and weight of the components of the Hybrid Synergy Drive, while increasing acceleration. The brand also wants to increase the autonomy and power to promote a rapid charge.

In the area of pure electric, the news is dominated by the US launch of the Focus Electric, the imminent release of the Tesla Model S in (the family sedan announced below $ 50 000 and with up to 480 km range) and the commercial deployment of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf.

But it is another Japanese who honors the show. The ally of Renault has unveiled a version close to the NV series of 200 electrical future. This van for businesses and families back to the Leaf techno, but offers more space and payload. Note also in the area of electric production version of the Fit EV (electric jazz) Honda for the American market, a concept Hyundai Elantra VE (200 km of autonomy announced) and the surprising E-Bugster of Volkswagen. The German manufacturer has chosen to equip a Beetle with an electric motor developing 85 kW (115 hp) and able to take this two-seater coupe from 0 to 100 km / h in 10 "9 and in silence. At the front and weighing only 80 kg, this engine is powered by a lithium-ion battery located behind the seats, and whose autonomy is 180 km. But do not dream. There is no electric Beetle to the program and the components are those of the e-Golf Blue Motion 2013.

Future of the automobile: the will of the people

2012-01-12T12:05:00.001-06:00

Accenture has carried out a global study on the desires of drivers on the future of their cars. In short, the central question of this study was : what would you like to have in the future in your car?

The Accenture survey was conducted with 7000 Automobile in seven countries, including USA. Here are some important conclusions:

- 91% of respondents indicated they would be likely to use a system to assist lane change and a Blind Spot Monitoring,
- 83% say they want embedded devices that can automatically contact a company troubleshooting when necessary,
- 75% want a system that contacts without intervention from them a first aid center in case of accident,
- 83% would like their vehicle is equipped with a detection system for traffic lights, traffic jams, accidents and delays, can warn the driver in advance,
- 63% of respondents would like to have communication systems from vehicle to vehicle,
- 58% of respondents would like to read and dictate emails to their vehicles,
- 57% would like the windshield to act as a visual display showing the speed, for example, or information about what is going on the road in front of the vehicle.

The future car will be high-tech, or will not!

Tablets and mobile TV supplant for watching videos

2012-01-12T05:21:00.003-06:00

According to a global study by the firm Accenture, consumers are less willing to buy a TV. They prefer mobile devices.

According to a global study by Accenture published Wednesday, January 11, 2012, consumers are relying increasingly to smartphones and tablets to watch video content, paid or not, through online services or applications. At the same time, the good old TV is more and more abandoned.

The percentage of persons watching the programs offered by the air channels or those of the cable to a television during a typical week has increased from 71% in 2009 to only 48% in 2011. Similarly, the percentage of consumers likely to buy a TV over the next twelve months fell by three percentage points between 2010 and 2011 (35% against 32%).

"Consumers who favor a lifestyle connected anywhere and anytime, are turning increasingly to other consumer electronics for everyday leisure that only allowed television before. While it is no question that consumers continue to buy televisions, their preferences are changing, "says Jean-Laurent Poitou, responsible for strategy and development of high-tech sector within Accenture.

Smartphones and tablets do not know the crisis

The study reported an impressive growth in the use of smartphones and digital tablets even as consumers place increasingly importance on mobility. Over half, 53% of respondents own a smartphone, against 28% in 2010.

The rate of possession of the tablets increased by 8% in 2010 to 12% in 2011. In addition, consumers who participated in the study considering buy as many consumer electronic products in 2012 and 2011. Between 2010 and 2011, the number of respondents planning to acquire a smartphone from 24% to 27% and 8% to 16% for a tablet, these devices are increasingly used for entertainment . For example, 44% of the owners of bars to watch streaming programs and 43% download applications at least once a week.

The decline of the DVD and the rise of streaming

Over half, 56% of respondents reported having changed their behavior because of the availability of online services and the development of cloud computing. Almost a third (32%) dropped out or substantially abandoned the rental and purchase DVDs; quarter (25%) share more personal information with family and friends and 19% have access to this data from more devices than before. Three quarters (75%) use email, 37% participate in online games and 26% watch streaming content.
The most frequent users of online services to identify among the younger generation (18-34): in fact, almost 47% of them participate in online games and over a third (36%) watch streaming programs.

New requirements for the purchase of a TV

With the success of the tablets, consumers are becoming more demanding in their choice of future TV. In terms of their purchasing criteria, many cite above all the price (55%) and HD (42%). Only 25% cited the 3D Internet access as essential features.
This study was conducted among 10,000 consumers online by taking a representative sample of the population of 10 countries, including USA (South Africa, Germany, Brazil, China, USA, France, India, Japan, Russia and Sweden ). It focuses on the use and expenditure on consumer electronics devices 19 and the applications and services.

Belarus restricts internet access

2012-01-09T07:14:00.000-06:00

The opposition Charter 97 website was disabled by hackers last month A new law in Belarus will restrict access to foreign websites and force internet clubs and cafes to report users visiting sites registered abroad.

The law, which takes effect on Friday, says anyone selling goods or services to Belarus citizens on the web must use the .by Belarusian domain name.

That would make it illegal for firms like Amazon or eBay to sell goods to customers in Belarus.

Fines for breaking the law range as high as 1m Belarus rubles (£77; $120).

The law says people offering internet services to the public - whether at a cafe, club or in their own home - will face fines if their customers visit foreign websites and such visits are not properly recorded and reported.

Anyone found accessing "extremist" or "pornographic" websites will also be fined, the law says.

President Alexander Lukashenko has been in power in the ex-Soviet republic since 1994.

His muzzling of the opposition has been condemned by the EU and US, who have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on him and dozens of his associates.

Dissidents targeted

At the end of December the Belarus opposition website Charter 97, run from outside Belarus, was disabled by a cyber attack.

The site's chief editor Natalya Radzina told the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists that the attackers had deleted archives and posted a false news story about opposition presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.

Last May Mr Sannikov, co-founder of Charter 97, was jailed for five years for organising mass protests during the December 2010 presidential election.

Ms Radzina, who works in exile in neighbouring Lithuania, said the hackers got into the website by using a password, probably by sending malware to an editor's computer.

In December 2010 the authorities cracked down on protests against alleged vote-rigging in the presidential election.

More than 600 people were detained, including seven of the election candidates.

International monitors said the contest, in which Mr Lukashenko officially won 80% of the vote, was deeply flawed.

The UK's Europe Minister David Lidington says the UK is pursuing "all means possible to keep up the pressure for the release and rehabilitation of prisoners and for the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Belarus".

Lawyers in Belarus say it is too early to tell what impact the new law will have, according to Euroradio.fm, an independent Belarusian news and music website.

A Belarusian advertising agency, RG Media, which does business with foreign websites, also said the new law "does not look very clear". "We have no idea how it will affect us," the company told Euroradio.

The Belarus interior ministry told Euroradio that any policeman would have the power to enforce the new law.

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Microsoft celebrates death of IE6

2012-01-09T05:41:00.000-06:00

Microsoft could not be happier to see the back of IE6 Microsoft has celebrated the imminent demise of version 6 of its Internet Explorer browser by baking a cake.

The software giant held the light-hearted celebration as it revealed that the program was used by less than 1% of US internet surfers.

It is keen to kill off the old version of the browser and persuade users to move to IE8 or 9.

Meanwhile rival Google has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown on the promotion of its Chrome browser.

Chrome climbdown

It has downgraded Chrome in its search listings after the discovery that a marketing campaign paid bloggers to promote a video about it.

The search giant has distanced itself from the campaign, blaming third-party marketing firm Essence Digital.

The issue was discovered by Aaron Wall, who wrote in his SEO Book blog, how he found that a search for "This post is sponsored by Google" threw up more than 400 pages written as part of a marketing campaign.

Search expert Danny Sullivan said the revelation was "jaw-dropping".

"Google, the company that has been fighting against paid links and 'thin' content seems to be behind a campaign that's generating both on behalf of its Chrome browser. File this under 'what were they thinking?'" he wrote on his SearchEngine blog.

Google told the BBC that it had never commissioned Essence Digital to approach bloggers and place sponsored links.

In its own statement, Essence Digital said: "Google never approved a sponsored-post campaign. They only agreed to buy online video ads. Google have consistently avoided paid postings to promote their products, because in their view these kind of promotions are not transparent or in the best interests of users.

"We apologise to Google who clearly didn't authorise this."

Celebration

Over at Microsoft headquarters, the mood was more upbeat.

"Time to pop open the champagne because based on the latest data from Net Applications, IE6 usages in the US has now officially dropped below 1%," blogged Roger Capriotti, Microsoft's director of Internet Explorer marketing.

"We hope this means more developers and IT pros can consider IE6 a 'low priority' at this point and stop spending their time having to support such an outdated browser," he added.

In dropping below 1% of usage, the United States joins Austria, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, which have already seen usage fall to very low levels.

In the UK, IE6 usage remains at about 1.4%, although some countries have far higher usage levels. In China, for example, it remains at about 25%.

Richard Edwards, a principal analyst at research firm Ovum, is unsurprised Microsoft is glad to see the back of IE6.

"I think it was rated one of the worst software products of all time by one tech magazine at the time of its release," he said.

The browser was plagued by security issues which has its own knock-on effect, he thinks.

"In many ways, corporate computer networks have been locked down since partly because of the vulnerabilities found in IE6," said Mr Edwards.

Mobile battleground

Industry watchers have predicted that despite Google's current marketing woes, Chrome could overtake IE as the leading global browser in 2012.

Many had previously said that Mozilla's Firefox would be the most likely candidate to end Microsoft's dominance.

According to data from measurement firm StatCounter, Chrome increased its market share from 15.6% in January 2011 to 27% by the end of the year. At the same time, Microsoft dropped from 46% to 38.6%. Firefox also fell, from 30.6% at the beginning of 2011 to 25.7% by December.

Mr Edwards is more cautious.

"As long as Windows dominates, IE9 will remain the number one browser," he said.

He added that the browser wars were moving to mobile.

"That will be the next battleground. That's where Microsoft has to focus because that is its Achilles heel. Its mobile browser is some way off those for Android and iOS devices," he said.

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Underwater neutrino telescopes

2012-01-09T04:10:00.000-06:00

One of the new telescopes will replace existing equipment already installed in a deep Russian lake The number of "eyes" scanning the universe in search of a particle that could shed light on our universe's formation is about to multiply.

High-energy cosmic neutrinos are only able to be detected by a few existing detectors hidden in what may seem bizarre places - inside mountains, underground, underwater and even in solid ice.

Operators use them to unravel the mysteries of cosmos, aiming to provide insights into the nature of dark matter, the evolution of stars and the origin of cosmic rays.

They may also be able to test the results of recent experiments that suggested neutrinos were faster than light which were carried out a Cern, the world's biggest physics laboratory.

Soon two more telescopes will join the network.

The first, a 1 cubic km (0.24 cubic miles) detector, is set to replace an existing small octopus-like device floating more than 1km (0.6 miles) below Russia's Lake Baikal.

The second is destined for the bottom of the Mediterranean and will dwarf its counterpart.

KM3NeT - an acronym of "kilometre-cubed neutrino telescope" - will sit at depths of 3 to 5km and is planned to have a volume of some 5 cu km.

It will consist of a number of vertical strings with spherical modules attached to them. These glass "balls" contain sensors which search for the neutrinos.

Each string will be almost 1km long - so once the entire structure "stands" at the bottom of the Mediterranean, it will be taller than the highest building in the world, the 830-metre Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The thousands of pressure-resistant optical sensors will register rare and faint flashes of the so-called Cherenkov light - electromagnetic radiation emitted by charged particles originating from collisions of high-energy neutrinos and the Earth.

Continue reading the main story

Neutrinos

Neutrinos are among the most basic building blocks of the Universe - tiny "elementary" particles.

They are produced in certain types of radioactive decay and in nuclear reactions - including those that occur within stars.

The particles are also generated when cosmic rays interact with the other matter in our Universe.

They have no electric charge and negligible mass (a neutrino has less than a billionth the mass of a single hydrogen atom).

The particles come in several different versions, and can flip between these different neutrino "flavours".

Neutrinos interact weakly with other types of matter, which has led to their nickname: "ghost particles".

In fact, a neutrino can pass through about six trillion miles of lead without hitting a single atom.

Researchers in Italy say the particles seem to travel faster than the speed of light.

But this result is still unexplained and may be due to an error.

Like all the other neutrino telescopes, KM3NeT needs to be in as deep and dark a place as possible, to screen out the other particles which bombard our planet from above.

This European effort involves 40 institutes or university groups from 10 countries.

At the moment, there are several neutrino detectors, but only three are searching for the high-energy elusive particle. They are NT-200 in Baikal; Antares, located 2.5km under the Mediterranean; and IceCube in the ice at the South Pole.

To embrace the entire Earth, neutrino telescopes must be located in both northern and southern hemispheres, peering in opposite directions.

'Ghost particles'

Our universe hosts many violent processes including supernovae stellar explosions, star collisions and huge cosmic blasts known as gamma-ray bursts.

These phenomena accelerate charged particles to extremely high energies, far exceeding those reached in laboratory experiments on Earth, creating what is known as high-energy cosmic rays.

The rays propagate through the universe, and rain down on the Earth's atmosphere.

Although astronomers have registered cosmic rays for years, they have been unable to pinpoint their sources.

High-energy neutrinos, think scientists, may be able to help.

The KM3NeT telescope is set to be made up of hundreds of slender strings, each supporting dozens of sensors

These subatomic particles are born from cosmic rays' reaction with matter in the universe, so they are believed to originate at the heart of the same violent processes as the rays.

But unlike cosmic rays, neutrinos have no electric charge and almost zero mass.

They have such little interaction with normal matter that they travel unhindered through space, covering great distances. That includes passing through every one of us and our planet, in a straight line.

Being able to speed through the universe without deviation or absorption means they should be able to point back to their origin, making them unique cosmic messengers.

"Registering a high-energy neutrino could be our opportunity to see its source - and it would also guarantee that high energy cosmic rays come from there too, helping us learn more about them and the universe," says Dr Oleg Kalekin, one of the researchers working on the project at the University of Erlangen in Germany.

But detecting a high-energy neutrino is very tricky.

They are so difficult to spot that scientists have nicknamed them "ghost particles".

Lower-energy cosmic neutrinos originating in our Sun, in the Earth's atmosphere, and even in a supernova from a nearby dwarf galaxy have been registered.

However, we have yet to "catch" a high-energy astrophysical neutrino from far away, and there has only been indirect proof of its existence.

From big to bigger

Stumped by continuous failures to spot a real distant traveller, researchers now believe they need to act big.

Continue reading the main story

Hidden telescopes

The telescopes searching for high-energy astrophysical neutrinos are nothing like normal telescopes that astronomers point at the sky.

Not only do these devices look very different, they also have to be either deep underwater, underground or in solid ice. This is done to filter out low-energy atmospheric neutrinos that are created when cosmic rays pass through the atmosphere.

These low-energy particles constantly rain at us from above, and make it extremely difficult to register the neutrinos that come from faraway space.

But once deep underwater, in the darkness, the telescopes manage to screen out most of this "background noise" - in the hope of spotting the particles that originated from distant parts of the universe.

"The neutrino observational window at low energies has been opened," says Dr Christian Spiering of DESY, a German research centre for particle physics, who has been involved in the KM3NeT project.

"We want to open it at high energies and see how this terra incognita looks.

"To do that, we need bigger detectors."

Bigger, he explains, is at least 1cu km. This is why the IceCube detector was built. It started working at full capacity in 2010 and may get even larger in future.

Hence the plans for the lake telescope - Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) - and the colossal KM3NeT.

Although no one has been able to register a high-energy neutrino, the race is on to get there first, says astrophysicist Bair Shaibonov, from the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna - one of the researchers participating in the Baikal project.

This is why, he says, the detector in Russia is being upgraded.

Organisers plan to submerge the first 350m-long vertical string with attached spherical modules during next year's annual expedition out on Baikal's thick ice in March and April.

Conditions at Baikal, the world's deepest lake, are ideal for a neutrino telescope, he adds.

"We have a metre-thick ice, a natural platform for upgrades and repairs. There are no storms, and the water is fresh, so the equipment doesn't rust as quickly.

"And building a huge telescope here would be only a fraction of the cost of KM3NeT or IceCube."

For now, the ambitious project is backed by only a few Russian institutes.

Sinking the sensors into icy Lake Baikal helps filter out the "noise" of other neutrino particles

Whether the effort will make it beyond the first string, to the full 1 cu km, will depend on funding. The project relies both on private grants and the support of the Russian government.

The scientist overseeing Baikal-GVD, professor Grigorii Domogatskii of the Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, is certain the venture will take off, calling it one of the most ambitious projects in the area of astroparticle physics in Russia.

In any case, building Baikal-GVD should not be a waste of resources: together with KM3NeT, these two big, powerful detectors in the northern hemisphere will complement IceCube - increasing the chances of homing on an elusive high-energy astrophysical neutrino.

And when that happens, a door may open to a new era of uncovering deep space enigmas.

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Knighthood for Apple design head

2012-01-09T01:52:00.000-06:00

Mr Ive has been behind many of the iconic gadgets of the last 15 years Jonathan Ive, Apple's head of design, has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list.

Mr Ive, who can now style himself Sir Jonathan, has been made a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE).

Raised in Chingford, Mr Ive began working for Apple in 1992 and since then has been the brains behind many of its products.

He described the honour as "absolutely thrilling" and said he was "both humbled and sincerely grateful".

Mr Ive added: "I am keenly aware that I benefit from a wonderful tradition in the UK of designing and making.

"I discovered at an early age that all I've ever wanted to do is design."

Team work

Mr Ive has been lauded for the tight fit between form and function seen in Apple gadgets such as the iPod and iPhone.

Born in February 1967, Mr Ive inherited a love of making things from his father, a silversmith, and reportedly spent much of his youth taking things apart to see how they worked.

From the age of 14, he said, he knew he was interested in drawing and making "stuff" and this led him to Newcastle Polytechnic - now Northumbria University - where he studied industrial design.

On graduation he started work as a commercial designer and then, with three friends, founded a design agency called Tangerine.

One of the clients for the agency was Apple which was so impressed with the work he did on a prototype notebook that it offered him a full-time job.

Mr Ive was apparently frustrated during his early years at Apple as the company was then suffering a decline. Everything changed, however, in 1996 when Apple bought Next and Steve Jobs returned to the company he helped found.

"What's made him so outstandingly successful is the relationship he's had with Steve Jobs and Apple," said Deyan Sudjic, director of The Design Museum.

"He's been working there for 19 years and has built up the kind of relationship that's very rare."

Mr Jobs described Mr Ive as his "spiritual partner" in the recent biography of the Apple co-founder written by Walter Isaacson. However, it also said that Mr Ive was "hurt" by Mr Jobs taking credit for innovations that came from the design team.

Mr Ive's eye for design combined effectively with Mr Jobs' legendary attention to detail and the products that have emerged from the company since the late 1990s have turned Apple into the biggest and most influential technology company on the planet.

Mr Sudjic said Mr Ive's talent was to help people stop worrying about technology and just get on with using it.

There have been some mis-steps along the way. Most recently, Apple's iPhone 4 was criticised because many people said signal strength dropped when their hand touched the phone's metal case. This was thought to be because the antenna for the handset formed part of the device's metal shell.

In contrast to many other design celebrities, said Mr Sudjic, Mr Ive had not cashed in on his fame but had let what he and his team created speak for itself.

Mr Sudjic said: "He has a very determined sense of getting things right."

The knighthood is the second time Mr Ive has been recognised in the honours list. In 2005 he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

His KBE was announced on the diplomatic and overseas list.

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Most pirated games 2011 revealed

2012-01-08T23:37:00.000-06:00

The most pirated game of 2011 was PC title Crysis 2, according to technology blog TorrentFreak.

It was downloaded illegally an estimated 3.2 million times after its release in March last year.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, FIFA 12 and Portal 2 made up the rest of the top five most pirated PC games.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 was the most downloaded Wii game while Gears of War 3 took top spot on the Xbox 360 list.

The PS3 isn't included in the list as far fewer games are illegally downloaded for that console.

TorrentFreak says the number of downloads of the top titles in each category is slightly lower than last year.

Super Mario Galaxy 2, released in 2010, is the most pirated Wii game for the second year in a row.

Meanwhile, Fast Five was the most pirated Hollywood film of 2011.

TorrentFreak estimates that the movie was illegally downloaded more than nine million times last year.

The Hangover II, Thor, The King's Speech and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 were also in the top 10.

The data for the estimated download numbers is collected by TorrentFreak from several sources, including reports from all public BitTorrent trackers.

PC game downloads on BitTorrent in 2011

1. Crysis 2 (Estimated 3.9 million)

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (3.6m)

3. Battlefield 3 (3.5m)

4. FIFA 12 (3.3m)

5. Portal 2 (3.2m)

Wii game downloads on BitTorrent in 2011

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (1.2 million)

2. Mario Sports Mix (1m)

3. Xenoblade Chronicles (950K)

4. Lego Pirates of the Caribbean (870K)

5. FIFA 12 (860K)

Xbox 360 downloads on BitTorrent in 2011

1. Gears of War 3 (890,000)

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (830K)

3. Battlefield 3 (760K)

4. Forza Motorsport 4 (720K)

5. Kinect Sports: Season Two (690K)

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US weapons 'wish list' revealed

2012-01-08T22:01:00.000-06:00

One mooted concept suggests forcing hostile planes to change direction by using lasers An alleged US military wish list of real and conceptual non-lethal weapons has been published online.

The document includes improvements to equipment already in use as well as proposals for new technologies.

The list includes lasers and heat beams designed to disperse crowds, and nausea-inducing sound waves targeted at scuba divers.

Experts said the document acted as a "sales pitch" for continued funding.

The list - named the Non-Lethal Weapons Reference Book - is said to have been produced by the US Department of Defense's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD).

A copy of the report was obtained and published by "anti-secrecy" site Public Intelligence. The organisation has a track record of publishing US government documents relating to national security.

A spokeswoman for the US Department of Defense said she could neither confirm nor deny the document's authenticity.

Running to over 100 pages, the report details the characteristics of each weapon - as well as possible collateral damage and the policy implications of its use.

Typical effects of the weapons on the human body include temporary blindness, deafness and loss of movement.

The Impulse Stunner gun is designed to keep hostile divers at a distance

One example, the Impulse Swimmer Gun, is described as being able to "suppress underwater swimmers and divers". It says an "underwater pulsed sound wave" affects a diver's hearing causing severe nausea.

The report noted "impact on aquatic life" as possible collateral damage. The weapon is marked as being in the "developmental" stage.

Of the more outlandish ideas, an entry for "Laser Based Flow Modification" details how lasers could be used to disrupt the aerodynamic flow around an aeroplane's wings, forcing an "enemy" plane to change direction.

Other non-lethal weapons said to be in development include:

A system designed to move people through an area by emitting a "heat sensation" causing "involuntary movement".Electro-muscular pulses which "substantially increase" the time a hostile person can be incapacitated.A portable system which emits high-powered microwaves capable of stalling a car engine at a distance.An unmanned, airborne vessel equipped with a microwave-emitting device capable of preventing a ship's propulsion by causing "electrical system malfunction".Never materialised

The JNLWD was setup in 1996 with the goal of facilitating and deploying non-lethal weapons in the US military in the wake of US operations in Somalia and Bosnia.

"They came up with a new set of missions that didn't involve blowing things up," explained James Lewis, military technology expert and senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The non-lethal technology is particularly useful in roadblock situations, Mr Lewis said

"They're developing the technologies to make it work. It's not clear if some of these things will ever see the light of day, but that's what they're trying to do."

The JNLWD has been criticised in the past for spending money on projects that had never materialised.

A 2009 report by the US Government Accountability Office said that the JNLWD had spent at least $386 million (£250m) on 50 research projects - but had failed to actually produce any new weapons.

However, a need to deploy non-lethal techniques in "nation-building" operations was becoming increasingly crucial, Mr Lewis told the BBC.

"One of the big problems in Iraq was if you set up a checkpoint and the cars didn't stop. At least half the time the car was completely innocent - but the only thing guys had to stop them with were weapons."

Mr Lewis told the BBC that this document was designed as a fresh sales pitch to Congress and the Department of Defense.

"It says: 'here's what we've done, here's what we'd like to do, and here's why you want to do it.'"

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'Spam capital' India arrests six

2012-01-08T20:05:00.000-06:00

Every month, Indians are adopting the internet in their millions - but growth is attracting crime Police in India say they have arrested six foreign nationals suspected of defrauding hundreds of people using text message and email scams.

Scam victims were duped after being told they had won a lottery.

Authorities seized 14 laptops, seven memory sticks and 23 mobile phones, as well as fake documents and cash.

The arrests come after security firm Kaspersky reported that India now sent more spam than any other country in the world.

Police said the six men, all Nigerian, would be remanded in custody until 12 January.

The arrests signal attempts to crack down on a growing cybercrime problem in the region.

Mumbai-based internet security specialist Vijay Mukhi said poor enforcement of laws meant spammers could act with impunity.

"We have an Information Technology Act that was introduced in 2000. But we don't have any convictions under it and it's silent on spam," he said.

Continue reading the main story

The crackdown is being seen as a positive sign in India where the officials have been accused of not keeping up with cybercriminals.

Indian companies are now taking cyber-threats seriously as a number of recent surveys have pointed out that there appeared to be a considerable lack of preparedness to counter such threats.

Indian corporations lost an estimated $27.8 million (£17.8m) in the first half of 2011 due to phishing attacks, said RSA, the security division of data specialist EMC.

It is not just corporations but individuals too who are targeted as Indian internet users spend more and more time on Facebook, Google and Yahoo.

So increasingly, the attacks happen on social networks.

The threats mainly relate to intellectual property theft, online banking or trading frauds and phishing attacks.

In December 2011, hackers broke into the official website of India's ruling Congress Party and defaced the profile page of party president Sonia Gandhi with a pornographic message.

Though India has laws aimed at tackling cybercrime, many internet users feel it is not used effectively.

Even when arrests are made, very few people actually get convicted.

The police have recorded a little over 3,000 cases of cyber crime between 2007 and 2010, under various sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

"If I'm a spammer, I would rather spam from India to India and the rest of world because nothing will happen to me."

Free rein

In its report, Kaspersky said 14.8% of all spam email sent in the three months prior to the end of September had originated in India.

Darya Gudhova, Kaspersky's spam analyst, said a lack of security awareness had given spammers free rein.

She added that there was a growing level of cybercrime activity in developing regions such as Asia and Latin America.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI) estimates that the country has more than 112 million internet users, the third largest in the world after the US and China.

About seven million new users are being added every month, the IMAI said.

David Emm, a security researcher from Kaspersky Labs, said this growth was making life difficult for the authorities - but believed the arrests signalled a strong sign of intent from the Indian government to get a grip on scammers.

"One of the good things is that they are taking it as a serious issue," he told the BBC.

"Cybercrime activity is breaking out of the western European theatre and starting to affect other parts of the globe because of the massive growth in IT.

"[In Europe] we've had cybercrime legislation for a long time with lots of expertise and history of dealing with it - but if you go to other areas like Brazil or India, you find they don't necessarily have specific cybercrime legislation."

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Hackers prepare space satellites

2012-01-08T17:54:00.000-06:00

50 years after Russia's first piloted mission, hackers plan to send their own people beyond orbit Computer hackers plan to take the internet beyond the reach of censors by putting their own communication satellites into orbit.

The scheme was outlined at the Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin.

The project's organisers said the Hackerspace Global Grid will also involve developing a grid of ground stations to track and communicate with the satellites.

Longer term they hope to help put an amateur astronaut on the moon.

Hobbyists have already put a few small satellites into orbit - usually only for brief periods of time - but tracking the devices has proved difficult for low-budget projects.

The hacker activist Nick Farr first put out calls for people to contribute to the project in August. He said that the increasing threat of internet censorship had motivated the project.

"The first goal is an uncensorable internet in space. Let's take the internet out of the control of terrestrial entities," Mr Farr said.

He cited the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) in the United States as an example of the kind of threat facing online freedom. If passed, the act would allow for some sites to be blocked on copyright grounds.

Beyond balloons

Although space missions have been the preserve of national agencies and large companies, amateur enthusiasts have launched objects into the heavens.

High-altitude balloons have also been used to place cameras and other equipment into what is termed "near space". The balloons can linger for extended amounts of time - but are not suitable for satellites.

The amateur radio satellite Arissat-1 was deployed into low earth orbit last year via a spacewalk by two Russian cosmonauts from the International Space Station as part of an educational project.

Students and academics have also launched other objects by piggybacking official rocket launches.

Continue reading the main story

This [hacker] community can put humanity back in space in a meaningful way”

End Quote Nick Farr Hackerspace Global Grid project However, these devices have often proved tricky to pinpoint precisely from the ground.

According to Armin Bauer, a 26-year-old enthusiast from Stuttgart who is working on the Hackerspace Global Grid, this is largely due to lack of funding.

"Professionals can track satellites from ground stations, but usually they don't have to because, if you pay a large sum [to send the satellite up on a rocket], they put it in an exact place," Mr Bauer said.

In the long run, a wider hacker aerospace project aims to put an amateur astronaut onto the moon within the next 23 years.

"It is very ambitious so we said let's try something smaller first," Mr Bauer added.

Ground network

The Berlin conference was the latest meeting held by the Chaos Computer Club, a decades-old German hacker group that has proven influential not only for those interested in exploiting or improving computer security, but also for people who enjoy tinkering with hardware and software.

When Mr Farr called for contributions to Hackerspace, Mr Bauer and others decided to concentrate on the communications infrastructure aspect of the scheme.

Mr Bauer says the satellites could help provide communications to help put an amateur into space

He and his teammates are working on their part of the project together with Constellation, an existing German aerospace research initiative that mostly consists of interlinked student projects.

In the open-source spirit of Hackerspace, Mr Bauer and some friends came up with the idea of a distributed network of low-cost ground stations that can be bought or built by individuals.

Used together in a global network, these stations would be able to pinpoint satellites at any given time, while also making it easier and more reliable for fast-moving satellites to send data back to earth.

"It's kind of a reverse GPS," Mr Bauer said.

"GPS uses satellites to calculate where we are, and this tells us where the satellites are. We would use GPS co-ordinates but also improve on them by using fixed sites in precisely-known locations."

Mr Bauer said the team would have three prototype ground stations in place in the first half of 2012, and hoped to give away some working models at the next Chaos Communication Congress in a year's time.

They would also sell the devices on a non-profit basis.

"We're aiming for 100 euros (£84) per ground station. That is the amount people tell us they would be willing to spend," Mr Bauer added.

Complications

Experts say the satellite project is feasible, but could be restricted by technical limitations.

"Low earth orbit satellites such as have been launched by amateurs so far, do not stay in a single place but rather orbit, typically every 90 minutes," said Prof Alan Woodward from the computing department at the University of Surrey.

Continue reading the main story

Any country could take the law into their own hands and disable the satellites”

End Quote Prof Alan Woodward Surrey University "That's not to say they can't be used for communications but obviously only for the relatively brief periods that they are in your view. It's difficult to see how such satellites could be used as a viable communications grid other than in bursts, even if there were a significant number in your constellation."

This problem could be avoided if the hackers managed to put their satellites into geostationary orbits above the equator. This would allow them to match the earth's movement and appear to be motionless when viewed from the ground. However, this would pose a different problem.

"It means that they are so far from earth that there is an appreciable delay on any signal, which can interfere with certain Internet applications," Prof Woodward said.

"There is also an interesting legal dimension in that outer space is not governed by the countries over which it floats. So, theoretically it could be a place for illegal communication to thrive. However, the corollary is that any country could take the law into their own hands and disable the satellites."

Need for knowledge

Apart from the ground station scheme, other aspects of the Hackerspace project that are being worked on include the development of new electronics that can survive in space, and the launch vehicles that can get them there in the first place.

Until now launching communications satellites has proved to be too expensive for amateur groups

According to Mr Farr, the "only motive" of the Hackerspace Global Grid is knowledge.

He said many participants are frustrated that no person has been sent past low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

"This [hacker] community can put humanity back in space in a meaningful way," Farr said.

"The goal is to get back to where we were in the 1970s. Hackers find it offensive that we've had the technology since before many of us were born and we haven't gone back."

Asked whether some might see negative security implications in the idea of establishing a hacker presence in space, Farr said the only downside would be that "people might not be able to censor your internet".

"Hackers are about open information," Farr added. "We believe communication is a human right."

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Obama joins photo site Instagram

2012-01-08T16:48:00.000-06:00

This image of the President was posted on Wednesday US President Barack Obama has joined photo-sharing social network Instagram.

The first picture, posted by his campaign staff, shows the President video-conferencing with supporters at the Iowa caucus.

The service, which allows users to apply special effects to pictures, has over 50 million users worldwide.

Social networking is expected to play a major role in efforts to build voter loyalty in the upcoming US Presidential Elections.

Prior to being elected in 2008, President Obama used Twitter to rally support and raise money for his campaign.

He quickly became one of the service's most followed users.

Ahead of this year's election, all of the Republican candidates have established a presence on Twitter - with Newt Gingrich proving the most popular of the presidential hopefuls with over 1.3 million followers.

President Obama's Twitter account is mostly maintained by his campaign team, although posts signed off with 'BO' are said to be posted by the President himself.

As a notable Blackberry user, it is unclear whether the President will upload pictures that he has taken himself as the app is currently only available on the iPhone.

Instagram, which Apple named "app of the year" in 2011, said it was delighted to have the President using its service.

"We look forward to seeing how President Obama uses Instagram to give folks a visual sense of what happens in the everyday life of the President of the United States," it said in a blog post.

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Private science university plan

2012-01-08T14:16:00.000-06:00

There will also be plans announced for a specialist centre for satellite technology A new type of privately-funded science and technology university has been announced by the universities minister.

The graduate institution, intended to promote cutting edge science research, could be set up with international partners and funded by business, David Willetts has said.

It follows a similar initiative in New York, where leading universities were invited to set up a research campus.

Labour says Britain risks losing its world-beating position in science.

In a speech on Wednesday morning, Mr Willetts set out plans for an advanced science research centre, to be created against a background of increasing globalisation and international competition in higher education.

New York project

"The next round of new institutions may well link existing British universities with international partners," the minister said.

"The surge in international investment in science and technology would make this a key part of the mission of a new foundation."

Mr Willetts invited applications to set up this new type of university - but without any additional government funding.

"This time we will be looking to private finance and perhaps sponsorship from some of the businesses that are keen to recruit more British graduates," Mr Willetts said.

David Willetts wants to promote a science research base to match international competitors

Labour's shadow minister for innovation and science, Chi Onwurah, says Britain is "in danger" of losing its world-beating position in science.

Ms Onwurah says the announcement from Mr Willetts "underlines the government's failure so far to support science in the UK".

"Britain is a leading scientific nation: we have a world-beating position in science but we are in danger of losing it," she said in a statement.

"In their 20 months in power, ministers have made the wrong decisions for the long term future of science in Britain: they dismantled the RDAs without an effective replacement, scrapped Labour's long-term research investment framework, cut investment in research and have weakened the Office for Life Sciences."

"Today David Willetts claimed that George Osborne's investment in science capital facilities showed his understanding of the importance of scientific research to our economy, but it was George Osborne who cut it by 40% in his first budget."

Under changes to higher education proposed by the government it will become easier for overseas institutions to set up in this country - in the way that an increasing number of UK and US universities have set up campuses overseas.

The minister says he is taking inspiration from a competition in New York to set up a science research institution which will help to develop hi-tech digital industries.

In the wake of the financial crisis, New York city authorities were concerned about an over-dependence on banking and finance.

There were worries that New York was falling behind the "knowledge hubs" that had developed around universities in Boston and California's Silicon Valley - and that New York might miss out on the creation of jobs in rising digital industries.

As such New York invited universities around the world to bid in a competition to build a science campus in the city - with Cornell University recently announced as the winner, in a partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

'Knowledge hubs'

This new campus will be built on an 11-acre site on the city's Roosevelt Island. It aims to generate £15bn in economic activity in the next three decades.

This New York project is part of a global pattern of investment in research and innovation as a way of protecting future economic competitiveness.

The French government has launched a £30bn grand project to set up a series of "innovation clusters" - in which universities, major companies and research institutions are brought together to develop knowledge-based industries.

Mr Willetts wants a major city in England to offer a site for a technology campus.

He also set out plans to increase non-government funding for universities by 10% and to increase the number of English institutions in the top 100 of university rankings.

There will also be plans for another so-called "catapult centre" for science research, which will focus on satellite technology.

"This will provide business with access to in-orbit test facilities to develop and demonstrate new satellite technologies," Mr Willetts said.

Imran Khan, director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said: "The minister is right to underline the challenge facing the UK: we should aim to be the best place in the world for science, but we're currently way behind nations such as Germany, Japan, and the US in terms of business and industry investment in research.

"Today David Willetts reiterated a whole series of positive measures the coalition is taking to incentivise more private sector investment - but no political party has yet outlined a clear alternative vision for the UK economy."

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Google adds further IBM patents

2012-01-08T12:13:00.000-06:00

Google's patent shopping bill has so far run into billions of dollars Google has gained hundreds of patents from IBM as it continues its intellectual property spending spree.

It has acquired 187 patents and 36 applications, adding to the 1,000 it purchased from IBM last summer.

The latest patents include a system for "using semantic networks to develop a social network".

Google has spent billions building its technology rights portfolio, including a $12.5bn (£7.7bn) deal for Motorola Mobility.

The California-based company has been actively bolstering its patent catalogue in the face of lawsuits from key competitors such as Apple and Microsoft.

Among the patents acquired in this latest deal is US Patent 7,865,592 which relates specifically to social networking sites, allowing "identifying common interests between users of a communication network".

Vicki Salmon, the chair of the litigation committee of the UK Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, believed this might be a nod that Google was moving from protecting existing technology and beginning to plan for the future.

"When you start you have to play catch-up," she told the BBC.

"When you've finished playing catch-up and you've got yourself in a stronger position, you then can begin to look forward."

Other patents included a method for using web-based applications across additional devices, and an intriguingly titled computer phone.

Neither Google nor IBM would comment on the deal when approached by the BBC.

'Get real'

Last year, Google accused its competitors of buying up what it called "bogus patents" in order to slow the development of its Android operating system.

However, the company now appears to have succumbed to the same approach as it adds the IBM patents to a portfolio that also includes technology for driverless cars.

Continue reading the main story

I think they've realised that they just had to get real, and understand that you can't just ignore the system”

End Quote Piers Strickland Patent lawyer "Although you can object to a lot of cost of inconvenience by virtue of people enforcing their patents, the patent system still exists," Piers Strickland, a lawyer specialising in mobile telephone patent litigation, told the BBC

"In order to engage with that you've either got to take licences from from people's patents, and/or aggressively increase your bartering position by buying patents.

"I think they've realised that they just had to get real, and understand that you can't just ignore the system."

Google's agreement to buy Motorola Mobility, announced in August last year, includes 24,500 patents, many of which could be used to defend the use of features on its Android mobile operating system.

The purchase is currently being reviewed by competition regulators.

'Turf war'

Google's Motorola move came off the back of losing out on buying the 6,000-strong patent portfolio of bankrupt telecoms firm Nortel. It was outbid by a consortium of companies including Apple, Microsoft and Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion.

"The reality is that you've got a fairly vicious turf war going on between the different operating systems," explained Ms Salmon.

"People want to be in there, and they want their platform established and people to be using them."

Google is just one of many technology companies involved in patent lawsuits which seek to slow down competition or strike lucrative licensing fee settlements.

On Wednesday, US mobile operator AT&T was forced to pay Tivo - the digital video recorder specialist - $215m plus additional undisclosed monthly licensing fees.

The fee will vary depending on AT&T meeting growth targets for digital video recording customers until 2018.

"No matter which projections you take, they all involve AT&T paying us significantly higher revenue than $215m," Tivo chief executive Tim Rogers said.

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Man uses iPad to cross US border

2012-01-08T10:29:00.000-06:00

Mr Reisch says he scanned the passport in case he lost it while travelling A Canadian man who forgot his passport has said that he managed to cross the border into the US using a copy of the document he had scanned on to his iPad.

Martin Reisch, from Montreal, presented the US border office with his digital device after realising near the border that he did not have his passport.

He said he told the official that he was heading to Vermont to deliver Christmas presents.

Mr Reisch said he knew that the officer had made an exception.

"I thought I'd at least give it a try," Mr Reisch said, the Associated Press reports.

"He took the iPad into the little border hut. He was in there a good five, six minutes. It seemed like an eternity. When he came back, he took a good long pause before wishing me a Merry Christmas."

The 33-year-old said he believed that the true story he told, as well as his driver's licence, helped him get across the border to deliver the gifts last week.

Mr Reisch, who successfully managed to re-enter Canada later the same day, has said he will not forget his passport in the future.

However, he hopes one day scanned identification will become the norm.

"I see the future as 100% being able to cross with your identity on a digital device - it's just a matter of time," he said.

Since 2009, Canadians have needed more than a driver's licence as a form of identification for US land border crossings.

Canadian citizens can only enter the US at land crossings using a passport, an enhanced driver's licence or a Nexus pass, the Canadian Border Services Agency advises.

There has not yet been any official comment from either border agency.

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Spain adopts tough new piracy law

2012-01-08T07:35:00.000-06:00

An IDC report suggested that 97.8% of music consumption in Spain was illegal The Spanish government has approved tough new legislation which could see websites deemed to be trading in pirated material blocked within ten days.

The legislation creates a government body with powers to force internet service providers to block sites.

It comes as the US plans to adopt similar tough new rules.

The crackdown on piracy has been welcomed by the creative industries but criticised by net activists.

Hacktivists

Under the Sinde Law, named after the former Spanish culture minister Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde, rightholders can report websites hosting infringing content to a newly created government commission.

The intellectual property commission will decide whether it wants to take action against an infringing site or the ISPs providing infrastructure to it, and the case will then be passed to a judge to rule on whether the site should be shut down.

The aim is to complete the process within 10 days.

The Spanish government said that the legislation was necessary to bring it in line with international crackdowns on piracy.

It had been put on hold by the previous government but the ruling party, Partido Popular, decided to move ahead and implement it at one of its first meetings since coming to power in November.

Deputy PM Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said that the aim of the law was "to safeguard intellectual property, boost our culture industries and protect the rights of owners, creators and others in the face of the lucrative plundering of illegal downloading sites."

Campaigners said that it set a dangerous precedent.

"This is another example of bad copyright law eating away at the safeguards around freedom of expression," said Peter Bradwell from the UK's Open Rights Group.

"The same overblown demands to pare down proper legal processes are being made to the government here in the UK. Our policy makers must not throw away the keys to the internet simply because copyright lobbyists are quite good at complaining."

Opposition has been strong in Spain, with bloggers, journalists and tech professionals staging a series of protests, including writing an anti-Sinde manifesto.

Last year hacktivist group Anonymous organised a protest at the Goya Awards - Spain's equivalent of the Oscars - which saw several hundred people in Guy Fawkes masks booing the minister of culture while applauding Alex de la Iglesia, then president of the Spanish Film Academy.

The movie director had previously voiced opposition to the Sinde law on Twitter and later resigned over the issue.

Old laws

The creative industries around the world have been frustrated with delays in implementing laws designed to crack down on piracy such as the UK's Digital Economy Act.

Instead many are finding new ways to use existing laws to crack down on piracy. In the UK, the movie industry body MPA (Motion Picture Association) used copyright law to force BT to block access to Newzbin, a members-only site which links to pirated material.

Following the success of the case, Sky has also agreed to block access.

In France, the government is pursuing a three strikes policy for persistent pirates. Hadopi, the body set up to administer the policy, said in mid-2011 that over the previous nine months it had been tracking 18 million French IP addresses.

It sent a total of 470,000 first warnings by email, with 20,000 users receiving a second warning through the mail.

About 10 people who appeared to ignore the two warnings were asked to come and explain their actions to the agency.

Big problem

Across the Atlantic, the US law Sopa (Stop Online Piracy Act) is proving equally controversial. A series of tech firms have removed their names for a list of supporters following widespread opposition from high profile tech leaders such as Eric Schmidt.

Sopa aims to stop online ad networks and payment processors from doing business with foreign websites accused of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement.

It could stop search engines from linking to the allegedly infringing sites. Domain name registrars could be forced to take down the websites, and internet service providers could be forced to block access to the sites accused of infringing.

The founders of Google, Twitter and eBay were among a large group of signatories to a strongly worded letter to Congress criticising the legislation as censorship.

US pressure was in part responsible for Spain's current tough anti-piracy stance, following a 2008 report that found it to be one of the worst countries in Europe for piracy.

A later IDC report - The Observation of Piracy and Consumption of Digital Content Habits - commissioned by a coalition of Spain's rights-holders suggested that piracy in Spain cost legal content rights owners 5.2bn euros ($6.8bn, £4.3bn) in the first half of 2010.

It claimed that 97.8% of all music consumption in Spain was driven by illegal downloads, with 77% of movie downloads and 60.7% of game downloads taking place illegally in the first six months of 2010, according to a study conducted by IDC Research for the Madrid-based Coalition of Content Creators and Industries.

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Websites 'undervalue old laptops'

2012-01-08T06:29:00.000-06:00

What price an old laptop? Anyone cashing in their old laptop would be better off doing so privately rather than via websites trading in second-hand hardware, Which? suggests.

The consumer watchdog conducted an investigation of five such websites, requesting valuations for five laptops including a 2009 MacBook.

Prices ranged from £34 to £202, with one firm offering just £67 for a MacBook.

Equivalent models fetched a far higher price on eBay.

High demand

Which tested five websites - webuyanylaptop.co.uk, buymylaptop.co.uk, sellyourlaptops.co.uk, laptoptrade-in.co.uk and Asda's Tech Trade-in.

Only three of the above offered a price for the MacBook - which was originally valued at £1,125.

Continue reading the main story Acer Aspire 8920G - original value £750 Webuyanylaptop.co.uk - £87Buymylaptop.co.uk - £99Sellyourlaptops.co.uk - £92Laptoptrade-in.co.uk - £104Asda's tech trade-in - £75eBay - £410Buymylaptop offered Which? £202 for it, Laptoptrade-in came back with an offer of £90, while Sellyourlaptop was only prepared to give the watchdog £67. Which? said an equivalent laptop could have sold on eBay for £350.

Sellyourlaptop consistently offered the lowest prices of the five. Director Sean Colson told the BBC it had been a victim of its own success.

"We didn't expect the demand we got, which was 6,000 requests a month. We had to put the prices down to silly money as the person behind it - a sole trader- couldn't cope," he said.

He said that the company has since been radically overhauled and is now offering people the option to get quotes from local dealers.

"We have 600 dealers on board and there are 4,500 possible dealers out there," he said.

Each will offer their own quotes and pay sellyourlaptop an annual fee.

'Honourable company'

Each website operates in a similar way. Users have to enter details about what they want to sell - in the case of laptops they need to include detailed information about the manufacturer, processor, memory, screen and hard disk size.

They are then sent a padded box in which to post the equipment. According to Which? many of the websites offer lower quotes when they actually see the machines. It did not test this part of the process.

All the websites said that they wiped all data from the hard disk before selling machines on.

Laptop trade-in.co.uk fared best in the study, generally offering the highest prices for laptops. It was the only one of the five to offer a free pick-up service.

"We are proud of what we do. We are an honourable company and we try to do things the right way," director Mike Harrup told the BBC.

He said that it was unfair to compare his company with eBay.

"The prices we offer would be much less because we are buying not selling. Often the machine we end up is worth nowhere near what the website quotes," he said.

"We are happy with the prices we offer. Often on eBay laptops are sold with a warranty and we get no warranty," he said.

He added that he did not understand how Which? had received a £90 valuation for a Macbook because the website did not offer valuations for Apple products.

When it comes to technology, people are better off selling privately, Which? concluded.

"People should be aware that the amount offered by these companies is not always the final amount you receive. Selling an old laptop online can be an easy way to recoup some cash, but it pays to shop around and try online auction websites to find the best deal," Which? computing editor Sarah Kidner said.

The watchdog also found that many people were prepared to give away their old laptops. In a survey of more than 500 people, it found that 44% donated their unwanted laptop to a family member.

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Paypal's Thompson to head Yahoo

2012-01-08T03:44:00.000-06:00

Yahoo's new boss will hope to replicate the success he had at Paypal US web portal Yahoo has named Scott Thompson, the president of online payments firm Paypal, as its new head.

He will fill the vacancy left by Carol Bartz, who was dismissed as chief executive in September after failing to turn around the company's fortunes.

Mr Thompson has headed Paypal, the payments division of eBay, since 2008, during which time its userbase doubled.

Yahoo is currently undergoing a strategic review as it has failed to keep up with rivals such as Google.

Yahoo's new boss has a Google-sized problem to tackle. The basics don't look bad. The share price has recovered from the awful lows hit during the summer. Profits are stagnant, but still respectable. But Yahoo's challenges are becoming ever more urgent.

First and foremost Mr Thompson has to define what Yahoo should be. Technology firm? Media company? Online services provider? Search engine? Internet portal? All of the above?

Yahoo has spread itself too thin, both managerially and technologically. It tried to compete with Microsoft, Google, AOL and everybody else at the same time - and failed. Yahoo is not known for innovation anymore. Meanwhile, Facebook snuck up from behind and ate Yahoo's most valuable asset - the time its users spend online.

Selling troubled Yahoo to some naive investor might be an option, but anti-trust challenges make the outcome of any bid doubtful - unless Yahoo's Chinese partner Alibaba steps forward. But that in itself would be a political Pandora's box.

The US firm's key products, beside its search engine, include photo sharing site Flickr and its webmail platform.

However, its domination of webmail - and the ancillary services it offers its email account holders - is under threat as younger users migrate to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

'Dark knight'

"Scott brings to Yahoo a proven record of building on a solid foundation of existing assets and resources to reignite innovation and drive growth, precisely the formula we need," said Yahoo chairman Roy Bostock.

He said that Mr Thompson would focus on Yahoo's core businesses, but would also work closely with the board on its strategic review of what new investments to make and existing business lines to dispose of.

"He's a dark knight," said Stuart Miles of retail technology blogsite Pocket-lint. "He's a nuts-and-bolts guy rather than a captain of industry."

The company faces two choices, according to Mr Miles - either to focus on product innovation like Google has done, or else to focus on media by promoting itself as a content hub.

"Yahoo.com has a killer amount of news and information," he said. "A lot of people see Yahoo as a media company.

"But he's a tech guy rather than a media guy. It's not clear whether he will focus on innovating products (which Yahoo has tried and failed to do) or focus on content creation."

Continue reading the main story Markets gave the news a cool reception. Shares in Yahoo were down 3.1% at the close of trading in New York.

Shares in Paypal's parent, eBay, closed down 3.77%. The broader Nasdaq tech index closed up 0.33%.

Yahoo's share price has stagnated at about $15 ever since late 2008, refusing to go above $20, after it rejected an offer from Microsoft to buy up the company at $33 a share.

Revenues at the firm have stagnated, particularly compared with leading search engine Google, and Yahoo has had to lay off workers four times over the past three years.

The poor performance prompted Yahoo's board to ignominiously turf out Carol Bartz in September last year.

Tim Morse, who had been standing in as chief executive, will return to the role of chief financial officer when Mr Thompson takes over on 9 January.

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Robot wars ‘still a long way off’

2012-01-08T00:48:00.000-06:00

Despite the US Department of Defense once predicting that a third of US fighting strength would be composed of robots by 2015, experts warn that the machine wars seen in the movies will remain science fiction for quite some time yet.

"I'll be back" said Arnold Schwarzenegger as cyborg-assassin the Terminator, back from the year 2029 to carry out a murder in 1984. But it seems that, when it comes to science fact rather than science fiction, it is unlikely that anything like him - or should he be an it? - will ever "be" at all.

Robots in the home have been promised for a while and though - as the BBC's Jon Stewart has discovered - technology is slowly allowing robots closer to domestic use, some of the most practical applications so far have been in military operations.

Robots so far are not quite up to the images depicted in science fiction

What robots are doing in modern warfare is no small feat. Machines undertake bomb disposal, mine detection and entering unknown places of interest before sending in soldiers - a practice that the military believes is saving lives.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones have already carried out military operations carrying "lethal payloads" without having a soldier on board. It was called "the only game in town in terms of confronting or trying to disrupt the al Qaeda leadership [in Pakistan]" by CIA director Leon Panetta in 2009.

Despite it being called a "drone war" by some commentators, the Department of Defense is keen to point towards its key goals of "intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance" when it is using robotics.

In a document setting out an unmanned military vehicle roadmap between 2005 and 2030, it stated that around a third of US fighting strength would be composed of robots in a $127bn (£80bn) project.

This was scrapped in 2009.

But some of the latest prototypes could still make robots in military operations on the ground a regular occurrence.

The LS3 - known as "Alphadog" to its developers - will be able to carry up to 400lbs (180kg) of equipment over a distance of up to 20 miles (32km) over a 24-hour period.

In practical terms, this means that it could replace the use of a mule or donkey to carry heavy loads.

Newest prototypes move a lot more like organic animals than previously

Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) and the US Marine Corps, it can withstand being kicked and maintains its balance when pushed.

"For years, I did work on one-legged hopping machines - funny contraptions in the lab," Marc Raibert, of Boston Dynamics told an audience at Stanford University.

"The number of remaining problems that need to be solved is a small but manageable list. In the next couple of years, I can imagine getting legged robot technology… out there and into use."

The way it is able to right itself when toppled and the noise it makes when moving is more than a little like the Terminator and many reacting to the clips have been amazed at just how realistically the robot moves.

Tech site Gizmodo called it the "creepiest and most awesome quadruped robot of all time".

Life and death

But despite the occasional YouTube comment saying this development will lead to the end of the world, this is where robotics experts are keen to see the comparisons with sci-fi stop.

"With today's technology, there has to a person in the loop with regard to a decision that would have the gravity of life and death," says Joe Dyer, chief operating officer of robotics firm iRobot.

"Will we ever have machines that would truly challenge Asimov's laws? Maybe, but it's going to be a long time coming."

The real stumbling block for robotics engineers is that where a robot fails - and a human excels - is context and recognition. People can tell things apart quickly, effectively and from a very early age.

While handling rough terrain is now generally considered to be at the later stages of development for robots, actual intelligence and recognition about what it finds when it reaches its destination is a lot more complicated.

"We're starting to nibble at the edges of it," says Dyer.

"The world will begin to change drastically when robots have the manipulation capability of a five or six-year-old child. That means you can start to do the basics."

Brain power

At the moment, "stupid" robots serve a purpose. Their main function is to go into places where it would be dangerous or impossible for a human to tread. High intelligence is not required so much as brute strength and the ability to keep humans away from potentially harmful situations.

Some robots are a lot less frightening to people than others

The first major mass practical use for these type of robots came in the aftermath of 9/11 as a search and rescue tool when emergency personnel were unable to carry out an operation. They were operated by human controllers in a similar way to how they are today.

But if futurist and author Ray Kurzweil is right, by 2019 a $1,000 (£650) computer will at least match the processing power of the human brain.

And this could lead to "intelligent" robots with an autonomy that many find uncomfortable. But what many see this as frightening at the moment, some experts think that it is only a matter of time before it becomes an idea that people will get used to and eventually consider normal.

"We [humans] don't like to give up our special-ness," robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks said in a Ted talk.

"Having the idea that robots could really have emotions, or that robots could be living creatures - I think is going to be hard for us to accept. But we're going to come to accept it over the next 50 years or so."

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The Moshi Monsters mogul

2012-01-07T23:03:00.000-06:00

Moshi Monsters is a virtual pet and social networking game which has captured the minds - and pocket money - of children around the world. BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones profiles the company's founder, Michael Acton Smith.

If you have young children, you might have heard a bit too much about Moshi Monsters, and will be fully aware of the trading cards, books, toys and computer games emblazoned with the Moshi Monsters logo.

An estimated 50 million people tend their virtual monsters on the Moshi website, and in 2012 there are plans for Moshi Music, Moshi TV and a live tour.

And while Moshi Monsters is very much a global phenomenon, the company's 37-year-old founder Michael Acton Smith is far from a household name.

"I think he will be recognised as a creator of a completely new concept," says investor Tom Teichman who has been putting his money into tech businesses for the last 20 years - including Mind Candy, Moshi Monsters' parent company.

"You haven't got that many people of his age, in their 30s, who are so seasoned, creating a new brand from nowhere."

Entrepreneurial promise

Michael Acton Smith was born in Marlow in Buckinghamshire. His American father was a lecturer while his Irish-born mother was a chiropodist.

Moshi Monsters now boasts over 50 million users worldwide

With other relatives overseas, they were a tight-knit family with a strong work ethic.

Michael's younger sister Anna says there were early signs of his future path:

"We'd go to car boot sales and sell things. He'd always put an interesting spin on something he was trying to sell somebody.

"He was always very confident on that front - always entrepreneurial."

Continue reading the main story

He was part of the chess club. And when you're a teenager there are some things that are cool, and chess club isn't one of them”

End Quote Anna Acton Smith Sister At school he was a high achiever both academically and in sports - but not in with the cool crowd.

"He was part of the chess club. And when you're a teenager there are some things that are cool, and chess club isn't one of them."

"He was a geek, but a lovely one," she laughs.

Then it was off to Birmingham University to study geography. At Freshers Week he met Matt Shone, who shared a passion for running.

"He did a marathon age 12 - clearly the steel and graft were evident in his running," says Matt.

After university, the two friends set off with their backpacks on a five-month trip around the world, but even as they travelled Michael was thinking of a future in business:

"He was jotting things down, doodling away and littering everywhere we stayed with Post-It notes," recalls Matt.

"He seemed to produce them from everywhere, with little diagrams, pictures and designs and early business and marketing plans he thought would eventually take over the world."

First business venture

Michael Acton Smith started his first business while in his late 20s with another university friend, Tom Boardman.

Their idea was an online gadget retailer, Firebox, aimed at the kind of people who read lads' magazines. And their first product certainly had a laddish quality to it:

"We came up with the idea of a shot glass chess set - a big glass chess board with shot glasses for people in different shapes, and the idea is you fill up your opponent's pieces with alcohol, and if you take their pieces you have to down the shot," says Mr Boardman.

"And so we made a prototype out of all the glasses in my parents' drinks cabinet and we tested it one Saturday night."

Once they had sobered up, the shot glass chess set proved a hit - but turning it into a business meant convincing investors that Firebox was going to be big.

Tom Teichman decided that Michael Acton Smith was worth backing - and sunk around £1m ($1.57m) into the business.

"I liked him and I liked his energy, and I thought he would be successful," says Mr Teichman.

"Because when you assess someone like him, you have to think about several things. How is he going down with suppliers? How is he going to go down with investors? Is he going to be able to take advice?

"Not all people tick all those boxes, but he did."

Turbulent times

By the end of 1999, the novice businessman had a fast-growing online firm and a chunky sum in the bank - Michael Acton Smith's future seemed assured.

Continue reading the main story

The mark of a really successful entrepreneur is that they will walk through walls to make their vision happen”

End Quote Mark Butcher Techcrunch Europe Then came the dot com crash - and suddenly online retailers went right out of fashion.

Running out of money, Firebox had to cut back, shedding staff and the two founders stopped drawing salaries.

At one stage the company was close to insolvency and the founders were offered a modest sum to sell the business, but they did not want to work for somebody else.

Eventually Firebox stabilised - and in 2004 Michael went back Tom Teichman with another business proposition, a game called Perplex City.

"He had an idea for an online game, with quizzes and prizes aimed at the 18 to 30-year-old sector," recalls Mr Teichman.

"I couldn't answer the questions, a lot of the board members couldn't answer the questions. It was quite complex."

Perplex City failed to get off the ground.

But Mike Butcher, editor of the technology blog Techcrunch Europe, says what Michael Acton Smith did next shows what he is made of:

"The mark of a really successful entrepreneur is that they will walk through walls to make their vision happen.

"If it isn't happening they have enough presence of mind to put the supertanker into reverse and try and turn it around."

Moshi Monsters begins

The young entrepreneur tried a different, simpler kind of game, aimed at children. He called it Moshi Monsters.

But when Moshi Monsters launched, sign-ups remained low and hardly anyone was playing it.

In 2011 Lady Gaga won an injunction to stop Moshi Monsters promoting its Lady Goo Goo character

Still, the company created new characters, new features, new ways of communicating with other players and around 18 months later, in the summer of 2009, the company reached its tipping point, and Moshi Monsters exploded.

Today with millions chatting daily online about their monsters, an expanding Moshi team is filling up the company's east London office - a characteristically fun place, with astroturf flooring, ivy hanging everywhere and a tree house for meetings.

Every week three or four new people join the Moshi Monsters staff - but someone else is shown the door after failing to prove themselves during their probationary period.

There is steel behind Michael Acton Smith's nice guy exterior.

And the company still faces plenty of challenges - such as when Lady Gaga won an injunction against the company after it developed a character called Lady Goo Goo.

The company was ordered to cease promoting the character and its accompanying "Moshi dance".

A more long-term challenge is whether Moshi Monsters' young audience will stay loyal.

The company already has a big rival in Club Penguin, which Disney bought from its Canadian founders for around $350m (£220m) in 2006.

Would Michael Acton Smith sell up if the right offer came in?

"I think Disney or a similar company might come and buy Moshi Monsters but we shouldn't cry into our beer about that," says Mike Butcher of Techcrunch Europe.

"Part of the reason for creating start-ups is to have an exit to go on and fund other businesses and take risk in the market place."

Recent history shows that British entrepreneurs are more likely to sell-up when the going is good rather than following in the footsteps of a Google or a Facebook and build into a global giant.

But who knows. Michael Acton Smith might just have the sheer ambition and self-belief to break the mould.

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Hackers meet to discuss busy year

2012-01-07T20:28:00.000-06:00

Skull and crossbones flags signalled the lawless nature of some of the hackers' activities Perhaps the most unexpected sight at the Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin is that of the kids.

Of course there are ponytailed hackers collapsed on couches, exhausted after long days and nights of programming and partying.

But running around them on the final day of Europe's biggest hacker conference are small children, playing while their parents delve into the latest security-busting and hardware-tweaking techniques.

The organisers of the event have even set up junior hacking activities for older children.

"Many people who were at the congress 10 years ago are still here. The hackers are getting older and having families," says "Xor", a 30-year-old coder from Ingolstadt in Bavaria who did not want his real name published.

Knitting hack

The congress is the 28th iteration of an annual event held by Germany's Chaos Computer Club (CCC). Established three decades ago, partly as a way of providing hackers with legal protection in numbers, the CCC is one of the most influential hacker collectives in the world.

Much of the group's work involves finding new ways to circumvent and improve computer and network security, but its gatherings also play host to many whose primary interest is in building new things.

Some of the participants are working on a way for people to construct their own open-source mobile networks.

Hacked knitting machines that based designs on chemical signatures were on display at the conference

Others are building amateur Geiger counters for measuring radiation, or computer-controlled knitting machines that are hacked to produce fabrics based on X-rays and DNA sequences.

Changed perceptions

According to Nick Farr, a 33-year-old digital activist from New York who acts as a spokesperson for the congress's organisers, people's perceptions of hackers are evolving.

"The view of hackers has changed from people who commit crimes with computers to people who do interesting things with technology," Farr says.

"We're not sitting around looking to scam people. We're trying to make technology better; to figure out how to make it work and to tell everyone and encourage people to participate."

The CCC has clearly had some success in Germany when it comes to changing how hackers are viewed.

Many members are also supporters of the Pirate Party, which in September saw every one of its 15 candidates in the Berlin local elections win a seat in the city's state parliament.

Xor sees the election result as an indication that the CCC has become a "trusted institution" in Germany, although he remains sceptical that this perception will stay in place.

"I don't think it will last very long," Xor says. "They've had a steep rise in the polls and it's easy to create media hype when it's on the media's agenda. It could turn around and work in the other direction."

'Heroic' hacking

Hacking has indeed been very prominent in the news over the past couple of years in ways that are cheered or decried, depending on the circumstances.

Ordinary internet users have been directly affected by large-scale hacks, such as that of Sony's PlayStation Network, where the personal data of more than 70 million gamers was stolen in April.

Meanwhile, new copyright-protection laws such the Digital Economy Act in the UK and the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the United States have led many to fear a growing wave of online censorship.

Underground hacker collectives such as Anonymous promise a way of fighting back against such moves, which is one reason their activities are seen by some as heroic rather than destructive.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is a former hacker, and his pro-transparency organisation has had very close ties with the CCC.

In October this year, the club itself also revealed how some German law enforcement agencies were using spyware for the surveillance of suspects, in potential conflict with the country's constitution.

At events such as the Chaos Communication Congress, it can be difficult to tell the good guys apart from the bad.

Fighting fascists

In the darkened basement of the Berliner Congress Centre, away from the well-lit conference halls, dozens of hackers crouch over their laptops.

Nick Farr believes the Germany's Chaos Computer Club has had a positive influence on hacktivists

This is the one part of the building where photographs are definitely not allowed - not of the hackers, nor of their computers' screens.

Mr Farr insists that no unlawful activities, apart from occasional file-sharing, take place at the congress.

"Our network team is very good at responding to the breaking of file systems and people know that, so they don't try because we can identify their physical location," he says.

Others, however, mention a list of websites - mostly those belonging to far-right organisations - that hackers at the event are trying to deface or take down.

Whether or not this is the case, the event does not appear to have attracted the attention of law enforcement officials.

Some of those attending the congress are members of Anonymous itself and, according to Mr Farr, most people there support that group's anti-corporate, anti-censorship aims.

"The vast majority of the crowd here are sympathetic, but there are probably less than a dozen active participants. But, then again, you can't tell, because that's the nature of Anonymous," he says.

Hacktivism

Marc Christiansen, one of the hackers working on the open-source mobile network project, says the trend of activism predates the more recent visibility of Anonymous and Wikileaks.

"It's not special to the last year; it's been a slower change," he says.

Many of the signs at the congress were based on popular internet memes

"The social effects play a greater role here. There are more talks about how to influence politics and also how to modify or hack political messages, to influence the public perception of politicians."

Mr Farr even claims the CCC has been a strong influence on the Occupy movement, although protesters in that movement may not realise it.

"You could almost say digital activism was invented by the CCC," he says.

"Digital activists come from all over the world to learn from the CCC. The club doesn't have a strong political affiliation, but it provides tools and techniques."

Whatever their affiliation, the hackers at the congress are conscious of the increased attention being paid to their kind, and some are mindful of the public's changing expectations of hackers.

Xor, for one, thinks the motto for this year's event, "Behind Enemy Lines", is inappropriate.

"That's like war talk," he says.

"Last year's tagline was 'We Come In Peace', which was a better representation of the CCC."

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Will Samsung follow Sony's slips?

2012-01-07T17:44:00.000-06:00

31 December 2011 Last updated at 11:10 GMT By Prof Jasper Kim Ewha Womans University, Seoul Samsung has become the world's best-selling TV and mobile phone maker, but may find the coming years tougher Samsung Electronics is a leading global firm today - but I fear it is at its apex.

The South Korean firm could soon enter a sunset scenario that would see it follow other downturns.

Just as the Roman and British empires rose and fell, technology companies too face inevitable phases of evolution and devolution.

The rule applies to the likes of Sony, IBM and yes, even Samsung.

Sony's Sudden Sunset

Sony, much like Samsung, initially entered the US market with relatively low-priced products such as its TR-72 transistor radio in the 1960s.

The Japanese firm followed up its success with a series of blockbuster game-changing products: the Sony Walkman in 1979; the CD music format in 1982, in conjunction with Philips; and the DVD in 1995, to name just a few.

Like Samsung televisions today, Sony TVs and electronics in the 1980s were heralded as the industry's best and most cutting edge.

And like IBM, Sony's peak period was soon followed by a rapid sunset that began the following decade.

Sony's decline in the 1990s was, in part, due to competition from South Korea, with the emergence of Samsung Electronics.

Even now it continues to struggle.

Despite the popularity of products such as its PlayStation console the firm has warned it is set to post its fourth consecutive annual loss. Things would be even worse for the tech firm if it did not have the profits of its life insurance and banking wings to fall back on.

Sony's Walkman cassette players were a hit in the 1980s, but its digital audio players were less popular IBM: From sunrise to sunset

In its apex period, IBM's products were unparalleled, such as its Selectric series typewriters and Thinkpad PCs in the 1990s.

Founded in 1911, IBM was an electronics leader for most of the 20th century, famous for its hardware and software.

Some of its major early products successes included its tabulation devices, punch cards, and corporate computers.

But it also manufactured a host of other somewhat less related products, from meat and cheese slicers to commercial scales.

IBM's early days draw strong parallels with Samsung today - including a strict and formal corporate culture befitting of the "company man" persona of the 1950s in the US.

This included conservative dress - dark blue suits and ties - hence the name "Big Blue".

IBM also demanded strict company loyalty and a group think mentality, which often blurred the lines between professional and personal lives.

Often the two often became one - corporate outings with family members, corporate sports teams, new employee training centres, and even a company band were created to foster a loyalty to the corporation environment.

But IBM's peak lasted a relatively short time. By the time it sold its PC line to a Chinese firm it was clearly in a sunset scenario - at least in terms of being a manufacturer.

Samsung state

Enter into Samsung headquarters in southern Seoul today, and a similar environment to that of IBM's past is omnipresent.

The 1950s-type company man persona permeates, with row upon row of conservatively dressed workers who, in effect, offer complete and unobstructed loyalty to the "Republic of Samsung".

And naturally Samsung has a series of corporate sports teams, including the Samsung Lions baseball team.

In fact, the company is almost a country within a country.

A high-flying Samsung flag can be seen prominently perched just next to the South Korean flag at the firm's Korean headquarters, almost as if it was signalling that the two are near equals.

Samsung wants to repeat its smartphone sales success with its tablets

Or at the very least, that the two are highly interdependent, which is in fact the economic truth.

The firm accounts for 13% of South Korea's total exports, where exports make up a full 48% of the country's total GDP.

Diversification

IBM managed to reinvent itself as an IT services company, proving that decline is not irreversible.

Samsung knows it is at a crossroads, which is why it is desperately trying to reinvent itself.

This was made clear from chairman Kun-hee Lee's strategy to create five new business areas by 2020, including medical devices and green technology.

This is not a completely novel idea, so the key to Samsung's success will lie in its ability to execute its strategy quickly and seamlessly.

Arguably this is one of Samsung's strengths, as it already heavily invests in research and development in related areas.

Continue reading the main story

The firm's board of directors and senior management are almost entirely Korean with decisions driven primarily from Seoul. ”

End Quote But the challenge lies in the greater environment facing Samsung.

The Next South Korea

South Korea has profited from enormous growth over most of the last 50 years.

But today the country, where Samsung is headquartered, is facing the problem of a rapidly shrinking population and the growing threat of an increasingly economically assertive China.

What should worry Samsung, and thus South Korea, is that China is well on its way to becoming the next South Korea - only larger in terms of both scale and scope.

In fact, China may already have its own rival to Samsung in the form of Lenovo - the firm that bought IBM's PC unit in 2005.

The Chinese firm is certainly "global". It has factories and research centres in Mexico, India, Japan and the USA as well as its bases in China.

Just over half of its sales were outside its home market in the past financial year.

It is also "globalised" both in terms of its software and its senior management team - a mix of Asians, North Americans and Europeans.

In contrast, Samsung is arguably "global" but not "globalised".

The firm's board of directors and senior management are almost entirely Korean with decisions driven primarily from Seoul.

Competition from China makes some people believe that Samsung's future looks less bright

And while China enjoys relatively abundant cheap labour, South Korea's workforce population is shrinking.

There is also reason to believe they are not efficient.

South Korean workers work the longest hours per year among the OECD nations. The average amount is more than 2,200 hours a year. The figure for the US is closer to 1,800 hours per year.

Yet South Korea's workers have one of the lowest productivity rate per worker among OECD states.

Add that to South Korea - and Samsung's - dependence on exports and there is a problem at a time when the global economy is unstable.

With these challenges, and given the sunrise to sunset outcomes of past tech titans, the future of the Samsung empire risks being a sunset scenario - the very same scenario that faced Sony and IBM before it.

Jasper Kim is professor at the school of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea.

He is currently a visiting scholar at Harvard University's Korea Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he will be based until February 2012.

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Google revamps search home page

2012-01-07T15:54:00.000-06:00

Google's pull-down menus should help highlight the firm's non-core search services to users Google is rolling out one of its biggest home page changes to date.

The revamp strips its front page of the black bar that currently runs horizontally along its top, and replaces it with a grey logo.

When clicked or highlighted, it reveals seven alternative services to the site's search page with an option to reveal a further eight.

Analysts said the move was designed to promote more of the firm's businesses without cluttering its webpage.

The new look, which was first announced last year, is only being offered to a limited number of users at the moment.

A spokesman for Google said that the roll-out is designed to improve the user experience.

"Constant revision and improvement is part of our overarching philosophy," he said.

"If you compare the original Google home page to today's version, you will see that a makeover every so often can certainly be refreshing."

Matching Chrome

Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group, said the move allowed the site to use icons without resembling Yahoo's busier design.

"They are trying to deal with how to service all the different Google properties without making the page cluttered, because Google is always very keen to hang onto the plain minimalist front page that they have always had," he said.

"The other thing that they are doing with those menus is making the page look like their Chrome netbook operating system.

"So whether you are using a Chromebook or the Google website the interface is the same."

Google's front page still resembles its original 1998 design Advertising

Another consequence of the move is that it now takes users two movements to enter services such as Images or News, rather than the one click that was previously needed.

However, this may play to the site's financial advantage.

"For years we've all been extolling the virtues of minimising the number of clicks and it would appear to be a retrograde step," said Mr Green.

"But for the sake of clarity it's better having the extra click. What it also means is that, for most people, their first route into the Google universe will be back through the search bar again, which helps the firm expose more people to advertising.

"Through search they can put adverts in front of you, while in the news section there isn't advertising."

Self promotion

Google is facing scrutiny for the way its own services appear in its search results.

Last month, two senators called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Google was exploiting the fact it had a majority of both search via PC and mobile devices.

"A key question is whether Google is using its market power to steer users to its own web products or secondary services and discriminating against other websites with which it competes," Senators Herb Kohl and Mike Lee wrote.

The Financial Times has also reported that the European Commission was examining claims that Google "downgrades some rival websites in its search results, while playing up its own services".

Google has denied deliberately disadvantaging rivals.

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Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus lands at the office, we do our first video tour for the year [VIDEO]

2012-01-07T14:49:00.000-06:00

It feels like it was yesterday that we saw the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus official announcement and we are already welcoming it to our office. Oh wait – the announcement really was yesterday, which makes us especially glad to introduce this one to you.

The Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus has some pretty big shoes to fill as its predecessor is one of the most successful products that the Koreans released in 2011. You don’t need to look much further than our own specs page to see that the original Galaxy Ace has been enjoying tremendous interest, so the Ace Plus needs to be quite an upgrade.

Of course, we won’t be sure about that until the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus is finalized and it hits the shelves, but things aren’t looking too shabby at present. A faster ARMv7 CPU and a bit of extra RAM are all that it takes to enjoy the full productive potential of Android.

Naturally, there might be some games that won’t feel perfectly at home on the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus and most of them won’t look particularly good on the HVGA LCD anyway, but that’s not what this handset is all about. The Ace Plus is about maximizing the functionality, while keeping the price to a minimum.

Still, great functionality isn’t good for much without at least decent performance, so let’s see how the Galaxy Ace Plus does in that aspect.

Naturally, you shouldn’t expect miracles at these stages as what we have here is nothing but an early prototype, which will see plenty of improvement before it hits the shelves. Yet, we are pretty pleased with how stable the Galaxy Ace Plus already feels and we are left feeling optimistic about its prospects.

If Samsung gets the pricing right this one might turn out be as big a hit as its predecessor.

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Angry Birds making its way to to bada OS for free – only for Wave III for now

2012-01-07T12:24:00.000-06:00

The Angry Birds game is among the most popular, if not the most popular, games in the smartphone gaming atmosphere. It’s available on iOS, Android, WebOS, Symbian, PC and now Bada OS.

The addition has been made today and the game is free to download on Wave S8600 3.That’s the only Bada phone currently supported but the requirement is to have Bada 2.0 preinstalled so we guess that other Wave devices will follow suit.

So if you’re among the ones that cover the basics and have been waiting to try Angry Birds on your Bada device, this is your chance. Just go over to the Samsung Apps store, where the game will be waiting

Thanks, badelemental for the tip!

Source

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Microsoft take UK retailer Comet to task over claims of producing and selling 94,000 bootlegged Windows CDs

2012-01-07T09:46:00.000-06:00

UK-based electrical retailer Comet have incurred the wrath of the big ‘M’ over in Redmond, Washington.

Microsoft are presently taking legal action against Comet following allegations of the production and sale of bootlegged copies of both Windows XP and Windows Vista recovery CDs.

Microsoft Corp. today began proceedings against Comet Group PLC for allegedly creating more than 94,000 recovery CDs which were then sold onto customers who had purchased Windows-loaded PCs and laptops in their retail stores.

Microsoft’s David Finn, associate general counsel of Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting, stated that “Comet’s actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products — and our customers deserve better, too.”

Comet on the other hand argue that they were doing their customers a service, creating and distributing the disks as in recent years, manufacturers have done away with providing bundled recovery CDs with new computers in favor of creating special partitions on hard drives, so users may create a disk in their own time if they so wish.

Comet’s official statement is as follows: “Comet firmly believes that it acted in the very best interests of its customers. It believes its customers had been adversely affected by the decision to stop supplying recovery disks with each new Microsoft Operating System-based computer. Accordingly, Comet is satisfied that it has a good defense to the claim and will defend its position vigorously.”

The ‘dodgy’ disks were apparently produced at a factory in the English county of Hampshire and then distributed to Comet’s 250 retail stores. The company are currently in the process of changing hands, being sold by French parent retail company Kesa Electricals PLC to London-based investment capital firm OpCapita LLP. As such, a costly legal battle is the last thing the company would want, given their current delicate financial situation.

So who do you think are in the wrong? Comet for producing and profiting from software originally created by Microsoft, or Microsoft for berating a company trying to provide a service that they know many of their consumers will appreciate. Leave us your comments below.

Source | Via

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Nokia Car Mode now available for download, gives you the in-car comfort you’ve always wanted

2012-01-07T07:14:00.000-06:00

Nokia has just announced that its car mode app for Belle-running smartphones is now available for download. The software that makes your smartphone much easier to operate while you are driving has hit the Nokia Store and you can now download it directly from your Belle smartphone.

The Nokia software engineers have created two versions of the app. The first of them is called Nokia Car Mode and offers Nokia’s leading turn-by-turn navigation, as well as the overall smartphone experience into the car environment, while also bringing Nokia Drive, traffic updates, Nokia Music and voice calls while driving. This one is free to download.

The other version is called Nokia Car Mode with MirrorLink and all it does is throw in MirrorLink support to the mix. MirrorLink lets you connect your smartphone to your car infotainment system (as long as your car supports it) and control it without actually touching it. Strangely enough though, Nokia decided to price this version some good £17.99 (€19.99).

Still, chances are you don’t have a MirrorLink-enabled car just yet so the free version has all the functionality you might need. Now head to that Nokia Store icon and start downloading. Just don’t forget to drop us a line with your thoughts on the app once you manage to try it out.

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Lenovo gets busy, announces no less than nine notebooks

2012-01-07T06:13:00.000-06:00

You’d think that with CES so close Lenovo would have held on to these a bit longer, but it seems they couldn’t contain themselves any longer so they just went ahead and announced nine, yes, nine notebooks all at once.

The first one is a rather interesting hybrid notebook called the ThinkPad X1 Hybrid. The beauty of this machine is that along with Windows as the main operating system it also comes with Android that powers the notebook’s ‘instant on’ mode. The Android installation on the ThinkPad X1 Hybrid is a highly customized version of the OS and although you cannot run Android apps on it you can browse the web, play videos and music, read your mail and add widgets to the three homescreens.

The Android OS is powered by a separate dual-core Qualcomm processor installed on the motherboard. Due to the combination of the lightweight OS and a low-power processor (compared to Windows and the Intel CPU) battery life is substantially improved over the regular full-blown Windows mode.

The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid is otherwise identical to the ThinkPad X1 launched earlier, with the same 13-inch, 1366 x 768 display, Core i3, i5 and i7 processors with Intel graphics and a slice battery for extra five hours of battery life. The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid will be available in Q2 starting at $1,599.

The next one is an Ultrabook. After the sexy IdeaPad U300s, Lenovo’s next Ultrabook is a more serious-looking ThinkPad T430u. It has a 14-inch, 1366 x 768 resolution display, 1TB hard drive and for the first time on an Ultrabook, discrete Nvidia graphics. The ThinkPad T430u has a battery life of a claimed six hours. It will arrive in Q3 and cost $849.

Next up are a bunch of Average Joe notebooks. First is the Edge S430, which has a 14-inch display, 0.8-inch thickness, Thunderbolt, Dolby Home Theater Sound, optional Nvidia Optimus graphics, and up to 1TB of storage space. The S430 will go on sale in June and will start from $749.

After that comes the E-series notebooks, which includes the 14-inch Edge E430 and the 15-inch Edge E530. You can configure these with Intel Core or AMD Fusion processors, discrete graphics and 1TB of storage space. They will be available in red and cobalt blue with go on sale in April. These are the only two out of the nine models here that will ship worldwide whereas the others will ship in select markets only.

Going lower down the price ladder we have the smaller 11-inch Edge E130 and the 13-inch Edge E330. These start at $549 and will be available in April along with the bigger models.

Lastly we have the low-end B480 and B580 notebooks, that start at $399 and come with a choice of Intel Core or AMD Fusion processors, USB 3.0 and 1TB storage space on the higher end variant. These too will be available in April.

Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3

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Want to use Android apps on your BlackBerry PlayBook right now? Try rooting it first.

2012-01-07T03:40:00.000-06:00

RIM promised compatibility with the Android apps for the PlayBook with the upcoming OS 2 update but that won’t be coming before February. So what do you do if you want to, say, use Google+ on your PlayBook right now? The answer is, root it.

CrackBerry.com has gone through the trouble of making an extensive guide that will help you root your PlayBook so you can run Android Market on it and thereby, have access to the Android Apps within. The guide is a bit lengthy and as with any rooting procedure there is some risk involved but if you follow all the steps properly, then you will have a fully rooted PlayBook by the end of it.

It must be said that not all apps with be compatible with the PlayBook even after the root although a fair amount of them will work. Coming from the BlackBerry App World, though, that’s still a big upgrade.

Click on the link below for the full tutorial on how to root your BlackBerry PlayBook.

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7 things I love about the N9, which I want to see elsewhere too [EDITORIAL]

2012-01-07T02:04:00.000-06:00

I’ve been using the Nokia N9 for a while now and I’m totally awed by the user experience. Now I regularly find myself swiping other touch phones with the intention of dismissing program screens and whatnot. Yeah, I’m surprised at myself too. I’m an old dog that doesn’t like to learn new tricks but this whole swiping thing on MeeGo, it totally got me. Yes, the Nokia N9 grew on me. Big time.

It’s really a sad thing that the N9 might just be the last MeeGo handset and that it comes with this OS that hardly has any developers appeal or even future. If you are not happy about the available out-of-the-box apps on the N9, you can safely call it a day. There’s no “eventually” in the possibility of getting a wider variety. And although Nokia has worked hard to deliver the modern-day basics such as Facebook, Skype and Angry Birds (who plays that anymore?), there are still apps that I do miss from iOS and Android. But I digress.

The most important thing about my experience with the N9 is the positives. That stuff I took from it and the stuff that make it enjoyable to use day after day. And you gotta believe me when I say it, I am a tough customer. I get to play around with all the latest and greatest in mobile software and mobile hardware so it’s easy to get spoiled. It’s so rarely that I see something new that when I get my hands on something truly unique and innovative, I’m all in. But that’s what this job does to you, anyway.

Back to the Nokia N9, it’s so different that any other current mobile OS that it immediately got my attention. I’ve been using it as my main smartphone for more than ten days now even though technically, it’s not my job to have it after we got the review out the door. But I’m hooked. It’s different in so many aspects that it amuses me every day. In the same time, it’s feels surprisingly familiar. MeeGo has borrowed some small neat stuff from the best in business and getting what I expect to see made me feel at home right from the very first day.

For me, it’s clear that we won’t last long. It’s like a fledgling romantic relationship that you start while on vacation and that you both don’t intend on continuing once you’re back home, but still, you enjoy every minute of it.

I knew the Nokia N9 wasn’t really gonna be one of these long-lasting relationships that you commit to. With a price tag of 400+ euro, I didn’t think it was reasonable for anyone with a knack for smartphones to buy it, let alone me. Plus I no longer have the patience to commit to a new OS and a new ecosystem much like I did back in the first days of iOS. These days are all gone. Now it’s either iOS or Android for me and I’m already too deep into those to leave it all for a one-week romantic getaway with some stranger.

So as much as I enjoyed the N9 and its MeeGo OS, we’ll part ways quite soon. But as I went about using the N9 day after day, I made mental notes of all the little things that I’d really miss once I return to the mainstream. Some of those are really minute, but I find them all immensely helpful in delivering a richer user experience.

So here’s my list of the 7 things I love about the N9 (besides the impressive industrial design that deserves an article of its own). Hopefully, one day I’ll see some of the items in this list implemented elsewhere in other mobile OS’s.

1. The always-on clock. This might seem like a really minor thing but I’m one of these guys that got rid of the wristwatch ever since they got their first cellphone. And words are not enough to explain how useful it is to be able to check the time with only a glance on the N9, not having to pick up your phone. And the clock is equally visible both in the dark when the phone’s lying on my bedside (so wrong having it there, I know), as in broad daylight.

2. The double-tap-to-wake gesture. Waking your phone just by double-tapping it seems like the most natural thing to do right from the very first time you try it. I bet that keeps the accelerometer in an always on mode, but I’d have it any day over some of the supposed battery life gains of doing without it.

3. The clock interface when setting up alarms and the time. Now, you gotta give it to MeeGo devs. They’ve come up with a unique way of interacting with the clock, unlike most other manufacturers who simply chose to copy the iOS way. The interface mimics the hands of a analog clock, but it’s as modern as it gets.

4. The amazing touch haptics. Touch the screen and feel a vibration exactly where you touched it. And not only that, but it’s a vibration so finely tuned it feels like the whole screen is clicking under your thumb. I’ll just say this: When it comes to typing usability, the Nokia N9 can eat the two generations of BlackBerry Storm‘s for breakfast and then have some more.

5. Scrolling your contacts. The alphabetical scroll is light years ahead of the competition, working incredibly reliably. I almost never find myself skipping the alphabet letter I’m looking for. It’s super smooth and yet highly precise.

6. The unified message inbox. The Message center houses all your threaded conversations including those from SMS, Facebook and Skype chats, now how cool is that?

Another nice trick is that when you have an email opened, to get to the next one you just swipe across the screen. No need to get back to the Inbox list of emails.

7. The music player auto-generating its album art. The Nokia N9 music player might be somewhat limited regarding extra features such as equalizer presets and repeat options but it makes your music look really great by auto generating Album Art for you. Yup, those text-only icons below, are auto-generated based on the Album’s name.

Another nifty feature is that clicking on the More… button while you are playing a track from the album takes you to a screen that automatically suggests music for you based on the artist.

So there you have it. Almost every part of the Nokia N9 interface has its own character. It’s often unlike anything you’ve seen and it’s surprisingly easy to use and get used to. I certainly wish the platform had more future ahead – both in hardware and software aspects. It’s always refreshing to try out a new OS for a size, but eventually we all get back to the mainstream. Pleasure meeting you Nokia N9, I hope we bump into each other some day again.

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Eye in the Sky: The US military’s new helicopter drone comes complete with a 1.8 gigapixel camera

2012-01-07T00:29:00.000-06:00

Military research has resulted in an increased use of unmanned drones amidst conflicts in recent years. From mine sweeping to aerial surveillance, some of the most advanced robotics of the age see implementation in military projects.

Step forward one of the latest pieces of hardware to grace the US military, Boeing’s A160 Hummingbird, a UAV helicopter drone endowed with a mammoth 1.8 gigapixel color video camera.

In truth the Hummingbird is not the last word in helicopter drones for the US military, but rather just Boeing’s submission. Other companies will be able to bid on future manufacturing contracts involving their own heli-drone designs down the line, but in the meantime Boeing have produced the latest and greatest.

The army say the technology promises “an unprecedented capability to track and monitor activity on the ground”. From altitudes as high as 20,000 feet (6.1km) in the air and across a distance of almost 65 square miles (168 sq km), the 1.8 gigapixel video sensor is the largest to be used on tactical missions.

The surveillance capability on board, dubbed Argus-IS (or Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance-Imaging System for short long), is a reference to the 100-eyed giant of Greek mythology, Argus Panoptes. Not quite hitting the 100 eye mark, the video sensor gives the operator on the ground the option of 65 different, steerable ‘windows’ with which to pick and track targets from. The advantage being that one drone can track multiple targets simultaneously, even if they travel in different directions, neat.

Following the drone’s test flights in Arizona, scheduled for the first part of this year, they will then see active service in Afghanistan by May or June. Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Munster, product manager for the US Army’s Unmanned Aerial System Modernization unit explains, “These aircraft will deploy for up to one full year as a way to harness lessons learned and funnel them into a program of record”.

Beyond the obvious benefits of the advance imaging and sensory technologies at work here, the practical benefits of a helicopter drone over a typical winged drone are much the same as with fully-fledged helicopters and planes, the ability to take off vertically and by association the lack of need for a runway. The A160 will be able to take off and land in more challenging terrain and be able to reach more difficult environments as a result.

The techno-wizardry doesn’t stop there however, as DARPA (The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and UK-based contractors BAE Systems are already working on improving the Argus-IS with night vision technology and upping the aforementioned ‘window’ number to 130, with tests of this newer system taking place in June.

Now take note and watch the skies, because they might start watching you soon.

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LG Optimus 2 AS680 quietly hits the US, is a minor upgrade over Optimus One

2012-01-06T22:19:00.000-06:00

I guess very few of you heard about the Optimus 2, a CDMA droid released in the USA. Well, it’s time to fix this gap for you.

The Optimus 2 is a minor upgrade over the widely popular Optimus One.

The Optimus 2 packs an 800MHz processor (instead of 600MHz), but the rest of the specs are the same – a 3.2? HVGA touchscreen, a 3 megapixel auto-focus snapper and the usual connectivity package.

The Optimus 2 runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It has no GSM radio, only CDMA and is available in very limited markets.

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Pantech Element is an AT&T bound, waterproof tablet with LTE. Will hit the shelves next week.

2012-01-06T20:15:00.000-06:00

It looks like another member of AT&T’s quickly growing LTE lineup is about to break its cover. The waterproof Pantech Element tablet is bound to join the 4G party on January 8, and bring a touch of ruggedness to the carrier’s Android lineup.

The Pantech Element will feature a dual-core CPU, clocked at 1.5GHz and 16GB of built-in memory. An 8? display with “Piezo Motor” haptic feedback and yet to be known resolution will be on board as well. Two cameras will help you capture photos and videos – a 5MP snapped, capable of recording full HD videos on the back, and a 2MP front-facing unit with 720p video capturing at the front. Android 3.2 Honeycomb will be the OS out of the box.

The waterproof capabilities of the slate might be a tad exaggerated though. The device’s rating of IP 57 means that it is capable of enduring splashes of liquid, as long as all its ports are closed. This means that using it in your swimming pool or bathtub is probably not a good idea.

The Pantech Element will cost $299.99 on a two-year contract and $449.99 commitment free. We will likely spend time with the device during our live CES coverage next week, so expect some fresh impressions soon. In the meantime, feel free to tell us what do you think of the LTE newcomer in the comments section below.

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Android in December: Gingebread keeps rising, ICS gets 0.6%

2012-01-06T17:50:00.000-06:00

We just got the latest numbers on the Android version distributions and it appears that some new trends are shaping up. Gingerbread continues to be the dominant force, but Ice Cream Sandwich has appeared on the map quicker than expected.

Unsurprisingly, the Android 2.3.x Gingerbread releases continued to gain ground fueled by the strong sales over the holiday season. The second Gingerbread release (covering version numbers 2.3.3-2.3.7) is what the majority of newly activated droids were running and it's now powering 54.9% of all Market-accessing devices.

Meanwhile, Android 2.2 Froyo continues to lose ground quickly, its market share dropping by nearly 5 percent points this month alone.

The long outdated Eclair is still the third most popular Android release, but its single-digit market share continues to shrink.

The market share of the tablet-only Android Honeycomb continues to expand - its three releases now powering 3.3% of all droids between them. Tablets were obviously popular gifts this Christmas as this number represents a 28% increase over the 2.4% that Honeycomb had in November.

The good news is that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has appeared on the map and is now powering 0.6% of all droids out there. There are actually two ICS releases - one covering versions 4.0 to 4.0.2 and the other Android 4.0.3 - and each of them has a market share of 0.3%. Considering that there are just a couple of smartphones running ICS officially, that's quite a good number.

The two long-forgotten Android releases - 1.5 Cupcake and 1.6 Donut stubbornly refuse to disappear and are still accounting for 1.7% of the droids out there.

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A press image of the AT&T bound Samsung Galaxy Note emerges

2012-01-06T14:56:00.000-06:00

It has been a good three months since the first time we discussed a U.S. bound Samsung Galaxy Note. Finally, the first press photo of the AT&T branded phoneblet has broken its cover, along with some specs.

As you can see in the picture above, the U.S. version of the Samsung Galaxy Note will sport the same four-button configuration as its local siblings. LTE and NFC connectivity are rumored to be on board as well.

There is no information yet on the CPU and chipset of the handset. We won't be surprised if Samsung passes on the beastly Exynos chipset, found in the Galaxy Note which we already know, and opts for a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 one instead. After all, the aforementioned is currently featured in the entire LTE lineup for AT&T.

The AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to launch in the first half of 2012. An announcement at CES next week is likely, so stay tuned.

Source | Via

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Yet unannounced BlackBerry Milan may have been canceled

2012-01-06T13:50:00.000-06:00

Rumor has it that RIM has scratched off one town of its travelogue of code names - Milan. It is (was?) a portrait slider with a 4.2" screen, running RIM's upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS (shortly known as BBX). A leaked mockup of the phone looks very similar to the BlackBerry London, save for the slide-out QWERTY of course.

The alleged reason for the demise of the Milan is hardware problems, but what kind of hardware problem was left unspecified.

A portrait slider with a 4+ inch screen is a rare beast - there have been some specimens (like the Dell Venue Pro), but there isn't a huge market out there for them. Of course, the info on the screen size can be wrong, but the hardware problems in question may be clumsy handling of the long device (especially with the keyboard extended).

There's still time for RIM to resurrect the BlackBerry Milan - the phones running the new OS are scheduled for Q3 this year. RIM is reportedly waiting for LTE-enabled chipsets with dual-core processors from Qualcomm for these phones, which might be the issue.

We're talking about an unconfirmed cancellation of an unconfirmed device here, so take everything with a pinch of salt. Plus, not all prototypes make it to market.

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Bada 2.0 update not making it to older Wave phones before 2012

2012-01-06T11:05:00.000-06:00

We thought we would be bringing smiles all-round, when we posted back in early September that Samsung were on track to provide nearly every one of their devices bearing the 'Wave' name with a nice dose of Bada 2.0 before the year was out.

Of course alongside the likes of the Wave 3, which came running the latest iteration of Sammy's OS out of the box, it was also expected that users of all older Bada handsets would receive the gift of 2.0 by Q4 2011. Now however, it would appear that Samsung aren't quite up to the task as they first promised.

The likes of Samsung Spain and Samsung Italy have confirmed a delay on the Bada 2.0 upgrade to all expectant devices until Q1 2012, meaning you won't be able to ring in the new year with the update (if you haven't already depending on your time zone). Samsung Italy expanded on that explaining that software won't be available before March, so not exactly nailing a date down, but providing a new deadline with which patient users will have to wait for.

At the time of writing, there are some 8.1 million Bada-running handsets out there, with 2.0 only currently available on the aforementioned Wave 3, as well as the Wave M and Wave Y.

Users who opted for either the Wave 525 or 533, sadly won't be seeing any 2.0-goodness past March or any other time in fact, as these devices aren't up to the task of running Bada 2.0 due to hardware limitations. Assuming you're packing any other Bada device however, keep the March deadline in your calendars and hope that this presently fresh disappointment won't be prolonged.

Update: We've gotten reports that Samsung did in fact start rolling out updates just before the start of the new year in a limited capacity to Wave 1 users in both Hungary and Poland via their Kies update client. Subsequent updates have been rolling out to a number of other devices too. Follow Twitter username @SamKiesUpdate, to check whether you've got an update waiting, or conversely check in with your Kies client. Thanks to those of you who let us know.

Source 1 (Spanish) | Source 2 (Italian) | Source 3 | Via

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Saying goodbye to 2011 and wishing you a Happy New Year

2012-01-06T08:09:00.000-06:00

As we say goodbye to year 2011, we cannot help but have a look back at all the work we've done.

Thanks to you, our readers, it's been a successful year for us at GSMArena.com. This year you pushed our website up in the list of the Top 500 websites globally (currently at the 429th spot), according to the independent internet statistics Alexa.com. We cannot thank you enough for that.

Image by Hypocentre

We also introduced numerous new features and fine-honed existing ones.

One thing's for certain, it's been the year of the video and social networking for us - a quite natural consequence of the global trends. Our YouTube video channel ramped up more than 20 million video views this year alone (a 200% increase over 2010) and we're still going strong. We even dipped our toes in producing some full video phone reviews.

Our blog has been on the rise too, coming up in leaps and bounds in the past 12 months. Our coverage there included regular tech news in all sorts of fields but most importantly, we've been spicing it up with exclusive features and articles, which you seem to like a lot (such as our regular phone unboxings, the recently introduced battery tests and our software reviews.)

This year we also enhanced our presence on Facebook, scoring 100,000 likes in a matter of few months of actively participating in the online community.

Our phone reviewing routine saw some changes too. We introduced our Photo Quality and Video Quality Compare tools. We also started measuring mobile displays brightness and contrast in a more scientific way that allows for direct comparisons. And finally, we started reviewing US-only phones in an effort to expand our global reach.

Overall, this year we churned out more than 1400 news articles, more than 1900 blog posts and a total of 264 reviews.

Year 2012 will hopefully be off to a good start too with two of the major industry events just around the corner. In 2012 we will have our first live coverage from the Consumer Electronics Show in the US (starting January 9) and a couple of months later, we'll traditionally report live from the Mobile World Congress (starting February 27).

So once again, thank you so much for your incredible support in 2011, we have some great plans for 2012 and we hope you will stick around to see what we will be up to.

So Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, we wish you peace, prosperity and happiness. Cheers!

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HTC Radiant image leaks, looks like Titan with LTE

2012-01-06T06:24:00.000-06:00

We first heard about the HTC Radiant when a rumor of two AT&T-bound phones with LTE connectivity made the rounds. Now there's an image to go with the rumor, plus a few hints on specs.

The HTC Radiant looks a lot like the Titan, but the back is different. It's made up of three pieces rather than two and the dual-LED flash is on the side of the 3.5mm audio jack (where the loudspeaker was on the Titan).

It will supposedly keep the 4.7" screen size, but a higher resolution than WVGA is unlikely - the Tango update for Windows Phone that brings LTE will add a new resolution option, but the current understanding is that it will be a lower resolution for affordable phones.

Reportedly, the battery in the HTC Radiant will be non-removable (unlike the Titan). Microsoft has stated that they're waiting for power-efficient chipsets that can do LTE, so the Radiant shouldn?t take a hit when it comes to battery life, but we have nothing on battery capacity.

Anyway, the Radiant is supposed to launch at CES (which starts this Sunday), so we'll find out more about it soon. It's rumored to go to AT&T's new LTE network, but also head to Telstra Australia.

Source

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The iPhone 4S comes to 22 new markets, January 13th

2012-01-06T03:49:00.000-06:00

On January 13th, the iPhone 4S will touch down in a number of new markets including the likes of China, Jamaica and Kenya along with 19 others, across the globe.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook has a lot to smile about, especially with a yet untapped market like China (with regards to the iPhone 4S at least). Tim states that,

?Customer response to our products in China has been off the charts. With the launch in China next week, iPhone 4S will be available in over 90 countries making this our fastest iPhone rollout ever.?

What's more, Chinese New Year hits on January 23rd with sales events not too dissimilar to that of the US's Black Friday. As such, Apple can expect very healthy figures once the shoppers hit the stores in coming weeks.

Here's the full list of new markets about to receive the iPhone 4S from Apple's official press release:

Beginning Friday, January 13, iPhone 4S will be available in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guam, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and Uganda.

Are you planning on picking one up? Let us know in the comments.

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Untethered jailbreak for the iPhone 4S coming up next week

2012-01-06T01:05:00.000-06:00

It certainly took longer than usual, but what matters is that the iPhone 4S untethered jailbreak solution is finally nearing completion. The popular developer pod2g confirmed through his Twitter account that he has made huge progress towards getting full access to the iPhone 4S operating system.

According to pod2g, if we are lucky enough, we will get the untethered jailbreaking tool for the iPhone 4S and the iPad2 running iOS 5.0.1 in just a week's time.

Those that had older iDevices - iPhone 4, 3GS and the original iPad got their untethered jailbreak in the final days of last year, but the A5 chipset proved much tougher to break. Fortunately, its defenses are now finally breached and you'll be able to enjoy absolute control over your shiny new Apple iGadgets.

Are you taking the plunge or is your warranty way more valuable to your than the added customization options? Share with us in the comments section below.

Source | Via

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Motorola DROID 4 hands-on images leak

2012-01-05T23:15:00.000-06:00

This is not the first time we're seeing the Motorola DROID 4, which has been a long time coming. First it leaked through some hands-on images and then we saw an official press image leak. Today we have something different; hands-on pictures of a dummy unit of the smartphone.

These dummy units are the same ones you find in stores and built to scale and move and behave just like the real thing, except you can't actually use it.

With the dummy unit, TechnoBuffalo noticed that the device has a soft-touch plastic surface. The keyboard on the DROID 4 is larger than the one on its predecessors and was found to be a lot more comfortable. As for the rest of the design, we already knew that the DROID 4 had a slightly thick RAZR look to it.

We still don't know when the actual device is going to ship but hopefully it won't be too long now. For more images, click on the source link below.

Source

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New Sony Ericsson smartphone coming up next week?

2012-01-05T22:10:00.000-06:00

Sony Ericsson is going to start the New Year with an announcement. The company will be unveiling a new smartphone at CES, which starts next week in Las Vegas.

The company mentioned on its Twitter and Facebook accounts that it's going to make a major announcement in exactly seven days and urged users to guess what it will be all about. And, seeing that the attention of everyone in the teaser image is focused on that large-screened smartphone the girl in the blue shirt is holding, that's not quite so hard a challenge.

What's a bit trickier is to guess what exactly Sony Ericsson is going to announce. Currently two of its smartphones are doing the rounds in the rumor mill - the Nozomi and the Nyphon.

Logic dictates that it will be the Nozomi, as last year Sony Ericsson announced their Arc flagship at CES and it'll make sense for its successor to appear there, too. Plus the Nyphon is said to be the first smartphone to make do carry the Sony logo, instead of the Sony Ericsson one. And since the merger won't happen before the middle of the year, it's probably too early for this one.

In any case, we'll be there and covering the whole thing live for you, so you will know what gets unveiled as quickly as possible.

Source | Via

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Images of Nokia Ace for AT&T (Lumia 900) leak out again

2012-01-05T19:45:00.000-06:00

This is surely one of the most curious cases of leaked product images we've encountered in 2011. Pictures of Nokia's upcoming Windows Phone smartphone for AT&T's LTE network popped up in a Christmas card, thanks to an overly creative Microsoft partner.

The handset, dubbed Ace, is most likely going to launch as Nokia Lumia 900 in regions other than the United States. It will finally bring a front-facing camera to Nokia's Windows Phone lineup - a nice addition to its LTE network compatibility.

Nokia Ace will most likely break cover at CES 2012, which begins in less than two weeks time. We will be covering it live from Las Vegas, so expect an update as soon as we get the full scoop.

Source

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Nokia Asha 303 review: Type smarter

2012-01-05T17:07:00.000-06:00

Nokia had two big announcements to make a few months ago. And yes, it?s a matter of perspective but, on certain markets, the S40-powered Asha series can be as big as Windows Phone. Anyway, now that the Lumia smartphones have had their deserved hype, it?s time for the Asha handsets to step forward.

The S40 platform got recently treated to lots of visual updates and the latest feature phones have joined the 1GHz league. The new Asha 303 seem to be sparing no effort to bring the complete user experience to traditionally loyal Nokia markets.

Nokia Asha 303 official pictures

At first, it felt strange, but a few minutes into it, we knew we were with a friend. The Asha 303 offers the familiar convenience of Touch and Type phones, but comes with a slightly bigger screen and ? most importantly ? a full QWERTY keyboard. With a connectivity set that borders on premium and a powerful 1GHz processor, the Asha 303 is ready to lead a Nokia return to markets the Finns like to call their own..

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE supportPenta-band 3G with 10Mbps HSDPA and 2Mbps HSUPAAsha S40 Touch and Type platformFour-row hardware QWERTY keyborad2.6" QVGA 256K-color capacitive TFT touchscreen1GHz processor128MB RAM, 256MB ROM3 megapixel fixed-focus cameraVGA video recording at 15fpsWi-Fi b/g/nStereo FM radio with RDSBluetooth v2.1 (with A2DP)Standard microUSB port (charging enabled)USB On-The-Go supportmicroSD card slot (32 GB supported, 2GB included)3.5mm audio jackAngry Birds for S40 exclusiveNo multitaskingFixed-focus cameraNo smart dialingNo video-call cameraNo document viewerNon-hot-swappable memory card

The Asha 303 is in charge of a lineup that tries to cover the entire range of the low end. From a basic Dual SIM solution to different combinations of touchscreen and QWERTY and cameras ranging from 2 to 5 megapixel ? there should be a phone for every use and budget.

Nokia Asha 303 live pictures

Save for the 3.2 megapixel camera (it?s fixed-focus across the range), the Asha 303 is the best equipped handset of the lineup. Not only is it the first QWERTY/touchscreen S40 phone, the capacitive display is a debut for the platform. The penta-band 3G support along with Wi-Fi and USB-on-the-go are worthy of a smartphone.

The Asha 303 is not a smartphone of course and the biggest omission is multitasking. Nokia?s S40 have never had that and it seems a shame that the 1GHz processor will never be really tested. Smart dialing is another No on the list ? would?ve been a nice thing to have on a QWERTY phone.

Other than that, the Asha 303 is more than adequately equipped to be an excellent competitor in its class. Let?s see if this messenger delivers on time ? and on price. Coming up next is our traditional tour of the exterior.

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Korea-bound Samsung Galaxy M Style M340S unveiled

2012-01-05T14:35:00.000-06:00

Samsung are continuing their strong push at the start of 2012 with a new announcement. The company just introduced the mid-range Samsung Galaxy M Style M340S smartphone. The Android handset is going to debut in Korea, but there's no saying if availability elsewhere will follow.

Design-wise, the Samsung Galaxy M Style is quite reminiscent of its I9103 Galaxy R sibling, but its internals are quite different. The dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU has been replaced by a 1 GHz single-core Cortex-A8 unit and there's DMB-T support this time.

The Samsung Galaxy M comes with a really modest 3 megapixel camera, but it uses a 4" Super AMOLED screen, instead of the 4.2" Super-LCD unit, found on the I9103. The Galaxy M runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has the usual TouchWiz customizations on top of that.

Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity and 4GB of internal memory are the only other specs of the Samsung Galaxy M that have been confirmed so far.

Samsung Galaxy M Style M340S

We do know though that the smartphone will be available in Platinum Silver, Blue Black and Lavender Pink and will cost about $500.

Source | Via

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European Motorola RAZR gets a new firmware update

2012-01-05T13:34:00.000-06:00

Motorola RAZR users in European countries can look forward to an over-the-air firmware update for their devices soon. The new firmware will update the software from version 651.73.15/16/17/18 to version 651.73.30.

The list of changes in the new firmware include:

Pre-installed Evernote application Camera performance improvements New Smart Rule trigger: Motion detection Added security features Improved call and Bluetooth connectivity performance Localization improvements Improved Wi-Fi connectivity

The update will be made available in the following countries for now: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, SFR, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, T-Mobile Germany and the UK.

Source

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LG's Jill Sander Mobile gets its price slashed in half in the UK

2012-01-05T11:01:00.000-06:00

If you are in the UK, looking for a fashion oriented smartphone we have some great news for you. The Windows Phone Mango running LG Jill Sander Mobile is now available contract free at Expansys for the highly acceptable ?149.99 ($233) - half its original price.

The above price tag gets you a great looking, well appointed Windows Phone device with a 1GHz CPU, 16GB of built-in storage, 5MP camera, and 3.8" WVGA display. This spec sheet is almost as good as it gets for a Windows Phone handset, meaning that you won't have to sacrifice looks for functionality.

Interested? Hit the source link to grab one, because the offer might not last long.

Source | Via

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Samsung drops plans to release Value Pack for Galaxy S

2012-01-05T09:25:00.000-06:00

Galaxy S users waiting for the Value Pack from Samsung are in for a disappointment. A company spokesperson has just confirmed that Samsung has dropped the plans to release the update.

As you may know, Samsung initially declined upgrading the popular Galaxy S smartphone to ICS last year, stating the lack of space on the phone as the reason. Later on they said that they will look into it, only to come back a while later and say that it's not going to happen after all. They did, however, promise a "Value Pack", which was supposed to add some useful features to the Galaxy S, found in ICS.

But now, even that's not going to happen. Once again, Samsung claims that the hardware is not capable of running the new software while staying clear of making any more promises that they cannot keep. So it seems that the Galaxy S users are going to be stuck on Gingerbread for the rest of their lives, assuming they stick to the official channel.

Source

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Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus with 1GHz CPU unveiled

2012-01-05T07:50:00.000-06:00

Samsung has just announced the successor of its highly popular Galaxy Ace Android smartphone. The successor of the mid-range device is dubbed Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus and improves several key aspects of its hardware.

The Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus comes with a faster, 1GHz, CPU, 3GB storage and more RAM than its predecessor - 512MB. The Ace Plus also sports a marginally larger HVGA LCD - it measures 3.65" in diagonal compared to the 3.5" of the original Galaxy Ace. The exterior of the smartphone also got redesigned and it's now made of glossy rather than matte plastic.

Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus

The rest of the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus hardware is pretty much on par with the firs Galaxy Ace. You get a 5 megapixe autofocus camera with LED flash, dual-band 3G with 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack and a standard microUSB port.

The internal storage is expandable through the microSD card slot, while the Bluetooth version is 3.0.

Unfortunately, there's no information about the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus pricing and availability at this stage.

Source

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More details on Nokia Ace (Lumia 900) surface

2012-01-05T05:40:00.000-06:00

Even more details have become known on the upcoming Nokia Ace (Lumia 900) for AT&T Wireless - less than a week after we came across leaked photos of the smartphone tucked into a Christmas card.

This time, the specs of the upcoming Finnish flagship are almost fully revealed along with a mockup photo, based on the leaked images from a couple of days ago.

The Nokia Ace will indeed be sold globally as Lumia 900. The smartphone will pack a 1.4GHz Scorpion CPU and 512MB of RAM. The display of the handset is expected to be in the 4.3" vicinity, while the battery is rumored to have 1830mAh capacity. The phone is also expected to pack T-Mobile's 1700 MHz 3G band. It will be sold locked for AT&T though.

The Nokia Ace will weigh 160 grams, while having similar thickness as the Lumia 800 at 12mm.

The Windows Phone Mango running Nokia flagship is expected to hit the shelves at some point in March. Rumor has it that it will be unveiled at CES next week, along with another mid-range Nokia smartphone, featuring Microsoft's OS (Lumia 719).

As you probably know already, we will be covering live from Las Vegas, so expect a timely update on the Nokia Ace as soon as we get the full scoop.

Source

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INQ cancels Cloud Q to focus on future products

2012-01-05T03:36:00.000-06:00

INQ has decided to cancel its QWERTY-slash-touchscreen droid Cloud Q from its roadmap and deny it creation. The decision has been confirmed to website Electricpig by an INQ spokesperson.

The Brit phone-maker INQ announced its Facebook-centric Android-running Cloud Touch and Cloud Q devices almost a year ago. The Cloud Touch has been out on the market since the spring of 2011 but the Cloud Q never made it to the market.

The spokesperson for INQ also shares that the company does not intend to make any announcements at the MWC in Barcelona next month and instead will release a device in the second half of 2012. There's no word on what to expect but knowing INQ we're guessing social networking integration will be a major part of it.

We've already seen dedicated Facebook integration all over the Android playing field in the face of HTC, Sony Ericsson and others.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Source

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Two official ICS ROMs from Samsung leak for the Galaxy S II

2012-01-05T01:11:00.001-06:00

Samsung may not update the Galaxy S to Ice Cream Sandwich, but they've been hard at work on mixing the new Android 4.0 with their TouchWiz UI for the i9100 Galaxy S II.

A proof for this are two official Samsung ROMs that have leaked for the company's Droid flagship. The two versions in question are I9100XXKP4/OXAKP4 and I9100XXKP8 / OXAKP8 based on Android 4.0.1 and Android 4.0.3, respectively.

SamMobile.com is reporting that while both are early alpha versions of the final update supposed to hit all Galaxy S II devices early this year, the more stable one is the latter. Here are some screenshots of how the Ice Cream Sandwich update looks on the S II.

Samsung Galaxy S II running Ice Cream Sandwich with TouchWiz

As you can see Samsung have done a great job of coating their TouchWiz UI onto the Ice Cream Sandwich. Finally, take a look at the alpha ROMs in action.

If you simply can't wait any more for Samsung to release the final ICS update for your Galaxy S II, then jump to the source links below for full instructions on how to get the updates now.

Source | Via

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Rango games

2011-07-12T12:36:00.002-05:00

Disney is not limited to adaptations of animated films in video games. In the event that a blockbuster film requires a game to add to its marketing plan, EA is also known that the adventure game all age groups has done its office.

Synchronized with the film, Rango game , landed on the shelves to bring light "different" the latest creation from Gore Verbinski, director of the first three Pirates of the Caribbean. Without following the script of feature film, the player in Rango game, Sheriff chameleon City Dirt in a series of levels mixing adventure and platform action. Close enough to a Ratchet & Clank in the staging, this title still has a few original gameplay felt, based on the fabrications of Rango. A little shooting here, a cavalcade through the desert and thus the platform between the two: the different sequences enchainent without frustration and with a good-humor, because the game is aimed primarily at younger players.

If we had not really get bored because of the short lifespan of the title (about 4 hours and no multiplayer), it is regrettable, however, that such license is always treated with a little lax near completion. We meet a lot of annoying visual defects that even the layman can identify as an ugly and painful downturns tearing which splits and shifts the image virtually every camera movement. In short, nothing to jump to the ceiling, but in the tradition of Kung Fu Panda and other Ratatouille, Rango is the rank of family entertainment.

Killzone 3 Review

2011-07-11T05:32:00.002-05:00

Expected as the messiah by PS3 owners at the time, Killzone 2, Arlésienne by excellence, was finally held most of its promises to achieve a high quality content and 100% action. Two years later, almost to the day, Killzone 3 will still try to raise the level up a notch with the latest refinements that the console has. In addition to an explosive FPS, we Guerrilla also proposes to use tricks such as PS or 3D Move to revive the interest of fighting. Pari held?

Visari milk

Those who have completed Killzone 2 will not be lost with this third installment, for sure. For Killzone 3 resumes the adventures of direct and inseparable Sev Rico, stack after the terrible confrontation that resulted in the death of Visari. This victory has not brought an end to the conflict between the interplanetary forces to those of ISA Hellghasts. Still tacky and rude, our heroes soon find themselves trapped in hostile terrain and struggling to survive. While the side of Hellghasts, internal conflict raged between powerful military and industrial, all ready to kill each other to seize power.

Killzone 3 is a concentrated action, but it also tells a story then. Unfortunately, the cutscenes are many and they have obviously been the subject of some care, the plot itself is never very exciting - it's better to know. Conflicting relationships between the characters, whether Rico and Narville or rivalries between leaders Hellghasts, often in caricature sink without making much of a story which the strings are too visible. The dialogues sound hollow, it's all terribly first degree, and a few supporting roles as Jammer are just to flesh out (unsuccessfully) a universe not particularly interesting. Without the narration, know also that the end of the game is as steep as disappointing. You do not will end the campaign of Killzone 3 to learn more about the fate of its protagonists, that is said.

Rub a Dub Style

Fortunately for him, the game has other advantages. After all, we are not at a point and click and most players do not care less about the scenario in an FPS, as long as it blasts. On this side, of course, Killzone 3 is doing better, and without making a perfect copy, we feel that the developers have honed their gameplay over the episodes, which guarantees under some effectiveness as a whole. The basics of gameplay, however, are the same. Good ergonomics, nice arsenal (with some impressive new toys), grenades, iron sight, cover system and quickly assimilated basic: no complaints. The fights are nice and we even notice that under some floating second album has been corrected. Good. The I. A. by cons has not been especially improved. Too bad. Killzone 3 also offers a regular alternation between confined environments, hallways and more open battlefields. The progression is still very linear, as in competition, and the player is never forced to explore the surroundings. Weapons and ammunition boxes are strewn pile hair on the path. They kill, they are progressing and refueling. Tirelessly.

The urban guerrilla is not the only challenge that contains the title. Killzone 3 is a game great show, and it shows through numerous phases of play that take us a little beyond the traditional trench warfare. Sev and Rico will have many opportunities to climb into a tank off-road, in an exo-skeleton straight out of Aliens, if not downright in spacecraft later in the venture. These sequences are particularly rich in explosions break the monotony of the script on a regular basis, but with varying degrees of success. The passages in jetpack, for example, are particularly successful. They give the player an incredible mobility to fight in a way quite different and using the architecture of the set to his advantage. For cons, the clay pigeon shooting sessions at the controls of a heavy machine gun on the ground and in the air, engender the most part a very limited interactivity. Of course, visually the result is there, but the gameplay is about more than water so anything that moves on the screen, with a lot of self-guided missiles. After the fourth mission of its kind, it can saturate ...

Throughout the missions, the hero will often be accompanied. Narville Rico will be able to play the role of the drug in case of serious injury, because it is common to die in Killzone 3, even with automatic healing taken by 90% of the modern FPS. It must be said that if the automatic save points are numerous, they are not always appropriate and sometimes it will reappear right in front of three enemies, or in the middle of a plain to become an ideal target of the coup, before falling miserably after seconds. Killzone 3 is however not a very difficult game, much less long. Have less than eight hours to complete the campaign of a sudden one, without much struggle. If he leaves a mixed impression in the end, mainly because of a botched late, however, includes the solo epic moments well. The heart of the game is so muscular and effective, but the beginning and the end disappoint. Pace a little jagged but not that bother anyone. Killzone 3 is effective, certainly, but for a production of this level and compete now, it seems reasonable to expect the maximum intensity over the few hours of play offered.

As always, those who do not have enough experience can extend in a manner consistent with the multi. Here, nothing is missing a priori with the coop for the campaign, but only local and traditional modes for the online game. In addition to the Team Deathmatch, you will find a way Warzone with defined objectives on the fly, which makes this quite dynamic, and a mode operation which involves attack or defend specific points. There are also a whole system of classes and experience, as in most modern FPS, supposed to allow the player to progress over time while earning rewards for its actions useful to the team. Ultimately, these three modes will play a bunch of hours, and the cards seem sufficiently well studied to take the sauce. Nothing to cry genius, but the job has clearly been in a serious way.

Question equipment Killzone 3

was also expected to run on a technical level, and this at several levels. Let's not beat around the bush, the game is still visually impressive, with lots of details, pyrotechnic effects of folly, but also more creative. There are gigantic robots, fleets of ships ultra detailed. The jungle and the glaciers would increase for a ancient Lost Planet ... In short, there is not much to complain about and it is in the presence of one of the most current FPS. But the game also benefits from refinements of art such as compatibility with PlayStation Move. The thing works great and, as in the Wii games, aim with the magic wand will bring more precision than the stick. Matter of taste, of course, but the principle works very well, with some minor movement bonus to recharge or stealth kill for example. The 3D, it brings what one could expect. More immersion, a sense of depth achieved (and relief for snow or some explosions), but then it seems that the flow is frequently jeopardized, and the graphics a bit lost in details. If you are equipped accordingly, and therefore ready to play with the funny glasses combo / nunchuck / PS Move, Killzone 3 will certainly another feeling. Not necessarily better but different.

Might & Magic Heroes VI

2011-07-07T17:55:00.002-05:00

Renowned Might & Magic Heroes VI, probably to stick to the renewal of identity of Might and Magic saga, the latest in the series Heroes has entered into closed beta this is a little over a week. The opportunity for us to ask our new hairy legs and impatient on bound album eagerly awaited by fans, especially after a last-minute postponement of the game's release will be postponed from June to September. A delay painful but ultimately necessary, as shown in this trial run of a promising title, however, still need a little bit of polish ...

This hack of Might & Magic

Pushed for the common good: this is how we can summarize the situation in this sixth installment in the legendary saga Heroes of Might and Magic, since as much as feared by the fans after fifth album that is sometimes controversial. In each chapter his little controversy, we must believe. The sixth component appears at least on track to bring everyone together with its focus clearly intended to reassure fans of the first hour, despite some innovations scattered here and there. We must justify the "6" title, and thus bring to the antediluvian breath new series intended to bring together former players as well as novices.

Since the launch of beta, the game also seems to have an element of modernity with the "Conflux" Unified Profile earning experience points over the games played (for fashion), integration of Skype, chat, widgets for its interface, we played Heroes VI Web 2.0 - do not miss more than social networks, and the picture will be complete. This experience provides some very welcome changes, it must be admitted, which should make it more flexible parts online, even if the multi was absent from this beta.

A map playable HotSeat will reassure us, however, not only in the presence of this mode of play, but also on non-campaign scenarios playable, one of the major flaws of Heroes V when it was launched. The availability of a level editor was more or less confirmed, hopefully on the right side longevity. If this beta reassuring on another point is that the fundamentals, which are all present. We thus find our little hero and his nag trotted very cute on cards, the game is not stingy with pretty colors and animations, which give the set a leg engaging and a real personality.

Involved, we appreciate the opportunity to create shortcuts to any window of the interface - or from his book of spells - in an action bar ideal for quick access to specific menu. Although still a little aliased, the graphics of Heroes VI benefit from a careful art direction that really brings the game of his ancestors, episodes II and III in particular. The combat animations are pretty successful, and the whole is very charming, with particular care given to sound effects. If the score is pleasant but innocuous enough - at least in what is being proposed here - a few remixes of old songs, however, will cry with joy and nostalgia.

Back to Basics?

In terms of gameplay anyway, because that's what interests us above all the veterans who have dragged their hooves on the previous games will feel at home one second out of two or three small changes. There are the holy trinity exploration / management / fighting, even if the resources are no longer collecting four: sulfur, mercury and the gems are gone. The Fort, that is to say the central city of heroes, where buildings are built producing creatures that take into battle, now has an area of influence to protect the mines and production sites around. As long as the Fort is not captured by an opponent, the resources are related to the character, unless an opponent or his creatures are positioned permanently in the mine. No more campaigns asphyxiation where you slowly suffocating the opponent by cutting off resources.

Another widely put forward in previous previews, the reputation system divided into two separate (Dragon Blood and Dragon Tears) which could be crudely schematized in Good and Evil, even if there will be no such thing as "good" way to go. In fact, it is to specialize even more the hero at the mercy of a skill tree to unlock additional powers, if one sticks to one or other of these schools or classes unpublished.

There are of course the system artifacts and magic of the previous games, with a character sheet that has also expanded, even if only because all of the skills is available to all heroes, no good or wrong choice. Bonuses are the same race there. He is not sure it gains in clarity, with tooltips chouilla a small and not always obvious explanation (the magic system is pretty abstruse exmeple). To see the long term. The replay value in any case looks pretty good, despite the low number of factions available, since no official count five: humans (Le Havre), Orcs (Bastion), demons (Inferno), the essential necromancers (Necropolis), and finally new kids, the naga (Sanctuary).

The beta and the piece of single-player campaign can also try their hand at these new creatures for inspiration very Asian - male sharks, reef creatures, dragons and sea serpents ... The opportunity also to see in action the combat system, cornerstone of Heroes saw the time to see small creatures paste fill-Snitches. In addition to the traditional system of movements, attacks and reprisals, we discover a unique power that loads as and when the confrontation, a little on the model of Clash of Heroes, which complements the book lots of heroes, or special abilities of creatures.

Hope, hope ...

They are particularly well off, with healing spells, Resurrection, and various powers blockers or offensive, let alone their passive skills. A panel that comes pleasantly power battles and makes the order of action of creatures, always influenced by the moral and leadership capacity of his hero, even more important. The fights are connected without weariness, and this reassures beta on both the quality of what is already in place and the potential of the game at its output.

Remain, however, some large portions of content to explore, including the multi, and also questions. The interface is not always super clear, particularly for the management of cities and buildings, and the game is about the state enough to bugs and crashes of all kinds, sometimes at the most innocuous actions. Hopefully the team will build on both the player feedback and their remaining weeks to polish the game up, but this new contact in any case leaves us very impatient to test the final version ...

Forza Motorsport 4

2011-07-07T17:38:00.003-05:00

Star of the E3 booth last Microsoft, Forza Motorsport 4 was almost immediately ended the event in California, flew to Europe and especially Cannes. It was at the IDEF, last week, we found the car simulation Turn 10, ready to unfold in a more relaxed atmosphere in Los Angeles. Here are our first impressions in writing, after a short presentation followed by a few (too short) minutes of play.

"Forza" "Race"

Started the first name on Xbox in 2005, the Forza Motorsport franchise has gradually installed in the gaming landscape and in the hearts of players as the only real alternative to Gran Turismo on consoles. More regular, but also more timely than its eternal rival, it already is preparing to spend the fourth with a new episode a priori not really revolutionary. Yet he immediately promised compatibility Kinect necessarily very popular in the first-party games for the Xbox 360. It comes first with a dedicated mode visibly close to the Forza Kinect we discovered at E3 2010, but with voice recognition (which will normally be arriving in France this fall). In Forza 4 it will especially easy navigation in menus, it is true, sometimes quite crowded. By saying "Forza" and "Race", it will be possible to run a race since the party customization of the vehicle, for example - so no need to return several screens back.

In the lot, however, is that head tracking will receive more attention. This feature has unfortunately not been made, but recall, however, it will direct the camera in play by moving the upper body / head to look around in the race. It is certainly not really ever seen in a racing simulation (the system of NaturalPoint TrackIR does the same thing for ages on the PC with a sensor / infrared sensor), but there Kinect find a real interest for fans of racing simulation while improving even more immersion. During the race, it will also always provided by cockpit views very successful, at least on the two models we have taken in hand: a Ferrari 599 and a Subaru Impreza. I must say that Forza Motorsport 4 promises a quality vehicle modeling high fly, and to be convinced, simply proceed to the mode Autovista or Car Porn for friends. If so.

It affects the eyes

This will, among both races, to approach the different vehicles offered in the game (we are promised more than 80 manufacturers and more models in Forza Motorsport 3 which were approximately 400, but also more Muscle Cars .. .) and to look from every angle. Open the doors and slip behind the wheel of the last Aston Martin to enjoy the stitching of its bucket seats, lift the hood to see the red Ferrari V12 599 or kneel in front of his wheels and brake calipers. .. This mode Autovista we (re) the dealer did it at home, hoping that the whole is accompanied by numerous data and / or anecdotes on the models in question, to make an encyclopedia. The value of the thing can seem altogether rather relative, but she puts her finger on another important element of Forza Motorsport 4: its plastic widely seen since the third episode.

One circuit was proposed (and playable) in this demo: an imaginary route in the Alps, which allowed most to rinse the eye and take a good boufée of fresh air in the process. For if the models had something to bluff in the menus, the sets are no exception. You could enjoy the snow capped mountains larger than life in the second plan, all accompanied by a chorus of engines, of course, but also light. And this is all the difference according to Turn 10 (in addition to a number of polygons revised upward course): This episode features a new dynamic lighting system, which magnifies the surroundings. In addition, cars are also subject to the same light in. The result: more than ever, the cars seem to be one with the sets, then they can sometimes seem "added" in previous episodes. And the final result speaks for itself: simply beautiful, and with an animation and a solid frame rate to boot. "Wow."

Ferrari vs Subaru

Gameplay side, if five minutes of play (the controller) do not really get a real idea of piloting the title and its possible developments over Forza Motorsport 3 will be noted, however, a grip similar to the latter and this, with all the audience off. It is already reassuring in itself braking remain accurate and require a lot of skill, acceleration still require the grade with the most powerful models, while the mass transfers are waiting to be tamed with a direction that meets the finger and the eye. In short, we quickly found its brands and a very different behavior between the two cars available, and it is normal, they are not really in the same category and not using the same type of transmission (for propulsion the Ferrari 599 and 4x4 for the Subaru Impreza). We are promised at least further improvements next flight, especially in the tires. However, it will have to wait a bit to be completely reassured about it, although Turn 10 has already amply demonstrated his mastery in this field.

Last point made during this presentation: the online game, which will offer a particular Rivals mode where you can challenge a friend, even when it is offline. We then face the ghost, and if we manage to beat his time, he will in turn be asked to do the same. A ranking system is still expected, as the Car Clubs. They allow up to 100 players to share the same garage, online and offline. Great news, but beware: it will be part of only one Car Club at a time. Online shopping will also spend 8 to 16 players, while in solo, up to 12 cars will line up on the starting grid. And if I. A. was a bit transparent in this demo, wait of course a more advanced version of the game to tell. As for the solo career, little information has filtered to the point, except that it will not resume the schedule for Forza 3. Instead, we are promised a less linear, with a world map on which one can choose his trials. To taste, it was not until October 11 release date for Forza Motorsport 4, while monthly DLC is already planned. Necessarily.

PS Vita the DLC on the game cartridge

2011-07-07T16:49:00.002-05:00

Like any modern console, the PlayStation Vita probably should not escape the additional content downloads, to the delight of large and small publishers.

However, it was learned during a recent test of the beast, that the storage of optional data - with extensions - would be on the same support as the game itself, namely the card to Sony proprietary format Computer Entertainment. It will be the same for the backup files, unlike the PSP which required, in addition to the game, an extra memory card. We must therefore determine whether, in case of resale of a game in hand, the DLC on the cartridge will remain available second hand.

Finally, the machine itself does not have memory storage, we learn, it will clearly not possible to install their games on the PS Vita directly. Port memory card is still expected, probably for storing games, movies and music downloaded from the PlayStation Store.

Call Of Juarez The Cartel : presentation of the main characters in videos

2011-07-07T15:45:00.002-05:00

Ubisoft invites you to discover videos from three to stage the main characters in Call Of Juarez The Cartel.

Scheduled on PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, Call Of Juarez The Cartel unfolds a little more now through three new videos. Fully subtitled in In many languages and in a little over a minute each, they come to stage the three main characters of the game then you will find: Kim Evans, Eddie Guerra and Ben McCall.

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution pummeled on video

2011-07-07T14:06:00.002-05:00

The developers of Deus Ex: Human Revolution we propose a new instructional video for their next title.

This first book is dedicated to the first developer of the four pillars of the gameplay of this highly anticipated title fight. This is an opportunity for the most aggressive of us to learn more about the tactical possibilities open to them in Deus Ex: Human Revolution and discover some of the weapons and bio-technological improvements that undoubtedly they will use to achieve their ends.

Large assault rifles, revolvers explosive ordnance, mines and other local defense systems are anti-personnel at the party on a video that will interest no doubt fans of toys that are booming. Let us hope that the team of the game is sure to tell us about other ways of approaching a situation in the game before its release, we are still waiting for August 26th for PC, PlayStation 3 Xbox 360.

First contact Battlefield 3: Call of Duty has much to be done ...

2011-07-05T17:54:00.004-05:00

In development for over three years, Battlefield 3 is preparing to overturn the world's first person view action game. First contact at the GDC 2011.

In the minds of many players, the action game first person view is limited to one license, the steamroller Call of Duty. A steamroller that is sure to provide us with a new album this fall, but - one swallow does not - should be opposed to a competitor. Obviously very confident, the developers at DICE have effectively market the scarecrow Battlefield 3 more or less the same time. The term scarecrow is not innocent, speaking of this third component for several years and never see anything come ... Prior to the 2011 GDC in San Francisco, we saw ... and we leave quietly!

There is something rotten in the Middle East

Not very original, the script that serves as a starting point for this Battlefield 3 propels us in 2014 when the border Iran / Iraq is being pacified by the military. From what we can tell, peace is a big word and an insurgency - the PLR - give hard time to the armed forces deployed to calm the game this context plant the single player campaign of FPS and reveals the first change since Battlefield 2 was released five years ago: Battlefield 3 will offer a true single-player campaign in addition to the inevitable and a multiplayer co-op mode. It is this single player campaign that has been presented during a presentation - PC - by Karl Magnus Toerdssen Bach and Patrick, two officials from DICE.

PC gamers will also be delighted to learn that the platform serves as a lead to the development of Battlefield 3, which - given the promise of Frostbite 2, the new engine - nothing really surprising ... It will probably wait to see the next presentation drafts PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360 ... But back to our demo and the arrival of our good soldier on the scene of his future exploits. Just in time to land his helicopter as the guy to follow his squad leader to the owner himself. It presents the situation quickly and - via a map of the area - explains the purpose of our mission. Those few seconds of play are sufficient to take treat for the eyes.

New engine and quicktime events

In development for over three years, the Frostbite 2 is easily among the best and if it is not easy to compare it to the CryEngine 2 / 3, we can already say that an adhesive masterful slap in the graphics engine used on the Call of Duty. Refraction of light, use of shadows, textures precisely, the retina is more than flattered by the Festival we offer these initial minutes. During the briefing, one can also admire the work done on the animations: why DICE has used the tools developed by Electronic Arts, including employees of FIFA. The result is up and whether the movement faces, attitudes or small movements (arms, hands ...), all combine to give all an extra life realism.

The presentation itself is divided into four sequences. The first was the opportunity to attend some shootings, but also to discover the first form of quicktime event designed by the developers. Probably scripted event, one of our teammate is actually shot when you get out of a building. The top right of the screen, the targets are automatically updated to explain that we must now put the unfortunate cover. To do this, and while the other squad members we cover, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to drag the wounded to shelter. During this sequence, one can only admire the work on the soundtrack: it snaps around, but the sound is very well defined spatial and excellent.

A soundtrack that takes the guts

After that, we eliminate a few "naughty-not-beautiful" before the second part of the demo does not launch. This time to kill a sniper. For this, the squad spent a nearby building and reached the roof. Right out, however, must go to the obvious: it will crawl to reach a point that will allow us to kill the sniper ... Again, we appreciate the work done on the animations when the shooter tries to shoot us, affecting flower pots and you can even recognize the differences of sounds depending on the material hit by the bullets. It finally reaches a parapet and we are given the task to eliminate the sniper: no question of leaving it to chance and it is with a rocket launcher that we deal with him.

The squad is a diversion, we get up, we shoulder the rocket launcher and go to the fireworks! We already could see how the scenery is destructible, but this sequence is probably the most telling example since it is multi-storey facade of the building is sprayed in the face ... with the passage teaches the annihilation of one who had asked anyone for anything! It was then that starts the third sequence of our presentation: one, our new best friend must inspect the basement of a building where they spotted a suspect wire. Following the track of that thread, we have the opportunity to go through a ventilation duct (rat beautiful the way!) Before reaching a cache where a bomb about to explode.

Variety of situations

As he prepares to defuse the beast, our hero is disturbed by a terrorist we can find the quicktime event of our second demo. This time at the right time to support the mouse buttons shown on the left / right of the screen: this event should simulate a kind of unarmed combat and if DICE managed to not abuse these sequences , they may do their small effect. The defused bomb, they reached the fourth part of the demo when our hero appears in the middle of a storm of great ... not very large. It will judge - mouse in hand - the opening of the battlefield, but to do like that on a giant screen, the battle was absolutely stunning.

In attempting to find shelter as best he can, the player must repel the enemy offensive. Again, the possibilities of destruction of the scenery is impressive with concrete bursting, literally flying off the plates and cars that explode under sustained bursts. The deafening sound of machine guns and helicopters are there to improve the atmosphere when we receive the order to stand in the back of a jeep to handle an M-50. We shot as much as we can, but we can not stop the jeep from being catapulted by a projectile enemy. No time to understand what happened an earthquake occurs ... In an indescribable hubbub, a building with a dozen floor collapses and a cloud of dust envelops us. Rideau, the demo ends here and the audience can catch its breath!

Notice of NERC

Before an audience transfixed, Karl Magnus Toerdssen and Patrick Bach performed a demonstration punch that may well be the slap of the fall. Technically, Battlefield 3 Treyarch and Infinity Ward returns to their studies while we can not compare their complex Frostbite CryEngine 2 to 2 / 3 of Crytek. The visual effects are impressive while the animations have no equivalent in the world of FPS as a player and PC, I admit that it's good to see that our dear (in every sense of the word) graphics cards are finally put to use.

The sound aspect of things also seem particularly well when in the space of just a few minutes, DICE was able to show us a nice variety of situations. Note also that conclusion one could see aerial sequences, shootings, the prosecution ... all of which give confidence for the multiplayer! Activision careful, the Battlefield franchise seems in top shape!

The opinion of Kevin

For his first outing in public, Battlefield 3 was able to give me frissons.J confess that I was not expecting such intensity. Finally, this presentation was completely stunning! I was fortunate to attend all the demonstrations - identical in form - the previous Call of Duty since the arrival of Modern Warfare. And I must say I never felt a slap graphic of this magnitude. So obviously, many questions remain unanswered, but Battlefield 3 will hurt, badly. To me, it's simply the best FPS - in the register of modern conflict - to this day.

Of course, it's just a simple demo, but I feel that the motor developed in-house brings real added value of artistic and technical. First, because we really feel like being a little ant in the middle of a war that permanently changes: total immersion. The character animation is also impressive. Battlefield 3 is something of a technological showcase for the very best in visual effects bidding. I think for the first time in several years, Call of Duty can clearly feel threatened on its own ground. The pressure is now on the Bobby Kotick firm that prepares the offensive with Modern Warfare 3. It is expected to have a real war FPS this fall, as Electronic Arts Activision has decided to attack in front. Which is always a strong sign of confidence. It promises.

Lurking in the shadow of the Electronic Arts conference last Monday, the long presentation of Battlefield 3 took that day much more of a spectator by the throat. Preceded by a tech demo hallucinating Frostbite engine 2, then a small explosive trailer, demonstrating lack of pace may be for an event like this: we saw a column of tanks against other tanks, and then invest enemy base with a false air of slum. But this action raised, almost realistic in environments of beauty, has managed to intrigue the public, at a time when the FPS must trigger the Apocalypse almost three meters of the player every thirty seconds. Instantly labeled heavy solo show, the game also showed in multi private sessions on the Electronic Arts booth.

Far, far away from the rivalry with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which supplies for two days discussions, both on forums and in the aisles of the show, DICE has focused during his presentation on the multiplayer aspect of Battlefield his 3-1 area in which the series have been cultivated for many years a reputation for excellence and a good approach apart from traditional FPS. This new component, enriched by the experience of the past, is no exception to this rule by offering large-scale battles in the cards for expandable play area and partially destructible scenery.

The map presented during the demonstration, Metro Operation, located in Paris (or rather in the very Parisian setting, with its buildings haussmaniens, the Eiffel Tower and metro, rearranged for the purpose of level design) makes it possible to better understand the possibilities offered by the multi the game It involves two teams, one assault of one or more objectives, the other defense of these goals, here it was to defend crucial points in a green park. Once the goal is dropped, an opening to the tunnel is the nearest metro station and the conflict moves in this confined space, dark and devious, in which teams must obviously adapt their tactics.

Finally, the success of the Metropolitan objective for the attackers moved to new action, this time in the streets of Paris quickly rendered unrecognizable by the damage: torn sections of wall in real time by the balls, heavy plumes of smoke from explosions or fire surrounding Battlefield 3 even allows himself a few multi follies techniques class. The action, however, structured communication tools through in-game and a clean interface, does not fail to fart around. The dynamic lighting, and quality of character models and much of the scenery, also contribute to making the game one of the most impressive title of the show - and then only the multiplayer mode was playable in this presentation .

Before you leave us put our hands on this card multi, DICE has given us, however, a detailed introduction to some of the key changes made to the multi part of the title, compared to previous games in the series. Battlefield 3 will thus four classes: first, the assault, the soldier supposed to be versatile in the front line - it is now merged with the drug, and can heal his wounded comrades. The engineer, in turn, is responsible for repairing vehicles, but it also carries with him a flashlight, useful for crossing a bit dark or dazzling opponents. Why not. The media, in charge of heavy weapons, gaining the right to suppressive fire on an enemy - nailed behind his shelter by a fire. Transcribed into play, that oppression will result in a more narrow the adversary, and thus an inclination to travel less marked.

Finally, the sniper will now hold his breath for a stable target, and will have to catch her breath between attempts. What some limited influence on the battlefield, and reward skill, of course. In addition, three sites will be dedicated to a player customization would like to apply to his class to take a flashlight or a grenade for his explosive sniper for example. Of customized dog tags will be more integrated. Finally, note that the presentation of the game, and the hands on that followed, was done on a PC, the keyboard / mouse. We are still waiting to see the console versions, but for the PC at least, Battlefield 3 promises to be as visually striking imperfectly mouse in hand. Strongly in late October.

Zynga, creator of Farmville, valued one billion dollars in stock

2011-07-04T13:54:00.001-05:00

After several fundraisers, Zynga announced its IPO. The company is valued $ 1 billion to start, but it is especially the 2 billion minutes spent each day on its games that leave speechless ...

Founded in 2007, Zynga has just come into stock, according to rumors circulating in recent days. It is valued at $ 1 billion.

With games such as Farmville Frontierville and the young company has established, especially on Facebook, as an industry leader in online social games. In his introductory paper on the market, it delivers truly impressive figures.

In addition to revenues of approximately $ 598 million in 2010 and 235 million for the first quarter of 2011 alone, Zynga says using more than 2 000 people worldwide and claims 148 million monthly unique users spread across 166 countries. No less than 38 000 virtual objects are created and stored every second of all its titles, and players spend more than 2 billion minutes per day between each other. After four years, this represents about 1.5 billion dollars in micropayments.

Its momentum, Zynga hopes to reach a value of about $ 20 billion.

BenQ W1200

2011-07-04T13:37:00.003-05:00

After the BenQ W1100 a new product has been released BenQ W1200, a Full HD projector accessible and versatile, In the category of cheap projectors, here is a newcomer: the BenQ W1200, a single DLP Full HD.

The BenQ W1200 today joined the handful of 1080p projectors sold below 1500 dollars, but it will not be the cheapest. However, it will be among the brightest. With its 1800 ANSI lumens and 000:1 contrast ratio of 5, it should reassure fans of home theater and video games.

Of course the zoom (1.5:1) and the focus will be manual, but the unit will benefit from the certification ISFcc, to adjust colors and other calibration values accurately. A wizard will even be there to guide you, but it will take time. BenQ W1200 has also included a method of compensation for the dissemination of fluid action scenes.

At ease with all sources

Connectivity, it is relatively fed to a projector presented as dedicated to home theater. It will include two HDMI inputs, YUV input, audio input / analog video, infrared port for relay, a 12V trigger output, an RS232 port, one VGA input, one audio in / out, USB (Type B) a security lock.

Add to that, two integrated speakers of 10 watts each (with sound SRS WOW HD) and an operating noise of 22 dB in Eco mode (27 dB in Normal mode), you get a device that should be at ease with all media sources.

The price of this projector is set at 1367 dollars.

Sony VPL-HW30ES

2011-07-04T13:27:00.002-05:00

Sony launches 3D projector midrange, In July, a new 3D projector home theater will come on the market: the Sony VPL-HW30ES. An affordable model.

Sony will offer in July new home theater projector 3D 3300 dollars. The Sony VPL-HW30ES is a device whose lines, the look and finish are identical to those of his predecessors (Sony VPL-HW15, HW20 and HW90), but compatible 3D. A scan mode 240 Hz is indeed built, and a method for converting 2D to 3D. But glasses and transmitter synchronization are optional ... Sony advises his 3D active pairs TDG-PC1 (100 dollars) and its transmitter TMR-PC1 (70 dollars).

Known characteristics

On the technical side, the Sony VPL-HW30ES is not very different from the HW20. It displays a brightness of 1300 ANSI lumens, a contrast ratio of 70 000:1 and emits only 22 dB in operation. Easy to install, thanks to its lens shift H / V (+ / -25% horizontal, + / -65% vertical), it is still home and always an auto iris, Real Colour Processing and Video Processing Bravia Engine 2. The setting options are the same as previous models, a few details.

Side connections, nothing new either: two HDMI inputs, VGA input, analog video inputs and one RS232 port. Adjusting the zoom and focus are manual. So little new, except the compatibility 3D, for projector Sony's 3300 dollars.

BenQ EW2430

2011-07-04T12:55:00.003-05:00

A 24-inch monitor very carefully to MVA panel from BenQ, Chromed metal and many amenities, BenQ pat on the high end with this monitor EW2430.

After the monitors BenQ XL2410T and BenQ EW2420 we've both tested by upgrading BenQ EW2430 with, the finish is particularly worked. This model has a chrome metal base and a first class equipment: two HDMI, four USB 2.0 ports, two available on the side of the frame, and of course an LCD panel technology in VA (Vertical Alignment) .

Contrast ratio at the top

This slab, manufactured by a subsidiary of BenQ, AU Optronics, displays a Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) and a brightness of 250 cd / m² LED backlight. BenQ announces a contrast ratio of 3000:1 high a score typical of the VA technology. It also offers wide viewing angles greater than a conventional TN (Twisted Nematic) and a color depth of 8-bit to display 16.7 million true colors without dithering. Its response time is however a little longer: 8 ms to switch between two shades of gray, depending on the manufacturer.

This monitor BenQ EW2430 also includes two speakers of 2 W and an input and an audio output jack. It was announced priced at 299 dollars.

Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi shown

2011-07-03T16:37:00.002-05:00

Formerly code-named "Project 2011 Age", the next game from Dragon Ball with Namco Bandai will now be called Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi and will be available in Europe from 28 October.

The first playable demo running on PS3, while highlighting the Japan Expo, offering dual time-limited with a selection of nine characters and two internships. Beyond the absence of Piccolo unforgivable when you could play as an anecdotal Saibaiman this trial to test his skill against the QTE, ubiquitous in the combat system. Rock-paper-scissors to resolve the clashes, direction + hits to continue the chains, buttons hype to recover, nothing really new under the sun except environments and characters that keep getting better and better traces the clashes.

We are promised as usual an epic story mode to relive the great battles of the series, but it will have to wait to find out. Graphically a bit higher compared with Raging Blast 2, the title will be available October 28th in UK, PS3 and Xbox 360. And as a gift book, fans will get a pen-shaped capsule magic. Place the images and the trailer.

Resident Evil The Mercenaries 3D

2011-07-03T16:20:00.002-05:00

After Resident Evil 5 and waiting for Resident Evil: Revelations, Capcom continues to decline the franchise with an episode RE ultra-light ...

When Nintendo was proud to see two episodes of Resident Evil land on his latest laptop, the players have in turn received the news in a somewhat more mixed. If Resident Evil: Revelations already seemed promising at the first trailer, Mercenaries 3D left for his most future buyers of the console and waited. Mercenaries sold as a way a game in itself? What's the point?!

Resident Evil The Mercenaries 3D Capcom is paid when our apple

And unfortunately, it must be acknowledged after the game stuck in the port of the cartridge 3DS (and launching it too, do not push) the conclusion remains the same. Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D is nothing more than a game mode extracted from the album consoles with a few small new features here and there. The game is to bind short timed missions whose objectives are summarized often chopping everything the area has to creatures not very devout Catholics and others in the boot of Saddler. Some variations occur regularly as when we are asked to kill as many enemies in a given time. The subtlety is that the items stashed in the playing area provides an extension of time and thus kills. This series of missions is also punctuated by boss fight also timed. Fights where he will have cavaler well duck the bat-scorpion Resident Evil 5 and a few small bugs that accompany it. In total, five main chapters each divided into several missions that have been proposed. So of course, any player less normally consists of the owner will tour in two hours and not force the very most. But as everyone knows - or not - the last modes Mercenary RE based on the scoring hardcore. Mercenaries 3D requires therefore a title on which return regularly to improve performance. Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D And to encourage the player to not drop the cartridge too quickly, Capcom has still made the effort to provide a thin cast of characters more generous than home consoles. We thus find Chris, Jill, Rebecca, Hunk, Krauser, Claire, Wesker and Barry. Each character has its own arsenal of departure that will then be possible to change but also the power to unlock to improve efficiency. Three locations are planned to accommodate these improvements (of thirty), then the player to develop devastating combinations. If we add to this alternative costumes to unlock, too, we can at least recognize Mercenaries 3D not show up empty-handed. But is it enough? If all unlock and complete the game with all characters (interest?) Will demand a significant investment, we must recognize that there is nothing exciting. Even for those who love scoring. A simple compilation On the one hand, the gameplay remains almost identical to the mode of Resident Evil 5 Mercenaries ... a small adjustment loan. In fact, Capcom has at least made the effort to introduce a subjective target with the ability to move and shoot. That said, do not expect either trotting sprinter in the crosshair where you want. In this view, the increase is limited to forward, backward and strafe to the sides, while walking peacefully. Apart from that, nothing new. The game is also a kind of compilation modes Mercenary RE4 and RE5 as this area has the same play areas in these! Same thing with regard to knock the enemies, not one new face, not even a little fan service, nothing. In sum for someone who has already returned modes Mercenary and RE5 RE4, Mercenaries 3D does virtually no interest. If this is perhaps the one to propose the network game rather convincing, both online and locally. Note, one wonders how any well Capcom has been able to forget to include a leaderboard in the game options online! A set of scoring and no scoreboard online? Really! The best argument for Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D is finally achieving its excellent craftsmanship. We can also move forward without rushing too it is, at present, one of the best games of the bike. The 3DS shows us what she has in the stomach and we are ultimately not that far from rendering a RE5 on home consoles ... all things that goes without saying. As for the 3D integration is more successful. About the value of its use, it remains at the discretion of each ... Finally, a note on the famous "demo exclusive" Resident Evil: Revelations: corridors, doors closed, three enemies, one minute of play is. Bravo Capcom, thank you for this good joke and good job on the backup system going. conclusion Compilation modes Mercenary Resident Evil 4 and 5, did not finally 3D Mercenaries many arguments to present to those who would have tried his models. The problem is that outside of the target of the faithful who might be interested in this kind of derivative? Not many people really. Despite a few new skills or as a good life for who has the courage to take on the task of every loop, Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D is a bland as well, with no originality, and above all a simple game mode released in stand-alone. Moreover, with this title Capcom produced an aberration more: safeguarding unique and unalterable. So if you count the game Degotte hand is a little failure ...

In IDEF, 3DS keeps rating

2011-07-03T15:14:00.003-05:00

A year ago, she was the one who had to smile again handheld market. Since then, Nintendo 3DS was released in U.S., but its success has perhaps not been as dazzling as expected.

Line-up without relief, high price, exit out of season ... the reasons are not lacking. Still, with 160,000 consoles sold in 13 weeks *, the young cell has yet to prove itself, especially for conquering the public. While the IDEF, where distributors and publishers are hot date this week, no one displays his concern.

Released March 25 at home, the new Nintendo handheld is, indeed, expected at the turn: it is indeed the successor to the best-selling console of all time. More than 10 million DS in the U.S. have passed since its launch seven years ago. An all time high, especially since the laptop is still operated by Nintendo: GfK and would provide new DS sold 800,000 in 2011. "It's as much as a PS2 in third grade," recalls Stephan Bole, the general manager of Nintendo U.S..

And to recognize that the amazing endurance of his old laptop, requinquée after outbound Pokemon - Black Version and White (500,000 sales in three months!), Could be "a challenge" for the young 3DS. But nothing to cause panic in the aisles of IDEF placid, where distributors and publishers have maintained ties to the closet for three days.

this is already been good

Asked about his stand IDEF, between appointments, Stephan Bole has obviously been honed his speech. "We must put things into perspective," he began, as we mentioned "a little disappointed." "It's a little less than expected, but more than the DS at launch." Rather than the price of the console, considered "high end" by many observers, it is the lack of killer-app that would have failed the new 3DS. "This is the first time you leave a console without a headline first-party," said Nintendo, who preferred to leave the launch window (three months) to publishers. "Some have good use, as Capcom," says the console makers. 40,000 pieces of Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition are indeed parts - a four game consoles sold. And the others?

Direction Ubisoft's booth, a little further. With five games in the line-up of the console, the publisher American is the most loyal partner of 3DS. "We were in line with Nintendo on their ambitions," said marketing director at Ubisoft U.S., Bénédicte Germain, who concedes nonetheless that sales targets are not met. Sega, however, was also present at the launch of the 3DS with Super Monkey Ball 3D. "We learned in perspective," said the Director General along U.S. James Rebours. "For a console released in March, this price is already good." And then he slipped, "the trend" is good.

Example Zelda

The trend in fact, these are 45,000 copies of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D sold in just two weeks (estimate provided by Nintendo). Released June 17, the first headline first-party console has already convinced the publishers that Nintendo can not be sold without a Nintendo game. Stephan Bole said that the tie ratio (number of games sold per console) in 3DS, rather weak, would have doubled after the broadcast of the game "We are first in 15 days, all media," comments the head of Nintendo U.S.. And weekly sales of consoles 3DS, they, accelerating past 10 days.

It took until the release of first-party game to reassure ... third party publishers. And paradoxical as it may seem, all have been waiting to see the following console take off. Expected departure from the end of the year: StarFox 64 3D, Super Mario, Mario Kart 3DS, Luigi's Mansion 2, or Kid Icarus Uprising.

"Do not underestimate the clout of Nintendo at the end of the year," warns the director of marketing for Electronic Arts U.S., Hugues Ouvrard. "It was not until Christmas to see the true potential of 3DS," Judge said. Her colleague Bénédicte Germain, Ubisoft, appears even more categorical: "Everything will change with the Nintendo license."

Despite the smooth start of 3DS, faith in the locomotive Nintendo has not blunted in three months. "If a lot of partners have come to the E3 with questions," admits Stephan Bole, "We gave them the answers they wanted." In essence, as was the case on DS: Mario room.

Gears of War 3 some unlockable skins playing the previous episodes

2011-07-03T14:46:00.002-05:00

The executive producer Rod Fergusson of the game reveals the skins "historic", released in getting success in previous episodes.

In a presentation of its future game in New York, the executive producer Rod Fergusson has found a nice little feature: Players will unlock content in Gears Of War 3, in the form of weapon skins "exclusive" by completing objectives in previous episodes, a move aimed at encouraging good return on the first two Gears of War.

Ferguson has also cracked a few details on the principle of transfer of skin Gears of War 1 and 2 to 3 Gears of War: for example, two skins of weapons will be based on designs seen in previous episodes. Weapons "Gold Run" and "Gold Hammerburst" Gears 3 will get its just as well for those who already have in Gears 2. Remember, these skins "gold" were available to players with the special edition, or in operations "gift".

In addition, Epic will provide players with skins chrome achieved some success in the previous Gears of War. For example, chromium Hammerburst Gears of War 3 will be obtained by releasing the trophy Rookie Gear in Gears 2 (level 5 in multi). We also know that the trophy "Equipment Veteran" Gears 2 (reach level 100 by multiplying and win on all four cards of the pack Snowblind DLC) will get a reward sexy.

It will be understood, these customizations will be the purely cosmetic, but they may motivate some of you to return to the previous iterations in "trophy hunter", pending the release of the new episode on September 20 next.

Beta Uncharted 3

2011-07-03T13:06:00.003-05:00

Open the last few days to more members of the PlayStation Network and inFamous 2 owners, the public beta Uncharted 3: Drake's illusion will be accessible to everyone from 4 July, next Tuesday, and until 14 the same month.

In the meantime, here is a large gallery of screenshots of the home full-scale exercise, and a series of videos, just to get better acquainted with the multiplayer part of this future following the adventures of Nathan Drake. Its output is, remember, wedged 1 November 2011 on PS3.

What the series has turned F.E.A.R. 3?

2011-07-03T12:52:00.003-05:00

Alma is back and she is not happy. Day 1 Studios is that loads of us retransmit the latest whims of the damsel this time with FEAR 3, no shortage of hemoglobin.

Too bad this third episode of the series created in 2005 by Monolith Productions is not exactly worthy of the pedigree of his elders.

After a short detour to the viewpoint of a Becket agent two years ago, the series FEAR back to basics with this third episode that will put us in control of the friend Point Man. If it has changed a lot physically since the first episode of the franchise, the guy is finally equal to itself by being as deadly as few words. The silence of the protagonist bearded assumed not condemn us to silence, however, since the ghost of his brother Paxton Fettel - who also got a lift from FEAR and now looks like a post-adolescent emocore - haunt our hero as he tries to find his mother before his birth apocalyptic. It's beautiful family gatherings. By the way, there will obviously be entitled to an arsenal of flashbacks and hallucinations that total will try somehow to explain a little child friendly sordid offspring of Alma between bastons good taste of bullet time with Armacham of cloned henchmen. On paper, the recipe F.E.A.R. 3 is quite faithful to the canons of the franchise.

But if all ingredients are well available to Day 1 Studios in the design of this third episode of FEAR, the new developers of the franchise originally created by Monolith Productions have obviously struggled to find the right recipe for them together. The narrative of the single player campaign the game is completely failed and extends into the cut-scenes wordy and uninteresting before we catapult without much explanation on the other side of town to carry out yet another goal, more or less obscure. Slums to sewers through the suburbs or a highway and a shopping center, as many places as we go through in our chaotic race with no logic or cohesion yet inexplicably staying on track. No wonder not even have to see that we lose all our weapons at the beginning of most levels, so their sequence and lack of natural flow. It is also difficult to get involved in the history of this universe where the characters chopped boil down to a large bearded mute, a clone of Marilyn Manson that balance of macabre platitudes every ten seconds and one or two minor roles completely flat.

The flaws of the solo part of F.E.A.R. 3 does not unfortunately confined to his wispy scenario. Construction levels and lack of coherence of level design are particularly annoying in a game where you will often attempt to open a dozen purely decorative doors before finding the one that appears throughout the level. True to the bad habits of popcorn modern FPS, FEAR 3 is a prescriptive title and closed in which it is still possible to get lost so the sets seem to pre-chewed and already seen. The scenes of horror that once separated the series of other games of its kind completely miss the boat this time, the fault of their rarity, a coarse stage and trigger scripts particularly crappy. It is actually not uncommon to completely miss these passages because it has advanced too quickly and that their outcome is going on behind our backs, not to mention the ghostly apparitions that spawnent occasionally in the middle of our character.

Alma also only appears rarely in this new episode of FEAR and hard to scare us as much as before or even frighten us all. Without fear, the developers have caught up on the gore in us swinging hectoliters of blood color of cranberry juice on the face and amputation of enemies at any cost. Either. The game also loses the opportunity to refer to some of the "cult" series, as akimbo we would have liked to review after its notable absence in Project Origin, the nail gun and appeared anecdotal or even the simple disappearance of the famous techno-twirling ninjas of old. Note also the usability issues (use the same button to crouch and take cover was not very smart), a bestiary quite poor, phases in mechs even less interesting than those of FEAR 2 and an ammunition management particularly hazardous.

Alma also only appears rarely in this new episode of FEAR and hard to scare us as much as before or even frighten us all. Without fear, the developers have caught up on the gore in us swinging hectoliters of blood color of cranberry juice on the face and amputation of enemies at any cost. Either. The game also loses the opportunity to refer to some of the "cult" series, as akimbo we would have liked to review after its notable absence in Project Origin, the nail gun and appeared anecdotal or even the simple disappearance of the famous techno-twirling ninjas of old. Note also the usability issues (use the same button to crouch and take cover was not very smart), a bestiary quite poor, phases in mechs even less interesting than those of FEAR 2 and an ammunition management particularly hazardous.

But there is ultimately nothing too surprising that the solo part of FEAR 3 is such a purge, because its developers had warned from the outset that this new episode of the series is essentially a cooperative play and multiplayer. It is indeed possible to request a second player to follow us in our fabulous adventures by taking control of the ghost of Paxton Fettel in the cooperative campaign playable locally or online split. It was then that we discover why levels are so lacking in real physical link and screenplay, as the game quickly because we both understand that FEAR 3 is actually a set of scoring cooperative / competitive. Yes, yes. Every well-placed headshot, slain enemy in close combat, hidden object and picked up another weapon is unlocked, and we obtain a number of points that will allow us not only to change our character but also to inherit the status of "favorite son" at the end of the level if it exceeds the score of our playmate This constant war between the two skill players will be also an important goal, since the end of the game will change depending on the character controlled by the the most powerful player throughout the campaign.

The game will also double the chance to discover the unique capabilities of Paxton Fettel (which is also playable solo in all levels we will have already completed Point Man), as the old big bad FEAR has little to do with his brother a gameplay perspective. Disembodied and fed by his supernatural powers, Fettel has no weapons or bullet time of his brother but to psychic projectiles and the ability to raise his enemies with telekinesis. Ideal for immobilizing a target as the Point Man shot. But the most interesting to our friend Red is the ghost possession, it simply allows the body to take its targets for using their equipment and special abilities for a limited time before exploding in a shower hose . We can play the classic shot of capturing the body of a soldier Armacham or rather seek innovation with zombies armed with crowbars or, better yet, suicide bombers strapped with explosives. What we get out of our routine, especially as the synergy between the capabilities and those of Fettel Point Man give birth to a happy mix ... reducing the difficulty already not well educated (especially because of the regeneration system that replaces medkits of the past) the game to zero.

F.E.A.R. 3 is also a multi where you will discover four different game modes. Given that hope to compete with Call of Duty and Halo in all that closely resemble or indirectly to the team deathmatch is pointless on consoles, developers have preferred to turn to the multi up to four players. The first game mode - Contractions - not much more than a copy (two to three minor subtleties almost) of Zombie Mode Call of Duty: World at War which we will defend an area against waves relentless zombies (and clones) by taking the time to store weapons to survive. Survivor of Souls mode is a variation on the theme of Last Man Standing where it will face IA until one of our allies is corrupt and become a ghost whose sole mission to convert his former comrades. King of Souls takes roughly the same concept except that all players start in the skin of ectoplasmic spectrum and must collect as many souls as possible. Finally, the Insane mode race (or Fucking Run in VO) We would like greyhound cavaler by shooting anything that moves to escape a deadly wall of fog started after us.

Rather than entertaining on the whole, this part seems poorly multi barred to keep us busy for a long time, especially because it inherits only three cards in this game mode is a bit ephemeral side tare final FEAR 3, which is perhaps not as bad as expected but will eventually occupy only the fans of FPS in need of big hits, waiting for something a little more interesting points the tip of his nose. That will certainly not likely to disappoint the hard-core series, which ultimately end up not much more than gunfights and a nervous grip to remind them of the immediate moment of glory for a franchise that has indeed seen better days.

United States, the reading lights have more rating than the tablets

2011-07-02T16:59:00.006-05:00

In one study, 12% of Americans possessing an electronic reading light twice that six months ago. However, the market is slow to take off the shelves, with only 8% of users.

Electronic reading lights are trying to find their audience. A study in May 2011 [PDF] by the American institute Pew Research Center, 12% of Americans own one. a figure twice as high as six months ago.

The study is also interested in holding a touch pad like the iPad or Galaxy Tab. The market does not know the same growth: 8% of American adults have one or 3% more than in November 2010. But growth is slowing. In addition, only 3% of the population has fallen for two types of terminals at once.

Owners of Tablet younger

The study, conducted on a sample of almost nearly 2300 Americans over age 18, also seeks to define the profile of the owners of these terminals. The reading lights rather seduce the 30-49 age group, followed closely by 50-64 years, and are mostly in homes with children. In November 2010, they were mainly present in households with incomes over 50,000 dollars a year. But in the last six months, homes are earning over 75,000 dollars that have boosted growth, since this category has grown from an equipment rate of 12% at a rate of 24% during this period .

Shelves seduce an audience quite different, since it is 18-29 years who are most fond of. But considering the price of these objects, their owners are primarily from the highest income category (more than 75 000 dollars). And it is for most men, a gender that is not found among users of reading light.

Skylanders, the profitable return of Activision and Spyro

2011-06-03T06:15:00.004-05:00

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures, rebirth of a license who shot to fame on the first PlayStation console back on with our original concept. It will unfortunately cost you.

If we all at one time or another touched a joystick to control Spyro in one of his many adventures, the original PlayStation consoles in the last occupying our living rooms, the little dragon was not necessarily the heroes we imagined player in the catalog of Activision. So when we learned last February, Activision Guitar Hero put to death and a very advanced project like True Crime, but retained Spyro, we wondered why.

An idea into gold

The answer was provided during a presentation of Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures. This installment of the adventures of the little purple dragon is all about a concept: create and sell toys that used to play in the game Thus, the 32 Skylanders, game characters, with specific powers and divided into eight elements (water , fire, mechanical / robotics, magic, etc..) take the form of figurines from a few centimeters tall.
They are used by placing them on a "power gate" magical and fueled a base connected to the console that detects which character was introduced. So, you ask Spyro on this small arena and it appears in the game you want to play with a friend? It raises a second figure and this is the character who comes alive under your eyes to the screen. It is not far from the magic and the idea is excellent.

When imaginative rhymes with dough

Excellent because the game becomes an extension of the adventures imagined by the child's character. The reverse is probably true. This idea weaves a close link between video game and the imagination of the child. It is also excellent because each model will be sold around 10 euros. Three are supplied with the game, including Spyro, obviously. And Activision is quick to point out that the game, which contains twenty levels, may be ended only with these three figures. However, if the player wants to extend the twelve hours that should last the game if he wants to go into areas inaccessible to these characters 'basic', he will buy more figurines. Cute, well designed, they have everything to trigger a furious collectionnite acute in children between six and twelve, who are the heart of this new target of Spyro.

And do not count on seeing toddlers share figures, they are intelligent. They memorize the progression of the player with the character they represent. They rise and power throughout the adventure solo or cooperatively, but better yet, they can compete in an arena. A player against player mode, where the child shall choose early part of the character he will lead, some are good at melee, some for long range combat, etc.. Each fight earns experience, which leads to a leveling of the character. Leveling will be taken into account if the player returns to play solo, or will play with another friend. The balls to power a thousand!

Nice game

The game itself seems fairly standard blend of platform action and small puzzles. It is nice to pick up the Wii, but will also release on Xbox 360 and PS3. The graphics on the Nintendo console is very clean and colorful, the couple Wiimote and Nunchuk is the most efficient, no complaints. The story, meanwhile, should be equal, Activision having paid for the services of Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, writers of Toy Story.
Expected in autumn 2011, Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures expected to sell between 69 and $ 59.99, with the game, obviously, three figures and the gate of power. Free to you, then sinking and pay the $ 290 needed to complete your collection.
The game looks good, the idea of the figures is excellent and should bring lots and lots of money to Activision. Now we know why Spyro has escaped the financial fates of the publisher ...

Microsoft unveils Windows 8 (video)

2011-06-03T06:07:00.002-05:00

The publisher has made an initial demonstration of its next OS at the conference D9. Windows 8 will receive a new additional interface, particularly suitable for touch devices.

So the rumor was true: Microsoft has benefited from two major events in the small world of technology to unveil the next version of Windows. On the one hand, the conference D9 The Wall Street Journal, the other at Computex in Taiwan, where machinery partners, turning with ARM architecture, were presented. The editor has mentioned the name "Windows 8, but adds that it is currently only a codename.

The new Microsoft OS is distinguished by a completely new interface inspired by Windows 7 Phone, therefore particularly suitable for use touchscreen, which contrasts sharply with that with which users were accustomed for many years. They can rest assured though, the classic interface of Windows with that old taskbar, does not mean abandoned: it will be possible to call when you want. And anyway it will also be permitted to use its keyboard and mouse to navigate the new menus.

With this new interface, users can launch applications directly from a full screen menu, designed from large dynamic thumbnails, similar to those found in Windows Phone 7. These "Live Tiles" will display notifications, the last opened documents, etc.. To move from one application to another, just a sweep of the hand, as shown in the video above.

To take advantage of this new design full-screen, new Windows applications will emerge, designed with Web technologies (HTML 5 / javascript). Microsoft has also revealed it will be possible to hold together the classic applications (Excel, in the example shown) with these new programs on one screen.

This first presentation is far from revealing all the secrets of Windows 8 is expected to include the emergence of a market of applications. Microsoft still has time to refine its next OS, which is not expected before 2012.

AOC e2352Phz

2011-06-03T05:52:00.003-05:00

AOC opts for 3D polarized with its monitor e2352Phz, The first screen 3D AOC operates a passive technology, flicker-free and therefore more comfortable to watch.

After LG's turn AOC Taiwanese manufacturer to take sides for passive 3D technology. His new monitor, the e2352Phz, proposes a polarized slab displaying a Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) in 2D. In 3D, the vertical resolution will necessarily be divided by two to obtain the equivalent of an image 1920 x 540 pixels. This is the only consideration for the 3D "passive", which also offers a 3D look more comfortable, with glasses much lighter and much less expensive. A polarized pair is obviously provided with the screen.

White LED Backlight

The performance of the TN (Twisted Nematic) are rather conventional on paper. The LED rétréoclairage offer a brightness of 300 cd / m², consuming less than 25 watts. AOC advance a contrast ratio of 000:1 static one, and a response time of 5ms. An average reactivity, but only the active 3D displays require a response time below to display 120 frames per second in 3D, and limit the ghosting effect (crosstalk).

Note that this screen offers three interfaces, VGA, DVI and HDMI, and it is one of the few equipped with three video cables correspondents. With a wall mounting system (Vesa 75x75), AOC e2352Phz be available in mid-July at a price of $ 249.

One of the best products by AOC is

24" Widescreen Full HD Led LCD

Deus Ex will have his revenge at E3

2011-06-03T05:17:00.001-05:00

As we approach E3, the highly anticipated Deus Ex, which will be released on August 26 this year, gets a new trailer that reveals a bit more than its main plot and motivation of his hero: revenge.

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro

2011-05-22T12:38:00.001-05:00

Sony Ericsson renews its mini-slider smartphone, Xperia Mini Pro Mini Pro X10 succeeds with Android 2.3 and a bit more power under the hood.

After the X10 Mini Pro we were very pleasantly surprised, Sony Ericsson renews his idea with the Xperia Mini Pro, a smartphone equipped with a tiny but true qwerty keyboard slide. This model now runs on the latest version of Android 2.3, featuring a suitable interface to the diagonal limited its capacitive touch screen (7.6 inch, 320 x 480 pixels). There still find a miniature version of the social application flagship of Sony Ericsson, Timescape.

Small but powerful

The Xperia Mini Pro is powered by a Qualcomm chip at 1 GHz, 512 MB of assisted memory. Comfortable enough to turn its operating system, but perhaps at the expense of their autonomy. For a 1200 mAh battery, Sony announces a 5 hour and 25 minute conversation. The phone offers 320 MB of internal storage along with a 2GB microSD card (expandable to 32 GB).

Note that this smartphone is capable of recording 720p HD video via its 5-megapixel optical sensor with an LED flash when needed. Sony Ericsson has not yet announced a release date or price for the Xperia Mini Pro.

Haier H320

2011-05-22T12:35:00.001-05:00

LED Haier TVs at low prices, The Chinese brand Haier will launch in France in September, two sets of LED TV cheap: the H320 and H350.

Haier will try to get a little square on the TV market in the mid-LED heavyweights such as Samsung, LG, Sony and Toshiba, with two sets of 1080p HDTV sets that will be marketed in September 2011.

The H320 is the least expensive and will include two models (26 and 32 inches) equipped with three tuners (Freeview, cable and satellite), four HDMI inputs, a USB port that will make it possible to record TV and juggling direct a switch to not leave the unit on standby indefinitely, SRS TruSurround XT sound, a way to lock certain hotel functions (volume, chains, etc..), all with Edge LED backlight and a design "Metal Slim 'a priori rather appealing.

But the most attractive, it will obviously be the price as the 26 "will be posted at $ 399 and 32 inches at $ 529. As for the H350 series, it will be identical in functionality to the H320 series, but it will include a 100 Hz mode and will be offered in two sizes: 32 inches to 42 inches and $ 599 to $ 899.

Unfortunately no one knows anything else about these TVs from China. We do not know their multimedia skills and we do not know if they can access online services, for example. Haier communication focuses solely on their strengths and leaves are also large areas of shadow. This suggests that these two series may not be brilliant ... Not surprisingly a little, mind you.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 + 14-42 mm

2011-05-22T12:31:00.002-05:00

Panasonic G3, a compact with interchangeable lenses ambitious, Full HD video, sensor 16 megapixel compact size and 25%, Panasonic announced a new compact with interchangeable lenses.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to take if the series DMC-G. A pioneer of compact interchangeable lens (the first model of October 2008), she met all the popular features offered by an advanced camera.

With the onslaught of big resolutions

The main novelty of a technical point of view is the arrival of full HD video. The G3 now manages, and 50i (25 frames / second alternate). For those interested in the fluidity of all, it is possible to switch back to standard HD (1280 x 720), this time, a rate of 50p or 50 frames / s. In both cases, your movie will be recorded in AVCHD format. Remember that with the continued development and intelligent tracking of the subject, Panasonic is considered one of the specialists of the video on digicams.

The second change concerns the resolution of the sensor, which jumped from 12 MP to 16 MP. The gain is very theoretical, that kind of increase in accuracy can result in grainy images paradoxically if the surface of the sensor and the electronic processing of light does not follow. Although the G2 had been very successful, nothing can replace a test to judge the real value of the new resolution. Recall that Panasonic uses sensors called "micro four-thirds" broader than just CDs, but narrower than real SLR.

Dimensions reduced by 25%

What about ergonomics? That's where Panasonic seems to have worked more. It must be said that the industry pioneer had been taken aback by the aggressive competition from Sony NEX, lower prices and design both more sexy and less bulky. Whereof the king announces that the compact dimensions of the G3 are 25% smaller than its predecessor.

That's not all! The swivel screen and touch, which makes the originality of the device, sees his slab extend to 7.5 cm (7 cm cons for G2). What a product offering both lighter and more comfortable. The Japanese automaker announced as weighing approximately 330 g (compact nu), and 540 g with the 3x zoom (4-42 mm) supplied with. It remains above the Sony NEX 5, which weighs only 240 g naked.

An interface to monitor

At the outset, the G3 is positioned as an attractive device characteristics, the performance enthusiasts, innovation and compactness will appreciate. The past of the range and know-how from Panasonic advocate of the compact with interchangeable lenses, especially as the range of compatible optical knew expanding, with, in addition to zoom x3 comes as a kit, a large zoom for wildlife photography (45-200 mm) and a very short focal length for portraits on bright background blur (20 mm f / 1.7).

Only problem: the Japanese automaker is still struggling to offer simple interfaces and ergonomic! G2 suffered its rich and complex navigation. Who knows, the G3 will be there just the device able to show that Panasonic knows not only offer excellent products, but are more comforting to use?

The Panasonic G3 released in June in two colors (black and chocolate). Its price is not yet reported. Last year, the G2 was sold at $ 699 with its objective.

Samsung Chromebook Série 5

2011-05-22T12:26:00.002-05:00

Samsung Series 5: the first Chromebook is it too expensive? $ 399 or $ 449 depending on the version of the netbook price seems high when the interest of Google Chrome is not proven.

And four! After invading the Web, flooded the world of smartphones, and tablets, here is Google tumbles in notebook PCs, where Android has given way to Chrome OS, a lightweight operating system based on GNU / Linux and takes the form Enhanced Chrome browser, which serves as a common portal to the Net and applications. Among the first to shoot, Samsung. Its 5 Series is a 12 inch based on an Atom platform. The first commercial, but not precursor, the CR-48 was distributed to a thousand users during the pilot program, initiated in late 2010.

The promise of Chrome OS

Before talking about equipment, it should mention the operating system (OS) and its promises. Among them, starting the PC in 8 to 10 seconds to be quickly connected to the Net. Chrome OS is more fully turned to the Web, with a fine integration of Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Picasa, etc..) And others - music sites Pandora and Netflix videos available in the U.S., is expected see for Europe - with priority for storing data online (cloud).

Limitations, alleged and proven, the OS

Chrome OS is not compatible with Windows and Mac software. Everything here is "apps", applications for download through the browser. You can already try out the operating mode by connecting to the Web Store from the Chrome browser Chrome. Point of Photoshop, Lightroom, Winzip, Office software ... the park is under the control of the U.S. publisher. It can cool more than one.

Then, the interest of the machine may take a hit in areas not connected, and they are numerous. Manage offline will also a key element of success or failure of these Chromebook. Google says there have been working hard, including providing a file browser. We are waiting to see before judging.

A very basic technical

$ 399 wireless version and $ 449 model Wi-Fi/3G: in light of the fact sheet, classical, it is reasonable to wonder about the price: frame 12 inches (1280 x 800 dots ) of 1.3 kg with Atom processor and equipped with double heart (like most netbooks) a webcam, a microphone, a memory card reader, two USB ports, Wi-Fi, etc.). and a special keyboard Chrome. The hard drive is a 16 GB SSD, as saying that the external storage unit is almost mandatory.

A set that boasts the final 8 hours and 30 minutes remaining, we will not fail to be tested. But when we see that Acer's Aspire One offers 722 to 299 $, a 11.6-inch AMD Fusion (more powerful Intel Atom) running Windows, you wonder if the Samsung Chromebook is good business, the OS is supposed to be open source, what happened to the economy of a license for Windows 7?

Different distribution

Sold through normal channels in France, Amazon initially, the Samsung Series 5 has a partnership with SFR, which offers 1GB of 3G data for use within two months of purchase. Remains to be seen whether the operator will also distribute ... When the United States, the Chromebook is proposed to rent the machine, $ 28 per month, $ 20 / month for students. No information about a similar offer in France.

Available from June 15, the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook will face model from Acer, cheaper, lighter and well equipped. The battle will be fierce ...

Apple iMac 27" 3.1 GHz Core i5

2011-05-22T12:22:00.002-05:00

The new Apple iMac all pass the Thunderbolt and the i5, The high speed connectivity and the new Intel quad-core processors i5 are the main novelties of the updated all-in-one Apple.

After being the first computer manufacturer to integrate - in his MacBook Pro - Apple again shows its confidence in the high-speed connectivity Thunderbolt, by sliding in its iMac. There are thus two ports Thunderbolt on models 27 inches and on those of 21.5-inch diagonal sizes of the two (two models each) did not progress. If, for now compatible devices are still not available, the theoretical transfer rate of 10 Gbit / s channels into two quite baffling.

Waiting to be ruffled by these bursts of speed, Thunderbolt ports, mini-DisplayPort format, can obviously be used to connect an external monitor to display an extended desktop or a copy of the main display.

Graphics cards for gaming?

It's a Radeon HD 6970M with 1 GB of dedicated memory, which supports the graphics and display for 27-inch high-end (native resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels). In the 21.5-inch entry-level, this is a Radeon HD 6750M with 512 MB of video memory (native resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels), while there is a Radeon HD 6770M , also with 512 MB of memory, both in the high end of the 21.5-inch version in the smallest of 27 inches.
This new generation of cards does, a priori, no big improvement over the HD series 5xxx, but it is a great leap forward in terms of power compared to the Radeon HD 4xxx previous iMacs. However, the 21.5-inch 6770 is expected to run current games provided to maintain reasonable adjustments. Same for HD 6970, which should enable it to play without too many problems, especially if the model is optional with 2 GB of dedicated memory. Our tests will tell us more clearly.

Generation processor

Unlike the previous generation, which saw the introduction of Core processors with Core i3 and i5, the new versions are all equipped standard with Quad Core i5 Sandy Bridge. He is the first 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz, the second at 2.7 GHz. As for 27-inch models, they are at 2.7 and 3.1 GHz. Also note that the Core i7 to 2.8 and 3.4 GHz are available as options for both high-end models, for $ 200 extra.

A stable

For the rest, Apple retains the same basis for its configuration: 4 GB DDR 3 RAM standard, which can be raised to 16 GB maximum, and hard drives of 1TB iMac on all except the first 21.5 inches, with 512 GB only. All operate at 7200 rpm. SSD options are available, from $ 500 for 256 GB, the three most expensive models.
Apple also is reviewing its prices slightly downward. The 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz is sold $ 1 149 or $ 50 less than its predecessor. His older brother is available at $ 1,449, again $ 50 less than the previous generation. The first 27-inch also seen its price fall by as much at $ 1 649. The top model, it shows 1 $ 899, against $ 1,999 previously.

If we always regret the lack of Blu-ray, eSATA port and USB 3.0, it is difficult not to recognize a certain attraction to these all-in-one design still attractive and the price reduced.

Sony Ericsson W8

2011-05-11T02:12:00.002-05:00

Sony Ericsson W8: the first Walkman phone with Androidn, The manufacturer shall submit the W8, phone Android 2.1 to the midrange multimedia features neat.

The Walkman is not dead! Sony Ericsson maintains the famous brand with the W8, the first Walkman smartphone running Android (version 2.1). A design similar to the X8, the phone will work with the overlay Sony Ericsson. It is powered by a Qualcomm processor at 600 MHz with 168 MB of RAM and only has 128 MB of internal memory, expandable to 16 GB with a micro SD card. Fully touch screen W8 offers an area of 3 inches (7.6 cm) in a definition of 320 x 480 points with the presence of an accelerometer to automatically switch the display.

Video MP4, WMV and H264

The phone works on 2G and 3G. It is pretty well equipped: a GPS chip, an electronic compass, Wi-Fi b / g and a camera with a 3.2 megapixel sensor with geotagging function (geotagging). Walkman forces, multimedia features are particularly neat: an FM radio which supports RDS, video playback (MP4, WMV and H.264), audio (MP3, eAAC +, WMA and WAV). The headphone minijack format is Sony Ericsson provides a pair of earphones of good quality, MH410 helmet.

Its 1200 mAh battery should provide him with a battery life of 4 hours and 45 minutes in 3G communication, about 24 hours of audio and approximately 20 days standby.

The Sony Ericsson W8 should be available in the third quarter of 2011 in three colors, blue, orange and red. Its selling price has not yet been clarified.

X10 Mini Pro Red Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro - Red (U20a) Android Touch Screen QWERTY Timescape 5 Megapixel camera with 4x zoom 30 FPS video Face and Smile Detection FM Radio HSPA 850/900/2100 EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 aGPS BT 2.1 (A2DP) WiFi Flight Mode 2.6 QVGA Display (320x240) with 16 Million color display Talk Time up to 4 hrs Standby up to 285 hrs. Includes: Charger Micro USB cable Music headphone 2GB MicroSD

Loewe Individual Compose LED 3D

2011-05-11T02:08:00.002-05:00

With 3D TV Loewe, the bill also takes relief, Loewe going to turn to 3D with the release of three TVs in the Individual Compose line and a Blu-ray.

Loewe was not dragged to offer its first 3D LCD TV. These models 40, 46 and 55 inches from the Individual Compose line. TVs operator activates the 3D technology that will also feature a method for converting 2D to 3D.

Many options available

Three televisions compatible with the latest standard for interactive television HbbTV, with interesting multimedia features (through its USB and Ethernet) including access to thematic content (VOD, Internet radio, catch-up TV, social networks , etc..) applications and a Web browser to surf freely on the TV. As always with Loewe, several options are available: it will be possible to select the integrated TV tuners, finishes (Alu, Black, White with customizable side walls), or not to opt for the digital recorder and add or not a sophisticated audio system.

Prices start at $ 4,190 for 40-inch model, $ 5,290 for the 46-inch and $ 5 890 for the 55 inches. As for the active 3D glasses, it will be offered at $ 150.

To complete its offer, Loewe has also scheduled a Blu-ray 3D. It is in fact an improved version of BluTech Vision which will be available in Anthracite or Silver Chrome finish, priced at $ 899.

Philips ESee CAM150

2011-05-11T02:01:00.002-05:00

Philips launches Cam 150, a camera punched reinforced, While Cisco adopt Flip Philips began to punch the camera with the EEM. The top model is reinforced.

Philips launches cameras in hand with the three EEM. On top of this range, Cam 150 is a model all-terrain ".

Operating up to 3 meters under water, reinforced this little camera available in red, green and blue came to compete with Kodak PlaySport. Equipped with a CMOS sensor with digital stabilizer, it is able to record small movies in Full HD (H.264 MP4), HD and SD and take pictures (8 MP) with an LED flash. Autonomy announced is 2 hours.

Share your videos and photos easily

Among the strengths of this camera, there is a large number of scene modes and effects. It is also possible to quickly and summarily some footage from the screen, using the controls on the machine.
In addition, Cam 150 can record content in HD and at the same time, in a lighter format for sending via e-mail.

Philips also provides PC software ArcSoft signed allowing you to quickly send your videos and photos on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Mac users have to go through iMovie. Finally, you can enjoy videos and photos directly on the living room TV through the HDMI shows.

Announced at a price of $ 159 and comes with a protective case and wrist strap, EEM Cam 150 should be available in July.

2.0 MP NOTEBOOK WEB CAM PHILIPS SPZ6500/27 2.0 MEGAPIXEL NOTEBOOK WEB CAM

Samsung HMX-W200

2011-05-11T01:57:00.003-05:00

Samsung camcorder quickdraw pocket offroad 5 Mpix, The W200 is a pocket camcorder waterproof, shockproof and dustproof that records in full HD.

The holidays are approaching. Samsung took the opportunity to provide us with a handheld camcorder that will accompany you to the beach or hiking in the sand without fear nor rain nor shocks. Waterproof to 3 meters deep, the W200 is equipped with a glass fog. He also survive falls up to 2 meters in height.

Backlit CMOS Sensor

HMX-W200 is equipped with a CMOS sensor illuminated (BSI) 5 megapixel camera with autofocus. This type of sensor is twice more sensitive than conventional CMOS sensors, which reduces digital noise. The camcorder records Full HD 1080p. It has a bright lens (f / 2.2), but has no optical zoom, which is the rule on this type of handheld camcorder. Similarly, if there is a digital image stabilizer, there is no optical image stabilizer that can compensate for the inevitable effects of camera shake with this type of small camcorder.

The camera also records images in 5 megapixels. The images displayed on its screen of 2.3 inches (5.8 cm) display 230 000 points. The W200 has no internal memory but a microSD card slot. A purchase of more than expected! The W200 features a retractable USB 2.0 port to recharge its internal battery that provides up to 2 hours. Mini-HDMI port will in turn to view photos and videos on a TV.

The Samsung W200 will be available from May 2011 for $ 159.

LG D2341P

2011-05-11T00:00:00.002-05:00

3D passive monitors for PCs from LG will also spend, After his TV, LG's monitors did enjoy the technology of 3D passive.

LG introduced last week its new line of 3D televisions liabilities, called for the occasion Cinema 3D, it's time for computer monitors to be affected by the phenomenon. Recall that the passive 3D is one of the oldest 3D technologies. She is asking polarizing filters on the LCD panel, an image is sent to the left eye, the other in the right eye. This technology requires only "passive polarized glasses, without electronics, and thus lighter and five to ten times less expensive than active 3D glasses.

With or without HDMI

The LG Cinema 3D e D41P D42P monitors are 22 to 25 inches using a slab HD 1080p (1920 x 1080 dots) with a dynamic contrast ratio 000:1 5000 and a brightness of 250 cd / m² 2D or 100 cd / m² in 3D. The entry-level model, D2341P, is a 23-inch only has VGA and DVI. This monitor has a function to convert 2D to 3D. D42P models have an HDMI input in addition to 1.4.

Both D41P and D42P monitors will be available in four sizes, from 22 to 25 inches (D2242P, D2341P, D2342P D2542P and). They will be marketed in Europe until June at a price that is not yet known.

LG 65 " 3D LED 1080p HDTV - 65LW6500/ Smart TV/ TruMotion 120Hz/ Full HD 1080p Resolution/ Cinema 3D/ Wi-Fi Ready/ LED Plus w/Local Dimming/ DLNA Certified/ Intelligent Sensor/ Smart Energy Saving/ ISFccc Ready/ XD Engine/ 24p Real Cinema/ THX Certified Display (With Bright Room Mode)/ Dolby Digital Decoder/ USB 2.0/ Built-In ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuners/ Black Finish

Packard Bell Liberty Tab

2011-05-10T23:55:00.001-05:00

A 10.1-inch tablet Android late June at Packard Bell, Acer and Packard Bell are closely connected, when the parent starts a tablet, it is natural that the follow subsidiary.

Packard Bell is also expanding into the shelves. The footsteps of its parent company, Acer, the brand released its Liberty Tab at the end of June. This is a model incorporating a 10.1-inch screen (1280 x 800 pixels) with brightness sensor, operating with the Nvidia Tegra chip 2 and running with Google Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).

Arias Iconia Tab

No revolution in the design of the tablet of Packard Bell. We feel that the influence of Acer is not far away like the A500 Iconia Tab, Tab Liberty adorned with two bands imitating brushed steel on the top and bottom of the screen. However, what we could see the back of the tablet is composed of plastic red or white, depending on the version.

Like the Acer tablet can find a USB Host port (to read the contents of a USB key, for example), a mini-HDMI output, a 3.5mm jack and two webcams (one in front of 2 megapixels, and one at the rear of 5 Mpix). The storage capacity is not yet known, but may be extended to 32 GB (Micro SD port present).

Finally, the network connectivity is limited to Wi-Fi n, a 3G version should be released before the end of 2011.

According to our information, the tablet should be available by the end of June and sold between $ 399 and $ 499 .

Asus Eee PC 1215B-SIV031M

2011-05-10T23:51:00.002-05:00

Two Netbook Asus Eee PC processors adopt the APU from AMD, The Asus brand, mother of the netbook, has extended its range of small laptops with two references C-50 APU from AMD.

Asus finally launching netbooks with two AMD platform Brazos. The Eee PC 1015B (10.1 inches) and 1215B (12.1 inches) retain the aesthetic standards of the range: a frame with rounded corners, a shiny plastic top cover (1015) or matt (1215), and pegs matt hands normally. Chiclet keyboard is the rendezvous, as the wide multipoint touchpad.

The two plates do not offer the same definition, but both are brilliant.

Disappointing launch configuration

The screen offers a definition 1215B HD (1366 x 768 pixels). To animate this small PC, Asus has opted for an AMD C-50. A questionable choice considering the competition Machinery 11.6 and 12.1 inches embarking all E-350 (the DM1-3135 from HP, for example). Asus ensures however that the implementation of the APU is included in the 1215B, but only at the next quarter. The rest of the setup is classic: 4 GB of DDR3 memory, 500 GB hard drive (5400 rpm only), a Wi-Fi module n, full connectivity (USB 2 and 3, HDMI port, VGA port, Ethernet). Asus also offers access to the Web Storage to store data online (offer 60 days free). This 12.1-inch screen netbook will be available in three colors (black, gray and red), with 6 cell battery and is expected to weigh 1.45 kg.

Listed at a price of $ 399, the 1215B-SIV031M should be available soon. We do not recommend this configuration.

Better to wait for the next quarter or opt for the HP machine mentioned above. Finally, several configurations should be available following the signs, with specificities different from those announced here.