News about archive:
Boxee Box by D-Link rolls off production line [Video]
The first Boxee Box by D-Link has turned up, though it’s on Boxee’s own desks rather than out in the wild. Not expected to launch until November, the Tegra 2-based set-top box is a standalone appliance for running the Boxee home entertainment platform.
Consumer Reports: free iPhone Bumper isn’t good enough
Consumer Reports got a few name-checks at yesterday’s Apple conference, in fact the independent reviewers even managed to get onto Steve’s big screen with their “The Bumper solves the signal-strength problem” quote. Unfortunately, if Apple thought that giving all customers a free Bumper would placate the reviewers, they’ll be disappointed; Consumer Reports say that it’s good but not good enough, and they’re still withholding their “Recommended” award from the iPhone 4.
Nokia: We Prioritize Antenna Over Aesthetics
Steve Jobs had his time on stage today, and in the process, managed to not only clarify Apple’s position on “antennagate,” but also call out the entire smartphone industry at the same time. All in a day’s work, if you ask us. In any event, while we weren’t expecting major manufacturers to actually respond to the Apple press conference today (we probably should have), here we are telling you that Nokia has their own opinion on Jobs’ comments. And, sure enough, they’re full of Nokia innovation.
Apple iPad USB Cable the Second to Melt
It’s been eight days since we reported that a defective USB cable, which connected to the iPhone 4, got so hot that it actually caught on fire, and managed to burn the owner. While the general assumption was that these USB cables couldn’t produce enough power to do such a thing, hence the defective part, we’re now faced with a second incident. But, the truth is, we’re still chalking this up to a random fluke, rather than an impending epidemic.
The New Dark Ages
Sometimes I wonder if we’re not entering a dark ages. With modern technology and storage techniques, I always assumed that our culture, our artwork, our philosophy would never disappear. It might go out of fashion, but future generations will always be able to turn on Ferris Bueller and say to themselves, “Okay, that’s the 1980s. Now where’s my Pearl Jam record? I want to experience the Nineties.” Recently, I haven’t been so sure.
Apple’s July 16th Press Conference Now Available to Watch
So, you didn’t get a chance to make it over to the press conference that Apple held today? That’s a real shame. Then, hopefully you managed to watch our Liveblog of the event, or you’ve already read our summary of all things announcement related. And once you get all caught up in the text format, you’ll probably want to watch Steve Jobs on stage, talking about all that, right? Right. Now you can.
iPhone 4 Prototype Warrant Withdrawn
In a day filled with Apple and iPhone 4 news, we are still surprised that this one managed to pop up. Today, it was revealed that the San Mateo Superior Court Judge, Clifford Cretan, has officially granted an application to withdraw the warrant obtained in the effort to search Gizmodo’s journalist, Jason Chen’s home. The application was submitted by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office, and despite the fact it was granted, that doesn’t mean that this is the end of the story.
Apple: Every Option Considered, but Recall Not at the Top of the List
When something as massive as an antenna issue hits the Internet, you can imagine that every option has already been considered by the masses. And when Consumer Reports are being released, not helping the situation at all, we can see where people might begin to get worried. But, rest easy in knowing that Steve Jobs realizes that every option has to be considered, but that a hardware recall isn’t at the top of their list. In fact, it sounds like they’re ready to try just about everything first, before they get to that point.
iPhone 4 in White Launching at the End of July
When the iPhone 4 was announced, there were two version: the black model, and the white one. Of course, right at the start people had already made up their minds about which handset they’d be getting their hands on. For many, the white model was the one to own. But, what Apple forgot to mention (or perhaps it hadn’t been known at the time), was that the white version wasn’t actually going to be available at the time of launch. So, people had to wait — not that that made sales suffer, or anything, considering that Steve Jobs today announced the iPhone 4 has launched more than 3 million handsets in just three weeks. And that’s counting the (only) 1.7 percent of devices returned.
Apple: Antenna Problem is Real, Offers Free Cases
Time to stop the speculation. Over the course of the last 22 days, we’ve heard from every angle of the Internet that the iPhone 4 is plagued with reception issues. And, throughout those days, we’ve heard all sorts of reasons: it’s the antenna, it’s the software, it’s the way you’re holding it. Maybe it’s even your face. Or, it’s a combination of all of those things, jumbled into one big issue that no one could figure out why the new iPhone was suffering from. Well, we can finally say that we’ve got an answer, and it’s straight from Steve Jobs himself. The antenna is the best antenna they’ve ever created, but it does have a flaw — just like every other smartphone on the planet.
iPhone 4 liveblog about to begin!
There’s only 20 minutes to go until Apple’s iPhone 4 press conference, and the SlashGear liveblog engine is warmed up and raring to go. Join us at http://live.slashgear.com/ for all the details from Cupertino as they happen. Will Apple give out free Bumper iPhone 4 cases to all current owners, or is there an even more expensive recall planned? Will the white iPhone 4 make its sales debut today? And has Apple quietly been working on an internal fix? Find out as we do over at http://live.slashgear.com/!
Motorola deny eFuse Android bricking intent
After speculation earlier this week that the eFuse technology used in their Android handsets could lead to bricked phones, Motorola has spoken out to clarify the purpose – and behavior – of the system. eFuse, the company says, “is not loaded with the purpose of preventing a consumer device from functioning, but rather ensuring for the user that the device only runs on updated and tested versions of software.” To that end, if a third-party ROM is installed the phone will only boot into recovery mode, but original functionality can be restored by replacing it with “approved software”.
Motorola XT720 tipped for July 19th UK launch
Motorola’s Milestone XT720, the 3.7-inch keyboard-free sequel to the European Motorola Milestone, is set to hit the UK on Monday July 19th according to retailer Clove. The Android 2.1 smartphone packs an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and a Xenon flash, together with 720p HD video recording and a mini-HDMI port for hooking up your nearest HDTV.
Mac Pro & iMac refresh: USB 3.0 & faster FireWire tipped for back-to-school season
All eyes may be on the iPhone 4 right now (or, more accurately, on its chubby little signal strength meter and whereabouts your fingers are in relation to the antenna) but that doesn’t mean we’ll bypass a good Mac Pro rumor. According to one of Hard Mac’s “better sources”, Apple is preparing for a Mac Pro refresh at the end of the summer, to hopefully tap into the “back to school” period. Meanwhile they’ll be swiftly followed by an iMac refresh.
VoIP Roundup: mobile SIP providers on trial
The VoIP landscape has changed over the years, with many providers evolving into more than just the desk-phone VoIP we used to know. VoIP companies continue to add ways to entice consumers and small businesses. In this article, I will be sharing my experience with several BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) VoIP providers. Most BYOD VoIP providers use SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) to allow softphones or other devices to connect; I’ve been using Acrobits SoftPhone on iPhone, SipDroid on Android phones, and a Linksys PAP2 VoIP adapter. As for my connection, I was using FIOS with 25Mbps download and 25Mbps upload when connected to WiFi or LAN; while mobile, I’m connected to AT&T 3G and T-Mobile 3G. For all my tests, I used the G.711 (uLaw) codec on WiFi /LAN connections and G.729 on 3G. Read on for my real-world test results.
Cambrionix B2 32 port USB charger outed; charge-&-sync models in pipeline
You don’t have to be a gadget reviewer to end up with more than a handful of devices that all require USB charging, and finding ways to rejuice them simultaneously often means laborious AC plug juggling. We’ve seen Cambrionix’s port-bristling USB charging stations before, and now the company is back with a more compact setup that promises fully power protected charging for up to 32 devices simultaneously.
ASUS MARS II dual-GTX 480 video card leaks
ASUS is working on a dual-GPU graphics card codenamed the ASUS MARS II, pairing two NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 chips. The MARS II follows the first MARS card of 2009, which packaged a pair of GTX 295 GPUs, but updates things with a couple of NVIDIA Fermi chips.
iPhone 4 press event liveblog in 4hrs!
Four hours to go before Apple takes the stage at their Cupertino headquarters for a hastily-called press conference to discuss the iPhone 4, and that means four hours until the SlashGear liveblog kicks off. We’ll be covering all the news over at our magically auto-updating http://live.slashgear.com/ site, with the event expected to start at 10am PT (that’s 1pm New York or 6pm London). On the agenda: the state of the iPhone 4.
Verizon DROID, DEVOUR and Tour 9630 all axed?
A Verizon leak has tipped various smartphones as reaching end-of-life status, including the Motorola DROID and its less-endearing sibling the Motorola DEVOUR. Droid Forums received a screenshot from an internal Verizon message, tipping the two Android handsets as expected to see “limited or no remaining shipments from the vendor”, together with the Nokia 7705 Twist and the BlackBerry Tour 9630.
BlackBerry 9800 slider replacement parts tip imminent debut
RIM are yet to officially confirm the BlackBerry 9800 slider, despite us having seen it in various leaked photoshoots and videos, but already you can pick up replacement parts for the smartphone. CIO spotted that retailer Truesupplier is currently offering an OEM replacement keyboard for the 9800 slider.
Brother introduces batteries that charge by vibration
I always think of printers where I hear the name Brother. The company makes a lot more than that though and it has unveiled some new batteries in AA and AAA sizes that have some cool new tech.
Xbox 360 slim takes top sales spot in June
About this time last month when the Xbox 360 redesign went official and grabbed the unofficial title Xbox 360 Slim, many of us knew that the redesigned console would sell well in the market. Sell well the thing did according got the latest numbers from NPD Group for the month of June.
Sharp BDXL 100GB Blu-ray discs land in Japan
We mentioned last month at the BDXL specifications for 100GB and 128GB Blu-ray discs had been finalized. Sharp is the first company to offer media that supports the new specifications. The discs will land first in Japan.
Nokia C6-01 turns up in Netherlands
Nokia has been peddling the C6 mobile phone for a while now in its white form factor with a 5MP camera. A new updated version of the venerable C6 has surfaced in the Netherlands dubbed the C6-01. The new C6-01 looks very similar in design, but is slightly different and has new features.
Nikon D3100 DSLR features surface
If you are in the market for a new DSLR camera and like the Nikon brand, you may want to wait a while before you buy. A new entry-level camera from Nikon is rumored to be coming soon called the D3100. The features are listed on Nikon Rumors and they look very good.
Acer climbs into number two spot in Q2 for global PC shipments
Acer has been saying for a long time that it has plans to be number one in the global PC market. Most of us have just taken that as boasting, which companies are apt to do considering how far down on the list Acer has been in the past.
SilverStone unveils Sugo SG07 mini-ITX PC case
SilverStone has been making computer cases for years and has a history of making some very nice cases. The company is back with its latest small form factor case called the Sugo SG07. The machine is built to use Mini-ITX mainboard and has a 600W PSU.
White iPhone 4 spotted at London Apple Store?
Most people are expecting Apple to take on the iPhone 4 reception issues at their press conference later today, but there are signs that the company may be announcing white iPhone 4 availability too. Tech writer Julian Prokaza spotted significant deliveries taking place at Apple’s flagship Regent Street store in London last night, complete with “lots of white iPhone boxes in crates”.
Ceiva Snap now supports Android
Digital picture frames are fantastic devices. They make it easy to show off all of those images that you take with your digital camera and camera phone. If you use a connected from that is online like the Ceiva frames they are even more useful.
Synology DiskStation DS411+ and RackStation RS810+ promise superlative speed
Synology has announced its latest network-attached storage offerings, the standalone DiskStation DS411+ and the rack-mounted RackStation RS810+ and RS810RP+. Targeted at high-end home users or SMBs, the new products prioritize speed of data access: Synology reckon owners will see average 112MB/sec read rates and around 106MB/sec write rates in RAID 5 configurations.
Quirky unveils Tilt iPhone 4 case
I really like most of the stuff that the Quirky design community designs and then turns into a real product. Most of the stuff from Quirky reminds me of design concepts that we see on other sites with big distinction that Quirky actually builds and offers the stuff for sale.
iBUYPOWER updates liquid cooling system in LAN Warrior II SFF PC
I mentioned back in May that iBUYPOWER had launched a new small form factor gaming PC called the LAN Warrior II. The gaming rig uses a portable chassis and a mATX mainboard. The company has announced that it has updated that new PC with better liquid cooling.
iPad iOS 3.2.1 update promises WiFi fix, adds Bing
It’s not just the iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G that have seen an iOS update; both flavors of the iPad have also been treated to a new version of their software, too. Not iOS4, sadly, but iOS 3.2.1 which brings with it various bugfixes together the most important of which is to address dodgy WiFi connectivity on the Apple slate.
iPhone signal tweaks compared; iOS 4.0.1 quietly fixes Exchange support too
We love a good colored diagram here at SlashGear, and so this comparison chart showing just how Apple has changed iPhone signal strength bar mapping in their latest iOS 4.0.1 update is tickling us nicely. The handiwork of AnandTech reader Mike Escoffery, it shows the considerable margin by which Apple emphasized a “full bars” signal. Meanwhile, while there was no mention of it in the iTunes release notes, iOS 4.0.1 also addresses Exchange ActiveSync problems.
“iPhone DSLR prototype” mounts Canon EF lenses, enrages purists
Want a guaranteed, sure-fire way to enrage DSLR enthusiasts? Call your custom-crafted iPhone 4 mount that allows you to use interchangeable lenses an “iPhone DSLR prototype“; you’ll soon have them queueing up to point you at the official definition of a single-lens reflex camera. Still, we’ll put aside nomenclature because there’s something sturdily lovely about Jeremy Salvador’s system, no matter what he wants to call it.
Magellan eXplorist rugged PNDs pack touchscreen & camera
Magellan has outed its latest hand-held GPS navigators, the eXplorist outdoor series. The Magellan eXplorist 510, 610 and 710 all have a 3.0-inch color touchscreen, 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus, are waterproof and ruggedized. Photos are automatically geotagged and can be accompanied by voice notes.
Apple, Google and RIM all Palm suitors tips insider
Numerous companies were tipped as potential suitors for Palm prior to HP sealing the deal, but according to BusinessInsider the roster includes heavyweights Apple, Google and RIM. Their “source familiar with the negotiations” claims Apple eyed Palm for its patent and intellectual property portfolio, while Google are tipped as wanting the same thing but dropping out because they were unaware their Cupertino rivals were actually involved in negotiations.
Apple deny engineer’s iPhone 4 antenna warning
Apple has denied Bloomberg’s report that the company’s chief antenna engineer informed Steve Jobs and the rest of management that the iPhone 4’s design would likely lead to dropped calls and other issues. According to Bloomberg’s unnamed sources, engineer Ruben Caballero highlighted the potential for interference from an external antenna design back in 2009; Apple PR, however, “challenge Bloomberg BusinessWeek to produce anything beyond rumors to back this up” going on to insist “It’s simply not true.”
Firefox Home for iPhone & iPod touch hits App Store
The cynic might say that Mozilla heavily previewed their Firefox Home app for iOS back in May so that, should Apple reject it, they could make a huge song and dance of it. Happily that won’t be necessary, since Apple’s App Store guardians have approved the browser companion app for iPhone and iPod touch. The concept is a little confusing at first glance: Firefox Home isn’t a standalone browser, instead using Firefox Sync to bring your browsing history, bookmarks and open tabs from the desktop to your mobile device.
iMo Monster 10″ Touch USB Monitor Review
Nanovision’s MIMO range of USB companion displays are no strangers to the pages of SlashGear, and we’ve reviewed our fair share of them over the months. Standing proudly on the test bench today, though, is the company’s biggest to date, the 10-inch touchscreen iMo Mini-Monster. A titan among USB secondary displays (and a Tinkerbell among regular LCDs), the iMo Mini-Monster promises the same ease of connectivity as its smaller siblings but with the same resolution as a 10-inch netbook. Worth the $259.99, then, or has Nanovision overestimated exactly what consumers want from their companion LCDs? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
iOS 4.0.1 released to fix iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G signal meter
Apple’s promised iOS4 update has been pushed out for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G. iOS 4.0.1 apparently “improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display,” after Apple discovered they had been using the wrong calculations. Previewed earlier today in the iOS4.1 developer beta, the update is expected to make the iPhone’s signal meter more accurate, but not address the hardware issue experienced by iPhone 4 owners where holding the smartphone in a certain way can significantly impair antenna performance.
Avoiding the Social
The range of people I know who have completely ignored Facebook sometimes astonishes me almost as much as its explosive growth. Some of the most important people in my life are social networking luddites, with little to no presence whatsoever on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or any photo sharing sites. But even though they aren’t present, they are impossible to ignore. I’m still friends with plenty of people they know, so their social web is still intact, but there’s a chunk missing from the middle where they would usually hold it all together.
iPhone 4 “internal bumper” fix in works tips analyst
While most have dismissed the idea of a full recall for the iPhone 4 over the ongoing antenna issue, Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar still believes Apple is preparing a hardware fix. According to TheStreet, Kumar claims Apple’s engineers have come up with “a design fix for the iPhone 4 that more adequately insulates the transceiver,” which will address reception in a way that does not change the outward aesthetics of the smartphone.
US senator demands Apple “public commitment” to fixing iPhone 4
We’ve heard from engineers, co-founders and Apple themselves; all we needed was a US senator to step into the iPhone 4 furore, and Democratic New York Senator Charles Schumer has done just that. In an open letter penned to Apple CEO Steve Jobs and spotted by AppleInsider, Schumer sandwiches some criticism in-between waxing lyrical over the Cupertino company’s “innovative approach”; the senator believes that “the burden for consumers caused by this glitch, combined with the confusion over its cause and how it will be fixed, has the potential to undermine the many benefits of this innovative device” and that Apple should “make a public commitment” to fixing the issue free of charge.
Wozniak on iPhone 4: “It’s like the AT&T dead zone has been extended”
In the run up to Apple’s iPhone 4 press conference tomorrow the last thing they needed was more bad publicity about the fourth-gen smartphone’s poor antenna performance. Unfortunately, hot on the heels of Bloomberg’s report that a senior engineer warned Apple management back in 2009 that the iPhone 4’s design would cause signal problems, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has waded in with a little criticism of his own. Asked about his own iPhone 4’s performance, Wozniak said his own casual testing suggested that the smartphone’s problem “only occurs in some places” and that it was “like the AT&T dead zone has been extended with this new phone.”
