IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (TweakTown) 23/03/2011

CITA 2011, NVIDIA and Jabra show off new products
CITA had its mobile focus event yesterday and like CES unveiled it is a small part of a much larger event. The event was held at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, FL and was a Luau Themed affair.

After you got around all of the finery (if you could call it that) there were several vendors there that had some impressive products for the mobile world. One of these was NVIDIA. After the launch of the first Tegra 2 device at CES they have been hard at work getting a couple of additional devices ready. One of these is an Android based tablet that will be pushed out by T-mobile.

This will have 32GB of storage with room for an additional SD card (the cheap way to go as we were told). We also heard that NVIDIA plans to have the first quad core (ARM based) tablets and phones coming out very soon.
Next up on our round was Jabra. They had a new hands-free in-car speaker (Bluetooth of course) that was quite impressive.

The new Freeway (as it will be called) has stereo speaker and a single small bass driver to bring the low end back to your in-car audio. They have also included the same virtual surround sound that you would find in a typical TV speaker bar.

In addition to the speakers there are a few other nice features. This $129.99 MSRP device will also include a one year subscription to Voice Assist. This technology allows you to send e-mails, text messages, and tweets all through a voice recognition service that works through the Freeway. The Freeway also has a motion sensor in it so that when you are out of the car it knows to power down (no engine vibrations Etc). We have already asked about taking a look at one of these and hope to hear back very soon on this
We will have more from the event for you later including a look at some new wireless power surfaces.

Download of the Day: Firefox 4.0
Our Download of the Day today is Firefox 4.0.
The Web is all about innovation, and Firefox sets the pace with dozens of new features to deliver a faster, more secure and customizable Web browsing experience for all.
User Experience. The enhancements to Firefox provide the best possible browsing experience on the Web. The new Firefox smart location bar, affectionately known as the "Awesome Bar," learns as people use it, adapting to user preferences and offering better fitting matches over time.
Performance. Firefox is built on top of the powerful new Gecko platform, resulting in a safer, easier to use and more personal product.
Security. Firefox raises the bar for security. The new malware and phishing protection helps protect from viruses, worms, trojans and spyware to keep people safe on the Web.
Customization. Everyone uses the Web differently, and Firefox lets users customize their browser with more than 5,000 add-ons.

Download Now - TweakTown Download of the Day

Deal of the Day: Sceptre 32" X320BV-HD LCD 720p 60Hz HDTV - $249
Our Deal of the Day today is the Wal-Mart - Sceptre 32" X320BV-HD LCD 720p 60Hz HDTV - $249.
Offer: Walmart has the Sceptre 32" X320BV-HD LCD 720p 60Hz HDTV for just $249 with free site-to-store shipping. At 32 inches, a 720p (1366 x 768) is just fine.

Google Chrome 11 beta out, includes voice input
Google decided to not let Mozilla have the limelight today with their release of Firefox 4, so they've updated Chrome to Chrome 11. The Chrome 11 beta includes the new icon as shown below but that is not all. There is added support for the HTML5 speech input API.

This means you'll be able to talk to your computer (obviously via a microphone) and Chrome can interpret it. This is something very similar to what is on Google Android-based devices and it's great to use. It's also HTML5 spec, meaning any developer will be able to take advantage of it, not just Google.
Chrome 11 beta also includes a form of GPU-accelerated 3D CSS, Google Notes. This now means developers have the ability to create websites with 3D effects using CSS soon.

AMD employees Mike Wolfe as new CIO
AMD have announced they've hired Mike Wolfe as AMD's chief information officer. Wolfe brings more than 30 years of engineering and information technology experience as well as being vice president of IT for product development and engineering at HP for the past five years.

Wolfe will be responsible for managing AMD's global technology infrastructure and will report to Thomas Seifert whom is senior vice president and chief financial officer and interim CEO.
Seifert said:

Mike has effectively led IT transformations constantly focusing on reducing operating costs and significantly improving business innovation. His considerable talent and experience will help AMD to continue strengthening our IT infrastructure and streamline our business based on our own products and platforms.

Prior to his position at HP, Wolfe spent more than 24 years at Motorola and Freescale Semiconductor where he worked his way to the position of chief information officer of Freescale. He was the vice president and CIO for the Semiconductor Products Sector at Motorola for five years and successfully consolidated business and manufacturing IT functions into a single central organization.
Wolfe also has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Alabama and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

NVIDIA teases its "top secret" flagship GPU - new underwear and tear jar included in box
NVIDIA are loving it right now, teasing the world with a "top-secret" box which is so-obviously packing a dual-Fermi based GeForce GTX 590. There will be more information available on March 24, which meets the latest rumors of a launch on that day.

The video is quite short but gives you enough of a tease, Tom is even running Crysis 2 in the backround. I'm pretty sure he forgot to say "HA HA" in the video, but I'm sure you could imagine Nelson from the Simpsons doing this in your own mind. Not long to go now ladies and gents! GTX 590 should be ready to stick its green thumb in the air.

Mitsubishi drops LCD HDTVs to concentrate on 73-inch and above, has to buy bigger underwear
Good move, Mitsubishi. The LCD market right now is obviously over-crowded and my guesses are that margins are not that great because of it. Mitsubishi has decided to make it official by downsizing its TV operations, closing some of the offices and leaving the LCD TV business entirely.

Mitsubishi are also the only company still selling rear projection sets to customers and will now concentrate on pushing DLP and Laservue TVs in sizes above 73-inches where the competition barely compete. This is quite strategic as Mitsubishi will eventually be much stronger than anyone who even tries to compete and as prices on larger screens get cheaper, Mitsubishi will have the upper hand.
Feel free to send me any of your 73-inch and above TVs to review, Mitsubishi.

Samsung Unveils New Galaxy Tab(s), Thinner Than iPad 2
Everyone wants to take down the iPad 2, or at least make it remember them. Samsung's new Galaxy Tabs might at least make a dent with its pricing and size variety. Apple offers two options: extra small or extra large (iPod/iPhone or iPad), but in a year that has been all about the portables, Apple hasn't expanded much beyond the original iPad.

As of this summer, Samsung will offer a 7", 8.9", and 10.1" model of the Galaxy Tab, giving the consumer lighter, thinner, and more diverse selection when it comes to choosing a "post-pc" device (are we allowed to use that term to describe things that don't start with "i"?). With a resolution of 1280x800 (iPad 2 only has 1024x768), and a model that's $50 cheaper than most of the competition ($469 for the 8.9" 16g), this summer could see the iPad 2 take some hits.

Samsung Unveils GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9,

World's Thinnest Mobile Tablets
Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9
to feature the first customized Androidآ™ 3.0 experience
ORLANDO, March 22, 2011 - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the global leader in Androidآ™ mobile devices, announced two new additions to its family of GALAXY Tabs, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, the world's thinnest mobile tablets, measuring just 8.6 millimeters.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature Samsung's own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Androidآ™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering superior multi-tasking and enhanced user interaction and navigation.
"The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung's constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world", said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business. "By combining Samsung's innovations in design and display with
our exciting new user experience, we've created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market."
Thinner & Lighter
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are the thinnest mobile tablets available. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 weighs 595 grams and 8.9 weighs 470 grams. Combining the GALAXY Tabs' ultra-thin form factor with a lightweight design adds to the outstanding mobility of these two products.
Super Fast
The new GALAXY Tabs will support HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetoothآ® and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. Also, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 include a 1GHz dual core application processor for a powerful multimedia and web browsing experience.
Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX"
Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu users can customize to display a variety of content on the home screen including digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds.
In addition, the interface includes an application tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are also in use, including large file downloads and document editing. This Mini Apps Tray provides a mixture of convenience and flexibility previously unheard of with tablet devices.
The Ultimate Entertainment Hub
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung's Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.
Ready for Business
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 will include an industry leading suite of solutions designed to give enterprise customers and IT managers more security. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading partners such as Cisco, Sybase, SAP and Citrix, Samsung's enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on-the-move.
GALAXY Tab 10.1
GALAXY Tab 10.1, with its WXGA TFT LCD display (1280 x 800) powered by 1GHz dual core AP, is 8.6mm thin and weighs only 595g. It is the perfect device for sharing and enjoying media content with family and friends. In addition, with its surround-sound stereo speakers and support for Flash 10.2, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 will deliver premium entertainment experience whether watching videos, movies or playing games.
GALAXY Tab 8.9
At just 8.6mm thin and weighing only 470g, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is the perfect device for today's mobile professional. Whether writing emails on a trip or reading an eBook on the couch, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 provides the ultimate tablet experience without compromising mobility.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 now join the original 7-inch GALAXY Tab to provide consumers with an unmatched array of choices to select the mobile tablet experience that fits their needs the best.

iPad 2 Available For Everybody Else March 25th

Ohai, rest of the world- did you want an iPad 2? You're in luck! It ships this Friday to the following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
And if you live east of the Urals, sometime in April you can expect the post-PC device to be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and "additional countries" in the coming months. Unsurprisingly, iPad 2 shipments will see delays in Japan, undoubtedly due to the recent disasters.
Is it me, or is the "post-PC" terminology almost as pretentious as all uses of the term "postmodern"?

CUPERTINO, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Appleآ® today announced that iPadآ® 2, the second-generation of its third post-PC device, will go on sale in 25 additional countries this Friday, March 25. iPad 2 will be available at Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers at 5 p.m. local time, and online through the Apple Storeآ® (www.apple.com) beginning at 1 a.m. Apple today also announced that all models of iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April.

"While competitors are still struggling to catch up with our first iPad, we've changed the game again with iPad 2," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We're experiencing amazing demand for iPad 2 in the US, and customers around the world have told us they can't wait to get their hands on it. We appreciate everyone's patience and we are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone."
iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple's new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTimeآ® and Photo Boothآ®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect.
Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April, and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.
iMovieآ® and GarageBandآ® for iPad apps are available for $4.99 (US) each from the App Store℠ on iPad or www.itunes.com/appstore. The Smart Cover is available in a range of colors in vibrant polyurethane for $39 (US) or rich leather for $69 (US).

RIM announces BlackBerry PlayBook Distribution

Research In Motion (RIM), Canadian company responsible for all things BlackBerry, announced its "plans" to make the new BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet available at a slew of retailers in the US and Canada. The PlayBook will be available in three unsurprising models: 16gb, 32gb, 64gb starting at $499 (for all of you keeping track, that's the same price as the iPad 2).
Though a rep at GDC '11 told me he'd lose his job if he told anyone when it was coming out, we now know thanks to Best Buy that it will be shipping April 19th.
Here's a video of some hands-on PlayBook action from GDC '11:
(Note the Quake III Icon)

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced plans to make the highly-anticipated BlackBerryآ® PlayBookآ™ tablet available in more than 20,000 retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada.

"The BlackBerry PlayBook is an amazing tablet that is already being widely praised as a multi-tasking powerhouse with an uncompromised web experience and an ultra-portable design," said Mike Lazaridis, President & Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "Given the high level of customer interest in the BlackBerry PlayBook, we are particularly pleased to be working with such an amazing lineup of retail partners."

The BlackBerry PlayBook delivers professional-grade, consumer-friendly experiences that redefine the possibilities of mobile computing. This ultra-portable tablet looks and feels great, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing less than a pound. It features a vivid 7-inch high-resolution display that is highly-responsive with a fluid touch screen experience. It also offers industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobeآ® Flashآ® Player 10.1, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment.
The BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi will be available in three models and will feature a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $499 in the United States and Canada. The lineup of retailers and wireless carriers currently expected to carry the BlackBerry PlayBook in the United States and Canada includes the following companies*:

United States
AT&T
Best Buy
Cbeyond
Cellular South
Cincinnati Bell
Office Depot
RadioShack
ShopBlackBerry.com
Staples
Sprint
Verizon Wireless
BlackBerry from Wireless Giant
Canada
Bell
Best Buy
Chapters / Indigo
Costco
Future Shop
Mobilicity
MTS Allstream
Rogers
Sasktel
Sears
ShopBlackBerry.com
Staples
Telus
Tbooth Wireless
The Source
Videotron
Walmart
WIND Mobile
WIRELESS etc.
WIRELESSWAVE
BlackBerry PlayBook Specifications
7" 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen
Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
1 GHz dual-core processor
BlackBerryآ® Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)
1080p HDMI output
Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)
1 GB RAM memory
Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)
GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
Wi-Fiآ® (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity
Bluetoothآ® 2.1+EDR support
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerryآ® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
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* Check with each retailer to confirm pricing and availability.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

IT News HeadLines (TweakTown) 23/03/2011

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