Google Chrome 9.0.597.107 Stable

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. It has one box for everything: Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages. Will give you thumbnails of your top sites; Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab. Google Chrome is an open source web browser developed by Google. Its software architecture was engineered from scratch (using components from other open source software including WebKit and Mozilla Firefox) to cater for the changing needs of users and acknowledging that today most web sites aren't web pages but web applications. Design goals include stability, speed, security and a clean, simple and efficient user interface.

Download

24.6MB 

Windows (All) 

Screenshot

Homepage

Freeware

# AMD Set to Launch HD 6990 on March 8 AMD Set to Launch HD 6990 on March 8

The other day, we heard Nvidia was readying their dual GPU monster, the GTX 590 and today, we get a date from AMD saying that they will launch the Radeon HD 6990 on March 8. Nvidia is also planning on a March release for the GTX 590 but they haven't released any dates yet. The HD 6990 will consist of two Cayman GPUs on a single PCB so expect it to be long and power hungry. The two cores will most probably be bridged using a PLX chip. No word on pricing and availability yet but expect the cards to hit retail around April.

# The Google Android Update Conundrum The Google Android Update Conundrum

Google updates its Android mobile operating system quite regularly. Ever since the 1.0 release in September 2008, it has been updated six times till the current latest version 2.3 a.k.a Gingerbread (seven times if you count the tablet-optimized 3.0 Honeycomb version). Roughly, one can expect at least two updates to the software every year.

Quoting a report released a couple of weeks ago, 3,50,000 Android phones power up every single day. That's a whole lotta handsets running Android. But do they run the most latest release? Not by a long shot -- as of now only 0.8 percent of the total population runs 2.3 Gingerbread, followed by 57.6 percent that run the earlier Android 2.2 Froyo, and 31.4 percent running the two-generation-old Android 2.1 Eclair.

You already know some of the reasons for this delay, don't you? There's more -- you'll see that cheaper Android phones almost never run the latest version. This is because of either of these reasons; one, they have too slow a hardware that will not let users experience the benefits of the new features in that version. Secondly, it'll give manufacturers something to boast about their premium range handsets running or getting the latest update. For example: Samsung's high-end Galaxy S is almost on the verge of getting updated twice (from 2.1 to 2.3) while the low-end Galaxy 5 i5500 is still running 2.1 with no official updates to the next versions.

Some phones, despite being fully capable, just don't get updated. This might give existing owners a reason to upgrade to a newer handset running the latest version. These are the forgotten souls of the Android world -- case in point, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 series which is confirmed to get no updates beyond 2.1.

Many people simply discard purchasing a good handset with no real problems, just because it isn't running the latest version of Android. They'll keep waiting as manufacturers keep releasing one model after another. But how long can one keep waiting for that perfect Android? Let's take a look at what the last two major updates brought to the table. We'll look from Android 2.1 onwards, simply because there are very few that still run the ancient 1.6, and we would simply ask you to look away from any Android phone that has anything less than Android 2.x in today's date.

Android 2.1 was an important milestone -- it brought forth many basic and important features like multi-touch input, support for more screen resolutions, Bluetooth file transfers etc. Following are the main features that Android 2.2 added to that list, other than the welcome speed/performance optimizations:

- Wi-fi Hotspot feature
- Ability to install apps on an SD card
- Adobe Flash 10.1 support

Android 2.3 Gingerbread that released at the end of 2010 brought aboard these important changes:

- System-wide copy-paste function
- Re-designed virtual keyboard
- Improved Power Management
- Internet calling & Near-Field Communication (NFC) support

Android 3.0 Honeycomb, an update specifically targeted for Tablets has a couple of important changes under the hood (other than the obvious tablet-tailored UI) that will possibly trickle down into the next version for smartphones (codename: Icecream Sandwich):

- Support for video chat using Google Talk
- Support for multi-core processors
- Visual Multi-tasking
- Hardware-accelerated graphics

To see a comprehensive list of what has changed, click respective links for Android 3.0, Android 2.3, Android 2.2 and Android 2.1. 

Of 4.5M Tablets Sold, 93 Percent Were iPads, Study Finds

Of the approximately 4.5 million tablets sold in the third quarter of 2010, about 93 percent were Apple iPads, according to Wednesday data from ABI Research.
Those numbers indicate that media tablets are the "promising new talent" in the tech world, ABI said.
"Over time, Apple's first-to-market iPad advantage will inevitably erode to some extent," senior practice director Jeff Orr said in a statement. "ABI Research has been tracking media tablets since December 2009; future quarterly editions of this Market Data product will include market share tracking of all the major media tablet vendors."
Apple dominating the tablet space is not exactly a surprise. It was really the only consumer tablet available last year until Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Tab. There is now another competitor; the Motorola Xoom launched Thursday.
ABI also looked at e-books and netbooks. E-books reader vendors "continued to do well," the firm said, while the first half of 2010 was slow for netbooks. That was partially due to the fact that few companies introduced new netbooks.
"The third quarter saw PC OEMs again breathe life into the segment by introducing new platforms that offered dual-core processors, and lighter/thinner devices with significantly better performance, sleek styling, and visual appeal," Orr said.

Plane crash in UAE kills all 4 aboard

 -- A plane crashed Sunday night shortly after takeoff from the United Arab Emirates, killing the four people -- all of them Americans -- who were aboard, officials said Monday.
The Grumman 21T, which was bound for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, veered to the left and crashed into a taxiway shortly after takeoff from Al Ain International airport at 8:07 p.m., according to a statement from the General Civil Aviation Authority of United Arab Emirates.
The aircraft, operated by Triple S Aviation, LLC, of Addison, Texas, was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire, it said. The company did not immediately return a telephone call.
The victims have not been identified publicly.
The civil aviation authority was leading an investigation into the cause of the crash.

In a statement, a spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Arab Emirates said it "extends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the crash."

Does IQ predict performance at work?

In Asia, selecting employees based on IQ doesn't necessarily mean you are choosing the high performers, says Eliza Byington.

 -- Blue-chip companies have been using IQ tests to select the most able employees for decades.
Countless psychological studies support the link between a high IQ score and performance at work. As a result, employers often use these tests to identify the best candidates.
But a recently published study challenges the dominant theory of why smart people tend to perform so well, arguing that sociological factors might be playing a far bigger role than we realize.
"There is so much more emphasis on IQ testing than ever before. So we started to wonder is innate cognitive ability behind the IQ-job performance link, or is it that society gives advantages and resources to people who have higher IQ scores?" said Eliza Byington, lead author of the study published in the journal Research in Organizational Behavior.
Byington and her colleague Will Felps -- both of whom are from the Netherland's Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University -- say students who perform well in IQ reflective tests (e.g. GMAT, GRE and SAT) have access to a greater range of developmental resources.
Advanced classes, professional training and other tools all build on a student's early abilities, Byington says, handing them opportunities to further enhance their skills and career prospects.

There is so much more emphasis on IQ testing than ever before.
--Eliza Byington, Rotterdam School of Management

Not only is the allocation of these resources creating high performers, Byington and Felps argue, they may also be creating wider gaps between high and low scoring students.
Research linking IQ to high performance mostly originates from North America and Western Europe -- where intelligence and access to developmental resources are intertwined.
So, in search of evidence to support their hypothesis, Byington and Felps examined similar studies from developing countries -- including China and the Middle East -- where access to educational resources isn't so differentiated on the basis of IQ.
They found these studies revealed a "substantially weaker" relationship between IQ scores and performance. One Chinese study even showed a negative (albeit statistically insignificant) relationship.
China, say Byington and Felps, is an example of how institutional differences "might undermine the managerial edict of 'select on intelligence'" so prevalent in the West.
Educational provision was organized "in a largely egalitarian and undifferentiated fashion" during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, and Chinese students today tend to rank motivation above intelligence in terms of what is more likely to produce success, the study says.
"Many Western companies take their hiring practices with them when they go abroad and that also means they rely on IQ tests," Byington said.
"But if you take the IQ test as a selection device to Asia and you start choosing people on the basis of IQ there, it doesn't necessarily mean you are choosing the high performers, because they might not have had those resources that we think are so critical for their success."
The possibility that "the biggest finding in management science in the West might almost be irrelevant in some places is quite profound," Byington says.
The research also has important ethical implications for public policy, says Byington. Educational institutions may need to be more accountable, she thinks.

"We need to check that they are adding value and competencies rather than just giving these students a seal of approval saying 'yes you're the best, enjoy your fabulous career.'"

One person dead, 110,000 acres burned in Texas wildfires

 -- Firefighters in Texas continued efforts to contain fast-moving wildfires that have destroyed nearly 60 homes, burned more than 110,000 acres, and caused an accident that killed a 5-year-old child, state forestry officials said Monday.
The fires broke out about noon on Sunday, said Lewis Kearney, a spokesman for the forest service's Texas State Lone Star Incident Management Team. Officials believe many were started by power lines that fell from high winds.
Since that time, forestry officials, who were called in to assist local fire departments, have responded to 25 fires in 15 counties across the Texas Panhandle, Kearney said.
Crews that worked through the night to douse the flames will get a little help from the weather. The wind that propelled the fires is expected to be calmer Monday, according to CNN Meteorologist Monica O'Connor.
Kearney said Sunday's high winds made it difficult for firefighters to use aircraft to battle the blaze.
"Air attack will fly early," Kearney said, adding that an aerial look at the fire will help firefighters "see what the situation is."
On Sunday, Interstate 20 was shut down for several hours after heavy smoke from the fires limited visibility. Authorities in Midland County responded to numerous accidents along the highway, including an eight-vehicle crash in which the child died, according to Sgt. Pete Cordova.
In the community of Matador, north of Lubbock, families could do nothing but watch as their homes burned to the ground.
The Segovias hadn't been gone 20 minutes when they returned to a panic-stricken neighborhood and found they had lost everything they owned.
"To know everything you worked so hard for, it's all gone," a tearful Juan Segovia told CNN affiliate KCBD. He and his wife, Rosemary, stared in disbelief at the blaze.
The family of seven is without a home, but grateful for what was not lost.
"I'm glad our family wasn't home when it happened," Rosemary Segovia said before falling into her husband's arms. "That's all I care about is I have my family."

Evacuation orders for counties threatened by wildfires were expected to be lifted Monday morning.

Ho-hum Oscars: The dream factory snores

-- We're born alone, we die alone, and we live through Oscar night alone -- because, let's face it, none of us can stay glued to the screen for all 18 hours, or however long it was, without missing something.
There were sandwiches to make, beer, cake, the bathroom, beer, the bathroom; you had to let the cat out, answer the phone, send your friend a text about Melissa Leo's unbearable acceptance speech and -- oops! What was that? Javier Bardem, or the ice-cream man? Did best director Tom Hooper just say something about a "triangle of man love"? Did Christian Bale forget his wife's name? Holy God in heaven, I hope Kathryn Bigelow didn't pay for that dress.
This is all probably making the evening sound much more exciting than it was. And that wouldn't take much: On an Oscar night that arrived ripe with foregone conclusions, the membership of the esteemed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences really came through, in characteristic fashion. There wasn't one surprise in the whole package, and it made for a deeply disappointing box of Cracker Jacks.
"The King's Speech" was expected to win best picture and did; its star, Colin Firth, was expected to win and did. Natalie Portman was expected to win and did (best actress for "Black Swan"). Also victorious, and to no one's surprise, were best supporting actor nominees Christian Bale and his "Fighter" co-star and fellow favorite, Leo who, true to form and expectations (based on her previous speeches this season), delivered enough cringe-worthy moments for eight Oscar shows.

Not surprising either, nor revelatory, nor even saucily amusing, were the performances by co-hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco, who both had their likable moments, but didn't make anyone forget Billy Crystal who -- in one of the show's several acts of sadistic cruelty -- showed up and talked about Bob Hope for what seemed like a week and a half. Why? Apparently to remind those academy members still in possession of their faculties about the days when they had real hosts at the Oscars.
Instead, we had Hathaway and Franco, who exhibited very particular approaches to their hosting duties while never seeming to get into gear. Hathaway was charming, in a "charmingly inept" fashion and tried to kick some life into the inert copy she was given to read. Franco wore a Cheshire cat smile and gazed into space. It was as if the cheerleader were dating the school stoner.
And when the most volatile presence on stage is a 94-year-old stroke victim (Kirk Douglas), you have problems. (One of the problems was using Douglas at all, another of the producers' cruel and unusual acts.)
There was one surprise Sunday night. It was how deliberately, and cravenly, Hollywood stayed in its bubble. With the exception of a very pointed statement by documentary winner Charles Ferguson (about all the unindicted co-conspirators in the financial crisis), and one by an Oscar winner in a technical category, who stressed that his colleagues were -- gasp -- union members, there wasn't a single acknowledgment that a world existed outside the confines of the Kodak Theatre.
There wasn't a peep about Egypt, or Libya, or Wisconsin, or the noxious political conversation in greater America -- you know, the place that starts somewhere east of the In-and-Out Burger on Sunset Boulevard, home to people who might buy more movie tickets, if their livelihood and way of life weren't under assault by corporatist forces that generally have little interest in free expression, because ideas that are freely expressed are generally against their interests.
It doesn't take much to cow Hollywood: Historically, any threat to the bottom line has been enough to send the industry into the figurative bunker. But one of the virtues of Oscar night has been the show's sometimes awkward, sometimes inappropriate, often spontaneous connection to the real world.
There was none of that Sunday night. For all the loose goofiness of the production, there seemed to be a gag order firmly in place. Either that or the celebrated dream factory had sunk into a coma.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Anderson.

Egypt's attorney general forbids Mubarak from leaving country

Hosni Mubarak (R) and his family, including son Gamal (L), were prohibited from leaving Egypt on Tuesday.

Cairo, Egypt  -- Egypt's attorney general issued an order Tuesday prohibiting former President Hosni Mubarak and his family from leaving the country.
Attorney General Abdel Maguid Mahmoud also ordered Mubarak's assets frozen, according to state-run news website EgyNews.
The orders come amid reports of secret bank accounts owned by Mubarak's family totaling more than 200 million Egyptian pounds (U.S. $147 million), according to EgyNews.
Mahmoud ordered the freeze for property owned by Mubarak, his wife, Suzanne, his two sons Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, and their wives and children, EgyNews reported. The seizures include "movable properties, real estate, stocks, bonds and various financial assets."
It wasn't immediately clear how the order differed from one reported last week.

Mubarak, who resigned February 11 after 18 days of protest against his rule, is believed to be staying at his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh.

How 'open' is Google, really?

Google loves to talk about how "open" it is, but the reality is that openness is mostly reserved for its close partners.

(Business Insider) -- Google loves to talk about how "open" it is. But the reality is that it's actually not always open; only when it's convenient to Google.
And, anyway, "open" isn't necessarily better.
For example, Google especially loves to boast that its Android software for phones and tablets is "open." You'd think that means that anyone would have control over their phones, to install all the apps they want, change the way it looks, and update to the latest version of Android. But that's not what it means.
It really means that Google's close partners -- mobile operators and phone manufacturers, but not consumers -- can chop up Android to their liking.
That's why many new Android phones ship with pre-installed "crapware" apps. It's why some have shortcomings, like the inability to install apps that aren't from Google's official app market. And it's why most Android owners have to wait a long time for Android software updates -- if the updates are ever made available for their specific phones.
Meanwhile, despite all the talk about Android being "open," there are even some things that Google's huge Android partners can't change.
For example, when Motorola wanted to swap out Google's built-in location services on its Android phones for a competing service from a startup called Skyhook Wireless, Google effectively forced them to stop, according to a lawsuit that Skyhook filed against Google.
What's "open" about allegedly forcing your partners to use Google's tools and guidelines instead of competing tools?
Android is just one example. Google has recently been inconsistent about its definition of "open" when it comes to web video technology, too.
And if Google were really serious about being "open," they'd share their search and advertising algorithms with the world. Now that would be "open."

Vint Cerf: New Google boss 'ambitious'

But of course Google would never do that -- that's proprietary information that can't fall into the hands of competitors. Google has every incentive to keep its core business information "closed," and it will likely continue to.
The more we look, the more we see that "open" Google is really more like "open when convenient or favorable to Google." This is perfectly fine: Google is a for-profit company and can do whatever it wants.
But anyone who thinks its actions are transparent or truly "open" is pretending.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dan Frommer.

Facebook Like button takes over Share button

Facebook has released an update to its Like button that changes the button's functionality to that of a Share button.

(Mashable) -- Say goodbye to the Share button because the Like button is taking over.
After months of updates to its Like button, Facebook has released an update that fundamentally changes the button's functionality to that of a Share button. Now after hitting the Like button, a full story with a headline, blurb and thumbnail will be posted to your profile wall. You'll also be given an option to comment on the story link. Previously, only a link to the story would appear in the recent activity, often going unnoticed by users.
Though users may now think twice about hitting the button, given how prominently it will appear on their walls and in their networks' newsfeeds, it should ultimately increase traffic to publishers' websites.
Facebook has slowly been rolling out updates to its Like button and has stopped developing the Share Button. Facebook Spokeswoman Malorie Lucich told us that while the company will continue to support the Share button, Like is the "recommended solution moving forward."
However, Lucich today called it a test, saying "We're always testing new products that incorporate developer feedback as we work to improve the Platform experience, and have no details to share at this time." It's unlikely that the change is just a test, however. Typically such tests from Facebook only affect a small number of users, whereas this change affects all Like buttons.

Perhaps the change was necessary. Because it was never made clear to users that the Like button would function differently than the Share button, many never understood what it meant to click Like on a piece of content. Making the result the same as the Share button could build stronger user expectations, ultimately fashioning a better user experience.

Selectors leave door open for Hussey's return

	Cameron White and his Australian colleagues are enjoying some downtime in Colombo

Michael Hussey's hopes of winning a surprise recall to the World Cup squad have been boosted with the news that Australia's selectors have delayed naming a replacement for the injured fast man Doug Bollinger. The selectors had been expected to rush a bowler to Colombo in time for Australia's next match, against Sri Lanka on Saturday, but they have decided not to hurry their decision.

A key factor in their hesitation is likely to have been Hussey's expected return to elite cricket after recovering from a serious hamstring injury. He is set to play for Western Australia against Queensland in a Sheffield Shield match that starts at the WACA on Thursday, and if he gets through the match without any trouble he could be on a plane to the World Cup.

That would leave the squad short of a bowling option, but the allrounder John Hastings is already in reserve and can step in if required. Bollinger did not play after the opening warm-up game and with Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson handling the pace duties, he would have found it difficult forcing his way into the starting XI in any case.

"It is obviously disappointing to lose Doug Bollinger from the World Cup squad through injury, however, we have decided to delay the naming of a replacement for him until later in the tournament," Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. "Currently all our fast bowlers are fit and we have John Hastings in the squad ready to play if an opportunity presents itself.

"We also have cover in the event of an injury to Brad Haddin [Tim Paine] or any one of the batsmen [Callum Ferguson] so there is seen to be no rush in making the decision. The national selection panel will make a decision as we approach the later stages of the tournament so we can select a replacement player who in our view will give us the best chance of success in the World Cup."

That last line is a strong hint that Hussey, who is the fourth-ranked ODI batsman in the world, will be in the frame. In the meantime, the Australians are relying on Cameron White as the experienced man in the lower middle order, and White knows that he will need to step up against Sri Lanka after beginning the tournament with scores of 22 and 22 not out.

White has not made a half-century in his past 11 ODI innings, and he enjoyed having some time in the middle against New Zealand in Nagpur, where he was under little pressure as the Australians completed a low chase. The big shots for which he is renowned have not been on display so far, and White knows that he needs to lift in the absence of Hussey.

"I felt okay [against New Zealand]," White said in Colombo. "I've been feeling pretty good at the crease for a while, just not converting any starts really. Hopefully I've started something in this tournament. The middle overs are going to be where it's most difficult. Starting is the hard part."

By the time Saturday's game against Sri Lanka arrives, the Australians will have had a seven-day break between matches, but they are enjoying some downtime for the time being. They'll be even happier if they see Hussey make big runs for Western Australia later in the week.

'Wherever there is a need, I play there' - Younis

	Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq have had dynamic partnerships in the middle order

The good form of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq in the middle order, individually and in partnership, has been one of the significant factors in Pakistan's winning starts in Group A. They made two fifties each against Kenya and Sri Lanka, putting on a quick 45 in Hambantota and a platform-setting 108 against the co-hosts at the R Premadasa.

Their partnerships have been doubly important given the pre-tournament concerns that batting Younis and Misbah at No. 4 and No. 5 would rob Pakistan of impetus in the middle overs. Instead, the pair has brought stability and momentum. In recent years, Younis has been the regular one down, but the arrival of Ahmed Shehzad pushed Kamran Akmal to that spot, pushing Younis down one further. The two fifties have been his first in World Cup cricket, having failed to perform in 2003 and 2007.

"My job is that wherever there is a need, I play there," Younis said at the P Sara Oval in Colombo after a practice session. "I played at No. 3 before and now we need me at No. 4, so whatever the situation is for the team or in the match, I will do. Misbah and I are the seniors and we talk about our roles. We've made a couple of good partnerships so we want to keep that going. In both of the games I have missed hundreds but I am happy that I have scored fifties."

Younis and Misbah, at 33 and 36, are very much the senior members of the squad, and along with another old pro Shoaib Akhtar (35), were involved in the moments that won the Sri Lanka game. Younis and Misbah have also been involved in leading the fielding performances of the side which, though it faltered towards the end of Saturday's game, has shown signs of improvement over the last few months and series.

Senior players, including Umar Gul, got together before the World Cup and decided they would take the lead. "The seniors got together and decided that we have to make an extra effort with juniors," Gul said. "Whatever is in the junior's workload, we should also take that on so that we can be role models roles for them. That is our target, that we should take the load and fulfill as much responsibility as we can ourselves."

Pakistan's second win puts them in a good position to not only qualify for the quarter-finals but also to be in a good position in the group, as two of their four remaining games are against Canada and Zimbabwe, which they would expect to win comfortably.

"It is getting easier now because by winning every match we make it easier to get to the quarter-finals," Younis said. "We want to keep playing like this and win every match. We all know that it's a big tournament, so senior or junior, the goal is that we give our best and contribute to every game."

Pakistan's win has put them on the radar as far as serious contenders in the tournament are concerned. Shahid Afridi has already said he wants, at the least, a semi-final berth, but Younis was more cautious about where he saw Pakistan reaching. "I have said this before, right now these are round matches. In knockouts, if it is your day, if someone bats well or bowls well or has a lucky day, then the match turns. First we want to reach the quarter-finals."

Netherlands slump in huge chase

West Indies 330 for 8 (Gayle 80, Pollard 60, Seelaar 3-45) beat Netherlands 115 (Cooper 55* Roach 6-27) by 215 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Kemar Roach took a hat-trick on his way to six wickets to fire West Indies to a crushing victory over Netherlands in Delhi. His whippet pace and low-trajectory overwhelmed a Netherlands line-up who, set 331 for victory, were left to regret their captain's decision to field first. Roach finished the game in a rush, trapping Pieter Seelaar and Bernard Loots lbw before splattering Berend Westdijk's middle stump to take the sixth World Cup hat-trick and seal a 215-run victory.

More to follow.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

50 oversWest Indies 330 for 8 (Gayle 80, Pollard 60, Seelaar 3-45) against Netherlands
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Chris Gayle started slowly before upping the pace against Netherlands

Kieron Pollard scored the third fastest fifty in World Cup history on his way as West Indies flogged a ragged Netherlands to take firm control at the half-way stage.

If the World Cup party was heaving on Sunday night in Bangalore, Pollard's exploits kept the spirits high on a day that threatened to flag after Canada's pitiful display against Zimbabwe.

With West Indies the most vulnerable of the big Test sides in a competitive Group B, they needed their big guns to fire, and they don't come much bigger than Chris Gayle and Pollard. Gayle made a measured 80 but it was Pollard that stole the show. He blended his immense power with the touch of savvy that has been absent from his 50-over game so far.

Given the shin-high bounce and speedy outfield, Peter Borren's decision to field first seemed puzzling. While it betrays the confidence he has in his batsmen, a scrappy fielding display and shoddy bowling mean it's a choice he'll likely regret.

At no stage were West Indies pinned down but it did take Gayle 24 deliveries to find the boundary. It was Ryan ten Doeschate's first over that broke his shackles as he drove three times through the covers, before collecting two more boundaries in the next over. He looked poised to explode from thereon but was instead content to coast and make the most of some generous Netherlands offerings.

Gayle was given time to get going by a silky fifty from Devon Smith at the other end. Smith had the time and the conditions to progress to his first ODI hundred but, as so often happens with him, squandered a good start when he drove lazily outside off.

After their sparky showing against England, this Netherlands performance was disappointing, lacking in both intensity and discipline. There was a no ball in the 35th over with three, instead of the required four, fielders in the ring and a dropped catch four balls later when Ramnaresh Sarwan was put down by at deep cover.

The seam bowlers leaked runs both sides of the wicket and it was only 23-year-old left-arm-spinner Pieter Seelaar who impressed. With an action and temperament similar to his touted Irish counterpart George Dockrell, Seelaar was happy to give the ball and was rightly rewarded when Gayle holed out to long-off one-run shy of his 8000th in ODI cricket.

At that stage West Indies looked like suffering the hoodoo that has infected the batting Powerplays throughout the tournament but in Pollard they had the right man for the stage. There was the customary six-hitting, including a monstrous strike into the stands off Mudassar Bukhari, but there was plenty of nous too as he raced to his fifty from 24 balls. The sixes down the ground would have been familiar to the Indian supporters who have seen his IPL exploits but one shot, flicking fine off Berend Westdijk, showed he was fully switched on.

West Indies only concern was the continued struggle for their captain, Darren Sammy, who ill-advisedly tried to match Pollard's big hitting, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Chanderpaul has been a behemoth in West Indies' middle order for almost two decades but scratched around today as he did against South Africa, before becoming the third of Seelaar's victims.

Batting is Netherlands' stronger department but it will need a performance bigger than even Andrew Strauss's on Sunday to pull off a shock here.

Spinners dominate in 175-run win

Zimbabwe's spinners made sure a record third-wicket partnership between Tatenda Taibu and Craig Ervine didn't go to waste, maintaining an asphyxiating grip on Canada's batsmen to secure a 175-run win in Nagpur. Taibu and Ervine's stand, which is Zimbabwe's highest for the third wicket in ODIs and their fifth largest overall, helped their team recover from a decidedly shaky start to reach 298 for 8 on a good batting wicket. While the ascendancy had swung between the two teams in the first innings Zimbabwe's slow bowlers assumed full control in the afternoon, sharing 37.1 overs and all ten wickets as Canada were bowled out in the 43rd over.

Despite needing practically a-run-a-ball from the start Canada would still have begun their batting effort with the belief that an upset was not impossible. What was needed was a positive start by their opening pair, the unlikely couple of veteran batsman John Davison and the comparatively foetal Nitish Kumar who, at 40 and 16 respectively, are the oldest and youngest players at this tournament.

Davison looked to attack Ray Price - who shared the new ball once again - almost immediately but ran straight past a flighted delivery that straightened just enough to clip the top of off stump. Things got worse for Canada four overs later when, in consecutive deliveries, Price stuck out his left hand and held onto a chipped drive to get rid of Kumar and Ashish Bagai swept straight to short backward square. Jimmy Hansra safely negotiated the hat-trick ball but the damage had been done with Canada staring into the precipice at 7 for 3.

Hansra and 19-year-old Ruvindu Gunasekara clung gamely to the crease for a while, but the required rate rose steadily as the slow bowlers strengthened their stranglehold. As the frustration rose Hansra again used his feet to Utseya but this time an arm ball rushed past the outside edge and he was easily stumped for a 41-ball 20.

Gunasekara followed in the very next over, bottom-edging an attempted late cut onto his own stumps, and when the big-hitting Rizwan Cheema mis-hit a full toss straight to short fine leg Canada were 66 for 6 and the match was over as a contest. With the pitch exhibiting increasingly extravagant turn legspinner Graeme Cremer was unleashed on the lower order, and both Tyson Gordon and Khurram Chohan were flummoxed by his subtle variations in flight and spin.

Zubin Surkari briefly held Zimbabwe at bay, gritting out a brave 26 before he fell to a leg-side stumping. Cremer wrapped up the innings an over later, ripping one through Balaji Rao's defences to claim his third wicket.

Canada had been able to put up much more of a challenge with the ball, legspinner Rao picking up career-best figures of 4 for 57 as Zimbabwe were kept under pressure on either side of Taibu and Ervine's partnership. There was a real buzz in the field when Brendan Taylor and Charles Coventry were removed within the first four overs - Taylor pinned in front of his stumps by a Khurram Chohan inswinger on the very first ball of the day - but as the shine faded and the sun baked all life from the wicket the batsmen settled in and a large total loomed.

After seeing off the new ball Taibu took two boundaries from offspinner Jimmy Hansra's first over, another brace from his second, to calm Zimbabwe's nerves. He barely dipped below a-run-a-ball thereafter, bringing up a 46-ball fifty in the 15th over and playing with increasing fluency. Ervine, who made a cautious start to his innings with 17 from his first 35 balls, eventually began to pick up the tempo too and used a variety of sweep shots against the spinners to good effect as the partnership passed 100.

It appeared Zimbabwe had assumed full control once more, but as the ball softened it began to grip the surface and Rao got the breakthrough with one that bounced a little more than Ervine was expecting, ricocheting off the shoulder of the bat and the pad and looping up for wicketkeeper Bagai to complete a good catch. Ervine had reached 85, his highest score in ODIs, but his dismissal sparked another collapse and when Taibu top-edged a sweep to be out for 98 Zimbabwe were 201 for 5.

Rao had luck on his side in nipping Greg Lamb and Sean Williams out, Lamb chopping a long-hop onto his own stumps and Williams gloving a sweep to give Bagai the chance to take a third smart catch, diving forward. Zimbabwe were precariously placed at 240 for 7 at that point and were thankful for an enterprising 41-run stand between Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer, which gave the score took a sheen of respectability after a stuttering start and a middle-order wobble. As it turned out, their score was more than enough against a Canadian line-up that showed precious little competency in combating an unrelenting hydra of spin.

Windies surge to 330/8 vs N'lands

The West Indies had the Ducth bowlers running for cover as they power their way to 330/8 in 50 overs. Chris Gayle put on a large part of the runs up front with 80 from 110 balls with other valuable contributions from Devon Smith (53 off 51), Ramnaresh Sarwan (49 off 42) and Kieron Pollard (60 off 27). The Dutch were able however, to pull things back from time to time with off-spinner Pieter Seelaar excelling with figures of 3/45.

The Windies began their innings in blistering fashion with Devon Smith smashing Mudassar Bukhari for three fours in the first over. Then Smith went after Berend Weestdijk in the 4th over, carting him for two more boundaries as the Windies moved to 22/0 in 4 overs. In the 8th over, Smith again got stuck into Westdijk, taking him for three fours. Then after Smith and Chris Galye took their side to 50 in the 10th over, the latter cut loose, biffing Ryan Ten Doeschate for three consecutive fours. In the next over, Gayle looted Bernard Loots for two more boundaries as the Windies kept cantering at 74/0 in 11 overs. But just as the batting side had touched 100 in the 17th over, Loots had Smith caught behind for 53 off 51.

Darren Bravo settled into a comfortable partnership with Gayle and while he initially just pushed for the one and twos, his partner struck up fireworks. In the 23rd over, Gayle launched Tom Copper for two sixes. The Windies were now dealing in the big hits, as Bravo carted Cooper and then the off-spinner Pieter Seelar for a six each to bring up the Windies' 150 in the 29th over. But just two overs later, Seelaar got his revenge when he had Bravo caught by Alexei Kervezee for 30 off 38 balls.

The team from the Caribbean however, was still in a very strong position at 168/2 in 31.2 overs. Then Ramnaresh Sarwan came to the crease and immediately upped the ante, striking Bukhari for two fours and Ten Doeschate for a six. But just as the Windies took the batting powerplay, Gayle holed out to long off off Ten Doeschate for 80 off 110 balls.

Kieron Polalrd was in a destructive mood when he walked to the crease. He took the West Indies past 200 by carting Seelaar for a six and then in the 39th over, he took Bukhari to the cleaners, clobbering him for three fours and a maximum.

Then it was Sarwan's turn to biff a few shots. He smacked Ten Doeschate for two consecutive fours to round off the 40th over and then smacked Westdijk for two more boundaries as the Windies score had moved past 250 in the 41st over.

Sarwan's cameo of 49 from 42 balls came to an end in the 43rd over when he was trapped in front by Westdijk with the score now reading 261/4. But captain Darren Sammy kept up the momentum, striking two fours in the same over. In the 44th over, Pollard knocked a six off Seelaar to move onto 42 off just 16 balls. But Sammy was out next ball for 6 as the Windies wobbled to 276/5 in 43.4 overs.

Seelaar picked up his third wicket when he cleaned up Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 4 in the 46th over. But Pollard was not about to back down. He flayed Seelaar for a six to round off the over. With that shot, Pollard had brought up his 50 off just 23 balls.

Then, in the next over, he took a single off ten Doeschate to bring up the Windies' 300. But Bukhari finally ended the Netherlands' misery when he removed Pollard (for 60 off 27 balls) in the 48th over. Then Nikita Miller and Devon Thomas struck some big blows towards the end of the innings to take the Windies to 330/8 in 50 overs.

Nintendo 3DS teardown puts 3D parallax display under microscope

The new Nintendo 3DS hit Japanese shelves over the weekend, and that meant it was only a matter of time before engineers there decided to rip it apart. We’ve already seen one pre-release teardown of the 3DS, but TechOn is going one stage further and putting the parallax display under the microscope.


Whereas in a regular LCD display the red, green and blue pixels are usually arranged horizontally, as you can see in the close-up above the 3DS has them arranged vertically. When the “3D volume” slider on the edge of the 3DS is switched on, a second layer over the LCD – believed to be Sharp’s parallax mechanism – turns on, splitting the image between the left and right eyes.
TechOn is still working its way through the teardown, but they’ve already praised the 3DS’ ease of opening and the fact that the ostensibly non-user-replaceable battery is actually only held in with a few screws. Nintendo has confirmed that the 3DS will launch in the US on March 27 and in Europe on March 25.

Next-Gen Windows UI previewed: Kinect, Windows Phone & bubbly tablets [Video]

Microsoft has previewed a next-gen UI for smartphones, tablets and PCs, which evolves the traditional windows and icons into bubbles of information which can be manipulated with motion-tracking hardware. The video, presented by Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie, shows how gadgets like Kinect and multitouch displays like Surface can be used for more naturalistic interaction with data.

Videos after the cut

The demonstration follows Microsoft’s announcements for the Kinect SDK, which will be released later this year. In a second video, shown below, Microsoft demonstrated some of the potential interactions between Kinect and Windows Phone.
All of the UI work is being billed as experimental and described as “futuristic demos,” with Microsoft cautious not to set up too many ambitious expectations for Windows 8. Still, with the company’s desktop OS lagging in finger-friendliness on tablets, and the integration between Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox all still relatively rudimentary, the company could do worse than follow through on some of these concepts.
Microsoft Research UI predictions:
Windows Phone and Kinect integration demo:

What do you think of this A5000 Android 2.2 phone

This phone not made by some big brand, made in China.So it seems very cheap.

Share some features of it:
·3.5 inch touch screen, HVGA PX:320*480
·512MB ROM 256MB RAM,support to extend TF card to 32GB maximally
·2.0 Mega pixel camera for Picture & Video capability,solomobi.com test put out biggest size is 1600*1200
·MP3 & MP4 player
·GPRS & WAP connectivity, MMS Transceive
·U disk support function to keep the information storage
·Bluetooth A2DP
·Voice record
·FM radio
·calendar,To do list,Alarm,World Clock,Stopwatch
·caller picture,caller Ring Tone,caller video
·Telephone directories:100000 group of contacts,support incoming call with big head sticker,group ring an Messages &Multimedia messaging:SMS, support MMS
·Schedule power on/off: support to start/close under set time
·Alarm clock:3 groups, support alarm clock when machine’s closed, can set from Monday to Sunday
·Games: Android APK games

ASUS Eee Pad MeMO Honeycomb & full specs confirmed

ASUS has confirmed that the Eee Pad MeMO will run Android 3.0 Honeycomb when it arrives later this year, with the 7-inch tablet taking on the HTC Flyer with its hybrid stylus/finger input. jkkmobile spotted the confirmation on an ASUS product sheet at CeBIT 2011 this week, along with confirmation of all the MeMO’s specs.

The tablet has a 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 processor, quadband HSPA+ support, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. There’s also 1GB of RAM and between 8GB and 64GB of onboard storage, along with twin cameras – 5-megapixel with LED flash on the back, 1.2-megapixels up front – and a micro HDMI port.
Other connectivity includes microUSB with Host support, a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSDHC and a twin microphone array; there’s also a digital compass, gyroscope, g-sensor, proximity sensor and light sensor. ASUS reckons the Eee Pad MeMO is good for up to 8hrs video or music playback on a full charge.

HTC 7 Pro Review

Of all Microsoft’s launch partners for Windows Phone, HTC led the pack from the gate with the most devices. The HTC 7 Pro has taken the longest to arrive, frustratingly given it’s the model we were most interested in, pairing Windows Phone 7 with a solid physical keyboard and a handsomely purposeful design. Worth the wait? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

Thanks to Microsoft’s stringent hardware requirements, the HTC 7 Pro is pretty much par for the course when it comes to specifications. Up front is a 3.6-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, while inside is Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor paired with 576MB of RAM, 512MB of ROM and 8GB of user storage. Connectivity includes dualband HSPA/WCDMA (900/2100) and quadband GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900), along with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a 3.5mm headphone jack and microUSB port.
There’s also GPS, an accelerometer, digital compass and both proximity and ambient light sensors, while the 1,500 mAh battery is removable but only hides the SIM card slot: there’s no microSD reader for expanding storage. On the back is a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash, which can shoot 720p HD video.

The 7 Pro measures in at a chunky 117.5 x 59 x 15.5 mm and 185g, finished in sturdy plastic with metal touches like the battery door. Of course, the main bulk is because of the slide-out physical keyboard, triggered with a firm shove on the left edge. It flicks out – and angles the screen automatically – with a convincing snap, and the mechanism feels as reassuring as the rest of the handset.
The keyboard itself consists of five rows, with dedicated number buttons and various secondary characters triggered with the function key. HTC chose to give an emoticon shortcut its own dedicated button to the left of the spacebar; we’d rather have that for the @ symbol. Unlike HTC’s physical keyboard phones running Windows Mobile or Android, there are no app shortcuts. A button to at least get to the mail app would’ve been useful.

HTC let itself down with the display on the HTC HD7, a subpar panel that marred what should’ve been a brilliant media device, and there’s a little of that in evidence on the HTC 7 Pro. Viewing angles are, thankfully, okay for the usual angle you’ll hold the smartphone in landscape orientation, when typing, but the screen is prone to washing out if overly tilted in portrait. Colors can be washed out as well, though to be fair it’s not as bad as we found on the HD7.

Verizon iPhone 4 Review

If the original iPhone was the most anticipated cellphone of its time, then the Verizon iPhone 4 has to be the most demanded variant since the first launch back in 2007. A launch rumor that managed to overshadow CES 2011 despite Apple having not a square foot of presence there, for many the Verizon iPhone 4 finally promises the network strength to back up the iOS platform’s abilities. Does the CDMA smartphone live up to expectations? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

The Verizon iPhone 4 may be a new model, but outwardly it’s almost identical to the AT&T version announced back in June 2010. That means the same 4.54 x 2.309 x 0.37 inch glass and metal chassis, a slimline slither of premium-feel hardware held together with a band of metal that doubles as the smartphone’s antenna (now with four sections rather than the original’s three). Physical controls are limited to a home button, a power/lock button on the top edge next to a 3.5mm headphones socket, a pair of volume buttons on the left hand side, and a ringer mute switch that has shifted down just slightly. On the bottom edge is the regular Apple dock connector.

Up front is Apple’s brilliant Retina Display, a 3.5-inch 960 x 640 IPS TFT LCD panel with a much-vaunted 800:1 contrast ratio, covered with oleophobically-treated glass. It remains the highest-resolution panel of its size on US smartphone, with the same crispness of text and clarity of color, as I’m familiar with from the AT&T iPhone 4. In fact, the general hardware experience of this Verizon version is near identical to its sibling: same 5-megapixel rear camera with 720p HD video capture, same WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, same choice of 16GB of 32GB of flash storage inside.

The processor, too, is the same: the 1GHz Apple A4 as also found in the iPad, paired with PowerVR SGX 535 graphics. It’s a single-core chip in a market where I’m beginning to see Android devices promise dual-core, but it’s also important to note that there’s more to performance than how many cores you’ve got on hand. That comes down to iOS, after all.

Verizon CDMA vs AT&T GSM

Demand for the Verizon version of the iPhone generally comes down to one thing: dissatisfaction with AT&T’s network. Ever since Apple and AT&T signed their exclusivity agreement, the GSM carrier has struggled with iPhone load. Dropped calls and sluggish data connections have both been blamed on AT&T, marring the overall experience for many iPhone users. Several of the SlashGear team have abandoned the iPhone and crossed over to rival carriers – and, invariably, Android handsets – out of frustration, and they’re not alone.

To those users, a CDMA iPhone promises access to Verizon’s much-vaunted network, with its reputation for reliability and speed. Although AT&T argues it has boosted performance across the US – and indeed some GSM iPhone owners have no problems whatsoever with their handsets – the CDMA version is still seen by many as the magic bullet for their coverage woes.
The design of the iPhone 4 means there are compromises along with benefits this Verizon version brings, however. Apple opted not to include a 4G modem for use with Verizon’s LTE network because of the size constraints of the first-generation chipsets; it seems likely that those same constraints are the reason that the Verizon iPhone 4 is not a so-called World Phone with both CDMA and GSM connectivity. That means international travelers won’t be able to use the Verizon iPhone 4 in most countries outside of North America, where GSM is the prevalent standard. As a workaround, Verizon offers a loan program for travelers; you get free use of a handset (not, though, an iPhone 4) and only pay for service while abroad, all the time receiving calls on your regular number.

I’ll Be First In Line for the Sony NGP, Not the Nintendo 3DS

My love for video games is unconditional. I’m just as much a fan of the Nintendo Entertainment System as I am a fan of the PlayStation 3. I love the PSP as much as I love my old GameBoy. And I’m just as willing to pick up my Nintendo DS as the Sega Dreamcast. Simply put, I’m a gamer to the core.
But I just don’t think I’ll be waiting in line for the Nintendo 3DS when it launches in the United States on March 27.


Now, I know that Nintendo fans won’t like to hear that. They’ll say that I’m not a “true” Nintendo fan (whatever that is), and they’ll point to my previous column saying that my Wii is collecting dust to prove it. They will try and try to show that my issue with the 3DS has everything to do with Nintendo and nothing to do with the hardware it’s putting out.
But I’m here to tell those folks (and everyone else) that my issue with the 3DS has nothing to do with Nintendo and everything to do with 3D.
I just don’t see value in 3D. I don’t care if it’s in the theaters, at home on my 3D TV, or in a video game. For me, 3D is little more than a gimmick that delivers sub-par quality and after extended viewing, a headache. It’s something that I just don’t enjoy.
Realizing that, it would only make sense that I wouldn’t opt for the 3DS, wouldn’t it? After all, the device offers the ability for people to play 3D titles without the need for special glasses. Its main function is exactly what I can’t stand. And that alone makes me balk at the idea of purchasing it.
However, I’m still a big portable-gaming fan. And although I tend to whip out my iPhone every now and then to play a casual game, I need something more capable to satisfy my desire to play video games. And by the looks of things, I just might find that in the upcoming Sony Next Generation Portable.
That device will come with a much better display than what my current PSP boasts. Plus, it will have dual thumbsticks, which should give developers more opportunities to push the envelope with their games. It will also deliver PlayStation 3-like graphics, Sony says.
Combine all that and I think I’ve found myself a real winner in the portable-gaming market.
Of course, there are undoubtedly some out there that disagree with that logic. They say that 3D is the future of gaming. And Sony’s NGP, while nice on paper, will likely only follow the PSP as a platform with great promise, but little in the way of success.
I get that argument, and I understand where those folks are coming from. But I think it’s short-sighted. The NGP is a major step up over what has been accomplished in the portable-gaming market. And it doesn’t fall victim to Nintendo’s strategy of targeting kids and casual gamers first, and the hard-core second.
When it’s all said and done, I just see more promise in the NGP. I believe that’s the device that can deliver the most entertainment value to me. And because of that, it will be the device that I’ll be more than happy to stand in line for.
When the 3DS launches, however, I’ll be home — counting down the days until the NGP is released.

Vodafone Galaxy Tab 10.1 hands-on

We’re no stranger to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, having given the Android 3.0 Honeycomb slate a good going-over while at MWC 2011 last week, but we didn’t turn down the chance of some one-on-one time with the Vodafone-branded version set to launch imminently. Sighted for the first time with the carrier’s logo getting up close and personal with Google’s own, the tablet still impresses with its lightweight build and XOOM-busting 8-megapixel camera.


This particular Galaxy Tab 10.1 was running non-final software, though when it arrives it’ll be the same Honeycomb experience as we know from the XOOM. Since carrier software modifications can make a big difference to upgrade schedules, we took the opportunity to ask about what tweaks Vodafone plans to make to Android 3.0 before the Samsung hits shelves. Apparently, bar the potential for a Vodafone splash-screen, no real changes are expected (similarly, the hardware is believed to be final, but could still be polished a little just prior to release).
However, given the way OS updates are handled by all carriers, it’s worth noting that there could still be some delays involved along the line. Actual OTA distribution for Android devices is managed by Google, but before carrier-specific versions – even if completely stock – can be pushed out, the operator itself has to put it through their testing. Otherwise, if it doesn’t play nicely on their network, they’ll bear the brunt of customer complaints (and rightly so).

Vodafone tells us it’s pushing hard for as early access to software as possible, which should hopefully minimize delays between future Android 3.x releases and slates like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 getting them, and it’s interesting to see firmware timeliness becoming another of the metrics by which carriers are measured. Considering up until a few years back users were pretty much content with the software their new phone came with over the entire course of their agreement, it’s quite a shift for the smartphone industry as a whole.

As for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 itself, at around 200g lighter than an iPad (or, for that matter, a XOOM) it’s easy to hold, with a one-handed grip practical even when in landscape orientation. The textured plastic back doesn’t feel as high-quality as a metal chassis would, but the compromise seems more acceptable when you consider the heft saved. The 10.1-inch display is maddeningly glossy, making not just photographing the tablet but using it under bright lights frustrating. Vodafone could do worse than include a matte screen protector in their retail packaging.
Otherwise, the speedy dual-core 1GHz processor means things run smoothly and slickly, and missing HDMI connector aside it seems a solid alternative to the XOOM. What we’re perhaps most excited about is being able to film in HD using the 8-megapixel camera, edit clips on-device using Google’s Movie Studio app for Honeycomb, and then upload them straight from the device. We’ll save our final judgement until review units are available, so until then check out our video demo from MWC and our hands-on gallery below!