Monday, 14 March 2011

Two thumbs up as Sony Ericsson gives us more information on the Android robot's human thumb donor

Two thumbs up as Sony Ericsson gives us more information on the Android robot's human thumb donor
Remember that Sony Ericsson ad for the Xperia PLAY that showed our favorite green Android receiving two human thumbs in a very strange and disturbing operation? How did someone end up donating 2 digits to the Android? He apparently met a girl and took her to his place and was knocked out. When he came to, all of his personal property was intact-except for his two thumbs and you know where they ended up.

This is beginning to get a little creepy and we wonder if the Android will end up on Cops with his hands cuffed, sitting in the back of a patrol car. On the other hand, it looks like this has all gone down in foreign soil and as far as we know, Androids cannot be extradited to the United States to stand trial for thumbnapping.

Anyway, we get the point. Thanks to the unique sliding game controller on the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY, Android users will need to use their thumbs to play games on the device. Even though the ads have not really given us a look at what the handset can do, is anyone hooked on the Xperia PLAY yet?  You can leave us a answer in the comment box below.

source: YouTube via androinica

Kyocera Echo (Echo...Echo...Echo) to launch April 17th on Sprint for $199

Kyocera Echo (Echo...Echo...Echo) to launch April 17th on Sprint for $199
When Sprint introduced the Kyocera Echo last month, the Android 2.2 device had the bad luck of being displayed to cell phone fans who were looking for something a lot more high end from Sprint than a dual-screen handset. Now the nation's third largest carrier will launch the device on April 17th for $199 with a 2 year signed contract and a Sprint smartphone plan.

The Echo's dual 3.5 inch screens come together to form one 4.7 inch display. One of the interesting things about the device is that two separate apps can be handled by each screen or select apps can be downloaded that would call for the two screens to work together. For example, using a mapping program with the dual screens could allow the user to track his progress on one screen while displaying real time weather or traffic on the other screen. Or a movie could be streamed to one screen while the other shows the exact script with dialogue or information about the stars in the picture.

Pre-orders for the Kyocera Echo will be taken by Sprint starting March 26th. You can reserve your unit by clicking on this link.

source: Sprint via Engadget

Kyocera Echo (Echo...Echo...Echo) to launch April 17th on Sprint for $199
The dual-screen Kyocera Echo is heading for an April 17th launch on Sprint for $199

HTC EVO Shift 4G is priced affordably at $69.99 through RadioShack

HTC EVO Shift 4G is priced affordably at $69.99 through RadioShack
Are you still steaming from the seams knowing that the HTC EVO 4G is priced at $149.99 with a contract through Sprint? And that you can spend just $50 more to place yourself within striking range to pick up the bigger and badder Samsung Epic 4G?

Well, RadioShack seems to be coming to the rescue because they’re fittingly lowering the price of the HTC EVO Shift 4G to the reasonable 2-year contract price of $69.99 – but it’s only valid for new customers. If you’re an existing customer looking to renew your contract, you’ll still need to pay $149.99 to get the smartphone.

Regardless, at under $70, the new price point is much more tolerable since the device cuts out any video chat potential due to its omission of a front-facing camera – especially for a 4G enabled device. And finally, RadioShack of course is throwing in free standard shipping via FedEx, however, upgrading customers will have to pay $9.99 for it.

source: RadioShack via Sprint Users

HTC EVO Shift 4G is priced affordably at $69.99 through RadioShack

Pre-orders available through Wirefly for the $49.99 on-contract HTC Arrive

Pre-orders available through Wirefly for the $49.99 on-contract HTC Arrive
Sure you can wait until March 20th to snag an HTC Arrive at your local Sprint Store when it’s finally available, but if you’re one-hundred percent adamant on buying it on day one, you might want to consider fetching it through Wirefly.

Not only do you save yourself a trip in heading to your local Sprint Store, but choosing to go with Wirefly will also lessen the amount of cash required in picking one up. Moreover, the online retailer is offering pre-orders for the landscape keyboard packing Windows Phone 7 smartphone – so you don’t have to bother waiting on any lines.

In fact, if you choose to go with a pre-order, you’ll be extremely glad to know that new customers are greeted with a $49.99 on-contract price for the device. And of course, Wirefly will also include free FedEx shipping so it’s delivered directly to your front door.

In the end, it would seem that Wirefly’s pre-order process is like a win-win situation – for new customers obviously. As for existing customers with qualified upgrades, you’ll still need to shell out $149.99 to pick one up.

source: Wirefly via WMPoweruser

Pre-orders available through Wirefly for the $49.99 on-contract HTC Arrive

LG Optimus C for Cricket is speculated to land on March 17th

LG Optimus C for Cricket is speculated to land on March 17th
In just about any direction you look at, it seems that almost every wireless carrier around the country is offering some kind of variant of the budget friendly LG Opimus One handset. From postpaid to prepaid operators, there is absolutely nothing that’s stopping this handset from reaching as many people as possible.

In fact, the next one up on the list is none other than Cricket Wireless since it’s being reported that the LG Optimus C is speculated to become available starting this coming Thursday; March 17th. Although we’re greeted with a time frame for its arrival, there is still no word on its pricing. However, it would almost likely hover around the same cost that graces the variant for MetroPCS – which is $199.99 before any applicable rebates.

Unsurprisingly, Cricket’s model will feature all the beloved things we’ve seen with the device already. Specifically, it would boast a 3.2” capacitive touchscreen, 3.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, microSD card slot, and Android 2.2 Froyo.

source: PhoneNews

Massive tablet leak shows HTC has a 10-inch tablet coming up in June, HP TouchPad priced from $499

Massive tablet leak shows HTC has a 10-inch tablet coming up in June, HP TouchPad priced from $499
If you feel like HTC is close to missing a cycle in tablets with only the 7-inch HTC Flyer, you are not alone. But a release date calendar leaked on PreCentral shows that it's not all that the Taiwanese have up their sleeve - a 10-inch Honeycomb tablet is to make appearance in June. June coincides with the initial launch date of the HP TouchPad, which is also confirmed by the calendar, but what's much sweeter is the price tag of only $499 for its basic version. We have also previously heard of an upcoming 7-inch tablet by HP, but there is nothing better than a confirmation (albeit unofficial) of its September release date. Oh, and if that wasn't enough another three 10-inch slates by Acer, Dell and Toshiba are to hit shelves in June.

Unfortunately, further details are scarce – even the price of the upcoming 10-inch slate by HTC is yet to be determined. Looking at the calendar we see a hot tablet summer, but could tablets turn out to be just another bubble that is ready to burst? Let us know your opinion in the comments below!

source: PreCentral

Massive tablet leak shows HTC has a 10-inch tablet coming up in June, HP TouchPad priced from $499

The interfaces for Windows 8 and Office 15 to include WP7's Metro UI elements

The interfaces for Windows 8 and Office 15 to include WP7's Metro UI elements
Some leaked images of the next MS Outlook hint at Office "15" borrowing from the minimalistic Metro UI concept in Windows Phone 7.

Just as a reminder, this interface is inspired by the big, clean and readable signs the authors encountered at metro stations, airports, and other transportation facilities, hence the moniker.

Windows 8 is also said to have WP7's live tiles in its tablet interface version, named "Mosh". The interface for the basic version of Windows 8, that will probably run on said slates, is dubbed "Aero Lite", and it also has other flat elements of the Metro UI. They've been dug out of the system files, and are pictured here below.

Hey, these arrows totally look like Windows Phone 7, don't they? Which, in turn, look very much like that arrow pointing to the baggage claim area from the collage Microsoft made to illustrate its inspiration for the Metro UI.

The interfaces for Windows 8 and Office 15 to include WP7's Metro UI elements
The interfaces for Windows 8 and Office 15 to include WP7's Metro UI elements
Windows 8 Aero Lite resources, borrowed from the Metro UI
Transportation signage that inspired Metro UI

We already wrote that Windows 8 will most probably appear on tablets first, maybe as soon as the holidays, and it will have a scalable interface, which adapts depending on what device it's running. For touchscreens the big live tiles of Windows Phone 7 certainly seem like a svelte idea, whereas the default Windows 8 UI is expected to be 3D and heavily customizable, although no leaks have been outed so far on this one.

source: WinRumors & WMPowerUser

The interfaces for Windows 8 and Office 15 to include WP7's Metro UI elements

The interfaces for Windows 8 and Office 15 to include WP7's Metro UI elements
The interfaces for Windows 8 and Office 15 to include WP7's Metro UI elements
The next MS Office has hints of the Metro UI of Windows Phone 7

Switch to Sprint, buy a phone, and get up to $125 in service credit

Switch to Sprint, buy a phone, and get up to $125 in service credit
Are you considering switching to Sprint soon? Well, there can't be a better time to do it than by April 16. For the next month or so, Sprint is running a promo, which gets you $125 in service credit after using the carrier's services for 60 days.

What you have to do, besides transferring your number over to Sprint, is to buy a smartphone, whichever you fancy from the carrier's lineup, and sign a 2 year contract. If smartphones are not your cup of tea, there is no need to worry. Choosing a budget handset or a feature phone will get you $50 in service credit, which can always come in handy. It is very important to register your phone within 72 hours after activation. Further details can be found on Sprint's website and we strongly recommend reading them if you plan on taking advantage of the promo.

source: Sprint via Engadget Mobile

iPad 2 gets jailbroken, public release looming closer

iPad 2 gets jailbroken, public release looming closer
It was imminent! The iPad 2 might have been released three days ago, but a jailbreak has already been performed. A new exploit found by @comex allowed running Cydia on this brand new snow white iPad 2, confirming that it won't be long for freedom lovers to get out of Apple's strictly guarded ecosystem.

It's not yet available to the general jailbreaking public, but it shouldn't take long if we are to trust previous jailbreaking attempts. And to all of you used to the sometimes terrifyingly slow Cydia, you should be happy to see the fast reloading times of the store in the video linked below.

source: @comex and @chpwn (video)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 stars in 12-minute video, teases camera samples

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 stars in 12-minute video, teases camera samples
Oh, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1! The tablet dubbed "inadequate" in comparison to the iPad will make it to the shelves on time, but will it bring some changes in features or pricing to beat Apple's tablet? A 12-minute video of the peaceful coexistance of man and tablet in France aims to give an overview of all the slate can offer including full HD playback on a 10.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, 8-megapixel stills (samples are downsized unfortunately) and Flash playback.

The 1GHz dual-core processor on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 should actually outperform the 900MHz one on the iPad 2, but Sammy's tablet also hits Apple where it hurts the most as the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 is even lighter than the second-gen iPad. Is this enough to wake the Android geek in you?

source: AndroidHD via GSMArena

Video demo of the first Windows Phone 7 update leaks

Video demo of the first Windows Phone 7 update leaks
Due to a leaked ROM, we are able to preview what the so-called "NoDo" update of Windows Phone 7 will bring to the table by the end of March.

It is supposed to introduce copy and paste, in case you use those often on your smartphone, as well was as ring in a few optimizations and speed enhancements.

Oh, and if you still haven't heard why they call it "NoDo" - because some Microsoftie forgot to bring donuts at a Windows Phone 7-related meeting. Well, we guess it's as good of a name as any, watch what it will very soon bring to the table in the video below.

Is the screen on your iPad 2 “leaking” light?

Is the screen on your iPad 2 “leaking” light?
It has to be disappointing, to say the least, to wait for hours in line and to spend a decent amount of money on Apple's iPad 2 only to find out that it has a defect when opening it later at home. This is pretty much what happened to a fellow youtuber who noticed an irritating imperfection on the screen of his brand new iPad 2.

When a dark image is displayed on the screen of the defective iPad 2, a slightly lighter area becomes apparent right next to the home button creating a rather unpleasant effect of light “leaking” from underneath the edges. Several other cases of the same imperfection have been reported, but at this time it is still not officially a widespread issue. Tweaking the brightness seems to make a difference though it cannot override the defect completely. You can watch the video below in order to get a better idea of what the “leaking” of light looks like.

If you have just bought an iPad 2, we strongly recommend you take a closer look at your screen and see if your tablet is suffering in a similar fashion, and if it does, do not hesitate to bring the issue up to Apple. You can also feel free to drop us a comment below and tell us if your iPad 2 is plagued by the defect as well.

Japan earthquake may tip battery prices upwards

Japan earthquake may tip battery prices upwards
The devastating earthquake that hit Japan last week took a heavy toll on the Land of the Rising Sun. Unfortunately, its effects are very likely to be felt on a global scale since production of electronics in Japan has been significantly slowed down by the natural disaster.

Struck by the earthquake were two of Sony's battery cell factories, and until now no information has been given whether they will resume production soon or not. The decrease in battery cell supply may lead to a rise in battery price on the global market, which most certainly translates into more expensive mobile devices. It has been estimated that a noticeable drop in supply will occur if Sony's factories cease production for a period longer than three weeks. That time would be enough for production to fall back by more than ten million battery cells.

Production of semiconductors, memory modules, and LCD panels might be affected as well though not to that high on an extent. DRAM memory manufacturer Elpida is still experiencing power outages in some of its plants, but it will resume production as soon as power is restored. Luckily for Toshiba – the company responsible for approximately 35% of global chip manufacturing, its production plants didn't suffer that much of an impact as they were far enough from the epicenter.

source: Digitimes

White iPhone 4 confirmed to be coming this spring

White iPhone 4 confirmed to be coming this spring
Latest news about the mythical white iPhone 4 comes straight from Apple's ever-so busy kitchen. In a tweet from yesterday, Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, made it clear once and for all that “The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)”.

Mr Schiller didn't mention which carrier will start offering the white iPhone 4 first – AT&T, Verizon, or maybe even both, but we were already given a hint to that a couple of days ago. Since the GSM version of the iPhone 4 is expected to be made available in white before the CDMA one that Verizon may offer, it is pretty sure that AT&T will be the carrier to turn to for an iPhone with a fresh new look.

As we previously reported, the white version of the iPhone 4 has been delayed numerous times because it just couldn't live up to Apple's strict quality standards. After waiting for so many months, it is good to finally have a confirmation about its release. As far as we know Apple, it would not allow a device to reach the public without being polished to perfection first. Yet keep in mind that the iPhone 5 may be only months away. Could it be a good idea to be patient and get that one instead?

source: Twitter via Forbes

About one million iPad 2s sold in its debut weekend, claim analysts

About one million iPad 2s sold in its debut weekend, claim analysts
A few days ago various analysts touted the iPad 2 to be a record breaker when it goes on sale, and now that its debut weekend is over, these folks estimate that the current-gen Apple tab has sold about a million units - which, if true, is an impressive feat indeed.

The Wedbush Securities analyst Scott Sutherland says: "we would not be surprised to see Apple sell closer to 1 million iPad2s in the opening weekend", while his colleague Trip Chowdhry at Global Equities Research calculates that it's entirely possible that Apple has sold 3 times more iPad 2s in the first two days compared to the sales of the original iPad for the same period.

If we take into account that the sales of the first-gen Apple tablet are projected at about 350 000 - 400 000 units in its debut weekend, this means that the number of iPad 2s shipped to the end customer may very well exceed one million units.

Chowdhry also noted that 60% of the iPad 2 buyers already own the first iPad, while virtually all of them own at least one Apple product.

According to the same analyst, people are buying more AT&T iPad 2s than Veriozon iPad 2s because "... [AT&T] has better customer service".

source: Reuters

T-Mobile CEO Philip Humm neither denies, nor confirms the rumours Sprint may acquire T-Mo

T-Mobile CEO Philip Humm neither denies, nor confirms the rumours Sprint may acquire T-Mo
A few days ago reports flooded the net that Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile, is in talks to sell the fourth-largest US carrier to Sprint.

Now a letter written by T-Mo's CEO Philip Humm neither denies, nor confirms the rumours that Sprint may acquire its rival. However, we think it's safe to assume that his words won't reassure these people who fear the idea Sprint and T-Mobile may merge into one carrier. Here's a part of the letter:

"As a global business leader, DT will always explore the options for maximizing the value of its portfolio and profits, as any business does. During our investor and media conference in January, Rene and I discussed several potential options to improve our competitive position, such as the sale of towers, strategic partnership, and other financial options."

Make of this what you want (especially the strategic partnership part), really, but we want to know your opinion - do you believe it would be a good move for both Sprint and T-Mobile if they merge into a single carrier?

source: T-Mo News

Samsung Galaxy S II receives its FCC certifications, has AT&T bands

Samsung Galaxy S II receives its FCC certifications, has AT&T bands
The Samsung Galaxy S II, the much anticipated follow up of the original Samsung Galaxy S, passed the FCC tests with AT&T's GSM frequencies, which are 850MHz and 1900MHz. The phone also received its Bluetooth and WLAN certifications.

It's a common knowledge that when a handset pays a visit to the FCC, its launch can't be that far away, and that's in accordance with the Samsung Galaxy S II's release date in the UK - this phone is expected to appear in mid-to-late March in Old Blighty.

For more info on the Samsung Galaxy S II, you can check our hands-on with the handset, which you can find here.

source: FCC via Engadget

HTC ThunderBolt to arrive on March 17, say an HTC rep and a leaked e-mail

HTC ThunderBolt to arrive on March 17, say an HTC rep and a leaked e-mail
According to a leaked e-mail and a tweet posted by an HTC rep (his account was subsequently deleted), the HTC ThunderBolt is coming on March 17.

This is the latest rumoured launch date in a very long list of rumoured launch dates for the HTC ThunderBolt, which is touted to be Verizon's first LTE phone.

As quite a few release dates for this device have been speculated only to turn out to be incorrect, we will treat this info with a pinch of salt or, to put it another way, we'll believe the HTC ThunderBolt is coming when that's officially announced by HTC or Verizon.

source: Droid Life and Android Central via Engadget
HTC ThunderBolt to arrive on March 17, say an HTC rep and a leaked e-mail

HTC ThunderBolt to arrive on March 17, say an HTC rep and a leaked e-mail

AT&T makes calling to Japan free in March, tech companies donate resources to help the Japanese

AT&T makes calling to Japan free in March, tech companies donate resources to help the Japanese
AT&T has been generous enough to open its network for calls to Japan free of charge for the whole month of March, which can be a huge cost-saver for anybody in the US with friends and relatives in Japan.

Google, Apple, Twitter and Microsoft, among others, are all donating fundraising efforts for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Japan.

Google has started a few initiatives in the first hours after the tsunami, with its Japan Crisis Response page, and also bringing its People Finder service front and center. The search giant also donated $250 000 to relief agencies.

Twitter has set up a pool of resources for information about the developments: "In it you can find which hashtags people are using to communicate about the earthquake, learn about a new section of our mobile website (available for users in Japan) that has the latest information about the earthquake, and discover useful message boards and other sites. We'll be updating this blog post as we discover more tools and useful information.", said Twitter's Carolyn Penner.

Apple used its millions of iTunes accounts to set up a donation service, with the proceeds going directly to the Red Cross, for the disaster relief efforts. Microsoft, in its turn, offered a $1 for every retweet, which @bing was to give to the Japanese quake victims. The $100 000 goal of that effort has been met.

source: PCMag & Engadget

4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds

4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds
A number of measurements in 13 major US cities resulted in Verizon's LTE reaching 6.44 Mbps on average with the laptop modems, and T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ technology scoring the best in smartphone tests - 2.28 Mbps.

The test results also demonstrated the low latency of Verizon's LTE network, and, overall, latency has greatly improved for all carriers, compared to the same measurements last year.

Granted, Verizon is yet to out a smartphone with LTE connectivity, which will probably place it ahead in the smartphone speeds as well, not to mention its coverage. If only LTE was cheaper.

4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds
4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds

Below are the results from the major US cities where the tests were taken in table form. The timed measuring methodology includes 20 test locations in each of the 13 cities, roughly two miles apart. A total of 177 000 download, upload and latency tests were made with the software. Indoor performance, and speeds while moving haven't been tested, only stationary results outdoors.

4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds

4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds

4G speed test results are in, Verizon's LTE is fastest, but T-Mobile holds the fort in smartphone speeds
The latency has been significantly improved over last year's results, too, and the year-on-year comparison shows that everyone but Verizon's 3G service has improved their speeds, both 3G and 4G.

T-Mobile takes the cake by more than doubling the download speeds of its 3G and 4G services.

Again, Verizon doesn't have any 4G phones out yet, but the move from 3G to 4G has brought it sixfold increase in download speeds with the laptop modems.

We'll see how the LTE network holds up when it starts getting inundated with 4G smartphones as well.

source: PCWorld

32GB iPad 2 parts cost around $327, the screen eats more than a third of that

32GB iPad 2 parts cost around $327, the screen eats more than a third of that
32GB iPad 2 parts cost around $327, the screen eats more than a third of that
After the iPad 2 was torn down for our viewing pleasure, now the components cost has been revealed by iSuuply. In total, the 32GB iPad 2 is estimated to cost around $327, plus ten bucks more for assembly. That's actually only a tad more than the original iPad.

The 9.7" LCD display is the most expensive part at $127, since it is thinner and better than the $95 screen on the first iPad.

Next come the 32GB memory chip at $35, and Apple's new dual-core A5 processor costs only $14, since Cupertino owns the intellectual property over its design, and uses the manufacturer only as a foundry.

The battery costs $25, and, as is usual for Apple, the company has pushed the battery maker to create a tailored solution for the specific design chosen. It is very thin, with three cells instead of the two in its predecessor, and has state-of-the-art power management, which has always been a strong point in Apple's gadgets designs.

The cost of the rear camera? Very good question - $4.30.

source: Evertiq

No NFC for Apple iPhone 5 say U.K. carriers

No NFC for Apple iPhone 5 say U.K. carriers
According to a number of U.K. carriers, the Apple iPhone 5 will not have NFC (Near Field Communications) as one of the features on the device. The information apparently comes from after the carriers met with Apple executives who are waiting for a universal standard for NFC. The technlogy allows for short range communications and  would allow cellphones enabled with NFC to act as a credit card to make quick payments. The application can also be used to turn your smartphone into a ticket, like a airline boarding pass.

Some handsets, like the Samsung Galaxy S and the Galaxy S II offer NFC which is a feature of Android 2.3, and as we reported, RIM has announced that upcoming BlackBerry devices will feature the technology.

Bloomberg had earlier reported that NFC would show up in the Apple iPad 2 as well as the iPhone 5. The lack of the technology in Apple's just released tablet would seem to indicate that the next iPhone will also not feature it. The Cupertino based firm is said to be working on its own NFC system which would link payments to iTunes. That technology is expected to make it into the 2012 model of the Apple iPhone.

source: 9to5Mac

Albert Einstein's archive to go online

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JERUSALEM - The archive of Albert Einstein will be digitised and made accessible online within a year, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said on Monday.
Einstein, who died in 1955, bequeathed his papers to the university, which he co-founded. The archive holds more than 80,000 documents of the Jewish, German-born scientist regarded as the father of modern physics.
"It is the most important collection of his papers and an important collection for 20th century history," said Roni Grosz, Hebrew University's director of the Albert Einstein Archive.
The university said the collection, which includes research notebooks, correspondence with colleagues and friends and papers Einstein wrote on science, philosophy and politics, would be available on a public website it is setting up.

Apple sold nearly 1 mln iPad 2s in debut weekend: analysts

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- Analysts expect Apple Inc to have sold close to a million iPad 2 tablet computers in its first weekend, trumping debut sales of the first iPad that went on sale last April.
"We would not be surprised to see Apple sell closer to 1 million iPad2s in the opening weekend," said Wedbush Securities analyst Scott Sutherland.
The original version crossed the one-million mark 28 days after its launch.
Best Buy on Friday said some of its outlets ran out of the tablet and its accessories within 10 minutes.
Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry estimates Apple may have sold three times more iPad 2s in the first two days compared to the previous version.
The profile of iPad 2 buyer is 60 percent existing iPad owners, 40 percent first-time iPad buyers and 100 percent own at-least one Apple product, Global Equity's Chowdhry wrote.
People prefer AT&T's iPad 2 over Verizon's because AT&T has better customer service, Chowdhry added.
Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc, just started selling Apple's iPhone last month, ending AT&T Inc's more than three-year hold on U.S. iPhone sales.
UBS said the strong iPad demand bodes well but the focus is likely to be on Japan, which accounted for about 6 percent of fiscal 2010 revenues. A massive earthquake and a subsequent tsunami over the weekend brought life to a standstill in Japan.
Some analysts flagged the possibility of an imminent tablet bubble due to iPad 2s solid demand.
The iPad 2's early success is a warning sign of a global tablet bubble, where supply could outpace demand for tablets by about 36 percent, said J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz.
Samsung and Motorola have already launched tablet devices, while Blackberry maker RIM and Hewlett-Packard Co are set to release similar products in coming months.
Apple is expected to own at least 61 percent of tablets in 2011, whereas other entrants are likely to face disappointing adoption curves, Moskowitz wrote in a note.

Intel, IFC inject $12 mln in Irish telco gearmaker

HELSINKI - Intel Capital and International Finance Corp (IFC) will invest $12 million into Irish firm Altobridge, which specialises in making telecom network equipment for remote areas of emerging countries.
"We see a huge potential market there," said Marcos Battisti, director at Intel Capital, venture arm of the world's largest semiconductor maker Intel.
Remote areas of developing countries are the last new market for the telecom gear makers like Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks, as most of the rest of the globe is already covered by wireless networks.
Altobridge will also use some of the proceeds from its series C funding to commercialise its new technology, which enables operators to get more out of their increasingly congested networks.
"There is a real strain on the networks. Without any technology improvement carriers have to invest billions and billions into networks," Battisti said. "Altobridge is a real play for both sides of the ecosystem."

Microsoft’s Kinect sets record as fastest-selling tech gadget

Microsoft’s Kinect has been named the fastest-selling tech gadget of all time after racking up sales of 10 million units since its launch in November.
The unit is the first mass-produced device that allows for motion and voice control of a video game console without the need to hold any controller. Microsoft said the device’s success staked it a spot in the Guinness Book of Records by beating the previous sales record set by Apple’s iPad.
“The sales figures here speak for themselves,” said Gaz Deaves, editor of Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition, according to a Microsoft statement.
“We can confirm that no other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span, an incredible achievement considering the strength of the sector,” Deaves said.
Guinness said that Microsoft sold eight million of the devices in its first two months on the market, for an average daily volume of 133,333.

Nokia E7 touch-and-type phone launched in India

 http://www.thelatestnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/nokia-e7-300x300.jpg
Finnish mobile handset maker Nokia Monday launched in the Indian market its much talked about touch-and-type business smartphone – Nokia E7 – equipped with a four-inch touchscreen display and a slide-out four-row QWERTY keyboard.
“Consumers today seek a device that allows them to do a lot more, both in their personal and professional lives. Nokia E7 is an all-in-one business smartphone that offers a superior mobile office experience coupled with compelling entertainment options,” said D. Shivakumar, vice president and managing director, Nokia India.
“We are confident that with Nokia E7, we will redefine the consumers’ expectations from smartphones segment,” he added.
As a special offer, the company has tied up with telecom service provider Vodafone to offer 2GB of data per month free for six months.
The handset comes loaded with an eight megapixel camera and applications including adobe PDF reader, world traveller app, anti-theft software for mobile and Nokia Ovi maps with GPS navigation.
The handset will also support opening and reading Microsoft Office documents along with creating and editing new documents and mailing them on the go.
The phone is priced at Rs.29,999.

Demand for Twitter details in Wikileaks probe upheld


Julian Assange  
The three users of the Twitter social network
are associates of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange

A federal judge has ruled that the US government may demand that three associates of Julian Assange hand over Twitter account information in the criminal investigation into Wikileaks.
The three users of the social network had appealed against an earlier ruling.
Their legal team had argued the request was a violation of their constitutional rights of free speech and association.
The judge ruled that those freedoms do not shield members from complying with legitimate government investigations.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the rights group which represented the Twitter users, said they planned to appeal against the ruling.
The three people concerned are Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, Dutch hacker Rop Gonggrijp and US computer programmer Jacob Appelbaum.
A law that allows investigators to procure electronic data without a search warrant was invoked to demand information from the accounts of several Twitter users who are associates of Julian Assange.
The government order did not relate to Twitter messages but rather it sought to obtain internet protocol (IP) addresses and account details.
Government lawyers argued that that law, which only required that authorities demonstrate a reasonable belief in the information's relevance, is routinely used in criminal investigations like the Wikileaks probe.
Judge Theresa Buchanan sided with the government on the nature of the investigation, and argued that there was no constitutional violation.
"The Twitter Order does not seek to control or direct the content of petitioners' speech or association," she wrote in her ruling.
In a statement, ACLU lawyer Aden Fine said: "This ruling gives the government the ability to secretly amass private information related to individuals' internet communications.
"Except in extraordinary circumstances, the government should not be able to obtain this information in secret. That's not how our system works."

Google aids Japan quake victims


Japan person finder, Google The tool was developed to help people find victims or report their whereabouts
Google has launched a version of its Person Finder service for people caught up in the Japanese earthquake.
The website acts as a directory and message board so people can look for lost loved ones or post a note saying they are safe.
It is designed to be embedded on websites and social network pages to reach as wide an audience as possible.
The system has proved useful after other disasters that have stopped people getting in direct touch.
Victim log In its first few hours, the Japan quake Person Finder had logged more than 4,000 records.
The extent of the damage caused by the Japanese earthquake is not yet known but its magnitude and the widespread devastation wrought by the subsequent tsunami is likely to see tens of thousands displaced.
The Person Finder was developed to solve a problem common in the aftermath of many catastrophes when many different agencies are on the ground giving aid and gathering information about victims.
  Google's Person finder was used in the aftermath of the 2011 New Zealand earthquake.
Before the advent of tools such as Person Finder it was much harder to compare the information gathered by separate agencies and help to re-unite families and friends.
Underlying the site is a common format for describing people who are lost or who want to announce they are safe by whatever means they can.
In the wake of disasters, many volunteers in other countries often scrape sites for this formatted information and add it to the People Finder database. Others take information from blogs, texts and tweets and convert it to the format so it can be put in the database.
The system was first used following the Haiti earthquake that struck in January 2010. That first tool was based around work done in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans.

Broadband companies offer clarity on connection slowing


Speed test result Critics of traffic management fear it could lead to a two-tier internet.
The UK's biggest broadband providers are to give clearer information about how they slow down users' connections to maintain their network performance.
BT, Virgin Media and Sky are among the companies that will publish details of their "traffic management" policies.
The firms say they want to help customers understand why they need to vary connection speeds.
Critics claim the practice will lead to a two-tier internet where some services pay for faster access to their sites.
The code of practice has been drawn up by the Broadband Stakeholder Group, which represents most of the UK's large internet service providers (ISPs).
Once it comes into effect, users will be able to view a breakdown of how and when their connection is restricted.
"There is a core of consumers who understand this stuff quite well, but it's not something that most people are aware of at this stage," said Anthony Walker, chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group.
Mr Walker said that most companies already make information about their traffic management policies available, but the new guidelines meant that they would all use the same simple format - allowing customers to compare ISPs.
Members signing up to the code will have to give details about how much they reduce speeds, how long the reduction lasts and whether certain services are blocked, slowed down or prioritised.
Managed services Most internet service providers (ISPs) vary the speed of broadband connections depending on the time of day or volume of traffic on their network.
Tasks that are not speed critical, like downloading files or sending emails, are delayed slightly to ensure that other services, such as streaming video, run smoothly.
Most analysts agree that some form of traffic management is necessary.
"Go and ask someone on an ISP that doesn't use traffic management," said Andrew Ferguson, editor of the independent website Thinkbroadband.com.
"When congestion kicks in on a Friday night, they are the people who can't go and play on their Xbox Live, they can't play PlayStation online, because latency [network delay] has gone through the roof.
Many ISPs have begun exploring the possibility of offering "managed services" - effectively giving an exemption from traffic management to website and online applications that are willing to pay for it.
The idea has been met with widespread opposition from proponents of net neutrality, who believe that all internet traffic should be treated equally.
"We recognize that there are certain types of traffic shaping that need to occur in order to maintain the integrity of the network," said Jeff Lynn from the Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec).
"But we see that as very different from developing business models in which a particular ISP takes money from 4 on Demand [for example] and makes it easier to download 4oD videos than it does BBC videos," said Mr Lynn.
Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, said that transparency on its own was not enough: "We need meaningful guarantees that ISPs will not act to restrict competition.
"If competition and innovation on the net suffers, that will damage the whole UK economy."
Good or bad The Broadband Stakeholder Group's code of practice includes provision for ISPs to explore managed services: "offering a guaranteed quality of service for specified content, services or applications."
However, that explicit mention of managed services does not constitute a declaration of intent, according to Mr Walker.
"This document doesn't take a view on whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. That is part of a wider policy debate," he told BBC News.
"If those services do start to emerge, it is really important that both consumers and policy makers are aware of it so that any policy or regulatory framework is based on clear evidence about what is happening in reality rather than just speculation or conjecture about what might happen."
The code will be piloted by BSkyB, BT, O2, TalkTalk, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone during 2011, with a review of how it is working in the following year.
Campaigners for net neutrality suggest that ISPs are only adopting voluntary measures in the hope that they will stay the hand of legislators and regulators across the UK and Europe.
There is some evidence that may be working.
Market forces The UK's telecoms watchdog, Ofcom, launched a consultation on the issue of traffic management in 2010. It has yet to publish any findings, although it welcomed new the code of conduct.
Last November, the culture minister Ed Vaizey said that ISPs should be able to explore the use of managed services as a way of financing the UK's growing internet infrastructure.
And European lawmakers also appear to be moving towards a more hands-off approach, opting to let the market decide.
The EU's Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes recently suggested that mobile users who found themselves disconnected for using Skype should "vote with their feet" and change provider.

Meltdown alert at Japan reactor

  Nikkei 225 one month chart



Nikkei 225 Index




Early share trading was complicated because many sellers of shares struggled to find buyers.
As a result, a number of stocks remained untraded after the markets had opened. By the end 4.88bn shares had changed hands.
Immediately after the quake, the central bank pledged to "do its utmost" to limit its impact, including providing liquidity to money and banking markets. Details of the pledge, a 15 trillion yen cash injection, was released over the weekend.
The deadly quake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan just before the markets closed on Friday.
"The recent major earthquake is bound to exert downward pressure on Japanese equities as a whole over the near term," Nomura said in a note to investors.
Strong yen
Japanese Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano was quoted by the Jiji news agency saying that he was keeping a close eye on the movement of Japan's currency, the yen, which has strengthened.
Economists said that a stronger yen may make it harder for companies to sell their goods abroad, further hurting their earnings.
Analysts said that there were concerns about the speed with which Japan's economy could rebound from the problems.
Last month Japan was overtaken by China as the world's second-largest economy.
"In the short term, the market will almost surely suffer and stocks will plunge," said Koetsu Aizawa, economics professor at Saitama University.
"People might see an already weakened Japan, overshadowed by a growing China, getting dealt the finishing blow from this quake."
Some analysts have forecast that Japan's economy may lose as much as a percentage point in growth this year because of the quake.
Japan's economy contracted by a more-than-expected 1.3% in the final three months of 2010.
Rebuilding effort

Production and trade will fall in the short term, analysts say, but could 'surge back'
However, while there are concerns about the short-term impact on the economy, there are industries where investors are looking to increase their holdings.
Shares in Japanese construction firms have surged in value on Monday as they are expected to play a central role in rebuilding the country in coming months.
Foreign firms have also been in focus, notably technology producers and carmakers, where shares have been gaining.
Investors, for example, are expecting an increase in orders for Korean goods because production has been suspended in many of Japan's factories.
South Korea's Kospi index was up by 0.5%, although elsewhere in the region major markets were lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index as down by 0.4%.

South Korea and Abu Dhabi in pact to develop oil fields

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51662000/jpg/_51662089_011485706-1.jpgSouth Korea has secured access to more crude oil reserves after signing a deal with Abu Dhabi to develop oil fields in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The pact with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company will give Korean National Oil Corp (KNOC) guaranteed stakes in reserves of at least one billion barrels of oil.
The deal comes as countries around the world try to secure energy reserves as the price of oil surges.
South Korea is reliant on imported oil.
It is Asia's fourth-largest economy, and Korea competes with the likes of China and India to secure energy resources.
In recent years it has been trying to reduce its dependence on imported oil.
This deal, which will be finalised next year, will raise the amount of South Korean-owned oil imports from 10 - 15% of consumption.
Last year KNOC bought Dana petroleum, an oil exploration and production company, for $2.6bn (£1.8bn).
In a memorandum of understanding issued by the South Korean presidential office, the two countries also agreed to store six million barrels of Abu Dhabi crude oil in Korean storage facilities for free.

China rules out faster yuan rise despite soaring prices

The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has ruled out any changes to China's policy on its currency, the yuan.
China has been battling inflation, with consumer prices rising 4.9% in February from the same month a year ago.
Analysts had suggested that allowing the yuan to strengthen against the US dollar could make imports cheaper, thus reducing costs.
China has been accused of keeping its currency artificially low in order to help its exporters.
However, the Chinese premier has warned that a sudden appreciation in the value of yuan may have a detrimental affect on the Chinese economy.
"The appreciation of Chinese currency should be a gradual process," Premier Wen said.
"We must bear in mind its impact on the Chinese businesses and our employment situation," he added.
Global impact
Rising consumer prices in China have become a sensitive political topic, with food prices surging by 11% in February from an year ago.
This is despite various measures taken by the government and the central bank to keep prices in check.
Premier Wen said that this was due to the fact that consumer prices are being driven by global factors and not just by conditions and demand in the mainland.
"Imported inflation has had a big impact on China and is a factor that is not easy to control," he said.
He also pointed out that lower interest rates in developed economies had resulted in a huge influx of money into Asia from investors seeking higher returns.
He said that this was another factor which was putting pressure on commodity prices.
"Some countries have pursued quantitative easing and that has caused drastic fluctuations in the exchange rates of some major currencies and in global commodities prices," he said.

Japan quake: Economy 'to rebound' after short-term pain

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51634000/jpg/_51634967_011498640-1.jpgFriday's earthquake and tsunami have left parts of Japan's economy "frozen", but analysts forecast that it will bounce back later this year.
Some of the country's leading producers, including the world's biggest carmaker, Toyota, have closed all of their plants in the country.
Analysts at Nomura expect that loss of production to dent the economy during this quarter and the next.
But they suggested growth would return in the third quarter.
"This disaster has in effect temporarily frozen the world's third largest economy," said Richard Soultanian of NUS Consulting, which specialises in the energy supply industry.
The Japanese economy, the third largest in the world, shrank at the end of last year and had been expected to return to growth in the second quarter of 2011.
"We now expect the Japanese economy to take longer than we expected to exit its current soft patch owing to the earthquake and tsunami," said Nomura analysts Takahide Kiuchi and Okazaki Kohei.
Sharon O'Halloran, a professor of political economy at Columbia University, said: "The question is: does this finally push them out of the deflationary spiral and allow them to get their economy back on track, or does it push them deeper down?"
The country's global car giants are expected to be the amongst the worst affected.
Nomura suggested that annual operating profits at Toyota, Honda and Nissan would be dented by between 3% and 8% this year.
'Extreme damage' The electronics industry was also expected to be badly hit, with a report by Goldman Sachs saying there would be "extreme damage" across the electronics industry supply chain in the near term.
Sony suspended production at eight plants in the affected region and said it was not sure when production would restart.
Toshiba, whose products include semiconductors and nuclear reactors, also said it did not know when it would be able to re-open its chip factory in northern Japan.
But further down the line, economists said the disaster could boost economic growth.
The rebuilding effort will mean a huge boom in construction spending.
Shares in many Japanese building companies have already gained sharply in anticipation of the work that will be heading their way, partly funded by insurance companies.
Clues Analysts are looking back to the Kobe earthquake of 1995 for clues as to how the Japanese economy will react to the latest earthquake and tsunami.
Reconstruction following the Kobe quake cost $100bn (£62bn), of which $3bn was paid for by insurance.
The areas hit by the 1995 disaster were more industrialised, accounting for 12% of GDP according to Merrill Lynch Bank of America estimates.
By contrast, the region hit by the latest destruction accounts for just over 7%. But the area's nuclear facilities are an extra headache and estimates of insurance payouts for this disaster range between $14.6bn and $34.6bn.
Insurers and analysts stressed that it was still too early to accurately assess the damage caused by the quake, the most powerful to hit Japan.
"We can't say what the impact will be. The situation on the ground is changing," said Rolf Tanner, a spokesman for Swiss Re.
"It will take some time before we can come forward with an estimate of the losses on the ground."
Toshihiko Matsuno, senior strategist at SMBC Friend Securities, said: "When we look back at the Kobe earthquake, it took about a week to get an overall picture of the magnitude of the damage."

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