MSI GE620DX Gaming Laptop

Gamers are now preferring using gaming notebooks a lot more these days. Aside from being portable and mobile to bring just about anywhere, current gaming notebooks now feature specs that are comparable to most desktop gaming rigs out there. One of the recent ones being introduced is the MSI GE620DX Gaming Laptop.
The MSI GE620DX Gaming Notebook comes with a powerful Intel Core i7-2630QM 2.0GHz quad core processor along with a nVidia GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card to give that gaming performance worthy of a desktop rig in a notebook. Aside from its gaming features, the MSI GE620DX Gaming Laptop is also offers a full multimedia experience as it also comes with MSI’s Premium Sound as well as THX TruStudio Pro smart surround sound technology for its high end internal speakers. The notebook comes with an HDMI port, making it able to play HD video to be viewed on a large screen LCD HDTV. The MSI GE620DX Gaming Laptop is expected to come out any time soon. No pricing info has yet been provided.
source : celebritycombo.com

Acer Iconia Tab A100 Available in August, Costs $300

Finally, after being pulled out of its May release due to compatibility issues with Honeycomb, the Acer Iconia Tab A100 gets its availability and price details. According to an e-mail sent out to Acer retail partners, the 7-inch Honeycomb tablet will be available in the market around early August with a suggested price of $300. The tablet is considered the little brother of Iconia Tab A500, which was released in April, featuring a Tegra 2 processor, USB 2.0 port, 16GB of storage and WiFi connectivity.
Acer also offers a pair of new Aspire notebooks: the 15.6-inch 5750Z and the 17.3-inch 7739Z, both priced at $475 each. Both laptops features 4GB of DDR3 RAM (upgradable to 8GB), 500GB of storage, and Intel Pentium processors.
source : celebritycombo.com

Nintendo 3DS Gets Slashed by $80; Current Owners Get Free Games

Don’t look now, but another gadget is slashing its price. The much-anticipated Nintendo 3DS drops its price by up to $80–from $249 to $169–beginning August 12.
The move is not just a reaction to slow initial sales of the handheld console, which is attributed by several factors including the recent Japan earthquake and tsunami, but also as a preparation for the launch of Nintendo 3DS’ A-List titles such as Kid Icarus.
Current owners of the 3DS who felt cheated need not worry, as Nintendo is giving them 10 free NES games along with 10 free Game Boy Advance titles on September 1. That is, if they have logged into the Nintendo eShop before August 12. Great, now they have to retrieve their dusty NES and GBA from their attics.
Engadget also points out that Nintendo has downgraded its expected net profit from ¥110 billion to a measly ¥20 billion, which will allow them to sell 16 million 3DS consoles they expect to ship this year.
source : celebritycombo.com

Asus Banks on the Eee PC X101 for a Netbook Renaissance

Netbooks will not die easily, as proven by a newly-released Eee PC X101 by Asus. The MeeGo-powered netbook, along with beefed up Windows-run X101H, have appeared on its own product pages on Asus’ website. After all, comsumers will never complain about computers that lag in computing power as long as it is portable.
The X101 features a 10.1-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution, 1.5GHz Intel Atom Oak Trail processor, MeeGo OS, dual USB ports, WiFi, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB SSD. Asus hopes that the MeeGo would solve the lackluster performance commonly seen in previous netbooks, as the OS is built for low-power computing platforms.
The Asus Eee PC X101 is expected to hit the market within this month–or the month after that–for only $200, while the Windows counterpart would cost a bit more.
source : celebritycombo.com

Motorola Triumph Gets Riddled with Issues

The Motorola Triumph, which is available through Virgin Mobile, has been rifed with issues from the get-go. Barely just first week after its release, users begin to complain about flickering screens and blurry cameras.
Some users claim that the Triumph’s screen starts to flicker after a couple of taps at the lock button, while others say the screen would go completely white at random. One owner even says the screen of his smartphone goes completely black, while the four buttons at the bottom are locked and remain lit. The problem is solved by removing the battery and rebooting the phone.
Complains continue to flood Motorola’s way as some Triumph units have blurry cameras right out of the box. Some users have exchanged the faulty smartphones for a new one, only to experience the same problem. Mobile experts say that this problem could be software-related and has to do with the 5-megapixel camera’s autofocus.
While other Triumph owners have no problem with the camera’s autofocus, the photos end up with a nasty yellow or green tint on them. One user reported that he has tweaked the settings several times, even resetting the phone to factory settings, and the green blob remains in the photos. An example of that green and yellow tint can be seen in this post’s photo, which is located right in the center of the all-white box.
Motorola and Virgin Mobile need to fix these problems fast before these complaints become to overflow. After all, Motorola Triumph users shelled out $300 for this phone.
source : celebritycombo.com

Google TV Tanks, But Logitech Takes the Hit

Uh-oh, looks like Google TV is starting to tank, but the real victim here is Logitech, which has slashed its Revue unit from $249 to just $99. Although Google TV has a lot of promise when it launched last October, giant media companies are not buying the idea as it blocked access to their online streaming. Take away that feature and what you have left of Google TV, along with its Logitech Revue, is a mere overpriced DLNA client and Netflix streamer.
The Revue’s drastic and desperate price cut, which comes after Logitech enthusiastically announced that it has sold just 5 million units during the holiday season, reflects how the company is trying everything to ship its back inventory. What’s even sadder is that Logitech has posted a net loss of $30 million partly because of Revue as it experienced more returns than sales of the device during the first quarter.
Experts say that Google launched Google TV too soon. TechCrunch calls it a “half-baked” product as it “felt like a beta” device.
“Google TV promised the world and delivered it. The world just wasn’t ready,” the blog concluded.
source : celebritycombo.com


Uh-oh, looks like Google TV is starting to tank, but the real victim here is Logitech, which has slashed its Revue unit from $249 to just $99. Although Google TV has a lot of promise when it launched last October, giant media companies are not buying the idea as it blocked access to their online streaming. Take away that feature and what you have left of Google TV, along with its Logitech Revue, is a mere overpriced DLNA client and Netflix streamer.
The Revue’s drastic and desperate price cut, which comes after Logitech enthusiastically announced that it has sold just 5 million units during the holiday season, reflects how the company is trying everything to ship its back inventory. What’s even sadder is that Logitech has posted a net loss of $30 million partly because of Revue as it experienced more returns than sales of the device during the first quarter.
Experts say that Google launched Google TV too soon. TechCrunch calls it a “half-baked” product as it “felt like a beta” device.
“Google TV promised the world and delivered it. The world just wasn’t ready,” the blog concluded.
source : celebritycombo.com


Uh-oh, looks like Google TV is starting to tank, but the real victim here is Logitech, which has slashed its Revue unit from $249 to just $99. Although Google TV has a lot of promise when it launched last October, giant media companies are not buying the idea as it blocked access to their online streaming. Take away that feature and what you have left of Google TV, along with its Logitech Revue, is a mere overpriced DLNA client and Netflix streamer.
The Revue’s drastic and desperate price cut, which comes after Logitech enthusiastically announced that it has sold just 5 million units during the holiday season, reflects how the company is trying everything to ship its back inventory. What’s even sadder is that Logitech has posted a net loss of $30 million partly because of Revue as it experienced more returns than sales of the device during the first quarter.
Experts say that Google launched Google TV too soon. TechCrunch calls it a “half-baked” product as it “felt like a beta” device.
“Google TV promised the world and delivered it. The world just wasn’t ready,” the blog concluded.
source : celebritycombo.com

Anonymous and Lulzsec Urges Paypal Users to Close Account Soon

Anonymous and Lulzsec, famous hacking group who had hacked into multiple big organizations including Sony Playstation Network, Apple and FBI now urges Paypal users to have their account closed allegedly after Paypal decision to stop issuing donation payments and funds to Wikileaks (a non-profit website that reveals uncensored leaked government document of misconducts and corruptions that are solely depended on donations).
The hacking group posted a note on PasteBin on 27th July here saying:

Dear PayPal, its customers, and our friends around the globe,
This is an official communiqué from Anonymous and Lulz Security in the name of AntiSec.
In recent weeks, we’ve found ourselves outraged at the FBI’s willingness to arrest and threaten those who are involved in ethical, modern cyber operations. Law enforcement continues to push its ridiculous rules upon us – Anonymous “suspects” may face a fine of up to 500,000 USD with the addition of 15 years’ jailtime, all for taking part in a historical activist movement. Many of the already-apprehended Anons are being charged with taking part in DDoS attacks against corrupt and greedy organizations, such as PayPal.
What the FBI needs to learn is that there is a vast difference between adding one’s voice to a chorus and digital sit-in with Low Orbit Ion Cannon, and controlling a large botnet of infected computers. And yet both of these are punishable with exactly the same fine and sentence.
In addition to this horrific law enforcement incompetence, PayPal continues to withhold funds from WikiLeaks, a beacon of truth in these dark times. By simply standing up for ourselves and uniting the people, PayPal still sees it fit to wash its hands of any blame, and instead encourages and assists law enforcement to hunt down participants in the AntiSec movement.
Quite simply, we, the people, are disgusted with these injustices. We will not sit down and let ourselves be trampled upon by any corporation or government. We are not scared of you, and that is something for you to be scared of. We are not the terrorists here: you are.
We encourage anyone using PayPal to immediately close their accounts and consider an alternative. The first step to being truly free is not putting one’s trust into a company that freezes accounts when it feels like, or when it is pressured by the U.S. government. PayPal’s willingness to fold to legislation should be proof enough that they don’t deserve the customers they get. They do not deserve your business, and they do not deserve your respect.
Join us in our latest operation against PayPal – tweet pictures of your account closure, tell us on IRC, spread the word. Anonymous has become a powerful channel of information, and unlike the governments of the world, we are here to fight for you. Always.
Signed, your allies,
Lulz Security (unvanned)
Anonymous (unknown)
AntiSec (untouchable)

As reported on 19th July, FBI had issued 35 search warrants and conducted multiple arrest of some 16 suspected Anonymous hackers where 14 were arrested in several States of US including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio.
Those arrested may be charged for taking part in the hacking activities under intentional damage to protected computer which may compose a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, each count of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
trackgadget.blogspot.com

Indonesians, programmers, and Nasi Padang ?

Where are Indonesia’s talented programmers? Why aren’t international technology companies overrun by Indonesians? These questions bring forward the problems that are  affecting the lack of recognition of Indonesian IT talents internationally. Indonesia does have talented programmers but almost all of them are hiding in the country. They shy away from the spotlight.
The next question is why. Why are they hiding? Why aren’t they working for American or other international companies? Well, some of them do, but not necessarily in a position that would put them in the spotlight. Most don’t hold executive positions. I have a theory that may just be the very reasons why Indonesians aren’t that well known overseas, so hear me out. This is long so those who don’t want to read too much, scroll down to the last three paragraphs to read my theory.

Whenever we hear about Indonesians making it big, it’s always a local company operating primarily locally. Indonesians have very little reach in places like Silicon Valley but we do have reach.
One of the few Indonesians in such a position is Sehat Sutardja, co-founder, president and and CEO of Marvell Technologies, makers of microprocessors used in every BlackBerry device in the market. He even has a building at University of California in Berkeley named after him But where are the others?
A Googler who shall remain nameless recently said that Google (at that time) doesn’t see Indonesia the way it sees India where there is plenty of potential talents to further Google’s research efforts. Indonesia is a nation of consumers he said, so its plans for the country only involves selling AdSense and AdWords.
I don’t blame the person for having that view. He may or may not represent the view of the company but it’s very understandable. More recently however, it’s obvious that this view has changed since Google now wants to establish presence in the country.
Indonesians in general don’t seem to jump at the chance to change the world, to explore new possibilities, to leave behind families and friends to discover possibilities overseas. Those who do move overseas tend to end up back in the home country instead of settling.
Look at International patent filings in the past decade and tell me how many are from Indonesia. It’s no more than a handful. This partly contributes to the view that Indonesians don’t create or innovate. Indonesians consume. Another is the lack of publicized research by Indonesians or Indonesian companies about the market.
As a media outlet, it’s frustrating to discover that there is a lack of publicized independent research for Indonesia’s information technology and telecommunications sector. This is changing but not fast enough.
In discovering Indonesian IT talents, it’s surprising that many aren’t concerned about innovating. Most simply use or modify existing technologies to create their projects. There are very few contributors to open source technologies from Indonesia. There’s a strong push to use open source technologies but hardly anyone contributes back and submit their codes to the respective projects.
Indonesians in the technology world are just not seen, everyone is too spread out or in hiding. Most companies are too busy to dig through and discover Indonesian talents so they need to come out and show themselves. Those who have been hired internationally probably should try and bring their friends over, get them to migrate.
Novistiar from Jakarta Founder Institute said that, “in every university course, Indonesians are actually rather smart but they stay quiet in class while Americans kept talking and putting their hands up.”
Of course, plenty of talk doesn’t necessarily mean they’re smarter but they end up getting noticed and those who get noticed get the jobs. Nobody knows how good you are until you show them.
The problem with a lot of Indonesians, and this is where my theory comes in, is that not enough Indonesians settle overseas and because of this, very few get noticed. The Chinese and Indians migrate in massive numbers to as many countries as possible. Indonesians return home after their study and yes, I’m also guilty of that after 11 years abroad, but in my case, it’s not entirely by choice, I couldn’t get my permit extended.
I think the problem why most Indonesians who go abroad tend to return is that there’s a distinct lack of Indonesian food. Indonesians are proud of their food, especially Nasi Padang and other street food and this is why they don’t hang around.
Wherever you go in this planet you’ll almost always find Chinese or Indian food, but Indonesian food is a scarcity. Those who are already abroad say spices and other ingredients are expensive. Well, how about getting more Indonesian cooks and chefs to places like Silicon Valley and open more Indonesian restaurants?
It’s probably difficult to replicate the street food experience but the making the food itself shouldn’t be too difficult. I say get the Nasi Padang out there, and you’ll get Indonesians to stay abroad and eventually get noticed.
trackgadget.blogspot.com

USB Optical Mouse with Pocket Digital Scale

Seriously Brando? You guys never seem to amaze me – and your latest gizmo is actually an optical mouse that has a built-in pocket digital scale, now how about that? Guess it isn’t such a crazy idea now to have a netbook or notebook placed permanently in the kitchen just in case you need to weigh some stuff, right? Either that or drug lords can always make sure their stash is of the right weight – while attending to their Facebook account.
The $22 USB Optical Mouse with Pocket Digital Scale is capable of handling a weight range of 0.1 gram to 500 grams. Since it is ergonomic, it works for both right-handers and southpaws without missing a beat – although gamers might want to avoid this since it is purely a working man’s mouse, and won’t have any special buttons to fire off a macro command or anything like that.
The scale will need a couple of AAA batteries to run – strange as to why they can’t make it rely on USB power alone, so you have less stuff to tote around.
trackgadget.blogspot.com

Packlight lights up places where the sun don’t shine

The problem with the current crop of torch lights that we have right now is that they’re usually large, bulky and hard to store. Two designers have decided to come up with a new kind of torch called the Packlight. Featuring 45 LEDs, this really bright gadget is thin, strong and flexible. You can bend it around objects or even have it hanging off the side of your bag and it won’t be a bother.
Its flexibility also means that users will be able to bend the Packlight to fit it into tiny spaces to light up the dark – something you can’t do with regular torch lights. It features hidden Neodymium magnets for sticking to metallic objects, double coated shaping wire, 3 lighting modes, and a USB rechargeable battery.
The Packlight’s designers are now collecting funds (pre-orders) through its Kicstarter page. The Packlight can be yours for $45 and if you throw in an additional $20 you’ll get a free Solar Charger that can be used to charge the Packlight or any other USB devices you have.

RIM releases BlackBerry Messenger 6 with BBM connected apps

BlackBerry users rejoice – RIM has announced that starting today, its users can upgrade their phone’s messenger client, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM for short) to version 6. In addition to BBM6, the company will also be releasing selected apps that now integrate the functionality of BBM. These BBM integrated apps will allow users to communicate and interact with each other from within the app over BBM – this means no more having to exit an app to send a message over BBM.
BBM integration means being able to share your location with your friends, invite them into a social game, brag about your achievements or even collaborate on work through productivity apps. Presently, the list of BBM connected apps include: FourSquare, Wikitude, Score Mobile and more. Head here to find out more. BBM6 is required to work with these new BBM connected apps and it can be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World.
trackgadget.blogspot.com

Olympus SP-810UV is a 36x ultra zoom compact camera

When it comes to compact digital cameras, the lenses featured are usually somewhere in between a super-zoom or an ultra-wide lens. Photographers who do not wish to carry around a chunky DSLR and the accompanying zoom lenses will probably not be satisfied with the somewhat sparse choices of consumer compact digital cameras that claim to offer super-zoom capabilities. If you are one of the more discerning users, then perhaps Olympus’s latest offering of their SP-801UZ compact digital camera could be something worth checking out.
trackgadget.blogspot.com

Toyota’s steering wheel can detect when you’re about to have a heart attack

When it comes to vehicular accidents, we don’t really think of heart attacks being the cause, but rather our minds jump to talking on the phone or drunk driving, but apparently having heart attacks while on the road is dangerous (and possibly common?) enough to the point where Toyota is reportedly working on a steering wheel that will be able to tell when you are about to have a heart attack.
trackgadget.blogspot.com

Polaroid Z340 lets you print digital photos on the spot

Back in the day before digital cameras, the fastest way to view your photos right after taking them was with the use of a Polaroid camera. Nowadays thanks to the age of digital cameras, there’s really no need to use a Polaroid camera anymore unless you prefer having a hard copy of your photograph. It looks like Polaroid has caught up with the times not only with their digital cameras, but with their latest offering, the Z340, it not only allows you to capture photos digitally, but print them on the spot as well.
trackgadget.blogspot.com

Happy 30th Birthday, DOS!

If you were born before the mid-1980s, you are probably very familiar with DOS, which is celebrating its 30th birthday. If you do not have a clue what I am talking about, DOS is arguably the most popular command-line-based operating system in the history of computing.
The history of DOS is rich, having been a standard in IBM-compatible computers back in the early 1980s. The system’s purchase by Microsoft, which gave birth to MS-DOS, started the rise of personal computers.
Although users can now use their Windows-based computers without having to go through MS-DOS, it can still be accessed in the “Command Prompt” program and still type in commands as if you are learning them during a lesson in computer class. The legacy of DOS can still be seen in today’s computers. It is through DOS-based computing that system drives in computers start at C, not A and B, which were used for floppy drives. Also, many of our file extensions can trace its roots to DOS such as .exe and .txt.
If you like to test your DOS skills, download FreeDOS and see if your directory navigation skills remain rustless. You can also experience how geeks of yesteryears entertain themselves by playing Classic DOS Games.

Source : celebritycombo.com

Olympus SZ 11 Digital Camera

It seems that compact digital camera makers still continue to add many features to their devices despite their small size. Credit it to new advanced technology to cram other features to a compact digital camera for better images. One digital camera of note is the recently announced Olympus SZ 11 Digital Camera.
The Olympus SZ 11 is the latest compact digital camera announced by the company. It features a 14Mp sensor and comes with a 20x zoom to give it some super-telephoto capability that are usually only found with DSLR’s. This makes it able to capture closeup images of distant subjects without blurring, thanks to its DUAL IS using a CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism. The Olympus SZ 11 can also record HD video as well as take 3D images. The new Olympus SZ 11 Digital Camera is expected to come out around the first week of August. Pricing details have not yet been provided.
Source : celebritycombo.com

Porsche Design P’6520 Compass Watch

When you hear the name Porsche, what comes to mind instantly is not just a car, but a stylish designed work of art at that. But Porsche has since spread out into designing more than just cars. They are also into designing other things like watches. May be that is why its new Porsche Design P’6520 Compass Watch becomes quite a looker in itself.
The new Porsche Design P’6520 Compass Watch is not just a precision watch that tells time. It also has a built-in mechanical compass underneath to provide the wearer with directions. But it is not much these features that really matter- it is all about the design. The new Porsche Design P’6520 Compass Watch is made out of an elegant titanium case and designed to split in two in order to reveal the compass underneath. The Porsche Design P’6520 Compass Watch is expected to come out as a limited edition series with the actual availability date and its pricing not yet announced.
Source : celebritycombo.com

Vonage Offers Extensions Service for More Ways to Make Free Calls Abroad

Vonage customers, rejoice! The VoIP service has introduced a new Extensions service that links your existing home Internet calling plan to extra phone numbers, such as in your personal cell phone, for free. This would allow you to use Vonage’s unlimited international calling plans to friends and family members living in more than 60 countries straight from your mobile phone.
There is a catch, though, as you are still required to sign up for an unlimited international calling plan. Other than that, the calls are free. Once registered, simply dial your account’s access number and the international destination number to make a call through Vonage.
Although Vonage Extensions works with any mobile phone, iPhone and Android users can download Vonage apps for one-touch dialing directly from your contact list.
Source : celebritycombo.com

TechCrunch: Google+ Declining Too Soon?

MG Siegler of TechCrunch has reported that Google+ is experiencing a slump in traffic just barely less than a month since it was launched, saying that the social networking site should find a way to keep its users engaged. This comes after reports that Google’s third attempt at the social networking turf (after Buzz and Wave) reached its 10 millionth user in a very short amount of time.
Citing previously released reports, Siegler says that U.S.-based traffic over at Google+ last week decreased by three percent compared to previous week. It is interesting to note that Google+ is still technically in limited beta, but the downward trend in traffic may continue.
Siegler wrote: “Google+ started off with a bang — a big one. Part of it was the new car smell, but a bigger part was that expectations were so low for what Google would come up with in the social space (their own doing). When Google exceeded those expectations, people were genuinely surprised. And that also spurred usage. There was a sense of excitement: Could this really be the next big social network? But now things are calming down. The new car smell is wearing off. And it’s time for reality.”
As a Google+ user myself, I observed that a lot of my friends who finally got in the site remain inactive. As one friend noted, it feels lonely out there and I agree. While Facebook thrives on what is being shared, the culture over at Google+ evolves around who you are sharing it with.  If nothing is shared your way, too bad.  And most of the time, everything shared over there is either about Google or Google+ itself, such as nifty ways to organize your circles or features and extensions that you would never know unless it is shared to you.
And although several popular personalities have joined Google+ such as Tom Anderson (yes, “the” Tom of Myspace), Paris Hilton, and even the president of Argentina, there is much ado over how to keep users glued. And Google needs to do it quick before it suffers the fate of Myspace and, gulp, Friendster.
Source : celebritycombo.com

Olympus SP-810UZ: A P&S Camera with DSLR Powers

Travelers tend to have a dilemma: Whether to bring along their DSLR cameras, heavy zoom lenses and all, or their lighter, point-and-shoot digital cameras that would sacrifice image quality and versatility.
Olympus comes up with a solution in the form of a powerful 14-megapixel camera packed with a 24-864mm, f/2.9-5.7 optical zoom lens. The result is the Olympus SP-810UZ, a point-and-shoot camera with 36x ultrazoom. It also comes with 720p HD video, 3D image capture, and a 3-inch LCD screen. Other features include AF Tracking that locks focus on fast-movie subjects, dual-image stabilization, enhanced ISO sensitivity, Shadow Adjustment Technology, and TruePic III+ image processor for tack-sharp photos that are free from blur commonly seen in HD videos.
The camera also comes with HDMI control, up to ten “magic” filters, a “pet detection mode” that automatically snaps a photo whenever an animal looks straight to the camera, compatibility with optional Eye-Fi SD card, and WiFi connectivity.
The Olympus SP-810UZ will be available beginning September 2011 with an estimated cost of $330.
Source : celebritycombo.com

InterDigital Files Patent Infringement Complaint Against Nokia, Huawei, ZTE

InterDigital, a company that holds a bunch of patents about wireless technology, has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission againstNokia, Huawei, and ZTE, accusing the cell phone makers of infringing seven of its patents. The complainant claims that the three companies utilized various WCDMA and CDMA2000 technologies for their phones, broadband dongles, and tablets.
News about the complaint has caused InterDigital shares to rise by about three percent. There was also speculation about the prospect of Google buying out InterDigital’s patents.
Representative of Huawei said he has not seen the InterDigital complaint, but was confident that his company can defend itself “vigorously” when it comes to the integrity of its licensing and cross licensing practices. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Nokia said the company was aware of the lawsuit and would “take whatever steps needed to protect its rights.”
The ITC has 30 days to start an investigation. If the decision goes in favor of InterDigital, the three companies need to fight the good fight or just settle for a huge bounty, like what Samsung did to InterDigital.
With the way things are going, the descendants of Alexander Graham Bell should perhaps sue all mobile companies for infringing the telephone patent. It’s THAT crazy.
Source : celebritycombo.com

Laptop Speaker Bar

To some laptop or notebook users, it seems that the units built-in speakers do not always provide the ideal sound quality that they want. For the most part, laptop speakers may not be able to provide the robust sound due to their small size. In order to compensate for this substantial lack of sound power, this unique Laptop Speaker Bar may just help fill in what’s needed.
The Laptop Speaker Bar is a handy bar-shaped speaker that can easily be clipped on top of most laptops and even netbooks. It attaches to your laptop via USB and provides some room filling 360 degree sound, with much better quality than just using your laptop’s built-in speakers. This portable speaker also comes with a travel storage case to make it more convenient to bring along while traveling. The Laptop Speaker Bar is available at ThinkGeek for US$60.
Source : celebritycombo.com

Electric Car Prototype Does Not Require Expensive Rare Earths to Run

Ever wonder why electrics cars are more expensive than gas-guzzling vehicles? Part of the reason is the use of rare earth elements needed to power the motor. Only one country holds the monopoly of these rare substances: China, which currently produces an astonishing 97 percent of all rare earths used globally.
Such dependence on rare earth elements need to stop, and this is what a Japanese professor wants to achieve with his invention. Professor Nobukazu Hoshi of Tokyo University of Science has developed an electric car that does not need any kind of rare earth elements. The prototype is a remodel of the 1999 Mazda Roadster and is powered by a 400V/ 9.5kWh hybrid car motor. It also has five modules of lithium battery, each weighing 20 kilograms, and a so-called “switched reluctance motor” that boosts an output of 50kW.
Although the prototype is impressive on its own, Mr. Hoshi says there is still room for improvement, especially in boosting the car’s torque and energy efficiency, as well as reducing the noise and vibration.
It is also interesting to note that Toyota is also working on a rare earths-free engine for its electric cars.
Source : celebritycombo.com

Infinity Invaderz LED Digital Watch

Watches were once used to mainly tell time. Nowadays, people wear watches to look cool. Since most people now monitor time using their mobile phones, wearing watches simply just to tell time does not seem to appeal anymore to some people. Give them something different like what the Infinity Invaderz LED Digital Watch offers and you make it into a cool fashion accessory.
The Infinity Invaderz LED Digital Watch may be unlike the usual watches. For one, it tells time differently from the usual. It comes with a rectangular face designed with a unique graph for a display that is used to tell time and for other things. Its design makes it to look like a 3D object. Pushing a button allows the user to enjoy a LED light show before displaying the time and date. It is quite a conversation piece for a wrist watch, effectively making it into a cool fashion accessory. The Infinity Invaderz Led Digital Watch is available at ThinkGeek for US$35.
Source : celebritycombo.com

Sony Walkman A Series Coming to United Kingdom

Sony continues to evolve its Walkman brand with a new line of media players. Some of the devices appear on the website of a major retailer in the United Kingdom and they appear noticeably different from its previous incarnations.
The Sony Walkman A series feature wireless file and music streaming, a 3.4-inch OLED touch screen, FM radio, a variety of media modes, and the ability to sync with iTunes.
According to the retail website, the Sony Walkman A series would be available on July 31 with an assortment of models with different storage capacities, ranging from 8GB to 64GB. Price range is unclear.
Source: celebritycombo.com

Japan Gets First Windows Phone Mango Smartphone

Fujitsu and mobile carrier KDDI have confirmed that they will launch the world’s smartphone that runs on Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango), which is expected to be shipped in September.
The announcement was held during a press gathering in Tokyo yesterday. Although the exact name of the phone is not revealed, the video presentation gave tell-tale signs that it would be theToshiba-Fujitsu IS12T smartphone . The device features a 3.7-inch LCD screen, 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 CPU, 32GB of internal memory, a waterproof casing, and a multitude of color options like bright yellow and pink.
It is very unlikely that this smartphone would arrive in North America, but expect a lot of Mango-powered phones from the likes of Samsung and Acer coming our way.
Source: celebritycombo.com

Garmin Completes Acquisition of Navigon

GPS company Garmin has announced that it has completed its acquisition of rival company Navigon. No financial details were disclosed, but executives from both companies have nothing but words of excitement and anticipation, promising plenty of integration and new opportunities.
It looks like the two companies have decided that it is better to merge in the industry that has become very challenging, as manufacturers of traditional GPS devices are up against GPS apps that come for free.
Since its establishment in 1989, Garmin has sold 85 million GPS-enabled devices, the most out of any navigation provider. Navigon, meanwhile, puts its expertise in developing GPS navigation for smartphones and other platforms
Source: celebritycombo.com

Canon Unveils 3-in-1 Mouse with Calculator and Keypad

If you are using a laptop at work and suddenly felt the need of using a keypad to calculate stuff, you realize the hassle of having to hold one button while crunching in the numbers. Worse, if the keyboard does not have function buttons that serve as a keypad alternative, you end up using the number row.
You definitely need this latest offering by Canon: a three-in-one laser mouse with calculator and keypad. The X Mark | Mouse Lite, which was designed by the Canon camera team, features three mouse buttons, a scroll wheel, support for Bluetooth 2.01, and even a low battery indicator. The mouse comes in black and white options, and is compatible with Windows and Mac OS X.
Canon is selling this three-in-one mouse along with the X Mark | Keypad that comes with a 10-digit semi-calculator. The X Mark | Mouse Lite will be available in August, while the keypad will be shipped in September. Both devices are expected to cost $59.99.

Aircounter Makes Radiation Detection Accessible

The nuclear crisis in Fukushima and surrounding areas is far from over; and consumer radiation meters are expensive and available in special-interest stores. In an effort to make radiation detection more accessible, a Japan-based chemicals company S.T. Corp., in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan University, stepped in and introduces the Aircounter.
The Aircounter device is a handheld radiation detector that is easy-to-use that even the middle-class, average Daisukes can understand. It enables users to detect radiation levels between 0.05 to 9.99 microsieverts per hour at a height of up to 1 meter above the ground. The device features a 40 x 25 millimeter LCD screen, a weight of 105 grams, and requires two AAA batteries to run.
According to the company, it will sell the Aircounter beginning October 20 in its existing retail points like drugstores. The cost would be around $190, which is less than half the price of similar devices.

Bowers & Wilkins C5 Headphones

Earphones are designed for different uses. There are earphones that are used for casual listening. But such type of earphones may not necessarily be ideal for listening while doing other activities like jogging. Users may need a more secure and stable earphones that won’t fall off when moving. The new Bowers & Wilkins C5 Headphones are designed with such issues in mind.
The new Bowers & Wilkins C5 Headphones look sleek enough and stylish in terms of its design for an in-ear headphones. But its design also offers a useful feature- its adjustable secure loop design helps hold the earphones firmly in place. The new C5 headphones also comes with noise isolation features to provide better sound and clarity. The new Bowers & Wilkins C5 Headphones is expected to come out in August and may cost around 150 UK Pounds or around US$246.
Source: celebritycombo.com

Libratone Live AirPlay Speakers

Apple’s AirPlay Technology has enabled wireless functionality for speakers. And it may seem fitting to couple such functionality with a speaker that is just as stylish and elegant. Much can be said of the new Libratone Live AirPlay Speakers.
The new Libratone Live Speakers seem to have been designed not just for performance but for some high sense of elegance that some people with money to burn look for in order to stand out. For one, this stand alone sound bar is covered in elegant cashmere with handles made out of chrome. Performance wise, this AirPlay speaker is just as elegant and powerful, with 150 watts of pure sound power given out by its 5 drivers. With such elegance, it is not surprising that the Libratone Live AirPlay Speakers costs a staggering US$2,000 to have. It is available at Libratone if you have that much money to spend.
Source: celebritycombo.com

Booq Viper Slider case for the iPad 2 works with docks

While it’s usually a great idea to have protective cases for your iPad, one of the drawbacks to using one is the fact most cases usually make the tablet impossible to use with a dock. This is largely due to the design of the cut outs on the case itself or the fact that the case makes it too bulky to fit into a dock. Well the folks over at Booq have come up with a new iPad 2 case designed just to solve that problem.
Called the Viper Slider, the iPad 2 case has a specially designed bottom quarter that easily slides off (hence the name Slider), leaving the bottom of the iPad 2 compatible with almost any docking station available on the market. In addition to being dock-friendly, the Viper Slider protects your iPad 2 from the usual drops and mishaps with its durable polycarbonate casing and is said to give you a better grip when holding the tablet as well.
With sleek looks to match its functionality, the Booq Viper Slider sure looks like a useful case for the iPad 2. Folks will definitely enjoy the convenience it brings. It is available now for $39.95 from Booq and various retail outlets nationwide.
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Google+ Grows But Remains A Minor Social Network

Google newest social network project, Google+, is still on its beta release but its user base is fast growing. But according to Hitwise, Facebook remains the top social network and Google+ still has a lot of ground to cover.
According to Hitwise, Google+ ranks 42 among social networking sites and took the 638th spot among the web sites in the United States in the week ending July 16. This is a big jump from the week ending July 9 when Google’s social network was ranked 2,404th of all the web sites in the United States.
You need to be invited by a current member of Google+ to be able to join the newest social network. The company designed its content-sharing and privacy features to attract people that are uncomfortable with Facebook’s privacy settings and policies.
Facebook seems unfazed by Google+’s growth. Its own growth is undiminished with more than 750 million members and the average users on the site continue to increase their amount of time on the site. Visits to Google+ is more than 1.8 million in the week ending July 16, which is up 283 percent compared to the previous week.
Most of the comments about Google+ have been positive so far. It is a sign that more people would join the social network once it opens up to the public.
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Google To Add New Functionality To Circles With Latest Acquisition

Google’s relentless march to the top of the social media mountain just got another boost with the announcement that they’ve acquired the start-up called Fridge.
What is Fridge? Well, before Google came up with the idea of making it easier to segment your friends, Fridge had pioneered that functionality. The start-up created a social network that made it easy for you to organize your friends into groups, plan events and share photos. They got so good at it that they grew to a user base of 40,000.
With the acquisition, Google is clearly showing its desire to make Circles one of the cornerstones of Google+ and reports are that the Fridge team will hit the ground running as they work to make Circles better. At present, the “groups” functionality is lacking in Google+ so the expertise Fridge brings to the table will be might handy. Throw in “event planning” functionality and Google+ will be pretty much Facebook on steroids.
The rumors are flying that Google+ goes live to the public on the 31^st July 2011, and whilst that may or may not be the case, it is clear Google wants the platform to be robust enough to live up to the hype. Expect more acquisitions to be announced since Google+ is not quite the juggernaut that Google is looking to build.
Watch the video below to see the really cool benefits of Google+ Circles.
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Judge Rejects Oracles Damage Claims Against Google

A federal judge ruled that Oracle’s report estimating damages of $6.1 billion in its lawsuit against Google is too much. Judge William Alsup gave Oracle a chance to change its estimate before the case goes to trial this fall. Aside from the amount of damage, he sided with Oracle on different sides regarding the case.
Oracle claims that Google’s Android mobile operating system was created via patent infringements of Java programming tools that Oracle acquired when it purchased Sun Microsystems last year. This is just one of the lawsuits that have been filed by tech companies over their share of profits from the emerging market for tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices.
Judge Alsup said that Oracle’s expert, Boston University professor Iain Cockburn, overstretched when he used a broad estimate of Android’s value. The judge said that the expert should have used a portion of Android that have been tied to the Java patents to get the estimate of what Google has to pay regarding the case.
The judge added that Oracle might have made the report with the goal of seeing how much it could get from Google. He rebuked both sides for missteps during the hour-long hearing. Both companies didn’t want to talk about issue at the moment.
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Google+ Regrets Move On Businesses

Two weeks ago. Google asked businesses not to make Google+ profiles because it is still setting up pages for businesses. At present, the search giant wants only real people on its social network. The company came out with what it has done so far and hopes to roll out the feature that would include nonprofits, companies, bands and other organizations into Google+ as soon as possible.
Google promised that it would be available later this year and has already started taking applications from o0rganizations that are interested to beta test the pages for businesses on Google+. The company was swamped with applications that it decided to speed up the process and roll out the feature really soon.
Google asked businesses that are currently in Google+ to switch from a company to a real person or the profile will be deleted. TechCrunch made a profile for a fake person named Techathew Cruncheri and Google deleted it. It also removed the profiles for Ford, Search Engine Land and Sesame Street.
Mashable had a page in Google+ and it transferred it in the name of its CEO Pete Cashmore. He already had a profile but he will ditch that to run the new personal page
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Google Doodle Pays Tribute To Alexander Calder

Google honors American artist Alexander Calder with a doodle that is made entirely in HTML5. Jered Wierzbicki was the software engineer who coded the doodle and said that he was inspired when he saw the artist’s exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
Calder made art works out of ordinary materials like wire and scraps of sheet metal. HE molded them into forms and let motion and spaces do the rest. The engineer said that this abstractions struck him the most about Calder’s works.
The Alexander Calder doodle is the first one that was done with HTML5 canvas, which is a feature that lets dynamic rendering of two-dimension bitmaps. It simulates the physics on the mobile’s geometry and renders it in real-time 3D with vector graphics.
This is possible with the recent advancements in browser technology. The doodle works with accelerometers and shows the full capabilities of HTML5, which is slowly being unlocked. The dynamic doodle is good but not as addictive as the Gibson and Pac-Man doodles.
The doodle shows the rendering possibilities of HTML5 and this is a big blow to Flash. Google search is one of the most visited sites on the internet and the doodle will expose users to the HTML5 rendering. Apple has always been against Flash and now Google is using its replacement on its site, it looks like the end is near for Adobe’s software.
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Google Acquires Facial Recognition Company

Google recently bought Pittsburgh Pattern Recognition, which is also known as PittPatt. The company develops face recognition technology in video and images. Its founders began the company at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotic Institute in the 1990s and they formed the company in 2004.
Google utilizes computer vision technology in some of its products such as Image Search, Picasa, YouTube, and Goggles. PittPatt said that the search giant will benefit from its technology and research and would bring it to a wider audience.
PittPatt added that it will continue innovating computer vision technology in applications that would range from simple photo organization to complex tasks such as mobile and video applications. Expect more new features to come out from Google that would include face recognition. There are speculations that the search engine will use the face recognition technology on its Google+ social network.
PittPatt technology could be used for facial recognition services, such as tracking faces in videos and sorting photos according to the faces that are found in the photo. It also releases software development kits so that developers could come up with apps that would utilize its technology. But that was before Google bought the company.
The details about the deal were not disclosed to the public and Google was not available for comments about its latest acquisition.
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Google Goes Bezerk: Thousands Of Accounts Deleted From Google+

Google added over 10 million people to its social network in under a month, now it seems they are looking to reverse that growth in less than a week. What on earth is happening?
Reports from several sources, including irate users, are suggesting that Google is deleting accounts en-masse. No-one seems to be clear on what’s causing the mass deletions but early indications are that Google is none too happy with ‘fake names’.
Google apparently wants Google+ accounts to reflect real people, not some dreamed-up, fictionalized version of you. This requirement isn’t entirely unreasonable; after all, Facebook doesn’t like fake names either. But Google and Google+ have one very unique problem, and it takes the form of the millions of Gmail accounts out there that are registered under fake names. Thankfully my Google+ invite came through to my personal (and real) Gmail account, but it could easily have come to one of the countless fake Gmail accounts I own (sorry Google).
This proliferation of fake name Gmail accounts perhaps accounts for the inflated Google+ stats—something that is bound to make Google red in the face.
For now only people that can be considered ‘real’, i.e. well known are having their accounts reinstated. If you found yourself a casualty of Google’s delete button, and happen to be a ‘regular Joe’ or ‘regular Jane’, the word on the digital street is to wait things out. Hopefully after Google sifts out the pretenders, the genuine users can have their accounts reinstated.
Watch the video below to see more on Google+ and the rapid growth it’s enjoyed so far.
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Google added over 10 million people to its social network in under a month, now it seems they are looking to reverse that growth in less than a week. What on earth is happening?
Reports from several sources, including irate users, are suggesting that Google is deleting accounts en-masse. No-one seems to be clear on what’s causing the mass deletions but early indications are that Google is none too happy with ‘fake names’.
Google apparently wants Google+ accounts to reflect real people, not some dreamed-up, fictionalized version of you. This requirement isn’t entirely unreasonable; after all, Facebook doesn’t like fake names either. But Google and Google+ have one very unique problem, and it takes the form of the millions of Gmail accounts out there that are registered under fake names. Thankfully my Google+ invite came through to my personal (and real) Gmail account, but it could easily have come to one of the countless fake Gmail accounts I own (sorry Google).
This proliferation of fake name Gmail accounts perhaps accounts for the inflated Google+ stats—something that is bound to make Google red in the face.
For now only people that can be considered ‘real’, i.e. well known are having their accounts reinstated. If you found yourself a casualty of Google’s delete button, and happen to be a ‘regular Joe’ or ‘regular Jane’, the word on the digital street is to wait things out. Hopefully after Google sifts out the pretenders, the genuine users can have their accounts reinstated.
Watch the video below to see more on Google+ and the rapid growth it’s enjoyed so far.
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Google+ Joins The Face Recognition Party With Latest Acquisition: Is Privacy Dead?

Google obviously sees great strength and leverage in going for inorganic growth. Gone are the days when Google got in a team and have them work feverishly at creating something—from scratch.
Today it’s all about assembling the latest Google product through a patchwork of acquisitions. Reports are that Google+ has officially thrown its hat in the face recognition ring with the acquisition of Pittsburgh start-up PittPatt. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but what’s obvious is that Google is literally trying to create its own version of Facebook. How can anyone say this isn’t the case?Face recognition technology, groups, pages, event planning—all these elements underpin the way Facebook works. But I digress.
PittPatt began originally as Carnegie Mellon University project and the technology works by allowing for the tracking of faces in videos and photos. These types of technologies are not new, but are the bane of people who think privacy is being sacrificed in the new age of social networking. Indeed, Facebook’s own use offace recognition technology has not gone down too well with many users and privacy advocates.
The question is, why has Google decided to use this technology despite assertions that it wouldn’t? The answer perhaps lies in the fact that Google+ cannot really compete with Facebook unless it first clones it, then bolts on a few features unique to Google+.
Google+ has a few pieces to add yet before it fully clones Facebook, so we can all expect more acquisitions in the near future.
Watch the video below to see more on face recognition technology in the news.
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Justin Bieber’s Tattoo Tale

Musicians and tattoos go hand-in-hand, and it turns out Justin Bieber's first ink experience was courtesy of his dad Jeremy.
The “Never Say Never” crooner got the Hebrew word for “Jesus” written just above his ribcage back in May, and his proud papa got the same tat at the same time.
Of course, Biebs was a bit nervous about the whole ordeal, and he looks a bit uncomfortable going under the needle in the newly-released pictures.
But when all was said and done, Justin and his dad Jeremy were more than happy to show off their matching tattoos- what a great father/son bonding moment!
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Sofia Vergara: Ready for More "Modern Family"

Gearing up for a transcontinental flight, Sofia Vergara was spotted at JFK International Airport today (July 26).
The Columbian chick donned an all-black ensemble accented by a large white scarf as she strolled through the terminal to catch her flight back to Los Angeles. She was in NYC to promote her new film “The Smurfs.”
And it sounds like Sofia will be a busy girl from the time she hops off her plane at LAX Airport.
She tweeted, “Ciao Ny!thanks for great summer!☀back to LA for our 1st ModFam table read this afternoon!! Yeeeeiiiiii☺”
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Joe Manganiello Visits "Chelsea Lately"

As he becomes more and more well known for his role on HBO’s “True Blood,” Joe Manganiello recently paid a visit to “Chelsea Lately.”
On Monday night’s show, the Alcide Herveaux actor sat down with Chelsea Handler and had quite the bone to pick with her.
At this year’s MTV Movie Awards, the funnywoman made a crude comment about Joe and Chelsea involved in a sexual act.
Of this, Manganiello jokingly explained that tidbit not only upset his fiance, but his parents as well. He told, “All the nudity, all the craziness on ‘True Blood’ my parents haven’t said one word about it. The morning after the movie awards, I get a call from my mom, ‘Oh my God, that’s disgusting.”
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Mariah Carey’s Wacky HSN Appearance

She usually has it together, but during a recent appearance on HSN, Mariah Carey was clearly not all there.
Sitting down to promote her jewelry line on Sunday (July 26), the “One Sweet Day,”singer seemed a bit out of it as she explained a few of the pieces in the line.
The timing of her slot was indeed in the wee hours of the morning, but instead of focusing on the task at hand, Mariah eventually began rambling about her pregnancy, the birth of her twins, and much more.
When E! asked Carey’s camp about the loopy appearance, there was no comment.
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Angelina Jolie Goes Toy Shopping with the Girls

Enjoying a relaxing day in London, Angelina Jolie was spotted at a local toy shop in the Richmond neighborhood this morning (July 26).
The “Tomb Raider” babe was joined by her daughters Zahara and Shiloh as she made her exit and quickly hopped into a chauffeured car and sped off.
And it sounds like Ang may be getting an invitation to star in “Sin City 2” from the film’s director Robert Rodriguez himself.
The iconic director, who mentioned casting Jolie in the past, told press, "I don't think we'll have trouble [getting stars to come] on board because people loved 'Sin City' and they love that world and they love a chance to play in that arena and so many actors especially love film noir, and it's such an updated modernized film noir that it doesn’t feel nostalgic. It feels new, so I think people will run to be a part of it."
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John’s Phone, For People Who Just Need The Basics

There are people want mobile phones that have all those advanced features most smartphones now have. And then there are also those who just want a mobile phone simply for making calls and nothing else. For the latter group, there’s the John’s Phone that simplifies everything.
John’s Phone is simply a phone to take and make calls. Its just as simple as that. For people who needs simplicity, it is the only mobile phone that they will need. Even the contacts list comes in a book and pen version to make sure that they come in handy, the simple way. The John’s Phone is available at Firebox starting at US$98 for the white version pictured above.
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