Snapdragon Takes Center Stage at Computex Taipei 2010
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under News, News/Events
Qualcomm today announced the Company will showcase a variety of products based on its Snapdragon platform at the Computex Taipei 2010 conference in Taipei, Taiwan. Qualcomm recently expanded its Snapdragon product roadmap, which is now incorporated in more than 140 device designs that have either launched or are currently in design. Qualcomm will display a range of these innovative devices, including smartphones, pocket tablets, and smartbooks in both full-size tablet and clamshell form factors.
“Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform is making tremendous progress, powering some of the industry’s most compelling devices available today,” said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of marketing and product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “We are enabling a wide array of smartphones, e-readers, pocket tablets and smartbooks. With our newly expanded product family, Qualcomm is continuing to deliver an unsurpassed combination of mobile processing, connectivity and multimedia with optimized power consumption.”
During Computex Taipei, Qualcomm will have demonstrations of numerous mobile computing and multimedia technologies and a wide range of Snapdragon-powered devices available for viewing by appointment only at the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Snapdragon-powered devices being demonstrated will include:
- Acer’s Liquid and neoTouch smartphones
- Dell’s Streak 5″ Android tablet
- HP’s Compaq Airlife 100 smartbook
- HTC’s Droid Incredible and Nexus One smartphones
- Huawei’s S7 tablet
- Lenovo’s LePhone smartphone
Other Snapdragon and various Gobi-equipped devices, as well as eZone wireless technology and MediaFLO demonstrations, will also be available.
Qualcomm Ships First Dual-CPU Snapdragon Chipset
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Cell Phones
Even faster smartphones with even better graphics are coming.
Qualcomm today announced the Company has sampled its first dual-CPU Snapdragon chipsets. The Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM8260 and MSM8660 solutions integrate two enhanced cores running at up to 1.2GHz. Targeted at enabling high-end smartphones, the MSM8×60 solutions are third-generation chipsets from the Snapdragon platform, which has been powering smartphones, tablets and smartbook devices in markets around the world.
“Qualcomm’s first-generation Snapdragon chipsets set a new standard for advanced smartphones and smartbook devices, and our second-generation solutions are already shipping in volume,” said Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “We are very excited by the innovation our customers are already showing as they begin designing products based on our dual-core MSM8260 and MSM8660 chipsets.”
The MSM8260 for HSPA+ and MSM8660 for multi-mode HSPA+/CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. B feature two enhanced CPU cores running at up to 1.2GHz for high levels of Web application and multimedia performance, including a powerful GPU with 3D/2D acceleration engines for Open GLES 2.0 and Open VG 1.1 accelration, 1080p video encode/decode, dedicated low power audio engine, integrated low power GPS, and support for 24-bit WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution displays.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Includes
- First-generation products: QSD8×50 with 1GHz enhanced core
- Second-generation products: MSM8×55 and QSD8×50A with 1GHz enhanced core, including multimedia optimizations and 1.3GHz enhanced core, respectively
- Third-generation products: MSM8260, MSM8660 and QSD8672 with dual-CPU architecture featuring enhanced cores running at up to 1.2GHz and 1.5GHz, respectively
instaVIN Provides Free Vehicle Reoprts Via Text
May 31, 2010 by Laura
Filed under Applications, Cell Phones
instaVIN has announced a ‘Free Report’ offer with the launch of its real-time mobile Accident History service. The service is available on any text-enabled mobile phone with virtually all mobile carriers. To receive a free report, text the 17 digit vehicle VIN number to “INSTA” or 46782 from any mobile phone. In seconds, customers will know the answer to the most important question when buying a used car…has this vehicle been in an accident?
This limited time offer of one free Accident History Report per mobile phone is good now through June 30, 2010. Mobile phone reports via text message now join instaVIN’s online Accident History Reports available at www.instavin.com. Accident History Reports also come with instaVIN’s proprietary Vehicle Valuator; providing up-to-the minute average retail, private party and trade-in values of the same vehicle make and model within a user’s local zip code. Vehicle history data is available on cars manufactured since 1981. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can be located on the driver’s side dash visible through the windshield, as well as on all door jams and body panels. instaVIN helps both dealers and consumers negotiate with more confidence when buying or selling a used vehicle. View instaVIN video clip.
“The time has come for a low cost alternative to CARFAX or AutoCheck with access on your mobile phone for just $1.99,” said Jim Irish, CEO of MobileTrac, the provider of instaVIN. “When competitive prices for a single report range from $29.99 to $34.99, many potential users simply forego this valuable tool or ask the dealer to supply it at their expense. We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to try instaVIN for Free on their mobile phone to see how quick, easy and affordable Accident History Reports can be. Car buyers can now check accident history data while shopping on the lot without relying on a dealer to provide them with an up to date CARFAX report.”
The speed of SMS text message delivery is especially helpful to dealers at auction, when vehicles pass through auction lanes in a matter of a minute or two. Dealers traditionally had to run reports the night before or call back to their office and take a salesman off the floor to look up vehicle history reports online. Armed with accident history and market values, dealers can quickly bid on vehicles when time is of the essence. instaVIN’s data is refreshed in real-time, providing the most up-to-date information in the industry.
instaVIN’s flagship product, Accident History Reports—available online or via SMS text message—are available for $1.99 to $2.99. Full Vehicle History Reports comparable to CARFAX or AutoCheck will be available on the website in a few weeks for only $6.99. For more information, visit www.instaVIN.com.
Sanyo New Camera Underwater - Xacti DMX-CA100
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Digital Imaging, Digital Still, Digital Video
Sanyo has announced the Xacti DMX-CA100. The video camera is waterproof at depths of 10 feet for up to one hour. It records 1080p video in the computer in H.264 format. It can capture 14-megapixel still photos, and there is a 6X optical zoom along with a 6x Advanced Digital Zoom. Plus a High-Speed Sequential Shooting mode that can capture 22 photos at 7FPS.
There is no internal memory, with storage coming in the form of SDXC memory cards.
Price and Availability
Pricing has not yet been released The Xacti DMX-CA100 will come in black, yellow and pink and will be out at the end of June.
New this Week on WiiWare
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Video Games, Wii
Ben 10 Alien Force: The Rise of Hex
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Ben 10 Alien Force: The Rise of Hex follows Ben Tennyson as he finds himself in the middle of Hex’s villainous plan to control the Earth. Using the powers of the Omnitrix, players can transform Ben into 10 different alien forms including Big Chill, Spider Monkey and, for the first time ever, Lodestar. Choose from 10 different aliens to platform your way through 15 levels, completing puzzle challenges along the way. Fight menacing villains and bosses in Ben’s newest adventure. Experience the world of Ben 10 Alien Force with 3-D characters set in a vibrant, 2-D-styled environment.
Voodoo Dice
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Mixing action and puzzle mechanics in a 3-D world, Voodoo Dice is an innovative, challenging puzzler that invites you to solve puzzles in unique and interesting ways. Encounter a funny and original universe with great style and distinctive vibes. Travel between different maps, defeat your enemies and solve enigmas.
Robocalypse - Beaver Defense
Publisher: Vogster Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Set in a world of wisecracking, battling robots, Robocalypse - Beaver Defense offers madcap weaponry and uproarious destruction in a “tower defense”-style game. Players must create and strategically position towers to annihilate waves of enemy robots, while player-controlled Hero robots act as mobile weapons units, bringing heavy firepower to all areas of the battlefield. Players can experience the hilarious Story Mode or face the Beaver’s never-ending supply of robots in Survival Mode.
Virtual Console
Wild Guns
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Natsume Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Animated Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Discover the wildest West you’ve ever seen in this action-packed third-person shooter. The Kid gang and their army of robots have taken over the town. The only ones who can stop them are Clint, a tough-as-nails bounty hunter, and Annie, a beautiful-but-deadly woman with a serious score to settle. Blast your way through villainous outlaws, diabolical robots and towering, screen-filling bosses. Play by yourself or with a friend at your side in the two-player co-op mode. You’ll need a sharp eye and quick-on-the-draw reflexes. Fortunately, you’ve got plenty of moves to help you survive the hail of bullets heading your way. You can dive-roll, jump, double-jump, rope enemies with a lasso and clear the screen with explosive special attacks. Blast apart just about everything in the environment to find guns, bombs and other hidden power-ups. It’s up to you to bring justice back to town - or whatever’s left of the town when the gun smoke clears.
New This Week on DSiWare
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Nintendo DS, Video Games
X-Scape
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Your journey through the universe of X-Scape begins as you wake from 10 years of cryosleep, only to find yourself unexpectedly thrown into a fearsome battle against an evil empire bent on your destruction. You’ll travel to numerous planets in the Kiisa system and engage in a wide variety of challenges (including optional side quests) in your fight for survival. At your command is VIXIV, an advanced battle tank able to deftly maneuver on land or in the air while loaded with an array of formidable weapons. To help with advice or upgrades to VIXIV’s abilities, you’ve also got your highly capable support bot, VIX-529. Use the touch screen to pilot VIXIV in one of two modes: tunnel mode and free-movement mode. In tunnel mode, you’ll navigate through narrow, dangerous tunnels that connect planets. Successful completion of tunnel mode opens free-movement mode, which allows you to freely roam the surfaces of planets and take up missions. Presented in 3-D with a stylishly retro graphic presentation, X-Scape combines continuous action with an epic story to create an experience that’s sure to keep players on the edge of their seats.
Hero of Sparta
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You wake up alone on an unknown beach to find your boat and entire fleet missing. It’s the beginning of an epic odyssey to find out just what game the gods are playing with you, King Argos. Your fate now lies in their hands. Battle like the fierce Spartan warrior you are to avoid a tragic death as you journey through mythical lands and even probe the depths of the Underworld. You will fight the most phenomenal monsters from mythology, defy Minotaurs and the Cyclops, and challenge the gods themselves. Unleash your hero’s special powers by performing combos to defeat legions of enemies in thrilling fights. You’ll have fabulous equipment and four mythic weapons to upgrade: draw your mythic swords, axe and shield. Fight, explore and solve puzzles - this is more than a basic hack-and-slash. Use the exclusive camera feature to collect epic pictures and become a real hero yourself.
A Topsy Turvy Life: The Turvys Strike Back
Publisher: TECMO KOEI GAMES
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Turn your Nintendo DSi system upside-down and play as the Imperial Armada out to destroy the Earth Defense Force in this topsy-turvy take on arcade shooters. You control the unsung forces of arcade shooters past with three kinds of ships, including giant bosses. Draw a line to send the fighters down. Touch the guards to make them shoot. Make your boss ship fire multiple weapons, including an enormous blast that destroys everything in its way. Two players can even battle each other on one Nintendo DSi system. Will the Earth Defense Force win again? Or will the Imperial Armada find victory at last?
Telegraph Sudoku & Kakuro
Publisher: Sanuk Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Play number puzzles from the Telegraph like you’ve never played them before. Discover a whopping 500 puzzles of multiple types. You’re in for many hours of game play. The game includes Sudoku (classic 9×9 sudoku grids with four levels of difficulty), Mini-Sudoku (easier 6×6 grids), Sudoku-X (9×9 grids in which the diagonals must also be filled with all numerals from 1 to 9), Jigsaw Sudoku (9×9 grids with uncommon box shapes) and Kakuro. With its handy interface and intuitive controls, Kakuro transfigures the classic pen-and-paper experience. Notable features include registration of best times in the Hall of Fame, interactive hints to prevent you from getting stuck and an Autosave option to stop and resume a puzzle at any time.
Ford Adds New Services to SYNC
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under News, News/Events
Horoscopes, stock quotes, movie listings and access to airlines, rental cars and hotels are now just a voice command away for owners of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with the SYNC app Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI). Owners of SYNC-equipped 2010 and 2011 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products will have immediate access to the enhanced TDI services. All that is needed is an active owner account on www.syncmyride.com.
The new services are provided by Microsoft Tellme, one of the many partners in Ford’s cloud-based Service Delivery Network, which gives SYNC users the ability to use a simple Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to connect and voice request the information they want while in the car.
“SYNC is helping us move at a faster pace and deliver the level of connectivity and access that consumers want,” said Doug VanDagens, director, Ford Connected Services Organization. “Now, by leveraging the cloud, we continue to give our customers access to more and more services without having to touch the vehicle or inconvenience the owner with more subscription fees.”
“Current TDI users will hear a special announcement through SYNC the first time they call in, announcing stocks, movies, horoscopes and travel, and informing them that they have more choices,” adds VanDagens.
When users say the “services” voice command, they can ask for “stocks,” horoscopes,” “movies” or “travel,” and follow the prompts. They can also create personalized lists of stocks and horoscopes to follow by visiting their account on www.syncmyride.com, clicking on the “Manage favorites” tab and adding their top picks.
TDI is available on all 2010 and 2011 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with SYNC; services come with no monthly subscription fees for the first three years of vehicle ownership
Explosive Market Growth in the US for Tablets and 3DTVs
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under News, News/Events
Demand for consumer electronic devices is soaring in the US – especially in key segments like 3DTVs and Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)/Tablets. Year-over-year shipment growth for these two segments will be 142% and 231%, respectively, between 2010 and 2011, reports In-Stat.
3DTVs and MIDs/Tablets will also represent a bright spot for CE manufacturers and content providers because the installed base for these segments will continue to expand steadily.
“The US installed base units for 3DTVs and MID/Tablets will double from 2010 to 2011 and on through 2013,” says Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat analyst. “In fact, In-Stat expects the total US installed base of CE devices to almost double between 2009 and 2013.”
Recent Research by In-Stat Found
- The US installed base for smartphones to reach 198 million by 2013.
- Mobile PCs will continue to lead the computing category in units shipped through 2013.
- Despite many bright spots in the US CE market, maturing segments like portable media players (PMPs) and desktop PCs will show declining growth rates through 2013.
- By 2013, there will be 1.9 billion installed CE devices in the US.
In-Stat report US Consumer Electronic Device Tracker: Shipments and Installed Base (#IN1004846ID) provides US-specific unit shipment and installed base forecasts for a wide range of consumer electronic (CE) devices including:
- Cellular Devices (mobile phones, feature phones, smartphones)
- Computing Equipment (desktop PCs, laptops, netbooks, MIDs/Tablets)
- Portable CE (MP3 players, PMPs, e-readers, handheld game consoles, edutainment toys)
- Stationary CE (audio systems, networked appliances, set-top boxes, televisions, digital photo frames, video game consoles)
College Students Prefer Print Over Digital Textbooks
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under News, News/Events
Even with new digital handheld gadgets, smart phones, pads, and laptops glued to every college student’s hand, 74% still prefer to use a printed textbook when taking a class, according to the findings of a new Student Watch study conducted by OnCampus Research, a division of the National Association of College Stores (NACS) that helps companies better understand the college market.
The survey also found that 53% of students were unsure about purchasing digital textbooks or would not consider buying them even if they were available.
“The findings of the report are not surprising,” says OnCampus Research Manager Laura Cozart. “Every new innovation takes time before the mainstream population embraces it.”
Currently, of the NACS member stores that offer digital content, e-books comprise only 2-3% of course material sales. However, Cozart noted predictions that digital could make up 10-15% of textbook sales by 2012, given content is made more interactive and faculty become more comfortable using it.
The survey, sponsored and published by the National Association of College Stores Foundation, was conducted this past fall at 19 campuses nationwide
Pennsylvania is the First State to Have Foursquare Badges
May 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Applications, Cell Phones
Here an example of a state being smart about social media. Pennsylvania has become the first state to join the mobile social network Foursquare as part of “visitPA” program.
“Foursquare is the hot new thing in the social networking universe,” said Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley. “Think of it as social scene social media. You determine the places to see and be seen. Plus, its mobile savvy allows users to instantly alert friends of their location, offer tips and create a must-do list.”
Visitors to Pennsylvania also have the opportunity to earn three custom badges: “PA Shooflyer” (Food), “PA Retail Polka” (Shopping), and “PA 4 Score & 7″ (History). Users will earn these badges after checking in at eligible locations.
Destinations interested in joining Foursquare should visit foursquare.com and select “Add Things.” Those already listed can join the visitPA must-do list and become a PA badge-eligible venue by providing the name of their business and their unique Foursquare venue number, as well as their contact information. To learn more about the business benefits, visit 
foursquare.com/businesses.
For more information about visiting Pennsylvania on Foursquare, go to visitPA.com/foursquare.