Category Archives: News

Motorola Droid specs leak out; Droid is a brand

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Someone over at Motorola accidently spilled with beans the other day when they accidently revealed the product specs of the upcoming Motorola Droid (codename Sholes) smartphone (of “Droid Does” fame).  Though the product page was taken down shortly after it was posted, the guys over at Boy Genius Report were able to screen capture all the juicy details: “550MHz Texas Instruments OMAP3430 processor, separate PowerVR GPU, 256MB of RAM, CDMA Rev A., Wi-Fi, GPS, a digital magnetometer, accelerometer, proximity sensors, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, notification LED, four touch-sensitive navigation buttons, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5mm headset jack, microUSB port.”   It sports a 3.7 inch, 16:9 capacitive touch screen with 480 x 854 resolution, a 1400 mAh Li-ion battery (up to 385 minutes usage time/ 270 hours standby  time), and comes pre-installed a 16GB microSD card.  It weighs six ounces and has measures 2.4 x 4.6 x 0.5-inches.  Also, BGR says that the browser supports HTML5 and Flash 10 is coming in 2010.

Here’s some even more interesting news.  Apparently “Droid” is not just a device; it also represents a brand–Verizon’s Android-powered devices.  Although the discussed device here is called “the Droid” the name will be carried with other Verizon/Android phones.  In fact, the second phone in the line-up has been leaked.  According to Engadget’s source, what the tech world has been calling the HTC Desire will be the “Droid Eris.”  The source claims that the Eris will be released on November 6, shortly after the Droid will likely be released.  Speaking of release dates, an official date has not been pegged yet, but Verizon is holding a special event for the press on October 26.  More information will be relayed then.  For now, indulge yourself in BGR’s up close and personal shot of the Droid in the gallery below.

[Via BGR; Engadget]

B&N Nook’s LendMe feature has its limitations

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Barnes & Noble recently unveiled their entrance into the e-reader business with their announced of Nook, a two dual-screen WiFi/3G enabled wonder, really.  One of its selling features is what B&N calls LendMe, or the ability to virtually lend a book you purchased on the device with friends and family who also own a Nook, an iPhone/iPod touch, other cellular devices, or a PC/Mac.  The person who receives the lent book has fourteen days until it expires to read it.  So is there a catch?  Well, it’s not so much a “catch” than it is a set of rules that always seems to follow around DRM-encrypted stuff.  Those rules are as follows: Once you lend a book to someone, you can never lend that same book ever again; during the fourteen day lending period, you cannot read the lent book that you purchased in the first place; lastly, every book sold in the B&N e-reader store will not have the ability to be lent out (it’s up to the publisher’s discretion).  Though these rules are rather lame, having the ability to lend a book is better than not having it, right?

[Via Engadget]

Windows 7 release day — it’s all about ‘7’

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The day has finally come.  Windows 7, Microsoft’s next major operating system, is out today.  Will it turn out to be the “Vista fix” and live up to its positive initial reviews?  Only time will tell.

Alongside the release there has been a handful of Windows-related news to peruse.  First there’s a slew of new Windows commercials featuring a new tagline; “I’m a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea.”  Heck, it works.  Check out one commercial here, and look after the break for two others.

 

 

Next up is the grand opening of the Microsoft Store.  The first MS retail store opened in Scottsdale, AZ today, exciting hundreds of Windows fanboys (and girls) who camped outside the mall overnight.  The first four people on-line received free Zune HDs and other early customers received some other freebies.  From some YouTube video footage and in-store images the Microsoft Store looks very much like an Apple Store, except with more vibrant colors and, obviously, Windows-related products such as Surface tables and Xbox 360s.  The video below is the fascinating countdown of the store’s morning launch; the countdown starts (so appropriately and to the glee of the rabid fans) at 7.  For a glimpse at the inside of the store, look after the break for a video featuring the welcoming colorful staff and see the gallery below for some stills. [Also noteworthy is that the online Microsoft Store is up and running, too.  It offers MS and third party products and services to purchase online.]

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Two more less significant but equally relevant newsbits.  Today in Paris a “Microsoft Cafe” opened its doors to the public.  Besides it being the onlyofficial Windows-themed cafe in the world, there isn’t much else to say about it.  It offers free WiFi service to its customers and there are a myriad of Windows products for customers to play with as they sip their coffee and eat their pastries.  See the gallery below for some stills of the Windows Cafe.

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This last bit of news is quite freaky, actually.  In Japan, Burger King introduced the “Windows 7 Whopper,” a 5-inch tall beast of a burger that packs (you guessed it) seven patties.  Customers are forced to pay a premium for this…unique treat (777 yen/$8.53).

 

Oh, one more thing.  Remember that over-the-top awesomely awkward “How to throw a Windows 7 party” ad Microsoft made some time ago?  Well the good patrons at Funny or Die have created the ultimate parody of it.  Check it out in the video below.

And that’s a wrap.  Now that Windows 7 is out…what are you waiting for?!  If you are a Vista user or looking to purchase a new PC, upgrading/adopting is a no-brainer.  If you are still using XP, hesitance is natural (thanks, Vista) but you should definitely consider jumping into the next generation OS.  If you’re that skeptical about it, it doesn’t hurt to wait for Service Pack 1.  If you’re a Mac user–I’ll just shut up.  Windows 7 is finally here.  PARTAY…or don’t.

—> Continue reading Windows 7 release day — it’s all about ‘7’ →

Barnes & Noble announces Nook, the coolest e-reader yet

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Step aside Amazon Kindle 1, 2, DX and make way for the most innovative and stylish e-reader yet.  Barnes & Noble invites us to indulge in what they are calling the Nook, a 11.2 ounce (7.7- x 4.9- x 0.5-inches) e-reader device that will surely change the game in the e-reader realm.  Priced at a competitive $259, the Nook features two displays, a top 6 inch e-ink display from Vizplex and a 3.5 inch LCD touchscreen below it.  It includes 2GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot for expandable storage (you can load up pictures, music, and personal PDF documents), Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microUSB port for charging.  B&N claims the Nook will run for up ten days before it needs a recharge (which takes 3.5 hours).  And oh yeah, it runs Google’s Android OS.

The Nook allows you to browse the B&N e-book store and choose from over one million titles.  Browsing can be done cable-free via Wi-Fi (for free at Barnes & Noble stores, and onlyat B&N stores at launch) and over AT&T’s 3G data service.  All books can be previewed for free and most bestsellers and new releases cost $9.99.  You can also keep updated with the latest news by receiving  newspaper and magazine subscriptions.  Nook’s LendMe technology allows you to share your purchased books with others by wirelessly “lending” a copy of your book to their e-reader, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod touch, select Blackberry and Motorola phones, and soon Windows Mobile phones.  All you need is the eReader Software (free) installed on your particular device.  A lent copy of a book expires after 14 days.

B&N is taking preorders for the Nook today and the expected ship date is November 30.  Look after the break for a video demo; see the Nook in action.

Barnes & Noble deserves a round of applause.  After waiting in the shadows as companies like Amazon and Sony pumped out e-reader devices year after year, B&N has gone and surprised us all and rocked the e-reader industry with its latest creation in the Nook.  Its dual-screen format looks like a winner; easy touchscreen navigation on the bottom and clear, glare-free reading on the top.  It’s simple yet efficient design makes B&N’s Nook a new and worthy competitor in my book (pun intended).

[Via Engadget; Gizmodo]

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Continue reading Barnes & Noble announces Nook, the coolest e-reader yet →

Gleeks, listen here: Glee is renewed for a full season and Joss Whedon will direct an episode

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After a strong performance in the ratings, Fox’s hit series Glee has given the thumbs up to produce “the back nine.”  This is a TV term that means a show has been ordered to create 9 more episodes in addition to the original set of 13.  So what does this mean for fans of Glee?  There will be a total of 13 + 9 = 22 episodes of Glee this season.

And the great news doesn’t end there.  According to EW, creator, director, writer, genius Joss Whedon (Buffy, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible) will be directing one of the back nine episodes!  Apparently Whedon is a big fan of the show (who isn’t) and is enthusiastic about helping create a special episode of Glee.  Glee creator Ryan Murphy: “Joss directed one of the great musical episodes in the history of television on Buffy, so this is a great, if unexpected, fit. I’m thrilled he’ll be loaning us his fantastic groundbreaking talent.”  I, for one, cannot wait to see what Joss has in store for Glee.  His brilliance and unique talents will only add to the amazingness that Glee has already become.

[Via EW, here & here]

Verizon is packing the heat with ‘Droid Does’ viral campaign

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APPLE, WATCH OUT.  Verizon is taking the battle to you, not AT&T, with this advertisement that is pushing over the airwaves on major networks such as FOX.

The 30 second spot begins with a bunch of “iDon’t” phrases, clearly bashing the Apple iPhone for all the things it can’tdo.  This plays alongside an Apple commercial-esque playful tune.  About 20 seconds in the viral fun begins.  The phrase “Droid Does” forms in a futuristic and mechanistic way and it leaves the viewer with a hint: something is coming in November.  Those who closely watched the ad caught the text visible on the bottom of the screen.  This is a commercial for Verizon, and, interestingly, Verizon had to state that “Droid is a registered trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd., licensed to Verizon.”  (It seems as if Mr. George Lucas owns the word “droid.”)

Anyway..after further investigation, all signs point to this being a commercial for Verizon’s first Android-powered cell phone, properly called “Droid.”  (For all you fellow techies, its code-name was Sholes.)  This device is developed by Motorola and will run Google’s Android operating system, version 2.0.  The teaser page includes an “alien counter” that has been decyphered; the timer ends on October 30.  Will more information be released about this mystery device on that date?  We shall wait and see…

Well, looks like we don’t have to wait thatlong for some new info.  The fellas at Boy Genius Report have captured some images of the Motorola Droid.  Here’s a summation of their “hands-on:” it runs Android 2.0; it’s very thin (for a QWERTY smartphone); it’s fast; it has a 3.7 inch capacitive display; it runs on a TI OMAP3430 processor; it has a 5-megapixel camera (with flash).  Will report on more information as it comes.  For now, check out images of the Droid below.

[Via Engadget; Gizmodo, here & here; BGR]

Microsoft Store opening to coincide with Windows 7 launch this Thursday

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The first ever Microsoft Store will open this Thursday in Scottdale, Arizona.  MS tells customers to “Be entertained,” “Be excited,” and “Be early.”  There will be free give-aways and a live performance from who else by “pop superstar” Ashley Tisdale.  According to Engadget, the Store will look a little some like this (see the gallery below) and will feature a genius support bar.

[Via Engadget]

Balloon Boy captivates America, lives to tell the tale

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Here’s the story in a nutshell.  Six-year-old Falcon Heene, or Balloon Boy (as he is being referred to on the interwebs), was thought to have placed himself in a family-constructed helium balloon and let himself loose to roam the dangerous skies of eastern Colorado.  Network and cable TV news programs reported on the bizarre footage and quickly garnered a large audience that was captivated by such outlandishness and the hopeful safety of the young child inside.  As the balloon flew at fast speeds and nearly missed hitting objects along its path to nowhere, Americans around the nation watched in awe.  Eventually the balloon was tracked down and stopped.  Frantic citizens, policeman, and an ambulance were on the scene hoping to find Falcon safe inside the balloon.  And here’s the best part–Balloon Boy was NEVER in the balloon!  The whole time this event was going on Little Falcon was hiding in a box in the attic at his house.  Apparently his father had yelled at him for some reason or another, so Falcon decided to release his father’s helium balloon into the sky and hide himself in the attic.

In sum, this kid DUPED us all!  He had the entire nation (there were international reports, too) believe that he was in the balloon hovering the skies.  Besides TV coverage, social networking sites raged with furor over this event.  Facebook users created fan pages for Balloon Boy and the term “Balloon Boy” quickly became a trending topic on Twitter and sat there for a good part of the day.  Also, it’s been predicted that Balloon Boy will become a popular Halloween costume this season!

Balloon Boy, kudos to you for pulling off a spectacular stunt on the country.  Now it’s time for you to get severely grounded.

UPDATE:  In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Falcon is asked why he did not come out of hiding when he heard his parents screaming after him.  Falcon admits “You guys [his parents] said that we did this for a show.”  When asked for an explanation of this, his father backtracks and does not answer.  Hm…this whole mess could be a construed mastermind plan that started with the parents looking for what…media coverage on the family?  Look after the break for a snippet of this revealing interview.  [Skip to 0:40 for Falcon’s response followed by a faint fart, as pointed out by Gizmodo.]

UPDATE 2: The entire Balloon Boy incident was a HOAX!  Why am I not surprised?

[Via CNN; E! Online]

Continue reading Balloon Boy captivates America, lives to tell the tale →

Kid Cudi joins Lady Gaga on tour, feeds the ‘Fame Monster’

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It has just been announced that successful newcomer Kid Cudi will be joining Lady Gaga on her upcoming tour called “The Monster Ball.”  The tour begins on November 27 in Montreal and ends in New York City on January 21.  Cudder will be the supporting act for the entire duration of the tour.  Ticket information has not yet been released.  Look after the break for the tour dates; the gallery below reveals the official tour poster.

In related news, Lady Gaga will be re-releasing her successful freshman hit “The Fame.”  “The Fame Monster” will include 10 new tracks.  It releases on November 24.  The image above is the album cover, and the gallery below has the deluxe edition album cover.  The covers were designed and photographed by Hedi Slimane.

[Via DatNewCudi; KanyeBlog]

Continue reading Kid Cudi joins Lady Gaga on tour, feeds the ‘Fame Monster’ →

Glee soundtrack, tour coming soon

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Fellow Gleeks I have good news to share.

(1) Glee: The Music, Volume 1 releases on November 3 and will include 17 songs that are/were performed on the hit Fox series.  Some of the tracks include “Take a Bow,” “Gold Digger,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” and everyone’s favorite “Don’t Stop Believin.'”  Look after the break for the FULL tracklist.

(2) A Glee musical tour is planned to rollout in Spring 2010, once season one production is complete.  Fox Broadcasting president Kevin Reilly to EW: “We’ve had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm from our music partners.  Certainly if these kids become stars in their own right, who knows? Live appearances. Albums. There’s lots of things that could happen.”

PUSH IT.  PUSH IT REAL GOOD.

[Via EW, here & here] Continue reading Glee soundtrack, tour coming soon →

Spongebob to marry Sandy in a one-hour special

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EW has the inside scoop on the Spongebob Squarepants wedding!

An upcoming episode of Spongebob “will piece together never-before-seen flashbacks of SpongeBob and his pals after they get trapped inside Krusty Krab’s freezer during the restaurant’s “eleventy seventh” birthday.”  One of these flashbacks includes said wedding between the Sponge and squirrel.  The episode will be narrated by Ricky Gervais and feature voices from talents like Rosario Dawson, Craig Ferguson, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, LeBron James, Pink, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and Robin Williams.  Truth or Square, the one-hour special, airs November 6 at 8PM on Nickelodeon.

Check out a sneak peak from the episode here.

[Via EW]