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MacBook Pro 2012 model release tipped by price drop

By admin|News

Over at Best Buy this week you’ll find that the new MacBook Pro 2012 model has been tipped by one of the more obvious events that always happens before a new Apple product: a price reduction int he current model. This blowout and replace tactic has been in place for several years now, all the way back to when iPods were given away for free to students when the newest model was on the way in the early 2000s – and beyond. Here we’ve got Best Buy specifically taking a few bucks off Apple’s otherwise tight and solid price scheme with several price cuts starting at $100 USD.

The price cuts start on the least expensive MacBook Pro with a $100 discount and are offering up to nearly $200 off the higher-end models they’ve got in stock. This compared to the retailer’s price-cut of the iPad 2 this February shows that the new MacBook will be released very, very soon. When the iPad 2 was discounted by $50 this February at Best Buy, the 3rd generation iPad was released a week later.

The display will be at the center of attention when this new MacBook Pro drops, it likely taking on a resolution densification that is on par with how impressive the 2012 iPad with “retina quality display” was when it was released. This means that the new MacBook Pro 2012 model will need a bigger battery, this pointing towards this model doing away with the optical drive and replacing it with batteries and making the whole unit thinner as Apple does so. We’re also feeling the idea that Apple will push gaming and app sales on this particular model MacBook Pro, this tied closely with the improved Ivy Bridge processors and NVIDIA graphics inside.

Have a peek at our MacBook Pro 2012 timeline below and expect not only the 3rd Generation Intel Core processor lineup inside, but USB 3.0 along the sides as well – soon!

MacBook Pro 2012 model release tipped by price drop is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sonos SUB blasts purple sound sauce

By admin|News

Today the folks at Sonos have decided to advertise for a brand new wireless subwoofer by the name of Sonos SUB with a dish of purple non-Newtonian fluid. The speaker itself will undoubtedly sound just fabulous when its released to the public, but for now there’s not many ways to show off its power without literally having people standing next to it. Because of this, Sonos brought out the non-Newtonian liquid and let it bounce, dance, and otherwise go crazy in purple.

This liquid shows off how the Sonos System, as they call it, is meant to be represented with a “spine-curling, jaw-dropping, full body experience” for your music. This speaker will be available in one model at first in the middle of June (tentatively on the 15th of June, to be exact) with a second model to follow in September. The first model is a high-gloss black lacquer finish-toting model for $699 USD ($749 CAD, £699 EU, £599 UK). The second model will be a black matte version for $599 USD ($649 CAD, £599 EU, £499 UK).

This Sonos SUB will be working with all of your current Sonos amplified components. These include CONNECT:AMP, PLAY:5, and PLAY:3, and does not work with the non-amplified Sonos CONNECT. So don’t try! Have a peek in our timeline below to see the rest of the Sonos story as it’s played out over the past few months.

Sonos SUB blasts purple sound sauce is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

B9Creator 3D printer uses light to create stuff

By admin|News

When it comes to emerging technology trends, one could very easily argue there is nothing cooler than 3D printers. The idea of using a “printer” to create things as mundane as keychains and mugs to objects as important as artificial limbs is something with which absolutely anyone can find some sort of fascination. So any new road that a company wants to pave in this emerging space is exciting, which is probably why B9Creator hit its Kickstarter funding goal in one day.

The company, which uses the power of light to impact the printable resin material and set it in place, sought only $50,000 on the social venture capital site. By today, it was already well in excess of $160,000. There are still 21 days left before the funding deadline. The resin that’s used costs around 10 cents per gram, and the machine itself is less than 30 pounds. Anyone who put in more than $2,375 will get a unit delivered to them in August.

3D printing is making inroads not just in consumer applications but also for business, for medicine, and for third-world countries where resources are much more scarce. The majority of the material needed for a 3D printer can now be printed from a 3D printer. It’s fascinating to watch this next evolution in scientific advancement.

[via Mashable]

B9Creator 3D printer uses light to create stuff is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Motorola DreamGallery is company’s answer to Google TV

By admin|News

Motorola isn’t in the business of manufacturing TV sets. But it still wants what you to see one of its creations when you sit down in the living room. Introducing DreamGallery, a brand new operating system for Internet-connected TVs. It will assumedly work similar to Google TV in that Motorola will produce the software but it has to sweet-talk manufacturers into providing the hardware.

One of its slogans appears to be “Say ‘good-bye’ to the traditional grid,” referring to the standard interface that exists on most media-centric platforms. Whether it’s a proprietary TV manufacturer operating system or even Android or iOS, we’ve come to expect an interface that presents our apps in a series of parallel boxes. DreamGallery will try something different.

The platform boasts “intuitive graphics to help viewers find their content – fast,” “personalized recommendations” for new content, and various tools and services that will make it easier on both the content provider side and the end user side to tailor their experiences accordingly. It certainly looks nothing like any other TV operating system has today. Don’t take our word for it. Check out the video:

[via VentureBeat]

Motorola DreamGallery is company’s answer to Google TV is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

http://www.squidoo.com/home-gadgets-everyone-should-have

By Carlton|News

This is a running list of gadgets you really should have – or buy as a gift (hint hint!).

Many might think that these are great gadgets for women (and they’re right), but men love home gadgets as well so let’s not make this into a gender thing…lol!

http://www.squidoo.com/air-shark-remote-control-shark-air-swimmer

By Carlton|News

Air swimmers are so cool, aren’t they? No wonder kids AND adults are having so much fun with them. This Air Shark is one of the Air Swimmers new Remote control “blimps” and it is so much fun to play with!

Voyager Mobile finally open for business

By admin|News

If you’re willing to be a little flexible with your choice of smartphone, you can save a pretty penny by subscribing to an MVNO instead of one of the main four carriers in the US. MVNOs piggyback on their networks but typically offer better deals. One such MVNO is Voyager Mobile, who promised to bring unlimited tariffs to a CDMA network near you without breaking the bank but has suffered some delays. Today Voyager has officially launched with prices that might entice you.

The virtual network is offering several handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch and the HTC Arrive. As always, there’s a catch: you have to purchase the device outright, then pay month by month for the smartphone plan. The upside is that you won’t be tied into a long term contract, and the numbers work out cheaper in the long run, but you do have to shell out more cash upfront. The Galaxy S II, for example, costs $549 from the online store.

As for tariffs, there are only two: $39 per month nets you unlimited calling, texts, and data. If you don’t want data, then there’s a cheaper $19 tariff that only features unlimited minutes and texts. As for coverage, Voyager say the service is available in the following areas: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. The company says that more states will be added in the future.

Voyager Mobile finally open for business is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

JCB Toughphone Pro-Smart Review

By admin|News

Smashed screens, cracked casings and broken buttons: you can take out endless insurance policies on your smartphone, or you can opt for a tougher handset altogether. JCB knows a little about sturdy hardware, and the Toughphone Pro-Smart TP909 certainly looks the part even when it’s in the box. Oversized but still surprisingly affordable, it’s the first of JCB’s butch line-up to run a smartphone OS, in this case Android. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

The Toughphone is relatively cheap for an Android smartphone, and with a chunk of the budget going on ruggedization, it comes as little surprise that the core specifications are humble. An 800MHz, single-core processor, 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen and mere 256MB of ROM make for a distinctly sub-average device. Outdoors, the display is reasonably clear though you need to shade it with a hand in direct sunlight.

Still, the basics are onboard. There’s triband 3G/HSDPA and quadband GSM/EDGE, together with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and WiFi b/g. A 5-megapixel camera with LED flash on the back is joined by a front-facing VGA camera for video calls – ideal for showing your Skype friends how great you look in your protective headgear – and there’s GPS too.

Design

Distinctive is probably the most generous way of describing the Toughphone’s appearance, JCB variously channelling protective clothing, oversized footwear and a waspish color scheme to come up with the chunky handset. Despite the compact 3.2-inch screen, it’s hardly a small phone at 125 x 62.2 x 20.5 mm, the thickness being a particular shock given the industry trend for slimmer and slimmer devices.

A mixture of black and yellow rubber sticks to JCB’s earth-mover traditions, and it’s certainly difficult to lose the Toughphone on a desk. Unfortunately the front panel button arrangement is a mixed bag: the call, home and call-end buttons are all nicely sized for use even when wearing gloves, but the touch-sensitive menu, search and back controls sandwiched in-between them and the display proved less responsive.

On the left edge there’s a covered microUSB port and a button that lights up the LED flash on the back of the handset for use as a torch. The power button and a covered 3.5mm headphone socket are on the top edge, and volume buttons and a camera shortcut are on the right side. All of the edge keys are somewhat stiff to press, by virtue of their rubbery protection, but they’re still large enough to hit if you’re not bare-handed.

A lanyard loop is on the top back edge, with the battery door cover underneath secured by two screws. JCB includes a small, fiddly screwdriver attached to a bundled lanyard with a carabiner and a compass, but it’s the sort of thing you only really want to have to open up and close once, really. The SIM, microSD card and 2,000 mAh battery are sealed in place by a rubber gasket around the battery door, helping to keep them safe from dust and water.

JCB quotes IP67 certification for water and dust resistance, and though the Toughphone isn’t invulnerable, it’s still far more resilient than your average handset. We were able to dunk it underwater and then shake it dry with no ill effects – JCB warns that “water resistance” isn’t the same as “waterproof” and so you can’t take the Toughphone swimming underwater – and a few careless drops left not even a scuff on the casing.

The weak spot is likely to be the display, a compromise between creating a rugged device and one which offers smartphone functionality. The raised bezel should do a decent job of protecting it, mind, and even after a trip in a pocket with some keys we noticed no scratches or marks.

Our one main complaint is the microUSB port. JCB’s charge/sync connection is standard USB, but the port itself is recessed – to accommodate the chunky body – and so requires a specially tapered plug in order to fit. That’s included in the box, obviously, but it does mean that your standard USB chargers won’t work.

Software and Performance

JCB has opted for Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread rather than 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the Toughphone, earning our ire out of the box. However, the company has also generally left the OS alone, its modifications amounting to little more than a custom splashscreen, JCB-themed wallpaper and a special JCB Toolbox app.

In that toolbox are six different mini-apps of varying usefulness. There’s a spirit level, which uses the JCB’s sensors to track how level a surface is (and can be set to a certain preferred degree, if you have a particular angle in mind), and a digital theodolite, as well as a sound meter for measuring ambient noise.

A calculator duplicates Android’s own app, but there’s a handy converter app that can juggle measurements or other sums such as telling you how many days there are in a certain month, complete with voice-to-text input. Least useful is the torch, which basically turns the display into a full-brightness white panel, but is less powerful than the LED flashlight on the back of the phone.

Finally, for those needing building supplies, there’s a DIY store locator which shows nearby retailers on a map. With our UK unit, that seemed limited to the B&Q chain.

Given ruggedness is the primary purpose of the Toughphone, performance is unsurprisingly mediocre. In a world where dual-core phones are common, the JCB’s 800MHz single-core stumbles on with noticeable lag when dealing with heavier apps. We also experienced some issues with missed screen taps which, when mixed in with the tardy processor, left us occasionally confused as to whether our press had been registered or if the phone was just still crunching away.

Camera

Don’t expect much from the JCB’s 5-megapixels. Image quality proved distinctly disappointing, with bland colors and murky contrast. More worryingly, some of our test images showed marked aberrations in the frame, with wobbly lines and distortions.

It’s possible that’s down to the extra lens protection slapped on top of the sensor, or could be a software glitch in our review device; still, the phone was running the latest build available, according to the Android update tool. The takeaway was that the JCB is fine for a quick snapshot to aid the memory, but nowhere near something you’d replace even a different camera-phone with, never mind a dedicated point-and-shoot.

Phone and Battery

JCB has blessed the Toughphone with a throaty earpiece, and even we crept up near to a worksite to see if the smartphone could compete with the average rumble of heavy machinery, we were able to hear our caller. With no active noise cancellation, however, it proved a little more difficult for them to hear us.

Up to 550 minutes of GSM talktime or up to 360 minutes of standby are quoted from the 2,000 mAh battery. It’s a large pack given the size of the screen, and as a result the Toughphone can hold out longer than the typical smartphone. We managed a couple of days use – with push Gmail turned on – before needing to recharge.

Wrap-Up

Rugged devices have a tough time. Their audience is inevitably limited, and the balance of specifications, price and physical sturdiness is always weighted toward the latter. In the JCB’s case, the camera seems to have been the primary victim of those priorities.

Nonetheless, while the audience may be limited, so is the number of rivals. Motorola’s DEFY+ is the most likely alternative, offering a bigger screen, slightly faster processor and the same IP67 certification, albeit with less sturdy protective cladding. Ironically the DEFY+ is available in a special JCB edition, priced at £169 ($268) pre-tax, undercutting the Toughphone’s £259 ($410) pre-tax tag.

For most, the Motorola will be a sufficient compromise between performance and resilience. If you’re generally found on a construction site, however (or are clumsy beyond belief) and can accept the compromises, the JCB Toughphone should hold up to more than the average degree of mistreatment.

Thanks to Clove for the loan of the JCB Toughphone.

JCB Toughphone Pro-Smart Review is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung Focus 2 Review

By admin|News

AT&T has no shortage of value-priced phones, and just lately, a pretty good selection of 4G LTE devices as well. But the two haven’t crossed over much yet, and the ranks of Windows Phone 7 devices are a little slim as well. Happily, all three of these categories can add the Samsung Focus 2, which goes on sale starting today for $49.99 with a two-year contract. Is it worth your hard-earned greenbacks? Let’s find out.

Hardware

Samsung has become surprisingly adept at putting out quality smartphone hardware, even on the low-end of its range. In general build and quality, the Focus 2 feels like a shrunken version of the white Galaxy S II: compact, light, glossy and very solid. The hard plastic shell isn’t the thinnest available, but there’s nearly zero flex, and its gentle curves feel comfortable in the hand. Controls are found mounted within the silver ring surrounding the phone: volume on the left side, power and two-stage camera button (yes!) on the right.

The front of the device is dominated by a 4-inch, 480×800 Super AMOLED display. Margins on the side are small, but fatten out on the top and bottom to accommodate the speaker, front-facing camera and Windows Phone controls. The screen itself is rather typical of Samsung – if you like bright, saturated colors, you’ll be right at home, but if you’re more used to a 720p display or can’t stand the slight fuzziness of PenTile panels, you probably won’t be convinced.

Around the back you’ll find a battery door that uses Samsung’s “snap-on” technique, beneath which is the 1750mAh battery, MicroSIM card slot and not much else. The 5.0 megapixel camera sits next to a tiny speaker. There’s a clever little loop in the speaker grill that pushes up the back of the phone about a millimeter – this ensures that there’s always some space between the back of the phone and a flat surface for speakerphone or video calls. The speaker itself is a little weak, but not nearly so much as some of the others I’ve seen, such as the Galaxy S III.

Under the hood are some respectable specs, even if they won’t set the world on fire. A 1.4ghz single-core processor is paired to 512Mb of RAM – not the best out there, but as we’ll see later, plenty for Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. Internal storage is just 8GB, which you’ll have to make due with, since the Focus 2 lacks a MicroSD card slot. Naturally it’s got all the wireless bells and whistles with WiFi and Bluetooth accompanying 4G LTE. In the box you’ll get the standard wall-wart and data cable combo, plus a surprisingly nice headset with in-line music controls that matches the phone’s glossy white finish.

Software

If you’ve seen one Windows Phone, you’ve seen them all, at least from a software perspective. Aside from AT&T’s rather annoying additions (U-Verse, Navigator, Yellow Pages and more, all of which can be uninstalled) there are no surprises here. If you’re not already familiar with Mango, check out our review here.

The Focus 2 handles Mango with aplomb, even as a budget phone. Navigating the slick and unique interface was quick and fluid, and I didn’t start noticing any slowdown until I began running dozens of apps at once. Speaking of apps, there’s nothing to be done about the lack of them on WP7. While you should be able to find utilities for most tasks, the absence of big names like Pandora is hard to overlook.

Those who are familiar with Windows Phone, or perhaps more likely at this price point, those who haven’t used a smartphone before, will not be disappointed. If you’ve been spoiled for choice of apps on Android or iOS, or you just don’t live in a Windows world, you may want to look elsewhere. WP7 Mango is undeniably beautiful and it’ll handle all the basic tasks of the other big players, but a platform lives and dies on its software support.

Camera and Media

The 5-megapixel camera on the Focus 2 is pretty much what you’d expect: reliable enough for candid snapshots, but “serious” photographers (if the term can be applied to mobile phones at all) will be better served elsewhere. Even in good lighting, I found myself having to adjust the white balance settings for shots where the sun wasn’t directly visible. Colors were erratically over-saturated or muted.

Video is likewise lukewarm. With plenty of lighting the 720p sensor does well enough, but you’ll see some banding when moving around (and with a phone this light, it tends to happen a lot). The VGA front-facing camera is suitable only for video chat – self-pics will turn out better with the rear camera and a little guesswork.

All that said, the two-stage camera button is a fantastic addition (though standard on Windows Phone 7 devices). The shutter is quick to focus and it activated when pressed and held, even when the phone is off. I do not exaggerate when I say, I wish every single smartphone had a dedicated camera button, even when the camera itself is nothing to write home about.

Music is a standard experience, even if it is a little weak coming out of the phone’s speakers. It’s a good thing, then, that the pair of headphones included is a step above the general lot, with easy-to use in-line controls and a microphone. It’s nice to see this inclusion, which is all too often absent on more expensive devices. Video plays well enough, though if you’re constantly browsing YouTube or the like, you’ll want something with a larger screen.

Battery and radio

The 1750mAh battery on the Focus 2 is something more usually found in a much larger smartphone. The combination of an efficient screen and WP7′s generally un-demanding workload mean that the Focus 2 can ho surprisingly long without a charge. Despite some pretty heavy browsing and talking sessions, I couldn’t drain the Focus 2 to less than 40% of its capacity over a 12-hour workday. Those of you who are frustrated with puny run-times shouldn’t have a problem here.

Likewise, the call quality on the Focus 2 is surprising. Speaking with friends and family member across the country was sharp and clear, despite the generally spotty coverage in my mountainous area. While I don’t yet live in an AT&T 4G LTE coverage are, I was at full bars nearly all the time, though actual speeds were a bit disappointing in the 1 to 1.5mbps range, where other AT&T phones tend to get at least 2mbps.

Value

The Focus 2 is undeniably a good deal at $50 on contract. The combination of solid specs, great battery life and good ergonomics would make it an instant recommendation… if it weren’t for other AT&T phones too close to it in the price range. For $50 more you can get the excellent Nokia Lumia 900, which beats it in nearly every category and looks great to boot. If you’re wiling to switch to Android, the 4.5-inch HTC Vivid is just $49.99.

If you’re in an area without LTE or you simply don’t care about the faster data speeds, your options grow even more. There’s the still-respectable iPhone 3GS, currently going for a dollar on AT&T’s website, the original HTC Titan for just a penny, or the 720p LG Nitro HD for the same price. Don’t get me wrong, the Focus 2 is a solid phone… but if I had my heart set on it, I might wait a couple of months for the price to drop to free or practically so.

Wrap-up

The Samsung Focus 2 is a very tidy device, and currently the cheapest phone on AT&T to combine LTE and Windows Phone 7. Anyone who purchases it won’t be disappointed, especially those who require long battery life. That said, if a great camera or a big, high-res screen are in your list of must-haves, look elsewhere.

It’s also hard to recommend the Focus 2 above the Nokia Lumia 900. The extra fifty bones is worth it in basically every category. Likewise, the other alternatives mentioned above can get you access to more apps (if not such a polished OS) for the same or less money. The Focus 2 is ideal for those who want to get into Windows Phone 7 for as little money as possible, without sacrificing build quality or an LTE connection. The phone is on sale starting today for $49.99 with a two-year contract.

Samsung Focus 2 Review is written by Michael Crider & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft So.cl opens social search for all

By admin|News

Microsoft’s So.cl social network and companion search tool has exited beta, promising to integrate comprehensive data gathering into a research tool ideal for students and knowledge addicts. Unveiled back in December 2011, So.cl was described at the time as a way of creating “montages of visual web content” by tagging search results and seeing other suggested topics from fellow researchers. However, Microsoft continues to insist that So.cl is intended to live alongside – not replace – your Facebook, Google+ or Twitter account.

According to the So.cl (pronounced “social”) FAQ, Microsoft fully expects users of the service “to continue using products such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other existing social networks, as well as Bing, Google and other search tools” rather than switch wholesale. “We hope to encourage students to reimagine how our everyday communication and learning tools can be improved,” the company says, “by researching, learning and sharing in their everyday lives.”

Initially, So.cl was available in limited beta to students at the University of Washington, Syracuse University, and New York University. Since then, the team behind the service has been busy refining it, adding concepts like “riffing” on topics – basically taking concepts or content others have posted and allowing users to give it their own spin – and public exploring through themed tagging.

There’s also “video parties” which pull together communal playlists of content guiding viewers through a tagged theme, complete with companion chat, and so-called “rich” posts of automatically created montages from text, photos, audio and video. By default, all So.cl content is available publicly – though it can be set to private – so as to encourage community learning.

You can try So.cl by logging in with your Facebook or Windows Live account here.

Microsoft So.cl opens social search for all is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Discount Auto Insurance – Things You Need To Know

By Carlton|News

Just because something’s not expensive, doesn’t mean it’s still going to be the best option for you. It might pay off in the long run for you to get something that costs a little bit more now, in exchange for saving you from big losses later on in life.

Dust 514 gets beta registration

By admin|News

Publisher CCP Games is now letting numerous other players get in on the beta for the free-to-play massively multiplayer title on the PS3, Dust 514. The company announced that it has plans to massively expand its online beta throughout the summer. This will be in addition to the thousands who are already part of the closed beta. Those selected for now will be people who are already players of Eve Online.

Select Eve gamers, along with those who were part of the Eve Fanfest convention in Iceland earlier this year, will gain entry to the online preview this week. Dust 514, which is slated to be available exclusively on PS3, will be a completely free-to-play affair. CCP had originally planned to charge a nominal price for gamers to download the title from the PlayStation Store, but that plan has been scrapped because, CCP says, it didn’t want to confuse gamers. The experience inside the game itself will not change at all.

Dust 514 was built on the freemium model, which means that players can download and play the game for free, but as they progress and want new items or expanded feature sets, that’s the point at which they’ll need to start forking over some cash. The price that would have been charged, around $10 to $20, would have been immediately converted into in-game currency, so gamers weren’t actually paying for the download but were forced into investing at least some money in the experience.

[via CVG]

Dust 514 gets beta registration is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.