Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “AT&T Cuts iPhone 3GS Price to $49” |
- AT&T Cuts iPhone 3GS Price to $49
- What You Missed from CES 2011 Press Day [PICS]
- Sony Ericsson Xperia arc: Ultra-Thin Android With a Powerful Camera
- Mashable Is Hiring & Other Social Media & Development Job Vacancies
- Jinni Grabs $5 Million for Semantic TV Guide
- Smartphones Still Outrank Tablets & E-Readers in Nielsen Survey [STATS]
- Microsoft Surface is Now Thinner, Smarter & Cheaper [PICS]
- “Pandora for Shopping” Startup Surfaces Best in Indie Design
- Microsoft CEO Says Windows Phone 7 Gets 100+ Apps Each Day
- Microsoft Wows CES Crowd With Windows 7-Powered Tablets
- Microsoft Kinect Sales Surpass 8 Million
- Motorola Droid Bionic Packs Dual Cores, Outputs 1080p [PICS]
- Motorola Debuts Android Honeycomb Tablet at CES
- Sony Unveils New 3D, Gaming and TV Products [LIVE]
- Motorola Shows Off New Mobile Products [LIVE]
- Samsung’s Outlandish HDTVs [PICS]
- Twitter’s Official Mac App Coming Tomorrow
- Samsung Sliding PC Bridges the Gap Between Netbook and Tablet
- Behold, Android 3.0: Secret Weapon of Multiple Tablet PCs [VIDEO]
- Vevo Launches Emerging Artists Program
- Cisco’s Videoscape Offers a New Way to Deliver and Receive Video [PICS]
- Samsung Reveals Its New TVs, PCs, Smartphones and Tablets [LIVE]
- It’s Official: Windows 8 to Support ARM
- Golden-Voiced Homeless Man Scores Job Offers After Video Goes Viral
- 5 Web Technologies and Trends to Watch in 2011
- NBC Premieres New TV Show on the iPad [EXCLUSIVE]
- Sharp Launches Bigger and Brighter LCD TVs at CES [LIVE]
- Neer Releases Private Location-Sharing App for iPhone
- Pioneer Brings Deeper Facebook, Twitter & Pandora Integration to the Car
- File Delivery Service YouSendIt Acquires 2 Startups
| AT&T Cuts iPhone 3GS Price to $49 Posted: 06 Jan 2011 04:55 AM PST      If you thought that Apple will be absent from the news during CES (which it traditionally doesn’t attend), you were wrong. Apple may not have any new products to show off at the moment, but the iPhone 3GS just became a lot more affordable, as AT&T cut its price to a mere $49 dollars, the Wall Street Journal reports. Right now, the price tag on the 8 GB version of the iPhone 3GS is still $99 dollars, but starting Friday, the price will be cut in half, making the iPhone 3GS quite an attractive option for users on the lookout for an affordable smartphone. The new price tag, of course, also comes with a two-year service contract and data plan. It’s a logical move for AT&T which is expected to lose iPhone exclusivity in the U.S. soon. The company announced at CES that it plans to start offering 20 new smartphones this year, which should reduce its dependence on Apple’s smartphone. [via WSJ] More About: att, iphone 3Gs, Mobile 2.0, price cut, smartphone For more Mobile coverage:
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| What You Missed from CES 2011 Press Day [PICS] Posted: 06 Jan 2011 04:21 AM PST   The infamous Press Day of the Consumer Electronics Show has wrapped up, and we’re still trying to digest all of the news that Sony, Samsung, Motorola, Microsoft, AT&T and others thrusted upon us. We’ve probably seen enough smart TVs, Android devices and Internet-enabled refrigerators to last us a lifetime. Samsung, Sony and LG tried to outdo each other in a race to build the world’s thinnest smartphone, while Motorola made a splash with its Xoom Android 3.0 tablet. Samsung introduced ultra-thin bezel TVs, while Sony doubled down on 3D with new 3D cameras, camcorders and televisions. Oh, and did we mention that LG is trying to connect everything from the washer to your vacuum to the cloud? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite product launches yesterday. Here were some of the highlights:
As always, you can check out our CES 2011 hub to catch up on what’s hot at CES. We’ll be posting a lot of video demos of the products we mentioned, so keep your eyes peeled for our hands-on videos. Photo Galleries: CES Press DayLive Gallery: Intel at CES 2011 The event starts off with Intel President and CEO Paul S. Otellini Live Gallery: Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 The chip in his hand is 1.16 billion transistors. Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 "On-chip graphics outperforms 50% of discrete cards on market." Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Valve is on stage Intel at CES 2011 And just announced that "Portal 2" comes out at the end of April. Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Live demo of "Portal 2" using new dual hand motion game controller. Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 Intel at CES 2011 ...and the president of Warner Brothers is here Intel at CES 2011 Best Buy streaming service -- only compatible with Sandy Ridge Intel at CES 2011 Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Outlandish HDTVs Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Sir Howard Stringer, Sony chairman and CEO and president Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010 Microsoft Surface Updated Microsoft Surface Updated Microsoft Surface Updated Microsoft Surface Updated Microsoft Surface Updated Microsoft Surface Updated LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 LG at CES 2011 More About: android, Android Honeycomb, CES, CES 2011, Google Android, honeycomb, LG, Motorola, samsung, Sharp, Tablet For more Tech coverage:
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| Sony Ericsson Xperia arc: Ultra-Thin Android With a Powerful Camera Posted: 06 Jan 2011 02:18 AM PST   Among Sony’s many announcements yesterday at CES was an interesting new device from Sony Ericsson’s Xperia product line, the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc. Now we have the full specifications: it’s a new smartphone running Android 2.3 and sporting a 1 GHz Qualcomm CPU, 512 MB of memory and a 4.2-inch multi-touch display (Sony Ericsson calls it the Reality Display) with a 854 x 480-pixel resolution. It has a 8.1-megapixel camera with HD video (720p) recording capability and a slim, curved body that’s just 8.7mm thick at its thinnest part and weighs 117 grams. The list of camera’s capabilities is very long for a mobile phone camera; highlights include auto focus, face detection, LED flash, image stabilizer, geo tagging, and noise suppression. The device also features Sony’s Exmor R technology which enables you to take good looking photos and videos in low-light conditions. As far as connectivity goes, you have a 3.5 mm audio jack at your disposal, as well as HDMI, USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support. The device also supports aGPS and DLNA as well as memory cards with capacity up to 32 GB (it comes with an 8 GB microSD card). Sony Ericsson Xperia arc will be available in selected markets, including Japan, from Q1 2011. Reviews: Android, Bluetooth More About: android, smartphone, sony, Sony Ericsson, Xperia Arc For more Mobile coverage:
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| Mashable Is Hiring & Other Social Media & Development Job Vacancies Posted: 05 Jan 2011 11:13 PM PST
If you’re seeking a job in social media, we’d like to help out. For starters, Mashable’s Job Lists section gathers together all of our resource lists, how-tos and expert guides to help you get hired. In particular, you might want to see our articles on How to Leverage Social Media for Career Success and How to Find a Job on Twitter. But we’d like to help in a more direct way, too. Mashable’s job boards are a place for socially savvy companies to find people like you. This week and every week, Mashable features its coveted job board listings for a variety of positions in the web, social media space and beyond. Have a look at what's good and new on our job boards: Mashable Job PostingsCopy Editor at Mashable in New York, NY. Editorial Assistant at Mashable in New York, NY. Regional Sales Director at Mashable in San Francisco, CA. Regional Sales Director at Mashable in New York, NY. Ad Ops Manager at Mashable in New York, NY. VP Product at Mashable in San Francisco, CA. Mashable Job Board ListingsInfographic Designer/Data Visualization at Column Five Media, Inc. in Newport Beach, CA. Rails Web Developer at Quirky in New York, NY. Audience Development Manager at TheStreet.com in New York, NY. Creative Editorial Research/Project Management at Column Five Media, Inc. in Newport Beach, CA. Account Executive, Inside Sales at Demand Media in Santa Monica, CA. Flash Developer at Arkadium in New York, NY. Lead Client Deployment Engineer at Synacor in Buffalo, NY. Director, New Product Development at Turner Broadcasting System Inc. in Atlanta, GA. Director of Business Development at Interactive Partners in New York, NY. Project Manager at Synacor in Buffalo, NY. Social/Emerging Media Manager at Toys”R”Us in Wayne, NJ. Lead/Principal Software Engineer at Mail.com Media Corporation in Inglewood, CA. Business Development Manager at Flurry, Inc. in New York, NY. e-Revenue Web Developer at American Cancer Society in Oakland, CA. Tools Engineer at Synacor in Buffalo, NY. Lead Engineer at Synacor in Buffalo, NY. Creative and Propagation Planner at Campfire in New York, NY. Community Support Specialist at The Independent Traveler in Pennington, NJ. Business Development Executive, Web Content at Adknowledge, Inc. in New York, NY. Security Administrator at Synacor in Buffalo, NY. Director of Online Advertising Sales, Eastern Region at Synacor in New York, NY. Senior Engineer at Synacor in Buffalo, NY. Business Development Executive, Gaming at Adknowledge, Inc. in Burlingame, CA. Web Developer at Frumster, LLC in New York, NY. Strategic Account Manager at Halogen in San Francisco, CA. Objective-C iPhone/iPad/iOS Developer at All Things Media in Ramsey, NJ. Sr. Ad Ops Engineer at Demand Media in Santa Monica, CA. Product Manager at WeightWatchers.com in New York, NY. Mashable’s Job Board has a variety of web 2.0, application development, business development and social networking job opportunities available. Check them out at here. Got a job posting to share with our readers? Post a job to Mashable today ($99 for a 30 day listing) and get it highlighted every week on Mashable.com (in addition to exposure all day every day in the Mashable marketplace). Image courtesy of iStockphoto, YinYang Reviews: Mashable, iStockphoto For more Social Media coverage:
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| Jinni Grabs $5 Million for Semantic TV Guide Posted: 05 Jan 2011 10:35 PM PST   Jinni, a movie and television show semantic search and recommendation engine, has closed a $5 million Series B led by Belgium telecommunications operator Belgacom and an unnamed connected-TV manufacture. Previous investor DFJ Tamir Fishman Ventures also participated in the round. Jinni’s purpose is to help users find the movies and TV shows that match their moods and personal preferences. The service is essentially a semantic television guide that integrates with Netflix, iTunes, Amazon and Hulu catalogs, as well as electronic TV guides. “Completing the Series B funding round allows us to focus on what we do best: Developing an innovative product that is designed to fundamentally improve the entertainment experience,” said Jinni CEO and co-founder Yosi Glick. The cash infusion will also help Jinni move towards becoming multilingual. Given the nature of the investors, we’d also assume that Jinni will become integrated into the television-watching experience on even more Internet-connected TVs and set top boxes. Startups aiming to build spot-on semantic entertainment recommendation engines will be a trend for 2011. Jinni’s Series B round should help the startup become a strong player within the niche market. Reviews: Hulu, Internet, Jinni More About: DFJ, entertainment, funding, jinni, series b, startup, tamir fishman, television, tv For more Business coverage:
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| Smartphones Still Outrank Tablets & E-Readers in Nielsen Survey [STATS] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 09:38 PM PST The Nielsen Company has compiled a U.S. media landscape report from the results of its 2010 research, revealing that many of media devices that topped headlines this year, such as tablets and e-readers, aren’t necessarily on the top of many consumers’ shopping lists. According to the report, smartphone shoppers are buying phones that use the Android, BlackBerry and Apple operating systems in about equal numbers. This departs from worldwide tendencies in 2009, when a study by Gartner research reported that Android held just a 4% market share, iPhone held 14.4% and RIM 19.9% (All three lagged far behind world leader Symbian, which held 47% ). Nielsen’s data suggests that, at least in the U.S., a more equally divided market share is emerging. Android phones outsold iPhones for the first time in early 2010, and an earlier report from Nielsen revealed that Android increased its share of new smartphone buyers between January and November while Apple’s share remained about steady and BlackBerry’s decreased.   The past year was also a period of evolution for television. About 37% of homes that own a television also own a DVR, which is a 7% increase over last year. Despite early fears about how DVRs would affect television advertising, the devices may have had less of an impact than one would think. Forty-five percent of all recorded ads are actually viewed when played back. And only about 21% of television viewed in homes that owned DVRs was recorded. HDTV was dethroned by 3D TV as the latest television content format as companies like ESPN, Discovery, and DirectTV announced plans to launch 3D HDTV channels this year. But unlike HDTV content, which now has about 65 million compatible devices in the U.S., Americans have not yet embraced 3D TVs. Only about 2% of respondents to an online survey said they owned a 3D TV, and only 6% considered buying one a possibility.  The story is similar for some other emerging devices that made big headlines in 2010. Despite Barnes and Noble and Amazon both declaring their respective e-readers to be the bestselling products in their histories, only 5% of about 27,000 consumers in an online survey said that they owned e-readers; and only 7% said that they would consider buying one. Even fewer people who took the survey owned tablets, and only 6% of respondents saying they were thinking about making the purchase. As more affordable competitors to Apple’s iPad emerge, both of those numbers percentages should go up (thus the New York Times has declared a do-over of “the year of the tablet” in 2011). Reviews: Amazon.com, Android More About: 3D TV, DVR, mobile phone use, Nielsen, smartphone market share, State of Media, stats For more Business coverage:
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| Microsoft Surface is Now Thinner, Smarter & Cheaper [PICS] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 09:17 PM PST  Microsoft showed off a new version of Surface, its tabletop touch computer, during the company’s keynote address at CES on Wednesday night. Gone is that cumbersome cube-shaped box with cameras inside. Now, there’s a piece of super-tough Gorilla Glass (the same glass that’s on the front and back of the iPhone 4) on top of what looks like a parson’s table. The whole thing is only four inches thick and works with faster processors and sophisticated infrared sensors that give it finer resolution. The real secret sauce is what Microsoft calls Pixel Sense, a miniaturized version of all those cameras that were formerly mounted underneath the glass surface of the table. Not only is this new version a lot tougher than its predecessor, making it a much more appropriate tabletop for rowdy bars; it’s also a lot smarter. As Microsoft put it, “Every pixel is acting as a camera, so the surface of the PC can actually see.” Microsoft has taken the Surface concept another step further; now in addition to sensing fingers touching it, it can also read documents placed on its tabletop. In the demo, a piece of paper placed on the table was easily read by the Surface’s touchscreen. The demo was remarkable. This technology is getting a lot cheaper, and Microsoft says you might be seeing Surface PCs in a lot more places soon, such as bars, kiosks and other places developers might dream up that we haven’t even thought of yet. Microsoft Surface UpdatedMicrosoft Surface UpdatedMicrosoft Surface UpdatedMicrosoft Surface UpdatedMicrosoft Surface UpdatedMicrosoft Surface UpdatedMore About: ces2011, Infrared sensors, Microsoft Surface, touch computing For more Tech coverage:
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| “Pandora for Shopping” Startup Surfaces Best in Indie Design Posted: 05 Jan 2011 08:49 PM PST   The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Quick Pitch: Aprizi is a highly curated “Pandora for shopping” with a focus on emerging designers and independent brands. Genius Idea: Shopping for beautifully designed products — think apparel, accessories and home decor — online can sometimes feel like wandering through a jungle with a blunt machete, especially when one is after goods from emerging designers and lesser-known brands. One is left to wade in the mire of mixed-quality goods (Etsy), poorly built recommendation engines (most of which are limited to apparel and wearable accessories, like Boutiques.com), unsorted finds from online curators (a.k.a bloggers) and search. Aprizi is a New York-based startup that combines a programmatic recommendation engine with human curators to help shoppers surface the best in independent design on the web. The site was conceived by seasoned startup exec Giff Constable (CEO) and computer science PhD Liz Crawford (CTO), who comes with a research background in artificial intelligence. Admittedly, its recommendation engine, which is currently in beta, is a bit wonky (heavy users will quickly become frustrated to see items they’ve “liked” and “disliked” reappearing); and the site crashes on occasion. Still, we think it has the potential to excel in an underserved niche when it’s fully developed.  Goods are divided into six categories: accessories, shoes, home, apparel, tech and miscellany. Visitors can browse by category, keyword and price range and can vote items up or down to help the engine understand their preferences for particular categories, price levels, stores and styles. Clicking on an item pulls up a close-up and a link to the third-party site where it can be purchased. Users can also see which of Aprizi’s 11 curators selected the item and click to explore their other finds, as well as add their own finds to the site by using Aprizi’s bookmarklet tool.  Aprizi lacks two essential things: opportunities for greater user engagement and a solid business model. Although the startup has an active blog and consumers can share individual items by Facebook, Twitter and e-mail, they should also be encouraged to set up their own boutiques (thus becoming curators) and develop a following, a model that has proved successful for Polyvore and Boutiques.com. Retailers should also be encouraged to get more involved; those that prove to be successful should be invited to set up shop on the site and market on Aprizi’s behalf. Aprizi has done indie goods-lovers a service by eliminating major and commonplace brands from its site. The downside is that the startup is excluded from generating revenue through affiliated seller programs. Aprizi plans to use data mined from users to determine what kinds of products are trending among different groups and then sell limited edition runs of products in those trending categories to interested users through its site and customized e-mail newsletters. While we think taking a data-driven approach to e-commerce is a good idea, the startup is going to need to pursue a different business model if it wants to generate more than marginal revenue. Do you agree? How would you recommend Aprizi become profitable? Image courtesy of sinead o moore. Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark  The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today. Reviews: Facebook, Pandora, Twitter More About: aprizi, design, e-commerce, shopping, spark-of-genius, startup For more Startups coverage:
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| Microsoft CEO Says Windows Phone 7 Gets 100+ Apps Each Day Posted: 05 Jan 2011 08:14 PM PST   We’ve been anxiously waiting for Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s CES keynote tonight for a few reasons, not the least of which is our hope that he’d reveal some interesting tidbits about Windows Phone 7 devices. Without doubt, Windows Phone 7 had a huge launch. But while it’s been trumpeting the astounding successes of Kinect and Windows 7, Microsoft’s been relatively mute about its latest mobile offering, revealing so-so sales figures just a couple weeks ago. From the stage at CES, Ballmer said, “The reaction to the product has been great. We launched 9 phones across… 30 countries.” Ballmer also gave some numbers about Windows Phone 7 app development. “Our customers get access to more than 100 new applications every 24 hours… More than 20,000 developers are keeping the pipeline full.” In addition to touting the OS’s compatibility with games (not surprising considering Microsoft’s strong position in the gaming world vis-à-vis Xbox), a company rep also showed off a slew of apps most people will find quite handy, including deep, native integration with Microsoft Office. And another metric of success was mentioned; customer satisfaction, said Ballmer, is high. “When people see the phone,” he remarked onstage, “they fall in love with it… Nine out of ten customers say they’d recommend the phone.” He also said users find the phone snappy, easy to use and a joy to behold. Nor will Microsoft be backing off its strong Windows Phone 7 rollouts and promotions. Over the next few months, Microsoft will be sending out a few OTA updates, including copy/paste functions and performance enhacements. The phones will also be coming to Sprint and Verizon in early 2011. Reviews: Windows More About: ces2011, microsoft, Steve Ballmer, windows phone 7 For more Mobile coverage:
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| Microsoft Wows CES Crowd With Windows 7-Powered Tablets Posted: 05 Jan 2011 07:37 PM PST   From the CES keynote tonight, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is annoucing a lineup of Windows 7 tablets. We’ve been expecting an annoucement about Windows tablets for a few weeks. In fact, tablets seem to be something of a theme at CES this year. At tonight’s keynote, Microsoft exec Mike Angiulo showed off a slew of tablets with intriguing and varied form factors. We saw touchscreens, slide-out keyboards, dual-screen machines, stylus-friendly tablets and more. In fact, the crowd was so impressed that it kept interrupting the presentation with applause. In a word, none of these looks or feels like an iPad. Each Windows-powered tablet is unique, made with a different kind of user in mind. Most of these devices are more appropriate with content creators than just content consumers — that would include designers, people who need to do heavy text entry, etc. These are tablets made for people who might not have wanted an iPad, anyhow. Here are the details:
All these devices will be on the market within the next few months; however, the Asus model is on sale right now on Amazon.com (we’re still frantically hunting for the link; stay tuned). Also, the company annouced a brand-new version of Microsoft Surface. No longer a huge box, Surface is now just four inches thick with infrared sensors across the screen, which itself is covered in Gorilla Glass. It can handle multitouch from multiple hands at the same time. It’s now a viable candidate for wall-mounting, retail use and much more. Other tablets announced today include the Android Honeycomb-powered Xoom from Motorola. Reviews: Android, Wimax, Windows More About: ces2011, microsoft, tablets, Windows, Windows 7 For more Tech coverage:
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| Microsoft Kinect Sales Surpass 8 Million Posted: 05 Jan 2011 07:15 PM PST   It appears that Microsoft Kinect sales haven't cooled at all since the company reported moving 2.5 million units in less than a month. The company has now sold more than 8 million units according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who is currently delivering his keynote speech at CES in Las Vegas. In addition to the impressive sales figure, Ballmer revealed a new feature called "Avatar Kinect" that lets users control their avatar via Kinect's motion sensing camera. He also confirmed that Netflix and Hulu Plus will be coming to Xbox 360 this spring — features that users will be able to control using Kinect. Stay tuned to Mashable for further coverage of Ballmer's keynote, which is also likely to include announcements about Windows Phone and tablets, among other updates. Reviews: Mashable More About: ces2011, microsoft, Microsoft Kinect, Steve Ballmer, video games, Xbox 360 For more Tech coverage:
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| Motorola Droid Bionic Packs Dual Cores, Outputs 1080p [PICS] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 06:05 PM PST   Motorola’s taking advantage of newfound processor power, introducing the dual-core, 1GHz Droid Bionic at CES. Webcam aficionados will appreciate the Droid Bionic’s front-facing VGA camera, and they’ll be able to take decent pics with the 8-megapixel camera out back. Displaying all this goodness is a 4.3-inch screen that cranks out some high-res (960×540) qHD; and if that screen’s too small, pump it out to an HDTV in glorious 1080p. While the dual-core processor takes care of business on the inside, on the outside the Droid Bionic has the technology, connecting to the Verizon 4G LTE network. That’ll mean a lot to you if you live in the right city, where the LTE network will let you connect up to ten times faster than 3G. Take a look at this gallery of official Motorola pics — and yes, we agree, it does look a bit like an iPhone, especially from the front. Motorola Droid Bionic Motorola Droid Bionic Motorola Droid Bionic Motorola Droid Bionic Reviews: iPhone More About: android, bionic, ces2011, droid, Motorola, Motorola Droid Bionic, smartphones For more Mobile coverage:
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| Motorola Debuts Android Honeycomb Tablet at CES Posted: 05 Jan 2011 05:11 PM PST   We’ve heard about it; we’ve seen glimpses of it. Today, Motorola has finally revealed Xoom, its first Android-powered tablet. And yes, it runs on Honeycomb, the fabled, forked version of Android intended for tablets. At today’s Motorola press conference at CES, CEO Sanjay Jha introduced the tablet. It features a 1080p screen resolution, front and rear facing cameras, and an accelerometer. Here are more specs from Motorola:
The OS and device support multitasking and real-time widgets. Jha said Xoom will be "the most competitive tablet on the market." Expect to see 3G and Wi-Fi-enabled Xoom units be the end of Q1 2011. Units with 4G connectivity should be available sometime in Q2. Xoom wil launch on Verizon. We learned late last summer that Honeycomb would be a tablets-only OS. While other manufacturers were rolling out tablets with 1.X and 2.X OSes, Motorola held out for the 3.0 fork. As one Google exec stated, Froyo (Android 2.2) and earlier versions are simply "not optimised for use on tablets… If you want Android Market on that platform [a tablet running Froyo], the apps just wouldn't run, it is just not designed for that form factor." We’re hoping the wait for Google’s tablet-approved OS will be worthwhile. Early last month, we saw Google showing off the Motorola prototype running Honeycomb — not too long before Motorola started dropping hints about tablet launches for CES. We’ll let you know more about Xoom, including pricing and availability, as details become available. Stay tuned for more CES coverage on Mashable. Reviews: Adobe Flash Player, Android, Android Market, Google, Google Maps, Mashable More About: android, ces2011, honeycomb, Motorola, Tablet, trending, xoom For more Tech coverage:
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| Sony Unveils New 3D, Gaming and TV Products [LIVE] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 05:07 PM PST   Sony is about to close CES Press Day 2011 with a bang. Not only has Sony elected to launch new 3D TVs and camcorders, but we expect an announcement related to Sony’s picture division, phone line, PlayStation 3 and PSP products, and a whole lot more. We’re here live at Sony’s press conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center, awaiting Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer to come out on stage and introduce us to Sony’s 2011 line of products. Here are my live notes. Sony Press Conference: Live NotesAll times are in Pacific Standard Time Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Sir Howard Stringer, Sony chairman and CEO and president Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 2010Live Gallery: Sony at CES 20104:55 PM: Sony starts things off with a 3D video on its screen. It’s at least 40 feet wide, if not wider. 4:56: Last year, they had Taylor Swift sing for the press. Who will they bring out this year? 5:00: Sony’s CEO just rolled out with the stars of Green Hornet, Seth Rogen and Jay Chou. Oh, and they came out in the Green Hornet’s car. 5:05: 50 million TVs will be Internet-enabled by Sony’s TVs, PS3 and Blu-ray players. 5:06: Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer is discussing some of the things they’ll be discussing at this year’s press conference. 3D is a big theme, but so is multimedia, the PlayStation and its camcorders. 5:10: Sony’s now shifting focus to 3D distribution. The key points: production, distribution, display, personal content creation and personal display. 5:12: Sony is working on prototypes of other 3D displays. The first one is a 3D headmount display. It looks like the VISOR that Geordi La Forge wore on Star Trek. It comes with headphones and is a full 3D experience. 5:14: The other prototype is a mini 3D DVD display. It has a pivoting screen and looks to be approximately eight inches. 5:16: No timetable for these innovative products, but they’re on Sony’s radar. 5:17: Stringer now is discussing Google TV. Sony is a prominent partner on the project. 5:18: More than 65 million web-enabled TVs will be shipped worldwide by 2011. 5:19: New TV campaign to promote its Internet TVs: “Television Redefined” is the name of the campaign. They are showing a commercial teaser for the campaign. 5:20: Phil Molyneux has taken the stage. He leads Sony’s U.S. consumer electronics division. 5:23: Sony’s about to announce its produce lineup. it include a 3D camcorder, a Cybershot camera and a new version of the PS3. 5:25: Corning Gorilla Glass is being used in Sony’s new products. It’s an enhanced version of the glass you find in a lot of gadgets. 5:26: 27 new BRAVIA models. Beyond Google TV, Sony also has the Qriocity platform for connected TV. 5:27: Sony is working with Time Warner Cable to send its channels and content live and on-demand to Sony connected TVs. 5:27: Sony has just launched the EX620, a connected TV that has the Time Warner Cable connection. 5:30: Sony has a mission to teach people, even competitors, hw to make great 3D content. By making 3D succeed, Sony will succeed with its 3D technology push. 5:31: Sony has just launched its flagship 3D product, the KDL-55HX929. They are full HD TVs with LED backlit and X-Reality Pro Engine for picture quality. The HX920 series has also been unveiled with similar specs. 5:32: Sony has revealed its new 3D BLu-Ray player, the BDP-S780. It has Skype embedded in it due to user demand. 5:34: The Sony Vaio F-Series: It is a 3D screen. It retails for $1700 and includes an Intel Core i7 processor. 5:35: Another product launch: Sony’s new 3D Handycam camcorder. 3.5-inch glasses free LCD display. It plays back 3D and you don’t need glasses. It has a 10x zoon. iT uses double image sensors to create 3D content. 5:36: For $700, you can also get a Handycam that has a projector. Five feet of screen real-estate. 5:38: Sony Bloggie 3D has also launched and is available for $250. 5:38: Sony has launched new Cybershots camera. You can take photos while shooting HD video. They have 16MP. Oh, and they can take photos in 3D. Anyone else sensing a theme? It only costs $220 as well. 5:40: They’re now showing off some of the 3D images from the Sony Cybershot 3D line. Wow, they’ve announced a lot of products. 5:40: Sony Erricson is about to launch something. Steve Walker, head of marketing for Sony Erricson, is now on stage. 5:41: Sony Erricson Experia is being touted for its Android goodness. 5:42: Revealed: the Experia Arc. It will including a 4.2″ screen with Bravia technology and runs Gingerbread, aka Android 2.3. 5:45: Sony’s Kaz Hirari is on stage. 5:47: Sony’s now showing off Uncharted 3 for PS3 for the first time. In 3D, of course. 5:51: Hirari is shifting back to Qriocity, its mobile vieo platform. 5:53: Sony has launched a new music service powered by Qriocity. It has a nice interface and learns your music preferences over time. It works on Vaio, PS3, Sony TVs and most any other Sony device that’s connected to Qriocity. 5:59: That’s a wrap, folks. Now there are Cirque dancers entertaining the crowd. Next up: the Steve Ballmer keynote. Reviews: Android, Blu, Internet, Skype More About: CES, CES 2011, gadgets, sony For more Tech coverage:
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| Motorola Shows Off New Mobile Products [LIVE] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:23 PM PST   One day removed from being spun off as its own publicly traded company, Motorola Mobility executives, including CEO Sanjay Jha, are taking the stage at CES to show off some of the company’s latest products. Earlier today, the company unveiled the Motorola Atrix 4G, an Android-powered smartphone that will run on AT&T’s new 4G network. Stay tuned to our live coverage below to see what else the company has in store. Motorola Press Conference: Live Notes4:21 – Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Office for Motorola Mobility, has taken the stage (20 minutes late!) and is talking about the company’s new “Life. Powered” tagline. 4:24 – The new Motorola Atrix 4G ad is showing. 4:25 – Jha has taken the stage and is talking about the Atrix 4G, noting its 1GB of RAM and dualcore 1GHZ processor. 4:29 – We’re now getting a demo of the Atrix 4G, showing how it can be hooked up to a monitor through a docking station and function as a full desktop browser. Flash 10.1 is integrated. 4:33 – There’s also a laptop dock. Connect your laptop to the Atrix 4G, and you can control it from your smartphone. 4:35 – Jeff Bradley, SVP Devices at AT&T mobility has taken the stage. 4:37 – Bradley thinks the docking option is big for both consumers and enterprise — no pricing announced yet. 4:39 – Jha says Bell Canada and Orange UK will also offer Atrix 4G. 4:40 – Jha is now introducing the Motorola Cliq 2 on T-Mobile, avaialable on January 19. Like the original Cliq, in runs on MOTOBLUR and has a slideout keyboard. 4:42 – Jha says there are currently around 2 million MOTOBLUR subscribers. 4:43 – Jha is introducing the Droid Bionic. A new video bills it as “the end of waiting.” Features include 4.3″ screen, HDMI output for big screen view, front- and rear-facing cameras. It’s a 4G phone for Verizon’s network, available in early Q2. 4:46 – Jha has just introduced Motorola Xoom, the first tablet running Honeycomb, the tablet-optimized version of Android. Features of the device include 10.1″ screen, 1080p, front- and rear-facing cameras, and a built-in accelerometer. The device will ship 3G but will be upgradeable to 4G. 4:51 – Jha is describing Honeycomb: tablet-optimized, multi-tasking, widgets updating in real time. He’s now showing off the Google Maps app (Google showed a prototype of this last month at D:Dive). 4:53 – Jha calls Xoom “the most competitive tablet on the market.” We presume he means competitive to the iPad. 4:55 – That’s a wrap — impressed with Droid Bionic and Xoom! Stay tuned for posts about them on Mashable. Reviews: Android, Google, Google Maps, Mashable More About: android, bionic, ces2011, droid, droid bionic, honeycomb, Motorola, xoom For more Tech coverage:
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| Samsung’s Outlandish HDTVs [PICS] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:07 PM PST   Today at CES, Samsung unveiled three new TVs with ultra-thin bezels, so thin they look like picture frames rather than HDTVs. In fact, if these bezels were any thinner, they wouldn’t be there at all. But it’s a good idea, because it increases the picture area without increasing the width of the TV. Also on display was an inspired design that’s unlike any we’ve seen: the 9 Series Monitor. It’s an astonishing 0.3 inches thick with built-in Wi-Fi and a touchscreen remote. Check it out in the gallery; you’ll notice that it’s only supported on one side, giving it an asymmetrical, wild and super-modern look. Outlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsOutlandish HDTVsMore About: C9000, ces2011, gallery, Outlandish HDTV, Samsung 9 Series For more Tech coverage:
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| Twitter’s Official Mac App Coming Tomorrow Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:49 PM PST   Sources confirm that Twitter’s official Mac desktop app will be coming to the Mac App Store by tomorrow — which is also the Mac App Store’s official launch date. RazorianFly reports it has received a mysterious, vague leak to the effect that the Twitter for Mac app will be launching tomorrow. A few features reported so far are native retweet support, real-time updates and drag-and-drop tweeting capabilities. Tweetie maker Atebits was acquired by Twitter in the spring of 2010. In a move that might spell trouble for some third-party Twitter desktop clients, the app will simply be called “Twitter for Mac,” not “Tweetie 2.0″ or anything like that. Twitter’s name on an official app generally spells an uptick in adoption for the official app, never good news for third-party, single-service app makers. Stay tuned for a full, hands-on review tomorrow. In the meantime, let us know what you think this will signify for makers of third-party Twitter apps for Mac. Reviews: Twitter, tweetie More About: desktop app, mac, tweetie, tweetie for mac, twitter, twitter for mac For more Social Media coverage:
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| Samsung Sliding PC Bridges the Gap Between Netbook and Tablet Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:30 PM PST   Take a look at what Samsung has done with the netbook: The Sliding PC 7 is a touchscreen tablet that transforms itself into a netbook when you reveal its slide-out keyboard hidden underneath. Introduced today at CES, the 2.18 lb beauty is running Windows 7, connects anywhere using 3G and WiMAX, and it’s just .78 inches thick. It’s not going to be winning any speed contests under the hood with its Intel Atom Z670 CPU, but its 32GB or 64GB solid-state drive might hasten things along a bit. Why didn’t we think of this: A tablet PC resembling a slider cellphone with a keyboard underneath? Brilliant design. And though our friends at CrunchGear noticed that Asus beat Samsung to this idea last night, that doesn’t make us like it any less.  Reviews: Wimax, Windows More About: ces2011, netbook, samsung, Samsung Slider PC 7, tablets For more Tech coverage:
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| Behold, Android 3.0: Secret Weapon of Multiple Tablet PCs [VIDEO] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 02:57 PM PST Here’s the first glimpse of Android 3.0, affectionately known as Honeycomb, a tablet-friendly interface that Android fans will hardly recognize. Nice. The appearance of this long-rumored release bodes well for the dozens of tablets we will be seeing in the next few days. Perhaps all of those Android-packing slabs will stand a fighting chance against the iPad juggernaunt with this innovative software installed inside. See for yourself. Check out the video from Google (originally posted and then made private on YouTube, but somehow recovered by Engadget) above. Reviews: Android, Google, YouTube More About: android 3.0, ces2011, honeycomb, tablet pc, video For more Tech coverage:
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| Vevo Launches Emerging Artists Program Posted: 05 Jan 2011 02:30 PM PST   Music video site Vevo plans to launch an emerging artist platform called Lift at tonight’s People's Choice Awards, with hopes to introduce music fans to new musicians as well as get them involved in said musicians’ careers. The inaugural artist to be showcased via Lift (which is sponsored by McDonald’s) will be Jessie J, a UK singer/songwriter who has written songs for the likes of pop princess Miley Cyrus. Future artists will also be chosen by Vevo. Lift artists like Jessie J will be featured on the site via interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, video premieres and live concerts. Users can also listen to Jessie’s music as a standalone (no video required), which is a first for the music video site. Moreover, Vevo has added a social element to the mix, allowing users to ask artists questions via Twitter and Facebook, which musicians can then answer on camera. Vevo has also created a Facebook app that lets fans join an artist’s “team” (think street teams of old) and help him or her publicize the music. Fans are awarded points every time a friend clicks on the links you share on Facebook, and fans with the most clicks can win prizes like concert tickets and merch. Vevo will then share data from Facebook and Twitter shares, etc. to radio stations, which could lead to even wider exposure, should the stations choose to play the artists’ tracks. Emerging artist initiatives of this nature are nothing new. YouTube has a partner program for up-and-coming musicians, and even BitTorrent has a Featured Artists Program to jumpstart new talent. The growing ubiquity of programs like these just demonstrates the increasing role that the web and its denizens are having in the music business when it come to launching new talent. Reviews: Facebook, TripHelp Facebook App, Twitter More About: music, vevo, video For more Entertainment coverage:
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| Cisco’s Videoscape Offers a New Way to Deliver and Receive Video [PICS] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 02:29 PM PST   Cisco unveiled its concept for the TV of the future at CES in Las Vegas Wednesday. Dubbed Videoscape, the system combines a set-top box and user-friendly interface for consumers with a delivery platform for service providers. Cisco says its Videoscape product will “reinvent the TV experience.” From the perspective of Internet service providers (ISPs), Cisco’s cloud-based Videoscape Media Suite hardware and software will help them deliver content to a variety of platforms, and differentiate their programming from competitors. Cisco plans to offer “a branded and personalized experience to its customers,” where consumers can watch the content on mobile devices, or on their TV sets at home. For consumers, Cisco has created a media gateway where voice, video, Internet services and wireless networks are all handled by a central box in the home. On the set-top, there will be a Videoscape IP box, where users can opt to pay for TV shows, and also receive broadcast channels, video on demand and Web content. That same content can be received on PCs, TVs and mobile devices all the time, regardless of network, and everything is secure. Consumers will also be able to switch devices and pick up where they left off. In addition to the video content, this comprehensive infrastructure will also allow the company to offer Cisco Conductor for Videoscape, a messaging system that can deliver real-time info such as stocks and sports scores, and enhanced social networking with a variety of apps. Additionally, Cisco touted its Telepresence videoconferencing, featuring Umi, its videoconferencing camera. By controlling the infrastructure from service provider to screen, Cisco says it aims to enhance quality of the video delivered by service providers, offering what it calls “a higher resolution experience instead of ‘best effort’ quality.” At its press event at CES 2011, the company showed an attractive user interface that resembled that of Google TV, where TV viewers could search across network TV offerings, Internet video and their own personal video collections. Cisco displayed the gateway set-top box for consumers, but quickly snatched it away after we grabbed a couple of shots (see the pic above and in the gallery). The company didn’t quote any prices or tell us when the system will be released. Cisco also demonstrated an iPad running the content player, as well as an Android app, both of which appeared to be in working order. This is an ambitious undertaking by Cisco. From the perspective of consumers, we liken it to Netflix, but for all content. The product looks like it will bring simplicity to consumers and profitability to service providers. On the other hand, at first glance it appears to be an attempt to deliver a variety of Internet and broadcast video programs with a similar business model to cable TV today. In such a scenario, it would be the type of system that would work well in a world where some video streams were allowed to move much faster than others. Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Umi videoconferencing camera Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Cisco at CES 2011 Reviews: Android, Internet More About: ces2011, cisco, internet, iptv, video, Videoscape, Web TV For more Tech coverage:
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| Samsung Reveals Its New TVs, PCs, Smartphones and Tablets [LIVE] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 02:11 PM PST   The spotlight is on Samsung here at CES as the electronics giant prepares to launch new PCs, TVs, monitors, ultrathin displays and tablets. Samsung is about to hold its press event here at the Venetian in Las Vegas. We’ve heard rumors that the company is working on superthin flexible displays and an ultrathin Macbook Air competitor. We also see new monitors. All live notes are in Pacific Standard Time. Samsung Press Conference: Live Notes2:01: David Steel, SVP marketing for Samsung, has taken the stage. 2:02: Samsung has 300+ applications for TVs. 2:03: The company has sold 10 million Samsung Galaxy phones. We reported this figure earlier this week. 2:03: His talk is now focused on home appliances, cameras and Samsung’s achievements thus far. 2:05: “The smarter life” is the theme for this press conference: smart design, smart experiences and smart connections. 2:08: Tim Baxter, president of the consumer electronics division, is on stage. 2:10: John Revie, SVP of the consumer business division, is now on stage with Baxter. 2:11: In 2011, Samsung thinks there will be six million 3D TVs. 2:12: Samsung is predicting larger 3D TVs. Soon, 60% of its lineup will be 3D TVs. It will also have a lot of smart TVs, which will be connected to the web. 2:13: Samsung has unveiled three new TVs with ultrathin bezels: the D700, the D800 and the D6500 plasma TV. You can barely tell there’s a border from a distance. 2:15: The thinner bezel gives you more screen space without increasing the width of the TV. 2:16: “1foot connection” — they’re discussing plugging in cords for TVs, laptops etc., to connect them to the TV. Instead, 1foot Connection seamlessly connects compatible devices to the TV without cords. 2:17: There were more than 1.5 million downloads for 300 apps in 2010. 2:18: The smart refrigerator has been revealed. Yes, it can tweet. Seriously. 2:20: Now Samsung is talking about its developer challenges to build apps for its TV platform. It’s announcing that its winners will take $500,000 home in total. 2:23: Full touchscreen remote. It also lets you watch TV on it. It almost looks like an iPod or an iPhone. 2:24: New 3D glasses launched. They’re smaller and thinner. 2:25: Skype HDTV camera is coming with its LED HDTVs. 2:28: Samsung is teasing B.K. Hoon’s talk tomorrow at CES. 2:28: Omar Khan, Samsung’s chief strategy officer for telecommunications, is now on stage. 2:29: Khan says Samsung has led in screen, speed and content in Android devices, led by the Galaxy class phones. 2:30: Samsung has reached an agreement with CBS to bring some of its shows to its Media Hub. CSI, NCIS and Survivor are some of the shows that will be included. 2:31: Samsung apps for mobile devices are available in 118 countries. 2:31: The company’s Wi-Fi-only tablet will be coming to market in Q1 2011. 2:31: The Galaxy Player is coming to the U.S. It’s not a phone, but a media and music player. Think of it as an iPod touch. It originally launched in Korea. 2:33: Khan and Baxter are talking about the Nexus S device and its 4G technology. 5:34: The AT&T Samsung Infuse 4G was announced. The device features an 8MP camera, front-facing camera and more. This phone was revealed this morning during AT&T’s Developer Summit. 5:36: Now they’re unveiling new cameras, especially the fourth-generation wireless camera, the SH100. It also has auto PC backup for photos. 5:37: The WB210, a 3.5″ touchscreen camera, is demonstrated. Finally, the Q10 camcorder is revealed, including an ambidextrous, 180-degree grip. 5:39: Doug Albregts, VP for the enterprise business division, is onstage with Baxter. Samsung unveiled a display with 100 46″ monitors. 5:40: They’re showing off a new lineup of 3D LED monitors; they’re super thin, about the width of a pencil. 5:42: Now we’re talking about the Samsung Note Series 9 laptop, which is as thin as a Macbook Air. It uses a special type of aluminum to make it so thin. 5:44: The laptop boots in 12 seconds, takes just three seconds to get out of wake mode and features a solid-state drive. 5:45: The Series 7 tablet PC has been revealed, and it features a slide-out keyboard. We’ll have more on it soon. 5:49: That’s a wrap! We’ll have more on the TVs and Series 7 and Series 9 PCs/tablets later today. Reviews: Android More About: CES, CES 2011, gadgets, Hardware, laptop, samsung, Samsung 9 Series For more Tech coverage:
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| It’s Official: Windows 8 to Support ARM Posted: 05 Jan 2011 01:49 PM PST   The rumors are true: Microsoft has announced that the next version of Windows will support ARM-based devices. Windows currently supports the x86 architecture utilized by Intel and AMD’s processors. However, Microsoft is making it clear that the next iteration of Windows (Windows 8, we’ll call it) will also support the System on a Chip (SoC) architecture, including the one designed by ARM. More specifically, Windows 8 will support ARM-based systems from NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments. The upcoming version of Windows is separate from the Windows Phone 7 OS, which already powers mobile phones utilizing the ARM architecture. "With today's announcement, we're showing the flexibility and resiliency of Windows through the power of software and a commitment to world-class engineering," said President of WIndows Live Division Steven Sinofsky. Word first leaked of Microsoft’s intention to support ARM last month. The move provides a version of the OS that can run on low-power devices, especially tablet computers. Reviews: Windows More About: arm, CES, CES 2011, microsoft, Windows, Windows 8 For more Tech coverage:
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| Golden-Voiced Homeless Man Scores Job Offers After Video Goes Viral Posted: 05 Jan 2011 01:01 PM PST Before this week, the name “Ted Williams” most likely brought to mind the phrase “Teddy Ballgame.” Now, the name has become synonymous with “Golden-voiced,” as a homeless man with that moniker has shot to stardom as a result of his breathtaking vocal chords. Recently, Columbus Dispatch videographer Doral Chenoweth III filmed a brief interview with the Brooklyn-born Williams, who — until recently — panhandled on the corner of a highway. Yesterday, the video went viral, and has (at the time of this posting) racked up more than 5 million views on YouTube. This ascent is most likely due in no small part to the Reddit community, which took up the cause after Reddit user and Columbus-dweller “shiggiddie” posted the video to the site after hearing about the interview on a local radio show. “I had already seen the immense good the Reddit community is capable of doing,” shiggiddie says. “I hoped that maybe through the community I might find out who this Ted Williams character is, and how we might be able to help him get on his feet with some work other redditors might want/need for their businesses, etc.” The results were overwhelming: “I received anywhere from 70 to 80 job offers for Ted in my personal messages alone over the past day and a half, some coming from people claiming to represent the interests of nationwide radio programs, television shows, businesses looking for someone to do their voice systems, ads, ads and more ads, musicians wanting Ted to contribute his voice to their tracks, and even radio hosts wanting him to join their shows as a full-time jockey,” shiggiddie says. “I haven’t even gotten to the news sources asking me for more information, of which I’d guess I received personal messages from at least 20 to 25.” The video spread from boards like Reddit to viral culture blogs, leading to appearances on major news outlets — from print to radio to television. In fact, the awestruck Williams recently appeared on CBS’s The Early Show, where he he tearfully told viewers that he’s on his way back to Brooklyn to reconnect with his 92-year-old mother. From the side of the highway to television to New York — that’s a pretty rapid and drastic progression. But the trip back to BK isn’t the biggest opportunity that this turn of events has presented for Williams — his lightning-fast ascent to the viral video firmament has also garnered him job offers from the likes of the NFL and the Cleveland Cavaliers (and, by proxy, Quicken Loans). The Cavs also offered him a house. Quicken Loans President Jay Farner heard about Williams’s great talent last night. “We’re working on a lot of marketing over here at the company, voiceover work, commercials and websites and all kinds of things for Quicken Loans and a variety of our companies who would need that. People heard the voice and thought that might be a great fit. And when I saw that he was in Ohio, I thought that was excellent because the Cavaliers are right there and we’ve got a Quicken Loans web center down there. We’re kind of partial to helping folks in the Midwest.” Dan Gilbert, the principal owner of Cleveland Cavaliers, is also the founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, so the companies tend to work together rather closely. Still, the job would mostly entail doing voiceovers for the Cavs’s arena. When asked about the housing offer, Farner replied: “Heck, we’re in the mortgage business, we’re one of the largest lenders in America. Houses are something we know and do pretty well, we figured that it would make sense to find a home for him — a place he could get established, get on his feet. Hard to start a new job if you don’t have a place to call home.” Williams hasn’t accepted the offer yet, but Farner says that the talented man seems excited by the prospect — and the feeling is mutual. “When you’re looking for voice talent or someone to go out there and represent your brand, you could do all the focus groups in the world, you’re never going to get 4.5 million people to tell you someone has a great voice,” Farner says. “If 4.5 million people think a voice is great, that’s about the best focus group you could ever get.” Reviews: YouTube More About: reddit, ted-williams, trending, viral video, youtube For more Web Video coverage:
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| 5 Web Technologies and Trends to Watch in 2011 Posted: 05 Jan 2011 12:51 PM PST   In 2010 we saw the rise of HTML5, the maturation of CSS3, the release of Rails 3.0, and the widespread adoption of the @font-face selector (part of CSS3) — among other things. In short: it was a busy year for advancing web development technologies. What will 2011 hold? Below is a list, compiled by Mashable editors of some of the web technologies and trends we think should be on your radar for the coming year. These aren’t all straight up web dev technologies, per se, but they’re all things that will have an impact on website and app development in 2011. 1. jQuery Mobile jQuery has become practically synonymous with JavaScript, in large part because of its extensibility, ease of use and strong project leadership. With the goal of being a touch-optimized web framework for tablets and smartphones, jQuery Mobile is one of the most visible projects aiming to take cross-platform, cross-device web development for mobile browsers to the next level. As more and more developers consider building apps with HTML5, a solid mobile JavaScript framework becomes more and more enticing. jQuery Mobile has the pedigree to become the de facto JavaScript framework for mobile. - Christina Warren, Mobile Reporter 2. Hardware-Accelerated Web Browsers Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) is lightning fast, thanks to its use of DirectX 10 and hardware acceleration, vastly improving the speed and capabilities of the browser versus its competitors. Thanks to that envelope-pushing from Microsoft, Google and Mozilla are quickly scrambling to match the hardware acceleration capabilities of IE9. Next year, your browser is going to feel a lot faster. - Ben Parr, Co-Editor 3. Node.js and Server Side JavaScript The Node.js website describes it as an “evented I/O for V8 JavaScript.” Essentially, it’s a toolkit for writing event-driven servers in JavaScript. What does that mean? In simple terms, it means no waiting around for slow I/O operations to complete before moving on to other operations; and for Node.js specifically, it means doing it all in server side JavaScript. For things like real-time web apps, web crawlers, file uploading, streaming, etc. — where speed is paramount — this is very important. Node.js represents the beginning of what I expect will be a wider spread adoption of server side JavaScript in 2011. For more on what Node.js is and how it works, check out this excellent overview on Simon Willison’s blog. - Josh Catone, Features Editor 4. Real-Time Clickstream Sharing There are tons of ways to share what you're reading on the Internet — social sites and other online publishing tools made waves this year, with mass integration of share buttons and the gradual adoption of desktop clients, widgets and bookmarklets, which all made sharing easier. Real-time clickstream sharing is the next step in sharing your personal online experience, and 2011 is the year that will decide if the Internet is ready for it or not. Keep on sites like Sitesimon, Voyurl and Dscover.me. - Erica Swallow, Assistant Editor 5. NoSQL Databases NoSQL, a loosely defined term used to describe alternative database engines that generally don’t follow the traditional relational database schemas widely in use, has been on the rise in recent years. Notable Still, the explosive growth of alternative database systems in the past couple of years definitely singles NoSQL out as a web technology trend to watch in 2011. - Josh Catone, Features Editor Reviews: Google, Internet, Internet Explorer, Mashable More About: jquery, jquery mobile, List, Lists, node.js, nosql, real-time clickstream tracking, things to watch 2011, things to watch in 2011, web browsers For more Tech coverage:
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| NBC Premieres New TV Show on the iPad [EXCLUSIVE] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 12:33 PM PST   Trying to garner some buzz for a new TV program? There’s an app for that. NBC’s new show The Cape is getting its premiere today, but you can only watch it if you have an iPad. The sneak peek was made possible via a relationship with DC Comics, which will offer viewers the chance to view the one-hour pilot episode from January 5 to 8 via DC’s free iPad app. The show’s television premiere is set for January 9. Though NBC is partnering with DC, the show isn’t based on a DC Comics character, but is instead inspired by it. The show features David Lyons as Vince Faraday, a cop who is unjustly accused of a crime and becomes a secret crime fighter. Adam Stotsky, president of marketing for NBC Entertainment, says the combination of a fanboy property and a cutting edge tech platform is an effective way to reach the target audience. “We thought engaging with DC Comics and the iPad would be a perfect way to create some pre-premiere buzz with fans who have the capacity to be ambassadors.” NBC has experimented with other pre-premiere venues before. In 2009, the network premiered the show Community on Facebook. To see that premiere you had to become a fan first. NBC’s gambit comes as other TV networks are eyeing multimedia “firsts” as a way to spur some social media chatter. Just this week, Starz launched the show Spartacus: Gods of the Arena with a Facebook game and FX introduced a Facebook game for the premiere of the show Lights Out. Reviews: Facebook More About: ipad, MARKETING, nbc For more Entertainment coverage:
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| Sharp Launches Bigger and Brighter LCD TVs at CES [LIVE] Posted: 05 Jan 2011 12:27 PM PST   Sharp, the giant of LCD technology, is here at CES to reveal its new lineup of smart TVs, LCD devices and more. We’re here live at Sharp’s press conference at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The room is filled with journalists and curtains are hiding the new products Sharp is about to unveil. Sharp is focused on its line of LCD devices, but what else does the electronics giant have up its sleeve? Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Sharp at CES 2011 Here are my live notes: Live NotesAll times are in Pacific Standard Time 12:11: Kozo Takahashi, Sharp’s new CEO, has taken the stage. 12:13: Sharp is a leader in solar energy, Takahashi says. He’s focusing on Sharp’s social responsibilities. “Contribute to ubiquitous with one-of-a-kind LCDs.” 12:14: Sharp’s 10th generation LCD manufacturing plant is focused on energy efficiency. 12:19: Most of Takahashi’s speech is about the high level path for Sharp, including energy efficiency and pushing the limits of LCD. 12:20: EVP John Herrington has taken the stage. 12:21: Herrington is focusing on its Quattron technology, which improves LCD displays, especially in larger screens. It also improves 3D quality and produces a brighter picture. 12:25: Sharp introduces the 70-inch Aquos TV powered by Quattron technology. Yeah, that’s huge. 12:28: They have built-in Wi-Fi and apps and its new line of TVs have edge-lit LED. 12:28: Five series of 50-inch TVs and six series of 60-inch TVs in 2011. 12:30: The XV-Z17000 projector comes out next month, 40,000:1 contrast. 12:31: Three new 3D Bl-Ray Disc players. BD-HP25U, BD-HP35U and BD-HP75U.1080p/24 fps video output and Dolby True HD audio. 12:32: Five new sound bars…and a bunch of other devices. Some iPhone/iPods docks, some sound systems, etc. 12:33: Sharp introduces the Galapagos E-Media Tablet. 16:9 aspect ration LCD touchscreen. It’s serviced by an e-book store, but also does newspapers, magazine, music and more. XMDF technology is included — it’s an e-book technology popular in Japan. 12:35: It can transfer data from tablet to TV. 12:36: That’s a wrap, folks! More About: CES, CES 2011, Gadgets HDTV, Sharp, tv For more Tech coverage:
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| Neer Releases Private Location-Sharing App for iPhone Posted: 05 Jan 2011 12:25 PM PST   Qualcomm Services Lab startup Neer has released its private location-sharing application for the iPhone. The application, already available for Android, introduces the service’s automatic location-sharing features to iPhone users. Neer aims to help everyday mobile users — read: not the badge hungry types — automatically share their whereabouts with their most trusted connections. The service deviates from the likes of Foursquare or Loopt with a focus on small contact groups and always-on location features that are less social and more practical. The application [iTunes link] works in the background to update a user’s contact groups when he/she arrives at, or departs from, a pre-defined place — think “work,” “school” or “home.” Neer, however, never reveals the user’s physical address. “With Neer, users don't have to take their eyes off the road to let their families know they're on the way home, or that they have stopped at the grocery store," says creator Ian Heidt. "Neer does it all automatically." The Android version has been available for several months, and Neer actually built a version for the iPhone months ago but delayed release until the team could better optimize battery life performance. Today’s release should help fuel growth and better connect users across iOS and Android platforms.  Reviews: Android, Software Application, foursquare More About: location sharing, neer, qualcomm, qualcomm services labs, startup For more Startups coverage:
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| Pioneer Brings Deeper Facebook, Twitter & Pandora Integration to the Car Posted: 05 Jan 2011 12:21 PM PST   Car audio and electronics maker Pioneer is looking to bring social media to consumers’ vehicles through the integration of Twitter, Facebook, Pandora and the iPhone, the company announced at CES Wednesday. Pioneer plans to expand its partnership with Pandora Internet Radio by enabling nine different versions of its product to sport streaming Internet radio; previously, only two models could do so. Pioneer is also upping the ante for social integration. Now its dashboards can connect to users’ Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as read friends’ Twitter and Facebook status updates to the driver. It will display friends’ face on the screen and let drivers know what they’re doing, even while driving. Pioneer partnered with Aha Radio in order to power the reading of tweets and status updates. Part of the problem, Pioneer’s Ted Cardenas said, is that smartphones aren’t sufficient for the car because the screens are too small and the touchscreens of modern phones requires a driver’s full attention, something he or she shouldn’t give when driving. Pioneer also launched SmartCradle, an attachment for iPhone that enhances the GPS capabilities of location-based apps, as well as enhances audio for easier hands-free driving. Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Live Gallery: Pioneer at CES 2011 Reviews: Facebook, Internet, Twitter More About: CES, CES 2011, pioneer For more Tech coverage:
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| File Delivery Service YouSendIt Acquires 2 Startups Posted: 05 Jan 2011 11:24 AM PST   Popular file delivery startup YouSendIt is looking to expand its operations with two new acquisitions. The company has acquired the technology and teams behind e-mail and file collaboration service Attassa and the iPhone e-signature app Zosh for an undisclosed sum. Attassa specializes in turning Microsoft’s Outlook e-mail software into a file collaboration hub, while Zosh makes editing and signing documents on the iPhone extremely easy. With these purchases, YouSendIt appears to be anxious to merge file-sharing, e-mail collaboration and e-signatures into a single service with enterprise appeal and build out a more robust (likely for-charge) experience for its 15 million registered users. It’s unclear how the individual services’ existing users will be affected by today’s news. Both services’ websites have been taken over by YouSendIt and feature the acquisition announcement prominently. As of right now, Zosh’s iPhone application [iTunes link] is still available for download in the App Store but the application appears to be a bit unresponsive. To date, YouSendIt has raised more than $50 million in funding. In August, the veteran startup closed a $15 million Series D round led by Adams Street Partners. Those funds were likely applied to the acquisitions of Attassa and Zosh. Image courtesy of Flickr, Stuck in Customs Reviews: App Store, Flickr, iPhone More About: attassa, file sharing, yousendit, zosh For more Startups coverage:
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