Monday, May 31, 2010
Acer Debuts New E-Reader, Android Phone
For those who feel there’s not enough choice in e-readers or smartphones, here are some new options. Acer is showing a new e-reader and smartphone that more than anything else add clutter to the category.� The two devices will be shown at Computex, one of the largest trade shows for PC makers held every year in Tapei, Taiwan.
Acer’s new e -reader called LumiRead will have a 6-inch E Ink display, 2 GB flash memory (good for about 1500 books) with the option to add a MicroSD card, and a QWERTY keyboard.
There’s also an ISBN scanner built into the device so users can scan ISBN codes on the books to create their own wish list or search online libraries and book stores.
Like the Alex e-reader or Amazon’s Kindle, Acer’s LumiRead will have a internet browser and connect wirelessly using 3G or Wi-Fi.
Acer has signed agreements with Barnes & Noble and Libri.de, a German internet book retailer to offer e-books. The device will launch in the U.S. in the third quarter and be available in China and Germany towards the end of the year.
Acer isn’t talking price, which will be key to the device’s success. The e-reader market is flooded with Kindle clones and the arrival of yet another device is hardly likely to get consumers’ attention.� The ISBN code-scanning feature aside, the LumiRead feels rather pedestrian and unless Acer can beat Sony’s $170 Pocket Edition e-reader, it is difficult to see how LumiRead can get ahead.
Separately, Acer also announced a new smartphone called Stream. The Android-powered phone will have a3.7-inch touchscreen OLED display, 3G,� Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, 512 MB RA and 2 GB of internal memory.
“Acer Stream is a high-end multimedia smartphone, optimized for watching movies, listening to music and enjoying web browsing like at home,” says Acer in a statement. “Perfect for most demanding users who look for the best in entertainment.”
That means HD video recording up to 720p, 5-megapixel camera, a GPS system that allows photos and videos to be geotagged and a HDMI port. The phone will run Android version 2.1 aka ‘�clair.’
Based on the specs, the Stream sounds a lot like the Nexus One.� It’s likely that Acer will launch the device in Asia and Europe only. After all, the Nexus One and the HTC EVO 4G blow the Stream out of the competition in the U.S.
Acer hasn’t announced telecom carriers or pricing for the Stream.
See Also:
- $150 Kobo eReader: The Real Kindle Killer?
- Plastic Logic Aims New Que E-Reader at Business Users
- Entourage eDGe E-Book Reader
- Acer Plans a Million Chrome OS Netbooks, New E-Reader
Photo: Acer LumiRead/Acer
Full story at http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/NuU1__qU_ME/
Flash Finds Support From Nokia and Time Warner
Three months ago, it seemed Flash was as good as dead. Now, with a new Flash player for the Android platform and some big companies throwing their support behind the format, the technology looks like it won’t become history just yet.
Following the partnership with Google for Android OS,� Adobe is finding more supporters for its video format. Nokia, and Opera, the browser maker, have announced they’ll be sticking with Flash.
“It is the only proprietary part of the Web we support,” Opera co-founder von Tetzchner stated at the recent Open Mobile conference in London, PC Mag reports.
Nokia will also continue its support for Flash, says Alberto Torres, Nokia’s vice-president for business solutions.
In addition, reports claim media giants Time Warner and NBC Universal won’t be replacing Flash with HTML5 anytime soon. Time Warner has been especially opposed to the subscription model allegedly promoted by Apple.
No surprise there, as Time Warner announced a big deal with Adobe last year to bring online properties such as Warner Bros. Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting System, and Home Box office.
The war for the future of online video started when in 2007, iPhone appeared and surprised the world (and its future users) by completely nixing support for Flash. Apple stepped up the anti-Flash campaign by not allowing any Flash-developed applications on the iPhone and iPad, with Jobs himself leading the PR effort.
Recent months have seen major websites like YouTub, Vimeo and The New York Times embrace the HTML5 format which the iPhone and iPad can run. Disney, in which Jobs is the largest individual shareholder, launched an iPad app that includes all ABC shows for free. Other networks such as CNN and Fox have also started using HTML5 on their sites.
Meanwhile, Adobe is trying to fight back. Last week, it showed a beta version of Flash Player 10.1 for Google?s Android OS. Flash would require Android version 2.2 aka ‘FroYo’.� Android 2.2 will be the the first mobile platform that fully supports Flash, instead of the stripped-down Flash Lite version.
The launch of Flash Player 10.1 for Android, along with support from big players like Nokia and Time Warner, points to a vigorous effort by Adobe to push back against Apple’s criticism. This trench warfare is bound to continue for a while.
See Also:
- First Look: Flash Arrives on New Android OS
- Adobe Gives Up on Flash for iPhone, iPad
- Google Fires at Apple, Integrates Flash Into Chrome Browser
- Apple Promotes ‘iPad-Ready’ Websites Ditching Flash
- Steve Jobs Claims Flash Will Kill the Mobile Web
- HTML5 for iPad Won’t Kill Flash, But Could Change Apps
Photo: Flash Player 10.1 on Nexus One (Keith Axline/Wired.com)
Full story at http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/OhWmA6Cb6P4/
Savings from axed ID card contracts will be limited
Nicola Brittain, Computing, Friday 28 May 2010 at 17:22:00
With only the smallest contract, worth �18m, to be cut completely
The �86m in savings to come from axing ID card suppliers "once all exit costs
are met" as
reported
on the BBC is unlikely to appear, given details of the supplier contract
renegotiations released by the Home Office.
Only one of three related contracts is to be cut. This was signed with
Thales
in July 2008 and is worth �18m. It would have seen Thales launch the ID
cards nationwide. The company issued two batches of ID cards in 2009/2010 ?
first in Manchester and then in London.
The Home Office was not willing to release details of contract renegotiations
with Thales but the government will probably have to pay a fine for breaking the
contract.
The other two significant contracts, with CSC for �385m and with IBM for
�265m, will remain in place.
The 10-year CSC contract awarded in April 2009 will remain unaffected. This
contract will see CSC deliver new systems and processes to support the way
applications for passports and identity cards are examined. The system will
continue to be built to support passports even though it no longer needs to
support ID cards.
A contract for the National Biometric Identity Service was awarded to IBM in
May 2009 for seven years, and was for the storing and matching of biometric
information in passports and identity cards in the future, with a three-year
option to extend. The government has now scrapped plans for extensive personal
details to be retained.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ?The cancellation of ID cards will have a
limited impact on the contract with IBM, as much of the capability it delivers
is required for IPS (passport) and UKBA use. The majority of the contract will
remain in place to build and operate the Asylum Fingerprint System replacement.?
Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2263894/home-office-won-predicted
Ancient Egyptian mayor?s ?lost tomb? found
Full story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37430742/ns/technology_and_science-science/
Facebook app donates status to a fallen soldier
Full story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37428165/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
Israel: At Least 10 Killed On Ships Carrying Gaza Aid
Israeli commandos on Monday stormed six ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists on an aid mission to the blockaded Gaza Strip; dozens were wounded in addition to the deaths as forces encountered unexpected resistance. The operation looked certain to further damage Israel's international standing as the two sides offered conflicting accounts of what happened.
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Full story at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127286256&ft=1&f=1001
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Acer Debuts New E-Reader, Android Phone
For those who feel there’s not enough choice in e-readers or smartphones, here are some new options. Acer is showing a new e-reader and smartphone that more than anything else add clutter to the category.� The two devices will be shown at Computex, one of the largest trade shows for PC makers held every year in Tapei, Taiwan.
Acer’s new e -reader called LumiRead will have a 6-inch E Ink display, 2 GB flash memory (good for about 1500 books) with the option to add a MicroSD card, and a QWERTY keyboard.
There’s also an ISBN scanner built into the device so users can scan ISBN codes on the books to create their own wish list or search online libraries and book stores.
Like the Alex e-reader or Amazon’s Kindle, Acer’s LumiRead will have a internet browser and connect wirelessly using 3G or Wi-Fi.
Acer has signed agreements with Barnes & Noble and Libri.de, a German internet book retailer to offer e-books. The device will launch in the U.S. in the third quarter and be available in China and Germany towards the end of the year.
Acer isn’t talking price, which will be key to the device’s success. The e-reader market is flooded with Kindle clones and the arrival of yet another device is hardly likely to get consumers’ attention.� The ISBN code-scanning feature aside, the LumiRead feels rather pedestrian and unless Acer can beat Sony’s $170 Pocket Edition e-reader, it is difficult to see how LumiRead can get ahead.
Separately, Acer also announced a new smartphone called Stream. The Android-powered phone will have a3.7-inch touchscreen OLED display, 3G,� Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, 512 MB RA and 2 GB of internal memory.
“Acer Stream is a high-end multimedia smartphone, optimized for watching movies, listening to music and enjoying web browsing like at home,” says Acer in a statement. “Perfect for most demanding users who look for the best in entertainment.”
That means HD video recording up to 720p, 5-megapixel camera, a GPS system that allows photos and videos to be geotagged and a HDMI port. The phone will run Android version 2.1 aka ‘�clair.’
Based on the specs, the Stream sounds a lot like the Nexus One.� It’s likely that Acer will launch the device in Asia and Europe only. After all, the Nexus One and the HTC EVO 4G blow the Stream out of the competition in the U.S.
Acer hasn’t announced telecom carriers or pricing for the Stream.
See Also:
- $150 Kobo eReader: The Real Kindle Killer?
- Plastic Logic Aims New Que E-Reader at Business Users
- Entourage eDGe E-Book Reader
- Acer Plans a Million Chrome OS Netbooks, New E-Reader
Photo: Acer LumiRead/Acer
Full story at http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/NuU1__qU_ME/
Flash Finds Support From Nokia and Time Warner
Three months ago, it seemed Flash was as good as dead. Now, with a new Flash player for the Android platform and some big companies throwing their support behind the format, the technology looks like it won’t become history just yet.
Following the partnership with Google for Android OS,� Adobe is finding more supporters for its video format. Nokia, and Opera, the browser maker, have announced they’ll be sticking with Flash.
“It is the only proprietary part of the Web we support,” Opera co-founder von Tetzchner stated at the recent Open Mobile conference in London, PC Mag reports.
Nokia will also continue its support for Flash, says Alberto Torres, Nokia’s vice-president for business solutions.
In addition, reports claim media giants Time Warner and NBC Universal won’t be replacing Flash with HTML5 anytime soon. Time Warner has been especially opposed to the subscription model allegedly promoted by Apple.
No surprise there, as Time Warner announced a big deal with Adobe last year to bring online properties such as Warner Bros. Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting System, and Home Box office.
The war for the future of online video started when in 2007, iPhone appeared and surprised the world (and its future users) by completely nixing support for Flash. Apple stepped up the anti-Flash campaign by not allowing any Flash-developed applications on the iPhone and iPad, with Jobs himself leading the PR effort.
Recent months have seen major websites like YouTub, Vimeo and The New York Times embrace the HTML5 format which the iPhone and iPad can run. Disney, in which Jobs is the largest individual shareholder, launched an iPad app that includes all ABC shows for free. Other networks such as CNN and Fox have also started using HTML5 on their sites.
Meanwhile, Adobe is trying to fight back. Last week, it showed a beta version of Flash Player 10.1 for Google?s Android OS. Flash would require Android version 2.2 aka ‘FroYo’.� Android 2.2 will be the the first mobile platform that fully supports Flash, instead of the stripped-down Flash Lite version.
The launch of Flash Player 10.1 for Android, along with support from big players like Nokia and Time Warner, points to a vigorous effort by Adobe to push back against Apple’s criticism. This trench warfare is bound to continue for a while.
See Also:
- First Look: Flash Arrives on New Android OS
- Adobe Gives Up on Flash for iPhone, iPad
- Google Fires at Apple, Integrates Flash Into Chrome Browser
- Apple Promotes ‘iPad-Ready’ Websites Ditching Flash
- Steve Jobs Claims Flash Will Kill the Mobile Web
- HTML5 for iPad Won’t Kill Flash, But Could Change Apps
Photo: Flash Player 10.1 on Nexus One (Keith Axline/Wired.com)
Full story at http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/OhWmA6Cb6P4/
Savings from axed ID card contracts will be limited
Nicola Brittain, Computing, Friday 28 May 2010 at 17:22:00
With only the smallest contract, worth �18m, to be cut completely
The �86m in savings to come from axing ID card suppliers "once all exit costs
are met" as
reported
on the BBC is unlikely to appear, given details of the supplier contract
renegotiations released by the Home Office.
Only one of three related contracts is to be cut. This was signed with
Thales
in July 2008 and is worth �18m. It would have seen Thales launch the ID
cards nationwide. The company issued two batches of ID cards in 2009/2010 ?
first in Manchester and then in London.
The Home Office was not willing to release details of contract renegotiations
with Thales but the government will probably have to pay a fine for breaking the
contract.
The other two significant contracts, with CSC for �385m and with IBM for
�265m, will remain in place.
The 10-year CSC contract awarded in April 2009 will remain unaffected. This
contract will see CSC deliver new systems and processes to support the way
applications for passports and identity cards are examined. The system will
continue to be built to support passports even though it no longer needs to
support ID cards.
A contract for the National Biometric Identity Service was awarded to IBM in
May 2009 for seven years, and was for the storing and matching of biometric
information in passports and identity cards in the future, with a three-year
option to extend. The government has now scrapped plans for extensive personal
details to be retained.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ?The cancellation of ID cards will have a
limited impact on the contract with IBM, as much of the capability it delivers
is required for IPS (passport) and UKBA use. The majority of the contract will
remain in place to build and operate the Asylum Fingerprint System replacement.?
Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2263894/home-office-won-predicted
Internet addicts guilty of starving baby to death
Full story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37399937/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
Cosmic Log: Satellites track the spill
Full story at http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/05/28/4384563-watch-the-oil-spill-as-it-changes
Kagan Would Likely Sit Out Some Cases In First Year
Elena Kagan's current job as solicitor general would present a conflict of interest if she is confirmed to the Supreme Court. The nominee has said she would not participate in any case in which she signed the brief and would also "look to the letter and spirit" of the Code of Judicial Conduct for further guidance.
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Full story at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127036286&ft=1&f=1001
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Acer Debuts New E-Reader, Android Phone
For those who feel there’s not enough choice in e-readers or smartphones, here are some new options. Acer is showing a new e-reader and smartphone that more than anything else add clutter to the category.� The two devices will be shown at Computex, one of the largest trade shows for PC makers held every year in Tapei, Taiwan.
Acer’s new e -reader called LumiRead will have a 6-inch E Ink display, 2 GB flash memory (good for about 1500 books) with the option to add a MicroSD card, and a QWERTY keyboard.
There’s also an ISBN scanner built into the device so users can scan ISBN codes on the books to create their own wish list or search online libraries and book stores.
Like the Alex e-reader or Amazon’s Kindle, Acer’s LumiRead will have a internet browser and connect wirelessly using 3G or Wi-Fi.
Acer has signed agreements with Barnes & Noble and Libri.de, a German internet book retailer to offer e-books. The device will launch in the U.S. in the third quarter and be available in China and Germany towards the end of the year.
Acer isn’t talking price, which will be key to the device’s success. The e-reader market is flooded with Kindle clones and the arrival of yet another device is hardly likely to get consumers’ attention.� The ISBN code-scanning feature aside, the LumiRead feels rather pedestrian and unless Acer can beat Sony’s $170 Pocket Edition e-reader, it is difficult to see how LumiRead can get ahead.
Separately, Acer also announced a new smartphone called Stream. The Android-powered phone will have a3.7-inch touchscreen OLED display, 3G,� Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, 512 MB RA and 2 GB of internal memory.
“Acer Stream is a high-end multimedia smartphone, optimized for watching movies, listening to music and enjoying web browsing like at home,” says Acer in a statement. “Perfect for most demanding users who look for the best in entertainment.”
That means HD video recording up to 720p, 5-megapixel camera, a GPS system that allows photos and videos to be geotagged and a HDMI port. The phone will run Android version 2.1 aka ‘�clair.’
Based on the specs, the Stream sounds a lot like the Nexus One.� It’s likely that Acer will launch the device in Asia and Europe only. After all, the Nexus One and the HTC EVO 4G blow the Stream out of the competition in the U.S.
Acer hasn’t announced telecom carriers or pricing for the Stream.
See Also:
- $150 Kobo eReader: The Real Kindle Killer?
- Plastic Logic Aims New Que E-Reader at Business Users
- Entourage eDGe E-Book Reader
- Acer Plans a Million Chrome OS Netbooks, New E-Reader
Photo: Acer LumiRead/Acer
Full story at http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/NuU1__qU_ME/
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