Toshiba releases ‘world’s thinnest’ Android tablet

Sales limited to a single retailer

Toshiba’s ‘world’s thinnest, lightest’ tablet, the AT200 - aka the Excite in the US – goes on sale over here next week.

The 7.7mm-thick, 10.1in 1280 x 800 tablet, announced in September 2011, runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb, on a 1.2GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor. It has 1GB of DDR 2 memory and either 16GB or 32GB of Flash storage.

The tablet uses 2.4GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi for network connectivity, has micro HDMI for TV linkage, and Micro SD for storage expansion.

You can read Reg Hardware‘s ‘hands on’ write-up of the Toshiba AT200 here.

The AT200 goes on sale on Wednesday, 15 February for £399 (16GB) and £449 (32GB), but it’ll only be available from Carphone Warehouse.

Article: RSS via The Register

Tags: Android, Computing, Honeycomb, Tablet PC's, Toshiba, Toshiba AT200

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Raspberry Pi available to purchase by the end of February

The fine folks over at Raspberry Pi have announced that they expect fans of their tiny little media streaming system will be able to purchase the device by the end of February. The company had apparently hoped the device would be ready to purchase before the end of the month, but ran into an issue in manufacturing. The manufacturing issue was with the quartz crystal package that the company had chosen.

According to the company, the quartz crystal that the Raspberry Pi board was designed to use was readily available in UK, but over in China where the device is manufactured it was hard to find. The manufacturer is finally putting the boards together after getting a supply of the crystals. The first batch of boards is expected to be finished on February 20.

After the boards are complete, they will be shipped over to the UK where they will be available for purchase shortly thereafter. Another interesting piece of news has been offered up as well. Broadcom has published a datasheet on the BCM2835 SoC that is used inside the Raspberry Pi. Those of you out there dying to learn more details about the SoC can grab the datasheet, which describes the ARM peripherals inside the chip in PDF form here. We mentioned that the Raspberry Pi would be running a custom version of the XBMC software not long ago.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: Computing, Gadget News, Raspberry Pi, UK

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Torrent site btjunkie shuts down

The anti-piracy crusade has claimed another victim, with BitTorrent indexing site btjunkie voluntarily shutting down this weekend. Apparently the fifth most popular torrent site online in 2011, btjunkie had opened its doors to download indexing in 2005. “We’ve been fighting for years for your right to communicate” the team behind the site said in a statement on Sunday, “but it’s time to move on.”

Rather than actually hosting files, as was the case with MegaUpload, btjunkie crawled the web looking for torrents. Private and public file-sharing sites were indexed, btjunkie serving up possible download links for peer-hosted content and fleshing them out with user-reviews to weed out bad or corrupted downloads.

“This is the end of the line my friends. The decision does not come easy, but we’ve decided to voluntarily shut down. We’ve been fighting for years for your right to communicate, but it’s time to move on. It’s been an experience of a lifetime, we wish you all the best!” btjunkie

Although they only point to download links, rather than host files themselves, torrent indexers like btjunkie have grown increasingly contentious as the film and music industries attempt to clamp down on methods of acquiring copyrighted content. News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch even described Google as the “piracy leader” after discovering how easily possible download links for Sony-produced movies were to discover using the search engine.

btjunkie has not given any public reason as to why it chose now to shut down. With renewed attention on piracy amid the MegaUpload trial, though, it’s unlikely to be the last site to consider downtime rather than face investigation.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: Anti-Piracy, BitTorrent, btjunkie, Torrents

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Samsung Galaxy S2 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM video

Samsung has promised that their hugely successful Galaxy S2 smartphone will be getting an official Ice Cream Sandwich ROM before the first quarter of the year is over, and with the leaked Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM being spotted recently, the good people over at Pocketnow decided to give the ROM a go, and recorded a video of it in action. So far, initial impressions have proved to be nothing but bouquets instead of brickbats, where the platform refresh is said to be extremely stable, fast and smooth – in addition to improving the TouchWiz user interface. Some say that the battery life has been improved as well, and that is always a welcome addition for any device. Some benchmark figures that ran include AnTuTu, Quadrant, LinPack and SmartBench that clocked 6257, 4225, 46.992/78.05 and 2517, respectively. I guess this can only mean one thing – there is no real reason to ditch your Galaxy S2 just yet in pursuit of a newer and better phone, considering how with Ice Cream Sandwich on the Galaxy S2, it can still chug along quite nicely without batting and eyelid.

Article: RSS via Ubergizmo

Tags: Android, Galaxy S II, Hacks, Ice Cream Sandwich, ROM, Samsung, Smartphones, Video

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Windows Phone 8 detailed: dual cores, Skype Integration and NFC are a go

If you thought Mango was the bee’s knees, just wait till you get a hold of Apollo. No, seriously, keep waiting ’cause we have no idea when that will happen. While we still can’t say when Windows Phone 8 will be making its way to a handset near you, we do have quite a few new details about the mobile OS courtesy of the folks over at PocketNow. The site managed to snag a copy of a video starring Windows Phone manager Joe Belfiore talking about what’s coming in the next major revision. Those of you concerned with Microsoft’s inability to go toe to toe with Apple and Google on specs can breathe a bit easier as new screen resolutions (four in total) and dual-core CPUs will be supported, while those clamoring for more storage will be happy to hear that microSD support has returned — this time in anofficial capacity. Rounding out the new hardware features will be NFC support, including the Beam-like ability to share content by tapping, though, it’ll have the advantage of being able to share with Windows 8 based tablets and laptops as well. And, speaking of Windows 8, its similarly numbered, phone-centric sibling won’t just share a UI, it’ll have many of the core components, including large chunks of the kernel, networking stack and security features — which should make porting apps from the desktop to the handset a relatively simple affair.

Amazingly enough, the list of improvements doesn’t end there. If you’ve been wondering when Microsoft was going to put its Skype acquisition to good use, wonder no more. A Windows Phone app for the VoIP service will debut alongside Apollo and will feature deep integration with the OS, including the ability to place calls the same as you would standard voice calls. A new live tile and app called DataSmart will make it easier for users to manage their data usage and ensure they don’t end up eating insane overage fees. To milk every last bit out of that data plan Windows Phone will favor WiFi over a cellular connection and can be programmed to automatically connect to carrier-owned hotspots when they’re in range. And, if that weren’t enough, Microsoft plans to use proxy servers to compress web pages before feeding them to the mobile version of Internet Explorer 10, not unlike Opera Mini. Those of you who doubted that Windows Phone could actually keep pace with Android and iOS, now might be a good time to reevaluate your position. Hit up the source link for a few more details.

Update: If you want to get all of the details in a nice easy to glance list head after the break for a convenient bullet point presentation.

• Support for dual cores
• Support for four different resolutions, though no specifics were given
• NFC support added, including payment and content sharing with WP8 and Windows 8 machines
• Carrier control and branding of “wallet” element is possible via SIM or phone hardware
• MicroSD support added for expandable storage
• Transitions to core components from desktop, including kernel, network stack, security components and media support
• Simplified porting of desktop apps to mobile
• Zune desktop integration scrapped in favor of new, unnamed syncing app
• Deeper Skydrive integration, including ability to sync data such as music collections
• Xbox Companion app will get Windows 8 partner client
• Native code support, simplified porting from Android and iOS
• App-to-app communication and integration
• Skype client with deep OS hooks that will make it almost identical to placing standard voice calls
• Camera app now supports “lenses” which allow third parties to skin and add features to camera interface
• DataSmart tracks and reports usage via app and live tile
• Gives preferential treatment to WiFi, can automatically connect to carrier-owned hotspots
• Proxy server will compress websites in Internet Explorer 10 up to 30 percent
• Native Bitlocker encryption
• Support for proprietary, custom built apps to be deployed behind company firewalls

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: Apollo, Dual-Core, MicroSD, Microsoft, NFC, Skype, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 8

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Facebook Premium Accounts coming says Telsyte

A subscription service may be in Facebook’s cash-grabbing future if Australian analyst group Telsyte are to be believed. Speaking with News.com.au, the group via analyst Foad Fadaghi noted changes that may well be coming soon to the group that this week posted its Initial Public Offering looking for a bump in the money market in more ways than one. Better mobile apps, more invasive advertising, and “Facebook Premium” may all be on the plate for you social networkers out there inside the coming months or years.

In a Premium service, Fadaghi notes that he expects Facebook to offer up services that lesser companies simply cannot. That said, he also expects that Facebook won’t be going Premium anytime soon, just so long as the competition remains in-tact. He also mentions Google+ as a good source for keeping the competition strong enough that no one social network dominates the entire landscape. He spoke thusly:

“In the app space you will see a lot more in-app advertising, purchases and subscriptions. That whole ecosystem will keep growing. It already represents a significant portion of Facebook revenue, so that side of the business can definitely grow a lot more. The challenge is companies such Google+ will provide similar services, but are likely not to charge because they are less powerful in the social networking space. As long as there is competition, social networking sites will remain free to consumers.” – Fadaghi

Facebook is also setting itself up to get much better support in their mobile applications. The group will soon move a bit past the individual users and focus on businesses in not only the desktop-based browser-based site, but the mobile applications made officially by Facebook as well. Advertising will also be on the rise with more content driven or invasive methods for getting into your brain.

There may be more marketing or advertising related products or services that we see develop and come out as investors and shareholders look to make more money from the site. Traditionally social networking websites have had a lot of advertising imagery but haven’t been able to get the same high rates as the premium content sites, such as news. So those metrics will come under scrutiny.” – Fadaghi

It will be interesting to see the ever so gradual slide from one iteration of the most major social networking sites in the world to other versions of themselves. The advertising world is certainly sliding in on us all, and though a pay-per-use model isn’t near reality now for Facebook, you never know about the future.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: Apps, Facebook, Social Networks, Subscription

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Google Chrome to Phone Android app gets new look and feel, landscape support

Google updated its Google Chrome to Phone Android app with two new features. First of all, you’ll notice a new (improved) look and feel. Perhaps even more important is the added landscape support, which for some reason was missing from the initial app. You may be browsing (and consequently using Google Chrome to Phone) in a portrait mode exclusively, but I’m sure folks with side-sliding phones (those with QWERTY keyboards and perhaps the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY) more often than not rely on landscape view. Finally, this release also fixes crash that occurred when copying text from Chrome to the mobile device.

All in all, if you use Chrome on your PC or Mac, and also happen to have an Android device, you simply must have this app installed. It will help you easily access web pages you’re looking on your computer from the phone/tablet.

Google Chrome to Phone (FREE) [Android Market link]

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: Android, Android Market, Apps, Chrome-to-phone, Google, Google Chrome, Web Browser

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Future Nokia Lumia smartphones could feature NFC and wireless charging

While Nokia’s new flagship Windows Phone, the Lumia 900, has yet to be released, it seems that there are talks of what we will be able to expect from future Nokia Lumia phones. This is thanks to Marko Antissari, Nokia’s head of design, who recently told the Guardian what Nokia is currently up to with their future Lumia handsets.

According to Marko, the Finnish handset manufacturer is currently working together with Microsoft to coordinate software details, such as tile colors, to match hardware accessories. It might seem rather trivial when you think about it, but accessories that match not just the color of the phone, but also the software could have huge implications as far as aesthetics are concerned. Marko may have also indicated that future Lumia phones may feature NFC capabilities along with possible wireless charging.

“If you can take away a moving part and make it [the phone] more beautiful in the placement of the components, we’ll do it, so that’s something where we can certainly keep improving,” Ahtisaari told the Guardian. “Take it to the extreme, and why are there any connectors?”

The use of NFC has been hinted by Microsoft in the past as a possibility they’re exploring, and which Nokia plans to use to pair accessories with the phone simply by tapping them together. On top of that, it seems that future Lumia phones will no longer have the flimsy flip-up plastic tab that covers the micro-USB port, which apparently is one of the gripes that some reviewers had with the Nokia Lumia 800 (check out our review here).

So what do you guys think? An NFC-capable, color coordinated, wireless charging Nokia Lumia Windows Phone device – does that sound like a phone you could see yourself purchasing in the future?

Article: RSS via Ubergizmo

Tags: Lumia 800, Lumia 900, NFC, Nokia, Smartphones, Windows Phone, Wireless Charging

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Google’s YouTube might be considering subscription service

There is no shortage of ways for YouTube to monetize its site right now. It has sponsored videos, ad-supported content, and pay-per-click overlay ads. But that might not be enough, as the head of the viral video site has suggested there might be premium content on its way to YouTube, effectively ending the great legacy of 100% no-barrier, free-to-watch videos that made the site what it is today.

YouTube CEO Salar Kamangar was at the D:Dive Into Media conference and was quoted as saying it is possible that the site might start allowing copyright holders to offer channels that require users to pay a monthly fee. “We’re a media platform want to be biz model than media partners demand,” he said.

Kamangar rolled off some statistics about the video industry as a whole, including online and offline content. He said 20% of revenue comes from the actual sale or rental of a specific title, while 40% comes from advertising and another 40% comes from subscription fees. Clearly YouTube is only engaging in one part of that pie right now, but even so it’s not exactly hurting for revenue. The thought of punching in a credit card to watch a video on YouTube seems almost un-American. It would be interesting to see if Google could pull it off.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: Google, Subsc, Videos, YouTube

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Nokia’s 1997 game Snake authentically recreated on Windows Phone

There aren’t many mobile phone games from the 1990s that are really worth taking a second look. In fact, the entire market of vintage cell phone games is sorely uninspiring, but there is one that has and always will stand out from its monochromatic brethren. If you had a Nokia phone back in the day, then you either played Snake or you should have.

Now, developer Willem Middelkoop has revived the archaically simplistic game on Windows Phone, as ably demonstrated by Pocket-lint in the video below. And no, it doesn’t just put a black-and-greenish screen on the display and let players have at it. This app effectively turns your Windows Phone into a mid-1990s Nokia handset, complete with buttons and all. The experience is meant to be as faithful as possible, giving players a limited play area and requiring them to push numerical buttons to move the snake.

It is perhaps a fitting tribute to the fact that Nokia now runs a third-party operating system, something that mobile enthusiasts just a few years ago would have said was a ludicrous idea. Of course, Nokia didn’t create Snake; it lived as an old-school computer game long before you could carry a phone outside your house. But the simplistic game made a perfect splash into the mobile gaming sector. Incidentally, Nokia tried to release a modern-day Snake on its N-Gage phone several years ago. Neither the game nor the phone was successful. But when it comes to retro goodness, you can’t lose.

Article: RSS via Pocket-lint

Tags: Apps, Gaming, Nokia, Smartphones, Snake '97, Video, Windows Phone

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