CrunchGear |  |
- Fujitsu’s Waterproof LTE F-01D Android Tablet To Land In Japan Next Month
- Over iPhone And iPad Patents: Apple Sues Samsung In Japan
- After Nine Months Of Revisions, The Verizon Droid Bionic Is Finally Available
- HP Releases The Updated DM1 Ultraportable Laptop
- Review: Deus Ex – Human Revolution
- Is Nike Planning To Release Back To The Future’s Auto-Lacing Air Mags?
- Iridium’s New AxcessPoint Hotspot Provides WiFi In The Rainforest
- Nintendo Gets Sued Over The Wii
- TiVo Releases The TiVo Premiere Elite, The Premiere Of The Elite DVR
- Velocity Micro Introduces Two Sub-$300 Android Slates
- Video: Japanese University Uses Fish Scales To Develop Stronger Artificial Bones
| Fujitsu’s Waterproof LTE F-01D Android Tablet To Land In Japan Next Month Posted: 08 Sep 2011 04:46 AM PDT  Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT Docomo is stepping up its efforts to bring Xi, its LTE service, to the masses: today, the company announced two tablets that are compatible with the standard for the Japanese market, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and a new device from Fujitsu, the so-called ARROWS Tab LTE F-01D. Both tablets will be released next month, come with Android Honeycomb, and have the Japanese versions of Hulu and Qik pre-installed. While the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is largely the same that’s sold elsewhere (just with LTE support), the Fujitsu tablet is more interesting. It has a waterproof body (so you can take it to the bathtub with you – a selling point, especially in Japan) and features a special gesture control function that allows you to slide its screen without touching it with your finger (important when you’re cooking, for example). Here are the main specs of the Fujitsu Arrows:
|
| Over iPhone And iPad Patents: Apple Sues Samsung In Japan Posted: 08 Sep 2011 03:07 AM PDT  The patent war between Apple and Samsung is continuing, and this time the battlefield is Japan: Japanese news agency Kyodo is reporting that Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung with the Tokyo District Court. According to big A, Samsung is infringing on (unspecified) patents on the iPhone and iPad with the Galaxy S Android phone (that carrier Docomo started selling in Japan last year). If the report is to be believed (neither Apple Japan nor Samsung Japan have confirmed the news), Apple is seeking 100 million yen (US$1.3 million) in damages. A first hearing took place yesterday, and apparently, Samsung’s Japanese unit is ready for a long-term legal battle. What’s interesting to note is that in Japan, the Galaxy S is a best-selling handset for carrier Docomo, while Apple chose competitor SoftBank as the exclusive distributor for the iPhone and iPad. And not unlike Apple, Samsung currently sees fantastic sales in Japan, especially with the S II: Docomo sold 100,000 Galaxy S II in the first three days after release of the handset in July, making it the carrier’s fastest-selling phone ever. Today, Docomo announced the Galaxy Tab (LTE-compatible) for the Japanese market.
|
| After Nine Months Of Revisions, The Verizon Droid Bionic Is Finally Available Posted: 07 Sep 2011 11:10 PM PDT  January 5th. That’s when Motorola and Verizon first announced the DROID Bionic. 9 months grueling months later, it’s here. It’s seen delay after delay, and revisions to both its internal specs and its outward appearance have made the Droid Bionic we see launching today about as different from what was originally announced as any other Android handset hitting the shelves this month, but still: it’s rocking the Droid Bionic name, built by Motorola for Verizon, and it’s finally, finally here. Given its launch window and positioning at the top of Verizon’s marketing masthead, the Bionic will be amongst but a handful of handsets that’ll be regularly held up against whatever Apple might launch as the next iPhone in the coming weeks. As such, you can be damn sure we’re going to give this thing a thorough examining before we publish our full review. Look for that early next week — but in the mean time, you can find our early impressions here. For those who might be needing a refresher on the specs:
The DROID Bionic is available for $299 on a new 2-year contract, or $599 at full retail.
|
| HP Releases The Updated DM1 Ultraportable Laptop Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:01 PM PDT  HP’s PC business may be up in the air right now, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see any more HP notebooks. The company today announced the updated DM1 ultraportable laptop with a new, fresher look. Starting at $599, the DM1 comes with either an Intel second-gen Core processor or an AMD E-series processor. AMD models will also include AMD Radeon HD discrete graphics. The laptop sports an 11.6-inch LED display, measures in at a little less than an inch thick, and weighs about 3.5 lbs. The DM1 is finished with a special type of soft-touch rubber that is more durable thanks to a unique rubber printing method. The soft touch finish is one of the most noticeable enhancements to the product, and is a huge step up from that of its predecessor. A couple other design improvements have to do with the shape of the notebook as a whole. The back hinge has been adjusted so that the screen lies flush with the body when the notebook is closed, rather than having that battery bulging out like it does on the original model. The bottom also curves up into the notebook’s wedge shape in a much more pronounced way than the original. The keyboard, touchpad, and palm rests have all gone to either black, or ash grey, instead of the usual HP silver. The DM1 is meant for someone who’s light on their feet. If you travel, or are a college student, this may just be what you’re looking for. Another cool feature that will definitely come in handy for those on-the-go users is HP’s ProtectSmart. It’s a built-in accelerometer that detects when the computer is bumped or dropped and immediately stops the hard drive, likely saving many precious files. PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 8, 2011 – HP today introduced the updated HP Pavilion dm1, a consumer notebook PC featuring gloss or HP Soft-touch Imprint design, Beats AudioTM and HP Premier Experience – an exclusive set of innovations designed to improve on the Microsoft Windows® experience. The affordable HP Pavilion dm1 is the ultimate ultraportable, blending performance and mobility in a stylish package, and offering a battery life of up to 11.5 hours.(1) Building upon HP's MUSE design philosophy, the dm1 is the first notebook to feature HP Soft-touch Imprint technology, a unique printing process that creates a soft-to-the-touch surface by inlaying graphics into a rubber skin that covers the notebook exterior. The dm1 will be available in either a traditional charcoal gloss finish or a soft-touch ash black finish with a stylized pattern. The ash black design's velvety finish not only provides a tactile experience, but also collects fewer fingerprints compared to gloss surfaces. With the addition of HP Beats Audio, a unique, high-performance technology developed by HP and Beats by Dr. DreTM, the Pavilion dm1 offers high-quality entertainment for mobile users. The dm1 features an 11.6-inch high-definition (HD)(2) LED display, and the built-in HP TrueVision HD(2) webcam captures high-quality images even in low-light conditions. The compact machine has a range of storage options and also packs power with the latest AMD E-Series Accelerated Processing Units or Intel® 2nd Generation CoreTM processors. AMD models also include AMD Radeon HD(2) discrete-class graphics to enable crisper and more vivid video playback. Thin and light, the dm1 measures less than 1-inch thick in front and weighs 3.52 pounds.(3) Streamlined Windows 7 experience Editorial Contacts Sheila Watson, HP +1 281 514 6552 sheila.watson@hp.com Julie Luker, Edelman for HP +1 650 762 2923 julie.luker@edelman.com HP Media Hotline +1 866 266 7272 www.hp.com/go/newsroom 1/4 News Release HP Premier Experience delivers a streamlined Windows experience that makes HP Pavilion notebooks cleaner, faster and more intuitive. Part of the HP Premier Experience, HP Launch Box allows applications to be better organized by grouping them for quick access on the Windows 7 taskbar. A simple mouse-over and click launches an application directly from the taskbar, freeing up screen real estate on the PC's desktop. Including the dm1, HP Launch Box is available on 70 percent of consumer notebook models. Additionally, a simplified, organized Windows Start Menu allows users to find applications faster. With HP Premier Experience, consumer notebooks have quicker boot-up, shutdown, sleep and resume times, allowing users to access their content quickly. The dm1 shows an approximate 29 and 25 percent improvement on shutdown and resume times, respectively. Boot times and sleep times also are improved. Select models of HP notebooks feature some of the following HP Premier Experience innovations: — HP CoolSense technology uses advanced hardware and intelligent software to automatically adjust performance and internal fan settings for a noticeably cooler PC. Whether at a desk or on the move, HP CoolSense technology keeps the PC's surface temperature at an optimum level of comfort. — HP QuickWeb takes users directly to the web within seconds of powering on, bypassing the full operating system start-up. Users are seconds from chatting with friends on SkypeTM, updating Facebook posts or tweets and viewing their social calendar all in one place.(4) — HP ProtectSmart features a built-in accelerometer that detects when a PC is bumped or dropped, locking the hard drive into place within milliseconds to help protect important files. The feature's safeguard modes run without interrupting day-to-day use. — HP SimplePass provides added online security with a built-in fingerprint reader that auto-populates passwords for online accounts and websites. Valuable account information is locked with a user's 2/4 News Release unique fingerprint. Elements of the HP Premier Experience are available today on 90 percent of HP's consumer notebook models. Pricing and availability(5) — The HP Pavilion dm1 with AMD processors is expected to be available in charcoal on Sept. 21 with a starting price of $399.99. The soft-touch ash black model will be available this Fall. — The HP Pavilion dm1 with Intel processors is expected to be available in charcoal on Oct. 30 with an external optical drive included and a starting price of $599.99. The soft-touch ash black model will be available this Fall. Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), commonly referred to as HP, is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA. HP is one of the world’s largest...
|
| Review: Deus Ex – Human Revolution Posted: 07 Sep 2011 05:20 PM PDT  Short version: Absolutely worth a play, but there are a number of flaws that cause DEHR to fall short of greatness. The bosses, the “domestic” environments, and certain je ne sais quois mais ce n’est pas bien about the level design. It’s far from perfect, but the core gameplay, second by second, is fun and exciting. What worksThe world of Deus Ex is a softly-glowing, amber world with lots of set dressing. You won’t recognize Detroit, but I’m not sure if anyone does these days. It’s a fairly standard cyberpunk-looking environment, but for the most part it’s crafted with care. There are lots of little details here and there that have nothing to do with the game really, but still add flavor. Many of the locations actually feel like the real thing: Sarif feels like a real office area; the FEMA complex seems right, and a few others hit the mark quite well. You’re rewarded for doing pretty much everything except for truly screwing up. I played the game as a semi-pacifist, not killing anyone that didn’t really need it. I got points for being “merciful,” and then when I had to cap a guy for real, I got “marksman” credit for a headshot. That said, it does reward you more for doing things on the down-low. I aimed for the Ghost and Smooth Operator bonuses on every mission, meaning I couldn’t ever be fully seen by guards or cameras. That’s not to say I was above mowing some fools down when it was crunch time. It’s fun because really, you’re challenging yourself to do it the way you think it should be done. Augmenting yourself feels great. For the most part, you really see the benefits. “Damn, if only I had upgraded my arms, I could move that thing out of the way and get in that vent.” Or “Yeees, with two more seconds of stealth or an extra battery, I could just walk right past that camera.” The upgrades genuinely enhance and diversify gameplay, and you’ll face some hard decisions. The gameplay itself is mostly stealth action, and it generally plays out quite well. You mostly feel like a badass, and going from first person to third person to hacking to shooting is effortless. You also feel obligated to try things differently, or do them better, so multiple playthroughs are an option. There’s an achievement for not killing anyone in the game (apart from the bosses, who die whether you like it or not) that’ll take some work. Especially when… well, you’ll see. The story is a mixed bag, but it’s ambitious in some ways and fairly well written. Ironically it relies on the “deus ex machina” trope and as usual, there’s a big revelation at the endTM that you see coming a mile off. At least it’s not aliens. What doesn’tWhile in the zone, rolling between bits of cover, taking out baddies on the sly, and actually doing your job, you feel great. The “hub” areas, however, are reminiscent of mid-2000s shooters in their graphical and navigational limitations. The areas you walk around seemed very little to me like living streets and much more like budget game levels. Apartment buildings are little more than bare corridors, often having floors without doors at all, fake or not. Most rooms, even plot-centric ones, are cut-and-paste. The NPCs peopling the world are barely window dressing, having little or nothing to do or say. You can steal stuff right from under their noses or read their email. The character models, too, seem like holdovers from the last generation. The main characters and things like guards generally look great and are animated well, but NPCs have what feels like pre-Half-Life idle animations, dead eyes, and atrocious voice acting. Not to mention every woman in the game seemingly shares the same anatomically-offensive model, with breasts bigger than their heads and waspish waists. Really, guys, you couldn’t task an intern with making a few variants? And after playing LA Noire, the poor models, poor voice acting, and poor lip syncing are doubly disappointing. Much has been said about the bosses, so I’ll just note that I agree with the general opinion, which is that they suck. They were, in fact, developed by a separate company, and it shows. Fortunately, they only make up a small fraction of the gameplay, so your best bet is to eat some painkillers, waste a bunch of ammo, and get it over with. Behavior and cues were inconsistent. Why is it that an enemy can pinpoint a single footstep, but the frazzle of an automatic unlocking device doesn’t set off alarms? Why is opening a locker enemy-audible, but the hiss of reloading my combat rifle “silent”? Why can mines see me when I’m invisible? Why is cover sometimes laughably effective, sometimes the opposite? The setup of the world and your means to get through it seem very arbitrary. It doesn’t always detract from the fun, but it was very clear to me that I was taking one of, say, three paths the developers put into the game. The incredible proliferation of unlocked air ducts leading straight to critical areas where enemies always look the other way makes you feel less like a ninja and more like just a guy taking “Path B.” You can still tackle things in your own way a lot of the time, but unlike effectively sneaking around in, say, Crysis, you don’t feel it’s because of any merit on your part. Lastly, the load times are a real problem, even on a brand new PC like mine. If you’re a perfectionist like me, expect to spend many, many idle minutes staring at pointless game tips, even if you’re loading from a save only a few seconds earlier. I got a lot of Words With Friends done during the 30-second or longer loading times. What it is: A good game. Think of it like an orange: sure, it’s got some bitter parts and seeds, but for the most part it’s pretty delicious. When you’re in it, you’re in it, and there are plenty of great parts and little things to explore. It’s a bit like Metal Gear without all the usual Kojima trappings. What it isn’t: A sandbox game. How you progress room by room is up to you, but the world offers little to no freedom. There are a few side quests but for the most part it’s a pretty linear operation. Not as linear as Invisible War, but it’s no GTA, either. ConclusionDeus Ex: Human Revolution is not without its flaws and busywork, but overall it’s a worthy successor to the Deus Ex name and the parts that really matter work well. Minimizing your contact with the sadly-realized peripheral world will help keep your opinion of this game high. That and something to read while it loads.
|
| Is Nike Planning To Release Back To The Future’s Auto-Lacing Air Mags? Posted: 07 Sep 2011 04:36 PM PDT  Marty McFly’s crazy kicks in Back To The Future II have long been a geek’s dream. Ostensibly made by Nike in the film, they would tighten themselves around your feet automatically and, more important, they’ve been the paragon of ultimate geekiness for a certain subset of shoe fanatics. Well, now it looks like you, too, can go back… to the future. Nike just sent out invitations to an event in LA tomorrow hinting at the actual existence of the Air Mags. The invitation included a pair of Doc’s aluminum shades and a bunch of BTTF merch, so clearly something is afoot. The company patented the Mags’ power laces back in 2010 so it’s clear that the final product is ready to at least unveil to a legion of panting shoe-heads. There are folks on NiceKicks already willing to camp out in line for these things, so you’d best act fast. Unless you’re chicken.
|
| Iridium’s New AxcessPoint Hotspot Provides WiFi In The Rainforest Posted: 07 Sep 2011 03:37 PM PDT  Perhaps best known for their line of rugged, work-anywhere satellite phones, Iridium Communications has revealed today that they’re looking to try something new. Alongside news of a new handset dubbed the Iridium Extreme, Iridium has also unveiled their new AxcessPoint hotspot, which allows users to get online and get their email fix just about anywhere on the planet. There are, of course, a few caveats. First and foremost, don’t expect to hop between your favorite social media sites with anything resembling speed. Due to the constraints of such a a wide-reaching network, data speeds top out at roughly 2.3 to 2.4 KB/s — slow enough to make the old 56k modem collecting dust in the closet look like a NASCAR engine. With the correct AxcessPoint software in place, though, Iridium claims that effective data speeds can creep as high as “up to 5x, and email transmission up to 15x.” There is also the issue of cost. While the AxcessPoint itself will only cost about $200, it has to be connected to either an Iridium 9555 or an Iridium Extreme to work. No word on cost for the Extreme yet, but the older 9555 retails for a little over $1,000. The data connection itself costs around $1.35 per minute, so it’s in your wallet’s best interest not to get sidetracked on Wikipedia. Of course, if you’re the type to start pulling hair at the first sign of a slow connection and high prices, the AxcessPoint (and Iridium service, naturally) aren’t for you. Iridium’s service has been historically geared toward people and situations where a connection to civilization, however limited, could mean the difference between life and death. However, if Iridium has their way, that may soon change. The AxcessPoint is part of a larger initiative called Iridium Force that’s meant to make mobile satellite communications more relevant to modern needs. In addition making the AxcessPoint compatible with Android, iOS, and BlackBerry OS, Iridium also hopes that it can make its satellite technology easier to integrate into other products. While it’ll likely be some time before a “Powered by Iridium” logo appears on the back of your new phone, it’s sure to come in handy for whenever you wander into the wilderness unprepared.
|
| Nintendo Gets Sued Over The Wii Posted: 07 Sep 2011 12:19 PM PDT  Ever heard of the Wavit remote? It’s totally okay if you haven’t; that’s not what this story is about. The Wavit Remote’s makers on the other hand… Well, they’ve decided to up and sue Nintendo over the Wii. Not only that, but they’ve included other retailers and manufacturers — including WalMart — in the complaint as well. And they’ve chosen the setting most likely to yield a win: the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Texas. Now, that’s not to say that Wavit makers ThinkOptical will get a win, but this particular court circuit tends to favor the patent holder over all else. The patent in question, U.S. Patent Number 7,796,116, is titled “Electronic equipment for handheld vision based absolute pointing system.” ThinkOptic’s primary argument in the case is that Nintendo had previous knowledge that the Wii would infringe based on the Trademark Office’s rejection of certain claims in Nintendo-filed patents, reports Law360. "The rejection of [...] applications — assigned to Nintendo Co. Ltd. — based on the '116 patent is proof that the Nintendo defendants knew or should have known of the objective risk that one or more of their products infringed at least one claim of at least the '116 Patent," said ThinkOptic in its complaint. ThinkOptic included two other patents in the case, as well — one called “Handheld Device for Handheld Vision Based Absolute Pointing System” (7,852,317) and the other titled “Handheld Vision Based Absolute Pointing System” (7,864,159). These two, coupled with the ’116 patent make up the basis for the Wavit Remote. According to ThinkOptic, just about every part of the Wii infringes these patents in some capacity. That includes the gaming system as a whole, Wii controllers, the sensor bars, and even the games. ThinkOptic also gave Nintendo, and the court, a heads-up on the Wii U: apparently that, too, infringes on ThinkOptic’s patents. Other big names listed as respondents in the suit include Imation, Nyko Technologies, GameStop, RadioShack, and JC Penney. ThinkOptic is asking for an injunction against violating products, as well as royalties, attorney’s fees, and damages for lost profits. As of now, all we know moving forward is that a jury trial has been requested. Company: NINTENDO Website: http://nintendo.com Nintendo, a technology company widely known for its line of game consoles, was actually founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi. It began as a Card Game company and evolved...
|
| TiVo Releases The TiVo Premiere Elite, The Premiere Of The Elite DVR Posted: 07 Sep 2011 10:10 AM PDT  TiVo is quite proud of their DVRs – so proud, in fact, that they gave the new Tivo Premiere Elite an extra superlative, just to ensure you understand the current elite-ness of this TiVo. Other than the name, the new TiVo has Series 4 architecture (a better, faster UI) as well as space for 300 hours of programming. You can record four shows at once (if you have the right number of CableCARDs) and it supports up to 1080p recording. At $500 for two terabytes of space it’s not too shabby but as a one-time fan of the now-diminished TiVo, I’d be loathe to recommend this over even the most annoying cable set-top box. $500 plus TiVo’s monthly fee isn’t very compelling and the box doesn’t support OTA digital, another minus. However, if you’re totally into watching four shows at once, this may be the unit for you.
|
| Velocity Micro Introduces Two Sub-$300 Android Slates Posted: 07 Sep 2011 10:03 AM PDT  Two new little Android tablets have joined the ever-growing tablet race, this time from Velocity Micro. Both the 8-inch Cruz T408 and the 10-inch Cruz T410 are nice enough, but what'll really catch your eye are the pricetags. The Cruz T408 and T410 are priced at $239.99 and $299.99 respectively — a comfortable price point for anyone looking to get a starter slate. These offerings add some size variation to Velocity Micro’s current slate lineup, which includes the 7-inch Cruz tablet and the also 7-inch Cruz Reader. In terms of spec quality on these little guys, things are looking a bit better than the price suggests. Both have capacitive touch screens, in the previously mentioned 8- and 10-inch flavors. A 1GHz Cortex A8 processor runs the show in both, along with WiFi support and Android 2.3 Gingerbread on top. The Cruz slates have full access to the Amazon Appstore for Android along with Angry Birds Rio and QuickOffice pre-loaded. Adobe Flash Player 10.3 is also supported, and both slates have their own forward-facing camera for video chat. Obviously, neither of these is an iPad or a Galaxy Tab, but they’re still solid options for someone with very basic tablet needs. Velocity Micro says both the Cruz T408 and Cruz T410 will be available by the end of September. Company: VELOCITY MICRO Website: http://www.velocitymicro.com Velocity Micro, a builder of custom computers and workstations.
|
| Video: Japanese University Uses Fish Scales To Develop Stronger Artificial Bones Posted: 07 Sep 2011 06:04 AM PDT  Ceramics, metallic alloys, bone powder, wood or stem cells are just some of the substances doctors have used to replace or heal broken bones so far. Now a group of researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, led by Professor Junzo Tanaka, has come up with an alternative: fish scales. According to the professor, using fish scales comes with three advantages (when compared to using collagen from pig skin, for example): it’s safer (viruses don’t migrate from fish to humans), the artificial bones are stronger, and the material converts to bone about two times faster. This video (in English, shot by Diginfonews Tokyo) provides more insight:
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from TechCrunch » Gadgets To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
