Are You a True BlackBerry Addict? Free App Tells the Tale

You BlackBerry owners know you spend a lot of time on your little phone but you might be surprised to know just how much time you are clicking and spinning. A free app will keep tabs of everything you do on your BlackBerry and give you the scoop that shows just how much time you spend on the phone.

The I Love Blackberry app tallies your daily, weekly and monthly use of the phone so you will know just how serious your affliction really is. The free app can be downloaded direct to your BlackBerry here.

G.E. boasts of physical storage breakthrough; 500GB on a single disc

As Blu-ray finally begins to gain traction on a wider scale, G.E. is again boasting of a physical disc storage breakthrough with the potential to hold 10 to 20 times more data than a Blu-ray disc and 100 times more data than a DVD. This isn’t the first time G.E. has spoken of its progress in holographic storage research but the New York Times is now reporting the company has made a new breakthrough. G.E.’s technology encodes holographic light patterns onto in a disc and packs data far more densely than the optical technology used by DVDs and Blu-ray discs. In fact, the technology in its current lab state is said to allow for up to 500GB of data storage on a single disc. For comparison, a Blu-ray disc holds 25 or 50GB and a DVD holds 5GB of data. The key to G.E.’s success with this technology of course, is making it affordable — other companies will be introducing holographic storage solutions as soon as this year. InPhase Technologies for example, will soon introduce a specialized holographic storage system geared towards the medical industry. InPhase’s solution however, requires expensive discs and readers that cost tens of thousands of dollars. G.E. plans to show off its work at a conference in Orlando in May, so perhaps some light will be shed on G.E.’s efforts in making the technology a bit more accessible.

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Bluetooth 3.0 is in the house, now with more oomph

Are you happy with your current Bluetooth experience, but aching to give it a little kick in the pants? Fret not because Bluetooth 3.0 is here right on schedule and it’s way faster than its predecessors. With the 802.11 radio Protocol Adaption Layer, transfer speeds can hit up to 24 megabits per second. If that isn’t impressive or means little to you, Bluetooth 2.0 transferred data at speeds of 2 to 3 megabits per second. Almost miraculously, the increase in speed doesn’t mean extra battery drain. On the contrary, Bluetooth 3.0 includes power-saving controls built in. Transferring files via Bluetooth should no longer be a burden or hassle — gone are the days of using Bluetooth file transfers as a last resort for large or bulk files. When will it become widely available? The process has already begun, but the technology really won’t be hitting consumers for another nine to twelve months. Patience, young grasshoppers.

Source

Virtualized Windows XP coming to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate users

Color us intrigued. The gang at SuperSite for Windows have revealed what they know about a pretty awesome Windows 7 feature: XP Mode, a virtualized copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3. It'll reportedly be a free download for Professional and Ultimate Edition users, a shame it won't be coming to all versions. Unlike many other Virtual PC options, the environment won't require a separate workspace so you can run the individual apps as you would alongside those native to 7 -- in the example pictured, that's Word 2003 in XP mode next to Word 2007. It all sounds vaguely similar to the XP compatibility mode found in Vista, but if we're understanding this right, XPM should make legacy compatibility much less of a hassle. We haven't heard any reports of it being found in the leaked Release Candidate build, so if you're antsy to get a glimpse now, hit up the read link for a gallery.

Source

QuickOffice for iPhone available now

QuickOffice for the iPhone has been released and is available in the App Store. QuickOffice allows the iPhone to edit and view Microsoft Word and Excel files which can be essential for business users. 

The suite costs $19.99 and delivers important features like cut-and-paste. You can also format text, add bullets, and work in landscape mode. In Excel docs, you can use over 125 functions and advanced formulas. 

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WinMobile Torrent v.3 Released

Adisasta, solution provider for mobile people, announces the release of WinMobile Torrent v.3 (wmTorrent v.3) for Windows Mobile. wmTorrent v.3 supports Windows Mobile Professional, Classic or Standard in all display modes. 

This latest version of wmTorrent boasts many new features and enhancements. In addition to the standard torrent functions supported in the previous version, wmTorrent v.3 supports: trackerless torrent, peer exchange, plain text and RC4 protocol encryption, consolidated or full file saving mode, http seeding, Unicode UTF-8, saving to file directly without temporary file, file format compatible with most desktop client and many more. 

Pricing and Availability 

wmTorrent v.3 is commercially available to OEMs and end users. 

wmTorrent v.3 is available in English language and is compatible with Windows Mobile Classic/Professional/Standard 5.x or later. All Windows Mobile screen resolutions are supported. A free, 5-day trial can be downloaded, or wmTorrent can be purchased for US$25.00 from

www.wmTorrent.com 

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Nokia E71x coming May 4?

It looks like the Nokia E71x could finally be arriving at AT&T on May 4. Nokia Experts reports a tipster sent them some valid looking information that shows a May 4th launch date for the E71x. You can see the "launch date" on the bottom of the picture. 

They also report receiving several PDF document with information about the E71x. You can see the documents on their web site at the source link below.

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Obama to get encrypted BlackBerry soon

Remember when the Secret Service supposedly told President-elect Obama that he could not use a BlackBerry? Obama won that battle and has been using a BlackBerry for personal use. Apparently the NSA has been working on a souped-up BlackBerry that President Obama will be able to use for official business, including accessing Top Secret data.

The Washington Times reports Obama will receive a BlackBerry 8830 in a few months that he'll be able to use at the White House and during Presidential travel. 

"The top-secret BlackBerry 8830 is in the final stages of development by the National Security Agency, which will soon begin checking to make sure its encryption software meets federal standards. The device could be ready for use in the next few months. " 

The President's BlackBerry will feature a software called SecureVoice, by the Genesis Key Inc. (Why in the world would they tell everyone what software is on the BlackBerry?) The software is so strong it can apparently turn any BlackBerry 8830 or Curve into a device that can beat hackers, eavesdroppers and spies.

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Eizo's FlexScan EV2023W / EV2303W LCD monitors turn off when humans are away

Not that we haven't seen LCD monitors get less demanding when it comes to energy, but we've yet to see a company take eco-friendliness this far. Professional LCD maker Eizo has just announced a new pair of panels (the 20-inch FlexScan EV2023W-H and the 23-inch EV2303W-T) that boast a "human presence sensor." As the phrase implies, these displays are designed to shift to power saving mode when it realizes that its master has vacated the area, and when they return, it automatically flips back on in order to keep from being bashed by one of many USB-connected peripherals. Unfortunately, it seems the human detection timer can't be changed from 40 seconds, and no, there are no current plans to implement a robot presence sensor once the Apocalypse is realized

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Giant keyboard art in Shenzhen metro station offers tech-friendly seating

If you're at the Shenzhen Metro station any time soon, you'll unlikely happen across the beautiful, beautiful sight above. The station -- which is in Shenzhen just north of Hong Kong -- has installed some keyboard art that really speaks to the typist in our souls -- we even type in our dreams occasionally. The keys function as seats to relax in while you wait for your train, though why they chose the keys they chose (Enter, M, <, L, P and ;) is anybody's guess.

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Apple's App Store hits a billion downloads

Here's to another billion -- and not just from the App Store. Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, webOS, BlackBerry -- we're expecting every bit as much out of you guys, so let the games (and the productivity apps, utilities, flatulence simulators...) begin.

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Creative TravelSound i85 adds external speaker, FM tuner to iPod nano

There's really no easy way to say it -- Creative's TravelSound i85 is bordering on unsightly, so devout fashionistas should probably look elsewhere. For those who always put design second and utility first, this here device adds a portable speaker and FM tuning abilities to Apple's fourth-generation iPod nano (the tall, thin one, for those unaware) and even includes a built-in rechargeable battery for pumping out up to 15 hours of house jams. Aside from operating as a gaudy wrist adornment, it can also double as a stand (horizontally or vertically), though there's no Dock Connector pass-through (just a miniUSB plug). Worth $99.99? That's between you and the monster underneath your bed.

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Microsoft profits sink for the first time in 23 years

In a not totally surprising -- yet still kind of striking -- turn of events, Microsoft is reporting that its sales have fallen for the first time in 23 years. You read that right, 23 years. According to numbers that the company has just released, sales fell 6 percent year-over-year, while overall net income dropped a staggering 32 percent. Those numbers are significant, but what's more telling is where those losses are coming from. Namely? Netbooks. Apparently, in the midst of a global downturn consumers really are buying cheaper, especially when it comes to tech, which puts a fairly significant crunch on Redmond's bottom line. A CNN reports suggests that the presence of Linux on those devices has contributed to the hurt here, but it's more likely that the combo of a market still unwelcoming to Vista and the wide popularity of XP on the low-power systems has more to do with these dipping profit margins. Oh, and that general, awful market depression. Still, it should serve as some kind of wake up call to Microsoft that just being the biggest doesn't guarantee that the money will keep rolling in the way it has in years past -- clearly the big picture isn't as sharp as it's always been. Hey Windows 7 -- no pressure, right?

Update: We've tweaked some language in the post that made the situation sound more dire than intended. Don't worry everyone, we know Microsoft isn't going anywhere.

Via CNN

Washington DC announced as first MPH mobile TV market

In the 22 city-strong foot race to get a live MPH-based mobile TV network up, running, and available to anyone who wants it, it looks like Washington DC's poised to come out on top. Raleigh has already deployed a handful of transmitters for the benefit of bus-goers, but the Open Mobile Video Coalition has announced that Washington DC's local CBS, PBS, NBC, and Ion affiliates plus a Fox-owned independent will all be ready to roll with MPH transmissions by late summer; of course, what remains to be seen is what sort of hardware will be ready to take advantage of the tech by then. We can likely count AT&T and Verizon out for offering MPH-enabled handsets seeing how they're still trying to figure out how to profit from their MediaFLO-based networks, so T-Mobile and Sprint's decisions to take a wait-and-see approach to the mobile TV phenomenon may really end up working in their favor here. Moving beyond the phones, it's said that Dell will be showing some sort of netbook this week with an integrated MPH tuner at the NAB show in Vegas this week, while Kenwood has in-car solutions in the works. As long as the broadcasts stay free -- which by all accounts they will -- the standard has a fighting chance at relevancy, assuming hardware comes to the table.

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World's first waterproof solar cellphone from Sharp

In continuation of a recent trend of major manufacturers announcing a new-found interest in making a buck off developing nations solar-powered cellphones, AU (KDDI) and Sharp have announced the June launch of this unnamed solar handset. Besides being the world's first waterproof solar handset, it charges to a minute of talk or 2-hours of standby after just 10 minutes in the sun. No other specs were announced though we seriously doubt it'll be a power-sucking feature- or smart-phone. Naturally, it'll still be a boon to people where electricity is scarce but what about the industrious guy who owns the village car battery?

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Fujitsu testing self destructing flash drives

Fujitsu has developed a USB flash drive that automatically erases data or prevents someone from copying data from the flash drive. Fujitsu is currently testing these drives and claims that they can significantly reduce data theft.

The flash drive houses a processor and a battery and the drive can be programmed by the user to fit his needs. For instance, he can set the drive to erase the data automatically after 24 hours or the USB drive can delete the data as soon as its inserted in an unauthorized machine and make the drive unusable. Another thing that this drive supports is the file redirect technology. With file redirection activated, the data is safely stored on the drive and a user selected server and an unauthorized PC cannot e-mail, print or copy the data from the device.

Video: Epson's multitouch X-Desk is your next coffee table

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense for Epson to get into the touch-surface game -- most of the larger versions are projector-based, and Epson's been making great little beamers for quite some time. Showcased earlier this year at ISE 2009 alongside a multitouch air hockey table, the Core 2 Duo-powered X-Desk boasts a 1,024 x 768 resolution panel and possesses the ability to recognize up to 16,000 objects using "Smart Tags." Also of note, gesture recognition software enables users to actually speak to the table and see results, though there's no word on whether raising your voice or blurting out obscenities improves efficiency. Like all of these things, we've nary a clue when they'll really be available for the layperson to purchase, but you can certainly live vicariously by hopping past the break.

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Dual SIM B5702 slider phone to arrive in May

Samsung has announced the availability of its dual SIM B5702 which was revealed at the MWC couple of months back. The phone’s USP is its dual SIM holding capability and thus Samsung has got a few good features related to the same.

The phone supports Quadband GSM networks and has a dedicated key on the side to quickly switch numbers without the need to reboot the phone. There are two LEDs placed to indicate which SIM card is active and also different wallpapers, screensavers, ringtone can be set for a quick identification of the active card.

Other noteworthy things it integrates is a 3MP camera with autofocus, FM Radio with RDS, Bluetooth 2.0 and expandable memory.

The phone will start retailing in Russia and other countries from May.

Specifications:

Network: SIM1/SIM2 - Quad band (850/900/1800/1900) EDGE Class

Display: 2.4” TFT LCD / 320 x 240 (QVGA) 262K

Camera: 3MP with Auto Focus

Video: H.263 + AMR,MPEG4

Audio: MP3/AMR/AAC/AAC+/e-AAC/WMA

FM Radio with RDS

Document viewer (MS Office, PDF, TXT, BMP, JPG, PNG)

Full web browsing / Dictionary / Background music

Connectivity” USB 2.0 high speed /Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

Talk Time: Up to 11.4 hours

Standby Time: Up to 220.9 hours

Internal Memory : 50MB

External memory : up to 8GB

Size: 106 x 52.5 x 17.5 mm

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Nintendo president squashes talk of Wii price cuts

Incredible as it sounds, it looks like Nintendo isn't planning on slashing the price of the console it can still barely keep on store shelves. That word comes straight from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who's attempting to clamp down on recent speculation that a Wii price cut could be in the offing, which seemed at least a tad more plausible considering that the manufacturing costs for the console have supposedly dropped significantly since its launch. According to Iwata, rather than trying to drive up sales numbers even further with a price cut, Nintendo will instead be putting "more energy and time into making better entertainment so that our products are going to remain in the top position in our customer's wish lists" -- and now with Disc Dog, in the top position in our hearts.

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Mitsubishi's i-MiEV electric vehicle officially headed to the US

It isn't exactly providing a whole lot of details just yet, but Mitsubishi has confirmed at the New York Auto Show today that its i-MiEV electric vehicle will indeed be making its way to the U.S., and sometime "before 2012." Interestingly, according to AutoblogGreen, that delay apparently isn't due to any hang-ups with the vehicle itself (it's hitting roads in Japan this summer), but rather whether battery-maker GS Yuasa can scrounge up enough lithium-ion batteries to keep up with demand. It also looks like the car that eventually hits the U.S. won't be exactly the same as the model bound for Japan and Europe, with the i-MiEV name likely the first thing to go. Of course, there's no official word on a U.S. price just yet, but the car, which boasts a range of around 100 miles on a single charge, should be selling for the rough local equivalent of $30,000 when it hits Europe and Japan.

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Dell adds liquid cooling option to XPS 625, 630

Dell's XPS 625 and XPS 630 gaming desktops may be known for one of the best price-to-performance ratios around, but it looks like Dell isn't ignoring those primarily concerned with performance, and it's now added a liquid cooling option to both models that should please the overclockers out there. That comes in the form of an Asetek liquid cooling system, which should be considerably more quiet than the standard fan-based system, while also keeping the system nice and chilly. Just be prepared to shell out an extra $120 on top of the $899 and $1,099 base price for the 625 and 630, respectively, and wait until late this month for the liquid-cooled systems to actually ship.

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Qualcomm's Vision of a Wireless Charging Future

"Wires, wires, wires" or possibly "a nest of vipers" could serve as a description for the space beneath my desk, where my MacBook's battery cable snakes through a spaghetti of others from my phone, my digital-picture frame keyring, my wife's phone charger, and my plug-in iPod charger. I wish that all of it were wirelessly chargeable. And it may be...soon, with Qualcomm's new eZone system.

This week at the CTIA wireless tech show Qualcomm demonstrated its eZone wireless charging technology that promises to revolutionize how we connect our gadgets. Of course we've discussed wireless power before, and the Palm Pre will come with a dedicated wire-free charger system as an option--but none of those options have been quite as elegant as what Qualcomm showcased.

A two-part system, the eZone is a charging pad that houses the main transmitting power technology, and a tiny receiver coil fitted inside portable gadgets after modification. If it takes off it will be relatively easy to incorporate the coil into future gadgets designs. In its current incarnation, the coils are housed in an external appartus, much like an external battery. The intention is for eZone to work as a universal system that can charge several items simultaneously, as it doesn't have to make direct electical contact with the device it's charing. And as an added bonus, Wi-fi and Bluetooth connections will still work while devices are charging, so there's the potential for auto-downloading photos from your camera or wirelessly adding music to your iPod.

The FCC has been involved so that the device meets safety guidelines easily, and the short-range fields from the device work well even if you pop a phone on the charger upside down, or accidentally propped up on a pair of house keys. eZone uses "near-field magnetic resonance" technology to work, according to company specs. The electrical efficiency is a tiny bit low, at around 40%--but it's currently a prototype model, the figures will rise in a marketable version and it's still likely to be much "greener" than having numerous power-sipping wall-warts dotted about your home.

Qualcomm also notes that the tech is capable of charging beefier items like cordless drills, and is flexible enough to be integrated into furniture or even laptop lids--just flip your cellphone on top of your PC to top it up.

There's just one problem, eZone is a prototype, a research project, a "technology demonstrator," and Qualcomm hasn't made any comment on when it will go to market with it. Too bad. I'd buy one right now. And, with that tangle of wires you have in your office, I know you would too.

[Via Qualcomm, Electronista ]

Scientists use virus to build a better battery

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have demonstrated how a genetically modified virus can be used to construct both the cathode and anode of a lithium-ion battery.

Virus-built rechargeable batteries would have the same power capacity as the batteries used to power hybrid cars, project leader Professor Angela Belcher said in an MIT press statement on Thursday.

In a paper published in the journal Science, the research team explained that they manipulated two genes of the M13 virus to equip the bacteriophage with peptide groups that attract single-walled carbon nanotubes at one end, while the other end of the virus was equipped with peptides that nucleate amorphous iron phosphate.

Combining the nanotubes with the iron phosphate created a highly conductive material that was used in a cathode, said the MIT statement. Battery energy was transferred in "a very short time", as electrons could travel along the carbon nanotube networks and percolate throughout the electrodes.

Three years ago, a research team led by Belcher used a similar virus-modification technique to build an anode — the genetically modified virus coated itself with cobalt oxide and gold to assemble a nanowire.

In tests, researchers found the virus-built battery could be recharged 100 times without losing capacitance. The incorporation of carbon nanotubes increased battery conductivity without adding too much weight, said the statement.

The team now plans to genetically modify microbes to assemble materials with higher voltage and capacitance, such as manganese phosphate and nickel phosphate. Once this is achieved the technology could go into commercial production, said Belcher.

These advances feed into wider cross-disciplinary investigations into energy harvesting: the technique of extracting power from the environment. Current research efforts focus on both biological and non-biological systems. Non-biological study includes research into mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic systems. Biological systems such as photosynthesis and metabolic pathways, already closely analyzed for medical and scientific purposes, are also seen as potential sources of energy for electronic systems, with a cross-over field — synthetic biology — using ideas from living systems in designed processes.

This article was originally posted on ZDNet UK.

Archos 2 and Archos 4 flash players leak out,forget iPod

We haven't heard anything official, but images of an Archos 2 flash player have turned up in a few places on the web today, along with word of an Archos 4. The 2's already listed on Amazon -- it's not going to rock worlds, but it's not bad for $60, with 8GB of storage and microSD expansion, a 1.8-inch 128 x 160 display and a voice recorder all in a .35-inch thick package. There's also a 16GB version on Amazon.de for €68 ($92), but that hasn't yet made it to the US Amazon site. The Archos 4 is a little more mysterious -- all we really know about it is that it'll have a four-inch screen and 16 to 32GB of flash. We're guessing these'll pop soon, we'll let you know.

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Mazda RX-8 controlled with iPod touch

We've seen some interesting ways people have tried to meld iPhone with car, but this one might top them all. Meet Jon's Mazda RX-8, controllable from anywhere in the world using an iPod touch over WiFi. As demonstrated on video, his custom web app can be used to lock and unlock the doors, start and stop the engine, and open the truck. A telemetry window provides data such as fuel level, battery voltage, RPM, speed, and temperatures. It's even got a GPS so you can track the car's wherabouts with Google Maps. All of this is accomplished with computer hidden in the trunk, hooked up to the on-board diagnostics, and equipped with a 3G modem to stay constantly connected to the interwebs. There's no indication on whether he plans to take the mod further, but if so, we can only hope it involves some well-placed cameras and a tilt-controlled steering mechanism. We pity the foolish thief who tries to steal this "haunted" ride. Check out the video demonstration after the break

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Samsung unveils 7 digicams for India

Samsung has announced 7 new point-and-shoot digital cameras, forming the 2009 lineup for the Indian market. The cameras launched are WB500, PL50, PL60, PL65, ST50, ES10, ES15, ES55 and are priced from Rs. 6,990 to Rs. 19,990.

WB500 Features:

10.2 megapixel

ultra-wide 24mm Schneider lens

10X optical zoom

Adjustable shutter speed, aperture, exposure and focus

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

720p video recording at 30 fps

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Rs. 19,990

PL60 Features:

10.2 megapixel

5X optical zoom

2.7-inch display

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Sensitivity up to ISO 3200

Rs. 12,490

PL50 Features:

10 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.7-inch display

Digital image stabilizer

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Rs. 9,990

PL65 Features:

12.2 megapixel

5X optical zoom

3-inch LCD

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Sensitivity up to ISO 3200

Rs. 14,490

ST50 Features:

12.2 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.7-inch LCD

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Sensitivity up to ISO 3200

Rs. 15,900

ES10 Features:

8.1 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.5-inch LCD

Digital image stabilizer

Face Detection

Beauty Shot

Self Portrait

Rs. 7,990

ES15 Features:

10 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.5-inch LCD

Digital image stabilizer

Face Detection

Beauty Shot

Self Portrait

Rs. 6,990

ES55 Features:

10.2 megapixel

2.5-inch LCD

Red-eye fix

Digital image stabilizer

Face Detection

Beauty Shot

Rs. 7,900

Product Page

American bringing in-flight WiFi to over 300 planes

All hail the laggard! With pretty much every other US-based legacy carrier already on board, we were beginning to wonder if American Airlines even got the memo that in-flight WiFi was in serious demand. At long last, the company has made clear that it plans to equip more than 300 MD-80 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft used primarily in the United States with high-speed WiFi capability (over the next two years). If you'll recall, American announced early on that it was game for trialing the tech, but until today, it had yet to make a commitment large enough to make you consider signing up for its credit card and bankrolling those frequent flyer miles. We're expecting more details to emerge soon, but feel free to start pestering its agents with the whos, whats, wheres and whens.

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