Archives for March 2010

Kindle for Apple iPad and Other Tablets Arrives

Amazon have launched another Kindle app, this time the application works on tablet based devices which includes the yet to be launched Apple iPad.

The applications include whispersync that allows notes and details of where you are reading to be synchronised with other Kindle apps or the actual Kindle it’s self.

Kindle for tablets allows you to fully control the screen brightness and change background colours and font sizes within the app to allow for more comfortable reading in varying light conditions.

Page turn animation replicates the look of turning a page in a book. Or choose Basic Reading Mode for a simpler and unadorned reading experience.

[Read more…]

GM Augmented Reality Enhanced Vision System

GM have announced a new system they are working on that uses augmented reality. It is called the Enhanced Vision System and uses the wind shield of a car to highlight dangers and other information of interest to the driver.

The Enhanced Vision System has infrared and visible cameras mounted on the front of the car that feed information back to a user. Three cameras mounted in the car monitor the driver and can accurately detect where the driver is looking so that the images augmented on the screen are placed in the correct location. [Read more…]

Motorola DROID Android 2.1 Update Delayed

Motorola DROID owners were supposed to start getting the Android 2.1 update yesterday, but unfortunately the idea fell flat on it’s face… at least for now.

The OTA software update for the DROID by Motorola is TBD reads the message on Verizon’s internal systems, ‘A new date will be communicated as soon as possible.

What this means is that no date is available for the OTA update to happen. Depending on the reasons for delaying the launch we could be looking at days or weeks before the Android 2.1 update arrives. [Read more…]

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 2.0.3 Firmware Update Yanked

Canon released the long awaited 2.0.3 firmware update for it’s Canon EOS 5D Mark II a couple of days ago, but we hear the firmware has now been yanked off the Canon site due to some technical difficulties with the Audio breaking down.

The audio issue occurs when manual recording is set on C1/C2/C3 and the camera is either switched off manually or automatically. Canon recommend for now that users with 2.0.3 on their EOS 5D switch to automatic mode while the bug is ironed out.

It isn’t know at the moment how quick Canon will fix the error but for now the old 2.0.3 has been removed from the site till a new firmware update is ready. It could be hours, days or perhaps weeks depending on how quick and easy the fix for the digital SLR camera is. [Read more…]

Apple Patent shows Mobile Social Networking App

Some patents have been found that show Apple are working on a new mobile social media networking application for the iPhone. The new software is known as iGroups and allows mobile phone users to easily exchange information more easily. The patent shows that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) have also taken privacy in to consideration.

From what we learn in the patent it appears that both Wi-fi and Bluetooth are used to work out proximity providing a virtual GPS unit. That particular method of collecting your location is if you do not have a GPS enabled device. By using a WiFi connection or Bluetooth with another device it can still provide an approximate location that lets you network with others. [Read more…]

Zero Charger Launched by AT&T – A new Eco-Friendly Phone Charger

AT&T are stepping in to eco-friendly territory by creating a new USB mobile phone charger that aims to be more efficient than other chargers on the market.

The device is called the AT&T Zero Charger and aims to cut power completely to the charger when the connected device is fully charged, thus saving energy which would other wise be wasted. It is common knowledge that phone charger when plugged in can still draw power from the mains even when nothing is connected, or a connected phone is fully charged. The new Zero Charger was designed to cut that excess waste. [Read more…]

USB Fingerprint Reader with 8GB Flash Storage

If security is high up on your list of essentials for your laptop or computer then this little USB fingerprint reader device could be one option for you. The USB Fingerprint Lock FLash Disk is capable of encrypting files stored on it as well as your whole computer with a swype of a finger.

Worried about prying eyes and nosy neighbors? Want to encrypt your files and render your whole computer inaccessible to unauthorized users? Wish you could carry your passwords on the tips of your fingers? This USB fingerprint security flash drive can meet all your data security needs. Using just your fingerprints and this handy USB Fingerprint Lock Flash Disk, your important files and computer itself will virtually be inaccessible to anyone other than yourself.

[Read more…]

DICE G2 Cradle for Apple iPhone and iPod

DICE Electronics have introduced the G2 Cradle that’s specifically designed to hold either an iPod Touch or iPhone in a car. The G2 has a pass-through dock connector that allows the phone to be connected up in a car and pass signals on to other devices such as a car stereo, or screen for playing movies on.

The dock it’s self comes in a black and brushed aluminium design and also comes supplied with six different dock connectors making it compatible with various iPods as well as various iPhone versions in the first, second and third gen series. [Read more…]

Windows Phone 7 Series Will get Copy/Paste… Just not at Launch

Yesterday we mentioned that Windows Phone 7 Series was not going to get a simple copy & paste function which at the time seemed like a huge step backwards. Microsoft [MSFT] were heard to say that users don’t want or need it, which we disagree with.

We are now hearing today that 7 Series users will be getting copy/paste functionality post-launch in an update. We hear that it will be made available via a blogger called Long Zheng who mentions that it will be in there, but due to adding more delays to the operating system launch it has been done away with to allow the OS to launch on time… but will appear afterwards in a post-launch update. [Read more…]

Google TV Details Revealed

More details of a TV that Google [GOOG] are wanting to make have been revealed. The new TV sets will see Google teaming up with Sony and Intel to create a TV that runs the Google Android operating system. Sony will of course be responsible for the actual TV while Intel will create the chips that power the Android side of things and Google will of course provide the operating system that runs on the TV.

Over the last year we have seen a number of new TV’s feature extra software built in such as TVs offering YouTube and TVs running Skype. Bringing Android to a TV will certainly add a lot more flexibility and might actually provide a decent browser and user experience which occasionally lacks when the web and TV merge. [Read more…]

Eye-Fi Center Management App Launched

Eye-Fi have launched their new software for Eye-Fi SD cards called Eye-Fi Center that allows you to more easily manage the functions of your Eye-Fi card.

The new software allows more than one card to be managed and provides a system whereby you can configure various hotspots that the card will be compatible with and be able to upload to the internet through.

Two elements of the application have been created which include the Center software we just mentioned as well as an Adobe AIR application. Each of the applications is compatible with XP, Vista and Windows 7 as well as Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6. [Read more…]

Apple iPad i-Luv Speaker Bar

i-Luv have created a speaker bar that can function with an Apple iPad (when launched). The bar is simply an external speaker that hooks up to a 3.5mm jack socket and allows a whole range of devices to be connected up to it.

The i-Luv speaker is called the iSP150 and it is powered by 4 AAA batteries.

The Bar Speaker costs $34.99 and is available now on the i-Luv website. [Read more…]