Archives for May 2010

How to Change back to Old Google

Last week, Google [GOOG] changed the layout of their search engine results pages by introducing a left sidebar that brings a number of “refining” features to your searches such as being able to search for products, blogs, images etc…

Other changes included slight modifications to the fonts, images and general layout of the results. However, a number of people do not seem so keen on the changes made and prefer the older familiar version. If that’s you then Google has provided a link where you can access the old results.

The main problem is that this older interface link doesn’t seem to be permanent and Google hasn’t mentioned if and when the old style search will be removed. [Read more…]

APAd iRobot iPad Clone that runs Android

The APad, AKA iRobot, is an Apple iPad clone that runs the Google Android operating system. It is designed to look like an iPad (kind of, but not very good) and has a 7 inch touchscreen along with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The screen is in a 16:9 aspect ratio.

For connectivity it has wireless 802.11 a/b/g. The Android operating system uses a Chrome browser from what we have read and the device is capable of supporting PDF documents along with Word and Excel files. Email is also available on the device.

The device comes with 128MB of RAM and for storage you get the option of either 2GB or 4GB. A microSD card slot is also included allowing for up to 32GBof extra storage to be used. [Read more…]

Panasonic G1, GH1 and GF1 get Firmware Update

Panasonic has released firmware updates for three of it’s micro-four-thirds cameras. The updates are for the Panasonic G1, GH1 and GF1 and attempt to fix problems with the auto-focus on each camera.

Panasonic G1 Firmware Update

The Panasonic G1 firmware update is available here and brings the following fixes to the camera…

1. Improved operation menu for image stabilizer ([OFF] will be added under [STABILIZER] only when LUMIX G VARIO 14-42 mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014042) is attached).
2. Improved modulation accuracy of flash
3. Improved AF (auto focus) performance with lenses of other manufacturer.

[Read more…]

Apple Working on Replacement for Adobe Flash

It will come as no surprise that Apple [AAPL] dislike Adobe Flash and that they will more than likely never allow it on the iPhone OS. Steve Jobs went as far as publishing a long letter as to why Apple will not work with Adobe Flash.

We are now hearing that Apple are working on their own Flash replacement. This isn’t the HTML5 used for video, but an actual flash replacement called Gianduia that Apple has been working on for a while and long before these iPad and no flash support arguments started.

Although it is unclear what exactly Gianduia will do, it is possible that this is one of the reasons why Apple do not allow flash on the iPad and iPhone devices… ie, they are already working on their own replacement. [Read more…]

WiFi to get Speed Boost Thanks to New Frequencies

WiFi is about to get a speed boost due to a new frequency band. The new band will function at 60GHz compared to the traditional 2.4GHz and 5GHz that the current wireless connections use. The new faster band could see a speed increase of at least 10 times when compared to 802.11n networks.

‘Today’s Wi-Fi speeds are measured in the low hundreds of megabits per second, says Edgar Figueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance.The 60-GHz band allows for significant boost in performance, so we are talking about speeds in the gigabits per second range.

Right now the limit on 802.11n is around 150MBps. A switch over to 60GHz could see speeds of between 1GBps and 6GBps in optimal conditions. This would allow for more data to be shifted between devices such as multiple HD channels without the image quality being lowered. [Read more…]

Alcatel One Touch XTRA going to Orange UK

It has been confirmed that Orange in the UK will be adding the Alcatel One Touch XTRA to their network.

The XTRA from Alcatel is a QWERTY slider phone that is aimed at those wanting to keep in touch through social networking. This means that Facebook, Twitter and other similar sites are all easily accessible on the phone and play a prominent part of the UI.

Technical spec wise the One Touch XTRA has a QVGA screen, a 2 megapixel digital camera along with Bluetooth connectivity. There is no mention of WiFi that I can find although the phone does connect over EDGE networks. [Read more…]

HTC Patent Reveals new Thin Film Speaker System

HTC has applied for a couple of patents, both of which are related to thin film speakers and the implementation in to a smartphone.

The first is for the process of manufacturing an electret diaphragm that allows for the diaphragm in a loudspeaker to be much thinner making it possible to fit better speakers in a smart phone.

A method for manufacturing electret diaphragms is provided. First, a dielectric film is attached to a frame by an adhesive material and a fastening element grips the peripheral area of the dielectric film on the frame. Afterward, the dielectric film is subjected to a metal sputtering process to form a conductive material layer thereon. Finally, the dielectric film is subjected to a polarizing process thereby forming an electret diaphragm.

[Read more…]

HTC EVO 4G Approved by FCC

Although this maybe no surprise, it’s still good to hear that the FCC have approved the HTC EVO 4G for sale saying it complies with all technical requirements.

The HTC EVO 4G is the first phone that works on the 2500 MHz band from the Sprint/Clearwire network. What this means is that the EVO 4G will be capable of downloading data at around 10 times faster than current 3G devices. Of course this number depends on a lot of things such as Clearwire coverage in the area you are and also the conditions you are using the phone. If you manage to get full speed out of it, you’ll have some seriously quick downloading on your device.

The FCC filing also included the EVO 4Gs model number which is indicated as being the HTC PC36100 for those who are interested in that sort of thing. [Read more…]

Apple iPad to get Printing Support

Although the iPad has proved successful for Apple [AAPL], there are still a number of complaints which range from there being no camera to no flash support and on to no printing support. The latter of these has now been addressed by Steve Jobs himself.

One guy decided to email Steve Jobs and ask him direct why the Apple iPad had no printing support to which Steve Jobs answered in his classic one liners, “It will come”.

Although this tells us nothing about release dates and how it will happen, at least it appears that something is in the pipeline for printing support on the Apple iPad. [Read more…]

iWatch Concept Gadget

The iWatch is a concept Apple device that is designed to be worn on the wrist. The concept design features a small screen showing the traditional slide to unlock message found on all iPhone OS devices along with the time, date and weather details.

The iWatch was designed by ADR Studio based in Italy and is designed with a touchscreen on the front encased in aluminium.

Other features of the concept design include Wireless for connectivity, Bluetooth for attaching a headset and a built-in pico projector. [Read more…]

Nintendo 3DS to get 3D Off Switch

The Nintendo 3DS will be launching later this year from what we understand. Not much information has been revealed about the device other than it using a glasses-free 3D screen. We are hearing rumours today that indicate the 3D functions of the device will have a 3D off switch allowing users to easily switch between 3D and 2D when needed.

This information does tie in with the rumoured screen technology being used for the device. From what we understand, the Nintendo 3DS will use the parallax barrier technology from Sharp that allows 3D to be achieved without glasses. This same technology can easily be switched from 2D to 3D by simply cutting current to the parallax barrier. [Read more…]

MacBook Air to get Updated this Week – Rumour

We are hearing rumours today that the MacBook Air from Apple [AAPL] could be receiving an update as early as this week. The new product number is said to be MC516LL/A K87 BETTER BTR-USA. The same source of the information also correctly identified updates to the MacBook Pro that occurred a few weeks back.

The last update to the MacBook Air happened back in June 2009 and according to Mac Rumors, the Air is now overdue an update.

However, it isn’t certain if the product ID relates to the MacBook Air, or perhaps an LCD screen. Either way, several thousand units are said to be heading to Australia where a major product launch is happening this week. [Read more…]