Mobile Tech Today

Intel Boosts PC Speed with New $125 Solid-State Drive

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:21:28 -0500

Booting up PCs will be faster with Intel's new 40GB solid-state drive (SSD), the company said Monday. Intel has begun shipping the Intel X25-V Value SATA SSD.

Used in dual-drive notebook configurations or added to a desktop with an existing hard drive, the X25-V can contain the operating system and the user's favorite applications to make startup faster.

Considered a game-changing technology to replace hard drives, SSDs have been replacing traditional magnetic hard drives after they proved to be faster, more reliable, and more energy efficient.

Intel said the performance of its new SSD is nearly four times faster than a 7200 RPM hard drive.

"For partners and customers, this means that they experience the performance benefits of solid-state drives at an affordable entry-level price," said Debra Paquin, an Intel spokesperson. "Using an Intel X25-V Value SSD as a boot drive in a desktop means they will experience 43 percent faster system responsiveness, with faster startups or boots, quicker opening of applications, wake up from standby, and shutdowns."

Falling Capacity

Newer SSDs are being marketed to a specific segment of notebook users who want to increase speed without hurting their wallets. Intel's X25-V is priced at $125 and will be marketed for both notebooks and dual-drive desktops.

Gamers will see the biggest increase in performance, with an 86 percent jump in the gaming experience.

Along with faster speeds, the SATA SSD also includes Native Command Queuing technology, which enables users to have up to 32 concurrent operations. It also has 34nm NAND flash memory, which is one of the reasons for the change in density and price.

When SSDs first hit the market in 2008, they were in 32GB and 64GB versions. In 2009, the price dropped and the market saw 128GB and 56GB models.

"Now, however, people are holding off and waiting for prices to...

@Anywhere Puts Twitter Streams On Big Media Sites

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:54:44 -0500

Twitter works great for the "twitterati," but in many ways it has failed to penetrate the mainstream web. For many people who aren't attached to their phones 24/7 or aren't multitasking between work and a stream of micro-thoughts of questionable depth, Twitter is a buzzword, something the media loves to chatter about but signifying nothing.

So on Monday, Twitter took a step toward the mainstream as CEO Evan Williams announced the @Anywhere platform, which will pull Twitter feeds into media web sites. He announced the new system at the start of an on-stage dialogue with Umair Haque, director of the Havas Media Lab. After that announcement, most of the audience seemed to find the conversation boring as attendees streamed out during their talk.

Big-Name Partners

Williams showed a quick demonstration of @Anywhere with web sites showing "hovercards." Mousing over these brings up some Twitter posts and a way to link to a user's Twitter account. Other possibilities are linking to an author's Twitter feed by clicking on a byline.

@Anywhere is launching with 13 big-name partners, including Digg, The New York Times, MSnbc.com, eBay, Amazon.com and Microsoft's Bing search engine. The idea is to find ways to discover good content on Twitter that users will want to subscribe to.

"Discovery is one of the hardest challenges," Williams said. "It's putting these in context where you're already aware of them ... Twitter is a very easy way to keep in touch."

A company blog post pointed out that Twitter has fewer constraints than social networks like Facebook. "When we designed Twitter, we took a different approach -- we didn't require a relationship model like that of a social network," it said.

"You could follow any account and be followed by any account. As a result, companies started interacting with customers, celebrities connected with fans, governments became...

FCC Prepares To Outline National Broadband Plan

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:17:59 -0500

In what could be the final deathblow to dial-up connections, the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday will outline to Congress how it will spend $7.2 billion in stimulus funds to provide high-speed broadband Internet access to millions of Americans.

The FCC, under Chairman Julius Genachowski, has spent a year working on a plan that would reallocate up to 500 megahertz of the radio frequency spectrum through voluntary auction. That would add more broadband Internet via airwaves instead of cables and give users a 100-Mbps connection with one Gbps for schools, hospitals, government agencies, and public-safety agencies. The new wide area networks (WANs) would target users who can't afford current broadband rates or who live in dead zones.

According to data from ABI Research, 30 percent of U.S. households now have Wi-Fi local area networks (LANs) in their homes. "Once the WAN connection is in place through the FCC plan, there will likely be an increase in LAN distribution -- routers and access points -- to connect Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the network," said ABI researcher Jeff Orr.

Catching Up

"The national broadband plan is a 21st-century road map to spur economic growth and investment, create jobs, educate our children, protect our citizens, and engage in our democracy," Genachowski said. "It's an action plan, and action is necessary to meet the challenges of global competitiveness and harness the power of broadband to help address so many vital national issues."

According to published reports, part of the FCC plan is to subsidize Internet providers to extend WANs into rural areas and develop a single device that will integrate Internet and cable-TV programming.

Getting Broader

The FCC says broadband Internet subscription in the United States has soared from eight million in 2002 to more than 200 million homes, and it hopes to reach another 100 million to bring the country closer...

Windows Phone 7 Development Uses Familiar Skills

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:36:38 -0500

Microsoft showed off its Windows Phone 7 Series development platform Monday at the MIX10 conference in Las Vegas. Among other things, the new platform promises to give developers and designers the ability to use established technologies such as Silverlight and the XNA Framework to build new mobile apps as well as deliver compelling user experiences across a broad set of devices, according to Microsoft Vice President Scott Guthrie.

"As the browser, server, web and devices evolve, a focus on delivering consistently great user experiences has become paramount," Guthrie said. "By extending our familiar platform technologies and tools to phones, Microsoft is delivering the premier application development experience across a variety of devices and form factors."

Code by Layout

During the MIX10 keynote Monday, Microsoft demoed a new design and development work-flow tool that promises to streamline the creation process dramatically. Called Expression Blend 4 Beta, the tool incorporates a visual layout mechanism that in many instances will eliminate the need for writing code.

The software giant also unveiled the release candidate for its next-generation Silverlight 4 platform, which is available for immediate download, together with a comprehensive package of free tools for the Windows Phone 7 Series platform. The package includes Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows 7 Phone, a Windows Phone 7 Series add-in for use with Visual Studio 2010 RC1, and a Windows Phone 7 Series Emulator for application testing.

"We gave these tools out to a handful of partners about three weeks ago to see what they could build," Guthrie told MIX10 attendees. "We are amazed as some of the apps that came back."

For example, Vertigo Software CEO Scott Stanfield showed off a new media app that will enable consumers to stream Netflix movies to their Windows 7 phones. "There's a music and video hub that I can...

Android Battles iPhone for Hearts of Blackberry Users

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:15:51 -0500

Silicon Valley, California �- Nearly 40% of BlackBerry users continue to prefer Appleʼs iPhone as their next smartphone purchase, but a third of them would also switch to the Android operating system, according to the second smartphone brand loyalty survey conducted semi-annually via Crowd Scienceʼs (www.crowdscience.com) advanced research for online audience measurement. The Crowd Scientists also found Android users rivaling iPhone users in loyalty, with about 90% of each user group planning to stick with their current brand when buying their next phone.

Asked specifically if theyʼd swap their present phone for Googleʼs new Android-based Nexus One, 32% of BlackBerry users said "yes," compared with just 9% of iPhone users. This figure zoomed to 60% for users of smartphones not made by BlackBerry or Apple.

"These results show that the restlessness of BlackBerry users with their current brand hasnʼt just been driven by the allure of iPhone," said John Martin, CEO of Crowd Science. "Rather, BlackBerry as a brand just isnʼt garnering the loyalty seen with other mobile operating systems."

Crowd Scienceʼs methodology applies rigorous sampling and research techniques to online populations, allowing for real-time results. Indeed, a significant event affecting the research �- the debut of Nexus One on January 5 -� occurred midway through the Dec. 24. 2009 to Jan. 21, 2010 study period. Rather than being a disruptive factor, however, the Crowd Scientists were able to measure how the launch affected the attitudes of respondents. For example, awareness of the Android operating system jumped six points -� to 66% from 60%. Moving from awareness to familiarity, however, results were stable throughout the research period �- at about 10% for all smartphone users excluding Android owners.

Awareness of the Google Nexus One phone itself following launch was found to be 91% amongst iPhone users, 75% amongst BlackBerry users, and 73% amongst users...

AT&T Extends Data To Lower-Cost Feature Phones

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:56:41 -0500

AT&T's lower-end feature phones are becoming smarter. On Monday, the carrier announced it will offer "smartphone-like experiences" on four of its new, less-expensive models.

The new phones, part of the company's Quick Messaging Devices lineup, will be among the first at AT&T to receive the new suite of consumer data services as the company tries to add value to its lower end by making its data services as valuable, or more so, than the phones themselves.

'Cutting-Edge Services'

"Quick Messaging Devices are among our most popular and fastest-growing phones," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. These phones, he added, will now offer "cutting-edge services that enhance" the overall user experience.

The first new phone to offer these services is the Samsung Strive, which is $19.99 with a two-year contract, and it will be followed by the Samsung Sunburst, Pantech Link, and Pantech Pursuit. The services include an online address book, next-generation messaging, and sharing of photos and videos.

The online address book enables users to automatically sync contacts between a handset and a PC. Contacts from other web-based address books, like e-mail accounts, can be imported and, since the address book lives in the cloud, the information is always backed up.

With next-generation messaging, users have the ability to send a text message to a group. They also get a threaded-conversations format, a consolidated inbox, and multimedia display, such as putting photos into messages.

Using mobile share, customers can use their handset to share videos and photos between their home computer, social-networking sites, friends and personal online storage. The online address book and advanced messaging are free, while mobile share requires a monthly or per-use fee.

Pressure for Data Use

A key value of the cloud-based services is that the user's personal content isn't lost, even if the phone is. For...

If iPad Battery Fails, Apple Will Replace the iPad for $99

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:50:55 -0500

When your iPod battery dies, it's time to get a new iPod. Never a popular strategy for Apple, the company is moving to avoid the backlash of potential battery failures with its self-described "magical" tablet device.

Apple has issued what appears to be a guarantee replacement policy that could help it instill consumer confidence in the pricey iPad. If the iPad's battery doesn't last as long as the device itself, Apple will send you a new device. So instead of replacing the failing battery, Apple will replace the iPad itself.

"Apple has been criticized for the idea of using sealed batteries in devices. Although it's been a nonissue for most consumers, this guarantee streamlines the customer-service process for the consumer," said Michael Gartenberg, a partner at Altimeter Group. "If you buy an iPad and have a problem with the battery and need it replaced, you don't have to think twice about what to do. You just take it to your Apple Store and you get another one."

The Fine Print

In an unusual move for the consumer electronics industry, a support bulletin posted on Apple's web site clearly reads: "If your iPad requires service due to the battery's diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee."

According to the bulletin, the cost is $99. However, Apple does give itself significant leeway in determining who is responsible for iPad replacements. This caveat could give Apple the power to deny iPad replacements. Apple also didn't specify whether it would offer brand-new iPads as replacements or refurbished models.

"Your iPad is not eligible for battery replacement service if the product has been damaged, for example, as a result of an accident, liquid contact, disassembly, unauthorized service, or unauthorized modifications, or if the product is not operating correctly as a result...

Intel Core i7 Extreme Boosts Portable Workstations

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:45:31 -0500

Intel this week offered a preview of platforms using its Core i7 Extreme Edition processor. Although the company is aiming the processor heavily at the gaming market, analysts said there are also clear business applications for the processor.

Code-named Gulftown, the i7-980X Extreme Edition processor is the industry's first 32nm, six-core processor with 12 computing threads. Intel introduced the i7 family last September with its exclusive Turbo Boost technology and Hyper-Threading Technology.

Turbo Boost is built into the latest-generation Nehalem micro-architecture and automatically allows processor cores to run faster than the base operating frequency if the chip is operating below power, current and temperature specification limits. Hyper-Threading Technology, along with Turbo Boost, works to increase performance of both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads.

Portable Workstation Benefits

"The Core i7 chip has a special sensor built into it. If it detects that an application that would benefit from high throughput is launched, it can actually boost the clock speed and throughput of the chip by about 10 to 15 percent," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. "So if you've got a graphics application where you need an extra oomph, the Turbo Boost can give you that extra kick-start to get a little bit better performance."

This is a clear win on the gaming front, but King said it also shines in the portable workstation market. With a Core i7 chip featuring Turbo Boost, engineers can take their workstation on the road without losing speed or productivity. A second business application for the Core i7 is support for HDMI high-definition video output in notebooks. King pointed to Dell's Vostro 3000 laptops, announced last week, as a prime example.

"If you are an executive or high-end salesperson who's going out on calls, this gives you the ability to run sophisticated graphics applications, high-def video, and other kinds of...

iPad Will Read Books Aloud, Support Open EPUB Format

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:22 -0500

Eager to be the first on your block with an iPad? Apple started taking orders for the tablets on Friday. Wi-Fi models running from $499 to $699 will be available on April 3; 3G models, costing $629 to $829, won't be available until late April.

Along with the advance orders, Apple released some details on what's expected to be a key app for the new device -- e-books. Promoting the iBooks feature of the iPad, Apple's web site explains, "iBooks works with VoiceOver, the screen reader in iPad, so it can read you the contents of any page. Even with all these extras, reading is so natural on iPad, the technology seems to disappear."

The site also promotes iBooks as a totally new reading experience. "Turn iPad to portrait to view a single page. Or view two pages at once by rotating to landscape. Change the text size. Even change the font. Touch and hold any word to look it up in the built-in dictionary or Wikipedia, or to search for it throughout the book and on the web," the site says.

Support for EPUB Format

And in a positive sign for open-source books, Apple announced the iPad will support the EPUB format for digital books -- even those that are not offered through Apple's e-commerce sites.

"The iBooks app uses the EPUB format -- the most popular open book format in the world," Apple's site says. "That makes it easy for publishers to create iBook versions of your favorite reads. And you can add free EPUB titles to iTunes and sync them to the iBooks app on your iPad."

EPUB features advanced presentation for digital books, including in-line raster and vector images, embedded metadata, digital-rights management support, and Cascading Style Sheets styling.

Authors Demand a Voice

That support could go a long way to making the...

Lenovo Plans Mobile-Internet Business Focus

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:06:40 -0500

Lenovo Group expects wireless Internet products to account for up to 80 percent of its sales within five years as it pursues expansion in faster-growing emerging markets, CEO Yang Yuanqing said Friday.

Lenovo, the world's fourth-largest personal computer maker, jumped into the mobile Internet market in January with the unveiling of a smart phone and two Web-linked portable computers.

"Mobile Internet is very important," Yang said in an interview. "Even today, notebook sales already are higher than desktops. Mobile Internet products are going to be 70 to 80 percent of our sales ... within three to five years."

Yang said Lenovo plans this year to focus on promoting mobile Internet and sales in emerging economies in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Lenovo, based in Beijing and Morrisville, North Carolina, was hit hard by the global crisis, which prompted its core corporate customers to slash spending. It suffered three losing quarters before rebounding to a profit in the second half of last year.

Yang said Lenovo's longer-term strategy, dubbed "protect and attack," calls for building up its dominant presence in China. The country accounts for nearly half of Lenovo's global sales but it faces competition from industry leaders Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc., which are creating products tailored to Chinese customers.

In the latest quarter, Lenovo said sales in India and other emerging markets rose 52 percent over a year earlier, far ahead of the 13 percent sales growth reported for the United States and Western Europe.

Lenovo, which acquired IBM Corp.'s PC unit in 2005, says its global market share last year rose to 9 percent, its highest level to date.

Yang said Lenovo has no plans for foreign acquisitions but is ready to look at any deals that fit its strategic plans.

Corporate spending on computers has yet to rebound but companies are expected to step up...