Lenovo Multimedia Remote..

Over a year ago we cut the cable/dish around here and began using Home Theater PCs, and various extenders and it has worked out much better than I had hoped. My wife and two sons have been delighted with the selection of content available and we’re saving almost $125/month by not having DirecTV.

All went smoothly in the transition, building the HTPCs was easy, putting the Rokus, Popcorn Hour, Microsoft XBox360 and Thecus NAS on the network wasn’t a problem either. The only real issue we had was finding the right remote keyboard. I tried a slew of them and could never find one that was easy to use, small enough to fit in one hand and accomplished all the functions necessary to fully utilize the Windows 7 based PCs that were acting as the heart of our system.


Along came the Lenovo Multimedia Remote, a fan-shaped, gem with a roller-ball and qwerty-keyboard. It was almost perfect except for two things: 1. The keys weren’t back lit so it was very hard to see, and 2. There was no way to easily scroll (wheel) through web pages. Well, it appears my desires are about to met as Lenovo has introduced the Enhanced Lenovo Multimedia Remote Keyboard (N5902). The new model incorporates a scroll bar, touch pad rather than a ball, back-lit keyboard and, it appears, a little nicer overall look. It’s going to sell for $79.99 and should be shipping September 1. I promise a review as soon as I can get my paws on one.

It’s really refreshing to see a company that has listened to its customers and made changes to an already pretty-good product. I’ve included a short video highlight the keyboard and the changes that Lenovo made.

Samsung Galaxy Note Announced..

Along with the Galaxy Tab 7.7, Samsung also unveiled a new phone…err…tablet…umm…something in between, the Galaxy Note.  Samsung calls the Galaxy Note a handset, and this device comes with a gigantic 5.3-inch display! The 5.3-inch Super-AMOLED display has a disappointingly low WVGA (480×800) resolution. With a 5.3-inch display, the Note successfully manages to blur the line between a handset and a tablet.

The Note is powered by a 1.4GHz dual core processor (Exynos SoC), and packs 1GB of RAM. The handset is also pretty thin and light at just 9.65m thick, and weighing in at 178 grams. The usual Wi-Fi b/g/n, GPS with A-GPS, HSPA+, microSD card slot, FM radio, 3.5mm audio jack and a bunch of sensors are all present. Being called a ‘handset’ by Sammy, the Note runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0 on top of it. The back of the device sports an 8MP camera with an LED flash, and a 2MP camera resides in the front of the phone. A beefy 2500mAh battery powers the Galaxy Note. 

The highlight of the Note is the S-Pen, which comes with the Note. This pressure sensitive stylus will help Note users to easily take down notes on their handset. Samsung will also release the S-Pen SDK to developers, to that more applications can make use of this feature. With the Galaxy Note, Sammy is trying to open a new segment, residing between the handsets and tablets market. The Note will be ideal for businessmen’s and college going students, for taking down quick notes. While some people may like the Note, I highly doubt it’s going to be a major success. Nonetheless, it is still nice to see Sammy innovating, instead of just releasing run-of-the-mill Android handsets and tablets.

Top 5 gadgets you can expect to see at IFA..!!

It’s been a fairly quiet few weeks leading up to the start of September, but most of this is because of IFA, one of the biggest international trade shows for gadgets and tech. We’ve already seen a few announcements from some of the biggest manufacturers, but what else can you expect over the next few days? Join us after the break to find out.

Trade shows are the most exciting few days for new launches and the latest gadgets, and IFA is no different. Expect to see some of the most innovative products launched, along with gadgets that were leaked months ago. We’ve listed some of the top tech below.

Sony S1 and Sony S2 Out of all the tablets that we’re excited about seeing, the Sony S1 and S2 sit at the top of the list. With a choice of stand-out design or innovative dual-screen layout, the S1 and S2 tablets split opinion like no other, but they definitely look interesting. Sony has yet to reveal the full specs, however, and hopefully it will do at IFA this year.

Mango Windows Phone smartphones We’ve been waiting for the latest Mango Windows Phone handsets all year, and IFA is hopefully the location and time that we’ll see the first devices. Expect to see handsets from HTC, Samsung, LG and perhaps even more manufacturers.

HTC Puccini The HTC Puccini was rumoured ages ago, with details of the device first leaking out back in May. It seems like now is the time for the 10-inch tablet to be announced, however, and you can expect it to sport Android Honeycomb and a 1.5GHz processor.

Ultrabooks Although Samsung and Google are hoping that the slimline and cheap Chromebook is the future for laptops, Intel and manufacturers like Acer are pinning their hopes on the Ultrabook design, with higher quality materials and fast components that rival the Apple MacBook Air. Either way, we’re in for a treat, with loads of great products making their way to the marketplace.

Samsung Galaxy Q The Samsung Galaxy Q is another device that’s rumoured for release at IFA this year, and it’s set to fill the hole left by the Dell Streak 5. We’re not entirely sure there’s the need for another 5-inch tablet/smartphone, but it seems that Samsung feels differently. Oh well, if it’s anything like the existing Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S models, at least we know it’ll be a cracker!

Motorola Droid Bionic Gets Shown Off On Video Again..

Last week we saw a brief video of the new Motorola Droid Bionic in action, now another video has been put together which gives us a better look at the Motorola Droid Bionic.

With the Motorola Droid Bionic launch just a few short weeks away on Verizon, the anticipation is mounting. What is the exact release date? What is the official pricing? What are the official specifications? We have theories, but nothing is official yet. And while we have those theories and a ton of evidence to back them up, before today, we hadn’t yet had a clear cut video of the Droid Bionic in action.

Yes, Phandroid has managed to procure a video of the Droid Bionic in action and it shows off a couple of things that are going to get you excited. First, the bootloader. We see that the usual dual-core logo and then we see that red eye that we saw pop up on video awhile back. We also get a quick look at the new version of MotoBlur that will be coming with the 4G LTE smartphone and we also get a taste of Verizon’s next-generation network’s speeds.We’ve already seen how blistering they can be on the Droid Bionic so this is just reaffirmation.

The video shows us another 4G LTE speed test, plus the handsets wallpapers, and boot animations, plus the pre-installed applications that will ship with the Droid Bionic. We are expecting the Motorola Droid Bionic to go on sale next month, after a long wait, and the last date we heard was the 8th of September.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE And Galaxy S II LTE Announced..

Earlier we heard that Samsung may be launching an LTE version of the popular Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone, Samsung has now officially confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S II LTE will debut at IFA in Berlin later this week, along with a  new Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE.

Both new galaxy devices will feature a dual core 1.5GHz processor, and the Samsung Galaxy S II will feature a larger 4.5 inch display as we mentioned earlier.

“With the introduction of GALAXY S II LTE and GALAXY Tab 8.9 LTE, we will take the capabilities of these devices to a whole new level. LTE redefines the user experience made possible by these devices and opens entirely new possibilities in terms of content viewing, sharing, quality and connectivity,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business.

We will see both devices, along with their full specifications later this week at IFA Berlin.

Sony S2 Will Be Called The Sony Tablet P..

We have been hearing more and more about Sony’s new Android tablets the S1 and S2, and now the guys over at Engadget have got some more information on the Sony S2 tablet. According to the report the Sony S2 will be called the Sony Tablet P when it launches next month, and it will feature dual 5.5 inch multi-touch displays, and with come with 512mb of RAM, 4GB of storage with a 2GB SD card included, 4G and WiFi connectivity, plus an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor.

Sony Tablet P weighs in at 370 grams – less than the iPad 2′s 601 grams, features 512MB RAM only, 4GB internal storage and 2GB SD card, 1GHz dual core Tegra 2 processor, and a 0.3mp front camera. The tab will come with WiFi or 4G connectivity via AT&T’s HSPA+ network. Other differentiating features include LED-lit TruBlack displays, Qriocity media support, built-in infrared remote for controlling your TV or BluRay player, and a removable battery on Sony Tablet P. Both Honeycomb tablets are PlayStation certified and will include the PlayStation Suite.
 
Sony Tablet S and Sony Tablet P are expected to release in September. We still don’t have official confirmation on the pricing and release date though we don’t think the price should exceed the going rates. In fact, they might be lower to be competitive. Lots of exciting tablets are expected in September. It’ll be interesting to see their impact (or lack of it) on the market. As yet, the tablet market still belongs to the iPad.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Leaked..

Last week we heard that Samsung intends to launch a new range of devices at this years IFA, one of those is the follow on to the original Samsung Galaxy Tab, and it will be called the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7.

The guys over at Android Life have managed to get their hands on some photos of the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 which you can see below, and it will feature a similar design to the Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Samsung Galaxy tab 7.7 will come with a 7.7 inch multi-touch display, which may be a Super AMOLED Plus display, although this is yet to be confirmed.

As soon as we get some more information on the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 we will let you guys know.

More Photos Of The HTC Holiday Leaked..

We saw some photos of the HTC Holiday a few weeks ago, the device pictured at the time was a prototype of the HTC Holiday, and now the guys over at Engadget have got their hands on some photos of the actual final HTC Holiday.

According to the report the HTC Holiday will feature a 4.5 inch qHD display, plus a dual core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM, there is also an 8 megapixel camera with an LED flash on the back and a 1.3 megapixel camera up front.

Other specifications include 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, and four capacitive buttons at the bottom of the display, it will come with Android 2.3.4 plus HTC’s Sense 3.0 and it will be available on AT&T’s LTE network.

As soon as we get some more information on when the HTC Holiday ill be available we will let you guys know.

Apple Granted Expedited Trial In Samsung Lawsuit..

Apple and Samsung have been suing each other for a while now, and we recently heard that a number of Samsung devices had been banned in Europe, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Apple has been attempting to get their Federal lawsuit in the US heard against Samsung sooner rather than later, and now it would appear that Apple has been granted an expedited trial  date in the case against Samsung ad the trial will take place on the 30th of July 2012.

The trial was expected to take around 23 months to actually come to court, but Apple has managed to get it moved up to a closer date.

HP’s TouchPad Headed Back To Best Buy..?

We heard a while back that Best Buy had over 200,000 HP TouchPad’s which they were looking to return to HP, and then last week HP dropped the price of the HP TouchPad to just $99.

This lead the HP TouchPad to be sold out everywhere as people scrambled to get their hands on the $99 tablet, but what happened to all those TouchPad’s that Best Buy were sending back to HP?

It looks like they may be headed back to Best Buy, according to the guys over at Droid Matters, who have received information from Best Buy employees, and they will still go on sale for $99 when they go back into the Best Buy stores, we suspect they will sell out very quickly.

Toshiba To Launch Ultra Thin Android Honeycomb Tablet AT IFA..

Toshiba already has a couple of Android tablets on the market, although they haven’t exactly been that popular, now according to a recent report from Notebook Italia, Toshba is set to debut an ultra thin Android Honeycomb tablet at IFA this week.

The new tablet is expected to feature a 10 inch display like the Toshiba Thrive, but will be much thinner and will come with a microUSB, microHDMI and microSD card slot.

Unfortunately we dont have any other specifications as yet, as soon as we get some more information we will let you guys know.

Runner Creates 21KM Long Apple Logo As A Tribute To Steve Jobs..

Last week we heard that Steve Jobs was stepping down as Apple’s CEO, marathon runner Joseph Tame has created a cool tribute to Steve Jobs, a 21KM long Apple logo created using GPS and 2 iPhones.

The photo below shows the 21KM route that Joseph ran to create the Apple Logo, and he used an app called Runkeeper to track his progress whilst he was running through central Tokyo.

It’s for this that I’d like to personally show my appreciation to Steve for his vision and leadership, which has made a direct positive impact upon my life. His work has also served to revolutionise the mobile phone industry, something that was desperately needed here more than anywhere. I’d like to wish Steve all the best, and hope that his health improves fast now he’s able to focus more on getting well again.

You can find out more information about Joseph’s cool 21KM long Apple logo over at his website ,Joseph Tame.

Windows 8 Tablet Apps Get Previewed..

We know that Microsoft’s next operating system, Windows 8 will be tablet friendly and have already seen some photos and video of the Windows 8 tablet user interface.Now some Windows 8 tablet applications have started to appear, with companies already starting development of the applications ahead of the Windows 8 launch.

One of those is a USA Today application, and they are planning to use the Metro UI of Windows 8, for their tablet app, and USA Today’s Art Director, Robbie Dillon has described the application in his online resume.

In preparation for the Windows 8 release, this app is being built to take advantage of the touch-first, native environment of Windows 8, while retaining the look and feel of the Windows Metro UI and showcasing the content of USA Today. We suspect we will get a look at quite a few more Windows 8 tablet applications before Microsoft launches their new OS.

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple - May Continue as chairman..

The Legend,the visionary,the innovator,yes we are talking about Steve Jobs without which the computing and mobile technology wouldn’t have been the same.Though i am not a Apple fan,i always had immense respect for him and his quality products that always set a benchmark for others. If it wasn’t for him,I’d like to believe that we wouldn’t have had all the beautiful fonts and icons that we have in modern day GUI.If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be holding smart phones that are so smart and millions of hands wouldn’t be holding something as the intuitive and amazing as the iPad. As a tech lover and observer of latest technology trends i have immense respect for Mr. Jobs and his contribution to the tech world as a whole.We all know he had to go some or the other day,but this isn’t the exact choosen time he might have planned it would be,its just that his health has given up,as we all known he had been fighting pancreas cancer since 2004, Liver transplantation in 2009 and more that he just wants to keep personal.We appreciate his effort and dedication and his never giving up attitude despite all the pitfalls.

Today in a personal letter to the Board of directors of Apple Jobs said

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

This however has left Apple fans and tech lovers across the world in a Poignant state,as they fear that apple may loose the unique taste of  Jobs,but we belive his role as a chair person will still reflect in the products of Apple.Steve recommends Tim Cooks as his successor who is believed to be a Steve Jobs clone,both in taste and leadership,well lets leave that for time to decide,and we congratulate him for the succession. But we will surely miss his wonderful keynotes and sarcastic jokes on Microsoft,and we thank him for his immense contribution to tech world and wish him a better health for rest of the life he leads.

Samsung leaks Nexus Prime handset itself..

It looks like Samsung itself has gone and confirmed it is going to be behind the long rumoured inbound Nexus Prime handset. Samsung has worked on the Nexus line before, as they built the Google Nexus S, so their involvement shouldn't come as any great surprise. The new phone was mentioned in a cease and desist letter sent out to those who allegedly managed to get their hands on firmware relating to the as-yet unreleased handset.

Website Geek.com posted an image of the letter that contained the Nexus Prime mention. It appears to confirm, via Samsung's own legal team, that it is behind the new Google handset. Just a tad ironic that Samsung would go and confirm a rumour whilst trying to squash it. So has Samsung finally put an end to rumours surrounding the Nexus Prime? Most definitely not, now we know it exists, it is time to start speculating on pricing and release dates. 

Traditionally Nexus handsets fly the specs flag for any major new Android update. This means Ice Cream Sandwich and the possibility of either Samsung's own processor or something exciting from Nvidia. Either way it will likely be dual-core, but there is of course the possibility of quad-core, particularly the Kal-El we've been hearing about. Exciting times in the Google camp, particularly with Samsung in the driving seat for the next Nexus release. Given the strengths of the Galaxy SII, expect something pretty sweet indeed.

Excited about the Nexus Prime?

Razer takes on Alienware with Razer Blade gaming laptop..

Alienware has a new challenger. Razer, the gaming peripherals company known for its hardcore gaming mice and accessories, has made the move into creating it’s first gaming laptop: the Razer Blade. The new laptop will boast powerful specs housed in an aluminium chassis, an “all-new revolutionary user interface” and plenty of power for those keen to prove their gaming and healthy bank balance credentials. According to the company, the 17-inch Full HD screen touting Razer Blade is so called because it measures 22mm thick and weighs 3.1kg. It’s not just about a thin design. The Razer Blade certainly packs a powerful punch: a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 2640M processor and a Nvidia GeForce GT 555M featuring Optimus and a 2GB dedicated GDDR5 video memory graphics processor. Other specs include 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 Memory, built-in HD webcam, a 320GB 7200rpm SATA hard drive and Wi-Fi.

The Razer Blade also features a new interface called the Switchblade User Interface that is comprised of 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys for easier access of in-game commands and an LCD capable of two modes: one mode that displays in-game information when a mouse is in use and another mode that functions as an ultra-sensitive, multi-touch panel designed for gaming on the go. “The Razer Blade was designed to give gamers a laptop they could truly use on the go,” said Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer, suggesting that you can’t with other systems like the Alienware range from Dell. Priced at $2799.99 it’s due for release in the US before Christmas. No word on a UK release however. 

Nikon Coolpix S8200 hands-on..

The travel zoom category has thrown up some of our favourite cameras of late, putting a larger zoom into a still compact body is proving a popular choice, judging by the number we see in the hands of tourists. The Coolpix S8200 gives you a 14x zoom, ensuring you get right into the action when on your holidays, squaring up against the likes of Canon’s PowerShot SX220 HS or the Panasonic Lumix TZ20.

Although the S8200 doesn’t give you a GPS, it does offer up that 25-350mm (in 35mm terms) lens, with a max aperture of F/3.3. It isn’t the fastest lens going, but it’s fairly respectable. Internally you get a backside-illuminated 16-megapixel CMOS sensor. It measures 103.7 x 59.3 x 32.7mm and weighs a slightly hefty 213g, but it feels solid in the hand. The pop-up flash is slightly odd and we found ourselves trying to push it back down again once deployed, however it puts itself away when you turn the camera off. The top-mounted control dial sits on the back edge meaning you can easily switch modes - those changes are reflected graphically on the display too so you can see what you are doing without constantly moving the camera. 

Available from 22 September, the Coolpix S8200 has a suggested retail price of £279.99. It might not have the drama of the AW100 tough camera or the features of P7100 high-end compact that we've also seen this week, but as a versatile travel compact, we're sure Nikon will shift a lot of S8200 cameras. Of course, we'll bring you a full review as soon as we can get our hands on one for longer. You’ll get Full HD video capture along with stereo sound, with the HDMI meaning hooking-up to your TV is as simple as it can be. There are also a run of fun effects that you can apply, as is common on this type of camera. 

Schmidt confirms Google TV in UK and Europe for “early next year”..

Google’s Chairman Eric Schmidt has, as earlier rumours reported that he would, confirmed that Google TV will launch in the UK and other countries “early next year”. The confirmation was made at this year’s Mac Taggart Lecture at the Edinburgh Internation Television Festival. The Google chairman talked for over an hour giving his views on the television industry, ways he would recommend fixing it, and Google’s plans to stay out of making their own content, suggesting that the service, which has been available in the US for over a year, will eventually come to the UK.
“We are under no illusions that we can create content. We are good at creating platforms,” Schmidt said at the talk. "We're no good at content. That's what you do. So we're going to help fund it." Criticising YouView and it's chairman Lord Sugar, Schmidt used his talk to say that "Even if YouView launches next year it will still be late." “I was watching The Apprentice recently and Lord Sugar says companies don’t need engineers,” commented the Google chairman. "Shall we check a few facts here?! I don’t think we’ve done to badly.”
Instead Schmidt says that the industry and companies should ignore Lord Sugar and follow the Victorians by bringing engineers into every level of their company. Schmidt used the talk to pay tribute to Steve Jobs saying that the Apple chairman was the "Only person I've ever known who's actually been able to merge the two worlds completely of art and science”.

Nokia 701 RM-744 images spotted..

What you see could be the real deal or a fake, we still cannot confirm it just yet. Still, they’re rumored to be the upcoming Nokia 701, also known by its model number RM-744 if you prefer to take that route. According to the person who leaked this image, this particular model hails from ANATEL (Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações), where the mole claims that this agency is similar to the FCC that will see all new phones that are meant to arrive at the market go through Anatel’s inspection and authorization process.

HTC sticking with Android says CEO..

HTC's CEO, Peter Chou, has reaffirmed his relationship with Google following the company's proposed acquisition of mobile giant Motorola.

Chou told the Wall Street Journal he planned to, "leverage partnerships" with Google and Microsoft whilst the company created something unique in the smartphone ecosystem.

HTC is planning to release a slew of handsets before the end of the year, with no less than eight new phones due to be announced. The company has also pulled in over 1000 new R&D staff, which many believed hinted at the possible development of a home-made HTC OS.

"This acquisition is more to enhance Google's patent portfolio, to support us, to protect us..." said Chou.  Clearly HTC is not as concerned with the Googorola pact as you might have expected. The company continues to feud with Apple over patents and the more technology over on Android's side the better for everyone attempting to compete.

"It’s not the operating system, it’s the ecosystem…We think we can find a way to differentiate to add value, but at the same time leverage our partners, Google and Microsoft, since we have such a great relationship with them." Chou explained.

Keeping operating system providers happy is key to HTC's success, after all many now associate the company with Android and nothing else. Developing its own OS, whilst providing a nice fall back in case relations with Microsoft or Google broke down, would be hugely difficult to bring to market, particularly given the strength of Android and Apple.

HP on webOS: It is not dead yet..

If you’ve been following the tech news you’ll know that HP has recently killed a number of smartphones, including the TouchPad, Pre and Veer, that it has only recently launched around the world. For many, that news meant that webOS was being killed too. Not so says HP, and it’s even quoted Mark Twain to prove it. “To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports about the demise of webOS have been off the mark,” HP stated over the weekend via one of its blogs.

According to HP, while it has ditched the new handsets, and started a $99 fire sale in the US for the HP TouchPad, it’s not killing off the operating system. “HP has made these tough decisions to ensure that our efforts with webOS remain tightly focused. Far from burying webOS, our goal is to ensure the platform's evolution as a robust operating system for an increasingly mobile and connected world ... we intend to enhance the platform as we explore the options for webOS in today's marketplace.”

The news will no doubt come as a surprise to many who thought that HP would be dumping the operating system, or at least trying to sell it to another manufacturer, having decided not to support the OS itself with its own hardware launches. “We will continue to support, innovate and develop the webOS App Catalog. Our intent is to enhance our merchandising and presentation of your great products and to continue to build our webOS app ecosystem,” added Richard Kerris,VP webOS Developer Relations in another blog post - this time on the company’s developers blog, apparently blind to the fact that HP has admitted poor sales of webOS devices.

“As many of you are aware, we are currently scheduled to hold many developer events around the world. We are planning to continue with these events, however, due to the recent announcements; the nature of them will change,” he added. Even though the operating system currently has no new devices planned, HP still believes it can continue to prove webOS will be a success, even though it has failed to do this so far. “Together with our great webOS developer community, we are confident that we will meet the challenges ahead and build momentum for optimal success.”

In what’s more likely to be the hard reality of the decision, Microsoft is already moving in to help webOS developers switch sides: “Kids down...webOS outreach going well. A Palm dev relations person sent me an email asking for a job. Can't wait to talk to him. #gumption,” tweeted Brandon Watson, the exec responsible for apps/developers on Microsoft’s Windows Phone, before another tweet promised. “To Any Published WebOS Devs: We'll give you what you need to be successful on #WindowsPhone, incl.free phones, dev tools, and training, etc.” HP might believe that it can continue to gather support from the third party developer community, but without devices to get people excited, and compelling offers from the other bigger mobile players, it is going to find it a struggle.

Apple planning karaoke on the iPhone..

We never really expected to be using the words Apple and karaoke in the same sentence but the uber cool company appears it could be making a dive into the world of the sing along.

Diagrams contained within a recent patent application reveal how Apple could be planning to use the iPhone and iPod Touch to help teach people to sing. The technology will act a bit like auto tune, bringing any musical mistakes into the correct pitch.?

Singing will be analysed by the handset and advice offered as to how you could bring things back into pitch. Mistakes made will be?exaggerated by the handset whereas on pitch singing rewarded with a concert hall effect. Think of it like the way Rock Band boosts decent solos when you play them well.? Even better, bad singing can be fuzzed by the system to hide mistakes when put through speakers. ?

No news as of yet as to whether the new karaoke setup will be implemented in Garageband, but given the patent is intended for the iPod and iPhone, it could be we see the currently iPad 2 only editing software headed to other Apple portables.

iTunes currently has its own karaoke section with tracks by bands like MC Hammer included. Apple is unfortunately yet to comment on whether or not we will be able to nail 'hammertime' in tune thanks to its new karaoke tech. Either way, expect plenty more people to disturbing bus journeys home with auto tuned singing once it launches.

Nokia Sea Ray Windows Phone handset "leaked"..

It’s only been a couple of days since the launch of the MeeGo-based Nokia N9, but although Nokia’s new baby has been receiving favourable reviews, the company has just let slip its first Windows Phone handset – codenamed Sea Ray.

In a bizarre presentation, Stephen Elop asked those present to turn off their recording devices, but almost inviting them to do the opposite as he pointed out that he’d be showing them something “super confidential” and something “that we do not want to see out in the blogosphere”.

Oddly enough, Elop didn’t seem to notice that people continued recording his presentation – with some devices evidently held aloft to capture the presentation in full.

Elop then went on to show off the new so called ‘Sea Ray’ phone – a handset that looks incredibly similar to the Nokia N9, albeit with a new extra button on the side, but running the Windows Phone OS.

To leak Sea Ray so soon after the Nokia N9’s launch definitely seems to kill off Nokia’s newly launched handset, and seems like a bit of a bizarre PR stunt.

Either way, we think that the official launch of the first Nokia Windows Phone handset can’t come soon enough

Apple under scanner for violating Indian competition laws with iPhone 4..

India may conduct an inquiry against Apple following a complaint that the iPhone maker is breaching the competition laws of the country. The complaint lodged at the Competition Commission of India (CCI) states that Apple is curbing the customers' choice by restricting sale of the iPhone 4 through only two mobile operators – Bharti Airtel and Aircel. It further states that the software for the device can be downloaded only from the official Apple app store. The complainant also alleges that the Apple hardware can be serviced only at Apple stores.

AFP quotes a CCI official as saying the competition watchdog will examine the complaint and see if Apple is violating the laws. The CCI official, however, declined to divulge the details of the complaint. Apple, meanwhile, has said that it has not received any notice from the CCI and refused to comment further. The commission is likely to take up the matter later this week.

Apple's iPhone 4 was launched last month in India, almost after a year it was launched in the US. The phone came with services of two mobile operators Bharti Airtel and Aircel. The two operators have offered the latest iPhone with discounted data plans. The launch of iPhone 4 came months after the third-generation wireless spectrum was launched in India. The operators brought the iPhone 4 hoping to take advantage of the 3G services.

Apple has been selling its iPhone with exclusive operators since its launch in India, and most territories around the world. But in India, consumers are not yet very used to such contract-based devices. However, until operators offer more than a few devices on such contracts, we will never know if the Indian consumer actually likes or dislikes such deals - unless they have sufficient variety to choose from.

Do you also think Apple has breached laws by restricting its devices to certain network operators? Let me know what you think in the comments section below :

Angry Birds Summer Pignic trailer arrives (It's now out)..

UPDATE : Go to the iOS App Store and the new update with the new levels are now waiting to be played. As with previous updates of the Angry Birds Seasons HD app you'll only be able to access one level a day over the next 30 days. 
We all know the irritation caused at a picnic when a wasp attack ruins your chances of jam sandwiches. Now try and imagine the picnic devastation caused by a full scale bird attack.
Struggling? Well why not check out this Angry Birds Seasons Summer Pignic trailer instead to get a better idea. The new seasons release from Rovio looks set to take the application addiction even further, this time with the possibility of just a single bird to fling, meaning super difficult levels.
Rovio has gone for the blanket approach with this release, pointing to no less than iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and PC, Palm, Symbian and even Nook for availability. No release date as of yet, but keep yourself wired in to Pocket-lint where we will post as soon as the 'Birds take flight.

Samsung Smart View app puts TV on your mobile..

Need to take a poop but don't want to miss Andy Murray thrashing his way around Centre Court? Well, worry no longer as Samsung has launched its Smart View app putting your TV's action right in the palm of your hand.
Not literally in your palm you understand (now that would be something) but in the display of your Samsung Galaxy S II handset (or your Galaxy Player, Galaxy S or Galaxy Tab later this year).
The app works with the Smart TV D7000 and D8000 series, and doesn't just beam over the Smart Hub web app contents, this is the whole shebang. We're talking TV,  a Blu-ray, or even some of your own footage from your camera or other devices.
Guy Kinnell, marketing director for TV, Samsung UK, said: "As the UK’s leading TV brand, we deliver the best in technology and innovation, and Smart View is one such development which will see us continue to lead the TV market.
"Samsung Smart TV is leading the ‘smart revolution’ not only with the features of Smart TV itself - such as rich content, 2D and 3D picture quality, smart functions and design - but also with input devices using our QWERTY smart remote control, the Samsung Remote app, and now with Smart View."

Asus unleashes ultra-thin U36 notebook..

These laptops just keep on getting thinner, with the latest to enter the super slim brigade arriving in the form of the Asus U36.

The 19mm thick magnesium alloy netbook features clever technology that means it keeps itself clean, so you can transport it anywhere you go. Dirt, water and fingerprint marks are repelled by the laptops nanometer coating. Mucky-pups will also like the seamless chiclet keyboard which keeps those crumbs at bay. 

The laptop itself features something called the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that allows for USB 3.0 toggling. Nvidia graphics with Optimus technology, a standard voltage i5 processor and 13.3 inch HD tft display make up the rest of the U36's hardware specs. 

Asus has managed to preserve battery life despite the standard voltage i5, squeezing an 11.5 hours out of the laptop. This is partly due to a dual heat pipe design that keeps the laptop cool and small in size.  

500GB of storage and a 5 in 1 card reader also means you can back up snaps or other media on the go.

Available in either silver or black and priced in at £699, the U36 is set to hit stores before the end of this month.

Pentax Q Pocket-size interchangeable lens camera lands..

Pentax has announced the Pentax Q - a device it is describing as "the world’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable-lens camera system".
Packing a new Q mount system that has a diameter 6mm shorter than the K mount, the new system eradicates the optical finder, mirror box, focusing plate and AF sensor - meaning that it can all fit into a magnesium-alloy chassis described as "pocket-sized". The body measures 98 x 57.5 x 31mm and it weighs 200g, but will depend what lens you attach.
If there's been a compromise in getting the first prize for smallness then perhaps it is that the sensor is on the small side too - although you'll no doubt still be able to get some cracking images with the back illuminated 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor with 12.4 effective megapixels, with the option to shoot JPEG and RAW.
The sensor boasts high efficient light gathering optical construction, and is backed up by a new generation imaging engine with an ISO range of 125 to 6400.

There are four positions on the front dial for you to assign your favourites of the nine smart effects on offer, which are listed as Brilliant Colour, Funicular Bold, Vintage Colour, Cross Processing, Warm Fade, Tone Expansion (like HDR), Bold Monochrome, Water Colour, Vibrant Colour Enhance, and finally User defined. You'll also be able to shoot 1080p HD movies at 30fps.
Other killer features including a Bokeh function (which looks to create the "background defocus" effect we've seen elsewhere), a shake reduction mechanism, a top shutter speed of 1/2000 second, and the choice to shoot in 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 or 1:1 aspects. Of course you get manual shooting controls as well as the normal aperture and shutter priority shooting modes.
The LCD monitor is a 3-inches with 460k dots and has a viewing angle of 170 degrees which will be handy in low light, or bright light situations, but doesn't reach the resolution of some displays on rival cameras.
You'll need to team it up with one of the five Q mount lenses that have been announced as well: the Pentax-01 Standard Prime (F/1.9, 47mm in 35mm terms), the 02 Standard Zoom (27.5-83mm), the 03 Fish Eye (160 degree angle), the 04 Toy Lens (35mm) or the 05 Toy Lens Telephoto (100mm).
With retro styling and the selection of smart effects and lenses, it looks like Pentax are gunning for those who like to create easy creative photos, perhaps with a penchant for Hipstamatic or Lomo effect, given the Toy Lens and Cross Processing options.
The price of the Pentax Q is still to be confirmed, but we know that it should hit the shops in September in white or black.

Angry Birds Magic Places Bringing Location-Based Unlocks..

We knew that Angry Birds Magic would take the original avian-chucking game and add in some social functionality, urging you to connect with other players in order to unlock additional content through your smartphone’s NFC transceiver; look for it on Nokia devices this year. Now Rovio has revealed another aspect of this new way to play with Angry Birds, announcing Magic Places.

Magic Places expands on the idea of using proximity to other players to unlock content, instead using your phone’s GPS receiver to unlock content based on your proximity to pre-defined areas. These are spaces which Rovio has deemed “magic”, and visiting them will enable you to unlock extras like the level-clearing Mighty Eagle.

Is this direction going to work for Angry Birds? A big part of what makes the game so appealing is how easy it is to pick up your smartphone and play a few levels when you have a minute to spare (or when you’re blowing-off real work). Will the majority of players feel like they’re getting more out of the game by hunting down magic places, or will it seem like a chore? A lot of that could depend on how Rovio defines them, choosing where they’re located, as well as how valuable the unlockable content is towards completing new levels.

Rumour : Nokia N9 will not be coming to India..

Though the news is still unconfirmed, there is a possibility that the MeeGo - based Nokia N9 will not be arriving in India at all. Many consider the fate of the N9 already sealed, and the general consensus is that it will be the first and last MeeGo device from Espoo’s stables. Unfortunate yes, but we hope for the sake of the developers, as well as for consumer choice, the platform will find adoption amongst other manufacturers. Things look a bit bleak however.

Keeping all this in mind, it is hardly surprising that the industry expects Nokia to limit the sale of the N9 to select countries. Other reports, by the usually well-informed Eldar Murtazin, predict that Nokia will be making comparatively few units of the N9, less than 100,000.

But, while India is not on the list of 23 territories, we are unreasonably hopeful that Nokia will make some more, and bring a limited quantity here, if the device sees some healthy demand in other countries.