Intel Oak Trail-Based Fujitsu s Q550 Tablet To Arrive In March.?

Intel’s Oak Trail-based Fujitsu s Q550 executive-class tablet computer is likely to be launched around March this year, according to sources. Intel has been working on its Oak Trail silicon to enhance the battery life for the device from few months. Currently, the battery life is said to last merely for half-a-day which could bring down the tablet’s market in the Android-dominated hand-held devices industry. According to some unofficial sources, the tablet would be launched on March 30.

The device will come equipped with 1.5GHz Atom Z670 chips and targeting at the enterprise community, the tablet is said to come with utmost security features.

According to some leaked information about the device- the Oak Trail-based Fujitsu s Q550 tablet will have 10.1 inches display screen and is enabled with stylus-based input. Further, the device as it targets business-class users will support high-speed Internet- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and there is support for 3G. Some of the other features include 2GB RAM, 64GB SSD and anti-glare display screen

Samsung Galaxy S II To Hit Markets In March.?

The much-awaited Samsung Galaxy S II is likely to hit markets in March this year, sources said. The smartphone Galaxy S will is now available for pre-order with few retailers. "The first stock of the Samsung Galaxy S II i9100, both the 16GB & 32GB versions, will be landing mid to late March,” a source quoted. Yet, the release date remains uncertain. However, it is expected to arrive for sale somewhere around March.  Some firms are selling only 16 GB model while others are selling both 16 GB and 32 GB tablets. According to reports, the smartphone is priced at around 612 Pounds for the 16 GB tablet, while the 32 GB tablet comes at 708 Pounds.

Meanwhile, another retailer has indicated that the device would be available from June 20. The Android 2.3 based Samsung Galaxy S II is powered by 1GHz dual-core processor and boasts 4.3 inches Super AMOLED Plus display. The smartphone has an 8 mega pixels rear camera and 2 mega pixels front-facing camera. The Samsung GALAXY S II rides the leading edge with a world's thinnest 8.49mm slim form factor, a luxurious design and an easy grip. The slimmest smartphone also boasts 3D TouchWiz UX adds to the evolutionary experience with a futuristic user interface.

Microsoft Announces LifeCam HD-3000 Web Camera..

Microsoft has announced its new digital web camera LifeCam HD-3000. The camera quickly appeals as it comes designed with elegant looks. The features of the camera are equally attractive just like its looks. The first thing that anyone would like to know about a camera is the display quality. And Microsoft does not disappoint us on this as the camera boasts a 720p HD sensor ensuring high definition and there is TrueColour technology for crystal clear display.

Let’s look at the chassis specifications- the web camera has been placed on the top of the 4.3 inches tall stand. The LifeCam HD-3000 has 16:9 aspect ratio for video recording. It is enabled to cancel unnecessary noise to stream clear voice. The LifeCam HD-3000 is equipped to support Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo messenger and AOL Instant Chat.The camera will be available for $39.95 starting next month.

World’s Smallest Computer Of One Square Millimetre, Developed By UK Scientists..

Scientists at the University of Michigan, UK, have come out with what they claim as world’s smallest computer that measures just one square millimetre. The computer is so tiny that it could fit into human’s eyeball. The developers of the device claim that they have used third generation Phoenix chip that supports the device work at low power consumption. With just about one square millimetre size, the device is packed with a pressure sensor, a battery and a microprocessor among other equipments.

Further, the device has a wireless radio connected to antenna that would transmit data to external device. The radio is developed in such a way that it requires no tuning to set frequency for connecting it to other wireless devices. “This is the first true millimetre-scale complete computing system. Our work is unique in the sense that we're thinking about complete systems in which all the components are low-power and fit on the chip. We can collect data, store it and transmit it. The applications for systems of this size are endless,” the University Professors Dennis Sylvester was quoted as saying. The nano device will take many years to get launched for commercial purposes. Once launched it is reported to address several issues and would largely to useful for medical purposes.

HP TouchPad comin’ in April..

HP’s webOS-powered tablet will launch this April, says DigiTimes, citing confirmation from HP’s component suppliers. The TouchPad, which will launch with webOS 3.0, will starting shipping to retailers by the end of March, andthen be ready for release some time in April.  DigiTimes also says that HP intends to sell between 4 and 5 million TouchPad units and between 45 and 48 million notebook computers and tablet PCs combined in 2011. HP is not indicating a specific date in April or pricing, but rumors speculate a $599 sticker.

WSJ says iPad 2 officially launching March 2..

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple will announce its next-generation iPad tablet at a special media event on March 2nd.  The Journal cites multiple sources claiming that indeed the iPad 2 release date is on shedule. Apple will hold the press event in San Francisco to announce its new tablet.  Whether Steve Jobs will be the host of the event is questionable considering he’s on medcal leave.  Tim Cook will likely run the show as he did during Jobs’ last medical absense.

The importance of ‘Thunderbolt’ for MacBook Pro..

Thunderbolt is the latest I/O interface for MacBook Pro, and stands to shake up the historically bad rap MacBook Pro has received with its longterm roadmap.

There are many professional users of Apple products who rely on expensive external peripherals to do their jobs, and since 2008, they’ve all been watching Apple slowly remove the ports they need to connect those peripherals. The fastest I/O available on a 2010 MacBook Pro 15″ was an eight-year-old FireWire 800 port, while PC users enjoyed ExpressCard/34, eSATA and USB 3.0 – each several times faster than FireWire 800. People developed genuine concerns that Apple was drunk on the massive profits of its iOS business and would let its professional business (including its Final Cut and Logic software packages) die a slow death while it chased the mass market dollar.

Thunderbolt is the antidote. It’s a sign that that pros still matter, it’s superior in every conceivable way, and it’s compatible with all that existing gear. There’s no existing use case that can completely saturate that 10Gbps link and that is exactly the point. An I/O interface shouldn’t be the bottleneck in your system.

And it’s not just for professionals. In an era of 10+ megapixel point-and-shoot cameras, 1080p camcorders and multi-terabyte collections of pirated media, I think you’d be crazy to suggest that only A/V professionals will benefit from blazingly fast I/O.

Thunderbolt devices are already being announced, such as LaCie’s Little Big Disk with Thunderbolt, and several high-profile A/V and storage companies have voiced support for the new interface including Aja, Apogee, Avid, Blackmagic, LaCie, Promise, Universal Audio and Western Digital.

Windows Phones coming to Verizon in March..

Verizon Wireless will begin to sell Windows Phone handsets towards the end of March. The HTC 7 Trophy, the same CDMA WP7 handset to be carried by Sprint, could be announced as early as February 28th. The device will have Microsoft’s “NoDo” update (also known as the copy and paste update) and should retail for $199.99 with a signed two-year contract. Anyone waiting for this phone?

NoteSlate Writing Tablet..

Last year when I reviewed the Boogie Board I mentioned specific enhancements that would make a portable writing tablet better: replaceable battery, carrying strap, stylus holder, and the ability to transfer drawings via USB PC link, BlueTooth, or WiFi. NoteSlate took the idea of a writing tablet and added most of these features and the kitchen sink! The NoteSlate has a 760x1080 pixel display, three buttons for Save, Show, or Delete, SD card slot, and a MicroUSB slot for input or charging. I am slightly confused by the 3.5mm headphone jack and microphone input but okay, and WiFi for sharing pages between NoteSlates is just brilliant. The NoteSlate also has an ARM processor running at 233MHz, 128MB RAM and 1024MB internal data storage. The Li-ion battery charges via micro USB input or, get this, optional solar charging stand. I am looking forward to getting my hands on one of these to review!

NoteSlate is low technology tablet device with true one color display, real paper look design and long life battery. The unique simple interface for pencil and paper brings the obvious technology to completely new experience. This easy, compact and portable device is great for your notes, drafts, hints, any ideas for future reference. Paper for everyone! Write a note and check it later, save it, or delete it. Maybe send it later. Just one color is enough to express the basics. Second part of NoteSlate device is the NotesLate network, online/offline services and paper extensions, which push this revolutionary simple handwritten interface to next level. Interactivity and communication as never before. Discover one of the biggest world of imagination. Keep your life as simple, as you wish. The natural look of the "machine" was never so real.

Electronic Cigarettes..

The new introduce you to the all electronic-cigarette. These battery-powered gizmos sound like a ridiculous party gag, and as a matter of fact they are. But they also deliver users a serious portion of vaporized nicotine that is supposed to sate even the most demanding of smokers in USA. As Der Spiegel reports—with a healthy puff of irony and caution—e-cigarettes could be “Smoking 2.0.” In particular, these gadgets sidestep the 4,000-plus chemicals present in standard cigarette smoke that plume into one’s lungs from the burning of tobacco and tar. This allows e-cigarette smokers to avoid the 50 or so cancer-causing components of normal cigarettes. Not surprisingly, e-cigarette companies in USA make grandiose statements about the health benefits of their wares. E-cigarettes work like this: Nicotine is dissolved in propylene glycol, and the combination is stored in a cartridge that is designed to look like a traditional orange cigarette filter. The nicotine cartridge screws onto the main body of the e-cigarette, which contains a rechargeable battery that powers an electrical circuit. When the smoker inhales, a sensor in the circuit is activated. This causes a red-light-emitting diode at the tip to turn on. More importantly, the nicotine and propylene glycol are heated up so that they vaporize and get sucked into the smoker’s lungs.

Check out the most advanced surfboard..

Considering that practically everything has some sort of technological upgrade, I have always wondered why surfboards have never received one. Believe, it has nothing to do with the fact that they get wet. We have waterproof technology now. After all, don’t you think that it would help to have a gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS, and compass on board? This is what Pukas and Tecnalia have done, and there is a video of their creation after the jump if you want to see it in action. Not to be too much of a spoiler, but the video shows the board moving around on the water, and it looks like its movement is being matched on real-time. This is because the team installed the data and gathering electronics like sensors and hardware into the surfboard to transfer it to the computer. 
I can see how this would easily improve surfing. Imagine being out on the waves, and a computerized voice tells you that a huge wave is coming, and tells you how you should hit it. Man, the Beach Boys never sang about this.

Of course, I’m sure it will be the Beach Boys and other hardcore surfers that will frown on this technology, saying that it makes it too easy to become a great surfer. After all, just because you can technologize something, doesn’t mean that you should.

The Latest Verizon iPhone Commercial Strikes At AT&T : “Yes, I Can Hear You Now.”

While it's definitely not the first time that Verizon has taken a public jab at AT&T, this new iPhone 4 commercial is certainly rather harsh. Youch.! 

I’ve made note of both the first Verizon-made iPhone commercial and then the first Apple-made Verizon iPhone commercial. Both are effective and interesting in different ways. But neither takes a shot at AT&T. But a new Verizon one that has just started airing on television, does. At least, indirectly.

The new commercial, which is embedded below compliments of quick-with-the-TiVo TechCrunch reader Kacy Fortner, has a very different tone than the initial “clocks” Verizon commercial. In this one, there is triumphant music playing as glimpses of the iPhone 4 are shown. It almost seems as if it’s meant to conjure up Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The voice-over begins:

“It’s beautiful.”

“It’s intelligent.”

“Ingenious.”

Then the music speeds up.

“But does your network, work?”

A call comes in. And the person answering the call is revealed. It’s the Verizon guy!

“Yes. I can hear you now.”

Boom! Then we get the typical message of Verizon’s network being the “largest and most reliable”. Very nice. Wonder if Apple was hesitant at all to sign off on it? Or maybe they just prefer not to know as their two partners about about to enter an escalated war of words with one another.

For what it’s worth, I agree with the commercial.

Motorola Atrix Laptop Dock as expensive as a laptop – What.?

Laptop Dock unleashes the computing power of the MOTOROLA ATRIX 4G.The webtop app launches automatically when your phone is docked to get all the ease of a sleek laptop computer and the capabilties of your phone in one smart package.Super thin so it travels easily.

AT&T has announced the pricing of the Motorola Atrix (the standard $199), but also of the Atrix Laptop Dock, which is priced at $499.99 as a stand-alone device. The Motorola Atrix is a powerful dual-core phone that has a unique ability to run a full-blown Linux operating system when connected to the Laptop Dock, or the Multimedia Dock from Motorola. The Laptop dock is a “shell” with a display and battery which is ready to receive the Atrix as the “brain”.

While the idea is very good, the pricing is not. The combination of a $199 smartphone with a $499 creates a $700 device that has the bulk of a small laptop, but most definitely not the performance and the software compatibility of a $499 Windows laptop. Palm tried this before with the Foleo, and even if the Atrix Laptop Dock is cooler, its pricing will prove to be its demise. We liked the previous $150 rumor much better, although it was proven to be unrealistic. What do you think? Is $499 too high for the Atrix Laptop Dock.

AT&T has announced that the pre-sales for the upcoming Motorola Atrix on Feb 13. The powerful Android 2.2 handset will be priced at the usual $199.99, with a new two-year contract.  If you want to get it from a retail store, you will have to wait until March 6. AT&T will market the Atrix as a 4G device, but doesn’t mention LTE anywhere in its press release. Instead, AT&T will be using HSPA+, a technology that we consider to be 3.5G at best (AT&T disagrees) when the Motorola Atrix launches.  AT&T plans to launch LTE, a “real” 4G network, later this year – possibly with the next-generation iPhone as the spearhead.

For customers who want to take advantage of the unique extensions of the Motorola Atrix, like the Laptop Dock, can get a bundle with the phone (2-yr contract) and the laptop dock for $499.99 – after a $100 mail-in rebate. The Laptop Dock costs $499 (!) as a stand-alone purchase. The Multimedia Dock that turns your Atrix into a computer with a keyboard and mouse costs $189.99. Check our Motorola Atrix preview at CES 2011 and if you’re on a budget, you still have hope with the lower price at Costco (rumor).

Bloggers Can Finally Blog From Android Phones With Official Blogger App..

Did I say the word "blog" enough, like a true blogger shouting into her own personal echo-chamber? Regardless, it's taken Google almost three years to launch a Blogger app that enables posting, photo-uploading and more, all on the go.

It’s taken awhile, but it’s finally here. Google has just released the official Blogger app for the Android operating system. Using the app you can now post up entries on one of the world’s most popular blogging services. Here are some of the main features of the Blogger app: support for multiple accounts and blogs, an offline mode so you can write posts on your phone first, and publish them later if you don’t internet access all the time, the ability to insert photos directly from your phone’s gallery, location sharing, and much more. If you have a Blogger account and an Android phone, getting this app is a no-brainer. Blogger is available now for free on the Android Market.

CES : Motorola Xoom wins Best of Show. Here's why.

LAS VEGAS--As predicted, CES 2011 was a feast of tablets. They came in small, medium, and extra large. Some even came in pairs. The most promising of the bunch included the BlackBerry PlayBook, Toshiba's 10-inch Android Tablet, the Samsung Sliding PC, and the Motorola Xoom.

Within the tablet category, the Motorola Xoom rose to the top by promising what we felt was the most anticipated mobile OS (Android Honeycomb), on impressively spec'd hardware (dual-core, 4G-compatible, HDMI out, front- and back-facing cameras), in a 10-inch format that can literally and figuratively measure up against the iPad.

Like any product at CES, there's always the chance that the Xoom will disappoint when it finally makes its way into the wild later in the first quarter of 2011. From where we're sitting, though, it's the tablet we're most excited to review this year.

As the first exclusive product to feature Google's tablet-specific Android 3.0 operating system, this award is also a big nod to Google's work developing the Android Honeycomb operating system previewed in the video. From what we've seen, the Android Honeycomb OS charts exciting new ground for tablets, bringing some dearly needed differentiation from the Android smartphone experience. As with previous versions of Android, Honeycomb will inevitably make its way onto other tablets, offering more choice for consumers and providing the industry a valuable resource. By CES 2012, Honeycomb will likely be the de facto standard for Android-based tablets.

In fact, we considered whether Honeycomb itself should be the nominee, but decided that the Xoom, as a vessel for the OS, was as worthy as its cargo. We believe the Xoom is the most potentially disruptive technology among the nominees; it's a true competitor for the iPad and will be one of the first 4G-compatible tablets to hit the market.

Of course, it took a parade of innovative products to make this year's CES one of the biggest and most memorable in years. When CNET's editors gathered last night to place our votes for Best of CES, things got tense. There was so much stellar technology to choose from that the vote was as close as CES Best of Show votes come. CNET readers would do well to spend a few minutes looking through this year's contenders. 

CES : Underneath Microsoft's new Surface

LAS VEGAS--While much of last night's CES kick-off keynote by Microsoft centered on huge Kinect sales, Windows Phone 7 features, the latest PCs, and the technical prowess of the next version of Windows, tucked into the presentation was a product that has been largely untouched since its introduction back in 2007. That would be Microsoft's Surface, a $12,500 table-top, multitouch computer, which has a new version shipping out later this year that's five grand cheaper, has 10 inches of additional screen real estate, more powerful internals, and a drastically thinner underside.

The new unit is four inches thick and made out of an LCD panel that's been optically bonded to 40 inches of Corning's Gorilla Glass. This can be placed either horizontally on stands or counter tops, or (for the first time) on vertical surfaces for use as a kiosk. In fact, if you didn't know any better, when it's on a wall, it's easily mistaken for a TV. 

"Two years ago, this was not possible from a technology standpoint," Panos Panay, general manager of Microsoft's Surface project, told CNET in an interview. "What we've done with Samsung LCD is gone right to the manufacturing line. And part of the panel is embedding these sensors right into it. So now it's basically coming right off the standard LCD line."

That move to LCD and away from projection technology with multiple cameras has resulted in the smaller size, as well as what Panay said is a much more reliable product. This last bit ends up being one of the most important aspects of the second generation hardware, since the first Surface units were prone to having their camera system jiggled out of whack, which would result in a loss of precision. 

As for the bigger size, Panay said 40 inches was not a guess or an accident. "With all our version one learning, this is almost the perfect distance for two people sit across from each other. It's the perfect width for two people to sit next to each other and interact," he said.