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Archive for August, 2011

HTC EVO 3D arrives in Singapore

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

The EVO 3D is the first smartphone with “glasses-free” 3D display to be launched in Singapore. The Android-Gingerbread (2.3) smartphone will be available at all mobile operators and authorized retailers at a suggested retail price of S$895 in August 2011.

The HTC EVO 3D empowers the user to capture and view photos and video in 3D through a brilliant high-defintion 4.3-inch QHD 3D display, which does not require the wearing of special 3D glasses.

The HTC EVO 3D features a powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor, dual 5 megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture both conventional 2D and stunning 3D images and videos.

With integrated 3D HD (720p) video capture and the latest version of HTC Sense, HTC EVO 3D will enable users to easily and seamlessly post 3D media to YouTube or Facebook.

Its integrated DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) capability allows fast and easy to sharing of stored music, pictures and user-generated HD video wirelessly with other DLNA-certified home electronics, including HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras, printers and more.

Connection via an HDMI cable (sold separately) enables sharing of user-created 3D video content via a 3D TV.

Access 3D movies and games through the EVO 3D

According to ABI Research (Dec. 20, 2010) mobile 3D devices will be driven by three key applications: creation of user-generated 3D content by integrated video and still cameras, playback of 3D content and 3D gaming.

It also anticipates that mobile devices may turn out to be the most successful form factor towards bringing 3D technology into mainstream markets.

HTC EVO 3D will be pre-loaded with HTC Watch which provides access to a large catalog of movies, including 3D titles optimized for viewing on the HTC EVO 3D’s 4.3-inch screen.

HTC Watch offers the latest new releases on the same day that they become digitally available in the region. Customers can buy or rent digitally and download directly to their smartphone, along with select 3D movies.

Rentals will be available for viewing on one screen within at least 30 days of rental, with a 24-hour or 48-hour viewing period once the title is first played.

The HTC EVO 3D ships with a whole library of multimedia entertainment that includes The Green Hornet 3D Movie (limited stocks available) and games such as Spider-Man: Total Mayhem HD, Need for Speed SHIFT and The Sims 3.

HTC has also teamed up with Chalkboard, a large location-based network in Southeast Asia to offer HTC EVO 3D users access to a catalogue of local offers wherever they go.

Main features of the HTC EVO 3D are summarised here.

Tags:3D, Android, cameras, HTC, smartphone
Posted in 3D, Android, Cameras, Gadgets, HTC, Launch, Operating Systems, Phones, Photos, Prices, Specifications | 2 Comments »

Seagate ships 1 million solid state hybrid drives

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Momentus XT hybrid drive adoption soars as major computer makers ship in in their laptops. Major computer makers including Alienware, ASUS, Dell, Sony and Toshiba now offer laptops powered by the 500 GB, 72 RPM, 2.5-inch drive that blends performance rivaling solid state drives with the enormous capacity and much lower cost of hard disk drives.

The Momentus XT is a 500 GB, 7200 RPM solid state hybrid drive from Seagate.

Seagate has shipped its one millionth solid state hybrid drive for laptop PCs after launching the product – Momentus XT – in spring 2010.

The Momentus XT solid state hybrid drive, a 7200 RPM drive with up to 500 GB of capacity, boots up to 50 percent faster than traditional 5400 RPM drives and sets new benchmarks for real-world system performance for laptops and gaming systems.

Seagate’s Adaptive Memory technology is key to the drive’s speed, optimizing its performance by moving frequently used information into the 4GB of onboard solid state memory for faster bootup and application access.

“Seagate’s shipment of its one millionth Momentus XT drive is just the beginning of abright future for solid state hybrid drives,” said John Rydning, research director at IDC.

The problem with today’s high-performance SSDs for mobile computing is that they cost as much as 10 times more than hard disk drives of the same capacity, with the price of a 250GB SSD outstripping even the cost of many laptop PCs.

Most consumers and system builders are unwilling or unable to pay the high price for the greater speed of SSDs. The Momentus XT drive promises SSD-like speed at a fraction of the cost and more capacity options.

“Fast, capacious, and economical hybrid HDD and NAND flash storage solutions like the Momentus XT drive will be found in roughly 25 percent of all new PCs shipped in 2015,” added Rydning.

Momentus XT drives are offered in these laptops and systems:

ASUS Republic of Gamers G73JH
Sony VAIO VPCSC1AFM/S
Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990X
Alienware M17X and M18X Gaming Laptops
Dell Optiplex 990 Workstation

Seagate is demonstrating the Momentus® XT hybrid drive at the Flash Memory Summit, Aug. 9-11, in Santa Clara, California.

Tags:accessories, Seagate
Posted in Accessories, Gadgets, Launch, Seagate, Specifications | No Comments »

BlackBerry App World 3.0 now available in BlackBerry Beta Zone

Monday, August 8th, 2011

BlackBerry smartphone users can more easily discover and download apps, games, and themes via the BlackBerry App World 3.0 storefront.

Users can personalize their BlackBerry smartphone, find the hottest games and entertainment and get apps to stay connected with the people who matter.

New features in BlackBerry App World 3.0 include:

Sleek New Design
New Channels
Introduction of My Account
New My World Features
App Social Sharing
Evolved App Details Screen
More Search Options

The App will likely come out of beta and be officially released about a month from now.

BlackBerry Beta Zone is the place where Research In Motion (RIM) communicates with and receives feedback from beta participants.

Members of BlackBerry Beta Zone, will have the opportunity to sign up for beta programs and be among the first to try out new BlackBerry software before it’s released to the general public.

Feedback from the beta trial helps future BlackBerry products better meet the needs of customers.

Tags:App World, Apps, BlackBerry, RIM, smartphone
Posted in App, BlackBerry, BlackBerry OS, Phones, RIM, Software | 1 Comment »

COMEX 2011 promotions: Creative Technology

Sunday, August 7th, 2011

Creative Technology will be at Booth 6121 in Hall 602 during COMEX 2011.

Check out the promotions below. By the way, from now until 30 September 2011, when shopping online at Creative store, use the promo code “LESS10P” at the cart page during checkout to enjoy a 10% discount.

	Promo price	Usual price	Remarks
ZiiSound D5x Wireless Speaker System	S$349	S$399	Limited to 50 sets
Second unit	S$249		Purchase with purchase of D5x
ZiiSound DSx Wireless Subwoofer	S$149	S$199	Purchase with purchase of D5x
D80 Wireless Speaker	S$49		Free EP-570 Earphones Bulk Pack worth S$39 whilst stocks last
Zen Style M300 Portable Media Player	S$69	S$79	4GB, limited to 50 sets
Zen Style M300 Portable Media Player	S$79	S$89	8GB, limited to 50 sets
WP-300 Wireless Headphones	S$59	S$99	free USB charger worth S$29
WP-350 Wireless Headphones	S$99	S$139	Limited to 50 sets per day
Aurvana In-Ear3 Earphones	S$169	S$199	Limited to 50 sets
Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Omega Wireless Gaming Headset	S$199	S$269	Limited to 20 sets
Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Sigma Gaming Headset	S$99	S$149	Limited to 50 sets
Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Alpha Gaming Headset	S$69	S$99	Limited to 50 sets
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Sound Card	S$99	S$149	Limited to 20 sets per day
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD Sound Card	S$199	S$299	Limited to 20 sets per day

Tags:audio, COMEX 2011, Creative, music, promotions
Posted in Accessories, Audio, Events, Music, Prices, Promotions | 1 Comment »

COMEX 2011 (Sep 1-4) at Suntec Singapore

Friday, August 5th, 2011

In less than a month, the third of four large annual IT exhibitions in Singapore will kick off at Suntec Singapore. For four days from September 1-4, the COMEX will open from 12 noon to 9 pm.

COMEX 2011 from September 1-4 at Suntec Singapore from 12 noon to 9pm.

COMEX 2011 will be spread over five floors – 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6– of Suntec Singapore. Over 830 exhibitors will be showcasing IT and consumer electronic products by brands such as Apple, Acer, ASUS, Canon, Creative, Dell, HP, Samsung and Toshiba.

Organized by Exhibits Inc Pte. Ltd, the show will also include talks and seminars conducted by various manufacturers. The floorplans for those planning their routes during their visits are available here.

I will list below some of the promotions available during the exhibition.

The four major IT exhibitions in Singapore are:

Exhibition	Dates	Venue
IT Show 2011	10-13 Mar	Suntec Singapore
PC Show 2011	9-12 Jun	Suntec Singapore
COMEX 2011	1-4 Sep	Suntec Singapore
SITEX 2011	24-27 Nov	Singapore Expo

Tags:COMEX 2011, promotions, Suntec
Posted in Events, Promotions, Tech news | 11 Comments »

Main features of BlackBerry 7 operating system

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

First announced in May, the BlackBerry 7 OS introduces a next generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster and more fluid web browsing experience. RIM reports that Internet browsing performance on BlackBerry 7 based smartphones are up to 40% faster than BlackBerry 6 based smartphones and up to 100% faster than BlackBerry 5 based smartphones.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphone from RIM

BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930

Research In Motion (RIM) is launching five new BlackBerry smartphones based on the BlackBerry 7 Operating System (OS) – two new BlackBerry Bold models (9900 and 9930) and three new BlackBerry Torch models (9810, 9850 and 9860).

The improved performance of the WebKit browser engine is combined with the hardware enhancements to enable users to browse the web faster and more smoothly.

BlackBerry Torch 9850/9860

Enhancements to the BlackBerry browser have also optimised zooming and panning for smoother web navigation and optimised HTML5 performance for better gaming and video experiences.

RIM’s new BlackBerry 7 based smartphones also feature Liquid Graphics technology, with each smartphone combining a dedicated high-performance graphics processor with a fast CPU and high resolution display to deliver a highly responsive touch interface with fast and smooth graphics.

BlackBerry Torch 9810

For communications, BlackBerry 7 based smartphones feature the regular integrated suite of phone, email, messaging and social apps to keep users connected and productive throughout the day.

Recent enhancements include the newest release of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) which now extends the real time BBM experience to a range of other “BBM connected” apps. The updated Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to capture updates from media, podcasts, and favourites all in one consolidated view. The new Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.

BlackBerry 7 OS also includes a number of other pre-loaded applications and integrated functionality for increased productivity and collaboration right out of the box.
Documents to Go Premium on BlackBerry App World
The Premium version of Documents To Go is now included free of charge, offering users powerful document editing features as well as a native PDF document viewer.
Free BlackBerry Protect in App World
BlackBerry Protect is also pre-loaded, offering customers the peace of mind that personal data can be backed up and secured in the cloud.

BlackBerry Balance is now integrated in BlackBerry 7, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT department’s need for advanced security and IT controls.

The popular universal search capability has been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can now simply speak to begin searching their device and the web for information.

Tags:9810, 9850, 9860, 9900, 9930, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 7, Bold, RIM, Torch
Posted in BlackBerry, BlackBerry OS, Bold, Gadgets, Launch, Operating Systems, Phones, RIM, Software, Specifications, Torch | 7 Comments »

RIM introduces a slew of five new BlackBerry 7 smartphones

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

In its largest global launch of BlackBerry smartphones in its history, RIM announced the Bold 9900 and 9930, as well as the Torch 9810, 9850 and 9860.

Research In Motion (RIM) today announced plans to launch five new BlackBerry smartphones based on the BlackBerry 7 Operating System (OS). RIM is rolling out two new BlackBerry Bold models and three new BlackBerry Torch models, all running the powerful new BlackBerry 7 OS.

The launch of this family of handsets will be RIM’s largest global launch ever and more than 225 carriers and distribution partners around the world have already commenced or completed over 500 certification programmes for these 5 new handsets.

Featuring RIM’s next generation of hardware and software platforms, these five new BlackBerry 7 based smartphones offer users a variety of designs to choose from.

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are RIM’s thinnest smartphones ever, each offering a large keyboard and brilliant touch display.

The new BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone builds on the popularity of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 and combines a large touch display with a convenient slide-out keyboard. The BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860 introduce an all-new, all-touch design featuring the largest display on a BlackBerry smartphone to date.

“We think users will be thrilled by the faster performance, enhanced browsing and richer multimedia delivered by these powerful new BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Torch smartphones,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO of Research In Motion.

The BlackBerry 7 OS introduces a next generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster and more fluid web browsing experience. The improved performance of the WebKit browser engine is combined with the hardware enhancements found in the BlackBerry 7 based smartphones.

The new smartphones feature a 1.2 GHz processor, HD video recording, 24-bit high resolution graphics, and sensors enabling new augmented reality applications such as Wikitude that can be seamlessly integrated with BBM 6.

Display and keyboards

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 Smartphones with Touch Display and Keyboard

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 series is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet (at only 10.5mm) and was the first to offer the union of a high performance keyboard and touch display. The brushed stainless steel frame adds a nice finishing touch to the design.

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are also the first BlackBerry smartphones to include built-in support for Near Field Communications (NFC ), a new technology that is enabling many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to pair accessories or read SmartPostertags with a simple tap of the smartphone.

BlackBerry Torch 9810 Smartphone with Touch Display and Slide-Out Keyboard

Building on the popular design of the BlackBerry Torch 9800, the new BlackBerry Torch 9810 is faster and more fluid with high performance hardware features and the new BlackBerry 7 OS delivering an enhanced multimedia experience. Featuring a large 3.2”, high resolution touch display and the distinctive BlackBerry keyboard that easily slides out to allow faster typing, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 offers users the best of both worlds.

All-Touch BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860 Smartphones

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860 smartphones offer the fast, fluid BlackBerry 7 experience in a new all-touch design. With a spectacular new 3.7” display, the largest ever on a BlackBerry smartphone, the new all-touch BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860 smartphones are optimised for displaying web pages, photos, videos, and powerful gaming experiences and still deliver quality real-time communication and collaboration experience.

Availability

The next generation of BlackBerry smartphones will begin to be available from carriers around the world starting later this month. Availability dates for specific devices from specific carriers will be announced in conjunction with RIM’s partners.

Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy’s DNA to be added to national database

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

22 years after his execution in 1989, a vial of Ted Bundy’s blood has been found in Florida that yielded a full DNA profile of the evil serial killer. The profile will be uploaded to the FBI’s national database on Friday. Investigators can use the newly data to try to solve cases that went cold decades ago.

Mug shot, 1980, taken the day after sentencing for the murder of Kimberly Leach

The vial of blood was part of evidence taken in 1978 when Bundy was arrested for the murder of a 12-year-old girl. A tissue sample taken before he was executed and cremated had produced only a partial profile.

Bundy’s murders and execution predated the creation of state and national databases that tracks millions of DNA samples of convicted offenders. Law enforcement agencies tap the databases to tackle unsolved crimes, build up their evidence against suspects or to clear them.

Bundy had confessed to more than 30 murders before he was executed but he was suspected of many more. One such case was the abduction of 8-year-old Ann Marie Burr, who disappeared from her Tacoma, Washington, home in 1961.

In custody, Florida, July 27, 1978

There has been much speculation and debate over whether she was one of his victims, even though he’d written to her parents before his execution saying he didn’t know what happened to the girl and denying having anything to do with her disappearance.

Fans of slasher and serial killer movies and TV drama will be familiar with the notorious Ted Bundy. He seems the most quoted serial killer, probably because of how prolific he was and how his charismatic good looks contrast with his heinous crimes.

Unlike the profilers in the TV drama series, “Criminal Minds”, that seems to eschew forensic evidence, and frequently treat the crime scene with scant regard to forensic procedures, the DNA profile will hopefully help investigators resolve cold cases and bring closure to families of those victims.

The account below is extracted from Wikipedia’s entry about Ted Bundy. Photos used in this posting were also from Wikipedia.

1975 Utah mug shot

Theodore Robert “Ted” Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell in 1946 – January 24 and executed at age 43. He was a serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered many young women between 1974 and 1978. After more than a decade of denials he confessed to 30 homicides shortly before his execution.

In court in Florida

Bundy was handsome and charismatic, traits he exploited in winning the confidence of his young, attractive female victims. He typically approached them in public places and feigned injury or disability, or impersonated an authority figure, before overpowering and assaulting them at a more secluded location.

Press conference in July 1978

He sometimes revisited his secondary crime scenes for hours at a time, grooming and performing sexual acts with the decomposing corpses until putrefaction and destruction by wild animals made further interaction impossible. He decapitated at least four victims and kept the severed heads in his apartment for a period of time as mementos. On a few occasions he simply broke into dwellings in the dead of night and bludgeoned victims as they slept.

Initially charged in Utah in 1975 and convicted of aggravated kidnapping and attempted criminal assault, Bundy became linked to a progressively longer list of unsolved homicides in six states. Facing murder charges in Colorado, he engineered two dramatic escapes, and committed at least three additional murders and several other violent assaults in Florida before his ultimate recapture in 1977. He received three death sentences in two separate trials for the three known Florida homicides.

Tags:DNA, forensics
Posted in Tech news, Technology | No Comments »

Apple suit delays Samsung launch of tablet in Australia

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Samsung has agreed not to sell its latest Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer in Australia until Apple’s patent lawsuit against it in Australia is resolved.

Apple told the Federal Court in Sydney yesterday that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringes ten Apple patents, including the “look and feel,” and touchscreen technology of the iPad.

Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Samsung The Cupertino, California-based company sought an Australian injunction to stop Samsung from selling the tablet in Australia because Samsung has had “announcements of an imminent launch of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 device ongoing since July 20,” Bloomberg quoted Apple’s lawyer, Steven Burley, as saying. It also wants to prevent Samsung from selling the tablet in other countries, although Burley did not name the countries.

Samsung has agreed to stop advertising the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia and will not sell the device until it wins court approval or the lawsuit is resolved. The accord between lawyers from both companies were reached during a break in the hearing.

If Apple eventually loses its patent infringement lawsuit, it has agreed to pay Samsung unspecified damages.

Apple first sued Samsung in the U.S. claiming that the Galaxy tablets “slavishly” imitated the designs and technologies used for its iPad and iPhone. Samsung retaliated with lawsuits in South Korea, Japan, Germany and the U.S. The Suwon, South Korea based company supplies memory chips to Apple.

As part of the agreement submitted in court, Samsung will provide Apple three samples of the Australian version of the tablet computer at least seven days before any plans to launch it in Australia so Apple could review it, according to the agreement submitted in court. This was because Apple’s claim in Australia was based on a U.S. version of the Galaxy tablet, which is different, Neil Murray, the lawyer representing Samsung disclosed.

The Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett has scheduled a hearing for August 29 to review the status of the case and set a trial date if necessary.

Tags:Apple, Galaxy, iPad, patent, Samsung, suit, Tab, tablets
Posted in Apple, Gadgets, iPad, Samsung, Tablets, Tech news | No Comments »

Tech bytes for tea?