Asus to launch cheapest ebook reader

By
Ahleen
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Credit: Times Online
Credit: Times Online

And this isn’t just like any other reader too.

Asus, the company who first launched netbooks, is doing it again and is now planning on releasing a low-cost gadget alternative for electronic book readers they’ve dubbed the Eee Reader.

According to Jerry Shen, Asus president, two versions are set to be available in the market by the end of the year: a budget and a premium version.

The premium version is the most interesting though. Unlike current ebook readers (and yes, I mean Kindle and Amazon 😉 ) Asus claims that this one will have two screens connected by a hinged spine that can open like a traditional book. One screen can be used for viewing ebooks (pages can be “turned” through the touchscreen) while the other page can be used for browsing web pages. One of the screens can also be used as a virtual keyboard, according to a Times report.

Other features on the Eee Reader has that are not found on typical ebook readers include full color screens and may also include speakers, a webcam and a mic for Skype.

“Our ethos is innovation — as our brand is less well known, we have to run faster than the competition to develop new types of products,” said Asus. “Any such product — including an ereader — has to have the right combination of functionality and price. No one is going to buy one for £1,000.”

The budget version of the Eee Reader would not be as high-tech as its premium sibling though and would “take on the competition on price rather than features”, according to Times.

No word yet as to how much the readers will be priced, but expect it to be lower than the competitions. 🙂

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10346194-1.html

Discovery space shuttle crew prepares to come home

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Ahleen
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0

Here’s  an update on the Discovery space shuttle.

The astronauts and cosmonauts have already said their goodbyes in preparation for their return trip to Earth. They closed the hatches between the International Space Station and the shuttle at 11:41 pm EDT Monday.

The astronauts aboard Discovery are taking home with them a portable cargo module and 5,000 pounds of items not needed at the ISS. As reported earlier, astronaut Tim Kopra will also be coming with them while a Discovery crew will take his place at the space station.

They are scheduled to undock from the station at 3:26 pm Tuesday and expected to land in Florida on Thursday.

Credit: NASA TV
Credit: NASA TV

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016328238?Discovery%20Astronauts%20Prepare%20For%20Return%20To%20Earth

Samsung’s prototype touchscreen remote control unveiled

By
Ahleen
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0
Source: PC World
Source: PC World

Modern-day living keeps getting better and better and TV-viewing might never be the same thanks to Samsung’s prototype remote control.

This hi-tech portable remote control features a 7-inchscreen that not only allows you to switch channels (duh), but also shows what’s playing on other channels and lets you access basic internet applications.

So how does it work?

The remote control has three tabs designed for the ultimate viewing experience. One displays the control buttons for the TV and the second tab lets you browse other channels. If a user finds a channel they want to view on the main TV, all they have to do is to hold down the channel icon and drag it towards the top screen. The third tab lets you access the Internet.

The remote control and the TV are liked by an 802.11n WiFi, PC World reports.

“The advantage is that if you have a family, your wife [can be] watching one channel, and you can browse on your small device some other channel or zap there without annoying anybody else,” Michael Zöller, marketing director at Samsung Electronics Europe, said.

The device was unveiled at the IFA electronics fair in Berlin. According to the company however, availability of the remote control in the market is yet unknown as the concept is still being developed.

Wow, can’t wait to have one of those.. 🙂

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/171527/samsungs_prototype_remote_control_doubles_as_a_mini_tv.html

More apologies from Amazon over deleted Kindle ebooks

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Ahleen
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0

It seems like Amazon isn’t done apologizing for what they did over the illegally sold copies of George Orwell’s novels and they’re doing everything they can to get back on people’s good graces.

The company is now ready with not just one or two, but three options for their peace offering: a redelivered copy of the novels, a gift certificate worth $30, or a check for $30. These were said in an email sent to Kindle owners Thursday, a copy of which was given to CNET News by a reader.

As you may all remember, the internet was all abuzz in July when Amazon remotely deleted copies of 1984 and Animal Farm from the Kindle devices of readers who purchased them. The company said the ebooks were placed in the Kindle library by a publisher who did not have legal rights to the novel. This move generated lots of angry outcries from the Kindle owners, civil libertarians and customer advocates , and even a lawsuit  filed by a student whose annotations for 1984 were deleted along with the novel.

Owners of Kindle readers whose copies of the novels were deleted can contact Amazon through [email protected] and ask for either another copy, a gift cert or a check.

Oh, and by the way, if you made annotations in the ebook, you’ll be glad to hear they’re returning the ebook along with your notes – so you don’t have to file a lawsuit.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10345639-265.html

Cushing Academy school library digitized

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Ahleen
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0

Yup, folks at the Cushing Academy, a New England prep school in Massachusetts, are saying goodbye to most of their books to make way for new technology.

The digital library will now be housing flat-screen TVs, study cubicles for laptop users and a built-in coffee shop.

There will also be 18 Amazon Kindle and Sony e-book readers available for students who want to read e-books in the library.

The learning center’s estimated cost is half a million dollars.

“When I look at books, I see and outdated technology, like scrolls before books,” James Tracy, Cushing Academy headmaster, told the Boston Globe.  “This isn’t “Fahrenheit 451.”  We’re not discouraging students from reading.  We see this as a natural way to shape emerging trends and optimize technology.”

Most of the libraries 20,000 books will be donated to local schools and libraries to create more space for the new technologies and amenities.

Source: http://www.dailytech.com/New+England+Prep+School+Building+Library+Without+Books/article16178c.htm

Sony Ericsson unveils Xperia X2

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Ahleen
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0

The smartphone market this year is becoming bigger and bigger. Phone manufacturers are busy releasing their own versions, and Sony Ericsson is among them.

This week, the company unveiled the newest addition to their own smartphone gadgets, the Xperia X2.

Like its pricey predecessor, the Xperia X1, the Xperia X2 runs on Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, has a 3.2-inch WVA touch screen and a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It also features a paneled home screen, giving users easy access to built-in and downloadable applications.

The new feature brought to the X2 is the SlideView. This allows users to access frequently used phone activities like contacts, messages, media, etc. It also gives an overview of missed incoming activity such as unanswered SMS, calls and emails.

Other features of the high-end smartphone include GPS, Bluetooth, TV-out able, IM, Wi-FI connectivity, and an 8.1-megapixel cam that has 16X zoom, autofocus, geo tagging, image stabilizer, touch focus, send to Web, video light and video recording.

The Xperia X2 also has a document viewer as well as access to other Microsoft applications. The phone can operate on both GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 network and the UMTS/HSPA 850/900/2100 network.

Sony Ericsson’s newest smartphone is expected to be available in the fourth quarter but no word yet as to how much it’ll cost.

Better start saving up guys!

Source: http://www.crn.com/mobile/219501197;jsessionid=HQ1J5Z2DZ4JTRQE1GHPCKH4ATMY32JVN

Microsoft axes classic Zune

By
Ahleen
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0
Credit: Microsoft
Credit: Microsoft

You can now say goodbye to Microsoft’s classic Zune devices as they will only be available until supplies last, creating more room for their up and coming Zune HD.

WinSuperSite’s Paul Thurott reports that the Zune folks at Microsoft have stopped manufacturing Zune 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 80GB and 120GB models. Those who want to buy (if there are still those who DO want to buy) may still be able to find some in retail stores and Microsoft’s Online Store, but once they run out, it’ll be for good.

The Zune HD will be available in the market starting September 15, with its 16GB model priced at $219 and the 32GB at $290.

uSocial sells Facebook friends

By
Ahleen
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0

Apparently, if you don’t have any, you can buy friends – in Facebook, that is. And I’m not talking about the site’s game, Friends For Sale, where you and your Facebook friends compete to buy and sell each other as “pets”. This is the real deal.

uSocial, an Australian online marketing company, is selling actual friends and fans to Facebook members. The company is also offering a similar service to Twitter.

“Facebook is an extremely effective marketing tool,” uSocial’s CEO, Leon Hill, said in a statement.

“The simple fact is that with a large following on Facebook, you have an instant and targeted group of people you can contact and promote whatever it is you want to promote. The only problem is that it can be extremely difficult to achieve such a following, which is where we come in.” he added.

uSocial offers packages with 1,000 to 10,000 friends that cost from $177 to $1,167. Companies that uSocial counts as its investors include Microsoft Corp, Russian Internet investment firm Digital Sky Technologies, and Accel Partners, among others.

However, its not all smooth sailing for uSocial.

Twitter had tried shutting uSocial down because of spamming members, according to a couple of Australian websites. LA Times also reported that Digg.com also tried shutting down uSocial because it sells votes.

I wonder where all of this’ll lead to?

Source: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090903/wr_nm/us_facebook_friends_life_tech

Logitech unveils Squeezebox Touch and Radio

By
Ahleen
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0

Squeezebox Touch and Squeezebox Radio are Logitech’s two new additions to their Squeezebox line, the company announced today.

Logitech's Squeezebox Touch - Credit: Logitech
Logitech's Squeezebox Touch - Credit: Logitech

The improved version of Squeezebox, the Squeezebox Touch still plays a wide range of digital music format, lets you listen to Internet radio and subscription-music services such as Pandora and Rhapsody. This model however adds a new “touch” to the older model, allowing you to use your fingers to navigate the player’s 4.3-inch screen that shows full-color album art as well as menus and other information.

The Squeezebox touch also has a USB port and an SD-card slot so you can access music stored in you flash-memory devices. In addition to that, the Touch now supports sample rates of up to 24 bits at 96 kHz.

For those of you who want to display the device prominently, you can purchase an additional bracket so you can mount the Squeezebox touch in the wall.

The Squeezebox Touch will be sold at $300 while the bracket is available for purchase at $100. Both will be released in the U.S. in December.

Logitech's Squeezebox Radio - Credit: Logitech
Logitech's Squeezebox Radio - Credit: Logitech

Its less expensive sibling, the Squeezebox Radio, is similar to Logitech’s Squeezebox Boom. However, the radio only has a single mono speaker. It has however, a 4.3-inch, full-color screen that also displays album art, menus, visualizers and other info.

It has an optional Accessory pack that includes an infrared remote control and a rechargeable battery pack, providing six hours of playtime.

The Squeezebox Radio will be sold for $200 and will be available in the market later this month while its Accessory pack is set to be available in November for $50.

The notable addition to the Squeezebox Touch and Radio is its Facebook app that allows users to view status updates, recommendations, view photos of Facebook friends, and share music.

Pretty cool huh?

Source: http://www.macworld.com/article/142588/2009/09/squeezeboxtouchradio.html

Billionaire plans a show in space

By
Ahleen
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0

If you have billions of money at your disposal, you can pretty much do anything you want like uhm, have a show in outerspace.

Yup, circus billionaire Guy Laliberte who will visit space this month, announced that he will also be hosting a live event while he’s there. He says he is doing this to promote the importance of access to clean water around the world.

The founder of Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil is flying into space on September 30 aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule to travel to the International Space Station. This 11-day road spacetrip doesn’t come cheap too. He’ll be paying $35 million to be a “space tourist”, making him the 7th private citizen to go to be able to go into orbit.

Getting back to this out-of-this-world show, Laliberte says former U.S. vice president and environmental activist Al Gore, Irish band U2, rock musician Peter Gabriel, and other stars are also gonna take part in this two-hour live show from 14 cities around the world.

“I just hope that as a citizen of Earth, this will inspire people in a new way,” he said.

According to a report from Reuters, the show will be coordinated by One Drop, Laliberte’s environmental foundation and is set to be shown live on the Internet through its website, onedrop.org in partnership with AOL.com

Hmmn, I wonder how much it’ll cost me to get to Pluto? 😉

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE5816JJ20090902

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