Xpress
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Nokia Xpress brings cloud-based compression to the Lumia line (video)
Nokia refreshed its web browser for the Asha line with the outing of the 308 and 309 last week and now it's spreading the love to Lumia. Announced today via the company's Beta Labs site, Nokia Xpress leverages the cloud to compress internet data up to 85 percent, help users keep tabs on their consumption habits and even reformats favorited sites into a magazine-like layout. The Windows Phone app also enables users to make "smart searches" for content across Bing and YouTube with a simple tap of a selected term, as well as translate the contents of a foreign language page easily from the settings menu. Unfortunately, the app isn't yet available on the Marketplace, so for the time being, you'll have to download it direct from the source below.
Pantech Vega Xpress comes with DDR2 memory, extravagant performance claims
Pantech's bringing a new wrinkle to the mobile hardware space with its newly announced Vega Xpress handset. This 4-inch Android 2.2 beastie will come equipped with an unspecified amount of DDR2 RAM -- yes, the stuff that usually goes into x86 laptop and desktop computers -- which Pantech will have you believe is going to blow the competition out of the proverbial water. The company claims the new phone doubles 3D graphics performance relative to its previous best, while power efficiency is also said to be two to three times better. Other specs include a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 802.11n WiFi, an 800 x 480 resolution, and a 1500mAh battery. Yours, provided you're anywhere near Korea, some time soon.
DynaVox Xpress handheld communication device boasts WiFi, Bluetooth
Pittsburgh-based company DynaVox Mayer-Johnson has been making handheld communication devices (for those who have speech impairments or lack the ability to speak altogether) for years, but its newest device -- the DynaVox Xpress, is really stepping up the game. The Xpress, which weighs in at 1.5 pounds and has a 5-inch touchscreen, is mainly used to for "talking," and as such, boasts a menu of icons with various phrases and vocabulary, with speakers to vocalize the communications. The Xpress doesn't stop there, however. It also boasts an MP3 player, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which gives it email capabilities, an integrated calendar, and the ability to download new vocabulary to the device. Pricing and availability for the handheld is expected next week.[Via CNET]
Quark releases QuarkXPress 8
Love it or hate it (with the burning fire of a million angry suns), Quark yesterday released QuarkXPress 8, which features new tools for developing for the web, workspace enhancements, and refinements to tools to finally bring it into the 20th century. Steve Sande mentioned back in May that it was coming, and now it's finally here. Quark 8, the William Shatner of page layout software (old, bloated, sweaty, and desperate to stay relevant), allows you to create content for the web using HTML and Flash without writing any code. This has been a feature of Quark since QuarkImmedia and Quark Interactive Designer, but now appears to be fully rolled into QuarkXPress, to the abject horror of web designers everywhere. Also, a new feature: A measurements palette. That's right, it's 2008, and they're adding a measurements palette. Also: east-Asian language support and hanging punctuation. Wow. Well done, Quark. I've been using QuarkXPress since version 3, and having very briefly tried the new version, it's a little depressing to see them keep trying to reclaim their glory years. Small design shops, freelancers, and many printers have largely moved to InDesign for their page layout software. Yes, Quark 8 is light-years ahead of where they were, but still light-years behind where they need to be. Quark makes its money on giant-scale installations at newspapers and magazines, so we'll see how quickly their enterprise customers adopt this new version. My guess: not very, as many printers I've dealt with overseas, especially in Asia, are still using QuarkXPress 6. A 60-day trial is available, and is a whopping 517MB to download. It requires Mac OS X 10.4 and a G5 processor or higher. New licenses are $800, and upgrades are a scant $300. Discounts are available for education and non-profit customers, too.
An InDesign user reviews QuarkXpress 7
I know nothing about QuarkXpress or InDesign as I haven't ever even started up either application. I don't know anything about Photoshop either (shocking, no? I don't mean my ignorance, since I am sure you have all grown accustomed to that, rather I am speaking of the fact that I have never used a Mac for any kind of graphics work). Now, clearly, I am in no position to offer up an opinion about Quark's latest offer, luckily for us Dave Girard at Ars Technica knows both products and has offered up a very detailed review of QuarkXpress.What does he think? Well, I can tell you that he isn't abandoning his copy of InDesign any time soon, but if you want the details you'll have to read his review.
