breaking news
Latest
The Helio Fin
Helio today has announced the Fin, the first flip phone in the carrier's lineup. For an MVNO making its name with unique powerhouses like the Ocean, the Fin seems downright ordinary -- but that's not quite the case. For one thing, the Fin bests its A717 and m610 lookalikes (all three of which are manufactured by Samsung, coincidentally) in the thickness game, coming in at a svelte 11.4 millimeters to take the crown as the thinnest flip launched in the US. The Fin also totes a rather potent 3 megapixel sensor in its cam, 100MB of internal storage with microSD expansion up to 4GB, and stereo Bluetooth support. As with all of Helio's more recently launched devices, the Fin includes GPS on board; concurrently with the phone's release, Helio is announcing Garmin Mobile navigation for the Fin and the Ocean -- available for $2.99 per day -- for those times when the integrated Google Maps-based nav just doesn't cut it. Grab Fin starting today for $175.
Sprint's mobile WiMAX service called XOHM?
We have information from an anonymous tipster claiming that Sprint is set to take the wraps of their new WiMAX brand dubbed XOHM. It's anybody's guess at this point how you'd pronounce that ("x-ohm" or "zohm" perhaps) but we're told to expect a formal announcement as early as Thursday. The timing is certainly legit what with plans to have the 4G service up and running in select cities "by year-end 2007." We'd expect any new branding to encompass the combined efforts of those Clearwire and Google deals though our source ain't sayin'. Perhaps XOHM was the delayed little secret behind Sprint's "wireless evolution" teaser site which was pulled without explanation before its July 4th pop date. Who knows, but anything that moves us closer to a WiMax-enabled N800 and that "ultra thin" WiMax smartphone from Palm is fine by us.
Sony Ericsson's "Victoria" gets official as the Cyber-shot K770
She's here and right on schedule. Meet Victoria, Sony Ericsson's latest candybar to wear the Cyber-shot crown. Officially unveiled as the K770, the 14-mm thin cameraphone features a 3.2 megapixel, autofocus camera with LED photo light, and 1.9-inch QVGA display just like we heard. It ships with a 256MB M2 card and goes tri-band GSM with 2100MHz UMTS 3G for Europe. She's expected sometime around Q4 for an undisclosed price.%Gallery-5872%
Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected
Here we go again kids. After all those notorious fires related to the batteries used by the world's largest handset manufacturer, Nokia has issued a product advisory for the BL-5C, Nokia-branded battery. That's right, Nokia branded, not just those third-party knockoffs everyone had been pointing the finger at previously. A staggering 46 million batteries in fact, all manufactured by Matsushita (aka, Panasonic) between December 2005 and November 2006, are said to be at risk of "dislodge." According to the release, "in very rare cases" the Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries could short circuit leading to an explosive burn. Nokia goes on to say that the danger only exists while charging the battery and of the 100 or so reported incidents, "no serious injuries or property damage have been reported." Oh really? So the loss of a leg no longer constitutes serious injury? The BL-5C is one of just 14 different batteries used in Nokia products so be sure to check the list below to see if your phone is one of the 52 Nokia handsets affected. If you're unlucky (or lucky, depending upon your viewpoint) enough to be affected, then Nokia will provide a replacement battery free of charge. Update: We just received word from Nokia that the "overheating" referred to in their advisory will not result in an explosion or even a fire. At worst, batteries will "overheat, expand, and pop out of the phone (due to the expansion of the battery)." Of course, it states right on the battery that it "may explode if damaged" and "do not short circuit" so this little clarification likely won't make you feel any better now will it?Read -- Product advisory for BL-5C battery Read -- List of affected Nokia phones and Battery IDs
Samsung's Yepp YP-P2 touchscreen DAP with Bluetooth
Ok we admit it, we thought the device pictured over the weekend by Akihabara News was just the iPhone obscured by that iLuv case. But really, those pics were a bit preoccupied with something other than the, ehem, gadget. Fortunately, the good kids over at dapreview sorted it out with pictures and a video of Samsung's sleek new flash player: the Yepp YP-P2. A bit of digging also reveals plenty of specs courtesy of several unsubstantiated German language sites. These include up to 8GB of flash; biggie 3-inch, 428 x 240 pixel touch-screen display; MP3, WMV, WMA, and H.264 (MPEG4 AVC), MPEG-4 (ASF) support; Bluetooth (oh yes); integrated speaker and mic; and FM radio in a device just 100 x 52 x 9.2-mm thin. They've even implemented some of that virtual click-wheel action hinted at by Apple patent applications but never quite implemented. Check another pic and video walkthrough of the interface after the break. Read -- dapreview Read -- unconfirmed specs Read -- Akihabara News P2 promotion
AT&T launching LG CU575 "Trax" HSDPA musicphone later today
With those last minute bugs now apparently eradicated, LG has officially announced plans to deliver their 3G CU575 "Trax" clamshell to AT&T. Touting 850/1900MHz HSDPA 3.6Mbps-capable downloads and quad-band GSM, this flip fancies itself a part-time media player with the inclusion of a Touch Pad bar and up to 4GB of microSD expansion for your AAC, MP3, and WMA music files. Still no word from AT&T but we expect the announcement later today with all the pricing detail you crave. Update: The joint press release is finally out: available August 14th for $130 after mail-in rebate and two-year contract.Read -- launch announcementRead -- CU575 specifications
Sprint, Verizon both announce Motorola RAZR 2 V9m
Neither carrier has launched it just yet, but yes -- the RAZR 2 V9m has now officially found a home on both Sprint and Verizon, with both promising availability in the next few weeks. To split hairs, Sprint will be beating its sworn enemy by a few days, launching its variant on August 22, while Verizon's just promising "September" at this point. Unless AT&T manages to pull a rabbit out of its hat, it looks like the two will be the first in the US to launch what Motorola hopes will be the centerpiece of a turnaround for its flagging handset business. Thanks to EV-DO, attractive styling (yes, we realize we'll be really tired of it in a couple years, but it's still hot for now), and a gargantuan external display with touch controls, the phone is being positioned on the higher end of both carriers' dumbphone offerings -- and the price reflects it. Look for it for $300 with a $50 rebate on Verizon, $250 on Sprint, both on a two-year agreement.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Update: Looks like AT&T didn't want to get left out of this little party after all! The carrier joins Sprint and Verizon in announcing its version of the RAZR 2 today, the HSDPA-powered V9. Look for it in "early September" for $300 on contract. Check the release here.Read - Sprint press releaseRead - Verizon press release
Universal to test DRM-free music sales, snubs iTunes
In both shocking (and, frankly, kind of unshocking) news, Universal Music Group (whom we all know as the largest music conglomerate in the world) announced its intent to test DRM-free music through Real's Rhapsody, Wal-Mart, Amazon, even Google -- but not through long time begrudging online retail partner / frenemy Apple's iTunes Plus DRM-free music store. Apparently the restriction free Universal tracks will start popping up on those other music distributors next January, during which time the company intends to closely monitor sales, increases in music piracy, etc. before going all-in; for the time being we've no idea which artists Universal intends to free up or just how much of its total catalogue will be distributed in this little toe-dip of theirs. But one thing we do know: between EMI and Universal, two of the top four music businesses in the world have now announced or begun distributing music without DRM, and there's little we can find fault with about that.[Thanks, somebody]
Blockbuster buys Movielink
We heard it was going to happen, and it did: Blockbuster bought Movielink for an undisclosed sum, surely to compliment its online offerings to better compete with arch-nemesis Netflix in the internet movie distribution game. And surely if it did sell for the piddly $50 mil figure being tossed around before, the barrier to this entry is just a drop in the bucket for the big blue movie rental giant.[Thanks, Philip]
Microsoft officially adds HDMI to Xbox 360 Premium
Sorry early adoptors (both of the Xbox 360 Premiums and Elites), Microsoft finally made official what we've long since known: it's no fluke, and Redmond will be ("gradually") adding HDMI out to the 360 Premium models moving forward. Here's Microsoft's official statement:"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."How do you know if your new $350 Xbox 360 will have HDMI out? Simple enough: according to Microsoft PR, the applicable systems will now sport an HDMI logo, so keep an eye out for that and you'll be all set.Update: We also asked if these new systems would ship with cooler 65nm chips and quieter DVD drives, but all we got back was the usual song and dance about "not commenting on details of specific components or manufacturing processes." In other words, if you want to see if Microsoft switched out their chips, you'll likely have to run to the store, buy another Xbox, and tear it down for yourself, because Xbox isn't engaging consumers otherwise.
Xbox 360 Premium confirmed shipping with HDMI
It looks like after all the rumor-mongering and speculation, the bomb is in fact dropping on Xbox 360 Premium hopefuls: the game systems are shipping with HDMI. At least one lucky customer who purchased a Premium system at a Target in Atlanta is currently enjoying the spoils of Microsoft's not-so-secret addition, so hot out of tips and direct to your eyes, we present the first of many you'll be seeing with the much-discussed, built-in HDMI port (and obviously perhaps the cooler 65nm chips onboard). You can stop saving and start buying -- as long as your Xbox was built on or around July 4th, a date which will now be remembered for two reasons.Update - Apparently, there's nothing "obvious" about that 65nm chip situation. Right now it looks like some may have it, and some may not.[Via Shacknews, thanks Tim]
iPhones automatically updated with "Send to Web Gallery" feature
At some point during the Jobsters lenghty unveiling of multifarious technologies today, iPhones across the nation were silently rejiggered (presumably by magical Apple wood-sprites) to allow for use of the just announced "Send to Web Gallery" feature. Whether this was a timed event scheduled into the new 1.0.1 update or an over-the-air transmission from Apple remains to be seen, but it is definitely true that the "fully integrated" web gallery upload option which Mr. Jobs demonstrated at today's press conference is currently available for use on your iPhone. Right now. This second.[Via TUAW, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple Store is down
This time we have a sneaky suspicion it won't be a false alarm. Easy money is on new iMacs and an iLife refresh popping up in an hour or two.Update, as of 2:57PM: It was up for a few minutes, but now it's down again. Seems these "Mac" things are rather popular with the kids these days. Peep the hilarity above.Update 2, 3:25PM: Up then down then up and so on. We'll let you know when it's up for real.Update 3, 4:05PM: Still a few kinks, but it seems to be up at last.
Apple's new iMac
Who could've seen this one coming? Apple surprised no one this morning with brand new iMacs. Built from aluminum and glass, the new all-in-one desktops feature a complete, slimmer redesign and will come in two sizes: 20-inch and 24-inch. There's the usual compliment of ports like USB 2.0, Firewire 400 / 800, a slot loading SuperDrive, iSight camera and so forth. The new look features a glossy display to match the majority of Apple's consumer lineup, and new keyboards are indeed coming along for the ride -- in an extended wired version as well as a mini wire free model, running the Bluetooth 2.0 spec. Under the hood Apple has up to a 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme processor, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics, up to 1TB of storage, 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.0, with 8x SuperDrives and 1GB of RAM standard across the board. Prices start at $1,199 for the 20-inch, $1,499 for a processor and graphics bump, $1,799 for the 24-incher and $2,299 for Core 2 Extreme. The full rundown of Apple's stock models is after the break.Update: Corrected the 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme spec, and added a fourth configuration to the rundown.%Gallery-5646%
Apple refreshes Mac mini, now with Core 2 Duo
While we certainly had a fairly solid idea that Apple would be unveiling a new breed of iMacs and a snazzy new set of keys, you can color us mildly surprised to see a Mac mini refresh thrown in for good measure. Available today, the newly revamped minis arrive in two basic configurations, the first of which includes a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB of RAM, and an 80GB hard drive for $599, while $200 more will buy you a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, the same 1GB of RAM, and a 120GB hard drive. Both units come with Front Row and an Apple Remote, iLife '08, OS X 10.4, a DVI-to-VGA adapter, and the same cute box we've come to know and love. Those looking to CTO can toss in an extra gigabyte of RAM, bump the HDD to 160GB, and throw in one of those oh-so-sexy keyboards while you're at it. Best of all, they're slated to ship within 24 hours.
Apple's new metallic keyboards: in wired and Bluetooth flavors
The rumored pictures seemed plausible enough, and now Apple has confirmed the hopes / fears of typists the world over: there's a new desktop keyboard (er, two actually) in town. The new keyboards (one larger wired USB 2.0 edition with two USB 2.0 ports, one smaller Bluetooth 2.0 flavor) are crafted from anodized aluminum, and include dedicated keys for screen dimmer / brighter, expose, media controls, volume controls, and eject for optical drive. Clearly, they're making an obvious play to capture that good will the MacBook has garnered for its interesting spacing and flat keys, but it remains to be seen if such a laptop-ish keyboard can keep up with the more tactile big boys on the desktop frontier. But hey, with that much sexy, we're willing to find out. Click on for a few more glimpses, and just in case you were wondering, it's $49 for the tethered one, or $79 to go cordless.
Apple updates .Mac
Apple unveiled an update to its .Mac package of subscription online apps today. Most notably, .Mac now integrates with the just-announced iPhoto '08, offering synchronization between iPhoto and a web-based online gallery viewable "in any browser you like" (we should certainly hope so!). Oh, and it integrates with the iPhone, too, via a new "Send to Web Gallery" feature on the phone that -- you guessed it -- will upload pics snapped with the handset straight to your online gallery. The synchronization is two-way, meaning that other folks can upload pics straight to your gallery and they'll sync with the iPhone as well. Videos don't get left out of the equation, either; Web Galleries and the iPhone will both support 'em. Think you'll need more capacity to handle video, though? No worries -- the service now includes 10GB of storage with 100GB of monthly transfer (2.5GB / 25GB for family pack sub-accounts), which'll be available "within a week" according to Apple, with optional upgrades of 10GB and 20GB on deck. Price stays the same: $99.95 per year.
Judge throws out $1.52 billion Alcatel-Lucent suit against Microsoft
Last we heard, in February Alcatel-Lucent won a $1.52 billion suit against Microsoft for infringement of its MP3 patents despite the fact that Redmond paid up $16 million to MP3 co-developer the Fraunhofer Institute. Well, even given the 7-1 vote in favor of Alcatel-Lucent leading to the previous federal ruling, presiding US District Judge Rudi Brewster overturned the suit in a 43 page legal novella you absolutely must read, stating that one of the two patents wasn't infringed, and the other patent's infringement was in question anyway, due to the fact that Microsoft did, in fact, cough up those millions to Fraunhofer. Of course, Alcatel-Lucent intends to appeal the decision just the same way Microsoft's previously appealed the original decision -- and with $1.52 billion at stake, we all know damned well this is going to go back and forth for, well, as long as it takes. Who really wins? The layers, obviously.[Thanks, David and Mark]
Microsoft drops price on Xbox 360 line -- we're stunned
Ohhh big surprise, Microsoft just announced a price drop on the 360 lineup. Retailers will knock $50 off the Premium systems (bringing it to $350), $30 off the Elite (down to $450), and $20 off the Core (bringing it to $280). Expect it to take effect this Wednesday, the 8th. Buy, buy, buy, people. Oh, let's briefly review how many of Microsoft's retail partners had a difficult time keeping Redmond's big secret.Read - GameStop can't hold it inRead - Circuit City, loose lips sink console price dropsRead - Best Buy thinks the Core system won't be around much longerRead - Toys R Us won't keep a secretRead - Wal-Mart's a blabbermouthRead - The Hollywood Reporter even heard about this thingRead - Oh, here's the official release
NES emulator released for the iPhone
Yeah, the floodgates have opened, and we promise not to bug you with every new app to come down the pipe, but we figured you'd want to know when you can get your Mario on. Video is after the break.[Via TUAW]
