Friday, January 7, 2011

19 new stories on The Next Web today

19 new stories on The Next Web today

Link to The Next Web

RIM’s BlackBerry Playbook Still On Course For Q1 US Release

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 03:26 AM PST

Despite rumours of battery issues delaying the release of RIM’s BlackBerry Playbook, the company has officially confirmed the device is still right on track for a first-quarter release in the US.

RIM took to the stage at CES in Las Vegas to announce that it would launching a 4G-enabled version of its tablet device in the Summer, prompting fears that the Wi-Fi only model would incur a delay also. RIM quickly moved to put and end to speculation in an email to AllThingsD stating:

"The BlackBerry PlayBook is expected to begin shipping in the U.S. in Q1."

If you were intending on purchasing one of these devices, your fears have now been put to rest.

The BlackBerry playbook has been demonstrated on the floor at CES and also in a number of short videos which take users through how the tablet operates. With the Playbook expected to launch by the end of March, the rest of the world will need to wait until Q2 to get their hands on one of these devices.Image Credit

Samsung hints 4G Windows Phone 7 devices could launch in February

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 03:03 AM PST

The Wall Street Journal has reported an interesting piece of information on Samsung’s upcoming Windows Phone 7 roadmap, suggesting Samsung will be ready to unveil its first 4G-enabled Windows Phone 7 handsets at Mobile World Congress in February.

Samsung is already enjoying phenomenal success with Android, releasing its Windows Phone 7 offerings (Samsung Focus and Omnia 7) in October of last year. Speaking to the WSJ, J.K Shin, head of Samsung’s Mobile Division stated:

“We are in a position to supply 4G smartphones and tablets to all of the U.S. carriers."

Not clarifying any product details, Shin did note that consumers should wait for Mobile World Congress which commences in February. He also hinted that Samsung would also be announcing details on its dual-core processors at the same time as the new 4G Windows Phone 7 handsets.

Shin declined to provide many details on future product launches, only saying to wait for Mobile World Congress in February. But he hinted that Samsung would have more details on a dual-core processor, as well as a 4G version of Windows Phone 7.

It looks as if the rumour mill will get started as soon as CES 2011 ends, building up buzz for the upcoming MWC conference in Barcelona. I’m sure you are excited as we are to see what manufacturers have up their sleeves.WMPowerUser, Image Credit

Hulu Plus to launch on Android handsets “in coming months”

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 02:19 AM PST

Speaking at Samsung’s keynote at CES yesterday yesterday, Hulu CEO Jason Kilar noted that its Hulu Plus service will be coming to Android handsets “in the coming months”.

Unfortunately it will only be made available to owners of an Android device running Android 2.2 or above but with over 50% of Android devices now running the firmware, it will make its way to a healthy number of users within the U.S.

CES attendees were treated to a sneak peak of the app, running on a Samsung Galaxy S:

It is not known when the exact launch date will be, when a company says something will launch in the coming months, its usually a little longer than you expect. Whether the app will work on all Android 2.2 enabled handsets is another matter, both the launch date and compatible devices are due to be announced soon.Image Credit

Sony Ericsson’s PlayStation Phone emerges in China, specifications all but confirmed

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 11:58 PM PST

Yet another Sony Ericsson leak has come before us, this time its one of the most anticipated handsets of 2011; the PlayStation Phone.

After the Xperia Arc leaked hours before it was scheduled to be announced at CES 2011 in Las Vegas, the PlayStation Phone has surfaced in China, giving us another overview of the device but also a bit more insight into what is powering the Android gaming handset.

Engadget has confirmed that the new Xperia handset will feature a Qualcomm Adreno 205 GPU, a 1GHz Snapdragon QSD8255 processor, packing 512MB ROM as well as 512MB of RAM, a 4-inch 854 x 480 screen, a 5MP camera with an LED flash and both MicroSD and MicroSD connections.

It borrows a very similar design from the Xperia Arc but is obviously not quite as thin:

Also launched was the PlayStation app, now called “PlayStation Pocket”. This didn’t show anything particularly useful other that what looks like to be a name change, so we are no closer to finding out what Sony Ericsson has planned for distributing gaming titles.

Below are some more videos of the device in action:

IT168

Mark by Mark Zuckerberg: The Ultimate in Facebook Fashion

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 11:33 PM PST

Sometimes it’s not the ideas that get you somewhere, maybe not even the determination to reach the top – more often than not, it’s the clothes that you wear.

One of the most high-profile and successful entrepreneurs in the public eye today is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Creating one of the world’s largest websites, Zuckerberg knew that if he ever wanted to amount to anything, he had to dress for success.

Luckily for you and me, we are now able to recreate the Zuckerberg style, by way of the new fashion clothing range known only as Mark by Mark Zuckerberg:

Everything you need is there, from his distinctive bathrobe, to his white socks and Adidas flip-flops – all linked to the specialised boutiques that sell these unique items of clothing and associated accessories.

What are you waiting for? Get shopping!Image Credit

SortFix. An iPad search engine using visual sorting to produce better results

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:15 PM PST

TNW Quick Hit

SortFix (free) is an iPad search engine featuring visual sorting, allowing one to conduct refined search queries and in the process receive more precise results.

Hits: Colorful, well-designed user interface, providing a simple method of searching for images, video, websites and Tweets on a given search term.

Misses: Web and image searches are powered only by Bing.  Using SortFix to conduct searches may prove to be too much work for those who are satisfied with their present, default, iPad search method.

Overall: 3.5/5

The Details:

Conducting searches using the iPad take many forms depending on who you are, what you’re looking for, and which apps you use.  For photos there’s Flickr, for videos there’s YouTube, for social network searches there’s Twitter for iPad, Flipboard, and others and for basic web searches there’s Google or Bing using Safari Mobile.  In other words, the iPad offers many methods to execute searches in a myriad of ways.

SortFix, already sporting an alternative browser-based search option, which, according to its creators, is a search engine offering,

“An intuitive graphical interface that isn't only cool and fun to use but also boosts your search skills and abilities.”

has recently updated their iPad version of what one can access via the internet.

SortFix on the iPad aims to combine the search methods listed above into one, well-designed, useful, app, making searching not only easier, but also more precise by adding features previously unavailable with other apps.

The design is clean, colorful, and, at first glance, easy to use.  Once you begin using Sortfix however, you see that while it seemingly does provide more precise search results, the interface requires a bit of learning to master before one realizes the app’s full potential.

Beginning with the search term, “The Next Web,” (clever, I know) the following Bing-powered web and YouTube results were returned:

swimsuit_model

That’s correct.  Unlike the browser-based version of SortFix, the iPad counterpart does not offer a Google search option, instead using Bing exclusively for image and web searches.

Never the less, what you see above are not only the fruits of my search labor, but also SortFix's Add/Remove boxes to improve and filter a search. Moreover, SortFix attempts to refine search results by analyzing keywords of interest within search engine results, presenting them as "Power Words,” suggested keywords, extracted in real-time by Sortfix algorithms.

This is where SortFix is both fantastic and potentially frustrating for users.  ”Power Words” are presented to assist users in building a personal, visual, query.   In theory proper use of the “Power Word” functionality helps users refine searches when one of the words is dragged to the "Add to Search" green box, and irrelevant words are placed into the "Exclude" red box.

I found the feature did result in providing more precise search returns.  Users looking for speed or those who simply don’t care to experiment with refining their searches may find these features laborious and shun them, and the app, altogether.

Aside from YouTube and Bing searches, users can also conduct image and Twitter searches.  Doing so requires additional tinkering to get the results one desires.  Example:

A search for “The Next Web” provided nothing of value if one seeks Tweets by our site or images from our site.  However, a search of the term “@TheNextWeb” returned exactly what one would expect, Tweets concerning our site and images used on our site.  Again, those willing to work with the app to refine their search results can achieve great accuracy.  Those unwilling to do so will discover SortFix is not the search engine for them.

SortFix seems to acknowledge this issue through the “Tips” they offer:

• Play with the words and try different query combinations until you “nail it” and find exactly what you need.
• Don't use too many words at once. The best way is to add or exclude only a few words at a time, then press the search button, and so on.
• If you are not sure whether a “Power Word” is related or unrelated to your search, just leave it in the “Power Words” grey box.
• As you focus your search query, the “Power Words” will be improved.

I really enjoy SortFix and found it extremely useful.  Adding Google search capability would be grand, but even without it SortFix can aid anyone in creating more detailed search queries and therefore, providing better search results.results.

CES 2011: A telescope that let’s you see thousands of years into the past

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 05:22 PM PST

Celestron‘s new Sky Prodigy 130 was unveiled at this year’s CES and just picked up an Editor’s Choice Award from Popular Mechanics. The $800 telescope features a 130mm lens and a 5″ mirror powerful enough to bring Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons into focus. With 4,000 celestial bodies in its database, viewers are able to identify and see stars that once were, some even thousands of years in the past.

“In three minutes, you’re an instant astronomer,” said Celestron’s Michelle Meskill. “You don’t need to have a computer, and 4,000 bodies are in its database.”

Now if only there were some way to see the stars in Vegas…

Another scam called “My 1st St@tus” is going viral on Facebook

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 05:20 PM PST

Oh Facebook users. You’d think that they’d have learned by now to avoid those nasty applications. However, the Internet is rife with people who want to know everything about themselves, and the “My 1st St@tus” scam aims directly at them.

First, you’ll likely see messages that look like this:

Clicking on the link in the message, as you can probably imagine, will take you to a page that links to a Facebook application. That “application” will request to post onto your wall, so that the scam can propagate. According to Sophos, the application then asks you to fill out a survey to prove that you’re human. This is where the scammers are likely making their cash.

And you? Well, you’ll find that the rogue application has meanwhile taken the opportunity to post a message on your Facebook page, which is now being seen by all of your online friends. When I deliberately infected a test account with the rogue application it got my first status message incorrect, as well as the date that I first posted to the Facebook account.

So there you have it. You fill in information, you give it permission to post to your wall and someone elsewhere is profiting from the whole shebang. Bear it in mind, ladies and gentlemen — know your applications and watch what they ask to do.Post Thumbnail

Nimbb Helps Bring Video Interaction to your Site

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 05:11 PM PST

A Montreal-based startup, D2Soft Technologies has developed a service called Nimbb that brings clients a way to add user-generated videos on their websites.

Benjamin Bérubé, the founder of Nimbb.com, has recently been spending his days working out of internet coffee shops on his laptop in San Francisco. And, when one hears the word "startup", that's the epitome of what you might envision.

A few months back, Bérubé left his full time job to follow through with his dreams of entrepreneurship, leaving his home in Canada to promote his company in California, he told us earlier this afternoon. For the most part, his endeavors have been fruitful. Bérubé says he's now obtained enough customers to be profitable.

D2Soft's service Nimbb lets users create and share a quick video using their webcam which is then posted to a unique url. But, the more interesting aspect of this service is found within its API.

The service supports clients that are looking to add user-generated videos on their sites. Using Nimbb's API, websites can offer their users a way to record up to a 5 minute video using a webcam. A feature that McGraw-Hill, BBC, Cirque du Soleil and the French Government have already signed on for.

nimbb

Nimbb is a subscription based service that takes on the job of hosting the user videos, and developers can easily integrate the Nimbb by simply pasting a few lines of HTML which makes this complicated technology easy to use.

Developers can utilize a series of tools with the API including; Nimbb's Flash player and access to the web service that contains additional functionality from the server-side code. On the back-end, the Nimbb player works with a GUID, a globally unique identifier that is assigned to each video and that later enables developers to retrieve the GUID and display the video in the player.

If you're interested in trying it out, Nimbb has a 30 day trial that limits you to a maximum of 30 second videos and doesn't allow for the videos to be downloaded locally in .FLV format. If you're looking for more, you can have access to all of Nimbb's features but it will run you $599 per month for a corporate account.

In case a corporate account is completely outside of your budget, there is an option to subscribe to the entry-level paid option which is $29 per month. That will bring you one hundred 1 minute videos coupled with access to its back-end web service with the option to remove the Nimbb logo from videos. There are numerous features and plans we haven't touched on but they're all listed in chart-form on the site.

It's ease of use with the added benefit of having the videos hosted on Nimbb, adds a great deal of value to the service. And from what we've seen thus far, it seems to be a great option for adding an interactive video experience to your site.

Image: Webcam

Mac App Store receipt checking enables rampant piracy. Here’s why. [Updated]

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 03:35 PM PST

When the Mac App Store was first announced, this morning, it seemed to us that there were some things missing. Namely, the piracy of applications seemed to be behind nothing more than an open door. With Apple’s work with record labels over DRM, it seemed strange to us that there wasn’t any apparent protection being afforded to application developers.

What we quickly found, though, was that Apple does allow a developer to implement a “receipt check”. What this enables is that a developer can choose to not have it implemented, thus allowing sharing, but if it is implemented, then an application will check for a receipt of purchase before it will launch.

Our first tests involved whether or not we could simply take the Twitter.app file, downloaded from the Mac App Store, and transfer it over Dropbox to another person. What we quickly found was that Dropbox didn’t allow for the .app extension to be given a public URL, but it would work if we put it into another folder and then shared the folder to another person. However, there are obviously other ways for people to transfer files.

So what does it take in order to pirate an app from the Mac App Store? All you have to do is find the .dmg file hosted online somewhere. Sure, you can’t readily download premium apps without paying for them, from the App Store, but that’s never stopped files from ending up on pirate websites before. Once you’ve found the app, all you have to do is install it as you would any other application and then copy over 3 files (and/or folders) from any legitimate download that you’ve made in the App Store — even if it’s a free download (Twitter, for instance).

To clarify, this is the process:

  1. Download any application (even a free one) from the Mac App Store
  2. Install
  3. Find any paid application, hosted online
  4. Install
  5. Take files from the free application, copy them over to the paid one
  6. You can now run the paid application

While we won’t detail the files or folders here, the information is readily available across the Internet. While the idea of receipt checking is great, it’s obviously not enough in this case. Unless Apple or developers implement some other system for a direct check of purchase, apps in the Mac App Store are about to become a lot less expensive.

There are rumors that the workaround only affects those applications which were not coded correctly in the first place. However, it’s simply worth noting as it’s so easy to accomplish. So what’s the fix? Have an idea? Let us know in the comments.

Update: We’re hearing rumors from both sides of this story. One side is saying that it only works with Rovio’s Angry Birds, while others are saying that they’ve seen it work with other apps as well.Post Image: Eric Sagalyn

Will ‘Jupiter’ for Windows 8 cut bloat to squeeze the OS onto tablets?

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 03:24 PM PST

We learned about two Windows 8 code-names dubbed ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Mosh’ recently, and as we hoped, more information has leaked. Jupiter and Mosh are perhaps the two meatiest pieces of Windows 8 material that we have heard in months.

Don’t forget, Ballmer called Windows 8 Microsoft’s “riskiest product bet.”

Microsoft guru Mary-Jo Foley has dug up a pile of somewhat hard to parse information from a number of sources that outlines the technical aspects of what Jupiter may or may not be. However, after consulting with several developers we have decided that there is not enough there to come to any solid new technical conclusions.

However, Mary-Jo did receive a very important, and we would even say juicy quote that perked our ears up to their full height:

“[Jupiter] has to do with XAML + Native Code on slate/iPad-like devices. I think this is Microsoft's approach for putting Windows on the smaller device without the bloat.” [Emphasis TNW.]

Oh really? That fits perfectly with the rumored ‘Mosh’ project that is to create a tiled interface for (presumably) tablet style devices.

Actually, and we hate to wander to the land of complete speculation, but the tile interface of Mosh, the possible shrinking power of Jupiter, and the amazing interface of the Surface 2.0, and you have to wonder if Microsoft has something truly big planned for the launch of Windows 8.

Just for background, this is how Paul Thurrott paraphrased Jupiter:

Windows 8 will also include a new app model codenamed Jupiter that will target a new Windows Marketplace app store. The app store will provide access to new, Silverlight based "immersive" applications that are deployed as AppX packages (.appx). The Windows and Office teams are betting very heavily on this new app type, according to my source, and development has already begun using a beta version of Visual Studio 2012. These apps can be written in C#, Visual Basic, and even C++.

If you are a developer, we recommended a Mary-Jo’s post. More as it comes.Top Image Credit, ZDNet, Hat Tip

CES 2011: The future of food is wireless in the store and in your home

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 02:52 PM PST

Imagine being out in your car and suddenly having the urge to bake cookies. Do you have eggs at home? Do you have milk to drink with your cookies? An app on your phone tells you that you have 12 eggs, more than enough to make Tollhouse cookies but you are out of milk. It then gives you directions to the nearest supermarket that has your favorite brand of organic soy milk.

Once you get to the supermarket, imagine walking down the shopping aisle and being able to view in-depth product information at anything you look at- like nutritional information and expiration dates. The store manager also knows exactly how many boxes of which kind of cereal he has in his store. And when there are only 5 boxes of Cheerios left, the shelf senses this and wirelessly puts in an order for more.

Once you get home from the supermarket, you have to mix the ingredients together by yourself, but then the cookies are wirelessly baked for you. No oven, no stovetop required. Think electromagnetic induction powered cookie pans.

Everything I’ve just detailed is all possible. And it was demoed today by Fulton Innovation, the same company that also wirelessly powered a Tesla car. The wireless technology would be embedded on the supermarket shelf and in consumer’s homes to help manage and track inventory. The products are embedded with inductive ink and it’s the kind of ink that can be used on existing printing technology. This ink is part of eCoupled’s integrated wireless technology from Fulton Innovation, which also features a home monitoring system like in the photo below.

In the kitchen all food can be heated and controlled without wires. In fact, I saw soup heating up in its own container. Just by pulling a tab and placing the container on an eCoupled-enabled countertop, the contents will heat to a low, medium or high temperature, depending on the user's preference.  They also offer a set of kitchen utensils like a magnetic saucepan that can be placed on any surface and cook food wirelessly. You can literally hold it in the palm of your hand while it’s cooking sauce and you won’t be burned. And while they don’t have specific prices yet, a Fulton rep said the technology isn’t even that expensive. The tech is more secure than RFID and they even say it’s safe for our brains because “it’s under a certain limitation in the magnetic field,” set by the U.S. and other national governments.

What do you think of a future of wireless food?

The 4G Galaxy Tab got a silent upgrade. Did you notice?

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 02:24 PM PST

Maybe it’s a matter of necessity, or maybe it was just time for a refresh. Regardless of reason, Samsung actually had two announcements for the Galaxy Tab on the CES stage, though only one was mentioned.

When we reviewed the Galaxy Tab, we noticed that the pictures weren’t quite as good as we had hoped. That’s likely because the included camera was only a 3 megapixel device, and there wasn’t really a reason to have anything higher. Now, with integrated Skype video chat on all Verizon LTE devices, the reason exists. As such, Samsung has boosted the new camera up to a 5 megapixel version.

But that’s only the half of it. The other half comes in a speed boost, and this is likely a matter of necessity more than anything. With the LTE radio, the newest version of the Galaxy tab jumps up to a 1.2 GHz processor, over the original 1.0 GHz in the earlier models.

We’ve dug around, but not found any other changes between the two devices. It’s interesting, though, that there was nary a mention of the upgrades. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

CES 2011: The World’s First Wirelessly Powered Tesla Car

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:47 PM PST

Over 100 years since Nikola Tesla first began playing around with wireless power, and I believe if he could see what I saw today he’d be clapping in his grave (although wondering why it took so damn long). Today at CES, Fulton Innovation unveiled the world’s first wirelessly powered Tesla car.

As you can see from the image below, the electric car is parked about 4″ over an eCoupled-enabled pad. Once the car is fully charged, it will run for 180 miles. The car’s charging status can be monitored by an iPhone app, of course.

“This is the first time in history that we’ve been able to wirelessly power a high-powered device,” said a rep at Fulton Innovation, the company behind the wireless technology.

We’re getting one step closer to the end of plugging in. Imagine a future of roads, paved with wireless technology. Imagine parking garages equipped to power entire fleets overnight. Imagine it in your own garage.

Watch a video of the car here:

Verizon launching 10 LTE devices, promises 175 markets by 2012

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:30 PM PST

No, no Verizon iPhone just yet...photo © 2010 jfingas | more info (via: Wylio)We’ve wondered about rollout speeds before, and given the launch in 38 markets, we knew that it would be somewhat fast. However, live from the stage at CES, we’ve just heard that Verizon will be launching LTE into 175 markets by the end of 2011. But what’s more important than markets, to us, are devices.

The latest count stands at 10, with all of them being launched by the middle of this year. 4 smartphones, 2 tablets, 2 netbooks and 2 hotspots. Of course, none of that can happen with out partnerships. LG was the first to take the stage, then Skype was next. Skype tells us that we’ll have deep integration into all LTE phones with front and rear facing cameras for mobile video calling.

The HTC ThunderBolt, which we covered a short time ago, will be the first LTE offering from HTC. Featuring a 1 GHz processor, Skype video chat integration into HTC Sense, 8 gigs of internal memory, a 4.3-inch screen and Android 2.2

Electronic Arts promises some great gaming experiences over LTE, though we’re not quite certain what the benefit is to having a higher speed network, other than perhaps in a multiplayer environment.

Finally, Samsung is providing 3 devices to the Verizon lineup. Of course the company has been wildly successful with the Galaxy S line of phones as well as the Galaxy Tab, but the newest additions are pretty slick. With a 4G Galaxy Tab, a 4G hotspot (for 5 devices) and a newly-updated 4G phone, Samsung will continue to be a strong presence in the Verizon lineup.

Motorola will continue to be in the Verizon lineup, as well. With the DROID Bionic and Motorola Xoom tablet, we’re highly impressed.

Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that you’re still under a 5 gigabyte cap each month, and going over that will cost you a fair amount of cash. With that cap in place, we’re still somewhat disappointed by Verizon’s LTE offering, but the unlimited 4G from Sprint might still push the company toward a more generous offering.

4 things Apple needs to improve in the Mac App Store

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:25 PM PST


The Mac App Store is finally available and in case you missed it earlier, we've already posted our first impressions and we’ll continue to post reviews. And after spending some time with it this morning, we did however notice a possible glitch that will affect developers and users alike.

Glitches With Free Trials

While checking out Smoovie, a stop motion app that costs $14.99 within the Mac App store, we saw that within the details that there was a free trial available on the official site. But after downloading, we went back to Smoovies page on the Mac App Store to find that the app had been marked as "already installed". Since we didn't purchase Smoovie directly within the Mac App store, it wasn't showing up in the purchases category either nor did it allow us to "upgrade" anywhere.

We finally reached out to the developers to find out that the problem is that the Mac App Store version shared the same bundle identifier, a problem that they could have avoided if they'd realized earlier. This can of course be rectified by uninstalling the free version but it's still an annoyance that developers should be aware of.

Browsing Categories

Another slight aggravation is within the categories although it does mimic the same browsing method within iTunes App Store on the desktop. When you're looking for games, there is no option to view "all games", forcing users to look through sub categories such as action and puzzles. An “all games” option is however available using the app store app on the iPhone. In saying that, I prefer to peruse the entire list, a process I generally use instead of using iTunes to discover new games.

Purchase Page

All of the downloads within the Mac App Store are sent to the purchases page which sort them in alphabetical order, something that might not bother us now because it’s so new. But, as we continue to download more, it would have been better to also give users the option to sort purchases by category. After all, we can’t always remember the title of an app but we’ll surely remember what it does, making category sorting helpful.

An example from the iOS app store

Control Over Sorting

While you’re in a category such as Video apps there are currently a few ways to browse; all apps, top paid, top free and top grossing. However, within the main page where all the apps are displayed, there is no option to sort the apps in alphabetical order. It’s all very random. In the iOS app store categories, there is a drop down menu to organize by release date, name and best-sellers. An option that appears to be missing on the main category pages although within its subcategories the drop down menu is there, minus the option to browse by release dates.

Your Thoughts

We’d like to hear your first impressions. Have you encountered any glitches? Do you have any ideas on how to make the Mac Store better? All in all, I’ve been having a blast and have found the experience of having everything in one place fantastic. An adventure that is beginning to put a huge dent on my credit card.

Sony Ericsson Will Not Upgrade Xperia Arc To Android 2.4

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:00 PM PST

Eager to put an end to rumours that the Xperia Arc will be receiving an Android 2.4 upgrade in the future, Sony Ericsson executives have denied its super-thin handset will receive an update to anything other than Honeycomb in the future.

Speaking at an informal event demonstrating the new Xperia Arc, executives noted that whilst Sony Ericsson engineers are testing all available software options for its devices, Android 2.4 was not on its roadmap, it was evident that the individuals involved knew nothing of the upgrade.

That’s the official word at the moment, this of course could always change.

The news came quickly after the announcement that Sony Ericsson would no longer support Android updates for the Xperia X10 range, choosing instead to focus on the development of future devices. The company has managed to “unhook” its UI improvements from the Android Gingerbread operating system, allowing engineers to modify and enhance future Android updates in a more timely fashion.

For more information on this handset, have a read of our Xperia Arc hands on.

Microsoft’s Surface 2 commercial is a complete bore, but important

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 12:59 PM PST

TNW Quick Hit

As you no doubt already know, Microsoft’s Surface project has hit the 2.0 mark. Once a pie-in-the-sky research project, Surface is now a sleek and greatly improved product that is sporting a price tag ($7600) low enough to spark real demand.

We scrounged up (found it on YouTube) a very early commercial that demonstrates just what the Surface 2.0 can do. While the actual clip is dull, it is illustrative. For more information be sure to read our previous coverage on Surface 2′s unveiling.

Top Image Credit

10 great Mac App Store downloads to try first

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 12:45 PM PST

Array

So now the Mac App Store has arrived, what apps should you download first? We’ve been scouting around and here’s our pick of ten apps to start with.

We’ve opted for apps that are free or inexpensive. Although there are many significantly more pricey and substantial apps in the store, the ten we’ve listed here are a good place to start with the Mac App Store without shelling out a fortune.

Twitter for Mac – Free

Download link - It’s not for everyone, but if you appreciate a good-looking, lean and lightweight Twitter client, this is it.

The first significant update to Atebits’ classic Tweetie for Mac app since the developer was acquired by Twitter last year, this version adds some neat graphical flourishes and real-time updates courtesy of Twitter’s User Streams API.

You can read our full review of the new app here.

Angry Birds – £2.99

Download link - It’s already conquered the mobile gaming world and this week these agitated avians have  landed on more platforms including Windows and now the Mac.

Just like on every other platform, the game sees you flinging a range of birds with their own special attack skills at evil green pigs across a range of increasingly complex levels. It’s been ported over from iOS nicely and it really doesn’t suffer from the move to mouse or touchpad control from the touchscreens it was originally designed for. It’s just as addictive, too. Okay, maybe you shouldn’t download this one if you value your productivity.

Flight Control HD – £2.99

Download link - Another game that has made the transition from iOS to OSX well is Flight Control. The game sees you guiding planes and helicopters into land by drawing paths for them across the screen, with panic levels rising as the volume of aircraft on screen increases.

The game works better with a mouse than on a Magic Trackpad in this case, with use of the shift key required to set up flightpaths in the latter case. While players who are used to finger-based control may take a few minutes to get used to the game on the desktop, it quickly becomes just as addictive an experience as its mobile sibling.

Tapedeck – £4.99

Download link - Tapedeck isn’t a new app but it’s the perfect example of one that could gain a new life in the Mac App Store as it’s suddenly easily discoverable to an audience that may not have heard of it before.

Essentially an easy audio recorder, Tapedeck works exactly like an old-school portable cassette machine. Click ‘Record’, speak into your Mac’s mic and it can record for as long as you like. Whether it’s for noting down a quick reminder or recording an hour-long seminar, Tapedeck is incredibly to handy to have around. All recordings are stored in a ‘tape drawer’ that’s revealed when you double click the right-hand side of the app. Tapedeck does one thing perfectly and that makes it a perfect “App Store app”. Simple, accessible and to the point.

Courier – £2.99

Download link - This utility makes sending images from your desktop to a range of online services quick and easy. Like Tapedeck, it uses a real-world metaphor – in this case you can upload files to Flickr, Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube, MobileMe and putting them in an envelope, just like sending them by snail mail (but a lot quicker).

Simply drag the ‘stamps’ of the services you want to send the files to onto the envelope and then drag and drop the files you want to send into it. You can edit metadata like titles and tags easily before sending your files away to their destinations. Courier is another perfect fit for the App Store, with a very “Mac-like” look and a streamlined, stylish interface.

Clarity – £3.99

Download link - A little like Twitter for Mac but for Facebook, Clarity is a standalone app that lets you keep on top of your Facebook newsfeed and post status updates and photos. It’s also quick and easy to manage friend lists and sync them back to your Facebook account, so if you use that feature (or have always wanted to try), this is worth a look.

While it’s no substitute for the full Facebook experience, Clarity is a good app for Facebook addicts to keep running in the corner of their screens.

SketchBook Express – Free

Download link - A free taster of the full Autodesk Sketchbook app, this Express version features all the tools you need for creating beautiful drawings, or a beautiful mess if you’re not so talented. The point is, there’s a good chance whatever you draw is going to look good.

Yes, this is no Microsoft Paint – the brushes and tools included are great quality, so whether you want to draw a cartoon character or a scenic landscape, Sketchbook Express is your friend. Although it lacks some of the pro features of Sketchbook, this app is a fun and powerful addition to your Applications folder even in its free form.

Alfred – Free

Download link - Like a turbo-charged version of Apple’s own Spotlight feature, Alfred lets you easily search your computer and the Web, get dictionary definitions, perform calculations and carry out system commands like emptying the trash or logging out of your machine with simple text commands that you can learn in minutes.

While free, the app can be upgraded with a ‘Power Pack’ for £12 that adds greater integration with apps like iTunes and Apple Mail. If you’re happiest using a keyboard over a mouse, or just want to shave a few seconds off your working day, Alfred certainly fits the bill.

Pinball HD – £1.79

Download link - If you want a quick break from your working day, having Pinball HD in your Dock could be just the ticket.

Despite the low price, it’s a fun pinball game with three colourful, good-looking tables to choose from. It won’t grab your attention for hours on end but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. With simple arrow key controls, it’s easy to pick up and play and then safely put down and get back to work once you’ve recharged your batteries.

Mindnode for Mac – Free

Download link - If you want to organise your thoughts, a mindmap is always a good option. Mindnode makes it about as simple as it can be to organise your ideas into ‘trees’. Simply drag a line, write some text and you’re done.

While there are far more powerful alternatives to this out there (including Mindnode Pro, in the App Store for £14.99), as a free utility that’s only a click away, Mindnode is an ideal, lightweight utility that does its job and nothing more, nothing less.

The final details on the first Windows Phone 7 update

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 12:06 PM PST

Microsoft has just let loose some very interesting notes on what appear to be the final features to be included in the upcoming, and much promised, first update for Windows Phone 7.

There are three main elements that are being updated, added, or improved: copy and paste, faster apps and games, and better marketplace search. Each will add to the baseline user experience on the phones, while later updates will increase the mobile line’s total capabilities.

Copy and paste, months late, is coming and the official skinny is that it works as follows:

Using copy and paste is easy and intuitive. In many cases you just tap a word, slide your finger to highlight any additional text, then tap the Copy icon. To insert this text in a message or app, just tap the spot where it should go, then tap the Paste icon.

The promise of more speed for apps and games is because “nobody likes to wait.” Microsoft has “whittled down the time it takes for apps and games to start-up and resume” to address that fact. The lag you were experiencing, which varies by phone model, should be reduced shortly.

Finally, Microsoft is working to improve marketplace search, something that will help both developers and users. Redmond has “streamlined Marketplace search to make it easier to find specific apps, games, or music.”

Sure, it’s a small update, but it should be a useful one that users will notice when it hits.Microsoft, Via WinRumors

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