Google has now added a new feature to its arsenal of services. This time it’s their very own URL shortener, Goo.gl. However, for now, the service is not stand alone and will require you to use Feedburner and Google Toolbar in order to access it.
Google has three main selling points for people wondering why they should switch over to Goo.gl.
Stability: Google’s scalable, multi-datacenter infrastructure provides great uptime and a reliable service to our users. Security: As we do with web search, shortened URLs are automatically checked to detect sites that may be malicious and warn users when the short URL resolves to such sites. Speed: At Google we like fast products and we’ve worked hard to ensure this service is quick. We’ll continue to iterate and improve the speed of Google Url Shortener.
Let us all now watch bit.ly and su.pr cringe at their new competition.
With all of the talk about the Nexus One recently, surely we’re not all tired of cell phones news. Amidst all the flurry of news regarding Google’s probable upcoming smartphone, there is potentially more exciting mobile news. The first LTE network has finally launched!
The only problem with the world’s first LTE network is that it exists only in Stockholm, Sweden and Oslo, Norway. The network comes from TeliaSonera, who now has the title of first LTE network. The title comes largely because Verizon has only been testing its LTE network as of yet, though it plans on launching the service sometime next year in several markets. The network right now is meant mainly for laptops with Samsung modems capable of using the frequency. The network is said to have speeds between 20 MBps and 80 Mbps with the modems.
TeliaSonera’s LTE network, though small, should provide an interesting test of the network that’s available to anyone. Right now it reaches less than half a million people, but Verizon and other providers must be looking at the network to see how well it holds up. Even if the network that US carriers launch gets an average of half the minimum of TeliaSonera’s, that’s still 10 Mbps which is the same or better than what many people have in their home broadband connections. Now all we need is some phones that can use LTE to be released, or even announced. Perhaps we’ll begin to see them at next month’s CES.
Coming as a little bit of good news and frustrating news at the same time. Vodafone UK have announced their plans to carry the Nokia N900. That was the good news, so with that it looks like we now need to move onto the frustrating news—they are planning to offer it “soon.” Unfortunately that was all they mentioned in terms of a release date. But on the positive side, at least those who are Vodafone customers and happen to be waiting for the N900 can sleep a little better tonight knowing they are not waiting for nothing.
NOKIA N900 COMING SOON TO VODAFONE UK
Vodafone has today announced the Nokia N900 is coming soon to its UK customers. The highly-anticipated Smartphone delivers a computer-grade experience in a sleek device, with the embedded Maemo software enabling powerful multi-tasking.
The Nokia N900 enables you to customise your homescreen with four personalisable views for easy access to all your favourites, whether that's email, music, web browsing or your most-used apps. View all this on the impressive 3.5 inch high-resolution touch-screen with 3D accelerated graphics, virtual on-screen keyboard and full side-slide QWERTY keyboard.
The Smartphone boasts a solid 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optic lens. The 32 GB expandable memory allows users to store all their favourite snaps, music and files.
I am a sucker for retro-styled products, and this 50’s looking Philco PC that was designed after the Philco Predicta is no exception. I would say that I am ready to pull out my debit card, but unfortunately the Philco PC is just a concept at the moment. Honestly what more can you really say or do, other than to sit back and marvel at the beauty. Well, that is unless you are not a fan of 50’s looking computers. That said, I am thinking that maybe, just maybe I could run this as a living room or kitchen style PC and use it touchscreen because I am not sure how comfortable it would be to type on that typewriter looking keyboard. Otherwise that sure is sweet looking.
We first saw the 18-button monster of a mouse back in early November, and although it was initially christened the OpenOfficeMouse that name did not last very long. In fact, it was just a few days later that we saw the OpenOfficeMouse was not actually using the name with the proper authorization. Given that, what else to do but try and keep the product and simply change the name.
Then the OpenOfficeMouse became known as the WarMouse and since then has remained absent. That is, until now. It seems the WarMouse is back with a new press release and a new exterior color. And in addition to the new coloring, the WarMouse has also gotten “freakier” with the addition of a “high-res laser.” Yup, the WarMouse now has the original 18 buttons and analog joystick as well as a 5600-cpi laser sense.
But perhaps the best part about the WarMouse was in the press release itself;
“We were frankly shocked by the overwhelming response to our original announcement of the mouse,” said Theodore Beale, Lead Designer at WarMouse. “We sent out three emails and ended up getting three million hits on our website that weekend; no one seemed to believe that an 18-button mouse with a joystick could be anything but a joke. But it’s real, it’s brutal, and it’s going to fundamentally change what people expect of their input devices.”
I cannot say anymore, because “it’s real” and “it’s brutal.” War that is, war is brutal and with my best guess, so would be using an 18-button mouse.
WarMouse Meta: “18-button Freak” Gets Freakier With High-res Laser
Oxford, England, December 15, 2009 – WarMouse today announced that its revolutionary 18-button joystick mouse, rechristened the Meta, will ship with a high-resolution laser sensor instead of an optical sensor. With a patented design featuring 18 buttons, an analog joystick, and a 5600-cpi laser sensor, the Meta provides a radically efficient user interface that has been shown to increase mouse input speeds by an average of 30 percent in comparison with conventional two-button mice utilizing toolbar icons and pull-down menus. Formerly known as the OpenOfficeMouse, the WarMouse Meta will be black with dark gray buttons.
“We were frankly shocked by the overwhelming response to our original announcement of the mouse,” said Theodore Beale, Lead Designer at WarMouse. “We sent out three emails and ended up getting three million hits on our website that weekend; no one seemed to believe that an 18-button mouse with a joystick could be anything but a joke. But it’s real, it’s brutal, and it’s going to fundamentally change what people expect of their input devices. There are some who are of the opinion that the Meta is insane, but we believe there are many gamers and power users who want to be able to do more than stroke their mouse with two fingers.”
The Meta is one of the first computer mice to incorporate an analog joystick and is the first mouse to permit the use of the joystick as a digital keyboard interface. In the three digital joystick modes, the user can assign up to sixteen different keys or macros to the joystick, which provides faster user input regardless of whether the user is flying through the cells of a large spreadsheet in Calc or on the back of an epic flying mount in World of Warcraft. In analog joystick mode, the player can select between having up to seven joystick buttons available or using all 18 buttons as keyboard and mouse commands instead.
The features of the WarMouse Meta include:
* 18 programmable mouse buttons with double-click functionality * High-resolution laser sensor with adjustable resolution from 100 to 5,600 DPI/CPI. * Five assignable button modes: Key, Keypress, Macro, Mouse, and Mouse-Key Combo * Analog Xbox 360-style joystick with five analog and digital modes * Clickable scroll wheel * 512k of flash memory * 63 on-mouse application modes with hardware, software, and autoswitching capability * 1024-character macro support. * Meta Modeware for creating, managing, and customizing game and application modes * Import and export of custom modes in XML format * Taskbar notification of active application mode * Optional audio notification of mode switching with customizable wave files * PDF export of application mode button assignments * Graphical pop-up map of application mode button assignments * 25 default modes for popular games and applications, including Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, OpenOffice.org Writer, Calc, and Impress, 3D Studio Max, Autodesk AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, the Gnu Image Manipulation Program, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.
Chris Park, the lead designer of the popular independent strategy game AI War: Fleet Command, remarked: “I’ve been using a 5-button mouse for many years now, and there was once a time when I thought I’d never need more than two buttons—I shudder at the thought, now. So I’m interested to see how the Meta handles in practice when I actually get my hands on one. The thing that most interests me is the analog stick on the side of it. For AI War, I imagine that this would make panning much simpler, and it could be really handy for panning in other applications, as well. It is a feature that seems to fit tidily on the side of the mouse and which I could see eventually becoming as indispensable as the fourth and fifth buttons on my current mouse.”
The Meta has been alternately described as “the most insane mouse ever”, “a Photoshop gag”, and “too much of a good thing”. For more detailed information about the WarMouse Meta, visit http://www.warmouse.com/about.html. The Meta is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Macintosh operating systems and will retail for $74.99 in the first quarter of 2010.
Contacts: Marc Soskin (UTC -05h00) Media Specialist m-soskin@excite.com +1 (612) 284-7344
Qik is already a recognized name for streaming live video from mobile phones to the web, but Qik is adding to its list of services with Qik-in-Touch, a desktop application that runs through Adobe AIR. With Qik-in-Touch, people can instantly watch live video shared by friends the moment that the stream goes live.
Qik-in-Touch is about sharing video with others, but people can already do that on the Qik.com website. However Qik-in-Touch features notifications for when people you follow start Qikking. When minimized, the program will automatically surface whenever someone you follow begins streaming. Likewise, if you invite friends and family to use Qik, they will be notified when you start broadcasting. In-Touch also includes support for watching video favorites, chatting during live broadcasts, and seeing personally-created Qiks.
Anyone interested in using Qik-in-Touch will have to sign up for the beta program (the application says “Alpha” but the website and confirmation email both say beta). You must have both a Qik.com registered account and Adobe AIR installed on your computer in order to use Qik-in-Touch.
Honestly there is not much on this latest bit to surface in regards to the Nexus One, but Reuters is reporting that the Nexus One will be available for anyone and everyone to purchase “directly though the Google website as early as January 5.” Of course, this is being credited to a “source” with nothing else to really give us a clue as to how reliable that source may or may not be. Anyway, to further add to that it was also noted that the Nexus One will also be sold for a “reduced price” to T-Mobile customers here in the US. That said, neither the regular or reduced price has been hinted at just yet. My guess, would be $199 and $399 for the reduced and regular price respectively. But that is just offering a comparison of the original G1 launch as compared to the developers handset that Google offered to developers. Thankfully January 5 is just a few weeks away.
ViewSonic has just unveiled their first entry into the netbook market with their ViewBook VNB102. Feature wise, the VNB102 will be sporting a 10.1 inch display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and will be running Windows 7 Starter. Additionally the ViewBook will feature Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, a 3-in-1 card reader, VGA out and three USB ports. As far as the battery, that will come in the form of a 6-cell battery that is said to offer “up to 6 hours of computing per charge.” Finally, and perhaps the most important part is the pricing and availability which is $399 and December 18.
By now, I hope you’ve read Gadgetell’s hands-on review of the Palm Pixi. If you’re impressed by the second webOS phone but not so fond of the Sprint Network, you’ll be happy to hear that the Palm Pixi may be heading to Verizon. An FCC filing reveals that a new CDMA/1x EVDO phone that matches Verizon’s frequencies has been approved, meaning we could see the Pixi on Verizon some time next year.
The model number P121EWW differs from the P120EWW Pixi currently offered by Sprint. The model number also closely matches a previously leaked codename associated with Palm and Verizon. This naturally opens up an internal debate for anyone attracted to the Pixi: do I go with Sprint or Verizon? Both companies have a strong network and a couple of questionable fees that have upset customers. The decision will probably come down to who offers the better deal, recommendations from friends, and the fact that the Verizon version features Wi-Fi, something that the Sprint Palm Pixi does not. Looks like the decision has already been made.
Recently, we got the chance to play with the Palm Pixi, Palm’s second webOS smartphone. The phone is currently offered on the Sprint network, though recent FCC filings suggest a Verizon model is also in the works. The phone sells for $99 with a two year contract from Sprint but a quick look on the web shows the phone can be found for $24.99.
Size Matters
Those looking at the Palm Pixi almost certainly are concerned about the phone’s size. The Pixi is slender, fits well in the hand and is light. Sized to be an almost perfect front pocket phone everything about the hardware on this phone is optimized to be small. From the small QWERTY keypad to the screen, everything has been shrunken down to become almost dainty. That is all good news for phone those seeking to avoid carrying around a brick.
Small Screen
The down side is you get to live with smaller things. The smaller screen worked well as I used the Pixi for basic functions. I found during set up, many of the menu choices were hidden below the fold which was odd. It became clear that the set up and things like it, were designed for the longer Palm Pre screen. Again this wasn’t a problem for things like surfing the web or checking email. Though, it did make GPS navigation on the phone almost unusable for me.
Small QWERTY
The keyboard is interesting. The bubble like chiclet keys are tacky and have a very positive click when pressed. I found typing on the Pixi to be much better than the Pre. On the Pre I was always negotiating around the slider lip, but with the Pixi, I was free to roam the keys. I almost enjoyed clicking away, as much as I can on physical buttons anyway. My fingers are the size of hotdogs, but I had no real issues with the small QWERTY keypad.
webOS
While the webOS continues to gain new followers (and the Verizon Pixi will be an important milestone in getting more developers interested in designing for the OS), its applications is notoriously sparse. Many others have belabored this point, so I’ll not. What I did find in the App Catalog was pleasant and worked well.
I am a big fan of the webOS. It’s use of notification is second to none in my book. Simple, unobtrusive makes the iPhone notification system look downright childish. Notifications on the Pixi simpling alert you at the bottom of the screen allowing you to ignore, touch for a little bit more information or switch to that notification. And thanks to webOS multi-tasking, your original program will sit by patiently waiting until you are ready.
Like the Palm Pre, the Pixi makes use of gestures. I find this to be another breakthrough aspect of the devices running webOS. Swiping in the gesture area and pulling up will bring up the quick launch menu in a fun ribbon. A long swipe through the gesture area switches open applications. It is extremely elegant and brings a lot of fun to the device.
Touchstone
Another perk to the Pixi is the Touchstone, a charging accessory. By changing the back plastic case, the Touchstone allows the unit to be magnetically held on the little toadstool for inductive charging. All wireless and all effortless for users, the Touchstone will have you saying, “all phones should be this easy.”
Overall Overall, this is a great device. Miles ahead of the old Palm Centro, the Pixi shines in it’s small size but big performance. Those looking for a small sized phone will find the Pixi near perfect. It handles web, email, and loads of other tasks with ease and seldom makes you feel like you are on a much smaller screen.
Those used to larger screens will have to spend some time looking at the screen to see if the downsize will work for them. Overall, the Pixi is a great offering from Sprint.
The online world can be a good thing and a bad thing, but its clear that being able to upload images and have them stay hidden is pretty difficult. Of course, that being good or bad likely depends on who you ask. In this case, if you ask me its a good thing.
Anyway, thanks to Picasa and the EXIF data that is sent from phones/cameras we now have a good idea as to what to expect from the camera on the Google Nexus One phone.
The images have been taken with a 5-megapixel camera and are at a max resolution of 2592 x 1944. The data also shows the Nexus One name and that the phone, or more likely Android 2.1 has support for GPS geotagging.
So without further adeiu, here are some of those images, which have come courtesy of Picasa.
Some new images have now been posted online, and they are giving us the best look to date on the still mysterious Nexus One. Of course, these images, while clearing up some mysterious also leave us just wanting to learn more.
Some of the new details that were revealed include a new grid icon that when pressed offers a webOS like interface. The images also show off the phone running on Wi-Fi, that is has Google Navigation, Google Goggles and is running on the T-Mobile network with Android OS 2.1. Additionally, there are four touch sensitive buttons along the bottom, a trackball and a volume up/down rocker on the side.
A few other tidbits include the lack of HTC branding, an Android on the back (that is shown with a covered up QR Code) and a user guide the points to a yet unused support page at google.com/phone/support.
In the meantime, check out some of the new images.
FROM APPLETELL - The Pioneer VSX-819H is a somewhat minimal A/V receiver with handy iPhone/iPod support. You’ll get limited functionality but with excellent quality at a reasonable price. MORE »
With all of the talk about the Nexus One recently, surely we’re not all tired of cell phones news. Amidst all the flurry of news regarding Google’s probable upcoming smartphone, there is potentially more exciting mobile news. The first LTE network has finally launched!
Coming as a little bit of good news and frustrating news at the same time. Vodafone UK have announced their plans to carry the Nokia N900. That was the good news, so with that it looks like we now need to move onto the frustrating news—they are planning to offer it “soon.” Unfortunately that was all they mentioned in terms of a release date. But on the positive side, at least those who are Vodafone customers and happen to be waiting for the N900 can sleep a little better tonight knowing they are not waiting for nothing.
Qik is already a recognized name for streaming live video from mobile phones to the web, but Qik is adding to its list of services with Qik-in-Touch, a desktop application that runs through Adobe AIR. With Qik-in-Touch, people can instantly watch live video shared by friends the moment that the stream goes live. 
Recently, we got the chance to play with the Palm Pixi, Palm’s second webOS smartphone. The phone is currently offered on the Sprint network, though recent FCC filings suggest a Verizon model is also in the works. The phone sells for $99 with a two year contract from Sprint but a quick look on the web shows the phone can be found for $24.99.
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