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Limited-Run Solar OLED Lamp From Toshiba Distributed In Japan’s Quake Zone

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:03 PM PDT


Toshiba is distributing a little OLED lamp they designed to quake-stricken areas of Japan. The device is powered by either four AAA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack that can be powered up with solar or USB power. It produces 53 lumens of light at 100% and will last two hours on AAA batteries, twenty if you take the brightness down, and several times that if you use the battery pack. A perfect disaster light, right?

Unfortunately, Toshiba is only making 100 of them, and they’re already reserved for disaster victims. They don’t expect to sell them to consumers, I’m guessing because they’d actually be quite expensive. Bright OLED panel, high-capacity battery pack, solar charging? This ain’t your daddy’s desk lamp.

Too bad, but good for Toshiba. By the way, if you want to donate, you still can.

[via CNET]

Apple Attempting To Patent IR Receiver For Device That Could Enable (Or Disable) Features

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 05:05 PM PDT


Given that many of the patents filed by Apple never end up in products and are merely exploratory or the result of internal research, I won’t dwell too long on this one. But it is a bit freaky to think that your phone could see something in the background and go “Whoops, better turn off. I’m not allowed here!”

More info at Patently Apple.

Microsoft’s Wireless Desktop 2000 Encrypts Your Keystrokes

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 04:00 PM PDT


If you’re concerned about keyjacking attacks, in which a wireless keyboard’s signal is intercepted and information extracted from the stream, this might be of interest to you. Microsoft’s new Wireless Desktop 2000 has 128-bit AES encryption built right in. Not much help if someone’s looking over your shoulder, but at least they can’t snatch your credentials right out of the air.

The keyboard has lots of media and shortcut keys, those irritating non-separated F keys, and a “pillow texture” palm rest. The mouse doesn’t look very interesting, unfortunately, but at $40 for the set, there’s not much to complain about. A good option for the security-conscious business.

This Time It’s Sony Pictures Being Hacked: Another Huge Data Breach

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 03:05 PM PDT

I guess once it became clear that Sony’s web infrastructure is something less than secure, every hacker and scripter out there is looking to get a piece of the glory. The latest to fall to the black hats is Sony Pictures, which was breached by a simple SQL injection.

The group responsible for the attack, Lulz Security, summarizes the hack:

We recently broke into SonyPictures.com and compromised over 1,000,000 users’ personal information, including passwords, email addresses, home addresses, dates of birth, and all Sony opt-in data associated with their accounts. Among other things, we also compromised all admin details of Sony Pictures (including passwords) along with 75,000 “music codes” and 3.5 million “music coupons”.

If you’re a member of the Sony Pictures website, be aware that your password, address, and any other data you’ve given over is now in the hands of anyone who wants it. More info as it develops.

As before, this post doesn’t mean we support Lulz Security’s actions; responsible hackers break security all the time and donate or sell the vulnerabilities to the affected companies, but this is just an act of data theft. That said, that so much information was being kept in such an insecure fashion is, as before, worrying.

Review: Psyko Carbon Surround-Sound Headset

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 01:10 PM PDT


Short version: While the technology is interesting and unorthodox, the Carbon seems to miss out on the most important role of a headset: sounding good.

Features:

  • Five-speaker headphones with acoustic waveguides for surround sound
  • Analog connectivity to most PC surround sound systems
  • Removable microphone
  • Amp with adjustable bass and LED direction indicators
  • MSRP: $199.99

Pros:

  • Directionality definitely improved
  • Fairly comfortable
  • Setup is straightforward (but could be more convenient)

Cons:

  • Sound has strange distant quality
  • Bulky and creaky construction
  • No good for music/non-game use

Full Review

As you might have read over the last couple years (Psyko’s first headset debuted way back in 2009), Psyko set out to revolutionize gaming audio by turning the headset paradigm on its head. Instead of a pair of speakers next to your head simulating surround sound, they’d put the speakers on top and pipe the sound down to your ears in discrete channels, letting it come out where it should: behind, in front of, or beside your ears.

Their newest design adds look and feel updates, but the technology is much the same, and no other companies offer anything like it. The Carbon is their high-end version, with better cords, connectors, and construction.

So do they work? Based on hours of play with these and other headsets (surround-sound and normal), I’d have to say not enough. They set out to make the best gaming headset out there, and while the Carbon excels in some ways, it simply fails in too many ways for me to recommend them to anyone but novelty seekers.

True to Psyko’s promises, the directionality is very good. Once you get your settings right, and assuming your game supports them (not all do; Valve’s games do, Bad Company 2 for instance doesn’t), you do have an increased sense of where things are coming from. The benefit is, in my opinion, marginal, as stereo placement in good normal headphones covers a large swath of audio territory, and it’s only towards the rear that you have any real failure to communicate direction. The Carbon remedies that (as did its predecessor), and my teammates footsteps in Left 4 Dead 2 did sound very much like they were actually behind me.

The primary problem is the sound of the sound. Maybe it’s just the presence of the long “waveguides” that inspire this comparison, but it sounds like you’re hearing things through a long tube. I tried it on two different sound systems, with various configurations in Windows and in games, and got the same result. It was worse when games didn’t support a stated 5.1/7.1 option, naturally.

Different headsets sound differently, obviously, and one may emphasize the high end or low end more, or provide better definition but worse range. The Carbons fell outside of my “reasonable allowance for headset differences” range; as soon as I put on another headset to compare, I found myself thinking “oh yeah, that’s how that gun is supposed to sound.” The amp has a dial that allows you to choose between more bass and better sound placement. It seems odd that I should have to choose between these two important things, but nevertheless I did find a happy medium.

Could you get used to it? Maybe. But you’d have to live in these headphones, and that’s not an option for a couple reasons.

Music is no good in them, being subject to the same effect. Movies were a mixed bag and I don’t trust the ones I watched or my media player (newly configured) to get it right. But you wouldn’t want to do anything but game in these.

Comfort isn’t really an issue; though the headset is extremely bulky, it’s not particularly heavy, being on par with the Logitech and Razer headsets I have here. I wouldn’t call them truly comfortable (at least, not like lightweight pairs like the Klipsch One and Nox Specialist), but they’re definitely wearable for an hour or two. There are two kinds of earcups: fleece and leather. Both feel fine and are quite large enough for the biggest ears. I had to extend the earpieces down to their maximum height to fit, though, and I’d like to think I have a reasonably sized head. If you don’t, you might have a problem.

Setup is straightforward, though the amp requires power and you may find yourself behind your PC a lot, unplugging these when you want to listen to music and plugging them back in for gaming. Some sort of passthrough option would have been appreciated. Why the power and audio aren’t both sent over USB is beyond me.

Despite the ostensibly improved construction on the Carbon, I found that the multiplicity of interlocking pieces that make these up makes for an unacceptable amount of very audible creak and groan when wearing these.

The removable microphone seemed to work just fine, though being removable, I assume it will eventually be lost.

Conclusion

While I applaud the unique approach to sound offered by Psyko with this headset, the fact is that it just doesn’t sound as good as others on the market. The directionality is improved, but at great cost — plus, these headphones are limited to use as surround gaming headphones, whereas virtual surround headphones like the G35 are multi-purpose and in my opinion provide an adequate illusion of surround. If Psyko can improve the sound (and simplify the build and setup) they may have something, but until then there are dozens of better choices for the discerning gamer.

Product page: Psyko Carbon surround-sound headset

IMG_1635 IMG_1638 howitworksblack


Apple iCloud’s Icon Is A…. Cloud!

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 12:41 PM PDT


Apple is launching iCloud next week. That’s a fact. AppleInsider managed to resolve one of the last questions about the service — besides what the hell it actually is. The icon! Somehow they snapped a rather clear image showing what are already confirmed as the three big announcements next week: OS X Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud. And the icon is a cloud! How fun. Alright, that’s it. Move along.

All’s Well That Ends Well: Kid Whose Code Was Stolen By Ad Firm Releases iPhone App

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 11:45 AM PDT

Remember the kid who wrote a little asteroids game that lets you blow up things in your browser? And then remember how BBDO in Denmark stole the code and made an M&Ms game? Well, it looks like open source is alive and well because Erick, the creator, is selling his cute little game for 99 cents (it basically lets you blow up web pages on the iPhone).

Best of all, BBDO, the advertising agency, flew him out to Denmark to meet the team and some of the programmers and learn how the sausage is made. Good for him and them.

While I’m all for open sourcing software, a company like BBDO repurposing a cool app to sell M&Ms goes a little above and beyond “free as in freedom.” I’m glad they made this right.

Sony Announces NGP/Vita Will Be Back-Compatible With All PSP Games

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 11:37 AM PDT


Sony’s NGP, or “Vita” if the leaks are accurate, just went up a notch in my opinion. Although I still feel that it’s never going to make the splash that “lighter” game systems will make (an issue the 3DS shares to some extent), they seem to be doing this one right at least. They’ve just announced that the NGP will be backwards-compatible with all PSP games. That’s a major value bump.

The kicker? It’s all running in software emulation. That confirms further what we already knew, that the NGP is a monster under the hood. There may be some hiccups along the way, as some games will likely have glitches and what not, the usual result of a universal software emulator, but it’ll be easy enough for Sony to roll out patches.

Games will be (optionally) upscaled and smoothed, and the dual analog sticks will be implemented, though how they’ll be stored and things like multiplayer will work wasn’t made clear. I have to hand it to Sony, they’re making even a skeptic excited about their new system.

Update: I should have been more clear, all downloadable PSP games are compatible. Obviously the NGP/Vita doesn’t have a UMD slot.

MeeGo Hacked Onto The Nook Color

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 11:09 AM PDT


Getting Android on a Nook Color isn’t so much hacking anymore. It’s pretty damn easy at this point. But MeeGo, well, MeeGo is a different story. It apparently took one week of work to get the mobile OS onto the Nook Color, but the results are pretty impressive. It looks stable, quick and mighty sexy. Video after the jump.

[MeegoExperts via Ubergizmo]

Idea Flight Turns iPads Into Presentation Platform

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT


Condé Nast has unveiled a new iPad app called Idea Flight that they claim “is a new tool designed to share ideas, presentations, documents and designs easily and effectively.” One iPad user is a the “pilot” for a presentation and up to 15 “passenger” iPads can follow along via WiFi or Bluetooth. Idea Flight isn’t a general purpose presentation app, but it does look to make the iPad a more useful business device. Here’s the marketing video.


Idea Flight from Idea Flight on Vimeo.

Idea Flight looks to do a couple things right, right out of the box. A “passenger list” allows anyone following the presentation to see the names, photos and titles of all other attendees. Attendees can send an invitation to connect for follow-up, and rather than try to create a new professional network experience, Idea Flight used LinkedIn to connect people. Content for presentations can be accessed through Dropbox, iTunes file sharing, or even email.

Business presentations are an obvious use case for Idea Flight, but in our post-PC world there may be more interesting uses for this kind of app. Schools using iPads in the classroom, for example.

The app is free, and allows your iPad to be a passenger. If you want to be a pilot, you need to make an in-app purchase of $7.99.

The iMac Slipper Is A Leather Slipper For Your iMac

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 10:02 AM PDT

Sometimes my iMac gets a little chilly and I like to cover its toes with a blanket. But, thankfully, there is now something called an iMac slipper that allows you to protect your iMac’s feet with a little leather bootie. It costs $35 and most of your dignity, but by all means, pick it up for yourself.

Why would someone do this? I don’t know, but the makers explain:

OK, maybe you don't really need one but isn't it a really cool and unique way to customize your iMac or Cinema Display and show that you really care about the details?

Seriously. Fair enough. If you’re into a little bootie for your computer, do it up. It takes different strokes to move the world.

Product Page


Toshiba Thrive: Android 3.1, Tegra 2, Quick Charging Battery All For $429

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:55 AM PDT


Toshiba’s finally getting into the Honeycomb tab game after numerous public delays. The Android 3.1 Thrive is set to drop next month with an aggressive $429 price for the 8GB model. $479 will net buyers the 16GB model while the 32GB costs $579. Not bad, right?

Under the 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 screen is a Tegra 2 chipset, WiFi, Bluetooth and a battery that can be charged to 90% within an hour and a half. A full size USB host, HDMI, and a full size SD card slot round out the connectivity options while a 2MP camera is embedded on the front side with a 5MP one is around back. Overall it seems like just another WiFi-only Android slate with the notable exception of coming in a variety of colors including blue, black, purple, green, pink and silver. Every likes colored tabs.

Facebook Video Scam Infects Mac And Windows

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:36 AM PDT

In the tech world, the phrase "gets better with time" is rarely, if ever, used. Hackers may be the only exception to that rule, and they seem to be on a faster learning curve than Facebook.

A video scam has been circulating on Facebook since Tuesday, tricking users into downloading and installing software by offering up a video of Dominique Strauss-Kahn. On Wednesday, hackers switched the bait to what was supposed to be a saucy video of Hayden Panettiere and Rhianna. Both video links actually lead to a website that attempts to install fake security software.

On a PC, victims are told that they should install the newest version of Adobe Flash Player to watch the video, but instead end up with the fake antivirus program installed on their computer. Mac users, on the other hand, see a pop-up window asking if they'd like to fix or ignore some security issues. Once the user clicks "fix," the fake software is installed.

From there, things get pretty heinous. The software sends pop-up messages with scary warning messages and then takes the victim to a porn site every five minutes. The only way to stop the boob bombardment is to pay a $60-$80 fee, which apparently puts the software to sleep for good, according to Sophos researcher Chet Wisniewski. Antivirus vendor Sophos was the first company to discover the scam on Tuesday.

If you don't cough up the cash, porn sites will continue to appear on your computer every five minutes, and links to the original malicious videos will be posted to your Facebook wall. It's unclear why Facebook hasn't been able to stop the spread of this malware, but it's possible that hackers are using new tricks to get past Facebook's scam filtering systems. A Facebook spokesperson on Wednesday had no answer as to why the scam was so difficult to stop, but did say that the social network was "in the process of investigating, blocking the links, and remediating any affected users."

[via MacWorld]

The PSN Network Is Back

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:58 AM PDT

Sony just announced that the Playstation Network is back up for almost everyone. People in Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea are, sadly, still SOL.

If you’re having trouble logging in, its because everyone is trying it at once. Slow down, hand a sandwich, and maybe try later. Or maybe go outside? For a walk? And not play PS3 so much?

Ehh, who am I kidding.

Why Windows, Trapped In The 20th Century, Needs A Real Windows Phone Makeover

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:34 AM PDT

I’ll admit that I was pleasantly surprised by videos and shots of Windows 8 running what is, in essence, Windows Phone 7 on a big screen. The interface is smooth, sexy, and tile-centric, thereby breaking the 1950s desktop paradigm and bringing us into an era of flat apps designed to do one or two things very well. It was what Dashboard for OS X was supposed to be if anyone ever used it.

But, a few minutes into the above video, we see Windows 8 Achilles’ heel: Windows itself. Everything is running smoothly, the touch interface seem seamless and then, like a fart in a quiet room, things change. There’s the file system. There’s Excel looking for all the world like an conservative accountant at a pick-up artists’ convention.

When you start out, you get this:

Then, when you want to get anything done, you get this:

Why upgrade then? Why not just sit on a copy of XP, as many IT departments probably still are?

While you can argue that they still have two years to make this version of Windows shine, two years is an instant at a company as big as Microsoft. It would take two years of meetings just to discuss better touch interaction with Microsoft Excel’s SUM() function let alone rebuild the entire Office suite from the ground up. Microsoft is stuck.

The same thing happened with Windows Mobile. When it arrived on the scene it was arguably the best smartphone OS out there. Then Linux hackers discovered that they could run lots of cool things on their iPaqs, Nokia went Symbian, and Palm pounded out a few versions before going belly-up. In short, people had alternatives to Windows.

But Microsoft never saw the alternatives. They were invisible. WinMo kept accreting shells and new UIs and slight improvements and, in the end, it looked like that selfsame fart in a quiet room: you’re tooling along, using “new” apps, and suddenly you dump into an interface that looks like a WAP web page.

There were alternatives to this, but Microsoft didn’t see them.

I don’t think Microsoft engineers think in those terms. When you’re building a huge, popular product, the rest of the industry are mere flies on your backside. But once the Mobile team realized that iOS was eating their lunch, Windows Phone 7 started to become a reality. I personally love Windows Phone 7. It is rebuilt with the 21st century in mind and, although it is still in its infancy, it will be a powerhouse in the mobile market sooner than later. Windows needs the same attention paid to it.

As DaringGruber writes:

But I think it's a fundamentally flawed idea for Microsoft to build their next-generation OS and interface on top of the existing Windows. The idea is that you get the new stuff right alongside Windows as we know it. Microsoft is obviously trying to learn from Apple, but they clearly don't understand why the iPad runs iOS, and not Mac OS X.

…

The ability to run Mac OS X apps on the iPad, with full access to the file system, peripherals, etc., would make the iPad worse, not better. The iPad succeeds because it has eliminated complexity, not because it has covered up the complexity of the Mac with a touch-based "shell". iOS's lack of backward compatibility with any existing software means that all apps for iOS are written specifically for iOS.

I think the key word there is “shell.” I’ve seen plenty if ill-fated touchscreen interfaces from HP, Dell, and the like and thus far none of them have gained any traction. If Microsoft was serious about replacing icons with tiles, they’d have done it. If they were thinking seriously about a tablet version, they’d smarten up Windows Phone 7 rather than dumbing down Windows Vista. We have a proven method for success. They just won’t apply it.

We can armchair quarterback this all we want, arguing on both sides of the spectrum (“Apple Did It Great!” vs. “John Biggs Is a Douche!”) but I’m not asking Microsoft to become Apple. I’m asking them to look at a successful platform and emulate it. We have enough engineering prowess at most of these companies to enter a new era of PC interaction. We don’t need a simulacrum of the new era bolted on top of code that should have been retired years ago.


Windows 8 Is Gorgeous, But Is It More Than Just A Shell? (Video)

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:27 AM PDT

Yesterday, Microsoft showed off Windows 8 for the first time, and it’s gorgeous (check it out in the video above). It’s also the biggest change to the look and feel of Windows since Windows 95.

Windows 8 is all designed around a touch interface, with tiles replacing icons and swiping replacing drag-’n-drop. Instead of a Start button that pops up at the lower lefthand corner of your screen, you are greeted with a grid of tiles as the new Start screen. With this new touch user interface, Microsoft is hiding the complexity of Windows, but that complexity still exists underneath. Whether or not this is a flaw or a feature will be debated.

Read More

The NSFW Duke Nukem Forever Launch Trailer

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT

I ain’t afraid of no quake! (or Modern Warfare)

Why Not Print Your Own Keys?

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:41 AM PDT


3D printers can make pretty much anything but they seem to be tasked with making just novelty items. That’s what the creator of this project thought as well and so set out to replicate keys using his RepRap 3D printer. Spoiler: He did it.

The story goes that he ordered a few used lock sets from ebay and then manually measured the keys using a ruler and caliper. From there he he created an OpenSCAD model that allows for the printing by imputing the code for Kwikset KW1 and Schlage SC1 keys. Other keys can be made by manually entering in the schematics. The printed keys are even reportedly strong enough for most locks, too, although they should probably be used more as an emergency key. But let’s not take away from the fact that 3D printers are finally useful! Huzzah! [eclecti.cc via hack.a.day via technabob]

CrunchDeals: $500 32GB Moto Xoom

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:11 AM PDT


Here’s your chance, bargain hunters. MacMall via Ebay Daily Deal is hawking the 32GB Motorola Xoom for only $500. You have until 11am EDT today to snag the deal so you best be quick if you must own the solid Xoom — or you could just jump over to Newegg and order the arguably better equipped Transformer at its MSRP of $500.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Hits NYC June 8, Everywhere Else June 17

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:10 AM PDT

Even though we have to deal with 100-degree summers and 15-degree winters, hobos on the subway, and slow-walking tourists, sometimes it really pays off to be a New Yorker. Samsung's highly anticipated Galaxy Tab 10.1 won't hit stores nationally until June 17, but a few lucky New Yorkers, and possibly some smart-shopping tourists, will be able to pick up a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 as early as June 8.

The 10.1-inch Samsung slate will only be available at New York's Union Square Best Buy location, and according to Samsung, there will only be a limited quantity of the WiFi edition Galaxy Tab. Online and in-store pre-orders for the New York inventory will begin on June 8, as well. Unfortunately for the rest of the country, a plane ticket to the Big Apple will be your best bet to snag the early release Galaxy Tab 10.1.

The good news, however, is that the new Samsung tablet will come with Android 3.1 Honeycomb. Plus, Samsung promises future software updates to bring TouchWiz into the mix, among other things.

In terms of pricing, the 32GB WiFi model of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will cost $599 from Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, Amazon.com, Micro Center, Tiger Direct, and Newegg. The 16GB version runs for $100 less, at $499. And for the patient, Samsung also mentioned that Sprint would be picking up the device in mid-summer 2011.

June 02, 2011 08:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, World's Thinnest Mobile Tablet, Makes Official Landing in U.S.

Premium Android Honeycomb Tablet with Ultra-slim, Lightweight Design and Brilliant 10-inch Touchscreen Available Exclusively at Best Buy Union Square Store in New York City Starting June 8; Available Nationwide Starting June 17

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, and Samsung Electronics America, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the upcoming retail availability of the Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, starting June 8. The WiFi-enabled tablet measures at just 8.6 millimeters slim, making it the thinnest mobile tablet currently available in the world. The 32GB version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available for $599, while the 16GB version of the device will be available for $499.

"Ensuring that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 launched with Android 3.1 Honeycomb was part of our constant commitment to meeting the needs of our customers"

A limited quantity of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available for purchase exclusively at the Best Buy Union Square store in New York City on June 8. Best Buy customers may also pre-order the Galaxy Tab 10.1 online or in-store beginning that day.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by Android™ 3.1 Honeycomb, offering faster and smoother transitions between different applications, more intuitive navigation to and from home screens and broader support of USB accessories, external keyboards, joysticks and gamepads.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the thinnest mobile tablet currently available in the world, measuring in at an ultra-slim 8.6 millimeters. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also boasts an incredibly light weight of just 1.25 pounds (565 grams) for outstanding mobility and comfort in the user's hands.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is designed with a brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution delivering vibrant colors and crisp clarity. This expansive screen is centered inside a narrow bezel to enhance the wide viewing angle.

"Ensuring that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 launched with Android 3.1 Honeycomb was part of our constant commitment to meeting the needs of our customers," said Dale Sohn, President and CEO of Samsung Mobile. "The Galaxy Tab 10.1's ultra-thin design and 10-inch touchscreen are impressive differentiators in the tablet market place. We're going to make the Galaxy Tab 10.1 even more powerful, entertaining and secure through a series of upgrades coming to this device."

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will receive these new upgrades through a software update that customers can access over the air in the near future. Those upgrades are currently scheduled to include:

FEATURES/SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH FUTURE SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX"

Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu for customizing the home screen of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds.

In addition, the TouchWiz UX includes a "Mini Apps" tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are already in use.

Samsung Media Hub

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 software upgrade will introduce the evolution of Samsung's popular movie and TV content service, known as Media Hub. Media Hub has been redesigned with a new user interface for even easier downloads of rented or purchased content. The new version of Media Hub also includes an HD Extender which allows the user to playback Media Hub content on TV through an HDMI cable from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 dock or adaptor.

Readers Hub & Social Hub

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also gain access to Samsung's Readers Hub service, which is a robust library filled with more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspapers and 2,300 magazines. Also, the software upgrade will install Samsung's Social Hub service, which aggregates email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface.

Optimal Enterprise Solutions

In addition, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 integrates several enterprise solutions to provide support for exchange device management policies, improve the security of data and services maintained on the tablet and meet IT guidelines for remote device access. The enterprise solutions include:

On-device encryption of user data
Enhanced Exchange ActiveSync Support
Cisco AnyConnect SSL VPN
F5 SSL VPN

Versatile Content Sharing

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also receive Samsung's Allshare service, for seamless content transfer between the tablet and other DLNA-enabled devices such as HDTV's, monitors and digital cameras. The software upgrade will also transform the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 into a device capable of accepting streaming content from a TV to the tablet itself.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES AVAILABLE AT PRODUCT LAUNCH

Impressive Speed, Power & Battery Life

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also includes a Nvidia Tegra 1GHz dual core application processor for powerful gaming and multimedia performance. The Tab's ultra-thin design does not sacrifice battery life, thanks to a 7000 mAh battery providing up to 9 hours of continuous use on a single charge2.

Full Adobe Flash Player Compatibility

The device offers extensive Web browsing access through Adobe® Flash® Player compatibility. Flash Player delivers beautiful HD video, faster graphics rendering, and high performance on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and is designed to take advantage of native device capabilities – enabling richer, more immersive user experiences.

Quality Cameras and Sound

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 features a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera providing smooth video chat capabilities and seamless 1080p HD video playback3. High quality speakers are positioned on the right and left sides of the device for a rich, deep audio experience.

Google™ Mobile Services

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is preloaded with the full suite of Google Mobile Services including access to more than 60,000 Android Market™ applications for Galaxy Tab 10.14, Gmail™, Google Search™, Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps, and Google Talk™ with video and voice chat.

Availability & Pricing

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available exclusively starting June 8 at the Best Buy Union Square location in New York City. Starting June 17, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available at Best Buy online and in-store along with Fry's Electronics, Amazon.com, Micro Center, Tiger Direct and Newegg. These retail outlets will have the 32GB version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition available for $599, and the 16GB version of the device will be available for $499. In addition, the WiFi version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available through Sprint starting mid-summer 2011. Visit www.samsung.com for additional details.
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