New 802.11r Wi-Fi standard allows quick roaming

The IEEE standards group has approved 802.11r, a new variant on Wi-Fi designed to support roaming between access points. Also called Fast Basic Service Set Transition, the technology is designed to keep a secure Wi-Fi connection active by anticipating the needed security settings at the next access point. The format can determine the security settings and quality of service info for the next access point before actually hopping to the next point and thus reduces the delay in switching networks to where time-sensitive apps will remain active.

Samsung vows "lighter than air" notebook

Samsung used IFA to claim the limelight with its X360 notebook. The system is consciously pitted against the MacBook Air and is described as "lighter than air," carrying the same 13.3-inch screen as its Apple counterpart but weighing a slightly lighter 2.8 pounds. Samsung reaches the goal by using a slower, ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processor which sacrifices performance in return for smaller, cooler components and battery life between six to 10 hours.

Dell's profit plunges 17%, stock price drops

Dell on Thursday posted a disappointing drop in quarterly earnings, citing slow IT spending in Asia and Western Europe, and increased spending to drive growth. The company's surprising 17 percent decline in quarterly profit sent the world's second largest PC maker's shares down more than 10 percent. Dell reported fiscal second quarter revenue of $16.4 billion, up 11 percent year-over-year and driven by a 19 percent increase in worldwide product shipments, but its $0.33 EPS, before one-time costs, was short of investors' expectations of $0.36 per share. After its one-time costs and amortization, Dell's profit fell to $616 million in the second quarter (ended August 1) or 31 cents per diluted share, from the restated year-ago net income of $746 million, or 33 cents per diluted share.

Harman Kardon intros pair of speaker systems at IFA

Harman Kardon revealed a pair of new products on Friday, at the opening day of the IFA show in Berlin. Predominantly meant for Mac and iPod users, the GLA-55 speaker system does include a 3.5mm audio jack. It is powered by a 100 watt digital amplifier and sports a DSP equalizer. The audio set-up's name undoubtedly comes from its original plastic casing, which shows off the speakers' magnets and wiring quite elegantly.

T-Mobile to sell 500K+ Android phones in 2008?

T-Mobile hopes to sell over half a million G1 Android phones before the end of the year, according to estimates reportedly supplied to AndroidGuys. The figures would have T-Mobile preparing to add about 200,000 new customers through selling the G1 as well as 40,000 incremental additions. As many as 278,000 of the buyers would be owners renewing their contracts to upgrade to the device, bringing the total to about 518,000 of the HTC-made devices.

Ultrasone unveils PRO 900 headphones with S-Logic

German headphone company Ultrasone has released its latest set, the PRO 900. This closed-back headphone features 40mm Titanium-plated drivers that incorporate magnetic shielding and "S-Logic Plus" technology claimed to enhance the listening experience. Two sets of velvet covered earpads are included, and a choice of spiral or straight cables. Regarding performance specs, the frequency range is 6Hz-42kHz, with 40 Ohm impedance, and sound pressure levels of 96 dB.

BlackBerry Bold on AT&T pushed to October?

AT&T's long-delayed BlackBerry Bold launch may not take place until October, according to a tip allegedly given to BGR by higher-placed sources at AT&T. RIM's first GSM-based smartphone with 3G is now said not to be due for the carrier's retail locations until October 2nd, or almost five months after the device was first promised as the American carrier's exclusive in May.

LG intros 10-inch X110 netbook with 3G access

LG made everyone wait until Thursday to release its rumored X110 10-inch notebook that would compete with the likes of the ASUS EeePC and the MSI Wind at the IFA 2008 consumer electronics expo. The portable computer uses HSPA 3G for mobile access to data, in addition to a 802.11b/g wireless LAN connection and dedicated Ethernet port. The processor will be an unspecified one from Intel’s Atom line-up, working with 1GB of RAM.

iPhone antennas work properly, Bold sees 3G issues

Thorough testing of the iPhone 3G's various antennas have revealed that they are not the cause of users' 3G woes, after three of the devices were run through trials in a $100,000 test chamber similar to ones used by Motorola. When placed in the chamber, the iPhone demonstrated no irregularities when sending or receiving 3G data, showing only a 2 dB variance from a Sony Ericsson P1 and Nokia N73. Göteborgs-Posten reveals [1|2] that a 4 to 6 dB variance would be cause for alarm.

Amazon dismisses Kindle update rumors

Amazon has no plans to revamp the Kindle e-book reader before the end of the year, the online retailer's key spokesman Craig Berman told the New York Times on Thursday. The official doesn't deny the potential for a refresh but can say "for sure" that there will be no new versions of the device before the end of the year. He also declines to say when an update is likely but alludes to an update launching sometime during 2009 "at the earliest," pointing to a sequel still in mid-development.

ExpressAdapt introduces PC to ExpressCard adapter

Synchrotech has introduced the ExpressAdapt, a new CardBus-to-ExpressCard adapter. The device is only compatible with USB-mode ExpressCards instead of PCIe-based ones, but no drivers are needed for either Windows or Mac OS X. Power regulation circuitry supports the lower voltages required of many ExpressCard devices, including 1000mAh at 3.3V and 650mAh at 1.5V, which can be supplied on both rails if needed. The adapter is compatible with any 32-bit PC CardBus Type II slot. The ExpressAdapt is available from Synchrotech for $45.

New Kindle an iPod mini-level design leap?

The second generation of Amazon's Kindle is not only near but will represent a major overhaul of the kind Apple has previously given to its iPods, says a source purportedly aware of the revisions and speaking to BusinessWeek. The direct replacement for the existing six-inch Kindle is described as thinner, more attractive and having a better screen than even the nearly year-old e-book reader and is likened to what would have happened if Apple had skipped from its first-run iPod to the iPod mini in a single update.

Quanta agrees to pay royalties to LG

The long-standing legal disagreement between LG Electronics and Quanta Computer Inc. has been settled, with Quanta agreeing to pay LG royalties for use of its patented computer technology, LG announced on Tuesday. The two companies entered into a settlement and license agreement, putting an end to two pending lawsuits over Taiwan-based Quanta using four of LG’s US patents without permission pertaining to DVD readers in notebook computers.

Nokia unveils N79, N85 smartphones [U]

(Update: official release due tomorrow) Nokia today fulfilled a promise from earlier this month with two new Nseries devices both aimed at driving down the cost of getting into full smartphones. The N85 as flagship appears set to replace the N81 and upgrades the camera from two to five megapixels, also adding GPS both for mapping and for geotagging shots. It also switches to a 2.6-inch AMOLED screen that should supply richer color and as much as 28 hours of music playback on a single charge.

T-Mobile to get BlackBerry Kickstart as exclusive

The upcoming BlackBerry Kickstart, believed to be named the Pearl 8220 when it does arrive, will be sold exclusively by cellphone provide T-Mobile for three months, today's report suggests. T-Mobile will spend tens of millions in TV, radio and Internet advertising campaigns that kick off in mid September to make the public aware of this fact.

Lexar pumps secure JumpDrive to 16GB

Lexar today gave a shot of additional storage to the JumpDrive Secure II Plus with a new 16GB version. The flash drive holds twice as much as before but holds on to the security software tie-in that allows multiple locked-down storage areas on a given drive, each with their own 256-bit AES encrypted password. The e-ink capacity meter is also onboard to give a quick glance at free space even when the power is turned off, as the display only consumes energy when capacity changes.

Apple patent hints eSATA storage for Macs

Apple has been exploring the possibility of adding external Serial ATA (eSATA) to its Mac lineup through a unique method, the company has revealed through a newly published patent filing. The application both references adding the format to a computer for outside storage but also the possibility of an outside computer accessing this storage through a switching mechanism; holding a key on startup or toggling a hardware control on the host computer would start up a low-power mode that makes its internal storage available as though it were external drive attached to the other system.

Games Con reveals 60GB Xbox Live Starter Pack

Microsoft's rumored Xbox Live Starter Pack has already turned up through a flyer advertising the bundle to guests at this week's Leipzig Games Convention, including members of NeoGAF's community. The pack is as predicted in earlier leaks and would include the 60GB hard drive otherwise available only with the new Xbox 360 Pro, an Xbox Live wired headset, and a three-month pass for Xbox Live Gold.

ASUS leaks N10 ultra-portable with HDD, HDMI-out

Images and external specifications for the so-called ASUS N10 leaked Friday, confirming rumors of the hard drive-bearing, non-Eee branded micro laptop. The simply-detailed N10 offers users a 10.2 inch widescreen monitor (rated at 1024 by 600 pixels), encased in a sandy colored shell, with a chrome polished hinge – Blogeee.netobserves that the result is a very sturdy overall design. Confirmed are storage capacities up to 320GB, with supposed options for Windows Vista or Linux.

Cell Ranger boosters claim up to 3 bar increase

Cell Ranger has announced two new products intended to increase signal strength for cellphones or 3G data cards in fringe areas and reduce the number of dropped calls. The Cell Ranger Stix for automobiles is powered from the 12v car plug, and the Cell Ranger Port is powered through USB. The devices both work by boosting incoming signals in the 800MHz to 1900MHz range. CellRanger claims two to three extra signal bars for any cell phone or 3G data card.

Albatron unveils ARM-based Tee PC netbook

While it's not clear if Taiwan-based manufacturer Albatron means to compete directly with ASUS' Eee PC line, the company today is playing on the same theme with its new Tee PC netbook. The Tee PC is based on a 7-inch LCD touchscreen good for 800x480 resolution but, instead of relying on an Intel Atom or Celeron, powers the system with a cellphone-oriented ARM 926 processor running at just 400MHz. The 128MB flash drive is loaded with Windows CE 6 and uses the lower memory footprint to trim down to 128MB of RAM.

Peek set to offer affordable email-only device

New York-based Peek will launch a mobile device that will act as a sort of modern-day pager with the ability to send and receive emails exclusively. Peek will partner with T-Mobile to provide the data service to deliver and send emails via Gmail, Yahoo mail, AOL and other popular email services. The email device will sport a full QWERTY keyboard, but not bring with it any other features users have come to expect from cell and smart phones, such as a web browser, digital camera, text messaging or music support.

Viliv shows Atom-based S7 UMPC, S5 MID

Multimedia player and navigation device maker Viliv unveiled a couple of interesting portable consumer devices at the Intel Development Forum this week, including the S7 UMPC and S5 Mobile Internet Device (MID). The 7-inch S7 features a swiveling touch screen with a resolution of 1,024x600 resolution and packs Intel's Atom processor in either 1.3GHz, 1.6GHz or 1.86GHz guises along with 1GB of RAM memory. The specs get even better, as Viliv promises a choice of 30GB or 60GB hard disk drives, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR support, with a battery life rated at over eight hours.

Microsoft Photosynth offers 3D photo compositing

Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled a new technology for viewing and relating photographs called Photosynth, offering users a three-dimensional, 360-degree view of almost any environment. Microsoft claims the software provides users with the ability to share "the places and things [they] love using the cinematic quality of a movie, the control of a video game, and the mind-blowing detail of the real world."

Freecom unveils "smallest" hard drive

Freecom has announced a new hard drive, the Mobile Drive XXS, that houses a 2.5" hard drive in a total package weighing just 5.5oz. The overall dimensions of the device are 4.3" x 3.1" x .5". The drive is actually an internal Samsung HM160HX that is connected to a bridge unit with a USB socket. The drive is contained in a soft rubber case, operating at 5400rpm with a cache of 8MB. No external power source is needed, since the unit draws all of its power from an available USB connection.

Mitsubishi Japan updates TVs, shows Blu-ray/TV hybrid

Mitsubishi on Tuesday gave a preview to Americans of some likely HDTV updates with refreshes to its REAL TV line in Japan. The MZW200 series at 40 and 46 inches claim a strictly average 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio but have a comparatively high 3,000:1 base ratio that helps improve their overall black levels. They also use the electronics giant's newer Diamond Engine Pro III technology to process video in 16-bit detail and reduce noise beyond typical efforts from competitors.

Dell: mono not an RIAA issue, stereo in the future

Dell on Friday made attempts to clarify the lack of stereo input into its laptops, hoping to dispel rumors that the RIAA forced it into a particular position. Dell blogger Lionel Menchaca reveals that the decision to exclude stereo audio was due to Windows Vista's tentative system requirements early on in its launch. As a result of customer complaints, Dell is re-instating stereo audio input into future laptop, beginning with the Studio 15 and Studio 17 models.

US cellphone sales down 13% in spring

A report today from The NPD Group reveals that 2008's spring quarter saw cellular phone sales in the US drop to 28 million units, or 13 percent less than the same time period in 2007. Revenue from the sales for the same time period, at below $2.4 billion, represented a two percent decrease, the NPD report concluded. Accounting for the discrepancy between these numbers is the fact consumers are spending 14 percent more in the spring quarter of 2008, $84 on average, on phones that have more features, with sales of QWERTY keyboard-equipped handsets jumping by a record of 28 percent, while handsets with Bluetooth jumped 12 percent.

HP ordering VIA Nano for 10-inch Mini-Notes?

HP has ordered batches of VIA's Nano processors for upcoming computers that may include its netbooks, claim some within the PC business. The faster, more efficient mobile processors are allegedly already shipping to HP and would be the second processor line from VIA to reach the American company after the C7-M, which so far has only been used in the Mini-Note 2133 and was initially thought to be a stopgap until HP could use Intel's Atom processor.

HTC Dream hits FCC, includes T-Mobile 3G

HTC's inaugural Google Android phone the Dream is now cleared for use in the US, a filing with the FCC shows. Listed as the DREA100, the device appears a match for past descriptions and will have not just Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but also the 1,700MHz UMTS support necessary for faster data speeds and better calls on T-Mobile USA's network, both of which should assist Android's data-heavy focus.

Details emerge about Sony's first WHDI device

More information has been given about Sony's first WHDI device, the DMX-WL1T, according toSony Insider. This interface will allow uncompressed 1080p HD video and audio signal to be transmitted to any Dmex compatible Sony Bravia HDTV. WHDI is claimed to be capable of data rates up to 3GB per second, transmitted on a 40mhz channel in the 5Ghz unlicensed band. The range for the DMX-WL1T is said to be 5 feet, significantly less than Sony's claims of the distance WHDI technology is capable communicating.

High-end Motorola V70 replacement spied

While specifications are nearly non-existent at this stage, images leaked from cellular phone retailer CTI Miami reveal what appears to be an upgraded, though camouflaged version of the Motorola V70. The only piece of concrete information exposed by the photos is that it comes with a five-megapixel camera.

Radiopaq launches Rp5 Internet, DAB, FM radio

Internet radio and podcast hub Radiopaq.com on Thursday announced that it would bring its offerings to users without having to directly rely on their computers thanks to its new Rp5 radio. The Rp5 features five speakers for clear sound reproduction, and can synchronize with Radiopaq.com using its built-in Wi-Fi connection, allowing users to search for music and other audio content by name, genre, country or language. Settings users made on the website, such as favorites, are also transferred to the Rp5.

OCZ adds 250GB Core Series V2 SSD drive

Sunnyvale-based OCZ on Thursday unveiled new Core Series V2 SATA II 2.5-inch SSD drives, offering users speedy 170 megabyte-per-second read and 98 megabyte-per-second write times, with much larger sizes. The drives represent a continued effort for OCZ to push down the prices of SSDs for mainstream users. While OCZ declines to supply exact prices from its release, it says that the new Core Series V2 drives cost half of what comparable products do, while offering sizes of up to 250GB.

AOC unveils budget PC/TV display hybrids

AOC seized on the back-to-school timeframe to release a trio of small screens that it says are a good fit for city dwellers with only a small amount of space. The smallest, the 19-inch L19W861, is also the sharpest with a 1440x900 resolution sharp enough both for 720p HDTV as well as computer input. It accordingly comes with both a VGA input for computers in addition to one each of HDMI, component, S-video, and RCA for TV sources. The screen is also vivid for a small display with a 3,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and sells for a relatively low $299.

Third-gen PSP manifests at FCC

Sony's rumored third-generation PSP may be real, new filings suggest. A new version of Sony's gaming handheld has appeared at the FCC, where it has undergone testing for its wireless components. All new wireless products in the US must undergo safety and interference testing at the FCC, even if they are only minor revisions of an existing device. The PSP uses 802.11b Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet or a PS3.

Cygnett speaker system for Bluetooth phones

Cygnett, maker of phone and digital audio player accessories, on Wednesday announced it will soon release its GrooveTooth Talk speaker system in the US market. The speaker connects to compatible phones via the Bluetooth 2.0 wireless standard, and is aimed for use by drivers to keep their hands free to operate their vehicles. The speaker has a built-in clip that will attach the speaker to sun visors, close to driver's mouths.

Nokia pushing AMOLED displays in new phones?

Alleged display industry insiders today claim Nokia will make a large shift to active matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays in the near future. The cellphone designer is said to be choosing suppliers it knows have plans to create and manufacture the advanced organic screens, which are brighter and more color-rich than LCDs as well as thinner and more power-efficient.

Dell execs: Latitude "brackets" MacBook Air

Electronista on Tuesday had an opportunity to listen to Dell executives on camera following the PC maker's Latitude introduction that reveals the company's approach to targeting systems such as the MacBook Air. The firm says it isn't worried about the competition from Apple, Lenovo, or other rivals as the Latitude "brackets" these systems; the E4200 is smaller and lighter than the Air through its use of an ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processor, while the 13.3-inch E4300 uses a full-power Core 2 Duo and has an optical drive bay absent on these competitors.

Alienware adds Radeon HD 4870 X2 to gaming PCs

Dell's high-end gaming division, Alienware, has announced that it will be adopting AMD's new Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics card effective immediately. The card combines two GPUs into one board, and features 2GB of DDR5 RAM as well as DirectX 10.1 support; maximum performance is rated at 2.4 teraflops. Due to its size the card is only being offered in the company's three desktop systems, the Area-51, Area-51 ALX and Aurora.

Imation adds pair of improved SSDs to lineup

Imation on Monday announced the introduction of two new products to its range of solid-state drives (SSDs), with the PRO 7500 and the PRO 7000 PATA. The former represents the application of Imation's latest and most advanced SSD technology, with improvements to speed and storage capacity, while the latter's Parallel ATA interface allows older equipment to benefit from SSD technology.

VIA quits mainboard chipset industry

VIA has formally quit the business of manufacturing chipsets for third parties, the company tellsCustom PC. The semiconductor company has decided against continuing to make chipsets to support AMD and Intel processors and will instead focus on its own processors and their accompanying platforms, such as Pico-ITX (shown) or full reference platforms like the OpenBook. The move is characterized as the end of a long shift away from building for AMD and Intel as they produce more of their work in-house.

BlackBerry Thunder slated for Oct 13?

Verizon already has a formal name and a release date for the BlackBerry Thunder in its system, a leak of an inventory screen at BGR shows. The touchscreen rival to the iPhone is now formally referred to as the BlackBerry 9530 and is listed as on schedule for an October 13th release. The entry would coincide with multiple rumors of an October launch and would be set just five days later than a previous leak.

Fujitsu makes Atom-based U2010 UMPC official

Fujitsu today used Singapore as the venue for its next most recent update to the LifeBook U series. Already previewed in basic form, the 5.6-inch convertible tablet switches from the A110 processor to a faster and more efficient 1.6GHz Atom that gives it as much as eight hours of battery life with an optional extended battery and 64GB solid-state drive. In an unusual addition, the ultra-mobile PC also has its own FM transmitter to pipe sound to a nearby radio and save the trouble of porting external speakers.

First Android phone delayed, losing support?

HTC's first phone based on Google's Android mobile OS has not only been set back but may be part of a greater shift away from the Linux-based platform, says Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry. The Taiwan-area cellphone maker is not only described as encountering "structural problems" adding features Google wants in the phone as a showcase for Android but is allegedly holding up the launch with demands for a minimum payout that Chowdhry interprets as a lack of confidence in Android's success.

ASUS intros web-based storage and download services

With added competition in the UMPC market that ASUS arguably invented with its Eee PC line-up, the Taiwan-based company is taking steps to make its products more appealing to buyers. According to a Thursday report, ASUS president Jerry Shen announced the company will soon launch an online storage service called Eee Storage as well as Eee Download, which will allow Eee PC owners to download more than the current number of roughly 3,000 software and game titles for free.

SlingPlayer 2.0 Beta released with new features

Sling Media on Thursday released its long-awaited SlingPlayer 2.0, albeit under the guise of a Public Beta. The new software for Sling Media's Slingbox – a device that brings TV viewing capabilities to users' computers across a network – adds three new features, including a program guide, live video buffer and more comprehensive access to one's account via the Sling Accounts function. The beta program does not include the promised Clip+Sling function, which would let users capture and share TV clips online via Sling.com.

NVIDIA licenses Transmeta power technology

NVIDIA today licensed a collection of technologies from Transmeta for $25 million that will potentially improve the power use of the former's graphics and mainboard hardware. The license primarily grants NVIDIA access to LongRun2, a technique to reduce the amount of waste power for processors and similar chips. The approach uses a combination of circuitry and advanced math to reduce the effect of leaking power as processors are made on smaller and smaller manufacturing processes. This lets companies shrink components to make them more complex without having to throttle back clock speed or other elements to avoid creating too much waste power and heat.

AMD kicks off FirePro line of workstation graphics

AMD on Thursday started up its first new graphics card range in years through the FirePro series. The hardware is based on the company's Radeon HD architecture but is optimized primarily for visual content creation, CAD modeling, and other professional 3D apps. The new cards all have a 30-bit pipeline that renders images internally with as many as one billion colors, preserving the accuracy for very visually rich textures.

Vista security gutted by new web exploit

Many of the security measures Microsoft has implemented and touted for Windows Vista have been compromised through a single exploit, a presentation made at this week's Black Hat hacking conference claims. IBM Information Security Systems' Mark Dowd and VMware's Alexander Sotirov have found a method that uses scripting systems such as Java and elements of the .NET framework in Windows-based web browsers to arbitrarily run code on Vista systems. Internet Explorer is particularly vulnerable due to its use of ActiveX.