Tech Readers » Tech Readers

Murdoch Sells Myspace

Tech Readers — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:59:21 +0000

Social network MySpace was sold for $35 million (€24 million) to a company that specializes in online advertising, Specific Media, advances the All Things Digital blog.

News Corp., held by Rupert Murdoch, who in 2005 bought the social network for $ 580 million (€ 403 million), still maintains a position of less than 5%.

Under the agreement, the singer and American actor Justin Timberlake, who holds an interest in Specific Media, also becomes an entrepreneur in the media area, a role that he played in the movie “The Social Network”.

Timberlake will have an office at the headquarters of MySpace and a staff of about a half dozen people working with him on developing ideas for the network, told the Associated Press, the general manager of Specific Media, Tim Vanderhook.

Specific Media expects, according to its general manager, to “revitalize” MySpace with the help of Timberlake.

There is need for a space where fans can interact with their favorite artists, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff or just being connected

Said actor and singer in a statement, adding that MySpace has the potential to be this place.

This purchase will also mean a drastic reduction of costs, which affected about half of the people on MySpace, about 200 workers.

Easy Analytics for SMEs and Lines of Business – by SAP

Tech Readers — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:37:00 +0000

SAP just announced a new set of tools that’ll help small and midsize companies to take better and faster decisions.

SAP® Crystal Server 2011 and SAP® BusinessObjects™ Edge Business Intelligence (BI) softwares are now tailored to fit smaller companies that were having problems with their current (or non-existent) Decision Support Systems.

The new software versions provide the end-user with a very user-friendly interface, providing a customizable and more intuitive user experience.

Press Release

As part of its goal to bring customers of all sizes powerful, easy-to-use analytics solutions that lead the market; SAP AG recently announced the latest offerings tailored to fit the needs of small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) and lines of business. Via flexible deployment options, SAP® Crystal Server 2011 software and the 4.0 release of SAP® BusinessObjects™ Edge Business Intelligence (BI) software are designed to help enable customers to get up and running quickly to better understand all facets of their businesses and make confident, data-driven decisions as events unfold, in real time.

These latest solutions from the business analytics portfolio from SAP are intended to help SMEs and lines of business get the most out of their IT investments and maximize their available resources by putting analytics tools directly into the hands of the people who need them most. SAP Crystal Server (formerly, SAP Crystal Reports Server) is an entry-level BI solution for small companies and departments that will include self-serve data search and exploration in addition to the core functionality of report and dashboard viewing; SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI will help enable them to address virtually any BI requirement – from reporting, visualization and ad-hoc analysis to data integration and data quality.

Additionally, with user-friendly enhancements such as a consistent, customizable and more intuitive user experience as well as delivery to any mobile device, the analytics software will help empower all types of users – from novices to professionals – to make more effective business decisions, enabling faster response times to impact the business and ultimately help drive greater profitability.

“In a new era of economic growth, small and midsize companies constantly need insights that help minimize risk and capture fleeing new business opportunities,” said Dan Vesset, program vice president of Business Analytics research, IDC. “The latest release of business intelligence software for small and midsize companies from SAP empowers growing companies to adopt brand new innovations such as integrating structured and unstructured data and even information from social networks. Newly refreshed and intuitive user interface and brand new mobility functionality help more users in the growing company get the relevant and accurate data on time, decide and act with confidence, and contribute to greater growth and profitability.”

With the 4.0 release of SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI, for the first time SMEs and lines of business will have quick insight into structured information as well as unstructured information like data from social networks using new text analysis functionality. Regardless of where the most relevant information resides, it will assist anyone within an organization to analyze it and collaborate to make informed decisions based on facts rather than gut reactions – all without needing to rely on IT.

With new event insight capabilities and 64-bit architecture, customers will be able to use SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI to monitor business scenarios as they happen in real time, formulate action plans accordingly and even compare and contrast historical trends to help predict future outcomes. The organizations will be able to equip their customer-care call centers with text analysis to watch what is being said on blogs, Facebook and Twitter, and help mitigate potential brand damage by creating alerts for product defects and recalls.

With SAP Crystal Server 2011, sales and marketing departments challenged with correlating the success of their campaigns with overall revenue will be able to use the included SAP BusinessObjects Explorer™ software to navigate and drill down to granular levels and monitor how those campaigns are affecting return on investment (ROI) in real time. The goal is to help them to quickly cease investing in less successful campaigns in a particular global region and reallocate those investments to campaigns that are driving substantial sources of revenue.

By delivering tight integration between its BI and enterprise information management (EIM) solutions, SAP helps customers better understand their businesses by supporting the entire information life cycle – from data to dashboard. Not only can they embed things like BI dashboards into other business applications, but with EIM they can help ensure the data comprising those dashboards is accurate, current and trusted.

“SAP Crystal Server and SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI are two perfect examples of how we are innovating to alleviate the pain points commonly experienced by SMEs and lines of business,” said Tom Kindermans, SVP, Ecosystem & Channels, Asia Pacific & Japan. “We work closely with our customers, and we are turning analytics into something that is easily accessible by making it more affordable and less time-consuming. A broader range of organizations and departments will now be able to get stronger value and insights to solve business problems efficiently and effectively.”

About SAP

As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 170,000 customers (includes customers from the acquisition of Sybase) to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably.

For more information, visit www.sap.com.

As part of its goal to bring customers of all sizes powerful, easy-to-use analytics solutions that lead the market; SAP AG recently announced the latest offerings tailored to fit the needs of small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) and lines of business. Via flexible deployment options, SAP® Crystal Server 2011 software and the 4.0 release of SAP® BusinessObjects™ Edge Business Intelligence (BI) software are designed to help enable customers to get up and running quickly to better understand all facets of their businesses and make confident, data-driven decisions as events unfold, in real time.

These latest solutions from the business analytics portfolio from SAP are intended to help SMEs and lines of business get the most out of their IT investments and maximize their available resources by putting analytics tools directly into the hands of the people who need them most. SAP Crystal Server (formerly, SAP Crystal Reports Server) is an entry-level BI solution for small companies and departments that will include self-serve data search and exploration in addition to the core functionality of report and dashboard viewing; SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI will help enable them to address virtually any BI requirement – from reporting, visualization and ad-hoc analysis to data integration and data quality.

Additionally, with user-friendly enhancements such as a consistent, customizable and more intuitive user experience as well as delivery to any mobile device, the analytics software will help empower all types of users – from novices to professionals – to make more effective business decisions, enabling faster response times to impact the business and ultimately help drive greater profitability.

“In a new era of economic growth, small and midsize companies constantly need insights that help minimize risk and capture fleeing new business opportunities,” said Dan Vesset, program vice president of Business Analytics research, IDC. “The latest release of business intelligence software for small and midsize companies from SAP empowers growing companies to adopt brand new innovations such as integrating structured and unstructured data and even information from social networks. Newly refreshed and intuitive user interface and brand new mobility functionality help more users in the growing company get the relevant and accurate data on time, decide and act with confidence, and contribute to greater growth and profitability.”

With the 4.0 release of SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI, for the first time SMEs and lines of business will have quick insight into structured information as well as unstructured information like data from social networks using new text analysis functionality. Regardless of where the most relevant information resides, it will assist anyone within an organization to analyze it and collaborate to make informed decisions based on facts rather than gut reactions – all without needing to rely on IT.

-more-

Social Media Release

With new event insight capabilities and 64-bit architecture, customers will be able to use SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI to monitor business scenarios as they happen in real time, formulate action plans accordingly and even compare and contrast historical trends to help predict future outcomes. The organizations will be able to equip their customer-care call centers with text analysis to watch what is being said on blogs, Facebook and Twitter, and help mitigate potential brand damage by creating alerts for product defects and recalls.

With SAP Crystal Server 2011, sales and marketing departments challenged with correlating the success of their campaigns with overall revenue will be able to use the included SAP BusinessObjects Explorer™ software to navigate and drill down to granular levels and monitor how those campaigns are affecting return on investment (ROI) in real time. The goal is to help them to quickly cease investing in less successful campaigns in a particular global region and reallocate those investments to campaigns that are driving substantial sources of revenue.

By delivering tight integration between its BI and enterprise information management (EIM) solutions, SAP helps customers better understand their businesses by supporting the entire information life cycle – from data to dashboard. Not only can they embed things like BI dashboards into other business applications, but with EIM they can help ensure the data comprising those dashboards is accurate, current and trusted.

“SAP Crystal Server and SAP BusinessObjects Edge BI are two perfect examples of how we are innovating to alleviate the pain points commonly experienced by SMEs and lines of business,” said Tom Kindermans, SVP, Ecosystem & Channels, Asia Pacific & Japan. “We work closely with our customers, and we are turning analytics into something that is easily accessible by making it more affordable and less time-consuming. A broader range of organizations and departments will now be able to get stronger value and insights to solve business problems efficiently and effectively.”

Android Apps for Business People

Should you buy the new Ipad 2?

Tech Readers — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:21:36 +0000

The new iPad 2 is all set to rule the tablet market of the globe with its magnificent features the new Face Time application and dual camera being the hot selling propositions. However, if you notice a bit carefully, Apple has turned its cards in a smarter manner by just reducing the thickness and included camera as an additional feature in iPad 2. The customers across the globe would not find much of a value add if they happen to purchase the much hyped about iPad.

One of the other disappointing aspects has been its battery life promise. They have kept it the same as the last release at 10 hours on Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G. Even on the display front there are no upgrades implemented by Apple. At the moment their tablet befits the serving the old wine in a new bottle. The only wow aspects are its sleeker design and availability in dual color mode – black and white. The customers can pre-order the new iPad 2 starting March 11, 2011. However, if you are in Middle East and Asia Pacific region you need to wait longer than anticipated. Apple is not planning to introduce the new iPad 2 in these territories till September, 2011.

As per some industry analysts the tough competitive landscape may take a toll on Apple in the near future. With likes of Samsung, Dell and Toshiba introducing robust second versions of their tablet sets too. The end customers should therefore act in a methodical manner before purchasing a tablet of their choice on the go.

The app support and overall features of the second version of iPad aren’t worth investing for if you already hold a better tablet or iPad. Probably you can wait for a year and wait till the next release of iPad or a better competing tablet. Blackberry too is slated to introduce their PlayBook tablet by the end of first quarter, 2011. The market of tablet PC’s is becoming super competitive and customers should be open to rich options that it can offer to one and all. The pricing aspect too is a crucial aspect in determining the final purchase from the customer’s aspect.

They should weigh all options in the same scale and against similar parameters while trying to assess the tablet’s potential at all times. The supreme tablet might not fit in your set of scale if it cannot resolve your business bottlenecks in an effective manner. iPad 2’s sales numbers would guide the competing product makers in deciding whether they should deep dive in the industry segment or stay away from it and invest in R&D. The tablets have however ensured in bringing down the sales numbers of laptops and desktops, hence their pricing too. More people are keen on buying tablets than over trendiest phones or smart peripherals.

Android Apps that Will Make a Difference on Your Phone

Tech Readers — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:58:22 +0000

I guess that most of you already know that there are more than 10,000 Android apps and more apps are still coming in. Since the number is huge, it may be very difficult to tell which among these stands out. However, let me still cite to you a few of the applications that I find very useful.

Check out the following:

Phone Halo Protect. This is one Android app that is highly recommended to all Android users. It acts like a tracking device in case you’ve misplaced or lost your phone. This app makes use of GPS to help you find the gadget. Phone Halo Protect is priced at approximately $60.
Ultimate FavsPro. Ultimate FavsPro is an Android app that can be downloaded for free. This app can help you get organized, whether in the office or at home, be it your daily tasks, your files, or your meetings or appointments.
Nimbuzz. This is a chat service that allows you to chat with your friends and contacts and it really doesn’t matter what IM you’re using. Whether you’re using Skype, Google Talk, YM, Facebook or MySpace, you are free to make use of this application. With this on your phone, you will get to view your online friends, news feeds, notifications and avatars. This is for individuals who love to get in touch or reconnect with people. It is also ideal for business people who do not want to miss any updates or messages on their various IM or social networking accounts.
GDocs. This Android app allows you to have a glimpse of your Word and Excel files or even edit them.
Titanium Backup. If you need to backup and restore all your apps, files and links, the Titanium Backup is just what you need. If you want to know how it works, you may avail of its free version, but if you want an upgraded version, you should opt for the paid service, which costs $5.99. This is also a must-have Android app.
WordPress. If you are managing a blog or if you write for websites, you will find this Android app very useful. It allows you to create new contents, edit them and read comments. This is one great app that may be downloaded free of charge.

The Highlighting Features of iPad 2

Tech Readers — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:15:45 +0000

Apple has dumbstruck the communication world with the release of newer version of iPad, iPad 2. The end customers can get to explore the newer business agility possibilities on their iPad in al new manner without any constraints at all.

In order to sum up the highlighting features of new iPad the prospects should read through the following:

Faster OS – iPad 2 is powered on new iOS4.3 which can handle several threads and tasks at the same time. The overall request-response time of the new iOS4.3 is faster and better than the earlier versions. The end users can juggle between apps, close them down or again re-start on the blink of an eye. As a result, the end users would be able to wrap up more work in shorter span of time. They can catch up with the business meetings, meet customers or catch up with their personal work on the move.
Dual Camera – The redefining feature of the new iPad is the enablement of the dual camera mode in its new design. The customers can leverage endlessly from the frontal and rear camera while conferencing with their business associates or acquaintances. The rear camera can record in HD mode at 720p and has 5x zoom too while the frontal is a standard VGA camera.
Sleeker Design – The new iPad is 0.34 inches in depth compared to its predecessor which was 0.50 inches. This makes it as one of the sleekest yet efficient device in market at the moment. It is one of the highly portable gadgets that can be flaunted by business professionals or students on the go.
Price Point – The Wi-Fi only version of iPad 2 starts from $499 and stretches up to $829 for Wi-Fi + 3G model. The overall price point seems to be competitive for an end consumer. They can end up buying it on EMI basis too if they are not comfortable on paying for it in one go. Several financial service providers are already planning to offer 0% EMI arrangements for their set of elite customers.
Powerful Chip – iPad 2 is powered on A5 chip set which makes the overall processing even much faster. It can handle various threads at the same time and boost the overall usability experience in just about no time. The end user can juggle between the work tasks on their new iPad 2 and reduce the cycle time too.
Battery Life – The new iPad can provide robust battery support of up to 10 hours in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G mode to the users. They can charge their device overnight and comprehensively use it to send mails, communicate with friends or business associates and even play music or videos too. It is one such complete gadget that addresses the needs of professionals on the go.

Free and Entertaining Android Apps

Tech Readers — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 07:58:42 +0000

There are thousands of Android apps available, and they all cater to different types of people with distinct personalities, hobbies and lifestyle. If you are type of person that is entertainment-oriented, here are some free Android apps that you might want to download:

Schwartz Unsheathed. Are you one of the thousands or even millions of people who are diehard fans of Star Wars? Well, you surely would want to download this Android app. I’m telling you, you’ll be happy to have this on your phone.
Fandango Movies. This is one of the most downloaded Android apps. If you want to know what movie is currently showing in your favorite movie house, if you want to buy movie tickets, or know the movie times, you should consult the Fandango Movies app.
TMZ. Thirsty of news about your favorite celebrities? If you are, then you should download TMZ to your Android phone. You will surely get updated with the latest entertainment news about famous people.
Funny Jokes. If you are the clown in your group and you do not want to run out of jokes, this Funny Jokes app can continuously feed you with jokes. The jokes included in this application are divided into a dozen categories.
TV Guide Mobile. TV is perhaps the best friend of most people. If you can’t live without TV, Android can even help you get much closer to it. In the TV Guide Mobile application, you will receive an updated TV guide, and this can be easily checked over your phone. If you do not want to miss any of your TV shows, download this Android app right away.
Magic 8-Ball. If you have questions, try consulting the Magic 8-Ball Android app. It might have the best answer that you’ve long been searching for.
Zedge Ringtones and Wallpapers. With this Android app on your phone, you can change your wallpapers and even your ringtones daily. As of today, there are already millions of people enjoying this app.
FMyLife. This is an app that allows you to express your emotions and even opinions on certain things.
Steamy Window. This may not be a useful and important Android app, but it is really entertaining. How does this work? Just choose a background picture, let the steam come out, and wipe it. The steamy effect is so cool.

Android Apps for Business People

Tech Readers — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:59:19 +0000

If there is a phone that business people would love to have, it’s got to be an Android phone. This can help you a lot in managing your finances as well as your day to day schedule. Below are several Android apps that you will certainly find very useful.

Locale. If you do not want your phone to ring just anywhere without putting the mode on silent, locale is an Android app that you must have. For instance, you can program your phone not to ring in church or in a certain establishment. You can do this by simply typing the specific name of place where you do not want to hear your phone ringing. By the way, this is available at a specific cost.

TripIt. This app can help you organize and plan your business trips. It allows you to gather all the needed information regarding your travel plans in just a single folder. This app may be availed for free, but if you want to maximize this app even more, you can go for a paid service. If you choose the paid service, you are entitled to get travel notifications. For example, in the event that an airline company has cancelled a flight, which happens to be the flight that you’re supposed to be in, you will receive a notification from them. You will also get several updates with regards to your hotel accommodation, booking details, and even directions.

Lookout. This is an Android app that will ensure your phone’s security. In case you will misplace your phone or if it will get stolen, this app will help you trace where the location of the device is. Another good thing about this is that this provides backup for all the information or data found in it.

Gmote. This app allows you to use your Android phone as a remote control. You will get to control all remote-controlled devices. With this, transferring audio files from your laptop to your phone is possible.

GIST or Global Information Systems Technology. You can use this Android app to turn your social networking account into something more professional. You will be able to create a profile of your Facebook friends or Twitter followers in a more detailed manner. With this, you shall also be informed if there are meetings or appointments that were set.

An Overview of the T-Mobile G-Slate 4G Android Tablet

Tech Readers — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:51:19 +0000

The T-Mobile G Slate 4G android tablets is yet another revolutionary android powered tablet PC in the market today that is causing quite a buzz. First things first though, it is 0.49 inches thick, which is slightly thicker than its close rival the iPad 2 at 1/3 inch being only 0.34″ thick. When the T-Mobile G Slate is placed in its landscape mode, you will discover that the screen is as wide as that of the iPad 2, only that it is a little shorter when it comes to the height by a mere one inch.

One thing you can be guaranteed of is that the G-Slate will feel amazing and comfortable in your hands as you type, whether you are in the portrait or landscape mode. Unlike the iPad 2 that features a smooth metal casing, the last thing you can expect from this device is to have it slipping from your grip, as it has the firmest grip yet in the market.

Coming with a mere 8.9 inch screen, you can rest assured that it is noticeably tinier than the iPad’s 9.8 inch or the Xoom’s 10.1″. However, you will find that because of the odd weight distribution, it will feel heavy than the Xoom or the iPad2, the rest is just the same.

Built-in cameras in tablet PCs today are the second best thing that ever happened after sliced bread. The T-Mobile G Slate has taken the game an inch further, rather than featuring a single camera, it has fully installed built-in cameras; a front facing one that has 2 mega pixels and a rear 3D camera that has 5 megapixels. Technically speaking, this is just like having 3 cameras but the company knows too well not to market it as having 3 cameras.

The underside of the tablet has mini-USB and mini-HDMI ports. The upper side has a volume rocker with a handy microphone pinhole and two speakers strategically located on either side. There is also a power on/ lock button on its left side and a power adapter’s opening input. If you want to access your SIM Card for the device, you might find it a little challenging. Unlike the easy to find slot for the Xoom, the T-Mobile G Slate has a hidden panel found at the back that needs pushing and sliding it down to gain access to the SIM slot and the reset button.

You should expect all the features that any tablet PC worth its name should have, Bluetooth 2.1 support both for the peripheral and audio support. Wi-FI antenna that supports bands of up to 802.11 n. To sum everything up, there is a 1GHZ Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual Core mobile processor that comes with 32MB internal flash memory.

A Review of the Revolutionary Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Tablet

Tech Readers — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:53:44 +0000

The ThinkPad X220 Tablet is the latest technological tablet PC from Lenovo, renowned industry giants of manufacturing hi-end revolutionary tablet PCs and laptops. Lenovo is on a mission to create a series of ThinkPad X tablets featuring the amazing x220 notebook, a windows 7 powered device that has a 12.5 inch display, an Intel’s new sandy bridge core processor, and wacom digitizer among many other amazing features. It is a very hardy device having passed testing specifications for tablet PCs such as shock, humidity, and extreme temperatures.

Design

The X220 tablet from Lenovo, as mentioned above, is one of the toughest devices in the market, having passed numerous tests for temperature, humidity among other harmful elements that affect your everyday convertible PC. Although probably not as hardy as some of the high-end convertibles available in the market, you can rest assured that this device can handle day-to-day wear and tear with ease. When held, it feels as if it has been curved from a very solid piece of plastic.

The hinges of the screen are sturdily and tightly built, save for the fact that it only rotates at 180 degrees to a single direction. Should you rotate it to the wrong direction though, no worries because the hinge will show no signs of stress or strain, yes that is how hardy this device has been built. The display further opens up at a whopping 180 degrees, providing you with the best display for all your on-screen viewing needs.

Speakers and Screen

The X220 Tablet comes with a 12.5-inch IPS display (1366 x 768), it ships with an additional Gorilla glass should you want to increase its austerity. The 12.5 inch display plays a perfect role of shrugging glare off without compromising on the level of brightness. As such, if you are an office worker you will find this device very suitable for using indoors, and the relative dimness makes it ideal for an occasional use when outdoors.

Further, the X220 Tablet from Lenovo ships with an amazing pressure-sensitive Wacom pen… being Wacom means only one thing, the pen will not need any battery. It features a button on the grip on one hand and a handy eraser nub on the other end. Further, the pen is quite light and long enough to fit comfortably in your hands when using it.

The tablet PC further supports two inputs. The device has also utilized the SimpleTap Operating System skin which allows a sure to customize shortcuts, with each shortcut being represented by a huge, tap friendly icon. You can change the settings you use commonly and even call up your favorite programs thanks to the SimpleTap OS, or you can simply ignore the OS if it is not your cup of coffee, so to speak.

The speakers on the other hand do not disappoint as they do an excellent task of spitting out echo and jingle. They are ideal for personal use, whether you want to use the built-in webcam or participate in a video or conference call.

HTC Flyer Tablet PC Review

Tech Readers — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:32:53 +0000

If the HTC flyer is anything to go by, then tablet PC users have something to look forward to. If you are looking for a unique tablet PC that comes with distinctive features unlike other android powered tablets, then look no further beyond the HTC Flyer. If you expected to find the same nitty gritty found in the Xoom or the Honeycomb tablet, then you are in for a huge disappointment.

The HTC flyer is a 7″ gingerbread tablet that features the custom SENSE UI and a capable and competent single core 1.5GHz QUALCOMM processor. The most defining feature however of the flyer is the N-trig pen accessory and the fact that it has utilized HTC Scribe technology, thus making the HTC flyer an above-board note-taking PC tablet. Here is an in-depth review of the HTC flyer tablet PC to help you know whether this is your dream tablet or not.

The HTC flyer not only has distinctive specifications, it assumes a unique and distinctive look, or about as unique as any other rectangular shaped device can look. The back panel of the flyer narrows off at the edge, bleeding over from the back towards the front of your device, protruding slightly from your display. When you couple this with the finger-friendly plastic covers it ships with makes the flyer an exceptionally easy to grip device with a single hand. This makes perfect sense though, if the device will function well as a scribe tech and allow you to take notes, it will need to be firmly gripped on one hand as the other hand is free to take notes.

It has four soft keys strategically located on two sides of the display lighting up the device depending on the screen orientation at the time of use, including the all too familiar android home, the back options, and the menu, not to mention the flyer-distinctive pen options which features various types of pens, sizes, colors as well as quick access to the all-important and handy notes app. Note that the soft pen key does not recognize finger taps, it only registers pen inputs.

The HTC flyer comes with two cameras, a front-facing one that adorns the upper landscape part of the chassis and a rear-facing one which are accompanied by two powerful speakers. In general, the HTC flyer feels and looks great with the negligible protrusions and bumps that make it ideal for gripping with the hand. Interiorly, it comes equipped with amazing features.

One thing though that HTC seem to have failed terribly is not to put in place a place where one can dock the pen on the device. While embedding such a slot can compromise significantly on the design of your tablet PC, a magnetic or removable clip can be practical, especially considering the fact that the pen comes at an $80 price tag, which is not as affordable as it looks in this harsh economic times that we live in today.

An In Depth Review of the BlackBerry PlayBook

Tech Readers — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:49:18 +0000

RIM has made an entry into the tablet market with the 7″ BlackBerry PlayBook. For the esteemed mobile manufacturer, this is the first tablet it brings to the market, and is probably the first product from BlackBerry that has been marketed to meet the consumer’s demands and appeal. If the current market evaluations are anything to go by, then the company believes that this is the first BlackBerry product most consumers own, and it is understandable why.

Further, the BlackBerry PlayBook is the first tablet that runs on the company’s new BlackBerry tablet operating system, based on QNX Neutrino. Just a background check on this OS, it is mostly found in embedded applications, international space station and in-car systems inclusive. It is designed in such a way that is it very flexible and has the amazing capability of handling mainly multitasking.

Last but not least, it is the first main, touch-based mobile device to compete with both the Apple iOS and the Google Android while trying to prod in on the Windows 7 OS that seems to dominate the tablet market at the moment. With that being said, the BlackBerry PlayBook is beaming with so much potential in that just like the now famous Xoom that came before it, it features some amazing workhorse processor and great unrivaled hardware.

Not to escape the eye of most tech savvies, just like Xoom, the absence of apps, including basic apps such as messaging clients and emails limits the capability of this device right from its launch, particularly considering the fact that there are over 65,000 iPad apps today in the APP Store.

But, just about the whole lot not missing from the PC tablet works practically well for it. It features a fully integrated and operational browser that supports Office apps and full flash support; this will be the covet of all iPads lovers on the road. While the BlackBerry PlayBook OS is perfect with the current 7″ display screen, should the company think of changing the screen to 8, 9 or 10″, then it will need to integrate active elements such as widgets and stuff. It is also the hope of most consumers that RIM allows for customizable, including the creation of folders, extermination of uninvited bugs and tweaking the management of memory.

The verdict: RIM has done a clean job of providing just enough goodies and features to make this device appealing both for business people and entertainment lovers, and once important apps such as the email client starts to ship; it will be a very practical device for day-to-day use.

Top Android Apps

Tech Readers — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:43:58 +0000

Mint

This app is probably what every Android user would want to have on his/her Android phone. Mint can help you organize and keep track of your finances. If you want to know your balance in your savings or checking account or know your average monthly expenditures, let Mint handle it for you.

Tweet Deck

In this Tweet Deck app, you will get to monitor what’s happening in your social networking accounts, such as Twitter and Facebook without the need to visit them separately. You will receive notifications if there are any updates all in a single page. It is also possible for you to update your status on all the accounts that you won by typing just a single entry.

Goggles

This is a research tool that can be very useful when you are looking for a product. What you need to do is to capture a picture and let this app do the search on Google. After which, it will show you information about the product like price and product reviews. You can also capture barcodes as well as QR codes.

WordPress

This Android app is recommended for people who have blogs. Wherever you are, you can post contents, read comments of your visitors, and reply to these comments while you’re in a bus or while waiting for your dentist. No time is wasted if you have an application like this.

Evernote

This is like a note pad compressed into your Android phone. In Evernote, you’ll be allowed to save images, video or audio clips and, of course, notes. You can also capture photos, write something about it then post it in your blog or send it to your friends through email. This is a free Android app.

Youtube

I’m sure you already know how this app works. You can watch videos on Youtube anywhere you want to. If you have a Gmail account, you can instantly access this site directly from your phone without hassles.

Google Maps and Latitude

If you download this Android app on your phone, not only you will get to enjoy this feature, but also the people that you will authorize to access your account on Latitude. In case they want to know where you are, this app will help them trace your location. It works like a satellite navigation. This app can be partnered with the Streetview application of Google.

A Description of the ASUS Eee Slate Tablet PC

Tech Readers — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:01:20 +0000

Speaking of advanced technology at its finest, the ASUS Eee Slate EP121 is a revolutionary device that will make your friends to turn blue with envy. Look no further beyond this amazing tablet PC if you are in the market for a device that will do all the work for you. It comes packed with amazing features and perks you never want to miss in a tablet PC. This justifies the reason why it is the hottest thing, and the most sought after tablet PC in the tablet PC technology world today.

As mentioned, it features an amazing 12.1 inch screen that has a high sensing capability, thus making it easy for you to enjoy extremely wonderful and unrivaled navigation as you browse through the internet or open your folders and comments. Further, being lightweight, it means that you can carry your ASUS Eee Slate everywhere and anywhere that you go. Portability has been redefined with this new addition in the market as it can easily and snugly fit in any backpack or handbag that you have, and take it with you wherever you wish.

The ASUS Eee Slate EP121 12.1-Inch Tablet PC further is Bluetooth enabled, featuring the Bluetooth v3.0 and wireless N. This can only mean one thing; you can transfer your favorite music, photos or files from any Bluetooth enabled device to your tablet PC with no hassle at all. Further, with the wireless N connection, you can rest assured that wherever you go, the least of your worries should be internet connection. This augurs perfectly with the portability part of the laptop.

The ASUS Eee Slate EP121 12.1-Inch Tablet PC comes with the Windows 7 Home Premiums OS installed, meaning it will be familiar to you just as your personal PC or laptop, and it will not be hard to get used to the way it works, how your browsers appear, and all the other features that you should expect.

ASUS Eee Slate EP121 12.1-Inch Tablet PC also has the capability to take digital entertainment to the next level, thanks to its ability to stream full HD videos or read and download eBooks on your tablet with ease. With the LED HD backlit display, you can rest assured you will enjoy crisply images with 1280x 800 resolutions.

What more can you ask for really in a tablet PC?

Microsoft to Acquire Skype for $7-$8 Billion?

Tech Readers — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:44:37 +0000

Microsoft is rumored to acquire Skype for $7-$8 billion, according to Wall Street Journal. The acquisition is expected to be announced as soon as Tuesday but we are yet to know about the final negotiations.

At a value close to $8 billion, the Skype deal would rank as the biggest acquisition in the 36-year history of Microsoft, a company that traditionally has shied away from large deals. In 2007, Microsoft paid approximately $6 billion to acquire online advertising firm aQuantive Inc. Many current and former Microsoft executives believe Microsoft significantly overpaid for that deal. But they are also relieved that Microsoft gave up on an unsolicited $48 billion offer for Yahoo Inc. nearly three years ago. Yahoo is valued at half that sum today.

This purchase of Skype will surely help Microsoft to push its smartphone market share which is lagging because of the competition from mainly iPhone and Android. Microsoft will built-in the Skype functionality in Windows Phone 7 OS (or maybe its for Window Phone 8? ). It is worth noting that Skype is currently ranked at 24 bestselling free app.

iPhone 3GS Beats Newer Android Phones in April

Tech Readers — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:30:36 +0000

Apple iPhone 3GS is nearly two years old but according to AppleInsider, still outselling many newer models of Android. Stats from Cannacord Genuity’s Michael Walkle reveal that both iPhone 3GS and iPad (the original one) are giving competitors a tough time.

Experts analysied AT&T and Verizon’s sales for April and found that iPhone 3GS is still a strong seller for AT&T with $49 price tag that means, its outselling both HTC Inspire and Motorola Atrix.

What these stats show is that Android is surely capturing the smartphone market and taking share of Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry but iPhone still holds a strong position, AppleInsider reported.

Checks with stores found that new Android smartphones were largely gaining share from Windows 7 smartphones, but not the iPhone. Walkley also expects the iPhone to remain the top selling handset at Verizon throughout 2011 as upgrades continue, partially because the carrier is not allowing subsidies to customers that are still under a two-year contract.

iOS 5 Will Introduce Over-The-Air Software Updates?

Tech Readers — Thu, 05 May 2011 11:49:48 +0000

One of the features many people don’t like about the iOS is that Apple does not allow to upgrade software without having connected to iTunes. In short, you have to download the new firmware, connect to the computer and wait for the update.

Apple is reportedly working closely with Verizon Wireless to introduce over-the-air software updates to the iPhone with its iOS 5 firmware. Starting this fall, iPhone users will be able to update their iOS software wirelessly, without having to plug the device into iTunes, or involve a computer altogether. It’s a luxury Google Android and Palm webOS users have been enjoying for some time, and Apple’s finally bringing it to iOS.

According to 9to5Mac however, with the introduction of IOS 5.0 everything will become history.

Sources at 9to5Mac revealed that the feature will debut with iOS 5 but will also support subsequent iOS releases. It seems that Apple already has the technology but don’t want to introduce to masses at once. It will be available just for Verizon customers initially.

This sounds quite interesting specially for those who don’t use iTunes or computer very often.

Via 9to5Mac

iPad 3 to Feature a 3D Display?

Tech Readers — Thu, 05 May 2011 11:30:29 +0000

RCR Wireless reports that Apple iPad 3 is already in the advanced stages and might feature a 3D display.

“The fact that the iPad 3 is 3D is a dead cert,” one Hollywood insider close to the big movie studios told RCR, adding that the screen would be the real magic. She went on to say that the big film studios were currently running around like blue arsed flies trying to gear up to release plenty of 3D content in time for Apple’s next launch.

The site is also reporting that Foxconn (iPad manufacturer) has also given signs to several of their close industry sources. If this is true, it won’t be unexpected because Apple has been focusing too much on 3D technology lately.

Via MacRumors

Download iOS 4.2.8 for Verizon iPhone 4 [Direct Link]

Tech Readers — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:51:35 +0000

iOS 4.2.8 for Verizon iPhone 4 is also available along with the iOS 4.3.3 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch that fixes the much talked about location tracking bug in previous release.

The update process is same as always. You need to connect your iPhone to your computer via USB and start iTunes 10.2.2. You will be asked to update or download the latest release. Select “Download and Install” or Mac OS X users, select “Download and Update” to get this latest version installed.

Download Links

Download iOS 4.2.8 for Verizon iPhone 4
Download iTunes 10.2.2 for Windows and Mac

Further Readings:

iOS 4.2.7 for Verizon iPhone 4 Available for Download [Direct Link]

iOS 4.3.3 Available for Download Now [Direct Links]

Tech Readers — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:38:52 +0000

Apple, yesterday has released the new build of its operating system, iOS 4.3.3 for iPhone 4 (4.2.8 for Verizon iPhone 4)/3GS, iPad/iPad 2, and iPod Touch 3G/4G. This is a minor update just to fix the location tracking bug which was found earlier in iOS 4.x.

To update your iOS to 4.3.3, you need to connect your iDevice with your computer through a USB and launch iTunes 10.2.2. You will receive a message with instructions to update or download. Just click on “Download and Install” or on Mac OS X “Download and Update” to get this latest release.

The last major updates of iOS 4.3 and iOS 4.3.1were released on March 10, and March 25 respectively. iOS 4.3.2 was released on April 14, 2011.

Direct Download Links for iOS 4.3.3 / 4.2.8 for Verizon iPhone 4

Download iTunes 10.2.2 for Windows and Mac

iOS Now Holds 2.24% Of Global Internet Usage

Tech Readers — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:16:07 +0000

NetMarketshare published a new analysis on the use of devices on the Internet and, this time calculated data record in terms of the Apple iOS operating system. A significant growth of 0.37% has been seen in the month of April.

The percentage obviously seems low but if you imagine the number of devices involved, you will realize that this is a great step forward. The largest contribution comes from the iPhone of course, with the +0.21%, followed by the iPad +0.12% and finally the iPod touch.

Overall, according NetMarketshare, to date the iOS represents 2.24% of devices connected to the internet, exactly twice in August last year.

Mac OS X also makes the historical record by touching the 5.40% of connected devices and Safari, Apple’s native browser, comes at 7.15%, again a record.

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