Cheap last-minute gifts for your favorite tech nerd
Tablets are great for reading -- not just books, but also magazines. Next Issue is an all-you-can-read digital magazine service that affords unlimited access to around 125 titles -- good, mainstream mags that people actually want to read.Thus, for as little as $14.99, you can gift a subscription that includes Better Homes and Gardens, Bon Appetit, Car and Driver, Cooking Light, Consumer Reports, GQ, Men's Health, and lots more. Next Issue is available for iPhone and iPad (though it's much better on the latter), Android tablets running Android 3.1 and later, Kindle Fire HD and HDX, and Windows 8 PCs and tablets.If you're shopping for a Nook owner, check out Barnes & Noble's new deal: two Nook magazine subscriptions for the price of one. It includes not only the next year's worth of each magazine, but also the last 12 issues.2. A gift subscription to NetflixNetflixIs it possible there's someone who still doesn't have Netflix? Time to show crazy old Uncle Al what all the fuss is about. Netflix gift subscriptions are available for periods of 1 to 12 months, meaning you can spend anywhere from $7.99 to $95.88 depending on your budget.And to really make it gift-like, you can choose from over a dozen eye-catching gift-card designs. Then you just add a message and decide whether you want to print or e-mail the subscription. Easy-peasy.3. A gift card that goes anywhereAh, the old standby. The gift card. Zip into the nearest drugstore or gas station and, boom, you're done. Of course, what if cousin Jethro already has a pile of iTunes cards? Or doesn't like to eat at Olive Garden? Too bad a gift card locks him into one particular place.It doesn't have to. iCard lets you buy certificates that can be redeemed for one of 250 different gift cards. The extensive merchant list covers everything from AMC Theaters to Panera Bread, to Zappos. Alas, you can't choose a custom amount -- available increments include $10, $25, $50, $75, and so on. But this is still a good way to make sure the recipient gets what he or she really wants, not whatever you plucked off the rack last-minute.iCard certificates can be printed or e-mailed.4. A gift of gameGive the gift of game.Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNETStop thinking old-school when it comes to computer games: You don't need to find a store, buy a boxed copy, wrap it, and all that. Instead, you can gift a game via e-mail.Just head to Gamer's Gate, choose the game you want to give, and click "Gift This Game" below the "Buy" button.For example, if you need a gift for someone who loves zombies, "The Walking Dead: Season Two" is now available, and for the very Secret-Santa-friendly price of $24.99. The recipient will receive a download link and activation code via e-mail.5. A gift of learningOh, come on -- you knew this was going to be on the list.Rick BroidaThe best gift of all, of course, is my book: "The Cheapskate Rules: 21 Easy Money-Saving Tech Secrets." Even if you already know some of these money-saving methods, it's a good bet your friends and family members don't.And at only $4.99, talk about a cheap gift! Just click that yellow "Give as a Gift" button on the right side of the page and you're good to go. By the way, although it's available only in the Kindle store (for now -- it's coming to other platforms very soon), anyone with a PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone can read it via various Kindle apps.Have you found another last-minute gift that's good for tech types? Talk it up in the comments!Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.Want to know more about The Cheapskate blog and how it works? Read our FAQ.
Reduce the risk of TVs falling on children (podcast)
Reduce the risk of TVs falling on children (podcast)
When we think of the "dangers" of TV and children, we're reminded of studies about kids watching too much TV or TV shows that encourage violence, overeating, or bad habits. And while there is some controversy about those issues, there is little doubt that TV becomes a real danger to kids if a set falls on them.A study published in July by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that "more than 17,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency departments each year for a TV-related injury, equaling one child every 30 minutes."Flat-screen TVs may be lighter than the old cathode ray tubes but, says Ryan Hagberg of Sanus (a company that makes mounting brackets and furniture to secure TVs), "they've become much bigger and more top heavy so they're more susceptible to being tipped over." He said that one danger is when parents put the remote on top of the TV "and a curious child wants to get to that remote to turn the TV on so they end up climbing up the stand that holds the TV and grabbing the top of the TV and pulling it over on themselves." A colleague of mine suggested another possibility: could kids be poking at TVs, thinking that they are touch screens?The study also found: There was a 125 percent increase from the number of injuries in 1990.Almost half -- 46 percent -- occurred from a TV falling off a dresser or armoire.Another 31 percent falling from an entertainment center or TV stand.Children under age 5 represented 64.3 percent of all injured patients, and boys accounted for 60.8 percent of cases.The head/neck was the most common body region injured (63.3 percent), followed by the legs (21.5 percent).There have been 215 child deaths due to TV tip overs in the last 10 years.SafeKids World Wide (whose Web site SafeKids.org is not related to my site SafeKids.com) recommends:Assess the stability of the TVs in your home.Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall to prevent them from toppling off standsFollow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that you have a secure fit.If you have a large, heavy, old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TV, place it on a low, stable piece of furniture.Use brackets, braces, or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall.Sanus' Ryan Hagberg said that if wall-mounting is not an option, families should consider strapping the TV to the stand or look for stands that enable you to secure the TV. Listen to interview:For more from Ryan Hagberg, click below to listen to a 10-minute podcastListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
When we think of the "dangers" of TV and children, we're reminded of studies about kids watching too much TV or TV shows that encourage violence, overeating, or bad habits. And while there is some controversy about those issues, there is little doubt that TV becomes a real danger to kids if a set falls on them.A study published in July by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that "more than 17,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency departments each year for a TV-related injury, equaling one child every 30 minutes."Flat-screen TVs may be lighter than the old cathode ray tubes but, says Ryan Hagberg of Sanus (a company that makes mounting brackets and furniture to secure TVs), "they've become much bigger and more top heavy so they're more susceptible to being tipped over." He said that one danger is when parents put the remote on top of the TV "and a curious child wants to get to that remote to turn the TV on so they end up climbing up the stand that holds the TV and grabbing the top of the TV and pulling it over on themselves." A colleague of mine suggested another possibility: could kids be poking at TVs, thinking that they are touch screens?The study also found: There was a 125 percent increase from the number of injuries in 1990.Almost half -- 46 percent -- occurred from a TV falling off a dresser or armoire.Another 31 percent falling from an entertainment center or TV stand.Children under age 5 represented 64.3 percent of all injured patients, and boys accounted for 60.8 percent of cases.The head/neck was the most common body region injured (63.3 percent), followed by the legs (21.5 percent).There have been 215 child deaths due to TV tip overs in the last 10 years.SafeKids World Wide (whose Web site SafeKids.org is not related to my site SafeKids.com) recommends:Assess the stability of the TVs in your home.Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall to prevent them from toppling off standsFollow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that you have a secure fit.If you have a large, heavy, old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TV, place it on a low, stable piece of furniture.Use brackets, braces, or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall.Sanus' Ryan Hagberg said that if wall-mounting is not an option, families should consider strapping the TV to the stand or look for stands that enable you to secure the TV. Listen to interview:For more from Ryan Hagberg, click below to listen to a 10-minute podcastListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
The 404 692- Where NDC strikes back (podcast)
The 404 692: Where NDC strikes back (podcast)
The 404 Podcast, and the CNET office in general, hasn't been the same without Natali Del Conte around, so we're all super psyched for the long-awaited return of NDC Thursdays...well, everyone except Wilson; he's at home waiting for the perfect time to interrupt today's show.Although she describes the difficulty in leaving her newborn son at home, the self-proclaimed domestic diva is back in the office after her maternity leave to make her son proud! Oh, she also tells us what she did on her lunch break yesterday, but that's no big deal...!!!! Don't miss the first half of today's episode, and be sure to send your congrats to the new Mrs. Morris!At Apple's Mac OS X event yesterday, Steve Jobs unveiled both an update to Apple's MAC operating system, now called now with FaceTime,) as well as a refresh to the Macbook Air line of portable, and pricey, laptops. The new Airs are much smaller than the originals and now benefit from ultralong battery life and instant-on functionality thanks to the integrated solid-state drives.Prices range from $999 up to $1,599 based on screen size (11.6-inch or 13.3-inch), processor type, and storage capacity. We're all still waiting for the next iPad to drop before we run to the nearest Apple Store, but keep an eye on CNET.com for benchmark scores in an upcoming review.We're also rolling out our first batch of VIDEO VOICEMAILS today and since they're just YouTube links people send over, check them out for yourself!!Jeremy has bad news about "Back to the Future."Aaron has good news from Hawaii.Ben has nice things to say about The 404!Michael has a deadly gift for Natali and Justin!If you have something you want to say about the show, record a YouTube video and send the link to the404(at)cnet(dot)com and we'll play it on the air! As usual, audio voicemails are also welcome, and the number to dial is 1-866-404-CNET (2638). Tune in tomorrow when TONY HAWK will once again join us in the studio to chat about skateboard, video games, and more!Episode 692PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
The 404 Podcast, and the CNET office in general, hasn't been the same without Natali Del Conte around, so we're all super psyched for the long-awaited return of NDC Thursdays...well, everyone except Wilson; he's at home waiting for the perfect time to interrupt today's show.Although she describes the difficulty in leaving her newborn son at home, the self-proclaimed domestic diva is back in the office after her maternity leave to make her son proud! Oh, she also tells us what she did on her lunch break yesterday, but that's no big deal...!!!! Don't miss the first half of today's episode, and be sure to send your congrats to the new Mrs. Morris!At Apple's Mac OS X event yesterday, Steve Jobs unveiled both an update to Apple's MAC operating system, now called now with FaceTime,) as well as a refresh to the Macbook Air line of portable, and pricey, laptops. The new Airs are much smaller than the originals and now benefit from ultralong battery life and instant-on functionality thanks to the integrated solid-state drives.Prices range from $999 up to $1,599 based on screen size (11.6-inch or 13.3-inch), processor type, and storage capacity. We're all still waiting for the next iPad to drop before we run to the nearest Apple Store, but keep an eye on CNET.com for benchmark scores in an upcoming review.We're also rolling out our first batch of VIDEO VOICEMAILS today and since they're just YouTube links people send over, check them out for yourself!!Jeremy has bad news about "Back to the Future."Aaron has good news from Hawaii.Ben has nice things to say about The 404!Michael has a deadly gift for Natali and Justin!If you have something you want to say about the show, record a YouTube video and send the link to the404(at)cnet(dot)com and we'll play it on the air! As usual, audio voicemails are also welcome, and the number to dial is 1-866-404-CNET (2638). Tune in tomorrow when TONY HAWK will once again join us in the studio to chat about skateboard, video games, and more!Episode 692PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Note-taking on the iPad with the new-and-improved Outline+ app
Note-taking on the iPad with the new-and-improved Outline+ app
To grab a OneNote notebook from SkyDrive to edit in Outline+, tap the download button at the bottom of Outline+'s home screen and you'll see four "Open from" options: Dropbox, Box, SkyDrive, and iTunes. After signing in to your Microsoft account,you'll see a list of OneNote notebooks listed. Tap one to open it in Outline+. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETTo perform the reverse and upload a notebook created in Outline+ to SkyDrive, tap-and-hold on a notebook until four tabs spring out from the right side of the notebook: Appearance, Sharing, Export, and Delete. On the Sharing tab, you'll be able to upload to Dropbox, Box, and SkyDrive. (The Export tab is for exporting to iTunes.)In addition to the headlining new feature that is syncing via SkyDrive, Outline+ now lets you use an external keyboard. I tried it with a wireless Bluetooth keyboard and found typing and navigating via the arrow keys to be a snap. You can't, however, use keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste. You'll need to highlight text via a tap on the screen to copy and paste, which is never my preferred method. As for the onscreen keyboard, it feature two new keys in its top-left corner to tab forward and back.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETYou can enter text with the onscreen keyboard or an external keyboard, and you can also scribble, draw, and otherwise ink with the updated Outline+. Tap the pen icon along the right edge when you have a notebook open to call up the inking options. You have four colors of ballpoint pen for jotting down handwritten notes, and there are also five highlighters for scribbling bright notes or highlighting text. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETLastly, there is a new sharing option that is sure to appeal to anyone who wants to share the genius contained within a OneNote notebook with non-OneNote users. Above the inking button is a share button that lets you quickly and easily email a notebook as a PDF attachment. You can also export it as a PDF to open in another app on your iPad, another useful option if you haven't completely turned over your life to OneNote.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETThat's it for this update. For the next update coming down the line, the developer tells me that it will include encryption of sections and synchronization with SharePoint.
To grab a OneNote notebook from SkyDrive to edit in Outline+, tap the download button at the bottom of Outline+'s home screen and you'll see four "Open from" options: Dropbox, Box, SkyDrive, and iTunes. After signing in to your Microsoft account,you'll see a list of OneNote notebooks listed. Tap one to open it in Outline+. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETTo perform the reverse and upload a notebook created in Outline+ to SkyDrive, tap-and-hold on a notebook until four tabs spring out from the right side of the notebook: Appearance, Sharing, Export, and Delete. On the Sharing tab, you'll be able to upload to Dropbox, Box, and SkyDrive. (The Export tab is for exporting to iTunes.)In addition to the headlining new feature that is syncing via SkyDrive, Outline+ now lets you use an external keyboard. I tried it with a wireless Bluetooth keyboard and found typing and navigating via the arrow keys to be a snap. You can't, however, use keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste. You'll need to highlight text via a tap on the screen to copy and paste, which is never my preferred method. As for the onscreen keyboard, it feature two new keys in its top-left corner to tab forward and back.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETYou can enter text with the onscreen keyboard or an external keyboard, and you can also scribble, draw, and otherwise ink with the updated Outline+. Tap the pen icon along the right edge when you have a notebook open to call up the inking options. You have four colors of ballpoint pen for jotting down handwritten notes, and there are also five highlighters for scribbling bright notes or highlighting text. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETLastly, there is a new sharing option that is sure to appeal to anyone who wants to share the genius contained within a OneNote notebook with non-OneNote users. Above the inking button is a share button that lets you quickly and easily email a notebook as a PDF attachment. You can also export it as a PDF to open in another app on your iPad, another useful option if you haven't completely turned over your life to OneNote.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETThat's it for this update. For the next update coming down the line, the developer tells me that it will include encryption of sections and synchronization with SharePoint.
Facebook adds Amber alerts to find missing kids (podcast)
Facebook adds Amber alerts to find missing kids (podcast)
The program will be opt-in and you will only get alerts about children missing in your state or other states you designate.Also, according to Allen, Amber alerts are only used for the most serious cases, where local law enforcement believes the child is in immediate danger and where there is good descriptive information that people can look for, such as an automobile and license plate. Fortunately, these alerts are rare.To sign-up for Amber alerts on Facebook go to Facebook.com/AMBERAlert, pick your state, and click the Like button at the top. You can also add that page to your favorites and suggest it to your friends. At any time, you can visit your state's page by adding your state's initials to the URL such as Facebook.com/AmberAlertNY.Ernie Allen, CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenNCMEC.orgAmber alerts for your state will show up in your news feed along with all the other items, but if you have a lot of Facebook friends you might miss them if you're not looking."It doesn't get priority over other feeds," said Facebook's Washington, D.C., policy staffer Adam Conner but, he added, "the hope is it will be so important that people will share it immediately and it will see a full viral effect."Allen agrees. "One of our hopes is that because Facebook is so viral and there is such an opportunity for people to mobilize and communicate with their friends that very quickly this information can reach a huge number of people and bring more kids home."Disclosures: I serve without pay on the board of directors of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and am co-director of ConnectSafely.org which receives financial support from Facebook. For more, click below to listen to my eight-minute interview with NCMEC CEO Ernie AllenListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
The program will be opt-in and you will only get alerts about children missing in your state or other states you designate.Also, according to Allen, Amber alerts are only used for the most serious cases, where local law enforcement believes the child is in immediate danger and where there is good descriptive information that people can look for, such as an automobile and license plate. Fortunately, these alerts are rare.To sign-up for Amber alerts on Facebook go to Facebook.com/AMBERAlert, pick your state, and click the Like button at the top. You can also add that page to your favorites and suggest it to your friends. At any time, you can visit your state's page by adding your state's initials to the URL such as Facebook.com/AmberAlertNY.Ernie Allen, CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenNCMEC.orgAmber alerts for your state will show up in your news feed along with all the other items, but if you have a lot of Facebook friends you might miss them if you're not looking."It doesn't get priority over other feeds," said Facebook's Washington, D.C., policy staffer Adam Conner but, he added, "the hope is it will be so important that people will share it immediately and it will see a full viral effect."Allen agrees. "One of our hopes is that because Facebook is so viral and there is such an opportunity for people to mobilize and communicate with their friends that very quickly this information can reach a huge number of people and bring more kids home."Disclosures: I serve without pay on the board of directors of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and am co-director of ConnectSafely.org which receives financial support from Facebook. For more, click below to listen to my eight-minute interview with NCMEC CEO Ernie AllenListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
EyeTV 3.3 conquers 3G iPhone video streaming
EyeTV 3.3 conquers 3G iPhone video streaming
In October, Elgato's original EyeTV for iPhone (iTunes link) allowed streaming video over a 3G network connection via a backdoor, which broke the iPhone OS SDK rules and Apple yanked EyeTV from the App Store. A later version of EyeTV removed the backdoor, and the world assumed that 3G network streaming in EyeTV was gone forever. However, yesterday Elgato proved the assumption premature by releasing EyeTV 3.3 for Mac OS X and a new Elgato Web site.To use the new video-streaming features of EyeTV, you must update the software to version 3.3. Mobile Safari on your iPhone handles the rest by launching this Web site: https://live3g.eyetv.com . Launching the Web site results in the execution of a new iPhone Web app called Live3G that lets you watch live television on an iPhone anywhere via a 3G connection. According to Elgato, the app also--with the right cable--lets you watch live and recorded TV on a larger screen or projector by connecting your iPhone with a compatible cable. (Web apps actually have access to the TV-out on your iPhone, apparently.) We've requested more information on the cable requirements for TV-out, but we haven't received a response.CBS' "The Price is Right," playing live on an iPhone.Screenshot by David Martin/CNETElgato is calling Live3G a "nice complement to the EyeTV iPhone app." It can, however, cause a little confusion at first. We launched the Web app and were prompted for the credentials to an Elgato EyeTV account that we had set up in October, but a second log-in prompt was a surprise. A few e-mails later and we had a solution from Elgato: The second log-in prompt is only active if you configured EyeTV on your Mac to use a PIN to gain access your live video feed. So the response to the second prompt is to use the user id eyetv and your PIN for the password. With everything properly installed, our test phone had us watching streaming live TV video with the capability to change channels (both analog and digital HD), plus our own recorded video, over a 3G cellular connection. Updated: December 17, 2009, at 3:33 p.m. PST: David Fanning, an Elgato representative, advised us that the cable required for TV-out is the $49 Apple Component AV cable (part number MB128LL). Technical information about the cable can be found in this Apple support document titled iPod and iPhone: TV out support.
In October, Elgato's original EyeTV for iPhone (iTunes link) allowed streaming video over a 3G network connection via a backdoor, which broke the iPhone OS SDK rules and Apple yanked EyeTV from the App Store. A later version of EyeTV removed the backdoor, and the world assumed that 3G network streaming in EyeTV was gone forever. However, yesterday Elgato proved the assumption premature by releasing EyeTV 3.3 for Mac OS X and a new Elgato Web site.To use the new video-streaming features of EyeTV, you must update the software to version 3.3. Mobile Safari on your iPhone handles the rest by launching this Web site: https://live3g.eyetv.com . Launching the Web site results in the execution of a new iPhone Web app called Live3G that lets you watch live television on an iPhone anywhere via a 3G connection. According to Elgato, the app also--with the right cable--lets you watch live and recorded TV on a larger screen or projector by connecting your iPhone with a compatible cable. (Web apps actually have access to the TV-out on your iPhone, apparently.) We've requested more information on the cable requirements for TV-out, but we haven't received a response.CBS' "The Price is Right," playing live on an iPhone.Screenshot by David Martin/CNETElgato is calling Live3G a "nice complement to the EyeTV iPhone app." It can, however, cause a little confusion at first. We launched the Web app and were prompted for the credentials to an Elgato EyeTV account that we had set up in October, but a second log-in prompt was a surprise. A few e-mails later and we had a solution from Elgato: The second log-in prompt is only active if you configured EyeTV on your Mac to use a PIN to gain access your live video feed. So the response to the second prompt is to use the user id eyetv and your PIN for the password. With everything properly installed, our test phone had us watching streaming live TV video with the capability to change channels (both analog and digital HD), plus our own recorded video, over a 3G cellular connection. Updated: December 17, 2009, at 3:33 p.m. PST: David Fanning, an Elgato representative, advised us that the cable required for TV-out is the $49 Apple Component AV cable (part number MB128LL). Technical information about the cable can be found in this Apple support document titled iPod and iPhone: TV out support.
Samsung looks to diversify chip business amid Apple trouble
Samsung looks to diversify chip business amid Apple trouble
Samsung is already responding to Apple's seeming desire to reduce its reliance on its chief competitor for the production of mobile processors.Stephen Woo, president of Samsung's Systems LSI division, which is charged with producing mobile processors, told Reuters in an interview published yesterday that his company is looking to "diversify our customer base." To do so, he said, Samsung has already added "some Chinese customers."Woo admitted that the move is a response to Apple's waning reliance on Samsung for its chip-making needs. Apple pays Samsung about $8.8 billion for its mobile processors, representing about 80 percent of Samsung's business, according to data from Goldman Sachs. In the coming years, however, Apple is expected to go elsewhere with its business, and by 2017, reduce its orders to Samsung by 80 percent.That transition is reportedly already in the works. Earlier this month, the Taiwan-based Commercial Times reported that Apple had agreed to initiate trial production with Taiwan Semiconductor of the A6X processor found in its fourth-generation iPad. If all goes well, Taiwan Semiconductor could receive the entire A6X order.And Apple's transition has reportedly been in motion for quite some time. Apple and Samsung are currently embroiled in bitter patent disputes around the world, and Apple apparently despises the idea of paying its chief competitor both in those lawsuits and in the smartphone market in general.Still, as Goldman Sachs notes, it'll take time for Apple to actually move its efforts elsewhere. Samsung has been a trusted processor partner with Apple for years and has shown a proficiency for building its processors. Finding out if other companies are up to the task takes a while.
Samsung is already responding to Apple's seeming desire to reduce its reliance on its chief competitor for the production of mobile processors.Stephen Woo, president of Samsung's Systems LSI division, which is charged with producing mobile processors, told Reuters in an interview published yesterday that his company is looking to "diversify our customer base." To do so, he said, Samsung has already added "some Chinese customers."Woo admitted that the move is a response to Apple's waning reliance on Samsung for its chip-making needs. Apple pays Samsung about $8.8 billion for its mobile processors, representing about 80 percent of Samsung's business, according to data from Goldman Sachs. In the coming years, however, Apple is expected to go elsewhere with its business, and by 2017, reduce its orders to Samsung by 80 percent.That transition is reportedly already in the works. Earlier this month, the Taiwan-based Commercial Times reported that Apple had agreed to initiate trial production with Taiwan Semiconductor of the A6X processor found in its fourth-generation iPad. If all goes well, Taiwan Semiconductor could receive the entire A6X order.And Apple's transition has reportedly been in motion for quite some time. Apple and Samsung are currently embroiled in bitter patent disputes around the world, and Apple apparently despises the idea of paying its chief competitor both in those lawsuits and in the smartphone market in general.Still, as Goldman Sachs notes, it'll take time for Apple to actually move its efforts elsewhere. Samsung has been a trusted processor partner with Apple for years and has shown a proficiency for building its processors. Finding out if other companies are up to the task takes a while.
Samsung leaks Windows Phone 8 devices in Apple court documents
Samsung leaks Windows Phone 8 devices in Apple court documents
Samsung is planning to get in on the Windows Phone 8 launch later this year, according to a new report.The Verge is reporting today that it discovered two Windows Phone 8-based Samsung devices in court documents filed in Samsung's case with Apple. Code-named Odyssey and Marco, the devices are slated for a fourth-quarter launch, according to The Verge. It's believed that Microsoft will launch Windows Phone 8 in the fourth quarter, as well.In terms of the specs, the devices appear to be somewhat powerful, boasting dual-core Qualcomm processors and support for LTE, according to The Verge. The Odyssey will boast a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display, while the Marco will come with a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED option. The Odyssey will also come with an 8-megapixel rear camera, while the Marco will deliver a 5-megapixel option, according to The Verge.Microsoft showed off Windows Phone 8 for the first time last month. The operating system comes with a host of improvements over its predecessor, including a better home screen, near-field communication support, and in-app purchases. The operating system will come bundled in new Windows Phone 8-ready devices. Windows Phone 7.5 handsets can't be upgraded to the operating system.Samsung has not yet confirmed that it will be launching the Odyssey or Marco. However, that they were reportedly featured in court documents might seem to indicate it'll happen.Those court documents have become a treasure trove for reporters, offering all kinds of insight into both Apple and Samsung. Just yesterday, Apple divulged details on the prototypes it developed for its iPhone dating back to 2005.CNET has contacted Samsung for comment on The Verge's report. We will update this story when we have more information.
Samsung is planning to get in on the Windows Phone 8 launch later this year, according to a new report.The Verge is reporting today that it discovered two Windows Phone 8-based Samsung devices in court documents filed in Samsung's case with Apple. Code-named Odyssey and Marco, the devices are slated for a fourth-quarter launch, according to The Verge. It's believed that Microsoft will launch Windows Phone 8 in the fourth quarter, as well.In terms of the specs, the devices appear to be somewhat powerful, boasting dual-core Qualcomm processors and support for LTE, according to The Verge. The Odyssey will boast a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display, while the Marco will come with a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED option. The Odyssey will also come with an 8-megapixel rear camera, while the Marco will deliver a 5-megapixel option, according to The Verge.Microsoft showed off Windows Phone 8 for the first time last month. The operating system comes with a host of improvements over its predecessor, including a better home screen, near-field communication support, and in-app purchases. The operating system will come bundled in new Windows Phone 8-ready devices. Windows Phone 7.5 handsets can't be upgraded to the operating system.Samsung has not yet confirmed that it will be launching the Odyssey or Marco. However, that they were reportedly featured in court documents might seem to indicate it'll happen.Those court documents have become a treasure trove for reporters, offering all kinds of insight into both Apple and Samsung. Just yesterday, Apple divulged details on the prototypes it developed for its iPhone dating back to 2005.CNET has contacted Samsung for comment on The Verge's report. We will update this story when we have more information.
Samsung lappy heralds updated MacBook Air
Samsung lappy heralds updated MacBook Air
Under the skin of Samsung's new ultrasvelte laptop beats new Intel silicon that will likely be adopted by Apple in the refresh of the MacBook Air.One of the criticisms--admittedly of the geek variety--of the 2010 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Airs is the internals. At the risk of sounding like a broken record (as this has been asserted ad nauseam by many reviewers), both models use silicon that, in tech years, is long in the tooth--namely, the Core 2 Duo. But Apple is expected to pull a leapfrog with the new MacBook Air.The upcoming Airs will jump from the grizzled Core 2 Duo to the newly birthed second-generation Core i processors, aka, Sandy Bridge.Which brings us to the Samsung 9 Series 13.3-inch model.That 2.89-pound laptop uses one of the first Sandy Bridge low-power processors, the 1.4GHz Core i5-2537M. That chip is similar to what Apple will likely squeeze into the updated Air. What makes it low power? The i5-2537M draws a mere 17 watts, about half the wattage of typical Intel mobile processors. That means less heat, while still offering the goodness of the Sandy Bridge processor.Apple is expected to squeeze the newest Intel silicon into the ultrathin MacBook Air, just as Samsung has done with its 9 Series.AppleGoodness in the form of an improved built-in graphics processor and the option for automatic "overclocking"--if Apple decides to implement it--up to speeds of 2.3GHz.One of the intriguing questions is whether Apple, working with Intel, will ratchet the processor's power down even lower or stick with the standard rating on the power-frugal Sandy Bridge Core i series chips.We should know by this summer.Updated at 9:10 p.m. PDT: adding Samsung Series 9 information.
Under the skin of Samsung's new ultrasvelte laptop beats new Intel silicon that will likely be adopted by Apple in the refresh of the MacBook Air.One of the criticisms--admittedly of the geek variety--of the 2010 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Airs is the internals. At the risk of sounding like a broken record (as this has been asserted ad nauseam by many reviewers), both models use silicon that, in tech years, is long in the tooth--namely, the Core 2 Duo. But Apple is expected to pull a leapfrog with the new MacBook Air.The upcoming Airs will jump from the grizzled Core 2 Duo to the newly birthed second-generation Core i processors, aka, Sandy Bridge.Which brings us to the Samsung 9 Series 13.3-inch model.That 2.89-pound laptop uses one of the first Sandy Bridge low-power processors, the 1.4GHz Core i5-2537M. That chip is similar to what Apple will likely squeeze into the updated Air. What makes it low power? The i5-2537M draws a mere 17 watts, about half the wattage of typical Intel mobile processors. That means less heat, while still offering the goodness of the Sandy Bridge processor.Apple is expected to squeeze the newest Intel silicon into the ultrathin MacBook Air, just as Samsung has done with its 9 Series.AppleGoodness in the form of an improved built-in graphics processor and the option for automatic "overclocking"--if Apple decides to implement it--up to speeds of 2.3GHz.One of the intriguing questions is whether Apple, working with Intel, will ratchet the processor's power down even lower or stick with the standard rating on the power-frugal Sandy Bridge Core i series chips.We should know by this summer.Updated at 9:10 p.m. PDT: adding Samsung Series 9 information.
Samsung goes on offense, aims to bust Apple patents
Samsung goes on offense, aims to bust Apple patents
The primary gesture feature, called FractalZoom was one touch for scrolling, and two fingers to pinch and zoom, technology that Bogue said he actually demoed to Apple in a private meeting in late 2003. The technology was shown off to what Bogue said was "maybe half a dozen" Apple hardware engineers. The meeting didn't go anywhere, though Bogue kept an e-mail thread between him and the company, which Samsung submitted as evidence.DiamondTouch also had developed a follow-up technology called TableCloth, which Samsung showed off to once again take aim at Apple's bounce-back patent. TableCloth, which Bogue explained had been developed for Adobe's Flash platform, would bounce back images when they're pulled off screen.Bogue argued that while this technology was only found on the company's multi-touch PCs, it was readily viewable by anyone who came into the MERL lobby. There the company kept a demo unit that was loaded with the latest software.The two gesture patents are just part of Apple's patent offense against Samsung. As part of its suit against the South Korean technology giant, Apple is aiming one other of its patents for double tap screen navigation, as well as four design patents covering the iPhone and iPad. The trial picks back up tomorrow and runs through the rest of the week. Both sides are expected to close up their closing arguments early next week.Complete coverage: Apple v. Samsung, a battle over billions
The primary gesture feature, called FractalZoom was one touch for scrolling, and two fingers to pinch and zoom, technology that Bogue said he actually demoed to Apple in a private meeting in late 2003. The technology was shown off to what Bogue said was "maybe half a dozen" Apple hardware engineers. The meeting didn't go anywhere, though Bogue kept an e-mail thread between him and the company, which Samsung submitted as evidence.DiamondTouch also had developed a follow-up technology called TableCloth, which Samsung showed off to once again take aim at Apple's bounce-back patent. TableCloth, which Bogue explained had been developed for Adobe's Flash platform, would bounce back images when they're pulled off screen.Bogue argued that while this technology was only found on the company's multi-touch PCs, it was readily viewable by anyone who came into the MERL lobby. There the company kept a demo unit that was loaded with the latest software.The two gesture patents are just part of Apple's patent offense against Samsung. As part of its suit against the South Korean technology giant, Apple is aiming one other of its patents for double tap screen navigation, as well as four design patents covering the iPhone and iPad. The trial picks back up tomorrow and runs through the rest of the week. Both sides are expected to close up their closing arguments early next week.Complete coverage: Apple v. Samsung, a battle over billions
Samsung gains as Apple display supplier, says researcher
Samsung gains as Apple display supplier, says researcher
Samsung was expected to fade as a major Apple component supplier.But that's not happening. It is, rather, gaining on major Apple display supplier LGD, says NPD DisplaySearch. Samsung supplied more 9.7-inch panels to Apple than LG Display (LGD) in April and June, according to a research note from NPD DisplaySearch. Panels measuring 9.7 inches are used on the iPad 4.Related storyApple said to be eyeing Samsung for Retina iPad Mini screensApple, in fact, has been boosting purchases of displays from Samsung since January, according to the market analyst. Apple got about 2.3 million units from Samsung in the first quarter.That figure jumped about 80 percent quarter-to-quarter to more than 4.1 million units in the second quarter, according to DisplaySearch. Samsung will also begin supplying 7.9-inch panels for the new iPad mini in the second half of 2013.It's not clear if that's a rumored Retina-class iPad Mini or an expected update to the non-Retina version of the Mini.LGD is the top supplier of iPad Mini displays to date, said DisplaySearch.LGD and Japan Display are also expected to supply panels for the rumored iPad Mini Retina.The report cited an "industry official," who claimed that Apple is having problems procuring displays from suppliers such as Sharp and AU Optronics.The DisplaySearch note follows areport last month that claimed Samsung would supply displays for the upcoming iPad Mini Retina. Apple did not respond to a request for comment. [Via BrightWire News]
Samsung was expected to fade as a major Apple component supplier.But that's not happening. It is, rather, gaining on major Apple display supplier LGD, says NPD DisplaySearch. Samsung supplied more 9.7-inch panels to Apple than LG Display (LGD) in April and June, according to a research note from NPD DisplaySearch. Panels measuring 9.7 inches are used on the iPad 4.Related storyApple said to be eyeing Samsung for Retina iPad Mini screensApple, in fact, has been boosting purchases of displays from Samsung since January, according to the market analyst. Apple got about 2.3 million units from Samsung in the first quarter.That figure jumped about 80 percent quarter-to-quarter to more than 4.1 million units in the second quarter, according to DisplaySearch. Samsung will also begin supplying 7.9-inch panels for the new iPad mini in the second half of 2013.It's not clear if that's a rumored Retina-class iPad Mini or an expected update to the non-Retina version of the Mini.LGD is the top supplier of iPad Mini displays to date, said DisplaySearch.LGD and Japan Display are also expected to supply panels for the rumored iPad Mini Retina.The report cited an "industry official," who claimed that Apple is having problems procuring displays from suppliers such as Sharp and AU Optronics.The DisplaySearch note follows areport last month that claimed Samsung would supply displays for the upcoming iPad Mini Retina. Apple did not respond to a request for comment. [Via BrightWire News]
Acer sees Windows 8 as more potent challenge to Apple
Acer sees Windows 8 as more potent challenge to Apple
Microsoft's Windows "has not had any achievements within these two markets that can help it gain share," precipitating a decline in Netbook shipments and resulting in only "slight" growth in the traditional laptop market, according to the report citing Wang's comments.Though the article does not elaborate on Wang's point, presumably Wang is talking about market encroachment by the iPad, for example, on the Netbook and low-end laptop market. A recent report from Gartner forecasts only modest growth in PC shipments in 2011.The Acer Group was ranked No. 4 in the world in PC shipments in the third quarter, according to IDC. Wang also noted that Apple's "notebook products are only minor drivers" for growth and pale next to the heady growth seen in its iPhones and iPads. But Windows 8 could change this. Over the next couple of years, Wang sees a resurgence of the Microsoft camp on the back of Windows 8 as Microsoft responds more effectively to "consumer demands," according to the report.Windows 8 is expected no later than 2013. Windows 8 is expected to power a wider range of devices, including tablets, tablet-laptop hybrids, and Ultrabook clamshell laptops--the latter competing with Apple's MacBook Air. And Hewlett-Packard's decision to stay in the PC hardware business was welcomed by Wang, who said that "HP's move will help expand the market share of Windows to better compete against Apple."
Microsoft's Windows "has not had any achievements within these two markets that can help it gain share," precipitating a decline in Netbook shipments and resulting in only "slight" growth in the traditional laptop market, according to the report citing Wang's comments.Though the article does not elaborate on Wang's point, presumably Wang is talking about market encroachment by the iPad, for example, on the Netbook and low-end laptop market. A recent report from Gartner forecasts only modest growth in PC shipments in 2011.The Acer Group was ranked No. 4 in the world in PC shipments in the third quarter, according to IDC. Wang also noted that Apple's "notebook products are only minor drivers" for growth and pale next to the heady growth seen in its iPhones and iPads. But Windows 8 could change this. Over the next couple of years, Wang sees a resurgence of the Microsoft camp on the back of Windows 8 as Microsoft responds more effectively to "consumer demands," according to the report.Windows 8 is expected no later than 2013. Windows 8 is expected to power a wider range of devices, including tablets, tablet-laptop hybrids, and Ultrabook clamshell laptops--the latter competing with Apple's MacBook Air. And Hewlett-Packard's decision to stay in the PC hardware business was welcomed by Wang, who said that "HP's move will help expand the market share of Windows to better compete against Apple."
Coolest Movie Sets Ever: Jabba the Hutt's Sail Barge from 'Return of the Jedi
Coolest Movie Sets Everis a new series at Movies.com celebrating some of the most elaborate, impressive and possibly even mind-bending movie sets that have given us some of our favorite movies of all time. In the spring of 1982, in a desert location known as Buttercup Valley in Southern California, filming was underway on a movie tentatively named Blue Harvest: Horror Beyond Imagination. This would have been relatively unspectacular news for most people – except in the days before the Internet, studios and producers could get away with a little cinematic subterfuge without movie fans realizing they were being misled. As it turns out, the production crew toiling away under the scorching SoCal sun wasn’t making just another slasher movie – they were hard at work shooting one of the most anticipated films in the history of cinema: Revenge of the Jedi (which, as we all know, later became Return of the Jedi). It was a different era back in 1982 – not only was there no Internet blogosphere with scoop-breaking reporters scrounging up every detail they can find about popular films years before they’re released, there wasn’t much CGI, either. This meant that a guy like George Lucas had to hire crews to physically create the fantastical things in his Star Wars scripts. Sometimes those things were miniatures. Sometimes they were elaborate matte-painting backdrops. Sometimes they were primitive digital trickery (courtesy of the geniuses at Industrial Light and Magic). And sometimes they were just massive sets that were astonishing in their size and elaborate construction. Today, we take a look back at one of the latter. Buttercup Valley wasn’t home to a desert-set horror film at all – it was ground zero for the construction of one of Return of the Jedi’s most elaborate shooting locations: Jabba the Hutt’s sail barge, where Luke Skywalker and his friends stage a daring rescue of Han Solo and Princess Leia. As with all things Star Wars, the Hutt sail barge has an elaborate backstory all its own. Jabba’s ship was named the Khetanna, and was a massive, multilevel structure with a top level covered by mostly decorative sails that helped propel the crime lord’s pleasure palace across Tatooine’s endless oceans of sand. Early concept art for the vessel reveals it had a distinctly Asian influence in the beginning, before morphing into something much larger and industrial looking. The note on the art that it appears “too boat-like” is surprising – because Khetanna is clearly a boat, just one that travels across sand and not water. These early drawings do help us see how Lucas’ team arrived at the final design, though – and it’s really neat to get a glimpse at how the barge evolved from early drawings to finished build. With the design finalized, it was time for the real work to begin – and that meant hiring scores of construction folks to build this massive edifice in the desert. As Leonard Nimoy points out in this Return of the Jedi promotional video, it took 110 men over four months to construct the monstrous set. The completed location was over 212 feet long and 80 feet high, a fact driven home by how it dwarfs various semi trailers included for perspective in some of the photos. This was no simple build – it was a massive job. Not only did the crew have to build Khetanna, they also had to construct the massive scaffolding it sat on, and the area of the Sarlacc pit, plus the various skiffs that accompany the vessel on its voyage across the sands. Spending four months building such a massive set seems almost quaint in today’s world. Nowadays, a crew would construct the bare minimum of physical assets on a set, and the visual effects department would use CGI to put everything else in and enhance it all in postproduction. There’s certainly an art to visual effects work, but seeing something as massive as Khetanna built from the ground up in these photos is beyond charming. It’s a throwback to a different era – and the work is still beautiful. We can thank a fan named Mike Davis for many of these shots of the Khetanna set and behind-the-scenes filming action. Davis and his friends spent10 days in Buttercup Valley, snapping photos of the action unfolding before them. It’s interesting to note that the Lucas folks were generally okay with Davis and his friends taking these candid photos. Somehow,we doubt J.J. Abrams and company would be as willing to allow fans to do the same while he is shooting Episode VII. This is just a small sampling of the awesome photos taken of this set. Check out John Rozum’s amazing blog, the stunning Blue Harvest site, and The Prop Store for even more peeks behind the curtain. Computers may have made creating amazingly detailed locations easier, but photos like these prove just how magical good old-fashioned practical sets can still be. Previous Coolest Movie Sets Ever: The Inception Hallway Scene, and the Psycho house.
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