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LG Optimus 7: Windows Phone 7, file sharing and Tegra 2


LG has unveiled its Windows Phone 7 smartphone the Optimus 7 – and is claiming that the phone is a “major breakthrough in mobile and home convergence”.

The phone, previously known as the LG E900, is also likely to have the Nvidia dual-core Tegra 2 processor for better speeds, battery life, graphics and video.

On top of that LG has incorporated media sharing technology in the Optimus 7 so that music, video and photos can be shared between the phone and other compatible devices that are compliant with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).

These devices include TVs and other home entertainment systems, as well as other phones or mobile gadgets. Other smartphones to include the technology to do this include the soon-to-be released Nokia N8.

The way the LG Optimus 7 works is that with just a flick of the finger the file is pinged to the device of choice without you having to leave the gallery or app you’re in. It also automatically identifies the other devices so you can select the chosen destination as easily as possible.

Seong-jin Park, Vice President of Mobile Handset R & D Centre at LG Electronics Inc, said: “This unique feature is a direct response to the growing need for technologies that empower users to share multimedia content across electronic devices. LG Optimus 7 smartphones will be at the centre of a complete entertainment experience, representing LG’s leadership in mobile convergence.”

The phone is also expected to have an 800 x 480 resolution, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

LG say the phones will be releases as early as October, there’s no definite release date or confirmed prices yet. It looks set to provide some serious competition to the iPhone 4, Android smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S and the HTC’s Gold and HD3/HD7 phones, which will also run on Windows Phone 7.

Google has yet again revolutionized internet search. This time by providing search algorithms that are so intuitive search results appear before you have finished typing in your query.

"It's a simple and straightforward idea," explains Google, "people can get results as they type their queries."

"As you can imagine, searching even before someone types isn't easy - which is why we are so excited today to be unveiling Google Instant," said Google's Marissa Mayer, VP Search Products & User Experience on September 8.

Google Instant provides users with dynamic search results that are automatically updated as the user types. The real-time, letter by letter, predictive results reflect the searcher's "most likely completion."

Implementation of Google Instant will provide major benefits for users, the most obvious of which is faster search results.

As Google's Matt Cutts asserts, "Google typically returns search results in milliseconds, but it takes several seconds for you to type a query. In other words, the limiting factor on a typical search is you."

Google Instant doesn't have to wait for your fingers to finish stumbling around the keyboard, it's already predicting the search query you have in mind.

"Our testing has shown that Google Instant saves the average searcher two to five seconds per search," said Mayer.

"That may not seem like a lot at first, but it adds up. With Google Instant, we estimate that we'll save our users 11 hours with each passing second!"

Rival company Yahoo was reportedly working on a similar feature for Yahoo Search called LiveSearch back in 2005. According to Stephen Hood, one of Yahoo's former search team members, the feature was never properly implemented and "[t]here is basically no trace left of LiveSearch these days."

Google Instant will roll out to users in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia first with other countries and languages following over the next several months.

For more information on Google Instant head to http://www.google.com/instant/ or watch Google's instructional video here: http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded

A Googler's thoughts on Google Instant: http://www.mattcutts...google-instant/

Stephen Hood's article "Google Instant is an example of how Yahoo could have won in search": http://uniquehazards...ahoo-could-have

Check out google Instant search here: http://www.google.co...bhp?sclient=psy

nanatrex@DeviantART

The reviews are in for Apple's new iPod devices including an overhauled iPod Touch, Nano and Shuffle. The iPod Touch appears to gaining the most applause for its addition of FaceTime, a new microphone and better hardware. The new squat and squarish Nano, meanwhile, is getting mixed reviews. The Nano's slick new interface is getting kudos, but feature subtractions, such as video playback, change the all-purpose focus of the device. As for the Shuffle, well, it's the new version of the old version of the Shuffle. What more can you say?

iPod Touch

The new iPod Touch "has never been closer" to being the iPhone without the phone, according to Macworld's Christopher Breen. Just like the iPhone, the new Touch includes the 326 pixels-per-inch Retina Display, 3-axis gyroscope, front- and rear-facing cameras and 720p video capture, all powered by Apple's A4 processor. The new Touch has also added a microphone and FaceTime video calling software.

Despite its new capabilities, however, the iPod Touch still falls short compared to the iPhone 4. The camera resolution is much lower on the Touch than the new iPhone. Breen says video results on the iPod Touch "aren't as good as those produced by the iPhone 4 or one of the better HD pocket camcorders." However, Businessweek "was impressed with both the clarity and the sound quality" of videos on the iPod Touch.

Still images are also lower quality on the iPod Touch, and USA Today's Edward C. Baig says new iPod Touch users shouldn't bank on using the new high dynamic range setting to pump up their photos. Apple's HDR feature takes three images taken in close succession, and combines them to create a higher quality still image. Baig says the new feature won't be available for the new Touch when Apple releases HDR with the forthcoming iOS 4.1.

The microphone is a welcome addition for the Touch. Not only can you capture audio for video recording, but also for FaceTime or Skype video calling, and mic-dependent applications such as music tagging on Shazam.

As for FaceTime, the new app reportedly works just as well as it does on the iPhone 4, but prepare for a few hiccups. Breen says he had no problem using Apple's standard iPhone headsets, but couldn't use his Plantronics Bluetooth headset for FaceTime. Businessweek also says you may have difficulties placing FaceTime calls from an iPod Touch to an iPhone 4 until Apple releases iOS 4.1 in the coming days.

The new iPod Touch comes in 8GB, 32GB and 64GB sizes for $229, $299 and $399, respectively.

iPod Nano


Apple's new Nano is a dramatic change from previous iterations of the device. Gone are the video playback capabilities and video capture, as well as Apple's clickwheel interface.

The new Nano is a music-centric device with a 1.54-inch multitouch display. The result is an "eminently usable," but "completely forgettable" device, according to London's Telegraph. The British daily said the new Nano "feels like an over-priced iPod Shuffle," but gave the device thumbs up for its easy-to-use touchscreen interface.

Engadget called the device a "smart, fast, capable player." The gadget blog also said that with the loss of the Nano's video camera and video playback capability the debate over "whether to get a Nano or something more full-featured, such as the [iPod Touch]...is dead."

Macworld's Dan Frakes said the Nano's photo viewing and FM tuner capabilities are great on the device's new multitouch screen. Frakes also likes the screen's crisp resolution at 220 ppi, but says the device's biggest miss is playback control. "As useful as the Multi-Touch screen can be, it's no substitute for physical playback controls when, say, the iPod is in your pocket, or when you're trying to skip tracks while running or driving," Frakes said.

The new iPod Nano comes in 8GB and 16GB sizes for $149 and $179, respectively.

iPod Shuffle

As for the new iPod Shuffle, there's not much to say other than the device revives the popular Shuffle design first introduced in 2006. Apple has kept the VoiceOver feature present in the 2009 version of the Shuffle so your iPod can call out song title, playlist name or battery information. Although the device is VoiceOver capable, you have to download and install the VoiceOver software via iTunes, according to gadget Website T3.

The new Shuffle offers 2GB of storage for $49.
Source: PC World

BDA dismisses Microsoft's claims that downloads and streaming will displace current discs.

Microsoft would be ‘welcome’ to join the the Blu-ray Disc Association. That’s according to the BDA’s European chairman Graham Heaton, who was speaking in an interview with CVG.



The exec said that any company could join the BDA of they wished, and was keen to stress that Microsoft’s suggestion that after its current discs for Xbox became unviable, streaming and downloads would take the strain.

"The amount of data required for a blockbuster game is getting bigger and bigger by the day,” said Heaton, suggesting that titles were already pushing a Blu-ray disc’s current 50GB limit. He went on to say that broadband infrastructure would not allow for streaming of 50GB games any time soon.



Heaton would not be drawn on whether Microsoft would be forced to adopt Blu-ray if major games start appearing on multiple discs for the Xbox 360.



Should Microsoft just bite the bullet and build Blu-ray into the Xbox 360? Tell us what you think

The cross-pollination of Microsoft and the BBC's iPlayer continued yesterday, with Auntie confirming it had hired Redmond's IPTV platform Mediaroom and Zune wonk.

Daniel Danker has taken on the role of general manager for programmes and on-demand telly at the Beeb, which means he will have responsibility for the iPlayer.

He will oversee the BBC's online products and services for the Corporation's archive, programmes, channels and stations.

Additionally, Danker will work with the BBC's Audio & Music and Vision wings. He has also been tasked with heading up development of the iPlayer, as well as the BBC's entire online search estate.

“The BBC iPlayer has been a great success, and as video and audio-on-demand comes of age we want to stay ahead of our audiences’ expectations by developing and delivering world-class products," said BBC future media and technology boss Erik Huggers.

Danker's first day at the new job starts on 20 September.

The Beeb's previous FMT boss, Ashley Highfield, took up a post with Microsoft UK as its consumer and online veep in late 2008. Immediately prior to that he had been - for four months only - in charge of the doomed web TV joint venture Project Kangaroo.

In related news, the BBC's iPlayer ditched its beta tag yesterday, and added some social network features to the platform.

Long Zheng has just noticed that software giant Microsoft has started its official advertising campaign ahead of the release of the Internet Explorer 9 BETA launch next Wednesday.

The adverts were initially noticed over at TechCrunch but will undoubtedly be around on other sites



The official launch taking place next Wednesday has been dubbed as 'Beauty of the web" and can be found by checking out the site :here:

A image which claims to be IE9 can be Found In many places around the web although many people are doubting the authenticity of it.

Images Courtesy Of Long Zheng

BT Fon app allows existing Total Broadband customers with an iPhone or Android phone to connect to the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot for free

BT has launched a mobile app for broadband customers that automatically connects their iPhone and Android mobiles to free, unlimited Wi-Fi.

The BT FON app, which is only available to existing BT Total Broadband customers, notifies users of the nearest Wi-Fi hot spots. Users then enter their BT internet email username and password, and can choose to be automatically logged in whenever they are in a BT Wi-Fi area.

Because access is unlimited and free for BT Total Broadband customers, this prevents them racking up extra costs on their mobile phone bill. BT FON and BT Openzone currently has 1.6m Wi-Fi hot spots worldwide.

Mike Wilson, manager of mobiles and broadband at moneysupermarket.com, said: "There are a lot of users who don't know that they can use their bundle minutes away from home. The application even has a map that shows users exactly where their closest hot spots are. It's a real asset to bundle users."

Apple's iPhone already offers a non-app-based search option for Wi-Fi connections, as does Android. Both are a standard free function of the handset, but search options often direct users to password protected hot spots as well as unlocked Wi-Fi providers, and access to them is not always free.

John Petter, managing director for BT Retail Consumer, said: "This represents real value to our customers at a time when more and more people are using their mobile phone to access the internet."

iPhone users can download the application from the app store (search for BT Fon) or by typing http://bit.ly/iPhoneBTFon into the iPhone's browser. Android users can download the application from the Android Market (search for BT Fon) or by typing http://bit.ly/AndroidBTFon into their browser. BBC's Children in Need appeal will receive 50p for each of the first 20,000 times the application is downloaded.

Tests carried out using a "final release" version of iOS 4.1 have revealed considerable improvement in the behavior of the software on iPhone 3G handsets, according to a technology web site.

Known to slow down old-generation hardware, iOS 4.0 was released this summer packing over 100 new features, including multitasking, application folders, an improved Mail with a unified inbox, Apple’s new iAd mobile advertising platform, iBooks and others.

Virtually an entire iPhone 3G community reported major issues with iOS 4.0, following the public release of the software.

Apple later acknowledged these issues and promised a firmware fix.

According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaking at the company’s Septmeber 1 event in San Francisco, that fix is scheduled to ship on September 8, inside iOS 4.1.

Apple also posted a message on its UK web site signaling that iOS 4.1 is to arrive on September 8.

Surprisingly, the company's US store still lists availability as "coming soon" (at the time of this writing)

Lifehacker now claims Apple has finally nailed pretty much every bug that slowed down iPhone 3G handsets.

The site posted a video comparing the behavior of one iPhone 3G unit running iOS 4.0 and iOS 4.1 subsequently.

According to the testers, the most noticeable difference was "UI responsiveness." The video, embedded below, stands as testimony.

The iOS 4.1 Software Update is the first major update to iOS 4. It brings Game Center, new iTunes features, high dynamic range photography, HD video uploads, and more to iPhone and iPod touch.

iOS 4.1 will be applicable on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, the second-, third-, and the fourth-generation iPod touch.

For iPad customers, Apple has prepared iOS 4.2, which the company previews in a special page on its web site.

With iOS 4.2, Apple plans to bring some of the features originally introduced in iOS 4.0 over to the iPad.

These include application folders, multitasking, and others. Apple previously noted that iOS 4 was due for iPad in Fall 2010.

“Look for iOS 4.2 coming in November for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch,” Apple now states.

Notably, the software also brings Airplay, a new feature recently announced by Apple that allows users to wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from an iPad to the new Apple TV.

The function also allows streaming music to AirPlay-supported speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express, Apple said.

Source: Softpedia

What woud you want to see more of here on joejoe.org, what would get you loggin in more each day and attract a new base of members?

I want you to select as many of the above and we'll take it from there.

If you select other then please let me know what 'other' means to you.

Regards,

Lee.

Neowin has found that Microsoft is planning a second beta for Windows Live Essentials 2011 (AKA Wave 4) to fix numerous issues found in the previous public beta. In conjunction with bug fixes, updated icons are also expected.

Expect to see beta 2 sometime next week around August 17th at 10AM PST.

Source: Neowin

Any German user, who bought Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in the US or UK, will not be able to activate the game anymore. Steam rejects the CD-Key for this game.

The Error Message says that Activision is not allowed to activate this version of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 in Germany because of some German laws. According to 'Gamestar' this Message appears as soon as you enter the Key of an international copy.



The international copy of Modern Warfare 2 is on 'list b' at the 'Bundesprüfsstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien' (check for youth harming media) what means, it could be illegal to own this copy in Germany.

In the German cut version you can not shoot any civilian in the mission 'No Russian' or the mission will fail.

Anyway, Gamestar says, that you should contact Activision if you have an international copy and try to get a key for the German copy or claim a refund at the international seller, you bought the game at.

Usually, Apple suggests you some Music, that you could like trough analysing your Library with Genious and now, iPad users are beeing suggested new apps aswell.

This is more or less nesecary with the more than 230.000 applications for the iOS plattform - and it has been a feature for the iPod and iPhone for a while now.

A new option in the US Store is the "Try before you buy" section, that allowes you to test some applications for some time but for the moment there are only "lite" or testversions of the full products available.

With this, Apple takes a look at the Android Market from Google, which allowes you to claim a refund for an application within 24 hours, if you do not like it.
Source: Winfuture.de

Dutch anti-piracy outfit BREIN has insured that Dutch citizens will no longer be able to access The Pirate Bay after taking 3 of the site founders to court last year. As of now they have won the case banning The Pirate Bay from the Netherlands by ordering The Pirate Bay to ban Dutch users.

The judge ruled that The Pirate Bay is not guilty of copyright infringement but the founders are guilty in assisting in copyright infringement. It is now thought that BREIN will attempt to use this victory to ban other torrent trackers from Dutch citizens.

Source: Torrentfreak

Today I got my hands on Microsoft Office 2011 for mac, which is currently in BETA. I managed to take a few screenshots off whats new. I must say I am quite impressed with it already.
One of the biggest things you will notice is entourage is now completely gone and replaced by outlook. Microsoft messenger now sports a new interface too which was very much needed in my opinion. But anyways less of the gibbering and more of the goodies:


Activation:



Communicator:



Remote Desktop:



Excel:




I took quite a few screen shots, if you want to see more including outlook, Microsoft messenger and more you'll need to download them from here

For icons and other resources click here

Lee.