Lifebook 2013 Concept – A single convergence device?

Those of you who lug around a lot of gear like myself, and remember my article on a single convergence device, might just find this concept design by Indian Industrial Designer Prashant Chandra very interesting. His entry in the Fujitsu Design Awards competition, the Lifebook2013, was shortlisted to the top 100 from over 3000 entries from 99 countries. Consisting of a notebook, tablet, phone/MP3 player, and camera, the unit doesn't actually have a physical keyboard, the tablet becomes a virtual keyboard when docked. When connected, the unit shares hardware and storage and only needs a single power charger.


The Gadgeteer, Lifebook 2013 Concept â€" A single convergence device?

Maxxeon WorkStar 2000 Technician's Floodlight Review

Make no mistake.  We're suckers for flashlights at The Gadgeteer!  I thought I'd seen it all, but this odd duck grabbed my attention.  The WorkStar 2000 Technician's Floodlight from Maxxeon has a swiveling head, magnets, a hook and a rechargeable battery?  Let's take a look. You get a wall charger, car charger, belt clip and instructions.










The Gadgeteer, Maxxeon WorkStar 2000 Technician's Floodlight Review

Counter Strike Unofficially Ported To Android Devices [Download]

What do we have here. Seems those crazy wildboys over on XDA are creating themselves an unofficial port of the first-person shooter that launched a thousand ships — Counter Strike. The game, which is apparently being built form the ground up using the Unity3D platform, will feature cross-platform multiplayer with both Kongregate and Facebook versions already released. There are 2 versions being worked on at the moment — series 5o version for those on Android 2.0+ — and series 6p version for Android 2.3+ devices.




Android Phone

See also:
gadgetsdaily, Counter Strike Unofficially Ported To Android Devices [Download]

Whited00r lets you install iOS 5 look-alike on old-gen iPhones and iPod Touches

If you're still rockin' an ancient iPhone or iPod Touch and are fed up with friends teasing you at every chance with their new-style multitasking and reminder features, we've got some good news for you. A new software, dubbed Whited00r, will let you install portions of iOS 5 on the first two generations of the iPod Touch, iPhone 3G and even your O.G. iPhone. Whited00r accomplishes this by simply acting as a custom firmware — à la CyanogenMod 9 on Android handsets.

2DayBlog.com, Whited00r lets you install iOS 5 look-alike on old-gen iPhones and iPod Touches

Twitter buys Summify, helps you automatically turn off the noise

Summify is a beloved little news-curation platform that works out (based on your reading habits and those of your friends) what news is most relevant to you. Yesterday the Vancouver-based start-up announced that it had been snapped up by Twitter and will commence shutting down in the next week.

2DayBlog.com, Twitter buys Summify, helps you automatically turn off the noise

Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve

Let's face it, not every occasion calls for pulsating cufflinks, so Adafruit is offering up a little more diversity in its wearable line with Flora, an open-source electronics platform that you can wear on your person. The 1.75-inch board is not quite available for sale, but it's currently being put through some real-world testing. The platform features built-in USB support and will offer up modules for Bluetooth, GPS, OLED and a bunch more.

2DayBlog.com, Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve

Google Sky Map Is Dead – Long Live Open Sourced Google Sky Map

If there was one “must have” Android app ever since back in the G1 days, it was Google Sky Map. Used more as a way to impress friends or even that special girl as you lay on the hood of your car, Google Sky Map gave everyday Joe Shmoes access to stars and all of its wonders. With that being said — Google Sky Map is dead. Okay, I should clarify a bit. Google has officially stepped down as head of the Sky Map project instead, open sourcing the app so that other “astronomy enthusiasts” can change/contribute, however they wish.

Android Phone, Google Sky Map Is Dead â€" Long Live Open Sourced Google Sky Map

AntiCrop app for iOS “uncrops” your photos

Whenever you shoot a photograph, it's always easier to capture a large shot and then crop out what's uninteresting to make a better shot. But what about the other way around. What do you do then. Well, the folks over at Adva-Soft have recently released an app called AntiCrop for iOS devices that does just that. With this app, you can “uncrop” images by expanding its borders and using the app's algorithm to fill in the empty spaces with parts of the background. Naturally this works best with photographs that have repeatable backgrounds (i.e.



Ubergizmo, AntiCrop app for iOS “uncrops” your photos

HTC ThunderBolt now free at Verizon

This is hardly surprising, but the HTC ThunderBolt is now free from Verizon. You do have to sign a new two-year contract though, as you'd expect. Still, a free smartphone is a free smartphone. The ThunderBolt may not be today's cream of the crop, but it's still a pretty decent upper-midrange handset based on specs, and it's not often that those can be had for free, even with a contract.
We've seen the ThunderBolt discounted in the past, at one point it was even almost free, but those things happened at third party retailers. This time it's Verizon itself, perhaps signaling the fact that the ThunderBolt is on the way out.

Unwired View

See also:
bigcrunch, HTC ThunderBolt now free at Verizon

iPhone owners get ‘Samsunged' in new Galaxy S II ad [video]

. Following Samsung's recent run of television advertisements depicting iPhone users as mindless hipster sheep, the company's ad firm is back with another spot that again takes aim at Apple fans. The new ad shows iPhone 4 owners camped outside an Apple Store waiting for the latest iPhone model to finally go on sale.



Boy Genius Report, iPhone owners get ‘Samsunged' in new Galaxy S II ad [video]

Apple sues Samsung over Galaxy Nexus slide-to-unlock

To add insult to injury, after a German court ruled against Samsung’s claims of patent infringement on the part of Apple, the Cupertino-based company has decided to drag the Galaxy Nexus into court. Apple is alleging that the use of a slide-to-unlock feature in the Android 4.0 flagship device infringes upon their intellectual property. While Samsung is the name filed on the court documents, it is clear that the attack also targets Google, as the handset was developed as part of a close partnership between the two companies.

Android Phone, Apple sues Samsung over Galaxy Nexus slide-to-unlock

Nova Launcher Update Adds Custom Folder Icons and Infinite Scrolling

Everyone's favorite Ice Cream Sandwich-based launcher Nova Launcher has gotten itself a pretty nice update. For starters, infinite scrolling is now an option for those who find themselves indecisive on which homescreen to stop on. You can also change the icon of folders in case you want your folders to look consistent with the rest of your theme. Bug fixes and optimization are a natural part of any update, as well, so expect things to be a bit more stable. You can find the application and instructions to update to the latest version at this XDA thread.

Android Phone, Nova Launcher Update Adds Custom Folder Icons and Infinite Scrolling

New photos of old Sony Ericsson WP7 phone prototype surface

Early last year we saw a a prototype from Sony Ericsson that was running Windows Phone 7. The company never did announce a WP7 device, but now more shots have cropped up of what appears to be the same device. It's a prototype of the same model, but this one has a white back and keyboard. The prototype has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and recognizable Sony Ericsson styling (the back looks a lot like the back of a Neo, for one).






GSM Arena, New photos of old Sony Ericsson WP7 phone prototype surface

Budget smartphones aren't dead yet, Samsung announces Star 3 and Star 3 DUOS

So, Samsung may have launched some very affordable smartphones like the Galaxy W and Y for example but that doesn't mean the company will stop making budget phones all together. The company recently announced the Samsung Star 3 and Star 3 DUOS, successors to its tremendously successful Star and Star 2. It may not be a smartphone and may not run on Android but because it is aimed at those who are constantly connected to friends, it feature various apps like Samsung's very own ChatON communications, various IM services, integrated Facebook, Twitter and emails to keep users connected anytime and anywhere.

2DayBlog.com, Budget smartphones aren't dead yet, Samsung announces Star 3 and Star 3 DUOS

Namco Bandai Says Freemium Games Are Hurting High Quality Titles – Gives Consumers Unrealistic Pricing Expectations

If you fancy yourself an Android gamer, you've probably noticed the growing trend of “free” titles in the Android Market. More and more game publishers are switching over to the free-to-play or “freemium” business model and offering their games free of charge — but with a catch. Players soon learn that a game is sometimes unplayable without buying various in-game items via in-app purchases to progress. I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to freemium games in the Market. I think when executed correctly, a game can be enhanced by in-app purchase.

Android Phone, Namco Bandai Says Freemium Games Are Hurting High Quality Titles â€" Gives Consumers Unrealistic Pricing Expectations

TrueCar polishing edges off business model to comply with state regulations

TrueCar has attracted much unwanted attention recently, drawing the ire of Honda and torquing off regulators in several states. In response, the company has announced a series of changes to its business model, designed to address the legality of its service, according to a report in Automotive News. The biggest change is that dealers in some states will now have to subscribe to the lead service rather than paying a per-vehicle fee for sales closed from a TrueCar referral. Consumers will now have to sign up with TrueCar, providing contact information in the process.

Autoblog

See also:
itcrowd, TrueCar polishing edges off business model to comply with state regulations

The Cube 3D Printer For Homes

Printing technology certainly has come a long way. No longer is it limited just to the usual 2D printing. The technology now allows for people to make 3D printing possible. It has been fairly useful in many industrial settings where it has been used actually for some time now. But with the new Cube 3D Printer from 3D Systems, this technology may now be available for home use.

The Cube is probably the first 3D printer designed for home use. It is capable of printing 3D objects 5.5 X 5.5 X 5.5 in. or 140 x 140 x 140 mm in size.

Gadget.com, The Cube 3D Printer For Homes

Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Sale sees big numbers for vintage bikes

Bonhams wrapped up an impressive motorcycle auction in Las Vegas, and some very pricey metal rolled across the block. While seriously expensive bikes like the 1955 Vincent Black Prince pictured above and a 1915 Harley-Davidson 11-F Twin failed to bring home enough cash to find new owners, the 1953 Vincent Black Shadow to the right brought home well north of its early bid estimates. A new owner laid down a hefty $122,500 for the pleasure of ownership.


Autoblog

See also:
technoleap, Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Sale sees big numbers for vintage bikes

Sugru – Hack things better

Sugru is an air-curing rubber that can be formed and shaped by hand, sticks to most surfaces, cures to a tough flexible silicon overnight, and is stable at -60°C to + 180°C. Strong, flexible, waterproof and durable, it can be used for a multitude of purposes to adapt, modify and repair. Its uses are really only limited by your imagination. Once cured it can be removed with a craft knife and the residue removed with fingernails and tissue paper if required.

The Gadgeteer, Sugru â€" Hack things better

Walmart Introduces New Contract Free Family Plan From T-Mobile – Unlimited Talk, Text and Web For $45

Walmart is proving themselves once again to be the low price leader, this time when it comes to cellphone plans. The retailer is partnering up with T-Mobile to offer one of the country’s lowest unlimited family plans to date. $45 a month will get you unlimited talk, text and web with NO contract and adding lines is only an additional $35 after that (a 1 time fee of $25 per line is also added). If you’re thinking this plan is too good to be true, you’d be half right. If you remember, T-Mobile’s definition of “unlimited” comes with some fine print attached.

Android Phone, Walmart Introduces New Contract Free Family Plan From T-Mobile â€" Unlimited Talk, Text and Web For $45

Nokia Lumia 710 Now Available Stateside

US retailer WalMart is now offering the Nokia Lumia 710 for free on T-Mobile with a new two year contract. This budget smartphone is powered by the latest version of Microsoft's mobile OS, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. The Nokia Lumia 710 also features a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, a 1.4GHz Qualcomm single core processor, a 512MB of RAM, an 8GB of storage space and a 5-megapixel digital camera with a LED flash. Other specs include Bluetooth 2.1, A-GPS, WiFi, a microUSB port and a 1,300mAh battery.

TechFresh, Nokia Lumia 710 Now Available Stateside

Call of Duty ELITE Hits the Android Market

As if enough hours aren't already consumed playing Call of Duty, Activision wants to make sure that the popular first person shooter is never out of reach. Call of Duty ELITE isn't a game. It's an app for viewing your Modern Warfare 3 stats and comparing them with those of other players. Yes, this freemium service is for the most hardcore of hardcore CoD addicts. You can even edit your custom class within the app and have it ready for you whenever you next boot up an online multiplayer battle, whatever that means. If you managed to find ten minutes to read this article, you obviously aren't playing enough Call of Duty.

Android Phone, Call of Duty ELITE Hits the Android Market

Samsung plans larger batteries for their 2012 smartphones

Smartphones these days certainly do not last anywhere as near as our feature phones back in the day. Heck, our feature phones back then could last a couple of days and even up to a week without need a recharge, but then again our smartphones these days does a lot more for us than our feature phones did in the day. . Either way, in an interview with Samsung done by CNET, Samsung's vice president, Kevin Packingham, revealed the company's plans for bigger batteries on their 2012 range of smartphones.

Ubergizmo, Samsung plans larger batteries for their 2012 smartphones

Sony Dot Switch teased

Sony released a video clip that previews how a future feature would function, calling it “Dot Switch”, and you can view said video after the jump. In just 30 seconds, Sony showed off how a pair of hands is able to take advantage of a free Xperia handset in order to trigger different devices, ranging from a gramophone to a large screen TV. The video remains rather cryptic, and no matter how much one peers into the crystal ball, nothing comes out of it other than a hazy disposition.



Ubergizmo, Sony Dot Switch teased

NewVoiceMedia Feature Focus: Case-Based Routing

ContactWorld for Salesforce benefits the customer-driven service desk17 January, 2012: Customers calling the service or help desk using ContactWorld for Salesforce from NewVoiceMedia will now receive an even better level of service. The new case-based routing feature (a dynamic call-routing option) allows customers to quickly re-engage with the support agent or engineer that was handling their case rather than the generic support team.

Press Release Distribution, NewVoiceMedia Feature Focus: Case-Based Routing

The Pirate Bay to stop hosting torrents to save bandwidths

The Pirate Bay has announced that it will stop hosting torrents and announced the first move towards a torrent-free Pirate Bay today. The company said via blog post that it had made the decision not to host torrent files a long time ago and that going forward magnet links will be the default option on the site. TBP explained that the reasoning behind the decision was that magnets ‘are now good enough to use' and not as easy to block as torrent files. Additionally, the Pirate Bay highlights how much bandwidth they will save with the switch.
“Hey all!

Quite some time ago we decided to not host torrent files anymore.

2DayBlog.com, The Pirate Bay to stop hosting torrents to save bandwidths

Yet another rumor surfaces about a RIM sale

FOX Business reports that shares of Research In Motion climbed nearly 4-percent on Thursday after rumors surfaced about the company hiring investment bank Goldman Sachs to “explore strategic options.”. This is the fourth time since September 2011 that RIM stocks have jumped due to a possible sale. The first jump took place after reports about a possible purchase by activist investor Carl Icahn surfaced, and then jumped again just one week later after the company reportedly hired an investment bank.
RIM shares then jumped again back in December after Reuters claimed that Amazon and other potential buyers were considering a bid.

2DayBlog.com, Yet another rumor surfaces about a RIM sale

Two Sony Xperia phones leaked, are they the Nypon and Kumquat?

With Mobile World Congress just around the corner, you can be sure that Sony, having shed the “Ericsson” part for their smartphone range, has something up their sleeves – with the Xperia S (see our demo) being the most recent model to be announced at the recently concluded CES in Las Vegas. Two more Xperia smartphones have photobombed a group photo, where the larger model at the bottom should probably be the Xperia Nypon, which will be powered by a NovaThor U8500 chipset, sporting a 4″ qHD Reality display and an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video recording capability.

Ubergizmo

See also:
itworld, Two Sony Xperia phones leaked, are they the Nypon and Kumquat?

Teclast C550P Full HD PMP

Teclast has added another Full HD PMP to its range called the C550P. The device offers a 5.0-inch 480 x 272 touchscreen display, an 8GB of storage, a microSD card slot, an e-book reader, a voice recorder, TTS voice reading function, OTG function, a TV-out and supports up to 1080p Full HD video playback. The C550P is priced at 299 Yuan (about $47).

TechFresh, Teclast C550P Full HD PMP

2013 Nissan Pathfinder engine confirmed, big deal debuting in Big Apple

There is a lot to like about the Pathfinder Concept Nissan unveiled at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. The thinly disguised showcar foregoes the body-on-frame construction of the current Pathfinder for a weight savings of about 500 pounds. Nissan also promises fuel economy improvement of about 25 percent with the production model, which would be no small feat. Motor Trend reports that Nissan has confirmed that the 2013 Pathfinder will feature a 3.5-liter V6. That makes sense considering the Pathfinder's all-new sibling, the Infiniti JX35, will also feature the same V6.

Autoblog, 2013 Nissan Pathfinder engine confirmed, big deal debuting in Big Apple

A wild and sexy White Galaxy Nexus has appeared

We knew a snowed-out version of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus was on pace for a February release, and while we've still got a few weeks left, it looks as if one or two have slipped through the cracks. The fine folks over at HDBlog.it managed to get a hold of the prized possession and for anyone who has managed to pass their eyes over the white Galaxy S II, there's not a lot to be shocked by. The bezel along the front remains black, but hey — beggars can't be picky, right.


2DayBlog.com

See also:
trendygadgets, A wild and sexy White Galaxy Nexus has appeared

IdeaTab S2 10-inch Tablet, an Ice Cream Sandwich from Lenovo!

Lenovo said that its IdeaTab S2 10 tablet is available immediately in China. But in America and united Kingdom, it will come at later date. The S2 is thinner than its predecessor at just 1x3 -inch, and it weighs only 1.1lbs or less than 0.5kg, that's so light. Powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8960 dual core CPU, the IdeaTab S2 runs the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich which make it perfect to stay on the edge.
Are you in the mood to wait for the IdeaPad S2? If you're in hurry, you don't have to.


Trendy Gadget, IdeaTab S2 10-inch Tablet, an Ice Cream Sandwich from Lenovo!