6/23/2010 12:06:00 PM
kenmouse
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The iPhone 4 is no small thing to review. As most readers are well aware, in the gadget world a new piece of Apple hardware is a major event, preceded by rumors, speculation, an over-the-top announcement, and finally days, weeks, or months of anticipation from an ever-widening fan base. The iPhone 4 is certainly no exception -- in fact, it may be Apple's most successful launch yet, despite some bumps on the road. We've already seen Apple and AT&T's servers overloaded on the first day of pre-orders, the ship date for the next set of phones pushed back due to high demand, and die-hard fans in line outside of Apple locations a week before the phone is actually available. It's a lot to live up to, and the iPhone 4 is doing its best -- with features like a super-fast A4 CPU, a new front-facing camera and five megapixel shooter on the back, a completely new industrial design, and that outrageous Retina Display, no one would argue that Apple has been asleep at the wheel. So the question turns to whether or not the iPhone 4 can live up to the intense hype. Can it deliver on the promises Steve Jobs made at WWDC, and can it cement Apple's position in the marketplace in the face of mounting competition from the likes of Google and Microsoft? We have the answers to those questions -- and many more -- in our full review, so read on to find out!
6/23/2010 12:06:00 PM
kenmouse
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We can’t say for sure that it’s an indication that Walmart will be stocking the white iPhone 4 come Thursday, but we find it pretty interesting that all of a sudden the white 16GB model shows up on its retail store as “available in store.” Could this possibily mean that the white iPhone will be available for purchase — at least at Walmart — on D-Day?
6/23/2010 12:04:00 PM
kenmouse
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You might as well throw your sleeping bag and Coleman stove back into the attic, as AT&T as just announced that due to incredibly strong demand, it will not have any iPhone 4 units for sale in stores until June 29th. Anyone who pre-ordered for in-store pick up or home delivery will get their device on launch date provided they ordered before that infamous cut-off.
Here’s AT&T’s statement:
- Preordered for home or business delivery: iPhone 4 will begin arriving this week for customers who preordered. We’ll send an email when each order has shipped.
- Preordered for store delivery: AT&T retail representatives will begin calling customers this week to let them know their iPhone 4 is available for pick up in store.
- Retail purchase (no preorder): AT&T plans to have iPhone 4 inventory – available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last – on June 29 in its retail locations, at www.att.com, and in business sales channels. As inventory sells out, AT&T will offer the convenient option of purchasing iPhone 4 and having it delivered to a home or business or an AT&T store. As always, customers will receive an email once their order is placed, and again when it ships.
Anyone sharpening their pitchforks?
It's been a bit of a unicorn since making a quick appearance at MIX, but we just got the chance to go hands-on with Samsung's Omnia i8910-based Windows Phone 7 prototype phone. Interestingly, we were told that this hardware will never be released to market -- it's just for testing purposes right now. That testing is going quite well, as far as we can see -- Microsoft's people are starting to carry WP7 devices as their personal phones now, and while the software is still quite buggy, the build we saw in action was noticeably faster than before. We were also told that the hardware in the pipeline -- particularly from Samsung -- is apparently quite spectacular, and that this particular device doesn't represent the launch set of devices. We'll have to see -- we actually thought this prototype was quite handsome in person, although it's a little thicker than you might expect. Hit below for some more pics!
6/23/2010 12:01:00 PM
kenmouse
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E-Asian
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Kim Hyun Joong
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Leeteuk
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SS501
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Super Junior
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Bugs Music recently conducted a poll from June 14th to June 21st with the question: Which of these artists has the best leadership? The poll had a total of 4,780 votes and Super Junior’s Leeteuk came out on top.
The results were:
1) Super Junior’s Leeteuk (58% – 2760 votes)
2) SS501’s Kim Hyun Joong (22% – 1019 votes)
3) Big Bang’s TOP (8% – 350 votes)
4) CNBLUE’s Jung Yong Hwa (301 votes)
5) Hot Potato’s Kim C (242 votes)
6) MBLAQ’s Lee Joon (80 votes)
For some odd reason they replaced Big Bang’s leader G-Dragon with TOP and MBLAQ’s leader Seung Ho with Lee Joon.
6/23/2010 12:01:00 PM
kenmouse
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MeeGo
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We managed to grab some hands-on time with a Moorestown-powered MeeGo tablet prototype during the hustle and bustle that was Computex 2010, but if you're looking for a more subdued, PBS-approved rundown of what the forthcoming operating system will offer, you're in the right place. Hosted up just after the break is a video demo of the pre-alpha user interface, complete with a finger-led walkthrough of the entire system. We'll be frank -- what we're seeing here is downright dazzling, and it all looks a heck of a lot easier to wrap one's noodle around than a full-on copy of Win7. Peek it for yourself, won't you?
6/23/2010 11:58:00 AM
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Microsoft Bing
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Bing’s iPhone app isn’t the only thing getting an upgrade today at Microsoft’s search engine. Bing is also starting to roll out close to 100 new features to its main search engine on the Web. The biggest change is a new major search category under Bing Entertainment, which will include better ways to search for music, movies, TV shows, and games. “We did travel, health, shopping and local last year,” explains senior VP Yusuf Mehdi. “Now the Web has unlocked all of this entertainment, but for many people they are spending too much time looking for what they want to do instead of enjoying it. We are trying to remove all of those hurdles that block you from enjoying it. You should be able to watch a show, listen to online music, or play a game with a few clicks.”
Roughly 10 percent of all searches are entertainment related, according to Mehdi. And 90 percent of people do at least one entertainment search a month. Bing Entertainment is designed to provide a more in-depth and visual search experience for music, movies, TV shows, and games.
6/23/2010 11:57:00 AM
kenmouse
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Psycho
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After showing a little butt crack and the chest in the past two days, GnG Production has released the third photo teaser for their rookie female singer Psycho and this time it’s a near-full back body shot.
The teaser images have kept coming but GnG Production have not indicated whether it’s someone else or the actual body of Kwak Hyun Hwa who is making her maiden debut as a singer under the stage name, “Psycho“. Ahead of the album release on June 28th, the third teaser shows the near-full back view of a female body as she unstraps her bra. You have to wonder, what’s next in store?
6/23/2010 11:57:00 AM
kenmouse
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Froyo
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Google
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Considering Google's typically feverish pace in deploying new Android builds, we'll admit -- we kind of expected Android 2.2 Froyo to be released to retail Nexus Ones by now... but no dice. So, where is it? The company hasn't committed to a firm date for a global roll-out yet, but there's official word from an Android employee over on the Nexus One's support forums this week that FRF72 is not the final update and that a release "will only happen once a release candidate meets [their] quality criteria." Korean versions of the phone were pegged to launch with 2.2 this week, so any way you slice it, it can't be long now.
6/23/2010 11:57:00 AM
kenmouse
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Couldn't very well have an iPhone for sale showing an outdated version of the operating system, now, could you? Just wouldn't be civilized.
6/23/2010 11:56:00 AM
kenmouse
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Jealousy. That’s really the only word we can muster to best describe how we and at least 600,000 other people are feeling at the moment now that a handful of iPhone 4s have arrived safely in the arms of their new owners. Hit the jump for more photo evidence.
6/23/2010 01:39:00 AM
kenmouse
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Music News
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Miley Cyrus debuted her sexier side last month in the steamy music video for “Can’t Be Tamed” and now, with the release of her album Monday, she is officially making the move from teen queen to rock star. So what’s the inspiration for the new look? “Miley’s style is a natural progression of her growing up and being influenced by the music that inspires her,” the singer’s stylist, Simone Harouche, tells PEOPLE, citing rock legends Joan Jett and Blondie. “The album cover was basically a strong statement saying in the most simple way, that she can’t be tamed–literally and metaphorically,” explains Harouche. To achieve Miley’s rebellious new look, Harouche turned to designer denim brand, Robins Jeans. “[Miley] is really into leather,” says Harouche. “Robins Jeans leather jacket is such a cool staple piece: It’s embellished without being overly done and the fit is amazing. It’s the perfect example of rock ’n’ roll clothing.” Pairing the studded jacket with a laced-up crop top and low-rise leather leggings from the brand, Miley looks every bit the good girl-gone-bad.
6/23/2010 01:38:00 AM
kenmouse
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Jay Chou
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Seth Rogan
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Upcoming Hollywood action flick ‘The Green Hornet’ starring Seth Rogan, Cameron Diaz & Jay Chou released its official trailer today. In the film, Jay plays Kato, a smart tech genius who develops bizarre high-tech weapons. The film is slated to release in the U.S in January next year, and will be released in Hong Kong in early February.
The trailer is two and a half minutes long and shows many exciting scenes. Jay appears many times, evidently displaying the importance of his character. From the trailer, we can see Jay’s usual ‘cool’ style in Kato. Something also worth mentioning is his English pronunciations; it seems like a lot of hard work went into practicing English for this film.
6/23/2010 01:36:00 AM
kenmouse
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Samsung Captivate
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AT&T may have been accused of crippling its Android phones, but the Samsung Captivate -- one of the US versions of the Galaxy S -- is about to change all of that. Oh sure, the company released the specs last week, but us resourceful folk got some hands-on time with the Super AMOLED-boasting, Android 2.1 phone prior to its unknown stateside launch. The model we got to play with was clearly an early build (it wasn't even branded Samsung or AT&T), but that didn't stop us from putting it through the paces at a local Starbucks. Hit the break for a bulleted breakdown of our impressions and a short hands-on video. Oh, and don't forget to make a pit stop below before getting into the good stuff.
6/23/2010 01:36:00 AM
kenmouse
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Windows Phone 7
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Microsoft still hasn't gotten any more specific than "holiday 2010" for a Windows Phone 7 launch date, but it looks like we may now have a bit more specificity courtesy of Australian carrier Telstra. According to a leaked snippet from a purportedly authentic Telstra roadmap, the hereto unheard of Windows Phone 7-based HTC Mozart will be launching sometime in October -- presumably coinciding with the launch of Windows Phone 7 itself. As you may be able to tell, however, the phone pictured is actually a poor mockup (grey copy and paste border around the phone, Sense UI behind the WP7 UI, etc.) of an HTC Desire, but none other than Conflipper says that the Mozart is indeed a real device and, incidentally, headed to T-Mobile US as well.
6/23/2010 01:34:00 AM
kenmouse
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Check out that sweet, sweet box. Yes folks, we seem to have received our very first in-the-cardboard picture of the retail iPhone 4 out in the wild. We don't work at Walmart, so we can't verify this one for ourselves, but our tipster says Apple's latest phone has just landed in the big box retailer's storehouses.
P.S. -- Before you start frothing at the mouth, the CDMA coding on the box in the background relates to an LG 290C handset also stocked by Walmart.
6/23/2010 01:34:00 AM
kenmouse
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Perhaps you should have read this new paragraph in the software license before installing iOS 4. You know, the one that now says that Apple has the right to "collect, use, and share precise [your gadget's] real-time geographic location":
To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.
Apple and its partners have been using location for a while. That's how the Maps, Twitter, Flixter, Foursquare, or Yelp work. The difference is that you are now giving Apple the right to store that information and share it with third parties. In that paragraph, Apple obscurely claims that the location data is collected anonymously, but there's no description of the exact storage and access policy. At least, I can't find it anywhere.
Most logically, the location information is tied to your device unique identification number. That's the only way to keep track of location moves, and the only way this feature can work for advertisers and app developers. Sadly, this doesn't make the storage anonymous, like Apple claims: Even while it may not contain your name or social security number, the location information could in theory be crossed with a user database to pinpoint the real-time location or the location history of any individual. Recent cases have taught us that apparently is not that hard to have access to unique device identification numbers and their respective user names.
6/23/2010 01:33:00 AM
kenmouse
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Microsoft
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Xbox Live
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Microsoft's just dropped details on its new Xbox Live family subscription plan. Starting in November, it will offer the Gold Family Pack, enabling up to four users to have Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, for $99.99 a year. It'll also debut the Family Center, a new menu accessible from the dashboard for customizing account settings. We've certainly wished for something like this in the past, and the pricing sounds like a pretty good deal to us -- we'll be able to afford a new cap for our avatar, afterall!
6/23/2010 01:32:00 AM
kenmouse
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Motorola Droid X
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Verizon
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Ah, yes. The creepy nerd-centric DROID X commercial Verizon users have come to know and love. Well, maybe not love, but it is memorable. BriefMobile is reporting that if you slow down the teaser-video towards the end, it appears as though the 07.2010 actually turns into 07.2.2010. Now, this could just be some video artifact from the flickering, morphing transition on that particular clip…but conspiracy theories are way more fun. One thing is certain: Verizon is holding a media event this Wednesday in NYC, and the DROID X is most certainly going to be there. To us, a June 23rd unveiling (one day before the iPhone 4 goes live) and a July 2nd release doesn’t seem out of the question. What do you think?
6/23/2010 01:30:00 AM
kenmouse
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Acer's Timeline X laptops have been popping up around the world for over three months now, but the thin and light machines are finally making their way to this side of the globe, and we can only hope they're as excited as we are. The machines all shun ULV processors for standard voltage Core i3 or i5 CPUs, yet each of the models still ring up at under a grand. They also span the entire size spectrum -- there's an 11.6-inch 1830T, 13.3-inch 3820T, 14-inch 4820T and lastly the 15.6-inch 5820T. However, despite their full-power CPUs and ATI Mobiltiy Radeon HD 5650 graphics options, all the models continue to measure less than an inch thick -- yep, even the Aspire 5820T and the Aspire 4820T with onboard optical drives maintain rather trim measurements. While there are plenty of deals to be had, the $800 Aspire 4820TG with its Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 320GB hard drive sounds mighty tempting. Yet, there's also the $600 1830T with a Core i3 processor, 3GB of memory and 320GB of storage. We told you we were excited. These should be hitting retailers soon, but if you're dying for some more details hit the break for some hands-on shots we stole at Computex a few weeks back.
It's a strangely busy week for new album releases, and no matter what sort of sounds you're into, there are plenty of options. If you're a fan of classic metal, there are new albums by Ozzy Osbourne, Danzig and Vince Neil. Into funky, groovy hip-hop? The Roots' How I Got Over streets today. Still dig those big, block-rocking beats? Check out the just-released Chemical Brothers album Further. Macy Gray, Marah, Cyndi Lauper, Herbie Hancock, Stars, Robert Randolph and Sia all have new music that is in stores today. It's an embarrassment of riches.
Taking an acute turn away from the quietly powerful chamber-drama plots of the previous two films, early photos indicate that much of Transformers 3: The Rise of the Vengeful Fallen’s Revenge will be about Shia LaBeouf cowering in the face of giant CGI robots making things go boom.
In a bashing the New York Post deems a joke, Jerry Seinfeld called out Lady Gaga for her recent appearances at New York Yankees and Mets games -- she flipped dual middle fingers unrepentantly at one game, and showed up in skimpy lingerie for both.
The TVBS foundation has long been concerned about the educational needs of impoverished children in remote areas. This time, they've specially invited Show Lo, who hails from the same kind of impoverished student family background, to come out and appeal to compassionate friends to join together in donations. Specially, as a dance king, Show Lo used a school desk to put together a brief dance and say to everyone, "Going to school is a stage. Going to school, is a future."
Earlier today Inside Facebook posted a very interesting interview with Facebook founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The conversation touched on a range of topics including the proliferation of social gaming, the argument for instituting Facebook Credits across all games, and why Zuckerberg is no longer afraid of Twitter. It also shed some light on Facebook’s revenue numbers: Zuckerberg said that estimates that Facebook would make between $1 and $1.1 billion this year “are not so far off in either direction that it’s causing us any pain…”
Sometimes, a blouse is only a blouse.
Earlier this month, Apple unveiled a new site to showcase HTML5. On it, Apple showed off a number of impressive web demos coded using only HTML5 technologies. However, at least on the main page, these demos were restricted to working on only Apple’s Safari web browser. So now Google is countering with its own HTML5 site — called, get this, HTML5Rocks.
Miriam Yeung will be holding her concert 'Ladies and Gentlemen Miriam Yeung World Tour--HK Stop' on October 7th - 10th in Hong Kong Coliseum. Miriam will be doing a wedding rehearsal at the concert and Thomas Chan is her concert designer. Thomas especially tailored a bridal look for Miriam. Even before the concert, Miriam already held her wedding banquet for early excitement. Miriam appeared in a low-cut wedding dress for the concert poster shooting, she could not help but praise herself: "Looks like I do have a career line!"
Has Bieber-fever invaded American Idol?
Yesterday afternoon, Raymond Lam attended a Office Windows 2010 promotional event in West Kowloon. The temperature yesterday hit 34 degrees C, under the hot weather, he went on a helicopter and then held the ceremony at an open area. Raymond appeared to be sweating heavily on his back. Asked if his pay for this event is very high? Raymond did not answer directly, he only expressed that he's afraid of heights. He said: "I just looked at the scenery up in the air constantly. Usually at shopping mall events, I can't even look down the glass window on the 2nd or 3rd floor. But when shooting for costume series, I would get so into my heroic character that I'm not afraid anymore. One time when I was filming a modern series, I had to stick out half of my body of a 30+ floor building to save someone, I was really scared that time because it was modern, can't fly."
Google Inc. is developing services to let consumers pay for access to news articles and songs through individual purchases and subscriptions, according to various news reports.