Related AppleInsider articles:*
Apple among those considering rival bid for... *
Steve Jobs to Apple investors: 'hang in there' *
Palm signs on former Apple heads in private... *
Jobs: 'I make fifty cents just for showing up' *
PC World editor quits during dispute over... In a controversial piece published by Fortune, for which Steve Jobs declined to comment, the business publication claims the Apple co-founder masked his battle with cancer for a full nine months before informing shareholders and anyone outside his most intimate of inner circles.
For those nine months, said Peter Elkind, the magazine's editor, Apple's board of directors secretly agonized over the situation, as they struggled to balance their moral responsibilities to both the company's investors and their chief executive's appeal for privacy.
According to the report, the board would ultimately decide to say nothing after seeking advice on its obligations from two outside lawyers, who agreed the matter could remain secret.
Jobs, as he would later reveal in an email to employees on August 1, 2004, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, or a malignant tumor within the pancreatic gland that often leads to a surefire death.
To his fortune, a biopsy in October of 2003 would reveal that he had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, which represents about 1 percent of the total cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year.
"If the tumor were surgically removed, Jobs' prognosis would be promising," Elkind wrote. "The vast majority of those who underwent the operation survived at least ten years."
But to the dismay of the Board and those closest to him, Jobs is said to have considered never having the surgery at all. Not a proponent of modern day medicine, he reportedly decided "to employ alternative methods to treat his pancreatic cancer, hoping to avoid the operation through a special diet - a course of action that hasn't been disclosed until now."
Jobs speaks openly about his battle with cancer at Stanford University in 2005.
In the end, Jobs would ultimately have the surgery, on Saturday, July 31, 2004, at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, near his home. But for the preceding nine months, "nary a word got out" and "no one learned just how long" he'd been sick, added Elkind, who goes on to scrutinize nearly every aspect of the Silicon Valley icon -- and accuse him of putting investors at risk -- in the piece titled, "
The trouble with Steve Jobs."
 (Credit: CNET Networks) Audi's big news from this year's Geneva auto show is the release of its updated A4 Avant. The all-wheel drive wagon is six inches longer than its predecessor, giving it more than 50 cubic feet of storage space. The Avant comes with a choice of two direct-injection gasoline and three diesel engines: the top-of-the-range V-6 is good for 265 horsepower. The Avant is based on the same layout as the updated A4 sedan that we saw in Frankfurt last year, and features the same suspension configuration and the same Audi drive select system, which allows the driver to influence how the engine, automatic transmission and steering system respond.  (Credit: CNET Networks) Onboard tech options are also similar to those in the sedan, including an available 505-watt Bang and Olufsen audio system with 14 speakers giving it a soundtrack on a par with higher-end Audi models such as the S5 coupe and the R8.  Curiously, we noticed that the updated MMI interface on the Avant, which controls its GPS navigation system and multimedia options, appears to be available in one of two configurations: on one of the display cars, the MMI wheel was mounted on the central console between the two front seats, while on another one it was mounted vertically on the central console. Audi makes a reference to "MMI basic plus" in its press materials, which leads us to believe that it might be offering several versions of its technology package with the A4 Avant. CLICK HERE FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2008 GENEVA AUTO SHOW.
 Click to get inside the Air(Credit: Mark Kaelin/CNET Networks) Ever since the MacBook Air was released, we've been wondering how Apple fit an entire working computer into a space as thin as a magazine. Mark Kaelin over at TechRepublic has cracked open the brand new notebook computer, and you can have a look inside without voiding anyone's warranty. Check out the glory of ribbon cables in this News.com gallery: Photos: Cracking open the MacBook Air
 (Credit: Free Shipping On) There's a new Web site in town that has Cheapskate written all over it: Free Shipping On. Terrible name, great service: It enables you to search Amazon and eBay for only those items that have free shipping. It also corrals free-shipping deals from over 500 other stores, from Apple to Home Depot to WebUndies.com. I particularly like the eBay search tool, as it drives me nuts when I find a seemingly great deal on something and then discover a ridiculously inflated shipping charge. Both the Amazon and eBay tools can be added to your browser's list of search engines, meaning you can use them without having to visit Free Shipping On proper. While you're at it, stop by Deal Locker, a discount-coupon site from the same developers. via AppScout
 Scions Hako Coupe concept will be unveiled at the New York auto show.(Credit: Scion) Amidst all the news coming from the Geneva auto show, Scion slipped out a press release on what it will unveil at the upcoming New York auto show. The company released few details on the new concept, other than to say in the press release "The sporty interpretation of the box concept was developed by Tokyo Design Division which studied global, youth-inspired trends." That statement could describe almost any Scion model. But we are looking forward to seeing the concept at the New York show because Scion concepts are few and far between. The picture Scion released is only a detail of the hood, but from it we can tell that this coupe has a blunt front end, like the Scion xB, with angular design cues in the body molding. LED head lights are also visible. Look for our 2008 New York auto show coverage starting March 19.
 Motorola Krzr K1m for Boost Mobile(Credit: Boost Mobile) Boost Mobile is often known for their iDEN/Walkie-talkie phones, as their "Where you at?" ads would suggest. However, the youth-oriented Sprint-Nextel offspring also offers a few non-iDEN phones, and its latest is the Motorola Krzr K1m. The K1m has all the features of the Sprint version, such as an MP3 player, a 1.3-megapixel camera, GPS, as well as EV-DO support, and is available for $249.99. It also includes a preloaded service called "The Latest," which gives you access to information such as news, sports, and stock market updates throughout the day. Premium channels have driving directions, unlimited 411 searches, and more. A basic subscription is $2.99 a month, and a premium one will cost you $4.99 a month. Boost is offering a trial of "The Latest" service for free for the first seven days. The Krzr K1m is also the launch device for Boost Mobile's new unlimited monthly plans that range from $45 to $55 a month, arguably one of the most affordable unlimited plans in the nation ($45 is for just calls, $50 for talk and text, and $55 if you add Web access to the mix). If you're a new customer, you can get the first month free. Boost Mobile is only available in 13 states though, so enter in your zip code to see if you're in luck. [Source: Slashphone]
 (Credit: LumiSource) If you want to feel the action in your gaming chair but don't feel like dropping $22,500 for a racing simulator, you can at least get some old-school kinetics from the "BoomPod." The latest game seat from LumiSource doesn't rely on artificial stimulants from the likes of a " ButtKicker Gamer" or " D-Box." Instead, you have to do most of the work yourself by rocking on its "rounded bottom for multi-directional tilt"--in other words, it's like trying to play while balancing on an exercise ball. It does appear to have some ports and maybe even a built-in speaker or two, but that's not the point. The BoomPod seems to be trying to get kids (and adults) to do more than just sit and collect dust. But if you're not interested in changing your family's sedentary ways, you can always stick with the " Slouchpod."
Patience, HD video fans. Those of you hoping that the defeat of HD DVD would usher in a new era of lower-priced Blu-ray players will have to wait at least until the next calendar year. In comments made to reporters at a New York press gathering Wednesday morning, Sony Electronics President Stan Glasgow said, "I don't think $200 is going to happen this year. Next year $200 could happen. We'll be at a $300 rate this year; $299 will happen this year," according to Gizmodo. There's been quite a bit of media discussion over whether or not Sony and other Blu-ray supporters will start cutting prices on standalone players in the aftermath of HD DVD's death. Seeing as how the answer is "no" from Sony for now, that decreases the likelihood that Blu-ray will make major inroads with mainstream consumers, as a plurality cite price as the biggest barrier to their purchase of an HD video player. At the same event, Glasgow also dished on other Sony-related news: * Even in the face of a downturn in the U.S. economy, Glasgow says Sony's electronics sales are still going swimmingly. He said the company expects to sell 5 million Blu-ray players by the end of 2008. The company unveiled two new models last week. * Sony has no plans to make digital converter boxes for next year's digital TV switchover, and will leave that to the lower-tier CE companies. Glasgow will be in San Francisco to chat up West Coast reporters Wednesday night. Check back here for updates and additional comments from him.
 MXTUBE is a fantastic new native application for jailbroken iPhones. If you're one of the lucky few with a jailbroken handset and the installer app, you'll find MxTube in the recent packages section as of last night. The app is fairly similar to the iPhone's native YouTube video viewer with the added benefit of being able to download entire clips and save them to your phone's memory for offline viewing. Downloaded videos don't show up to those in your regular video library, and won't sync up into iTunes the next time you plug in your phone, but they can be deleted one at a time just like regular video files in case you start running short on space. The app has a search tool that lets you hunt for videos, and each one has the option to download the higher or lower quality version in case you feel like trying to save space. Downloads can be stacked up, although in its current release, having more than one video in the download queue seems to crash it. Speaking of crashes, the app is has a handful of bugs that make it a little volatile, including one that doesn't let you exit playing videos unless you hit the home button. Otherwise it's a fantastic tool for grabbing a ton of free video content without having to deal with the molasseslike speeds of EDGE or third-party ripping tools that require syncing with iTunes to transfer content. I've embedded a demo from the creator of the app after the break. MxTube IPhone Native App - Coming Soon - video powered by Metacafe
If you know your high-end earphone manufacturers, you'll have heard of Etymotic. It's made a whole bunch of  (Credit: Crave UK)
So fresh are they there's no confirmed price, but 99 pounds (about $197) is the rough figure we've been given to work with, putting them in Shure SE310 and Denon AH-C700 territory. Like those two models, the hf2s are sound-isolating 'phones, meaning they passively block out ambient noise by using either flanged silicon or foam tips. The silicon tips are less intrusive in the ear, but the foam ones are better at isolation, with the advantage of giving bass an extra kick. Inside each 'phone is a balanced armature driver with a frequency response of 20Hz-16KHz. This is much less responsive than Denon's old C700s, which rock 12Hz-24,000KHz, but arguably on a par with Shure's SE310s, with their response of 22Hz-19KHz. For those of you scared of frequency tables, that means on paper the Denons have better bass and treble, but the new Etymotics have a lower bass-response rate, so bass will be that bit fuller. But numbers mean about as much as the opinions of Jade Goody if performance is rubbish. Fortunately, it's on a par with what we'd expect of Etymotic. The hf2s have a balanced sound, with strengths in overall clarity and definition. Bass isn't a strong point, so they're not a pair to consider if you thrive on bass, but if you want terrific clarity they're a good choice, with extremely punchy mids and a bright treble. There's one more thing though: a microphone sits in-line for iPhone chin waggery. A button lets you mute your music when you answer a call, and apparently this works with some music phones, though we're yet to discover which. For the full-pelt, full-power, red-hot maximum bass lowdown, check back soon for our full review. It'll be an adventure of intrigue, mystery, double-crossing and backstabbing. Oh wait, that's the book we're reading. Yeah, the review's just a review. But it'll be a good one, and you won't want to miss it. No, really, it'll have pictures and everything! (Source: Crave UK)
Why Flash?
The iPhone's mobile Safari browser delivers such a desktop-like experience that the main remaining element missing for most users has related to Flash, software commonly used by web designers to add interactive applets to their websites. Adobe's Flash acts as a self contained environment for presenting interactive, animated elements on web pages.
The most common use of Flash is in banner ads that goad users to click the moving monkey or fight an opponent in order to draw attention to an advertised product. Flash has also become the lowest common denominator for embedding video clips into webpages, making it easier for web developers to present video clips that works on any system without forcing users to install a plugin.
Flash just works because most web users have the required plugin already installed; Adobe has bundling agreements with both Microsoft's Windows and Apple's Mac OS X. Users who don't have Flash pre-installed can download it for free, and Adobe now even offers a Linux version of the plugin.
Flash on the iPhone
Less technically inclined pundits have expected Apple to release a Flash plugin for the iPhone that works identically to the plugin used on desktop computers, similar to how the iPhone supports viewing PDF documents or Microsoft Word and Excel files. The problem is that the Flash runtime has never been designed to work on anything outside of a desktop computer, which has almost unlimited access to processing power and few constraints on battery use, available RAM, or heat dissipation.
The iPhone is a very different product. It's a fraction of the size of a laptop battery and uses a low power, embedded ARM processor that works unlike the Intel Core or PowerPC processors used in Macs and PCs that can run Flash. In order to develop a Flash plugin for the iPhone, Adobe's proprietary software would need to be recompiled and optimized for the ARM architecture, which isn't something Apple could easily do independent of Adobe.
More Problems for Flash
There are other problems that are even more significant, however. While desktop computers can typically afford to run any process at full bore, the iPhone's processor is not only smaller and slower, but also designed to use power far more efficiently, cycling down when not needed in order to both conserve power and to limit the heat that a fully running processor would produce.
The iPhone's OS X environment is also designed to run from a relatively small disk image stored in NVRAM; Adobe's Flash is designed to run on a desktop machine with few limitations on the amount of disk space consumed or RAM used; it can easily leak memory and gobble up more RAM than svelte iPhone apps are ever intended to use.
Even if Adobe could deliver its own Flash plugin for the iPhone that cleanly ported the aging Flash environment to ARM, the work required to optimize power and memory consumption and manage heat dissipation would result in a plugin that could not run the majority of Flash web applets that have been designed to work on desktop computers. This would be like a Windows emulator that only runs software specifically designed for Vista; the majority of users would want a version of Flash that runs all the old code out there on the web, not just a subset of newly developed applets that aren't available yet.
A Big Maybe
None of this should be any surprise to developers who have been keeping tabs on Apple's guidelines for iPhone development. Last January, Jobs said the iPhone would not ship with support for Sun's Java, but left a question mark hanging on the subject of Flash support, using the word "maybe."
Between then and the arrival of the iPhone in late June, Apple began work with Google to migrate the YouTube video library from a Flash-based player designed to run from a web page to a custom iPhone interface that downloads ISO standard, MPEG 4 H.264 videos from Google's servers. H.264 is the same standard video format being used by everything from Sony's Blu-Ray discs to Apple's iTunes and open source libraries such as x264.
That move was clearly an effort to greatly reduce the iPhone's need for Flash as a container for distributing web videos. Once the iPhone was delivered, the appearance of its H.264 YouTube player and the lack of Flash support dropped a big hint about the likelihood of Flash ever arriving, but the evidence against Flash support on the iPhone continued to mount.
Dear Developers: Don't Use Flash
As noted in Gone in a Flash: More on Apple�s iPhone Web Plans, an Apple developer document published in June entitled "Optimizing Web Applications and Content for iPhone" presented a number of recommendations to iPhone web developers that did not exactly convey optimism about the speedy arrival of a Flash plugin. It made four curious references to Flash on the iPhone:
* "Don�t bring up JavaScript alerts that ask users to download Flash. Flash isn�t supported and neither are downloads."
* "Safari on iPhone does not support� Java applets, Flash, Plug-in installation"
* Under the section "Unsupported Technologies," Apple listed one technology: Flash.
* "You�ll want to avoid using Flash and Java for iPhone content. You�ll also want to avoid encouraging users to download the latest Flash on their iPhone, because neither Flash nor downloads are supported by Safari on iPhone."
The guidelines didn�t just tell developers to "deal with the existing omission of Flash," but instead suggested they begin using more open alternatives. It actively encouraged developers to "Stick With Standards," recommending CSS, JavaScript, and Ajax on the iPhone. "The web is always evolving, and as it does, so will Safari," the report noted. "You�ll want to keep informed of the evolving standards emanating from WHATWG and W3C standards bodies."
The WHATWG, of which Apple is member, is a standards Working Group specifically developing Web Hypertext Application Technologies, quite specifically alternatives to using Adobe's proprietary Flash, Flex or AIR, or Microsoft's competing Silverlight, which is targeted directly at Flash as well.
Other limitations Apple lists for developers building iPhone web apps forbid the use of polling in JavaScript; the use of any non-streaming media, images, HTML or script downloads over 10MB; any JavaScript executions that last longer than five seconds; the use of mouse-over events (a limitation posed by using a touch screen rather than a click or hover mouse); and user interaction involving file uploads and downloads.
All of these limitations would also apply to a hypothetical Adobe Flash iPhone environment, making Adobe's task of porting its environment to the iPhone extremely difficult; the practical requirement of running existing Flash applets, which make heavy use of mouse-overs, downloads, and event loops, would simply render a usable Flash on the iPhone impossible.
The Flash Lite at the End of the Tunnel
It's noteworthy that Adobe has moved away from attempting to port the full Flash runtime to other mobile phones. Instead, the company developed Flash Lite, a simplified scripting runtime designed to provide a user interface layer of interactivity that could be used to design basic phone interfaces. Flash Lite doesn't run any of the Flash content found on websites, rendering it worthless to iPhone users.
Apple's phone already has a far more sophisticated development environment for building real desktop-style applications called Cocoa; Flash Lite is really only useful to mobile service providers who want to add a standardized layer of graphics on the handsets they sell to make them all look cohesively branded.
That's why Jobs said at Tuesday's shareholders meeting that Flash Lite "is not capable of being used with the web." It simply is not a web plugin technology and only bears fleeting relation to the desktop computer Flash, which Jobs said "performs too slow to be useful" on the iPhone.
The Missing Product in the Middle.
"There's this missing product in the middle," Jobs continued, but based on the developer documentation Apple provides for the iPhone, it's clear Apple isn't holding its breath waiting for Adobe to develop this missing product.
That missing product is unlikely to ever exist, because compatibility with existing desktop Flash applets simply isn't a good fit in a mobile device, particularly an aggressively battery efficient ARM unit like the iPhone. That's not really a problem because, while Flash makes a convenient way to develop web applets for desktop users who have the Flash plugin already installed, it really doesn't offer much for iPhone users apart from the ability to access Flash web video clips, view flashing ad banners, and see Flash applets sites on sites that use them.
Apple insists there are better alternatives to all three. The company is pushing the use of standard H.264 video, advocating the future development of standards-based web applications with WHATWG and HTML 5.0 along with partners Firefox and Opera (and increasingly Microsoft), and using Ajax technologies centered on open standards including JavaScript and CSS right now. In fact, Apple has removed nearly every vestige of Flash from its corporate website.
Apple has done so much to present open alternatives to Flash that it seems to make it pretty clear that the company is not only betting against Adobe ever porting an acceptable Flash runtime for the iPhone, but also seems to suggest that Apple would rather the iPhone's web browser be entirely free of any dependence upon Adobe at all.
|
Though rumors have been out there for weeks, Intel has confirmed that upcoming Montevina mobile technology will be branded Centrino 2. The chipmaker also said the Core 2 Extreme QX9770 is shipping.  Intel Centrino 2 brand(Credit: Intel) This follows the official rollout of the Atom brand for ultra-small devices on Sunday. As part of the Atom platform, Intel will offer a combination CPU-chipset-wireless solution called Centrino Atom, with device suppliers shipping products next quarter. Now Intel has added the Centrino 2 brand to the mix. The branding will break down into Centrino 2 for consumer notebooks and Centrino 2 vPro for business portables. "It will feature unprecedented processor performance for faster multitasking, high-bandwidth Wi-Fi (802.11agn) and for the first time, an optional integrated WiMAX/Wi-Fi module. Centrino 2 also has power-saving design to provide the longest possible battery life," Intel said in a statement. The 45-nanometer Penryn-class processors will span the full range of notebook designs from "mini-notes to full size," according to past statements from Intel. Processors will have clock speeds ranging up to 2.8GHz and thermal envelopes (referred to as Thermal Design Power or TDP) of between 25 and 35 watts. The platform also features integrated Blu-ray support and integrated Wi-Fi and WiMax wireless technologies. Some of the processors will come with the same compact chip packaging used in the MacBook Air's Core 2 Duo processor. These low-power processors will have TDPs as low as 5 watts. Centrino 2 will also have improved graphics in the form of GMA X4500 silicon that will be part of the GM45 ("Cantiga") chipset. Performance is expected to be up to three times greater than current X3100 graphics (GM965 chipset). Intel also announced that it has begun shipping its Core 2 Extreme quad-core QX9770 and X48 Express chipset. The high-end 3.2GHz QX9770 processor integrates 12MB of L2 cache and uses a 1600MHz front-side bus. Systems will be available next quarter, according to The Register.
(Credit: Free Shipping On) There's a new Web site in town that has Cheapskate written all over it: Free Shipping On. Terrible name, great service: It enables you to search Amazon and eBay for only those items that have free shipping. It also corrals free-shipping deals from over 500 other stores, from Apple to Home Depot to WebUndies.com. I particularly like the eBay search tool, as it drives me nuts when I find a seemingly great deal on something and then discover a ridiculously inflated shipping charge. Both the Amazon and eBay tools can be added to your browser's list of search engines, meaning you can use them without having to visit Free Shipping On proper. While you're at it, stop by Deal Locker, a discount-coupon site from the same developers. via AppScout
 (Credit: CNET Networks) There is a lot of talk of connected cars of late, but there are currently no OEM auto manufacturers that offer unrestricted Web access. BMW is planning to be the first to do so with an upgraded version of its ConnectedDrive system on show here in a BMW X6 the 2008 Geneva auto show. Like many other telematics systems, ConnectedDrive currently provide assistance and car services via a cellular GPRS connection, with some restricted access to the internet. Starting this year, the service will expand to offer drivers unrestricted browsing of the Web. The system on show in Geneva is a prototype, but BMW engineers say that the final version won't look too much different.  (Credit: CNET Networks) The browser is accessed and controlled via BMW's iDrive interface, with Web pages showing up in the high-res dash-mounted display. The system only operates in the front seats while the car's engine is off, but rear-seat passengers will be able surf to their hearts' content at freeway speeds if the car is optioned up with a rear-seat display and special rear-passenger iDrive intefaces. The service is to be rolled out in Germany starting at the end of the year and is expected to be priced between 100 and 200 euros for an annual flat fee.
 This post was updated at 6:49 a.m. Pacific time to add comment from Facebook. Facebook may be getting closer to launching a music service that competes with Apple's iTunes, the Financial Times reported Wednesday. Sources told the publication that Facebook has been approaching major record labels about licensing deals so that it can sell music through its Web site. It's a long-standing rumor that has once again floated to the surface of social-media chatter. Music sales would provide Facebook with an alternative revenue stream--the site currently relies on advertising, which many have said is precarious for a social network--and would additionally help it compete with bigger rival MySpace.com, which has a service called MySpace Music in the works and has the big-media backing of parent company News Corp. to give it an extra push in the entertainment industry. For the labels, selling music on already-popular social-networking sites is a way to tap into a youth market that has been abandoning CDs. But it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for companies that have built music-related applications on Facebook's developer platform. Some of them, like iLike, Imeem, and CBS Interactive's Last.fm, have ad-supported streaming or paid downloads already tied into those developer applications and it's unclear what would happen if Facebook creates an in-house competitor. The Financial Times article suggests that like MySpace Music, the shadowy Facebook music initiative would likely offer both streaming music and downloads. "While details remain vague, record executives said that they expected a service would offer consumers free streams of music, supported by advertising, as well as the ability to pay for downloads in MP3 format, which can be played on any device," the Financial Times article stated.  The logo for the 'Music on Facebook' page. But right now, it offers artist resources for 'fan page' creation, not streaming music or downloads. But this all might take awhile. "Facebook Music" is something that has been talked about for months and so far has borne no fruit. Back in October, AllFacebook blogger Nick O'Neill said that he was familiar with someone interviewing for the position as head of Facebook's "music division" and that the social network was already in negotiations with record labels. But rumors of a full-out Facebook music service grew muddled with early reports about the site's "fan pages," which Facebook encourages bands and artists to create as promotional tools. A Wired blog report about Warner Bros. looking for a Facebook application developer likely dealt with the creation of fan pages and surrounding applications, not an iTunes-like music service as blogger Eliot van Buskirk speculated. Facebook's "fan pages" launched in November as part of the company's new social advertising strategy. Since then, the company has created " Facebook Music" and " Facebook Film" hubs to promote the creation of those fan pages and offer tools to musicians and filmmakers who want to build a presence on Facebook. And at this month's South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, Facebook will be throwing parties and developer events not only at the geek-saturated South by Southwest Interactive division but also for the indie confab's music and film festivals. Facebook representatives have stressed that the music and film pages are strictly tied to the fan pages, not any kind of upcoming commerce. "Facebook did not launch any new music or film products in recent weeks," the company said in a statement responding to a request for comment. Facebook "created informational pages called 'Music on Facebook' and 'Film on Facebook' as guides and resources for musicians, bands and filmmakers wanting to create their own Facebook Pages. The ability for musicians, bands and filmmakers to create Facebook Pages has been available since the launch of the Facebook Pages product on Nov. 6." The company also highlighted the fact that it does not have a partnership or formal agreement with iTunes and that any links between Facebook and iTunes are on behalf of developers who have integrated them into their third-party applications. Clearly, Facebook wants to make a play for pop culture, but these latest rumors about big agreements with the record labels aren't much more substantial than the ones we read five months ago.
Webasto showcased a new concept that might just revolutionize the convertible. At the 2008 Geneva auto show, Brian Cooley takes a look at a different way of putting the top down. CLICK HERE FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2008 GENEVA AUTO SHOW.
 She shares a hometown (Augusta, Georgia) with no less than the Godfather of Soul, and there's a whole bucket of James Brown-style soul sauce in this Brooklyn songstress's bold numbers. A dynamic backing outfit drops deeply funky horns 'n' bass, and Jones's belting growl takes it all to town. Download free MP3 now!  
 An artists rendering of the companys wave system(Credit: ORECon) Right now, wave power is in the early experimental stages, but venture capitalists are lining up to be on the ground floor. ORECon has lined up $24 million in funding from Advent Ventures, Venrock, Wellington Partners and Northzone Ventures to build a full scale prototype of its wave power machine and, if the results are positive, move toward commercial deployment. The U.K.-based ORECon has devised a large-scale buoy for harvesting power from waves. In a nutshell, waves striking the device create pressure in a chamber, which is used to turn a turbine and create electricity. A single device will be capable of producing up to 1.5 megawatts of power. ORECon's system in part is based around the engineering devised to build offshore oil rigs. The system will produce power for a minimum of 25 years, the company says. That's similar to the buoy being built by Ireland's WaveBob. WaveBob has a 1/4 scale prototype in the waters off Galway now and hopes to insert a full-scale device, which will produce over one megawatt of power, in the water in the next few years. Most wave systems produce far less power--maybe 250 kilowatts. Although smaller devices are cheaper to make, larger devices have certain advantages. For one thing, because they are large, they can survive rugged seas better. Each device also produces more power, which means fewer devices and potentially less maintenance. Both the UK and Ireland want to build local wave industries and harvest energy from the sea. Both countries bear the brunt of strong waves that cross the Atlantic. WaveBob CEO Andrew Parish also pointed out in a recent interview that this section of the Atlantic is awash in maritime engineering know-how. Still, wave energy, like tidal energy, remains mostly in the potential stage because of the environmental challenges and the costs. Over the next two to three years expect to see larger prototypes and more testing. Commercially produced wave power may begin to start crossing the grid sometime between 2010 and 2015. It is interesting to see Venrock in the deal. The firm mostly concentrates on more exotic technologies that could go commercial. Recently, it has put money into fusion and clean diesel.
(Credit: CNET Networks) There is a lot of talk of connected cars of late, but there are currently no OEM auto manufacturers that offer unrestricted Web access. BMW is planning to be the first to do so with an upgraded version of its ConnectedDrive system on show here in a BMW X6 the 2008 Geneva auto show. Like many other telematics systems, ConnectedDrive currently provide assistance and car services via a cellular GPRS connection, with some restricted access to the internet. Starting this year, the service will expand to offer drivers unrestricted browsing of the Web. The system on show in Geneva is a prototype, but BMW engineers say that the final version won't look too much different. (Credit: CNET Networks) The browser is accessed and controlled via BMW's iDrive interface, with Web pages showing up in the high-res dash-mounted display. The system only operates in the front seats while the car's engine is off, but rear-seat passengers will be able surf to their hearts' content at freeway speeds if the car is optioned up with a rear-seat display and special rear-passenger iDrive intefaces. The service is to be rolled out in Germany starting at the end of the year and is expected to be priced between 100 and 200 euros for an annual flat fee.
 (Credit: Woot) One-day one-deal site Woot has refurbished TiVo HD units on sale for $179.99 plus an impossibly fair 5 bucks for shipping. What's more, you can get the first three months of service free by entering coupon code 3FREEHD when you activate the TiVo. After that, it'll cost you $16.95 per month, which is the one and only reason the Cheapskate has never taken the TiVo plunge. No, I'm more of a Windows Media Center man, what with the free program guide and all. But I've poked, prodded, and tested the TiVo HD, and let's be clear: It's the greatest thing since, well, HDTV. Two HD tuners, 30-second commercial skip, support for cable and over-the-air signals... it's DVR nirvana. Before you buy, however, make sure to read CNET's in-depth TiVo HD review, which lists some important caveats. And remember that this deal comes from Woot, meaning it could sell out at any moment. If you want to bring the goodness that is TiVo HD into your life, act fast!
(Credit: Woot) One-day one-deal site Woot has refurbished TiVo HD units on sale for $179.99 plus an impossibly fair 5 bucks for shipping. What's more, you can get the first three months of service free by entering coupon code 3FREEHD when you activate the TiVo. After that, it'll cost you $16.95 per month, which is the one and only reason the Cheapskate has never taken the TiVo plunge. No, I'm more of a Windows Media Center man, what with the free program guide and all. But I've poked, prodded, and tested the TiVo HD, and let's be clear: It's the greatest thing since, well, HDTV. Two HD tuners, 30-second commercial skip, support for cable and over-the-air signals... it's DVR nirvana. Before you buy, however, make sure to read CNET's in-depth TiVo HD review, which lists some important caveats. And remember that this deal comes from Woot, meaning it could sell out at any moment. If you want to bring the goodness that is TiVo HD into your life, act fast!
 (Credit: Pocket-lint) Wow. If you though the customized MacBook Air from aptly named " Crystal Icing" molested the laptop's ultra-clean design, check out this number. Dubbed " Golden Age," this custom Air has no fewer than 12,000 Swarovski crystals that are "specially coated with 24k gold from underneath so that the transparent crystals can reflect the true gold color," according to Pocket-lint. Classy. Designed by an outfit called " Bling My Thing"--we kid you not--it supposedly was inspired by a traditional Japanese pattern. The best thing about it is its exclusivity, as only 20 of them will be sold, starting in the U.K. on March 18, for 20,000 pounds (or about $39,700). That means we'll probably never be forced to look at one in real-life.
Tired of changing those wipers every six to eight months? Fioravante's wiperless windsheild keeps your glass dry and clean. Brian Cooley showcases this new technology from the floor at the 2008 Geneva auto show. CLICK HERE FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2008 GENEVA AUTO SHOW.
 (Credit: Logitech) For all the advances made in Internet telephony over the last decade, the hardware end of the business has lagged woefully behind. All too often we've seen things like retro corded handsets or other bizarre devices that would seem to keep a caller hopelessly tethered to the desktop. The clever blokes at Logitech may have found a solution to that problem, however, with a 2.4GHz wireless stereo headset developed specifically for VoIP calls. Not only does the " ClearChat PC Wireless" headset allow more freedom to walk and talk, but it also has "laser-tuned audio drivers" that can enhance stereo ouput up to 33 feet from the computer for music and gaming as well, according to Slippery Brick. Call it a small but brave step toward freeing the masses from forced desk labor.
 (Credit: Akihabara News) It's pink, it plays MP3s, and it's got a "Barbie" signature. Is there really anything else left to say? It's unclear whether the Korean-made " INNO B2" is licensed by Mattel, but we would be surprised if it was. The toymaker already has its " Barbie Girls" MP3 player, which is tied into its whole Webkinz-like online strategy. Whatever the case, this player has an OLED screen, 2GB of built-in storage, a radio tuner, and a USB port, according to Akihabara News. It could also be easily mistaken for a makeup compact because it has a mirror for quick touch-ups. But for those who aren't quite ready to accept a virtual Barbie, there's always the lip-syncing " Chat Divas Barbie Doll."
 (Credit: Thumbs Up UK) Now here's a novel concept. We've seen all manner of objects take remote-controlled flight, from mosquitos and dragonflies to laser choppers and UFOs, but there's one that's been conspicuously overlooked: a bird. Actually, it's an " iBird," to be exact (of course). Silverlit, which makes this winged avenger, says it simulates a bird's flight by using " realistic flapping wing movements" and is part of the "latest generation of RC flyers," according to GeekAlerts. That, at least, may be the case as long as it doesn't go anywhere near the robotic raptor " Falco."
 (Credit: Shiny Shiny) We're of two minds about Crocs. On one hand (foot?), they're just about the ugliest type of hoof-wear we've ever seen; on the other, they're still not as bad as flip-flops. In any case, if you thought the holed shoes were taking over the world, there's some new evidence to support the theory: The ubiquitous footwear maker is expanding into--of all things--phone accessories. That's right, now you can have your beloved Crocs with you at all times even when it's not summer. These handset holders have their own heel strap that supposedly keeps your celly secure, according to Shiny Shiny, though the holes may be problematic in inclement weather. But we think the real reason for creating these--aside from making its owners look like complete fools--is to grow the true empire in power: Jibbitz.
It's the new Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe, and we've got a sneak peek at the 2008 Geneva auto show. If you're the type of person who likes to ride in style, and with tiny LED lights embedded in the rooftop that resemble stars, then this is the car for you. CLICK HERE FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2008 GENEVA AUTO SHOW.
Gary Gygax helped keep me out of trouble when I was in junior high school. I was saddened earlier Tuesday to hear that Gygax, the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons and the father of modern role-playing games, has died. He was 69 years old. My CNET Reviews colleague Will Greenwald has already written about Gygax's role in the gaming community.  (Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com) For many of us who grew up before PCs became ubiquitous and long before it was cool to be a geek, Gygax's creation meant Friday nights spent playing games with your friends, not wishing you were someone else. Instead of finding creative ways to break the law, we were busy rolling 20-sided dice and doing battle with Orcs and other evil beasts. It was a fantastical world for adolescents. Gygax managed to mix The Lord of the Rings and mythology with comic book adventures. Naturally, there were absurd D&D-related scares in the early-1980s regarding kids delving into Satanism and disastrous episodes of real-life sword fighting. (I always thought if kids were dumb enough to fight with real swords, they had bigger issues than the influence of a role-playing game). My own memories: Before moving on to the decidedly autocratic role of Dungeon Master, my favorite D 9--not so good. I also seem to recall my ranger/barkeep met his untimely demise at the hands of an Ochre Jelly monster that made a home in his bar. It was an ignominious death for a guy named after a mighty Japanese warrior. Times have changed, of course. Like most kids, I moved on from D&D and hadn't even looked at a D&D book in decades, until a former colleague of mine brought his son's old gaming books into the office. While we may have been oddball hobbyists 25 years ago, role-playing games are now mainstream, thanks to gaming consoles and the Internet. World of Warcraft is a billion-dollar enterprise, and D&D lives on in various forms. But without D&D paving the way, it's hard to imagine WoW would even exist. So let's pay our respects: You have to wonder how many of today's writers, computer programmers, video game creators, and other creative sorts wiled away their winter nights playing D&D. Thanks, Mr. Gygax. You allowed us to use our brains.
 AMD introduce a new low-wattage dual core Athlon CPU today.(Credit: AMD) AMD introduced a new CPU and a new motherboard today both aimed at low-end to mainstream desktops, each with different benefits. The new CPU is the dual core 2.5GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e. That chip follows AMD's strategy with its similar, slower, Athlon 64 X2 BE-series chips, in that they're all 45 watt parts. Standard dual core Athlons run about 89 watts, so by cutting its power drain in half, Athlon 64 X2 4850e makes itself well-suited to small form factor and all-in-one PC designs, and with a higher clock speed than you often find in such systems. The price of the chip is around $89, making it budget-friendly as well. Potentially more interesting is the motherboard the new CPU rides in on. You'll find AMD's new RS780G chipset in motherboards from the likes of Gigabyte and ECS going for between $70 and $100 or so. The highlight of these boards is their support for Hybrid Crossfire, which we first reported on back in December. The gist of Hybrid Crossfire is that it lets you use the RS780G chipset's integrated Radeon 3200 graphics chip in conjunction with a low-end Radeon 3400-series graphics card in the same system. The strategy takes a page from ATI's higher-end Crossfire and Nvidia's SLI dual-graphics card designs, and the goal of Hybrid Crossfire is to give you playable framerates in 3D games even on low-end systems. We actually had the chance to play with a generic, AMD-built RS780G system and a Radeon 3400 card to see the impact of Hybrid Crossfire for ourselves. We ran it through out Unreal Tournament 3 benchmark, and you can see from the results that the discrete-plus-integrated combination actually makes a difference. UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3 (IN FPS) (Longer bars indicate better performance)  | 1,280x1,024 | | | 1,280x800 | | | 1,024x768 | | | 800x600 | |
INTEGRATED PLUS DISCRETE 24.71 31.22 38.4 57.28 DISCRETE GRAPHICS 20.28 26.96 33.41 48.34 INTEGRATED GRAPHICS 15.63 19.02 24.94 36.54 Hybrid Crossfire won't work miracles. The 1,280 x 1,024 score only goes from totally unplayable to almost totally unplayable in hybrid mode. But at a more forgiving 800 x 600 resolution, you actually get close to that 60 frames per second holy land. You still shouldn't expect to play the very demanding Crysis on a Hybrid Crossfire PC, and AMD told us itself that a $75 to $150 midrange 3D card will always be a wiser upgrade (Hybrid mode only works with the low-end 3400 series Radeon cards, and only in Vista). But if you only have $50 or so to spend on a 3D card, Hybrid Crossfire could provide you with a nice little boost. For Nvidia's part, it also announced the similar Hybrid SLI at CES this year, although we have no hardware yet. Also, with the drivers that enabled Hybrid Crossfire, you also get CrossfireX capability, which will let you use three and four ATI 3D cards in tandem on the same system. That hardware is also MIA.
(Credit: Pocket-lint) Wow. If you though the customized MacBook Air from aptly named " Crystal Icing" molested the laptop's ultra-clean design, check out this number. Dubbed " Golden Age," this custom Air has no fewer than 12,000 Swarovski crystals that are "specially coated with 24k gold from underneath so that the transparent crystals can reflect the true gold color," according to Pocket-lint. Classy. Designed by an outfit called " Bling My Thing"--we kid you not--it supposedly was inspired by a traditional Japanese pattern. The best thing about it is its exclusivity, as only 20 of them will be sold, starting in the U.K. on March 18, for 20,000 pounds (or about $39,700). That means we'll probably never be forced to look at one in real-life.
 (Credit: Virtual-E) Some people will go to great lengths to conceal their gaming activities, even going so far as to purchase an elaborate workstation that's obviously meant to facilitate their addiction. But for those who aren't ashamed to flaunt their virtual prowess, especially on the digital raceway, something like this is more in order. The " Virtual GT Personal Racing Simulator" takes its genre to the extreme, securing you behind the wheel with a high-performance gaming computer, built-in speakers, MasterCraft racing seat, force-feedback steering wheel, and four "vibration transducers" that, if working properly, could make you sick to your stomach. And if those don't make you nauseated, there's a good chance that the price will: Uncrate says these simulators go for somewhere between $17,000 and $22,500.. But if you're still determined to combine work with pleasure, you could get one of VRX's " Triple Screen Limited Edition 001" simulators and save one of the LCDs for spreadsheets.
At the 2008 Geneva auto show, Brian Cooley takes a look at an old favorite that's been redesigned and is ready to roll: the 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco. Unfortunately, unlike its predecessor, this Scirocco will not be hitting U.S. shores anytime soon. . CLICK HERE FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2008 GENEVA AUTO SHOW.
It has the face of an Acura TSX, a powerful diesel engine, and it's a wagon. What more could you ask for? At the 2008 Geneva auto show, Brian Cooley unveils the return of the Honda Accord Wagon. CLICK HERE FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2008 GENEVA AUTO SHOW.
(Credit: Shiny Shiny) We're of two minds about Crocs. On one hand (foot?), they're just about the ugliest type of hoof-wear we've ever seen; on the other, they're still not as bad as flip-flops. In any case, if you thought the holed shoes were taking over the world, there's some new evidence to support the theory: The ubiquitous footwear maker is expanding into--of all things--phone accessories. That's right, now you can have your beloved Crocs with you at all times even when it's not summer. These handset holders have their own heel strap that supposedly keeps your celly secure, according to Shiny Shiny, though the holes may be problematic in inclement weather. But we think the real reason for creating these--aside from making its owners look like complete fools--is to grow the true empire in power: Jibbitz.
It's a boat, it's a car, it's a submarine! At the 2008 Geneva auto show, we took a peek at the underwater concept car that's been popping up around the news lately. Equipped with oxygen tanks and a front sensor, this car is definitely an eye-catcher. Click here for more 2008 Detroit auto show coverage.
 (Credit: Crave Asia) The Japanese-Swedish phone maker today unveiled the T303, a pocket-sized slider targeted at the fashion-conscious crowd. There haven't been many new models under the T series, with the more recent ones such as the T280i, T650i, and the T250i in candybar forms. So the slider T303 is a tiny surprise. The various Sony Ericsson lines may be confusing for the average consumer on the street. Let's do a recap: In addition to the T, there's W (Walkman), C (Cyber-shot), G (Web), R (Radio), and X (XPERIA). Then there are the K and P series, for which have yet to receive any updates. According to a Sony Ericsson representative, future handsets made from premium materials and those that focus more on the design element will come under the T umbrella. While features such as a 1.3-megapixel camera, built-in radio and Bluetooth connectivity on the T303 are nothing to brag about, the quad-band handset may attract some people with its metal housing and chrome finish. The T303 is expected out in July and comes in Shadow Black and Simmering Silver colors. Pricing details were not available immediately. (Source: Crave Asia)
|
(Credit: BornRich) 
(Credit: Crave UK)