Mereja

Author: Serkadis

  • How to import MOD to Windows Movie Maker for editing (Including Windows 7)?

    How to import MOD to Windows Movie Maker for editing (Including Windows 7)?

    While you got a Panasonic D-Snap SD-card video cameras with hard drive build in and it shots all video files in the format of MOD, but these MOD files can not recognized by Windows Movie Maker on your Windows 7, Windows XP or Windows Vista. Is there an easy way to make it? How to convert the MOD files to the formats acceptable for Windows Movie Maker?

    Okay, the following tutorial will demonstrate you the easiest and fastest solution to realize it with a reliable program called Moyea MOD Converter which is designed to convert MOD to any other popular video or audio formats with ease.

    Ready? Now, free download Moyea MOD Converter here, instill and run it.

    Step 1: Add MOD files from your Sony/Panasonic/Cannon/JVC camcorders into this MOD Converter

    Step 2: Select output format as WMV from the drop-down list “Format” as well as set the destination folder from the “Output”.

    Step 3: start video conversion by clicking the “Convert” button

    Tips:

    One: If you want to merge or join several video files into one, just tick the checkbox “Merge into one file”.

    Two: If you want to get better output quality, just click the “Settings” button to open a profile window and then you can set the video resolution, the aspect ration, bit rate, frame rate, codec, etc. Besides, if you want to keep the settings for next use, just hit the “Save as” button to save the settings.

    Three: If you want to capture the picture or image of the video you like, just click the “Snapshot” button to capture the image on the preview panel. And you can view the image you captured by opening the file icon beside the “Snapshot” button.

    Four: This MOD Converter supports batch conversion if you want to convert several MOD files to WMV at the same time.

    Once all the video conversion is finished, you could get it from the destination folder. Now you can import them to Windows Movie Maker as below:

    Click the “File” – “Import” to select the converted files after launching Windows Movie Maker, and then you’ll see the WMV file in your Windows Movie Maker “Collections”. You can freely edit your MOD files on Windows Movie Maker for your reference.

    PS: If you don’t know how to use Window Movie Maker to edit videos, you can find the answers from here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u…r/default.mspx

    That’s all. Hopefully this article can greatly help you enjoy or play your MOD files.

  • Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3 Live Streaming

    Australia’s openers capitalised on a flattening pitch and a Pakistani reprieve to advance to 0 for 86 in their second innings, reducing to 120 the tourists’ overall lead.

    Shane Watson raised his 1000th Test run with a lofted pull stroke that Danish Kaneria, fielding at fine leg, dropped over the boundary rope on a morning that saw the hosts restore a degree of parity to proceedings.

    Pakistan added just two runs to their overnight first-innings total as Doug Bollinger (4 for 72) snuffed out Kaneria with his fifth ball of the morning.

    That took Pakistan’s lead to 206 – their second-highest first-innings advantage over the Australians in 54 years of competition between the two countries – although with the SCG pitch nowhere near as threatening as the opening day, the Australians would not have entirely counted themselves out of the contest.

    Pakistan team: S. Butt, I. Farhat, F. Iqbal, M. Yousuf (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, U. Akmal, K. Akmal (wicket keeper), M. Sami, U. Gul, M. Asif, D. Kaneria

    Australia Team: S. Watson, S. Katich, R. Ponting (captain), M. Hussey, M. Clarke, M. North, B. Haddin (wicket keeper), M. Johnson, N. Hauritz, P. Siddle, D. Bollinger.

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  • Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3 Live Streaming 2010

    Australia’s openers capitalised on a flattening pitch and a Pakistani reprieve to advance to 0 for 86 in their second innings, reducing to 120 the tourists’ overall lead.

    Shane Watson raised his 1000th Test run with a lofted pull stroke that Danish Kaneria, fielding at fine leg, dropped over the boundary rope on a morning that saw the hosts restore a degree of parity to proceedings.

    Pakistan added just two runs to their overnight first-innings total as Doug Bollinger (4 for 72) snuffed out Kaneria with his fifth ball of the morning.

    That took Pakistan’s lead to 206 – their second-highest first-innings advantage over the Australians in 54 years of competition between the two countries – although with the SCG pitch nowhere near as threatening as the opening day, the Australians would not have entirely counted themselves out of the contest.

    Pakistan team: S. Butt, I. Farhat, F. Iqbal, M. Yousuf (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, U. Akmal, K. Akmal (wicket keeper), M. Sami, U. Gul, M. Asif, D. Kaneria

    Australia Team: S. Watson, S. Katich, R. Ponting (captain), M. Hussey, M. Clarke, M. North, B. Haddin (wicket keeper), M. Johnson, N. Hauritz, P. Siddle, D. Bollinger.

    Share/Save/Bookmark

    Related posts:

    1. Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3 Live Streaming Australia’s openers capitalised on a flattening pitch and a Pakistani…
    2. Australia Vs Pakistan 1st Test Match Live Team news All the talk in the lead-up to the…
    3. Aus Vs Pak 1st Test 2009 Live Pakistan (probable) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Faisal…

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  • Convert MOD to AVI/MP3/MP4/FLV/MPEG/MOV/3GP on Mac

    Convert MOD to AVI/MP3/MP4/FLV/MPEG/MOV/3GP on Mac

    As we know, MOD is the video format from digital camcorders, like JVC Everio, the Canon FS100 and the Panasonic D-Snap SD-card camcorders. Usually the MOD files can not be directly enjoyed on most portable devices like iPod, iPhone, PSP, Zune, Creative Zen, Sansa, Xperia, Archos, cell phone, etc.

    Here I will show the easiest and fastest way to convert MOD to AVI/MPG/MPEG/MP4/FLV/MOV/3GP, etc. with Moyea MOD Converter for Mac according to my own experience.
    At the same time, I will list the following reasons why I choosed this program among so many similar programs on the market.
    1. Compress digital videos to a smaller one
    2. Fast convert MOD to other popular video/audio formats like MP3, MP4, FLV, MOV, etc.
    3. Keep excellent output quality without any audio/video issues.
    4. Adopt built-in codec to avoid the unexpected codec problem
    5. Remove interlaces and image noises for better quality.
    6. Easy to operate with friendly interface
    Preparation: Download and install Moyea MOD Converter for Mac.

    Step 1. Click the “Add” button to import the MOD files.
    Step 2. Set the output video format
    Select the output video format from the drop-down list of the “Format” or by clicking the “Settings” button to select the output video format. At the same time, you can adjust Video Codec, Bit Rate, Video Size, Frame Rate, and even the Aspect Ratio of Video as well as Audio Codec, Bit Rate, Sample Rate, Channels, and Volume of Audio to meet your great enjoyment in the popup panel.

    Tips: Tick the checkbox “Merge into one file”, it can convert several MOD files into one file.

    Step 3. Select the destination folder
    Step 4. Click the “Start” button to start conversion

    Tips: Moyea MOD Converter for Mac also offers other special editing functions like cropping, trimming, merging, snapshot, watermark, etc. to help users to improve and perfect the videos at will.

  • Convert/Edit MOD/TOD files for iPod, iPhone, PSP, Zune, PS3, Sansa, Archos, etc. on Mac

    Convert/Edit MOD/TOD files for iPod, iPhone, PSP, Zune, PS3, Sansa, Archos, etc. on Mac

    Hi, guys. Do you want to enjoy MOD/TOD files recorded from your camcorders on your portable devices, like iPod, iPhone, PSP, Zune, Creative Zen, Sansa, Archos, cell phones, mp4/mp3 players, etc.?

    Although there are certain format limitations on different portable devices, you can still enjoy MOD/TOD files via MOD/TOD Converters, like Moyea MOD Converter for Mac which works perfectly for me. Actually what you need to do is just to convert MOD/TOD files to AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, VOB, MPEG, etc. acceptable to your devices as below:

    Preparation: Download and install Moyea MOD Converter for Mac.

    Step 1. Click the “Add” button to import the MOD files.
    Step 2. Set the output video format and destination folder
    Step 3. Optimized settings
    Select the output video format from the drop-down list of the “Format” or by clicking the “Settings” button to select the output video format. At the same time, you can adjust Video Codec, Bit Rate, Video Size, Frame Rate, and even the Aspect Ratio of Video as well as Audio Codec, Bit Rate, Sample Rate, Channels, and Volume of Audio to meet your great enjoyment in the popup panel.

    Step 4. Convert
    Optional functions:

    1. If you want to crop certain unwanted part of the MOD/TOD files, just use the Crop Function by clicking the “Crop” button
    2. If you want to clip the MOD/TOD files into several segments, just use the Trim Function to realize it.
    3. If you want to add some special effects on your videos, just use the Effects Function.

    Beside the above editing functions, Moyea MOD Converter for Mac also offers the functions like, audio replacement, watermarks, etc. Actually you can see the function bars on the following picture.

    Hope it helps!

  • How to import MOD files from HD camcorders to iMovie on Mac OS X?

    How to import MOD files from HD camcorders to iMovie on Mac OS X?

    iMovie is a proprietary video editing software application which allows users to edit their own home movies. It imports video footage to the Mac using either the FireWire interface on most MiniDV format digital video cameras, the USB port, or by importing the files from a hard drive. However, the supported formats don’t contain the MOD files from HD camcorders. In other words, MOD files can not directly import to iMovie for editing.

    Here I just collect these camcorders which generate videos in the format of MOD.

    If you just have one of these above camcorders, the way to import the MOD to iMovie may be what you are urgent to know. Don’t worry. Now with this Mac MOD converter called Moyea MOD Converter for Mac, everything will be Okay. This program is designed to convert MOD to almost any video or audio format with easy to use interface at high conversion speed and excellent output quality.

    Are you ready? Just follow me.

    Part one: Convert MOD to iMovie with Moyea MOD Converter for Mac

    First of all, free download Moyea MOD Converter for Mac here, install and run it.

    1) Click “Add” button to import the MOD files into this program. Then you can select the output format as iMovie workable format like MOV from the drop-down list “Format” as well as set the output files location from the “Browse”.

    2) Click the “Settings” button on the main interface, a profile window will pop. Under the profile window, you can adjust audio and video parameters for your reference, like codec, bit rate, frame rate, resolution, and the aspect ration and so on. You can also hit the “Save as” to save the setting for next time use.

    3) After selecting a video file, you can also click the “Edit” button to do some editing jobs on your video before converting, like trimming, cropping, adding effects and watermarks and so on.

    4) Tick the “Merge into one file” to merge or join several MOD files into one.

    5) Once all the settings are done, you just need to click the “Convert” button to start video conversion. Although the MOD files are usually big, this Mac MOD converter’s multi-thread encoding techno can compress and convert them in a little time. What’s more, it can prevent any audio and video sync issues for its advanced audio and video synchnization.

    Part two: Import the converted video files to iMovie

    After the whole video conversion is finished, just click the destination folder you set to get the converted video files.

    Now click on the iMovie icon on your Mac to launch iMovie. A window with a little instruction movie about the iMac appear (Figure 4). To the fight of the movie you should see the following options: “New Project”, “Open Project”, and “Quit”. Choose “New Project”. Then you can import the converted files to it: Choose “File” menu -] Import files.

    If you don’t know how to use iMovie, just click here http://reach.ucf.edu/~pezone/tech/imovie/

  • It’s a new year, Scatterers: Think outside the box

    Pere Borell del Caso, Escaping Criticism, 1874. Madrid, Banco de España. From artdaily.org

    Sometimes you write a post purely as an excuse to run a picture you’ve fallen in love with. This is one of those times.

    That kid crawling out of the picture frame is from an 1874 trompe l’oiel painting by Pere Borell del Caso, and he lives at the Banco de Espana in Madrid. The title of the painting? Escaping Criticism. Seems Pere Borell had some issues with the nattering nabobs of the press, and he whipped up a pretty foolproof case for himself.

    Escaping Criticism is part of the exhibit Genuine Illusions: The Art of Trompe-l’oiel, which opens Feb. 13 at the Bucerius Kunst Forum in Hamburg. Besides fooling the eye, trompe-l’oiel is about wit: It has fun fooling you, and you have fun back. Critics be damned, right, kid?

    Read more about it at Art Knowledge News.

    ***************

    A couple of weeks ago the Oregon Jewish Museum reopened in new, much bigger quarters on Northwest Kearney Street in Portland, and I wrote about it in last Friday’s A&E section of The Oregonian. You can read that story, which discusses the new space’s first big show, The Shape of Time, here.

    One thing I didn’t mention in that story: The museum shares a parking lot with its neighbor ComedySportz. Culture is all about collaboration these days, so think of the possibilities. Jewish humor is vital to the American comedy scene — it’s almost as if Jews invented American comedy, especially the urban variety. What might the Jewish Museum and the improvimaniacs at ComedySportz cook up besides parking Priuses if they really got their heads together?

    Just a thought.

  • Samsung outs the IceTouch and MyFit PMPs

    myfit

    We’re sure to see a ton of small portable media players this week at CES and these from Samsung are just two of them. The Samsung MyFit is aimed at fitness junkies, while trendy kids will probably opt for the IceTouch. They both are candybar-type devices and playback media, but that’s where the similarities end.

    The MyFit is a fitness machine — well, not really a machine, more of a fitness gadget. It features monitors that measures stress and fat levels, along an accelerometer to track calorie burned during the workout. The device also comes equipped with a fitness manager and a calorie intake guide for those mid-day snack attacks.

    The IceTouch, however, are for those that are already beautiful. These are the kids that will appreciate the sleek, glass look of the transparent AMOLED touchscreen and would never think of actually getting sweaty while holding it. This 16GB PMP can playback various video files, has an FM radio, and can even function as a portable storage device.

    Too bad Samsung doesn’t care enough to release the pricing details for these models yet. The company wants to play the PR game and wet out taste buds with the specs and then issue another release later on to announces that info. Fun.500x_icetouch_blue_011_copy

    Samsung Introduces Award-Winning MP3 players with Innovative Transparent Touch AMOLED Display and Customized Wellness Applications

    IceTouch features the world’s first transparent AMOLED touch-screen display, and MyFit features the world’s first wellness management technology with body fat and stress level measurements designed to help users get fit and stay in shape

    LAS VEGAS – January 5, 2010 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today unveiled two MP3 players designed for the media savvy and those concerned with managing their personal well-being.

    The IceTouch (YP-H1), featuring the world’s first 2-inch, full color, transparent Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) touch-screen display, functions as a DVD-quality video player, studio quality audio player, an ultra-portable photo album, an FM radio and even a portable storage device.  The MyFit (YP-W1), which features the first wellness-promoting technology, helps users monitor stress level, fat thickness, calorie intake and burn, and exercise effectiveness. Both players received a 2010 CES “Innovations Honoree” award and will be on display at the Samsung booth #11026 during the International Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 7 – 10, 2010.

    “In the world of MP3 players, companies need to continuously innovate and redefine the user experience, and we think we’ve done both of those things with the IceTouch and MyFit products,” said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of Audio/Video and Digital Imaging Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “Whether a consumer is looking for a multimedia device that offers unprecedented video playback quality or a multipurpose player they can use to help them get into shape when they go to the gym, Samsung has a solution to meet the needs of the consumer.”

    IceTouch 16GB Transparent AMOLED Touch-Screen MP3 Player

    In addition to the full-color transparent AMOLED touch screen, the IceTouch features a high-performance CPU and Samsung’s own “TouchWiz Sweep” interface, which is designed to provide a comfortable grip and give users new options for interacting with their player.

    Audio purists will appreciate the device’s new 5.1-channel sound enhancement technology and support for the MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AAC, M4A, WAV and MP3HD audio codecs, and video hounds will love being able to playback MPEG4, WMV, H.264, Xvid and Divx files. The player also continually analyzes and adjusts audio levels to reflect the producer’s intended sound.

    The AMOLED screen casing is constructed using a dual-injection molding process and tempered glass and results in a smooth, durable and scratch-proof surface that is aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable to the touch. The IceTouch, which comes in white, can also be individually customized through separately sold color skins in pink, blue, purple and gray.

    MyFit Wellness Promoting MP3 Player

    As the world’s first portable media player to integrate wellness management tools, such as stress and body fat levels and customized workout guides, MyFit helps users achieve wellness while enjoying their favorite music tracks.  MyFit transcends basic playback of music and videos and enters the realm of wellness information and monitoring. Its unique features reflect the functional and stylistic nature of music enthusiasts while incorporating important applications and information for a fully-customizable device that encourages a healthy lifestyle.  Music can be collected into a jogging playlist and a simple Tapping Control Jogging mode makes it easy to change to the next song without interrupting a workout.

    Breaking ground with the world’s first fat and stress sensors located on the top of the player, MyFit measures a user’s wellness indicators and contains an exercise management program to keep people on target with their fitness goals. A built-in accelerometer automatically tracks calories burned while jogging, and users can record their caloric consumption per meal with the included food calorie database. Additional wellness applications built into the MyFit include a water intake manager and smoking cessation utility.

    But more than helping to make consumers healthier, MyFit is a full-featured portable music player that features an FM radio tuner and Samsung’s DNSe 3.0 sound enhancement technology, which helps to overcome the inefficiencies and limitations of compressed audio files and generate a more realistic stereo sound. Media playback includes high quality compressed and lossless audio formats, such as MP3, WMA, OGG, and AAC, as well as MPEG4 and WMV video formats.

    The IceTouch and MyFit will be available in the first half of 2010 with 16GB and 8GB storage capacity, respectively.


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  • Lenovo busts out IdeaCentre A300, IdeaPad S10-3t and plenty of other solid Ideas

    Lenovo already treated us to a slew of new ThinkPad machines, and now it’s time for the Idea line to get its due. Up first, we’ve got the IdeaCentre A300, which is hailed as the industry’s thinnest all-in-one desktop. Measuring just 18.5mm deep, the 21.5-inch machine sports a 1080p LED panel, Core 2 Duo CPU, WiFi and a bundled Bluetooth keyboard / mouse. The IdeaPad S10-3t (shown above) is the industry’s first multitouch capacitive netbook tablet, with Lenovo trumpeting the device’s ability to easily recognize fingertip input and plow through chores with an Atom N470 CPU and a 320GB hard drive. Moving right along, the 14-inch Y460 and 15.6-inch Y560 offer up respectable multimedia performance on a budget, while the 20-inch Lenovo C310 goes down as the company’s first multitouch all-in-one desktop. The Core i7-equipped IdeaCentre K320 caters to the gamers, and the G460 / G560 lappies are slated to suit those “mainstream” users who just need something basic to handle… well, the basics. Pricing, availability and detailed specifications await you just beyond the break.

    Continue reading Lenovo busts out IdeaCentre A300, IdeaPad S10-3t and plenty of other solid Ideas

    Lenovo busts out IdeaCentre A300, IdeaPad S10-3t and plenty of other solid Ideas originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Lenovo Skylight: its first ARM / Snapdragon-based smartbook, coming in April for $499

    Remember that Snapdragon-powered Lenovo smartbook we peeked back in November of last year? No? Fret not, as the aforesaid outfit has just come clean with the details surrounding the previously elusive device. The Skylight is Lenovo’s first-ever smartbook, and while we’re still struggling to see what niche these things are designed to fill, we definitely can’t knock the internals. It’s the industry’s first ARM-based, Qualcomm smartbook, and it’s powered by a 1GHz processor. Other specs include a 10.1-inch display (1,280 x 720), a customized version of Linux, 20GB (total) of flash storage, 2GB of cloud storage, an 8GB miniSD card, twin USB ports, 1.3 megapixel camera, WiFi and a battery capable of humming along for ten hours on a full charge. The clamshell enclosure weighs under two pounds, and the integrated AT&T WWAN module ensures that you can get connected wherever a tower is available. The unit will ship this April with 18 preloaded web gadgets (including portals to Amazon MP3, Facebook, Gmail and YouTube), and pricing is set for $499 (MSRP). We’re told that AT&T will offer it up as well, but it’s unclear whether or not it’ll subsidize the Skylight should you commit to a two-year DataConnect contract. Rest assured that we’ll be getting some face time with this bugger in short order, but till then, you can peek the press release and a promo /hands-on video just after the break. Oh, and we should mention that we snapped an extremely brief hands-on with the machine a small bit ago, and we’re still flabbergasted by how thin it was. Expect a more thorough look tomorrow!

    Continue reading Lenovo Skylight: its first ARM / Snapdragon-based smartbook, coming in April for $499

    Lenovo Skylight: its first ARM / Snapdragon-based smartbook, coming in April for $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Klipsch LightSpeaker makes whole home audio as simple as screwing in a light bulb (hands-on)

    When we walked the sound-filled halls of Klipsch’s Indianapolis headquarters last month, the company insisted that it was always looking at possible expansions into new markets. Today at CES, it’s proving that those words aren’t being uttered carelessly. The all-new LightSpeaker is a unique and potentially game-changing device in the whole home audio market, as unlike similar contraptions, this one requires no external wiring or power. The device is designed to fit into normal 5- to 6-inch light recesses, which enables existing homeowners to easily retrofit these into their ceilings and walls. We were granted some hands-on time with the light, and put simply, you just screw it into a conventional fixture, dial up the desired zone on the bundled remote, and listen. A full-range driver sits just beneath the LED light, and it receives signals via a 2.4GHz base station that can be plugged into just about any source.

    Klipsch plans to ship these soon in two main packages: a kit that includes a base station and two LightSpeakers for around $600 and a single LightSpeaker by its lonesome for around $250. The bundled controller allows users to control two zones and two sources, and you can also adjust lighting brightness and volume via the main station or the smaller remote. Each zone can easily support four LightSpeakers, and when we asked if these could withstand the elements, we were told that they’d do fine in a covered patio but probably not within an unshielded pool deck. In other words, some humidity shouldn’t be an issue, but you probably wouldn’t want ‘em to get rained on all night. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see a bundle in the future that includes a wireless subwoofer to really round out the audio, but don’t say you heard it from us. Peek the gallery for a closer look!

    Continue reading Klipsch LightSpeaker makes whole home audio as simple as screwing in a light bulb (hands-on)

    Klipsch LightSpeaker makes whole home audio as simple as screwing in a light bulb (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Nexus One review

    The Nexus One. In the modern climate of hyped (and over-hyped) smartphone launches, Google’s official entry into the phone-sales game has excelled in a department where many find difficulty: generating legitimate excitement. Of course, long before the name Nexus One or the recent bounty of pictures and details existed, the very concept of a “Google Phone” had been ingrained in the public conscience, predating even the Open Handset Alliance and Android itself; the company dabbled in the concept of direct sales through its offering of the Android Dev Phones 1 and 2 (alias Ion), but this time, it’s a public retail ordeal, not a couple of one-off developer specials. The genuine-article Google Phone is finally here — for better or worse.

    The device, a Snapdragon-powered, HTC-built phone looks — on paper, at least — like the ultimate Android handset, combining a newly tweaked and tightened user interface with killer industrial design. A sleek, streamlined phone that can easily go toe-to-toe with the iPhone 3GSs, Pres, and Droids of the world, powered by the latest version of Android (2.1 “Flan,” if you’re counting), and hand-retooled by Google. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? Can the Nexus One possibly live up to the hype ascribed to it? And more importantly, is the appearance of the phone the death knell for the OHA and a sign of the coming Android autocracy? In our exclusive review of the Nexus One, we’ll answer all those pressing questions and more… so read on for the full scoop!

    Note: The unit we have in hand is — by all appearances — a production model, save for the QR code imprint on the back, which is likely a employee-only Easter egg. However, Google is making its official announcement tomorrow, and there could always be differences. If anything changes with the device, or there are revelations about the marketing or sale of the phone, we’ll be sure to update the review with new info.

    Continue reading Nexus One review

    Nexus One review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Apple buying mobile ad network Quattro Wireless for $275M?

    Now that everyone and their mother’s got a smartphone, you’ve got a pile of sweaty capitalists pounding on the door trying to find every last conceivable way to turn the trend into cold, hard cash. One of the most obvious — quality apps from a central clearinghouse — is proving fruitful through countless official platform app stores, but targeted mobile advertising has to be a close second. Google saw the writing on the wall and snapped up AdMob not long ago; one of AdMob’s competitors, Quattro Wireless, is now rumored to be locked up for a purchase by Apple for a cool $275 million as early as tomorrow. While mobile ads (or ads of any sort, really) aren’t event remotely in Cupertino’s repertoire, it’s easy to see how this could give the company an opportunity to capitalize on the iPhone’s vibrant free app ecosystem, centralize revenue for devs (while stealing a nice little cut for itself), and take back a cottage industry that’s flourished since the App Store’s debut. At this point, it’s unclear what this means for iPhone users — or would-be tablet users, for that matter — but seeing how this jibes with recent Apple IP, this tie-up might actually make a frightening amount of sense.

    Apple buying mobile ad network Quattro Wireless for $275M? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Denied AdMob, Apple Buys Competing Ad Platform Quattro Wireless For $275 Million

    We’re hearing that Apple is buying mobile advertising company Quattro Wireless for $275 million. This jives with reports earlier this evening of a deal between the two companies. Our source says that there was initially talk of a $400 million pricetag, but that has since come down. The news comes only two months after Quattro competitor AdMob was snatched away from an Apple acquisition at the eleventh hour by Google.

    The move is at once unsurprising and strange for Apple. Unsurprising, because Apple has ventured into this territory before with its negotiations with AdMob and has made it clear that it wants a cut of the soon-to-explode mobile advertising sector. At the same time, this is wholly unfamiliar territory for Apple. The company has long focused on selling high quality devices and the polished software that accompanies it. Yes, it distributes a vast amount of media through iTunes, but it is almost never involved with actually creating this media. Nor does it typically have a sales force selling advertising.

    Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0


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  • Lenovo launches a cool smartbook and a bunch of new laptops

    lenovo skylightIt looks like we’re entering the age of the smartbook, a hybrid of a smartphone and a computer.

    Lenovo is unveiling its entry into the smartbook market today with the Lenovo Skylight (pictured), an always-connected mobile device in a sleek package. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor based on the ARM architecture. In other words, there’s no Wintel inside.

    The device, debuting with a bunch of other Lenovo laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show, has both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, a full size keyboard and touchpad, a 10.6 inch screen and a full web browser. It also runs for 10 on a battery charge, with active usage. It’s actually thinner than many smartphones and weighs less than two pounds. It’s the first of dozens that are hitting the market this year.

    ideacenterThe distinctions between laptops, netbooks, and smartbooks is getting blurry, with everything getting smaller, lighter, cheaper and faster. The company decided to put a full-size keyboard into the Skylight because a lot of people have reacted negatively to smaller keyboards in netbooks. This device is meant to be charged overnight and then used without being tethered to a wall plug. It comes with 18 preloaded web gadgets such as Roxio Cinema Now for downloading movies. The device has 20 gigabytes of flash memory, two gigabytes of cloud storage, and a 1 gigahertz processor. It costs $499 at full price, but those who sign up for mobile phone service with AT&T can get it at a discount. It will be available in April.

    Meanwhile, Lenovo is introducing a bunch of other products. The IdeaCentre A300 (pictured, $699) is billed as the industry’s thinnest all-in-one Windows 7 desktop computer, combining a monitor and computer in the same housing. It is just 18.5 millimeters thick and has a 21.5-inch high-definition flat-panel monitor. It comes with Intel Core 2 Duo processors and offers an entertainment-oriented experience. Other models include the C310 ($649), which has a 20-inch monitor and a multitouch screen, and K320, a gaming desktop for $599.

    lenovo netbookThe company is also introducing a number of IdeaPad laptop computers: the Y460 ($849), Y560 ($749), G460 ($699), G560 ($699), V460 and V360. The laptops are distinguished by their faster performance and larger screens. The Y460 has a 14-inch screen, while the Y560 has a 15.6-inch screen. They both have Intel Core i7 processors. The G460 and G560 laptops are aimed at mainstream consumers, with 14-inch and 15.6-inch screens, respectively. They have a number of multimedia-oriented features. The V460 ($749)and V360 ($749) are aimed at small businesses. All are available at varying times between now and the spring.

    And, if you’re not already confused with this kitchen-sink line-up, Lenovo is also introducing its own netbooks: the IdeaPad S10-3t and S10-3 (pictured). The S10-35 has a multitouch capacitive screen which responds to finger gestures. It has a 10.1-inch screen and an Intel Atom N470 microprocessor. It has a 320-gigabyte hard drive and runs on Windows 7. It has face recognition software for security. The S10-3 sells for $349.99, the S10-3t for $499.


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  • EMC Makes Bold Move into ‘GRC’ Market With Archer Acquisition…But Is It the Last?

    RSA and Archer Technologies Logos
    Wade Roush wrote:

    It turns out regulation and government mandates aren’t always bad for business.

    A generation of new software companies is emerging to serve businesses who need to comply with a skein of regulations put in place over the last decade to fight financial and accounting fraud, prevent database breaches, and generally make businesses more transparent and accountable. These software companies are offering big businesses more efficient ways to keep track of governance, risk management, and compliance—a set of mandates that’s come to be known as “GRC.”

    Boston is home to a major cluster of GRC companies, with names like eIQ Networks, Lumigent, and OpenPages leading the list. But Hopkinton, MA-based EMC, one of the leaders in data storage, has decided to reach well beyond the local area—all the way to Overland Park, KS, in fact—to acquire enterprise GRC specialist Archer Technologies.

    The acquisition, which was announced Monday and is expected to be completed before April, will turn privately owned Archer into a part of RSA, EMC’s security division. It’s a sensible pairing, since many of RSA’s products, such as technologies for authenticating computer network users and documenting security incidents, generate reams of reporting data that Archer’s metrics, analytics, and documentation software can make more comprehensible.

    Many customers use both companies’ systems, and the software will presumably now be integrated in a way that makes it unnecessary to, for example, manually cut and paste information from RSA’s enVision, a security log management system, into Archer applications. Todd Graham, a senior technologist in the office of the chief technology officer at RSA, cited this practice in a blog post Monday explaining how the Archer acquisition willl help RSA customers.

    According to Graham’s post, the Archer acquisition is the outcome of a two-year effort within RSA to define how the division should help customers manage their IT-related GRC needs—everything from defining policies for dealing with hacker attacks to tracking how computer passwords are issued and revoked to demonstrating compliance with privacy and accounting regulations. RSA apparently concluded that Archer’s tools for documenting company policies, tracking incidents, and the like—which are already used by one-fourth of the Fortune 100 companies—are better than anything EMC has built internally. And when EMC lacks a technology in-house, it’s well known for its willingness to acquire it.

    The fact that Archer is landing inside RSA, rather than some other part of EMC, brings more clarity to EMC’s overall GRC strategy. Back in June, when I asked RSA president Art Coviello whether he viewed GRC software as an important market for EMC, he sounded somewhat dismissive of the category. “It’s a big, amorphous term that could mean anything to anyone,” he said. “You could stick a ham sandwich under the umbrella of GRC.”

    It was so amorphous, in fact, that different divisions of EMC were vying to be known as the company’s main providers of GRC software and services. “Even within EMC, you’ve got our resource management group saying, ‘We are the GRC of EMC,’ and you’ve got the content management and archiving group saying, ‘No, we’re the GRC of EMC,’” Coviello said.

    Well, it turns out that RSA is going to be the GRC of EMC. Coviello hinted in that June interview that …Next Page »

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  • Netbook Tablets Get Capacitive Multitouch With the IdeaPad S10-3t [Lenovo]

    A convertible netbook tablet that sports a capacitive multitouch screen has been a long time coming. Now it’s here, and at a surprisingly competitive price.

    Lenovo’s IdeaPad S10-3t still has netbook guts, which means a wimpy Atom N450 or N470 processor and only 2GB of DDR2 RAM. But it’s the first convertible netbook tablet to have a screen that supports capacitive multitouch instead of the firm press a resistive screen requires. And its starting retail price of $499 when it goes on sale this month is well within range of the Asus EEE T91, a resistive screen convertible netbook tablet that debuted last year with Windows XP and a 16GB SSD, compared with the S10-3t’s Windows 7 configuration with up to 320GB HDD storage.

    Lenovo is also introducing the 14″ IdeaPad Y460 and 15.6″ Y560, two multimedia notebooks that feature up to an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 500GB HDD storage. Some models will also feature Lenovo’s RapidDrive technology, which purportedly lets the Y560 book up in just 15 seconds. Both will start at $850, with the Y460 available in February and the Y560 not hitting stores until March.







  • Lenovo IdeaCentre 300A All-In-One Is Just 18.5mm-Thick [Lenovo]

    Last year at CES, Lenovo debuted a one-inch thick all-in-one that was the slimmest in the world at the time. It was a fatty compared to this year’s 18.5mm-deep IdeaCentre 300A.

    While Lenovo was busy carving out a super-skinny niche for themselves with the 300A, they didn’t forget to pack in some decent specs too: up to a Core 2 duo processor, a 21.5″ full HD (1920×1080) widescreen LED display, up to 4GB DDR3 RAM and 500GB HDD storage, and HDMI in (which is something last year’s IdeaCentre 600 sorely lacked). The 300A will be available in February starting at $600, but expect to dole out a chunk more for optional add-ons like an optical drive and integrated TV tuner.

    Other additions coming to the IdeaCentre line-up in February include the C310, Lenovo’s first multitouch all-in-one, and the K320, a high-performance gaming desktop. The C310 features an Atom 330 processor, a 20″ screen, and up to 640GB HDD storage starting at $650, while the K320 can be customized up to an Intel i7 processor, DirectX 11 graphics, and up to 1TB of storage with prices ranging from $600 to $2000 for a fully tricked-out rig.







  • Lenovo’s Skylight Is the First ARM-Based Snapdragon Smartbook [Lenovo]

    The Skylight is Lenovo’s entrant into the nascent smartbook category, and with Qualcomm providing its ballyhooed 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, it may well be an important evolutionary step in mobile computing.

    The device will have a 10.1″ screen but will weigh less than two pounds, and according to Lenovo gets a very impressive 10 hours-plus of active battery life. Lenovo has also confirmed earlier reports that Skylight will be paired with AT&T for 3G connectivity, along with its own built-in Wi-Fi.

    Other features include a full keyboard and a custom interface that uses “web gadgets” that give direct access to services like Gmail and Facebook. Skylight will be available in the US in April, retailing at $499 with no contract—though there may be a subsidy to go along with a two-year AT&T data plan.

    Lenovo Skylight Lights Up The Web with Industry’s First ARM-Based, Qualcomm Smartbook All Day Use, Always Connected Device Heightens Mobile Internet Experience, Connects with AT&T 3G Mobile Broadband Service in the U.S.

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – January 5, 2010: Lenovo today announced the Lenovo Skylight, the first ARM-based smartbook based on Qualcomm’s SnapdragonTM chipset platform. Skylight harnesses the best of smartphones and netbooks to create a new mobile consumer device. With a stunningly sleek and slim design, all day battery life, robust wireless connectivity and custom interface with live web gadgets, Skylight is designed to transform the mobile Internet experience. The Skylight smartbook connects with AT&T 3G mobile broadband service in the U.S.

    “The web has become the window to the world for more and more people, helping them connect with friends and family across town or thousands of miles away,” said Peter Gaucher, executive director, Mobile Internet Product Management, Lenovo. “Skylight combines the long battery life and connectivity of a smartphone with the full web browsing and multimedia experience of a netbook to create one of the first devices in this developing smartbook category. Consumers want choices. They can now choose from a full portfolio of Lenovo mobile consumer devices including netbooks, smartbooks and laptops.”

    “Now more than ever, consumers are looking for devices that will keep them connected virtually anytime and anywhere,” said David Haight, vice president, business development, AT&T Mobility. “The Lenovo Skylight is slim and attractive with extraordinary battery life, and when paired with the nation’s fastest 3G network and AT&T Wi-Fi service, it gives consumers a great web and media experience on the go.”

    Skylight brings users a brand new way to enhance their mobile web experience:

    Beauty and Brains – Thinner than many smartphones, Skylight’s sleek and lightweight design is a technological combination of beauty and function. Skylight is being introduced in two new vibrant colors, glossy lotus blue and earth red models. Skylight’s clamshell design opens to reveal a brilliant high definition 10.1 inch screen designed for watching high definition videos or viewing photos. Tote it in a purse, backpack or bag. Weighing less than two pounds, Skylight is extremely mobile and lightweight enough for the user to tote it in a purse, backpack or bag. Unlike many netbooks, Skylight’s full size keyboard makes typing easy.

    No Power Cord? No Problem – Skylight has over 10 hours of active battery life,1 enough to allow the user to watch two movies or more back to back on the next plane flight. Simply plug it in at night to charge like a mobile phone. On the next plane flight, enjoy watching two movies or more back to back.

    Wireless Freedom – Skylight has built-in WiFi and 3G connectivity to give users a web connection nearly everywhere they go, and Skylight will seamlessly handoff between the WiFi and 3G. With the purchase of an AT&T DataConnect plan, users get 3G data but also access to AT&T’s nationwide Wi-Fi network, including more than 20,000 Hot Spots in the U.S. for fast and easy web access on the go.

    Web Optimized Interface – Skylight’s unique custom interface lets the full capabilities of the web shine through with live web gadgets. Users can check Google GmailTM, update their FacebookTM status, see what’s new on YouTubeTM or browse the Internet. simultaneously without having to continually refresh or log in. There are more than 18 preloaded web gadgets including Amazon MP3 to download digital music favorites and Roxio CinemaNow to buy and download digital movies. Powered by the Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon chipset platform and featuring 20 GB of standard flash and 2 GB of cloud storage, Skylight delivers the performance needed for mobile users unwilling to compromise their mobile experience and the flexibility to store their data wherever they like – in the cloud or on the device.

    Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform offers a powerful combination of mobile processing performance, optimized power consumption, ubiquitous connectivity and powerful multimedia in a single chip.
    “Snapdragon-based smartbooks like the Lenovo Skylight will change the way we connect to the world, and enjoy the web and media on the go,” said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of marketing and product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “Lenovo is leading the way for innovation in this space by utilizing the groundbreaking capabilities of our Snapdragon platform. We are excited for consumers to enjoy the new mobile experiences, such as extended battery life and increased connectivity that the Skylight will deliver.”

    Pricing and Availability

    The Lenovo Skylight smartbook will be available starting in April in the U.S. It will be available in China and in Europe later this year. In the U.S., it will be sold through www.lenovo.com, www.att.com and AT&T retail stores. Pricing will start at $499 at full retail price. AT&T offers two- year AT&T DataConnect service plans, as well as Data Connect Pass – a pay-as-you-need it data service available by the day, by the week or by the month.







  • Iomega Enters the 1080p Video Fray with CinemaNow-Equipped ScreenPlay Director Line [Hd Media Players]

    The world was rocked by the infinite format war, but hardware makers answered with HD media players that can read damn near everything. Iomega’s newest ScreenPlay Director players decode a vast array of 1080p video—and serves CinemaNow movies.

    There are two devices, the $250 ScreenPlay Director HD, which comes with a built-in 1TB hard drive and its slimmed down hard-drive free sibling, the $130 ScreenPlay TV Link Director. Unless you want to spend $120 for a limited-purpose hard drive, I’d say focus on the TV Link, as it’s essentially the exact same thing. Iomega says it’s DivX-certified, and handles H.264, WMV and MKV at 1080p, which is a good sign. Better still is that the newly posted notice on the site says it can read DVD disc images and AVCHD (meaning video yanked from Blu-ray discs).

    In addition to YouTube, Flickr, Shoutcast Internet radio, RSS feeds and podcasts, there’s also CinemaNow. It may not be as cheap as Netflix or as sexy as Vudu, but CinemaNow is holding its own as a major video-on-demand service, and its prospects are only looking better and better. It’s DLNA certified, so it will play well with Windows 7 out of the box, and should take streamed video from many sources (and work with PlayOn). We haven’t seen shots of the interface, however, so that’s a mystery.

    Bottom line: There’s a lot of these devices out there already—as you well know. This year, this week even, the field of HD media players is going to get even more crowded. Syabas’ new PopBox player has Netflix (but no pay-per-view VOD service). Lord knows it’s just a matter of time before there’s something with Netflix, a movie channel like Vudu or CinemaNow and the ability to decode a bajillion other video formats. That’s a tricky mix for some reason, but I can feel it coming. Maybe this week. Iomega had to come out with a new ScreenPlay that was fully HD and compatible with the latest formats, because their previous players didn’t hack it. Still, until we check it out, we’ll have to wait to say whether the ScreenPlay Director devices are worth ranking. [Iomega]