Mereja

Author: Serkadis

  • Google Plans to Introduce Maps Navigation, Could Come to iPhone

    google_maps_navIf you’re the CEO of TomTom or Garmin, you may want to sit down for this. Google is working on a turn-by-turn navigation app that it will be offering for free on Android 2.0 handsets. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s working with Apple to bring it to the App Store, too.

    But hey, maybe it isn’t so bad for you, GPS industry. Maybe people will still want to pay way too much for single-purpose devices instead of installing a free app on the cell phone they already have, that works with the Google Maps and Google Search they already use.

    According to CNET’s Tom Krazit, Google’s new app, appropriately dubbed Google Maps Navigation, was demoed Tuesday for reporters, and will be officially announced sometime today. The Google demo had the app running on an unidentified black Motorola Android 2.0 phone, believed to be the upcoming Droid device.

    The good news for us Apple faithful is that Google announced at the event that it is working with Apple on bringing the game-changing software to the iPhone platform. The words “working with” are well chosen, because Maps Navigation requires a slightly different approach than the standard App Store approval process, since it won’t be a standalone application, but will instead work directly out of the built-in Google Maps app.

    Direct Google Maps integration means that the new navigation app will be uniquely positioned among its competitors to deliver some really cool features, including Google Search for nearby points of interest (POI). Google Street View will also play a part, allowing you to see the actual street at upcoming turning points along your trip route, so that you’ll recognize exactly where you should turn. That should eliminate a lot of confusion in dense, layered urban areas where freeways and streets overlap, and many route divergences and convergences are subtle.

    The version for Android 2.0 demoed also had a feature that recognized when the device was placed in a cradle or cupholder, and enlarged on-screen buttons to make it easier to work with while driving. The only feature not mentioned that is already present in many other GPS devices and apps is voice guidance, but even if not currently present, it’ll probably make an appearance down the road.

    While I can’t see why Apple would reject or hamstring the introduction of this exciting, new feature, we’ve seen in the past that the relationship between it and Google can be tricky. I think Cupertino will realize, though, that in this case, the ability to market built-in, free-of-charge navigation is a great way to move more hardware, even if Navigon and TomTom won’t be too pleased with the decision.

  • Droid Unveiled in NYC

    droid-by-motorola-front-open-vzw-eyeMotorola’s Droid, the first handset running Android 2.0, was unveiled by Verizon Wireless at a press event at the W Hotel in New York this morning. The phone, which will be available Nov. 6 for $199 with a two-year contract and after a $100 rebate, has all the bells and whistles that are becoming standard in today’s high-end superphones. James over at jkOnTheRun has a rundown of the specs:

    droid-2-0

    • EVDO Rev. A
    • GPS – Assisted and standalone
    • Removable memory – 16 GB
    • System memory – 512 MB
    • Removable battery
    • Wi-Fi
    • 5 MP Camera
    • Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
    • Onscreen virtual keyboard
    • Android 2.0

    As he notes, “The Droid will have the standard three-screen home screen that Android provides but will be augmented by widgets from Verizon for user customization It will support Exchange email out of the box, in addition to POP3 and IMAP.”

    Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Droid, though, is that it comes with all the typical Google apps for mobile, including Maps, Latitude, Talk, Gmail and Calendar. It’s also the first Android phone to ship with Google’s new GPS-enabled Maps Navigation features. The abundance of Google applications is  to be expected, of course, but it also underscores an important strategic about-face for Verizon, which has consistently tried to “own the customer” by closely regulating third-party apps and preventing outside brands from approaching its subscribers. It’s long overdue, but it’s a move that will pay dividends going forward.

  • Belkin recalls surge protectors over fire concerns

    product_code_2
    Oh noes! I have like five or six of these recalled surge protectors around my house. Plus I sold countless numbers of them over the pricy Monster Cable models during my days at Circuit City. Maybe I was somewhat responsible for one of the fires that spurred the recall…oh no…

    Apparently something with the rotating plug molding and housing can cause fires. The recall covers 68,700 surge protectors sold between September 2003 and December 2007. The model numbers within the recall are F9G930-10, F9G930v10, F9G930-10-W and F9G930-10-SN. If you happen to own one of these, visit this website for more info. And if I sold you one, I’m really sorry. I guess I should have drank the Kool-Aid and pushed a $100 Monster Cable surge protector instead. [via Slashgear]


  • The Recovery Act and Clean Energy

    Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking before more than 3,000 people at the Solar Power International 2009 conference. This crowd was energized and excited by the possibility of a clean energy economy!

    I told them we have a choice to make: we can remain one of the world’s leading importers of foreign oil, or we can make the investments needed to become the world’s leading exporter of renewable energy.

    The President knows what the right choice is. That’s why he is making investments in energy efficiency and clean energy –to lead to a more prosperous economy in the future.

    Through the Recovery Act, President Obama is investing more than $80 billion in clean energy. This money is putting tens of thousands of Americans to work in developing new battery technologies for hybrid vehicles, making our homes and businesses more energy efficient, doubling our capacity to generate renewable electricity, and building a smart, strong, and secure electricity delivery system.

    The excitement about the possibilities being made through the Recovery Act was palpable. I even spoke to the leaders of several companies who are eager to hire workers trained with Recovery Act funds and to grow our economy.

    Earlier yesterday, the President also announced 100 grants totaling $3.4 billion to private companies, utilities, cities and other partners to help build a nationwide smart energy grid. These grants are expected to create tens of thousands of new jobs, and also help us make a leap forward in building a clean energy infrastructure that brings clean, reliable, low-cost energy sources to American homes and businesses.

    At the Department of Labor we are doing our part as well. In June, we announced grant competitions for $500 million in green jobs workforce training and received nearly triple the normal amount of applications.  

    I am working with Secretary Donovan to bring clean energy training to residents of public housing. The goal is to help residents take advantage of the promise of green jobs all while greening their homes and reducing their carbon footprint.

    I am also partnering with Secretary Chu to award up to $27 million, including $10 million in Recovery Act funds, for the Solar Installer Instructor Training Network which will help train over 1,400 instructors and 168,000 solar workers.

    Our goal must be a clean energy future that works for all Americans, so that we can pass on to our children and grandchildren not just a more sustainable economy, but a cleaner planet.

    I have carried this message to miners in West Virginia, solar panel manufacturers in Tennessee, auto workers in Michigan, veterans in San Antonio, and youth in East Los Angeles. The message is clear –they want to seize the opportunity of a clean energy economy.  

    America will lead the clean energy economy of tomorrow because of the work, spirit and ingenuity of those I saw and the countless others committed to a clean energy future and the good jobs it will create for everyone.

    Solar Power International Conference

    The Solar Power International 2009 Conference

     

    Hilda Solis is Secretary of Labor

  • Is the LinkedIn Platform Dead?

    LinkedIn_logo_1.jpgLinkedIn, the business social network, hopped on the platform bandwagon this time last year by opening up its network to developers. It was a move I was excited to see Reid Hoffman’s crew make. LinkedIn, unlike some of the other professional networks that came before it, is actually very useful. It’s a great way to reach people within large companies, and an even better tool for recruiting and finding like-minded business people. Any extension of such a platform, therefore, was great news in my book. So how has it fared thus far?

    Let me put it this way: The LinkedIn platform is no different than the Florida real estate market — neither have any building going on. And that is why it gets a solid D from me. D is for disappointing, by the way.

    LinkedIn opened up its platform using Open Social and called the effort InApps. (It remains in beta.) It had half a dozen partners, among them SlideShare, Box.net, Tripit and SimplyHired.

    How many new partners have launched apps on LinkedIn since then? How about none! And how many apps are there? I just counted again — there are eight approved apps on the web. Eight. And no, that doesn’t include the ones made by LinkedIn itself, including the recently launched SAP Community Connection. A new Twitter-focused app tentatively called TweetIn is likely to make its debut soon. The only other two major developments that I have seen are partnerships with BusinessWeek and The New York Times.

    From what I hear, third-party developers have had a tough time working with LinkedIn; an inability to link to the company’s data set is a big issue, according to my sources. The moribund nature of the LinkedIn platform should be a warning to every single developer out there: For companies, sometimes opening up a platform is little more than an easy way to get cheap press.

    LinkedIn is looking to make some changes. Last month, when it announced that it had 50 million professionals on its network, our friend Marshall Kirkpatrick quipped that it was still a roach motel. In response, Adam Nash, VP of search & platform products at LinkedIn, left a comment saying: “I think you’ll be quite happy with our plans for improvements to our APIs. Stay tuned.”

    Apparently those plans include the recent poaching of Paul Lindner from Hi5, a social network that’s going through an identity crisis of its own. Lindner is a contributor to Apache Shindig, the OpenSocial back end used by everyone except MySpace.

    To me, what’s most incredulous about LinkedIn’s open platform fail is that it’s all taken place under the leadership of CEO Jeff Weiner, who was one of the key proponents of social search when he was at Yahoo (back when Yahoo still had search). Even then, he was open to the notion of open platforms and social networks — in other words, he had the right ideas. With LinkedIn, he had the right platform. Too bad the company hasn’t been able to make it truly social.

    linkedinapps.gif

  • Beware the Emails of Halloween

    Symantec’s MessageLabs released its Intelligence Report for the month of October, and it reveals the that the spammers behind the biggest botnets – Cutwail, Rustock and Donbot – are using the upcoming major holidays and world events as the themes for their the latest spam runs. This is not particularly surprising news, but it is news that people should be aware of nevertheless.

    According to MessageLabs, only 0.5% of spam right now is tied to Halloween, but about 500 million Halloween-themed spam emails are expected to be in circulation worldwide each day as the holiday approaches this week. The majority of Halloween spam links to pharmaceutical spam sites and comes from the Rustock and Donbot botnets, the firm says.

    Halloween Spam
    "Happy Halloween J from Devil" – pharmaceutical spam

    Meanwhile, spam from the Cutwail botnet uses both Thanksgiving and Christmas as a theme to sell replica watches. MessageLabs says that to date, holiday spam accounts for approximately 2% of all spam, with over 2 billion Thanksgiving or Christmas-themed spam emails expected to be in circulation globally each day.

    Thanksgiving Spam
    Christmas subject/Thanksgiving body – replica watches spam

    "As is typical with spammers this time of year, we are seeing them try to capitalize on the holiday season," says MessageLabs Intelligence Senior Analyst, Paul Wood. "Although they may be a bit overzealous, spamming is a numbers game and the spammers have certainly succeeded with volume thus far. Perhaps their early-bird approach is an attempt to compete with the other botnets and get in early to maximize their chances of success."

    The early-bird approach Wood speaks of relates directly to the fact that spammers are already gearing up for next year’s holidays and events. The firm is already encountering first runs of Valentine’s Day spam as early as four months before it arrives. They are even seeing spam related to next summer’s World Cup event.

    In case you’re wondering how successful these spam campaigns can be, MessageLabs says consumers fall victim to messages like these all the time, fueling an underground economy worth an estimated $105 billion in profit from fraudulent activities. 

    Related Articles: 

    > Stealth Phishing Attack Looks Like Internal Email

    > Symantec Urges Windows Users to Patch Systems

    > Phishing Down, But Probably Only Temporarily

    > Top 10 Most Spammed States in the US

  • Apple Issues Magic Mouse Update, But Where Are the Mice Themselves?

    magicmouseLast week, Apple announced the Magic Mouse, which is its new standard pointing device, complete with Bluetooth connectivity and multitouch gesture support. I promptly called my local Apple store, and a staff member told me they weren’t in stock and to try back again later in the week. I did, and again, no luck. It’s now been over a week, and no stores seem to have stocked them yet.

    One staff member at the flagship Toronto store said that the delay was due to software incompatibility, and that the mice would be available following an update release from Apple. Late yesterday, we received said update, which makes the Magic Mouse compatible with Mac OS X Leopard, includes a driver for 10.6.1. OS X 10.6.2, which is coming soon, and is said to support it out of the box.

    Both the 10.5.8 and 10.6.1 update descriptions say nothing beyond that they allow you to “take advantage of your Magic Mouse special features.” They don’t even explicitly say anything about multitouch, but what other special features could they be talking about? The Snow Leopard driver is nearly double the size of the Leopard one, at 64MB vs. 36MB. Both have to be downloaded from Apple’s support site, and won’t show up in your update menu unless you actually have the Magic Mouse already.

    Which brings me to my second point: Does anyone actually have the Magic Mouse already? I mean, besides those early adopters of the new iMac model, with which it ships. I know for a fact us TAB staffers are finding it hard to get our hands on one (short of trying out the store display models), both through Apple’s brick-and-mortar retail stores and its online counterpart.

    All Apple stores seem to have them on display, but I’ve yet to run across one that actually has them for sale when you ask. As I mentioned above, the Toronto Eaton Centre Apple store employee seemed to think it had to do with Apple getting the necessary software out so that it wasn’t selling unsupported hardware, but they hadn’t even received a shipment yet — they weren’t just holding off on actual sales.

    Is it just me, or is this the most poorly executed product launch Apple’s had since the iPhone 3G and iPhone OS 2.0 were introduced? It seems like the Magic Mouse was rushed out to meet a deadline that centered around the iMac and new unibody plastic MacBook, despite the fact that the software backend wasn’t actually ready for release.

    The resulting delay could affect sales. I know my initial fervor about the Magic Mouse has been tempered now that I’ve been able to think about it. My current pointing device needs are more than met, and unlike with the iPhone, delayed availability is weakening my desire to own a Magic Mouse, rather than strengthening it.

  • Review: Downloadable Free PC FPS Horror Shooter Zombpocalypse

    So you’ve just gone home from the office and all these numbers are swirling in your cranium. Cranium. Yes, to de-stress you want to bash some heads in. You can’t do that to your neighbors — the cops will get you. A game. Yes you want a game. One that involves simple mindless shooting and none of the banal complexities that games nowadays tend to force on their players. A flash game perhaps? You click the Mozilla Firefox ico—wait.

    I’ve got something better.

    It has got all the gore you want, the simple mindlessness of the catharsis that you crave for, all in one adrenaline-pumping package that recalls back the days of arcade yore. Layer this with advanced graphics effects like specular, lightmaps, dynamic shadows, muzzle flashes, and advanced shaders and you’ve got one hell of a zombie shooter.

    Image taken from the Zombpocalypse official site. Posted here for the sole purpose of promoting the game.

    And it’s free.

    The review after the jump.

    Zombpocalypse is a downloadable freeware zombie survival third-person shooter. And while the game barely squeaks through to be called a “full version game,” all its other aspects forcefully cut through skin, bone, and innards where presentation is concerned.

    To be fair, FilePlanet does tout it as a “demo” and not a full version PC game. The game puts you in the role of a survivor who runs around a number of maps that you can select from, mowing ranks of undead down, gathering weapons that intermittently spawn at fixed locations around the tiny maps.

    That’s right, there is no progression, no storyline, no boss fights, just you running around killing dead things that had refused to die the first time.

    But oh man, does it deliver; everything from the shadows, the lighting, the specular effects — this is one game that impresses. The audio is superb in that guns are a joy to fire. The game’s flamethrower is sick: it has got the right amount of hiss and basso effects to it while the game’s magnum sounds so powerful you’ll be grinning diabolically everytime you manage to snatch it.

    And snatch everything you will. Every moment in this game involves you running. Take a hit from an infected, and the screen shakes and blur. Get your health level low enough and you’ll begin to limp around.

    Which is a bad thing. Pouncers and leapers anyone? How about huge zombies that can breathe fire?

    Yeah, you need to run. Every. Single. Time.

    It’s just you and waves of undead circling around like the stark raving mad people that you all are in this game. And you are going to do this in tiny areas that barely can be called levels, such is their Lilliputian dimensions.

    As much as I’d like to go on extolling the game, Zombpocalypse does come in a filesize that’s as small as the levels it contains. The 39Mb filesize already serves as a caveat to first-time players of the game — aside from the things I’ve mentioned, there really isn’t anything to do in the game aside from running around blasting animated rotting corpses while picking up health packs and weapons.

    However, if you think of it as an arcade trip with advanced graphics trappings, this free PC zombie shooter more than delivers. And for $0, it’s well worth the price of bashing some craniums in.

    Without harming your neighbors.

    >>> Visit the game’s official site HERE.

    >>>See more downloadable full version free FPS PC multiplayer shooter games from HERE

  • Political Cartoon: ‘It’s Alive!’



    Kaiser Health News offers a humorous take on health policy developments with John Rose’s “It’s Alive!”

  • Sears Black Friday ad

    sears

    We have another early entry into the wonderful world of leaked Black Friday ads with Sears opening at 4:00 AM on Friday morning and offering a pretty enticing list of door busters (available until noon) and other sale items to satisfy the rabid consumer in everyone.

    Products include the following (door busters are marked with an asterisk):

    Digital Cameras

    Canon 980IS 12.1MP Digital Camera – $279.99

    Canon Powershot SD780 IS 12.1MP Digital Camera – $179.99

    Canon Rebelx XS Digital SLR Camera & Canon EF 75-300MM Telephoto Zoom Lens – $669.98

    Disney Pix Micro Digital Cameras Designed For Just For Kids – $9.99 *

    Fuji J29 10MP 3X Zoom 2.7″ LCD Digital Camera Bundle – $89.99 *

    GE A1250 Digital Camera #0387779 – $69.99 *

    Hi Pro Camera Kits #0354381/80 – 50% Off *

    Jazz T20 4X Digtal Zoom 1.5″ LCD Camcorder #0339539/39540 – $19.99 *

    Jazz T55 Camcorder #0339538 – $49.99 *

    Kodak CD80 10.2MP, #x Zoom Digital Camera 2.4″ LCD 2GB Card And Case – $79.99 *

    Kodak M1063 10.3MP Digital Camera – $89.99

    Nikon Coolpix 12MP Digital Camera – $149.99

    Nikon COOLPIX L20 Digital Camera – $99.99 *

    Olmpus FE-4000 12MP Digital Camera – $99.99

    Samsung C10 SD 1200 Digital Zoom 10X Optical Zoom 2.7″ LCD Camcorder – $149.99 *

    Samsung Compact Full HD Camcorder – $399.99

    Samsung SL40 12.2MP Digital Camera – $79.99

    Sony 4GB Camcorder – $249.99

    Sony 60GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder – $299.99

    Sony Cyber-Shot 10.1MP Digital Camera – $99.99

    Sony Cyper-Shot 10.1MP Digital Camera – $249.99

    Digital Media Cards

    Sandisk 2GB SD Card – $5.99

    SanDisk 4GB Memory Cards Or Flash Drive – $8.99 *

    Sandisk 8GB SDHC Card – $14.99

    Sony 2GB Memory Stick PRO Due – $12.99

    DVD Players

    Curtis DVD Player AR – $17.99 *

    GPX 8″ Portabe DVD Player PD808BU – $79.99

    GPX DVD/CD Boom Box 7″ LCD Display #5710084/BD707B – $99.99 *

    Magnavox DVD Player With VCR #5757168/DV225MG9 AR – $49.99 *

    Samsung Blu-ray Disc Player BD-P1600-A – $149.99

    Sony Blu-ray Disc Player BDPS360 – $149.99

    Sony DVD Player DVP-SR200P – $34.99

    Sylvania 7″ Portable DVD Player #5757149/SDVD7015-BLUE AR – $49.99 *

    Electronics

    AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone System w/4 Handsets – $59.99

    Coby 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99 *

    Coby 8″ Digital Frame – $49.99

    iHome Portable iPod/MP3 Speaker System – $9.99

    Karaoke CP398 – $29.99

    Kodak 7″ Digital Frame – $49.99

    Pandigital 10″ Digital Photo Frame – $69.99 *

    Sony E10 Ear Buds Headphones – $4.99

    Sony Wireless Headphones – $29.99

    GPS Systems

    Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS – $89.99 *

    Magellan RoadMate 1220 GPS – $89.99

    Magellan RoadMate 1440 GPS – $119.99 *

    TomTom One 130 GPS – $79.99

    TomTom XL325S – $99.99

    Home Theater

    Panasonic Blu-Ray Home Theater System #5798529/SC-BT200 – $399.99 *

    RCA 5.1 Channel 250 Watt Home Theater System RTD317 – $99.99

    Samsung 5.1 Channel 1000 Watt Single Disc DVD Home Theater System #5798659/HT-Z320 – $197.99 *

    Samsung Blu-ray Home Theater System HT-BD1250 – $397.99

    Sony Bravia 5.1 Channel 1000 Watt Integrated Home Theater System DAV-HDX589 – $329.99

    MP3 Players

    GPX 4GB MP3/4 Player – $32.99

    iH4 iHome Alarm Clock For iPod #5792408/18 – $29.99 *

    Mach Speed MP3 Player #5782229 – $24.99 *

    RCA 1GB Sport MP3 Player #5731060 – $13.99 *

    Televisions

    AOC 32″ Full HD LDC TV – $379.99

    Audiovox Under Cabinet Kitchen 7″ LCD DVD Clock Radio – $179.99

    Eviant 7″ Hand Held TV – $89.99

    LG 55″ LCD HDTV 55LH40 – $1499.99

    Panasonic 42″ Class Plasma HDTV #5775529/TC-P42S1 – $649.99 *

    Panasonic 54″ Plasma HDTV TC-P54G10 – $1499.99

    Proscan 40″ Class LCD HDTV #5771379/40LC45Q – $539.99 *

    Samsung 22″ Class LCD HDTV #5772015/LN22B350 – $249.99 *

    Samsung 40″ Class 1080p LCD HDTV #5771409/LN40B500 – $599.99 *

    Samsung 40″ LED HDTV UN40B6000 – $1399.99

    Samsung 42″ Plasma HDTV PN42B400 – $549.99

    Samsung 46″ 1080P Class LCD HDTV #5771419/LN46B500 – $899.99 *

    Samsung 46″ Class LCD HDTV #5771079/LN46B650 – $1309.99 *

    Samsung 46″ LED HDTV UN46B6000 – $1599.99

    Samsung 50″ Class Plasma HDTV #5775129/PN50B430 – $699.99 *

    Samsung 50″ Plasma HDTV PN50B530 – $899.99

    Samsung 55″ LED HDTV UN55B6000 – $2469.99

    Sharp 19″ Class LCD HDTV #5772149/LC19SB27UT – $179.99 *

    Sony 32″ Class LCD HDTV #5771459/KDL-32L504 – $379.99 *

    Sony 40″ Class LCD HDTV #5771439/KDL40S504 – $664.99 *

    Sony 46″ Class LCD HDTV #5771449/KDL-46S504 – $854.99 *

    Sony 46″ LCD HDTV KDL46V5100 – $1239.99

    Sony 52″ LCD HDTV KDL52V5100 – $1599.99

    Toshiba 40″ 1080P Class LCD HDTV #5771438/40RV525U/R – $589.99 *

    VIZIO 32″ ECO HDTV VO320E – $349.99

    Zenith 42″ Class Plasma HDTV #5775849/Z42PO2 – $499.99 *

    Video Games

    2-Pack Wii or DS Games – $14.99 *

    2-Pack Xbox-360 Games or PS3 Games – $24.99 *

    3-Pack PS2 Games – $9.99 *

    Biggest Loser (Wii) – $29.99

    Facebreak (Xbox 360) – $14.99

    Guitar Hero World Tour For PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, PS3 – $49.99 *

    Halo ODST (Xbox 360) – $39.99

    Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360) – $39.99

    Nerf Racing Wheel Wii – $9.99

    Nintendo DS Games – $19.99 *

    Nintendo DS Games – $29.99 *

    Nintendo Wii w/Nerf Racing Wheel – $199.99

    Playstation 3 120GB – $299.99

    PS3 Blu-Ray Remote – $24.99

    TNA Impact (PS3) – $14.99

    Various Video Games – $14.99 or Under

    Xbox 360 Elite Bundle – $299.99

    Xbox Live 12 Month Gold Card – $49.99

    Check out the entire list and ad scan over at BlackFriday.info.

    More Black Friday deals…


  • CDC: H1N1 Vaccine Supplies On The Rise

    “More than 22 million doses of swine flu vaccine are available now, and most Americans should soon find it easier to get their dose, U.S. health officials said Tuesday, ” according to The Associated Press/The Washington Post.  “Last week there were just 14 million doses on hand, despite initial predictions that as many as 120 million would be ready by mid-October” an estimate the government was forced to reduce to 45 million, after manufacturing snags delayed vaccine output. “The slow supply trickle has frustrated Americans, who have stood in line for hours in some parts of the country” (Stobbe, 10/27).

    In related news, “Two top senators overseeing the national response to the swine flu are sharply questioning the government’s handling of the vaccination program, in one of the first indications that it could become a political issue for the Obama administration,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “In a letter sent Tuesday to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I., Conn.) and Susan Collins (R., Maine) praised the government’s initial steps on the H1N1 swine flu, but said they now have ‘strong concerns’ about the fallout from faulty estimates for how much vaccine would be available,” according to the newspaper. “Unfortunately, these missteps in estimating available doses of H1N1 vaccine have effects beyond just growing public frustration; they have the potential to critically undermine our vaccine distribution efforts, which depend on accurate estimates of vaccine availability,” the senators wrote. The letter requests that Sebelius “answer 13 questions, including when HHS knew that vaccine supplies would fall short of its projections, and why officials didn’t narrow their list of target recipients to make sure those at highest risk got the limited supplies first” (McKay and Simpson, 10/28).

  • PM proposes EU compact for jobs and growth

    Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and President Jose Manuel Barroso; Crown copyrightThe Prime Minister has written a letter to the EU Council President setting out a European compact for jobs and growth.

    The EU Council will meet on Thursday and Friday this week, where leaders are expected to discuss the global economy and the progress on reform of financial supervision and regulation since the European Council met in June.

    In a letter to Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Gordon Brown said Europe has succeeded in stabilising financial markets and averting a more severe downturn “through the active co-ordination of our exceptional economic stimulus measures”.

    The PM added:

    “Our task now is to build on and deepen this cooperation by restructuring our economies to meet future challenges. If we fail, Europe faces low growth and high unemployment for years to come.”

    Gordon Brown outlined a series of priorities for the European economy including: maintaining stimulus programmes until the recovery is secured; ongoing focus on creating jobs and skilling the workforce; supporting sectors that will deliver future growth; and removing the remaining barriers to a single market.

    The PM also urged the EU Council to provide faster progress on free trade, by completing the Doha trade round in 2010, and delivering new regulation and supervision arrangements for financial markets, which were agreed at the June EU Council.

    The EU Council is also expected to discuss preparations for the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December and the potential for climate financing.

  • Motorola DROID finally official, coming November 6th for $199

    verizon-droid-4

    Being the only people on the planet with a Motorola Droid not under armed guard was one hell of a ride, but come November 6th we’re going to have a lot of company as that’s the day Verizon Wireless will be selling the Motorola Droid. To go for $199.99 on a 2-year deal, the DROID is one hell of a steal considering that its specs include a 3.7″ WVGA capacitive display, sliding QWERTY keypad, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash, 720×480 video capture at 24 fps, GPS (the DROID is the first device to feature Google Maps Navigation which provides free turn-by-turn voice navigation), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Exchange support, 6.4 hours of talk time and a pre-installed 16GB memory card — all running on top of Android 2.0. Not enough? Yes, ladies and gentlemen: Motorola is back. Hit the jump for the press release and a couple high-res pics.

    moto-droid

     

    verizon-droid-3

     

    Hello Humans: DROID by Motorola Arrives Next Week

    Verizon Wireless DROID By Motorola: World’s First Smartphone with Android™ 2.0

    October 28, 2009


    BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – High-speed Web browsing, voice-activated search, customizable large screen, access to thousands of Android applications and hundreds of widgets and the best 3G mobile network in the country: DROID by Motorola arrives on Nov. 6.

    Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest wireless 3G broadband network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a pioneer in the mobile industry, today unveiled DROID by Motorola, the first smartphone powered by Android™ 2.0.  DROID by Motorola features the brainpower and breakneck speed of a modern smartphone, designed to outperform where other smartphones fall short.

    “We’re proud to work with Verizon Wireless and Google™ on the first smartphone to feature Android 2.0,” said Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobile Devices.  “DROID by Motorola delivers a rich consumer experience with warp-speed Web browsing, a mammoth screen, and Motorola’s expertise in design and voice quality.  Combined with Android’s open, flexible graphical user interface and the power of Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, DROID is a smartphone that simply doesn’t compromise.”

    “This is an exciting announcement for Verizon Wireless, as the DROID by Motorola is the first device that we are bringing to market under our ground-breaking strategic partnership with Google,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.  “DROID by Motorola gives customers a lifestyle device with access to more than 12,000 applications that will help them stay in touch, up to date and entertained, using the best 3G network in the country.”

    DROID by Motorola has a solid exterior, intelligent interior and is one of the thinnest full-QWERTY slider phones available.  It is a no-fuss, high-tech, location-aware, voice-recognizing, over-the-air updating, multi-tasking machine – and it is available just in time for holiday wish lists.

    With DROID by Motorola, you can:

    • Zip through the Web: Access the Internet at 3G speeds via the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network or from any Wi-Fi hotspot.  The multi-window HTML browser with a massive processor delivers the Web the way you expect.
    • See it all in cinema-style: View the Web, e-mail, Google Maps™, videos and more in widescreen on a brilliant 3.7” high-resolution screen.  Boasting a width of 854 pixels to reduce the need for side-to-side panning and more than 400,000 pixels total, DROID has more than twice that of the leading competitor.
    • Run multiple applications at once: Customize your DROID with thousands of applications and hundreds of widgets available on Android Market™.  Toggle back and forth between up to six applications at a time to juggle the universe and your apps.
    • Perform Google Search™ at the speed of sound: Simply tell DROID what you’re looking for using voice-activated search, and it will serve up Google search results based on your location.  If you want more, simply type what you’re looking for into the search bar on the home screen and DROID will also search content on your phone, such as apps and contacts, and the Web.
    • Capture moments: Snap digital camera-quality photos with a 5 megapixel camera loaded with the works, such as a dual-LED flash, AutoFocus and image stabilization, or capture your friend’s antics in 16 million colors with DVD-quality video capture and playback.  Store it all on the included 16 GB memory card, so you always have it on hand.
    • Multi-task like a master: Keep tabs on all your messages with integrated Gmail™ and Exchange e-mail pushed directly to you, but don’t let them get in your way.  With the handy Android notification panel, go straight to the message or simply ignore it, and get back to the task at hand.  And, a smart dictionary learns as you type and automatically includes your contacts.
    • Get where you need to go with Google Maps Navigation (Beta): DROID is the first device with Google Maps Navigation, providing turn-by-turn voice guidance as a free feature of Google Maps.  It’s powered by Google and connected to the Internet. Use voice shortcuts and simply say “Navigate to [your destination],” and you’ll be on your way.  See live traffic, use Street View or satellite imagery to view your route, and get access to the most recent maps and business information from Google Maps without ever needing to update your device.

    Pre-loaded Applications and Enhancements to Google Mobile Services:

    • Google Maps: With layers in Google Maps, view geographic information, such as My Maps, Wikipedia, and transit lines, right on the map.
    • Gmail: Multiple accounts support and undo for common operations.
    • YouTube™: One-touch recording and playback from homescreen widget or app, one-touch sharing with friends, and the ability to view your own uploaded videos and high-resolution videos.
    • Google Talk™: Easily switch between chats, search your chat history, and preview pictures and videos sent by links.
    • Android Market: Browse and download applications created by third-party developers.
    • Calendar: Ability to see who has R.S.V.P.’d to your meeting invitations.
    • Facebook: Syncs Facebook contacts to your address book, and a live widget gives the ability to update status and view latest updates from friends.
    • Amazon MP3 Store: Download the latest tracks over the air.
    • Verizon Wireless Visual Voice Mail: Delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions.

    Pricing and Availability:

    • DROID by Motorola will be available in the United States exclusively at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online on Friday, Nov. 6, for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement after a $100 mail-in rebate.  Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
    • Experience the all-new DROID by Motorola at www.droiddoes.com.
    • To get the most from DROID by Motorola smartphone, customers will need to subscribe to a Nationwide voice plan and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan.  Nationwide voice plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access for 450 minutes and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan is $29.99 for monthly access.
    • For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

    Read

  • States Face Unpopular Cuts In Health Spending

    State governments, especially New York’s, are facing budget gaps that officials hope to close with cuts to health spending. But, their constituents are resisting the proposed changes that could result in fewer services.

    Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.): “Nearly 500 people showed up Tuesday for a hearing in Brookhaven on Gov. David A. Paterson’s proposed budget cuts, many of them asking for schools and services for the disabled to be spared.” The cuts would “eliminate $65 million for group homes and education programs that help the disabled live independently” (Madore, 10/27).

    The Queens (N.Y.) Courier: A group of “about 100 non-profit nursing homes in the state … is trying to get Paterson and the legislature to back off yet another round of budget cuts.” The cuts would come on top of $240 million in earlier reductions over the last few years, the nursing homes say, and could mean up to half a million dollars in losses for a single home (Mimoni, 10/27).

    WIVB: In Buffalo, N.Y., “Protesters made passionate calls to save two health clinics from the county executive’s budget axe.” The cuts would eliminate all primary care services at the country’s last two health clinics (Walker, 10/27).

    The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph: “The Medical Center of Central Georgia is cutting hours, clinics and pharmacy offerings at its W.T. Anderson Health Center, which provides primary and specialty care to the poor.” The reduction in services, which will also mean no longer taking some new primary care patients, comes as the result of a $3 million cut in the hospital’s share of the county budget (Duncan, 10/28).

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Details of proposed budget cuts in Missouri – to take be finalized today – remain “under wraps,” but “health care providers say the administration has warned them of potential cuts in Medicaid rates for nursing home services and in-home care for the poor, elderly and disabled” (Young, 10/27).

    The Wall Street Journal: “California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday reiterated his call for Congress to pass a bill this year to overhaul the U.S. health-care system, while also expressing concerns about the legislation’s potential impact on state budgets.” Expansions of the Medicaid program to cover the uninsured could end up costing California more than $1 billion in matching spending (Woo, 10/28).

  • MyCE launches community-driven gadgets review and news site

    Launching in beta today is MyCE, a community-driven network that aims to cross swords with the CNETs and GDGTs of this world when it comes to building places on the Web people gather to share news, reviews and knowledge about consumer electronics and gadgets. The site is a new venture from Amsterdam, The Netherlands-based RankOne Media.

    Actually, it’s not entirely new. MyCE is in fact the rebranded version of CDFreaks.com, an online community founded in 2007 focused solely on optical storage devices. The existing community, which the company claims currently amounts to about 3.5 million unique monthly visitors, will be integrated and rolled over to the new platform it is debuting today.


  • Google Redefines GPS Navigation Landscape: Google Maps Navigation For Android 2.0

    If you weren’t sure about switching to an Android phone in the near future, this might put you over the edge. Google Maps Navigation is an absolutely killer app. And it is only available for Android 2.0 phones.

    Today is Droid day, and for the most part Google is taking a backseat and letting their partners get most of the attention. But Droid is the first Android phone to run Android 2.0, and Google Maps Navigation is clearly the early trophy app for those devices.

    Features, video and image gallery below:


  • Droid drops November 6 for $199 with contract

    Verizon just confirmed that the Moto Droid will arrive next week for $199 with a new, 2-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate. Customers will need a voice plan starting at $39 and a web and email plan for $29 per month.

    See our full Droid coverage here and look for a full hands-on later today.

    HELLO HUMANS: DROID BY MOTOROLA ARRIVES NEXT WEEK

    Verizon Wireless DROID By Motorola: World’s First Smartphone with Android™ 2.0

    BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – High-speed Web browsing, voice-activated search, customizable large screen, access to thousands of Android applications and hundreds of widgets and the best 3G mobile network in the country: DROID by Motorola arrives on Nov. 6.

    Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest wireless 3G broadband network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a pioneer in the mobile industry, today unveiled DROID by Motorola, the first smartphone powered by Android™ 2.0. DROID by Motorola features the brainpower and breakneck speed of a modern smartphone, designed to outperform where other smartphones fall short.

    “We’re proud to work with Verizon Wireless and Google™ on the first smartphone to feature Android 2.0,” said Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobile Devices. “DROID by Motorola delivers a rich consumer experience with warp-speed Web browsing, a mammoth screen, and Motorola’s expertise in design and voice quality. Combined with Android’s open, flexible graphical user interface and the power of Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, DROID is a smartphone that simply doesn’t compromise.”

    “This is an exciting announcement for Verizon Wireless, as the DROID by Motorola is the first device that we are bringing to market under our ground-breaking strategic partnership with Google,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “DROID by Motorola gives customers a lifestyle device with access to more than 12,000 applications that will help them stay in touch, up to date and entertained, using the best 3G network in the country.”

    DROID by Motorola has a solid exterior, intelligent interior and is one of the thinnest full-QWERTY slider phones available. It is a no-fuss, high-tech, location-aware, voice-recognizing, over-the-air updating, multi-tasking machine – and it is available just in time for holiday wish lists.

    With DROID by Motorola, you can:
    · Zip through the Web: Access the Internet at 3G speeds via the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network or from any Wi-Fi hotspot. The multi-window HTML browser with a massive processor delivers the Web the way you expect.
    · See it all in cinema-style: View the Web, e-mail, Google Maps™, videos and more in widescreen on a brilliant 3.7” high-resolution screen. Boasting a width of 854 pixels to reduce the need for side-to-side panning and more than 400,000 pixels total, DROID has more than twice that of the leading competitor.
    · Run multiple applications at once: Customize your DROID with thousands of applications and hundreds of widgets available on Android Market™. Toggle back and forth between up to six applications at a time to juggle the universe and your apps.
    · Perform Google Search™ at the speed of sound: Simply tell DROID what you’re looking for using voice-activated search, and it will serve up Google search results based on your location. If you want more, simply type what you’re looking for into the search bar on the home screen and DROID will also search content on your phone, such as apps and contacts, and the Web.
    · Capture moments: Snap digital camera-quality photos with a 5 megapixel camera loaded with the works, such as a dual-LED flash, AutoFocus and image stabilization, or capture your friend’s antics in 16 million colors with DVD-quality video capture and playback. Store it all on the included 16 GB memory card, so you always have it on hand.
    · Multi-task like a master: Keep tabs on all your messages with integrated Gmail™ and Exchange e-mail pushed directly to you, but don’t let them get in your way. With the handy Android notification panel, go straight to the message or simply ignore it, and get back to the task at hand. And, a smart dictionary learns as you type and automatically includes your contacts.
    · Get where you need to go with Google Maps Navigation (Beta): DROID is the first device with Google Maps Navigation, providing turn-by-turn voice guidance as a free feature of Google Maps. It’s powered by Google and connected to the Internet. Use voice shortcuts and simply say “Navigate to [your destination],” and you’ll be on your way. See live traffic, use Street View or satellite imagery to view your route, and get access to the most recent maps and business information from Google Maps without ever needing to update your device.

    Pre-loaded Applications and Enhancements to Google Mobile Services:
    · Google Maps: With layers in Google Maps, view geographic information, such as My Maps, Wikipedia, and transit lines, right on the map.
    · Gmail: Multiple accounts support and undo for common operations.
    · YouTube™: One-touch recording and playback from homescreen widget or app, one-touch sharing with friends, and the ability to view your own uploaded videos and high-resolution videos.
    · Google Talk™: Easily switch between chats, search your chat history, and preview pictures and videos sent by links.
    · Android Market: Browse and download applications created by third-party developers.
    · Calendar: Ability to see who has R.S.V.P.’d to your meeting invitations.
    · Amazon MP3 Store: Download the latest tracks over the air.
    · Verizon Wireless Visual Voice Mail: Delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions.

    Pricing and Availability:
    · DROID by Motorola will be available in the United States exclusively at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online on Friday, Nov. 6, for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement after a $100 mail-in rebate. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
    · Experience the all-new DROID by Motorola at www.droiddoes.com.
    · To get the most from DROID by Motorola smartphone, customers will need to subscribe to a Nationwide voice plan and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan. Nationwide voice plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access for 450 minutes and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan is $29.99 for monthly access.
    · For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.


  • Olympus China confirms the E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera

    olympus-ep2There was a rumor a few weeks ago that Olympus was going to launch another Micro Four Thirds camera before the end of the year dubbed the E-P2. This guy was suppose to have a rangefinder and hopefully be done up in the same retro fashion as the E-P1. Well, it looks like the camera will indeed be announced soon according to this somewhat official leak.

    Photorumors found that Olympus China’s website has the model number listed there for the whole world to see, which seems to confirm that the event Olympus had scheduled for October 31 will probably be the E-P2 announcement. Let’s just hope this guy has the same goods as the original model but a slightly lower price.


  • With Maps Navigation, Google Fires Another Shot at Carriers

    Google is expanding its mobile navigation offerings with a free, GPS-enabled offering for Android 2.0 users, a service that promises to compete with the navigation apps already provided by carriers. The Internet search company held a press event on its campus yesterday to announce a beta version of Google Maps Navigation, which it bills as “an Internet-connected navigation system” that provides turn-by-turn directions as a free feature of Google Maps for mobile. The app enables users to view traffic conditions and search for businesses along their routes, and overlays Google’s satellite imagery and street photos with planned travel circuits. (How it works video below.)

    U.S. carriers can’t be happy about the new service, though. While most operator-branded data offerings have fallen flat, carriers have found success with navigation offerings that generally sell for about $10 a month or are included in larger data bundles. Google Maps has been a big hit with users on all sorts of platforms — not just Android — and the navigation audience is sure to find an audience. Which is yet another reason partnering with Android is a double-edged sword for network operators.

  • Disney Rolls Out iPhone App

    The app features Disney content including characters, music, video and games. Disney says content in the app will be updated regularly with the latest news and entertainment from the company.

    The new Disney App offers a "Click2Life" feature, which works by allowing iPhone users to take pictures of images from Disney.com that will come to life within the app and turn into a 3D image.

    The Disney App will also automatically find other Disney apps and games in the App Store, organizing the content within one destination so fans can access games and entertainment content.

    Other features of the Disney App include:
     

    • Instant access to the latest Disney news and entertainment.
    • The ability to interact with Disney characters via customizable photo frames and audio greetings that can be customized by fans.
    • Access to Radio Disney where fans can paly "Name that Song," watch music videos and buy Disney music from the iTunes Store.

    Jason-Davis "While this app provides seamless access to all things Disney, delivering unmatched entertainment and information directly to mobile devices, we’re not simply recreating Disney.com on your iPhone or iPod touch," said Jason Davis, vice president, Disney.com.  

    "Features like ‘Click2Life’ utilize iPhone’s revolutionary functionality to create exciting new ways to interact with Disney characters and content."   

     

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    > Disney Online Completes Purchase Of Kaboose

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