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MOTO Development Labs devised a simple method of analyzing capacitive touch screens using drawing programs. They put the iPhone, the Nexus One, the Droid, and the Droid Eris through the paces and proved not all touch screens are created equal.

Using only your fingers and a drawing app, MOTO shows how you can test out the accuracy of your smartphone’s touch screen. The test is simple: draw some slow, steady lines across the screen with your finger. If they’re smooth and straight, your touch screen is tracking with relative accuracy. If they’re wavy or jagged, your phone might not be giving your fingers the attention they deserve.

MOTO’s test showed the iPhone tracking the most accurately of the four, with smooth, straight lines. The Motorola Droid fared worst of the bunch, its crossing lines tracking so jaggedly that the screen looked like a jigsaw puzzle. The Eris and the Nexus One landed somewhere in between.

If jagged lines are the symptoms of a subpar touch screen, MOTO suggests that the affliction can be any combination of too large a sensor, too low a touch-sampling rate, or too inaccurate an algorithm. [MOTO Development Labs – Thanks Sabrina]

Our buddies over at Phonescoop spotted a handset running a copy of the as-of-yet unreleased Windows Mobile 6.5.3 floating around at CES, and were nice enough to snap some footage for everyone not living in the Las Vegas Convention Center this week. They run through just about everything 6.5.3 has to offer, from the new finger-friendly UI to the brand new, seemingly much improved onscreen keyboard; if Windows Mobile is your thing, be sure to check it out.

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One major trend dominating CES 2010 is the massive uptick in manufacturers showing off e-reader devices, software and technology. Vendors of all sizes are here in Las Vegas introducing products they hope will capitalize on piqued consumer interest and the predicted growth in the e-book market in the year ahead.

The biggest (literally) and most impressive electronic ink devices at the show are easily the 8.5 x 11-inch Plastic Logic Que proReader and 11.5-inch (measured diagonally) Skiff Reader. Two touchscreen devices with integrated 3G targeting two totally different audiences. The Que proReader’s gunning to replace bulky stacks of business papers with support for truVue PDF files, MS Office docs, e-mail, and Outlook calendar support. The Skiff Reader, on the other hand, is being pitched as a consumer device with a compelling value proposition for publishers (by publishers) and content owners that will ultimately deliver multimedia on a wide range of devices and display types hooked into the Skiff Store — just not the flagship Skiff Reader with traditional e-paper display.

Otherwise, the CES show floor is absolutely littered with electronic ink also-rans, hybrids, and new screen technologies looking to knock-off the incumbent Kindle, underlying E Ink technology, and Amazon juggernaut. If we’re lucky, that’s exactly what’s going to happen later in the year. Read on to find out why.

Continue reading The e-Reader story of CES 2010

The e-Reader story of CES 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You won’t know it by the product’s official name, but this is the FLO TV appendage for the iPhone that’s been teased since November last year. Combining a mobile TV receiver with Mophie’s juice pack, this is 2mm thicker and noticeably heavier than the normal external battery pack. You can see comparison shots in the gallery below — the red and black units are samples of the new peripherals while the white one is the standard Mophie hardware. Alas, no working FLO TV demos were available, but we were told the iPhone UI should be on different from what the company offers at present. Reps kept mum on pricing, but they confirmed the juice pack TV should be arriving in the first half of 2010.

Mophie juice pack TV hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Echoing statements made by CEO Sanjay Jha earlier in the week regarding the Droid and CLIQ, Motorola’s European division is letting everyone know that its own Android devices are in for their own updates pretty shortly. Android 2.0.1 is apparently “on its way” for the Milestone already with users being advised to keep an eye on Moto’s Facebook page for more details; as you might recall, this is the same version the phone’s American cousin got a few weeks ago. This will be followed on by 2.1 — the version introduced on the Nexus One — “in the next 2 months.” Oh, and DEXT owners, don’t worry, you’re not being left out in the cold — Moto says you’re on track to get 2.1 as well, though there’s no timeline just yet

Motorola Europe says Milestone getting Android 2.1 soon, 2.0.1 even sooner originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jelli, which launched last year, is a user-controlled online streaming service – sort of a Digg for streaming music, or a group-controlled Pandora. Listeners vote songs up or down to create and alter the playlist.

Today they’re announcing an important business development deal – an actual radio station, Live 105 in San Francisco, will be using Jelli to set their playlists every weekday. Starting this Monday, every weekday from 8 pm to midnight, Jelli takes over.

Users don’t just vote songs up and down. They also get a limited number of Rockets and Bombs to move music more definitively up and down the list. And the chat area gets lively.

Bad news for those radio DJs.

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Earthquakes and Twitter go way back. One of the first true signs of the service’s power was when an earthquake would happen somewhere in the world and people in those areas would jump on Twitter to talk about it in real time. So it makes sense that someone would set up an account simply to auto-tweet when quakes happen.

David Shamma has created the @sfusgs account to automatically tweet with USGS data when a new earthquake hits in the Bay Area. More interestingly, the tweets take advantage of Twitter’s new geolocation API, so if you’re using a third-party app that supports location, you can see the quakes on a map. Each tweet also includes the time of the quake, the depth at which it took place, how far it was from San Francisco, and a link back to the USGS site with more info.

As you’re probably aware, the San Francisco Bay Area is a pretty active place for earthquakes, so an account like this is useful. For example, the latest tweet was from just this morning, when a minor 2.5 magnitude quake hit the area following a larger one a couple days ago. Any quake over this 2.5 magnitude threshold gets tweeted out, according to Shamma.

There have been other accounts set up to do similar things in the past, for example, @sfquake, but that account has been dormant for over 2 years. Plus, that included none of the geolocation tweet data, which is useful.

And while the @sfusgs account may be taking data from the USGS and putting it in its own Twitter stream, the USGS itself is actually going the other way. The service noted yesterday that it would begin leveraging Twitter data to help with its reports. From their release:

In this exploratory effort, the USGS is developing a system that gathers real-time, earthquake-related messages from the social networking site Twitter and applies place, time, and key word filtering to gather geo-located accounts of shaking. This approach provides rapid first-impression narratives and, potentially, photos from people at the hazard’s location. The potential for earthquake detection in populated but sparsely seismicly-instrumented regions is also being investigated.

Twitter and earthquakes; the love affair continues.

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This is coming a little late, but I wanted to make mention that if you haven’t seen Avatar you should definitely go. I didn’t really have much interest in it, nor did I know anything about the story, but after seeing it three times I can say it’s a great, great movie. The biggest reason I saw it three times is that I’ve never seen effective 3D before. I think the last movie I saw in 3D was Jaws. This really felt like 3D. I don’t know if I can justify it as a good financial decision to see the same movie three times, but consider that I typically don’t go to the movies much, it seemed reasonable for a splurge.

Before we get to the personal finance links, I’d like to suggest that you check out Money Crasher’s contest. There will be over 100 winners. I’m personally offering $50 in Paypal cash.

Money Writers:

• Here are 8 questions to ask [yourself] before buying ‘stuff’ from Brip Blap.
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• Frugal Dad says delaying Roth IRA contributions one year could cost you $74,000!
• Generation X Finance asks would you willingly lose 25% of your money? Chances are you already do!
• Million Dollar Journey writes on financial values: spending more & spending less. What are you un/willing to spend money on?
• Money Smart Life posts avoiding tax return fees & penalties.
• My Dollar Plan examines Prosper versus Lending Club.
• The Sun’s Financial Diary shows you how you can indulge your resolutions without breaking the bank.

Top PF Posts:

• Get Rich Slowly shares a reader story: how I paid off $18,500 in debt.
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• Bill Eater writes “Pay as you Drive” technology enables new car insurance discounts.
• Consumerism Commentary shares some alternatives to high-yield savings accounts.
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Filed under: Technology

Every carmaker has seen Ford‘s success in promoting its Sync technology, and they want a piece of that pie – as do many suppliers. Sync is built on top of a Microsoft-developed software platform and after a couple of years of Ford exclusivity, Kia just announced a similar system called Uvo. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, Continental announced its own competing platform for in-car connectivity called Autolinq.

While Microsoft’s in-car operating system is completely proprietary, Continental’s system is based on the Google’s open-source Android OS. Android’s popularity is on the rise thanks to cell phones like the new Nexus One and the Motorola Droid. Continental hopes to leverage that community of software developers to create applications that can be downloaded directly to the car. This roughly mirrors Ford’s recent announcement that developers will be able to create apps for Sync.

Continental plans to release a software development kit for Autolinq by the end of March, and have applications to demonstrate in the second half of this year. So far, there’s no word on any automakers adopting Autolinq for their vehicles.

[Source: Continental]

Continue reading Continental announces Android-based Autolinq to compete with Sync

Continental announces Android-based Autolinq to compete with Sync originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a couple of Tweets from community manager Sam Van Tilburgh, Lionhead is ready to give the world its first good look at Fable 3 at a San Francisco event next month (via VG247).

“I’m writing storyboard summaries for two new #Fable3 videos @LionheadStudios,” the first Tweet read, followed by one reading, “videos are to come out when we show #Fable3 for the 1st time at an event next month in SF.”

Van Tilburgh didn’t mention which event it would be, but possibilities include the D.I.C.E. Summit in San Francisco on February 17, or Gamefest on February 10… although that takes place in Seattle, so maybe not. Then again Lionhead might just have their own event planned for Fable 3 next month, so we’ll see.

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Filming the Giant Crystal Cave. Here are some more shots from National Geographic. Incredibleness.

Después de la pequeña pausa de un día, en que permaneció el suspenso en lo que se refiere a la venta de Saab, hoy nos vamos enterando de que GM ya tiene todo decidido para comenzar el cierre de la marca sueca.

El primer paso, parece que será el traslado de todos los elementos de producción del 9-5, actualmente fabricado en Alemania, a la planta de Buick que GM posee en China. Esto tendría relación con la venta de parte de los activos de Saab (y de la línea de montaje del anterior 9-5) a manos de los chinos de BAIC. El transporte y la logística de todo el movimiento de equipos y herramientas, está previsto para el 15 de enero.

El segundo paso, ha sido ejecutado por GM mediante un comunicado de prensa en donde se dice que se contrataron los servicios de una firma, llamada AlixPartners, para que lleve a cabo el cierre. Según el comunicado, la transición se hará de la mejor manera posible, para proteger tanto a clientes, como a los mismos empleados de la marca sueca.

Como se ve, ni las ofertas de Spyker y otros grupos financieros han convencido a GM. A pesar de que el mismo comunicado que mencioné anteriormente dice que “se siguen estudiando las ofertas”, no tiene mucho sentido contratar a una firma externa para anunciar el cierre mientras “se estudian las ofertas”.

A estas alturas, podemos declarar a Saab oficialmente muerto.

Vía | Detroit News

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Berkshire won’t let Kraft dilute its shares to buy Cadbury. So why is Warren Buffett willing to issue new shares to buy Burlington Northern?

WARREN BUFFETT THREW COLD WATER LAST week on Kraft Foods‘ bid for British candy maker Cadbury. But in doing so, he seems to be saying: “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (ticker: BRKA), Kraft’s largest shareholder, with a 9% stake, voted against a proposal that would let Kraft (KFT) sharply boost its share count to facilitate a higher bid for Cadbury (CBY) — which has rejected Kraft’s original offer. Buffett views Kraft stock as undervalued, and issuing more shares dilutes existing stockholders’ stakes.

 

Reuters/Carlos Barria

Berkshire Hathaway is issuing $10 billion in stock for Buffett’s “all-in-wager” on America’s future.

Yet Berkshire is issuing $10 billion in shares of its own stock, which some investors view as quite undervalued, for its $34 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad (BNI), at $100 a share.

This could be a factor keeping Berkshire stock trailing the market, despite a strong 2010 profit outlook, stemming in part from Buffett’s smart high-yield investments in Goldman Sachs (GS), General Electric (GE) and other companies during the financial crisis. Berkshire made over $20 billion in such investments, and the $2 billion in resulting annual income could help lift its operating profits to a record $6,000 per Class A share this year, from an estimated $4,900 in 2009.

Based on earnings and book value, Berkshire fans consider the Class A very attractive now, at around $100,000 a share. After rising just 3% in 2009, the stock, which is way below its late 2007 peak of $149,000, fetches a mere 1.2 times our estimate of the company’s year-end 2009 book value of $84,500 a share — compared with an average 1.65 times in the past decade. The stock rarely has been cheaper, relative to book value, in 15 years.

Says one longtime Berkshire holder: “Buffett appears to be giving up a piece of a very cheap company to buy one that is fairly priced. He is not so happy when his investment companies do the same thing.”

Book value, moreover, understates what Buffett calls Berkshire’s intrinsic value: the discounted value of its cash flow. Buffett won’t estimate this, but has stated that it “significantly” exceeds book value, because auto insurer Geico and some other businesses are worth more than their carrying value on Berkshire’s balance sheet.

Berkshire’s book value could hit $92,000 to $95,000 a share this year if the financial markets stay strong. Thus, Berkshire may be trading below its 1.1 times forward book value. Why, then, is Buffett willing to issue equity for Burlington? He declined to comment last week, but he likes the railroad business, having accumulated a 22% stake in Burlington prior to the deal. In the past, he’s called the transaction “an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States.” And he’s said that, while he’s not enthusiastic about issuing more shares, the deal is too large to be all-cash and that he wants to give Burlington shareholders a tax-free option. Some think the 79-year-old investor wants to trim Berkshire’s $24 billion in cash to cut the pressure on his successor to make investments.

Still, Berkshire is paying a full price for Burlington — 18 times projected 2010 profits for a capital-intensive business. Other major rail companies are valued at about 15 times estimated 2010 earnings. One saving grace: Berkshire is using cash on its balance sheet and an estimated $8 billion in cheap financing for the deal, which uses a 60/40 mix of cash and stock.

The last time Berkshire did a major all-stock deal — the $22 billion purchase of reinsurer Gen Re in 1998 — its shares were at a lofty three times book value, a far cry from the currently low price/book ratio. If Berkshire’s intrinsic value is $125,000, as some bulls assert, Burlington holders will get about $110 a share in value for their stock, which was trading near 99 late last week.

Berkshire watchers say the stock may be depressed from arbitrage activity ahead of the deal’s closing, expected in the current quarter. The stock may get a lift subsequently, because arbitrage pressure will end and because Berkshire’s Class B shares, now trading around $3,320, will become more accessible to individuals after a 50-for-1 split that will drop the price to about $66.

The Bottom Line

Berkshire Hathaway looks undervalued, while Burlington Northern seems fully valued. The railroad’s holders are getting a surprisingly better deal than many realize.

It’s possible that Berkshire could be added to the S&P 500 when Burlington is removed, assuming that the deal clears antitrust hurdles. S&P has kept Berkshire out of the index due to concern about the stock’s liquidity. But the Burlington exit may give S&P an opportunity to reconsider. Joining the S&P 500 probably would boost Berkshire’s share price, as index funds, whose holdings mirror the index, buy the stock.

The Burlington deal doesn’t dent the investment case for Berkshire, which has a stock-market value of $155 billion. But it’s surprising to see Buffett parting with a stock that is at its lowest valuation in a decade to buy an asset that seems fairly valued, at best. Maybe the railroad business has better prospects than most people think.

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…The $167,000 grant will help to establish the database infrastructure to coordinate existing community-service and service-learning efforts, while supporting the institution in its expansion of community outreach to high need areas.

»Read the full article in The Miami Herald

It’s still not ready for its “official” launch, but Firefox Mobile just took one big ol’ step closer to the big day with the launch of Release Candidate 2. As with the past few releases, this one’s only available for Maemo device. Don’t got Nokia’s latest greatest tablet? Don’t sweat it — you can still play with it by way of emulation.

We didn’t expect too much more to be packed into this release, but we were pleasantly surprised. They’ve bumped the rendering engine up to Gecko 1.9.2, which just so happens to be the same engine that will power the upcoming release of full-blown Firefox 3.6. Perhaps most important for those waiting to dabble, they’ve also fixed a pretty nasty bug that kept things from running smoothly on the Nokia N900.

If you’ve got a Maemo-powered tablet, you can download the release at https://www.mozilla.com/en-US/m/. Stuck without a tablet to tap at? You can also find it for Windows here, Mac OS X here, and good ol’ Linux here.

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Filed under: Hardware, Multimedia, Rumors, Apple, iPhone, iPod touch

Isn’t competition wonderful? Apple Insider is citing a well-placed source saying Apple is grabbing significant quantities of LED flash devices for use in the iPhone — possibly for the iPod touch as well, if Apple decides to add a camera to that product.

“People familiar with Apple’s initiative claim the electronics maker is seeking allotments of LED camera flash components in the tens of millions for delivery during the 2010 calendar year, meaning future iPhones — and possibly the iPod touch — are the most likely recipients of those parts, due to their sales volume. Those same people say that Philips’ Lumileds Lighting sector is believed to be the front-runner for Apple’s business and may have already secured the design win. “

Other reports say Apple has placed an order with Omnivision Technologies for 5 megapixel camera sensors. The current 3.2 megapixel Apple currently offers is looking a bit stale in light of 5 MP chips on some of the newer Android phones. I wouldn’t be surprised to see multi-tasking finally make it to the iPhone in an upcoming iteration as well.

While Apple has a top selling smartphone, the competition will certainly push Apple into adding more features to keep a dominant position. Google Voice and Google Navigation anyone?

TUAWRumor: Will Apple add a camera flash to the iPhone? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been in a globe-trotting mood for the past two weeks here at the ReadWriteWeb Events Guide, adding new conferences and seminars in London and Australia. As always, you can download the entire event calendar in iCal format or import it into your Google Calendar. You can also import individual events using the link beside each entry. We publish it every weekend, as good a time as any to review your conference plans. This events guide is a weekly feature here on ReadWriteWeb.

Know of an event taking place that should appear here? Let us know in the comments below or contact us.

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11 January 2010: Nashville, Tennessee

Social Fresh Nashville

This is the social media conference that comes to you. Social Fresh is a one-day, case-study-rich conference targeted for marketers. Social Fresh Nashville will have 30-plus speakers, including Jason Falls of Social Media Explorer, Gavin Baker of Ruby Tuesday and John Andrews of Collective Bias (formerly of Walmart).

ReadWriteWeb readers get a 15% discount with the code “RWW15″.

14 January 2010: Palo Alto, California

The Founder Showcase

The Founder Showcase, by TheFunded.com, is an open startup pitch and networking event that highlights the newest cutting-edge businesses and helps innovators gain traction among the Silicon Valley elite. On Thursday, January 14th, 10 of the most promising early-stage companies, as selected by over 13,000 registered Founders and CEOs on TheFunded.com, will present to an audience of over 300 investors, founders, and members of the press. A panel of experts will critique the pitches, and an open ballot of those in attendance will determine the Founder Showcase Winner.

ReadWriteWeb readers receive a 10% discount when registering, just use discount code “RWW”.

20 January 2010: London

New Digital Revenue Streams Seminar

Madgex and Abacus e-Media are hosting a free seminar that will offer advice and case studies from media organisations that have successfully created a direct impact on profit margins. The event is supported by the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) and Haymarket-owned Brand Republic, and will feature speakers, including David Archer, CEO of Scottish Television.

The breakfast seminar takes place at the Council Chambers, Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London from 8.30-11 a.m. (registration and breakfast from 8.15 a.m.). To register, book here or email [email protected].

26 January 2010: San Francisco, California

Catalyst Conference

Vator.tv, a leading platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to broadcast themselves, and provider of news and information through VatorNews, and Girls in Tech, a social network enterprise focused on education and empowerment of influential women in technology, are seeking five women-led startups across any stage to present at the Catalyst Conference on January 26, 2010 at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. To be one of the five, join the Catalyst competition today and win the chance to present.

27 – 28 January 2010: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Enterprise Social 2.0: Rip or ROI?

This senior executive event will bring together decision makers from the Top Fortune companies to discuss innovative strategies on how to maximise business performance through social media engagement. The event will include keynote speeches, best-practice presentations as well as interactive discussion sessions.

The summit will provide excellent opportunities for you to hear international experts discuss best practices on how to drive business performance using Web 2.0 and social media. Key issues to be discussed include:

• How to integrate social media programs successfully into business strategies?
• Building business momentum, visibility and market growth through social media
• Measuring success and influence using metrics and analytics: what are the tools and techniques
• Integrating viral marketing and social media into traditional marketing mix
• Developing and activating audiences using social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs

1 – 5, February 2010: New York City, Berlin, London, San Francisco, Toronto, S�o Paulo

Social Media Week

The second annual Social Media Week conference will explore the profound impact that social media has on culture, business communications and society at large.

The conference is designed as a series of localized events, which city partners are responsible for organizing. Programs will span a variety of formats, ranging from talks and panel discussions, to interactive workshops, seminars and networking events. Registration will open in January 2010 and the majority of events will be free thanks to the global sponsors and event partners.

You can find more information at http://socialmediaweekny.com.

4 February 2010: San Francisco, California

Vator Splash

Vator.tv, a leading platform for innovators and entrepreneurs to broadcast themselves, is holding its inaugural Vator Splash event on February 4, 2010 at the Cafe du Nord in San Francisco. Catch onstage presenters: Zynga CEO Mark Pincus, Smule CEO Jeff Smith, August Capital VC Howard Hartenbaum and Google Ventures VC Bill Maris. Ten promising startups will also get to present onstage. Enter the Vator Splash competition if you want to present.

ReadWriteWeb readers get a 25% discount on their tickets using the code VatorReadWriteWeb.

8 February 2010: Tampa, Florida

Social Fresh Tampa

This is the social media conference that comes to you. Social Fresh is a one-day, case-study-rich conference targeted for marketers. Social Fresh Tampa will have 30+ speakers, including Chris Barger of GM, Maggie Fox of Social Media Group and John Andrews of Collective Bias (formerly of Walmart).

ReadWriteWeb readers get a 15% discount with the code “RWW15″.

10 February 2010: New York City

Online Community Unconference East

The Online Community Unconference East is a gathering of online community professionals – managers, developers, business people, tool providers, investors – to discuss experience and strategies in the development and growth of online communities. As we have found with our past events, the best source of information on all of these challenges is other knowledgeable practitioners. The event runs from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Digital Sandbox.

11 February 2010: New York City

NYC Venture Capital and Angel Showcase

FundingPost is hosting a VC showcase where 20-plus VC funds and angel groups will be exhibiting their firms during a great cocktail party setting. Each fund will have their own table setup for the sole purpose of meeting great new companies.

Additionally, there will be an optional pitching workshop from 2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The cost to participate in the workshop will be $400. This workshop includes the $125 ticket to the event, and a 1/4 page listing in the Venture Guide Magazine. This event is sponsored by Credit Suisse, and takes place at One Madison Avenue, from 6-9:15 p.m.

18 February 2010: Silicon Valley, California

Future of Funding

Active limited partners, top rated venture capitalists, and successful entrepreneurs are invited to Silicon Valley on February 18, 2010 to discuss the Future of Funding. The venture capital bubble has burst, and change is coming. Now is the time to have a constructive dialog about the future with all of the stakeholders at the table.

Don’t miss the opportunity to partake in this exclusive event hosted by TheFunded. Please visit www.futureoffunding.com to see speaker and event details.

ReadWriteWeb readers use the code “RWW” and get 10% off.

15 – 16 March 2010: London, England

2nd Annual Social Networking World Forum — London

The 2nd Annual Social Networking World Forum takes place at the Olympia Conference Centre in London. The two-day event features four dedicated conference streams:

1. Social Networking World Forum
2. Enterprise social media
3. Social TV World Forum
4. Mobile Social Networking Forum

The event features key speakers from global brands, organizations, social networking publishers and developers, pioneering social media leaders, top agencies, content producers, and more.

• Full workshop program within exhibition area
• Evening networking reception
• Pre-show online meeting planner for delegates
• Free pass for exhibition only

7 – 9 April 2010: Sydney, Australia

ConnectNow

ConnectNow brings together international specialists and thought leaders in social media, emerging technologies and their intersection with business. Learn how the realtime web, location based services, augmented reality, ubiquitous computing and personalised services are changing marketing and communications. Understand the importance of trust in relationship marketing and what is “social currency”. For more info email [email protected].

11 May 2010: San Francisco, California

FinovateSpring

FinovateSpring 2010 will again showcase the most cutting-edge financial and banking technology innovations to Silicon Valley and the world. With Finovate’s signature mix of short, fast-paced onstage demos (no slides are allowed) from handpicked companies and intimate networking time with their executives, this conference packs a ton of unique value into a single day.

Come see the cutting edge of banking and financial technology and network with hundreds of the leading financial executives, venture capitalists, press, industry analysts, bloggers and fintech entrepreneurs. Early bird registration rates are available.

5 October 2010: New York City

FinovateFall

FinovateFall will return to Manhattan on Tuesday, October 5 to showcase dozens of the biggest and most innovative new ideas in financial and banking technology from established leaders and hot young companies. The Fall event is the original and largest Finovate and features a single day packed with our special blend of short, fast-paced onstage demos (no slides are allowed) and intimate networking time with top executives from the innovative demoing companies.

FinovateFall is a unique chance to see the future of finance and banking before your competition and find the edge you need in today’s market. Early bird registration rates are available.

Download this entire events calendar in iCal format.

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Once an Apple (AAPL) engineer, Andy Rubin went on to co-found mobile computing outfits Danger Inc. and Android, Inc. He sold the former to Microsoft (MSFT) and the latter to Google (GOOG), where he is now now vice president of engineering. He’s also the guy quarterbacking development of the company’s Android mobile operating system and the Nexus One–the smartphone with which Google hopes to fundamentally change the way people buy cellphones.

In conversation with All Things Digital’s Walt Mossberg today, Rubin talked about the advent of a new breed of “superphones” and Google’s vision for the way phones should be bought and sold.

Walt starts off by asking Rubin about just how involved Google was in the development of Nexus One.

Rubin replies, “We threw out crazy ideas to our partners at HTC and they were pretty good about plucking the good ones out of the air and building them into the device.”

Walt asks about the new business model Google’s launched in concert with Nexus One. Was this something the company planned all along?

“This is the next phase of Android–taking the newest versions of the product, placing them online and allowing consumers to purchase them directly,” says Rubin. “What we’ve learned is that there are more efficient ways of connecting consumers with the phones they’d like to purchase…easier ways.” Purchasing a Nexus One through Google, says Rubin, is a casual process. “No one’s breathing down your neck,” he says. “No one’s trying to upsell you.”

Nexus One is aimed at consumers who love their Google services and live in the “Google world,” Walt notes. Yet, Google is encouraging developers to build new apps for Android and Nexus One. How do you reconcile that? Isn’t there something contradictory to saying “we’re an app platform, we’re open,” and then turning around and saying “we’re really a platform for people who love Google?”

Rubin obviously doesn’t think so. He stresses that an OS can’t be successful unless people are developing for it. “It reminds me of the accessory business,” he says. “The most successful phones have the most earbuds, car chargers, etc.”

Walt wonders if Rubin is at all surprised by the size of the apps revolution, by the fact that there are 100,000-plus apps in the iTunes Apps Store.

“I’m not surprised by it at all. This is what happens when you drop the barriers to entry,” he says, recalling how difficult it once was for developers to distribute their apps and how easy it is today.

This new purchasing model Google has created for the Nexus One puts the company at the center of the experience. People who purchase the Nexus One think of themselves as Google customers. Rubin says, “What we’ve done here is to offer a mobile platform where people don’t have to worry about the plumbing.”

In his interview with Kara Swisher earlier, Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein–a former Apple engineer–said, “I don’t have an iPhone. I’ve never even used one.” In contrast, for those who may be wondering, Andy Rubin says he does use an iPhone. “What do you expect? I’m a gadget guy.”

More Posts and Articles from CES

• CES Full Coverage on AllThingsD.com
• Netflix CEO Reed Hastings interview with Peter Kafka
• Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein interview with Kara Swisher

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