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Opera Mini 5 browser released for Android

ElectroGeek — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:18:33 +0000

Opera Software has released a beta version of its Opera Mini 5 mobile browser for Android. Opera Mini 5 offers features including tabbed browsing, a password manager, bookmarks, and visual bookmarks known as & Speed Dial,& but there’s no multi-touch support yet, according to the company. Opera Mini, touted as the “world’s most popular mobile browser,” was launched in January 2006 for Windows Mobile as well as other phones, running via a JVM (Java virtual machine). The Mini 5 version appeared for JVM and BlackBerry phones last fall, and last week appeared in a native Windows Mobile version that no longer requires a JVM.

Now, Opera Mini 5 runs on Android natively too, according to Opera Software. The browser’s features now appear to be closely aligned with the company’s previous mobile offering, Opera Mobile, which has been available only for Windows Mobile and Nokia handsets.

Full Story Via Linuxdevices.com

Google Improves Its Translation Tool

ElectroGeek — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:34:24 +0000

The company is using its network to push the limits of translation technology; its free service has become the favored source for millions.In a meeting at Google in 2004, the discussion turned to an e-mail message the company had received from a fan in South Korea. Sergey Brin, a Google founder, ran the message through an automatic translation service that the company had licensed.

The message said Google was a favorite search engine, but the result read: “The sliced raw fish shoes it wishes. Google green onion thing!”

Full Story Via nytimes.com

Motorola Android phone launches with Yahoo search

ElectroGeek — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:30:34 +0000

AT T launched its first Android phone, the Motorola Backflip, for $100 after rebate — and with Yahoo as the default search engine. Meanwhile, at our sister publication, eWEEK, analysts sort through the impact of Apple’s Android-related patent lawsuit against HTC, suggesting Palm or even Microsoft could be the next targets.Motorola introduced its Android-based Backflip phone in early January at the Consumer Electronics Show. AT&T confirmed last month that it would introduce the phone today, and the carrier is now offering the device for $100 (with the usual two-year contract and $100 rebate).

The Backflip is the first Android-based handset sold by AT&T, which is known for having a U.S. exclusive on Apple’s iPhone. For now, anyway, the carrier appears to be the exclusive provider of the Backflip, as well.

Full Story Via Linuxdevices.com

AT&T Offering Its First Android-Powered Smartphone, Motorola Backflip

ElectroGeek — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:41:03 +0000

AT&T has gotten on the Android bandwagon by releasing the Motorola Backflip. This inexpensive smartphone has an unusual reverse-flip keyboard with an HVGA touchscreen and an large trackpad. It also sports 3G, Wi-Fi, and a 5 MPx camera.

It has a clamshell design, but not the usual one. Instead, has a reverse flip keyboard, so that when this model is closed its keyboard is on the back. This allows it to set on a a table with its screen flipped up.

Full Story Via Brighthand.com

Apple iPad Won’t Be Able to Get Internet Access through an iPhone

ElectroGeek — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:37:59 +0000

A question many potential Apple iPad buyers have been asking now has an answer: this upcoming tablet computer will not be able to tether to an iPhone. Many had hoped these two mobile computers would be able to share a single Internet connection, but it won’t be possible.

One version of the iPad will be able to directly connect to AT&T’s 3G service, but this will require buying service for this device. The other version of this mobile computer will depend entirely on Wi-Fi for its Net access.

Full Story Via Brighthand.com

Advertisement: Sandisk 4GB MicroSDHC Memory Card

Ads Posted on Facebook Strike Some as Off-Key

ElectroGeek — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:41:13 +0000

Advertisers on Facebook are a motley bunch. Some are Wal-Mart and Procter & Gamble. Others are “not only creepy but off-putting,” says a media consultant.

But the site’s pages are also home to countless ads from smaller companies that can be funny, weird or just plain creepy - those suggesting you are, say, eligible to get a free iPad because you are exactly 26 years old, or entreaties to see what your offspring would look like if you had a child with a celebrity.

Odd Web ads, like the dancing women promoting mortgage brokers, are not new. But on social networks like Facebook, where people go to communicate with one another, advertisers seem to be trying especially hard to intrude on the conversation.

Full Story Via nytimes.com

Advertisement: BlackBerry Curve 8310 Smartphone

Majority of Smartphone Users Upset with Service, Survey Finds

ElectroGeek — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:33:29 +0000

More than half of smartphone users are disappointed with the performance of their devices, citing issues with streaming media, web browsers, and social networking apps, according to a new survey.About 57% of smartphone users are disappointed with the performance of their devices, citing issues with streaming media, web browsers, and social networking apps, according to a new Fanfare survey.

In addition, 55% of respondents were unclear on whom to blame for device failures resulting in 53% of users instinctively blaming the manufacturer.

Fanfare conducted the study of 155 users in January and February, also finding that 58% of respondents were likely to broadcast their dissatisfaction through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter while 57% were likely to complain to friends and family. This criticism can have a measurable impact, as 76% of potential buyers are influenced by friends and family while 64% take heed of opinions found on social networking sites, the study found.

Moreover, 29% of respondents claimed to encounter problems “all the time,” while 64% have relied on software patches to fix any bugs. Looking ahead, 74% believe devices will become less reliable in the future and 88% are happy to wait until handsets prove reliable before purchasing one.

Full Story Via Brighthand.com

Apple: HTC Phones Caused ‘Irreparable Injury’

ElectroGeek — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:30:07 +0000

A lawsuit seeks to bar importation of iPhone competitors into the United States.

While Apple’s marketing machine generally downplays the threat to the iPhone posed by Google’s new Nexus One mobile device, the company’s lawyers see it differently.

The Nexus One, as well as other touch-screen phones manufactured by HTC for Google and other third parties, has caused “irreparable injury” to Apple’s mobile franchise, according to court documents.

Apple claims HTC infringed on 20 patents governing a range of technologies. It filed legal actions against the Taiwanese company Tuesday with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. District Court for Delaware.

Full Story Via InformationWeek

Iceberg Collision in Antarctica

ElectroGeek — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:28:05 +0000

An oblong iceberg roughly as big as Rhode Island called B-09B (center right in this image) collided with the edge of the Mertz Glacier in eastern Antarctica this month breaking away a new iceberg (top left) that is nearly as large at B-09B. This image from Feb. 20, 2010, is one of a series of images from NASA’s Aqua satellite that showed the progression and aftermath of the collision. The floating ice tongue of the glacier is created as ice flows down from Antarctica and onto the water. Glacier tongues grow longer year by year until they eventually break off, calving a new iceberg. Image Credit: NASA

Full Story Via Nasa.gov

Robot vs. Robot: Live In Washington and Across the Nation

ElectroGeek — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:22:03 +0000

NASA, in cooperation with local technology firms and sponsors, launches a nationwide series of high school robotics competitions that begin March 5 and 6 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place N.W., in Washington. The two-day event runs daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. It is free and open to the public. NASA Television will carry opening ceremonies starting at 9 a.m. March 5.

The student competition is called “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” or FIRST. The program was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and communities.

Full Story Via Nasa.gov