10 widgets for Opera users to sing about
DotooDotoo is a to-do list widget in your Opera browser.You can create a host of to-do lists and access them all from within the widget.Adding tasks is as simple as pressing the "+" button under your list and inputting your task.It's not a sophisticated widget, so you won't be able to track your progress.But if you want to quickly add a few tasks, you should be happy with what you find.Dotoo lets you create a quick to-do list.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETFacebook NotifierFacebook Notifier gives you a listing of all your friends' recent status updates.You can't update your profile in the application, but you can easily access your profile with the links in the widget.It might not be the most useful app, but if you want to see what your friends are up to while you're browsing outside Facebook, it's a fine choice.Facebook Notifier keeps you up-to-date.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETGoogle ToolBarThe Google ToolBar should be one of the first widgets you add to your Opera browser.The tool gives you quick access to (and search results in) Google search, Gmail, Reader, Finance, News, and much more.Almost every Google app currently available is featured on the toolbar.And since it's a widget, you can drag it around your browser to put it in the perfect spot while you're working. Google ToolBar is a must-have.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETiTunes WidgetOpera's iTunes Widget allows you to see the top songs, featured tracks, new releases, and top albums.You can also choose songs by genre.When you find a song you might want to buy, you can click on it.That will immediately open a Web page redirecting you to the iTunes Store, where you can view the song's listing and buy it.Buy your favorite songs with the iTunes Widget.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETLyrics NowLyrics Now is a useful widget that provides you with song lyrics in a matter of seconds.Simply input the name of the song and its artist, and Lyrics Now will do the rest.It displays the album cover and the lyrics.You don't need to click the arrows in the sidebar to scroll through the lyrics.Instead, you can hover your mouse over them to get the job done.It's a simple addition, but one that makes sense; who wants to hear a clicking mouse while you're listening to a song?Lyrics Now helps you quickly find your favorite song lyrics.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETPandoraIf you're a fan of music, you'll love the Pandora Opera Widget.Once you download it and input your Pandora credentials, the widget displays all your stations in the familiar Pandora interface.You can listen to songs, tell the service which tracks you like, and check out other users' stations.It's a full-featured Pandora widget that works just as well as its site.Pandora's widget is just like Pandora.comScreenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETPanic ButtonSince it's Friday, some of us might be surfing the Web instead of working.That's where the Panic Button comes in.After you install it on Opera, you can place it on your screen while you surf the Web.Whenever you hear the boss coming, simply press the Panic Button, and it will open a new tab automatically.You can pick which site that tab directs you to.In the process, the Panic Button is hidden behind your active windows.It's a must-have if you don't want to get caught at work.Hit the Panic Button when the boss is around.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETTwitter OperaThe Twitter Opera widget is a lightweight application that allows you to update your status, see what others are saying, and search Twitter.It's like having the full Twitter experience in a simple widget.I posted updates from the app, and like the site, it updated my stream immediately.I was really impressed by Twitter Opera.Twitter Opera gives you Twitter in a widget.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETWikipediaThe Wikipedia widget is one of the most useful tools in the entire Opera widget listing.It's a simple tool--it only has a search box--but it quickly finds articles on Wikipedia that are relevant to your query.As you're typing, it even displays suggestions to help you in your search.When you finally query the widget, the Wikipedia article is displayed in a new tab.It's a great app.Wikipedia in a widget is just as useful.Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNETMy Top 31. Google ToolBar: The power of Google in a lightweight package.2. Pandora: Listen to tracks while you work.3. Twitter Opera: It's Twitter in a little widget.It doesn't get much better than that.
How to find free e-books for your iPad
How to find free e-books for your iPad
There are a lot of advantages to the iPad as an e-reader, chief among them its capability to be a true multiformat product supporting Kindle, ePubs, PDFs, and others.One little difficulty remains: finding ways to get free books.Sure, Apple and others don't exactly want you to stock up on free literature if they can help it, especially in the case of books that aren't public domain. Still, we have to try, don't we? Here are the best (legal) ways not to pay.The iBooks Store does have over 30,000 free books, mostly from Project Gutenberg, and many of them with surprisingly decent formatting. There is a trick, though: you'll have to be fastidious. Searching for an author in the iBooks Store will often bring up only for-pay versions of many books, whereas entering their specific titles will brings up free versions, too. It's extremely odd, but we discovered the bug when looking for many titles, including "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse and Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan."The Kindle App has free books galore, if you can find them. Amazon offers a large selection of free books in its Kindle store, but you'll need to browse online or check out Amazon's Kindle blog for the most recent freebies. They're downloaded directly via the Kindle app; right now, there's no way to import files from a computer via USB. To help matters, check constantly updated free Kindle book sites such as jungle-search.com (Read how to find free books on your Kindle for more details).Import ePub books via iTunes: You can download or convert your own ePub books from any source (including Google's large collection) and import them into Apple's iBooks app, but you'll need to go through iTunes on a computer using iTunes 9.1. Dragging the file in will put the book in your sync queue, but you can't directly drop the book onto your iPad. As for where you get those ePub books from...well, that's your decision.For PDFs, use GoodReader. For $.99, GoodReader reads .doc, PDF, HTML, and TXT files, can import docs and PDFs from any Web page or even directly from the Google Docs server, and it also allows wireless drag-and-drop of files from a nearby computer without syncing. A clever trick: visit Google Books on GoodReader and download the "PDF" link for free books directly into the reader app. Its page-turning system is a little awkward, but it's a great tool to have (and PDFs retain color-coding for those using it for revisions). It's a shame it can't read ePub as well.Check other apps: Free Books and Kobo are two other iPad book apps that have their own slightly different supplies of titles. We've found luck getting a free book on one that we couldn't get on another. It's a hassle to swap back and forth, but it might be the only way to get what you're looking for.And, of course, there's always good old-fashioned Web browsing if you're online, or Instapaper Pro ($4.99, also a free version) for downloading any HTML page for easy offline reading.Any other tips? Let us know in the comments.
There are a lot of advantages to the iPad as an e-reader, chief among them its capability to be a true multiformat product supporting Kindle, ePubs, PDFs, and others.One little difficulty remains: finding ways to get free books.Sure, Apple and others don't exactly want you to stock up on free literature if they can help it, especially in the case of books that aren't public domain. Still, we have to try, don't we? Here are the best (legal) ways not to pay.The iBooks Store does have over 30,000 free books, mostly from Project Gutenberg, and many of them with surprisingly decent formatting. There is a trick, though: you'll have to be fastidious. Searching for an author in the iBooks Store will often bring up only for-pay versions of many books, whereas entering their specific titles will brings up free versions, too. It's extremely odd, but we discovered the bug when looking for many titles, including "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse and Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan."The Kindle App has free books galore, if you can find them. Amazon offers a large selection of free books in its Kindle store, but you'll need to browse online or check out Amazon's Kindle blog for the most recent freebies. They're downloaded directly via the Kindle app; right now, there's no way to import files from a computer via USB. To help matters, check constantly updated free Kindle book sites such as jungle-search.com (Read how to find free books on your Kindle for more details).Import ePub books via iTunes: You can download or convert your own ePub books from any source (including Google's large collection) and import them into Apple's iBooks app, but you'll need to go through iTunes on a computer using iTunes 9.1. Dragging the file in will put the book in your sync queue, but you can't directly drop the book onto your iPad. As for where you get those ePub books from...well, that's your decision.For PDFs, use GoodReader. For $.99, GoodReader reads .doc, PDF, HTML, and TXT files, can import docs and PDFs from any Web page or even directly from the Google Docs server, and it also allows wireless drag-and-drop of files from a nearby computer without syncing. A clever trick: visit Google Books on GoodReader and download the "PDF" link for free books directly into the reader app. Its page-turning system is a little awkward, but it's a great tool to have (and PDFs retain color-coding for those using it for revisions). It's a shame it can't read ePub as well.Check other apps: Free Books and Kobo are two other iPad book apps that have their own slightly different supplies of titles. We've found luck getting a free book on one that we couldn't get on another. It's a hassle to swap back and forth, but it might be the only way to get what you're looking for.And, of course, there's always good old-fashioned Web browsing if you're online, or Instapaper Pro ($4.99, also a free version) for downloading any HTML page for easy offline reading.Any other tips? Let us know in the comments.
ACCAN calls ACCC to action over 'freemium' games
ACCAN calls ACCC to action over 'freemium' games
We are no strangers to mobile games that try to take advantage of the freemium model to gouge its customers â€" something that many Australians have also encountered in some form or another. This tactic, so far, has been employed unchecked and unregulated in Australia. Now, however, peak consumer body ACCAN has called on the ACCC to investigate, especially in cases where the game is advertised as being "free to play", but will prevent or seriously slow progress unless the player is willing to spend money."We've known for some time that 'freemium' apps cause problems for consumers, especially children. The CNET Australia workon the My Little Pony app alerted us to an alarming trend where 'free' games don’t just include but actually require in-app purchases," said ACCAN policy and campaigns officer Erin Turner. "When people download a game for free, they should be told if it will end up costing them money down the track. At the moment, this is not happening, and it needs to change."ACCAN's submission to the ACCC examined three popular games on the iTunes and Android app stores: The Simpsons: Tapped Out; Tap Paradise Cove; and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth. These games were found to be aggressively promoting in-app purchases, to the point of hindering gameplay.In The Simpsons: Tapped Out, the game promotes spending money through the use of on-screen prompts and in-game dialogue; later in the game, it pushes the point home more aggressively. One particular item â€" a corn crop on Cletus' farm â€" requires either a 90-day wait or an AU$48.58 purchase.Tap Paradise Cove.(Credit: ACCAN)In Tap Paradise Cove, players need to complete quests to level up. Developer Pocket Gems employed a mechanic we've seen many times â€" the player must either wait up to 24 hours or pay money in order to move on to the next task."There's no way someone could 'play free forever' like Paradise Cove claims. Without paying money, you could play for only a few minutes before having to set the game aside for hours or even days. Parents beware; these kinds of games are encouraging your children to spend hundreds of dollars on digital content," Turner said.The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth, a multi-player game, was found to implement a "play to win" mechanic. Unless players are willing to put money into funding their defences and armies, other players who are willing to pay money would be able to easily defeat the non-paying player, destroying their kingdoms. ACCAN also found that a mini-game in the title contains gambling elements â€" which may have something to do with the fact that developer Kabam was seed funded by internet betting exchange Betfair. Last year, the Tolkien estate sued Warner Bros over the title.Conversely, ACCAN held up Fruit Ninja as an example of a game that implements the freemium model well in a submission to the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council in February. "At no point are players prompted to make in-app purchases, and it is possible for players to earn enough starfruit through gameplay to purchase in-app features," the submission said.CNET Australia has contacted the developer of The Simpsons: Tapped out, Electronic Arts, for comment. We will update this story when we have more information.
We are no strangers to mobile games that try to take advantage of the freemium model to gouge its customers â€" something that many Australians have also encountered in some form or another. This tactic, so far, has been employed unchecked and unregulated in Australia. Now, however, peak consumer body ACCAN has called on the ACCC to investigate, especially in cases where the game is advertised as being "free to play", but will prevent or seriously slow progress unless the player is willing to spend money."We've known for some time that 'freemium' apps cause problems for consumers, especially children. The CNET Australia workon the My Little Pony app alerted us to an alarming trend where 'free' games don’t just include but actually require in-app purchases," said ACCAN policy and campaigns officer Erin Turner. "When people download a game for free, they should be told if it will end up costing them money down the track. At the moment, this is not happening, and it needs to change."ACCAN's submission to the ACCC examined three popular games on the iTunes and Android app stores: The Simpsons: Tapped Out; Tap Paradise Cove; and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth. These games were found to be aggressively promoting in-app purchases, to the point of hindering gameplay.In The Simpsons: Tapped Out, the game promotes spending money through the use of on-screen prompts and in-game dialogue; later in the game, it pushes the point home more aggressively. One particular item â€" a corn crop on Cletus' farm â€" requires either a 90-day wait or an AU$48.58 purchase.Tap Paradise Cove.(Credit: ACCAN)In Tap Paradise Cove, players need to complete quests to level up. Developer Pocket Gems employed a mechanic we've seen many times â€" the player must either wait up to 24 hours or pay money in order to move on to the next task."There's no way someone could 'play free forever' like Paradise Cove claims. Without paying money, you could play for only a few minutes before having to set the game aside for hours or even days. Parents beware; these kinds of games are encouraging your children to spend hundreds of dollars on digital content," Turner said.The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth, a multi-player game, was found to implement a "play to win" mechanic. Unless players are willing to put money into funding their defences and armies, other players who are willing to pay money would be able to easily defeat the non-paying player, destroying their kingdoms. ACCAN also found that a mini-game in the title contains gambling elements â€" which may have something to do with the fact that developer Kabam was seed funded by internet betting exchange Betfair. Last year, the Tolkien estate sued Warner Bros over the title.Conversely, ACCAN held up Fruit Ninja as an example of a game that implements the freemium model well in a submission to the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council in February. "At no point are players prompted to make in-app purchases, and it is possible for players to earn enough starfruit through gameplay to purchase in-app features," the submission said.CNET Australia has contacted the developer of The Simpsons: Tapped out, Electronic Arts, for comment. We will update this story when we have more information.
Report- Apple orders 12 petabytes of storage
Report: Apple orders 12 petabytes of storage
Apple is said to be beefing up its storage capacity with an order of storage equipment from Isilon Systems that tops out at 12 petabytes. The news, which was picked up by AppleInsider earlier today, comes from a source at Isilon who told site StorageNewsletter that Apple was the buyer, and was making the purchase to "manage the video download of its customers using iTunes." CNET has contacted Isilon for comment on the report.EMC announced plans to acquire Isilon five months ago for $2.25 billion, a 29 percent premium on the company's stock price at the time. The company is known for going after large-scale data management projects, and has customers like Sony and Kodak, as well as media companies like ABC and XM Satellite Radio. Before getting too excited that this is incontrovertible proof of Apple's plans to launch a storage locker for user content, it's worth noting Apple is still in the process of readying its North Caroline data center, which the company has stated will go online this spring. The company also has an existing data center facility in Newark, Calif., it purchased in 2006 that could be due for a new wave of hardware upgrades.According to a report published by Bernstein Research last month on Apple's upcoming data center, Apple spent an estimated $1.7 billion on IT assets during fiscal year 2010. That number, the report estimates, could jump up to $2.6 billion this year. The new North Carolina facility, which is said to be 500,000 square feet, can squeeze somewhere between 95,000 to 120,000 servers, something Bernstein said could "easily" cost hundreds of millions of dollars. StorageNewsletter's report says this 12-petabyte buy "probably" makes Apple the largest Isilon customer yet.
Apple is said to be beefing up its storage capacity with an order of storage equipment from Isilon Systems that tops out at 12 petabytes. The news, which was picked up by AppleInsider earlier today, comes from a source at Isilon who told site StorageNewsletter that Apple was the buyer, and was making the purchase to "manage the video download of its customers using iTunes." CNET has contacted Isilon for comment on the report.EMC announced plans to acquire Isilon five months ago for $2.25 billion, a 29 percent premium on the company's stock price at the time. The company is known for going after large-scale data management projects, and has customers like Sony and Kodak, as well as media companies like ABC and XM Satellite Radio. Before getting too excited that this is incontrovertible proof of Apple's plans to launch a storage locker for user content, it's worth noting Apple is still in the process of readying its North Caroline data center, which the company has stated will go online this spring. The company also has an existing data center facility in Newark, Calif., it purchased in 2006 that could be due for a new wave of hardware upgrades.According to a report published by Bernstein Research last month on Apple's upcoming data center, Apple spent an estimated $1.7 billion on IT assets during fiscal year 2010. That number, the report estimates, could jump up to $2.6 billion this year. The new North Carolina facility, which is said to be 500,000 square feet, can squeeze somewhere between 95,000 to 120,000 servers, something Bernstein said could "easily" cost hundreds of millions of dollars. StorageNewsletter's report says this 12-petabyte buy "probably" makes Apple the largest Isilon customer yet.
Great MP3 minds think alike
Great MP3 minds think alike
They say diversity is the spice of life, but a new music app claims you can add flavor to your listening routine by networking with those who have the exact same tastes as you.A group called Emergent Music today launched Goombah, a community-driven, music discovery site and desktop application. Goombah offers its members "taste-targeted free music" through patent-pending technology that claims to analyze users' iTunes collections and listening behavior and connect them to people and music that "precisely match their taste."It's not rocket science to conclude that people with similar music collections are the best sources for recommendations of new artists and tracks that you haven't yet heard but probably would enjoy. Goombah seems slightly ahead of the game, however, by launching with an inventory of 5 million unique tracks that's already growing thanks to a five-month beta testing period. Goombah also features an "Adventurousness" slider tool that widens the scope of recommendations from the most popular to those on the fringe. Goombah was easy to download and within a few minutes had analyzed our iTunes inventory to create a list of over 100 recommended tracks. Several of the free songs got our feet tapping and introduced us to artists worth pursuing. However, a good portion of the recommendations actually had to be purchased through iTunes, not exactly the free music we had anticipated. Additionally, you can't use Goombah on any computer that doesn't house an iTunes library.Will Goombah offer anything earth-shatteringly new to those already fluent in browsing by category? And speaking of diversity, what is up with that potentially offensive name? Time will tell, but in the meantime, stay tuned for a more in-depth Goombah feature from CNET News.com.
They say diversity is the spice of life, but a new music app claims you can add flavor to your listening routine by networking with those who have the exact same tastes as you.A group called Emergent Music today launched Goombah, a community-driven, music discovery site and desktop application. Goombah offers its members "taste-targeted free music" through patent-pending technology that claims to analyze users' iTunes collections and listening behavior and connect them to people and music that "precisely match their taste."It's not rocket science to conclude that people with similar music collections are the best sources for recommendations of new artists and tracks that you haven't yet heard but probably would enjoy. Goombah seems slightly ahead of the game, however, by launching with an inventory of 5 million unique tracks that's already growing thanks to a five-month beta testing period. Goombah also features an "Adventurousness" slider tool that widens the scope of recommendations from the most popular to those on the fringe. Goombah was easy to download and within a few minutes had analyzed our iTunes inventory to create a list of over 100 recommended tracks. Several of the free songs got our feet tapping and introduced us to artists worth pursuing. However, a good portion of the recommendations actually had to be purchased through iTunes, not exactly the free music we had anticipated. Additionally, you can't use Goombah on any computer that doesn't house an iTunes library.Will Goombah offer anything earth-shatteringly new to those already fluent in browsing by category? And speaking of diversity, what is up with that potentially offensive name? Time will tell, but in the meantime, stay tuned for a more in-depth Goombah feature from CNET News.com.
Report- iPhone to cost Verizon billions this year
Report: iPhone to cost Verizon billions this year
Verizon Wireless obviously wants the iPhone, but it will pay a hefty price to get it.Speaking to several industry analysts, Bloomberg found that Verizon could pay billions of dollars this year in subsidies.According to UBS analyst John Hodulik, Verizon could sell 13 million iPhone units this year and subsidize each device by $400. Overall, that could mean Verizon will pay $5.2 billion in subsidies.Barclays analyst James Ratcliffe told Bloomberg that he isn't as bullish on iPhone sales. He expects Verizon to sell about 9 million iPhones and subsidize the smartphone at $350, forcing the company to take a $3.2 billion subsidy expense in the year.Subsidies are commonplace in the mobile market. Carriers acquire phones from vendors at a specific price, and typically sell them for much less. By subsidizing a phone's price, carriers hope to attract more customers and recoup that investment through monthly service plans.Later this morning, Verizon is holding a press event in New York City where it is widely expected to announce support for the iPhone. The event starts at 8 a.m. PT, and as you might expect, CNET will be there to live-blog every second.
Verizon Wireless obviously wants the iPhone, but it will pay a hefty price to get it.Speaking to several industry analysts, Bloomberg found that Verizon could pay billions of dollars this year in subsidies.According to UBS analyst John Hodulik, Verizon could sell 13 million iPhone units this year and subsidize each device by $400. Overall, that could mean Verizon will pay $5.2 billion in subsidies.Barclays analyst James Ratcliffe told Bloomberg that he isn't as bullish on iPhone sales. He expects Verizon to sell about 9 million iPhones and subsidize the smartphone at $350, forcing the company to take a $3.2 billion subsidy expense in the year.Subsidies are commonplace in the mobile market. Carriers acquire phones from vendors at a specific price, and typically sell them for much less. By subsidizing a phone's price, carriers hope to attract more customers and recoup that investment through monthly service plans.Later this morning, Verizon is holding a press event in New York City where it is widely expected to announce support for the iPhone. The event starts at 8 a.m. PT, and as you might expect, CNET will be there to live-blog every second.
Report- iPad 2 to ship next February
Report: iPad 2 to ship next February
The next version of iPad is reportedly expected to ship as soon as the end of February.Component makers in Taiwan say Foxconn--a key maker of iPhones and iPads--has been notified that it should be ready to ship 400,000 to 600,000 units of the next version of iPad in the next 100 days, according to a DigiTimes report. Taiwan-based Foxconn reportedly declined to comment.DigiTimes reported that Apple had originally expected to begin mass production of the unofficially dubbed iPad 2 in January, but Apple postponed that schedule because the device's firmware is still undergoing testing.Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The iPad 2 has been widely expected to come out in the first quarter of 2011 and feature a front-facing camera. Some analysts also expected Qualcomm will provide chips that allow the iPad to run on both CDMA and GSM networks, a so-called "world" iPad. The current 3G version is GSM only. As my colleague Erica Ogg points out, a dual-mode iPad makes sense now that Apple offers the current iPad on both CDMA and GSM networks. While the 3G version AT&T sells has GSM chips inside, the Verizon version comes bundled with a wireless hot spot.
The next version of iPad is reportedly expected to ship as soon as the end of February.Component makers in Taiwan say Foxconn--a key maker of iPhones and iPads--has been notified that it should be ready to ship 400,000 to 600,000 units of the next version of iPad in the next 100 days, according to a DigiTimes report. Taiwan-based Foxconn reportedly declined to comment.DigiTimes reported that Apple had originally expected to begin mass production of the unofficially dubbed iPad 2 in January, but Apple postponed that schedule because the device's firmware is still undergoing testing.Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The iPad 2 has been widely expected to come out in the first quarter of 2011 and feature a front-facing camera. Some analysts also expected Qualcomm will provide chips that allow the iPad to run on both CDMA and GSM networks, a so-called "world" iPad. The current 3G version is GSM only. As my colleague Erica Ogg points out, a dual-mode iPad makes sense now that Apple offers the current iPad on both CDMA and GSM networks. While the 3G version AT&T sells has GSM chips inside, the Verizon version comes bundled with a wireless hot spot.
Android Wear, Project Morpheus and UK Chromecast in podcast 381
Android Wear, Project Morpheus and UK Chromecast in podcast 381
The biggest news this week was Google's move into wearables with its Android Wear operating system, so that's first up on this week's podcast. With voice recognition, fancy menus designed to be easy to see on your wrist and fitness tracking, there's a chance it could be just the kick-start smart watches need.Google gets the second spot too for launching its Chromecast video streamer in the UK. At just £30, this simple device puts iPlayer, Netflix and Google's video services on any TV with an HDMI port. We chat about its significance and how it compares to the competition. The iPhone 5C is suddenly £40 cheaper, but there's a catch. To get the lower price, you need to buy the 8GB version of the phone. Is that enough storage? We discuss.Android Wear, Project Morpheus and UK Chromecast in podcast 381Your browser does not support the audio element.Sony gets points for the coolest-looking product this week. Project Morpheus is Sony's name for its new virtual reality headset that works with the PlayStation 4. Looking rather Tron-esque and competing with the Oculus Rift, we have a natter about its chances. We mention a few other stories in passing, here are the links in case you want to read more: The HTC One M8 is going on sale at 4pm on Tuesday EA has been hacked to steal a bunch of Apple IDs 2014 budget funds graphene research and an Alan Turing instituteFlappy Bird is coming back Brit gets revenge on scammer by texting him all of Shakespeare To listen to the podcast, just press play above or head to this link on the iTunes Store. Alternatively, head to iTunes and search for CNET UK.Or if you want to watch Andy and Jason speak their brains in video form, hit play below or head to YouTube.com/cnet for this and all the rest of our videos.
The biggest news this week was Google's move into wearables with its Android Wear operating system, so that's first up on this week's podcast. With voice recognition, fancy menus designed to be easy to see on your wrist and fitness tracking, there's a chance it could be just the kick-start smart watches need.Google gets the second spot too for launching its Chromecast video streamer in the UK. At just £30, this simple device puts iPlayer, Netflix and Google's video services on any TV with an HDMI port. We chat about its significance and how it compares to the competition. The iPhone 5C is suddenly £40 cheaper, but there's a catch. To get the lower price, you need to buy the 8GB version of the phone. Is that enough storage? We discuss.Android Wear, Project Morpheus and UK Chromecast in podcast 381Your browser does not support the audio element.Sony gets points for the coolest-looking product this week. Project Morpheus is Sony's name for its new virtual reality headset that works with the PlayStation 4. Looking rather Tron-esque and competing with the Oculus Rift, we have a natter about its chances. We mention a few other stories in passing, here are the links in case you want to read more: The HTC One M8 is going on sale at 4pm on Tuesday EA has been hacked to steal a bunch of Apple IDs 2014 budget funds graphene research and an Alan Turing instituteFlappy Bird is coming back Brit gets revenge on scammer by texting him all of Shakespeare To listen to the podcast, just press play above or head to this link on the iTunes Store. Alternatively, head to iTunes and search for CNET UK.Or if you want to watch Andy and Jason speak their brains in video form, hit play below or head to YouTube.com/cnet for this and all the rest of our videos.
Android Atlas Weekly 91- Segues- We don't need no stinkin' segues! (Podcast)
Android Atlas Weekly 91: Segues? We don't need no stinkin' segues! (Podcast)
CNET editors Lynn La and Eric Franklin join us to dish on tablets, ICS updates, and apps on one of our roughest shows to date! This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 91NEWS:-Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review-Possible Nexus Tablet giveaway at Google IO?-Rumor: Jelly Bean coming in Q3?-AT&T announces slew of other devices getting ICS update-Samsung, LG not done with 3D yet-BlueStacks beta is out, and it puts Android apps on your Windows computer-Bluestacks-app-player-beta-goes-live-Instagram for Android imminent-Angry Birds SpaceAPP of the WEEK:-Temple RunEMAIL:Hi Team, I have finally taken the plunge and switched frommy ageing iPhone 3G to a new Samsung Galaxy Note.The Note isvery impressive. My question pertains to location services and privacy settings.With my iPhone, I can customise which applications can have access to myGPS location.I cannot find this option with my Android 2.3Gingerbread OS.Is this option available?Upon downloadingapplications in the Play Shop, the app will tell me it wants to monitor my location;however, I see nowhere post download that I can deactivate this withoutdeleting the app.Please help?From Kevin, Melbourne, Australia.â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"Not without first rooting the phone, no. There are apps that you can use to deny certain apps access to GPS location (Permissions Denied http://bit.ly/GWnKz5 springs to mind), but these apps usually require root access since you’re messing with locked permissions.His non-rooted options area) turn off GPS access on a global level via the “Location & security†menu in the Settings orb) pay attention to the permissions asked for by the apps before installation and simply not install apps that he doesn’t want to know where he is.END OF SHOW DETAILS:BLOG cnet.com/android-atlasSTREAM cnet.com/live/TIME Wednesdays @ 10am PTEMAIL androidatlas@cnet.comTWITTER @androidatlasJAYMAR@jaymarcabebeJUSTIN @notmyrealnameERIC FRANKLIN @nidopalLYNN LA @lynnlaaaSTEPHEN @stephenbeachamPHONE866-344-CNET (2638)
CNET editors Lynn La and Eric Franklin join us to dish on tablets, ICS updates, and apps on one of our roughest shows to date! This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayListen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 91NEWS:-Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review-Possible Nexus Tablet giveaway at Google IO?-Rumor: Jelly Bean coming in Q3?-AT&T announces slew of other devices getting ICS update-Samsung, LG not done with 3D yet-BlueStacks beta is out, and it puts Android apps on your Windows computer-Bluestacks-app-player-beta-goes-live-Instagram for Android imminent-Angry Birds SpaceAPP of the WEEK:-Temple RunEMAIL:Hi Team, I have finally taken the plunge and switched frommy ageing iPhone 3G to a new Samsung Galaxy Note.The Note isvery impressive. My question pertains to location services and privacy settings.With my iPhone, I can customise which applications can have access to myGPS location.I cannot find this option with my Android 2.3Gingerbread OS.Is this option available?Upon downloadingapplications in the Play Shop, the app will tell me it wants to monitor my location;however, I see nowhere post download that I can deactivate this withoutdeleting the app.Please help?From Kevin, Melbourne, Australia.â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"Not without first rooting the phone, no. There are apps that you can use to deny certain apps access to GPS location (Permissions Denied http://bit.ly/GWnKz5 springs to mind), but these apps usually require root access since you’re messing with locked permissions.His non-rooted options area) turn off GPS access on a global level via the “Location & security†menu in the Settings orb) pay attention to the permissions asked for by the apps before installation and simply not install apps that he doesn’t want to know where he is.END OF SHOW DETAILS:BLOG cnet.com/android-atlasSTREAM cnet.com/live/TIME Wednesdays @ 10am PTEMAIL androidatlas@cnet.comTWITTER @androidatlasJAYMAR@jaymarcabebeJUSTIN @notmyrealnameERIC FRANKLIN @nidopalLYNN LA @lynnlaaaSTEPHEN @stephenbeachamPHONE866-344-CNET (2638)
Angry Birds sequel Bad Piggies hogs top spot among iOS apps
Angry Birds sequel Bad Piggies hogs top spot among iOS apps
Those Bad Piggies may not be so bad if they can soar to the top of the iOS charts in just a few hours.Released from its pen earlier today for iOS and Android, the Angry Birds sequel is the most-downloaded paid app among both iPhone and iPad users.A brand-new game rarely hits the top spot in Apple's App Store so quickly. But being the latest installment in the hot Angry Birds lineup gives Bad Piggies a strong leg (or hoof) up. Game maker Rovio has gotten a lot of mileage out of Angry Birds, but the company also knows it needs to shake up the franchise to keep it from molting.Bad Piggies offers a twist on the simple birds-versus-pigs scenario. The new game places you on the side of the pigs to help them crack the eggs of the angry birds. Instead of the usual gameplay, Bad Piggies challenges you with a series of puzzles in which you build devices to move the pigs to each destination.Related stories'Something Pig is coming' in next Angry Birds gameAngry Birds Space blasts into orbitRovio tries to strike gold twice with Amazing Alex launchAngry Birds maker rakes in the revenueRovio has packaged the pigs in two flavors -- a standard edition for smartphones and an HD one for tablets.The iPhone and iPod Touch version costs 99 cents, while the iPad version will set you back $2.99. Both Android versions are free from Google Play, apparently thanks to a special Google promotion celebrating 25 billion downloads in less than four years.Bad Piggies has guzzled up positive reviews so far, earning a 4.5-star rating from iOS users and a 5-start rating from Android folks.Rovio took its first stab at a new game in July called Amazing Alex. Similar in some ways to Bad Piggies, Alex challenges you with puzzles to move objects around the screen. Amazing Alex also climbed its way to the top of the iOS charts not long after its debut.
Those Bad Piggies may not be so bad if they can soar to the top of the iOS charts in just a few hours.Released from its pen earlier today for iOS and Android, the Angry Birds sequel is the most-downloaded paid app among both iPhone and iPad users.A brand-new game rarely hits the top spot in Apple's App Store so quickly. But being the latest installment in the hot Angry Birds lineup gives Bad Piggies a strong leg (or hoof) up. Game maker Rovio has gotten a lot of mileage out of Angry Birds, but the company also knows it needs to shake up the franchise to keep it from molting.Bad Piggies offers a twist on the simple birds-versus-pigs scenario. The new game places you on the side of the pigs to help them crack the eggs of the angry birds. Instead of the usual gameplay, Bad Piggies challenges you with a series of puzzles in which you build devices to move the pigs to each destination.Related stories'Something Pig is coming' in next Angry Birds gameAngry Birds Space blasts into orbitRovio tries to strike gold twice with Amazing Alex launchAngry Birds maker rakes in the revenueRovio has packaged the pigs in two flavors -- a standard edition for smartphones and an HD one for tablets.The iPhone and iPod Touch version costs 99 cents, while the iPad version will set you back $2.99. Both Android versions are free from Google Play, apparently thanks to a special Google promotion celebrating 25 billion downloads in less than four years.Bad Piggies has guzzled up positive reviews so far, earning a 4.5-star rating from iOS users and a 5-start rating from Android folks.Rovio took its first stab at a new game in July called Amazing Alex. Similar in some ways to Bad Piggies, Alex challenges you with puzzles to move objects around the screen. Amazing Alex also climbed its way to the top of the iOS charts not long after its debut.
Anobit acquisition keeps Apple ahead in flash memory
Anobit acquisition keeps Apple ahead in flash memory
But engineering flash memory so it's reliable is an enormous challenge.Just ask companies like Intel, Micron Technology, or SanDisk who have spent billions of dollars trying to make ever faster yet reliable flash memory and solid-state drives.As NAND flash memory geometries get smaller and more bits are stored in each memory cell, the cells become more susceptible to electrical interference and disturbance, resulting in more data errors.Sometimes referred to "read and program disturb."Anobit has developed a memory signal processor, or MSP, that is able to manage very high bit error rates and extend the life of flash memory devices, according to Wong.(Spelled out in more detail here PDF). This is a big issue in the flash memory business these days because it's the difference between a high-quality, long-lasting solid-state drive and a mediocre one that may peter out prematurely.And that is important to Apple since practically all of its marquee devices now use flash as the storage medium, not traditional rotating drives. Add this burgeoning flash expertise to Apple's formidable in-house system-on-a-chip know-how, as manifested in its A5 series of chips, and you have the makings of a chip design giant, albeit one deftly hidden inside of a device maker.It wasn't too long ago that Apple made similar acquisitions to establish itself as a leading designer of processors used in its iPhones and iPads.Past chip company purchases include Intrinsity and P.A. Semi. Those have seemed to have worked. Apple's dual-core A5 processor powers both the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S and is a big reason both devices have been well-received by consumers. Updated at 6:50 a.m. PT with a clarification of a quote from Gregory Wong.
But engineering flash memory so it's reliable is an enormous challenge.Just ask companies like Intel, Micron Technology, or SanDisk who have spent billions of dollars trying to make ever faster yet reliable flash memory and solid-state drives.As NAND flash memory geometries get smaller and more bits are stored in each memory cell, the cells become more susceptible to electrical interference and disturbance, resulting in more data errors.Sometimes referred to "read and program disturb."Anobit has developed a memory signal processor, or MSP, that is able to manage very high bit error rates and extend the life of flash memory devices, according to Wong.(Spelled out in more detail here PDF). This is a big issue in the flash memory business these days because it's the difference between a high-quality, long-lasting solid-state drive and a mediocre one that may peter out prematurely.And that is important to Apple since practically all of its marquee devices now use flash as the storage medium, not traditional rotating drives. Add this burgeoning flash expertise to Apple's formidable in-house system-on-a-chip know-how, as manifested in its A5 series of chips, and you have the makings of a chip design giant, albeit one deftly hidden inside of a device maker.It wasn't too long ago that Apple made similar acquisitions to establish itself as a leading designer of processors used in its iPhones and iPads.Past chip company purchases include Intrinsity and P.A. Semi. Those have seemed to have worked. Apple's dual-core A5 processor powers both the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S and is a big reason both devices have been well-received by consumers. Updated at 6:50 a.m. PT with a clarification of a quote from Gregory Wong.
Android's lead over iOS hits 2x mark on mobile ad network
Android's lead over iOS hits 2x mark on mobile ad network
Android continues to inch its way higher as the leading mobile OS on Millennial Media, according to the ad network's October Mobile Mix report.Google's mobile platform grabbed 56 percent of all ad impressions on the network last month, double iOS's 28 percent share, figures that include both smartphones and tablets together. Android has been the leading mobile OS on Millennial Media's network for almost a year now.Among the rest of the pack, RIM's BlackBerry OS took home a 13 percent share, leaving 1 percent each for Nokia's Symbian, Microsoft's Windows Phone, and a range of other mobile platforms.Related storiesAndroid use surges on mobile ad networkAndroid bumps lead over Apple's iOS on ad networkAndroid outshines Apple iOS on mobile ad networkThough it lost the smartphone OS crown to Android, Apple is still tops among mobile device makers. Apple devices altogether won 23.5 percent of all ad impressions last month, giving the company the lead among the top 15 manufacturers. The iPhone itself was the most popular device on the top 20 list of mobile phones with a 12.5 percent share.HTC captured second place with 18 percent of all impressions. Four HTC phones were on the top 20 list, including the Desire, Evo, Droid Incredible, and MyTouch 4G Glacier.Following closely in third place was Samsung with a 17 percent share. The Korean phone maker grew 7 percent from the previous month and saw six of its phones on the top 20, including the Nexus S and the Galaxy S, both of which hit the list for the first time.Chinese handset maker Huawei also continued to prove popular, holding onto the #7 position on the list of the top 15 manufacturers. Two of its phones, the Ascend and the Ideo, found spots on the top 20 list of mobile phones. On the list for three months in a row, the Ideo has moved up three spots since August.Overall, Android devices accounted for 14 of the top 20 mobile phones last month, giving them a combined share of 24 percent of all ad impressions.
Android continues to inch its way higher as the leading mobile OS on Millennial Media, according to the ad network's October Mobile Mix report.Google's mobile platform grabbed 56 percent of all ad impressions on the network last month, double iOS's 28 percent share, figures that include both smartphones and tablets together. Android has been the leading mobile OS on Millennial Media's network for almost a year now.Among the rest of the pack, RIM's BlackBerry OS took home a 13 percent share, leaving 1 percent each for Nokia's Symbian, Microsoft's Windows Phone, and a range of other mobile platforms.Related storiesAndroid use surges on mobile ad networkAndroid bumps lead over Apple's iOS on ad networkAndroid outshines Apple iOS on mobile ad networkThough it lost the smartphone OS crown to Android, Apple is still tops among mobile device makers. Apple devices altogether won 23.5 percent of all ad impressions last month, giving the company the lead among the top 15 manufacturers. The iPhone itself was the most popular device on the top 20 list of mobile phones with a 12.5 percent share.HTC captured second place with 18 percent of all impressions. Four HTC phones were on the top 20 list, including the Desire, Evo, Droid Incredible, and MyTouch 4G Glacier.Following closely in third place was Samsung with a 17 percent share. The Korean phone maker grew 7 percent from the previous month and saw six of its phones on the top 20, including the Nexus S and the Galaxy S, both of which hit the list for the first time.Chinese handset maker Huawei also continued to prove popular, holding onto the #7 position on the list of the top 15 manufacturers. Two of its phones, the Ascend and the Ideo, found spots on the top 20 list of mobile phones. On the list for three months in a row, the Ideo has moved up three spots since August.Overall, Android devices accounted for 14 of the top 20 mobile phones last month, giving them a combined share of 24 percent of all ad impressions.
Android, iOS nab 82 percent of smartphone market in Q1
Android, iOS nab 82 percent of smartphone market in Q1
Android and iOS are stealing mobile market share at a shocking rate, new data from research firm IDC has revealed.During the first quarter, Android and iOS combined to secure 82 percent of the smartphone market. Android-based device vendors shipped 89.9 million smartphones last quarter, jumping 145 percent year over year. Apple's iPhone shipments soared by 88.7 percent to land at 35.1 million units.Android and iOS shipments hit 36.7 million units and 18.6 million units, respectively, during the first quarter of 2011. At that time, the platforms owned 54.4 percent of the market.So, which operating systems were hit hard in the last 12 months? According to IDC, Symbian shipments were down 60.6 percent year-over-year last quarter, to end the period at 10.4 million units. RIM's BlackBerry smartphone shipments fell by 29.7 percent to 9.7 million units."The popularity of Android and iOS stems from a combination of factors that the competition has struggled to keep up with," Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Phone Technology and Trends program, said today in a statement. "Neither Android nor iOS were the first to market with some of these features, but the way they made the smartphone experience intuitive and seamless has quickly earned a massive following."Microsoft's Windows Phone was one of the more surprising winners last quarter, as shipments jumped 26.9 percent to 3.3 million units. However, the platform could only tally 2.2 percent market share. What's worse, IDC doesn't expect to see too much growth in that figure in the coming quarters."Until Nokia speeds the cadence of its smartphone releases or more vendors launch their own Windows Phone-powered smartphones, IDC anticipates slow growth for the operating system," the research firm wrote today in a statement.Even though power in the smartphone space is consolidating, the market is growing at an extremely fast clip. During the first quarter of 2011, 101.6 million smartphones hit store shelves. Last quarter, that figure jumped to 152.3 million, representing 50 percent growth year over year.
Android and iOS are stealing mobile market share at a shocking rate, new data from research firm IDC has revealed.During the first quarter, Android and iOS combined to secure 82 percent of the smartphone market. Android-based device vendors shipped 89.9 million smartphones last quarter, jumping 145 percent year over year. Apple's iPhone shipments soared by 88.7 percent to land at 35.1 million units.Android and iOS shipments hit 36.7 million units and 18.6 million units, respectively, during the first quarter of 2011. At that time, the platforms owned 54.4 percent of the market.So, which operating systems were hit hard in the last 12 months? According to IDC, Symbian shipments were down 60.6 percent year-over-year last quarter, to end the period at 10.4 million units. RIM's BlackBerry smartphone shipments fell by 29.7 percent to 9.7 million units."The popularity of Android and iOS stems from a combination of factors that the competition has struggled to keep up with," Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Phone Technology and Trends program, said today in a statement. "Neither Android nor iOS were the first to market with some of these features, but the way they made the smartphone experience intuitive and seamless has quickly earned a massive following."Microsoft's Windows Phone was one of the more surprising winners last quarter, as shipments jumped 26.9 percent to 3.3 million units. However, the platform could only tally 2.2 percent market share. What's worse, IDC doesn't expect to see too much growth in that figure in the coming quarters."Until Nokia speeds the cadence of its smartphone releases or more vendors launch their own Windows Phone-powered smartphones, IDC anticipates slow growth for the operating system," the research firm wrote today in a statement.Even though power in the smartphone space is consolidating, the market is growing at an extremely fast clip. During the first quarter of 2011, 101.6 million smartphones hit store shelves. Last quarter, that figure jumped to 152.3 million, representing 50 percent growth year over year.
Android, iOS both boost lead in U.S. smartphone market
Android, iOS both boost lead in U.S. smartphone market
Android and Apple both continue to dominate the U.S. smartphone market.The latest stats, out yesterday from ComScore, showed that Android increased its lead by more than 2 percentage points during the three-month period ending in January. At the same time, iOS saw its share rise by 1.4 points. Both platforms enjoyed a prosperous holiday season, with a record number of device activations on Christmas and the surrounding days.Other mobile platforms continued to lose market share to the top dogs.BlackBerry maker RIM dropped two points to 15.2 percent over the three-month period seen by ComScore. Microsoft lost a point to sink to 4.4 percent. And Nokia's Symbian trailed, eking out a 1.5 percent share.RIM has faced a tough climate as more of its once-core enterprise customers have been gravitating toward Android and iOS. Microsoft continues to struggle with Windows Phone, waiting to see if its partnership with Nokia can breathe some life into the smartphone businesses of both companies.ComScoreThe number of smartphone owners in the U.S. blasted past the 100-million point in January, reaching 101.3 million subscribers, according to ComScore.Looking strictly at smartphone manufacturers, Samsung kept its lead for the three months ending in January, with a 25 percent share of the market. The Korean handset maker saw a jump in sales and profits in the fourth quarter of last year, thanks to heavy demand for its Galaxy phones.The surge in Android devices also made itself felt down the chain, putting LG in second place with almost 20 percent of the U.S. smartphone market and Motorola in third with 13 percent.Apple again trailed, in fourth place. But it was the only smartphone maker among the top five to show a profit. Apple gained two points of market share from the previous three months to win almost 13 percent of the market. RIM found itself in last place with a 6.6 percent share, unchanged from the prior three months.To compile its latest results, ComScore relied on data from its MobiLens service, which polled more than 30,000 mobile subscribers in the U.S.
Android and Apple both continue to dominate the U.S. smartphone market.The latest stats, out yesterday from ComScore, showed that Android increased its lead by more than 2 percentage points during the three-month period ending in January. At the same time, iOS saw its share rise by 1.4 points. Both platforms enjoyed a prosperous holiday season, with a record number of device activations on Christmas and the surrounding days.Other mobile platforms continued to lose market share to the top dogs.BlackBerry maker RIM dropped two points to 15.2 percent over the three-month period seen by ComScore. Microsoft lost a point to sink to 4.4 percent. And Nokia's Symbian trailed, eking out a 1.5 percent share.RIM has faced a tough climate as more of its once-core enterprise customers have been gravitating toward Android and iOS. Microsoft continues to struggle with Windows Phone, waiting to see if its partnership with Nokia can breathe some life into the smartphone businesses of both companies.ComScoreThe number of smartphone owners in the U.S. blasted past the 100-million point in January, reaching 101.3 million subscribers, according to ComScore.Looking strictly at smartphone manufacturers, Samsung kept its lead for the three months ending in January, with a 25 percent share of the market. The Korean handset maker saw a jump in sales and profits in the fourth quarter of last year, thanks to heavy demand for its Galaxy phones.The surge in Android devices also made itself felt down the chain, putting LG in second place with almost 20 percent of the U.S. smartphone market and Motorola in third with 13 percent.Apple again trailed, in fourth place. But it was the only smartphone maker among the top five to show a profit. Apple gained two points of market share from the previous three months to win almost 13 percent of the market. RIM found itself in last place with a 6.6 percent share, unchanged from the prior three months.To compile its latest results, ComScore relied on data from its MobiLens service, which polled more than 30,000 mobile subscribers in the U.S.
Analyst- MacBook Air sales continue to be strong
Analyst: MacBook Air sales continue to be strong
The second-generation MacBook Air is proving to be a strong seller for Apple, and one that could bring the company $2.2 billion in annual revenue if the current pace keeps up. That's according to a note by J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz sent to investors earlier today, and picked up by the Financial Post.Citing data from Gartner, Moskowitz notes that Apple shipped 420,000 MacBook Air units in the fourth quarter of 2010, which is up 333 percent from the same quarter last year, and 326.8 percent from the previous quarter. Moskowitz said that if Apple can keep up that pace, both in production and sales of the Air line, it could go on to pull in revenue of $2.2 billion or more. Even if that target isn't hit, Moskowitz contended that the MacBook Air is becoming a bigger player in the Mac lineup, representing more than 10 percent of Mac units in the fourth quarter, and 15 percent of total notebook unit sales versus the 5 percent from the year before. The big sales jump coincides with the release of the second-generation MacBook Air, which went on sale in late October and represents the first major redesign since the Air's introduction in early 2008. During that time, the Air received two updates, which tweaked things like processor speed, graphics power, storage, and the price (which went down). Apple offered up the newest version of the Air in two different sizes, as well as lowering the entry-level price to $999.
The second-generation MacBook Air is proving to be a strong seller for Apple, and one that could bring the company $2.2 billion in annual revenue if the current pace keeps up. That's according to a note by J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz sent to investors earlier today, and picked up by the Financial Post.Citing data from Gartner, Moskowitz notes that Apple shipped 420,000 MacBook Air units in the fourth quarter of 2010, which is up 333 percent from the same quarter last year, and 326.8 percent from the previous quarter. Moskowitz said that if Apple can keep up that pace, both in production and sales of the Air line, it could go on to pull in revenue of $2.2 billion or more. Even if that target isn't hit, Moskowitz contended that the MacBook Air is becoming a bigger player in the Mac lineup, representing more than 10 percent of Mac units in the fourth quarter, and 15 percent of total notebook unit sales versus the 5 percent from the year before. The big sales jump coincides with the release of the second-generation MacBook Air, which went on sale in late October and represents the first major redesign since the Air's introduction in early 2008. During that time, the Air received two updates, which tweaked things like processor speed, graphics power, storage, and the price (which went down). Apple offered up the newest version of the Air in two different sizes, as well as lowering the entry-level price to $999.
What Former Athlete Is the Best Movie Actor
Over the weekend, Olympic medalist and professional MMA fighter Ronda Rousey successfully defended her title as UFC Women;s Bantamweight Champion. It;s great news for her and even better news for The Expendables 3, which is getting some an extra bit of publicity via the win. Rousey costars in the upcoming sequel alongside Sylvester Stallone and many other action stars, and she;ll be in Fast & Furious 7, which isn;t surprising given how much that franchise likes to employ former and current athletes in its roster of players. The last Fast & Furious movie, for instance cast fellow female MMA fighter Gina Carano, who had already proven her acting talents in Steven Soderbergh;s Haywire, as well as bodybuilder-turned-actor Kim Kold and of course pro-wrestler-turned-movie-star Dwayne Johnson. A number of these action series have been increasing the size of their ensembles, and it would appear that it;s easier to recruit people actually known for action in real life rather than finding pretty faces who also require stunt doubles. Also this week, Star Wars: Episode VII brought on parkour star Pip Andersen for an undetermined role. Again, he;ll probably just play a character whose performance involves more action than acting, so they got someone who can perform the stunts over someone who can do Shakespeare. Does he qualify as an athlete? I;d say so, as are fellow parkour stars David Belle and Sebastien Foucan, both of whom have made movie appearances of their own. In the past, the idea of athletes turned actors consisted of mainly martial artists, including Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, and football players, such as Jim Brown, Bubba Smith, Fred Williamson, O.J. Simpson, Carl Weathers, Alex Karras, Terry Crews (also in The Expendables 3) and Joe Namath. Later, basketball stars tried to be movie stars, and we got awful vehicles for Shaquille O;Neal, Dennis Rodman and Michael Jordan. A similar trend happened with WWE wrestlers, Johnson being the most successful and undoubtedly the most talented (sorry Andre the Giant). You could throw bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger (also in The Expendables 3) in the bunch, too, but he;s never really been respected as an actor so much as a package of muscles with some charm attached. I;d rank Kold as a better thespian via his feature debut, Teddy Bear. I;d also consider Esther Williams, who became such a popular actress that it;s easy to forget that she;d been a competitive swimmer, although she did exhibit her aquatic skils in a number of Hollywood musicals. Another swimmer, Johnn Weissmuller, is also best known for the movies, specifically in the role of Tarzan. Here are two you might not think of: Jason Statham (also in The Expendables 3 and Fast & Furious 7), who was a member of the British National Diving Team and then a sports model before hitting the big screen, and Jason Lee, who was a pro skater. What athlete turned actor has shown the best acting talent? Here are some responses received so far via
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)