iFixit already tear apart one unit of iPad 2 when it arrives, and now they’re going to tear up another unit, but for what? Well, for the name of radio science that’s why. Well actually not one, but three iPad 2s. This time they’re going to tell you what’s the different with the innards of the WiFi-only, GSM, and CDMA versions.
A grand total of three iPad 2s were sacrificed in this round, revealing variations in case design, antenna count, WWAN board layout, radio chipset choices, and headphone jack assemblies. Besides clearly visible changes like the black antenna window on the 3G models and the microSIM slot on the GSM version, it’s interesting to note that Apple made the same design choices with the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4.
The CDMA model features an additional antenna over its GSM sibling, and uses a Qualcomm Gobi dual-mode radio which supports both CDMA and GSM — the latter being unused — along with an integrated GPS receiver, just like the iPhone 4 for Verizon. The GSM version, meanwhile, uses an Infineon chipset for GSM and a separate Broadcom module for GPS, just like the global iPhone 4.
Samsung’s new Android flagship smartphone the Galaxy S II is just around the corner, but Samsung is still keen to tease us with this very sexy phone. The new handset will bring with it a revised version of Sammy’s Android skin, TouchWiz 4.0, which will harness the motion sensors inside the phone to allow you to zoom in and out of webpages as well as navigate the UI with the movement of your hands.
Basically, instead of the traditional pinch-to-zoom, resting two fingers atop the screen will allow you to zoom in by bringing the S II closer to your face or zoom out by holding it further away — a naturalistic gesture that makes all the sense in the world to us. Might seem cool, but still very gimmicky, I think I’d still prefer multitouch zooming as it seem rather awkward to move the phone forward and backward just to zoom and read.
Also, when adding new widgets to your home panels, you’ll be able to move between them by propelling the phone laterally. It’s quirky and appealing stuff, see it on video below.
According to unnamed sources close to Pocket-Lint, Google is currently working on retail deals with manufacturers and suppliers. Thus far the three companies testing the new OS on a factory level are Acer, Asus, and Samsung, two of which supposedly claim that Google’s platform is an “optimized experience” for netbooks with both 3G and Wi-Fi options.
When Google’s operating system eventually arrives, it will come in two flavors: Chrome OS and Chromium OS. The former is the closed, commercialized version that will only be available to manufacturers for their specific netbooks, notebooks or whatever else they choose to sell with the software installed. However, each device will come packed with a disc containing Chromium OS– the open-source development version of Chrome OS– for installing on any other machine.
The first Chrome OS appeared back in December 2010 with the launch of Google’s Cr-48 Chrome notebook pilot program. A limited number of applicants received a free Chrome OS-based notebook/netbook in return for user feedback. However Google has since halted shipments and revealed little else about its upcoming software since.
Google’s Chrome OS is set with a launch date pinned on the second quarter of 2011, possibly as early as June, just in time to crash the party of Microsoft’s Windows 8.
The Super Pong Table allows for up to four players and fives balls per game, and enlists 900 LEDs and four Atari paddle controllers to make the thing work. Each player controls his or her own stick and gains or loses a point depending on whether they hit or miss a ball — the first player to reach 20 points gets their very own “YOU WIN” light up display.
Hoping for more USB 3.0 products to arrive? Buffalo Kokuyo will be launching a new USB Bluetooth 3.0+EDR dongle in Japan next month. Known as the BSHSBD05BK, the device comes with a maximum effective distance radius of 100 meters with a 0.5mW/MHz output and will support A2DP Bluetooth profile. The company will launch the BSHSBD05BK in April 2011 for 2,509 Yen ($30). Not sure why you’ll need a Bluetooth Dongle to be running on USB 3.0, but still it’s a welcome change, and hopefully we’ll see wider support for USB 3.0 in the coming months.
The ‘.xxx’ domains have been approved by the government in the states, making it some sort of the same level as ‘.net’ and ‘.org’ and ‘.edu’ address domains, and India has quickly put it to good use. Squarely at those with adult or sexually explicit websites, the idea behind the genre-specific domain is a more regulated and secure environment for online payments; it also makes it extremely easy for schools and parents to block porn on computers frequently used by children, and a good example would be India.
ICM Registry, the company behind the .xxx domain, says it has seen tremendous interest in the new domain and claims that more than 200,000 have already applied to reserve domains. However, it seems not everyone is so excited about the arrival of the new domain. In India, where the distribution of adult content is illegal, access to .xxx domains will not be available.
“India along with many other countries from the Middle East and Indonesia opposed the grant of the domain in the first place, and we would proceed to block the whole domain, as it goes against the IT Act and Indian laws,” The Economic Times cites a senior official at the Indian ministry of IT as saying.
“Though some people have said that segregation is better, and some countries allow it. But for other nations transmission and direct distribution of such content goes against their moral and culture.”
Though ICM says there is a substantial interest in ‘.xxx’ domains, there is a concern among adult entertainment companies that because ‘.xxx’ sites are so easily blocked, those who decide not to register an ‘.xxx’ address could be at risk, because the ministry would proceed to take action on a case to case basis, if you register at ‘.xxx’ and yet still keep your ‘.com’ operating to avoid being blocked.
Of course, registering to ‘.xxx’ is not a MUST for current webmasters.
Reports have started to surface on the net that Microsoft has started distributing build 7971.0.110324-1900 (Windows 8 Milestone 3) to key OEMs (HP, Dell, Acer etc.) via the company’s Connect external testing system. The distribution is by way of a program called Windows 8 and Server vNext Pre-Release Program, and requires a special invite code to gain access to the early build.
Microsoft is reportedly compiling Milestone 3 builds of Windows 8 and is expected to release a full-fledged beta this September. Microsoft first introduced Windows 8 to the public back in January at CES 2011, revealing that the OS could perform normally on ARM-based components offered by Qualcomm and Texas Instruments. The OS is now set to make another public appearance this June, running possibly on tablets.
There’s also a new feature in Windows 8 shown on a leaked screenshot that reveals a System Reset feature. This will allow end-users to reset their systems to the original OEM factory settings without the need for re-formatting and re-installing the OS. Rumors suggest that systems will be reset in a matter of minutes, and will be especially beneficial in removing malware plaguing the system.
Witness protection? No sweat! Big shots of the porn industry? Who cares? Agent 47 just go in, drop a mine, and blow everything sky ‘fuckin’ high. Talk about crappy AI of games in the year 2006, this is easily the funniest and easiest method to play Hitman: Blood Money. Watching this video makes me want to replay the game very much, and as far as I know, Eidos did mention that the next ‘Hitman 5’ is under development, and might just see the day of light this year.
According to unnamed sources close to Pocket-Lint, Google is currently working on retail deals with manufacturers and suppliers. Thus far the three companies testing the new OS on a factory level are Acer, Asus, and Samsung, two of which supposedly claim that Google’s platform is an “optimized experience” for netbooks with both 3G and Wi-Fi options.
The ‘.xxx’ domains have been approved by the government in the states, making it some sort of the same level as ‘.net’ and ‘.org’ and ‘.edu’ address domains, and India has quickly put it to good use. Squarely at those with adult or sexually explicit websites, the idea behind the genre-specific domain is a more regulated and secure environment for online payments; it also makes it extremely easy for schools and parents to block porn on computers frequently used by children, and a good example would be India.
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