Looking for a way to extend your home or office network without the hassles of Ethernet cords and spotty Wi-Fi signals? Why not use the power outlet mounted in your wall instead?

On Wednesday TRENDnet released the latest edition to its Powerline AV series, the 200 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter (TPL-306E) and Adapter Kit (TPL-306E2K). This adapter essentially establishes a network connection from a router to a PC via a building or home’s electrical lines, but consumes less physical space on the wall outlet than previous models.

“The TPL-306E replaces and is approximately 30-percent smaller than the older TPL-303E series,” the company reports. “Its small form factor saves space when plugged into a crowded electrical outlet. Network one adapter to a router and plug another adapter into any outlet on the same electrical system for instant high speed network access.”

The TRENDnet adapters connect automatically to each other over a secure encrypted signal with no CD installation required. They also feature an LED display which relays device status for power management and troubleshooting. And because they’re always on, TRENDnet has implemented its embedded power-saving technology which lowers power consumption by up to 70-percent in standby mode.

End users looking to set up a powerline-based extension to their network will need at least two TPL-306E adapters, costing $54.99 USD for each. However for $99.99 USD, the 200 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter Kit provides two adapters to get you started.

Microsoft insiders claim that the company was kicked out of the keynote for 2013 and beyond, so the Redmond company decided to pull out of the CES tradeshow altogether.

As previously reported, both Microsoft and the organization behind the CES trade show, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), stated that the Redmond-based company will no longer make the keynote presentation starting 2013. The 2012 show that takes place in Las Vegas in the next few weeks will be the last time Microsoft not only makes the opening presentation, but the last time the company will even reserve space for a booth to show its upcoming products.

While writing the previous report, what seemed strange about CEA’s official comment was in the way it worded one specific sentence: both CEA and Microsoft have agreed that the time has come to end this great run, and so Microsoft will not have a keynote at the 2013 CES. The organization later reported that Microsoft has chosen not to reserve the Central Hall exhibit space as it has in the past. If anything, the CEA message indicated that something happened between Microsoft and CEA, thus provoking Microsoft to pull its exhibit and move on.

In a statement from Microsoft, the company said it wouldn’t have a booth because its product news milestones “generally don’t align with the show’s January timing.” But employees within Microsoft are now reporting that the CEA nuked plans for future keynote presentations by Microsoft for unspecified reasons, so in response Microsoft decided to pull out of the show entirely starting 2013.

“Microsoft didn’t pull out of the keynote — they were kicked out. Big difference,” claims one unidentified Microsoft employee (and for good reason).

GigaOM reports that a CEA executive would not comment on the insider information, but Frank Shaw, the Microsoft corporate VP who posted the Microsoft blog on Wednesday revealing the CES exit, referred all question back to his post about the timing of the event which doesn’t correlate with Microsoft’s product news milestones. And he may have a point: Windows 8 Public Beta launches in February, whereas Microsoft typically sports its new Xbox products during E3 in June and additional Microsoft revelations at MIX (2012) and BUILD (2012) conferences. That said, does Microsoft really need to make an appearance at CES?

The Verge later provided a follow-up to GigaOM’s report, saying that its own source “close to the matter” painted a less-dramatic picture of the Microsoft departure. According to the report, the CEA approached Microsoft last year and requested that the company sign on for another three years to keynote and present its products at CES. But Microsoft reportedly declined the offer and chose a single year deal which covers the upcoming 2012 show.

“Our source did indicate that the CEA was interested in playing the field for the lead keynote address, and that Microsoft would ultimately have had to pony up more cash for the privilege of holding onto its spot (everybody at the show, even Microsoft, pays to exhibit and participate),” The Verge reports. “As we were made to understand it, Microsoft simply didn’t feel it was getting a reasonable return on its investment with CES, and the reality is that the show hadn’t aligned with its launches for a few years.”

That said, both sides weren’t getting what they needed out of the relationship, and simply chose to part ways. But as with the GigaOM report, both versions of the story stem from “insider sources,” so it’s somewhat hard to distinguish which is fact and which is fiction. The latter situation is probably what transpired given that many technology companies have pulled out of CES in the past. Still, the former “Microsoft got kicked out” GigaOM story makes for a more dramatic discussion at the water cooler.

On Wednesday The Recording Academy announced that former CEO and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will receive a posthumous Trustees Award for changing the music industry with iTunes. Jobs is among the list of 2011′s “Trustees Award honorees” which also includes Dave Bartholomew and Rudy Van Gelder.

“Steve Jobs helped create products and technology that transformed the way we consume music, TV, movies, and books,” the Recording Academy states. “A creative visionary, Jobs’ innovations such as the iPod and its counterpart, the online iTunes store, revolutionized the industry and how music was distributed and purchased. In 2002 Apple Computer Inc. was a recipient of a Technical Grammy Award for contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field. The company continues to lead the way with new technology and in-demand products such as the iPhone and iPad.”

The Trustees Award will be presented during the 54th Annual Grammy Awards telecast, which will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, and broadcast live at 8 p.m. EST/PST on the CBS Television Network.

Also on Wednesday Hungarian software company Graphisoft unveiled a bronze statue commemorating the late Steve Jobs in recognition of his leadership and vision, and to show appreciation for Steve Jobs’ support of the fledgling company while Hungary was still a communist country. Graphisoft founder Gabor Bojar first met Jobs in 1984 at an information technology trade show in Germany.

“Steve Jobs was very much convinced about the technology and he offered financial and also marketing support for the company,” said Akos Pfemeter, Graphisoft’s director of global marketing. “We received some financial support and Steve Jobs helped us distribute our products in the Apple distribution network.”

The statue was sculpted by Erno Toth, stands nearly 7 feet tall and weighs around 485 pounds. It captures all his trademark characteristics, from his round glasses to his well-trimmed stubble to his jeans. The statue will be placed in Graphisoft Park, a Budapest complex home to several high-tech businesses.

“I feel that Jobs really changed not just the world of Apple but also the competitors’ computers and telephones,” said Andras Horvath, owner of XMS, one of Hungary’s largest Apple retailers. “At some level, everyone feels his influence, his megalomania, his pursuit of perfection. This can be found in every IT product.”

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs died in October at the age of 56. He was recently named as Barbara Walters’ “Most Fascinating Person” for 2011.

Some of you may have noticed, when perusing the interwebs on your Kindle Fire, that a certain Google-branded Market refused to load in the slate’s Silk browser. In fact, it automatically redirected you to the Amazon App store in an unsettling bit of URL hijacking. Well, with the latest update to the tablet, that slightly befuddling restriction has been lifted and the questionable behavior rectified. Presumably this was originally intended to save customers confusion and support staff headaches when trying to install an app from the Android Market failed. But, actually intercepting and redirecting a user isn’t becoming of a company that expects us to trust it with our data — especially our browsing and financial info. Thankfully now, you can visit the Market in all its glory on your Fire.

SOURCE via GigaOm

The name Symbian has drawn boatloads of flak, scorn and even pitiful tut-tuts over the course of Nokia’s demise in the smartphone market in recent years. It makes perfect sense that Nokia has chosen to take that name that we have all grown accustomed to laughing at and put it out of its misery. Out of the depths of euthanasia arises Nokia Belle, a prettier name in every sense of the word, but OS wise, nothing has changed at all. In fact, the name change was so low-key; it was merely a parenthetical side note on the status of “Symbian Belle” on Nokia’s blog.

Well, goodbye Symbian, it is nice having you around, but you pretty much won’t be missed. Let’s hope that name change brings you more luck.

Lexus has released its first official image showing the new two-plus-two in all its glory. We don’t know much about the new coupe, except that the design was “crafted from a clean sheet of paper,” and that “the LF-LC blends both high technology and organic shapes to connect the driver to the machine.”

We’ve suggested that the LF-LC could be a Lexus LS-based coupe to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SL and BMW 6 Series, but we won’t know exactly what’s in store until the concept car is revealed next month.

Depending on where you live and what gas stations you frequent, finding a pump that will let you pay after filling up is getting tougher and tougher. In an effort to curb absconders who drive off without paying, gas station owners have been forced to ratchet up security measures, leading most to go prepay only, whether that’s inside the store or by swiping one’s card at the pump.

But prepaying can be an inconvenience – particularly if you’re settling up with cash – resulting in multiple trips to the storefront to plunk down dollars, then to return for the change and receipt. It’s a small thing, but it can be an annoyance – particularly in places that experience real winters like Michigan. Thus, it should come as no surprise that a Saginaw, Michigan Marathon station is one of the first to try out a new anti drive-off security measure called Post-Pay. The system allows motorists to fill up their vehicle without paying first – provided they swipe their driver’s license into the card reader.

Bob Hohn, President of Paxson Oil Company, invented the measure, having grown tired of his stores losing hundreds of dollars a week to drive-offs. According to a report by WJR-TV, the Connecticut-made Post-Pay system does not keep the buyer’s information on file unless he or she is reported as a drive-off, at which point both the police and gas station are furnished with the offender’s particulars. In fact, the station attendant never even sees the consumer’s information under normal circumstances. Naturally, the Post-Pay system still accommodates people who’d rather pay with cash or card up front.

In the two months since the system was adopted, WJR-TV reports that the Marathon station has had just one drive off – as opposed to the three or four it averaged weekly before Post-Pay was installed. What’s more, the would-be thief was subsequently caught, as his license information allowed police to track him down.

Check out WJR-TV News’ story in the video after the jump. Read more…