Video Of The Entire Samsung Galaxy S III Media Event Now Available For Streaming Online

Video Of The Entire Samsung Galaxy S III Media Event Now Available For Streaming Online By Paul Morris | Thousands flocked to London’s Earls Court last night to see Samsung executives unveil their latest Galaxy S III smartphone to the gadget loving world. Its a no-brainer that many more thousands around the world were following the announcements very closely to see just exactly what the latest Samsung device will bring to the market, but if you happened to miss the whole event, then you can catch up on the entire event on video right now. With the S III’s predecessor, the Galaxy S II, paving the way for this launch with its worldwide success, Samsung is hoping that the latest release will prove to be even more successful and will keep them at the top of the smartphone sales pile. So, just what did Samsung announce during the event? And, what do potential new smartphone users have to look forward to?

The Hyperglazed plastic body is probably the first thing that will present itself to the public eye with a physical home button and two capacitive buttons placed on either side. Powered by a quad-core Exynos 4 Quad processor, the S III is no doubt a powerhouse, and when coupled together with the monstrous 1GB of RAM, it is sure to provide a very smooth experience to anyone who opts for the purchase. The Galaxy S III also comes packed with an extremely impressive Super AMOLED HD display with a screen resolution of 1280×720 and measuring in at a whopping 4.8-inches diagonally, yes, those dimensions are way beyond what an average human hand can hold. The fact that the screen is manufactured on top of Gorilla Glass technology should also ensure that it is extremely strong and robust, but it is kind of a shame that the body of the handset seems extremely plasticy compared to the other premium components used.

The included 8-megapixel rear camera and the 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera are destined to provide a great photographic experience, and although rumors before launch were speculating that the S III would house a larger 12-megapixel offering, the included camera will prove to be more than adequate due to its built-in features. As is the case with new smartphones hitting the shelves, the popularity will ultimately boil down to individual users and those who are looking forward to a powerful Android device, will more than likely opt for the Galaxy S III, at least at this point in time. Check out the video of the event and see just what you think about not only the device, but the presentation itself. You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

Xbox 720 Has Reportedly Gone Into Production In The U.S.

Xbox 720 Has Reportedly Gone Into Production In The U.S. By Paul Morris | If you are a fan of console gaming and happen to prefer to stay on the Xbox side of the spectrum rather than Sony’s PlayStation, then be prepared to benefit from a little bit of excitement. According to IGN, Microsoft’s next-generation gaming console is currently being assembled behind closed doors in a United States-based factory. It is currently unknown whether or not the device being manufactured is an actual finished product or if it is just a development prototype gig, but if it is true, then it should definitely bring some excitement to hardcore gamers who have been waiting patiently for something a bit more powerful to come to market. As is usually the case with this kind of thing, the internet has been awash with speculation about the Xbox 720, but if the manufacturing rumors are true, then it’s possible the E3 conference could see some kind of announcement or unveiling.

The IGN article is reporting that a Flextronics plant in Texas just had a new testing group created that is segregated from the rest of the factory, with the sole purpose of marketing and testing the new hardware and software of the new Xbox 720 console. With that phase of the process coming to a natural end, the company have then put into production what is believed to be a development kit for game and hardware producers to see what they are dealing with: The most likely case here is that new manufactured hardware would be development kits, consoles created specifically so game designers know what they’re working with. As you might imagine, Microsoft haven’t exactly been keen to come out and confirm or deny the current production rumors, but have gone on record saying that they will definitely not be unveiling any new console at the E3 conference in June.

After being contacted by IGN, the company did provide the following, which is a rather generic company statement: Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its lifecycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumors or speculation. So there you have it, Microsoft doesn’t comment on rumors or speculations, but that, in no way indicates that in this instance the speculation isn’t accurate. You may also like to check out: Microsoft To Launch $99 Xbox And Kinect Bundle Next Week With 2 Year Subscription You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.

Samsung Galaxy S III Benchmarks Are In, This Thing Is A Screamin’ Demon!

Samsung Galaxy S III Benchmarks Are In, This Thing Is A Screamin’ Demon! By Ben Reid | As soon as a new device hits the scene – particularly one which boasts high specs from every direction – it’s always interesting to see, in terms of performance, whether said device lives up to its billing. In order to ascertain this, a series of tests (known as benchmarks) are carried out in different categories, with the subsequent numbers and scores compared to that of competitors. The results are in for the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S III, and although it’s been a bit of a divider among the top tech opinions, one thing is for sure; in terms of performance, this baby is an absolute powerhouse!

GALAXY S III Product Image (2)_B As AnandTech reports, a widely focused technology blog, has tested Samsung’s latest Android device to the limits in several key areas, and powered by that Exynos 4 Quad-core processor, it’s barely outperformed by any other device on the market in the crucial areas such as browser and video performance. In terms of the browser and CPU performance, AnandTech reckons the S III’s performance to be “very good.” The benchmarking began with JavaScript performance tests, which measure the performance of both hardware and software, and as you can see from the charts, SunSpider performance is second only to the Lava XOLO:

1800ms was once considered to be the very height of superior performance, but thanks to the S III along with the HTC One X and the XOLO, the stakes have been significantly raised once more. The step up, at least in terms of the Samsung Galaxy S III, is likely to be attributable to the software as opposed to the hardware, but collectively – as you can see from the above results – render it a close second to Intel’s Medfield residing in the XOLO X900. BrowserMark scores also demonstrated just how much work Samsung has been doing in order to perfect the browsing experience, and boy, does it do the business. It’s a country mile faster than close competitors, although again, it’s worth noting that Samsung’s browser code plays a role, and the fact that it’s running the latest Android 4.0.4 certainly doesn’t hurt its score against rivals running older software. Interestingly, the onscreen GLBenchmark Egypt and Pro results show its GPU as delivering superior performance to that of the iPhone 4S, which previously reigned supreme in this category, although it’s worth pointing out that both benchmarks categories are v-sync limited on the higher-end devices. As these tests were all carried out during an extended yet brief encounter with the Samsung Galaxy S III, there’s still much to learn, but the early signs certainly look good from a technical point of view, and those with an affinity with high-spec hardware will certainly be eager to see the device scrutinized further. You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

Windows 8 Will Not Support DVD Playback Natively, A Paid Upgrade Will Be Required To Do So

Windows 8 Will Not Support DVD Playback Natively, A Paid Upgrade Will Be Required To Do So By Paul Morris One of the most popular aspects of previous versions of the Windows operating system has to be the inclusion of Media Center which provided a rich multimedia experience to users. The news that the new Windows 8 OS won’t come bundled with Media Center may have filtered down to prospective purchasers, but for those who were a little disappointed with that may be a little perturbed to find out that it isn’t the only part of the Windows media experience that is missing in action. For a reason that can only be put down to financial gain, Microsoft has announced that the much anticipated Windows 8 operating system will not come with the ability to natively playback DVDs. Users will have the ability to purchase Media Center for their Windows 8 installation, which will of course bring with it DVD playing abilities, but the decision by Microsoft to not include such a simple feature as standard may ruffle some feathers.

As you might expect, the Redmond-based company have an already-perfected public reason for why they have taken this route, claiming on the Windows 8 blog that they believe that DVD usage on personal computers is on a sharp decline, and significant royalties would need to be spent in order to bring users native support for any optical media. Microsoft might be correct about the declining use of DVDs on personal computers due to the ongoing focus on online media, however, I am sure users will feel that such a simple feature should be bundled as standard, and for free. The situation is not ideal for movie buffs out there who are planning on moving to Windows 8, but as usual, it isn’t the end of the world. Users will have the option of purchasing a Windows 8 add-on pack that will bring with it native DVD playback via Media Center. Alternatively, the option of downloading one of the multiple pieces of software that will enable that feature is also available. Finally, it has generally been the case that optical drives actually come with some form of bundled software that allow playback features.

It isn’t the end of the world and I am sure Windows 8 will still be hugely successful and popular, but how do you feel about having to pay extra for this expected feature? You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.

Install Siri On iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPod touch With Twitter & Facebook Integration Using Free WordJelly Siri Server

Install Siri On iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPod touch With Twitter & Facebook Integration Using Free WordJelly Siri Server [VIDEO] By Paul Morris | May 5th, 2012 The Apple iPhone 4S has been with us for about seven months now, which means that we have also had the fabulous Siri personal assistant organizing our digital lives for the same amount of time. For those non iPhone 4S owners the lack of official Siri support has been very frustrating, especially considering numerous developers have proved that Apple’s assistant performs perfectly fine on older generation devices. Older generation iOS devices users who are fortunate enough to be benefitting from a jailbreak have tried numerous methods to get Siri function on their device, most of which has been centered around the use of the Spire software released by developer Grant Paul. Unfortunately one of the issues is that Spire requires access to a purposely set up proxy server, most of which creators charge monthly fees to connect to making it cheaper to just buy an iPhone 4S for official access to Siri.

Siri iPad iPhone iPod touch (1) The creation of the WordJelly Siri server is an attempt by a 21 year-old developer known as Rotastrain to bring Siri access to all users of iOS powered devices. WordJelly also bills itself as being the worlds most advanced Siri servers that provides support for Facebook and Twitter integration as well as being able to get access to financial information and emails, part of which isn’t even supported in the official Siri software. One of the best things about the WordJelly Siri server is that it is provided totally free of charge to all who wish to access it via chpwn’s Spire tweak. The list of included features is quite extensive. It even supports native apps like the Music, Notes Reminders and SMS apps right out of the box. Social integration is one of the servers unique selling points, offering users the ability to audibly call up Facebook feeds and statuses or even view a specific Twitter timeline directly within the Siri GUI. Reminders, notes and the creation of text and email messages is also one voice command away, as is the ability to call up certain financial info using the Stocks app. Considering the server is also compatible with the popular AssistantExtensions package that is widely used and available within Cydia, it seems a no-brainer to give it a try if you are a user of an older generation device who is craving some Siri attention. It is worth bearing in mind that this is a free solution and will more than likely suffer from periods of overloading and degraded service from time to time. For installation instructions, check our our video tutorial below: Thanks to Aditya Raut and Rotastrain for the tip Be sure to check out our iPhone Apps Gallery and iPad Apps Gallery to explore more apps for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Android's new ally against the iPhone: Ubuntu

Android's new ally against the iPhone: Ubuntu Strong sales of the iPhone 4S are putting renewed pressure on Android to innovate. Ubuntu for Android could give the platform a key capability iPhone is still missing. Jason Hiner by Jason Hiner May 1, 2012 4:00 AM PDT Ubuntu for Android (Credit: Canonical) Last year was a long time ago for Android.

That was when Google's mobile platform was stealing market share from all the other smartphone platforms -- winning even against the iPhone -- and beating a path toward market dominance. But Android is now facing a renewed challenge from its archrival. Android's vulnerability against the iPhone can be summed up by looking at the two biggest wireless carriers in the U.S. -- AT&T and Verizon. At AT&T, the iPhone represented 78% of all smartphone sales in the first three months of 2012. At Verizon, which had been an Android stronghold since the launch of the original Motorola Droid in October 2009, the iPhone has picked up over 50 percent of all smartphone sales for each of the past two quarters (Q4 2011 and Q1 2012). How'd that happen? Android won over more users than Apple during 2010 and 2011 because Android devices were available on more carriers and there were Android phones that cost a lot less than the $200 base model of the iPhone. But now the iPhone has spread to virtually all of the major carriers and there are now iPhone models available for under $100. Android badly needs a new advantage against the iPhone in the next stage of the mobile platform fight. It may get it from Canonical's Ubuntu for Android. The Ubuntu factor Ubuntu is a friendly version of Linux aimed at the masses. Unfortunately, the masses have never embraced it on a large scale, but it has proven to be usable enough that even your technophobic uncle can easily use Ubuntu to do things like surf the Web, check e-mail, and download photos from a digital camera. While the iPhone is winning on simplicity, Android is winning on expanded features (and it's still expected to have a 50 percent market share this year). One of those expanded features that the iPhone doesn't have is the ability to dock and act like a computer. Last week we looked at how Motorola Webtop pioneered this concept. However, Ubuntu has an alternative vision for smartphone/PC convergence and it's teaming with Android hardware makers on devices that will hit the market later in 2012. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has slowly and quietly evolved the Linux desktop into a legitimate low-cost alternative to Windows and Mac. Ubuntu's focus on usability with its Unity Desktop and Heads-Up Display (which is like a Google search for all of the menus on your computer) has given Ubuntu the simplicity it needs to compete in an era that's about to be dominated by touchscreens and cloud computing. That's why when Canonical announced and demonstrated Ubuntu for Android at Mobile World Congress in February, it generated a lot of interest across the mobile industry. Users liked the idea of a more full-featured desktop than Motorola's Webtop. Android phone makers liked the idea of using the software to build high-powered multi-purpose devices and make more money off smartphones accessories like desktop docks. And, wireless carriers loved the idea of powerful smartphones running desktop-level applications that will demand more data than ever.

Mobile World Congress 2012 attendees flock to see Ubuntu for Android. Photo credit: Canonical "The feedback has been great," Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth said. "People that really got their hands on it have raved about it." After the announcement, the Canonical booth at MWC 2012 was flooded with interest from corporate tech managers, consumers, and representatives from telcos and handset makers. All of them wanted to see what Ubuntu for Android could do. Everyone has seen the capabilities of Motorola Webtop -- as we talked about last week -- but it's limited to mostly desktop Web browsing and it's only available on Motorola phones. Ubuntu takes the concept a step further by opening it up to more apps and to all Android phone makers. Shuttleworth said, "Webtop reminds [me] of ChromeOS. It's a browser story. We've pulled off a very different feeling... The full range of desktop apps are there." When Ubuntu is loaded on an Android phone, the two platforms share the same Linux kernel, so it's not like running two operating systems. The two pieces act like complementary partners. The Android phone functions normally when used as a smartphone or when making calls, but when it docks then the Ubuntu desktop pops up and acts like a standard computer. You can open a desktop Web browser, but you can also install and run standard Ubuntu desktop software for photo editing, word processing, etc. Because Ubuntu is so lean, the entire Ubuntu software stack only takes up about 2GB, and that includes apps for e-mail, Web browsing, photo editing, music, and other basic stuff. If you install more applications from the large Ubuntu repository of open source apps then that will obviously take up more space, but there's still plenty of storage on most modern smartphones to handle it. While Ubuntu takes up more storage than Webtop, it's also giving you a lot more capabilities. "The Ubuntu solution is providing a complete PC operating system," said Richard Collins, the Product Manager for Ubuntu for Android. "Canonical has always seen the opportunity for Ubuntu for Android. It's something that's always been discussed, but once the hardware was ready then we realized the timing was good for this. [The software] is mature enough for us to engage with an OEM today." Before joining Canonical in December 2011, Collins previously worked on smartphones for Symbian -- the operating system that used to power Nokia smartphones before CEO Stephen Elop dumped it for Windows Phone 7 last year. For Ubuntu for Android, Collins added, "We haven't touched Android at all." But, while the Ubuntu solution doesn't alter Android, it provides deep integration with Android on the Ubuntu side, and that's where Canonical is bringing value that goes above and beyond what Motorola accomplished with Webtop. Going beyond Webtop Here are some examples of the ways Ubuntu integrates with Android: Web pages that you have open on your Android phone are automatically opened in Ubuntu when you dock. It even switches from the mobile site to the desktop version of the site, in many cases. View, search, and launch Android applications from within the Ubuntu desktop Access and edit photos and videos and then save them back to Android Wi-Fi networks and settings are shared between Android and Ubuntu View and search phone contacts from the Ubuntu desktop Use Dialer app to make calls on the phone while docked in Ubuntu Read and respond to text messages with full keyboard in Ubuntu Android calendar app is synced with Ubuntu calendar software Social networking account credentials are synced between Android and Ubuntu Again, the other thing that Ubuntu has going for it over Webtop is that Webtop is currently only available on Motorola smartphones. In my Webtop article last week, I suggested that when Google buys Motorola Mobility it could choose to directly integrate Webtop into the next version of Android, which would turn almost every new Android device into a PC replacement. In the meantime, Ubuntu for Android is bypassing Google and making its pitch directly to Android handset makers. Interestingly enough, once the announcement was made in February, several of the handset makers actually came and sought out Canonical to start the dialog on how to get it on their devices. Canonical said that virtually all of the major Android phone makers are considering Ubuntu for Android.

"We've engaged all the handset manufacturers that we feel were relevant to this solution," said Collins. "They were beating a path to our stand [at MWC]." Collins said Ubuntu for Android is not something that is meant to be released as a download on the Internet and installed on existing Android phones. It's going to take close cooperation with the phone makers in order to optimize performance of the hardware for each smartphone and to build in all the hooks that are needed for the deep integration that Ubuntu is doing with Android. Since Ubuntu for Android runs alongside Android, Collins argued that a handset manufacturer can integrate it with a phone that is currently in development without having to completely reboot the product. He said manufacturers that are planning to launch multi-core smartphones this year can still take this and launch with it before the end of the year. While that sounds a little oversimplified, the key is that Collins thinks we'll see Ubuntu integrated into high-end Android phones by the end of 2012. Collins also said that Ubuntu would love to work with some Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core devices. That's where the possibilities of this type of solution could start to shine through, since performance has been one of the big drawbacks of Motorola Webtop as well as the Motorola Atrix 2 device that Ubuntu of Android was demonstrated on at MWC. While it's uncertain what Google is going to do with Motorola Mobility once the acquisition is complete, the search giant has said that it intends to run Motorola as a stand-alone business. If that's the case, then Shuttleworth said he's even open to collaborating with the Webtop creator. "I'd love to work with Motorola because I know the courage it took to bring Webtop to market." One thing that's very clear in talking with Shuttleworth is that he has completely bought into the idea that the smartphone is the future of the PC. His only question was the timing. "It's a very natural step for us to be taking," he said. "[This is] an upcoming phase change. It might take five years. It might take 10 years."

How to charge your phone in an emergency

How to charge your phone in an emergency When your phone dies, part of you dies with it. Donald Bell by Donald Bell April 27, 2012 10:29 AM PDT You see that battery meter dwindling down to zero. There's a knot in your stomach. You'd pay anything just to squeeze another 10 minutes from your phone. Your panic is justified. Not only does a dead phone battery cut you off from communication with the outside world, but it strips you of your contact book as well. There was a time when I could remember close to a dozen phone numbers off the top of my head. But today, I can barely remember my wife's number without the aid of my phone. Fortunately, there are a number inexpensive charging accessories you can stock up on that will save your hide in an emergency. Many of these you can keep in your car's glove compartment, and a few make a nice addition to a household emergency kit. The following gallery includes a general roundup of your emergency charging options, along with a few surprises not shown in the above video.

How Google's Drive helps kill Microsoft's Office

How Google's Drive helps kill Microsoft's Office This is how a search company can steal the productivity business: By storing work, not helping users edit it. Rafe Needleman by Rafe Needleman April 27, 2012 10:54 AM PDT Google's hard drive in the sky, Google Drive, is a big threat to other cloud storage products like Dropbox and Box. But it's also a stab straight at the heart of Microsoft's mainstream business software, Microsoft Office. While Google's productivity application suites, Docs (now incorporated into Drive) and Apps (for businesses), have been making some headway into Microsoft Office's territory, the important battlefield is not the application. It's the data. If Google can move the battlefield to a place where it has the bigger army and better weapons, the whole game changes. Google Drive might make that happen. Let's look at the world from behind Google-colored glasses. Every time a user performs a search in the Google search engine, or clicks a link in Chrome, or +1s an item in Plus, Google adds an atom of data to its knowledge of what people like and what they do. This information helps Google index the Web and rank its results when people are searching for something. This is also the Facebook model, by the way. Open Google Drive image with Pixlr Editor

The Google Drive 'Open with' feature can help you steal your data away from old desktop apps. Google Drive launch partner Pixlr shown. (Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee/CNET) Moreover, every action that generates user data that doesn't touch down in a Google product or service deprives Google of information that it could otherwise use to index and understand the Web of human knowledge and preference. Microsoft Word documents stored on PCs? In the most uncharitable view, every one is money being stolen from Google. All closed, siloed apps, for that matter, remove opportunity from Google. Co-founder Sergey Brin has recently spoken out against apps and companies that wall off data from the open Internet. There is indeed a danger, but it's not just about openness, it's about Google's own ability to index the data. Back to Google Drive: By acting as the substrate for user data -- in other words, the file system -- Google gets exposed to many times more information. Google doesn't need, and in fact has no reason, to make this data public, but having it available to index and cross-reference does make the company's core service, targeted advertising, more valuable. The more data Google has, the more valuable its product becomes. And that product, in case it's not already clear, is you. Your attention, which is sold to advertisers. Related stories The Google Drive FAQ 10 Google Drive alternatives Google Drive, SkyDrive, Dropbox? Heck, use 'em all! Microsoft's main product, meanwhile, is software, not data. (And its customers aren't advertisers, but people who buy software.) So why can't Microsoft's model and Google's live in harmony? Because Microsoft's software suite consists of application software and an operating system, and the operating system stores user data, and the data is what Google wants. So Google is undermining that function with Google Drive, and not just by offering a synchronized file system (which, by the way, Microsoft also offers). Once users put their data in Google Drive, they will also find out how easy it is to open these files in non-Microsoft apps. This is one of the reasons Google is launching Google Drive with an API for developers and a suite of partner products that shave off Microsoft customers a bit at a time. One of the most important features that third-party developers are using with Google Drive is the "Open with" feature. If you upload a Microsoft Project file to Drive, for example, you can open it with the Web app SmartSheet, directly on the Web. Similarly, Web apps like SlideRocket can open PowerPoint files. Google's own productivity apps can also open Microsoft files. The more people realize that they don't need Office to access their archives of files from the pre-Google Drive era, the more likely they are to look to Google Drive (or perhaps competing products, if they have similar partners) as primary storage. And Google wins, while Microsoft loses. How can Microsoft counter this market erosion at Google's hands? The company has its own cloud storage product and a strong history with developers. And it has the business customers. But according to a Google Drive developer I spoke with, one who's been dealing also with Microsoft for years, Microsoft is not there yet. It has the centralized storage in SkyDrive and Office 365, but not the infrastructure -- especially the identity and sign-on tools -- that developers need to integrate into the Microsoft cloud. Microsoft also needs to protect its software licensing revenue for Office. Google, the upstart in business software, can undercut Microsoft's prices since all its software sales are incremental on top of its search and advertising businesses. Other companies realize that whoever controls the data controls the market. Box, for instance, just launched OneCloud, which lets you open documents in a variety of apps. It's mobile-only so far, though. It is no longer a PC world, and because of that Microsoft doesn't own the world of work. People do their jobs on their own computers, on the Web, and on mobile devices; and they expect their work to follow them onto whatever hardware they're using. Every major technology company understands this. But only a few have the products, the infrastructure, and the freedom to get ahead of the shift.

Apple considered iPhone with physical keyboard? Wait, what?

Apple considered iPhone with physical keyboard? Wait, what? According to former Apple engineer Tony Fadell, one of the proposals for the first iPhone was a hardware keyboard. Chris Matyszczyk by Chris Matyszczyk April 29, 2012 9:56 AM PDT

(Credit: Screenshot: Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) One little decision can provoke so much. It seems that, in those days when everyone believed that BlackBerrys were the most extraordinary machines on the planet, Apple was still cogitating over its little iPod-phone thingy. And apparently one of the options the company considered was to have a physical keyboard. Yes, like the BlackBerry. With real physical buttons. This revelation came via Tony Fadell, an engineer who was working at Apple at the time. In an interview with the Verge, Fadell -- who left Apple to create learning thermostat company Nest -- offered that there were three designs being considered -- one involving a hardware keyboard. One imagines this might have involved the keyboard sliding out of the phone. You know, like, well, all those wonderful phones that still have that design. Some might muse that it's something of a relief that Apple committed itself to touch-screen technology, something that makes using a smartphone peculiarly pleasant. However, what would have happened if Apple had gone with a physical keyboard? Would everyone else have decided that because Apple is doing it, that must mean it's cool? Or would some other enterprising company have been the first to go with its instincts and created the first touch-screen smartphone? Which company might that have been? Microsoft, surely. Topics: Music, Media, Random, Social networking, Advertising Tags: iPhone, keyboard, Apple Chris Matyszczyk Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.

Angry Birds Space: 50 million downloads in 35 days

Angry Birds Space: 50 million downloads in 35 days

According to Rovio, the game's developer, Angry Birds Space is its "fastest-growing mobile game" ever released, beating records set by other Angry Birds titles. Don Reisinger by Don Reisinger April 30, 2012 8:58 AM PDT Angry Birds Space is a phenom. Angry Birds Space is a phenom. (Credit: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET) Rovio's success with the Angry Birds franchise continues to impress. The development firm announced today that Angry Birds Space, which is currently sitting atop Apple's App Store, has hit 50 million downloads in just 35 days of availability. According to Rovio, the feat has made the game the "fastest-growing mobile game" ever released, and has broken all sales records set by previous Angry Birds iterations. "We extend our deepest gratitude to all fans of Angry Birds everywhere," the company wrote in a blog post today. "While numbers like this certainly say something about the popularity of Angry Birds, for us the main goal is to keep creating fun new experiences that everybody can enjoy!" Angry Birds Space, which launched last month, delivers the same slingshotting, pig-hating fun found in previous games in the franchise, but adds a space element that includes gravitational pull. The app launched with 60 levels, and Rovio recently added 10 new levels to the iOS and Android versions. The application is also available to PC and Mac owners.

Facebook to unveil 'life-saving tool' tomorrow

Facebook to unveil 'life-saving tool' tomorrow

The social-networking titan is mum on details, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg are slated to make their announcement tomorrow. Roger Cheng by Roger Cheng April 30, 2012 11:58 AM PDT Mark Zuckerberg at F8 in 2010 What does Mark Zuckerberg have up his sleeve for tomorrow? Zuckerberg pictured here at F8 in 2010 (Credit: James Martin/CNET) Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a potential "life-saving tool" announcement to make. Zuckerberg will unveil the tool tomorrow during "Good Morning America," while Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg will provide more details in an interview during "World News with Dianne Sawyer," ABC said on its site today. There are few details on the announcement, although ABC has been plugging the segment all morning. Zuckerberg will be showing off the tool at the company's Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters.

Apple nudging developers to get apps Gatekeeper-ready

Apple nudging developers to get apps Gatekeeper-ready OS X Mountain Lion's Gatekeeper feature will keep users from installing software unless it's signed by developers, and Apple's reminding developers of that. Josh Lowensohn by Josh Lowensohn April 30, 2012 1:00 PM PDT

Gatekeeper (Credit: Apple) Apple's release of its Mountain Lion software isn't until "late summer," though today the company began nudging developers to get their software up to speed with its new security feature. In an e-mail sent to developers this afternoon and forwarded on to CNET, Apple urged developers to start signing their apps and other software with their Apple Developer ID certificate so they will get by Gatekeeper, a security feature that's built into Apple's next OS and designed to keep malware at bay. "Gatekeeper is a new feature in OS X Mountain Lion that helps protect users from downloading and installing malicious software," Apple told developers. "Signing your applications, plug-ins, and installer packages with a Developer ID certificate lets Gatekeeper verify that they are not known malware and have not been tampered with." The feature has three levels of security, though by default it's set up to keep software from being installed unless it's sold through Apple's Mac App Store, or been certified by a registered Apple developer. The two other options allow users to either install anything without running the additional security check (which is how it works in existing versions of the OS), or limit software installations to Apple's Mac App Store. Related stories

Apple Mac OS X 'Mountain Lion' takes more bites out of iOS Security experts: Apple did Mac OS X Gatekeeper right With Mountain Lion, Apple brings iOS and OS X a big step closer As mentioned in previous coverage, Mountain Lion is a successor to OS X 10.7 Lion, which Apple released last July. The software takes several cues from Apple's iOS platform, bringing over features like Notification Center, and apps like Reminders and Notepad. Apple is currently on its third developer preview of Mountain Lion. The first preview came in February, alongside the unveiling of the upcoming OS. Here's the e-mail: Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. (Credit: CNET)

Barnes & Noble shares soar on Microsoft dealc

Barnes & Noble shares soar on Microsoft deal The Nook maker's stock rose to $26 at open today, doubling its Friday closing price. Shares cooled off a bit as the morning moved along, but not by all that much. Don Reisinger by Don Reisinger April 30, 2012 8:08 AM PDT

(Credit: Barnes & Noble) Barnes & Noble's shares are skyrocketing today following its announcement of a strategic partnership with Microsoft. The company's stock soared in early trading to $26, nearly doubling last week's closing price of $13.68. Since then, investors have started to cool, though not by much: as of this writing, the company's shares are up 63 percent to $22.29. Under the terms of their partnership, Microsoft and Barnes & Noble will own part of a new company, currently known as Newco until a final name can be determined. Microsoft gave Barnes & Noble $300 million for a 17.6 percent equity stake in Newco, leaving the remaining 82.4 percent ownership to the bookseller. Newco, according to the companies, will focus on Barnes & Noble's Nook digital and college businesses. Related stories ZDNet: Is there a Windows-based Barnes & Noble reader in the works? Nook spinoff could be next chapter for Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble seeks to reverse ruling in Microsoft patent flap CNET review: Nook Tablet To sweeten the pot a bit for Microsoft, Barnes & Noble will include its Nook digital bookstore with Windows 8, the software giant's next-generation operating system that launches later this year. The companies have also agreed to end their bitter patent litigation by forming a "royalty-bearing license under Microsoft's patents for its Nook e-reader and Tablet products." Despite excitement on the Barnes & Noble side, Microsoft's stock has hardly moved, rising only 2 cents to $32 per share.

Where to order Intel's Ivy Bridge in a laptop right now

Where to order Intel's Ivy Bridge in a laptop right now

A handful of laptops are now available to order with Intel's third-gen Core i-series CPUs; see the list here. Dan Ackerman by Dan Ackerman April 30, 2012 7:51 AM PDT The third generation of Core i-series CPUs has been benchmarked, written about, and discussed for months now, but PC makers could only sell them starting April 29. Even then, only the very high-end models, the quad-core Core i7 chips, are currently available. The more mainstream dual-core Core i3 and Core i5 processors found in most laptops won't get updated until sometime in May or June (and then probably won't be physically available for some time after that). A handful of hearty manufacturers have already put the high-end new Core i7 chips up on their sites, allowing you to configure and order an Ivy Bridge laptop right now, although most of the estimated ship dates we've seen are several weeks out. The vendors we've found already offering third-gen Intel CPUs are: Alienware: M14x, M17x, M18x -- available to order now; estimated shipping date May 28. (Dell says this morning that anyone who has recently ordered one of three models above with a quad-core Core i7, and whose orders have not shipped yet, will get an automatic Ivy Bridge upgrade.) Origin: EON15-S, EON17-S, EON11-S -- available to order now; estimated shipping date, May 31. Maingear: eX-L 15/17, Alt-15 -- available to order now; estimated shipping date May 14. HP: Pavilion dv6t and dv7t, quad-edition series -- available to order now; estimated shipping date May 9. Asus: ROG G75VW and G55VW -- Asus is promoting Ivy Bridge versions of these gaming laptops, and links to Amazon and Best Buy indicate that they ship in three to five days (but the online retailers are a little unclear about exactly what chip is in these systems, so order with caution). Samsung: 15-inch and 17-inch Series 7 Chronos -- updated on Samsung's Web site with third-gen processors, but so far, we've been unable to find them available to order online or in stores. Of course, while our benchmark testing shows modest performance and battery life improvement with Ivy Bridge, the main advantage is better integrated graphics, something most people buying an Alienware or Origin laptop don't really need (as they'll have a dedicated Nvidia or AMD GPU). But, if you absolutely must be the first on the block with the latest and greatest, check out the models listed above. If you run across other Ivy Bridge laptops available to configure and order, let us know in the comments section below and we'll update this list.

Get a 42-inch plasma TV for $299.99

Get a 42-inch plasma TV for $299.99 It's new, not refurbished, and not some no-brand, either: it's an RCA. If you like your colors blazing and your viewing angle wide, you'll like plasma. Rick Broida by Rick Broida April 30, 2012 7:46 AM PDT A 42-inch plasma HDTV for $299.99? That's what I call a killer deal.

A 42-inch plasma HDTV for $299.99? That's what I call a killer deal. (Credit: Best Buy) Recently, while shopping for a new TV, I found myself waffling between LCD and plasma. I've always chosen the former because they tend to pair better with PCs (and I'm a media-center guy), but because the TV in question was going to marry a TiVo, that wasn't a concern. I'd also steered clear of plasmas because of longstanding issues with burn-in, but a little research revealed that thanks to improvements in plasma technology, it's not really a problem anymore. Most of all, plasmas used to fetch a premium price -- but these days they're actually cheaper than many comparably sized LCD or LED TVs. Case in point: while supplies last, Best Buy has the RCA 42PA30RQ 42-inch plasma HDTV for $299.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). That's one of the lowest prices I've seen on any 42-inch TV ever. The 42PA30RQ is a pretty no-frills TV, not that there's anything wrong with that. (Plug in a $50 Roku box and you've got frills aplenty.) Its highlight specs include 720p resolution (which most viewers agree is sufficient at this size), three HDMI inputs, a digital audio output (which is key if you're pairing it with, say, a sound bar), and durable outer casing to prevent fallapart. (Okay, I borrowed that last spec from "The Simpsons.") A 42-inch TV is ideal for a den, bedroom, playroom, or the like -- anyplace where you can sit roughly 8 feet away from the screen. CNET hasn't reviewed this particular model, but 46 Best Buy shoppers rated it 4.5 stars on average. And over at Wal-Mart, where the RCA is out of stock but showing a price tag of $399.98, a whopping 858 customers rated it 4 stars on average. Shop around a bit and you'll see any number of 42-inch plasma HDTVs selling for $500, $550, and even $600. Needless to say, a $300 model is hard to pass up. This will probably sell out fast! Bonus deal: If you're planning a trip to an actual Wal-Mart store, you can get the Kindle with Special Offers for $79 -- and a $30 Wal-Mart gift card. Definitely a tempting option for Mother's Day or a similar gift-giving occasion. Thanks to reader Mike for sharing this deal. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

How I learned to say, 'Hi, Google Docs; bye, MS Word'

How I learned to say, 'Hi, Google Docs; bye, MS Word' Do I really need all those features? No. And so I've created my last document in Microsoft Word, a product I first began using 27 years ago. Charles Cooper by Charles Cooper April 28, 2012 3:58 AM PDT It's not often you'll hear this refrain, but this is one user who sleeps quite soundly about deciding to hitch his wagon to a decidedly inferior technology product.

With nary any regret, I've created my last document in Microsoft Word, a product I first began using 27 years ago. Now it's all Google Docs, all the time. And the thing is that I'm making the switch fully aware that Google remains leagues behind Microsoft when it comes to turning out "full-featured" word processors. But it makes not a bit of difference. In a moment, I'll get into why. First, let's give credit where it's due. MS Word is one of the best word processors I've ever used. Its designers have never failed to impress with the amount of new features they've stuffed into each new iteration of the software. And for that rarefied group of power users -- or people with too much time on their hands -- the upgrade cycle surely was welcomed. What about the rest of us? Well, we took what Microsoft gave us, though honestly, it was more than enough. Way more than enough, to be frank. It's impossible to know how many people used all -- or most -- of the features in Word. I'm sure such people existed somewhere on the planet, though I rarely bumped into one. In the pre-Internet era, when Microsoft competed against the likes of Lotus and WordPerfect, that was one way to generate buzz. The "everything but the kitchen sink" approach didn't always pay off, but it was one way to impress computer magazine reviewers picking out the "best" word processor (or the "best" spreadsheet or the "best" database). So when Google Docs became available in 2007, the folks working on Microsoft's Office apps must have laughed themselves silly. Especially the word processor, a bare-bones outgrowth of Google's earlier acquisition of Writely and starkly underfeatured compared with MS Word. In fact, Google wasn't even close to being the trailblazer in hosted office productivity apps. It was just following in the footsteps of AdventNet's Zoho, Silveroffice's Goffice, ThinkFree, Sun's OpenOffice, and Natium's Flysuite. But as Apple proved when it entered the smartphone and tablet-computer markets, a company doesn't need to be early to make its mark. It needs to satisfy the customer. I tried the early version of Google's word processor and didn't like it. But Google improved on the product -- last year the company issued more than 200 updates to the core apps suite. Google designed the product with collaboration in mind, so that users can share and edit the same document in real time (extending, if need be, to mobile devices). It's now at the point where the app is entirely usable and reliable. The word processor may not dazzle the power users, but it surely does not confuse. And it lets users write and edit quickly. Do you need more? Oh, and did I mention it's also free? Another added bonus: It works seamlessly with the e-mail system we use at work, which happens to be Gmail. "The beauty of the cloud is that there's no need to install updated software, just refresh your browser for the latest innovation," a Google representative told me in an e-mail. Corny but true. Equally significant: Google Docs obviously doesn't depend on a particular underlying operating system. But if any of this worries the people at Microsoft, they're not letting it show, dismissing Google's apps as half-baked. Here's what Microsoft told me when I asked for their assessment: "There are two myths about Google Apps. The first is that Google cares about this business, when it is clear they're an advertising company and that's where their focus is. More than 96 percent of Google's revenue is generated by advertising. The second myth is that they have paying customers. In fact, analysts estimate that Google makes only $100 million to $200 million per year after almost five years in this market. We've found that 9 in 10 Google Apps customers continue to use Office. Our business has never been stronger. Also, Microsoft trots out the following stats: Nearly 200 million copies of Office 2010 have been sold worldwide, SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync all grew double digits last year, Office 365 is on track to be the fastest-growing business product in Microsoft history. A few months ago, Microsoft created this video poking fun at Google Docs for daring to pass as a serious contender in business use (ironically posting the video to YouTube). Maybe for now. In 2010, Forrester described the Docs initiative as a "failure." But technology doesn't remain static, and Microsoft knows Google is getting better at this, even though it doesn't get a lot of respect. And after the debut this week of Google Drive drive-in-the-sky there's reason to wonder how long Microsoft apps can retain their current dominance. My colleague Rafe Needleman carefully explains a not improbable scenario where, once users enter their data in Google Drive, they're going to discover how easy it is to open those files in non-Microsoft apps. Those free non-Microsoft apps. What happens then? My hunch is that I won't be the only person who decides it's time to move on.

Ugly Meter app makes a pretty penny via Howard Stern

Ugly Meter app makes a pretty penny via Howard Stern The app is now ranked second in the U.S. listing of top paid iPhone apps and has reportedly generated $500,000 for its owners. Don Reisinger by Don Reisinger April 30, 2012 7:47 AM PDT The Ugly Meter app in action. The Ugly Meter app in action. (Credit: Dapper Gentlemen)

An application that makes its goal to tell you how ugly you are is riding high in Apple's App Store. Ugly Meter, which has been around for quite some time, has suddenly found itself threatening Angry Birds Space for the top spot in Apple's App Store. For a period of three weeks recently, the application topped China's listing of top iPhone apps, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail. As of this writing, it's in second place in the U.S. store. Ugly Meter first made headlines last year after raising concerns among anti-cyberbullying organizations. The application allows users to snap an image of their face, and then scans it for symmetry, contours, and other elements to determine how good- (or bad-) looking a person is. Ratings are handed out on a scale of 1-10, and include some not-so-nice quips about a person's looks. Although Ugly Meter had maintained some relevance in the App Store, the app became a phenom nearly overnight recently due mainly to none other than Howard Stern. According to the Daily Mail, app developer Dapper Gentlemen made $80,000 in a single day after the $4.99 Pro version of Ugly Meter was showcased on the shock jock's morning radio show on Sirius XM. All told, according to the Ugly Meter listing in the App Store, the application has been downloaded over 5 million times. The developers have generated over $500,000 in total revenue, according to the Daily Mail. That cash isn't going to waste. One of the co-creators of the Ugly Meter app, Joe Overline, went back on the Stern's show last week and said his company is now planning to hire another programmer to advance its application-development plans.

Theoretical physicist: Moore's Law has just 10 years to go

Theoretical physicist: Moore's Law has just 10 years to go The age of silicon will come to a close but nobody knows when. Well, almost nobody. Charles Cooper by Charles Cooper April 30, 2012 10:42 AM PDT Here's another warning that the end is within view for Moore's Law, one of the backbone theories of the computing industry. Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku predicts that in "10 years or so we will see the collapse of Moore's Law. In fact, already, we are seeing a slowing down of Moore's Law. Computing power simply cannot maintain its rapid exponential rise using standard silicon technology." Intel: Moore's Law resource guide In a presentation Kaku made earlier in the month, Kaku noted that a Pentium chip today "has the layer almost down to 20 atoms across...when that layer gets down to 5 atoms across, it's all over. You have two effects. The heat generated will be so intense that the chip will melt." The other problem he sees: leakage. You don't know where the electron is anymore. The quantum theory takes over. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle says you don't know where that electron is anymore meaning it could be outside the wire, outside the Pentium chip, or inside the Pentium chip. So there is an ultimate limit set by the laws of thermodynamics and set by the laws of quantum mechanics as to how much computing power you can do with silicon." In the near term, Kaku expects the industry will try and tweak current and future processor generations with known technology, squeezing out what it can out from what passes as current state-of-the-art. But he expects the industry ultimately will have no choice but to embrace new approaches, such as molecular computers or quantum computers. For the record, though, Intel says it's not worried. "It's not that it's impossible. It's that it's increasingly more challenging to do it," an Intel spokesman said. "Gordon Moore himself has said that eventually Moore's law will run out 'but every time i turn around, I'm fascinated how we've been able to extend it.'"

iRobot's Ava: Have tablet, will travel iRobot's tablet-sporting Ava mobile robot will get her debut this year in hospitals testing remote diagnosis via videoconferencing. Next step: people's homes? Martin LaMonica by Martin LaMonica April 30, 2012 11:23 AM PDT A prototype of Ava, iRobot's mobile robot, takes in her surroundings.

A prototype of Ava, iRobot's mobile robot, takes in her surroundings. (Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET) BURLINGTON, Mass.--Someday soon Ava the robot may bring you to the Roomba vacuum cleaners at Best Buy or call you if an elderly relative at home fell down and can't get up. But first she has to get in the good graces of doctors. Ava is iRobot's three-wheeled pedestal-shaped robot that sports a tablet computer as its "head," the primary user interface. If the pieces fall into place as its creators hope, Ava will be the company's ticket into new markets beyond its remote-controlled military bots and Roomba-led home cleaning products. iRobot will start trials this year of Ava in a couple of her target industries of health care, retail, and building security, CEO Colin Angle said in an interview with CNET. During a demo last week at the company's headquarters here, a prototype Ava smoothly navigated through iRobot's office space based on a map it had generated itself. Although its movements were not flawless (table tops remain a challenge), Ava points to a new era in mobile robots brought about by advances in other technologies, notably by better sensors. "So much of robotics has to do with physical motion--navigation around our environment and doing increasingly high-level tasks--it makes these two initial markets (of military and home cleaning) seem pedestrian versus the dream of what's possible," said Angle. iRobot's Ava: She's got the touch (photos) 1-2 of 6 Scroll Left Scroll Right Ava is also an effort to leverage the army of existing mobile software developers who will suddenly be able to write user interface or cloud computing apps for a robot. For example, in just a few weeks, one of the 35 or so engineers working on Ava was able to write an Android application where Ava creates a 3D map of interior space and a 3D Ava control panel. Shake hands with Ava Watching Ava scoot from one end of an office lounge to another, it's not hard to imagine Ava navigating a hospital to start a videoconference between a doctor and patient or between a person moving through an office and a remote colleague. Or perhaps it could usher people around hotels and public buildings or tool around office buildings to monitor for security, said iRobot's Thomas Allen, the program manger for Ava. Ava's autonomy stems from a barrage of sensors, including laser range finders and the same sensor from PrimeSense used for the gestural interface with Microsoft's Kinect gaming consoles. With these and other sensors, Ava can avoid obstacles of an interior space and create a digital map of a given environment. iRobot developed a tablet app that allows people to quickly convert Ava's rough-looking map into one that people could use by labeling rooms, controlling speeds, or marking "no-go zones" such as rooms where MRI machines are, Allen said. With the map created, a person can see where Ava is on the floor plan and, using a second tablet computer, direct it to move by tapping other rooms. If there's an obstacle, it can find alternate routes. Ava can also be operated by a collar below the tablet. For example, pressing on one side will bring the robot closer to the user or go back to a "ready" state where the tablet is facing forward. While Ava makes for a fun demo, iRobot's challenge is finding customers willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the mobility it provides. The company's primary bet is that remote presence in health care is something hospitals are willing to pay for. Related stories The robodoctor will see you now Robots companies come to bury C-3PO A network of hospitals, for example, could use Ava's videoconference to remotely diagnose stroke victims from a central hospital. The hope is that those business customers will seed the market for mobile robots and help bring the costs down into thousands of dollars for consumers. In addition to business questions, there are technical issues as well. A flood of outdoor light in a retail store, for example, could knock out the depth camera sensors, noted Angle. There's also the question of how people will react to robots in hospitals, offices, and homes and what an effective user interface is. "There's a whole other chunk of work to do to see how well people will react to it. These will be interesting years of doing experiments," said Allen.

Microsoft deal allows B&N to go toe-to-toe with Amazon and Apple Microsoft's $300 million investment not only offers a big cash infusion to beleaguered Barnes & Noble but also sends a message to consumers that it's here to stay. David Carnoy by David Carnoy April 30, 2012 8:13 AM PDT

On a conference call today announcing a new partnership with Microsoft, Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch said the company's new $139 Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight is currently sold out but would be in stock soon. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) In the last couple of years Barnes & Noble has made some big inroads into the e-book market, cutting into Amazon's huge lead. As it stands, Amazon still has about 60 percent of the e-book pie, Barnes & Noble has around 25 percent, and Apple sits at around 15 percent, with smaller players like Sony and Kobo left to fight over the crumbs. Of course, those numbers are just estimates, and depending on who you talk to, Amazon's share might actually be closer to 65 percent. While a strong second place is not a bad position to be in, the problem for Barnes & Noble has been how much it cost to get there and how much it's going to cost to pick up more market share from Amazon and Apple, which has steadily ramped up its iBooks digital reading platform and recently launched a major digital textbook initiative. Both Amazon and Apple, needless to say, have huge cash reserves to dip into for marketing, engineering, and R&D, while Barnes & Noble has appeared at times as if it's simply battling for survival. Related stories Barnes & Noble, Microsoft ink $300 million deal on e-reading Nook spinoff could be next chapter for Barnes & Noble DOJ announces three e-book settlements, but not with Apple What's the future for e-book pricing Barnes & Noble shipping Nook GlowLight ahead of schedule (full review) Enter Microsoft and its $300 million investment in what amounts to a spinoff of Barnes & Noble's Nook digital media business, which includes e-books, textbooks, and all those digital newspapers and magazines its been selling on Nook devices. So far the new "subsidiary" of Barnes & Noble doesn't have a name (it's simply referred to as Newco) but you might as well call it Nooksoft (read more here about the announcement here). Obviously, the cash injection is important because Barnes & Noble has been hemorrhaging money as it beefs up its Silicon Valley-based digital operation with expensive software engineers and hardware designers (a New York Times article noted that Barnes & Noble already has 300 employees in its Palo Alto, Calif., office). The new company also frees up additional cash for Barnes & Noble to compete with Amazon and Apple's huge marketing machines and attract more talented engineers with potentially lucrative stock options. The other obvious benefit to the deal is it allows the bookseller to bring the Nook e-bookstore to Windows 8 devices, whether they be PCs, tablets, or smartphones, though Amazon's Kindle app will be available for the Windows 8 platform as well. Today's announcement also marks the first time that Barnes & Noble has openly talked about going global, though it remains unclear when it will bring its Nook devices to overseas markets. In a conference call, CEO William Lynch said that few companies were "on more screens than Microsoft" and that the new partnership would allow Barnes & Noble to to extend the Nook digital bookstore to thousands of users in the U.S. and globally. Amazon is also making a big push into global markets and Apple, of course, is already selling millions of iPhones and iPads around the world. Here in the U.S., in the wake of the government's lawsuit against Apple and five of the "big six" publishers (and subsequent settlement with three of them), there's talk of Amazon once again lower prices on e-books and selling certain titles at a loss. In the past, competitors had trouble matching Amazon's prices, but Microsoft's cash infusion would make it easier for Barnes & Noble to go toe-to-toe on pricing. Ultimately, however, the biggest benefit of the deal may be a change in consumers' psyche about Barnes & Noble. In the commodity world of e-books, branding is important, and many consumers fear that their purchases, which are stored in a "digital locker," will vanish if a company goes out of business. When Borders went belly up, consumers were simply migrated over to Kobo because Kobo already powered Borders e-book store. But no one knows exactly what would happen if Barnes & Noble went down the tubes, and not a Nook story goes by on CNET without a commenter voicing some concern over Barnes & Noble's longevity. "I've always thought that the Nooks were a bit better designed than the Kindles," said CNET reader tgibbs in a recent comment concerning the arrival of the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. "But I bought a Kindle because I'm more confident that Amazon will be still be around in the future." With a giant like Microsoft backstopping the Nook, consumers may now have more confidence that the Nook platform will indeed be here to stay. And that type of peace of mind is just as essential in helping Barnes & Noble gain market share than money alone.

Google sums up its Java case: 'There was no copying'

Google sums up its Java case: 'There was no copying'

In closing statements, Google's counsel reasserts that Google employed Java APIs in a fair-use manner for Android, transforming them into a full smartphone stack. by Rachel King April 30, 2012 12:35 PM PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- After Oracle made its closing statements on Monday morning at the U.S. District Court, Google's Robert Van Nest stepped up to the plate, defending Android's implementation of the 37 Java APIs at question in this lawsuit. Van Nest's core defense rested on positioning this as a case of fair use, asserting that Android is not a copy of Java 5.0 SE but rather a "substantially" different work with different success in the market. "It's a whole platform that didn't exist before and transformed the use of Java for a smartphone stack," asserted Van Nest. Van Nest outlined four points to Google's position in this intellectual property suit: Sun gave the Java language to the public Google built Android using free and open technologies Google made fair use of the Java language APIs in Android Sun publicly approved Android's use of Java "Copyright infringement requires that you copy something," Van Nest said. "There was no copying here because Google knew that it couldn't use Sun's source code." Also on copyrights, Van Nest pointed to the jury's instructions about judging "the work as a whole," which actually consists of all 166 class libraries and all that entails (i.e. implementing codes, names, declarations, etc.) -- adding up to 2.8 million lines of code in Java 5.0 SE. Van Nest added that Oracle has to prove that it was "more likely than not that copyright infringement occurred." "This kind of use of APIs in this way where you use the minimum you need to be compatible is fair use," Van Nest declared. Additionally, a good portion of Van Nest's closing arguments was based on the testimony of former Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz last Thursday. Although Schwartz acknowledged that Sun wasn't happy that it couldn't come to a partnership agreement with Google, Van Nest recalled that Schwartz did say that Sun supported Android's use of Java nor did it have any grounds to file a lawsuit. "For years, Sun had been promoting use of Java programming language," Van Nest said. "That was their whole business plan." Again pointing to Schwartz's November 2007 blog post in which he congratulated Google for the debut of Android, Van Nest reminded the jury that Schwartz knew Android was written in Java and must have included the Java APIs in question ahead of the SDK release. Related stories Android, Java, and the tech behind Oracle v. Google (FAQ) Java creator James Gosling: 'Google totally slimed Sun' Google's original phone surfaces in court "If that isn't an affirmative endorsement of a product, I don't know what is," Van Nest lambasted. To further hammer down Sun and Oracle's previous support for Android, Van Nest reminded the jury about a video of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison at JavaOne in 2009, where Ellison said Oracle expected to see more Java devices coming from "our friends at Google," and that Google had done "a fantastic job" in opening up Java. Although specifics about Android revenue and other financial matters have been banned from the presence of the jury in this trial, Van Nest reasserted the open source status of Android as a benefit to the developer community. "The point is that Google doesn't make any money on licensing or selling Android," Van Nest said, explaining that Google decided to make it open "to foster innovation and get widespread use." In his rebuttal argument, Oracle counsel Michael Jacobs spoke again about how Android has blocked Java from success in the smartphone market, reiterating that it is "impossible" to compete with a free version of its licensed products. Jacobs concluded, "We need the help of the justice system to enforce our intellectual property rights." After closing arguments for the first segment of the trial ended on Monday morning, Judge William Alsup proceeded with the rest of the instructions for the jury about ruling on copyright infringement contentions. The jury, made up of seven women and five men, will begin deliberating today for one hour and then pick up again on Tuesday morning. Judge Alsup previously warned both parties that the jury could take up to a week to deliberate, but he predicted that they would come back within a day and a half. The decision must be unanimous. After they return with a verdict, the case will move into the second segment of the trial, focusing on patents. This story originally appeared at ZDNet's Between the Lines under the headline "Google defends fair use of Java on Android in closing statements."