September 16 2009
Zune HD apps are here… complete with pre-roll ads
Apps for the new Zune HD (read our review) are now available… with an unexpected “bonus”: static and video ads that play during launch.
September 15 2009
Intel antitrust appeal: EU failed to show consumer harm
Intel has filed an application for annulment with the European Union’s Court of First Instance seeking to have its record 1.06 billion (~$1.45 billion) fine thrown out. In its application, the chipmaker says that the European Commission finding that it engaged in illegal anticompetitive behavior was erroneous, that the investigation itself was flawed, and that there’s no indication that consumers were harmed by Intel’s actions.
September 15 2009
Latest iTablet rumor names suppliers, possible launch date
A new report from Taiwan Economic News lists a number of Taiwanese suppliers which are said to have won contracts to supply Apple with components for “tablet PCs” which will reportedly launch in February next year. This is the latest in a very long string of rumors and offers little new information, but seems to be inline with most recent ones concerning a possible Apple tablet device.
September 15 2009
"Updated" 8GB iPod touch has lower price, not better gaming
Apple spent a lot of time during the September iPod event talking about how the iPod touch was a great gaming device. However, in an effort to bring down the price on the 8GB model, Apple left it saddled with last year’s graphics capabilities. Plenty of holiday shoppers might not know or care about the differences, but it does create additional splintering of Apple’s mobile platform at a time when the uniformity of the platform is seen as one of its biggest assets.
September 15 2009
MonoTouch drops .NET into Apple’s walled app garden
Apple’s iPhone is known for its Byzantine application approval process and somewhat insular platform. Undeterred by these challenges, Novell has succeeded in bringing Mono, its open source implementation of Microsoft’s .NET framework, to the iconic device.
September 15 2009
First look: Zune HD
The Zune HD goes on sale today, and the firmware for the new device should be available by the time you read this (initial devices were shipped without the needed firmware, making them all but useless until hooked up to a PC). Hopes that Microsoft might offer support for the Mac or for Linux machines didn’t pan out (and were always a long shot), but the Zune does have a few slick tricks up its sleeve. Let’s run them down in preparation for our full review later today:
September 14 2009
Second 30-year vet leaves Intel; historic changes afoot?
In a bit of a shocker, word got out late last night about a management shakeup at Intel—CTO and 30-year Intel veteran Pat Gelsinger is out, while Intel mobile chief Dadi Perlmutter and top marketing guy Sean Maloney will both move up to share the number two spot, with Perlmutter taking charge of all of Intel’s engineering efforts and Maloney overseeing the business side.
September 14 2009
Windows Marketplace for Mobile ads appear in iPhone apps?
A Twitter user by the name of Raphael Moser noticed over the weekend that Marketplace for Windows Mobile advertisements were starting to appear in his iPhone apps. The ad has the Windows Marketplace for Mobile logo, the name of the store in all caps, and two more words in all caps: “Submit App.” The software giant probably could have put together a slightly more convincing ad, although there really wasn’t that much space to work with.
September 14 2009
Windows Marketplace for Mobile ads appear in iPhone apps?
A Twitter user by the name of Raphael Moser noticed over the weekend that Marketplace for Windows Mobile advertisements were starting to appear in his iPhone apps. The ad has the Windows Marketplace for Mobile logo, the name of the store in all caps, and two more words in all caps: “Submit App.” The software giant probably could have put together a slightly more convincing ad, although there really wasn’t that much space to work with.
September 13 2009
Zune HD promo videos posted early, 3D gaming is a go
The Zune HD release is two days away, and yet there are still final details trickling in. Over the weekend, Buy TV posted six Zune HD promotional videos and a Zune HD commercial. The videos have already been taken down, likely at Microsoft’s request, but not before they were grabbed and reuploaded at various sites like YouTube. The most important detail revealed is in the Portable Perfection commercial (it doesn’t look like something that would air on TV though, so maybe it’s meant for the official website?). At around the 30 second mark, you catch a quick view of what appears to be a racing title as the narrator notes the ability to play games on the device.
