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Full D8 Demo Video: Dell Streak

Kara Swisher — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:00:31 +0000

As promised, All Things Digital is posting the full videos from our eighth D: All Things Digital conference, held in early June.

Today, it’s time for the Streak from Dell (DELL), a much-anticipated entry into the tablet market that Apple (AAPL) has blown up with its iPad.

Dell’s model, which uses the Google (GOOG) Android mobile operating system, is a different solution — smaller than the iPad, but bigger than a smartphone.

While it is being called a “mini-tablet,” BoomTown dubbed it a “waffle” during the demo.

But you be the judge of the Streak’s debut at D8:

[ See post to watch video ]

Want to see it bigger? Click here.

Note: We’ll be posting full D8 videos on Mondays and Thursdays. Next up: The demo for OnLive.

BlackBerry's New Torch Makes a Leap From Drab

Walter S. Mossberg — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:02:32 +0000

Millions of people love the BlackBerry, relying on it especially for email and text messaging. But this classic smartphone, while still dominant in the U.S., has been slipping in popularity as consumers, and even some corporations, eye two newer, simpler and more versatile rivals: Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android operating system that runs on a plethora of phones. Both boast much larger ecosystems of third-party applications than the BlackBerry.

[ See post to watch video ]

A new Nielsen survey shows that only 42% of BlackBerry owners want their next phone to be a BlackBerry, while 89% of iPhone owners and 71% of Android owners plan to stick with those platforms.

So, this week, the BlackBerry’s maker, Canadian tech giant Research in Motion, introduced a new model and a new operating system designed to counter these trends and better compete with the iPhone and Android.

The new BlackBerry is called the Torch 9800, and it is the first BlackBerry with a slide-out keyboard, the first to combine both a touch screen and a physical keyboard, and the first to allow typing on either a physical keyboard or an onscreen virtual keyboard. It will be available from AT&T on Aug. 12 for $200 with a two-year contract.

But perhaps the more important introduction is the new BlackBerry operating system, which will also be available on future models and as an upgrade for several existing models. Called BlackBerry 6, the new software aims to juice up the BlackBerry’s tired, utilitarian user interface and feature set.

It is meant to simplify the cluttered home screen, and to add features such as universal search, multitouch gestures, decent Web browsing, improved social networking and more built-in apps.

The Torch 9800 with favorite apps, contacts and websites.

I’ve been testing the new Torch with BlackBerry 6, and I view it as a big improvement over earlier, stodgy BlackBerry models. It might help stem the urge to switch to iPhone and Android, and even steal some users from those and other platforms, especially as the company brings out additional models that use the new software. And it shows that, contrary to some recent speculation, RIM is hardly dead or dying. In fact, the new phone and software are just the start of its plan to revitalize the BlackBerry franchise.

But there is still one big downside: third-party apps. While the iPhone boasts 225,000 of these downloadable programs, and Android claims 70,000, the BlackBerry platform is still stuck at a measly 9,000.

I liked the way the device now has separate screens for frequently used functions; favorite apps, contacts and Web pages; media functions; and apps you’ve downloaded. The multitouch gestures, like scrolling through lists, and pinching and zooming, worked fine. The browser is finally usable, the app store is now built in, and there is a nice social-networking app called Social Feeds that combines status updates from Twitter, Facebook and other networks.

Icons seemed larger and more colorful, and it was easy to add photo icons of favorite contacts and Web sites to the new Favorites screen. Built-in apps that appear out of the box include Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, CNN, ESPN, and the Weather Channel.

The Torch

In addition, the new BlackBerry allows you to quickly check your latest messages and to control your network settings by merely tapping on a couple of bars on the home screen that drop down to expose the relevant information. And the formerly geeky and complex settings screens and menus have been simplified and made more graphical and attractive.

The music and video players are much more attractive and useful, and there is even a way to wirelessly sync music from a PC running iTunes or Windows Media Player over your home network, though it is complicated and time-consuming to set up and so far (as with wired syncing) only works on Windows PCs, not Macs.

However, this week’s moves are mostly catch-ups to iPhone and Android, and not a radical move forward for the super-smartphone category. One reason is that RIM can’t afford to alienate its loyal base of existing BlackBerry fans. In fact, a RIM software executive, writing on an official company blog, called the new operating system “fresh, but familiar” and assured current users that “when you look at it, it still looks like a BlackBerry Home Screen.” He compared it to a “home renovation.”

The company was careful to keep some of the most familiar BlackBerry features. For instance, even though you can now navigate with multitouch gestures, the Torch still has the standard mini-trackpad and the usual menu and escape keys. The physical keyboard—crucial to most BlackBerry fans—is also very familiar in layout and function. The popular BlackBerry Messenger application has been retained.

The Torch lags behind its rivals in some respects. For example, it has a smaller and much lower resolution screen than either the iPhone 4 or some of the newer Android models, like the Samsung Vibrant or the Motorola Droid X. Despite that smaller screen, it is also significantly thicker and heavier than the new iPhone or the Samsung, mainly because of the slide-out physical keyboard, which the others lack. Unlike on the iPhone and some new Android phones, there is no front-facing camera or video-calling function built in.

Curve 8500

While the Torch generally is smooth and responsive, I found it slower overall than the iPhone 4. And, in my tests, its browser—though based on the same technology as the ones on Android and the iPhone—proved consistently slower, though much faster and better than on earlier BlackBerrys. During my testing, the browser also began behaving strangely, freezing up at some moments and, in other cases, displaying only the graphics, not the text, on some Web pages. To fix this, I had to remove and replace the battery.

The slide-out physical keyboard looks a bit cramped, but, after a few days of use, I found it performed in the usual excellent manner of most BlackBerry keyboards.

The onscreen keyboard, on the other hand, proved markedly inferior to those on the iPhone and Android. The keys are narrow, and easy to miss. And the keyboard doesn’t morph much to make specialized functions easier. When you’re entering an email address, it doesn’t display a prominent, dedicated “@” key like the iPhone does. RIM says this is because it expects users to rely more on the physical keyboard for such scenarios.

The email function, long the BlackBerry’s strong point, is largely unchanged. While it is fast and reliable, it lacks some useful touches the iPhone introduced years ago. For example, there is still no built-in option for displaying a preview of the text of an email, so you have to guess whether it is worth opening merely by reading the subject line. And attached pictures still aren’t displayed automatically in opened emails; you have to click a link to see them.

The built-in Maps function on the Torch is from AT&T, and was slower and more frustrating to use than Google Maps on the Android and the iPhone. RIM says it will have its own BlackBerry Maps program available for the new OS at launch.

Tour 9630

But there are also many strong points. The five-megapixel camera with flash worked very well in my tests for still photos, and pretty well for videos. It even has several scene settings, such as for sports events or parties, and face detection. A redesigned pop-up menu makes it easy to share photos via email, text message, BlackBerry Messenger, or various social networks.

Notifications of new messages, including social-networking updates, seems much quicker than on previous BlackBerrys. Battery life was good in my tests, and the phone lasted through an average day easily.

Phone calls were crisp and clear. And, although the number of bars seemed about the same on AT&T as they did on the iPhone 4, and I could make the bars drop on the Torch by holding it in a certain manner, none of the limited number of calls I tried dropped. In my tests, the Torch downloaded data a bit more quickly than the iPhone over AT&T’s network, but much more slowly over Wi-Fi.

The new OS will be standard on all future BlackBerry models, and owners of the existing Bold 9700 and 9650, and the Pearl 3G, will be able to upgrade to it.

Overall, the Torch and the BlackBerry 6 operating system are good products that improve the BlackBerry experience considerably and bring the device closer to its newer rivals.

Find Walt Mossberg’s columns and videos online, free, at the All Things Digital Web site, walt.allthingsd.com. Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.

Corrections & Amplifications

Existing AT&T customers who buy a new AT&T Torch smartphone and who already have a $30 a month unlimited data plan can opt to keep that plan. This column said Torch buyers would have to commit to a capped data plan starting at $15 a month.

Android Is Outselling the iPhone and the BlackBerry Too?

John Paczkowski — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:31:37 +0000

We heard in May that Android is outselling the iPhone in the United States. Now it’s outselling the BlackBerry as well.

Research outfit NPD says handsets running Google’s (GOOG) mobile OS accounted for 33 percent of all smartphones purchased in the second quarter in the States, compared with 28 percent for the RIM’s (RIMM) BlackBerry and 22 percent for Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone (Caveat: NPD’s numbers do not include corporate/enterprise mobile phone purchases and include just seven days of iPhone 4 sales). Notably, the BlackBerry’s Q2 market share was down 8 percent from the prior quarter, while Android’s was up 6 percent and the iPhone’s remained relatively flat. So the gains here–which were driven by a handful of slick Android phones like the Droid, EVO 4G and Hero–came largely at the BlackBerry’s expense.

Another unfortunate data point for RIM, which has been gathering quite a few of them lately. Just a few days ago Nielsen released a survey showing that 50 percent of current BlackBerry owners would rather have an iPhone or Android device.

[Image credit: NPD]

Apple Adds Touches to Its Mac Desktops

Katherine Boehret — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:03:36 +0000

Last fall, I watched in awe as my friend’s 1-year-old picked up an iPhone, swiped the screen with her pudgy pointer finger and scrolled through a list of emails. I had a similar reaction last month when my computer-challenged aunt discovered the joy of two-finger scrolling on a MacBook Pro’s large, multi-touch trackpad. “Now this,” she said without a trace of the frustrated tone she usual reserves for discussing technology, “is very cool.”

[ See post to watch video ]

Just what is it that makes gesture technology so very cool? For one thing, it’s more satisfying and intimate to use your own fingers to control something on a screen rather than punching buttons or maneuvering a mouse to do so. And touch gestures are easy to remember because, more often than not, they work using intuitive movements you already know, like flicking a finger across a screen to page through an electronic book.

It’s hard to find a consumer-technology company that doesn’t use touch gestures in at least one of its products. Some Microsoft (MSFT) Windows PCs have touch screens, and certain Windows laptops have emulated at least some of the Mac’s multi-touch trackpad features. But Apple Inc. (AAPL), in particular, has made a concerted effort to spread multi-touch gestures across all of its product categories from the iPod touch to the iPhone to the iPad to MacBook laptops with oversized touchpads that accept various gestures for controlling things on the screen.

The Magic Trackpad, which has a glass-top surface, is propped up on one end by a thin tube that holds two AA batteries.

Now, the Mac desktop can have a touch of fun, too. Apple’s latest gadget, the $69 Magic Trackpad (apple.com/magictrackpad), is essentially a freestanding touchpad that brings multi-touch features to desktop Macs, which lack touch screens. Its entire surface also functions as a button for selecting and it measures about the size of a mousepad. The Trackpad connects wirelessly via Bluetooth to any Apple desktop PC running Snow Leopard, the latest iteration of the company’s operating system. It works in addition to, or instead of a mouse.

I’ve been using the Magic Trackpad on two different iMacs, one that’s about five years old and another that’s less than a year old. In both cases, I found its glass surface to be cool and smooth, and it worked well as a solution for small work surfaces where a mouse can’t move around much. I was also glad to finally bring the same touch gestures that I use on my MacBook Pro laptop to these desktops. For instance, I placed four fingers down on the Trackpad and pushed up to hide all opened programs and reveal my computer desktop. Then, by swiping four fingers down, I showed all opened windows, a feature Apple calls Exposé. When photos are opened, moving two fingers apart or together will zoom in or out on an image. Turning two fingers clockwise or counterclockwise on the Trackpad rotates the image.

But $69 is a lot to spend for the added pleasure of touch gestures, especially considering that the mouse already does some of these things—though not as cleverly—and keyboard shortcuts do others.

Installing the Magic Trackpad is a pain, as far as Apple standards go. First, users must be sure they’ve upgraded to the latest version of the Snow Leopard operating system—the most recent version is 10.6.4. Second, people must also go to http://support.apple.com/downloads to download a driver update for the Trackpad, a step that can be easily overlooked by users who are anxious to get going with their new gadget.

The Magic Trackpad weighs about 5 ounces and measures a bit more than 5 inches by 5 inches. It’s slightly tilted, propped up on one end by a thin tube that holds two included AA batteries. If you happen to also own the $69 Apple Wireless Keyboard, the Trackpad design is in line with that of the Magic Trackpad so when the two devices sit beside each other, it’s easy to move from the keyboard to the Trackpad and back.

A button on one end of the Trackpad’s battery tube turns the device on, and a blinking light indicates it’s ready to pair via Bluetooth with your Mac desktop, assuming you’ve downloaded the two necessary software updates.

Apple’s $69 Magic Trackpad brings multi-touch gestures to the Mac desktop and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth.

If you don’t pair the device within three minutes, the Magic Trackpad turns off to conserve battery. An Apple representative estimates that the Magic Trackpad’s batteries will last about four and a half months with alkaline batteries.

My Magic Trackpad easily paired with my iMacs over a Bluetooth connection. After installing, a screen displayed settings and animated tutorials on how to use the touchpad. Settings included options like telling the Trackpad to enable right-clicking with a two-finger tap on the touchpad or just by touching its bottom right corner. All other gestures, which will be familiar to MacBook owners but not everyone else, are demonstrated in helpful animated videos.

If you can afford it, or if touch gestures simply make you a more productive computer user, the Magic Trackpad is a real asset. It can co-exist with a mouse or totally replace it, if you want. After just minutes of use, I stopped using my mouse altogether.

Edited by Walter S. Mossberg

Email Katherine Boehret at mossbergsolution@wsj.com.

Slash and Burn: New Kindle Selling Like Wildfire

John Paczkowski — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:21:12 +0000

Looks like the $139/$189 prices Amazon gave its new Kindle e-book readers may have been the tipping point for mass adoption. Though they’ve been available for pre-order for just five days since the unveiling, both the 3G and Wi-Fi Kindles are sold out for their first August 27 ship date.

Amazon (AMZN) says that orders placed today will ship on or before September 4. Evidently, the company’s latest shot in the e-reader price war has found its mark.

Full D8 Demo Video: Kno

Kara Swisher — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:59:58 +0000

As promised, All Things Digital is posting the full videos from our eighth D: All Things Digital conference, held in early June.

Here’s the demo for Kno, a start-up that is taking on the textbook by replacing it with a tablet aimed at students.

The clamshell device has a pair of touchscreens that open and shut like a book and Kno will offer an online store linked to Kno for the purchase of materials. Kno shares a co-founder with Chegg, the online textbook rental service.

[ See post to watch video ]

Want to see it bigger? Click here.

Note: We’ll be posting full D8 videos on Mondays and Thursdays. Next up: The demo for Dell Streak.

What Weeks Of Real Usage Tells About New iPhone

Walter S. Mossberg — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:04:01 +0000

When I reviewed Apple’s new iPhone 4 last month, I said that, overall, it was still the best of the super-smartphones. But I warned that, in my tests, its performance in making voice calls on AT&T’s network in the U.S. was decidedly mixed.

[ See post to watch video ]

In some cases, I found it dropped fewer calls than its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS. In others, especially in weak-coverage areas, I found that it showed fewer bars of service than the 3GS and that in about half a dozen cases in weak-coverage areas, it briefly showed no service at all, or was searching for a network, while the older model showed some service.

I also reported that Apple (AAPL) told me that it had discovered a bug in the new phone’s display of bars, as opposed to its actual reception, and that a fix for the bug was in the works. Nevertheless, I said that despite the new iPhone’s overall quality, I couldn’t recommend it for people in areas with poor reception on AT&T (T), the phone’s sole carrier in the U.S.

A big controversy then erupted after it was reported that if a user’s hand touched a visible seam in the phone’s antenna, which is mostly external and runs along its edge, the signal-strength bars dropped dramatically. Apple conceded the point, but said this effect, called attenuation, occurred on all cellphones, even those whose antennas were out of view inside the case. It also said the effect on the iPhone 4 appeared greater than it really was because the error in displaying the bars exaggerated how many there were in the first place. It has since issued the promised fix, which tends now to show fewer bars, and to show less of a drop-off when this “hot spot” in the antenna is touched.

So, this week, I am presenting a follow-up on the reception issue. It is based on my real-world experience—not lab tests—over six weeks of daily use with two different iPhone 4 units: the original one Apple lent me for testing, and a second one I purchased on which I installed the fix for the display of the bars.

In weak coverage areas, the iPhone 3GS performed better in a six-week test than the iPhone 4.

As in most unscientific cellphone tests, my experience was affected by many variables, including the locations where I used the phone (in this case, the Washington and Boston areas), and the coverage and congestion on the cellular network at various times and places. So, your experience may differ.

After my six weeks of constant use of two iPhone 4s, I still believe it is, overall, the best device in its class, for reasons including its ultra high-resolution screen; easy, integrated video calling; slick software; strong battery life; a remarkably thin body; and a world-beating selection of 225,000 third-party apps.

As for reception, I am sticking with my initial conclusions. I have found that in areas with average or strong AT&T coverage and capacity, the iPhone performs better than its predecessor and about as well as other AT&T smartphones I’ve recently tested. It still drops too many calls for my taste on AT&T’s heavily stressed network, which has experienced a stunning 5,000% rise in data traffic since the iPhone’s introduction in 2007. That data traffic reduces the network’s ability to handle voice calls.

Just as with its predecessors, I have experienced some terrible calls, which dropped multiple times, especially while in my car, when any cellphone must hand off the call among different cell towers and travel occasionally through weak or overloaded coverage areas. But I have had fewer of these worst-case experiences than with the 3GS, and marginally fewer occasions when the call dropped even once. This experience may not be acceptable to some users, but it is, overall, an improvement.

Outside of the car, in areas where I had good or just adequate reception, the iPhone 4 performed better than its predecessor, dropping fewer calls.

In weak coverage areas, however, I continue to find that the iPhone 4 performs worse than the 3GS. Apple says it has heard the opposite from many of its customers. The company says they report that the new model works better in poor coverage areas. But that hasn’t been my experience. I still find that calls drop more frequently in these areas, and that, occasionally, it either shows no service or is searching for service, though it tends to recover quickly.

The iPhone 4 dropped fewer calls than iPhone 3GS.

One caveat: on several occasions, I have found that even when the iPhone 4 showed only one bar (with the new bar-displaying software) I was still able to make and hold clear calls.

What about the dreaded “hot spot,” a seam at the lower left of the external antenna where the cellular radio is connected to the external portion of the antenna? In my experience, deliberately touching that spot can, indeed, make the bars fall, from say, three to one. But, sometimes, it actually makes the bars rise. In general, I’d say it makes the bars fluctuate.

But touching the hot spot doesn’t always ruin the call, even if it lowers the number of bars. In several cases, when I was already on a call with three or four bars showing, I deliberately covered the hot spot with my hand, and the call continued normally, strong and clear, even though the bars dropped to one or two.

I also spent a few days testing the “bumper” case Apple is now giving away to every iPhone 4 user. It greatly reduced what call problems I experienced, even in weak areas, though it didn’t entirely eliminate dropped calls, which occur even in good coverage.

One other point. A key reason Apple moved most of the antenna to the outside of the phone was to free up room inside for a larger battery, while keeping the phone thin. In my six weeks of experience, the battery life has been outstanding. I have never run out of battery in a day’s use, despite constant, heavy email traffic, lots of Web surfing and app usage, and frequent checking of social networks.

So that’s my six-week, real-world report. Despite the hot-spot issue and the exposed antenna, the iPhone 4 does better than the 3GS for me in decent coverage. But I still wouldn’t advise adopting it as your primary phone if you live, work or travel in areas with poor AT&T reception, or if you prefer a network under less stress.

Find Walt Mossberg’s columns and videos online, free, at the All Things Digital website, walt.allthingsd.com. Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.

Here's Flipboard's Video, So You Can Understand What the Heck It Does

Kara Swisher — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:47:10 +0000

It looks like this promotional video for Flipboard, the high-profile and very slick new iPad app launched yesterday, was shot in its Palo Alto, Calif., HQ.

Because the service is a bit of a conceptual leap in digesting social networking, this video might help explain the excitement among tech bloggers and others about its debut.

Flipboard has dubbed itself a “social magazine,” attempting to make the social networking universe and the real-time Web more accessible, consumable and, perhaps most importantly, visually arresting via a rich app on the popular Apple (AAPL) device.

As I wrote yesterday:

“Essentially, Flipboard pulls information from sites such as Twitter and Facebook data streams and then reassembles it in an easy-to-navigate, personalized format in a mobile tablet touchscreen environment. In this social magazine, there are pull quotes, photos, videos, status updates and even the first paragraphs of content linked out to. There is also the ability to comment and share, as if one were on Twitter or Facebook.”

The innovative Flipboard emerged from stealth mode last night. It was co-founded by longtime Silicon Valley entrepreneur Mike McCue and former Apple iPhone engineer Evan Doll in January and has grabbed a large $10.5 million funding from top tech power players.

Here’s the video, which–except for the unusually sleepy demoer for the free app–pretty much explains it all, as well as the interview I did with McCue about the company:

[ See post to watch video ]

Hard Drives By Hitachi Back Up Files Two Ways

Walter S. Mossberg — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:05:21 +0000

There are two basic ways to back up your home computer. One is to use an external hard drive, connected by a cable or over a local network. This method offers the greatest privacy, speed and control, but also opens you to the risk that, if you lose the computer to burglary or fire or flood, you might also lose your backup.

[ See post to watch video ]

The second option is an online backup service. By separating the computer and the backup, this approach insulates the backup from local havoc. But it requires that you trust the backup service with your personal files, and it can be slow and expensive.

Now, Hitachi (HIT), the Japanese technology company, has rolled out a line of external hard drives that combine the two approaches. The drives, called the LifeStudio series, come with simple backup software that, from one screen, performs both local and online backups of your important data at regular intervals, and allows you to restore lost files from either backup repository. The backup system comes with 3 gigabytes of free online backup storage, and offers much more online storage at an affordable price.

But wait, there’s more. In addition to these dual backup services, Hitachi throws in a second software program that aggregates the personal files on your computer, regardless of the folders in which they reside. This second program categorizes your files into photos, videos, music and documents, organizes them by date, and displays thumbnails of the files in a visually arresting scrollable “wall.” It also can display in the same fashion your online photos from Facebook, Flickr and Picasa—as well as photos, videos and music from around the Web, and services like games, news videos and shopping.

Finally, some premium models in the LifeStudio series of hard drives include, at extra cost, a special thumb drive that snaps onto the larger hard disk using a special dock.

This thumb drive can be carried around and used on any other computer. But when you pop it back onto the Hitachi hard disk, it automatically syncs any new or changed files back to the computer to which the LifeStudio drive is attached.

It’s all an attempt to add both value and flair to a product category, external hard disks, often seen as a commodity driven largely by price and capacity. But it’s also a bit overwhelming.

The LifeStudio drives, and their accompanying software, work on both Windows PCs and Macs, and are available at a variety of physical and online stores. Prices range from $80 for a 250-gigabyte standard mobile drive without the dockable thumb drive, to $220 for a 2 terabyte desktop-size premium drive with the dockable thumb drive.

If the 3 gigabytes of included free online storage isn’t enough, Hitachi will sell you 250 gigabytes of online storage for $50 a year.

In my tests, the Hitachi drives, thumb drives and two software programs mostly performed as advertised on both a Mac and a Windows computer. I was able to back up and restore files from both the local and online systems, though I ran into enough software glitches to make an unqualified recommendation impossible.

Some premium models of the LifeStudio hard drive have a thumb drive that can be used on any computer and that automatically syncs to the computer with the hard drive attached.

One major caveat is in order. Hitachi’s software isn’t designed to back up your whole computer. Instead, the software is aimed at protecting your personal files, such as photos, music, videos and documents. And, while it allows you to select the folders you’d like backed up, it doesn’t allow more fine-tuned controls, such as backing up files with certain extensions. However, the drives themselves could be used with other software that allows such things.

I found the backup software dead simple to use—and reliable. But the initial online backup was very slow, even with a small number of files and a fast connection. Hitachi says its servers were undergoing maintenance during my tests. Also, the local backup software reported at times that the drive was “read-only,” a bug Hitachi says it is fixing.

While the thumb drive is advertised as syncing “automatically,” this only works if new or changed files are in the folder it was set up to sync, something Hitachi doesn’t make clear, but says it will.

The separate file-organizing and viewing software, LifeStudio, seemed more sizzle than steak to me. It’s a nice idea to aggregate all your personal files by type and date, and the scrolling wall of thumbnails is pretty. But I found that it wasn’t a very good way to locate a particular file out of thousands. There is a search function, but it’s only useful if you know the name of the file, which may have little to do with its contents.

I liked the software’s ability to view my photos from social-networking services, but the more general offerings of photos and videos from around the Web seemed random and better done in a browser. In one case, a section called “Featured” turned up a hard-core pornographic photo, amid pictures of puppies and sunsets.

I can recommend the LifeStudio drives for local and online backup, if Hitachi follows through and fixes the “read-only” bug I encountered. As for the rest of the features, some folks may value them, and others will find them superfluous.

Find Walt’s columns and videos at the All Things Digital website, walt.allthingsd.com. Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.

New Laptop From Toshiba Is Lightweight and Speedy

Walter S. Mossberg — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:03:45 +0000

For all the excitement about tablet computers, the traditional clamshell laptop still rules. In fact, the computer industry is working hard to make it smaller, lighter and sleeker.

[ See post to watch video ]

There have been two broad approaches to this task. One, exemplified by netbooks, has been to shrink the footprint of the machine, so it’s lighter and cheaper. But this has meant cramped keyboards and screens, and generally wimpier processors and battery life.

The other, pioneered by the MacBook Air and the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 series, has been to preserve a standard 13-inch screen, a roomy keyboard, and standard processors for decent performance, but to pare thickness and weight. But this has meant much higher prices.

Now Toshiba, long known for making thin, light, laptops, has introduced a standard-footprint machine that is thin and light—and uses the latest Intel processors, with generous memory and storage, and strong battery life. Yet it costs much less than the MacBook Air and X300, with the tradeoff being a bit more bulk. I’ve been testing this model, which is called the Portege R705. Despite a few drawbacks, I like the R705 and can recommend it to consumers willing to pay higher-than-netbook prices for a speedy, standard-size, but easy-to-tote laptop with good battery life.

Toshiba’s Portege R705, which is just over an inch thick, has a roomy keyboard with generously sized keys.

The R705 is the sole consumer model in a new R700 line mainly aimed at corporate customers. Toshiba sells it online for $890, while Best Buy’s site has it at $800. That is about double the price of a top-of-the line netbook, but the R705 is much more powerful than a netbook and is much cheaper than the MacBook Air, which currently starts at $1,500, or the ThinkPad X301 (the latest in the X300 series), which starts at over $2,000.

This new Toshiba has a dark-blue cover and a solid construction, despite feeling very light in the hand. The bright, vivid screen is sturdy, and the roomy, well-spaced keyboard is firm, with a large space bar, delete key, tab, backspace, shift and arrow keys. The touchpad and buttons also are generously sized.

The R705 is thicker than the MacBook Air, at just over an inch thick versus about three-quarters of an inch for the Apple. It’s also thicker than the ThinkPad in some places and thinner in others. At three pounds, it’s about the same weight as the Apple, though it’s slightly lighter than the ThinkPad. Unlike the Apple and like the ThinkPad, the new Toshiba has a built-in DVD drive.

It has a much better selection of ports than the Apple, including three USB ports instead of one. It also has three ports missing entirely on the Apple: a built-in Ethernet port; an HDMI port for direct, high-definition connection to a TV; and a memory-card reader. (The ThinkPad has three USB ports and an Ethernet jack, but no memory reader or HDMI.)

The new Toshiba sports a big 500 gigabyte hard disk and 4 gigabytes of memory to power its 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium. The Apple and Lenovo have just 2 gigabytes of memory and a maximum storage capacity of 128 gigabytes, though both offer solid-state drives versus the standard mechanical hard disk on the Toshiba.

The R705 also has better battery life than the MacBook Air or ThinkPad X300 series. In my tough battery test, where I disable all power-saving features, crank the screen to full brightness, leave on the Wi-Fi and play a continuous loop of music, the R705 got four hours and 29 minutes of battery life. The MacBook Air racked up three hours and 24 minutes in my test, and the X300 just three hours and five minutes.

I estimate that in more-normal use, the R705 could last 5½ hours on a single charge—an impressive figure, though short of the company’s eight-hour claim. There is an Eco button, which switches the machine into a low-power mode to get more battery life.

In my tests, the new Toshiba speedily handled common software, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, Apple’s iTunes, and the Firefox and Chrome Web browsers.

The Toshiba has some other benefits. It uses the latest Intel Core processor—albeit the lowest-end version—and incorporates an Intel technology called Wi-Di which wirelessly beams whatever is on its screen to a TV, via a $100 adapter. It also has a couple of nice Toshiba software utilities, including a handy Bulletin Board program for organizing files and another called ReelTime, which lets you quickly find recently used files by date.

So what about the drawbacks? Well, for one, it has a relatively low-end integrated graphics chip. It stuttered repeatedly while streaming high-definition video from the Web, even on a very fast Internet connection. I found scrolling on the touchpad to be a bit jerky. And its start-up and restart times were relatively slow, approaching two minutes. Also, the R705 lacks Bluetooth connectivity. Finally, it includes an obnoxious, prominent “craplet” program from Best Buy that’s basically an ad.

Still, overall, this is a very nice laptop whose light, thin body hides a pretty powerful computer.

Find Walt Mossberg’s columns and videos, free, at the All Things Digital Web site, walt.allthingsd.com. Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.

YouTube Steps Closer to Your TV With "Leanback"

Peter Kafka — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:00:35 +0000

Love YouTube but hate the burden of pressing a key to play a video? Then this is for you: YouTube’s “Leanback” feature is now available.

Leanback is really supposed to help Google accomplish two connected tasks: Keep users on the site for longer stretches, and convince them that the site is something they’d like to look at on their TV.

So it’s really two products in one: The first is a stream of videos that are personalized for each user and that play automatically–tantalizingly, Google (GOOG) says the service can link up with Facebook, so you can see the same clips your online pals are watching. The second product is a user interface that requires minimum input from a keyboard and that works well on big screens.

The big screen part is important given the upcoming Google TV push, where Google would like to insert itself into your living room set. I assume that moving YouTube videos to TVs can be a tricky thing to pull off given licensing restrictions–see Hulu, Hulu Plus, Boxee, Popbox, et al.–but a YouTube rep tells me the only thing that won’t work on Leanback are captioned videos. So we’ll see.

I haven’t played with it myself, so for now I’m relying on YouTube’s description of the service. Here’s YouTube product guy Hunter Walk describing it at Google’s I/O event in May:

And here’s YouTube’s more polished description, released today:

For now, at least, Leanback exists in a separate corner of the site, at youtube.com/leanback. But Google plans on integrating it into its Google TV product when that rolls out this fall. And if it works anywhere near as well as advertised, it could be very interesting.

Meanwhile, it’s product rollout day at YouTube: Earlier this afternoon it showed off a new mobile site, designed, apparently, to replace the YouTube app on Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and iPads. It’s particularly good for bicycle kicks, it seems:

YouTube Steps Closer to Your TV With "Leanback"

Peter Kafka — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:00:35 +0000

Love YouTube but hate the burden of pressing a key to play a video? Then this is for you: YouTube’s “Leanback” feature is now available.

I haven’t played with it myself, so for now I’m relying on YouTube’s description of the service. Here’s YouTube product guy Hunter Walk describing it at Google’s I/O event in May:

And here’s YouTube’s more polished description, released today:

Mossberg Discusses the iPhone 4 on "The Charlie Rose Show"

Walt Mossberg — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:37:17 +0000

On June 25, Walt was on “The Charlie Rose Show” to talk about the iPhone 4. In a wide-ranging interview, he covered various topics such as the current competitive landscape in the super-smartphone category, the iPhone 4′s biggest weakness with AT&T’s network, the debate between Adobe and Apple regarding Flash, and the future of paid content on the Internet.

Complete iPhone 4 Coverage »

Microsoft: We're Selling Seven Copies of Windows 7 a Second

John Paczkowski — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:54:19 +0000

It took nearly a decade, but it appears that Microsoft (MSFT) has finally developed a worthy heir to Windows XP. Evidently, Windows 7 is proving the commercial success that Windows Vista never was.

At the company’s annual meeting last fall, CEO Steve Ballmer claimed the operating system had sold twice as many units as any OS in a comparable timeframe, though he didn’t offer a hard number. Now, four months later, we have one: Microsoft has sold 150 million copies since the October 2009 launch. And that, as the company notes, makes Windows 7 the fastest-selling operating system in history, with seven copies of Windows 7 sold every second.

If there was pent-up demand created by the poor reception for Windows Vista, Windows 7 seems to have released it–in both the consumer and enterprise markets.

Droid X Drops July 15

John Paczkowski — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:50:35 +0000

If you haven’t already, it’s probably best to resign yourself to Apple (AAPL) and its new iPhone 4 sucking all the air out of the news cycle this week. That said, there is another big mobile device launch today: Verizon’s (VZ) Droid X.

Uncrated this morning at an event in New York, the new Motorola (MOT) handset is pretty robust specwise, with a 4.3-inch, 854×480 multitouch display, eight megapixel camera, 1GHz TI OMAP processor and 8GB internal storage (plus microSD). It will ship with Google’s (GOOG) Android 2.1 OS and arrive at market on July 15. Price: $199.99 with two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

An iPhone 4 Review Roundup

John Paczkowski — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:09:48 +0000

“This is really hot,” Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs said of the iPhone 4 when he unveiled it at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month. And the pundits seem to agree. The first reviews of the device began rolling in Tuesday afternoon and they are largely glowing, despite some expected complaints about the device’s performance on AT&T’s (T) network. Below, excerpts from a few of them.

In both hardware and software, [the iPhone4] is a major leap over its already-excellent predecessor, the iPhone 3GS.

It has some downsides and limitations–most important, the overwhelmed AT&T network in the U.S., which, in my tests, the new phone handled sometimes better and, unfortunately, sometimes worse than its predecessor….But, overall, Apple has delivered a big, well-designed update that, in my view, keeps it in the lead in the smartphone wars….

The most important downside of the iPhone 4 is that, in the U.S., it’s shackled to AT&T, which not only still operates a network that has trouble connecting and maintaining calls in many cities, but now has abandoned unlimited, flat-rate data plans. Apple needs a second network.

Both Apple and AT&T told me they worked to make the iPhone 4 do a better job with AT&T’s network. For example, the phone itself is surrounded by a prominent stainless-steel trim piece that acts as a large antenna. And Apple said it also tuned the phone to try to grab whatever band on the network was less congested or less affected by interference–to stress the quality of a signal over its raw strength. AT&T said it, too, made some changes to its network with the new iPhone in mind.

But, in my tests, network reception was a mixed bag.

– Walt Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal

[The iPhone 4] is not the first phone with both a front and back camera. It’s not even the first one to make video calls. But the iPhone 4 is the first phone to make good video calls, reliably, with no sign-up or setup, with a single tap. The picture and audio are rock solid, with very little delay, and it works the first time and every time….Now, the iPhone is no longer the undisputed king of app phones. In particular, the technically inclined may find greater flexibility and choice among its Android rivals, like the HTC Incredible and Evo. They’re more complicated, and their app store not as good, but they’re loaded with droolworthy features like turn-by-turn GPS instructions, speech recognition that saves you typing, removable batteries and a choice of cell networks. If what you care about, however, is size and shape, beauty and battery life, polish and pleasure, then the iPhone 4 is calling your name.

– David Pogue, New York Times

The new iPhone 4 I’ve been testing for about a week and a half–along with the major refresh of the mobile operating system software at the core of recent models–demonstrates once again why Apple’s handset is the one to beat, even as it faces fierce competition from phones based on Google’s Android platform, among others….Critics are left with reasons to whine. Apple’s public dissing of Adobe Flash means you’ll still come upon Web video sites that don’t make nice with the iPhone. I had a few dropped calls. The battery still isn’t user-replaceable, and there’s no slot for expanding memory.

– Ed Baig, USA Today

We’re not going to beat around the bush–in our approximation, the iPhone 4 is the best smartphone on the market right now. The combination of gorgeous new hardware, that amazing display, upgraded cameras, and major improvements to the operating system make this an extremely formidable package. Yes, there are still pain points that we want to see Apple fix, and yes, there are some amazing alternatives to the iPhone 4 out there. But when it comes to the total package–fit and finish in both software and hardware, performance, app selection, and all of the little details that make a device like this what it is–we think it’s the cream of the current crop. We won’t argue that a lot of this is a matter of taste–some people will just prefer the way Android or Symbian works to the iPhone, and others will be on the lookout for a hardware keyboard or a particular asset that the iPhone 4 lacks–but in terms of the total picture, it’s tough to deny that Apple has moved one step past the competition with this phone.

– Josh Topolsky, Engadget

The fourth incarnation of Apple’s iPhone is an incrementally improved, familiar device–not a new kind of device, as was the case with the recent introduction of iPad. Yes, the notable features with iPhone 4–both the device and the iOS4, which came out yesterday in advance of the iPhone itself–are mostly tweaks. But what tweaks they are: Apple’s focus on improvement is as much key to the quality of its products as innovation. But there’s one flaw it doesn’t improve: the poor quality of calls placed over AT&T, which remains the iPhone’s only U.S. carrier….AT&T still sucks, and the best engineering out of Cupertino won’t change that.

– Xeni Jardin, BoingBoing

Apple Updates Mac Mini With HDMI, Mini DisplayPort

John Paczkowski — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:05:52 +0000

Looks like the iPhone 4 wasn’t the only new piece of hardware to go on sale in the Apple Store early this morning (in black only!). Joining it was a completely redesigned Mac mini.

Just 1.4-inches high, the latest iteration of the diminutive machine is smaller than its two-inch-tall predecessor and quite a bit more powerful. Packed into its new aluminum unibody enclosure: A 2.4GHz or 2.66GHz Intel (INTC) Core 2 Duo chip, Nvidia’s (NVDA) GeForce 320M GPU, 320GB hard disk, 8x double-layer SuperDrive and an integrated power supply. At the Mini’s rear: Four USB ports, SD card slot, Ethernet, an HDMI port and a Mini DisplayPort.

And as for price? Well, the Mini remains Apple’s (AAPL) “most affordable Mac ever.” But it has become a bit more expensive. The entry-level price is $699–$100 more than the model it replaced.

Microsoft Kinect on Sale Nov. 4 for $149.99

John Paczkowski — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:47:26 +0000

Microsoft’s (MSFT) official announcement of its new Kinect motion-sensing technology for the Xbox 360 last night was big on spectacle but light on details, namely street date and price. Now, thanks to the company’s E3 keynote and a product listing on GameStop, we have both. Kinect will arrive at market on Nov. 4 along with 15 game titles. Price: $149.99, according to GameStop.

Another E-Reader? Really? Meet Borders' "Kobo."

Peter Kafka — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:36:53 +0000

I don’t know why every bookseller seems compelled to come out with its own e-reader. An e-bookstore, sure, but not the device.

Nevertheless, you can now place orders for Borders’ “Kobo.” It costs $149, and Borders (BGP) promises that you can have in one your hands by June 17. Kobo is a standalone company, but Borders is an investor. Details here.

Borders wants you to know that it’s going to sell other e-readers as well. But if that’s the case, why bother placing a specific bet on Kobo, as Borders did last year?

One Borders strategy that does make sense: Letting you know what titles you buy from its e-bookstore should work on multiple devices, like Research in Motion (RIMM) BlackBerrys and Apple (AAPL) iPhone and iPads. That’s the same strategy Amazon (AMZN) is pursuing with its Kindle. But I have a hunch the Kobo is no Kindle.

Any Good Live Video on the Web Right Now? Ask Clicker.

Peter Kafka — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:00:33 +0000

For a bunch of reasons, Web video tends to work better when it has already been recorded. But here’s one way to make live Web video more palatable: Make it easier to find.

Clicker, the would-be TV Guide for Web video, is now indexing live video streams, too. Legal streams, that is–if you’re trying to find pirated streams of the Mets or a World Cup game, Clicker won’t help you.

But if you want to know if C-Span is up and running or when the next installment of Leo Laporte’s show is going up or when ESPN 3′s next soccer game goes live, the service should help. Exactly how much, though, will be up to the people who make the live streams and supply the metadata Clicker uses to help sort and categorize the shows.

For instance, it’s nice to know when Kevin Pollak’s chat show (surprisingly watchable) is airing. It’s even nicer to know who Pollak’s guest is going to be. But Clicker can’t provide that information until Pollak’s show does.

Editor’s Note: All Things Digital’s Katherine Boehret reviewed Clicker back in November. Check out her review here.

If This Is Age of Web Video, Who's Buying All Those TVs?

Peter Kafka — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:00:25 +0000

Pundits keep telling us that the Web generation is happy to watch TV on a laptop. So who keeps buying all those TV sets?

Check out this chart from Nielsen (click to enlarge), which tells us that the average American household has nearly three televisions. In 1990, the average was two sets per home.

What gives? Mark Cuban, who has been consistently bearish on Web video–except for the part where he convinced Yahoo (YHOO) to buy Broadcast.com for billions–says the answer is easy: “Consumers have made their choice to spend money on new HDTVs. Why? Because they want to watch TV.”

And it’s probably good to remind the early-adopter set–like people who read this site–that sating all your video needs with computers and “over the top” solutions is going to be a niche behavior for a long time.

But! There is a cake-and-eat-it answer here too: It’s perfectly reasonable to assume that most people will watch TV on their HDTVs. And then, when it makes sense, they’ll watch some video delivered over the Web on those same sets.

That’s already happening in real numbers. Netflix (NFLX) says nearly eight million people are watching TV and movies via its streaming video service, and not all of them are watching on small screens.

Nintendo, for instance, says one million of its customers are using the Netflix service. And by definition, none of them are watching on a PC or laptop; if you’re using a Nintendo Wii, you’re using a TV.

These numbers will increase as more Americans walk out of Best Buy (BBY) and Walmart (WMT) with an Internet-connected TV, whether they planned to buy one or not.

Over the next few years, it will become increasingly hard to buy a set that doesn’t have an ethernet connection, just as you have to go out of your way today not to buy an HD set. And that’s when things are going to get really interesting.

Apple: One Million iPads Sold

John Paczkowski — Mon, 03 May 2010 12:57:30 +0000

28 days. That was all it took for Apple (AAPL) to sell one million iPads.

In a statement issued this morning, the company said it hit that milestone last Friday — the day the iPad 3G went on sale. “One million iPads in 28 days–that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone,” CEO Steve Jobs said. “Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.”

So, one million iPads sold in less than a month–domestically. And demand for the device exceeding that for the original iPhone. Quite an achievement considering the iPad is an entirely new device category between the laptop computer and the smartphone.

And, unlike the iPhone, its market is unproven, although that’s obviously changing and quickly, too. It would seem, then, that Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster was right when he suggested yesterday that his forecast of 1.3 million sales in the June quarter might be conservative. After all, the international launch of the iPad is set to begin later this month.

Aliph in Collaboration Deal With Cisco–Jawbones in the Workplace?

Kara Swisher — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:40:39 +0000

Today at a partner event, Cisco will unveil a wide-ranging collaboration with Aliph–a San Francisco start-up that is famous for its noise-cancelling Jawbone Bluetooth mobile headset–to deploy its software and device in its IP phones in the enterprise.

It is a big win for Aliph, since the networking giant is a dominant player in the arena to provide telephony solutions to businesses, part of its Voice and Unified Communications division.

The idea, said sources, is to use the Jawbone device and the software that manages it to allow workers to move around an office and have the call move with them, echoing increasingly mobile consumer behavior.

BoomTown had heard rumors of intense interest in Aliph by Cisco (CSCO) months ago and assumed a purchase to add to its growing consumer portfolio, such as its recent acquisition of Pure Digital’s Flip camera line.

But that did not turn out to be the case–instead it is more a partnership, said sources, to use Aliph’s technology.

The company was formally launched in 2006–in fact, at the D: All Things Digital conference–by Alexander Asseily and Hosain Rahman, who met as Stanford University undergraduates. It is funded by Khosla Ventures and Sequoia Capital.

With the stylish and innovative Jawbone–the most recent of which is reviewed here by The Mossberg Solution’s Katherine Boehret–Aliph turned a lot of heads in the wireless headset space, aimed directly at high-end consumers.

Now, it is apparently pivoting into the workplace.

While Rahman confirmed the collaboration, he did not give a lot of details, although he did agree to sit down with me last night to broadly sketch out the new relationship.

Here’s the video of the interview:

[ See post to watch video ]

Ford Launches Voice Control of Apps in Car: No More Phone-Fiddling While Driving?

Kara Swisher — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:15:45 +0000

Ford, which has been trying to fast-forward its automobiles in the digital space, announced today that its 2011 Fiesta model will be the first vehicle in which smartphone apps can be voice-controlled via its in-car synching software.

One issue: Initially, Ford’s SYNC AppLink, downloadable as an upgrade, will work only with Google (GOOG) Android and Research in Motion (RIMM) BlackBerry devices.

As to the more popular iPhone from Apple (AAPL)?

“Ford will introduce AppLink on all SYNC-equipped vehicles next year, as well as provide interoperability with iPhone and other smartphones,” the auto company said in a statement.

Still, anything that stops dodos from fiddling with a smartphone while driving can’t be bad.

Ford (F) has been trying mightily to differentiate itself by digitizing its cars.

In December, Ford said it would make the next generation of its SYNC-enabled vehicles into Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing drivers and passengers to connect to the Internet everywhere much more seamlessly in a moving car.

Pandora Internet radio, online talk radio aggregator Stitcher and mobile Twitter client OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications.

Ford also said it is launching a developers’ network to boost the number of apps that can be used in SYNC-enabled cars.

Here are some videos showing the system in use:

Pandora

Sticher

OpenBeak

And here’s the full press release from Ford:

SYNC APPLINK TO LAUNCH ON 2011 FIESTA, MAKING FORD FIRST TO DELIVER VOICE CONTROL OF SMARTPHONE APPS

• Ford will first offer SYNC® AppLink, a downloadable software program, on the 2011 Fiesta, allowing owners to access and control AndroidTM and BlackBerry® smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls

• Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications

• Ford to create SYNC developer community with launch of new “Mobile Application Developer Network” (www.syncmyride.com/developer), giving developers a pathway to partner with Ford on SYNC-enabled applications

• Ford’s platform approach with SYNC is poised to harness smartphone app development and mobile web access; apps expected to be a $4 billion industry by 2012; analysts predict the mobile device to become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2010–Customers have spoken–asking for safe, convenient access to their smartphone apps while in the vehicle–and Ford is responding by announcing the new SYNC AppLink software that will allow hands-free voice control of popular smartphone apps.

SYNC AppLink, a downloadable software upgrade, will be released for 2011 Ford Fiesta owners with the award-winning SYNC communications and infotainment system later this year, allowing drivers hands-free control of apps on their Android or BlackBerry smartphones via voice commands and vehicle controls. Ford will introduce AppLink on all SYNC-equipped vehicles next year, as well as provide interoperability with iPhone and other smartphones.

“The growth in smartphone mobile apps has been explosive, and Ford has worked hard to respond at the speed of the consumer electronics market,” said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization. “SYNC is the only connectivity system available that can extend that functionality into the car. AppLink will allow drivers to control some of the most popular apps through SYNC’s voice commands and steering wheel buttons, helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

The Android MarketTM and BlackBerry App World™ are among the leading growth markets for mobile apps. The new SYNC AppLink will seamlessly integrate apps using the vehicle’s voice and user interface controls, including buttons on the steering wheel, increasing eyes-on-the-road and hands-on-the-wheel time.

The first SYNC-enabled apps available later this year include Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak app for Twitter, with additional apps on the way. Updated versions of each app, incorporating the SYNC application programming interface (API), will be available through Android Market and BlackBerry App World for customers to download.

Built-in, Beamed-in and Brought-in: The SYNC App Ecosystem

From its introduction, Ford has been building an ecosystem of available SYNC apps, continuously improving the consumer experience.

• Built-in apps, including Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist™, are downloaded and installed directly on the in-car SYNC operating system

• SYNC apps like Traffic, Directions & Information rely on beamed-in, or “cloud-based,” information. Drivers access the Ford Service Delivery Network, a network of data centers providing turn-by-turn directions, business searches, and on-demand news, sports and weather information, through a simple voice-connection using their cell phone.

• SYNC AppLink represents the third category of the ecosystem, brought-in apps, leveraging apps installed on a user’s smartphone, such as Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak

Studies show mobile app development–a niche market just three years ago–is expected to blossom into a $4 billion industry by 2012. Sites serving specific mobile operating systems, such as Android and BlackBerry OS, have experienced massive growth, with analysts predicting the mobile device will become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015, surpassing the home computer.

Ford and SYNC will answer the consumer demand by offering the only platform available for drivers to safely control their mobile devices and applications in the car. Leveraging SYNC’s safer voice commands and steering wheel controls, drivers are able to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. “Brought-in” apps residing on a consumer’s smartphone also eliminate the need for yet another piece of hardware to be installed in the car which only serves to add cost and complexity.

Customers will be able to download SYNC-enabled mobile apps through the same app store interfaces currently used. As SYNC-enabled versions of existing apps are released into the app stores, users will be prompted to download the latest version upon connection. Also, as developers grasp the notion that the vehicle interior has opened to them, a new dimension of apps designed from the outset to maximize the unique in-car environment will follow.

Opening the door to developers

To facilitate future SYNC-enabled app development, Ford has also activated a new developer network on its SYNCmyride Web site (www.syncmyride.com/developer). Interested developers can find a link to submit innovative ideas, and sign up for the latest information and news about the SYNC application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK). The package will allow developers to modify existing applications and create all-new apps that can successfully interface with SYNC.

Working with trusted partners, Ford is completing beta-testing on the SDK. Once beta-testing is complete, a broader release of the development tools is planned for later this year. Initial reports have been positive, with one of Ford’s development partners creating a SYNC-enabled version of its app just three days after receiving the development tools.

“We’re very pleased by the rapid development time and positive feedback we’ve seen from our first partners,” said VanDagens. “We want to encourage all developers to visit our site and submit ideas, helping us tap into the global pool of innovation and creativity.”

Cisco's SlideHD Debuts: A Video Encounter of the Flip Kind

Kara Swisher — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:01:05 +0000

Tonight, Cisco unveiled the latest version in its popular and innovative Flip digital videocamera line, the SlideHD.

The new device, which can record up to four hours of high-definition video and store up to 12 hours of content, has a dramatic slide-up touchscreen and a slide navigation bar.

These make the new Flip much bulkier than the last version, the Mino, recalling the earlier Ultra line.

Presumably, the reason for the new look is to offer a product that consumers can use for instant playback and to hold more video.

Cisco (CSCO) said the SlideHD will cost about $280.

Here’s a video BoomTown did introducing my many old Flips to the new one:

[ See post to watch video ]

And here’s the official press release:

CISCO LAUNCHES THE ALL-NEW FLIP SLIDEHD

The world’s first shoot and show camcorder features unique new design with full widescreen playback and more hours of video

April 13, 2010–San Francisco, CA–Cisco today announced the newest member of its groundbreaking Flip Video™ line, the Flip SlideHD™. It’s an all-new Flip, with an all-new form factor, designed to make it even more fun to capture, watch and share HD videos anytime, anywhere. With Flip SlideHD, active consumers and families can record up to four hours of HD video, or store up to 12 hours of content, and then view it instantly with a stunning slide-up full widescreen.

“Since its launch less than three years ago, Flip Video has changed the way the world captures and shares video,” said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Consumer Products. “Now Flip is once again re-inventing the video market with the amazing new Flip SlideHD, which raises the bar for making video easy and fun to capture, share and show.”

With SlideHD, anyone can capture an exciting event and then relive the moment with immediate playback as friends gather around. In addition, with up to 12 hours of on-board storage, SlideHD makes it easy for people to bring their videos and photos with them as they travel or meet up with friends or family. It’s like having your own portable life book for spontaneous viewing anywhere. SlideHD’s 3-inch widescreen playback makes it ideal for many occasions such as entertaining the kids with their own personal video show or fine-tuning a tennis serve.

The Flip SlideHD is the first Flip Video camera that lets consumers shoot up to four hours of HD video or store up to 12 hours of videos, photos, and content from Flip channels. SlideHD is also the first Flip to enable real-time video sharing on a stunning 3- inch widescreen with a unique slide-up design. SlideHD’s simple touch screen and innovative slide strip make it easy and fun to quickly navigate through your library to locate a video or photo.

Following the success of Flip’s popular and stylish Mino line, SlideHD lets users choose from thousands of designs from artists, leading design firms, celebrities, and iconic brands, or they can easily upload their own image to create a one-of-a-kind camcorder.

The new Flip SlideHD joins the popular Flip Video family which includes the Flip Ultra™ and Flip Mino™ lines. Like all Flip models, the SlideHD is pre-loaded with the proprietary FlipShare™ software that allows consumers to easily organize, create and share their videos. Using a PC or Mac, Flip video content can be instantly uploaded and ready for one-click sharing in a multitude of ways both privately and publicly. From social media sites–Facebook™, MySpace™ and YouTube™–to email, mobile devices, Flip Channels, and the TV; FlipShare is the easiest solution for consumers to share their videos.

Since the debut of the Flip Video family of video cameras in 2007, more than four million have been sold and millions of videos have been shared using FlipShare software.

Flip SlideHD Product Specifications:
• Color: White/Silver and Personalized
• Recording Time: Up to four hours
• Storage Time: Up to 12 Hours
• Memory: 16GB
• Screen: 3-inch wide transflective touch screen
• Video Resolution: High Definition; 1280×720 (30fps)
• Video Format: H.264, MP4
• Battery: Internal Li-ion rechargeable
• Battery Life: up to two hours
• TV Output: HDMI Widescreen
• Zoom: 2x digital
• Audio: Stereo speakers, headset jack

Price and Availability

SlideHD is immediately available for an MSRP of $279.99 at major retailers, online retailers and at the Flip store, www.theflip.com/store.