Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Engadget broke the news recently that the 3D update for movies that was coming to Playstation 3’s this month (September), has now been pushed back to October.

No official date has been revealed at this time.

I love Gmail. Now it’s even better since Google has announced they’ve updated Gmail’s settings and will now allow you to UNDO a sent email up to 30 seconds after sending.

With the "Undo Send" Gmail Labs add-on, you get an Undo link in the notification area after you send an email. Originally the message was displayed for five seconds, but many complained that it was just too short of a time limit. Now it can be adjusted up to 30 seconds… and by the way… I have mine set at 20.

Google Voice is now an official part of Gmail! 

All you have to do is install the Google voice and video chat plug-in for your browser, have a United States Gmail address (and a headset with microphone of course), and you’re good to start making phone calls from your email!

Read the rest of this entry »

Just another reason to love Firefox.  A new plug-in is making the rounds and it’s called VTzilla and what it does is very handy.

VTzilla will add a Scan with VirusTotal option to your right-click menu in Firefox, that will scan any file for a virus before you download it.

VTzilla is a free download, and remember it only works with Mozilla Firefox.

PS: By default, VTzilla turns on a new toolbar in Firefox. To disable it, navigate to View -> Toolbars, then uncheck VirusTotal Toolbar.

Get your add-on now by clicking here!

HP’s Todd Bradley recently revealed in a third quarter earnings call that their webOS tablet is on schedule for an early 2011 release date.

"You’ll see us with a Microsoft product out in the near future and a webOS-based product in early 2011,"  - Todd Bradley in response to a direct question about tablet PCs

Stay tuned for more details!

According to research firm Current Analysis, Verizon Wireless is testing out a new Nationwide Talk & Text plan for $69.99, that can be combined with an unlimited data plan of $29.99 for a package that is a penny less than Sprint’s Simply Everything $99.99 plan. 

With all of the recent talks of carriers like At&t limiting their plans, looks like Verizon is headed in the right direction alongside Sprint!

Marvel and Gameloft are binging a new Spider-Man game to Apple’s iDevices called Spider-Man: Total Mayhem on September 2, 2010.

The game’s controls will be similar to Iron Man 2 for the iPhone/iPad, but will be programmed for a great experience as a web-slinging superhero.  The graphics are in full 3D, but have a comic book like style, and the storyline is inspired by the Ultimate Spider-Man comics.  Throughout the game you’ll run into several Spider-Man foes, and you’ll travel across 12 massive levels.

Spider-Man: Total Mayhem is coming to iTunes on September 2, 2010.

Thursday, Google announced some new features that are coming to all of their Android-based phones.

First up was Google Voice Actions, an app that will run off the Google Search widget and will allow users to control their phones with voice commands.  Google Voice Actions takes things a step further, allowing users to dictate text messages, send e-mails, write notes, make calls, initiate music and search the Web for information.

Chrome to Phone is an application that allows Android users to send information from their desktop Chrome browser to their Android phones.  With Chrome to Phone, users can send links, driving directions, bookmarks and other information directly from the browser to their phone. Chrome to Phone is a Google Chrome extension, which is an add-on to the browser.

And finally, the new Google Search widget for Android adds addresses and ratings to local search queries. Also, as users type queries, they can refine them further by tapping the pencil icon that appears to the right of search suggestions.

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you’re in for a treat.

Netflix signed a (close to) one billion dollar agreement with the subscription-based television service Epix to bring content from Paramount Pictures, MGM, and Lionsgate to their “Watch Instantly” service 3 months after they are released to DVD (which is much faster than waiting on them to arrive on HBO, Cinemax, or Showtime).  We’re talking movies like Iron Man 2, How to Train your Dragon, Kick-Ass, The Expendables, and more will be available on Netflix sooner than they will be on cable/satellite.  Bye premium packages… hello Netflix! 

The deal will also enable films like Iron Man, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and more to be added to the “Watch Instantly” catalog once it actually starts on September 1, 2010.

If you’re not a Netflix subscriber, now’s a better time than ever to sign up!  The “Watch Instantly” service is available on PC, Mac, Playstation 3, Wii, iPhone, iPad, and Xbox 360 (Google Android support is coming soon!).

EA has revealed their LittleBigPlanet competitor and it’s called Create.

Check out the official website at http://www.create.ea.com/

Create is coming to the Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, PC & MAC in November of 2010.

Best Buy and Clearwire have signed a new deal that will allow Best Buy to roll out their Best Buy Connected broadband service.  Starting in 2011, you’ll be able to buy the equipment and begin using 4G at all of Clearwire’s covered territories (and 3G via Sprint’s Nationwide network).

Redbox announced that it has started renting Blu-ray discs at 13,300 kiosks across the United States for a $1.50 a day plus tax!

Blu-ray availability across its entire network of kiosks is expected by Fall 2010.

Check out the official site to see where you can find Blu-ray titles near you!

If you own the HTC EVO 4G, get ready for a major upgrade coming in the next few days.  Android 2.2 is on its way with numerous improvements and enhancements that will make the device capable of even more than it already is!  Some of the worthwhile improvements will include better battery life, faster processing, and Flash 10.1.  Check out the outline below to see what else is coming!

This update also includes:

• Ability to share applications
• Display events and birthdays from Facebook on Calendar
• Use camera LED as flashlight
• New user interface for the FM radio
• Add unknown users in Facebook as friends in Friend Stream
• Photo Gallery supports Facebook comments function
• Send contact as vCard using SMS
• Addition of MMS slideshow editor
• New pre-loaded widgets including Calculator, FM radio, Message list view, Profile settings and Ringtone settings
• Camcorder can use camera flash so video can be shot at night or in low light
• Numeric PIN and alpha-numeric passwords to unlock screen
• Search widget and search bar able to switch to search in different types (web, specific application, or all)
• Adjustable alarm volume
• Android Market widget allows installation of applications on SD card

Keep watching your devices over the next 4 days for this update!  If you’re overly anxious about it like me, keep trying to update your device manually by going to Menu > Settings > System updates > HTC software update.

Ever in a bind and need to convert a video to another format?  If so, check out Hamstersoft’s Free Video Converter.  Why Hamster Free Video Converter?

• It’s FREE! Full version is free for everybody!
• Converts any video to iPod, iPad, iPhone, PS3, PSP, Blackberry, xBox, Zune, Apple TV, iRiver, etc. More than 200+ devices
• Converts to AVI, MPG, WMV, MPEG, FLV, HD, DVD, M2TS and others! Integrated video player!
• Easy-to-use! Drag-n-Drop! It does not require special knowledge. There is Wizard for beginners.
• Changes codec/System type/De-interlaces your video file
• Converts many video files in batches
• Adjusts audio video bitrate, frame rate
• Integrates into Windows! Windows 7/Vista/XP compatible!
• Supports 40 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Japan, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Korean, etc.)

Click HERE to download now!

Sweet!  A new game has been released that allows for Apple iDevice users to play Android users in head-to-head combat.  In Skies of Glory, you take the cockpit of a classic fighter plane and you dogfight against each other via the internet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.  Check out the trailer below to see some of the action!

Also, if you’re interested in other cross platform games (for Android vs iDevices), check out Raging Thunder 2 or Homerun Battle 3D!

.

Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, announced that soon you will no longer need a disc to enjoy Netflix on the Playstation 3.

“Before our next call in October, we expect to be launching a major new version of our Sony PS3 user interface which doesn’t require a disc and is dynamically updated continuously with the latest Netflix UI improvements.”

He also added that the TV show content will be enhanced as well…

“In terms of streaming content, we are rapidly expanding our TV shows available for streaming and since our last call we have added thousands of TV episodes from new deals with Fox, MTV Networks and Warner Television. These shows include all seasons of “24,” “Futurama,” “Lie To Me,” “The Chapelle Show,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Veronica Mars,” and in a few weeks all seasons of “The Family Guy” will be available to stream as well. We see TV shows as equally important to our franchise as movies.”

Super cool… now just to hope that the Wii gets the same treatment!

Best Buy announced its m:IQ backup service in October of 2009, and we haven’t really heard anything else about it for Android until recently. 

Now, m:IQ backs up your Android smartphone to the web, and that includes your:

• Contacts
• Calendar
• Text Messages
• Calls
• Bookmarks
• Photos
• Videos

and then even allows you to access all of it via the World Wide Web! 

Search for it in the app catalog, or by visiting the website at http://miqlive.com/

PC Mag has released a list of the top free apps for your mobile phone.  Take a look to see what they suggested below:

The Top 40 Free iPhone Apps
The Top 30 Free Google Android Apps
The Top 10 Free BlackBerry Apps
The Top 10 Free Palm webOS Apps
The Top 5 Free Symbian Apps
The Top 5 Free Windows Phone Apps

.

Google is getting ready to rollout a simple-to-use do-it-yourself application maker for its Android smartphones and tablet devices.

Instead of using lines of code, the App Inventor will use visual programming to allow users to create their own apps for submission to the catalog, or instant upload to their devices!  The programming language will allow you to create an app with access to everything from the GPS to the phone function itself.  Go to their site to register for the beta version and hope you get selected!

Check out the video below!

.

The Social Network will be a movie based on the origins of Facebook.  It reveals that there was lies, threats, excitement, and betrayal along the way of getting one of the world’s most impressive social networking websites started.

The Social Network arrives in theaters October 1, 2010.