Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 released, as Yahoo! and HTC sign mobile deal

Internet Search company Yahoo! kills two birds with one stone. First, is the release of the sleek, feature-rich Yahoo! Go 2.0 for mobile devices and two, a pioneering deal with smart phones outfit, HTC.
First and foremost, Go 2.0 service will enable users personalize their entire internet content such as news, email, photos, maps and search results on dozens of mobile devices from major manufacturers. Main features of Yahoo! Go 2.0 service include:
• Local & Map widget to access directory information.
• News, Sports, Entertainment, Weather and Finance widgets to receive and personalize content from countless sources and publish them via RSS.
• Flickr™ widget to enable photo-sharing, managing pictures from camera, as well as browsing and searching from millions of photos.
• Email Widget that synchronizes email messages from Yahoo! mail service. Users can compose or delete messages and view attachments through a single click.
Secondly, Yahoo! and HTC have signed a mobile deal where various Yahoo! services will run on the smart phone devices. HTC is a Taiwanese-based manufacturer of high-powered mobile devices. HTC is a development partner for the Windows Mobile operating system. It is on record as one of the world’s fastest rising tech companies, with an unparalleled product line. Furthermore, HTC boasts of manufacturing the world’s first 3G-enabled Windows Mobile smart phone.

Interactive PS3 Gaming to make you feel at ‘Home’ with Sony’s Game 3.0

Sony Computer Entertainment announces at the GDC that they will be venturing into the Social networking realm. Their chief gaming rivals, Microsoft and Nintendo have been running successful online communities for months. It may not really be a case of too little too late because Sony promises its users a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
Exclusively for PS3 owners, Sony launches a networked, 3D avatar-based online community dubbed “Home”. This will enable gamers meet and interact at the “Central Lobby” via text, audio or video chatting. In addition to this, Home presents users with the ability to create personalized avatars and customizable scenic features including buildings, shopping areas, lobbies and large common areas. Participants can also view high-definition videos on the PS3 network. Moreover, the concept incorporates LittleBigPlanet, a community-based game that gives players the power to customize game levels, create their own game environment and share content.
From Sony’s keynote address at the GDC, Game 3.0 strives to improve social networking by combining creative game development, online collaboration and interactive entertainment. However, they have not said to what extent users may create their own content. It is believed that it won’t be as limitless as other virtual communities like Second Life, There.com among others.
It is clear that Sony is coming late in the 3D social scene, probably with a tinge of desperation. They still have a few problems to deal with such as the ominous PS3 shortage and their steep prices. In spite of these difficulties, Sony is upbeat that Game 3.0 is poised to take the market by storm. They are already the market leaders although PS3 lags behind PS2, Xbox 360 and Nintendo. The service will be available worldwide this fall as a free download.

New Line of JVC Everio Camcorders produce razor-sharp quality pictures

They are already the frontrunners in the world of camcorder hard drives, and hope to keep things that way. JVC has taken another giant leap with the release of the new and exciting line of four lightweight Everio camcorders. Loaded with a multitude of enhancements and built in camera functions, you may not require a PC to produce top quality DVD content.
The four camcorders include the GZ-MG130, GZ-MG155, GZ-MG255 and the pick of the line, the outstanding GZ-MG555. Common features for all camcorders is a 30GB hard drive, 2.7 inch widescreen LCD capable of real-time viewing on a 16:9 aspect ratio, SD Card slot, SDHC compatibility and docking station. Other magnificent innovations included are advanced imaging capabilities, one-touch DVD burning, inbuilt camera editing functions and PC backup facility. Of special mention is the revolutionary 5.37 MegaPixel CCD of the GZ-MG555. The following are some of the new features included in the Everio series:
• Gigabrid imaging engine that enhances picture quality.
• Wide-ranging CCD imaging sensors (680k pixels to 5.37 MegaPixels).
• Built-in editing camera functions that will let you easily organize your files as well as delete unwanted video portions using the Partial Delete function. Additionally is the Playlist function to sequence and organize files and Event Selection function that lets you tag files.
• Burn directly to DVD via the CU-VD20 SHARE STATION, DVD Burner and the PowerProducer™ 3 NE easy DVD burning software.
• Browse media content and enable DVD functionality using CyberLink’s PowerCinema™ NE.
Approximate prices:
• GZ-MG130: $499.95
• GZ-MG155: $599.95
• GZ-MG255: $699.95
• GZ-MG555: $899.95

Samsung set to ship Hybrid Hard Drives to the marketplace

From the look of things, the end is nigh for traditional power-hungry magnetic hard drives. Samsung is the undisputed global leader in Hybrid Hard Drive (HHD) technology. This new advancement is set for the consumer realm with the forthcoming shipment of the 2.5 inch MH80 range of hard drives. The HDD units have either 128 or 256 MB of flash memory and come in three capacities, which are 80GB, 120GB and 160GB.
An MH80 HDD is optimized for Windows Vista capable notebook PCs. The key benefits of HDDs include:
• OneNand flash cache and Microsoft’s ReadyDrive software, which translates to faster boot and resume times. Boot times are reduced to as much as 50%. This is made possible by Samsung’s innovative ReadyBoot technology.
• Increased battery life (upto 30 minutes) and better performance. HHDs consume between 70-90% less power than traditional hard drives.
• Unlike traditional hard drives, platter spin is eliminated. This effectively means that the hard drive remains idle most of the time. The ensuing effect is a significant drop in power consumption, and vastly improved reliability. Besides, the drive is less susceptible to shock damage and data loss.
*Price details not available

Rockstar Games unveils Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for PlayStation®2

World-renowned games publisher Rockstar announces Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for PlayStation®2. Vice City Stories has an “M” rating for mature and will retail for $19.99. There is no shortage of fun and excitement with over 15 hours of playtime in a metropolis rife with violence, drug barons, petty thugs, gangsters and all kinds of urban debauchery.
Compared to previous titles, Vice City Stories features impressive and much detailed character models, buildings, scenery and other visual elements. The city has a different feel this time round, with the public well aware of Vic’s past. Some will even recognize your character from previous missions and comment about your actions and achievements.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City stories is loaded with a new set of expanded gameplay features namely: New characters never seen before, new chapters, new vehicles, gameplay area that is twice the size of Liberty City, over 70 missions, remarkable soundtracks and the dazzling new Empire Mode to build your criminal empire.

A new enhanced TuneView remote for the Apple iPod

Keyspan updates its iPod accessories, with a powerful TuneView remote which has a color LCD screen and a wireless connection to manage your iPod. The TuneView remote sets itself apart from other iPod remotes, with the ability to add new functionality and updates by simply connecting to a PC (Windows XP) or Mac (OS X) using a USB connection. The new remote features faster scrolling, a much improved search facility from thousands of media files and an enhanced wake-from-sleep performance.
TuneView for iPod comes with a dock that connects an iPod to a TV or stereo output, and an RF remote to browse and manage your music and videos on iPod. Besides, it supports English, German, French and Spanish languages.
TuneView currently goes for $179 and is available at leading retail outlets. For more information visit TuneView for iPod.

Microsoft to offer enhanced VoIP solutions using Office suite

Microsoft Corp will venture into new territory with their forthcoming VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solution. Microsoft has predicted the gradual shift from hardware to software VoIP systems as well significant VoIP costs reduction for over 100 million users in the next three years. To facilitate this new undertaking will be the Microsoft Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Communicator which have built-in software-based VoIP features.
According to Jeff Raikes, President of Microsoft Business Division, the new solution will cut back exorbitant costs of IP handsets and wipe out the inherent challenges faced by IT professionals when managing traditional telephony systems. Microsoft assures us that Office Communications Server will deliver a host of benefits namely:
• Variety of choice and compatibility with a wide range of devices, telephones, applications, services and management tools through open, published interfaces and standards.
• A much improved voice quality, which is purportedly better than leading IP phones provider.
• Smooth and uninterrupted changeover from traditional PBX systems, networks and phones.
• A click-to-call feature that makes it possible to call somebody by clicking on their name from Microsoft Office applications.
• Advanced presence technology that determines a person’s availability and the best way to contact them while they are away.
• Ability for mobile workers to incorporate their phone numbers with other communication tools such as instant messengers, and audio/videoconferencing via an inexpensive, secure connection.
Microsoft has already pointed out the ineffectiveness of typical telephone systems. Their immediate plan is to offer compatibility of PBX systems with Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007. If successful, Raikes foresees a transition similar to the migration from mainframes to PCs providing what he refers to as “tremendous opportunities for our industry partners worldwide.”
Source: Microsoft PressPass

Mobango flavors cell phone communities with 1GB mobile phone content storage space

We have seen the unprecedented successes of companies such as MySpace.com and YouTube.com driven by the ongoing craze for sharing user-generated content. The trend is fast catching up on the mobile phones scene, particularly with the demand for mobile broadband access, Cell phone TV as well advancement in phone memory. Mobile phone videos are becoming very popular, especially now that we have seen such pioneering deals like the Nokia-YouTube partnership and the BollyWood on Mobile venture.
Mobango, a leading publisher of user-generated mobile phone content among mobile phone enthusiasts, has responded well to this growing trend. As part of their trademark innovative 2.0 development, Mobango will be offering its subscribers a whopping 1GB free space for mobile phone media content. Millions of fanatical cell phone owners will be able to store and swap their favorite ringtones, wallpapers, photos, games, software as well as video and audio files. In addition to this, Mobango already has an active membership of over 1 million subscribers who can combine this new development with Mobango’s social networking tools. This will result in an upsurge of mobile internet communities where users can easily contact friends and share their content.
Source: Mobango – Mobile Media Sharing

Enter Koenigsegg: The most powerful and Fuel-efficient street car

This month, we expect to be treated to a myriad of mind-boggling automobile designs and novel tech marvels at the upcoming Geneva motor show. For certain, one recurring theme should be the ever pervasive “green concept”. Few people would have envisaged a unique invention from a Swedish outfit that would dethrone the flamboyant Bugatti Veyron as the world’s most powerful car, fuel-efficient and probably fastest car.
We all know that VW has been spending lots of dough, researching and developing the Veyron. So Koenigsegg must have come up with something extra special to surpass the ultramodern 1001hp Veyron capable of a 407kph (254mph) top-speed. The Swedish manufacturer has announced their stylish, futuristic super car which comes with a 1018 bhp CCX engine that runs on biofuel and has a superior cooling system. The Biofuel has ethanol which aids in cooling and a high octane content that gives the CCX its immense power. It is expected that all previous CCXs will be fitted with the environment-friendly biofuel feature.
The latest addition to the Koenigsegg family is the CCX (Competition Coupe X) model which posted a new lap record last year on the UK Motor program Top Gear. At the moment, volume production is very low and exclusive for super car enthusiasts.

Software that fixes your English grammar and writing

English can tough, even for native speakers. You can now save yourself the blushes when speaking or writing documents by using the WhiteSmoke software that promises to improve your grammar. The software is developed by two Israelis and derives its name from the native practice of communicating using smoke signals.
WhiteSmoke uses the Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology and makes suggestions from a vast database and synonyms dictionary. The software parses all kinds of documents against the vast database to suggest suitable context-based synonyms and usage patterns to make the documents understandable and fluent. WhiteSmoke incorporates plenty of enhancement features namely, grammar check, thesaurus, spell check, punctuation, text enrichment, synonym dictionary, grammar corrector and idioms. It is ideal for legal contracts, essays, emails and other documents. Besides, the software is compatible with popular software, such as MS-Word, Outlook, Excel, Internet Explorer browser, Acrobat PDF and Instant Messaging software.
It may take you by surprise that WhiteSmoke’s top market is the US. The company is aggressively venturing into potentially lucrative and high-demand markets like China and India.

Source: WhiteSmoke

Ground-breaking Bionic eye technology offers great promise to the blind

An innovative venture spearheaded by Professor Mark Humayun, (Ophthalmology Professor at Keck School, USC and Associate Director of Research at the Doheny Retina Institute), could finally restore eyesight to blind people. It is a fact that most cases of blindness are preventable and reversible. The team of researchers behind the project already has the FDA’s blessings. If everything goes well and according to plan, millions of blind people could have their sight restored in two years.
So how does this work? Bionic technology makes use of a bionic eye implant, which has a built-in camera that transmits visual information to electrodes at the back of the retina. Earlier prototypes of the implant which were considerably larger and had 16 electrodes, enabled patients perceive shapes, light and even movement.
According to Professor Humayun, the research team is working on a new device that will take up and process images from a camera into electrical pulses. The patient will be able to view images from a camera on their glasses, and the pulses are then sent to a hand-held device. The processed visual information is relayed back to the patient’s glasses and consequently transmitted to a receiver in the eye. From here, the receiver sends visual information to electrodes in the retina. This stimulates the retina, which eventually sends the information to the brain. The implants have already been fitted in several patients. A typical second-generation implant measures approximately one square millimeter and is packed with an impressive 60 electrodes.
Retinal implants offer promise to an estimated 25 million worldwide. The implants have the ability to restore sight to those who have been severely visually impaired.
On a much more promising note is the recent finding that the brain is an invaluable asset in fighting blindness. Recent studies show that the brain has the ability to enable sight, regardless of any visual impairment present earlier on in life. This means that sight can be restored to millions of blind children worldwide. An example was the case of an Indian woman named SRD who had her sight restored at age 12 through a cataract operation. She performed well in numerous vision tests and was even able to recognize objects, light, darkness, patterns and movement.
SRD died in a road accident. Her exceptional case has sparked studies as well as casting doubts on traditionally held beliefs in visual development.

Sony turns High-definition photo-viewing into reality with W-series Cyber-shot cameras

With High-definition gadgets becoming all the rage in many households, Sony electronics introduces an innovative new line of digital cameras. You can enjoy this ultimate experience using any of their three cameras which include the 12 MegaPixel DSC-W200, 8 MegaPixel DSC-W90 and the 7.2 MegaPixel DSC-W80. All cameras are fitted with 3x optical zoom lenses and 2.5 inch LCD screens.
The Cyber-shot camera series are specially designed to produce HD quality, crystal clear photos and can be integrated into a full HDTV set or Home Theatre. This is made possible by setting up a simple connection to a HDTV set via a Sony VMC-MHC1 high definition cable. According to Phil Lubell, Director for digital cameras at Sony Electronics, it is only natural to view all content in high-definition, with digital photos included. The cameras are compatible with the Sony CSS-HD1 high-definition Cyber-shot Station®. Moreover, a DSC-W80HDPR kit is provided which consists of the DSC-W80 camera, a DPP-FPHD1 printer package, a VMC-MHC1 high-def cable, a Cyber-shot cradle, remote commander, digital photo printer and high-def component output. The kit allows for full integration with a home theatre system.
The new cameras also incorporate a myriad of built-in camera functions such as slide show function, face-detection technology, multi-point auto focus (AF) feature, Super Steady Shot® optical image mobilization and the Clear RAW ™ noise reduction technology. There are other inventive features included namely, Dynamic Range Optimizer that determines optimal exposure of captured images and the very resourceful red-eye correction & retouching effects. In addition to these is the ground-breaking Bionz™ processing engine that enables super-fast and unparalleled high definition image processing.
Let’s now get to the bottom-line. The high-def will be shipped sometime in May with the W200 going for $400. However, the W90 and W80 will be available in March and will retail at $300 and $250 respectively.
Source:Sony Electronics

Sony Entertainment unveils MLB 07 The Show presenting an electrifying all new user gaming experience

Carrying on from last year’s massive success of the MLB 06, SCEA Inc announces MLB 07: The Show, exclusively for the PS2 console and the PSP handheld device. With over 500 hours of development and an all-inclusive review of last year’s release, the 2007 version is an exceptional masterpiece. It boasts of what is now widely regarded as the most authentic and advanced simulation of the MLB franchise ever seen.
The MLB 07 The Show presents a unique blend of creative game play features, game modes, special effects and an unmatched simulation of ambiances, coordinated crowds, stadiums, pitching animations and even wind effects. Enhancing the realism is the inclusion of thousands of player animations, pitching animations, umpire personalities, emotions, individual player stances, swings, battings, strike-zones, release points, player motion captures among others.
MLB 07 The Show introduces the inventive Road To Show Mode where fans play by beginning on a rookie level and consequently strive to fight their way into the Major’s starting line-up. Adding to the list is the Online League Play that enables setting up leagues, teams and games. Users can also stay informed with the latest updates of all MLB games courtesy of MLB Live Tracker and the MLB.com Headline News. Other key features are the Career and Season Modes. Also included is the favorite Rivalry Mode to keep those heated contests going, the Franchise Mode for managing entire teams as well as Home Run Derby and Eye Toy features. One of the most inspired features that enhance the striking realism on pitch selection and strategy is the Pitching Command System (PCS). In addition is the Adaptive Pitching Intelligence (API) which incorporates an exceptional animation that enables play based on behavior as well as strengths and weaknesses on the batter and pitcher. To wrap up this outstanding game is a very comprehensive and dynamic 3-Man commentary which changes as the season progresses, dependent on the prevailing game conditions and situations.

Glu Mobile collaborates with Nokia to power the N-Gage

With Glu Mobile already a global force in the world of mobile gaming publishing, it was natural for Nokia to team up with them to enhance the N-Gage platform. It was never going to be an easy venture for the world’s largest phone maker plunging into this hand-held gaming realm. With the past problems of N-Gage notwithstanding, there is every reason for Nokia to feel optimistic this time round; especially with Glu on board.
The deal will bring forth an assortment of Glu’s top-rated games namely Super K.O. Boxing!, Stranded and the Ancient Empires franchise.
Nokia is aiming to deliver to consumers an exceptional entertainment service that incorporates quality mobile gaming into their mobile platform. To kick off the collaboration will be the World Series of Poker® Texas Hold'em (WSOP); a highly enthralling game that allows up to eight mobile poker gamers compete against WSOP champions.

Capture the moments anywhere you go with Sony’s new lightweight Photo printers

Sony has introduced the portable DPP-FP70 and DPP-FP90 PictureStation™ photo printers capable of speedy printing. Furthermore, the printers are relatively easy to operate besides offering plenty of enhanced editing features.
Users are able to preview, edit scenes, tilt and adjust for easy viewing. The DPP-FP90 comes with a 3.6 inch built-in LCD screen while the DPP-FP70 features a 2.5 inch screen. The printers make use of the Auto Touch-up feature to fix frequent picture problems, particularly with over/under-exposure and out-of-focus issues. Auto Touch-up corrects exposure problems without affecting the background. Scenes that are out of focus are sharpened by creating several simulations. The best simulation is then selected over the original image for printing.
Users are able to add a personal touch to their photos by appending superimposed and color-customized special messages and phrases such as “Happy Birthday”, “Congratulations” and “Thank you”. Digital photos can be further modified through the filter feature with a remarkable six options. There’s more good news on the way. The printers can access picture files from Sony digital still cameras and offer optimized performance for Cyber-Shot and Alpha D-SLR cameras.
They will be available in March. The DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 printers will go for $200 and $150 respectively. More details on features, accessories and pricing can be found at Sony Electronics.