Skatter Tech » Sahas Katta

Surface Pro: What The Kickstand?

Sahas Katta — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:16:27 +0000

I decided to purchase a Microsoft Surface Pro when it made a debut last month. It seemed like the perfect device which could function both as a laptop and a tablet. Since it features a full-blown Windows 8 Pro operating system, I could use for just about anything including Photoshop or running Ubuntu in Virtualbox when coding.

The 128 GB model goes for about $999. Throwing in a type keyboard brings the price tag up to about $1,100. The Intel i5 processor, a full HD display, and a USB 3.0 port makes the package even more attractive. A comparable 11-inch Macbook Air with a 128 GB SSD still lacks a touch screen display and a HD resolution.

After just a few days of use, I quickly realized the hybrid form-factor has one major flaw: the kickstand. While seated at a desk, the display faces the user at an appropriate angle. However, it becomes quite problematic in just about any other situation. Since the kickstand is non-adjustable, using it on a kitchen counter is quite difficult since the display faces my chest. Sitting on the floor? The display once again faces my chest. Using the Surface Pro on my lap while seated on a couch is also quite uncomfortable since it is quite easy to tip over compared to a laptop.

Believe it or not, the biggest nuance with the Surface Pro by far is the kickstand. I also own an Apple iPad, Asus Nexus 7, and Amazon Kindle Fire for compatibility testing and while they all entirely lack a kickstand, they are are primarily content consumption devices. I wouldn’t be using these devices for writing code, composing important emails, creating presentations, editing large spreadsheets, or organizing photos. The Surface Pro can actually handle all those tasks without a sweat, but the form-factor makes it difficult.

It is rather disappointing considering the whole product was designed around the notion of more flexibility. If Microsoft had simply designed a kickstand with 3-4 adjustable positions, the Surface Pro would be a lot more comfortable to use. While the device is perfectly usable as a tablet, it truly requires being seated at a table for use with the keyboard. That’s rather unacceptable when just about every laptop display is fairly adjustable for just about any viewing angle.

Microsoft actually got just about everything right with this device. Even the 5 hour battery life wasn’t a concern since it’s quite comparable to most Ultrabooks. I ended up returning the Surface Pro about a week after purchase. I’ll keep an eye out for other hybrid Windows 8 Pro devices, hopefully one which has a clam-shell laptop form-factor and a screen which snaps off. The Lenovo Helix seems to fall perfectly into that category, but has yet to hit store shelves.

I Got My Laptop & A Windows Phone. Both Are Up For Auction. 100% Of Proceeds Go To Charity.

Sahas Katta — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:39:18 +0000

Just a few hours after publishing a story regarding my experience participating in the Windows Phone challenge at the Santa Clara Microsoft Store, my article hit the Reddit front-page. It was not long before dozens of publications picked up the story as well.

Microsoft Evangelist Ben Rudolph (@BenThePCGuy) was kind enough to offer a rematch as I had requested. However, he publicly tweeted the following message this morning before I had a chance to respond likely due to a storm of angry tweets.

@BenThePCGuy Thanks! Email Sent.
— Sahas Katta (@sahaskatta) March 26, 2012

I exchanged emails with Ben regarding the matter earlier today and learned that a laptop and phone were aside for me at the Santa Clara Microsoft Store. I dropped by this evening and after spending a few minutes chatting with two rather extremely friendly store managers, I walked out with a $1,049 Hunger Games Special Edition HP Folio 13 and a $899 Nokia Lumia 800 Bundle.

I recently just purchased a new HP Envy 15 and I am rather happy with my smart phone, so I decided to put both of these up for auction on eBay. I will ship the highest bidder of each listing the respective device and donate 100% of the proceeds to a charity of with the help of Reddit’s choosing.

eBay Auctions:

As always, let me know if you have any questions.

I Won The Windows Phone Challenge, But Lost “Just Because”

Sahas Katta — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:26:18 +0000

I headed down to the Santa Clara Microsoft Store this morning after hearing about the Windows Phone challenge last night. For those not familiar, anyone who completes a task faster than a Windows Phone on their own smart phone can win a $1000 Special Edition Laptop assuming they meet some standard terms and conditions. Those who “get smoked” by a Windows Phone, have the opportunity to trade in their existing device for Windows Phone.

After signing a waiver agreeing to let Microsoft use a photo of me in their advertising, I got in line for the challenge. I was using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus which runs the latest Android operating system on the Verizon Wireless network. As requested, I shut down my phone and powered it on in front of an employee when it was my turn. (I’m assuming they don’t want anyone pre-launching any apps in advance.)

The Microsoft Store employee I was up against then explained the selected challenge. Her exact words were the following: “bring up the weather of two different cities.” The one who could do that first would win. I felt like I struck gold since I knew I already had two weather widgets on my home screen: one for my current location (San Jose, CA) and another for Berkeley, CA.

After a three-second count down, I hit the power button on my phone and said “DONE!” out loud. I had disabled the lock screen entirely, which is a rather awesome out-of-the-box feature of Android that takes you straight to the home screen with a single push of the power button. I didn’t even need to touch the screen, since the two weather widgets were already there.

My opponent finished a split-second later. She had two live tiles on her home screen displaying the weather of two different cities as well. Why does it take longer on Windows Phone? She had to perform two actions. First, she hit the power button to turn on the screen. Second, she had to swipe away the lock screen. That’s pretty much as fast as it gets on that platform. Windows Phone takes two interactions. Android takes just one.

I excitedly thought I won out of pure luck. However, I was quickly told that I lost. I asked for a reason and was told Windows Phone won because “it displays the weather right there.” That was rather unclear. I showed her my device which also was showing off the same information with two side-by-side weather widgets on the center home screen. After pressing for a better reason, I was told that Windows Phone won “just because.”

After trying to push for a real answer since I clearly won the contest by their rules, another Microsoft Store employee (possibly a manager) came by after noticing me asking more questions. Thinking on his feet, he quickly gave a ridiculous out-of-thin-air reason that I need to display the weather of different cities in different states and that “my phone could not do that”.

I calmly and politely tried pointing out that I was absolutely never told about having to show off two different states, but at this point I realized there was no point in even attempting to argue since the Microsoft Store employees clearly had no intention of even potentially discussing the possibility of considering me the winner.

I was then asked to snap a photo in front of a sign that read along the lines of “My Android was smoked by Windows Phone” before leaving the store.

I was quite excited to take the challenge, but left the Microsoft Store in distaste. I sure hope the purpose of this marketing ploy is to attract new customers by demonstrating the highlights of Windows Phone, not frustrating them instead. If anyone from Microsoft would like to have a rematch, I would be happy to smoke a Windows Phone with Android, again.

Update: I Got My Laptop & A Windows Phone. Both Are Up For Auction. 100% Of Proceeds Go To Charity.

The Next iPad

Sahas Katta — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:01:08 +0000

After spending about a week with the third-generation iPad which went on sale last Friday after Apple’s grand unveiling in San Francisco earlier this month, here are several features I hope will go into next year’s model.

Stereo Speakers

This one seems trivial, but will go a long way. Every iPad to date only packs a single mono speaker. Considering movies and music are key features, the lack of stereo speakers is rather disappointing. Several Android tablets including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 offer stereo speakers. Even the BlackBerry PlayBook has a speaker on each side.

FaceTime Camera

Apple threw in a vastly improved rear-facing iSight camera, but the FaceTime camera on the front remains the same: it shoots at just 0.3 megapixels. For those wondering, Apple describes it as a VGA resolution which translates to just 640 x 480 pixels. Considering Skype just bumped video quality up to 1080p last month, including a 2 megapixel camera on front seems reasonable at the very least.

Thinner and Lighter

The original iPad weighed 1.5 pounds and the iPad 2 slimmed down to just 1.33 pounds. Unfortunately, the third-generation iPad weights 1.44 pounds. The much larger battery is the obvious culprit, but it was probably the only option to maintain the same 10 hour run-time with the power hungrier hardware. Tablets should continue shedding weight, not adding bulk.

The new iPad’s 0.37 inch thick body is thinner than the original 0.53 inch model, but bulkier than the 0.35 inch thick iPad 2. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 weighs just 1.25 pounds and is only 0.34 inches thick. The Asus Transformer Prime is even thinner at just 0.33 inches and weighs 1.29 pounds.

Micro USB and HDMI

Every iOS device to date uses the same Dock Connector. I do not see a change happening, but I hope Apple will eventually adopt microUSB. While it might be a pain for those who already own accessories with dock connectors, it would help keep things consistent with other products on the market. I would love to charge my iPad with the same cable that also charges my Bluetooth headset, smart phone, Kindle, and many other devices.

Jumping to Micro USB would also open the doors to supporting HDMI thanks to MHL. Apple offers a $40 AV Adapter for HDMI output, but generic cables are usually more affordable.

Siri Please

Some claim the new iPad lacks Siri to because WiFi-only models do not always have a constant data connection and it would be inconsistent to only offer the feature to the mobile broadband enabled ones. I also came across reasons including hardware limitations and Apple possibly holding it back until next year to entice users to upgrade again.

I am not really sure why Siri isn’t available, but the hardware is definitely capable and Apple already has the technology to make it possible. I really do hope an update will introduce the feature soon. It would be nice to check the weather, set an alarm, send a text message, or search the web quickly when my hands are tied up doing multiple things. Voice dictation already works great.

Quad Core Processor

The third-generation iPad has a quad-core graphics processing unit (GPU), but still runs on a dual-core processor. While the current configuration makes major strides for graphics intensive tasks, the new hardware does not necessarily speed up every day use. Several of the flagship Android smart phones and tablets are making a leap into quad-core territory this summer and Apple will hopefully do the same for the iPhone this year and for the next iPad in 2013.

WPS Support For iOS

Just about every router now offers WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) for one-click pairing with a wireless home network. Clicking a button to let guests connect to your network makes things a whole lot simpler than having to share a complex network key. Windows 7 has the feature built-in and many Android devices offer the feature too. Though a tiny addition, it is also a huge convenience.

Runs Cooler

Consumer Reports claims the iPad runs nearly 13 F warmer than the previous model. I probably would have never noticed if it were not for all the buzz that followed. Even if comfort is not an issue, pushing for cooler running temperatures in next year’s iteration does not hurt. Lithium-Ion batteries are prone to loosing capacity when exposed to high temperatures for extended periods of time.

Links: Apple iPad

3M Mobile Projector Giveaway – $299 Value

Sahas Katta — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:00:03 +0000

Looking to get your hands on a mobile projector? You are in the right place. Though this technology is relatively new, 3M already has a few years of experience in the field. For those not keeping tabs, we published reviews of the MPro120 last year and the Shoot ‘n Share eearlier this year. The latest MP225a runs for 2 hours on a single charge, packs 32 lumens inside, has a built-in stand, plugs into laptops with VGA, and works with the iPad too. The suggested retail price is $299, but we have up to three to giveaway for free.

How To Enter

Step 1: ‘Like’ Skatter Tech and ‘Like’ 3M Mobile Projectors on Facebook.
Step 2: Enter your name and email into the contest entry form below.
Step 3: Get friends to enter to increase your chances of winning.

That’s it, you are in! Just be sure to keep an eye on your inbox for an email from us.

The Deal

Skatter Tech will giveaway one (1) 3M MP225a Mobile Projector to a randomly selected eligible contestant by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on November 7th, 2011, however Skatter Tech can giveaway a total of three (3) 3M MP225a Mobile Projectors to three randomly selected eligible contestants if we reach at least 200 entries by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on November 7th, 2011. (Sweepstakes opens at 8:00 PM Pacific Time on October 24th, 2011). Be sure to share details about this sweepstakes with friends and family to ensure that we reach a minimum of 200 eligible entries before the deadline.

Some Rules Apply:

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. 18 years and older only.
Must live in one of the 48 contiguous United States or the District of Columbia.
Potential winner(s) will be randomly selected by a computer on November 8th, 2011.
Another entry gets drawn if selection is ineligible or person fails to respond within 24 hours.
Only one entry per person. Duplicates submissions will result in disqualification.
We will announce the potential winner at the bottom of this post.
You must agree to the entire Skatter Tech Contest Policy to participate.

Link: 3M Mobile Projectors

Ford Focus 2012: SYNC With MyFord Touch (Review)

Sahas Katta — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:00:36 +0000

About a week ago, our friends at Ford lent Skatter Tech a brand new 5-door Focus 2012 Hatchback Titanium for an opportunity to check out the latest in-car tech. For those not familiar, the Microsoft-powered SYNC platform first made a debut at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Ford has since built on this platform introducing MyFord Touch at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show for a touch-screen experience with powerful voice commands, better smart phone integration, more entertainment options, internet connectivity, navigation with traffic alerts, and many other perks.

SYNC with MyFord Touch

The in-car infotainment system on the Focus 2012 revolves around an 8-inch touch screen. MyFord Touch splits the home screen into four quadrants for the phone, navigation, climate, and entertainment. Common functions for any of the respective zones are accessible on the main screen and users can click on one of the color-coded region to open the full zone for more options.

Unfortunately, there is one major problem. Consumers now have high expectations when it comes to easy-to-use uncluttered and responsive interfaces thanks to the advent of the latest generation smart phones and tablets. Ford still has a long way to go when it comes to improving on its touch screen experience. The software often takes a few seconds to respond to a touch or even bring up a new menu. Interface elements are not always consistent, some fonts are quite difficult to read, and the recessed display forces drivers to lean over to see information on the edges of the screen.

Multimedia

Setting aside my concerns regarding the experience of the underlying SYNC platform, the Focus 2012 actually excels when it comes to providing a robust in-car entertainment experience. Getting basics out-of-the-way, Ford includes AM/FM radio and a single-disc CD player. To take things up a notch, the Titanium model comes with a Sony 10-speaker sound system and a sub-woofer which makes HD Radio and Sirius XM a lot more enjoyable. Though I prefer the Mark Levinson sound system found in Lexus vehicles or Harman Kardon in Mercedes, those are not exactly a fair comparison.

Under the center armrest are two USB ports for smart phones and MP3 players. SYNC can even access music on a flash drive or a portable hard drive. Being able to charge USB devices without a third-party car adapter with these ports is also a plus. Thanks to Bluetooth A2DP support, I could stream music from the cloud-powered Google Music straight to the car wirelessly through a Samsung Galaxy S II. I briefly tried playing tracks from both the iPod app and Rdio on an Apple iPhone 4 over Bluetooth and it worked seamlessly. I was quite impressed to find the previous and next track controls on the wheel functioning perfectly when navigating through tracks on both Android and iOS devices.

SYNC with MyFord Touch can actually display album art along with music from devices such as iPod when plugged into a USB port too. Images unfortunately did not appear when streaming tracks over Bluetooth. Also under the center armrest are RCA jacks for playing video on-screen. Plugging in a portable DVD player or a gaming console should work just fine. I was a bit disappointed to notice the lack of a dedicated AUX port, but working around the issue with a AUX-to-RCA cable is quite easy. There is a SD card reader under the arm rest for multimedia as well, though a card with navigation data occupies the slot for those who bought the respective technology package.

Navigation System

While portable navigation systems now retail for under $100, many drivers still prefer a factory out-of-the-box solution. Those who opt for the SYNC with Navigation package can enjoy the convenience of voice-guided turn-by-turn directions with traffic alerts powered by TeleNav. The touch screen interface lets drivers select a home location, configure favorites, browse previous destinations, search for points of interest, input a street address, find an intersection, or look for places on a map.

I tested the reliability of the navigator over a period of a week while driving across the San Francisco Bay Area. While the directions were spot-on the vast majority of the time, the navigator sent me driving in circles in at least two occasions even though I was just a few blocks away from the final destination. Re-calculating a route also took a little longer than a 2012 car should take. Bring up memories of the sluggishness of the Garmin StreetPilot I purchased nearly a decade ago is never a good sign. I still felt Google Maps Navigation works better on my Android smart phone.

Voice commands are another highly touted feature. SYNC with MyFord Touch, powered by Nuance, adds recognition support for over 10,000 words. After putting this to the test while on the road, I found plenty of good and some bad. Starting with the positive aspects, the voice recognition was actually quite accurate. The navigator quickly pulled up a list of possible matches within seconds when I tried dictating several addresses and names of restaurants.

With that being said, the system frustratingly requires speaking very specific phrases which may take sometime to learn. However, that was actually not the real problem. The entire reason for voice activated car technology is to keep drivers focused on the road. Unfortunately, SYNC with MyFord Touch fails to alleviate that issue. Well-designed voice integration should only require one or two interactions to input a destination. With the current system, I found myself having to interact nearly 4-5 times before the navigator begins guidance in almost every occasion.

I also felt the maps screen could use a better color palette for distinguishing labels from streets and highways. The display was also overly cluttered with way too much overlaid information. Keying in an address was incredibly slow since the system takes a second or two to catch up with itself after a pressing a digit or letter. While I do not expect the quality of the Google Earth implementation on an Audi which even has satellite imagery, snappier performance could go a long way.

Smart Phone Integration

One big chunk of SYNC on Ford vehicles is smart phone integration. It’s a great idea since it keeps eyes on the road and prevents drivers from fiddling around with a device. It is also perfect for those who would rather not wear a headset. Pairing Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and Windows Phone devices via Bluetooth was quite easy with a PIN which appears on-screen. The interface can remember multiple devices though only it can only connect to a single one at a time.

I was quite actually quite excited for the automatic phonebook download feature, but I found it struggling to import the nearly 2,000 entries in my device — though I am probably an exception. With this data readily available in the SYNC system, drivers can simply speak a name rather than having to remember a phone number. In my situation, the voice recognition failed to identify any of the names in my phone book even though I could browse through a full list on-screen — speaking a 10 digit number worked just fine.

I answered a several calls while on the road with a single press thanks to the talk button shortcut on the steering wheel. Unfortunately, the audio quality over Bluetooth was not too pleasant for either party. I often struggled to hear the person on the other end even with the volume turned up and I heard complains from others as well. With that being said, I managed to place a few good calls which leads me to believe that signal strength due to poor coverage was likely a major factor. Regardless, the seamless experience of automatic pairing as you enter the Focus 2012 and having the system transfer a call back to the handset as you exit the vehicle is great.

MyFord Touch also boasts support for transfers of contact images, though the feature did not work with any of the several phones I paired to the car even after manual import attempts. Ford also advertises support for reading out incoming text messages and responding from a selection of pre-defined replies, but this feature only works with a limited number of smart phones.

Instrument Panel Display

A 4.2 inch LCD display in the center of the instrument panel complements the larger main display centered on the dashboard. This miniature screen provides bits of information such as fuel efficiency, outside temperature, indicators for lighting, the odometer, trip details, distance until an empty tank, vehicle settings, cruise control status, and more.

With the navigator running, the interface dedicates a third of the screen to display directions. This is quite helpful especially when the passenger might be using the main display to mess around with climate controls or find a new radio station. Drivers can interact with the small display by using a five-way directional pad found on the left side of the steering wheel.

Active Park Assist

While automatic parallel parking was once a technology reserved for luxury vehicles, Ford makes it available to the masses on the Focus 2012. I have seen the feature advertised for a few years by several manufacturers, but I actually never tried it myself until I Ford handed me the keys to this car. I decided to give the assisted park a shot in a private residential area with nearly no traffic since I did not have high expectations. Ford proved me wrong as the Focus identified an available spot, took control of the wheel, and reversed into the spot on my first try — I only had to keep my foot on the brake to control the speed.

After some added confidence, I decided to try parking on a busy street in Los Gatos downtown. The Focus 2012 backed into an available spot rather quickly which is a major plus since drivers do not have to worry about holding up cars behind them. The self-parking system also does an amazing job of bringing the back and front tires of the Focus within just few inches of the curb every time. I soon put the technology to the test in Berkeley a few days later. While parking is quite easy in areas with plenty of room, I found myself in an extremely tight fit this time around with just a foot or two to spare on a slope. I soon realized that the Active Park Assist can actually perform a multiple-point turn by maneuvering the car back and forth until parked properly.

The backup camera not only provides a line of sight which is much-needed for a hatchback, but also adds visual indicators for distance proximity and draws a trajectory path for easy alignment. The Focus 2012 also has audible feedback with beeps which get louder and faster when getting too close to an object. If I had any suggestions for improvements, it would be to add visual indicators on-screen for the front of the vehicle as well to complement the existing audible alerts.

I also noticed that Active Park Assist only allowed parallel parking on the right side of the street, but I later found owners mention that turning on the left indicator switches modes on an online forum. Ford should consider providing some on-screen guidance to inform users of the option to parallel park on the left side of a street as well as it can come in handy in cities such as San Francisco which have many one-way streets with parking on both sides.

Other In-car Tech

The Focus 2012 comes with plenty of other bits of tech which deserve a mention. For instance, the driver or passengers can control multimedia playback from the steering wheel, the touch screen, or physical controls below the display. While most cars have automatic headlights which turn on when dark, Ford actually has rain-sensing wipers which automatically clear the windshield too.

Though the Focus 2012 has an automatic six-speed transmission, drivers can manually change gears with a touch of a button on models such as the Titanium. There is a built-in universal garage door opener which can replace up to three remote controls. Speaking voice commands such as “cooler” or “decrease temperature” can adjust the climate. My favorite one might just be the ability to say “defrost” when windows begin getting foggy.

New smart phones may now offer built-in mobile hotspots, but Ford also has its own solution. SYNC with MyFord touch lets owners plugin a USB 3G modem to create an in-car hotspot for up to five users. Aside from that, drivers can enter the Focus 2012 without having to reach for their keys thanks to touch sensitive door handles and start the engine with a click of a button.

A Few Bugs

While in-car tech advancements are always exciting, it also creates many opportunities for bugs. I had one particularly bad experience just a few minutes after I began driving the car. The whole SYNC with MyFord Touch system froze leaving me unable to interact with the car using the touch screen or even the controls on the steering wheel. Though the physical controls below the display were still functional, I could not use the touch screen to make calls, get directions, play music, or control the climate. I had to eventually turn off the engine and waited for the entire system to reboot.

I also noticed that the system takes several minutes to perform scheduled system maintenance when starting the car on multiple occasions. I had to wait nearly 5 minutes before I could input an address and another few minutes before the navigator initiated guidance. Considering this happened several times in just a week, I sure hope that Ford resolves this issue in the near future.

The Bottom Line

The Ford Focus 2012 definitely offers some of the best consumer-focused in-car tech when lined up against other vehicles of the same class. The company is also working hard to quickly to create an eco-system for third-party applications delivered through smart phones and even hopes to have developers taking on prototyping new concepts with open-source hardware.

While advancements are good news, I strongly feel Ford could improve on user experience. The sheer number of things going on when seated in a Focus 2012 is rather overwhelming even for a computer engineer. Finding simple bits of information such as the time or the temperature often takes more than a single glance due to a cluttered and disorganized interface. there is just too much information on just about any given screen at any time. The ridiculous number of buttons on the steering wheel alone is a bit concerning. Having three sets of controls for a single task is probably unnecessary.

Speeding up the interface which often takes several seconds to react to even simple tasks such as entering digits on a dial pad is a great place to start. Possibly even implementing a Metro-inspired interface for a clean minimalistic distraction-free experience would be a huge improvement. With that being said, Ford still beats many competitors when it comes to being compatible with the technology you already own without having to deal with expensive proprietary add-ons.

I was particularly impressed with the active park assist and I would not be surprised to see Ford eventually begin implementing technologies such as night vision, lane tracking, pre-collision braking, or dynamic cruise control. The 5-door Focus 2012 starts at $18,200 and the Focus 2012 Hatchback Titanium Ford provided Skatter Tech came in a $27,470 configuration. Those looking for a new car packed with technology should definitely consider taking this vehicle out for a test drive.

Links: Ford Focus 2012 | SYNC for MyFord Touch

Spotify Introduces Private Listening Following Forced Facebook Integration

Sahas Katta — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:46:11 +0000

When Spotify first made a debut in the United States, creating an account was easy as filling out a form. Though the service has included Facebook integration since launch, a Facebook account was never necessary to register for the service. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worst earlier this week. While initial ties with Facebook were simply to populate a list of friends and share playlists, songs began appearing in the real-time news feed after the Facebook Timeline press event last week.

Prior to this week, users could simply disconnect Spotify from Facebook if they choose not to share the tracks they are playing with friends. When Spotify began requiring a Facebook account for registration, customers became enraged. This would mean having to let everyone know the tracks you play in real-time — even the really embarrassing ones. Those looking to sign up for Spotify would now have to either create a Facebook account if they did not already have one or make a spare Facebook account if they did not want the social features.

We’re rolling out a new client as we speak where you can temporarily hide your guilty pleasures. It works like a browsers private mode – Daniel Ek, Spotify CEO and Founder

Spotify fortunately took notice of complains and introduced a “Private Listening” mode in the latest update. Users can now enable the feature from the file menu to prevent sharing any tracks from appearing in the Facebook Timeline.

While I fortunately was not required to register for Spotify with a Facebook account, I can understand the frustration. I would rather prefer to see the option to link a Spotify account to social networks rather than having it remain a requirement.

Link: Spotify

Motorola Xoom Finally Gets An Upgrade For Verizon Wireless 4G LTE

Sahas Katta — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:55:59 +0000

For those not keeping track, the Motorola Xoom made a debut in early January at the Consumer Electronics Show. Verizon Wireless picked up the tablet and assured customers a 4G LTE upgrade would be just a few weeks away. We got our hands on a unit in mid-March and the upgrade was still unavailable when we published a full review a week or two later.

Nearly seven months after launch, a press release issued by Motorola Mobility and Verizon Wireless popped up in my inbox yesterday. According to the document, the Motorola Xoom with 4G LTE built-in will reach retail stores on October 13th — another two weeks away. The tablet will retail for $499 with a new two-year contract.

As for those who already have a Xoom, Motorola and Verizon have a webpage to guide customers through the upgrade process. As expected, users will need to ship their tablet to a service center for outfitting with a 4G LTE module. The press release notes the entire process should only take six business days, though I doubt that will ease the rage of those who have been waiting for months. The upgrade page also mentions that those who upgrade immediately will receive a free Standard Dock ($49 MSRP) while supplies last.

While I definitely think those who have a 3G enabled Xoom should upgrade to 4G LTE for 5-12 MBps download speeds and 2-5 Mbps uploads, I would probably suggest against buying a new one. There are several new tablets hitting store shelves as we approach the holiday season. Even though I had some complains about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, I would still recommend it over the Motorola Xoom.

Verizon Wireless charges $30, $50, and $80 a month for 2 GB, 5 GB, and 10 GB of data, respectively.

Link: XOOM 4G LTE Upgrade

Google Analytics Gets Real-Time Data

Sahas Katta — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:31:49 +0000

As a 5-year-long user of Google Analytics, there is one feature I have eagerly awaited: real-time data. For those who do not remember, Google actually acquired a company named Urchin in 2005 before making this website tracking technology freely available to all. Competitors including Clicky, Chartbeat, Reinvigorate, Woopra, and a few others have long offered real-time tracking — Google is technically a bit late to the game.

Currently, Google Analytics does a great job analyzing past performance. Today we’re very excited to bring real time data to Google Analytics with the launch of Google Analytics Real-Time: a set of new reports that show what’s happening on your site as it happens. — John Jersin, Google Analytics Blog (September 29, 2011)

Real-Time

Users of Google Analytics generally have to wait a few minutes, hours, or a day to see new data appear in the dashboard, but the new real-time feature makes it possible to monitor activity as it happens. For instance, website owners can keep an eye on incoming traffic for a new campaign from the moment of launch and take steps to increase engagement rather than merely viewing results after a flood of traffic passes.

It also helps to ensure marketing campaigns are properly configured. With real-time information, it would be easy to identify a link pointing to the wrong landing page and quickly begin directing traffic in the right direction. The new dashboard will even take advantage of social media tracking and help identify incoming visitors from social networks such as Twitter.

Those looking to get their hands on the new real-time dashboard can sign-up with this early access form here. Some select users already have access and all Google Analytics users will gain access to the service in a few weeks according to the official announcement.

Premium

Though definitely not catered for the average user, Google Analytics Premium also made a debut earlier today. The enterprise-oriented service will offer extra processing power for high traffic websites, deeper data analysis, 24/7 support, and up-time guarantee. Google did not publicly disclose pricing and encourages interested companies to reach out to their sales team directly, but I hear pricing is over $100,000 per year.

Link: Google Analytics

Samsung Mobile Schedules An Unpacked “Google Episode” Event At CTIA

Sahas Katta — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 05:22:47 +0000

Just a couple of hours ago, Samsung’s PR team sent over an invite for an event entitled “Google Episode” that takes place in the San Diego Convention Center on October 11th during CTIA. While the email did not state any more details aside from the specific location and the 11:30 AM starting time, the event coincides with the expected debut of Google’s upcoming release of Android: Ice Cream Sandwich. Of course, the one-liner on the invite hints at that too: “Join us at Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2011 to get a look at what’s new from Android.”

Samsung Mobile appears to possibly have an exclusive when it comes to the first device to make a debut with the next generation Android OS. Those looking to tune into the keynote can enjoy a live stream on the YouTube Android channel. Samsung will definitely have a new “super phone” to announce with some impressive hardware even though they just rolled out the Galaxy S II in the United States following an international launch earlier this year.

This holiday season is starting to sound quite interesting considering Apple will have a new iPhone on store shelves as well. While Google has spent most of its annual I/O 2011 conference drawing attention to Honeycomb for tablets, I sure hope they have some major innovations when it comes to the next generation operating system for smart phones.

Link: Samsung

Pulse News Reader Debuts On Windows Phone

Sahas Katta — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:46:47 +0000

Though Alphonso Labs only had Android and iOS apps available when we published a review of Pulse News Reader earlier this year, the company finally rolled out a Windows Phone app earlier this week. Though there are slight variations between each platform, the overall concept remains the same. When a user opens the app, Pulse presents news feeds in a grid-like layout with a tile for each story.

It appears as though the Pulse app may even take advantage of the new live tile APIs provided by the latest Windows Phone Mango release by offering bits of information on the home screen — an exclusive for this platform. Users can still view either the text from a feed or load the webpage containing a specific article from within the app. Pulse also allows sharing stories with friends by Email, Facebook, or Twitter.

Those looking to add Skatter Tech to Pulse can do so quite easily by searching for “skatter tech.” It is unclear whether there is integration with the Pulse.me service announced earlier this year. I am also curious to see whether Alphonso Labs intends to roll out a Windows 8 Metro app, which would be an appropriate complement. In the meantime, you can grab the Pulse from the Windows Phone Marketplace. For those wondering, the company raised $9 in Series A from NEA, Greycroft Partners and Lerer Ventures in June 2011.

Link: Pulse Blog

Amazon Introduces The Kindle, Kindle Touch, And Kindle Fire

Sahas Katta — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:21:53 +0000

Earlier today, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced four new Kindle devices at a press conference in Seattle. The new offerings start at an affordable $79 price-point for a basic e-book reader and a premium multimedia-rich Kindle Fire retails for $199. For those wondering, Amazon clearly isn’t limiting itself to eBooks. The latest tablet runs on Android and has some rather impressive hardware at an attractive price-point.

“We’ve now reached the magical two-digit price point for Kindle - twice: the new Kindle and Kindle Touch are only $79 and $99. Kindle Touch 3G is the new top of the line e-reader with free 3G – no monthly fees or annual contracts – and is only $149,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. “Kindle Fire brings together all of the things we’ve been working on at Amazon [...] - all for only $199.”

Kindle

For those who do not need the bells and whistles of a tablet, the $79 Kindle offers the bare essentials for an eBook reader. According to Amazing, this device is 30% lighter than the previous iteration at just 5.98 ounces. It is also apparently 18% smaller and flips pages 10% faster. The 6-inch e-Ink display makes reading easy even under direct sunlight. This Kindle also comes with WiFi connectivity, a web browser, a 1 month battery life, 2 GB of storage, and Amazon Cloud Storage.

Kindle Touch

For those looking to do a little more, Amazon offers two Kindle Touch models. A 3G enabled iteration that works in over 100 countries goes for $149 without any contracts or monthly fees. A WiFi-only model retails for $99. The 6-inch e-Ink screen supports browsing the web in addition to displaying books, newspapers, and magazines. Amazon notes a 2 month battery life but did not mention whether the 3G iteration has a higher capacity battery. The on-board storage for the Kindle Touch also gets a boost to 4 GB for twice as much content.

The main differentiating factor between this tablet and the basic $79 Kindle is a touch-enabled e-Ink display. Rather than having to use a 5-way directional pad for navigation, users can directly interact with the display for a more natural experience.

Kindle Fire

Those looking to go beyond reading should consider the $199 Kindle Fire. This tablet offers access to over 100k movies and TV shows through Amazon Instant Video. Amazon Prime members can even stream from a selection of over 11k of these for no additional cost. Amazon MP3 offers access to 17 million songs to complement the library of 1 million Kindle books, 100 graphic novels, magazines, and newspapers.

While all other Kindle models have a e-Ink screen, the Kindle Fire has a 7 inch color IPS display with a high 169 ppi density. A dual-core processor may offer fast performance, but battery life unfortunately takes a major hit coming in at just 8 hours for reading or 7.5 hours for video playback. The tablet also has 8 GB of internal storage and free cloud storage for Amazon content too. Thanks to the underlying Android operating system, the Kindle Fire supports games such as Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies, or Cut the Rope through the Amazon App Store.

Other Services

A new cloud-accelerated browser going with the name Silk helps accelerate surfing the web with help from Amazon’s EC2 servers — much like Opera Mini. Amazon Whispersync now supports synchronizing and remembering where you last left watching a movie or TV show in addition to a specific page of a book. The Kindle Fire also comes with a month-long Amazon Prime subscription.

Links: Amazon Kindle

Mark Your Calendar, Apple Makes October 4th iPhone Event Official

Sahas Katta — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:29:29 +0000

Yesterday, Apple sent out invites out to journalist for an October 4th event. While speculation is ablaze regarding the next iPhone, the announcement will most likely bring news of a fifth iPhone — not an iPhone 5. Taking a cue from previous release cycles, Apple will probably follow tradition releasing an iPhone 4S much like the iPhone 3GS after the iPhone 3G.

We published a piece entitled 5 Things To Expect With The iPhone 4S and still stand by those predictions. From what we can tell, the upcoming device will simply build on the existing iPhone 4 with enhancements such as a faster processor, more RAM, and additional storage space. Apple may tweak the current design slightly to avoid issues such as the infamous “death grip antennagate” or the somewhat-fragile glass back-side.

According ArsTechnica’s analysis of a leaked image snapped with the camera of the upcoming iPhone, the device will feature an 8 megapixel sensor. While some rumors claim a larger screen, the 3.5 inch Retina Display will probably remain the same.

If anything, the software is the big news when it comes to the upcoming iPhone 4S. While Apple will ship iOS 5 to the existing iPhone 4 too, the company may leave out some features which require more hardware capabilities. Other rumors indicate Apple will include robust voice integration powered by Siri, which they acquired in April 2010. Some blogs also mention deep Wolfram Alpha capabilities too.

The event begins less than a week from today at 10 AM on Apple’s Cupertino campus as indicated by the invite. There is no indication whether the company will provide a public live stream, but most tech publications will liveblog the event and Apple generally published a video of the keynote shortly after the event concludes.

Links: Apple

The HTC Amaze And The Samsung Galaxy S II Arrive On T-Mobile

Sahas Katta — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:03:32 +0000

Earlier this week, T-Mobile announced availability for the HTC Amaze and the Samsung Galaxy S II. Though the carrier is potentially in troubled water due to hold ups regarding the AT&T acquisition, these devices still make a bold statement. In addition to 4G network capabilities, the Amaze and the Galaxy S II both pack dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 processors making these two of the fastest smart phones on the market.

“These new products unlock the full potential of our faster 4G network and deliver the best experience yet for watching video, surfing the Web, and creating and sharing content on the go,” said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA.

HTC Amaze

While most manufacturers simply leave a one-line description for the camera, T-Mobile touts the photography capabilities of this device. Simply mentioning the 8 megapixel sensor might be an understatement for the HTC Amaze. Some paired up technologies include auto face detection, shake detection, dual LED flash, an illuminated sensor for low-light imaging, a wide aperture lens, and zero shutter lag. Other mentioned features include:

SmartShot – takes 5 images and picks the best one with smiles and no blinks
PerfectPics – creates an album by scoring the best images
SweepShot – create a panoramic shot in a single motion
ClearShot HDR – take clear photos high-contrast lighting conditions
BurstShot – rapidly snap 5 images

Other mentioned camera-related features include a dedicated camera and camcorder buttons. There is also a 2 megapixel front-facing camera for self-portraits and video calls. I should also note the rear-facing camera supports 1080p video capture.
The HTC Amaze also has a 4.3 inch qHD Super LCD display, HDMI output, a microUSB port, Bluetooth, WiFi, Mobile Hotspot support, 16 GB of internal storage, microSD expansion, and a 1730 mAh battery. Of course, the device runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and HTC Sense 3.0.

Samsung Galaxy S II

While this phone also sports a 8 megapixel camera, the selling point is rather the whopping 4.52 inch WVGA Super AMOLED display. Unfortunately, Samsung only includes a 800-by-480 pixel resolution resulting in a rather low pixel density. Including a qHD resolution could add a lot more value.

T-Mobile pre-loads access to Netflix, Slacker, and Zinio — hopefully easily removable if unwanted. The Gaalxy S II has DLNA media sharing and HDMI output capabilities. TouchWiz complements Android 2.3. There is a 2 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat as well. The rear-camera supports 1080p video capture. Users can pop in a microSD card to complement the 16 GB of integrated storage. Unlike the Sprint Epic Touch 4G variant, this phone comes with NFC support for technologies such as mobile payments. Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, and a mobile hotspot come built-in.

Availability and Pricing

Both devices will appear on T-Mobile.com beginning October 10th for pre-order and will reach retail stores on October 12th. The HTC Amaze goes for $259 after a $50 mail-in-rebate while the Samsung Galaxy S II is a bit more affordable at $229 with a $50 mail-in-rebate. Of course, as with any new smart phone, T-Mobile requires signing a new two-year contract for the subsidised pricing.

Introducing The Facebook Timeline: The Story Of Your Life

Sahas Katta — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:40:13 +0000

Earlier today, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center to announce a major revamp to the world’s largest social network at the company’s annual F8 Developer Conference. The big news is an evolved profile page which goes by the name timeline. Facebook was simply touching the surface when it unveiled a new real-time news feed, a subscribe feature, and an improved friends list over the past week.

Zuckerberg noted the information section of a profile page would generally only consume about the first five minutes of an in-person conversation. Though Facebook quickly grew to add news feeds, most posted items quickly get tucked away under the “older posts” button. The new timeline feature aims to let users tell a story of their life. A quick timeline found on the sidebar essentially extends from the day your were born to today. Users can filter though someone’s timeline by year and month.

While posted items enter a new feed with the current date and time, the new timeline lets users inject a story anywhere. A person can head back in time to add a picture of the day they were born, make notations for anniversaries, or just about anything other major life event.

Another notable addition includes a large cover photo, which complements a profile picture, for a personal touch. It appears as though the new chat system from earlier this year and the newly introduced real-time news feed will stick around in the sidebar. While sponsored ads currently appear in the sidebar, it is unclear whether Facebook intends to slip sponsored material into a timeline.

I spent sometime messing with the new timeline interface and I have to admit the new layout is gorgeous. Though it looks much unlike past versions of Facebook, it is a next step for evolution and innovation to progress. The notion of a news feed lacks emotion and sounds much like a technical term while a timeline has a more personal touch. As Zuckerberg noted on stage several times, the new Facebook profile page will tell the “story of your life.”

Links: Facebook Timeline

Google+ Now Open To All, Brings Hangouts To Android, And Introduces Search Too

Sahas Katta — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:09:01 +0000

Just two days before the Facebook F8 conference kicks off with anticipated news of a major revamp, Google just pulled the trigger and announced several new additions to Google+. For starters, the 90 day old social network is lifting the original invitation-only system and opening up to the public.

For those who are not familiar, the +Hangouts feature is essentially group video chat with a few extra perks. Unlike Skype which currently charges for video calls with three or more participants, +Hangouts allows up to nine join in on a video call right through a web browser. Today’s addition brings this service to Android 2.3+ smart phones through an update for the Google+ app.

Google now lets users broadcast +Hangout sessions to the public. While only nine users can simultaneously participate in a conversation, spectators can now tune into the stream. To give things a kick-start, Google is hosting a +Hangout with will.i.am tomorrow evening (September 21st). I can imagine this becoming a great technology for those who live-stream podcasts too.

Other interesting features including the option to share screens, draw on a sketch pad, and collaborate on Google Docs. An API for +Hangouts will soon let developers tie in third-party services and likely introduce a handful of creative interactive technologies for group video calls.

Aside from those features, Google is introducing one last thing: search. While some may assume this is a given considering the company is the largest search engine, Google+ actually did not have the feature until now. Members can now look up people or posts. Google details an example where searching for cooking will bring up results for “chefs and food from around the globe” in addition to personalized results from family and friends which only you can see.

Links: Google+ | Official Google Blog

The Netflix Story Every Journalist Missed: Qwikster Is A Setup For Sale

Sahas Katta — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:43:16 +0000

Over the past day or so, tech pundits have ranted and raged over Netflix’s decision to spin-off their DVD business into a separate entity named Qwikster. Just a quick glance at TechMeme reveals thoughts from TechCrunch, Gizmodo, Technologzier, PC World, CNN Money, Fast Company, VentureBeat, GigaOm, Mashable, and many more. Just about every one of these stories simply reiterates on the other with no value added. Interestingly enough, there is something I have not heard being said and it is also what I am hearing from a source: Qwikster is a setup for sale.

Why? Many reasons. The logic makes sense if you evaluate the current situation. The DVD portion of Netflix’s business is getting awfully expensive to operate while the streaming portion is becoming more and more affordable thanks to the advancements in cloud offerings. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, streaming a movie in late 2010 only cost Netflix about 5 cents — mailing out a DVD easily costs 10 times more. Not to mention the USPS, whose largest customer is Netflix, continues to raise prices and there is a good chance the entire organization may completely shut down by the end of the year. Switching to FedEx or UPS would cost a fortune.

If Netflix were to continue offering DVD-by-mail, it would hold them back from focusing their on-demand streaming business. The stock price is now down by nearly 50% less since the company’s highest valuation earlier this year in July. Netflix could immediately cut losses and kill the entire DVD business, but that would cost a fortune and leave the brand name extremely tarnished.

Creating Qwikster makes sense — though a better name could help. This subsidiary is now buyable. Though finding investors or a buyer is probably quite difficult, merging Qwikster with a company like Coinstar’s Redbox is a possibility. Just take a look at Motorola’s decision to split into Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility. Google would have never acquired the latter if the company never separated.

DVDs are definitely not the future, but millions of customers will continue to use the service for at least another few years. After all, people still sadly pay to use AOL for instance. Qwikster may now have game rentals for a fresh taste, but even the notion of games-by-mail is getting old. For instance, services such as Steam or OnLive makes new titles available to download or stream, respectively. Qwikster is definitely a business destined to fade away over time, but the question is: who wants to make some money off it until then?

D-Link DCS-932L Wireless Surveillance Camera (Review)

Sahas Katta — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:13:20 +0000

While there are many ways to keep an eye on your home, just about every option comes with a drawback. Professional security systems are too expensive and consumer-oriented options are often overly complicated. Skatter Tech reviewed the competing Avaak VueZone earlier this year, but there was one major concern: the company avoids labeling its product as a security solution.

Fortunately, D-Link has a relatively affordable option which hopes to play nice with an existing home WiFi network for easy installation. A remote web interface, apps for popular smart phones, and motion detection alerts make this surveillance camera seem quite attractive too. I just wish D-Link picks a shorter name next time: DCS-932L Wireless N Day/Night Home Network Camera.

Configuration Process

Getting the basics setup is incredibly easy taking just a few minutes. I powered up the DCS-932L with the included AC adapter and opted to use WiFi for connectivity. There is an Ethernet port on the back for wired connections too. While configuring old network cameras would generally entail typing an IP address into a browser, I was able to take advantage of WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) — commonly found on most modern routers. For those not familiar with this feature, pairing is easy as clicking a “push button” on your router and the security camera.

Once connected to the internet, the LED on the front of the security camera turns green. I noticed a new item appear in the Network Devices section of Windows 7. Clicking on that icon opened my default web browser for access to the configuration panel. The interface closely resembles a D-Link router page which is not too surprising. I found tons of options to customize network settings, enable Dynamic DNS for easy remote access, adjust image/video quality, configure motion detection, set up email notifications, backup to a FTP server, and much more.

Unfortunately, there is one major flaw. D-Link fails to offer any way to link the DCS-932L camera to its consumer friendly service labeled mydlink.com for monitoring and managing cameras without using the application found on the provided CD. It is quite unclear why there is no way to configure the this service through the local web configuration interface While using a CD is by no means difficult, the requirement seems quite primitive for a futuristic gizmo. Not to mention, configuring this security camera with a CD-free computer such as a Chromebook or MacBook Air is not possible.

Features

The DCS-932L is unlike several of the other security solutions I have come across due to its simplicity. This device is wire-free aside from needing a power supply, of course. While other solutions often requite an additional “base station,” this camera can connect directly to an existing WiFi router. D-Link makes it possible to stream a live video feed to a web browser on just about any computer or to a compatible smart phone. Users can adjust motion detection sensitivity and enable email alerts.

Another neat touch? The D-Link DCS-932L has built-in night vision support unlike the Logitech Alert system or the Avaak VueZone. I was not expecting much in terms of visibility in the dark, but the incredible quality blew me away. The IR LED sensors lit up my entire pitch-dark living room and there was barely any blurriness either.

I was somewhat relieved to learn that D-Link offers the option to continuously upload captured content to a FTP server for safekeeping. This can can prove valuable if an intruder attempts break or damage the camera. The only disappointment? The backup feature only supports images — no video.

Web Interface

While there is a router-like interface accessible through an IP address for monitoring one of these cameras, most users will likely choose to use the friendlier mydlink.com service. I was glad to find an uncluttered easy-to-use interface. However, there is one major issue: viewing a live camera feed through the website requires Java.

This makes mydlink incredibly slow to load and Java still freezes up even the best web browser momentarily while loading. I also noticed I was unable to view my camera feed on a Chromebook which lacks Java support. While I am not necessarily a fan of Adobe Flash, it was definitely the way to go since the plugin has a lighter footprint and works in more browsers.

Aside from those concerns, mydlink.com lets users monitor up to a total of 32 cameras through the web portal. There is a simple zoom slider, but D-Link oddly does not provide a way to pan around. Since the camera has a built-in microphone, it is easy to listen in too.

Mobile Apps

While the desktop web browser interface could use some work, the smart phone counterparts work quite well. After installing the app from the Android Market on a Sprint Nexus S, I could tune into a live feed even when I was away from my home on a mobile 3G or 4G network. I briefly tested the iOS counterpart and the interface was essentially identical.

The app makes it possible to snap a screen shot, view stats (resolution, frame rate, and bit rate), and switch to a full screen view. Although connecting to a camera sometimes took nearly 30 seconds, quality was generally acceptable. Being able to listen in is also a neat touch.

With that being said, there are two features I would like to see D-Link include in a future update: video capture and motion alerts. Users can currently only snap an image of a live video stream and adding support for recording clips would be helpful. In addition, D-Link should begin delivering push notifications for detected motion since both Android and iOS support the technology. While email alerts are available, I would rather see a native app provide instant feedback.

The Bottom Line

Even after using the Avaak VueZone video monitoring network and the Logitech Alert surveillance system, the D-Link DCS-932L is by far my favorite. VueZone requires a base station, comes with monthly fees, and users need to replace batteries from time-to-time. Though Logitech’s solution offers the best video quality, the base price is incredibly expensive and there are additional charges for using mobile apps. D-Link’s camera is the only solution with night vision technology, no monthly fees, an affordable price tag, and packed with incredibly geeky features.

The D-Link DCS-932L retails for just $99 and works great for in-door monitoring of any home. Being easy-to-setup adds plenty of value for those who consider themselves a bit technologically inept too. While I would like to see features such as support for saving video triggered by motion detection, this security camera still provides plenty of value. D-Link can also introduce new features through firmware updates and new versions of mobile apps too. If you are looking for an affordable security system for your home with a light footprint, this device is definitely worth considering.

Link: D-Link DCS-932L

Share Files With Friends In Real-Time With Ge.tt

Sahas Katta — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:30:42 +0000

Sharing files with family and friends is easy right? Unfortunately, just about every solution has drawbacks. While free services may often seem convenient, advertisements generally infest these websites. Legitimate solutions generally require creating an account which is a hassle. Fortunately, there is another impressively simple solution: Ge.tt.

I had a chance to meet the folks behind the company at TechCrunch Disrupt and I soon realized Ge.tt was in many ways unlike other competing solutions. For starters, the website is entirely free of Adobe Flash. Ge.tt takes advantage of HTML5 even with drag-and-drop support for one or more files.

Ge.tt generates links to share with others instantly without forcing users to wait until uploads are complete. It gets even better. When you provide the link with others, they can begin downloading files even before you finish uploading. The website even intelligently prioritizes uploads when dealing with multiple files to ensure those downloading a file will not have to wait too long.

The terms and conditions state a 2 GB file size limit, but users can still upload an unlimited number of files as long as individual items meet that restriction. Not having to deal with dozens of advertisements and pop-ups alone is a good enough reason to use Ge.tt. Registration is also optional, but those who create an account have access to statistics, can add/remove files, and extend the availability of uploaded files to 90 days from the standard 30 day duration.

I was also quite impressed to find a fairly robust built-in file preview interface. For instance, Ge.tt provides a player for uploaded audio, a way to preview PDFs without downloading, and much more. I have tried other solutions such as YouSendIt and Min.Us in the past, but Ge.tt is now a current favorite due to utter simplicity. There are social sharing links for Facebook and Twitter too.

While I still use Dropbox’s public folder feature offers for sharing files with non-users, I am glad to have Ge.tt available as another alternative. Even services such as Box.net still limit file size to just a 100 MB and having the freedom to upload up to 2 GB files with Ge.tt makes the service quite attractive.

Link: Ge.tt

Some Technical Details: As for the technology behind the scenes, the co-founder of Ge.tt noted the service runs on Amazon Web Services. Even more impressive might be the fact that Node.js, server-side Javascript, powers the entire application. I was also told Ge.tt would have considered Joyent for hosting, a major proponent of Node.js, but the hosting provider had not yet picked up the technology when this service made a debut.

Dolphin Browser Makes Its Way To The iPad

Sahas Katta — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 05:47:17 +0000

Tired of the stock Safari iPad browser? You are in luck. The Dolphin Browser HD is finally available in a tablet-optimized layout for the Apple iPad beginning today to complement the existing iPhone iteration. MoboTap, the company behind this app, already has offerings for Android smart phones and tablets too. (The Android tablet app is still in beta.)

Those familiar with the Dolphin Browser will definitely enjoy features such as gestures to quickly get to websites. For instance, sketching a letter ‘T’ will bring up Twitter. A new Webzine quickly converts websites into a unique magazine layout much like Flipboard.

Other standard features include the speed dial for accessing favorite websites. Dolphin Browser HD also comes with a tabbed browsing interface for switching between websites in a single click which is a neat touch since the default iPad web browser currently lacks the feature. I should note that Apple plans to introduce tabbed browsing when iOS 5 makes a debut in approximately a week or so.

The Dolphin Browser is not the only alternative either. Mozilla offers Firefox for Android and iOS devices. Opera has its own set of mobile solutions for both operating systems too. Despite the competition, MoboTab managed to raise a $10 million Series A funding led by Sequoia Capital earlier this year. The app even made it to the #1 spot in the iPhone Free Productivity Apps section.

The newly announced Dolphin Browser for the iPad which we got our hands on at TechCrunch Disrupt earlier today does come with some limitations. Specifically, it does not have support for add-ons just yet which allows users to customize their browsing experience. Despite that, the app still has plenty of unique features to set itself apart. The iPad app is now available in the App Store.

Link: Dolphin Browser

The Motorola Droid Bionic Is Finally Available For Verizon Wireless Customers

Sahas Katta — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:58:02 +0000

For those who have forgotten, Motorola and Verizon Wireless first announced the Droid Bionic about 9 months ago at CES 2011 in January. After several delays and speculation on whether the device would ever make a debut, the Droid Bionic is finally here. Motorola and Verizon Wireless issued a press release announcing availability starting tomorrow (September 8th) for a price tag of $299 with a new two-year commitment. If you are looking for a new smart phone, the Motorola Droid Bionic is probably the best available choice at the moment aside from the Samsung Galaxy S II which is unfortunately unavailable to Verizon Wireless subscribers.

We recently reviewed the Motorola Droid 3 which appears quite vulnerable especially when matched up against the Droid Bionic. This smart phone packs a 4.3 inch qHD display with Gorilla Glass and dual-layer anti-reflective coating. It has an impressive 1735 mAh battery for 650 minutes of talk time though that will generally translate into about a day’s worth of mixed use. Unlike the Droid 3, the Droid Bionic has full support for 4G LTE in addition to 3G and WiFi b/g/n.

While some manufacturers are still shipping old versions of Android, Motorola includes the latest Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) operating system. The Droid Bionic is well-connected with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a USB 2.0 port, DLNA support, Bluetooth 2.1, and mini HDMI. The 8 megapixel camera on the back captures 1080p video and the smart phone takes advantage of the VGA camera on the front for video calls. Motorola generously includes 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of onboard memory, and a 16 GB microSD card too. Users can upgrade the latter to 32 GB easily though having services such as Google Music available make it less necessary each day.

In addition to those features, the Droid Bionic takes inspiration from the set of accessories first made available to the Motorola Atrix. These include a $300 laptop dock, a $99 HDTV dock, and a $30 web top adapter. Motorola also makes a Navigation Dock available for $40 and a Battery Dock for $50. Those looking for an in-depth review should stick around as we are getting our hands on a unit anytime now.

Links: Motorola | Verizon Wireless

Reddit Becomes Reddit, Inc. And Begins Breaking Away From Conde Nast

Sahas Katta — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:28:39 +0000

After Condé Nast acquired Reddit five years ago, the publisher often struggled to allocate an appropriate amount of resources to ensure its social news site could flourish. Despite that, Reddit has grown from having 700k page views a day to just as much traffic in 15 minutes according to the company’s official blog. To keep up with the rapid growth, Reddit is breaking away from being a division of Condé Nast and becoming reddit inc.

With that being said, Advance Publications will still retain ownership of Reddit. The same organization also owns Condé Nast. Though Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian left the company several years ago, he will serve as one of board member advising the company. Reddit is also on the search for a new CEO who will ideally help foster even more growth and bring in more employees as well. More importantly, the following statement caught my eye:

The reddit team, our Board, our informal advisors, and many in the reddit community sincerely believe that reddit has the potential, over the next generation, to positively impact journalism, civic engagement, fundraising, product development, and learning.

It is clear that Reddit is becoming one of the most powerful social news sites if not the most. It is already one of the top 50 most visited websites in the U.S. according to Ohanian. Reddit definitely has a great outlook, but it would not be surprising to see another new innovative service rise again as someone who once was a regular Digg user. Though this announcement adds some confidence, Condé Nast has apparently tried to sell Reddit once before. Either way, I hope Reddit continues to flourish as it is remains one of my main “go to places” for entertainment.

Links: Reddit.com

Wacom Introduces Inkling To Bridge The Gap Between Paper And Tablets

Sahas Katta — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:54:08 +0000

Nearly two years ago, we took a look at the Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch which lets users write with a pressure sensitive pen and take advantage of multi-touch gestures. For those not familiar, Wacom does not announce new products too often and the ones they do release are generally top-notch. Yesterday, Wacom introduced the Inkling which makes it possible to digitally capture anything written on regular paper with a ball point pen. Solutions such as Livescribe or Papershow generally require special paper which often comes at a price.

“Inkling’s inspiration comes from a desire to give artistic people the freedom to draw on paper and to provide an easy way to transition the drawings to digital media,” said Don Varga, Director of Professional Products at Wacom Technology Services Corp.

While I generally use a laptop or tablet for pretty much everything these days, I still head back to paper when it comes to sketching out quick mockups or brainstorming ideas. While I could do this on a computer, waiting for a heavy-duty program such as Photoshop to start-up is tedious and it is frustrating when ideas escape a chain of thought. Inkling could potentially solve this problem since users can grab any piece of paper, snap the receiver to the top of the sheet, and begin writing. The two components even store and recharge in an included carrying case.

For artists, illustrators, or geeks — the pen has pressure sensitivity: 1024 levels to be exact. The receiver is entirely wireless and operates on its own without a computer. Users can plug it in with a USB cable to access saved content. The receiver also accommodates left and right-handed users with the option to clip it onto a piece of paper in a position which does not interrupt the light of sight.

The Inlking Sketch Manager lets users add, edit, or delete layers. The program also makes it possible to export sketches to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Autodesk Sketchbook. The press release also mentions support for saving captured content in JPEG, PNG, PDF, SVG, and a few more formats.

Those looking to grab a Wacom Inkling can do so for $199 when it goes on sale “in the latter half of September.” The Wacom Store and Amazon will carry it. Skatter Tech will definitely get our hands on a unit for review, so stay tuned for an in-depth look.

Link: Wacom Inkling

Sony Tablet P and Tablet S Available Today For Pre-Order

Sahas Katta — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:55:21 +0000

Earlier this year in April, Sony announced plans to release two unique Android Honeycomb tablets in Fall. Sticking to schedule, today marks the pre-sale for the Tablet S and the Tablet P which will hit store shelves next month.

“These devices truly represent the best of everything Sony has to offer,” said Mike Lucas, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Networked Technology and Services Division. “From hardware to software and services, Sony Tablet devices embody all our innovations rolled into one.”

Unlike most tablets which feature a single-piece slate form factor, the Sony Tablet P goes for an entirely different approach. Somewhat reminiscent of the Kyocera Echo smart phone, this tablet features two 5.5 inch displays which fold shut thanks to a clam shell design. The dual-screen technology enables multitasking capabilities. For instance, users can have a video playing on one screen while browsing the web on the other. Reading a book with a page on each screen also makes for a great experience. Surprisingly, the Tablet P weighs just .83 pounds which is less than both the Apple iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

The Sony Tablet S features a more traditional form factor with a 9.4 inch display. It weighs slightly more than the Tablet P coming it at 1.33 pounds, but it does have some unique aesthetic elements. Sony touts an asymmetric design with a shifted center gravity for holding comfortably even for hours of use. The sloped shape also makes viewing the screen easier when resting on a flat surface. An optional charging dock will enable a digital photo frame feature and an alarm clock mode.

Both models run Android 3.1 Honeycomb on Nvidia’s Tegra 2 mobile processor. Sony even claims an update for Android 3.2 will be ready by the time these devices ship. The Tablet P and Tablet S also have built-in WiFi, Bluetooth support, a microUSB connector, SD card reader, and are 4G capable through AT&T. There are front and rear facing cameras on both devices too. These tablets are also feature the Sony TrueBlack display technology which supposedly reduces reflection from sunlight and even in-door lighting for improved visibility.

As expected, these tablets ship with a wide array of Sony services. Video Unlimited offers movie purchases and rentals while Music Unlimited includes access to a library of 10 million songs. With PlayStation Certification, these tablets are great for gaming and Sony already includes Crash Bandicoot and Pinball Heroes out of the box. While some users might stick to Amazon Kindle or Google Books, Sony includes access to its own Reader Store as well. Another addition is Personal Space which is a photo and video sharing service. Sony also offers DLNA support for sharing media with compatible devices such as its own BRAVIA line up of TVs.

The Sony Tablet S is will ship in 16 GB and 32 GB models for $499 and $599, respectively. The company unfortunately quietly left out any word of pricing for the dual-screen Tablet P. We should get our hands on both models for review so stay tuned.

Links: Sony Tablets

Reminder: Neflix Price Hike Takes Effect Next Week

Sahas Katta — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:30:48 +0000

Last month, we reported Netflix would introduce new rates. As we are only about a week away from the September 1st price increases, here is a friendly reminder for those who may want to switch plans.

Customers paying for the Unlimited Streaming plan are safe. Pricing will remain at $7.99 per month for unlimited on-demand content. Those paying for an Unlimited DVD plan are also safe. Having one DVD out at a time is still $7.99 and two DVDs out at a time remains $11.99 as well.

The new pricing changes apply to customers with an Unlimited Streaming + DVD plan:

Unlimited Streaming + 1 DVD at a time = $15.98
Unlimited Streaming + 2 DVD at a time = $19.98
Unlimited Streaming + 3 DVD at a time = $23.28
Unlimited Streaming + 4 DVD at a time = $29.98

The original rates were $9.99, $14.99, $19.99, and $27.99 respectively. For customers taking advantage of the most affordable plan which includes physical DVDs and on-demand streaming, the increase is a whopping 60% more. While many customers, including myself, would be willing to entirely switch to the streaming-only plan, there is one major problem: the selection of movies is very limited. New movies are often not available to stream for several months at a time as well.

Anyways, September 1st is just a little over a week away and I those who do not want to pay extra should either cancel their Netflix subscription or simply switch plans. As I stated before, the DVD-only and Streaming-only plans remain the same at the $7.99. Those with a combination of both will unfortunately have to give up the discounts. With that being said, keep in mind that Hulu Plus is still $7.99 for streaming-only content and any form of cable/satellite subscriptions cost significantly more.

Link: Netflix