RIM Tablet to be announced next week

Sources familiar to RIM's plans, claim the BlackBerry maker could show the world its tablet as early as next week, at a developers' conference in San Francisco.

The internal name for the tablet is BlackPad; it will have a 7-inch touch screen, one or two cameras, Bluetooth and broadband connections, and it's scheduled for a launch in the fourth quarter of the year. Interestingly enough, WSJ's sources claim the device will only be able to connect to mobile networks through a BlackBerry.

As far as the OS goes - and this is the most interesting bit - the same sources claim RIM will use a new platform built by QNX, an OS maker RIM bought earlier this year, instead of BlackBerry OS. Furthermore, BlackBerry is supposed to eventually move the BlackBerry to this new platform, too.

That's quite a bit of info from the Wall Street Journal, and although RIM did not confirm or deny any of it, it paints an interesting picture for the BlackBerry maker. RIM has slowly been losing ground to iPhone and Android phones in the last year, and - if real - these moves show a determination to turn things around. If RIM's tablet really brings a taste of the new platform that all BlackBerries will share, it won't be just a competitor to iPad, it will be a major test of RIM's ability to keep up with the current trends on the market.

IBM to buy Netezza for $1.7 billion

IBM Corp has agreed to pay $1.7 billion for Netezza Corp, a company that helps businesses sort through data on corporate servers.

The deal would help IBM expand in an area known as "analytics," where the company sees a major source of growth over the next few years. IBM expects to grow annual revenue from analytics services, software and hardware sales to $16 billion by 2015, up from $9 billion last year. It estimates the total annual market now amounts to roughly $100 billion.

IBM has been pushing into the analytics business through acquisitions. The company says it has spent $12 billion on 23 separate analytics companies over the past four years. Its biggest takeover in 2009 was a $1.2 billion deal for SPSS Inc., a company that makes analytics software for predicting future trends.

Netezza's software and hardware systems are designed to help companies use data about their businesses to make strategic decisions. The British TV, Internet and phone service provider Virgin Media Inc. uses the technology to quickly assess how price changes or tariffs are affecting sales.

Netezza, which is based in Marlborough, Mass., with about 500 employees, also lists Neiman Marcus, Time Warner Inc. and NYSE Euronext Inc. among its customers.

Big tech manufacturers have been snapping up smaller companies as they compete with one another to broaden the types of products and services they offer corporate clients.

Earlier this month computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. topped Dell Inc. in a bidding war for data storage company 3Par Inc.

Google adds extra security to e-mail apps

Google Inc. is making it tougher for computer hackers and other imposters to break into e-mail accounts and other password-protected services.

An additional security measure introduced recently will require typing a six-digit code after an accountholder's Google password is entered. The codes will be sent to user's mobile phones.

The two-step process means it will take more than a password to get into an account, at least the first time that an attempted login is made from a particular computer. After logging in, users can ask Google to remember that their identity has been verified on that device and security codes won't be required to get into the account again.

The system is similar to that employed by some banks for online account access. The extra protection initially will be offered to companies and government agencies subscribing to a Google service that provides e-mail and other office applications. Google also is offering the added security to schools that rely on Google to run their e-mail systems.

People using Google's free Gmail service will have the option of making the security codes a part of their login process within the next few months. That could turn the security codes into a mainstream staple, given that Gmail had more than 185 million active accountholders worldwide in July, according to the most recent data from the research firm comScore Inc.

To make it easier to get the codes, Google has created a free security application for Apple's Inc.'s iPhone, Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry and phones running Google's own Android software.

Google wants more companies, government agencies and consumers to feel comfortable about "cloud computing," - which involves storing vital information on remote servers reached through the Internet.

Many people pick simple passwords, which makes it easier for hackers to break into an account. Requiring a security code that's only sent to the accountholder's mobile phone erects a new roadblock.

Facebook denies to build its own phone

Social networking website Facebook has said it is pushing deeper into the mobile phones sector, but denied an Internet report that it will build its own phone.

Privately held Facebook has more than 500 million users worldwide and the company already has applications on a number of mobile phones that tie into its social networking website.

But Jaime Schopflin, a spokesman for Facebook, said the privately held company "is not building a phone." Facebook's current projects include "deeper integrations with some manufacturers," he said.

"Our view is that almost all experiences would be better if they were social, so integrating deeply into existing platforms and operating systems is a good way to enable this," Schopflin said in a statement.

In a report, the technology website TechCrunch.com had revealed that a source with knowledge of the project revealed that Facebook is secretly building software for a phone and working with a third party to build the hardware.

TechCrunch.com said Facebook wants to integrate deeply into the contacts list and core functions of a mobile phone, which it can only do if it controls the phone's operating system.

Facebook, for its part, cited Facebook Connect, a service to allow members to log onto third-party websites, for Apple Inc's iPhone, and contact syncing on its iPhone application as projects it has already undertaken.

In May, Facebook also launched a stripped-down version of its social networking website designed for mobile phones with limited bandwidth Internet connections.

"The bottom line is that whenever we work on a deep integration, people want to call it a 'Facebook Phone' because that's such an attractive soundbite, but building phones is just not what we do," Schopflin said.

Facebook's denial comes after Google Inc last year dismissed media reports about its plans to build a phone, and then later came out with the Nexus One.

At the time, the company said it was focusing on developing its Android mobile operating software, which works on a multitude of mobile phones developed by other companies such as Motorola Inc's hot-selling DROID device.

But Google eventually did release in January its own smartphone called the Nexus One, manufactured by Taiwan-based HTC Corp.

Hacktivity 2010 to tackle Computer Security

A major anti-hacking conference wrapped up in Hungary after higlighting protection against increasingly sophisticated computer piracy as the Internet becomes ever more present in daily life.

"The Internet is the greatest generation gap since rock'n roll," world-renowned US cyber security expert Bruce Schneier told the two-day Hacktivity 2010 event in the capital Budapest.

"The older of us need to be prepared for a younger generation that lives life on the Internet, doesn't understand where their computer or smartphone ends and the Internet begins, shares passwords with their friends as a sign of trust and deliberately lies when registering for services," he said.

"At the same time, technological and business trends point to less user control: what will security and privacy look like in this new world?" he warned.

Some 30 presentations were scheduled over the two-day conference covering topics including database protection by softwares like Oracle, MySQL, MSSQL, DB2 LUW, Sybase, ASE and PostgreSQL.

Also of interest was the new concept of Web 2.0, which includes changes in the way the Web is used.

"Web 2.0 is a technology that is used more and more nowadays," said Csaba Krasznai, a former organiser of Hacktivity who now does research at Miklos Zrinyi National Defence University.

He said Web 2.0 posed a threat not just to individuals but also to companies and the state, and it was necessary to establish security measures "based on changes within society."

Smartphones like the iPhone and Blackberry were also discussed, with Hungarian security expert Domonkos Tomcsanyi noting that they could easily be pirated with a simple PDA, or palmtop computer.

US hacker Mitch Altman meanwhile demonstrated how, with a kit worth just a dozen dollars, it was possible to remotely switch off a public television or charge any device with a USB port.

Samsung Galaxy Tab to debut on all four big US carriers

Samsung’s recently announced 7-inch Android tablet, The Galaxy Tab, will be arriving on not one, not two, not three, but all four of the big U.S. carriers in the "coming months."

The Tab will pop up on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. The 7-inch tablet will be priced competitively with Apple’s competing, red-hot iPad. Precise pricing and availability details for the Tab, the European version of which was officially unveiled earlier this month at the IFA consumer tech show in Berlin.

The specifications for the North American model of the Tab are pretty much the same as they are overseas - that is, we’re talking a 13-ounce, 0.47-inch thick tablet with a 7-inch "enhanced" TFT-LCD display (not Super AMOLED, as with Samsung’s Galaxy S Android smartphones) running on Android 2.2 "Froyo," complete with Flash support.

While Android 2.2 doesn’t support tablets, the Galaxy Tab does come with the Android Market installed, with some custom-designed apps (such as email, contacts, and the calendar) scaling to fit the Tab’s display and even switching to two-column mode when the tablet is held horizontally. Standard Android apps will appear in an 800-by-400 window on the Tab’s 1024-by-600 display.

The Galaxy Tab will also come with a pair of cameras: one in back with a 3-megapixel sensor (including an LED flash and auto-focus), and a 1.3MP lens in front, good for video chat over Wi-Fi with apps such as Qik and Fring.

In addition to Wi-Fi, the Tab will support cellular 3G data networks, given that the tablet will soon be offered by the four largest U.S. wireless carriers. Like the iPad, though, the Tab will only support wireless data and won’t do voice calls.

Another big part of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab announcement is the debut of the Media Hub, Samsung’s take on streaming media for its Galaxy phones and the Tab itself. At launch, the Media Hub will offer about 1,000 TV shows and movies from the likes of MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Brothers. Shows and movies will be available for purchase and rent.

Other features on the Tab include a built-in microphone, GPS, an accelerometer, DLNA media sharing, 16GB of internal storage plus up to 32GB of additional memory through the microSD slot, and a 4,000 mAh battery. Under the hood lies Samsung’s custom 1GHz A8 Cortex processor.

A trio of accessories will also be available, including a full-size and heavy keyboard dock ($100), a desktop dock with an HDMI video output ($50), and a car kit with a bracket that attaches to the dashboard or windshield ($100).

Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display available at Apple Online Store

Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display, which was announced about a month and a half ago, is finally on sale in Apple’s online store.

It's an IPS-based glossy monitor with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, with LED backlighting, 1000:1 contrast ratio and a 178 degree viewing angle. It comes with built-in MagSafe charging, iSight camera, speakers, and three USB ports.

This new display replaces Apple's old 30'' Cinema Display; and is priced at $999.

Nokia N8 Release Dates Announced

Nokia N8 Release Dates Announced

Samsung to add Google Android Software to TVs

Google Android Software Samsung TV sets

ViewSonic launches 10-inch Tablet PC ViewPad 100

ViewSonic has launched its second tablet during the Internationale Funkaustellung (IFA) trade show in Berlin. The ViewPad 100 runs Windows 7 Home Premium and Android version 1.6.

The ViewPad 100 is a Wi-Fi only tablet that comes with 16GB of storage and a Micro SD slot for another 32GB. An Intel Atom N455 1.66Ghz processor powers the tablet and the screen has a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution.

Additional features include Bluetooth, A-GPS (Assisted-GPS) and a 1.3-megapixel webcam.

The already announced ViewPad 7, which sports a 7-inch screen, version 2.2 of Android and 3G - is still its flagship model to ViewSonic. The ViewPad 100 is a product you use at home or in the office, and the ViewPad you can bring with you.

The ViewPad 100 will be available in October for approximately US$845.

Sony unveils VAIO 3-D Laptop prototype

Get ready for a laptop computer with 3-D video and games. Sony, hoping that could be the Next Big Thing, has showed prototypes of an upcoming VAIO 3-D laptop at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, Germany, and announced plans to launch a 3-D TV channel.

According to Sony CEO Howard Stinger, the laptop, with a 3-D button and active-shutter glasses, will formally debut in the spring. The prototypes use a frame-sequential technology that alternates between left- and right-eye views, with blank screens between them to keep them separate enough for the mind to create good-quality three dimensions. The video is displayed at 240 frames per second to create 60 fps video.

Sony is moving forward quickly on 3-D across its product line, in addition to TVs. It also announced at IFA that existing Blu-ray HD DVD players and the PlayStation 3 game console will be updated with firmware so they can play 3-D. Stringer demonstrated a variety of 3-D titles, including Major League Baseball, Mortal Kombat, Virtual Tennis 4, Killzone 3, and others.

The company has also announced a 3-D video projector and said its 3-D TV channel will focus on natural history, children's programs, science and movies. New 3-D feature films in the works from Sony include The Green Hornet, Resident Evil Afterlife, and new sequels in the Spider-Man and Men in Black franchises.

The presence of 3-D display technology on a laptop raises the possibility of third-party development of 3-D applications. Shim noted that this "chicken and egg problem," where developers will be reluctant to develop for a nonexistent or small installed base, might be resolved by "seeding" 3-D-based software. Sony has begun to do this with games, and Shim suggested other companies that are similarly interested in advancing this platform might also begin such development.

Toshiba to launch Android-Based Folio 100 Tablet PC

The rapidly growing category of Tablet PCs will soon have a new family member. Toshiba has announced that its Folio 100, a 10.1-inch, Android 2.2-based tablet computer, will be on sale in Europe by the end of October.

The tablet could capture as much as 15 to 20 percent of that market in Europe by the end of next year, says Gianluca Dianese, Toshiba's head of marketing for digital products in that region. He made the prediction at the IFA 2010 consumer electronics show now taking place in Berlin, Germany.

Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth
The Folio, expected to sell for about $500, will come with Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, Bluetooth and 16GB of storage. Toshiba will also release a model that plays 3-D video, which is beginning to emerge on portable computing devices.

Sony has already showed prototypes of VAIO laptops with 3-D.

The Folio can boot up in 30 seconds, runs on a Nvidia Tegra 2 CPU, and features a 1.3-megapixel camera, a display resolution of 1024x600, and battery life up to 7 hours. Ports include mini-HDMI, USB and a SD/MMC card reader. As with other new Android devices, it will support Flash 10.1, a competitive advantage against Apple's iPad. Apple is not allowing Flash to run on the iPad, preferring instead the emerging, standards-based HTML5.

The iPad, whose popularity has jump-started the tablet category, is beginning to acquire rivals, although no major competitor has yet emerged. A variety of companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Research In Motion and Google, are expected to release tablets in the next few months. Dell, ASUS and Samsung have already done so.

Apple's iPad success has been largely driven by its ecosystem of a large library of third-party applications that run on the tablet, in addition to the vast number of music and other entertainment offerings in its iTunes Store. Toshiba is similarly preparing its own ecosystem with music, online radio channels, and applications available through the Toshiba Marketplace, and it has said it is planning to offer streaming movies and a digital book service.

Laptop Recall
But even as Toshiba takes one step forward into tablets, it's being forced to take a step backward in laptops.

The computer maker announced it is recalling 41,000 laptops because of possible overheating problems that could present a burn hazard. The recall involves the Toshiba Satellite T123, Satellite T135D, and Satellite Pro T130 models, and the overheating reportedly occurs at the point where the AC adapter plugs into the computer. The recall is based on 129 reports of overheating laptops.

Toshiba has suggested that owners of those models should download a BIOS update from the company's web site, enabling a scan to determine if the laptop is overheating. If it is, information about a free repair is also available on the web site.