SlashGear

Orb BR Released, Turns PS3 or Bluray Player into Media Streaming Hub

Ammon Carpenter, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [1]

Originally scheduled for release in February, Orb BR is out now. Marketed as a low-cost alternative to internet ready TVs and other streaming media center options, Orb BR can transform a PS3 or any Blu-ray player with a network connection into a content streaming media controller. Users simply put the Orb BR disk into their PS3 or Blu-ray player, then download the free software for their iOS or Android device and the free Orb Caster software on their PC or Mac. Read The Full Story

OnLive Player For iPad And Android Tablets Debuts At E3 2011

Rue Liu, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

Cloud-based gaming company, OnLive, has just unveiled today at E3 2011 their new OnLive Player app for the iPad and Android tablets. We've seen them demo OnLive with the HTC EVO View 4G, also known as the HTC Flyer, back a few months ago, but now the company's plan to bring internet-streamed gaming to tablets has been officially announced and looks pretty spectacular. Check out the video preview after the cut. Read The Full Story

Must Read Bits & Bytes

Nintendo Wii U Hands-on at E3 2011 [Video]

Sony VAIO L Series Touchscreen All-in-One to Launch July 13th 2011

Ammon Carpenter, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [3]

Originally scheduled for release in March of this year, a Sony press release has just confirmed Sony’s new L Series all-in-one touchscreen desktop will be available next month. Also confirmed is the wall-mount option. This desktop doesn’t have to be on the desktop, it can be mounted on the wall (mount sold separately). Sony is marketing this as an entertainment PC that may actually replace the TV. Read The Full Story

iPhones And iPads To Get Intel Chips In The Future?

Rue Liu, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [1]

We've talked about speculation before that Apple may be considering switching their foundry from Samsung to Intel for their ARM-based A4 and A5 chips. It seemed unlikely that Intel would be willing to fabricate chips not using their own technology, but now new reports from analysts reveal that Intel may do so in exchange for Apple to ditch ARM architecture in the future. Read The Full Story

Google Launches Chromebook via Game

Ammon Carpenter, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [1]

Google has started the preview launch of the new Chromebook in treasure hunt fashion. With the official launch on June 15, this seek-and-find game must be Google’s pre-launch ramp-up strategy. The game consists of clues, which are links, that take treasure seekers on a journey past technology milestones in history. The first clue was posted today by Product Marketing Manager Azhar Hashem on the official Google Chrome Blog. The clue takes you to a memo written by Tim Berners-Lee about the beginning of the World Wide Web (no offense intended at Al Gore). Read The Full Story

Columns & Opinion

More Columns & Opinion »

Verizon LTE Innovation Center Announced, Press Invited

Chris Burns, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

Whenever a group like Verizon decides to build a building around their product, we've got to pay attention because when you build a building around a product, you think it's certainly going to be worth protecting. That said, while Verizon's version of LTE 4G may be one of the greatest national treasures the United States currently has to offer, there's just GOT to be some other sorts of impressive devices inside a whole Innovation Center, wouldn't you think? That's what we're thinking about this invite for a fun day in Waltham as sent to us by Verizon. Read The Full Story

Walmart Drops Price on iPhone 4 to $149 in Select Stores

Ammon Carpenter, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

The hard part will be finding one in the store. We were unable to confirm which stores will participate in the price drop or how many were still in stock. Walmart has sold out of the iPhone on-line at $199 in both Black and White. Verizon still has the iPhone 4 at $199 with new 2-year agreement. With the Holidays so far away, we can only guess that this move was based on the mounting rumors about the iPhone 5. Read The Full Story

iOS 5 May Get Nuance Voice Control Features By Launch?

Rue Liu, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

One of the big features speculated for the iOS 5 was the incorporation of Nuance voice control features. Well, yesterday's Apple keynote made no mention of such an addition, but that doesn't mean it's definitely out of the question. Insider sources claim that the feature simply wasn't ready in time to be highlighted for WWDC 2011 and that the feature should be part of iOS 5 when it launches this fall. Read The Full Story

PlayBook gets OS Update, Not the One We Were Waiting For

Ammon Carpenter, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

BlackBerry PlayBook owners can now update their Tablet OS to v1.0.5. This free over-the-air update was announced by RIM yesterday, and is the second update to BlackBerry’s new Tablet OS. The update included some needed features like the ability to charge your PlayBook while the device is powered down. The new features look like a good addition to the PlayBook, but this update does not include all the updates and fixes we would have liked to see. Read The Full Story

Motorola Backtracks On CEO Comments Blaming App Developers For Poor Device Performance

Rue Liu, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

Just a few days ago, Motorola's CEO Sanjay Jha blamed poorly developed third-party Android apps for the poor performance of the company's Android phones and tablets. He even stated that 70 percent their returned devices were rejected because third-party apps affected usability. Now, the company is trying to backtrack those comments and play nice with developers. Read The Full Story

WaterField Designs Keyboard Travel Express

Ammon Carpenter, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

Waterfield Designs announced today it is unveiling its Keyboard Travel Express. Designed with the wireless Apple Keyboard in mind, the Travel Express can hold wireless keyboards and accessories from other manufacturers as well. Measuring 13 x 7 x 1 inches, the Keyboard Travel Express is available in six colors. It can hold the Apple Wireless Keyboard, the power adapter, and the mouse, SuperDrive or TrackPad. Designed with the wireless Apple Keyboard in mind, the Travel Express can hold wireless keyboards and accessories from other manufacturers as well. Read The Full Story

Columns

iOS 5′s App Shakeup is Nothing New

Chris Davies, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [4]

With its software-centric WWDC 2011 keynote, and none of the usual glittering hardware to covet, attention has swiftly turned to other headline-worthy Apple observations of note. In among iOS 5‘s 200+ new features, it’s no surprise that functionality previously the preserve of third-party apps has now been brought in-house. The outlook for titles like Boxcar and Instapaper has changed significantly overnight, now that Apple has refreshed its own notifications system and added Read It Later support to mobile Safari. Yet, to paint this as “the iOS that ate developers” is disingenuous.

Read The Full Story

Featured

Nintendo Wii U Hands-on at E3 2011 [Video]

Vincent Nguyen, Jun 7th 2011 Discuss [7]

Nintendo has unveiled its next-gen console, the Wii U, and while the name may be vaguely familiar, the hardware has undergone a significant revolution. Gone is the Wiimote, to be replaced by tablet-style touchscreen controllers with their own front-facing cameras. We’ve been playing with the Wii U here at E3 2011; check out our first impressions after the cut.