How Samsung’s Super Bowl ad should have been Posted: 06 Feb 2012 02:23 PM PST Samsung, have you learned nothing from the past couple years worth of advertising failures? You could have done so much with your Super Bowl ad, but you didn’t. You did nothing but brag about a stylus, and make fun of one of your main competitor’s customers. Samsung blew a monstrous opportunity yesterday to show off why people all over the world love the Galaxy Note. What they did The first thirty seconds of Samsung’s Super Bowl ad are dedicated to showing people standing in line complaining. With one of the few product related dialogue lines during that thirty seconds being, “It’s the new Samsung Galaxy Note, It’s got a pen?!” The next minute is dedicated to an old song from The Darkness, and who knows how many thousands of dollars worth of dancing and stunts. Oh, and some people are using the Note’s camera. The end of the 90 second commercial shows the Note, with a coming soon sign right next to Best Buy’s logo. If you had never heard of the Galaxy Note, what would you assume it is? A tablet with a stylus? That has a camera? Are either of those features compelling enough to drive the average consumer to investigate? Or will they be busy talking about how they used to have a Palm Pilot with a stylus? It looks likes Samsung may have left consumers with more questions than answers. And nothing compelling enough to push them to find out more. What they should have done The Galaxy Note doesn’t just feature a stylus. The Note’s S Pen is paired with a Wacom brand digitizer. A brand recognized by millions upon millions of professionals in all sorts of media and art related industries. Samsung really should have shown that off. They should have talked about how fluid using the S Pen is. And how it’s nothing like the styluses of yesteryear. They should have shown off how it’s pressure sensitive, all the different brush strokes you can use, and the different applications the S Pen works with. Then, they should have mentioned how the large ultra crisp display is excellent for viewing and editing photos and video. A perfect compliment to the level of detail the S Pen is capable of. Oh, and about that display. They need to make sure everyone knows about the rigorous testing done to make sure it was just the right size. Perfect for the Samsung exclusive technology built into the Note. Great for reading books and watching movies. Just big enough to give you a roomy tablet-like experience. Yet still small enough to use as a phone. Because you know, the Note is a phone after all. Samsung could have done a lot with their Super Bowl ad. But they did practically nothing. Maybe next year?

Google set to enter next phase in one gigabit per second broadband rollout Posted: 06 Feb 2012 12:50 PM PST Google’s plans to launch a one gigabit per second residential broadband network have been in the works for nearly two years now. After extensive testing, picking a city and cutting through miles of red tape, Google is finally ready to enter the next phase of development. In a blog post titled “Kansas City is Fiber-Ready,” Google has announced that they are finally ready to start laying the thousands of miles of cable needed to run their fiber broadband Internet: We've measured utility poles; we've studied maps and surveyed neighborhoods; we've come up with a comprehensive set of detailed engineering plans; and we've eaten way too much barbecue. Now, starting today, we're ready to lay fiber. As we build out Google Fiber, we'll be taking thousands of miles of cables and stretching them across Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. Each cable contains many thin glass fibers, each about the width of a human hair. We'll be taking these cables and weaving them into a fiber backbone—a completely new high speed infrastructure that will ultimately be carrying Kansas Citians' data at speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have today.Kevin LoGoogle Access Once the fiber is set up and the infrastructure is ready to go, Google will begin to bring the service to homes across Kansas City. There’s no specific timeline given for when Google Fiber will be ready for use, but much of the most time consuming work is already finished. We’ll be on the lookout for which areas of Kansas City will get access first.

Poll: Should Facebook sneak mobile ads into your News Feed? Posted: 06 Feb 2012 12:47 PM PST We have news for Facebook users out there – especially if you tend to use it on the go. Recent reports are stating that the social network giant is going to start displaying advertisements to mobile users, coming May. These will not be your normal ads, which normally occupy a clearly designated area. According to the Financial Times, Facebook will take another route, using what they are calling “Featured Stories.” These advertisements will appear among the posts from your loved (or not so loved) ones, meaning that ads will simply look like another update in your News Feed. It is unclear whether the ads will only be pushed toward users accessing the social network via a browser, or the app – though we assume that it would be simpler to apply this new method to the entirety of Facebook mobile. However, it doesn’t seem that this would drastically change things since it would just be a new occurrence in your News Feed. We understand that Facebook is not a non-profit organization – they want their money. Can we blame them? We are a bit torn. While it is a good way for advertising to not seem so disruptive, it is a bit annoying to see ads when expecting to see updates from friends and family. What do you think about seeing ads in your News Feed? Would you mind them if they were implemented in a way that more clearly distinguished them as ads? Or do you pretty much hate the idea altogether? View This Poll

Solve for X: where radical “moon shot” ideas come alive Posted: 06 Feb 2012 12:14 PM PST Google’s lust to make the world a better place doesn’t simply stop with open operating systems and socially enhanced web search. That’s only the beginning. They have a ton of money, loads of data and enough industry cred to pull in some of the brightest minds on the planet for just about any project the company undertakes. But it goes further still. Google wants to put their resources to good use beyond branded products. So they’ve launched a website and will be hosting regular conferences under the name Solve for X. If you’re familiar with TED, then you already have a good idea what Solve for X is all about. The conference is going to be an invite only event where people from all over the world present “moon shot” ideas on how to fix problems associated with things like education, energy, health problems, the economy and more. After the conference, the information presented will find its way to the Solve for X website. The information posted (in the form of presentations) will be 12 minutes long and include answers to the following questions: What is the huge problem you're focused on fixing? What is the product or service that sounds like science fiction but that, if made, would radically improve the problem you just described? What specifically is the science or technology breakthrough that can give us all hope that such a product or service can be made and released to the world within a decade? The official Solve for X website isn’t open to the public yet, but it should be ready any time now. What do you think of Google’s Solve for X project, is it a step forward for radical idea organization? Or should Google be focusing on things like Android and Chrome?

Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S III to be 7 mm thin, might be announced next month Posted: 06 Feb 2012 11:58 AM PST There is no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S devices are among the most popular in the Android ecosystem. It is about to be that time of the year when the next in the series is revealed, and an announcement should be coming anytime. It might not be during Mobile World Congress, but rumors are already spreading. And today we have a flurry of rumored specs, as well as a possible announcement date for you. According to ET News sources, the Galaxy S II successor will have a quad-core processor, LTE connectivity and Android 4.0. These rumored specs do not surprise us, though. These specs, along with a 12 MP rear-facing camera, a Super AMOLED HD display, and 2 GB of RAM are specifications that we are already expecting from this device. What seems a bit more interesting is the Galaxy S III’s rumored thinness, which is suppossed to measure in at 7 mm. This is a bit thinner than the 8.49 mm Galaxy S II. This is to be expected, as well, since Samsung is known to boast the thinness of their devices. But it is surprising that manufacturers are able to fit such great specs into a 7 mm device. We certainly can’t wait to hear more details, and hope to see an announcement soon. We were all bummed that we heard that this device would not be announced this month at Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona. But we might not have to wait that much more. Samsung has been recently sending invitations to an event that will be held in France. Said event will take place on March 22nd. And while we have no idea what it could all be about, that is not stopping us from getting our hopes up. It just might be the Galaxy S III announcement or it could be something related to their many other products. However, popular French blog Frandroid was invited, making people believe that the announcement could very well be Android-related. We will have to sit tight and wait to hear more about this. One thing we know for sure – Just like last year, and the year before that, the next Galaxy S smartphone will be among the creme de la creme of Android devices. Sadly, it might be a while before we start seeing them hit stores. Hopefully we see it get to the US sooner than it did last year. Now, that was a pain. Are any of you saving your upgrades for this one?

Motorola patent license will cost Apple 2.25% of sales Posted: 06 Feb 2012 11:23 AM PST After Motorola’s victory last Friday, Apple was forced to remove multiple iPads and iPhones from its German online store. Apple was able to quickly put them back up, after asking Motorola for a patent licensing deal. It has just been discovered that Motorola is willing to work with Apple on this, but for quite a substantial price. According to a document discovered by FOSS Patents, Motorola is asking for 2.25% in royalties. The exact details are still unclear, so it is unknown whether this will apply only to affected devices or not. Such included the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and all 3G-enabled iPads. Regardless, Apple is one of the most successful companies in the industry, so 2.25% will amount to many, many millions of dollars should they accept. Apple is not keeping its arms crossed, though. They know that the tension between Apple and Android manufacturers is strong, and Motorola could be biased against the Cupertino giant. Apple has recently requested information about Motorola’s deals with other companies, in an attempt to prove that such a percentage is too high. Said manufacturers include Nokia, HTC, LG and Ericsson. Stay tuned to see how this one unfolds, and we will definitely stay on top of it. This is just the beginning of the retaliation. With Google set to protect Android manufacturers from the patent wars, along with the acquisition of Motorola, things are looking bright for the future. What do you guys say? Is 2.25% really too much? Do you believe Apple (and company) will be less likely to bother Android manufacturers after a few court losses?

Leaked images give us a closer look at the HTC Ville Posted: 06 Feb 2012 11:19 AM PST New images of the HTC Ville have been spotted, giving us a closer look at the exterior of the device. Anyone who has owned an HTC device in the past year and a half will immediately recognize the unibody aluminum casing and HTC’s unique styling. As we’ve mentioned in the past, the HTC Ville features many of the design characteristics of the HTC Desire S which seems appropriate given that the Ville will most likely be the natural replacement for last year’s mid-range handset. The Ville’s spec sheet includes a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 chip, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, 1650 mAh battery and an 8 megapixel shooter capable of recording video in 1080p and a 3 megapixel front-facing camera. We’ve played around with the colors a little on some of the images so that you can get a better look at the front of the HTC Ville. Just like what we saw in the leaked HTC Ville video last week, the handset features three capacitive buttons (back, home, menu) underneath the 4.3-inch qHD display. This is a departure from HTC’s typical button layout which currently includes a dedicated search button. The front side of the Ville is fairly plain, featuring a wide speaker grill above the display with a prominent 3 megapixel front-facing camera directly to the right of it. Gallery The right side of the phone sports the volume rocker and the left side features the device’s power port which is a perfect location if HTC plans on making a desktop dock of the Ville. The back side of the Ville is plain as well with a single LED flash accompanying the 8 megapixel camera at the top and two rubber sections which most likely house the handset’s antenna. The most noticeable difference between the HTC Ville and most of HTC’s current devices is the device’s 8mm thick body. We know that many Android manufacturers are in a race to produce the thinnest smartphone on the planet, but we doubt any of them will feel as solid as the Ville with its aluminum shell. Below is a leaked video of the HTC Ville which shows of HTC Sense 4.0 running on Android 4.0. We’re only three weeks away from the official unveiling of the HTC Ville at Mobile World Congress. All we really need now is an official launch date, price and we should be all set. Would any of you buy the HTC Ville if your favorite service provider decided to sell the phone for $200?

Verizon and Redbox to bring physical and streaming video service in 2012 Posted: 06 Feb 2012 07:25 AM PST Verizon and Redbox have announced this morning that they plan on bringing a Netflix competitor to market in 2012 via a joint venture between the two companies. Verizon will be the majority shareholder in the joint venture with a 65% ownership stake to Redbox’s 35%. The service would provide both physical media (DVDs and Blu-Rays) and online streaming video to subscribers, though whether these would be lumped together or sold as separate packages (a la Netflix) has not yet been announced. Also missing from this morning’s press release is any word on pricing. The cheapest physical plus streaming option on Netflix is $16 per month, and we don’t expect the Verizon-Redbox offering to differ much from that number. Verizon-Redbox will offer support for mobile devices, though whether or not non-Verizon branded devices will be able to get in on the action remains to be seen. Though the announcement certainly brings up more questions than it answers, one thing’s for sure: by the end of the year, consumers will have yet another choice when it comes to their video media consumption. We’ll bring you more details of the Verizon-Redbox joint venture as new information becomes available. Show Press Release Verizon and Coinstar’s Redbox Form Joint Venture to Create New Consumer Choice for Video Entertainment Joint Venture Will Offer the Best of Both Worlds – Physical and Digital – to All Consumers Nationwide NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon and Coinstar, Inc. today announced the formation of a joint venture that will create a new choice for quality- and value-conscious consumers seeking a simple and affordable way to access the video entertainment they crave. The venture’s services will offer all of the convenience, simplicity and value of Redbox® new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc® rentals combined with a new content-rich video on-demand streaming and download service from Verizon. The joint venture plans to introduce the product portfolio in the second half of 2012. It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer. Additional brand and product information will be revealed in the coming months. “When you consider the core elements the parties bring to this venture – our powerful brands; our national rental kiosk footprint; our anytime, anywhere network presence; and our mutual commitment to customer-focused innovation – it’s clear that Verizon and Redbox are a powerful entertainment team,” said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon consumer and mass business markets. “Consumers rely on Redbox for the latest new release movies at a great value, and our joint venture with Verizon will enable us to bring them even more value by offering expanded content offerings and greater flexibility for how and when they enjoy entertainment,” said Paul Davis, chief executive officer of Coinstar, Inc. “This alliance is the result of a deliberate and strategic process to identify a partner who shares our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to consumers. We look forward to rolling out the shared benefits this venture will bring to consumers, retailers, and shareholders.” This venture between Verizon and Redbox will create the kind of national multi-platform product that customers are demanding from video entertainment service providers. It will leverage Verizon’s industry-wide relationships with entertainment content providers, its advanced cloud computing technologies and state-of-the-art IP network infrastructure to distribute video on-demand content to its customers. “The joint venture will combine the accessibility and value of Redbox with Verizon’s vision for a borderless lifestyle – where consumers easily accomplish what they want or need to do, on their terms, through the power of the network,” said Mudge. “Together, we are erasing old technology boundaries, freeing people to spontaneously enjoy the entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the devices and media they prefer, at home or away.” By offering instantly available online and mobile content with immediate access to physical media through rental kiosks, Verizon and Redbox will be uniquely positioned to deliver the best of both worlds – digital and physical – to consumers across the country. The joint venture is a limited liability company with Verizon holding a 65 percent ownership share and Redbox holding a 35 percent ownership share at the outset.

Android 4.0.4 update for Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus now unofficially available Posted: 06 Feb 2012 05:50 AM PST Enjoy living on the edge? If so, you’ll probably be excited to hear that the Android 4.0.4 update for the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus  is unofficially available for consumption. We’re not exactly sure when Verizon will be pushing out this latest Android update to the phone, but if you simply can’t wait you can always take matters into your own hands. To flash the Android 4.0.4 update to the Verizon Galaxy Nexus you don’t need root access but you will need an unlocked bootloader. For more details, check out the source link below. So what’s included in the Android 4.0.4 update? Not much really. The unofficial changelog below mostly includes bug fixes and performance improvements. While we all like new features in our android updates, I guess we can’t complain as long as Google is working to make Android smoother by squashing a few bugs. Check out the the unofficial Android 4.0.4 changelog below. If you’re one of the brave souls who likes to flash leaked builds, let us know how the update works on your Galaxy Nexus and if you notice any other features or improvements.  Unofficial Android 4.0.4 changelog Performance improvements Battery stats bug fixed Long-pressing on a blank spot on the last page of app tray bug is gone 3G/4G radio switch improvements Signal strength improvements New PRIMELA03 Bootloader Boot up time reduced Auto-brightness smooth transition change Camera refocus by long-pressing shutter button Multitouch issue resolved Autorotate speed increased Browser performance improvements Recent apps list opens faster Minor camera UI changes Increased volume Keyboard bug fixes Updated News & Weather app UI Quick controls changed in browser.

HTC’s Q4 2011 revenue of $3.48 Billion falls short of analyst projections, Q1 2012 projection revised downward Posted: 06 Feb 2012 05:42 AM PST HTC is the latest company with Android ties to announce its fourth quarter 2011 earnings this morning. The Taiwanese handset maker pulled in 102.4 billion Taiwanese dollars (about $3.48 billion USD), with earnings per share (EPS) of 13.06 Taiwanese Dollars ($0.44). Analysts had expected revenue of 144.6 billion Taiwanese dollars, and EPS of 17.03. HTC’s earnings numbers come after two quarters of stellar revenues, with the company taking in 135.82 billion Taiwanese dollars in Q3. HTC attributes it’s soft 4th quarter to a product cycle transition, as the handset maker is hard at work on new products and saw only a few new devices released in the quarter. Things aren’t looking up for HTC in the immediate term, as HTC has announced its Q1 2012 projected revenue of 65 to 70 billion Taiwanese dollars, well below the near 90 billion analysts were expecting. Still, HTC has made a name for themselves as a maker of high-quality Android devices, and have several new devices that should be announced at Mobile World Congress later this month in Barcelona. With all luck, HTC could be back to it’s money-raking ways come Q2.