Full FeedHTC Hero has a nifty new Android interface that makes a lot of Sense
After much leaking and speculation, HTC has finally given up the goods on the new Android phone, the Hero. Those details offer some nifty peeks at their new interface, which appropriately enough, is called “Sense.” Did I mention it is the first Android phone with Flash? Yeah. Nice.
Granted, some of the hardware is a little bit more impressive on the Hero than what we had with the Dream or the Magic, but the real catch is the software. Sense not only has a new widget interface, but even more impressive is the fact that it brings Android up to speed with some of the features on the oh so touted iPhone and Palm Pre. For example, you’ve got system-wide search and social network integration built in including Flickr and Facebook.
The phone itself comes with a 3.2-inch HVGA screen, which is coated with an anti-print Teflon treatment (there’s a bonus in and of itself!). Inside is Qualcomm’s MSM7200A processor running Android at 528MHz, 512MB/288MB ROM/RAM. Also included is a generous five megapixel camera, AGPS, a gravity sensor, a digital compass, a dedicated search button (to go with that system-wide search), and even a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
As for the Flash, it is going to come with Flash Lite 3.1. So, it will be able to deal with anything written with ActionScript 2.0 and be able to cope nicely with interactive content and streaming online video and audio. Now, since Adobe says about 80% of all online videos are delivered in Flash, this is kind of important. And yet, the iPhone still doesn’t support Flash. Wonder what they are waiting for? If you’d like to see a demo of the Hero working with Flash, you can check it out here.
As for availability, we won’t be seeing the Hero in the States until “later this year,” although Europe can expect it in July, and Asia later this summer.
Read: [Product Page]
RelatedOn Alan Turing’s birthday, we look back at great moments in technology
Remember your first time? No, not that one you pervert. Your first time on the Internet or even using a computer.
After all the years, through all the changes, it began with what was never even meant to be a computer by a brilliant man. Today, we tip our hats to Mr. Alan Turing on his birthday. Modern computing would not be what it is without him. Let’s take a look back at some great leaps in technology.
Alice.com wants to make sure you never run out of toilet paper again
Alice.com just launched in beta mode after first making announcements hinting it was coming way back in November. Alice is a website that promises consumers “free shipping, saving you time, and making sure you never run out of bathroom tissue.” Now, there is one heck of a marketing slogan.
So, will their promise hold true? Well, the shipping is indeed free. It saves times in the fact that you can do your shopping in your bedroom in your jammies at three a.m. and not have to run to three different stores to get Fido’s food, your kid’s DS batteries, and that shampoo that your wife likes. And as for the never running out of toilet paper? Well, Alice even has this nifty reminder feature that lets you know when you might be running low and reminds you it just may be time to order some more.
Alice is brought to you by the founders of the social shopping network Jellyfish, which was bought by Microsoft in 2007. So, it could be presumed that the makers aren’t total peabrains.
At its most basic, Alice.com is an ecommerce website for household essentials. It gives you recommendations based on who lives in your household. So, if you don’t have children, it won’t recommend baby shampoo. Or, if you are a guy living alone, it probably won’t suggest those dreaded female products. The recommendations Alice makes appear as little bathroom ducks (a tad cutesy).
When you click on a duck, it takes you to where you then choose your specific product. Say you need razor blades. You click on your duck. You go to the shaving section and then can select Mach 3 razor blades by Gillette. Where it gets personalized is that you can set quantities, set custom labels, and in my opinion most importantly, tell when you want to reorder. It will send you a reorder reminder according to what you specify.
You’ve got thousands of product brands to choose from. After you have set all of your products and reminders, you have a display of your shopping orders, your discounts and any taxes. This makes your reordering process much easier the next time. And you are far less likely to run out of anything.
Heck, even driving to the store costs you gas. That free shipping is a very nice bonus is this economy.
RelatedIran created their web spying monster with assistance from Western tech
Siemens AG and Nokia Corp. should be so proud as they watch the news. A joint venture between the two companies helped lead to the massive spying technology being used by the Iranian government. They’re using a practice called deep packet inspection. This practice is one that is even more invasive than anything China is doing. With deep packet inspection, it allows the government to block communications, monitor information, and alter it for disinformation purposes. And this capability was provided by Siemens/Nokia in the later part of 2008 according to Ben Roome, a spokesman for the joint venture.
iPhone 3G S activation may take a couple of days
Deja vu anyone? Much like last year’s fiasco after the launch of the 3G, we are now again seeing server problems when customers are attempting to activate their new 3G S handsets. It just ain’t happening.
Many customers, to their rather irate chagrin, are finding themselves getting the message, “Your activation requires additional time to complete. Due to the current activation volumes, it may take up to 48 hours to resolve your issue. We will send a confirmation to [your email address] once your activation is complete.”
That’s not exactly what you want to see across your spiffy new screen that you paid all that money for, as well as waited all that time to receive, I’d wager. But there’s not a heck of a lot you can do about it either.
It seems that the servers are caving under all the waves of consumers trying to activate their phones at once. Thus, error messages galore. Those lucky souls that activated their handsets before noon Eastern time Friday were able to do so for the most part glitch-free. It’s just those people after that time that are running into trouble.
Apple does apologize for inconveniencing the customer, and says even with this setback the customer can proceed to set up their handset and check out features that don’t require access to the AT&T network. (I wonder if you are still paying for this connection even though you don’t yet have it?) After consumers disconnect from iTunes, a message shows up on the iPhone 3G S screen saying “Waiting for activation: This may take some time” (ya think??)
Hopefully once all the customers do get connected, they won’t run into any of the problems folks had after last year’s launch of the 3G, where thousands couldn’t function correctly or make calls, or kept getting knocked off line for extended periods of time. Kind of makes the shiny apple appear a bit wormy.
via: appleinsider
RelatedNew Blackberry Messenger coming to all OS 5.0 devices
Looks like that hot new Blackberry Messenger (“BBM”) that everyone seems to love will be coming to all Blackberry devices with OS 5.0. And folks are lovin’ it. Previously, only select models were lucky enough to be blessed with BBM, while the rest were stuck with something that looked like something out of decades past. BGR has apparently been playing around with it on the Curve 8900, and claims it’s here for all with 5.0.
Gadgetell Review: Stanley 100 Watt Power Converter
On the go a lot? Looking for a way to keep those gadgets charged and ready? Gadgetell tries out the Stanley 100Watt Power Converter to see how it holds up for your on the go tech needs. Does it hold its own or fizzle out? Read more to find out.
ISP and music label come together for a subscription model
I’ve been saying it was going to happen. ISPs and music labels would come together to create a subscription service to provide music for users to download legally and it seems it has in the UK.
Virgin Media, a UK ISP, just came together with Universal Music Group to form an unlimited music service. Although it was just announced today, the actual launch won’t be until later this year.
Users of the service will be able to both stream and download as much music as they want from UMG’s catalogue. Of course, they first have to join and pay a monthly subscription fee. No word yet on exactly what that fee will be.
They’ve also stated that the music you download is yours to keep, although at this point they don’t specify whether that means everything you have downloaded, or just a set number of tracks per month can be kept. You never know, that might be one way they get you.
Samsung has a new Blu-ray player: What’s the point?
Samsung’s latest offering into the Blu-ray market is the SD-P4600. Very glossy and streamlined in appearance, but when are they going to give up attempts into the Blu-ray foray? I just don’t see Blu-ray making it.
This one is different from other ones out right now due to its design. It’s super thin and can be wall mounted. But although they earn some kudos for “cool design” that doesn’t mean it actually works as well as it looks.
From several reviews I’ve read, set-up can be a pain in the rear. Lots of “well that didn’t work” kind of steps to make all the features work correctly. The side-loading discs are not exactly convenient and the port compartment is rather cramped.
The BD-P4600 has built in streaming for Netflix movies and Pandora music. Unfortunately, the Netflix movies didn’t work for many people trying to get them. Instead, they got lots of error messages, without streaming any movies.
My point regarding Blu-ray is that I just don’t see how it is going to be a “stick around” kind of thing that really makes it into every family’s home. Discs are still expensive, and there are so many other viable opportunities to get your movie entertainment delivered right to your living room without this kind of price-tag attached.
Then when you have the fact that people can buy upscaling DVD players and still get good quality video on their HDTVs using regular DVDs, there goes that perk Blu-ray tries to sell.
But, if you are a technophile that needs one of every gadget in your home, now you have another choice for your product lineup. It runs about $500 and just released June 10th.
Read: [Wired]
RelatedAT&T warns that iPhone pre-orders may not do you much good
Pretty much like has happened the past couple of years, it looks like those folks pre-ordering the iPhone 3G S probably aren’t going to get their phone on the launch date. Due to major sell-outs, anyone pre-ordering from Saturday, June 13th and later are not going to get them at launch. AT&T’s internal sales system is directing staff to let customers know sorry, it’s not going to happen. Instead, they can expect their phone to show up 7 to 14 days after the order is made.
So, if you want one on launch day, and you held out on placing a pre-order, you are going to have to go to an AT&T or Apple store and wait. The regular availability is now set to begin at 8:00 am, rather than the 7:00 am start time they were previously hailing. Those people who did place a pre-order are supposed to expect an email letting them know when their phone is in stock.
For those that already have a pre-order in, you still get to join the line at 7:00 though, and let everyone else duke it out later for what is left. Best Buy and Walmart are also supposed to have them, but not until regular store hours on June 19th.
Can’t wait to see this circus when it comes to town.
Read: [appleinsider]
Related
Sign up for a free digital subscription to E-Gear and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free Hard Candy Bubble Shell hard case, adding personality and protection to your 13” MacBook. In each issue of E-Gear you’ll find first rate editorial, product reviews and news for the consumer electronics enthusiast, do-it-yourself articles, special features, and more.
- David Thomas
Who's on Crack in Tech?
Gadgetell's own version of William Shatner, JG Mason tackles the seemingly bizarre moves in the tech world. Catch his Friday column to see who gets called out this week..
Palm Pre and Palm Pixi Information
Interested in Palm? Want to know more about webOS, the Pre or the Pixi? Not to worry because Gadgetell's got the latest news and information right here.
