Apple Schedules Developers Event For June

Apple has scheduled its annual developers conference for the second week in June, with plenty of buzz surrounding its product plans.
The company announced the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference would be held June 8-12 in San Francisco. Apple will have more than 1,000 engineers on hand as it welcomes an expected 5,000 outside developers

The event will focus on the new iPhone 3.0 software as well as Snow Leopard, the forthcoming operating system for Mac computers. Although every Apple event is greeted with much anticipation in the consumer technology world, expectations seem to be running especially high this year.
Apple unveiled its new iPhone software and applications development kit last week, and some analysts expect the company to announce a new iPhone model at the developers conference. At last year's gathering, Chief Executive Steve Jobs took the stage to formally unveil the second-generation, 3G iPhone. The device was an immediate hit with consumers, selling 6.9 million units in its first quarter on the market. Apple, as in years past, did not immediately announce a keynote address for the conference. Jobs is on a medical leave of absence until the end of June. When asked whether Jobs would be speaking at the event, a company spokesman said, "As you know Steve is on medical leave of absence and there's nothing further to say." (Story Link)

Mio Knight Rider GPS

It's been a rough couple of decades for Knight Rider fans. In 1982 the show's co-star, an AI-enhanced Trans AM named KITT, stole our nerdy hearts. Seven years after the series ended, everyone's favorite talking car started a downward spiral...by moonlighting as a high school teacher. And don't even get us started on the stinking zombie resurrection that is Knight Rider 2008.

It'd be great to hearken back to the glory days of '82 — '86. Thanks to Mio, fans of the Reagan era television series can rehash this magic with the Knight Rider GPS unit. This svelte handheld doesn't just mimic the physical style of KITT's trademark dash console. It also provides turn-by-turn directions in KITT's original voice (aka William Daniels).

...and, yes. It greets you as "Michael" (with synchronized flashing LEDs!) when you boot it up.

Unfortunately, that's where most of the fun ends. Sure, hearing KITT smoothly tell me to "turn left in 300 feet" produced all the expected geekgasms. But they subsided when I realized actual streets names were nixed from the voice prompts. Another foible was the unit's POI system. As a whole, the Knight Rider GPS borrows its user interface from Mio's Moov units. This turned out to be great for simplicity and ease, but it also meant the interface's crippled POI search functions were along for the ride.

These were relatively small gripes considering the unit's quick 'cold' acquisitions and consistently reliable routing (via Tele Atlas). But let's face it — this is a pricey vanity gadget, not a groundbreaking piece of Knight Foundation tech. So, here's the bottom line: if a love for KITT (or a perverse William Daniels fetish) ranks higher than cutting edge features, this is your ride. Otherwise, one of Mio's (cheaper) Moov units make for a more sensible choice. Well at least far more sensible than watching the re-booted TV series. Sorry, Val Kilmer!  —Terrence Russell

WIRED "OMFG — KITT just asked me where I wanted to go!" Acquires reliably and routes quickly form a cold start. Slim, light, and stylistically accurate form factor. 4.3-inch touchscreen is both bright and responsive. Amusing (but distracting) voice activated LEDs can be disabled. Sports over 300 recorded names for the 'non-Michaels' of the world.

TIRED Essentially a pricey Knight Rider paintjob on a cheaper device. Only traffic capable through additional accessory and subscription. Included car charger, wall charger, and dash mount look/feel ridiculously cheap. Advanced POI functions (i.e., searches around eventual destinations) are AWOL. Lacks voice recognition capability (unlike its source inspiration).

$270, knightridergps.com (story Link)

Verizon Plans to Sell Netbooks

Verizon Wireless will start selling a netbook - a cheaper, more basic version of a notebook - as early as next quarter, Bloomberg said, citing a person close to the project.
The devices are being developed with more than one PC maker, the news agency cited the person as saying. Price and plan details aren't complete, the person told the news agency. Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc and Britain's Vodafone Group Plc, competes with AT&T and Sprint Nextel in the wireless carrier market. Verizon Wireless and AT&T see devices used mainly for data rather than voice as the next phase of wireless growth as the vast majority of the U.S. population owns mobile phones. (Story Link)

New Range of Samsung Digicams in India

Samsung India has launched a range of compact digital still cameras for the Indian market.
The new line up of digital still cameras comprises of 8 models including the flagship Samsung WB500.

"The new Digital Still Camera range comprises of Slim, higher resolution cameras with advanced features like powerful portrait technology, smart functions, large LCD display and digital image stabilization", said R Zutshi, Dy MD, Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd.
The 10.2 mega-pixel WB500 offers an ultra-wide 24mm Schneider lens with 10x optical zoom, a host of manual controls, including the ability to adjust shutter speed, aperture, exposure, and focus. The camera also incorporates both Optical and Digital Image Stabilization to help reduce image blur. The WB500 gives shooters the ability to capture video in 720p high-definition at 30 frames-per-second (fps), and with H.264 compression, users can record video for longer periods of time, allowing them to better utilize the remaining memory capacity on theirmemory card. Additionally, shooters can utilize Optical Image Stabilization and the camera's 10x optical zoom while recording video, as well as Samsung's Successive Recording mode, which allows the user to pause and then resume filming without having to save the clips as individual files.
The WB500's Face Detection technology detects faces and automatically adjusts focus and exposure to ensure better composition and image quality. Smile Shot automatically triggers the WB500 to take a photo only when the camera detects smiles on the subjects' faces, and Blink Detection automatically fires three consecutive shots if the camera detects that a subject's eyes are closed. The Beauty Shot automatically brightens and evens out skin tones as well as removes blemishes.
The Samsung WB500 is priced at Rs. 19,990.
The Samsung PL60 with 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor features Dual Image Stabilization with Face Detection technology and Perfect Portrait System that includes beauty shot, face detection and blink detection, self portrait, smile shot and an automatic red-eye fix. It also features Samsung's unique Digital Contents Management system that significantly reduces the time of the user to find their favorite photos. Loaded with features such as 5x Optical zoom, ISO 3200 and a 2.7” intelligent TFT LCD, the Samsung PL60 is priced at Rs. 12,490.
The 21.5 mm slim PL50 comes with a 10 mega pixel, 3x optical zoom function; portrait technology and Samsung's Digital content management system. It is priced at Rs. 9,990.
In the 12.2 megapixel category, Samsung has introduced the PL65 and the ST50, packed with features like Dual Image Stabilization, high sensitivity ISO 3200, Face detection, smile and blink detection and beauty shot with self portrait. The 16.6mm ultra slim stainless steel Samsung ST50 also features a 3x optical zoom and 2.7" TFT LCD, while the Samsung PL65 boasts of a 5x optical zoom and a 3" TFT LCD.
The Samsung PL65 and the ST50 are priced at Rs. 14,490 and Rs. 15,900 respectively.
The addition of the entry level Digital Still Cameras Samsung ES10, ES15, ES55 completes the new line up of Samsung digital still camera range. The 8.1 MP Samsung ES10 and 10 MP ES15 cameras offer 3x optical zoom, face detection, beauty shot and self portrait in addition to 2.5" LCD display.
The 10.2 MP, Samsung ES55 offers built-in red-eye fix and Multi slide show in addition to Digital Image Stabilization face detection and beauty shot features. It allows users to movie record their favorite moments at 30fps that can be enjoyed on its 2.5" LCD display.
The Samsung ES10 is priced at Rs. 7,990, ES15 is priced at Rs. 6,990 and ES55 is priced at Rs. 7,900. (story Link)

15 Worst iPhone Concepts - Funny

 

We've finally seen the iPhone and we're all waiting to get our grubby hands on one when they finally become available sometime in June 2007. But until then we have to do something to curb that iPhone urge so we decided, with all the speculation that was going on up until the unveiling last month, to compile a list of the worst iPhone concepts that the denizens of the web came up with.

Here you have it, iPhone concepts from Apple fans who thankfully were NOT on the design team:

Your new iPhone also doubles as a faceplate for your car stereo, in case you want to deter thieves from stealing your sounds by masking your $200 stereo with your $500 iPhone.

This either goes on your wrist, which sorta makes sense, or on on your head, like a headband, which makes less sense. I kinda like this one. If it shot webbing, then it would be perfect.

Apple went back in time to the 80s and stole the design for the Sony Discman, figuring that most iPhone groupies would be too young to recognize the Discman, or even know what a compact disc is. Remember when you could pry open the Discman lid while it was on play and see an actual laser? Ah, good times.

Hmm, this is where the remote control for my massage chair went. Let's see ... setting 2 for camera phone and deep tissue massage, please.

No, it's not mints. It's birth control. These very words were spoken to me by my freshman year girlfriend. She was a swell girl.

"What we cannot speak of we must pass over in silence." - Ludwig Wittgenstein

Call me old fashioned. I actually want one of these. When old tech and new tech combine to give you a zero sum gain, that's innovation!

Where refurbished flat-screen iMacs go to be repurposed as unusable iPhones. Where's the display, where's the keys, where's everything you need in a phone but the handset?

At least the rotary dial will prevent accidental 911 calls.

The design team went to a Nokia store and rummaged through the overstock bin of starter cell phones.

Because I'm getting too good at texting, the designer of this concept decided to up the ante with a circular keypad.

 

 

Ah, when conversation is just too much of a hassle. Phones are getting slimmer but your wrists keep getting weaker. Thank goodness for the lawn-chair design of the new iPhone. Now, my phone and I can relax as I make my necessary connects.

Looks like a glass case but it's not. It's the new iPEZ dispenser.

Texas Instruments and Apple decided to collaborate and build the world's most powerful tip calculator. If you're short on the bill, you can call the 'rents to wire you money fast. Also does square roots to the 8th digit. So nice.

Err...

There you have it, folks. The best of the worst. Most of these were concepted in fun, but there were a few we think were serious concept predictions for the iPhone. I hope those were conjured up in a nice safe padded cell. (story Link)