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Dell Streak tablet phone launching this Friday

Posted by Harshad

Dell Streak tablet phone launching this Friday


Dell Streak tablet phone launching this Friday

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:54 PM PDT

Dell Streak tablet phone launching this FridayDell's Streak tablet/phone will hit the U.S. on Friday, says AT&T, launching at $300 with contract or $550 without.

The multi-touch tablet/phone is expected to compete against Apple in both categories, although it only has a 5-inch screen so a direct comparison to the iPad is weak.

AT&T has the device going up for pre-order on Thursday.

The Streak was originally supposed to launch in July, after being unveiled at CES in January, but delays pushed it back to its current date. Between CES and release, Apple has released the iPad and iPhone 4 to record sales numbers.

Dell launched the tablet/phone in the UK in June, to mixed reviews.

Dell says the device will ship with Android 1.6, which is unfortunate, but an upgrade to 2.2 is promised by the end of the year.

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Nintendo hits 30 million Wii units sold in the U.S.

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:15 PM PDT

Nintendo hits 30 million Wii units sold in the U.S.Nintendo has confirmed this week that the ever-popular Wii has now hit 30 million units sold in the U.S.

It took about 45 months for the number to be hit in the nation, making it the fastest-selling video game console in history.

Sony's PS2, the top selling console of all-time, took 60 months to hit the 30 million milestone. The console currently has over 140 million units sold, globally.

"More than any other video game system in history, Wii has expanded the world of video games to new audiences," says Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. "This milestone is another reminder that people want fun games they can play with others – all at a value-minded price."

The Wii sells for $199 or even less if you get the right bundle.

Worldwide Wii sales are estimated at around 72 million, significantly higher than the 41 million number for the Xbox 360 and the 36 million for the PS3.

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iPhone owners have more sexual partners?

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 07:33 PM PDT

iPhone owners have more sexual partners?According to new research from the popular dating site OKCupid.com, iPhone owners are having sex with more partners than BlackBerry or Android owners.

Almost 10,000 smartphone owners were polled and the site found that men with iPhones had an average of 10 sexual partners by the age of 30, higher than the 8.1 partners for BlackBerry owners and 6 for Android users.

For women, iPhone owners had 12.3 partners by the same age, with BlackBerry users at 8.8 and Android owners at 6.1.

While the numbers could of course be skewed, (it is just a dating site and not a scientific journal) the numbers are still interesting.

The results of the survey were released along with OKCupid's investigation into what type of photographs gor the most positive hits on the site. Unsurprisingly, pics taken with DSLRs, using soft lighting, got the most positive results.

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Android phones hit by first ever Trojan

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 07:09 PM PDT

Android phones hit by first ever TrojanGoogle's Android mobile OS has finally hit the big time; security firm Kaspersky is reporting that users are being hit with the first trojan for the OS.

Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a is being sent around as an SMS, infecting devices while pretending to be a media player application. Infected users will send out SMS texts without consent.

Android owners who receive the text are prompted to install a small 13kb .APK which then infects the device. The trojan will then begin texting out "premium rate phone numbers," to other users.

Kapersky is quick to note that so far the Android users in most immediate danger are in Russia, where the criminals behind the trojan can actually start charging money to user's accounts. However, anyone with a device can get infected.

While FakePlayer is the first Trojan for Android, there have been scattered spywares created for the OS.

Adds Kapersky: "The IT market research and analysis organization IDC has noted that those selling devices running Android are experiencing the highest growth in sales among smartphone manufacturers. As a result, we can expect to see a corresponding rise in the amount of malware targeting that platform."

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Nintendo Wii 2 with Blu-ray coming next year?

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 12:13 PM PDT

Nintendo Wii 2 with Blu-ray coming next year?Over the past year, there have been numerous rumors of an upcoming Wii 2, one that includes full HD output.

Today, GGS is reporting that Nintendo is indeed creating a Wii 2, one that will feature a Blu-ray drive.

The console will support resolution up to 1080p, and current Wii owners will be able to trade in their console for a slight discount off the new console.

Adding a Blu-ray drive will help Nintendo curb a problem that has long plagued their consoles and handhelds, piracy.

GGS cites a "bashful but reliable source" in Nintendo who says the company is already beginning to manufacture the console, with a 2011 release date eyed.

Finally, the source says Nintendo will not confirm or announce the console until just one month before it's launched to "generate huge publicity and viral marketing."

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Motorola Droid 2 now official, original Droid retired

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 11:30 AM PDT

Motorola Droid 2 now official, original Droid retiredVerizon Wireless has finally, officially launched the Motorola Droid 2, although weeks of leaks have already shown customers the price, specs and release date.

The device will hit stores on Thursday the 12th, with online pre-sales starting tomorrow morning.

Motorola's new flagship will sell for $200 with 2-year contract, or $600 without.

Furthermore, once all the inventory is depleted, the aging original Droid will be retired.

The Droid 2 is very similar to its older brother, but with a few key differences. The sequel has a powerful 1GHz processor and twice the RAM, as well as a redone keyboard. Many owners of the original Droid complained about the slide-out keypad, which was off center in order to add a directional pad which was practically useless. The Droid 2 has a more centered keypad.

Additionally, the Droid 2 is silver-on-blue, includes Android 2.2 Froyo, and has a new Motorola "skin" just like the Droid X.

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EPIX movies coming to Netflix Watch Instantly

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 10:26 AM PDT

EPIX movies coming to Netflix Watch InstantlyNetflix has announced yet another licensing agreement for their Watch Instantly streaming video service. The deal with cable EPIX will give them streaming rights to movies from Paramount, MGM & Lionsgate.

EPIX is owned by Studio 3 Partners, which in turn is jointly owned by Paramount, MGM & Lionsgate. They offer a premium cable channel and VOD service featuring new releases and a selection of catalog titles from the three studios.

Movies currently offered on EPIX include Iron Man, Star Trek, Saw VI & the entire Indiana Jones series, as well as classics like The Godfather & the original version of The Thomas Crown Affair.

Right now EPIX is only available from a handful of smaller cable companies plus Verizon FiOS & Dish Network. Offering their movies through Netflix

EPIX subscribers who also have internet service from their TV provider already get access to EpixHD.com, where they can stream all the titles available through the premium cable channel in 720p, as well as some titles not available through the TV offering. Dish Network customers get access to the same content through DishOnline.

The EpixHD service will remain in place, with Netflix getting exclusive streaming rights starting 90 days after their EPIX premier.

This is a major coup for Netflix since streaming rights for movies are traditionally tied to broadcast rights. In the past this has made them reliant on partners like Starz for access to much of their more popular streaming content.

Combined with the ever increasing importance of Watch Instantly in attracting subscribers, this could mark a major turning point in the way movies are licensed. At the very least it's an indication that Netflix is seen as the streaming equivalent of popular cable channels.

While streaming is still relatively insignificant in terms of revenue, deals like this, as well as others recently announced with Relativity Media and Warner Brothers are another step toward expanding into direct competetition with cable TV.

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