FocuSoft Tech Blog |
- Highlights from the ‘1984′ lawsuit against Amazon
- Firefox hits a billion
- Coconut headphone mod makes us long for Kokomo
- iriver reportedly working up Android-based K2 media player
- Acer Predator ASG7710-A41 gaming PC shows up in Japan
- Captain Obvious reports: AT&T sees surge in WiFi use post-iPhone OS 3.0
- Hawking Easy-Link data share cable throws in USB hub
- I Quit The iPhone
- Lenovo slips out IdeaPad U450p, won’t let you order one
- Lenovo IdeaPad U450p 14-inch ultrathin teases with banner
| Highlights from the ‘1984′ lawsuit against Amazon Posted: 31 Jul 2009 12:35 PM PDT
Here are a few highlighted quotes from the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Seattle. – “[Plaintiffs] bring this class action complaint against defendants Amazon.com, Inc. and Amazon – “Amazon not only deleted the e-books,but also rendered useless any electronic notes and annotations that consumers had made within these e-books because the notes were no longer tied to the referenced or highlighted text. Amazon then refunded the purchase price to these consumers.” – “Amazon never disclosed … that it possessed the technological ability or right to remotely delete digital content purchased through the Kindle Store from Kindles or iPhones.” – “As part of his studies of ‘1984,’ Mr. Gawronski had made copious notes in the … because they no longer referenced the relevant parts of the book. The notes are still accessible on the Kindle 2 device in a file separate from the deleted book, but are of no value. For example, a note such as "remember this paragraph for your thesis" is useless if it does not actually reference a specific paragraph. By deleting ‘1984′ from Mr. Gawronski's Kindle 2, this is the position in which Amazon left him. Mr. Gawronski now needs to recreate all of his studies.” – “On or about July 17, 2009, Mr. Bruguier contacted Amazon.com with the statement: ‘I would like to keep the title 1984. I like this book.’ On July 17, 2009 at 1:28 p.m., he received an email response to his comment from Amazon.com Customer Service, which stated in relevant part: "I understand that you're upset, and I regret that we haven't been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction. Unfortunately, we won't be able to offer any additional insight or action on these matters." – “[Suit alleges that] Amazon violated [The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act] by intentionally accessing Plaintiffs' Kindles, protected computers, without authorization, and as a result, caused damage to Plaintiffs' Kindles by remotely deleting content stored on them. ” – “Amazon's conduct has caused a loss to one or more persons during any one-year period aggregating at least $5,000 in value in real economic damages.” – “Amazon's unlawful access to Plaintiffs' Kindles and digital content has also caused Plaintiffs irreparable injury. Unless restrained and enjoined, Amazon will continue to commit such acts.” [via LATimes.com]
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| Posted: 31 Jul 2009 09:00 AM PDT
The download counter rolled over within the last hour. Quite a feat for a browser that unlike Microsoft’s Internet Explorer or Apple’s Safari is run by a nonprofit organization with fewer than 250 employees. Despite its lack of big corporation backing — or maybe partially because of that lack — Firefox has become hugely popular worldwide. But it couldn’t have gotten there on good feelings alone. The free browser that debuted in 2004 consistently gets high marks for speed, efficiency, adaptability and user-friendliness. Also, Firefox is built on open source software, which means that its programming code is accessible to developers who want to make compatible, collaborative products, and even participate in the further development of the browser. More than 1,000 volunteers have indeed contributed to Firefox’s code and about 20,000 test daily updates. – David Colker [via LATimes.com]
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| Coconut headphone mod makes us long for Kokomo Posted: 31 Jul 2009 04:01 AM PDT
You knew somebody would do it, and now you’re just downtrodden that said somebody isn’t you. Yes friends, the gadget you see above really is a pair of working headphones with coconut halves for earcups. We already got word that Dave Chappelle’s crack-infused twin fully approves, but we’re still waiting for Dr. Dre to give us the all-clear before we deem them “street credible.” [Via MAKE] Filed under: Portable Audio Coconut headphone mod makes us long for Kokomo originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| iriver reportedly working up Android-based K2 media player Posted: 31 Jul 2009 03:34 AM PDT
Take it for nothing more than it is (a lovely, delicious and completely unsubstantiated rumor), but word on the Australian streets is that iriver may have an Android-based portable media player on the horizon. According to local distributor C.R. Kennedy’s iriver product manager, Danny Bejanoff, the outfit is looking to take on Apple’s iPod touch directly, with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, WiFi, built-in web browser, accelerometer, Bluetooth, a digital TV tuner and Google’s Android OS running the show. Sadly, it seems as if this pipe dream has yet to receive the proper final approvals, but we’re here to beg the brilliant designers at iriver to invest whatever it takes to make this so-called K2 a reality. Oh, and just in case that wasn’t enough for you, Mr. Bejanoff also noted that the firm was working up a new e-reader and internet tablet, both of which should be out for testing in short order. Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video iriver reportedly working up Android-based K2 media player originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Acer Predator ASG7710-A41 gaming PC shows up in Japan Posted: 31 Jul 2009 03:09 AM PDT Acer Japan have announced a new version of their Predator desktop gaming PCs, the ASG7710-A41. Fitted with Intel's 3.06GHz Core i7-950 processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory (with up to 12GB supported) and twin NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1GB video cards, the Aspire G Predator comes bundled with Acer's G15 keyboard and G9 mouse.
There's also Intel's X58 Express chipset, a 1TB 7,200rpm SATA hard-drive and a Blu-ray drive. Ports include eleven USB 2.0, two eSATA, four DVI-D outputs and two gigabit ethernet, together with a multi-format memory card reader. It'll all be squeezed into Acer's "distinctive" Predator casing, complete with articulated front panel. No word on specific release dates, not whether it will cross over to the US or Europe from Japan, but we wouldn't be surprised to find out that was the case. When it does drop, it'll be priced at 259,800 yen ($2,717). [via Akihabara] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Captain Obvious reports: AT&T sees surge in WiFi use post-iPhone OS 3.0 Posted: 31 Jul 2009 03:04 AM PDT
You know, there’s something to be said about making something easy: people usually take advantage. So seems to be the case with AT&T’s WiFi connections after the release of iPhone OS 3.0, which finally became useful when users could seamlessly connect to one of the thousands of AT&T hotspots around the nation rather than having to stumble through a painfully long process on iPhone OS 2.x. According to an AT&T spokesperson speaking with AppleInsider, the amount of iPhone users linking up with AT&T’s WiFi network tripled in June, and overall, it saw a 41 percent increase in connections compared to the prior quarter. It comes as no surprise to hear that AT&T is working feverishly to expand said network in order to relieve strain from its house of cards-styled 3G network, and while we’d definitely prefer a bit more reliability with the latter, we’ll happily accept more WiFi in the meanwhile. Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless Captain Obvious reports: AT&T sees surge in WiFi use post-iPhone OS 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Hawking Easy-Link data share cable throws in USB hub Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:50 AM PDT With most people having regular access to more than one computer, especially with the growing popularity of netbooks, we're all for anything that lets you easily share files. USB file transfer cables are nothing new (if still under-rated) so Hawking Technologies have gone one step further with their Easy-Link Data Sharing Hub by adding a three-port USB hub to the middle.
The hub works as you'd expect when you plug printers, USB drives or peripherals into any of its three ports; however, plug the other end of the cable into a second computer and the integrated software will show up a two-pane explorer window giving access to the drive contents of both machines. Files can then be dragged between the two. Unfortunately, devices plugged into the hub are only available to one of the two machines, and the Easy-Share app won't work on Macs, only on Windows 200/XP/Vista. Still, if you're an all-Windows kinda person and want to easily transfer files without the setup hassle of a network, then the $29.99 Hawking Easy-Link Data Sharing hub may be a cheap way of doing it. Press Release:
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| Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:46 AM PDT
I have loved the iPhone, but now I am quitting the iPhone. This is not an easy decision. I was there in January 2007 when it was announced and I bought the first iPhone as soon as it was available. I happily bought the iPhone 3G a year later. I've proudly yelled "I Am A Member Of The Cult Of iPhone." I've been an unabashed cheerleader for the device to all who'll listen. And I've scoffed at developers who said they'd abandon the platform. But I'm not going to upgrade to the iPhone 3GS. Instead, I'm abandoning the iPhone and AT&T. I will grudgingly pay the $175 AT&T termination fee and then I will move on to another device. What finally put me over the edge? It wasn't the routinely dropped calls, something you can only truly understand once you have owned an iPhone (and which drove my friend Om Malik to bail). I've lived with that for two years. It's not the lack of AT&T coverage at home. I've lived with that for two years, too. It certainly isn't the lack of a physical keyboard, that has never bothered me. No, what finally put me over the edge is the Google Voice debacle. Most of you won't know what I'm talking about, so I'll explain. Google Voice is a a call management service that lets you determine what calls get through to you based on who's calling and what time of day it is, among other factors. It has amazing features, like automatically transcribing all your voicemails. And you can forward calls to any other phone easily and automatically. Here's an overview of the service if you aren't familiar with it. I've always wanted to use Google Voice but there's a big switching cost – changing your phone number. Too many people have that phone number and use it to call in great stories. There's no way I'm giving that up. And there's another problem with Google Voice. When you make outbound calls from a phone, it (obviously) doesn't use your Google Voice phone number, so recipients don't know it's you calling. Those were two hurdles I wasn't willing to jump over. But now Google is planning on rolling out number portability, so I can move my mobile phone number to Google. None of my friends, family or contacts have to store a new number. That still leaves the problem of outbound calls, though. I can move my mobile number to Google and then get a new iPhone account, but outbound calls won't be identified because they are on the new number. Google has a solution for that too, though. They are releasing apps for a variety of handsets that effectively take over the native dialer, address book and call log. Problem solved. I can use any phone I like, or a bunch of phones, and just choose the one that makes sense at any time. I never have to be tied to a carrier and their restrictive contracts again. Or so I thought. Apple and AT&T are now blocking the iPhone version of the Google Voice app. Why? Because they absolutely don't want people doing exactly what I'm doing – moving their phone number to Google and using the carrier as a dumb pipe. So I have to choose between the iPhone and Google Voice. It's not an easy decision. Except, it sort of is. Google isn't forcing the decision on me, Apple and AT&T are. So I choose to work with the company that isn't forcing me to do things their way. And in this case, that's Google. So what phone will I use next? Well, that decision is easy, too. I'd move to the Palm Pre because I believe it is the best phone out there other than the iPhone 3GS. But Google hasn't created an app for the Palm Pre yet, just Android and Blackberry phones. So for now I'm going to use the new Android myTouch 3G along with the Google Voice App. As soon as something better comes out, or Google makes an app for the Pre, I'll switch. And keep the same phone number. No long term contracts for me. And Apple, if you ever decide to put the hammer down on AT&T and do the right thing for your loyal users, I'll consider switching back. In the meantime, I'll just use one of many iPod Touches laying around our office to test out new apps. Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors More:
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| Lenovo slips out IdeaPad U450p, won’t let you order one Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:31 AM PDT
Hey Lenovo, that’s a pretty sweet landing page you’ve got there for this newfangled IdeaPad U450p. In fact, we’re crushing pretty hard on that glossy 14-inch display, ultrathin frame and patterned lid. If you’re really looking for candor, we’d even go so far as to say that the “energy-efficient ULV processor” and “integrated optical drive” has us all sorts of hot and bothered, but the inability to actually see a full build sheet or order a unit for ourselves is simply disheartening. Care to fix that? Thank you so much. -Signed: The Internet [Thanks, alsyl] Filed under: Laptops Lenovo slips out IdeaPad U450p, won’t let you order one originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Lenovo IdeaPad U450p 14-inch ultrathin teases with banner Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:28 AM PDT Scant details of Lenovo's upcoming IdeaPad, the U450p, have appeared on the company's site. While full specifications, pricing and release availability are unknown, the IdeaPad U450p is known to have a "nice" 14-inch display and Core 2 Duo ULV processor (most likely from Intel's CULV range).
There's also an onboard optical drive and the same lid patterning as seen on other models in Lenovo's consumer-oriented IdeaPad range. It's also likely to use Vista Home Premium. We'll have to wait until Lenovo decide we're worthy of more specifications before knowing more, however. Considering the U450p is likely sitting above the U350, we're expecting to see such niceties as an HDMI output, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and GMA 4500M/4500MHD graphics. [via Engadget] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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