Motorola Xoom: Complete FAQ

By JR Raphael

Has been months in the making, but it's finally here: the Motorola Xoom, inaugural Tablet of honeycomb Google Android.

Launching today, the Xoom will be the first in a flood of Android tablets set to hit the market this year. Google is essentially, kickstarting the flagship device category and setting a golden standard for all products of honeycomb high-end on the road. Android engineers actually used Xoom to test and develop the operating system of honeycomb, and is considered a product of "pure Google"--meaning that you get what Google created, with no producer-added skins or interfaces that are always in the way.

As I've covered the Xoom and Honeycomb these past several weeks, I've heard many questions--questions about everything from the nitty-gritty technical for the truth about those plans Verizon data irksome. It's time for some answers simple, straight forward. Here's a Q&A style guide to everything you need to know.

What is the Motorola Xoom?

Come on--which is just too easy. The Motorola Xoom is an Android-based Tablet that runs on a new platform from Google honeycomb.

As the Motorola Xoom is different from previous Android tablets, similarly to the Galaxy?

Aside from the differences in shape, Honeycomb--debuting on Xoom operating system--is the first version of Android that Google actually built with tablet in mind. The software was written from the ground up to optimize the Android experience for larger screen devices.

With honeycombs, hardware devices, buttons are gone and replaced with screen buttons that change location based on your orientation. There is a whole new notification system that puts desktop-style warnings at the bottom of the screen. Multitasking the Android system is revamped to make it easier to switch between running applications. And speaking of apps, honeycomb allows developers to divide their programs into several panes--as in the Gmail app of honeycomb, where you can scroll through actively through the your Inbox while simultaneously viewing (and scrolling) individual messages.

Put simply, is a very different--and if you ask me, a drastically improved. Check out my honeycomb Android impressions for a deep dive experience Xoom.

How ' bout specific hardware--that plays this bad boy have?

The Xoom has a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 screen. Works on Nvidia Tegra processor dual core 2 1 GHz with 1 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory and support for SD card for extra storage. Now, the Xoom supports 3 G and Wi-Fi connections; Verizon promises, however, that you will be able to get a free hardware upgrade that you can enable access 4 G from this spring.

The Xoom comes with a 5MP camera and a 2MP camera facing to the front for video chat (which Honeycomb natively using Google Talk Google system). The Tablet records 720 p HD video and supports playback of 1080p. It has HDMI ports and USB 2.0. And according to Motorola, Android battery life can give you 10 hours of video playback on a single charge.

How can I buy this Xoom, and how?

The Xoom is on sale in the United States as of today, February 24. Is available for $ 800 on Verizon Wireless or Best Buy stores. Verizon also offers the Xoom for $ 600, signing a two-year contract for data services; those you do a minimum of $ 20 per month.

I have to get a data plan?

Verizon is required to sign up for one when you buy a Xoom--annoying, I know--but you can cancel immediately after. So basically, you will have to pay $ 20 for a month, plus an activation fee of $ 35 (sigh). But there is no obligation to continue paying for data beyond that point; Once the first month is up, you can use only your Xoom via Wi-Fi and Verizon never pay another nickel.

So what happens if I cancel my data after the first month, then decide I want to re-enable it? You will get charged everytime turn data?

I've been wondering what very me (as a coincidence!). Yesterday I checked with Verizon Wireless. The answer annoying is that Yes, they will charge you $ 35 every time you reactivate the service data--even if you only for casual here and there. So you can turn on your data plan as you need, but you must pay this fee each time.

Go ahead and take a moment to give a single finger salute. I'll wait.

There should be a Xoom Wi-Fi-only, too?

Yes--but not yet here. Motorola CEO Sanjay JHA mobility said that a Wi-Fi-only Xoom will sell for about $ 600; He did not say, but when it starts. So if you want the Xoom now you spring for the full 3 G/4 G, even if you're planning to use it only on Wi-Fi; otherwise, you can expect, but is anyone's guess, the wait time might be.

Can I use my data plan only mobile phone to get my Xoom online?

Perhaps. Wire standard Android--where you use a program like PdaNet to connect your phone to another device via USB or Bluetooth--no will do the trick, as those connections require a Windows-based client or Mac at work.

If you are able to create a wireless hotspot from your phone, though--or by subscribing your hotspot option or Manager going underground path and rooting phone--then Yes, you can use that connection to get the Xoom online. It is no different than Xoom's connection to any other wireless hotspots.

What is with all this talk about Flash? Flash will support Xoom or not?

The Xoom will support Flash, but not immediately; Adobe is still putting the finishing touches on his software Flash Player 10.3, who needs the Xoom to play Flash-based content. Adobe promises, however, that the software will be sent to Xoom, as updating over-the-air "within weeks" today's launch.

I have to get the Xoom or wait for one of the other upcoming tablets?

My friend, who is a sensitive issue; I take a stab at answering here.

Okay, Mr. Smartypants, tell me this: you can eat the Motorola Xoom?

Technically, Yes, but it is not recommended.

You can drop by a 40-story building?

Of course, but you probably don't want.

Can you legally marry in the State of California?

Right--I think we're done here.

JR Raphael writes on Smartphones and other technologies. You can find it on Facebook, Twitter or on eSarcasm, his escape geek-humor.

Article copyright 2011 JR Raphael. All rights reserved.

Alarm research on inventories of Chip

Global Semiconductor inventories have risen to the highest level in two-and-a-half-years in just about where they were before the beginning of the last recession chip market researcher iSuppli, IHS has warned on Wednesday.

High inventories will become a great concern if it slows the growth of sales in chips.

"If growth is low, inventories of senior could cause excess supply on the market, causing prices to chip to fall faster than normal," wrote Sharon Stiefel, IHS chip analyst iSuppli, in the report. "This could amplify the size and duration of a recession or slowdown in the semiconductor market," he said.

Chip inflections and the resulting declines in chip prices hurt business, but are good for consumers, as chips are often the most expensive part of a gadget.

IHS iSuppli, which tracks global chip inventories as a way to determine when the boom-bust cycle of industry is reaching its peaks and valleys, said in a report which vendors required 83.6 days of inventory at the end of last year, the highest level since second quarter of 2008, when inventories hit 84 days and marked a peak before the market fell to chip. In general, the chip industry when inventory days peaks rise above 80 and caps when inventory drops below 70 days, according to iSuppli IHS.

Stiefel "now probably inventory levels are high by any standard," he wrote. "The significant increase in inventory of semiconductors during the fourth quarter earnings defied the expectations of a decline for the period".

IHS iSuppli predicts chip industry revenue to grow 5.6% this year. Last year, chip revenue grew a whopping 31.8 percent as company rebuilt inventories decimated by global economic turbulence in 2009 and how consumers snapped most Smartphones, tablets and other gadgets.

Global chip industry has been plagued by a regular cycle of boom-bust caused in part by the massive investments needed for new chip factories. Factories of chip state-of-the-art cost billions of dollars, and most companies to invest in new factories at the same time. Often these plants come online around the same time, resulting in an excess of new supply.

But since the companies have borrowed so much money to build new factories, cannot simply mothball production lines and wait for the overabundance of facilitate. They have to sell as many chips as possible to keep the cash coming so that they can repay the loans.

A glut of DRAM sent the prices of memory chips important spiralling last year. On DRAMeXchange, who runs an online clearinghouse for chip, believes that DRAM prices finally bottomed in early February, after a decline of 50% in the fourth quarter.

NTT DoCoMo Launches Slimmest Smartphone Android

Slim continues to be for new smartphone: the Medias NEC C N-04, launched by NTT DoCoMo in Japan on Thursday, is approximately 8 mm thick.

The launch follows the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S II and Sony Ericsson Xperia arc, which measures approximately 9 mm at thinnest point.

Smartphone manufacturers, production of thinner devices is a way to differentiate their products from the competition, according to Geoff Blaber, analyst at CCS Insight. Apple has proved that good design is a long way, but must be combined with a good interface, applications and content, said.

The Medias C N-04 has 4-inch screen, is 127 mm in height and width 62 mm and weighs 105 grams. The smartphone is based on version 2.2 of Android and will get an upgrade to version 2.3 of this year, according to the DoCoMo.

Other features include a mobile wallet, the ability to view digital terrestrial television mobile and a quick shot photo function that enables users to take consecutive shots every 1.1 second with 5 megapixel camera.

Users can access the Internet via Wi-Fi or HSPA (high-speed Packet Access) to 7.2 m bps (bits per second) for download and upload 5.7 m bps for data.

Pricing was not announced, but shipment will begin on March 15. There were no details about whether or when NEC would start selling smartphone outside of Japan.

NTT DoCoMo also said Tablet shipment will start again LG Optimus Pad--which relies on Android 3.0, the version of Tablet PC operating system optimized for Google--at the end of March.

Send news tips and comments to mikael_ricknas@idg.com

Microsoft ships Service Pack 1 of Windows 7

Microsoft has announced that the first service pack for Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2 hits the download servers starting today. The company had already released the final code to OEM partners before, 9 February, followed by MSDN and TechNet subscribers, customers, and volume licensing customers on 16 February, but now anyone will be able to do so via the website of the Microsoft Download Center, via Windows Update or here (links at the end of the download).

So, what can you expect from SP1? For Windows Server 2008, affect desktop virtualization platform from Microsoft that directly two new features: dynamic memory of Microsoft and Microsoft RemoteFX. The former offers an on-the-fly memory to a virtual machine while the latter provides a virtualized 3D graphics experience for remote users. For Windows 7, this is mostly a collection of minor bug fixes and updates that may have already installed, but also includes an updated Remote Desktop client which uses RemoteFX.

Still, the release of Windows 7 SP1 is an important milestone as it might help to further fuel operating system adoption among enterprises, which generally wait for kinks to be ironed out before jumping on the bandwagon.

Note that users who are running an earlier iteration of SP1, including a beta or release candidate, you will need to uninstall it first catch before the final release. Instructions on how to uninstall a service pack is available here.

Download Link:
Service Pack 1 32-bit Microsoft Windows 7
Microsoft Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 64-bit

Watson gets IBM in health care (Digital Trends)

It didn't take long for demonstration of IBM the question answering system stunt Watson Jeopardy winning find some lenders: IBM announced an agreement with Nuance Communications to apply the technology Deep Question Answering of Watson in the healthcare field. The partnership of research will also address one of the main deficiencies that Watson demonstrated in Jeopardy, Watson analytical skills combined with voice recognition technology so that the system can understand what people say, rather than having to questions put to it as plain text.

"By combining our experience of Google analytics with the experience and technology from Nuance, we can transform the way healthcare professionals daily tasks, allowing them to work smarter, more efficiently," said IBM senior VP and Research Director Dr. John e. Kelly III, in a statement. "This initiative demonstrates how we intend to apply the features of Watson in new areas, such as health care with Nuance."

Columbia University Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of medicine will work on the project. Nuance and IBM hope to have direct products based on technology poised to enter the market at 18-24 months. The project will also benefit from clinical language understanding Nuance solutions to improve the understanding of Watson medical vocabulary and terminology.

Interests of the healthcare industry Watson comes apparent capacity to process information quickly available in natural language — rather than deliberately coded for computing — and make quick connections, high level between key elements of information from disparate sources. The technology could be applied to help health professionals keep up with the vast amount of clinical and scientific research is published in the healthcare field every day; looking ahead, Watson technology could be applied to some of the questions that have been long expected for so-called "strong AI" systems such as drug interactions, and diagnosis in real time.

[Image: IBM]

Russia's Putin criticizes YouTube video of customs officials (Reuters)

Moscow (Reuters)-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticised Wednesday, a group of Customs officers to a video posted on YouTube clips that celebrate the lifestyle luxurious they say comes with their Government jobs.

The fake http://link.reuters.com/dyt97r rap video made in the city of Vladivostok on the Pacific port customs officials in sunglasses, driving a Rolls Royce and drinking champagne surrounded by scantily clad women.

"You can't even imagine how fun customs officials," official sing in the choir as one woman topless clutches customs forms for your breasts.

No action discipline has kept up to date against the officers who posted the video, but the primary leader of Putin, Russia, sentenced ironic look video full of bling corruption.

"Discipline is necessary in several divisions, we have to raise it a bit," Putin said in a meeting with the head of the Federal Customs Service.

"I like to joke and laugh a bit myself, but this kind of creativity must be saved for a talent show," said Mr Putin, who suggested that he may run for President in 2012.

Average monthly salary for customs officials--$ 1,000--is also the size of the average bribe in Russia, according to a recent report by Vedomosti financial daily.

Russians complain corruption and bribes to government officials to carry out the procedures and standard customs service is perceived as a big offender.

From cars to wine, imports are sought in Russia and often cost at least twice as much as in the country of origin.

Corruption is also considered the greatest obstacle to doing business in Russia, and investors have asked for more measures to combat the growing problem.

Berlin based graft watchdog Transparency International ranks Russia 154th individual out of 178 countries in a corruption perception index, putting it on par with Laos and Cambodia.

Government jobs are among the most sought after and often are sold for thousands of dollars in Russia, where bureaucrats modest incomes often complete with sometimes huge bribes.

Some site visitors praised the YouTube video, including a suggestion that they should go on tour. Other vehement derided and criticized the idea of the clip.

"What tour? Make more on tangents that each star. There is a flow of goods through Vladivostok derive China, they are literally raking the money, "said one person that you are identified as GiusAppuleiusDiocles.

President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday sent a draft law to Parliament by increasing fines for officials caught taking bribes of up to 100 times the size of corrupt the original.

Many Russians say pay bribes has become a regular feature in almost every sphere of life, to provide care in the health sector to achieve better marks at University or circumvent sanctions by the traffic police. Bigger bribes are paid by the companies to secure contracts or any other business.

(Editing by Jon Boyle)

3D design models on your IPad with 3D Studio Verto

If you are a 3D modeler iPad-toting, Michael l. Farrell Verto Studio 3D could be what you need for those times that you're on the go.

Verto Studio 3D modeling is a complete application designed to provide many of the features in the 3D desktop software. It combines 3D modeling, lighting and texture mapping with touch interface of iPad and offers useful features such as real-time dynamic lighting, Gouraud shading, lighting, self, changing angles and Summit, an unattended Setup mode to simultaneously manipulate all objects in the scene. Also supports the import and export OBJ format files, then you can use your existing wire mesh templates or create your own app.

In contrast with complex interfaces of typical 3D modeling software, the menu bar of Verto Studio 3D sports a buttons 15 relatively low. A group of six keys--Cars, Pan, rotate, scale, move, and select--motion controls, while the other eight--Add Undo, frame, object, Material Properties, clone, mirror, modify object and Trash--take care of most of the other requirements. Leverages the touchscreen interface of iPad display, with most of its various support tools, tap, swipe and pinch gestures to fly.

Add drop-down menu item creates a sketching plane, sphere, cube, terrain, Toro and light. The trim function allows multiple actions for annulment, and the camera view provides six standard views plus a variable view, with a choice of normal perspective or orthographic projection. The drop-down menu allows a Material Properties of precision control over RGB components of the four types of lighting (diffuse, highlighting, Emitted, Ambient), as well as the selection and tiling of Texture maps.

After selecting an object, the object to edit from the drop-down menu gives you the control vertices, meshes, triangles and extrusion. With any selected light, Edit menu object allows you to control the type of lighting, position, direction, intensity, falloff, color, angle, and more.

3D Verto Studio costs $ 8, and it requires iOS 4.2 or later.

For other Macintosh computing news, visit Macworld. Story copyright © 2010 Mac Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.

Mind controlled car is exactly what you think

By Megan Geuss, PCWorld

A German laboratory in Berlin has created a machine that can turn right, turn left, accelerate and brake using only your thoughts (… and some sensors electroencephalogram (EEG) and some creative software connected to the hardware of your car).

As reported by Science Daily, scientists at the laboratories of innovation AutoNOMOS at Freie Universität Berlin first asked their test subjects to move a virtual cube in "space", giving the bioelectrical computer information such as brainwaves on every topic related to driving a car. Then, scientists took that information and connected to a computer-controlled vehicle, allowing the Steering and pedals to be controlled by the thoughts of the driver in the same way that he or she controlled the virtual cube.

Apparently the driving test, which took place on an abandoned airport runway, went beautifully, with only a small delay between the drivers think the action and the car by replying to the message of thought.

Of course, cars "self help" which include radar sensors to prevent fender benders and parallel-automatic parking functions are also in existence today. So the fact that now you can turn the steering wheel with your mind is taking this concept a bit further. Just don't start thinking to reorganize your bedroom while driving.

[Autonomos-Labs and YouTube via Sciencedaily]