May 01, 2006, 4:59 PM PDT
Interview with Verizon CEO
Posted by: Kent German

Verizon Wireless president and CEO Denny Strigl gave an interview with the Seattle Times today where he discussed a range of issues, from the carrier's burgeoning EV-DO network to MVNOs. Strigl said while Verizon has enough spectrum and capacity to take it to the end of the decade, the carrier will participate in upcoming auctions for Advanced Wireless Spectrum (AWS) and the 700MHz band.

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May 01, 2006, 3:19 PM PDT
T-Mobile finally releases the Samsung SGH-T509
Posted by: Nicole Lee

We gave the Samsung SGH-T509 high marks in our review, not just because of its slim and svelte design, but also because of its solid feature set, great display, and user-friendly controls. Sure, it felt fragile, and call quality wasn't the best, but we still liked the T509. And if that's not enough to woo you, T-Mobile finally released the phone today for an astounding $50 after rebates and an online discount. That's a great price for a pretty cool phone.

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May 01, 2006, 2:25 PM PDT
Microsoft releases Windows Vista build 5365
Posted by: Robert Vamosi

Last Tuesday, Microsoft released yet another build of their new operating system, Windows Vista. Unlike the monthly Community Technology Preview (CTP) releases which reaches an estimated half-million testers, this was a developer-only release is limited to a much smaller group of Microsoft's Technical Application Program and Beta testers. Build 5365 offers no new features and fixes known bugs. Microsoft is curious to learn whether fixing the bugs introduced any new problems before offering a new CTP version, perhaps later in May.

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May 01, 2006, 1:41 PM PDT
Hands-on: the Samsung Q1 UMPC
Posted by: Justin Jaffe

• See our First Look video of the Samsung Q1.
  
  
• See the Samsung Q1 slide show.

Samsung unveiled its Q1 Ultra Mobile PC this morning at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Starting at $1,099, the Q1 features a 7-inch (diagonal) display, weighs about 1.7 pounds, and runs a modified version of Microsoft Windows XP Tablet. The device seeks to combine elements of a laptop, a tablet, a PDA, a PVP, an MP3 player, a GPS module, and a gaming handheld into a form factor that falls between that of a smart phone/Pocket PC and an ultraportable laptop.

When we first laid eyes on the UMPC form factor at the Intel Developer Forum back in March, we thought that the concept was sort of cool--it might make a nice entertainment device for passing the time on a cross-country flight or make a decent video player/GPS device for a long drive. Despite the fact that it could run a full version of Windows, however, we had our doubts about how useful it could really be, lacking a real, built-in keyboard--a fatal flaw (in the U.S. market, at least) for UMPC predecessors such as the Sony VAIO U750P (sold overseas as the considerably more successful VAIO U50).

As we saw this morning, Samsung and Microsoft have addressed the keyboard issue in two ways. First, with accessories: a compact USB keyboard is available (along with a Franklin Planner-esque portfolio to hold it all). Second, with Microsoft's TouchPack application, which features a virtual, radial keyboard that's split between the corners of the UMPC's display--a feature we've already seen similarly implemented on the Fujitsu LifeBook P1510. The dial keys, as Microsoft calls them, have a standard QWERTY layout and are arranged for thumb typing, similar to a Treo or BlackBerry. You can adjust the dial keys' opacity, change them from black to white (for use on dark backgrounds), and bring up an alternate layout that features keys for tools and shortcuts.

We've seen this before, though. With its onscreen keyboard, the VAIO U750P took a similar tack, and we remain skeptical: the cramped keyboards found on most ultraportable laptops, and even the tiny keypads on the Treo and the BlackBerry, are simply in a different league than the UMPC's virtual tablet keyboard.

Battery life is another Achilles' heel. It looks like you can expect approximately 3.5 hours of run time from the Q1's standard three-cell battery, and closer to 2 hours when running intensive tasks, such as video. That said, Samsung will also sell a six-cell battery and a power pack that it says will deliver 7 and 9 hours, respectively. Still, for a form factor that strikes a compromise between a laptop (average battery life of 3 hours) and a smart phone/Pocket PC (average battery life of 8 to 9 hours talk time, six to seven days standby), we expect a battery life that falls somewhere closer to the median.

Price remains an issue, too. Making matters tougher for the Samsung Q1 and other UMPCs are ultraportable laptops, such as the $1,400 Gateway NX100X, which cost just a few hundred dollars more and deliver a more traditional form factor in just a slightly heavier package. Though a Samsung exec said that the company is "very comfortable where the price is," we think it's still about $500 too high.

Other notable Q1 UMPC features and ruminations:

• Sling Media has developed a special version of its software for the UMPC so that you can stream live TV over a wireless network on it; the software will be available later in May.
• The UMPC's SRS stereo speakers sounded much louder and clearer than the Sony PSP's.
• We saw a quick demo of how you can connect the UMPC via Bluetooth to your cell phone's cellular network, which begs the question: When will we see built-in EDGE connectivity for the UMPC?
• Because it runs Windows XP, the UMPC can conceivably play any existing PC game title; though with its 512MB of RAM and 900MHz ultra-low-voltage processor, you'll be hard-pressed to play anything more hard-core than the included version of Sodoku.
• Samsung ships the Q1 with a homegrown A/V utility, called AVStation Now, which lets you play movies and MP3s and access other multimedia content without booting up the Windows OS; in contrast to the other Instant-On-style utilities found on entertainment laptops from HP, Dell, and others, Samsung's AVS is based on Windows XP, not Linux.

And here's a quick rundown of the Q1 UMPC's specs:

• Dimensions: (approximately) 9 inches wide, 5.5 inches deep, 1 inch thick
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Processor: Intel Celeron M ULV (900MHz)
• Chipset/graphics: 915GMS, Intel GMA900 (128MB)
• Memory: 512MB DDR2 RAM (400MHz), upgradable to 1GB
• Display: 7-inch (diagonal) touch screen LCD (800x480)
• Storage: 40GB hard drive
• Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0
• Connections: Two USB 2.0, one Type II CompactFlash slot, VGA output
• Price: $1,099

Samsung says the Q1 will be available for purchase online at BestBuy.com starting May 7, CDW soon after that, and in retail outlets later this summer.

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May 01, 2006, 1:16 PM PDT
GameCube price drop denied, pack-in games to come?
Posted by: Will Greenwald

Nintendo is denying rumors that the price of the GameCube is about to drop from $99 to $79. Despite accounts that Electronics Boutique has received GameCube "new low price" stickers, a Nintendo of America spokesman told us today that the company will stick with its $99 price and keep the console competitive by bundling in software. While previous promotions have included games such as Mario Party 7 with the GameCube, the system is currently not being officially sold with any software. With the Nintendo Wii on the way, we might be seeing GameCubes sold with pack-in games or other treats to help get them off the shelves and make room for its oddly named replacement. While the alleged low-price stickers could be related to an EB-specific promotion, it's not one that's originating with Nintendo.

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May 01, 2006, 12:14 PM PDT
JVC sake-soaked EX-A10 home-theater system now available
Posted by: John P. Falcone

The JVC EX-A10, a home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system that utilizes sake-soaked wood cone speakers, is now available for $1,000, according to a press release issued by the company. The wood speakers--which are made from sheets of birch that are soaked in rice wine (sake) to conform to the driver's complex cone shape--had previously been utilized in JVC's EX-A1, EX-D1, and EX-D5 minisystems. In CNET's 2004 review of the EX-A1, we found "the sound was richly balanced and beyond the range we expect from compact systems, and we didn't mind the lack of a subwoofer" but that the the unique wood design couldn't "work miracles with more demanding material."

But the JVC EX-A10 has a couple of important distinguishing features from its predecessors. First, and likely the most important to the sound quality, is that the EX-A10's speakers utilize a two-way design (woofer and tweeter), which should offer a greater dynamic range compared to the one-way (woofer-only) speakers of the EX-A1. The new system also offers more than double the power of the EX-A1, as well as some of JVC's latest audio processing options. Otherwise, you'll get the standard HTIB features, including Dolby/DTS decoding, DVD video and DVD-Audio playback, and MP3 and WMA CD compatibility, all of which are wrapped up in a slick-looking two-component system.

Given the JVC EX-A10's luxury price tag, we're surprised to see the lack of an HDMI output, but the presence of analog and digital audio inputs means you'll be able to connect your iPod (or just about any other A/V device) to the diminutive system. Of course, it's the sake-soaked speakers that are the star of the show--and the reason for the premium price tag. We'll let you know if they live up to the hype when we review the EX-A10 in the weeks ahead.

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May 01, 2006, 11:28 AM PDT
GM and Daimler-Chrysler and BMW to launch hybrids
Posted by: Wayne Cunningham

Last weekend, three major automakers announced details of the hybrid system they developed cooperatively. GM had previously announced its hybrid strategy, although details on the two-mode hybrid system were mostly conceptual. At last weekend's announcement, the companies went into more detail, describing the two-mode system as using a two-mode electronic continuously variable transmission combined with four fixed-gear ratios. (In contrast, Toyota's Synergy hybrid system uses a single-mode continuously variable transmission.) The two-mode system is designed to optimize fuel efficiency at low and high speeds, with the four fixed-gear ratios either allowing for greater performance flexibility or adding needless complexity. The three automakers embarked on the joint research project to save development costs, but we have yet to see if the system will be a distillation of the brightest ideas or a case of too many cooks spoiling the stew. The initial incarnation of the system is designed to work in front-engine, rear- and all-wheel-drive cars, an arrangement appropriate to the automakers involved. The first cars with the system will most likely be the 2008 model-year Tahoe and Yukon.

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May 01, 2006, 11:25 AM PDT
Fill your tires with nitrogen
Posted by: Wayne Cunningham

With record-setting gas prices, a company called N2Revolution is selling the idea of nitrogen-filled tires for better fuel economy. Regular air, a mix of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, is more reactive to temperature fluctuations than pure nitrogen, so tires contract and expand more frequently. This increases tire wear and makes for less time spent at optimum psi, which affects fuel economy. Also, the oxygen in regular air oxidizes the rubber from within, causing more wear. Nitrogen, which is used in aircraft and race car tires, doesn't oxidize the rubber and stays at optimal psi under regular operating temperatures. N2Revolution claims that nitrogen doesn't dissipate through rubber as quickly, making the necessity of reinflation less frequent. Wikipedia disputes that claim, saying that nitrogen molecules are smaller than the combination of oxygen and nitrogen found in air, and smaller molecules will diffuse through rubber more quickly. The EPA (PDF) says that nitrogen-filled tires should cause about 3 percent better fuel economy. A dealer locator on the N2Revolution Web site shows where you can find its PurigeN98 nitrogen inflation system, but fill-up spots are few and far between, so far. On the West Coast, there are only four: one in Seattle and three around Los Angeles. Also, with per-tire fill-ups running up to $10, the cost effectiveness is debatable.

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May 01, 2006, 11:12 AM PDT
Motorola Q: what if it sucks?
Posted by: Molly Wood

At this point, it's reflexive habit to repeat, with requisite drool and excitement, any tiny tidbit of Motorola Q-related news--the latest, per Engadget. A Verizon/Motorola press conference says that May 22 could be the actual, for-real, no-messing-around announce date. So, its impending possibility got me thinking...what if, after all this buildup and excitement and hype and buzz and whatnot, the Q isn't actually that Qool? It'll be back to speculating about new iPods, just like every other day. Sigh. BORING!!!

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May 01, 2006, 10:57 AM PDT
Apple rumor reports: bigger Nanos incoming
Posted by: Molly Wood

Rumor, in the form of an analyst research note, has it that bigger iPod Nanos are in the works, with double the storage: 4GB and 8GB. Plus, analyst Shaw Wu says he thinks the Nano will be able to play video, the video iPod will get a longer battery life, and 13-inch Intel laptops are coming soon. There go those analysts, for you...always crawling way out on a limb.

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