Ticketmaster For BlackBerry Beta v2.0 Available Now For Beta Zone Members

If you’re a member of BlackBerry Beta Zone, you should be happy to hear that Ticketmaster has just released the Ticketmaster for BlackBerry app in beta version 2.0. This means you can select the event of your choosing straight from your phone, buy tickets, and be on your way, all from the comfort of that QWERTY keyboard.
The app has been revamped from the floor up and now sports a nice, clean looking UI. But the real goodies lie in the updated Search feature, which gives you a few different ways to find the right event. For one, you can do a basic search by artist, teams, or venues. GPS steps in and makes sure your search is filtered to present only events happening nearby, so you don’t get all excited about some Black Eyed Peas concert that’s happening 200 miles away. Searches can also be further filtered based on the date of the event. You can choose between “this weekend,” “the next 90 days,” or build your own custom date filter.
Another cool enhancement is Calendar integration. With Ticketmaster for BlackBerry Beta 2.0, users who have purchased tickets from their phone can now sync the date with their BlackBerry calendar to stay organized. Overall, this is a nice future addition to the BlackBerry App World, and we hope it makes its way out to the masses sooner rather than later.

[via BlackBerry Blog]

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Map Trends Show Mobile And App Growth Outpacing Browsers

Location-based services and increasing smartphone sales are leaving their mark on the mapping world: mobile-based map access is up significantly, while access from “stationary” points (i.e. desktop and laptop PCs) actually dipped slightly.
It’s not particularly surprising, but the rate of growth is remarkable. Mobile use increased by 39% year-over-year by Comscore’s measure, but access via apps doubled. This suggests a nice halo effect from local-knowledge apps like Foursquare and Urban Spoon. Mobile browser use also increased, but I suspect that the gap will only widen, or the two will become difficult to separate; do web apps count as web or app?
At this point I think it’s a relatively safe assumption, given the still-primitive state of many mobile web browsers, that this mobile-browser map use is actually web-based, for example accessing the web interface via an embedded map on a restaurant’s website after Googling (or Binging) them. As this behavior is damaging to the standard “division of labor” on smartphones, it will likely only decrease due to more forceful redirection of web maps to the native mapping app (if compatible, which is another issue altogether). Mustn’t sent a browser to do an app’s job, or vice versa.

Comscore’s data also shows that nearly 90% of map users selected “driving” as their mode when requesting directions. This measurement is probably useless, considering that driving directions are selected by default in many cases, and at any rate are often identical to walking directions. I’d be interested in seeing how public transit is being looked up, however; the bus and metro apps I’ve seen are quite good, but the public sector might want to move in on them before they hit critical mass.
One methodological problem that is sure to present itself in the next year is how to quantify passive map use. An increase in active tracking (though the user is not actively requesting, hence passive) while a device is idle is sure to show this coming year, and it may throw traditional measuring methods off. Apple and Google are not likely to miss out on the possibilities of passive location tracking (indeed, Apple seems to have already begun the festivities), and there are already plenty of apps (for instance, fitness and pedometer apps) forming the vanguard of this wave.
The dip in PC mapping is more difficult to analyze, however; PCs have more or less saturated the US market, but the standard of entry to “advanced” categories of browser and PC use (the computer illiteracy of the market can’t be underestimated) is ever dropping and I would personally have expected continuing slow growth in web map use given steady sales and access numbers. The continuing rollout of decent broadband would tend to increase these usage numbers as well. But it seems that this period of rapid smartphone growth has pulled more people from the PC pool than enter on average.
It’s a pity this data isn’t richer — knowing the app breakdown, success rate, exit rate, and so on would be interesting data for number crunchers.

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T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide Confirmed For July 27 Launch, July 19 Pre-Order

After some confusion, T-Mobile has taken to Facebook to give us an exact arrival date for the myTouch 4G Slide. We originally pegged the slider for a July 27 launch, and as luck (and leaks) would have it, we were right. T-Mo’s Facebook update also confirmed that July 19 will kick off the pre-order period (web only).
We’ve been following this phone from the beginning, and we’re excited to see it finally make its way onto the market. Specs include a 1.2GHz processor running Android 2.3 Gingerbread with HTC’s Sense 3.0 UI on top. The slider also sports a 3.7-inch WVGA SuperLCD display with 800×480 pixels of resolution and “the most advanced camera on any smartphone.”
To be honest, the actual camera hardware on the myTouch 4G Slide is your standard 8-megapixel rear shooter. The “most advanced” part comes into play via software, as the camera app features a number of different features to keep things snappy, crisp, and creative. Here’s a video of the myTouch 4G Slide’s camera in action:

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New Robot Touch Sensor Paves The Way To More Lifelike Humanoids (Video)

Robots these days, especially humanoids, have one problem: it doesn’t feel nice or lifelike when you touch them. This is where an invention by Japanese robot startup Touchence comes in. Their so-called ShokacCube, made of polyurethane, is the world’s first soft touch sensor specifically designed for robots.
The sensor detects touches in three dimensions and is pressure-sensitive: if used in a humanoid’s cheek, for example, the robot in question can distinguish if that body part is being just lightly touched or pinched. And as the ShokacCube is covered in soft foam and soft and flexible itself, it does away with the usual metallic feeling humans get when touching a robot.
The ShokacCube would particularly make sense when used in therapeutic robots, for example.
Touchence plans to roll out the first samples for ShokacCube type B (type A was released in December last year) next month. The company expects to have a more advanced type C model ready by April 2012.
This video, shot by Diginfonews in Tokyo, provides more insight:

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Samsung Gives First 5000 Galaxy Tab 10.1s To Developers At Google I/O

The giveaways at Google I/O have become one of the most-publicized features of the conference; after all, the new features and frameworks matter to developers, but Oprah Moments^TM tend to resonate on the internet. Previously it was handsets being given away, but this year, with Android handset numbers blocking out the sun and tablets underdeveloped, it was Honeycomb that ended up in developers’ laps. Specifically, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Yep, 5000 of them are being distributed to Google’s dev base. This is pretty cool, since Samsung was previously a bit gun-shy about its new tablet, even publicly saying they had some work to do after the iPad launch. But the relaunch in March had them confident again, though the release was distant enough that we thought they might still have some work to do. I guess the developers at I/O will be able to tell us whether that’s true.
If you’re looking to get your own, check eBay in a couple hours, or else wait until June 8, the planned release date for the 10.1. Personally I’m thinking about that 8.9 — a little smaller, but with mostly the same specs. The 10.1s given out at I/O won’t ship with Android 3.1, but will be getting it soon.

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Gingerbread Rolling Out To Galaxy Tabs?

Samsung Italia is alive with the sound of Gingerbread! It seems that the country is among the first to get the Android 2.3.3 update for the original 7″Galaxy Tab. It’s rolling out via KIES, Samsung’s useful device management tool, but naturally there’s no word of it here in the states yet. Remain vigilant!
You could load it yourself before now if you really wanted to, but this update should have support for Samsung’s custom widgets and app store, among the performance gains and other features.

[via Unwired View]

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Samsung Readies 4G LTE Galaxy Tab, Galaxy S III Prematurely

As Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs 8.9 and 10.1 wait to launch onto the market, Samsung mobile boss J.K. Shin is already filling us in on forthcoming tablets from the South-Korea based company. In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires, Shin spilled that the company plans to release a 4G LTE-capable version of the Galaxy Tab later this year. In other words, you’re yet-to-be purchased Galaxy Tab 8.9 or 10.1 will be old news later this year, so patience will certainly be a virtue when it comes to slate shopping.
Shin also mentioned that the third installment to the Galaxy S smartphone line (what we assume will be called the Samsung Galaxy S III) will debut in the first half of 2012. The Galaxy S smartphones have been wildly popular here in the States, overseas in Europe and especially in South Korea.
No doubt we’re excited about the third-generation Galaxy S smartphone, and a 4G LTE-capable Galaxy tablet from Samsung sounds pretty sweet, too. What I can’t seem to understand is why Samsung would let us in on the fact that our cool new gadgets will be obsolete in the next few months.

[WSJ via BGR]

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Samsung CTO Responsible For The Galaxy Tab Line Steps Down

Omar Khan, the Samsung CTO who was responsible for the rise of the GalTab and other Android-powered smartphones, is moving to Citibank to handle that company’s global digital banking initiatives. He will be replaced by Nick Dicarlo and Gavin Kim in “product and service spokesperson responsibilities for Samsung Mobile.”
Clearly this whole hardware thing didn’t work out for him.
These sorts of lateral moves aren’t unusual but for Khan to have led a fairly successful run of tablets and cellphones and then decide to roll over to a bank points to a bit of political infighting and potential disappointment at the GalTab line, especially as Samsung is fighting – and lobbing – lawsuits atApple over “copyist” techniques by both giants.
Samsung is also facing intense pressure from HTC and, to a lesser extent, Motorola and their latest Android phones, while popular with a certain set, did not set the world alight like the Galaxy S.
via Slashgear

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Borders May Be Dead, But e-Reader Kobo Is Still Alive And Kicking

I am old enough to remember when going into a chain store like Borders and picking out books physically was something one did to save time. Plus, as any bookworm will tell you, rifling through bookstore shelves for buried treasure and asking knowledgable employees about their reading recommendations was an oddly exciting feeling, even at a franchise. Sometimes (in my unemployed writer days) I used to go to the nearest Borders and sit on the floor and open a book, and just read all day until I finished, like it was a library. Sometimes I’d even buy something.
Apparently that “buying something” thing isn’t happening often enough for Borders to be a business anymore; As of today the WSJ is reporting that Borders will be closing its 399 stores and laying off 11,000 employees.
Last time I wrote a Borders post it was titled  “The Internet Scores Its Second Victory Of The Day, Borders Nears Bankruptcy,” juxtaposing the chain’s troubles with the fact that a newspaper couldn’t reverse a news story in time. But maybe it wasn’t the Internet exactly but the way Borders management handled the Internet that caused its downfall.
As Harry McCracken wrote in a thoughtful post about the company’s demise, “The last time I was in a Borders, which was last week, the first thing I encountered when I entered was a great big table of Kobo readers. But it was clearly far too little, far too late.” Borders announced its partnership with Kobo in 2009, lagging far behind competitor Barnes and Noble’s Nook.
Kobo, which asserted its independence from Borders when Borders filed for bankruptcy protection in February, today writes us with the following reinforcement of that independence in light of the shut down news:

“As one of the early investors in Kobo, Borders has a minority stake in our company and serves as part of our distribution in the U.S. along with Walmart, Best Buy, Sears and other retailers.  As a member of the broader book publishing and retailing community, we are watching Borders’ story with interest and send our best wishes to all the people of Borders.
In June Kobo and Borders began transitioning Borders’ customers’ eBook accounts to Kobo to provide direct access to the most up to date eReading functionality, apps, and devices. Kobo owners will continue to use their eReader devices as usual and browse and shop for new titles in the Kobo Store with no interruption in service.   Kobo continues to grow in the U.S. and around the world and we’re very pleased with progress of the launch of the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition and European office with Kobo Germany.”

So there you have it, Borders customers with Borders e-Reader accounts now basically have Kobo accounts. I still haven’t received word from Kobo on whether Borders’ shares in Kobo will go to liquidator Hilco Consumer Capital and Gordon Brothers, but I’m guessing they will be transferred with the other Borders assets (will update this post when I find out). You can read Devin Coldewey’s comprehensive and more technical review of the Kobo device here.
What makes the Borders story particularly poignant is the detail that Louis Borders was the founder of failed 90s startup Webvan, which was a vanguard of online grocery delivery and then went bankrupt in 2001. As the SF Business Times brings up, it’s pretty poetic that Borders’ bets both for and against brick and mortar stores resulted in two of the most-emblematic Internet-related bankruptcies of our time.
Borders rise in the mid-nineties and fall in the 2000s is also sort of the reversal of investor Marc Andresseen’s comments that all the startups that failed then would succeed now. The company rode a short slice of history where heading to a big impersonal book superstore was actually the most convenient option for consumers and then failed to hop on the next wave. RIP Borders. Long live the Kobo (at least, in theory).

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Kinect-Powered, Dueling “JediBot” Created By Stanford Robotics Students

It’s been a while since we’ve posted any interesting Kinect hacks. They were coming fast and furious for a while, but this is the first I’ve seen in a while that really makes me happy. Robotics students at Stanford put this “JediBot” together from an articulating arm and a Kinect (and of course a little robotics know-how). The Kinect tracks the location of both “lightsabers” and has the robot make an attack or defending move based on their positions.
Right now it doesn’t go too fast, but considering what these robot arms are capable of, I’m not sure I’d want it going at full speed.

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Golf Connection: Web-Connected Golf Simulator (Video)

Konami isn’t just a video game maker. The company is also in the business of producing amusement machines (mainly for the Japanese market), and recently showcased its newest model: the aptly named Golf Connection [JP]. “Virtual golf simulators” like this aren’t new, but Konami’s version (which is based on a high-speed camera and two sensors) has a few interesting selling points.
For example, Golf Connection doesn’t require the ball to be marked, boasts a margin of error of 30 centimeters max., offers 150 replicated 3DCG real-world golf courses and web connectivity: users can upload their results to various social networks to compare themselves with each other.
It’s also possible to access all data stored (on a smartcard) later through a PC or smartphone and view videos shot during playing that way, for example to analyze one’s golf swing technique.
Golf Connection will be released in September (Konami has yet determine a price).

This video in English, shot by Diginfonews in Tokyo, provides more insight:

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Fujitsu Tech Lets You Send Apps To Users At Specific Times And Places

I am not really sure if there are that many use cases for a solution like this, but here we go: Fujitsu has developed a “platform technology” that makes it possible to push applications and data to devices at specific times and places. Users can access these applications on smartphones, tablets or PCs until they leave the place in question or a pre-determined usage time runs up (all apps and data then get erased automatically).

Fujitsu pitches a few scenarios where their solution would make sense. For example, in a business scenario, users could automatically get limited access to a company’s data when they enter a meeting room. That way, installing apps or distributing materials to each participant isn’t needed – and all data can automatically be erased once participants leave the room or building.

Fujitsu plans to commercialize their technology within fiscal 2012.

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I Don’t Think We’ll Be Seeing These Galaxy Tab Smart Covers Stateside

While I’m not quite ready to lay charges of criminal nepotism at Samsung’s feet (as 9 to 5 Mac and Gizmodo do gleefully, and not unreasonably), I do have to say that it seems a bit unwise, during high-stakes patent litigation, to lend their brand to such an incredibly blatant knock-off.

Apparently this “Smart Case” for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is being sold in Samsung stores throughout Korea, where, perhaps, US patent law cannot reach. But would Apple have neglected to file for a patent in such a large market?

At all events it’s shameless (the cases may have been approved because of some personal connections within Samsung) and I don’t think this will be Samsung-approved for long. Knock-offs are a normal part of the tech world these days, but dignifying them with shelf space doesn’t have to be.

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Anynod’s Smart Cover Clone Pulled From Samsung Stores

Anynod’s Smart Case hit the interwebs yesterday and caused more than a few people to call for Samsung’s head. Why? Well, Samsung retail stores throughout Korea where selling the blatant rip-off of Apple’s Smart Cover. But while Samsung was facilitating the case, it was actually made and distributed by Anynod. It doesn’t matter anymore. Samsung did the right thing and has pulled the case from its stores stating it wasn’t approved nor received the official “Designed for Samsung Mobile” certification.

Samsung’s statement via its Samsung Tomorrow Blog

As a general practice, Samsung Electronics reviews and approves all accessories produced by partners before they are given the “Designed for Samsung Mobile” mark.

In this case, approval was not given to Anymode for the accessory to feature this official designation.  We are working with Anymode to address this oversight and the product has already been removed from the Anymode sales website.  The product has not been sold.

This case caused an absurd amount of outrage. It’s just a tablet case. There wasn’t nearly the same amount of outcry when Apple debuted the Smart Cover. You know, the blatant rip-off of the InCase Convertible Magazine Jacket.

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Whoops! Sears.com Accidentally Lists iPad 2 For $69

Anyone looking for a $69 16GB iPad 2? Apparently, some IT guy over at one of Sears’ third-party resellers, GSM On Sale, had a bit of a face-palm moment: the site temporarily listed the iPad for $69.
Oddly enough, the listing claims that you’ll save a whopping $30 by taking advantage of this deal, posting an original price of $99.99. Honestly we’d snatch up an iPad at either of those price points, if at any time, in any world, it was possible to do so.
Sadly, it is not. The item has been de-listed, even though the page still remains if you have the right link. Right now Apple lists the 16GB iPad 2 for $499.99, so you’d actually see savings of almost 85 percent had this deal been for real.
We’re not sure if purchases made before the de-listing were honored, so if you’re one of the lucky few who stumbled upon the page early, let us know if they held up their end of the accidental bargain. We’ll be sure to keep your name confidential so the millions of people who paid $499 and up don’t come after you in your sleep.

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Sears Apologizes For iPad 2 Price Typo, Customers Unforgiving

Remember that one time (last Friday) when GSM On Sale made a huge boo-boo and posted a 16GB iPad 2 for $69 on the Sears.com Marketplace web site? That didn’t go over so well for just about everyone involved. Virtual crowds of consumers flocked to the sale, calling friends and family to get in on it, many of whom bought the tablet in bulk. Only hours later, though, Sears responded by explaining the error and refunding the transaction.
After a weekend of backlash, the retail giant has posted the following apology on the front page of its site:
“Unfortunately … one of the Marketplace third party sellers told us that they mistakenly posted incorrect pricing on two Apple iPad models on the Marketplace portion of the website. If you purchased either of these products recently, your order has been cancelled and your account will be credited. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Obviously, there are quite a few people still reeling over this mess, while others are surprisingly on the side of Sears. Many have been vocal both on the Sears Facebook page (interestingly enough the announcement has 96 likes), as well as in the comments section of our original coverage.
Some brought the long arm of the law into the mix:
“According to some state laws that is illegal of them to do. In Michigan if you have something marked for $1, you have to sell it at that price if a customer finds it. Sucks but its the law.”
-Elizabeth Steffen
“When you purchase something at a price and it goes through, it becomes a contract. A contract cannot be voided unless agreed upon by both parties.”
-Michael Greenberg
“‎@Michael, when you purchase something (especially online) you agree to terms and conditions, if they have something about this in their terms and conditions, they are entitled to do it.”
-Angelo ‘Rocky’ Krakoff
“Their terms and conditions cannot violate state law. Contract Law supersedes ANY terms and conditions.”
-Michael Greenberg
Some could hardly control their rage:
“It’s bull… if one of the Sears stores had done that and you bought one, what would they do… call you on the phone and say bring it back, we priced it wrong & we’ll give you your money back? I don’t think so… just because it’s online, does not give them the right to not honor an advertised price!”
-David M Cheshire
“This was a great opportunity to gain a LOT of happy customers who would have told their friends and become brand evangelists for Sears. Good to know Sears thinks profit is more important. I know I’ll never purchase anything from Sears again, and will tell everyone I know to do the same.”
-Ashley Renee Sampson
Some were more concerned with the target of all this blame:
“Wow, people sure aren’t capable of reading… this was a 3rd party vendor… in case you don’t understand what that means… it means it wasn’t Sears’ call nor their responsibility. But, if I were Sears, I’d drop that vendor off Marketplace.”
-Allison Orr Rizer
“Sears actually doesn’t sell ANY Apple products. It’s all 3rd party Marketplace sellers. Stop making up rumors and feeling entitled. On all Marketplace ads, a disclaimer states Sears does not fulfill or guarantee Marketplace transactions. Get your facts straight. ‘I didn’t get to take advantage of a company’s screw up! Waah waah waah!’”
-David Chen
And some were just plain mad at the customers who fell for it:
“Some of you people act like spoiled 2-year-olds. It was a mistake, not their mistake. That would be like a realtor accidentally putting a for sale sign on your house instead of your neighbors. If somebody put a bid in on your house, would you have to sell it to them?”
-Gail Alison
“Wow – what a bunch of whiny spoiled brats. “No fair! I didn’t get to rip off a big company!” Grow up. Look at any website terms of service or even a Walmart or Target advertisement – they all say something to the effect of “Not responsible for misprints” and “Prices subject to change without notice.” Not only that – it wasn’t even Sears!”
-Debbie Cook St John

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Call For The Reinvention Of The Toilet, Offers $42 Million In Potty Grants

“In short, we need to reinvent the toilet.” That’s what Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Development Program,recently declared. She was speaking at the AfricaSan Conference in Kigali where she called on called donors, governments, the private sector, and NGOs to reinvent the toilet. Yep, the toilet.
The idea is noble. The majority of the developing world does not have access to flush toilets. As Burwell points out, no other innovation in the last 200 years has saved lives and improved health as the flush toilet but the defecation revolution only reached one-third of the world. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation hope to rekindle the fire and improve the life of untold millions.
The foundation is standing behind its call to arms with $42 million. The aim is to improve the capture and storage of waste, as well as turn it into some usable like energy, fertilizer and fresh water. These new grants join the foundation’s commitment to Water, Sanitation & Hygiene which now total $265 million.
Of course it’s not going to be easy. More than 2.6 billion people are lacking a proper toilet, but more importantly, a proper waste disposal infrastructure. A next-gen toilet would have to be sustainable, hygienic, but yet not reliant on sewers. The end-all goal would be a device that actually converted the waste into fuel or even safe drinking water.
This innovation challenge joins the United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Development Goals to cut in half the number of people who do not have access to basic sanitation. The World Health Organization states that proper sanitation doesn’t just counter health concerns. It also increases productivity, reduces health care costs and every $1 invested can be worth $9 in the backend.
So inventors and tinkers, you’ve heard the call. It’s time to start building a better shitter.

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Nissan Adds New Features To The Leaf For 2012 Including A Higher Price

Consumers have spoken and Nissan has listened. The 2012 Nissan Leaf will now pack more standard features — and a noticeably higher price. Starting July 25 the second model year Leaf will be available for order in the Southeastern United States and Illinois. Consumers with existing reservations have first dibs, though. That is if those consumers are still on board after they see the new price.
The SV trim level is jumping from $33,720 to $35,200 with the SL trim level increasing from $34,650 to $37,250. The higher price is likely caused by the new standard features on both models. A cold weather package will now come standard and feature a battery warmer, heated steering wheel, and front and rear heated seats. All SL trim level vehicles will also come equipped with a DC fast charge port, which allows the vehicle to be charged to 80% in 30 minutes from a 480V station.
Even with the features, the new price puts the Leaf in the Chevy Volt range. GM recently dropped the price of the Volt a bit and it now features a $40,280 MSRP. Both the Leaf and Volt still qualify for up to a $7,500 tax credit. When that’s considered, the Leaf is still available for less than $30k, although just barely.
I’m not so sure my review of the Leaf would have been so enthusiastic if the Leaf featured these new prices. The heated seats and steering wheel should decrease the battery’s draw by reducing the need for the traditional heater, but I’m not sure the new features justify the higher price.
<hr>
PRESS RELEASE

NISSAN TO LAUNCH ALL-ELECTRIC LEAF AS UPGRADED 2012 MODEL IN NEW U.S. MARKETS

Nissan North America Inc. is expanding availability of the all-electric Nissan LEAF to U.S. consumers for the 2012 model year, with upgrades based on feedback from the thousands of owners who already have driven several millions of miles in the first 100-percent electric car for the mass market.
The Nissan LEAF, enriched with additional standard equipment including quick charging and cold-weather features for the 2012 model year, now will be available for order in the Southeastern United States and Illinois.
“Many enthusiastic consumers have eagerly anticipated ordering a Nissan LEAF of their own, and now we can make zero-emissions mobility a reality in more markets,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. “In response to direct feedback from Nissan LEAF owners, the features that customers want most will come standard on the 2012 Nissan LEAF – including quick charging and cold-weather features.”
Nissan on July 25 will open up the ordering process to consumers with existing reservations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
After the prioritized ordering phase for existing reservations in those markets, Nissan on Aug. 4 will open new reservations and orders to the general public, both in these new markets, as well as places where the Nissan LEAF already has been on sale (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington). Expected delivery of the first 2012 Nissan LEAFs will begin in the fall.
The MY12 vehicle features product enhancements that incorporate feedback from early LEAF drivers, including standardizing the most popular options. These features include:

• DC Fast Charge capability standard on Nissan LEAF SL: The vast majority of MY11 consumers have opted for the DC fast charge port, which allows the vehicle to be charged at 480V – reducing charging time to under 30 minutes for charging the vehicle to 80 percent from a fully depleted state. As DC fast charge stations proliferate across the country, Nissan expects this feature to become even more popular. For 2012, fast-charging capability will be standard on the SL trim level.
• Cold weather features standard on Nissan LEAF: As the Nissan LEAF rolls out to U.S. markets with colder climates, cold weather features become standard equipment on all trim levels of the Nissan LEAF. These include a battery warmer, heated steering wheel, and heated seats in both the front and rear.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the 2012 Nissan LEAF is $35,200 for the SV trim level, and $37,250 for the SL trim level. The monthly lease price will begin at a highly competitive $369.
Nissan will expand into additional new markets as the year continues. In the fall, orders from existing reservations and new reservations will begin in Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. By the end of the year, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island will be added as markets where the Nissan LEAF will be available for order.
More than 4,000 Nissan LEAFs have been delivered to U.S. customers, and Nissan, as it begins the next phase of the launch, continues to learn from them. While 82 percent have never previously owned a Nissan, a full 75 percent considered no other vehicle than the Nissan LEAF in their purchase decision. On a whole, these early adopters report that they are using the Nissan LEAF as their primary car, and driving it far more than was originally anticipated. These consumers, most of whom are highly educated and have high income levels, are technologically savvy, environmentally conscious, and consider themselves advocates for electric-car technology.

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Download GreenPois0n RC5 to Jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 [How to Guide]

The Chronic dev team has just released GreenPois0n RC5 jailbreaking tool which can be used to jailbreak iDevices running the latest iOS 4.2.1 firmware. Only catch here is that (for now) GreenPois0n RC5 is available only for Mac and it is not a stable release (RC5 – Release candidate 5). GreenPois0n for Windows and Linux is expected to arrive soon.
With GreenPois0n RC5, you will be able to jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 (untethered) on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 4G/3G/2G, iPad and Apple TV 2G. Unlike Redsnow 0.9.7, Greenpois0n RC5 will not need any 4.2b3 SHSH Blobs saved on Cydia for Untethered Jailbreak.

Download GreenPois0n RC5

 

You can download GreenPois0n RC5 from Greenpois0n RC5 or use this mirror. You can check the guide given below to use GreenPois0n RC5 to jailbreak iOS 4.2.1, but be aware of this being an unstable release and expect some problems if you don’t follow the procedure carefully.
Update: Greenpois0n RC5_2 has been released which fixes some of the previous issues. Download it here or here.

How to Jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 using GreenPoisOn RC5?

Disclaimer: The guide is purely for informational and educational purposes only. Jailbreak your device at your own risk.
Do not proceed if you rely on carrier unlock. Ultrasn0w doesn’t support this baseband yet.
1. Download GreenPois0n RC5 from the links given above.
2. Connect your iDevice running iOS 4.2.1 to the USB of your mac.
3. Start GreenPois0n RC5 and click on Jailbreak button. Follow the on-screen instructions to put your device in the DFU mode.
4. Click again on Jailbreak button of Greenpois0n to start the jailbreaking process.
5. Wait for GreenPois0n to complete its steps. Once it’s complete, you will see a “Loader” icon on the springboard. Tap on it and install Cydia.
Voila! Your iDevice is now jailbroken with iOS 4.2.1! Thanks Blogsdna!

 

 

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Top 5 Most Popular BlackBerry Mobile Phones

1. BlackBerry Torch 9800

Best of both Worlds – Large Display with Touchscreen and the same awesome QWERTY keypad.
This is the latest Blackberry mobile and is also the regarded as one of the best. It comes with 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen (with multi-touch capability) with a resolution of 360 x 480 pixels and runs on the latest Blackberry 6 OS. It also features the trademark Blackberry Qwerty Keypad (slide out) and the optical track pad. Blackberry Torch has a 512 MB RAM and comes with a 4 GB internal memory with external memory support of up to 32 GB. It is equipped with a 5MP auto-focus camera with a LED flash. GPS navigation with A-GPS support is also available. All in all Blackberry Torch is a complete package.
Best Price: Rs. 31,499

2. BlackBerry Storm2 9520

Blackberry for all the Touch Screen Lovers
If you love large displays and touch screens, this one is for you. Blackberry Storm2 is the next version of the popular Blackberry Storm. Storm 2 comes with a brilliant 3.25 inches (360 x 480 pixels) TFT capacitive touchscreen. It features Sure Press technology which along with SureType allows for faster and more intuitive typing and feedback. Best part about Storm2 is its battery life which lasts for around 48 hours (with push mail, 3G and wi-fi active) unlike any other touchscreen smartphone. This is probably the best touch screen phone if your primary requirement is email, messaging and web browsing.
Best Price: Rs. 31,500

3. BlackBerry Bold 3 9780

The Best QWERTY Bar Blackberry
If you love the standard Blackberry form factor i.e. the Qwerty then this is the one for you. Blackberry Bold 3 9780 is one of the most recently launched blackberry and comes with the new Blackberry OS 6. Screen is 480 x 360 pixels, 2.44 inches. It has same awesome qwerty keypad with a touch sensitive optical track pad. It comes with a 5 MP camera and a LED Flash. It keeps up RIM’s reputation of manufacturing well built, rugged, tough mobiles. It comes with the usual connectivity options like 3G, Wi-Fi, global roaming etc and also GPS navigation. Battery life is also superb.
Best Price: Rs. 25,999

4. BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300

Best Value for Money Blackberry
Blackberry Curve 3G 9300 is the advanced version of the cheapest Blackberry Curve 8520. It comes with a 2.46 inches display with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, touch-sensitive optical trackpad and the standard Blackberry Qwerty keypad. Connectivity options include global roaming (on GSM), 3G, Wi-Fi. It comes with GPS Navigation and supports Blackberry maps as well as Google Maps. It runs on BlackBerry OS 5.0 which is upgradable. Where it lacks, is in the multimedia department. It comes with just a 2 MP camera. Battery life is awesome and can last up to 2 days with normal usage and 3G active. With its reasonable price, this is the best value for money Blackberry phone. But if you are looking for a good multimedia and camera phone, stay aware from it. It is best only for email, messaging, communication and social networking.
Best Price: Rs. 15,249

5. BlackBerry Curve 8520

The Cheapest Blackberry
BlackBerry Curve 8520 is the entry level mobile from Blackberry. It comes with a 2.46 inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, standard Blackberry Qwerty keypad and the optical trackpad. It runs on Blackberry OS and a 512 MHz processor. Camera is just 2MP which is justified for its price. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi but it lacks 3G, so if you want 3G, this will be a deal breaker for you. If you are fine with standard blackberry push mail, messaging, texting and social networking updates on standard GPRS/EDGE, this is a great device to have. Overall if you are on a budget but still want a blackberry for email and messaging, this is the one to choose. It is much better than the earlier generation Blackberry’s with trackball and older OS.
Best Price: Rs. 11,499

Other Notable Mention

BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9100

Blackberry for people who want a Blackberry but hate its size
BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9100 is latest in series of Blackberry Pearl mobiles which are the compact Blackberry’s. Pearl 3G 9100 comes with a 2.25 inches display with a resolution of 360 x 400 pixels. It features the unique Half-Qwerty Keypad with the optical track pad. This half-qwerty keypad is a 20-key condensed hybrid Qwerty and can take some effort to get used to it. It runs on Blackberry OS 5.0 and comes with GPS, 3G, Wi-Fi and a 3.2 MP camera. Overall is a phone targeted for people who need to have a Blackberry for their work but don’t want to carry the bigger size full qwerty phone.
Best Price: Rs. 14,059
PS: The above prices are good as on 26th Jan 2011 and are taken from the available at Mysmartprice.com
This is a guest post by Sitakanta whose startup, mysmartprice.com, helps people to find the best price of mobile phones and books. The prices mentioned above are taken from the Blackberry mobile price list available at Mysmartprice.com. 
 

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