Analyst claims 'iPad 2 Plus' will arrive before iPad 3

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Jul 7, 2011 8:08 PM CDT

All of this next-gen iPad news is really getting to me, everytime I think I have a new piece to type up, a few days later there's something else out from some other analyst saying something different. Enter Craig Berger, an FBR Capital Markets analyst says that the next iPad to hit the market will not be the iPad 3, but will be dubbed the "iPad 2 Plus" and planned for later this year.

Analyst claims 'iPad 2 Plus' will arrive before iPad 3 | TweakTown.com

Expected in this iPad 2 Plus is the hotly-rumored higher-resolution display, at 250 to 300 pixels per inch compared to the pansy 132 pixels per inch. This would make the images and text look much crisper and natural, almost like words printed on paper. The iPhone 4 had a similar bump in ppi, up to 326 ppi. Berger also cited reports from the supply chain saying that Apple has begun grasping for parts for the future iPad:

There are some indications from the supply chain that Apple may look to introduce an 'iPad 2 Plus' device as they put out request for quotes from various component suppliers for this marginally different device.

Continue reading: Analyst claims 'iPad 2 Plus' will arrive before iPad 3 (full post)

Gateway chics it up a notch, revamps ID and NV Series of Notebook lines

Anthony Garreffa | Laptops | Jul 7, 2011 8:20 AM CDT

Chics it up a notch, geddit? Chic styling, yeah, you know you do. Today, Gateway intros in a new, revamped style of two of its Gateway notebook PCs, the Gateway ID Series and Gateway NV Series. Both lines feature incredibly stylish designs in the most in-demand sizes, powered by the latest and greatest mobile technology. First up the Gateway ID47 Series sports a 14-inch HD widescreen LED backlit display with full edge-to-edge glass which slides into a chassis usually designed for smaller 13.3-inch models.

Gateway chics it up a notch, revamps ID and NV Series of Notebook lines | TweakTown.com

The Gateway NV Series features a new sleek design with a bigger 15.6-inch display with instant social media connections. Both lines include USB 3.0 for fast transfers and device charging. The Gateway ID Series comes in two designs, "Infinity Blue Liquid" which is meant to resemble tranquil water whilst the second design dubbed "Brushed Platinum" conveys an industrial modern feel.

Both the ID and NV Series include instant social networking with quick-use hot keys that give customers quick access to their social networks on Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. Pushing the button launches and integrated widget that lets customers easily make updates to their own sites by posting information, images and video as well as checking out the status feeds of friends, family and colleagues.

Continue reading: Gateway chics it up a notch, revamps ID and NV Series of Notebook lines (full post)

AMD to beat NVIDIA to 28nm GPUs

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Jul 6, 2011 11:00 PM CDT

Charlie from SemiAccurate has written an article on Kepler which is NVIDIA's upcoming 28nm-based flagship GPU. If one were to believe the article, it would look like AMD is going to beat NVIDIA to the holy grail of 28nm-based GPUs. Charlie reckons that AMD taped out Southern Islands in February whilst NVIDIA didn't tape out Kepler until June.

AMD to beat NVIDIA to 28nm GPUs | TweakTown.com

He then estimates that a delay of around seven to eight months between tape out and launch, which should throw AMD's cards into our hands in around two months whilst NVIDIA's cards won't get their green on until February of next year "at the earliest." Another thing to throw into the ring of speculation is Kepler's processing resources. Charlie wrote a separate piece that Southern Islands is more or less a play-it-safe shrink of the Cayman-based design that powers the Radeon HD 6900 series whilst Kepler is a new architecture that has substantially more processing resources than Fermi.

If this is true, we might see a repeat of the entire Radeon HD 5000 series punching the Fermi-based GeForce 400-series in the nuts, Cartman style.

Continue reading: AMD to beat NVIDIA to 28nm GPUs (full post)

BREAKING: Facebook announces Video Calling powered by Skype

Cameron Wilmot | Internet & Websites | Jul 6, 2011 12:41 PM CDT

During Facebook's "Awesome" event that is going on now at Facebook's HQ in Palo Alto, CEO Mark Zuckerberg just announced "Video Calling".

BREAKING: Facebook announces Video Calling powered by Skype | TweakTown.com

It is a partnership with Skype and integrates into your current Facebook experience rather seamlessly. All you need to do is pop up your friends list in that chat area in the bottom right of the screen and select a friend. Then click on their name and click the "start a video call" camera looking icon.

For the first time you are asked to download the Facebook Video Calling Plug-in which is small and downloaded and installed very quickly. I'm going to give it a try right now! One last thought, now that Microsoft own Skype, does this mean we will see more Facebook and Microsoft joint efforts in the future?

Continue reading: BREAKING: Facebook announces Video Calling powered by Skype (full post)

Skype 5.2 released for Mac, includes group screen sharing and video calls

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Jul 6, 2011 11:00 AM CDT

Just after the magical release of Skype 5.5 for Windows which included deep Facebook integration (why do I feel dirty saying that?), they've just launched their new solution for Apple. Skype 5.2 for Mac is now available and seems to be much better equipped than the 5.1 version that was released back in November of 2010. The new video is not only capable of group video calls (which was available in the November beta) but also share their screens during that call.

Skype 5.2 released for Mac, includes group screen sharing and video calls | TweakTown.com

Screen sharing is already available for free on a one-to-one Skype call, but the new ability to share documents, photos, presentations and whatever else you choose with multiple people in a single session really makes the product shine. The downfall? To take advantage of the group video calling and screen sharing function, one or more call participants must have a Skype Premium subscription.

These subscriptions cost between $4.49 and $8.99 per month, with a day pass available for $4.99 if you only use it every now and again. The call control bar now includes video when you multi-task during a video call, this allows you to still see the person you're Skyping as well as being able to hang up or mute the conversation when you're engaged in a different program. Skype have also made it easier to find your most active conversations under "Recents" which is found in the sidebar and they've also added a "History" section where users can see those who are not as active.

Continue reading: Skype 5.2 released for Mac, includes group screen sharing and video calls (full post)

PlayStation 4 to have Kinect-like controls? Possibly 2012 release?

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Jul 5, 2011 9:15 PM CDT

With Nintendo releasing their next-generation console next year in the form of the Wii U, it must be making Sony and Microsoft shake in their boots. Their consoles are getting old, cannot handle AAA titles in 1080p and are beginning to age, fast. With the underdog (in terms of hardware) coming out with a next-gen solution, it seems Sony are already looking at the PS4 for a possible 2012 release.

PlayStation 4 to have Kinect-like controls? Possibly 2012 release? | TweakTown.com

Taiwanese component makers have told DigiTimes that Sony are prepping a new home console for a 2012 release, which will feature body-movement controls ala Microsoft's Kinect. Unexpected? Well, yes... after the time, sweat, tears and money into their Move technology, it's a strange move indeed. The report states that both Foxconn and Pegatron Technology will assemble the PS4 for Sony, as they did with the PS3.

Sources told DigiTimes that the PlayStation 4 will go into production at the end of the year for a 2012 launch, with rumors that Sony will pump out 20 million PS4 consoles for 2012. Launching in 2012 has its benefits and draw backs. Draw backs are the US economy, yes it's bad, but people are still buying tech. Apple haven't slowed in sales, they've grown. Release a great product and people will find the money to buy it.

Continue reading: PlayStation 4 to have Kinect-like controls? Possibly 2012 release? (full post)

Near-final Gears of War 3 leaked to torrent sites

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Jul 5, 2011 12:00 PM CDT

The latest game to get thrown onto torrent sites [way] ahead of release is Gears of War 3. Not due until September 20 (!) and considered by many as the biggest Xbox 360-exclusive title of the year, a leak this early of a game this big is very surprising. The build is near-final and a poster on the website NeoGAF says that it includes the full single-player campaign and all of the multiplayer options and adds "Buggy as hell, but it seems like it's all there."

Of course, Epic are doing damage control and are trying to contain the leak and go after those who are responsible, claiming they are working with their security teams and law enforcement to address the situation. Epic have said that the leak does not represent the final experience players will have with the real thing.

The leak whilst bad, can also be good for Epic. First, it's not the final build so it does not represent retail quality, secondly it's only playable on the Xbox 360. Gameplay videos have made their way to YouTube and other streaming video sites, so fans of Gears of War 3, start looking for some gameplay footage!

Continue reading: Near-final Gears of War 3 leaked to torrent sites (full post)

Samsung Galaxy S II has over 3 million units sold in just 55 days

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Jul 5, 2011 11:00 AM CDT

Samsung have announced (and most likely, very proudly) that they have passed the 3 million units sold milestone of their latest and greatest (and may I add, amazing) Samsung Galaxy S II Android-powered smartphone. The Galaxy S II is expected to launch in no less than 120 countries on over 140 mobile operators, so these numbers will expand pretty quickly. Keep in mind that the phone has only launched in South Korea and the UK, these numbers are mighty impressive for just two markets.

Samsung Galaxy S II has over 3 million units sold in just 55 days | TweakTown.com

The phone launches in the US later this month. Samsung has modest ambitions for the Galaxy S II; sell 10 million units for the entire of 2011. If they've hit 3 million, in just two countries in less than two months, then I dare say Samsung have got their goals sealed up, ready to go and the Moet is on the chill.

Continue reading: Samsung Galaxy S II has over 3 million units sold in just 55 days (full post)

Apple iPad 3 to drop in October?

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Jul 5, 2011 9:00 AM CDT

A rumor that will never die is a saying that pops into my head whenever I read something new about an upcoming Apple product. Rumors are again making their way around the tubes that we might see the next-gen iPad as soon as October of this year. Rumor is that the iPad 3 will sport the super-high resolution of 2048x1536 and if it does, it is sure to get display junkies wagging their tongues.

Apple iPad 3 to drop in October? | TweakTown.com

Of course, right now this is just rumor. Apple are currently having problems keeping up with demand for the iPad 2 let alone getting a third-gen iPad onto the market. But, the market wants it and it wants it bad. Put an Apple logo onto anything and it'll sell. More details of the iPad 3 as they surface will be posted so check back!

Continue reading: Apple iPad 3 to drop in October? (full post)

66 year old Grandpa is world's oldest Battlefield Bad Company 2 player

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Jul 4, 2011 9:53 PM CDT

Jaap is a 66 year old Grandpa who still cranks online gaming and since his retirement at 59 years of age has gotten himself into the world of online FPS gaming in the form of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 on the PS3. His YouTube video has seen what Borat would call "great success" with half a million views in the first week alone! His wife thinks he spends a little too much time playing games whilst his two sons are actually part of the BF:BC2 squad he is part of and are proud of him.

66 year old Grandpa is world's oldest Battlefield Bad Company 2 player | TweakTown.com

When Jaap retired at 59 he first stated playing Call of Duty and has now evolved up to BC2 on the PS3. His normal day consists of 2-3 hours of gaming and since the video has gone viral he spends most of his day playing games because of all the supportive attention he has received.

His online name is "Wacko Jacko" and this came about from his previous job as a journalist where he met Michael Jackson and several members of his family and to honor him, Jaap used the name "Wacko Jacko". Jaap has also received a great Father's Day present; Battlefield 3. He has a pre-order for it and can't wait to play it.

Continue reading: 66 year old Grandpa is world's oldest Battlefield Bad Company 2 player (full post)

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