Hasta La Gadget!

At least there’s an upside to having the European Union in on speed dial. Microsoft this week issued a formal complaint against Google, citing antitrust concerns over Google’s seemingly unflappable control over Internet search. The EU launched the investigation into Google’s business practices last year, following complaints issued by three companies. A formal complaint from Microsoft may well cause the intensify the investigation.

This article was written on August 13, 2008 by CyberNet.

Last year about this same time, rumor had it that Apple was preparing to allow their “revolutionary” iPhone to be sold in Best Buy stores. One site, AppleInsider said on August 3rd, 2007,“By October — and more likely by September — all Best Buy locations should have iPhones on hand to sell to customers. Lavish video displays, like those erected in Apple retail store windows ahead of the phone’s launch, may also turn up at the electronics stores.” Interestingly enough, Best Buy never did get the opportunity to sell the original iPhones in their stores last year but they just might get the opportunity to sell iPhone 3G’s this year.

The Associated Press broke the news early this morning saying that starting on September 7th, Best Buy will become the first U.S. retailer outside of Apple and AT&T stores to be able to sell the iPhone 3G. To be able to get Steve Jobs’ blessing, Best Buy said they had quite a bit of work to do including upgrading their cell-phone departments, upgrading their computer systems to handle activations, and training their employees. Over 250,000 hours were spent preparing employees who would handle activations.

This could be pretty big for Best Buy considering how well the iPhone 3G has already gone over since it launched. It gives Best Buy an opportunity to gain a few customers and work their skills selling accessories to make an extra buck. If only they would have been able to sell the iPhone 3G at launch – it may have helped reduce some of the irritating lines found at Apple and AT&T locations. Oh, and lets not forget those extended warranties. Best Buy will be sure to try and push the extended warranties because that is one sure way for them to make extra money.

Customers could potentially benefit from Best Buy selling the iPhone 3G as well. One commenter over at TUAW pointed out how Best Buy is good for throwing in the freebies to try and sell products better. If they were able to sell the iPhone along with a free case and an iTunes gift card, those who planned on buying the iPhone 3G anyways would flock there, and those who considered it but weren’t quite sure, would certainly be tempted to buy.

Thanks for the tip Omar!

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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‘Continuance’ tries to combine AA and USB into one

Continuance is a battery that can power pretty much anything. It’s a rechargeable, AA-sized cell with a USB port in the side. The concept — designed by Haimo Bao, Hailong Piao, Yuancheng Liu and Xiameng Hu — is meant to make it easy to power any device, whether it takes batteries or has its own USB port.

But can USB and AA exist side-by-side? Leaving out the fact that the extra circuitry takes up precious power-storing space inside the cylinder, can a 1.5 volt cell provide the 5 volts needed to ive up to USB spec?

I don’t know. I guess you could certainly transform the output by upping the voltage and lowering the current — V=IR, after all. But then, P=IV, which may leave us struggling to get the 5 watts of power needed for many USB devices to function.

But what do I know? I’m no electrical engineer — I use my “soddering” iron to brand grill-marks into my microwaved chicken dinners, for God’s sake. Maybe this is a fantastic invention.

The Power Play Continues [Yanko]

See Also:

• Hack Turns Netbook Battery into USB Charger
• Philips Power2Go: Universal USB Charger with Battery Pack
• USB AA batteries tested
• Run Your iPod on a Single AA Battery

Openness has always been Android’s beauty and its curse. Google’s mobile operating system is available to any manufacturer that wants a slice, meaning you see it everywhere! It’s also historically been a place for hardware specialists and carriers to flex their software muscles, leading to custom alterations—skins—that often leave an elegant smartphone solution ugly, unusable, or both. More »

When you only have WiFi to worry about, testing in the foam rooms of doom at the FCC gets a little bit easier. Or so we’d imagine, anyhow. Samsung’s WiFi-only PMP, the Galaxy Player 5 (aka YP-G70, aka Galaxy Player 70), just got rubber-stamped by our favorite federal body, passing with flying colors. While we weren’t treated to any teardown antics, we do have the lovely sketch above showing you where you can find the FCC logo. It’s the thing on the pointy end of the red arrow above, a label that hopefully you’ll be able to see in person very soon.

[Thanks, James]

Galaxy Player 5 stops by the FCC, only takes the easy tests originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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