Jun 02

Qualcomm CEO confirms death of 5.7-inch Mirasol e-reader display, looks forward to ‘next version’

Posted in: amazon, amazon kindle, AmazonKindle, e ink, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, kindle, OLED, qualcomm, tablet, Today's Chili

Remember that Mirasol e-reader display Qualcomm was hoping to release this year? Yeah, it’s not happening. Speaking at a press briefing in San Diego yesterday, Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs confirmed that the 5.7-inch panel has been abandoned after failing to meet expectations. Instead, the company will devote its attention to the “next version” of the technology, which has Jacobs feeling optimistic:

“We have a really interesting roadmap — we’re starting out on e-readers because we figured having E Ink as a competing technology was a good way to get started. But if you think about the power consumption of the screens that are out now [on tablets], they’re very bright OLED screens that use up a lot of the power of the battery. We don’t today have as vibrant color as an OLED display – but we have a roadmap that gets us to a much brighter color.”

Presumably, this roadmap would include that low-power “converged e-reader” we heard about a few weeks ago, slated for release by the end of the year. Jacobs also mentioned that Qualcomm is planning to invest a billion dollars in its Taiwan Mirasol plant, which might help produce the kind of volume that, say, Amazon would demand for its Kindle displays. It’s all speculation, of course, but Qualcomm certainly seems to have some big plans in store for the rest of the year.

Qualcomm CEO confirms death of 5.7-inch Mirasol e-reader display, looks forward to ‘next version’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 30

Watch Items on Amazon for In-Stock or Price Drops

Posted in: amazon, Freeware, Newly Released, Software, Today's Chili

This article was written on August 05, 2008 by CyberNet.

amazon watcher.jpg

arrow Windows Windows; Mac Mac arrow
A nifty little program called Amazon Watcher can save you from those “if only I was a little faster” moments. What it can do is watch any item on Amazon, and then notify you when the price has dropped or when an item becomes available. When one of those things happen the application can bring up the Amazon page in your browser, send you an email, or automatically order a specified quantity given that you’re willing to provide it with your Amazon credentials.

There are a variety of situations where this can be helpful:

  • Trying to find something that no one seems to have in stock, such as a Wii console.
  • Waiting for a price drop, such as on the Xbox 360.
  • Keeping an eye out for price drops after you’ve bought an item. Remember, if the price drops in 30-days you can get a refund of the difference.

One thing that would probably be cool for Amazon Watcher to include would be a way to view/graph the price history for however long you decide to watch an item. That way you’d be able to see when the price has changed, and by how much. Trends like this can help determine when the right time to buy is.

After using it for just a few minutes I have to say that it’s rather impressive. It supports all 6 Amazon international stores, and runs on both Windows and Mac machines.

Amazon Watcher [via gHacks]

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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May 27

Apple’s iCloud music service will automatically mirror your iTunes library using ‘high-quality’ tracks?

Posted in: amazon, Apple, audio, cloud, Google, itunes, Music, rumor, streaming, Today's Chili

There’s been so much chatter about Apple iCloud that you’d think the streaming music service had already been announced and the deals inked. But it’s still just a rumor until an Apple executive takes the stage and unleashes the Amazon Cloud Player and Google Music competitor in a spate of superlatives. That hasn’t stopped Businessweek from stepping up with a good summary of all that is “known” thus far, while giving us some insight into the particulars of how the service will work and the motivations to make it happen. One revelation, sourced from three people in the know, claims that Apple will scan customers’ iTunes libraries (hello, LaLa) and quickly mirror the contents on Apple’s own servers — no massive DSL-choking upload required. And Apple will do you the solid of “replacing” any low bitrate tracks with the “high-quality” versions it stores in its fully licensed music locker for streaming to your connected devices.

Of course, this value-add won’t come free and will certainly require a subscription fee. The cost to the consumer, though, is still very much unclear as is the service’s integration with Apple’s $99 per year MobileMe sham. And you know those rumors about MobileMe being offered as a free service? We wouldn’t be surprised if it stays at $99 with iCloud being announced as a “free” feature update; aka, an $8.25 per month music subscription that also provides web access to your synced bookmarks, contacts, email, and calendar. Regardless, it’s this subscription model that has the major labels so enthusiastic as it will finally allow them to extort fees for all that pirated audio you may have stumbled upon since Napster was loosed on an unprepared music industry a decade ago. All signs point to WWDC for this to get official but we’re sure to hear more — much more — before the event kicks off on June 6th.

Apple’s iCloud music service will automatically mirror your iTunes library using ‘high-quality’ tracks? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 03:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 26

Where Should I Buy My Electronics?

Posted in: amazon, Apple, Gadgets, Today's Chili, Web Sites

This article was written on October 24, 2007 by CyberNet.

If you’re reading this, there’s a pretty good chance that you have a soft-spot for electronics. With so many electronic toys and gadgets to choose from, and many places to buy, it can be difficult to know where the best place is to buy. A recent article from ConsumerReports.org answers the question, “Where should I buy my electronics.”  Based upon over 90,000 purchases made, their readers rated walk-in and online stores to determine where to buy electronics. Here are some of the results.

consumer reports electronics stores

Top Online Stores for electronics:

When it came to shopping online for electronics in terms of products, Crutchfield.com earned the overall highest reader score. They earned great scores for selection, customer service, and their web site. Not surprising, Amazon.com came in 2nd with high scores in price, selection, and website. The list of the top five include:

  1. Crutchfield.com
  2. Amazon.com
  3. Costco.com (great scores for price)
  4. Jr.com (price and selection)
  5. BuyDig.com (price and selection)

Top Walk-in Stores for electronics:

  1. Local independent stores (quality and customer service)
  2. Tweeter (great customer service)
  3. Costco (price)
  4. Ritz Camera (customer service, checkout speed)
  5. Ultimate Electronics (customer service)

Not all of the stores listed above are ideal for purchasing PCs.  The stores that rated the best for PCs include:

  1. PC Connection.com
  2. Newegg.com
  3. Amazon.com
  4. PCMall.com
  5. TigerDirect.com

In the market for a mac?

If you’re in the market for a Mac computer, as you may expect, the best choices are, well, Apple… and Apple. More specifically, Apple.com or the Apple store were rated the best for places to purchase Mac computers. They were given high scores for customer service and selection (well I’d hope they’d have a good selection!), but not for price.  If you’re wanting a good deal on a Mac, it was determined that your best option is MacConnection.com, Amazon.com, or MacMall.com.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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May 26

Nook WiFi and Kobo eReader Touch Edition assault the Amazon Kindle fortress: a chart

Posted in: amazon, amazon kindle, AmazonKindle, barnes and noble, BarnesAndNoble, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, kindle, nook, reader, sony, Today's Chili
The e-reader market just got a lot more crowded this week with the launch of the touch-enabled Nook and Kobo eReader Touch Edition. Will either device be able to take down the Amazon’s industry defining Kindle? We’ve broken down the specs on the two new readers, the Kindle, and Sony’s comparable Reader Pocket Edition (PRS-350SC) to find out which device will come out on top. There’s a lot of overlap features between the different readers, like infrared touchscreens and Pearl E Ink displays. All of those important details and more in the chart after the break. Check it out, because you obviously like reading things.

Continue reading Nook WiFi and Kobo eReader Touch Edition assault the Amazon Kindle fortress: a chart

Nook WiFi and Kobo eReader Touch Edition assault the Amazon Kindle fortress: a chart originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 May 2011 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 26

Amazon launches Mac Download Store with more than 250 titles

Posted in: amazon, Apple, Mac, Software, Today's Chili

Yes, it’s another store within a store at Amazon, this time a Mac Download Store. While software downloads certainly aren’t anything new for the online retailer, the Mac store does actually boast a wider variety of titles than Amazon’s Windows download section, including games like Dragon Age: Origins and Civilization V, and applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop Elements. All told, there’s more than 250 titles currently available — not exactly a rival to Apple’s own Mac App Store, but a more than respectable start. Of course, no store launch is complete without a sale, and Amazon has kicked things off with two: a free download of Airport Mania, and $5 off your first paid download. Hit up the source link below to check it out.

Amazon launches Mac Download Store with more than 250 titles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 May 2011 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 25

Barnes & Noble clarifies battery life on new Nook, calls out Kindle

Posted in: amazon, barnes noble, e reader, e-book, e-books, e-readers, kindle, nook, Today's Chili
Barnes & Noble clarifies battery life on new Nook, calls out Kindle

Wondering which electronic reader reigns supreme when it comes to extreme battery life? If you ask Amazon, it’s the Kindle, but Barnes & Noble begs to differ — and it has some numbers to back that up. Earlier today we received a statement from the company explaining just how thrifty the new Nook is when it comes to sipping from cells. With WiFi disabled on both devices, B&N says it managed 150 hours on the new Nook when turning a page every minute. The current-gen Kindle, meanwhile, petered out after 56. That’s almost three times as long and maybe, just maybe, enough to finally get you through Anna Karenina on one charge — or at least through the Cliffs Notes version. More details on the testing overview below, which we promise can be rather more rapidly ingested.

Continue reading Barnes & Noble clarifies battery life on new Nook, calls out Kindle

Barnes & Noble clarifies battery life on new Nook, calls out Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 23:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 25

Barnes & Noble Slims, Simplifies Nook E-Book Reader

Posted in: amazon, barnes noble, e ink, kindle, nook, Tablets and E-Readers, Today's Chili

Barnes & Noble’s new Nook Simple Touch has a touchscreen and promises better battery life. Photo: Lena Groeger/Wired.com.

Barnes & Noble on Tuesday unveiled a simplified touchscreen e-reader: the Simple Touch Reader. Designed for a “pure and simple” reading experience without buttons, keyboards or complexity, the new compact Nook will be available around June 10th in stores or online.

It’s got a 6-inch Pearl E Ink display and weighs in at just under 7.5 ounces, 35% lighter than the original Nook. It’s selling for $140, the same price as the Kindle 3, but not as cheap at the $114 Kindle with ads.

The first-generation Nook is available for a discount price of $120 (for WiFi only) and $170 (for WiFi/3G) until supplies run out.

CEO William Lynch announced at a New York press event that the Simple Touch would be the “easiest to use, most portable e-book reader ever.” He outlined several advantages to the new Nook over its Amazon rival.

The most impressive feature for avid readers is the device’s super long battery life: a whole two months at half an hour a day, or twice as long as the Kindle.

There is also 80% less flashing, or that annoying “ghosting” effect between pages, Lynch claimed.

As with previous models, readers will be able to browse entire e-books in the Barnes & Noble physical stores over Wi-Fi, and share recommendations with friends via Facebook and Twitter.

The display offers 50% more contrast than the first edition Nook, and has a “soft touch,” contoured back, presumably to make it comfier to hold. The Android-based device has 2 GB of memory (with an expandable memory slot that could boost it to 32GB).

While the touchscreen turns the new e-reader into more of a tablet than its predecessor, the new Nook does not offer apps or 3G. Those additions would interrupt the “straightforward reading experience,” said Lynch. The Simple Touch Reader will cater to a particular segment of the population: people who don’t salivate over newest generation apps and just want the basics, please.

For those who do itch for a little more, the company’s popular Nook Color recently got a software update, which includes new apps, support for Flash and built-in email. As it’s meant to be the “reader’s tablet for all forms of digital content and rich web browsing,” the Nook Color is second only to the iPad in tablet sales. More than a million apps have been downloaded since they became available in April.

With these two devices, the world’s largest brick-and-mortar bookseller is in a good position to vie with Apple and Amazon for the tablet and e-reading market. Barnes & Noble has already had surprising success since it launched its first Nook in 2009, and now accounts for 25 percent of the digital book market. No doubt this caught the eye of media billionaire John Malone of Liberty Media, who just offered $1billion for a 70% stake in the company.

The e-book market is growing rapidly: Amazon recently announced it is now selling more e-books than print books. Now it’s just a race for the best price.


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May 25

Amazon Brings Ads to Kindle 3G

Posted in: ads, amazon, kindle, Tablets and E-Readers, Today's Chili

Now Kindle 3G buyers can also enjoy ads for soap and credit cards

This has been a pretty hot week for e-reader news, with new machines from Kobo and Barnes and Noble. It’s only Wednesday, yet there’s even more news. Amazon, not wanting to be left out, has announced an ad-supported 3G Kindle to its lineup, joining the already very successful ad-supported Wi-Fi Kindle.

Like the Wi-Fi-only version, opting to let Amazon serve ads to the Kindle’s screensaver will save you $25, dropping the price of the e-reader from $189 to $164 (the Wi-Fi versions are $139 and $114). By anecdotal accounts, the “Kindle with Special Offers” isn’t nearly as annoying as we originally thought it might be, with the ads restricted to static images that replace the usual author portraits when in standby, and banner ads on the book-listings pages.

I’m a pretty big fan of Amazon’s recommendations, especially for books. If these could be worked into the special offers, instead of serving ads for credit cards I’ll never want, I might jump with my next Kindle. Then again, a $25 saving is the price of a decent lunch, so maybe its not worth it.

Kindle 3G with Special Offers [Amazon]

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May 24

Kindle 3G gets ad-supported $164 version, basically sells your eyeballs for a $25 discount

Posted in: ad, ads, advertising, amazon, kindle, Today's Chili

It’s been one heck of a week for e-readers, with a new $139 touchscreen Nook in town and a $129 finger-friendly Kobo as well. What’s Amazon going to do about the newfound competition? Simply lower the price of its best-selling Kindle 3G to $164. Well, perhaps “lower” isn’t quite the right word, because you’ll simply be paying by different means: the new Kindle 3G with Special Offers will be the company’s second e-reader to feature built-in advertising. If you’re shy on cash, though, we suppose viewing a few ads is a small price to pay for cheaper Whispernet. PR after the break.

Continue reading Kindle 3G gets ad-supported $164 version, basically sells your eyeballs for a $25 discount

Kindle 3G gets ad-supported $164 version, basically sells your eyeballs for a $25 discount originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 20:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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