Is this the new Kindle Fire?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Rumors,

Earlier today we mentioned that Amazon is touting that its Kindle Fire tablet has sold out (which really means they stopped making them because they're now manufacturing a new model.) Well, with the introduction of new Kindle hardware scheduled for next week, The Verge has published an image that purports to be the next Kindle Fire. Since posting, a source chimed in and let them know that this isn't exactly right, as the new Kindle Fire has a wider bezel than the image shows, and bezeled sides. We'll know for sure on September 6 when Amazon takes the stage.

Read More | The Verge

The Avengers: I Finally Catch Up

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Reviews, Marvel Comics,

Yeah, my bad. I finally got around to seeing The Avengers on the big screen with my old pal Dave Olbrich (he was seeing it for the third time).

I'll echo what is probably the view of 99% of the super-hero movie audience: (1) I loved it and (2) where was this movie when I was 13?

Afterwards, I had a few thoughts.

I was surprised by the sudden death of what I thought was a fairly major character in the continuity. I know Joss Whedon always likes to kill off someone in his movies – I'm sure the first draft of Toy Story had a sacrifice from Mr. Potato Head – so I should've been better prepared. But I wasn't. Sad to lose the character and sadder that the actor has lost a pretty good gig.

Tom Hiddleston was riveting as Loki, an excellent performance capturing the character's grandiose plans and his petty humanness. Here's hoping he gets as good a role in subsequent years and doesn't end up playing a Russian mobster on Person of Interest, or the put-upon dad in some lame sitcom.

This is my favorite Scarlett Johansson movie. And yes, I've seen more than one. Including that one. And that one too.

Click to continue reading The Avengers: I Finally Catch Up

Western Digital My Passport for Mac offers 2TB, USB 3.0 external storage

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, USB, Apple, PC / Laptop, Storage,

Western Digital announced an update to its My Passport line of portable hard drives today with the My Passport for Mac, which top out at 2TB of storage space and include USB 3.0. It also offers out-of-the-box Time Machine computability, and rugged WD Nomad casing. They start at $99 for a 500GB model, and top out at $199 for the 2TB drives.

Quote Of The Day: James Wolcott & Steve Ditko

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

"Strip Vertigo of its haunting, Wagnerian eternal-return score by Bernard Herrmann and you've got a muddled Orphic saga that looks like a not-great Steve Ditko comic with a performance by Kim Novak that exerts all the erotic mystery and allure of a burlap bag."

James Wolcott @ Vanity Fair

Be sure to check out our other notable quotes!

[Artwork: Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1]
 

The Amazon Kindle Fire is officially sold out

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Handhelds, Rumors,

If you were hoping to pick up a brand new Kindle Fire tablet from Amazon today, you're out of luck. The company has announced that the Kindle Fire has officially sold out. Of course, that's corporate speak for "We'll be announcing a brand new Kindle Fire at our event next week and don't want anyone buying the older model and experience buyers remorse." The Kindle Fire is the latest Kindle model to be pulled as Amazon's Kindle event draws near. The new Kindle Fire is rumored to have a 1280 x 800 display.

Samsung ATIV S is the first official Windows Phone 8 device

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Microsoft,

The first Windows Phone 8 device has been officially announced in the Samsung ATIV S. What's so great about the ATIV S? Well, aside from running the next-generation mobile OS from Microsoft, it's got a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor, 1GB RAM, and a 2,300mAh battery. Not enough? How about an 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.9-megapixel front camera, and a body comprised of brushed aluminum and Gorilla Glass 2? You'll be able to pick up the ATIV S in October.

Read More | Windows Team Blog

Samsung Galaxy Note II: 5.5-inch 720p display, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, S Pen gestures

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,

This morning Samsung announced its newest smartphone, the Galaxy Note II. Following up on the original Galaxy Note, the second edition is highlighted by a 16:9 5.5-inch 720p HD Super AMOLED display. Powering that is a quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos processor and 3,100mAh battery, which should make running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on this one super-smooth. The device takes design cues from the Samsung Galaxy S III, which should be apparent by the curves and the similar color choices of Marble White and Titanium Gray. As far as optics go, expect an 8-megapixel rear camera that records 1080p video. Rounding things out, as you can see in the image, is the S Pen. Now sporting a rubber tip, Samsung believes the updated S Pen will have a feel much closer to pen and paper, and the Galaxy Note II has a bunch of S Pen quick commands and gestures. We've got no specific launch dates  yet, other than that the phone will launch internationally by the end of 2012.

TiVo Stream: Watch TiVo on mobile devices, $129 on September 6th

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Home Entertainment,

TiVo has announced its latest product, the TiVo Stream. Set to hit stores on September 6, the TiVo Stream is a network transcoder device that will allow users to stream content directly from a TiVo Premiere unit over to portable and mobile devices. At launch, the Stream with work exclusively with iOS devices, so if you own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you'll be able to use up to four of those devices at once to watch content from your TiVo box, without the hassle of interrupting someone who's doing it old-school and watching TV on the couch. You'll be able to pick up the TiVo Stream for $129.

Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE details leak: Android 4.0, 4.3-inch display

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Rumors,

Looks like the Motorola RAZR M 4G LTE device has been leaked with pics and specs galore. What can you expect from the former XT907 Verizon device? How about a 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box? Yeah, we know, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has been out for a couple of months, but that's how it goes with Android. Other features include 1GB RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera and 3-megapixel front camera, 8GB internal storage (expandable with a microSD card,) and NFC. You get the same industrial Kevlar design that's found on the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX, which is actually nice. We expect it to be officially unveiled on September 5th.

Read More | Engadget

How the Apple vs. Samsung jury reached a verdict (video)

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Videos,

We are a few days removed from the monumental decision that was handed down in the Apple vs. Samsung trial, where Apple pretty much steamrolled Samsung in the verdict. Curious how the jury reached the decision that it did? Check out the video after the break. It's an interesting look at the process that Jury Foreman Vel Hogan and team used to determine which patents were infringed, and how much money to award in damages. Other interesting tidbits? The Jury Foreman is a PC user who owns no Apple products, and not one of the jurors owned an iPhone.

Click to continue reading How the Apple vs. Samsung jury reached a verdict (video)

Read More | Bloomberg