The Gadget 411 – Gadget Reviews & Tech News

We’ve been wondering what the Microsoft’s retail shops are going to be like. Well, according to a Powerpoint presentation leaked to us, it’s going to make the Apple Store look downright boring. UPDATE: Microsoft comments.

The presentation is by Lippicott, a “design and brand strategy” consultant firm with extensive retail experience that it appears Microsoft has hired to help develop the store’s concept, principles, and design. It looks pretty legit to us–if it’s a fake, it’s fairly elaborate, with detailed graphics, research, plans and even rough store layouts.

Essentially, Microsoft is taking the best elements from the Apple Store, Sony Style and other “flagship” stores. The main focuses are going to be Windows 7, Xbox, PCTV (Windows Media Center) Surface and Windows Mobile, revolving around this concept customer they call “Emily,” who’s basically a younger version of your mom, since they make all the buying decisions.

Frank Shaw w/ Waggener Edstrom, left a comment below on behalf of Microsoft, implying that many of these concepts are merely that and not final plans:

“As a part of our process in briefing creative agencies, we shared some early prototypes and concepts of our retail store plans. No final decisions have been made. As we previously announced, we are on track to open retail stores this Fall.”

That said, it’s still probably a pretty good indication of how Microsoft and its consultants are thinking about their store, at least at the beginning of this month, since the presentation is dated July 7.

Here are the highlights of the slides, if you just wanna skip to the meat of the 140 slides we got and the 54 we posted:

• There’s going to be a Digital Media Wall–a massive screen–that wraps around the entire store showing various messages, which you can see in some of the slides
• Personalization is something they’re stressing big time, with fancy areas devoted to customizing computers and gadgets using an “Xbox style” interface at various kiosks
• Here’s a sample store layout
• Lots of Surface demos
• Stage areas for Windows 7, Windows Media Center (PCTV) (it’s kinda surprising how much they’re pushing PCTV, actually), Windows Mobile and netbooks
• Their take on the Genius Bar is the Answers Bar (or Guru Bar or Windows Bar, depending on which slide you look at, showing it’s slightly up in the air, though we prefer Answers Bar since its sounds like slightly less like a Genius Bar ripoff)
• Apple Store-style table layouts
• Some of the stores they profiled for ideas are Nike, Nokia, Sony, Apple and AT&T
• They’re already planning out huge demos and events around Project Natal and their secret mobile project Pink
• A fancy Microsoft shopping bag
• You can pay to have your birthday party at the Microsoft Store

In short, if it’s anything like what Lippincott is planning, it sounds absolutely amazing, and we’ll be lining up the first day it opens.

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Press Release:

CUPERTINO, California—July 23, 2009—Apple® today announced a significant update to Final Cut Studio® with more than 100 new features and new versions of Final Cut Pro®, Motion, Soundtrack® Pro, Color and Compressor. Final Cut Studio features Final Cut Pro 7 which expands Apple’s ProRes codec family to support virtually any workflow and includes Easy Export for one step output to a variety of formats and iChat® Theater support for real-time collaboration. Motion 4 includes enhanced tools such as 3D shadows, reflections and depth of field for stunning motion graphics and visual effects, and Soundtrack Pro 3 features new multitrack audio tools to streamline audio post production. Color 1.5 includes better Final Cut Pro integration and support for full color resolution, and Compressor 3.5 adds new features that make it easy to set up and customize your export options. At $999, the new Final Cut Studio is $300 less than the previous release and is also available as an upgrade for just $299.

“With 1.4 million users and 50 percent of the market,* Final Cut Pro is the number one professional video editing application,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The new Final Cut Studio includes more than 100 new features and dramatically expands Apple’s ProRes family of codecs so editors can work in the studio with the highest quality video or on location at low bandwidths.”

Final Cut Pro 7, the latest version of Apple’s Emmy Award-winning editing software, includes new versions of Apple’s ProRes codecs to support virtually any workflow with the addition of ProRes Proxy, for offline and mobile editing at low bandwidth; ProRes LT, for general purpose editing; and ProRes 4444 for editing and visual effects at the highest quality possible. Easy Export allows users to continue working on projects while encoding is done in the background and the sequence is exported to YouTube, MobileMe™, iPhone™, iPod®, Apple TV®, DVD or Blu-ray. iChat Theater support allows real time collaboration by sharing Final Cut® timelines or individual source clips with iChat users anywhere in the world, even if they don’t have a copy of Final Cut Pro. Other new features include new speed tools to change clip speed with ease, alpha transitions to create dramatic effects using moving mattes, and native AVC-Intra support for the latest high quality Panasonic cameras.

Motion 4 extends award-winning, easy to use animation tools so video editors can quickly create everything from basic titles to animated credit rolls to stunning motion graphics. Enhancing 3D compositions is faster than ever with new customizable features that add point and spot lights to cast realistic shadows or turn any shape, video plane or paint stroke into a reflective surface. Motion 4 gives editors the flexibility to adjust the depth of field within a 3D canvas by selectively highlighting a single object or using multiple objects to create a racking focus effect.

Soundtrack Pro 3 adds powerful new audio editing tools including Voice Level Match which extracts volume information from the vocal content of one clip and applies it to another without altering any other audio content so editors can easily correct mismatched voice levels. An enhanced File Editor includes new tools to make sophisticated edits and fine tune volume adjustments by targeting specific frequencies such as the rustle of a paper or the bump of a desk without affecting dialogue. The new Advanced Time Stretch feature stretches and compresses audio with incredible precision using three Apple-designed algorithms or other algorithms available as third party plug-ins.

Color 1.5, Apple’s easy to use professional grading application, now works with a greater range of sequences and effects from Final Cut Pro and an integrated workflow allows editors to complete projects entirely within Final Cut Studio. New 4K support works natively with files from cameras such as the RED ONE and outputs directly to ProRes for HD or DPX for film. Expanded support for new high quality formats includes AVC-Intra, XDCAM 422 and ProRes 4444, for grading with the maximum amount of color information.

Compressor 3.5 makes encoding and delivering in multiple formats easier than ever with the ability to automatically detect QuickTime® settings and create an Easy Export template or a mini “droplet” on the desktop that automates specific Compressor actions. New, customizable sharing options make it easy to publish to YouTube and MobileMe, or export for iPhone, iPod, Apple TV and mobile phones. For the highest quality HD material, menu templates and encoding presets make it fast and easy to create Blu-ray discs. Final Cut Studio also includes DVD Studio Pro®, a powerful DVD authoring environment with drag and drop tools, on screen editing and real time previews.

Soundtrack Pro and Compressor are also available as part of the new Logic Studio®, allowing Final Cut and Logic® users to collaborate and share files.

Apple today also introduced Final Cut Server 1.5, the asset management and automation tool for Final Cut Studio. Final Cut Server 1.5 includes powerful new features like lightweight, offline editing with ProRes Proxy, production hierarchies to organize media, and support for still sequences to easily view and manage image sequences for graphics and effects workflows. Final Cut Server now includes unlimited client licenses and is available for $999 or as a $299 upgrade for existing users.

Pricing & Availability
Final Cut Studio is now available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US) and existing Final Cut Studio and Final Cut Pro users can upgrade for a suggested retail price of $299 (US). Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Studio can be found at www.apple.com/finalcutstudio. Final Cut Server 1.5 is now available through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers and includes unlimited client licenses for a suggested retail price of $999 (US) and existing Final Cut Server users can upgrade for suggested retail price of $299 (US). Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Server can be found at www.apple.com/finalcutserver.

*Based on data from broadcast and professional video market research firm SCRI International, Inc. showing Apple is the market leader for post-production with 50 percent of broadcast and post non-linear editor purchases in 2008

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Blackberry users with Mac computers will soon be able to manage their BlackBerry from the desktop. Research In Motion announced Tuesday that it will release BlackBerry Desktop Software for the Mac in September.

“Many of you commented on my ‘updated your BlackBerry’ post back in April saying ‘…this is great! But what about Mac?’” said Andrey, a product manager on RIM’s handheld software team, in a blog post. “We have all been hard at work here for a while now, and you may have noticed some Mac support with the preview version of BlackBerry Media Sync for Mac released back in December.”

Using RIM’s software, BlackBerry owners with Macs will be able to sync iTunes playlists, calendars, contacts and tasks. Currently, there is no way for Mac owners to update an operating system, back up, and restore data without running some kind of Windows application.

Come September, however, the software will allow users to add and remove applications, update their BlackBerry when new software becomes available, and back up and restore the handheld with automatically scheduled backups and security features.

“It’s significant for Mac users who’ve been using BlackBerry devices,” said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Devices Technology and Trends team. “Up until now, all BlackBerry use has been done on the device, but no synching of data with the Mac has been possible. Now both devices, the Mac and the BlackBerry, can be extensions of each other, which is ultimately what a user wants.”

Strategic Move

Making the new software available is a strategic move by RIM and may just help the smartphone maker better compete against Apple’s iPhone with a new market to manage BlackBerry devices. It also may help small businesses that use only Macs to utilize BlackBerry devices.

“Every one of these steps is important and not about one particular strategy like marketing, making sure carriers are getting phones on time, etc.,” said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst with Interpret. “It fills a hole RIM had with consumers, and particularly Apple customers, who do not have access to a RIM server to sync their BlackBerry.”

Whatever RIM’s intentions in developing the software, BlackBerry owners are anxious for its release.

“This is great news, so thank you RIM,” said one poster under the name of Moles. “Is there going to be a public beta? If so, where can I sign up?”

Jive Turkey posted: “Yippee, now if by September you mean September, this is my happiest day as a BlackBerry owner.”

“Great News,” said poster BlackBerry Tune. “My Mac is desperately waiting for this. Release it soon, please.”

Those interested in using the software are being encouraged by RIM to register for updates on the software at RIM’s Web site.

In The Meantime

While waiting for the September release, users can still download the free version of PocketMac for BlackBerry, which supports Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. The new BlackBerry Desktop Software will support Mac OS X 10.5.5 and above, according to the company.

Thanks Mobile Tech Today

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For those who have a Palm Pre and syncing with Apple iTunes, an upgrade to 8.2.1 will break the sync edit(New Palm webOS 1.1 Updates will fix iTunes Sync) Issues(connection as Apple has decided to block the Palm Pre from using iTunes sync. According to the new software update, the new version “provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices
According to Apple,

“iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes. It also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players” Natalie Kerris, spokesperson, Apple

Palm did not have a solution for this at the moment, it advise user to stay with iTunes 8.2 if iTunes sync is needed. Otherwise, the music transfer could be done through USB connection or other third party softwares like Missing Sync and DoubleTwist.

Thanks Slashphone!

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So it’s Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference this week, and everyone is awaiting what the biiiig announcement will be, namely, new iPhones?
With the big 3.0 OS release being so comprehensive, it’s only natural that there are new iPhone models in the works. And the Palm Pre’s release date suspiciously moved to the weekend right before Apples WWDC? Come on. SOMETHING is up, right?

Well, here’s a roundup of what we would like and hope to hear at the conference concerning new iPhones and new iPhone models:

Most likely new iPhone features:
Faster processor.
More storage capacity.
Faster Internet speeds.
Video recording.
Better camera.
Digital compass.
More iPhone 3.0 software features, such as video editing, voice controls, laptop tethering, and potentially a new home screen that’s better designed for organizing and launching dozens of apps.

The phone will likely look very much like the current iPhone 3G. Some reports suggest a matte, rubbery back. But many “leaked” photos are fake. Then there’s a slew of other potential features, some of which Apple could unveil Monday, too, such as a front-facing camera for video chat, background app processing, or multi-colored iPhones. But those are relatively unlikely.

Just as important: What Apple announces regarding AT&T’s iPhone service plans. Specifically, if AT&T will offer some sort of entry-level iPhone plan that is less than $70/month, or if it will at least make its plans a better deal by including unlimited text messaging. (Sprint is doing this for the Palm Pre.) The iPhone itself is still too expensive for many buyers. And the service plan is, too.

And about pricing: It makes sense that Apple would keep its new, premium iPhones at the $199/$299 price levels. But it seems that a cheaper iPhone, perhaps will less storage or a few missing components, could show up for $99 or $149.

And other rumors swirling around the tubes include Video editing on the iPhone, a family of models so that you can find just the right size for you, FM transmittals so that you can transmit to other audio devices, Siruis, will ATT introduce tiered pricing?

And Steve Jobs is back on the scene. There must be good things to come, right?
Stay tuned, L$ will be peepin in on all the live blogging and will report back. fo’ sho’

from Businessinsider

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Analyst Shaw Wu calls it: 2 new iPhones to come out later on this year. Wu, Kaufman Bros.’ analyst, reports that, according to his sources:

“Apple will launch two new models of the iPhone, one of which will have longer battery life, a faster processor and be capable of running more complex applications. Wu is unsure if the new phones will be available in June or July.
Additionally, Wu thinks that AT&T Mobility, the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the United States, may cave in terms of data pricing for the hot gadget, offering tiered data plans to replace its single, $30 per month unlimited data plan.”

Wu-ut!
Well, there have definitely been indicators that Apple is prepping for …something. With the major update of its OS 3.0 slated to be released in June, and that you can now buy iPhones at Apple stores as well as at ATT stores sans contract, these are definitely indicators that they are clearing out inventory.

from fiercewireless.com

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Funambol provides easy-to-use push email and mobile sync between billions
of smart & feature phones, the Internet cloud and popular desktop apps.
Their open source MobileWe software works with a large number of webmail systems, including Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail, Gmail and Hotmail, as well as work email via POP/IMAP and Funambol community projects for enterprise messaging.
It supports syncing with popular desktop apps, including Outlook and Thunderbird. Funambol also provides the broadest mobile device compatibility, supporting two billion phones and counting. MobileWe performs push email as well as syncs contacts, calendars, tasks, notes and soon additional content such as photos and much more.

And at CTIA, Funambol debuts their new Ajax powered MobileWe portal.

Mobile cloud sync is rapidly gaining momentum, as witnessed by the introduction of Apple MobileMe, Google Sync, Nokia Ovi Sync and Microsoft My Phone. Funambol v8 MobileWe is the only open source cloud sync and push email solution that can be rapidly branded, customized and integrated into customers’ infrastructure. In addition to the AJAX portal, the software provides enhanced clients for several smartphones, including BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Mobile and Android. It enables PIM sync for hundreds of new SyncML phones and lets users easily sync rich content such as photos.

“Cloud sync is red hot, and everyone in the mobile ecosystem needs a solution to grow user loyalty and increase revenue,” said Fabrizio Capobianco, Funambol CEO. “Funambol v8 MobileWe, based on open source, is as simple as ‘just add water’. It enables device makers, carriers, portals, ISPs and ISVs to rapidly deploy a branded service, which can be hosted by Funambol or internally implemented.”

Funambol MobileWe supports billions of phones, including smartphones such as Apple iPhone, BlackBerry Storm and Google Android. It syncs and shares contacts, calendars, email, pictures, and more, via the Internet cloud, and popular desktop apps, such as Outlook, and webmail, including Gmail, AOL Mail, Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail.
read full press release here.

Review which mobile phone supports the features you need to get the most out of your cell phone.

For more information, please visit http://www.funambol.com. You can follow Funambol on Twitter at http://twitter.com/funambol.

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 The official Skype app will be in the Apple App Store Tomorrow, March 31st, and Blackberry users can expect to see one around May of this year. 

The iPhone’s Skype feature set includes free Skype to Skype calls, SkypeOut support, a pretty interface that is keeping with the iPhone interface, and instant messaging. You can also take a picture from within the app, and accept conference calls.  The app will also work on 2G  iPod Touches that have the external mic. 

Caveats are:  only being able to use on a wi-fi connection, as there is a ban on any VoIP on a 3G network, no text messaging, file transfer, or access to your Skype voicemails. 

I’ve been using the Fring app for a while now, and it’s a great multi-protocol client that supports talk, chat, and Skype already….jus sayin.

image from Mashable

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It may have been St. Patty’s day but in the tech world, it was iPhone OS 3.0 day. Coming on the last day of South By Southwest’s Interactive week, Apple announced what would be included in their next iPhone update. The hype machine was in full effect in the days preceding this announcement. We knew that there would be some good stuff coming – we talked about MMS and tethering in the latest Money Shot, my homie Chris Pirillo wanted a search function, and Kevin Rose of Diggnation predicted cut n paste.

When it was all said and done, Apple touted over 100 features to be included in the update.

Here’s the Deets:

• Cut Copy and Paste. W00t! Apple may have taken it’s time, but they definitely did it well – it works across all apps, and, in cute Apple fashion: you shake it to undo. Hee.
• MMS! W00t W00t! Finally, you can send peeps pics via SMS. I guess I owe a lot of peeps pictures now. No more teasing them about phone cam pics I’d send them if they could get them. Also you can send contacts, audio and locations.
• SMS services: now you can forward and delete your text messages.
• Push Technology – get alerted by text, a little badge or by voice.
• Spotlight: search. Just like on their computers, across all apps and even mail that’s still on the server.
• Typing in landscape – across apps. Very Nice.
• Bluetooth connectivity is beefed up. More functionality to connect to more hardware. Johnson and Johnson demoed LifeScan – a diabetes monitor and meal planner app. This is very interesting, and opens up the possibilities of the iPhone being utlized more in the medical field.
• iphones will also be able to communicate to each other via peer-to-peer Bluetooth technology.
• Maps and GPS – more support for turn-by-turn GPS when devs supply their own maps.
• CalDAV- subscribe and share your calendar. Let everyone know what you are up to.
• Stocks app – beefed up and can subscribe to news feeds.
• Stereo Bluetooth support.
• YouTube: login to your account. Subscribe to channels. Like…The Gadget411′s Money Shot.
• VPN on demand. Dope. Virtual Private Network.
• Voice Memo.
• Auto-fill for web forms. Awesome.
• Audio/Video tagging.
• Live video streaming from the web. ESPN did a dope demo streaming some March Madness games.
• Shake to shuffle your songs.
• Wi-Fi auto login.
• Proxy support.
• Parental Controls.
• LDAP support.

Whew. That’s a lot of stuff. In sum, it’s a lot of stuff that frankly, most phones already do. Only Apple can create such fervor of gratitude for stuff that their products should have had in the first place. My favorite tweet from the coverage: @engadget “Applause for a feature that every other device in the world has. Odd.” haha. I found that quite the amusing.

Some fun things were also demoed – LiveFire – a First Person shooter, and  Smule, creators of the Ocarina app brings on Dr. Ge Wang up from Stanford — he directed the Stanford laptop orchestra, to demo the new Trombone Leaf app. Will the iPhone be the next new musical instrument? Will it make being in the high school  band cool? Marching Bluetooth Band.

Now you want it. Yes you do. When can you get it? Summer. Yes, now you have to wait. It’s free for the iPhone, and $10 for the ipod Touch. But if you are a dev, SDK is out and available now. Go Play. Let us know what you think!!

For some live blogging action from the announcement, hit up gdgt.com

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O RLY?

Kevin Rose predicts that the iPhone update 3.0 WILL include cut and paste ability? The actual announcement of the OS update is not until tomorrow, but there have been some pretty juicy deets that have been circulating, and this is the latest. Peep the vid here.

full article at wired

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