Apple’s ‘slapband’ iWatch patent - Looks a lot like this forgotten Nokia concep

Long before the iPhone changed how we think of cellphones, Nokia was dabbling in even more radical cellphone concepts.

The Nokia 888, a concept from designer Tamer Nakisci, was a flexible design that could fit around your wrist, lay flat for reading, and take on a few other shapes. I haven’t thought much about the 888 since it won Nokia’s Benelux design contest in 2005, but after AppleInsider dug up Apple’s slapband-esque iWatch patent yesterday (below), Nakisci’s concept feels strangely relevant.

As he envisioned it, the 888 featured a liquid battery, a flexible touchscreen, and relied on speech recognition rather than a keyboard. If that sounds to you like shades of what we’re hearing about the iWatch coupled with Apple’s Siri virtual assistant, you’re not alone.

To be clear, I’m not implying Apple in any way stole this design concept. It’s just interesting to see how close we are today toward building devices that once seemed impossible.

Here’s how Nakisci described the functionality of the 888′s form to Yanko Design:

iPhone 5 price in the US

With all the hype surrounding Apple’s latest device, it’s no wonder that many people want to know its real retail price. Truth is that the price greatly varies among different countries.

iPhone 5 SIM-Free Prices without contract

The iPhone 5 price in the US is one of the smallest ones to date, due to the fact that it is the first country which distributed the new smartphone.

If you’re looking to purchase the iPhone 5 SIM-Free, in the US, you should know that its price goes up to 849 dollars, for the 64 GB version. Depending on how much memory you want, the other versions are priced accordingly: 649 dollars for the 16 GB model and 749 dollars for the 32 GB model.
The production cost of the most expensive iPhone 5 model, the 64GB one, is only 230 dollars, according to a famous research brand. This cost includes the materials needed and the assemblage costs, so Apple charges you an extra 600 dollars just for the brand and shipping.

Features to match the price

The iPhone 5 has impressed the whole world with its slimness, lightness and 4G capabilities. It features a bigger screen than the previous model, it has an improved battery life, and it’s also capable of capturing higher quality photos and videos. It was first launched in the US, and in a few countries in Europe, including France, Germany and Britain.

iPhone 5 Price in France and Germany – Euro Zone higher prices?

In France and Germany, which are both members of the euro zone, the iPhone 5 price is of approximately 885 dollars for the 16 GB version, 1027 dollars, for the 32 GB version and 1170 dollars, for the 64 GB one. These prices are higher than the US iPhone 5 price due to the fact than one euro has a higher selling price than one dollar, and these countries can purchase the smartphone only in euros.

iPhone 5 sells better than iPhone 4S – Same Price

Apple has recently announced that it sold a record number of over 5 million iPhones in just three days after the initial launch, and the analysts successfully anticipated that the deliveries could reach a target of almost 10 million sold units in the first weekend. The iPhone 5 sales are slightly above than those recorded by the previous iPhone 4S model, which managed to sell over 4 million units in the first three days after its launch.

iPhone 4 US price to drop

The iPhone 5 US price is influenced by the large number of orders and due to the fact that the device has been recently released. After a few months, the prices are expected to begin dropping, and Apple might as well start to work on a new iPhone.

iPhone 5 Price with contact in USA

If you’re looking to buy an iPhone 5 for a cheaper price, you might as well consider a two-year contract with AT&T or Verizon, but you should expect to pay a moderate-to-high sum each month. The iPhone 5 US contract prices are 199$ for the 16GB version, 299$ for the 32GB version, and 399$ for the 64GB version.

iPhone 5 Price around the world soon

The new iPhone has been currently released in about 30 countries, but their number is expect to reach almost 100 until the end of the year. That’s good news for everyone, but especially for those living in America, since the iphone 5 price in the US will start dropping at the same time the phone’s popularity over the world increases. And iPhoneprice.com will be the first to let you know the latest update of the iPhone prices around the world!

Korean Air’s A380 to feature three bars, luxury lounge seating

Korean Air is working with The Absolut Co and Heath Tecna to offer three Absolut Celestial Bars on board the airline’s new A380 aircraft. The aircraft will house two self-service bars in business class and another bar in first class.

Passengers will find the glamorous lounges located in both the forward and aft sections of the cabin near the stairwells. The forward lounge houses a divided two-person sofa, which has built-in side tables and reading lamps.

To the side of the sofa will be an integral self-service Absolut Vodka themed bar, which features a display tower, martini glasses, and chilled liquor bottles stored in a conjoined side table.

The aft Absolut-sponsored lounge contains a two-person sofa with reading lamps, provides passengers a trio of lean-to cushions for impromptu socializing, offers a flat panel LCD on top of a magazine display, and incorporates a stand-up bar staffed by a cabin crew member.

Korean Air ordered 10 A380s and the airline expects five to be delivered by December 2011. The first flight from New York is slated for August 9. Korean Air is holding a sweepstakes to win a trip from New York to Seoul aboard the A380 now through August 31.

New Windows 8 PC phone revealed, plus tablet and desktop

One of the most intriguing new phones being unveiled at this week’s big wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, may be a sleek new Windows model developed in Redmond.

It’s not coming from Microsoft, which will have a relatively low profile at this year’s Mobile World Congress.

The phone I’m most curious about is being made by a little company in the warren of offices west of Highway 520 between Microsoft and Nintendo. That’s where a few dozen employees of i-mate have built a striking new handset with a 4.7-inch touch-screen display.

It looks similar to the latest jumbo, slab phones, but it’s a more potent machine inside. The phone runs on Intel’s “Clover Trail” hardware and Windows 8 Pro, so it’s a full-blown PC capable of running most desktop software.
Called the Intelegent, the device could go on sale this summer for $750, which is less than the price of an unlocked iPhone 5 with the same amount of storage capacity.
The phone is more powerful than most tablets. It has an Atom processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM and 64 gigabytes of storage. It’s designed to work with HSPA+ and LTE 4G wireless networks and have up to 10 hours of talk time.
I-mate will sell the phone alone or as part of a $1,600 desktop hardware suite including a docking station, called the “hub.”
Docked in the hub, the phone can be used with a traditional, wired phone handset or make video calls. It also functions as a desktop PC — powering a 23-inch touch-screen display, keyboard and mouse — and drives an auxiliary wireless tablet with a 10.1-inch, 1080p display.

This isn’t i-mate’s first trip to the rodeo. The company was founded in 2001 by Jim Morrison, a British Telecom veteran who worked with Microsoft and HTC to launch early smartphones based on Windows CE.
The company grew into a major phone producer in the United Kingdom and Dubai before its business tumbled in 2007 and 2008.
A line of advanced, business-oriented smartphones with Windows inside was floated in 2007 but sales didn’t pan out.
Production problems, limited demand and other challenges led the company, based in Dubai at the time, to lay off most of its employees and delist its stock.
HTC moved on. It transformed from a relatively obscure manufacturer to a prominent consumer brand, in part by taking an early lead with Android phones.
Two years ago, i-mate’s reinvention began in earnest. The company quietly started developing a new phone based on the Intel silicon.
The company isn’t setting out to topple the iPhone or Android models that dominate the smartphone business. Instead it’s positioning itself as a challenger to the BlackBerry, which is also re-emerging with new models aimed largely at business users.
With tablet sales starting to outpace those of smartphones, and the rise of big phone-tablet “phablets” like Samsung’s Galaxy Note, perhaps it’s time for a 4.7-inch PC phone.
Morrison also sees an opportunity to sell corporate users a reasonably priced desktop suite — including a PC, tablet and phone — all powered by the phone.
He believes corporate buyers will also be interested in a modern phone that can be managed like a PC and run their own PC applications, regaining control they’ve ceded to the closed gardens of Apple’s iOS, Android and even Windows Phone.
I can’t wait to try the system.
Maybe I’m just sentimental about the crazy handheld PCs that Paul Allen and others tried to develop a decade ago, before smartphones took off and PCs were still the gadget tinkerers’ platform of choice.
Wallet-sized micro PCs like the OQO and the FlipStart that Allen unveiled in 2003 never caught on, in part because they were too expensive and impractical.
They arrived long before the hardware, software and wireless infrastructure were ready. Morrison said key advances enabling i-mate to produce the Intelegent are Windows 8 and Intel’s Atom hardware, which has just started being used in mobile phones.
Windows finally starts up fast enough to answer a phone call and its new tiled interface works on the small screen as is, Morrison said.
“We’ve made it more portable, we’ve combined it with a phone and overall costs have been reduced,” he said. “You’ve got a lot in your package.”
Morrison said i-mate will manufacture the phones in the U.S., using screens from South Korea, touch panels from Miami and hardware boards made in Japan.
A facility in California is ready to assemble 10,000 units a week, he said.
The company also is benefiting from Intel’s big push to become a player in mobile devices, beyond the laptop. After years of trying, it gained a legitimate toehold in phones last year.
Atom-based Android phones went on sale in India, Europe and other overseas markets, with producers such as Motorola, Lenovo and Acer on board.
Intel is hoping to pick up the pace with several new hardware systems that it’s announcing Monday in Barcelona.
They include a new Atom processor dubbed Clover Trail Plus, with double the computing power and three times the graphics capabilities as the Clover Trail model that launched in September.
The new Intel processors are designed for phones and tablets, including a wave of new Android tablets coming out in the next few months and some lower-cost Windows devices.
So far, i-mate appears to be the first to use Intel hardware to build a phone running Windows 8. Intel has been helping out by providing engineering support, spokeswoman Kathy Gill confirmed.
“It’s an exciting time for mobile technology in general as you see these smartphones becoming more powerful and people wanting to do more and more with their mobile devices,” she said.
Whether this leads to a single device powering all the gadgets in the office remains to be seen.
Intel and Microsoft would probably prefer that people continue buying a phone, a PC and a tablet rather than an all-in-one like i-mate’s Intelegent.
Even so, i-mate is likely the first of multiple companies that will try again to help people converge or consolidate their devices, taking advantage of PC hardware that finally has the right combination of small size, battery efficiency and wireless capabilities.
Meanwhile i-mate is off to Barcelona to find partners such as wireless carriers to help launch its device this summer.
No doubt, it’s a longshot. We’ll also have to see if the system works as well as it looks.
But it’s hard not to get excited about the company’s concept and verve.

SSX Wins Big at the VGAs

Congratulations to the entire SSX team for picking up Best Individual Sports Game at the 2012 Video Game Awards. Everyone here at EA SPORTS is incredibly proud of SSX’s achievements this year, and we’d like to thank our great community of fans who have been along for the ride.
Haven’t tried SSX yet and want to know if it’s for you? Here’s the three ways to play SSX.
Race It

Way beyond your typical racing experience, SSX allows players to experience intense high-speed races down huge open mountains with multiple paths and no invisible walls to hem the player in. Challenge a friend in Explore, race with up to four other friends in our 3-2-1 GO! online mode, or take on the whole world in a Global Event.

Trick It

Defying the laws of reality, SSX enables players to pull off tricks that would make even the World’s greatest snowboarders sick to their stomachs. With a trick system and levels designed to deliver trick opportunities at every turn, linking your combos is a must for posting record-setting scores. Fill your Tricky Meter to unleash your favorite Uber tricks!

Survive It

A new gameplay element inspired by big mountain snowboarding, SSX asks players to survive some of the most treacherous descents on earth. Challenged by the power of Mother Nature, players will have to survive avalanches, white outs, freezing cold temperatures and much more as they make their way down these natural boss battles.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Rumor and Release Date Roundup

Back in late 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S4 leaked out for the first time. Since then, as we’ve moved well into 2013, the Galaxy S4 rumors haven’t slowed down only picking up steam as the year heads into the month of March. And while Samsung hasn’t announced the smartphone yet, already we have an idea about the Galaxy S4 release date, hardware, software and more.

Even though Samsung hasn’t announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 yet, we already have a good idea about what the company might be planning for its release in terms of timing and in terms of the device itself.

Those rumors have helped to paint a fairly clear picture of the device that will likely be arriving this year to replace the Samsung Galaxy S3, a device that arrived back in May of 2012 and has sold over 40 million units around the world.
So far, the Galaxy S4 rumors have been anything but scarce and also include some whispers about a potential Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and perhaps a companion Galaxy Watch. Neither hasn’t been heavily rumored to be launching with the Galaxy S4, though it’s possible that we could see them arrive when the device touches down.
Samsung’s Galaxy S4 will be facing stiff opposition this year as HTC recently announced its HTC One flagship and earlier this year, Sony also released its flagship Android smartphone, the Sony Xperia Z. Of course, the company that Samsung is truly gunning after is Apple, and the Galaxy S4 will look to also challenge the iPhone 5 and presumably, the iPhone 5S as well.
Rumors so far have pointed to a device that is capable of taking on all-comers. The first Galaxy S4 rumor arrived just about six months after the Galaxy S3 touched down in the United States and since then, they have made it clear that the Galaxy S4 is very likely going to have a chance to surpass even the Galaxy S3 in popularity.
The Galaxy S4 has seen rumors both big and small and they have offered a look into what shoppers might be looking at when it finally arrives in the next few months.
Here, we are taking a look at the latest and best Samsung Galaxy S4 rumors that we’ve seen since the device emerged from the shadows many months ago.

Galaxy S4 Release Date

While the Samsung Galaxy S4 release date remains up in the air, the Galaxy S4 launch date does not. Samsung has sent out invitations for an event in New York City that is set to take place on March 14th. And while Samsung hasn’t said what it will be announcing at the show, it’s clear that it’s going to be the Samsung Galaxy S4.
What this means is that on March 14th, we will finally hear all about the Galaxy S4, its features and yes, its release date. We still don’t have a specific picture as far as its release date is concerned but we do have several rumors.

Rumors that surfaced in early February indicated that the Samsung Galaxy S4 would be launching mid-March. Those turned out to be dead on. The same report also indicated that the Samsung Galaxy S4 release date would likely fall across several months, mirroring the release of the Samsung Galaxy S3.
As of right now, the Galaxy S4 is rumored to be coming to Europe during the month of April and in the United States, where the event is being held, a little later on.
Those in the United States are said to be getting the Samsung Galaxy S4 in either May or June. With the Galaxy S3, the United States received the device in June and July after the device launched in May.
Samsung is not guaranteed to announce a specific Galaxy S4 release date in the United States, but the company will likely, at the very least, announce a release window.

Galaxy S4 Display

The Samsung Galaxy S4 will almost certainly improve on the display that Samsung included with the Galaxy S3 which specifically was a 4.8-inch 720p resolution display.
Rumors thus far have all suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be coming with a full HD 1080p display though they have not agreed on what type it may be. A report has claimed that the Galaxy S4 may not feature a Samsung AMOLED display like the one Samsung showed off at CES 2013. At CES, Samsung quietly showed off a 4.99-inch FHD display with 1080p resolution using Super AMOLED technology. The new rumor claims that Samsung may opt for a SoLux Display with LCD technology though that remains unconfirmed.
What is quite clear though, and rumors align with this, is that the Galaxy S4 will come with a full HD 1080p display of some kind and will likely sport a high pixel-per-inch (PPI) count. However, big resolution may not be the Galaxy S4 display’s only enticing feature.



A report from Korean publication claims that Samsung will be including Atmel’s latest maXTouch S sensors on the Galaxy S4 which could allow users to make on-screen gestures without touching the display.
The Galaxy S4 would not be the first smartphone to feature this type of technology, but it certainly would be the biggest name to. Previous smartphones like the Sony Xperia Sola and Pantech Vega 4G LTE included touch less gestures but the feature was said to be a drain on battery life and gimmicky. The new sensors from Atmel are said to provide better battery life.

Galaxy S4 Design & Features

In an attempt to keep at least some of the Galaxy S4 a secret until its launch date, Samsung, like it did with the Galaxy S3, has likely installed high security around the design of the Samsung Galaxy S4. It was a reason why the Galaxy S3′s actual design did not leak out until the day of the launch and it’s a reason why the Samsung Galaxy S4 itself likely hasn’t shown its face for the world to see.
The most credible leak that we’ve seen to date is one from SamMobile that depicts a device with what appears to be a Galaxy S4 boot screen and a form factor that closely resembles the Galaxy Note 2 as its a little more square in shape.

Specific rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will keep the home button that has been found on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It is also said to retain a plastic back but also come with aluminum sides.
Specifics include a weight of 138 grams, which would be heavier than the Samsung Galaxy S3 and a 7.7mm design which would be much thinner than the 8.6mm Galaxy S3 and close to the iPhone 5 in thickness. The iPhone 5 measures in at 7.6mm.
To get an idea of how the device might stack up against its rivals, here is a look at how it could match up in terms of thickness against the iPhone 5, Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3.

Other rumors insist that the Samsung Galaxy S4 could look quite a bit like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 which was launched at Mobile World Congress back in February.

Galaxy S4 Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S3 sported a decent 8MP camera, but rumors insist that Samsung will be upping the ante with a 13MP camera on the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The Galaxy S4′s most recent camera rumor comes from a potential camera sample, discovered by Androsym, which if real, means a 13MP camera will be on board the new Galaxy when it arrives. This camera sample shows an impressive level of detail as the image is zoomed in far enough to see dirt and dust on the keyboard.

It has been suggested that the device utilizes a 13MP Sony camera sensor. The Sony Xperia Z uses a 13MP Sony sensor and the iPhone 5S has been rumored to be coming with one as well. 

If true, it would mean that the device would include HDR video recording, a 10 frame-per-second burst photo taking speed, and the ability to take quality low-light photos.

Galaxy S4 Specs

The Samsung Galaxy S4 obviously won’t just be made up of a camera, a screen and a design though. There will be quite a few other hardware features that power Samsung’s new smartphone and already, we’ve heard about several of them,
One of the biggest debates that has cropped up surrounding the Galaxy S4 is about which processor will be inside the device when it arrives. Early rumors and benchmarks suggested that we could see the Exynos 5 Octa quad-core processor, Samsung’s new processor that it debuted at CES 2013, arrive inside the Galaxy S4 first.
Since then though, benchmarks and a more recent report from Taipei Times have suggested otherwise. According to the report, the Galaxy S4 could be equipped with a Qualcomm SoC processor, specifically the Qualcomm 600 in regions like the United States while Europe and other regions could see the Galaxy S4 come with the Exynos 5 Octa processor.

Samsung used two different chips with the Samsung Galaxy S3 so it could be that it winds up doing it again with the Galaxy S4. At the very least, it looks like the Galaxy S4 will come with a powerful quad-core chip that should improve performance as well as battery life.
As for the size of the Samsung Galaxy S4 battery, the device has been rumored to be coming with a 2,600 mAh battery on board, larger than the Galaxy S3′s. The battery is also said to be removable which means that owners would be able to easily replace the battery or install an extended one for better battery life.
A report has also claimed that the Galaxy S4 will be arriving in six different variants, including two different colors and three storage options. The company is said to be offering both a black and a white Galaxy S4 while offering the device with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage space, just like the Galaxy S3.

Galaxy S4 Software – Android

Samsung’s new Galaxy smartphone will be coming with Android as its operating system, much like its predecessors, but it’s unclear exactly what version will be on board when it arrives.
So far, rumors and benchmarks have pointed to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the latest version of Jelly Bean, being on board the device and given that the software launched in November, it’s not outlandish to think that Samsung has equipped it with the latest software.
It will also likely have Samsung’s TouchWiz software on board, though it’s unclear what version it might be. With the Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung introduced Nature UX which brought a handful of smart features like the ability to turn the phone over to silence a call.


A rumor from Android Geeks suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will have at least one new feature on board, a Photo Sphere style application called Samsung Orb, that will allow users to take full 360 degree photos. It’s unclear if it would replace Android 4.2′s Photo Sphere and it’s also not certain whether or not it will be a part of a much larger piece of software, perhaps Nature UX 2.0.
Trademarks have hinted at two new smart features for Samsung smartphones. Eye Scroll and Eye Pause, the former of which may allow users to scroll web pages using their eyes and the latter which could stop content when eyes look away. Both would likely utilize the device’s front-facing camera.

Galaxy S4 Carriers

While we will likely have to wait until the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch date to hear about specific carriers, we have seen two potential carriers leak out.
A user string agent from Samsung’s servers emerged showcasing a device with model number SGH-I337 which pointed to a AT&T Galaxy S4 with a 1080p display. AT&T & Samsung use the SGH-I__7 naming convention for Samsung smartphones on AT&T which is why this is currently considered a possible Galaxy S4 model.


Much later, a device with model number SCH-I545 surfaced in benchmarks which points to a Verizon Galaxy S4 as the carrier and Samsung used the SCH-I535 model number for the Galaxy S3.
Thus far, those are the only two rumored carriers for the Galaxy S4 though there should be many more on launch day given past Galaxy S and Galaxy Note releases. It will also likely run on the 4G LTE networks of all of those carriers.

Galaxy S4 Price

No rumors have emerged in regards to the pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S4 though given that it’s rumored to have 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, the device could come equipped with pricing similar to the Galaxy S3.
If true, that would mean $199.99 for the 16GB and potentially $249.99 for the 32GB Galaxy S4. That’s the pricing that U.S. carriers, besides T-Mobile, used for the device.

Microsoft Office 2013 License will tie user to one PC for ever

With each passing day, software manufacturers are getting meaner. Last week it was rumored that Microsoft has made sweeping changes in its wording of the End Users License Agreement or the EULA in short for the Microsoft Office 2013. The latest EULA will trap the user’s license with one PC forever.

Earlier EULA from Microsoft allowed users to move their software licenses to new computers. However if Microsoft gets what it wants, all this will be history. The latest End Users License Agreement or the EULA from Microsoft will tie the user’s license to one PC only.

The change in the wording of the EULA was first brought into light by The Age and now it is being widely reported across the techno circles. If the user activates his license on a particular PC he will be tied up forever on the PC. If the user by any chance, requires running the Microsoft Office 2013 on another PC he will have to get a new license. Microsoft has maintained a stoic silence on the subject and has declined to answer any queries pertaining to the vexed subject.
In all probability, it is a ploy to force the users of the MS Office software towards the Cloud based Office 365 subscription. Microsoft has left the users with the vexed question of getting the Microsoft Office 2013 once and using it for years or to go for the $100 Office 365 subscription. It will be a very costly error from Microsoft to place users in such a predicament especially in a time when there are alternatives for productivity software other than Microsoft Office. Microsoft’s strong-arm tactics could well boomerang and give its competitors a chance to encroach in a segment in which Microsoft has a very strong presence.