Latest news

Google has delayed the release of two Android-based smartphones in China, both of which were supposed to launch tomorrow with China Unicom.

The phones were from Motorola and Samsung and Google did not say how far back the phones would be postponed.

The latest fallout from Google's threat last week to remove its service from China, the company said it would be "irresponsible" to release the phones in China, given the uncertain future.

Samsung, Motorola, and Unicom all declined comment.

BGR has posted some details for the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0 firmware update from "Apple sources."

Says the site:

* There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
* “A few new ways” to run applications in the background — multitasking.
* Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven’t had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.
* The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” more than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”
* The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.


The firmware update should be official next week.

According to VG247, the upcoming Sony PlayStation 3 motion controller will be called Arc.

The new "wand" has yet to be officially named, and so far it has only been known as codename "Gem." President Kaz Hirai had said last year that the wand would be available by March, but the company has now changed its timetable to just "this year."

The Arc will include a wand, with a trackable ball on top. It will work with the PSEye.

As is standard, Sony said: "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."

In March, the founders of the giant public torrent tracker The Pirate Bay announced their plans to release a virtual private network (VPN), allowing for users to browse the Internet anonymously.

This morning I received an email stating the service has gone live. Says the email:

A while ago you showed an interest in our VPN service, Ipredator (www.ipredator.se)!

The service was at that time in a beta phase and we hope that you got a chance to use the service already. If not, we would like to tell you that it's now open for everyone!

For only 149 SEK (that's about 15 EUR / 21 USD) per 3 months you will get safe, encrypted communication between you and the internet, with no logging of the data transferred. It's of our utmost concern that you can use the network without anyone deciding what you're can communicate about.

Ipredator is not only another VPN-service. It's also a statement. Right now we're developing a new tool to make it harder (or impossible) for the government of Sweden to tap into their citizens traffic. Our goal is making people have the ability to use their democratic rights, without a fear of repression.

Sony Asia has announced that it has launched the PlayStation line of consoles in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The PSP, PS2 and PS3 are now available in Vietnam, which becomes the 8th country in Sony Asia territories to get the consoles.

The slim PS3 will sell for VND 9,990,000 ($540 USD), the slim PS2 will sell for VND 4,490,000 ($243 USD), and the PSP-3000 model will sell for VND 5,990,000 ($324 USD).

Microsoft and Disney are currently in talks over offering ESPN content through Xbox Live, although the sources say a deal is not imminent.

If completed however, ESPN would live stream certain sporting events, and will likely cost an additional fee on top of the current XBL Gold subscription.

"Microsoft could also create some interactive games in association with ESPN," say the sources.

XBL currently has over 20 million active Gold subscribers.

Yun Can Meng, of the UK, has been sentenced to one year in prison this week, after pleading guilty to illegally importing R4 flash carts into the country.

Meng imported 26,500 of the cards, and was arrested after a raid by the the Entertainment and Leisure Software Association’s (ELSPA) Crime Unit, Hull City Council Trading Standards Department and the Humberside Police force.

Flash carts allow for users to run homebrew on their DS devices, as well as play pirated games.

Says ELSPA Director General Michael Ralinson: "Our crime unit is pleased with the outcome of this trial and pleased to see the Court of Appeal’s copyright judgement is being robustly enforced. Intellectual property (IP) theft is an important issue for the country’s videogames industry - as is protecting it."

Apple has set January 27th as a day for a "special event" in which the company is expected to reveal the long-hyped tablet which has so far been given the name "iSlate."

The rumored device will have a 10-inch screen among other notable features but the WSJ has posted today that the large publisher HarperCollins is negotiating with Apple to make e-books available alongside the launch of the tablet. Details are still shaky but it seems that HC will set the prices of the books, which will include added bonus features, and Apple will take a percentage of sales.

The books will likely be sold through iTunes.

The "bonus features" will include videos, author interviews and social-networking applications. Prices will jump from standard $9.99 to $14.99-19.99.

The tablet is expected to ship in March, with a price tag of about $999 USD.

Yesterday, the German government released a statement slamming the security of the Internet Explorer browser and telling all users to find an alternative.

Today, the French "Certa" government agency has followed suit, warning users against using versions 6,7, and 8 of the browser. "Pending a patch from the publisher, Certa recommends using an alternative browser," says the agency.

Microsoft, in the midst of a public relations disaster, has said that IE8 is the "most secure browser on the market" and users of older versions should upgrade. Cliff Evans, IE head of security and privacy said the "risk is minimal," and that to be affected a user must be using IE6 and visit "a compromised website."

Despite only admitting problems with IE6, security company Sophos says all Microsoft browsers are affcted: "Microsoft themselves admit there is a vulnerability, even in IE8," added Graham Cluley.

Internet Explorer, in 2003, had a 97 percent dominate market share position that has continuously declined to its current 65 percent range.

According to Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, the Sony PlayStation line of consoles is "poison" and is leading children down the "capitalist road to hell."

The PS wasn't the only product feeling the heat from the President however, as he called on Venezuelan manufacturers to create "educational" toys with the features of those indigenous to the nation and not capitalistic dolls such as Barbies that "have nothing to do with our culture."

After dissing Nintendo for promoting "selfishness, individualism and violence," Chavez took aim at the PS line.

"Those games they call 'PlayStation' are poison. Some games teach you to kill. They once put my face on a game, 'you've got to find Chavez to kill him.'" The games sold for the PS are used as propogando to "later sell weapons," and they "promote the need for cigarettes, drugs and alcohol so they can sell them. That's capitalism, the road to hell."

eMusic has announced that it will be adding artists from Warner Music Group, the third largest record label on the planet.

The new deal will make 10,000 catalog albums available for downloading, but will not include new popular hits.

eMusic says it hopes to expand to 400,000 subscribers by the end of the year.

CEO Danny Stein added that the company is looking to make licensing deals as well, which will allow its catalog titles to be streamed to paying subscribers.

"We have a bunch of things in store for 2010 that will allow us to grow again and that includes streaming," Stein added. "The biggest issue comes with the rights holders being able to take on new business models."

Warner Bros. Interactive has signed a deal with Sesame Workshop that will allow the publisher to create educational videogames using "Sesame Street" characters. Sesame Workshop is the non-profit company behind the famous brand.

The deal is part of a larger multi-year deal between WB and Sesame for the distribution of new and catalog Sesame Street titles on DVD, VOD, and digital downloads.

WB should see significant growth in the kid's market thanks to the move, as Sesame is a brand known by most in America. WB also has the Lego games series, which have been extremely popular for both kids and teens.

"With Warner Bros.' capability to create and publish videogames and its ability to distribute and market home videos, together, we are able to deliver the ultimate 'Sesame Street' experience for families," added Sesame Workshop CEO Gary E. Knell.

Google has confirmed that the upcoming major revision to the Android 2.x platform is dubbed "Froyo," short for "frozen yogurt."

Android Senior Product Manager Erick Tseng says the name keeps in line with past updates, such as "cupcake," "donut" and "eclair."

There has been no word on what updates would come with the latest revision or even what number it would be (2.2?) but it is expected to hit by May.

American texters have helped raise $11 million for Haitian earthquake relief, either by donating $5 or $10 to different funds specifically created to help those in need.

The Mobile Giving Fund says the figure is a record for a single cause, and that the company was seeing up to 10,000 texts per second.

Users can send $5 to to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund by texting the term "yele" to 501501. Other organizations, such as the American Red Cross have similar situations but users will have to look up the numbers.

The Red Cross has received $9 million, and the Yele fund about $2 million.

Carriers T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon have waived all texting fees if you want to donate.

Sony Electronics USA President Stan Glasgow has revealed that the PlayStation 3 will soon be getting support for the BRAVIA Internet Video Link streaming video service.

New Sony Bravia HDTVs currently are compatible with the service, and those with older sets can purchase an add-on module.

There is free content such as news, weather and sports, and movies and TV are provided through Amazon VOD and soon from the PSN.

No word was given on when the firmware upgrade would hit with the update.