Google zaps emulators from Android Market

Video game enthusiasts looking to download emulators on their Android smartphones have run out of luck, as it seems that Google has removed almost all of the popular emulators from the Android Market.

Engadget reports that emulators from developer Yong Zhang (yongzh) such as Nesoid, Snesoid, N64oid and Gameboid have all been removed unceremoniously, with Zhang’s developer privileges revoked. Speaking to the tech site, Zhang said that the emulators’ removal has cut his only source of income and has flooded his email with worried customers. He has, as of now, moved to a third-party app store called SlideME, where the emulators will be available for free. Zhang is not too optimistic about SlideME, though.

Google has yet to comment on the issue.

Honeycomb tablets are good, but iPads are better, right?

Tablets in the mass market are still a new and continually expanding segment in consumer technology. While tablet PCs have been in existence for over a thousand years, the first commercially available tablets didn’t come to the mass market until 1989 when Samsung introduced the MSDOS based GRiDPad. And since then, as with desktop operating systems, we’ve had a long history of software updates with visual and features upgrades to accommodate the needs of the modern era.

Well, we’re living in as modern an era as it gets, and for our daily consumption of the internet and all the knowledge available to consume therein, we need yet another device to fit in our lifestyle. Desktops and laptops aren’t enough anymore, nor are smartphones that can provide virtually any sort of information virtually anywhere. No, we need tablets to spend more time sitting on our comfy couch, or even on the bed, and the throne (if the situation demands it) to see more of what we already saw on our desktops, laptops and smartphones.

Smartphones are too small, and laptops are too big, we need something in between. Netbooks are a tad bit cumbersome, and these 7” to 10” tablets are just the perfect way to browse the internet, check up on Facebook, Twitter and emails, as well as well as play the occasional extremely addictive mini-games.

So if I’m to use said tablet to fill in the gap in my modern lifestyle to consume digital media, while also paying around AED 2k to 3k+ (USD 500 to 800+), why should I compromise on my “feature-rich” experience?

As an end-consumer, all I want my tablet to do is perform exactly how it’s advertised, and do it good. A lot of tablets get the former right, but fail on the latter point. I’m not going to open the can of worms accompanied by ‘jailbreaking’ your iPad or ‘rooting’ your Android tablet, so let’s stick to the basics here.

We all know of iPad, and therefore the iOS4 in some capacity or the other. It’s visually simple, but very elegant, and the A5 chip in the iPad 2 makes everything run ultra-smooth. The App Store has over 500,000 apps; going through them all takes a truly patient (wo)man. There is, of course, not as much freedom in the type of apps that are available on Apple’s App Store, but everything that comes through there is safe and secure. You’re giving up freedom of customizability for a safer, faster and more polished experience.  Yes, there’s no Flash support, but the majority of videos online are written with iOS device playback in mind. Not to mention the whole shift from Flash to HTML5.

Google’s Android Honeycomb OS is a completely different beast from the iOS4. On a fundamental level they’re both the same operating systems, with the same type of features and eventual usability. The Android platform offers something visually different to the iOS, but that doesn’t necessarily make it better. And because Honeycomb can run on a variety of different hardware configurations from various manufacturers, it means that it’ll almost never have the same polished finish and feel as iPad. The simple act of scrolling through apps, let alone homescreens crowded with widgets, feels strained. While browsing the net, I never get a feeling of elegant gesture controls from Honeycomb tablets as I do from iPads. The Android marketplace is filled with apps that are still unoptimized for Honeycomb, and as such look incredibly ugly. Yes, there are a lot of apps that will make you personalize your Honeycomb tablet, but it’ll all just end up slowing down your tablet. I can see a lot of potential in Honeycomb, but Google has to make long strides yet to be able to go toe to toe with Apple.

It’s funny, back when Apple launched the iPad, it was one of the most laughed at gadgets in the world. Just a year later, with nearly 20 million units sold, and well over $2 billion in revenue through apps on the App Store, the rest of the world is now playing catch-up.

Of all the tablets that have come out, whether they are different flavors of Honeycomb or  Windows, or even RIM’s PlayBook, nothing has the refined feeling and smooth UI experience of the iOS. Competitors are even now coming up with “better and more improved” features, yet Apple is still ahead of the curve. To be sure, the iOS4 is stagnating now, but let’s wait and see what the iOS 5 will bring.

US Airline dumps paper manuals for iPads

US-based Alaska Airlines has announced that it will be opting for iPads to replace antiquated paper manuals.

The iPads will be loaded with GoodReader app (good choice!) and 41 different PDF manuals, reference cards and other materials. “The electronic manuals include hyperlinks and color graphics, enabling pilots to find information faster and easier. Updating these reference materials can now be accomplished with one tap on the iPad screen instead of the former, labor-intensive process of replacing individual pages with new ones. The iPad is considered a Class 1 electronic device, meaning it is stowed during takeoff and landing under Federal Aviation Administration regulations.”

The initiative is called “Bye, Bye, Flight bag” which aims to reduce pilot stress and injuries from carrying 25 pound worth of paper, hopefully resulting in “fewer back and muscle injuries caused by pilots carrying flight bags.” An iPad is only 1.5 pounds. The company is currently considering a similar step to replace paper navigation charts.

The move to an electronic device will also help the airline save on printing and distribution expenses, in additional to saving 2.5 million pieces of paper.

“We’ve been exploring the idea of an electronic flight bag for several years, but never found a device we really liked,” said Gary Beck, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of flight operations. “When the iPad hit the market, we took one look at it and said this is the perfect fit.”

Now only if they replace crappy side-arm music channels with iPods, low-res TVs to Netflix-enabled tablets and larger seats, and flight will be perfect.

Asus to unveil PadFone at Computex?

Asus has dropped a teaser for their Computex announcement for tomorrow (in all it’s silhouette glory). The image, below, shows a large tablet like device with a phone on top of it. The text accompanying the image says “Break the rules: Pad or Phone? How about both?”

It is not clear (aka there is no clear leak yet) of what the product is, though it is being dubbed as PadFone – which we sincerely hope is not the name of the final product. From the image, it seems like the tablet will work as a docking station to support and sync with the smartphone, also providing the tablet with calling capabilities.

In another teaser image, a silhouette of a tablet is shown , with accompanying text “Break the rules: A tablet that jumps at you.”, suggesting 3D capability – making it the first 3D tablet in the market, if so.

Following the news (and probably tired of all the silhouettes), a source close to NoteBook Italia passed up an image of the actual device, in full light and color. The image is oddly cut and still doesn’t do much for our curiosity, though at least we know it’s Android based.

Asus is all set to announce the new device at Computex 2011 tomorrow. Stay tuned.

HTC Incredible S

“The alluring HTC Incredible S smartphone combines cutting-edge design with a premium mobile experience for those who dare to be different. Showing what can be achieved when engineers and designers work together to raise the bar for mobile phone design, the HTC Incredible S smartphone features a stunning, contoured body that highlights the internal hardware components of the device. Capturing and viewing video in crystal clear High-Definition has never been so easy and a bright 4-inch WVGA Super LCD display and stereo surround sound bring a vibrant cinematic experience to the palm of your hand.”

Rumor: Apple iCloud features detailed, to be part of MobileME

With strong rumors circulating around Apple iCloud (no pun intended), everyone is assuming that it will be shown at the upcoming World Wide Developers Conference event, though how much of it is true will be known when it kick starts on June 6. For now, we have another set of rumors, this time detailing how the iCloud will work.

According to a report from Businessweek, the iCloud is designed to “scan customers’ digital music libraries in iTunes and quickly mirror their collections on its own servers.” If a user’s library contains low quality version of the tracks, the service will replace them with high quality ones. With tracks mirrored onto the iCloud servers, users will not have to bother with keep up two music libraries or selecting their fav tracks for a particular service.

The report also states that the iCloud service will be a part of Apple’s MobileME service. The service costs $99 per year – which might be a bit too much to ask against Amazon’s free offering, though you do get other benefits as well.

HTC Incredible S Mobile Phone Review

HTC has been doing a good job releasing updated Smartphones- just a month back, we saw them release the Desire S which I found to be an excellent device by all standards. However, we know that there is no such thing as one size fits all- definitely not as far as Smartphones are concerned. So for anyone who found the Desire S a bit small with it’s 3.7” screen should be looking at the Incredible S which is what we have with us today.

Packaged in your standard HTC white box, the Incredible S comes with you usual assortment of a USB cable, a charging plug and a headset along with some warranty information. Like all other HTC phones, the included headset with the Incredible S is average at best. Expect the unit to be priced at AED 2499 when it hits the market anytime now.

The construction quality is pretty decent on the HTC Incredible S and although I like the rubber-finish on the back, it doesn’t quite have the premium feel to it like the Desire S with it’s unibody construction. Also the bulge on the back doesn’t exactly do wonders for it as far as looks are concerned. In fact, the HTC Incredible S is very plain-jane  and from the front, it can be mistaken for an older iPhone to the casual user.

On the top of the device, HTC places a 3.5mm jack and a power button while the left side has a volume rocker and the USB connector. The right and bottom sides are free of buttons which means that, like the Desire S, there is no dedicated camera button. On the back you can see a 8MP camera with a dual LED flash along with the speakerphone. Coming to the front of the device, you have a 4.0” screen with a 1.3MP front facing camera on the front and rotating capacitive buttons below the screen. The effect of watching those buttons turn with the device is pretty amazing.

The Incredible S has the same CPU/GPU configuration as the Desire S- the 1GHz SnapDragon CPU with the Adreno 205 GPU which is also the same combo used in Xperia Play. Our review sample did not have an SD card for storage but expect a 4GB card to be bundled with the device. You do have an internal storage of just over a GB.

Fujitsu Lifebook P771 packs in 18 hours of ‘stamina’, SSD

Press release:
Fujitsu today announces the first shipments of the new LIFEBOOK P771, a fully specified high-end business notebook with the stamina for all-day working that will be available in the Middle East by the end of May. From its small size and weight of just 1.3 kg to its long battery runtime and flexible modular bay concept, every aspect of the LIFEBOOK P771 is designed to meet the high demands of road-warrior mobile power users.

The Fujitsu LIFEBOOK P771 achieves battery runtimes of up to 18 hours thanks to combining the latest generation Intel® chipset technology and ULV (ultra low-voltage) processors with an energy-efficient notebook design that includes optional SSD (solid state) hard drives, and an optional second battery fitted in the modular bay.

Chandan Mehta, Product Marketing Director at Fujitsu Technology Solutions says: “The LIFEBOOK P771 is one of our top of the range notebooks that will appeal to high-end users. Although it is primarily a business notebook, it also includes powerful multimedia that makes it useful from dawn to dusk; it’s a notebook that fits the lifestyle of busy executives.”

Versatility is a hallmark of the LIFEBOOK P771, with a modular bay that can accommodate a removable DVD drive, a second battery, or simply a weight saver. This interchangeability ensures that the LIFEBOOK P771 is truly an all rounder, with the power to cope with business needs during the day, plus the ability to entertain by doubling-up as a DVD player when the working day is over.

With high-end notebooks being objects of desire also for thieves, Fujitsu takes security very seriously, with features such as Advanced Theft Protection (ATP), an optional fingerprint sensor for fast and secure login, plus added data protection from the optional Trusted Platform Module (TPM) available across most LIFEBOOK models.

Knocks, bumps and bangs are all part of everyday life for a notebook used on the road – and can quickly take their toll on delicate computing components – which is why Fujitsu has equipped the LIFEBOOK P771 with a lid made from sturdy but lightweight magnesium. The LIFEBOOK range also features a ShockSensor that shields hard disk drives against knocks and drops by automatically disengaging the mechanical heads, while the LIFEBOOK P771’s spill-resistant keyboard is a feature that will be especially appreciated by users regularly working with a cup of coffee.

Iran to create it’s own OS and internet

News reports from the local press over the weekend have confirmed that Iran is building their own operating system which will be out to replace Windows (and Mac?) over the next few months. This move will make further inroads towards the country’s initiative to have their own version of the internet. Earlier this year, the director for the telecommunication ministry’s research institute, Reza Bagheri Asl, stated that the entire country would move on to an internal network, with 60% of the nation’s homes and businesses moving sooner than that.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, the ex-Deputy director of the communications technology  said that “the national Internet will not limit access for users, it will instead empower Iran and protect its society from cultural invasion and threats.” This “invasion” by the West, primarily the US, is being called the “soft war” by many of Iran’s top officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As Iran’s head of economic affairs, Ali Aghamohammadi, recently said, this new internet will be “a genuinely halal network, aimed at Muslims on an ethical and moral level.” This network will initially operate alongside the existing internet, but eventually banks, ministries and bigger organizations will be switched over to the internal network.

Obviously there are a lot of obstacles to creating an internal network that will essentially replace the internet, however, the government allocated a reported $1 billion to build on this infrastructure back in 2008. While only 11% of the Iran’s population is connected to the internet, according to latest estimates by the International Telecommunication Union, how badly this will affect local businesses and other financial institutions is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, work has started on a new search engine called “Ya Hagh,” or “Oh, Justice,” in a bid to replace other popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing (?). Time will tell how the people of Iran will take to this internal internet, if it ever goes online.

Samsung demands to see iPhone 4S/5 and iPad 3

There has been a series of long, and ultimately futile, back and forth between Apple and Samsung for a quite some time, regarding the similarities between mobiles and tablets from the two companies. Once it was clear that mere talk won’t get either company anywhere, the next stop was the courts.

And so Apple filed a patent lawsuit against Samsung last month, alleging that the later “chose to copy Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style.” On 24th of May, Apple was successful in a San Jose court ruling which allowed them to get pre-production (and retail) samples of the Samsung Galaxy S2, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Infuse 4G, and 4G LTE Droid Charge within 30 days. These sample, however, can only be viewed by Apple’s external lawyers, and not the internal staff or engineering team. These products will be checked to see how similar they are to existing Apple products, namely the iPhone 4 and iPad 2. Based on the findings, Apple can ask for an injunction against these products, preventing Samsung from selling them in the market.

Consequently Samsung has also filed a suit against Apple on Friday evening, as reported by This is my next,  where they have asked for “the final, commercial versions” or “the most current version” of the upcoming iPhone and iPad to evaluate whether these products will be similar to existing and upcoming Samsung products. Samsung requires these products in order to be prepared for a potential injunction against them by Apple.These products will also be seen just by Samsung’s lawyers, and not from their engineering department.

The thing is, Apple has requested products that Samsung has already announced, with a potential injunction against selling them for existing Apple products. Samsung, meanwhile, has asked for unannounced Apple products that may be competing against their future products. Based on the current suits, either of two things will happen: a) If Samsung’s request is granted, Apple will appeal (for sure), dragging this whole issue a couple of months later until the iPhone 4s/5 and iPad 3 are released; b) Apple can file for the injunction straightaway (against Galaxy S2, Galaxy Tab, Infuse 4G for the iPhone 4 and iPad2), nullifying Samsung’s request altogether. In either case, Apple seems to have the upper hand. What Samsung seems to have gained from this is just a show of force to Apple that they won’t back down from any challenge.

If by some miracle Apple does send these products over to Samsung, expect a barrage of “leaked” images and specs of the upcoming iPhone and iPad.

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