Nokia Adopting Android Is Like Finnish Boys Peeing In Pants For Warmth

Nokia is on a roll these days, with the launch of their new mobile phones. When asked ifthe companywould consider putting Android on their phones, Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice president and general manager of mobile solutions, says that adopting Android is like Finnish boys peeing in their pants for warmth; the relief is onlytemporary. (On a side note, it isa littledisturbing to hear this, but hey, we dont know about the Finnish culture over here, perhaps it is a common practice for all we know).

According to a Gartner report on worldwide marketsharefor smartphonesin August,Symbian leads at 41.2%, followed by RIM at 18.2 and Android overtook Apple at 17.2% marketshare; Android is definitely growing stronger.

But to the company whose CEO was recently replaced,it will not consider Android to be put into their phones. Maybe the maker is confident that its Symbian and Meego platform will do well in the market.

Source: Financial Times

VR-Zone Giveaway #8 - ASUS RT-N56U Wireless-N Gigabit Router

Followfoureasy steps and stand a chance to win different prizes every week. This week..we are giving away:

1 xASUS RT-N56U Wireless-N Gigabit Router

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Samsung unveils Omnia i-900 in Singapore a day before CommunicAsia '08

A day prior to CommunicAsia 08, Samsung held its Omnia press launch at Theater works situated at Mohd Sultan. The Omnia is a definitive competitor to the Apple iPhone 3G but packs a heavier punch than its competitor, with features like HSDPA 7.2mbps, a 5MP AF camera with smile detection and multi-video codec support such as DivX, XviD, H.264 & WMV. Other significant features includes an intuitive touch UI that allows users to drag and drop items just like how widgets work on our computer desktops,, FM Radio, A-GPS functionality and a micro-SDHC expansion up to 16GB.

The Omnia will be released in the Singapore market right after CommunicAsia, and prices has yet to be finalized pending carrier-subsidy negotiations. Europe will be getting the Omnia next in July, and the rest of the world thereafter in August.

The guys in our labs seems pretty excited about this phone, mainly because of the many features available on the phone. Unlike the HTC Diamond that was rolled out a couple of weeks ago, the Omnia allows one to add a storage expansion of up to 16GB into the phone, bringing the total up to a maximum of 32GB. Coupled with its multi-codec support, you can be sure that movies on the go is no longer something that will set you fuming because of the lack of codecs.

The specifications

More Pictures.

Two suns not enough Have four! Planet discovered with a view of four suns

An international team of amateur and professional astronomers has discovered a planet whose skies are lit up by four suns - the first known case of such a phenomenon.

The planet, located about 5000 light years from Earth, has been dubbed PH1 in honour of Planet Hunters, a program led by Yale University in the United States, which enlists volunteers to look for signs of new planets.The discovery of these systems is forcing us to go back to the drawing board to understand how such planets can assemble and evolve in these dynamically challenging environments.An artists impression of PH1. Photo: Haven Giguere / YalePH1 is orbiting two suns, and in turn is orbited by a second distant pair of stars. Only six planets are known to orbit two stars, researchers say, and none of those are orbited by other distant stars.Deep space discovery ... an artists impression of PH1 orbiting its two parent suns, with its other two suns in the distance. Photo: Haven Giguere/YaleThe planet, which is slightly larger than Neptune, has being likened to Tatooine, the fictional two-sun planet and childhood home of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films."Circumbinary planets are the extremes of planet formation," said Yales Meg Schwamb, lead author of a paper presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in Nevada."The discovery of these systems is forcing us to go back to the drawing board to understand how such planets can assemble and evolve in these dynamically challenging environments."US citizen scientists and Planet Hunters participants Kian Jek and Robert Gagliano were the first to identify PH1. Their observations were then confirmed by a team of US and British researchers working in Hawaii.PH1 is a gas giant with a radius about 6.2 times that of Earth. It orbits a pair of eclipsing stars that are 1.5 and 0.41 times the mass of the sun roughly every 138 days.The two other stars are orbiting the planetary system at a distance that is roughly 1000 times the distance between Earth and the sun.The Planethunters.org website was created in 2010 to encourage amateur astronomers to identify planets outside our solar system, using data from the US space agency NASAs Kepler space telescope.Artists impression. Photo: Haven Giguere / YaleKepler, launched in March 2009, is NASAs first mission in search of Earth-like planets orbiting stars similar to our sun.The discovery of PH1 was made available online on Monday at arxiv.org and has been submitted to the Astrophysical Journal for publication."It still continues to astonish me how we can detect, let alone glean so much information, about another planet thousands of light-years away just by studying the light from its parent star," Jek said.Last week scientists reported the discovery of a "diamond planet" twice the size of earth and orbiting a sun-like star.Up to one-third of the planets mass and much of its surface is believed to consist of diamonds, implying that distant rocky planets can no longer be assumed to have the same features as Earth.Source: AFP

Sony VPL-HW30ES home theatre 3D projector lands in Singapore

Sony hasannounced theVPL-HW30ES 3D home theatre projector that incorporates Sony’s latest lamp technology, Dynamic Lamp Control system. Movie fans can nowenjoy an unrivalled 3D cinematic experience with stunning 3D images that are three times brighter than Sony’s first 3D home theatre projector, the VPL-VW90ES which was launched in Asia Pacific last year.

Sony’s latest Dynamic Lamp Control Technology significantly boosts the brightness levels entering the shutters of the 3D glasses, maximising the picture’s impact and the lamp’s efficiency. The opening and closing of the shutters on the 3D glasses are intelligently synchronised to ensure that each eye receives the accurate image, thus reducing crosstalk to a minimum. In order to achieve an optimal viewing experience that feels natural on the eye, the Fullhigh definition3D VPL-HW30ES home theatre projector is equipped with Sony’s High Frame Rate SXRD Panel (1920x1080), for exceptionally sharper, dot-free images.

The new VPL-HW30ES delivers contrast ratio of 70,000:1 andbrightness of 1,300 lumens. In addition, “3D crosstalk” is further reduced to a minimal thanks to the 240Hz SXRD panel drive system and the unique Dynamic Lamp Control Technology. The automatic Advanced Iris Control feature enhances the contrast levels in accordance with the scene by maximising black and white levels without diminishing peak brightness. Sony’s new Motionflow technology allows the VPL-HW30ES to display twice as many images per second. This algorithm, unique to Sony, reproduces dramatically sharper and smoother movements and reduces the image motion blur for a crisper image.

The VPL-HW30ES is capable of taking 2D and simulating 3D images, bringing new life to classic movies from the past and allowing a wide variety of content, such as live sports, to be enjoyed.Sony’s innovative Independent 2D/3D Picture Mode on the VPL-HW30ES allows you to select separate parameters for 2D and 3D content and to change each setting individually to optimise each picture image settings whether watching in 2D or 3D.

The VPL-HW30ES also runs very quietly with an advanced air discharge system for a highly efficient cooling system, suppressing noise level to a mere 22dB without interrupting the viewer’s immersion during the movie-going experience.

The VPL-HW30ES is compatible with Sony’s new active shutter glasses, the TDG-PJ1, which are 18 grams lighter than the previous model (59g compared to 77g). The TDG-PJ1, charged in 30 minutes provides 30 hours of continuous watching. In conjunction with the new glasses, Sony has announced a new transmitter, the TMR-PJ1, which synchronises 3D content effortlessly to generate a high-quality natural 3D effect.

The VPL-HW30ES will be available across Asia Pacific in July 2011 at the SRP of USD$$3,999 (without 3D glasses and transmitter). The TDG-PJ1 and TMR-PJ1 are sold separately.

Key features highlight:

- Dynamic Lamp Control Technology significantly boosts brightness levels
- Full high definition 3D
- High Frame Rate SXRD Panel (1920x1080) for exceptionally sharper, dot-free images
- 240Hz SXRD panel drive for minimised cross talk
- High Contrast ratio of 70,000:1
- Dazzling brightness of 1,300 lumens
- Motionflow technology for sharper and smoother images for less motion blur
- Independent 2D/3D Picture Mode
- Automatic Advanced Iris Control feature enhances the contrast levels

Mushkin Unveils Volta and Joule Series PSUs

Mushkin Joule PSU

Mushkin, best known for its high performance memory modules, has unveiled the Volta and Joule series PSUs.


Mushkin Volta PSU

The Volta series (500W and 600W, single 12V rail), is aimed at mid-endusers whilst the Joule line-up (1kW and 1.2kW, six 12V rails) targetshigh-end users. Both Volta and Joule PSUs are modular, 80Plus certified(up to 85% efficiency) and feature active PFC and thermally-controlled120mm fans that glow in three (Red, Blue & Green) user-selectedcolors. They can be purchased from major retailers and e-tailers at aMSRP of USD 80 (500W), USD 90 (600W), USD 225 (1000W) and USD 250(1200W).


"Our new PSUs provide value and enthusiast power solutions. The valueconscious builders will be pleased with the output levels and connectoroptions of the Volta series," said Brian Flood, director of productdevelopment. "The Joule units will fuel overclocked components withclean power; allowing the most hardcore enthusiasts to reach new speedsand levels of stability. Both units distribute their power responsibly,with up to 85% efficiency."


News via [Techpowerup]