The All New: GOOGLE PLAY

Introducing

An Evolution of Android Market

Go to http://play.google.com on our Android Phone to get a feel of it

In Simple Words, All your hubs which include Books, Music, Videos, Apps etc etc under one roof.. 

I Say - - - >> Play Long & Go On n On n On

Google Play will become the single destination for all of the company's buyable content. Accordingly, the standard Android books, music, and video apps will become Google Play Books, Google Play Music, and Google Play Movies. But it's not just about devices. Google Play is meant to bring together the company's content offerings in both mobile and browser experiences.

Android devices running version 2.2 or later will have their Market app automatically updated "over the coming days," while the Google Play Store moniker will make its way into the Google sandbar, much like the Google+ service. The Android Market name will be retired, though you won't miss it much since the Google Play Store looks nearly identical.

With Google Play you can:

• Store up to 20,000 songs for free and buy millions of new tracks
• Download more than 450,000 Android apps and games
• Browse the world’s largest selection of eBooks
• Rent thousands of your favorite movies, including new releases and HD titles

Google is also using this opportunity to show off its competitive pricing in movies, music, and books, with deals happening throughout the week in celebration of the launch. A full gamut of content will be available here in the US, while services will be limited in other countries due to licensing deals (or lack thereof). Irrespective of country, the Android Market will be replaced with Google Play as the official Android app destination.

Source: Google Blog

All pics in this post are my *OWN*

The All New: GOOGLE PLAY

Introducing

An Evolution of Android Market

Go to http://play.google.com on our Android Phone to get a feel of it

In Simple Words, All your hubs which include Books, Music, Videos, Apps etc etc under one roof.. 

I Say - - - >> Play Long & Go On n On n On

Google Play will become the single destination for all of the company's buyable content. Accordingly, the standard Android books, music, and video apps will become Google Play Books, Google Play Music, and Google Play Movies. But it's not just about devices. Google Play is meant to bring together the company's content offerings in both mobile and browser experiences.

Android devices running version 2.2 or later will have their Market app automatically updated "over the coming days," while the Google Play Store moniker will make its way into the Google sandbar, much like the Google+ service. The Android Market name will be retired, though you won't miss it much since the Google Play Store looks nearly identical.

With Google Play you can:

• Store up to 20,000 songs for free and buy millions of new tracks
• Download more than 450,000 Android apps and games
• Browse the world’s largest selection of eBooks
• Rent thousands of your favorite movies, including new releases and HD titles

Google is also using this opportunity to show off its competitive pricing in movies, music, and books, with deals happening throughout the week in celebration of the launch. A full gamut of content will be available here in the US, while services will be limited in other countries due to licensing deals (or lack thereof). Irrespective of country, the Android Market will be replaced with Google Play as the official Android app destination.

Source: Google Blog

All pics in this post are my *OWN*

TheKube2: A mini-MP3 player hit from Singapore

Wow.  Something to be product of....  Made in Singapore.  :D

Is that an MP3 player or a model of a Borg spaceship?

(Credit: Amanda Kooser/CNET)

LAS VEGAS--The miniscule theKube2 MP3 player has been a runaway hit sold through 7-Eleven stores in Singapore. Now its maker is hoping it goes big in the U.S. after a CES launch.

The main selling point for the wee little music box is its wee little size. Bluetree Electronics calls it the "smallest touch MP3 player in the world."

Interchangeable skins spice up the visuals.

(Credit: Bluetree Electronics)

You could lose it in the depths of a big pocket. It's so small, a pet rat could use it. A very technically advanced pet rat, that is.

Despite its size, theKube2 is pretty sturdy. The body is made from aluminum so you don't accidentally crush it with your mighty fingers while you're using the touch interface.

Once you get used to where the touch controls are located, theKube2 is pretty intuitive to use. It won't do anything fancy like download apps, build playlists, or make lunch, but it does a good job of just playing music.

TheKube2 comes with a 4GB microSD card, but that can be upgraded to hold more songs. Changeable skins allow for customization. It will be retailing for around $60.

This little MP3 player just might be small enough and unusual enough to justify adding it to a gadget collection for those times when you don't want to hook headphones up to your smartphone.

by Amanda Kooser  January 11, 2012 7:29 PM PST

Read more: http://www.cnet.com/8301-33373_1-57357032/thekube2-a-mini-mp3-player-hit-from-singapore/#ixzz1jEOUSiNI

Motorola announces Motoactv, 'the ultimate fitness device

By Christopher Trout  posted Oct 18th 2011 12:07PM

Breaking News

It's official, Motorola's just officially unveiled Motoactv (not to be confused with these guys), its very own music and fitness device. The little running mate sports a 600MHz processor, runs Android and weighs a healthy 35 grams. It'll apparently track your heart rate, and log running, walking and cycling statistics, and packs GPS to track your exercise routes. The Nike+ competitor is unsurprisingly sweat and waterproof and can hold up to 4,000 songs. It also offers FM radio and audio "coaching," which updates on pace and distance, for those who need a little inspiration in their routine. Moto's also outing a pair of accompanying Bluetooth headsets, the SF700 ($149) and SF500 ($99), which will be sold separately. The Motoactv will set beat-bumping runners back $249 or $299 for 8GB and 16GB, respectively. Full PR is after the break, and official photos are on the way.

Motorola announces Motoactv, 'the ultimate fitness device'

Samsung launches YP-R2, YP-Z3, MP3 HD compatible PMPs

By Lydia Leavitt  posted Aug 31st 2011 at 12:54AM

Samsung has had its sights set on a PMP with MP3 HD support for some time now -- first announcing (and later killing) the IceTouch in 2010, and now launching the YP-R2 and YP-Z3 in markets including Russia and Korea. Claiming that the lossy/lossless HD MP3 sound is five times better than the standard variety, the company will put it to the test with access to Melon, Korea's largest 2.2 million song music store. So far, Samsung has only confirmed the R2 has a 3-inch WQVGA full touch display, is .3-inches thick and weighs around 52 grams, while the Z3, on the other hand has a 1.8-inch display and measures in at 36 grams. The music players also support photo and text viewing, FM radio and 5.1-channel surround sound. The R2 comes in black and silver and costs 149,000 KRW ($140) for 4GB, and 169,000 KRW ($160) for 8GB. The Z3 comes in white, pink and blue and costs 89,000 KRW ($83) for 4GB, and 119,000 KRW for 8GB ($110). There's no word yet if these devices will ever see US release, but check out the source for more pictures.

Electronista Samsung (Korean)

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ARNOVA web radio & TV

With the ARNOVA web radio & TV, you will definitely replace your standard FM radio device or alarm clock. It offers a great quality of reception for your radio stations as the stream com directly from Internet, a wonderful sound and a huge choice of stations. If you want to listen to your favorite radio stations (news, music, sport…) no need to spend time to search for the best signal like you do with regular FM radio receivers, most of the stations are already preselected in the ARNOVA web radio & TV. Just pick the one you want and enjoy the high quality sound thanks to the two speakers.  Additionally you will discover many web TV channels and podcasts from your country as well as for around. And if you want to wake up to your favorite news radio station or a web TV channel every morning, just set up the alarm clock function and wake up every morning with a smile. More than 12,000 high quality web radio stations worldwide More than 1,500 web TV channels and podcasts worldwide High quality reception compared to standard FM radio receivers Great sound with the two built-in stereo speakers Alarm clock function with multiple alarms Supports all the major video file formats: AVI, MPEG-4, FLV Supports all the major audio file formats: MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC Experience the radio differently The ARNOVA web radio & TV opens up a brand new way to listen to the radio. Even if you don’t have a good quality signal for traditional radio, you can enjoy thousands of radio stations with the ARNOVA web radio & TV: news, weather and all kinds of music… Just connect the device to your WiFi network and enjoy the radio in high quality. The small form factor of the product lets it fit easily in a kitchen or on a bedside table. But don’t underestimate the sound quality, the two built-in speakers deliver a high-quality sound very surprising for a such small product. If you’re comfortably installed on your couch, no need to move to change the station or to change the sound volume, just press the right button on the remote control. Music, news, sports… all the best web TV channels are there What’s more annoying than having to watch your favorite web TV channel on a cumbersome PC? With the ARNOVA web radio & TV, hundreds of web radio stations from all over the world (news, sport, music…) arrive right to any room of your home, you just need a WiFi connection. Watch the latest music clips or watch the news on the 3.5” screen quietly laid down on a couch or even in your back yard. Video, music & photo player Play all the popular video file types thanks to the ARNOVA web radio & TV wide range of video format compatibility. Relive those special occasions and share memories with family and friends with your photos displayed on the ARNOVA web radio & TV. Your photos will look crisp and bright on the large 3.5" screen. And why not add a touch of atmosphere with the ability to play music while viewing your slideshows? And even much more The ARNOVA web radio & TV has even more to offer to you. A major function is the alarm clock. Now you can wake up to your favorite web radio station, web TV or even with one of your MP3 music files. Just set up the alarm and decide what you prefer, it’s up to you! And if you want to enjoy all the music of your portable MP3 player with the great sound of the ARNOVA web radio & TV, plug it in the line-in connector of the ARNOVA web radio & TV. You can also easily listen to all the music stored on your PC over WiFi with the uPnP connection.   Tech Specs
Internal Storage1	- 2 GB built-in memory + memory extension via a SD card slot
Display characteristics	- 3.5” color TFT screen – 320 x 240 pixels
Web radio	- Approx. 12,000 radio worldwide (including US, UK, Germany, France, US, Italy , Spain Netherlands)
Web TV	- Approx. 1,500 web TV channels worldwide (including US, UK, Germany, France, Italy , Spain, Netherlands)
Video Playback2	- AVI, MPEG-4, FLV
Music Playback2	- MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC
Photo Playback3	- JPEG, PNG, GIF
WiFi	- IEEE 802.11 b/g
Speakers	- Built-in 2 x 2 W speakers
Extras	- Alarm clock function with multiple alarms and different tones types: web radio (the device must be left ON), local music - uPnP: play all your media from a PC via the WiFi connection
Connectivity	- SD card reader - 3.5 mm audio-in jack (to plug a MP3 player) - 3.5 mm audio-out jack (to plug some headphones) - Mini USB
Power source	- Via power charger (5V, 1A)/adapter or 4 x AA batteries
Dimensions & weight	- 199 x 84 x 84 mm – 7.8" x 3.3" x 3.3" - 416 g – 14.7 oz
Compatibility	- Windows® or Mac and Linux (with mass storage support)
Computer Interface	- USB 2.0 High Speed
Package includes	- ARNOVA web radio & TV, remote control, power charger/adapter + US, UK, EU plugs, user guide

Bang and Olufsen Beosound 8 iPad dock

The best-looking iPad dock yet to hit the shelves

The Bang and Olufsen Beosound 8 is one of the sexiest speaker docks we’ve seen in a long time, and considering it fits the iPad too, it looks like the best thing to happen to your Apple device since Angry Birds.

The cone shaped speakers of the Bang and Olufsen Beousound 8 make it appear to float above the table, though you can place it on a wall bracket if you prefer. And it comes in black and white, with a choice of different coloured speaker covers.

A manual room adaption switch lets you tweak the settings to suit where you’ve placed it, so you don’t have to worry if you want to fill a large lounge or a titchy kitchen. If you don’t own an iPad or iPhone you can hook up a different MP3 player or your PC or Mac, and it’s set up for networking using Apple Airport Express, so you can stream straight to it from your computer.

The only downside looks to be the price – a cool £895, when it goes on sale later this month. Ouch.

Klipsch Image S4 Review

As you would expect from a pair of earbuds in this price range, Klipsch has gone a bit beyond your basic bubble packaging for the Image S4 and its accessories. The headphones come in a Altoid-sized tin with a layer of punched-out foam inside, creating pockets for the buds, three spare gel tips, and a tiny pick for cleaning the tiny hole in the gel tips. Besides making a nice impression when you first unbox them, the aluminum tin makes a handy way to carry them around without constantly having to unravel them from the nest of cables that builds in a backpack.
Each earbud has a tiny driver seated into a knob-shaped black housing accented with chrome, while the nozzle portion that slides into the ear canal comes off at an angle, with one of three ear tips seated on top. It may not be metal, but the plastic used in the S4 feels smooth and high quality, with none of the usual hallmarks of cheap plastic such as mold release lines. Tapered rubber portions leading into the slender cables also seem to ease tension on both ends, preventing the constant stress from working the wire into a fray.

The slight kink between driver and silicon tip makes it a little unclear just how they should slide into your ear, but when you hit the right angle, the firm fit might as well be a “click” into place – they feel just right. After a dozen times putting them in, we didn’t even think twice about the process, but lending them out may produce some confused friends until you explain the proper way to fit them in.

And when they’re in, they’re not going anywhere. Though the bounce and jostle of the cable during runs sometimes necessitated reseating them during a long run, they never completely worked themselves free, needing only to be pressed back in a little tighter. Seated at a desk, not even that problem cropped up.

Sound quality is among the best we’ve heard in this price category. The perfect seal between ear and driver seals out nearly all outside noise, helps create bass that’s bold without getting artificially boomy, and the tiny microdrivers manage to drive out sizzling percussion and slippery smooth vocals. These are earbuds good enough to get your blood racing with Rammstein during a run, or discover new nuances in your favorite Radiohead song with at home.

The road to audiophilia gets a little less steep, treacherous and hazardous to the wallet with Klipsch’s Image S4 headphones. For casual music listeners who can’t quite justify a pair of cans that cost five times as much as the player they’ll be wired into, Klipsch strikes a winning balance with the Image S4.

Samsung Prepping Android-based iPod Touch Competitor

Samsung is apparently readying an Android-based music player based on its popular line of "Galaxy S" smartphones.

The Galaxy Player will be similar to Apple's iPod Touch in that it'll basically be an Android phone without the phone part, much like the iPod Touch is more or less an iPhone without the cellular chipset.

SamsungHub.com reports that the Galaxy Player will come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions and will feature a 1GHz processor, 4-inch "Super Clear LCD screen" with an 800x480 resolution, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a microSD card slot, and front- and rear-facing cameras. The device will also feature access to the Android Market for downloading apps.

Samsung has apparently confirmed that it'll be showing the Galaxy Player at CES next week but there's no word on pricing or availability yet.

Assuming this device is coming to the US, it'll be a direct challenge to the iPod Touch and the first player from a major company with full Android Market access on board. If it's priced aggressively enough, it could help to expand Android's market share even more by opening the platform up to a segment of consumers who may be interested in Android but who aren't willing to get locked into a two-year cell phone contract for the privilege of using it.

Regen ReVerb Solar-Powered iPod Dock

Fancy something a little different to dock your iPod or iPhone with? The Reverb solar-powered iPod dock from Regen is one of those that is green and good to our environment, where it is capable of offering up to a dozen hours of continuous playback on a full charge. If you thought that Regen’s Renu is one impressive solar powered iPod dock, the Regen ReVerb is all the more.

Once placed in sunlight, the photovoltaic panel on the ReVerb will begin gathering light and storing power in its Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. When charged, the ReVerb can provide up to 12 hours of high quality audio reproduction of the media files stored on an iPhone, iPod or any media player with a headphone jack and can run for a longer period of time when used in solar/electric hybrid mode.

Designed to provide brilliant acoustic output that sounds flawless, the ReVerb has a friendly user interface that provides feedback on the amount of power remaining in its battery, how much energy has been gathered over time and how satisfied it is with the user’s power generation and consumption habits. It is three feet tall and does 60 watts worth of power.

The ReVerb will be available April next year for a USD$2,299.

More details can be found here.