There is talk about Google working with Verizon to make a tablet to go on the Verizon network. The best thing about the experience compared to its competitor the Apple iPad is that the Android OS is all open source so people will have a lot more freedom like a normal computer compared to the locked down iPad that acts much like the iPhone when it comes to only being able to install apps that are on the app store and only update the OS if Apple puts out an update.

“We’re looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience,” Verizon Wireless chief executive Lowell McAdam told the Journal.

Read more from PC Magazine

Boxee has just pushed out a new update with some new features to include NHL and more file control.

NHL GameCenter LIVE™ on Boxee

First and foremost we’re excited to announce that NHL GameCenter LIVE™ is now available on Boxee.  Subscribers to the monthly/annual subscription service ($19.95 / $79 respectively) can now watch great Hockey games & fights in HD (where available) on Boxee.

Boxee Beta Updates

In addition to this great new content partnership, we are also releasing the next version of the Boxee Beta, which now includes:

File Identification Progress

Easily see how many files Boxee is scanning, has identified, and doesn’t recognize within your media collection.  Check the status from any menu sidebar (TV shows, Movies, Music) or from the Media settings menu (Settings -> Media).

Manual Movie & TV Show identification
Help Boxee identify your personal media by telling it what’s in your collection.  To change incorrectly labeled files select the movie or TV show, then click the “drivers license with a circle in the top right corner”  icon on the right end of the pop-up menu.

Find and identify unresolved files by going to the “Files” menu, and selecting the “unresolved” folder from the bottom of the list.  Select files and follow the instructions above to label them properly.  You’ll now be able to put in movie names and TV show seasons and episodes to ensure your collection is pristine.

Facebook & Twitter in your Boxee feed
In addition to pushing recommendations to your social networks, you can see recommendations from friends on Facebook & Twitter from within Boxee.  Shared videos appear automatically in your feed with an icon on the right to let you know where they are from.  Set up this new option from the web in your service settings for Facebook & Twitter.

New & Improved RSS Management
We’ve created a brand new way to manage, discover and play RSS feeds in Boxee.  First, check out the new management & discovery console on our website.  Search, arrange by category or sort through the most popular, top rated, new, and HD feeds available on Boxee.  Then use the RSS feeds App to play back your favorites.

Bug Fixes and Fixes and Fixes, and Fixes!
We’ve been able to address hundreds of bugs in this version of Boxee.  Thanks to everyone who helped us out by submitting issues to our support team.

Supposed to be introduced around June of this year is the new Lumix DMC-G2 by Panasonic. This camera really has a lot of cool features. Not only does it include a huge, movable 3-inch touch live view LCD screen, but it is the first digital interchangeable lens camera. Like professional cameras, but with the price tag of a lower end camera, you have the ability to change the lens to help you get that “long distance” shot not capable with other less-expensive cameras. It comes equipped with one 14-42 mm zoom range lens, but is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds system lenses. Sweet.

Yet, the coolest feature in my opinion is the screen. Just one touch starts the auto focus and the auto exposure, and of course can snap a photo. The auto focus itself has many nice “touches,” like selecting your focal point. When in playback mode, drag the photos left or right to look through them, like Cover Flow on your iPod’s. Changing your settings will be much easier with touch as well, but the old school control pad will still be there if preferred. Not only is the touch feature pretty nifty, but this screen rotates from side-to-side 180 degrees and up and down 270 degrees, providing almost 100% of your field of view. With all these exciting components, one might think the resolution wouldn’t be too great. Well actually, it is. With a 460,000-dot free-angle Intelligent LCD and 1,440,000-dot 1.4x Live View Finder, I must admit that’s a pretty nice looking screen. And yes, I WOULD touch it.

But enough about the screen, can it actually take good pictures and video? The Lumix G2 has a high-speed and high-performance Venus Engine HD II, which supports the new image processing technology called Intelligent Resolution. This allows you to take some great shots, both photo and HD video. The Intelligent Resolution automatically detects and enhances outlines, detailed areas, and soft points in the frame, giving a naturally clear image.

For all you beginner photographers out there who aren’t really looking for all the fancy things, there is the iA (Intelligent Auto) feature which automatically engages features and settings for the best image quality. It is available in still photo and video recording settings.

Other small features include a dust reduction system to reduce bothersome dirt and dust that clings to your image sensor when changing lenses, and included software which allows you to sort and organize your photos and even upload your videos directly to YouTube. Plus, pick your cameras color from black, red, or blue. There is no set price yet, but expect to see this cool looking camera up for grabs in a couple months.

Even though I love my Olympus E-410, I’m really considering this as my next camera buy. Thanks Panasonic: Something new for us to touch.

Article by: Sara (salvis213@gmail.com)

Fiverr is a cool website that is just a bunch of posts with people making offers for $5 dollars. Within this site you will see people willing to do your homework, photo editing, classes and much more for only $5 dollars. It is a good site to go to when you are bored or have an extra $5 dollars to spend on nothing (If that ever happens?).

Another cool feature that they have is the ability to “suggest” offers. So lets say you want something done for $5 dollars you can suggest it, and someone might accept the offer.

Although there has been many speculation and rumors on if the iPad was even going to exist, look like, or even be called it has, today, just been officially announced. Apple has just put their latest product, the iPad on their website today. Although you can not purchase the product yet they do show you a great pricing structure, design, features and and tech specs about the new iPad.

As I started looking at the iPad I realized that in a way it’s just really a bigger version of the iPhone with more battery life (10 Hours), a bigger screen (9.7 – inch), and some new features. One thing I thought thT was really cool about the new iPad is it has the ability to connect to wi-fi and 3G networks. So this means if you are on the go you can easily stay connected to the internet to check your email or surf the web even if you are not near a wi-fi area.

Below is an image of the iPad pricing structure. As you can see the product is actually very affordable for what you are getting. The iPad comes in three different classes (no wi-fi, wi-fi, wi-fi + 3G) and from those classes come 3 sub classes (16GB, 32GB, 64GB). Picture captured from Apples official website.

Apple iPad Pricing Structure

Let’s face it: The iPhone’s “Genius” recommendation tool for finding apps is mediocre at best. Fortunately a startup cooked up something better. It’s called Appsaurus.

You “train” Appsaurus into understanding you better by tapping apps on a list that you like; you swipe to remove those you dislike. Every time you tap an app you might like, a new list pops up with possible recommendations. You keep tapping and deleting apps until Appsaurus grows familiar with your preferences. The app breaks its learning process into “Evolution Stages”; the final one is “All-Knowing.” It doesn’t end there, either: It keeps learning with each app you select or ban.

I had some time to test drive Appsaurus and found a few gems after tapping through. To me, an even more useful feature is the ability to perform a custom search for a type of app you’re looking for based on a search term and category. From there on, Appsaurus narrows down the lists based on your criteria, and you find recommendations the same way — tap apps you like and swipe those you wouldn’t consider.

Appsaurus is a slick-looking app, and it’s better than Genius. The App Store’s Genius tool makes recommendations based only on the apps currently installed on your iPhone, and it spits out a pretty bland list of recommendations, from my experience.

Appsaurus’ approval can be considered a triumph. In November, Wired.com published a story documenting a major risk of developing for mobile platforms controlled by larger corporations: You can be easily squashed if you inadvertently compete with the giant. Software development house Hello, Chairwas an example. The team of three was working hard on an App Store recommendation tool called Appsaurus, but Apple beat them to the idea by releasing App Store Genius in September.

Put yourself in Hello, Chair’s shoes, and you’ll face some tough questions. Do you keep moving forward with Appsaurus? Is Apple going to reject the app since it does something similar to a built-in iPhone feature (as the company has done with apps that “duplicate functionality” of the iPhone)? Ultimately, is it wise to continue competing with a giant?

Hello, Chair opted to finish Appsaurus and submit it. Apple did, in fact, reject the app a number of times: The initial submission of Appsaurus pulled information from star ratings and user reviews to help make recommendations, but Apple is extremely protective of that data and wouldn’t allow it to be used in the app.

Finally, after a series of confusing phone calls with Apple and tweaks to Appsaurus, the app showed up in the App Store on Monday. And, albeit a compromise, the end result is still pretty sweet. It’s available in the App Store for $1.

Original Article From: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/appsaurus-iphone-app/

Apple, without giving any kind of details other than they have booked the Yerba Buena Centre on the 26th of January to announce a major product. The company has previously used January launches to unveil products including the iPhone and the MacBook Air.

Although no one is really sure what they are goign to annnounce except for Apple themselves. There has been many rumors in many blogs about the announcment of a new Apple Tablet computer. Names have already been given to it such as the iSlate or iTablet.

These rumors have already helped Apple raise its shared bye 11%.