Tag Archives: release date

Kid Cudi announces W Z R D album release date

November 19, 2011Music, Newsband name, Dot Da Genius, Kid Cudi, name change, release date, W Z R D, Wizard albumScott Meisner

This week rapper Kid Cudi took to Twitter to make a major announcement: his next album is coming out January 30, 2012 to coincide with his 28th birthday. He also made a change to his group’s name. He and producer Dot da Genius are now collectively known as W Z R D (short for WIZARD) and 2 Be Continuum is no more. Cudi was not ready to spill the beans on the album’s title yet. However he did go on to say that the album “does not contain any profanity or the usage of the word “nigga”.” The former lonely stoner calls it “a universal album for everyone.” Also, he says “WZRD is bringin Punk Rock back with a whole new energy and sound.” Not really sure what he means by that? We’ll have a taste of what’s in store soon as Cudi promises that a snippet of the first single is on its way. “Ladies, your gonna have something to shake those booties to,” he teases.

Droid RAZR by Motorola available now for $299 on Verizon Wireless

November 15, 2011News, TechnologyAndroid smartphone, Droid, Droid RAZR, Droid RAZR by Motorola, launch, Motorola, price, product launch, release date, release date & price, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, VZWScott Meisner

The latest edition to the Droid smartphone family is officially available for purchase. Verizon launched the super slim and sleek Droid RAZR on November 11, 2011 at precisely 11:11 AM. If you’re ready to sign a new two-year contract with Verizon Wireless, the modern RAZR can be yours for $299.99. The 4G LTE handset can be purchased at Verzion stores and online. If you feel like brushing up on the phone’s specs, flash back to the mid-October introduction.

Barnes & Noble announces Nook Tablet, updates and drops prices of Nook Color & Nook Simple Touch

November 7, 2011Images, News, TechnologyB&N, Barnes & Noble, e-reader, Nook, Nook Color, Nook Simple Touch, Nook Tablet, price, release date, release date & price, software update, specifications, specs, tablet, updateScott Meisner

Kindle Fire, meet your head-to-head competition. Today Barnes & Noble announced their latest e-reader, the Nook Tablet. On the outside, the Nook Tablet looks nearly identical to its predecessor the Nook Color. This time around, it’s almost entirely what’s on the inside that really counts. The Tablet is fast, packing a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The 7-inch multitouch screen (1024 x 600) displays 16 million colors ultra-bright and features full IPS lamination to reduce reflection and glare and offer extra-wide viewing angles and clarity. The display can play full HD 1080p content. Battery life is quite impressive, too. The Tablet offers up 11.5 hours of reading time or 9 hours of video viewing. There’s 16GB of onboard storage, and this can be expanded with an SD card. Built-in WiFi allows for web surfing and downloading books, magazines, newspapers, comic books, apps and other content. (Note that though the Tablet runs Android Gingerbread, users will not have access to the Android Marketplace.) It’s thinner than the Color weighing in at 14.1 ounces and it features a soft touch back design. A built-in microphone allows users to take advantage of the new Read and Record feature which allows parents to record narration and let their kids play it back when they’re reading their favorite stories. The newest Nook also sees an upgrade in entertainment selection. It comes preloaded with Netflix and Hulu Plus apps for movie and TV show selections (Flixster with UltraViolet is coming soon) and Pandora, Rhapsody, Grooveshark, and MOG are available for streaming music.

During their press event, B&N highlighted their Tablet’s advantages over Kindle’s Fire. In addition to featuring a better display with superior viewing angle, more than 2X the memory, a lighter design, more RAM, and better content rendering, Nook Tablet owners will also have the assurance that if they ever need product support they can visit a local Barnes & Noble store to resolve their issue. That is something Amazon sadly can never offer as it is strictly an e-tailer. The Nook Tablet is now up for preorder at $249 and it releases next week on November 18. That is a fat $50 more than the direct competition coming from Amazon, so be careful when you’re shopping this holiday season.

Besides announcing the Nook Tablet, B&N also took time to refresh and make cheaper their other e-readers. The new and improved Nook Color will ship with B&N’s “largest software update ever” that will bring Netflix, Hulu Plus, and music streaming apps to the device, as well as a refreshed library and enhanced shopping experience. The new Color ships this December at $199. Existing owners of the Color will automatically receive the update at no cost over WiFi next month. And finally there’s the tried and true Nook, now renamed the Nook Simple Touch. It will also come preloaded with a software update that will enable better battery life (users can read for up to 2 months for one hour a day). The update, which is now available for existing Nook owners to download, also makes the screen crisper and the page turn rate faster. The rebranded Nook Simple Touch is available to buy today at a low $99 with “no annoying ads.” Stings a bit, doesn’t it Amazon? Game on.

[Via Barnes & Noble] Continue reading Barnes & Noble announces Nook Tablet, updates and drops prices of Nook Color & Nook Simple Touch →

PlayStation 3D Display is out November 13 for $500

October 20, 2011Images, News, Technology, Video3D, 3D TV, bundle, Playstation 3, PlayStation 3D Display, PS3, release date, Sony, Sony Playstation 3, Video gamesScott Meisner

The PlayStation branded 3D Display that was announced and detailed at Sony’s E3 press conference earlier this year now has an official release date. The PlayStation Blog reveals that the $499.99 set, which comes bundled with one pair of 3D Glasses, MotorStorm Apocalypse 3D-capable game, and an HDMI cable, will go on sale November 13. Early preorders offered a copy of Resistance 3 and Sony clarifies that if you put in an order on or before September 30, 2011 you will still be receiving that game. To refresh your memory, the 24-inch LCD display outputs 1080p HD picture and features 2D/3D support, high contrast (5000:1), a wide viewing angle (176 degree) and high response time (4ms GTG average) with a slim design, high quality sound with an integrated subwoofer, and two HDMI ports. And it’s got one really cool trick up its sleeve. Sony describes the SimulView feature like so: “This special two-player feature is unique to the 3D Display in that it significantly enhances two-player mode in select games. Ordinarily, two-player mode is played in split-screen format. With this unique two-player feature, each player gets their own full (2D) HD screen while wearing the 3D Glasses for the 3D Display.” The active 3D glasses contain the special sauce to perform the trick. Be aware that Sony will sell compatable 3D glasses separately at $69.99 a pop. If you want to learn more about the technologies powering the 3D Display head on over to the PS Blog where you’ll find an informative FAQ that should answer most, if not all, of the questions you might still have. Product images sit in the gallery below and an introductory video sits after the break.

[Via PlayStationBlog] Continue reading PlayStation 3D Display is out November 13 for $500 →

Motorola intros RAZR thin Droid, fitness enhanced Motoactv MP3 player

October 18, 2011Images, News, TechnologyAndroid phone, Droid, Droid RAZR, Droid RAZR by Motorola, fitness device, Motoactv, Motorola, MP3 player, price, release date, release date & price, specifications, specsScott Meisner

Today Motorola introduced the newest member of the Droid smartphone family, and this one’s special because it bears the name of one of the most (if not the most) popular flip phones from the early 00’s. The Droid RAZR by Motorola measures at 7.1 mm thin making it the world’s thinnest smartphone, according to Motorola. The iPhone 4S, by comparison, is a beefier 9.3mm thin. In addition to being so slim, the Droid RAZR is extremely durable; the large 4.3-inch (960×540) qHD Super AMOLED display is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass for scratch resistance and the device is wrapped in Kevlar fiber for strength. Inside it’s powered by a speedy dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB RAM and runs Android Gingerbread (version 2.3.5). The 4G LTE handset also packs an 8 megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture and image stabilization technology, a front-facing HD camera for video chat, 32GB of memory (16GB on board storage and a 16GB microSD card pre-installed), mobile hotspot capability, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI and Micro USB ports, and a 1780 mAh battery. On the software side, the Droid RAZR comes loaded with MotoCast and Smart Actions applications. The first serves as a cloud app allowing users to wirelessly stream content (music, photos, etc.) from PCs to the phone, and the second allows users to automate tasks and optimize battery efficiency. Additionally, this device will be the first smartphone capable of streaming Netflix content in HD. When the Droid RAZR goes on sale next month, many accessories will ship alongside it and they include updated versions of Motorola’s Lapdock, charging cradles for desks and cars, a wireless keyboard, a portable power pack, and Bluetooth headsets.

The Droid RAZR goes on sale in “early November” for $299.99 with a new two-year contract with Verizon Wireless. Will this Droid live up to the iconic status that lives inside the RAZR brand? Only time, my friends, can tell. Get a closer look at the device in the gallery below and peek after the break for the full PR.

In addition to announcing a new Droid, Motorola also intro’d Motoactv, “the ultimate fusion of music and fitness.” The diminutive MP3 player looks like the iPod nano and aims to be a Nike+ killer. The hardware piece comes built into a lightweight, wearable band that can be worn around your wrist or arm and it can also be clipped to your shirt or a bike. The device itself sports a 1.6″ full-color touch-screen display that is sweat-proof, rain-resistant and scratch-resistant that auto-adjusts for indoor or outdoor lighting, it supports Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ wireless connectivity, packs a 600MHz processor, and it runs a customized version of Android. Though Motoactv is an MP3 player at its core, Motorola is billing it as a device aimed toward those wanting to keep in shape. The devices uses Moto’s own “AccuSense technology” and GPS to accurately measure time, distance, speed, heart rate, and calories burned during a workout session. You can then upload your workout to Motoactv.com to analyze the performance data tracked by the device to see how you’re doing. The built-in music player is “smart” in that it will “learn what tracks motivate you most by measuring your performance against your music and then uses those songs to create your personal high-performance playlist.” Pretty slick, huh? FM radio is on board, too. Motorola also aims to replace chest straps with advanced headphones that come preinstalled with heart rate monitors. The headphone will come in wireless and wired versions and it’ll provide real-time audible readouts of your heart rate during workout sessions. Additionally, the headphones will stay connected to your Android-powered smartphone via Bluetooth allowing you to make and receive calls on the run if so you choose.

Motoactv is now available for preorder and it goes on sale November 6. The 8GB model will go for $249 and $299 will get you 16GB. The Motorola SF700 (wireless) and Motorola SF500 (wired) sports headphones will be sold separately for $149 and $99, respectively. Again, pictures below and PR after the break.

[Via Engadget 1, 2] Continue reading Motorola intros RAZR thin Droid, fitness enhanced Motoactv MP3 player →

PlayStation Vita comes to US shores February 22

October 18, 2011News, TechnologyNext Generation Portable, NGP, packaging, PlayStation Vita, portable gaming, PS Vita, release date, Sony, Sony PlayStation Vita, Video gamesScott Meisner

President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America Jack Tretton announced that the PSP successor, the PlayStation Vita, will launch in the United States on February 22, 2012. This will follow the initial release in Japan on December 17. The PS Vita, with its 5-inch OLED screen, dual analog sticks, dual cameras, and front and rear touch panel and social networking applications like Facebook, foursquare, Skype, and Twitter, will sell in two SKUs: the 3G model (with AT&T support) will cost $299, while the WiFi-only version will go for $249. Now peep the packaging above and start saving!

[Via PlayStationBlog]

Nintendo refreshes the Wii’s look, drops GameCube compatibility, keeps $150 price tag

October 18, 2011News, Technologybackwards compatibility, bundle, console, console bundle, GameCube, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, packaging, price, release date, release date & price, Video games, WiiScott Meisner

The house that built Mario has gone ahead and slightly tweaked the exterior design of their family friendly console the Wii. The hardware refresh introduces a more streamlined look and is meant to sit horizontally rather than stand vertically. At the same time, Nintendo decided to drop GameCube compatibility meaning that the redesigned console will not be able to play GameCube games. The new bundle, which packs the newly configured Wii in black, New Super Mario Bros., a Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack CD, a black Wii Remote Plus controller, and a black Nunchuk will hit stores October 23. Now get this: there is no price drop and the Wii will continue to sell for $149.99. In a press release Ninty went on to state that the current Wii bundle (which includes Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, Mario Kart Wii, the Wii Wheel accessory, and GameCube backwards compatibility) will continue to sell at the $150 price point. So when you’re shopping this holiday season, make sure you get the right bundle! In this case, functionality trumps aesthetics especially if you have a solid library of GameCube games.

[Via Nintendo]

Apple announces iPhone 4S, refreshed iPods, & provides release date for iOS 5 & iCloud

October 9, 2011Images, News, Technology, VideoApple, Apple keynote, cell phones, cloud storage, iCloud, iOS 5, iPhone, iPhone 4S, iPod nano, iPod touch, iPods, price, product refresh, refresh, release date, release date & price, software update, specifications, specis, updateScott Meisner

On Tuesday newly appointed Apple CEO Tim Cook hosted a press event to launch the next iPhone and detail the new version of iOS and the upcoming iCloud service. Breakdown, commence.

iPhone 4S

The successor to the iPhone 4 is not the iPhone 5; it’s the iPhone 4S. It serves as an incremental upgrade to its predecessor much like the iPhone 3GS was to the iPhone 3G. The exterior design of the handset remains the same; the changes can be found on the inside. The 4S packs the same processor originally designed for the iPad 2: Apple’s dual-core A5 chip. The company says that users can expect speeds up to 2X faster than the previous iPhone. In addition, the 4S also contains a new dual-core GPU that renders graphics up to 7X faster than the iPhone 4. At the keynote games developer Epic previewed Infinity Blade 2 (out December 1) and it looks magnificent.

After speed, Apple went on to upgrade the device’s camera. The 4S sports a new 8 megapixel camera. The sensor has 60 percent more pixels allowing users to shoot 3264 x 2448 photos with crisp detail. CMOS backside illuminated allows for 73 percent more light, a hybrid IR filter allows for better color accuracy and uniformity, a five element lens setup allows for 30 percent more sharpness, auto white balance has been improved by 26 percent, and a larger f/2.4 aperture is now featured. Also, the Camera app launches much faster and the shot to shot capability is twice as fast as before; it now takes 1.1 seconds to shoot your first photo and then 0.5 seconds for each additional shot. According to Apple’s research, these speeds blaze past the Android competition. And there’s this: the backside camera shoots video in full 1080p HD resolution and features real-time video image stabilization and temporal noise reduction helps in low light conditions.

The phone’s antenna system has also been tweaked. The dual-antenna design of iPhone 4 remains, but now it can intelligently switch between both antennas to transmit and receive data more efficiently. This results in the device’s ability to download data up to twice as fast as before (HSDPA performance: 14.4 Mbps down, 5.8 Mbps up) and you can expect better call quality. The 4S is a world phone, meaning GSM and CDMA technologies are built in and users can roam internationally on both networks.

And then there was the “one more thing…” Apple announced Siri, the device’s “intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking.” With the iPhone 4, holding down the home button will prompt the phone to initiate the rather crude voice-activated menu where you can say things like “Call Home” or “Play Kanye West.” Siri takes this to an entirely new level of awesome. Apple designed Siri to “understand context allowing you to speak naturally when you ask it questions.” Here are some examples to help illustrate. You can ask Siri “What is the weather like today?” and it will display the current temperature with visual aid. Then you can ask for an “hourly forcast” and it will provide that information, too. You can also say things like “Wake me up at 6AM”, “Find me a great Greek restaurant in Palo Alto”, “Give me directions to Hoover Tower”, and “Schedule lunch at Friday on noon with John Smith” and Siri will answer you intelligently. It will access the clock app to set an alarm; it will search the ‘Net for Greek restaurants and sort them by Yelp customer ratings; it will launch Maps and provide directions; and it will look into your calendar and create events for you (if there’s an event that clashes with the new one you’re attempting to make, Siri will inform you about this and ask if you want to reschedule one of them). And the hands-free interaction doesn’t end there. Siri has access to many of the apps preloaded on the 4S. You can make Siri read aloud your text messages and emails and it’s also integrated with Reminders, Safari (“Search Wikipedia for Neil Armstrong”) and Wolfram Alpha’s database (“Define mytosis”). An information pane inside the Siri interface will provide users with a list of prompts they can use. And when you ask Siri “Who are you?” it’ll answer “I am a humble personal assistant.” Ha, try it! It also does dictation; a new mic icon is now part of the virtual keyboard. Siri is an iPhone 4S exclusive, and it works over WiFi and 3G. At launch it’ll remain in beta and support English, French, and German; Apple promises over time additional languages and services will be added.

The iPhone 4S, which will ship with iOS 5 and iCloud services, releases October 14 and is now available for preorder. It’ll sell in black and white flavors at the following price points: 16GB: $199, 32GB: $299, 64GB: $399, all with new two-year contracts of course. Additionally, Sprint joins AT&T and Verizon Wireless to become a carrier of the iPhone. (Note that the iPhone 4 will continue to sell at a new low price point of $99 (8GB) and the iPhone 3GS (8GB) can be picked up at no cost. When the 4S ships on the 14th it’ll release in the US, Canada, Austrailia, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan; on the 28th it’ll make it’s way to 22 more countries and by December 2011 it’ll sell in over 70 countries and with over 100 carriers. Apple claims this’ll be the fastest rollout ever for an iPhone.

iOS 5, iCloud, and iPods after the break. Continue reading Apple announces iPhone 4S, refreshed iPods, & provides release date for iOS 5 & iCloud →

Amazon unveils new e-Reader lineup: Kindle, Kindle Touch & Kindle Fire

October 4, 2011Images, News, TechnologyAmazon, Amazon Kindle, Amazon Kindle Touch, Amazon Kindle Touch 3G, e-reader, e-Reader lineup, fire, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch, Kindle Touch 3G, price, release date, release date & price, specifications, specs, tabletScott Meisner

On Friday Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos introduced the e-tailer’s brand new e-Reader lineup: the $79 Kindle, the $99 Kindle Touch, and the Kindle Fire at $199.

The latest generation base Kindle is lighter, smaller, faster, and cheaper than ever. It features a new design that is 30 percent lighter than its predecessor at 5.98 ounces, 18 percent smaller, and it turns pages 10 percent faster. Its still got a 6-inch electronic ink display. The device has four buttons on its front: back, on-screen keyboard, menu, home, and a directional pad. On either side are buttons for page-turning. But there’s no physical keyboard and no touch. There’s a reason why it’s being sold at such a low price–this Kindle is the definition of bare bones. If all you need to do is read (and you don’t mind using a directional pad to navigate through menus) this is the e-Reader for you. The Kindle is available for purchase today.

An extra $20 will get you the Kindle Touch, a slightly upgraded version of the e-Reader that boasts a touch display. You won’t find any buttons or a physical keyboard on this bad boy; the user interface is solely based on touch. Like the base model, this Kindle is lighter and smaller than before and it has an “extra-long battery life.” The Kindle Touch (also available with 3G built-in for $149) is now available to preorder, and it releases November 21.

And finally there’s the Kindle Fire, what Amazon describes as a “new class of Kindle.” It’s a tablet, really. So I betcha want to hear specs? The 14.6 ounce Fire packs a 7-inch LCD multitouch display with IPS and Gorilla Glass strength, 1GHz TI OMAP dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, and 8GB of storage. Does that number seem low to you? Worry not! Amazon promises you’ll never have to think about storage space since you can save virtually all of your content in the cloud via the Amazon Cloud storage that’s connected to your Amazon account. All Amazon digital content is automatically backed up for free. Movies, TV shows, music, magazines and newspapers, Android apps and games, and of course books can be purchased and downloaded right on the device. Though the Fire runs on Google’s OS, Amazon has tweaked Android so much that it’s totally unrecognizable. In other words, it’s an experience you’ll only get on this device. One feature users will be privy to is the Fire-exclusive web browser called “Amazon Silk.” The company describes it as a “split browser” architecture that makes for a faster web browsing experience. And just like its E-reader brethren, the tablet uses Amazon’s Whispersync technology to automatically sync your Kindle library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across a variety of devices. The Kindle Fire will sell for a low $199 when it hits the market on November 15.

Inspect the devices in the galleries hanging above. Read through the beefy press release after the break. Continue reading Amazon unveils new e-Reader lineup: Kindle, Kindle Touch & Kindle Fire →

‘The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’ releases November 20, limited-edition gold controller bundle in tow

August 29, 2011Image cache, News, Technologybundle, concert, Nintendo, Nintendo Wii, price, release date, release date & price, The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Video games, Wii, Wii Remote Plus, ZeldaScott Meisner

What may be considered the final great game for Nintendo’s Wii console finally has a release date. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword drops November 20, 2011. As detailed at Ninty’s E3 press event, Skyward Sword will ship standalone at the regular $49.99 price point and a limited-edition gold controller bundle will be offered at a reasonable $69.99. If you have your sights locked on the shiny, golden Wii Remote Plus bear in mind that it will not be sold separately from the bundle. To further celebrate Zelda’s 25th anniversary, Nintendo is also bundling in a music CD featuring select orchestral arrangements of iconic music spanning the history of the franchise which will be performed at The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert. For more information regarding the concert–which is coming to Los Angeles and London in October–click here. The CD will be included in every game box (whether sold by itself or as a part of the bundle) during the initial retail run. Eye the packaging above, and read the PR after the break.

[Via Joystiq] Continue reading ‘The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’ releases November 20, limited-edition gold controller bundle in tow →

Fusion Garage tries again with Grid tablet, smartphone & OS

August 16, 2011Images, News, TechnologyAndroid kernel, Android tablet, cell phones, Chandra Rathakrishnan, Fusion Garage, Grid, Grid 10, Grid 10 tablet, Grid 4, Grid 4 smartphone, GridOS, mobile OS, operating system, OS, price, price & release date, release date, specifications, specs, TabCo, Tablet Company, tablets, The GridScott Meisner

Chandra Rathakrishnan, CEO of Fusion Garage, hosted an intimate event yesterday afternoon to introduce a new tablet experience unto the world. The creator of the failed JooJoo tablet (2009) is back and hopes to regain consumer faith with his second attempt at creating a new kind of post-PC device. Rathakrishnan ran a lengthy and expensive viral marketing campaign leading up to yesterday’s unveiling; he invented the faux company TabCo (short for Tablet Company) and posted viral videos at the site WhoIsTabCo.com. The campaign had the public at large buzzing about who might be behind TabCo. Now that we know it’s Fusion Garage, journey downward to learn more about the forthcoming products and decide if the hype was worth it. Continue reading Fusion Garage tries again with Grid tablet, smartphone & OS →

Coldplay reveals new album title, artwork and release date

August 12, 2011Image cache, Music, Newsalbum art, album cover, album release date, album title, Coldplay, Coldplay concept album, Mylo Xyloto, release dateScott Meisner

Finally! I was getting tired of referring to Coldplay’s upcoming fifth studio album as the “Coldplay concept album.” Today the soothing rock band announced via their website that the album is complete and it’s called Mylo Xyloto (pronounced MY-lo Zy-loto). When it releases October 24, it will be made available in digital, CD, and vinyl formats. The band has also put together a “special limited edition Pop-Up Album version” that will include a 12″ x 12″ hardback book containing graffiti pop-up art designed by David A. Carter, vinyl, CD and exclusive content including photographs, excerpts from the studio diary and the band’s personal notebooks. A must-have for hardcore fans, you see. The album artwork (left) and the reversible cover art (right) lie above. Markus Dravs, Daniel Green, and Rik Simpson helped produce the album, and longtime collaborator Brian Eno provided “enoxification and additional composition.”

Though there’s still a little over two months left of anticipation, you can calm your nerves by listening to “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall” and a live rendition of “Charlie Brown,” two tracks confirmed to be on the album. Also, Coldplay promises that “Paradise,” the next single off the album, is coming September 12.