Why Microsoft killed the courier

(Credit: Gizmodo)
The Microsoft Courier tablet could have been the revolutionary device that changed the world, but the Redmond-based company killed it before it could see the light of day. While Microsoft declined to give a good reason why, CNET's Jay Greene has managed to piece together a fascinating story on the real reasons why.
The dual 7-inch tablet wasn't killed because it was just something Microsoft experimented with--it was killed because it didn't fit Microsoft's business agenda. The tablet wouldn't be using the Windows interface we're all familiar with, and wouldn't use Microsoft's email program Outlook at all.
In fact, employees who worked on the project highlighted features not seen in any modern tablet, with features that would make the Courier a unique device with a different user experience compared with say, Apple's iPad.
Read more of "The inside story of how Microsoft killed its Courier tablet" from CNET.
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Android browser now in second-place spot

Apple's lead in mobile browsing increased in October 2011, while Android's browser passed Opera Mini for second place.
(Credit: Net Applications)
Google's mobile browser leapfrogged Opera Mini to take the second-place spot in worldwide usage of the Web with smartphones and tablets in October.
The change, revealed in Net Applications' monthly browser usage statistics, reflects the shift from older phone operating systems where Opera Mini is more popular to Android. But while Google's unbranded browser rose in the rankings, from 16.3 percent in September to 18.7 percent in October, top-ranked Apple rose even more.
Safari usage rose from 55.6 percent to 62.2 percent, extending its dominance in mobile computing.
Opera Mini plunged from 18.9 percent to 13.1 percent, Net Applications said. As the mobile market evolves, Opera is trying to tie its future more to Android--in particular with an upcoming version of the full Opera Mobile browser that can run in the lightweight Opera Mini mode when there's not enough network capacity available.
Other losers in the October mobile statistics were Symbian, which dropped from 4.7 percent to 2.6 percent, and BlackBerry, which dropped from 2.7 percent to 2.4 percent. Net Applications ascribed some of Research in Motion's troubles to a four-day BlackBerry service outage.

The advances of Chrome and Safari continue to nibble away at Internet Explorer's browser usage share, while Firefox remains level.
(Credit: Net Applications)
On personal computers, the browser market is less volatile. Here, earlier trends continued at a more stately pace.
Specifically, Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari continued to extract usage share from Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Chrome increased in worldwide usage from 16.2 percent in September to 17.6 percent in October, while Safari rose from 5.0 percent to 5.4 percent. IE dropped from 54.4 percent to 52.6 percent. Firefox, in second place, stayed mostly level yet again at 22.5 percent.
Microsoft, meanwhile, prefers to examine a more selective but arguably more future-looking category: those using Windows 7. Among that subset of browser usage, IE9 has surpassed Chrome and tied Firefox, according to a Microsoft blog post.
Net Applications gathers its statistics based on visitors to a global collection of Web sites using its analytics software.
Desktop browsing dominates over mobile browsing, but over recent months, mobile browsing has been on the rise as a proportion of overall usage. However, in October, desktop browsing won some share back, growing from 93.7 percent to 94.2 percent, while mobile browsing dropped from 6.0 percent to 5.5 percent.

Mobile browsing has generally been increasing in usage, but the fraction of people using a personal computer on the Web increased at mobile browsing's expense in October.
(Credit: Net Applications)
Via CNET News
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Fujitsu debuts thinnest-ever 13-inch LifeBook

The LifeBook SH771 comes with the latest Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. (Credit: Fujitsu)
Fujitsu has unveiled its latest LifeBook, the SH771, a 13-inch ultraportable laptop that is the company's lightest and thinnest.
The LifeBook SH771, which has a magnesium alloy chassis, tips the scales at just 1.33kg when equipped with the included weight saver option. This is comparable to the heft of Apple's MacBook Air, though with thickness that ranges from 16.6 to 22.3mm, the LifeBook SH771 is slightly chunkier. 

The SH771 comes with standard-voltage Intel Core-i processors, which run at higher clock speeds than the ultralow-power versions found on the Air and the recently introduced Ultrabooks. It also comes with a modular bay that supports accessories such as an optical drive and an extended battery pack that pushes its uptime from 9.5 hours to 14 hours. 
Two configurations are available in Singapore from early November--a S$2,288 Core i7 2640M version (8GB RAM and 750GB HDD) and a S$2,888 Core i5 2520M model (4GB RAM and 640GB HDD). Customers can also choose to upgrade to an SSD option, though the company has not yet revealed the additional cost involved. You can find out more about the Fujitsu LifeBook SH771 in our hands-on article.

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Users griping about iPhone 4S battery life

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Battery life on the iPhone 4S has become an issue for some users. Apple is yet to publicly address it.Complaints about iPhone 4S battery life mountSome iPhone owners say their batteries drain much faster than advertisedApple has not publicly acknowledged the concernsComments on a post on Apple's support forums go for 185 pages

(CNN) -- It all sounds eerily familiar. A new iPhone. Massive sales. Then, an apparent glitch that, while it doesn't affect everyone, is prevalent enough to irk customers and catch the eyes of tech journalists everywhere.

Poor battery life on the iPhone 4S, released on October 14 to great fanfare and record sales, has been the new model's Achilles' heel in the minds of many users.

While complaints about the perceived problem haven't reached the fevered pitch that last year's iPhone 4 release saw about its so-called "death grip" problem, they don't seem to be going away.

There were, of course, the expected number of early-adopter quibbles with the phone: from troubles with new carrier Sprint, to a sometimes slow-moving camera, to limits on the voice-activated Siri "personal assistant" outside the United States.

But as most of those gripes either got sorted or users got used to the limitations, complaints about the phone's battery life have persisted.

A post on the Apple support forums, begun on October 15 to discuss battery problems, was still active Tuesday -- two weeks and 185 pages worth of comments later.

"I purchased what I thought was a top-of-the-line product only to be terribly disappointed," one user wrote Tuesday. "This is my first iPhone and may well be my last."

Battery life was a frequent complaint about the iPhone 3GS, but concerns about the phone's short battery life seemed to have been addressed on the next-generation iPhone 4.

According to Apple's official specs, the iPhone 4S should have enough juice in the battery for up to eight hours of talk time, six hours of Internet surfing, 10 hours of video viewing and 200 hours on standby. (All activities on a 3G connection -- 2G and wireless have different figures).

All of those numbers are within an hour or so of the iPhone 4, except for one. The older phone's specifications promise 300 hours of standby power: a full 50% more than the 4S.

Users complaining on the Apple forum and elsewhere say that their phones aren't lasting anywhere near even that reduced length of time. Various independent tests of the new phone have suggested that some phones have problems with poor battery life, while others don't.

The general consensus among tech-inclined owners is that the problem may not lie with the battery itself, but with the way the phone utilizes Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 5.

Specifically, the theory goes, its location-based services are a power drain. If the phone is constantly trying to pinpoint where it is, it will suck power even when the user isn't actively doing something with the phone. (For a comparison, think about how quickly your battery drains when you forget to turn off Wi-Fi searches while you're driving.)

The new phone also has a more powerful processor -- the same one that's in the iPad 2. That could cut battery life, even though Apple CEO Tim Cook specifically said that it wouldn't during the iPhone 4S unveiling event last month.

Apparently, reading from the well-worn Apple playbook, the company has not commented publicly about the battery complaints. Messages and e-mails to Apple seeking comment on these complaints were not returned.

It's unclear whether the company acknowledges there's a battery problem (although there have been reports that Apple is contacting iPhone 4S users to try to get to the bottom of it).

And while it's too early for direct comparisons, the extended silence looks remarkably like the public-relations two-step that was Apple's handling of the iPhone 4's antenna issues. (As you may recall, Consumer Reports and others said the iPhone 4 had antenna problems that caused it to drop calls. People dubbed the situation "Antennagate.")

First, the company refused to publicly acknowledge the issue. Then, there was a software patch apparently aimed at fixing it (although Apple never explicitly said so).

There would eventually be a news conference in which then-CEO Steve Jobs spent most of the time denying there was any real problem, then announcing that the company would give away free bumpers -- minimalist iPhone cases -- to prevent dropped calls.

But before that, there were the private e-mails and public statements saying, in essence, that users were holding their phones wrong.

Then, weeks after the free-bumper news conference, Jobs and others doubled back, saying that there was never really much of a problem and discontinuing the freebie program.

As Apple's silence persists (the company has said in the past that it spends time researching potential problems before addressing them publicly), users and observers are complaining and speculating in the vacuum. And that's not always pretty.

"It hits you when you least expect it. It slips away under a mask of dormant inactivity. And it can ruin your entire day," TechCrunch's Jordan Crook wrote Tuesday. "It's your iPhone 4S battery life, and it sucks."

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Silicon Valley is no meritocracy for minorities

CNN follows black entrepreneursHank Williams:TechCrunch founder recently called Silicon Valley a meritocracyThis started Twitter spat with Indian-American entrepeneur, who says it's not soWilliams: For minorities trying to connect with mentors in tech field, playing field unevenWilliams: Less than 1% of venture capital went to digital startups of blacks in 2010Editor's note: Hank Williams is a tech entrepreneur and CEO of Kloudco, an internet startup that provides centralized tools for searching and managing online information. Previously, Hank was CEO of ClickRadio, a pioneer in Internet music. He blogs at whydoeseverythingsuck.com, and is featured in "The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley," which airs on CNN on November 13 at 8 p.m. ET.
(CNN) -- Last Wednesday, a Twitter fight erupted between technology experts Michael Arrington, founder and former editor of TechCrunch, and Vivek Wadhwa, a technology researcher and writer, after a screening of CNN's documentary, "The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley."
Arrington said a few very clear things about his view of the state of diversity in Silicon Valley. Among them: There may be very few African-Americans in Silicon Valley, but despite this Silicon Valley is a pure meritocracy, and one becomes successful because he or she has a "big brain." Vivek disagreed. As an Indian-American entrepreneur, he said he sees significant bias in Silicon Valley, and even recounted a specific instance where he was told, "You people don't make good CEOs."
First, let me say, I think Arrington truly believes everything he has said about the tech world being a meritocracy. Lots of people believe it.
But not me. I would more properly say that tech markets are a meritocracy. There are very few businesses where an individual in his or her bedroom can create a piece of software that can potentially touch millions of people, and do this without seeking any additional capital. No matter how talented you are, if you want to open a hot new restaurant or a shoe factory, you need lots of money before you start. Not necessarily so with software.

Consumers and businesses, for the most part, don't care about the ethnicity of their software or Internet service vendor. Users want solutions. So if an entrepreneur can get a great product completed cheaply, he or she can often compete on a totally even footing with anyone else. Even if the entrepreneur ultimately needs capital, explosive initial success knocks down all known barriers.
But the market makers operate in a world that is not particularly evenhanded. The market makers are the folks who help new young companies and entrepreneurs by providing insight, mentoring, capital and relationships. This part of the tech world is driven by all the same biases that exist in the nontech world. And it is much harder for even the most talented African-Americans in the tech world to gain access to influential, insightful, connected mentors, let alone investors.
Why is this? For the most part, people want to work with people who are "like them" or who fit a pattern that appeals to them. There is an actual term for this among tech investors called "pattern matching." It's the idea that, without objective facts, one can decide whether someone is likely to be successful based on indirect criteria. In other words, when they see a particular pattern of "personhood," they are excited.
Watch trailer for CNN documentary "The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley"
These patterns are discussed openly in the tech industry around issues like age. Since it is only moderately politically incorrect to suggest that younger entrepreneurs are "better," it is done all the time. The best example of this might be Mike Moritz from Sequoia Capital, perhaps the most influential of all venture funds, admitting in a Building 43 interview that they have a strong bias toward very young entrepreneurs.
But if you believe that age is the only criteria that venture capitalists use for pattern matching, I wanna smoke some of what you've got.
To be clear, I am not saying any venture capitalist says at a partner meeting, "You know I really like this company's product, but did you notice he's a Negro?"
Never happens.
But I firmly believe, based on my 25 years in this industry, that market makers, both investors and the people who help you get ready to approach them, seek out entrepreneurs who appeal to them on some less than objective, visceral level, who feel "comfortable" to them. They don't need to actively filter out undesirable profiles. They just focus on what does appeal to them.
Soledad O'Brien: Michael Arrington is right (about one thing)
They focus on the "patterns" they find appealing -- age is arguably a part of many investors' ideal pattern, but so are perhaps unacknowledged criteria like race, gender, cultural affinity, etc. On some level this should not be shocking, as it reflects socialization that all of us must work hard and consciously not to act on.
Is this racist/sexist/ageist? Well, in this context, using incendiary labels is only likely to make people more defensive. The bigger question is, is it a problem? Absolutely.
It's not just a personal impression. In a recent study, industry analyst CB Insights found that less than 1% of all venture capital money went to digital start-ups with African-American founders in 2010.
Is it possible to overcome these barriers? I have. I have developed successful, best-selling, award-winning products and I have raised tens of millions of dollars. But it is only by a sheer persistence and focus that few other people -- white, black, or otherwise -- have. I would never suggest that I am smarter than anyone else, but my Arnold-Schwarzenegger-in-"Terminator"-like determination has made my successes possible. Yes, I have definitely had help and support, but compared to some, not so much.
In fact, some people get far more support than others. For example, when a top tier venture capitalist writes a $5 million check to a 19-year-old with a barely beyond napkin stage idea, no customers and a fragile technology because they "present well," then clearly something else is at work beyond merit. This exact scenario may not be common, but it does happen. But it does not happen for African-American, or for that matter, Latino or female entrepreneurs.
So the bottom line is, if the level of determination that I have was required from everyone, no matter their race, on some kind of moderately equal basis, it would indeed be a level playing field -- a meritocracy. But it's not.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Hank Williams.
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Sega returns to its roots with Sonic Generations

In "Sonic Generations," the familiar blue mascot sprints through levels in both 2-D and 3-D modes.Sega is looking to revive its flagship franchise with "Sonic Generations"Sega has not released a stellar Sonic game in about a decade"Sonic Generations" celebrates the series' 20th anniversary
(CNN) -- Age has slowed Sonic, the beloved blue hero from an earlier generation of video games, but Sega may have finally rehabilitated the venerable hedgehog.
"Sonic Generations," which arrives in stores Tuesday for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, comes at an opportune time.
With a crucial holiday season imminent, Sega Sammy Holdings hasn't produced a stellar Sonic game in about a decade, and the company's game division has performed especially sluggishly this year.
But "Sonic Generations," coming on the 20th anniversary of the franchise, looks like a promising candidate to buck these trends. The first batch of reviews have been positive, and the game has received more preorders than any previous Sonic game, which is an early barometer for success.
Sega also managed to build some buzz for the game at video game expos like E3, although those conventions have not been particularly kind to other Sonic games.
 Sega's popular video game character, Sonic the Hedgehog, at a 2006 launch event for Nintendo's Wii.
Encouraged by the favorable feedback, Sega is throwing its marketing weight behind the game. These initiatives include traditional advertising, constructing a Sonic-themed playground in East Oakland, California, and a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The original "Sonic the Hedgehog" debuted on Sega's Genesis game system in 1991. Since the heydays of Sega going head-to-head with Nintendo for home console domination, the company has ceased selling hardware, started developing for multiple systems and merged with Sammy, which makes pachinko slot machines in Japan.
Perhaps as a result, Sega's flagship franchise, which is developed by the aptly named Sonic Team, has slumped. Sonic's and Mario's "platformer" genre -- in which cartoonish characters navigate increasingly challenging maze-like levels -- was once a blockbuster seller, but it's been surpassed by first-person shooters such as "Call of Duty" and "Battlefield." Nintendo has managed to maintain the high quality of Mario games over the years, but Sega has struggled to remake Sonic for the fast-paced 21st-century game industry.
"Sonic Generations" is designed to "take Sonic back to the pure elements," Yasuhiro Noguchi, a senior producer who led development on the Western version of the game, said in an interview.
Some previous games in the series became preoccupied with elaborate story lines and slower-paced exploration. American and European players may have been put off by elements of the plots that were geared toward audiences in Japan, where Sonic Team is based.
"The team tries very hard not to bias it for a particular territory," Noguchi said. "They don't necessarily do stuff that is very, very specific to, say, their home territory. That's one of the learnings that has kind of informed their development DNA in the last 20 years -- that Sonic is loved internationally."
For "Sonic Generations" and its predecessor, "Sonic Colors" for the Wii, Sega recruited writers from the television show "Happy Tree Friends." They pen straightforward scripts that they hope will resonate with players outside of Asia, where Sonic's market is bigger. However, the writers must also adhere to standards set by Sega's Japan-based Sonic Committee, which is tasked with upholding the integrity of the Sonic brand.
"Sonic is a beloved franchise," Noguchi said. "Disney has Mickey, and we have Sonic."
"Sonic Generations" is looking to polish the franchise's legacy and reverse the recent decline of Sonic's popularity, said Patrick Riley, a U.S.-based development director for the company. "I think that fans recognize that as far as the quality, Sonic is moving in the right direction."
The game melds the classic two-dimensional action with three-dimensional exploration.
"We're truly bringing the 'A game' on 'Sonic Generations,' " Noguchi said. "In some ways, it is sort of a celebration and a sendoff for the first generation of Sonic."
"Sonic Generations" will dip into past successes in its attempt to rebuild the franchise. Levels from classic Sonic games, such as the memorable Green Hill Zone, have been remade in 3-D. A dash of nostalgia may be just what Sega needs to reinvigorate its aging hedgehog.
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Google revamps Google Reader design

Google Reader is finally getting its day in the sun. Just as promised earlier this month, the forgotten Google app for collecting and reading news articles all in one place is getting a revamped design.
Up until now, Google Reader has been a flat-out mess with widgets and links in a haphazard layout of frames, while other products in the Google Apps suite such as Docs and Calendar have all been treated to new looks in the last few months.
Now, Google Reader will look more like a combination of Google+ and the new Gmail user interface. Here’s an example:

(Credit: Google)
Reader will be following more in the suit of Google+ than anything else as Google is nixing the existing friending, following, shared items and comments features on Google Reader in favor of similar Google+ functionality. For example, the +1 button will be replacing “Like” option.
Google software engineer Alan Green expressed hope on the official Google Reader blog that users will “like the new Reader (and Google+) as much as we do, but we understand that some of you may not”.
Retiring Reader’s sharing features wasn’t a decision that we made lightly, but in the end, it helps us focus on fewer areas, and build an even better experience across all of Google.
Green also promised that the new Google Reader would be up, live and running “before the day’s over”. For those who are not interested in the new look but still somehow stayed avid Google Readers this whole time, they can use the subscription export feature to take all of that data with them.
Via CNET News
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SingTel unleashes concierge app with voice recognition

Def!nd was able to understand "find roti prata" and "char kway teow" accurately, words that Siri will not.
(Screenshot by Jacqueline Seng/CNET Asia)
Siri may not be able to search for businesses outside of US or understand our Asian accents, but fret not Singaporeans, we now have Def!nd.
Launched by local telco SingTel, Def!nd is a digital concierge app which is able to do some things Siri cannot. Def!nd can locate nearby restaurants and amenities, book taxis and find shopping deals. Through the app, users can even book a restaurant and receive an SMS confirmation.
The best part? You don't have to be a SingTel subscriber or own an iPhone 4S to use Def!nd.
Despite the exclamation mark in its name, Singaporeans obviously have no troubles finding Def!nd, as it has become the second most popular lifestyle app in the local Apple App Store. The free app is also available for download on the Android Marketplace.
We caught a glimpse of Def!nd at SingTel's iPhone 4S launch, but weren't able to test it out. Now you can take a look at our tests in the screenshots below.

Apple's iPhone 4S will come to Hong Kong and South Korea on Nov. 11

(Credit: Apple)
If you've been waiting eagerly in your country for news of when you will be getting the Apple iPhone 4S, here's some good news at least.
Apple has announced that Hong Kong and South Korea will join Singapore and Japan as the other two Asian countries to be able to purchase the Apple smartphone.
Apple will also be making the handset available in 13 other countries--Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal and Romania.
Prices are pegged to the US pricing at US$199, US$299 and US$399 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models respectively. Do note that the pricing is based on a two-year contract.
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Sharp Aquos Net finally coming to Asia

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Sharp is finally launching its Aquos Net smart TV platform in Asia, which was previously available only in the US, Europe and Japan. Some of the highlights include a Web browser, as well as a YouTube Leanback app compatible with HD videos. The latter is possibly a first in this region as most smart TVs only support standard-definition video streaming via YouTube. YouTube Leanback also offers a custom user interface optimized for ease-of-use and full screen playback. You can view the above video for more information.

The Sharp LE835-series 3D TVs will be among the first Aquos panels to feature Aquos Net. This new range is launching in Singapore as early as mid November and comes in 40-, 46-, 52- and 60-inch screen sizes. Pricing for these TVs can only be confirmed closer to release and availability for other countries in Asia is still pending confirmation.

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Nokia Windows Phones to use dual-core NovaThor platform

A block diagram of the NovaThor U9500 platform. (Credit: ST-Ericsson)
Nokia has announced that it will be partnering ST-Ericsson for future Windows Phone (WP) devices. ST-Ericsson is a joint venture between STMicroelectronics and Ericsson, and produces the NovaThor platform for smartphones and tablets.
Like other products such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon and Nvidia's Tegra, ST-Ericsson's platform handles CPU and graphics processing for a smartphone. The current versions of NovaThor are all based on dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processors. Because of this, we think it is likely WP7 will support dual-core processors in a future update--all current WP7 devices have single-core processors. Nokia's first Windows Phone, the Lumia 800, uses a single-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor.
With this announcement, expect to hear more about ST-Ericsson mentioned in the same breath as the dominant players such as Qualcomm, Nvidia and Texas Instruments. Here's a quick rundown of what the top-of-the-line NovaThor U9500 platform has:
Dual-core Cortex-A9 ARM processorARM Mali 400 GPUDual camera supportSupports touchscreens up to WXGA (1,280 x 768) resolutionHSDPA up to 21Mbps
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NAD releases iPhone dock for audiophiles

NAD does deserve credit for the unique design of the Viso 1.
(Credit: NAD)
There's an ample selection of iPod/iPhone speaker docks available in stores these days with the better ones coming from companies with a hi-fi background. NAD, a Canada-based manufacturer of midrange to high-end audio components, intends to add to this select group of audiophile-oriented docks with its Viso 1 iPod Music System.
Joining the ranks of notable makes such as Bowers & Wilkins, Klipsch and Bose, the Viso 1 targets more discerning listeners, who may want an audio experience that could rival entry-level hi-fi setups. The set comes with NAD's very own Direct Digital amplifier technology, a fully-digital system that bypasses the audio circuitry of your iPod or iPhone. The Viso 1 also has Bluetooth connectivity to play back music from other devices. An optical digital input allows external digital devices, such as CD players, to be connected while a component video output sends videos from your iPod/iPhone to an HDTV.
Although NAD hasn't specified the power of the Viso 1, the company claims that this dock will play louder than most other docks while delivering "uncanny smoothness and accuracy". We're inclined to believe this considering that the company has been known for good detail and sonic accuracy with its amplifiers. However, we were slightly disappointed with the Viso 1's lack of AirPlay which could make another high-end dock, the B&W Zeppelin Air, seem like a better choice.
The Viso 1 will be available in the UK from November for 499 pounds (US$800). Those interested can check with distributors worldwide for release dates in other countries.
Via What Hi-Fi
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Don't sleep with your smartphone

The urge to pull out your cell in the presence of a real person is a sign of addiction, says tech lecturer and author Daniel Sieberg. Bob Greene: People are increasingly wedded to smart phones, other digital devicesHe says author Daniel Sieberg suggests ways to avoid becoming addicted to gadgetsOne sign of trouble is pulling out your phone in the midst of an in-person conversationPeople constantly tied to devices may be missing the world around them, Greene saysEditor's note: CNN Contributor Bob Greene is a bestselling author whose books include "Late Edition: A Love Story" and "When We Get To Surf City: A Journey Through America in Pursuit of Rock and Roll, Friendship, and Dreams."
(CNN) -- "I won't even sleep in the same room with them."
A fellow named Daniel Sieberg was telling me his hard-and-fast rule for getting through the night.
He takes all of his digital devices -- laptops, tablets, cellphones, anything portable that has a screen -- to another room before he turns off the light. He has come to terms with the fact that the technological gadgets that have so thoroughly insinuated themselves into our lives can become addictive.
So, when it's time for slumber, he locks them out. He won't even let his cellphone charge overnight in the bedroom:
"If it's there, I would have the temptation to turn it on and check it."
We have learned to celebrate, even revere, the wireless gadgets we carry around and the inventors who bring them to us; the response to the death of Steve Jobs this month was emblematic of how important our do-it-all phones, our computers, our tablets and related digital devices have become. We say that the technology has changed life as we used to know it.
But how much is too much?
And, more to the point: How many of us have the nagging feeling that we are somehow unable to disconnect -- that the electronic devices we own have begun to own us?
There is an instinct to treat the subject whimsically: "Land o'Goshen, Ma, those kids are walking down the street staring at their cellphone screens." It's as if any criticism of what the digital age has done to society brands the person raising the questions as backward, afraid of change, irrationally wedded to outmoded ways.
So the addiction question is often one that people silently ask themselves. Shouldn't we be spending less time checking and rechecking our many screens, large and small, and more time taking part in what used to be regarded as real life? Is there something inherently wrong when people being separated from their phones, computers and tablets makes them feel nervous, irritable, tense -- in other words, when they begin to exhibit classic withdrawal symptoms?
For guidance on this, I got in touch with Sieberg, who has given as much thought to the subject as anyone of whom I'm aware. A former CNN correspondent, he is a lecturer, writer and broadcaster on technology issues who, in his own life, became increasingly conscious of the unhealthy hold that digital devices can have. He wrote a book called "The Digital Diet" that argues persuasively that there can come a time in a person's life when he or she is a good candidate for technology detox.
I asked him if "addiction" is too strong a word to use in relation to devices that seem to hook their users emotionally, but not chemically.
"Unfortunately, the word 'addiction' has become overused," he said, and should not be trivialized. Addictions to illegal drugs, alcohol and prescription medication are grimly somber matters. But, he said, the idea of an addiction to digital devices is genuine and is not something that should be greeted with a sardonic wink.
"One definition of 'addiction' is when other people and other activities in your life begin to suffer because of something you know you should cut back on, but don't," he said.
Some of his examples are things that many people will instantly recognize:
-- The urge to pull out a cellphone even when someone you're with is in the midst of a conversation with you.
-- Texting even while your child is telling you about his or her day at school, and realizing later that you can't remember the details of what your son or daughter has said to you.
-- Having the vague feeling that something hasn't really happened until you post it to Facebook or Twitter.
-- Feeling isolated and anxious if you are offline for an extended period of time.
-- Noticing that even when your family is all together in one room at home, each person is gazing at his or her own screen and tapping at a miniature keyboard.
"There are people who, even when they aren't using their digital devices, find themselves creating status updates or Twitter feeds in their heads while they are experiencing things," he said. "It's as if they have lost the ability to live in the moment, and have become conditioned to feeling that they have to instantly share it electronically while it is still going on."
Sieberg is hardly a guy stuck in some dust-covered, pre-technology past: He has always been among the first to own each new portable device, and he likes the many good things the digital experience can provide. But he realized -- when his wife would wake up in the middle of the night to see him, in bed, illuminated by the glow of one screen or another that he had decided to check one more time before he fell back asleep -- that something might need remedying.
There is, he said, a feeling common among people who are digitally hooked that, when it's just them and the real world and no screen, they are somehow cast adrift, cut off: "It's a sense of, 'What am I missing?'" But in truth, a strong case can be made that when a person lives too many hours a day in the digital universe, that is when he or she is really missing something -- missing the things that are taking place in the flesh-and-blood world.
Sieberg has a phrase for it: You know you're in trouble when "your footing in technology feels increasingly like quicksand."
And he has a piece of advice for all of us, regardless of how deep we feel we're sinking into that digital quicksand:
Like him, we should consider locking all of those devices in another room at night. He promises that it makes a difference:
"You sleep better."
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.
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Siri now "working" on the iPhone 4 and iPod touch

(Credit: CNET) Siri's exclusivity on the iPhone 4S may not be long for this world. At least unofficially.
Efforts to get the new software feature working on older Apple devices, including the iPhone 4 and iPod touch, seem to have pushed past the biggest hurdle: slipping by Apple's security.
Over the weekend, Apple tracking blog 9to5mac posted a video of the software feature working smoothly on an iPhone 4, courtesy of Irish iPhone hacker Steve Troughton-Smith. That follows a demonstration from earlier this month where Troughton-Smith showed the software installed, but unable to run queries on an iPhone 4.
In an interview over the weekend, Troughton-Smith told 9to5mac that the working version of the hack runs on multiple devices, including Apple's fourth-generation iPod Touch. The feat was accomplished using "files from an iPhone 4S", that he said "aren't ours to distribute", alongside "a validation token from the iPhone 4S that has to be pulled live from a jailbroken iPhone 4S."
In other words, there are some things going on behind the scenes that Apple won't like, and could very well move to block if a working hack takes off, but the key takeaway is that there are seemingly no hardware hurdles standing in the way.
Here's a video of it working on an iPhone 4 with Troughton-Smith's workaround in place:
As for when you could possibly get your hands on the hack, Troughton-Smith said he's not going to package it up for people with jailbroken iPhones to grab and install, and is leaving it up for others to do that.
Siri made its debut during the unveiling of the iPhone 4S earlier this month. The feature lets iPhone 4S users talk to their phone to issue commands, which are then piped to Apple's servers over a 3G or Wi-Fi connection, then sent back as commands to the phone. The entire turnaround takes just a few seconds, but depends entirely on a handshake between the phone and Apple's servers, which has kept the feature from being jury-rigged onto older devices, as well as causing problems when Siri can't connect.
Older iPhones are not the only target for porting Siri. Last week developer Jackoplane posted screenshots of the voice assistant software installed on an iPad. Though like Troughton-Smith's earlier effort, it couldn't connect when it came time to talk to Apple's servers. With the newer workaround, that could change. Apple has a long history of leaving out new software features on older hardware, though in Siri's case, the expectation was that it depended--in part--on the newer dual-core A5 processor. A similar hardware requirement came in the introduction of Voice Control to the speedier iPhone 3GS, which processed voice commands on the device itself instead of through Apple's servers.
Where Siri goes from here continues to be of intense interest given the expected future of Apple's product line. All eyes are on the company to introduce a television set in the next year or two, and Siri is assumed to play a part in that vision. While it's more likely to arrive on something like the iPad or iPod first, there's also the possibility of it jumping to Apple's Mac OS X as well.
Via CNET News
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A multi-function solar charger for the wild

Charge up your iPhone with clean, renewable energy using the mPowerpad.
(Credit: Jacqueline Seng/CNET Asia)
If you're off the (power) grid often--and you don't own a rugged solar phone--you might need the mPowerpad, a charger that harnesses solar energy to charge up to two devices at a time.
Launched by Singapore-based startup Third Wave Power, the mPowerpad is actually more than a solar charger. It also acts a reading light, flashlight, insect repellent (by emitting an ultrasonic frequency) and FM/AM/shortwave receiver.

You can listen to whatever you're tuning in to with the built-in speaker (right) or via the 3.5mm audio jack (left). There are two USB ports for charging.
(Credit: Jacqueline Seng/CNET Asia)
During a demo at the Clean Energy Expo Asia 2011, Third Wave Power co-founder Lim Chuin Kiat showed off the device's accelerometer-based user interface which we found relatively intuitive and easy to use. For instance, tilting the device in a certain direction triggers one function, or turns it off. Lim says that avoiding the use of moving mechanical parts also helps ensure the device is as robust as possible.
With its polycarbonate material, silicon sleeve and rubber bumpers, the mPowerpad is claimed to be water-resistant and shock-resistant for falls of up to 1m. It's about the same size and weight as an iPad, so it should fit well in a backpack.

The rubber bumpers double up as a stand for the mPowerpad.
(Credit: Jacqueline Seng/CNET Asia)
The 4-watt solar panel is fully charged within six hours and can juice up an iPhone fully with more than enough power remaining to use other functions for up to six hours. The 2,500mAh charger is made up of five standard AA-size nickel-metal hydride batteries which can be easily removed and replaced, or used in other compatible devices when fully charged. Lim estimates that the cell is able to last for 500 recharge cycles, or up to 18 months if used daily.
The mPowerpad works with non-iOS devices, too--it comes with seven common connector tips, so you can use it with most other handsets. There's also the option of using an AC input if there's a power socket readily available. People in remote areas without a ready supply of electricity, such as hikers or those living in rural areas, may find this solar charger useful.
Third Wave Power co-founder V.S. Hariharan says that the company is in talks with retail partners and NGOs about distributing the mPowerpad in Asia, India and Bangladesh, and that shipping should begin in early January next year. The device will cost US$80.
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Report: Apple may be discontinuing Mac Pro line

(Credit: Apple) Apple's line of high-end desktop towers could be more endangered than originally thought, with a new report claiming that the company is considering shelving what is currently its most expensive product.
Citing anonymous sources, AppleInsider says that a sharp decline in sales of the workstations, which begin at $2,499 in the U.S., have led executives to reconsider whether it's worth continuing to invest in the product line.
"People familiar with the matter said management as far back as May of 2011 were in limbo over whether to pour any additional resources into the product line," the report says.
An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the report, saying the company does not comment on rumors and speculation.
Apple does not break down its sales numbers by device, and only lists them by product category, with the most recent fiscal quarter pulling in sales of 4.89 million Macs. Yet most of those in this most recent quarter, as well as in the past few years, have been the company's portables. During its fourth quarter earnings call, the company noted that sales were "fueled by the very strong growth of the MacBook Air, as well as the continued strong performance of the MacBook Pro". All told, those two portables accounted for 74 percent of the Mac sales for the quarter, with desktop sales being led not by the Mac Pro, but by Apple's iMac instead.
Apple last updated its Mac Pro line on July 27, 2010 (that's 1 year, 3 months and 4 days ago if you're counting), bumping up the processing power to 12 cores and moving to speedier graphics cards. The exterior design has remained relatively unchanged since before the company made its move to Intel processors. A report from MacRumors last week suggested that the next update to the hardware might not come until the first quarter of 2012, given recent delays to Intel's Sandy Bridge E processor line.
If Apple were to shelve its Mac Pro line it would further bring into question Apple's involvement in the professional market, something that has been under a microscope over the past few years. Most recently, that shift can be seen with the company's transition from Final Cut Pro 7 to Final Cut Pro X, a jump that left a number of video professionals dissatisfied after Apple omitted key workflow features. Apple countered, saying that the new version of the software represents a complete rethink of that particular software line, the likes of the jump from Mac OS 9 to OS X. A similar effort has been rumored to be in the works for Apple's audio software Logic, which has gone the longest without a major release among Apple's line of pro software.
On the hardware side, pros have also taken aim at Apple for moving to glossy screens on its notebooks by default, as well as making the batteries on those units unable to be swapped in favor of delivering longer battery life.
In either case, there's no arguing the fact that desktop sales just weren't what they used to be compared to when Apple introduced the original design of the Mac Pro (then the Power Mac G5) in mid-2003. While Mac hardware sales have grown considerably overall, notebooks have been the belle of the ball since they surpassed the company's sales of desktop computers in 2004. Those same notebook units now face cannibalization from Apple's iPad, which itself blew past Mac sales last year.
Via CNET News
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Diptyque Audio speakers look like paintings

(Credit: Diptyque Audio)
While there are some hi-fi enthusiasts who love showing off their unique gear, others may prefer a more discreet setup. If you're an audiophile that belongs to the latter group, the DP155 speakers by Diptyque Audio could be an interesting choice.
Implementing a flat panel two-way speaker design, the DP155 consists of a slim ribbon tweeter for higher frequencies and a large membrane to reproduce sound from the midrange and lower-end of the audio spectrum. The speakers are available as they are or with a painting or graphic overlaid in an acoustically transparent material.
While the thin membrane speakers can almost pass off as regular room dividers when covered in works of art, they are said to be capable of a frequency response of 25-18,000Hz--impressive for speakers with this type of technology. To drive the 1.54m-tall speakers, you'll need an amplifier that outputs more than 80W of power per channel.
The DP155 is priced at 3,400 euros (US$4,700) per pair sans artsy dressing while the decorative covers come at an additional 130 euros (US$180) per side. A less expensive 2,000 euro (US$2,770) DP140 model is also in the works, thought it's not clear how the product will be scaled back. These speakers are handcrafted in France and those interested in purchasing a pair can contact Diptyque Audio at its Web site (in French).

A look at the DP155 without the artsy covers. (Credit: Diptyque Audio)
Via On-TopAudio.fr
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Tech Buzz gets dressed up for Halloween

Celebrating Halloween? We find five essential tech accessories that will make your costume more authentic or spice up your party.
If dressing up isn't your cup of tea, stay in this weekend instead with our top five "scary" games for the PS3, Xbox and PC.
We also sacrificed our beauty sleep for Singapore's iPhone 4S midnight launch at the three telcos--SingTel, M1 and StarHub. Find out who were the first few proud owners of the Apple handset.
Catch the video after the break.

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China's newest supercomputer is using domestic chips

China is stepping up its semiconductor manufacturing efforts and using domestic chips for its latest supercomputer. It's going to be interesting to see how fast China can close in on U.S. supercomputer processor makers Intel, AMD, and Nvidia.
The New York Times reported that a supercomputer called Sunway BlueLight MPP, was installed in September at the National Supercomputer Center in Jinan, China. The details emerged at a technical meeting. The real catch is that China used 8,700 ShenWei SW1600 chips.
Those semiconductors are homegrown and indicate that China is aiming to be a major chip player. The New York Times story was mostly sourced to Jack Dongarra, a computer scientist at the University of Tennessee, but Chinese sites reported on the technical meeting. Dongarra helps manage the list of Top 500 supercomputers. China's previous supercomputers used Intel and Nvidia chips.
Read more on China steps up its semiconductor game with homegrown supercomputer effort from ZDNet.
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HP has no more TouchPads for sale

The HP TouchPad became a bestseller once prices hit rock bottom at US$99. (Credit: HP)
Abandon all hope, ye who are still hoping to get a HP TouchPad for the holiday season.
Those who had signed up for updates about the TouchPad have received notices informing them that the company has run out of stock for the webOS-powered tablet. HP also added that some retailers could still have the TouchPad in stock, but you won't be able to get one directly from the firm.

US retailer Best Buy has announced that it is offering a 32GB TouchPad for US$149.99, but only if you are purchasing a HP or Compaq PC, too.
Meanwhile, the fate of HP's webOS division seems to be in limbo. HP has stated that it will be keeping its PC unit, but its CEO Meg Whitman has also said that the company is looking into Windows 8-powered tablets instead. There have been rumors last week that HP is planning to shut down its webOS unit soon, but this has since been refuted by HP's Todd Bradley. However, he did not offer any reassurances besides saying that HP will "make the right decision".
Do you think that HP should ditch webOS? We'll like to hear your thoughts.
Via CNET

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