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Google to launch phone support for Nexus One

Since Google released the smartphone Nexus One, early adopters have likely raised a question in their minds that where to take the phone to if it is broken. As you can see, when this smartphone was first introduced, Google was directing people to both T-Mobile and HTC depending on the problem, leading to an endless circle of hold times and few results.

And today, the search giant has just rolled out its solution that it is going to release its own phone support line for the customers of its Nexus One. You can call 888-48-NEXUS (63987) and you’ll be talking to a real live Google support tech just within a few minutes (the line is open from 7AM to 10PM EST).

This is actually a fairly major departure from Google’s standard protocol of making it extremely difficult to reach anyone for phone support for most of its products. It doesn’t come as a total surprise although last week, there were several reports of a Google job listing for “Phone Support Program Manager, Android/Nexus One” to be based out of its headquarters in Mountain View, CA.

Since Google released the smartphone Nexus One, early adopters have likely raised a question in their minds that where to take the phone to if it is broken

The news was firstly reported at TMO News, and a Google spokesperson has responded to explain the company’s logic behind the support number. He said that in terms of design, they focused mainly on offering the best possible customer support through their on-line channel, and the experience during four weeks since Nexus One’s launch help them to enhance that online support offering. They could address most of customers’ inquiries successfully through online support, along with the phone support from their partners including HTC and T-Mobile.

In other words, Google might have liked to have gotten away with its online-only support, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t going to cut it.

In another news, Google has also shown that the early termination fee (ETF) for its phone is down to $150 from $350 (they’re actually calling it an “equipment recovery fee”). However, that’s still on top of T-Mobile’s $200 fee. The drop may have well been spurred by the ETF inquiry which has recently launched by the FCC.

Barnes & Noble has recently announced to sell its latest e-book reader Nook online.

It is such good news for readers that Barnes & Noble has recently announced to sell its latest e-book reader Nook online.

It is now rather easy for customers to find the local stores to by the e-reader by accessing the Barnes & Noble nook In-Store Locator at www.bn.com/nook/instore.

The latest e-reader of Barnes & Noble is named as Nook which was officially introduced on October 20. Customers could pre-order the device since November 20 but the e-reader maker had to delay the shipment of the device until until December 11.

If the Nook is used in a Barnes & Noble store, it will be possible for users to utilize Wi-Fi capability in the device to access special “More In Store” features and promotions.

For instance, from February Nook users will have access to a recipe for red velvet cupcakes from Anne Byrn, “Read Between the Wines” tips from wine expert Kevin Zraly and so on. “More In Store” content is said to be added on a weekly basis and will be available for one month.

Furthermore, Barnes & Noble has also offered discount 10 percent for any CD. To redeem, show the cashier the special offer on their Nook during check-out.

Nook of Barnes & Noble offers a color, touch-sensitive display for navigation and wireless downloads via AT&T's 3G network or Wi-Fi.

Sold at $259, Nook of Barnes & Noble offers a color, touch-sensitive display for navigation and wireless downloads via AT&T’s 3G network or Wi-Fi. Moreover, it is also claimed that Nook users will love the 2 Gbytes of internal memory which can be used to store about 1,500 titles, and a MicroSD slot to increase capacity.

Sold at $259, the Nook is said to offer a color, touch-sensitive display for navigation and wireless downloads via AT&T’s 3G network or Wi-Fi. More than that, Barnes & Noble also claims that customers will be likely to love 2 Gbytes of internal memory which could be used to store about 1,500 titles, and a MicroSD slot to increase capacity. Although the device is powered by Android operating system, no any third party apps are supported.

Core i7 rumored to come soon on MacBook Pro?

Recently, there has been rumor that an upgrade to MacBook Pro notebook line of Apple could be coming in the near future. This rumor also said more that Apple is going to reveal an updated Macbook Pro’s featuring Intel’s newest Core i7 chips.

The time of the rumor is nearly similar with the opening of Macworld Expo, although Apple will be no-show at the show this year. There has been also another claim that an insider at Apple has confirmed the existence of the new laptops.

Meanwhile, a recent benchmark test which was spotted on the Geekbench Web site is fueling more speculation. The benchmark in question lists a system identifying itself as a MacBookPro 6,1 which is a currently unused model identifier.

The Geekbench listing for the mysterious ‘6,1′ system gives out more details that it has a 2.66GHz Core i7 processor, and it operates an unreleased build of Mac OS X (10.6.2 Build 10C3067; the current release is 10.6.2 build 10C540). The current MacBook Pros carry 5,x identifiers, and they are built around the Core 2 Duo processor.

The Geekbench listing for the mysterious '6,1' system gives out more details that it has a 2.66GHz Core i7 processor, and it operates an unreleased build of Mac OS X

In the past years, Apple has used Macworld Expo to release a lot of high-profile products, for example, iTunes, Safari, the Macbook Air, and the iPhone. But without any keynote to be planned and a media event taken place just two weeks ago, any product would be likely announced quietly.

The anonymous insider tip-off appears unlikely, and nowhere else has a spotty track record when it comes to rumor accuracy. However, some other recent rumors, the mystery benchmark report, and the fact that it’s been some months since the last MacBook Pro update, swing things in the report’s favor. In either cases, what we do is just wait for it.

Oracle to buy AmberPoint

On Monday, Oracle fattened up its already burgeoning middleware stack, announcing that it has bought SOA (i.e. service oriented architecture) management vendor AmberPoint. The specific terms about this deal was not provided. This deal helps to bolster Oracle’s Fusion Middleware portfolio.

SOA represents a systems design approach which eschews the monolithic applications and instead designates different processes, for example, running a credit check on a customer, as interoperable “services” allowing the code to be flexibly reused.

The software of AmberPoint is used to monitor the performance of SOA-driven applications and it can be used to help users solve their problems. According to an FAQ document Oracle which was launched on Monday, it is highly complementary to Oracle’s own SOA software and will allow increased control and performance of critical applications across the enterprise.

The software of AmberPoint is used to monitor the performance of SOA-driven applications and it can be used to help users solve their problems

Oracle said it’s not clear how this deal will influence the road maps for products of AmberPoint. A review is under way and more detail information will be provided in the coming time. It is also expected that the investment in the products will increase, according to the FAQ.

The analyst Tony Baer said on a blog that AmberPoint was one of a dwindling group of still-standing independents which deliver runtime governance for SOA environments.

He also added that the move patches some gaps in its Enterprise Manager offering, not only in SOA runtime governance, but with business transaction management and better visibility to non-Oracle systems as well. This deal is expected to close in the first half of this year.

Apple iPad

After officially announced some weeks ago, Apple iPad has still placed on the process upgrading. However, apart from the beautiful appearance, it is disappointing that the iPad of Apple still consists of some major flaws.

Problems with apps

It has taken Apple such a long time to collaborate with developers to show off apps for the iPad. Previously, Apple has once claimed that every app in the App Store will run on the iPad without any extra tinkering on the developer’s part. It is the fact that some apps after being updated to fit with the iPad cannot still fit the device’s display.

Not an ideal device for reading

It is rather difficult for iPad users to read e-books on this device as iPad does not provide any E-Ink technology or an OLED display. The iPad has once advertised to offer technology which lets users view e-books in color, but E-Ink is so successful as an e-reader technology because it mimics a real book and allows for longer reading periods without eye strain. It seems that the iPad is not the best choice for readers as it is actually so-called a larger iPhone display.

The iPad of Apple still consists of some major flaws

Lack of DVD/Blu-ray drive

Apple iPad will never become an ideal device for everyone when it lacks an optical drive. It can not certainly be denied that iPad is designed as a mobile product, not to replace a computer. However, if Apple wants to develop iPad as an entertainment product, the device must have had DVD/Blu-ray drive to let users view or rip movies and television shows on the device.

If you want to know more about some disappointing features of Apple’s new iPad, please regularly visit blog.wareseeker.com for more information.

Google shows its interest in the Superbowl

The increasing profile of Google continued with a major advertising spot in the most sought after the ads breaks in global television, with the search giant paying for a slot during the American Superbowl.

Traditionally speaking, the Superbowl is one of the most sought after lots of advertising events of the year, and Google was so interested in the web reaction to its slightly twee Parisian Love promo that it plumped for a prime TV spot.

Traditionally speaking, the Superbowl is one of the most sought after lots of advertising events of the year

The CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, said on Google blog that if you watched the Super Bowl that evening, you would see a video from Google named Parisian Love. In fact, you could have watched it before as it’s been on YouTube for more than three months.

The Google’s CEO also added more information that they did not set out to do a Super Bowl ad, or even a television ad for search. He showed their goal that just simply creates a series of short online videos about their own products as well as their users and how they interact with each other. However, they like that video so much and it was such a positive reaction on YouTube that Google decided to share with wider audience in the world.

Will it bring a tear to your eye? It’s not sure if you’re as cynical as many people are, but in my opinion, a few bowls of popcorn were a bit saltier on other side of the pond. And at an estimated price in excess of $3 million, probably Google’s bank manager made many people shed tears as well.

Canon to release its new rebel DSLR, point-and-shoots

On Monday, Canon announced several updates to its compact point-and-shoot camera line, and one new D-SLR, the EOS Rebel T2i. Nearly all of the new models of all price ranges will share one common feature such as the new SDXC memory card format, which is able of storing up to 2 terabytes of data.

The new camera in Canon’s entry-level DSLR line is the canon EOS Rebel T2i. Whereas the T2i looks nearly similar to the $799 (with lens) Canon EOS Rebel T1i, it incorporates lots of features discovered in the mid-range, $1,699 (body only) Canon EOS 7D DSLR.

Like the 7D model, it offers 18-megapixel captures through an APS-C sized CMOS sensor and it will perform the same plethora of HD-video capture options as the more expensive model: 1080p at 30 and 24 frames per second, and 720p at 60 frames per second. However, its still-image capture speed will be closer to that of the T1i’s 3.4 fps; the T2i will do 3.7 fps. There is another interesting feature that the HDMI port on the T2i will support HDMI-CEC; when it is connected to an HDTV, it also supports HDMI-CEC, the HDTV’s remote may control the T2i; which is not supported by both the Canon EOS 7D and Canon EOS Rebel T2i.

The Canon Rebel T2i will be available on the market later this month for $799.99 (list, body only) or with an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens for $899.99

The Canon Rebel T2i will be available on the market later this month for $799.99 (list, body only) or with an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens for $899.99. Besides, Canon also introduced some more budget-minded point-and-shoots, of which, the PowerShot SD1300 will be the only camera of the new bunch not to capture HD video. The shooter supports 12.1-megapixel captures, a wide angle 28mm lens, 4X optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD and it will list for $199.99.

The next one is the PowerShot SD1400 IS, whose specifications are basically similar to the SD1300 but it is supported with HD video capture (at 720p30) and a mini-HDMI out for connectivity to HDTVs. The SD1400 specifications are also nearly the same to its predecessor, the PowerShot SD 940 whose price has now been decreased to $249.99.

The PowerShot SD3500 IS is the update to Canon's first point-and-shoot with a touchscreen LCD, the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS, which was sold at $329.99 but now it lists for $299.99

The PowerShot SD3500 IS is the update to Canon’s first point-and-shoot with a touchscreen LCD, the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS, which was sold at $329.99 but now it lists for $299.99. The new SD3500 is also nearly identical from a specification standpoint as its predecessor, with a 4X optical zoom, a 24-mm wide-angle lens, HD video a mini-HDMI out. Aside from the support for the SDXC format, the new SD3500 will support a larger and higher resolution touch screen LCD.

Furthermore, Canon also launched a new super-zoom model which is the $349.99 PowerShot SX210. It’s an update to PowerShot SX200 announced last year, which now lists for $329.99. The new 14.1-megapixel shooter will boost the optical zoom from 12x to 14x, and it uses a larger and higher-resolution 3.5-inch, 461,000-dot screen. All of the compact cameras will be available later this month.