New Release Book in January

January is often a big month for debuts. One of the most anticipated is You Know When the Men are Gone by Siobhan Fallon, a collection of loosely collected short stories about military wives. Kim Edwards, bestselling author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter, returns with her second novel, Lake of Dreams.

Source:
http://bestsellers.about.com/od/newupcomingreleases/tp/2011-New-Book-Releases.htm

Adobe announces Creative Suite 5.5, monthly software subscriptions

 

Adobe Systems announced an update to its Adobe Creative Suite 5 software, which for the first time will be available by way of monthly subscriptions.

Creative Suite 5.5, as the new refresh is called, features new tools that will enable users to more easily create content for smartphones and tablets and do more using HTML5.

The rollout of Creative Suite 5.5, which will take place in about a month, will be Adobe's first shot at a new software release schedule, with more incremental updates between fully new versions of its main product package.

"This launch marks a major change to Adobe's product release strategy for Creative Suite," the San Jose company said in a statement. "Adobe now plans to have milestone Creative Suite product introductions at 24-month intervals and -- starting with Creative Suite 5.5 -- significant mid-cycle releases designed to keep the worldwide creative community ahead of the latest advances in content authoring."

The Creative Suite subscription editions are new for Adobe too and will let customers try Adobe products by subscribing online without having to commit to spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy the software suites.

One of Adobe's most popular products, Photoshop, sits on the low end of the subscription model at a monthly price of $49, or $35 with a one-year subscription.

Adobe's Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium package -- which includes InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash Professional and Adobe FlashCatalyst, Acrobat X Pro, Illustrator CS5, Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended and Adobe Fireworks CS5 -- goes for $95 a month as part of a one-year plan or $139 month-to-month.

Adobe's top-of-the-line Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection can be subscribed to for $129 a month for a year or $195 month-to-month.

Creative Suite 5.5 is just a bit more expensive.

A traditional, non-subscription copy of Adobe's Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection software will sell for $2,599, about $1,000 more than a one-year subscription to the software. The Design Premium package will sell for $1,899, or $759 more than a one-year subscription.

Source:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/04/adobe-creative-suite-subscription.html

Nokia launches new Symbian smartphones

By MATTI HUUHTANEN, Associated Press Matti Huuhtanen, Associated Press – Tue Apr 12, 12:26 pm ET

 

HELSINKI – Nokia Corp. on Tuesday launched its first smartphones to run on the updated Symbian software with new icons, enhancements and a faster browser.

Nokia said the two models — the E6 and X7 — have longer battery life, better text input and new Ovi Maps applications with improved search and public transport routes.

The Nokia E6, with a standard QWERTY keypad and high resolution touch display, is aimed at corporate customers, while the Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused handset with a 4-inch (10-centimeter) display made for games.

The world's largest cellphone maker did not price the handsets.

Markets seemed unimpressed by the announcement, which comes as Nokia continues to struggle against stiff competition, especially from Apple Inc. and Research in Motion Ltd.

Nokia stock fell more than 3 percent to euro6.08 ($8.80) on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

More than 200 million phones, with 150 million more expected on the market, use Symbian technology, seen by some developers as clumsy and dated. At the end of last year, it was surpassed by Android as the world's No. 1 smart phone software.

Nokia said the new, faster Symbian software, known as Symbian Anna, will be available for previously released top models, including the N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 devices "in coming months."

In February, Nokia and Microsoft surprised the industry by announcing they were joining forces to challenge major rivals. Nokia said it will use Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Phone software as the main platform for its smartphones but will continue to develop and use the new Symbian software.

But they have a tough battle ahead.

The iPhone has set the standard for today's smartphones and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerrys have become the favorite of the corporate set. More recently, Google Inc.'s Android software has emerged as the choice for phone makers that want to challenge the iPhone.

A key challenge will be to produce quality devices with a hip factor that helps position Windows Phone as an attractive alternative in a market where image plays a central role.

Windows Phone 7, launched last year, has a lot of catching up to do both in the number of users and "apps" available for the phones.

Nokia, which claims 1.3 billion daily users of its devices, said it hopes the partnership with Microsoft will lead to capturing the next billion users to join the Internet in developing growth markets.

Last year, the Finnish firm retained its No.1 spot as the world's top mobile phone maker — a position it has held since 1998, selling 432 million devices — more than its three closest rivals combined. But market share has continued on a downward spiral — from a high of 41 percent in 2008 to 31 percent in the last quarter of 2010.

Also, its share in smartphones has plunged — to 30 percent at the end of 2010 from 40 percent a year earlier. And, at the end of last year Nokia and the Symbian platform was surpassed by Android as the world's No. 1 smartphone software, according to Canalys research firm.

Nokia, an Espoo-based company, near Helsinki, employs 132,500 people.

Source:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110412/ap_on_hi_te/eu_finland_nokia_smartphones_3

Microsoft phone software adds multitasking, camera features

By Dina Bass

Bloomberg News

Posted: 04/13/2011 09:13:28 PM PDT

Microsoft unveiled a new version of its Windows Phone software that will let users run several programs at once and call up information about a place or item by looking at it through the handset's camera.

The company demonstrated the software at a developer conference Wednesday, laying the groundwork for the operating system to appear on phones later this year. Tools that let programmers create applications for the new software will be available in May, Microsoft said at the Las Vegas event.
Microsoft, which overhauled its Windows phone software last year, is counting on new features to regain market share lost to Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and Google's (GOOG) Android. The company also aims to entice more developers. At Wednesday's event, Microsoft demonstrated concept apps from companies such as Amazon.com, Skype Technologies and Spotify.
The new software, code-named "Mango," takes advantage of a technology called augmented reality. That means users can point the phone's camera at something and get additional information on screen. For example, they could scan a landmark and get details on the building and surrounding area.
The Amazon application lets customers scan barcodes to find products online. Microsoft also previewed an app that showed whether audience members viewed through the camera had sent certain messages on Twitter. Besides gaining access to the camera data, the new software will let developers use compasses and gyroscopes if the phone has them.
Many of the new features are similar to ones already available for Android and Apple's iOS, said Al Hilwa, an analyst at Framingham, Mass.-based research firm IDC. Still, the approach to multitasking may give Microsoft an edge, he said. The software is designed to download content in the background while other apps are running, making for a smoother experience. 


Source:
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17840416?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Apple Launches New Software for iPhone and iPad

Apple today launched iOS 4.3, the latest version of its operating system for iPhones and iPads, and it's playing some technological catch up with rivals. 

"The world's most advanced mobile operating system keeps getting better," Apple boasted on its iOS webpage.

In fact, far from being the most advanced, in some ways this latest version is merely catching up to the market leader Android. The headline feature is "Personal Hotspot," which turns the iPhone into a Wi-Fi hub for up to five nearby devices. Unusually, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company is behind the market in bundling this feature: many smartphones running Google's Android operating system already offer it.

The new update arrives amidst great flux among mobile operating systems within the smartphone market. While iOS is doubtless the most mature and arguably the slickest smartphone OS available, it is no longer the numerical market leader. Apple's market share has long been constrained by its exclusivity deal with AT&T in the U.S., while Android found homes on handsets from multiple manufacturers across all carriers.

Apple is ready to make up for lost time with its expansion to Verizon, but Android has established a solid beachhead and continues to improve, with new versions appearing every four to six months.

If the rivals extend current trends, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion may cede even more market share to the Google mobile operating system.

Other updates for iOS 4.3 include its "Nitro" Javascript engine, which promises significantly faster web browsing. In addition, "AirPlay" now offers much more video output support; streams can come from the camera, third-party apps and the browser and it can stream photo slide shows, too.

"Home Sharing" on iTunes now lets users stream music and videos directly from a running computer.

The new version includes support for single-tap conference call dialing and more options are now configurable. For example, users can set the iPad's side switch to either mute or lock rotation. Most of these enhancements are already available on Verizon iPhones, which run iOS 4.2.6.

Apple unveiled the update just a day before the iPad 2 is set to go on sale. The update is for the iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad and for the third- and fourth-generation iPod Touch.

Source:

http://www.mobiledia.com/news/83732.html

Concert Review: Bruno Mars spreads his wings in splashy NYC debut

In between songs, Bruno's charm shined as he cracked jokes and spouted friendly banter with the audience. The intimate venue allowed Bruno to see his fans up close and personal and the connection that Bruno's music had made with his fans was evident. There were guys rocking fedoras and jackets like Bruno and loads of ladies squealed in delight whenever he approached the mic.

But despite his popularity with the ladies, Bruno is no womanizer. His songs speak of loyalty, dedication and deep, profound love. In the two new songs, "I Think I Wanna Marry You" and "Grenades," that he played from his upcoming debut album Doo-Wops and Hooligans, Bruno explored the extreme ends of the love spectrum: Infatuation and betrayal. And the audience ate up both songs, but they particularly swooned for the heartbreak tale Bruno painted in "Grenades." When Bruno howled, "I'd catch a grenade for ya, put my hand on the blade for ya, I'd jump in front a train for ya, you know I'd do anything for ya," the audience shrieked in delight as he rattled off the fatalistic depths of his dedication.

And his solo remixes of his two chart toppers, "Billionaire" and "Nothin' On You," were wonderfully flipped and energized with the live band's arrangement. The "Nothin' On You" remix is so stellar that Bruno would be wise to record a studio version of the remix as a bonus track for the album. He drizzles that Maui Wowie on the song so potently.

As the end of Bruno's set neared, he winded the crowd down with his new hit single "Just the Way You Are." The power ballad, with its uplifting chorus and sweeping production, went over magnificently with the audience. Once again, they sang along with nearly every word. After the song ended, Bruno thanked the crowd and walked off stage, but it wasn't over yet.

The crowd chanted "BRUNO! BRUNO!" and he obliged the crowd with a surprise cover of Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" for his encore. The inspirations he pulled from Elvis and Michael Jackson weren't just talk, Bruno seemed to be channeling his idols on stage that night. He snarled his lips and slammed on his guitar just like any good student of the King of Pop would do. The only thing missing was a crotch grab. Maybe next time.

Source:

http://www.barkbiteblog.com/2010/08/bruno-mars-spreads-his-wings-in-splashy-nyc-debut.html

Skullcandy Mobile App

Skullcandy's brand-NEW v.2 app has boosted features so high, we blew right past v.1 on the way to shortening the distance between you and your beloved hotspot. Here's what else is NEW in v.2:

• PIC+VID UPLOADER – Post photos, videos and comments to all your spots. Or add your own favorite danger havens.
• QUICK-SEARCH/MAP ME – Can't grind what you can't find. Locate every nearby surf, skate, snow or moto spot via GPS, no matter where you find yourself.
• MotoX TRACK FINDER Expanded atlas of dirty spots that deserve punishing. Only one of it's kind.
• SURF + SNOW REPORTS – Details plus Live Cam Photos where available
• MUSIC – More songs. Deeper cuts. Pulsating aural stimulation that now streams while you multi-task.
• DESIGN – New face, new threads, and new body or bits, bytes, whatever. Refreshed like a technologic colonic.
• iPAD + ANDROID COMPATIBLE! – Future-proof is our policy

V.2 adds a handsome quiver of nano-tech tools and weaponry to keep you briefed and ready for every type of shred offensive. Despite all of the new content, features and functionality, the app is still 100% weightless.

Unlike its monogamous predecessor, Skullcandy has expanded the app's dance card to include additional mobile platforms. V.2 is now open for frisky business on Apple's iPad, while maintaining a much-more-than-friends compatibility with long-time Apple mates, iPhone and iPod.

You don't have to be a fruitarian to get love from Skullcandy's tap-happy new app. Android users can now partake, as well! Not just flirtation, either. Android, iPad, iPod and iPhone users can all enjoy v.2's full-frontal functionality, gratuitous content and eye-popping features, so amazingly rich they could make a Trustafarian lose his sense of entitlement.

Source:

http://us.skullcandy.com/new-app-v2