Kindle DX now available in UK

To celebrate the sudden outbreak of crystalline precipitation currently falling on Britain, Amazon.com has announced it'll now ship an international version of its massive, designed-for-newspapers-and-textbooks Kindle to the UK -- the Kindle DX.

In principle it's the same as the standard Kindle (which we reviewed late last year), but features a larger 246mm (9.7-inch) E-Ink screen. "Kindle DX is great for personal and professional documents, cookbooks and textbooks -- anything that is highly formatted," Amazon says.

It also now supports Adobe PDF files natively (Kindles previously needed to have these converted to a format it liked), so pre-formatted pages of text, images and diagrams involve significantly less messing about. Up to 3,500 books can be stored in memory, Amazon claims, and the battery should let you read for a full week without charging.

The Kindle DX for UK features the same built-in wireless bookstore as the standard Kindle, including free wireless downloads via the device's integrated 3G modem. Its screen -- which only requires power to turn pages, not to keep displaying them -- can generate 16 shades of grey. Sony's Readers, by contrast (ha), use just eight. This means images look far better on Kindles.

Read

TomTom Go Live 1000: Apps and mobile phone tracking hit the road

TomTom is meeting the challenge of location-aware smart phones and free navigation software with a new souped-up sat-nav platform. The Go Live 1000 will be the first to add apps and real-time routes.

The Go Live 1000 packs a 500MHz ARM processor and capacitive touchscreen, boasting a WebKit-based user interface. It includes a SIM-card slot, 4GB of internal storage and 128MB of RAM. It'll be the first in a slew of devices to support third-party apps, downloaded via the Web or over the air via mobile partner Vodafone.

Maps have been updated, with improved graphics to cover more roads and addresses in 45 European countries. The driving interface includes a traffic bar on the right, showing how heavy traffic is ahead of you. A parking-assist feature points out car parks nearby. Real-time petrol prices, services and weather will also be updated by the unit. All this will be free for a year with the Go Live 1000, and less than €50 (£43) a year after that.

Read

Android Claims 38,000 Apps But What of Quality?

Google's Android Market is getting crowded, with 38,000 apps in total according to the company's latest earnings call

Considering that Android gained roughly 8000 apps since last month, the mobile OS is on pace to top 100,000 apps by the end of the year. But like any app store, the Android Market has a quantity vs. quality issue, and it's getting harder to ignore as Google beats its chest over app counts.

Wallpapers, ringtones, and glorified RSS feeds all boost the Android Market's numbers, but offer little value compared to, say, a great utility app such as Locale. As with the iPhone, which hit the 100,000 app mark last November, it's worth questioning how many Android apps are actually useful.

Android's situation differs from the iPhone because Apple restricts developers, but Google does not. So while Apple cuts down on apps built from templates that merely pull content from the Web and purges "overtly sexual apps," the Android Market can grow in any way it pleases, for better or worse. That's not to say the iPhone doesn't have its share of junk, and with OS 4 adding wallpaper support this summer, you're bound to see worthless wallpaper apps spring up in droves, as they have for the iPad.

Read

Macworld Pundit Showdown VI

It's been far too long since we took off the gloves, threw out the rule book, and indulged in a little no-holds barred punditry. With iPads, iPhone SDKs, and misplaced iPhone prototypes in the news, what better time to turn our podcast over to another Macworld Pundit Showdown?

We've got a stellar panel of Mac industry heavyweights slugging it out for your amusement. Champion of champions Jason Snell puts his unbeaten record on the line against senior editor Christopher Breen, Macworld Lab director James Galbraith, and PCWorld reviews editor Tim Moynihan in a contest that awards points for bold opinions and punishes reticence.

Read

SLRs soon obsolete, replaced with mobiles

According to Reuters, Anssi Vanjoki, the executive vice president at Nokia, said that mobile phone cameras will replace conventional cameras. "They will in the very near future revolutionise the market for system cameras," he said. Vanjoki then pointed to a professional SLR camera used by a photographer nearby and said "there will be no need to carry around those heavy lenses."

HD video recording on mobile phones was another feature that Vanjoki touted, with the technology set to appear on Nokia's phones over the next year. Other manufacturers with phones currently on the market with HD video capabilities include Samsung's HD Icon and Sony Ericsson's Vivaz, both recording at 720p.

Read

Google TV Coming to Homes

As Android dominates the mobile market more and more technologies are being considered. Set-top boxes are the next target for Android. The latest incarnation of Android will run on Intel’s Atom chipset with a new version of Google’s Chrome browser.

There have been many diverse applications for the home using set-top boxes. Microsoft’s original XBox was hacked to be a home media device using an open source application called XBox Media Center. Boxee is another application available for a selection of hardware platforms making it easy to stream TV, Movies and other content directly form the Internet.

Boxee are also working with hardware manufacturers like D-Link to bring a custom device configured and ready to plug into your TV.

Read

iPad Developers Rapidly Developing Apps for Apple's New iPad

With just under 6 billion mobile applications forecast to be downloaded this year, up from an estimated 2.4 billion in 2009, app development has no indication of slowing down.

First weekend sales of the iPad estimated over 700,000 units and iPhone app developers are switching gears and rapidly turning to iPad app development.

When asked why iPhone developers might continue to develop for iPhone vs move only to iPad, one developer said “Existing iPhone users might be more reluctant to spring another $500 for an iPad. That's a big reason why I'm keeping with both platforms now”.

Read

10 Minute Solution

Having weight issues but find exercise boring? Do you lack the interest or will to scratch those pounds off? Is time a luxury which you do not have? Then here is just what you are looking for.

Brought to you by Activision Inc., creator of one of the world’s most remarkable video games, 10 Minute Solution brings the excitement in exercise. Cutting down weight has never been this fun. Compatible with your Wii Fit Balance Board, it offers you a world where you get to be the master of your own exercise and time – 10-minute workout sessions ranging from calisthenics, warm-up and stretching exercises, and even sports that not only bring you the amazing fun of playing video games but also the feeling of doing the same workout without breaking a sweat. It is quick, fun and most of all, very fulfilling.

Not only that, the video game also enables you to customize your own character and how you want your exercises to be. Ladies, your dream of seeing yourself with that slim and svelte body to die for and for the guys, your yearning to have that buffed up or chiseled body is now a reality. You get to create your very own character and tailor him just the way you like it. Now how would you like to see the sexy you? Isn’t it good to have a well-defined and lucid model of your own? That way, you’ll be even more motivated to scratch those pounds off.

But wait there’s more, this video game also offers you some health and diet tips to complete the best fitness experience you longed for. Who ever said exercise was only for the aged? With 10 Minute Solution, everyone is invited; young or the young at heart it doesn’t matter. Plus, parents can teach their kids about developing an early consciousness about health and how to live a healthy lifestyle as well. So what are you waiting for, order now and indulge in that once-in-a-lifetime experience that could change the way you look at exercise.

Marantz and Polk Audio: Pleasing the Most Critical Home Theater Enthusiasts

If entertainment systems are your thing, then look no further. The best of the best: Marantz SR8002 Home Theater Bundle with Polk Audio Speakers. This audio is ready to please the most critical of eyes and ears. With this Marantz and Polk bundle, you'll experience entertainment to its fullest. This very flexible system will allow your family and friends to enjoy 5.1-cjannel entertainment in the main room while simultaneously playing component video and the two-channel audio in another. With this entertainment set, home entertainment will be your favorite leisure time and you won't even find the reason to leave home on your spare time or go to the movies. Hiogh quality audio and video is a guarantee with this set. With the Marantz and Polk bundle, your house will have the entertainment room as its highlight.

This bundle comes with:

• One Marantz SR8002 7-Channel Receiver
• Two Polk Audio RTI A9 Floorstanding Speakers
• One Pol Audio CSI A6 Center Channel Speaker
• Two Polk Audio FXI A6 Surround Speakers
• One Polk Audio DSW MicroPRO 3000 Subwoofer

Amazon Kindle ClearTouch Anti-Glare Screen Protector

You Kindle or E-book reader is something that you would want to take care of. It's one of those gadgets that are pricey but very useful. In fact, you get to use it almost everyday. You of course don't want to wear down your gadget because of the daily use, so why not gear up with the right protective gear to ensure your gadget's safety. The Amazon Kindle ClearTouch Anti-Glare Screen Protector (Single Pack) is something you'll want to get. ClearTouch Anti-Glare's numerous features will greatly enhance your Amazon Kindle's display and provides you with more than protection from scratches! Don't worry about touching your screen often, especially when you need to, with this protector, your Kindle will remain scratch-free longer than you alone can manage.

Technical Details:

Award Winning Anti-Glare Amazon Kindle Screen Protector

Dust Repelling

Bubble-free Application

Fingerprint Free

Sized to specifically fit the Amazon Kindle

Toshiba Satellite L505-GS5037 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Laptop

The Toshiba Satellite L505-GS5037 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Laptop 15.6-Inch Laptop offers solid performance and an impressive affordable price. The Toshiba Satellite L505-GS5037 laptop is a great pick for handling school and work-related assignments. This laptop even works great at home. Whether you're surfing for leisure time, downloading videos or music, managing household finances or studying for finals, this laptop will serve you great. This laptop is fully functional, all-purpose, eco-smart machine that features a brilliant 15.6-inch display with 720p native high-definition resolution. And not only that, the L505 features an amazing high-gloss Fusion Finish in Graphite Gray that will surely get people a second look at your notebook. Dimensions: 10.2 x 15.1 x 1.6 inches and it weighs 6 pounds.

Technical Details:

2.13GHz Intel Core i3-330M Processor

4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM Memory

500GB Serial ATA Hard Disk Drive (5400RPM); DVD SuperMulti Drive with Labelflash supporting 11 formats

15.6" CCFL (16:9) 1366x768 Display; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD

Window 7 Home Premium 64-bit