Product Reviews Net |
- Ainol Honeycomb: Sneaky peek at Android tablet
- Warhawk 2 for PS3: First Rumored Details Emerge
- Duke Nukem Forever: Violence Explained Before Release Date
- Bubble Bunch for iPad: New Multiplayer Game Hits Apple App Store
- iPad 2 Console Gaming With 1080p HDTV Apps
- iPhone 5 Caution: Bugs, Signal and iPad 2 Problems
- Latest GM Recall: 2000 More Workers
- Cydia 1.1: List of Changes
- British Summer Time Causes Problems for iPhone Owners
- Samsung Galaxy S II (S2): Early Review before US, UK Release
- March 2011 Product Recalls From CPSC
- Mortal Kombat: New DLC Characters and Leaked Character Select Screen
- Crysis 2: PC Patch Update Download and List of Changes
- Nintendo 3DS Problems: Black Screen Of Death Crashing Error Messages
- iPhone 5 Release: List of Rumored Specs and New Features
- Super Monkey Ball 3D: Review Round-Up Shows Mixed Opinions
- New iPhone 5 and iOS 5 Release, Preview at WWDC 2011
- Think Quarterly Magazine Launched in UK: Google World Domination Quest Continues
- Elektra One: All-Electric Powered Airplane
- The Color App for Android and Apple Devices: More useful than initially thought
| Ainol Honeycomb: Sneaky peek at Android tablet Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:02 AM PDT
The year of the tablet is certainly living up to its new name, with 2011 seeing tablets from various manufacturers appearing here and there. The latest company about to launch into the market is Aniol with their Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet. The tablet is set said to be one that will stand out from the rest but not necessarily in a good way. While tablets are one of the most useful devices out in the consumer electronics market, it seems style plays a big part when customers are deciding which one they want. The news of the Ainol device follows as a series of teasing photos of it which reveal small sections of the tablet. According to the article at MP4Nation the Android Tablet will feature an ARM Cortex A9 Processor. It will also feature a HDMI out, a microSD, 3G and Wi-Fi. From the photos which can be seen by clicking the link above, we can see that it has a pearl white design that appears to be quite chunky. Most uniquely the photos reveal a series of buttons on the tablet. Though the size of the device's screen isn't yet known, it will apparently have a 1,280 x x800 IPS display. No price or release date has been set yet but more about the device is also found at the link above. What do you think of this new tablet? Will it be able to compete with the existing tablets already in the market? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Warhawk 2 for PS3: First Rumored Details Emerge Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:49 AM PDT
We have some pretty exciting news now for all you Warhawk fans out there, as we've just received word that a sequel to the popular 2007 multiplayer-only game is in development. The Warhawk 2 title, which just like the original will be exclusive to the PS3, is rumored to be arriving sometime in 2012. According to a recent article by Josh Garibay over on the justpushstart.com website, Sony Computer Entertainment of America are said to have held a special event recently, in which they reportedly gave selected Warhawk players the opportunity to test out the upcoming Warhawk 2 game. Although cameras weren't allowed to take any off-screen snapshots of the game in action, a few rumored details about the game did manage to make their way out. For example, the graphics of the Warhawk 2 game are said to have received a boost, and improvements have been made to the combat system. The game is also believed to feature a story mode, as well as a multiplayer mode containing a total of 25 maps. Warhawk 2 will also feature support for co-operative play and up to 32 players online. The sequel will contain military vehicles such as air-crafts, motorcycles and tanks. What do you think of the rumored details? Which features do you hope are true? For more coverage:
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| Duke Nukem Forever: Violence Explained Before Release Date Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:41 AM PDT
We recently told you about Duke Nukem Forever had been delayed again, after being in development for over ten years. There have also been leaks of the multiplayer mode of the game recently revealed. Today we have news of more details about the actual game play before release. Andrew Ramadge over at News.com has details of the Australian Classification Boards report which was made when awarding the game a MA15+ rating recently. In this report there are some spoilers, and obviously the content is pretty strong. The game will not be to everyone's taste with strong violence, sex, and references to bodily waste. The violence is strong throughout as you battle robot-like alien creatures, and has strong visual impact. In one scene Duke has to shoot women who are carrying alien babies to stop their suffering; the ones he doesn't shoot are seen exploding as the alien baby grows.
Unsurprisingly there is a lot of strong sexual content throughout the game, with strip clubs and nudity a regular feature of the game. To read more about the content of the game from the Australian Classification Board use the link above. Will you be getting Duke Nukem Forever when it is finally released? For more coverage:
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| Bubble Bunch for iPad: New Multiplayer Game Hits Apple App Store Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:16 AM PDT
A few months ago GameHouse – RealNetworks' game division – released a multiplayer game for the Apple iPad called Marble Mixer. The game enables up to four players, or one player and three artificial intelligence opponents, to battle it out as they flick marbles to score points. Now it appears that the developer has released a similar game called Bubble Bunch for iPad. According to Jon Jordan over at pocketgamer.co.uk, Bubble Bunch is another multiplayer-focused game like Marble Mixer, only this game's concept is based around match-three gameplay. The Bubble Bunch for iPad game features three different modes: Aquarium, Rogue Drone and Domination. The Aquarium mode sees gamers playing in an underwater world, where the aim of the game is to create the most groups of 3 or more same-colored bubbles.
Rogue Drone on the other hand has a sci-fi setting, and sees a villainous droid firing back at players. Meanwhile, the player who exerts color supremacy across the globe in Domination mode becomes the winner. Each mode gives players the option of either bouncing shots off the wall, or using explosive power-ups. Although the game is currently only available on the iPad, it will be coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch in a few weeks. The Bubble Bunch for iPad game costs £1.19/$1.99/€1.59 to download and as noted on the itunes.apple.com website, does require iOS 3.2 or above. Have you downloaded the Bubble Bunch for iPad game yet? If so, what do you think of it? For more coverage:
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| iPad 2 Console Gaming With 1080p HDTV Apps Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:33 AM PDT
There is no denying how improved the new iPad 2 is, and Apple realize that to fully make their tablet stand out against rivals they need to give the iPad 2 a console gaming feel. There are many ways that this can be done, but one of the best has to be with a 1080p HDTV output, which would look amazing with apps like Real Racing 2 HD. This kind of support will certainly be welcome by iPad users, but only those with the 2nd-generation model – those with the original model will either have to upgrade or just stay angry with Apple. Knowing that you will be able to connect your tablet to a large-screen HDTV to play an app such as Real Racing 2 HD is something that will appeal to gaming fans – but will it ever replace the console? The simple answer is no, but it does show that you will no longer need a next-gen games console if you are not a full-time gamer. For those of you who consider yourself a casual gamer, then this could be the perfect solution for you – only if you were considering purchasing an iPad 2, as it is more expensive than an Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3.
With the racing game mentioned (thanks to AppleInsider) above being the first to take advantage of 1080p video output, we will be interested to see what apps will follow. However, knowing what app will be next and what one we would actually like to see are two different things – just hope users get what they hope for? There will be nothing worse than having 1080p support for a game that will not be played or appreciated much on a larger screen. What game would you like to see get 1080p HDTV support for the iPad 2? For more coverage:
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| iPhone 5 Caution: Bugs, Signal and iPad 2 Problems Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:33 AM PDT
We could be only a couple of months away from the launch of the next generation of iPhone, which should be sometime June. But with all the issues Apple has been experiencing of late with some of its products, should potential customers be cautious regarding the iPhone 5? When the iPhone 4 was released last year there were many complaints from owners regarding signal problems with the handset. This led Apple to give away free cases for the device, and making changes to the software for the signal display on the handset. Other problems owners have faced are the recurring iPhone clock bugs which seem to be happening every time the clocks change. More recently we have had people reporting problems with the iPad 2, with freezing when using the FaceTime application, and the more serious backlight bleeding. These issues could lead to some people becoming more cautious regarding the iPhone 5. Many may decide to sit tight when the next iPhone is released and see if any new problems surface. It could be wise to see any such problems ironed out before rushing out to buy the handset.
As with any new Apple product there will be a high demand on launch day, so if there were to be any issues these would quickly come to light. Will you be having second thoughts about getting the next iPhone straight away? Or will you put your faith in Apple to quickly sort out any problems? For more coverage:
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| Latest GM Recall: 2000 More Workers Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:52 AM PDT
Over the past few years the auto industry has had it hard, it is only in recent times that things have started to pick up. One of the hardest hit automakers was GM, as they had to have a huge bailout by the US government. The Detroit company had to layoff a huge number of people in order to cut costs due to poor sales, so is nice to see that thier latest recall is not for vehicles but for 2,000 more workers. Yes, it seems that GM will be asking for 2,000 of its workers they laid off to return to work. According to the Detroit News, most of the workers to return will be to fill southeastern Michigan plants, which as we know was one of the hardest hit in the job cuts. We do not have a date for when GM will be recalling these workers, but it is believed to be around September, which will be great news for those workers and their families in the build-up to the holiday season. We do hope that these jobs will be permanent, and looking how General Motors has been growing since the downturn – we do not see any reason why not.
A spokesperson for GM said that once all the laid-off workers have returned then they will be able to think about hiring new workers, which will be part of the company's new two-tier wage system. It is no secret that this is a controversial system, but better than no job at all. Are you happy that GM will recall 2,000 more of its workers? What do you think of the two-tier wage system? For more coverage:
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| Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 AM PDT
Much has been speculated about Cydia 1.1, but we did not have anything official – until now that is. Jay Freeman, who is the lead developer behind the software for the iOS application has been going over the list of changes for this latest version. We just hope that they have given users what they have been waiting for? According to the iPhoneDownloadBlog,some of the main features include being able to run as well as operate Activator, SimulatedKeyEvents and libstatusbar, all of which can be used while Cydia 1.1 is running. Two of what looks to be the best features, but will not be seen by the user is a speed improvement, along with less memory usage. However, these improvements will still not allow for multitasking. The developer has said that it is still far too complicated to get this feature to work at the moment, and there are still no clues as to when it will be made a feature. We still do not know when Cydia 1.1 will be available for iOS 4.3, but we have already seen the iPad 2 running on the current version.
What users will be pleased of is the interface, as some say that it looks much better than before. However, looking good does not make it a decent update, but the new backup option does. Knowing what features will be welcomed by users is a tough call to make, but we are certain that you all have your own most wanted feature – but what is yours? For more coverage:
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| British Summer Time Causes Problems for iPhone Owners Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:17 AM PDT
Recently many iPhone owners in the US had problems with their iPhone when they switched to daylight saving; now it is the turn for owners in the UK following the switch to British Summer Time. Many are reporting that their clocks did the usual jumping back one hour instead of forward. Social networking site Twitter, has many owners complaining about the problem affecting them, and this problem seems to be happening every time the clocks change. When the clocks changed in my time zone, my Android handset was showing the correct time as soon as it booted up. Owners of the iPhone are probably getting fed up with this bug happening all the time, and some must be thinking of using a different method to wake them up around clock change time. The problem is normally fixed by rebooting the handset, or by changing the time manually in settings. The problem doesn't always affect every owner's iPhone, with a lot of people reporting that their handsets changed as they should. Use the comment below and tell us if your iPhone clock changed correctly. For more coverage:
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| Samsung Galaxy S II (S2): Early Review before US, UK Release Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:14 AM PDT
We have some great news for those of you looking for an early Samsung Galaxy S II review, as we have found a very detailed analysis of the device, despite the fact that it isn’t out anywhere yet, although it’s due sometime this month in some countries and a few months later in the UK and US. We briefly mentioned about this analysis by Mobile Review in our previous article here, but back then it was an unfinished preview of the Samsung Galaxy S II. However, they have now provided additional details on the handset, and it is essentially a full review of the handset, weeks before it is due to go on sale in Europe first. We’re not sure how the guys over at Mobile Review have managed to get their hands on this elusive device so early, but we’re definitely not complaining. They have pretty much covered every single aspect of the device, and split each section into categories, such as performance, hardware, software, camera quality, social hub, design opinions and so on. They have also included a ton of high quality images of the Galaxy S II so if you previously haven’t had a good look at the device, this review is essential. There’s also a few videos of the device for you to look at, one of which focuses on the new Touch Wiz 4.0 interface that we previously reported on here. Since they have labelled this a preview, there is no final review score for the device, but they have stated that the Galaxy S II will be the ”best handset on the market” in terms of a technological perspective, adding that no handset will come close to it when it’s out. Interesting comments, but what to do you think of it? Do you think the Samsung Galaxy S II will be a force to be reckoned with when it sees a release in the US and EU? Check out part 1 here, and part 2 of their review and then let us know your opinions on the handset. For more coverage:
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| March 2011 Product Recalls From CPSC Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:48 AM PDT
With just a few days to go until we enter a new month, we thought that this would be the ideal time to look over the March 2011 Product Recalls, which as we can see from CPSC is very extensive. We can already see that there have been 45 recalls so far, and we still have a few more days left in the month. So let us take a look at a few of what we believe were the worst in the product recalls for March 2011. The first and most worrying was the recall of the drop-side crib, which had an issue with the "Safety Peg". It was reported that a second death of an infant sparked-off this latest recall of 985,000 units on March 22nd. More details on this can be found here. The second recall that we believe to be bad for March was the LasKo Box Fans, with 4.8 million units being recalled due to a fire risk. The reason for the recall was because the fan had an electrical issue for those units sold from June 2002 to December 2005. More details from the CPSC website. There were also two separate recalls for Baja dirt bikes and Suzuki ATVs. Both were due to a risk of fire, so had to be recalled March 9 and 10 respectively. For a full list of product for March 2011 visit the CPSC website. Other recalls we have covered this month include Del Monte Cantaloupe due to a form of salmonella, as well as the Pioneer DJM-900nexus. For more coverage:
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| Mortal Kombat: New DLC Characters and Leaked Character Select Screen Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:41 AM PDT
We have some important news for those of you planning to pick up Mortal Kombat on the Xbox 360 and PS3 next month, as we can confirm that there will be two characters coming via DLC, although we’re not sure if they will be free or paid for yet. Without further ado, we can confirm that the two characters are Kenshi and Scarlet, as reported from VG247. Those of you who played Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance will recognise the name Kenshi, as he is the blind warrior wielding a Katana sword and possessing telekinetic powers. Scarlet on the other hand, you may not be too familar with. She actually first appeared in Mortal Kombat 2 as a glitch when selecting Kitana and Mileena. Scarlet was essentially a red version of Kitana and Mileena, but we’re guessing that she’ll now have her own personality and set of moves which will make her unique in the MK universe. It’s worth pointing out that MK creator Ed Boon has already stated that these two characters will not be contained on the game disc. There is often a heated debate which ensues once DLC is announced prior to the game’s release, with many arguing that the content should be featured on the full game, rather than having to pay on top for the extra goodies. On a side note, we’ll also been made aware that there is an apparent image going around which shows the entire character roster for the first time. Obviously this isn’t official yet, but if it is true – then there are many characters which are yet to be announced, like Sheeva, Ninja Smoke, Human Smoke and possibly Kabal too. Take a look here and let us know if you think it’s legit or not, and which characters you can make out from the scan. For more coverage:
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| Crysis 2: PC Patch Update Download and List of Changes Posted: 27 Mar 2011 11:09 PM PDT
Last week we informed you that a PC Patch update was on the way for Crysis 2 to fix a problem with multiplayer keys, but now we can confirm that a separate patch has just gone live for the game, which adds and removes some notable features. As for an update on the multiplayer key patch, Crytek has said that they are still working on it, but in the meantime a pretty major update is now available to download from BigDownload, and we have the list of changes for you, as reported from VG247. Here are the patch notes for the Crysis 2 update: Server Browser shows incorrect pings – Fixed As you can see, the big talking point here is the fact that ‘remove auto aim’ is now gone. Obviously, there were complaints about this feature, as it made aiming in the game a lot easier for users who consider themselves beginners. Now that the feature has gone though, it should make multiplayer games much more competitive. PC shooters should all be about the mouse and keyboard aiming anyway, although we understand it may be needed for those who use gamepads plugged into the PC. What are your thoughts on the changes – are you happy that auto aim is now gone? Is there anything which has been left off the list in your opinion? It’s interesting to add that Crytek has also implemented a ‘cheat detection’ feature into the game, which you may have something to say on. For more coverage:
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| Nintendo 3DS Problems: Black Screen Of Death Crashing Error Messages Posted: 27 Mar 2011 10:16 PM PDT
We have some worrying news to report to those of you who are planning on getting a Nintendo 3DS console, as we are hearing that the glasses-free 3D handheld is suffering from a ‘black screen of death’ issue, which causes the Nintendo 3DS to constantly keep crashing. The issue involves a message which pops up on screen mid game, advising you to hold down the power button and reboot your console. You can see the message in full in the image below, as reported from vg247:
It appears that this problem is pretty widespread too, as you can see user complaints over at NeoGaf, Digital Spy and AVForums for further information. Aside from turning off the power like Nintendo recommends, it has also been mentioned that you could format the SD card to 32-FAT format to also fix the crashing problem. If these black screen of death reports keep coming in, it’s going to be a major headache for Nintendo, just hours after the company launched the 3DS in the US and a few days after the handheld went on sale in the UK. Firstly, what are your thoughts on this issue? If you have already picked up a Nintendo 3DS, let us know if you have received this message whilst in a game or not. If so, how often does it happen to you? We’ll update this when we receive more information. For more coverage:
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| iPhone 5 Release: List of Rumored Specs and New Features Posted: 27 Mar 2011 09:02 PM PDT
We have a treat for future iPhone 5 owners now, as we have a great image analysis to show you, which lists all the iPhone 5 rumors and speculation so far in an infographic which we’re sure you’ll appreciate, especially if you want to know potential new features for Apple’s next iPhone. The image has been provided by the guys over at NowhereElse.fr, and it has been provided in the style that you would usually see up on Apple’s official product pages, complete with custom Apple style thumbnails and a bit of information on each rumor. For example, there are details relating to a new 8MP camera for the iPhone, a bigger 4-inch display screen, a better display resolution and even the possibility of an iPhone 5 without a physical home button. Moving on, we see rumors of a possible slide-out QWERTY keyboard for the iPhone 5, as well as an unlikely rumor touting the possibility of a 3D display screen and better battery life. Towards the bottom of the image, we see information regarding whether or not the iPhone 5 will release this Summer, and if it will come equipped with 4G LTE support and iOS 5. This is pretty unmissable if you are thinking of getting Apple’s next iPhone. You can check out the image in the link above. Let us know which features from their list you think are more likely to happen, and which features are more farfetched. For more coverage:
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| Super Monkey Ball 3D: Review Round-Up Shows Mixed Opinions Posted: 27 Mar 2011 12:10 PM PDT
The much-anticipated Nintendo 3Ds finally made its way into stores across the world recently, and that of course means that we're starting to see the first reviews coming in. However, the reviews aren't just about the portable gaming system itself, but also about the games that are available. One of the games in question is Super Monkey Ball 3D, which appears to have been getting a few mixed opinions from the critics. For example, David Jenkins over at metro.co.uk gave the game a rather disappointing 4/10. David notes that although the graphics and the 3D are good, the game is unfortunately too easy. David also claims that what used to be a platform puzzler has now been changed into a dull maze-style racer. Audrey Drake from ign.com on the other hand gave the Super Monkey Ball 3D game an overall score of 7.5/10. However, Audrey did state that the game could have been a little longer. As Audrey notes, the graphics may not be the best, but they fit the game well. The final review we looked at is from Chris Schilling over at eurogamer.net. Chris, who also gave Super Monkey Ball 3D a rather low score of 4/10, was another reviewer that pointed out how short the length of the game was. Chris went on to say that the hazards that players encounter are more minor frustrations than anything else, and the unavoidable sticky patches are more of a hindrance than a challenge. You can read what else the reviewers had to say about the game via the links above. Have you played the Super Monkey Ball 3D game yet? If so, what are your first impressions? For more coverage:
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| New iPhone 5 and iOS 5 Release, Preview at WWDC 2011 Posted: 27 Mar 2011 10:55 AM PDT
If you were one of the people that were disappointed that Steve Jobs failed to mention Apple's next major revamp iOS 5 at the iPad 2 launch conference, we have news that may explain the reason why. According to an article at TechCrunch the iOS 5 update is not expected anytime soon. Their sources have suggested to them that we may not see the next iOS version until the fall of this year. If that is the case then it would mean Apple will be breaking consistency of releasing major updates in spring. Usually when spring comes around Apple are readying to launch their latest iOS with an iOS event this is why a lot of people were left disappointed when there was no mention at the iPad 2 launch last earlier this month. Rumors then sparked that the event would be in April but it seems that's not going to happen either. There are rumors however that suggest there may be a preview of the firmware update at the WWDC 2011. The event is also expected to reveal the iPhone 5, which would mean a launch shortly after. More details can be found at the link above where you will also find more information about what TechCrunch's sources have told them. Do you think we will be seeing the iPhone 5 before iOS 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Think Quarterly Magazine Launched in UK: Google World Domination Quest Continues Posted: 27 Mar 2011 10:23 AM PDT
Google is the provider of the most used web search in the world. The company also has their hand in many areas of the technological market which includes their mobile OS Google Android. With the company constantly expanding it seems there is no stopping their dominance. The news we are providing today is of yet another domain in which Google have ventured by releasing their own online magazine called Think Quarterly. The name of the magazine gives a clue as to how often the magazine will be published in a year. The magazine is dedicated to Google's advertisers and business partners. As the article at T3 explains more information about it can be found at the official website and also the first edition of the magazine which is dedicated to Data. Google's Ireland and UK Operations, Managing Director Matt Britton is reported to have posted on the site saying 'Think Quarterly is a breathing space in a busy world.' The company also says that the magazine will not be for sale. What do you think of the magazine? Would get a copy if it was to go on sale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Elektra One: All-Electric Powered Airplane Posted: 27 Mar 2011 08:51 AM PDT
With so many new electric-powered vehicles it's hard to keep up with them all. We have been doing our best to provide you with news of these vehicles, whether it is about the electric powered YikeBike or the Porsche 918 Spyder. Today we have news of an all-electric airplane the Elektra One. The Elektra One is a single seater aircraft that weighs just 440lbs and relies entirely on a series of batteries for its power. The news comes from an article at Wired that reports of the plane's recent test flights in Augsburg, Germany. The airplane is designed to be energy efficient and quiet. Its propeller spins at 1,400 RPM which reduces the noise of the aircraft. PC-Aero say they are aiming to get at least 3 hours flight out of the design which translate to more than 250 miles range. When purchasing the Elektra One it will include a charging system and hangar for the €100,000 asking price. The company responsible for the aircraft also plan on making solar charging hangars available capable of providing 300 hours of flight time using renewable energy. More details can be found in the full article by clicking the link above. What do you think of the airplane? Will you be getting one? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| The Color App for Android and Apple Devices: More useful than initially thought Posted: 27 Mar 2011 07:56 AM PDT
Here is some interesting news for those of you who spend most of your time on Facebook and use other types of social media. A new app for Android and Apple iOS devices was launched last week called Color. The app is backed by an investment of $41 million and is an image sharing app designed to get people socializing not through statuses but through photos. It allows users to record a video or take a photo then upload for general viewing. The app however has received some criticism concerning the privacy of this type of socializing. It has also been slated for not being of much use but today we have news that suggests otherwise. The news comes from an article at All Things Digital. The site has found a video of the app being made useful. The video, which can be viewed below is a spoof of a fictional fire incident that occurs where the detectives on the scene use photographic evidence which was obtained through image sharing, from a student party to establish how the fire started. The Color app determines which location you are in and allows sharing of videos, photos, and texts between those within 150ft radius. Commenting on and 'liking' them is then possible. The app's developers insist that 'Color relationships are implicit' and 'friending' people is outdated. What do you think of the app? Will you be using it? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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