NASA's NuSTAR probe snaps first X-ray image of feeding black hole

It was Bret Easton Ellis who coined the phrase, "The better you look, the more you see," and it appears the folks down at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab agree. In what's considered a "first," the agency's latest space-scouring probe, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, has turned on its X-ray vision to capture focused images of a black hole, dubbed Cygnus X-1, feeding on a nearby giant star. By tuning into these high-energy frequencies, scientists are getting a peak into a previously unseen side of the heavens at 100 times the sensitivity and 10 times the resolution of any preceding tech.

Engadget , NASA's NuSTAR probe snaps first X-ray image of feeding black hole, NASA's NuSTAR probe snaps first X-ray image of feeding black hole

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake gets official

We've been anxiously waiting for the wraps to officially come off the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, and by golly, the wait is finally over. Our excitement, though, is tempered by Mercedes-Benz Manager of Product & Technology Public Relations Christian Bokich, who tells us, "Currently, there are no plans to bring the CLS Shooting Brake to the United States." To which we reply, "Boo!". While we may take a bit of issue with Mercedes-Benz's assertion that "The proportions of the CLS Shooting Brake are surprising but clearly those of a coupé.

Autoblog , Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake gets official, Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake gets official

New Cydia tweak makes Chrome the default iOS browser

. Chrome fans who have jailbroken iPhones, take note: there's a new Cydia tweak that can make Chrome the default iOS browser. Per VeryRite, jailbreak app developer Ryan Petrich has concocted a tweak called BrowserChooser that lets users replace Safari with any other browser they want as their default browser, including the just-released iOS version of Chrome. VeryRite says that the new tweak is free to install and is “an excellent utility” for anyone who owns a jailbroken iPhone.

Boy Genius Report , New Cydia tweak makes Chrome the default iOS browser, New Cydia tweak makes Chrome the default iOS browser

Mercedes-Benz SLC put on indefinite hold

Well this is all kinds of surprising: a brief report in German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, citing unnamed Mercedes-Benz sources, says the SLC sports car has been put on indefinite hold by the company board. The baby gullwing was supposedly deemed too expensive, so it has been placed "under observation." That gives the engineers a chance to redesign the car to fulfill its required niche and profit motives, but the report says there's no way we'll see it before 2014.

Autoblog , Mercedes-Benz SLC put on indefinite hold, Mercedes-Benz SLC put on indefinite hold

Environment Impact of Gadget Use (Infographic)

Have you ever stopped to think of the impact your gadget habit is having on the enviroment. Using and recharging gadgets like mobile phones and laptops is part of our everday lives but the majority of us never stop and think about the effect our gadget use are having on environment – or our electricity bills.

Trendy Gadget , Environment Impact of Gadget Use (Infographic), Environment Impact of Gadget Use (Infographic)

Chrome 20 browser released: exclusive 64-bit Linux Flash, fewer MacBook crashes

If your new MacBook is having kernel panics, or you're forced to run a 32-bit browser in Linux because you need Flash, Google's brought relief with version 20 of Chrome. While acting sheepish about "yet another release," the Chrome Blog said "hundreds of bugs" were fixed, including a MacBook resource leak issue which was temporarily patched by disabling some GPU features. Also, Linux users will finally get full 64-bit support for Flash with Adobe's PPAPI "Pepper" version, but since it was made exclusively for Chrome, Penguin users will be stuck with that browser if they want the feature. To get it, check the source after the br.

Engadget , Chrome 20 browser released: exclusive 64-bit Linux Flash, fewer MacBook crashes, Chrome 20 browser released: exclusive 64-bit Linux Flash, fewer MacBook crashes

Google+ has 250 million users, more mobile than desktop

Google wasn't going to leave its budding social layer (don't call it a network) out of today's IO fun. It gave itself a bit of a pat on the back for (probably) exceeding people's expectations. For all the jokes that have been made (some of them on this very site) at Google+'s expense, it's racked up more than 250 million users. Sure, only 150 million actually active, but simply getting people signed up is a victory in itself. And, hey, about 50 percent of them sign on every day. More interestingly, Vic Gundotra says that more users are signing in with the mobile app than visiting the desktop site.

2DayBlog.com , Google+ has 250 million users, more mobile than desktop, Google+ has 250 million users, more mobile than desktop

GreenRoad and Iron Mountain Reap Awards For Safety

Recognised for Driver Safety Success by CIHT, BSIF and BrakeJune 29th, 2012 - GreenRoad, the leader in driver performance and safety management, today announced that it has won the CIHT (Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation) / Costain Road Safety Award 2012 and the Safety Excellence Award at the BSIF Safety Awards in partnership with its customer Iron Mountain Europe.

Press Release Distribution , GreenRoad and Iron Mountain Reap Awards For Safety, GreenRoad and Iron Mountain Reap Awards For Safety

Fashion Infused Headphones on LOOKBOOK.nu

East Village Love fuses fashion with headphones to create the perfect accessory. It is a break from the boring sea of current headphones that only offer colors and expensive logos. For those occasions when earbuds are more sensible, they have developed a style of earbuds that is just as creative and fun as their headphones.
They are based in New York City and draw their inspiration from the music, fashion, art, and the culture of the people.


Trendy Gadget , Fashion Infused Headphones on LOOKBOOK.nu, Fashion Infused Headphones on LOOKBOOK.nu

Nokia CEO voices regret surrounding recent company decisions

. RIM isn't the only former smartphone giant that's hurting, as Finnish smartphone manufacturer Nokia has been getting hammered lately as well. And according to Asymco's Horace Dediu, it seems that Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has a few regrets about some of his company's recent decisions. Dediu provdies a translation of Elop's interview on Thursday with a Finnish newspaper where executive says he'd change several decisions that Nokia has made if he had the chance.

Boy Genius Report , Nokia CEO voices regret surrounding recent company decisions

See also:
aboutit, Nokia CEO voices regret surrounding recent company decisions

Canon 7D 2.0.X firmware update scheduled for August, brings plenty of free fixins

It's hard to believe, but the last the last time we covered a major firmware update for Canon's 7D DLSR the iPhone 4 was still fresh in our minds. Now, nearly two years later, Canon is offering up a bevy of new features for the camera with its soon to be released - and free - 2.0.X update. To start, folks who shoot RAW will be pleased to know that they can shoot up to 25 continuous frames (17 in RAW + JPEG) in burst mode - that's up from just 15 previously. You'll also be able to edit images captured in the format straight from the camera, as well as set a maximum limit of 6400 (up from 3200) for its Auto ISO mode.

Engadget , Canon 7D 2.0.X firmware update scheduled for August, brings plenty of free fixins, Canon 7D 2.0.X firmware update scheduled for August, brings plenty of free fixins

RIM: QWERTY BlackBerry 10 phone launches in 'close proximity' to its all-touch cousin

RIM hasn't had much good news to offer along with its glum fiscal first quarter, but it has given a reason to mark early 2013 on the calendar if you're a BlackBerry fan. CEO Thorsten Heins revealed during the results call that the first QWERTY BlackBerry 10 phone will arrive in "close proximity" to its touchscreen-only counterpart. What that entails is still very much under wraps, although there were clues. Heins stressed that the early batch would focus on the "premium" space, while BlackBerry 7 would hold down the entry and mid-range markets until their BlackBerry 10 replacements were ready.

Engadget , RIM: QWERTY BlackBerry 10 phone launches in 'close proximity' to its all-touch cousin

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technologypulse, RIM: QWERTY BlackBerry 10 phone launches in 'close proximity' to its all-touch cousin

Recon Instruments defrosts its Android SDK at Google I/O (video)

Ski season (in the northern hemisphere at least) was in full swing when Recon Instruments announced that it'd be providing developers with an Android SDK for its HUD alpine goggles. Now, most of that snow may have melted, but the SDK is finally a cold, hard reality. Made available to the developing masses at Google I/O this week, frosty-fingered devs can use the tool to hook-in to Recon's visual display tools, including its MOD Live series. Given that this opens up the goggles' altimeter, barometer, accelerometer, gyro and magnetometer and temperature reader, that's a lot of detail to tuck into.

Engadget , Recon Instruments defrosts its Android SDK at Google I/O (video), Recon Instruments defrosts its Android SDK at Google I/O (video)

Google Nexus Q Is I/O's Surprise of the Night

While we have already heard about Google's tablet and eyeglasses months before their formal introduction, the search engine company showed off a gadget that caught many by surprise. The Google Nexus Q is a sphere-shaped, media-streaming device for home use. This is Google's first self-made consumer electronic product–since it will be available on retail first–and will work compatibly with the Nexus 7 along with other Android device.
This dark gray ball works with YouTube, as well as cloud media streaming among others.

Gadget.com , Google Nexus Q Is I/O's Surprise of the Night

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computerworld, Google Nexus Q Is I/O's Surprise of the Night

Google sends Chromebooks to some Best Buy and Dixons stores, starting today

Google is getting serious about spreading the reach of Chromebooks. At its day two I/O keynote, it just revealed that the Chrome OS laptops are in 100 Best Buy retail stores across the US, effective today. British stores are getting a similar amount of care with a Chromebook presence in Dixons stores throughout the UK. We're still waiting on more details, such as which models will grace shelves, but there's good reason to suspect that Samsung's Series 5 550 will be front and center.

Engadget , Google sends Chromebooks to some Best Buy and Dixons stores, starting today, Google sends Chromebooks to some Best Buy and Dixons stores, starting today

Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 For Android

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 is now available for download on Google Play. Available in normal and Tegra-compatible formats, the video game features multiplayer mode over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 is priced at $6.99.

TechFresh , Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 For Android, Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 For Android

Sprint's LTE network to go live in five cities July 15

. Sprint has been selling 4G LTE smartphones for weeks now and soon it will finally have LTE services to go with them. The company on Wednesday said that its LTE network will go live on July 15th in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City and San Antonio. Sprint will roll out LTE in more cities throughout the rest of the year as well, although at this time the company isn't offering any timetable for future launches. Sprint is also promising that the LTE network will herald some improvements to its long-neglected 3G EV-DO Rev.

Boy Genius Report , Sprint's LTE network to go live in five cities July 15, Sprint's LTE network to go live in five cities July 15

Modbook teases a 'Pro' announcement on Facebook

Modbook - now there's a portmanteau we haven't heard in a while. Looks like that'll change this week, however. The company has offered up the intriguing promise that "imagination goes pro. Tomorrow," alongside the image of the edge of a slick looking device and some familiar OS X icons.

Engadget , Modbook teases a 'Pro' announcement on Facebook, Modbook teases a 'Pro' announcement on Facebook

Nexus 7 guidebook appears on Google Play, teaches you how to blink, manage Google Now cards

Trapped in that post-Google I/O funk of hurry up, pre-order and wait. Maybe this can satiate your desires: a Nexus 7 guidebook detailing the basics of Mountain View's upcoming slate. The digital tome covers standard Android usage as well as Jelly Bean specific tips - including the OS' dynamically resizable widgets, using Google Now cards and "blink for face unlock," a stock Android take on Samsung's eyelid shuttering identification tweak. Ready to read up.

Engadget , Nexus 7 guidebook appears on Google Play, teaches you how to blink, manage Google Now cards, Nexus 7 guidebook appears on Google Play, teaches you how to blink, manage Google Now cards

2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012

When you've been test-driving nearly every new vehicle on the market for as long as I have, you get to the point where you mostly know what to expect. Not that I or most other veteran car reviewers make up our minds about new products before we drive them, but certainly we formulate theories to go about testing once a new car lands in our driveway. More often than not, our experiments confirm our hypotheses. This can be a great triumph or a crushing let-down, but rarely does a vehicle manage to be both so completely as the Mini Countryman.



Autoblog , 2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012, 2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012

Samsung pushes LPDDR3 memory into next-gen devices

At Uplinq I met representatives of Samsung who are promoting the LPDDR3 memory designed for the next-generation smartphones and tablets. LPDDR is also known as “mobile DDR” and it is a type of memory that can consume 10X less power in standby mode, when compared to typical “PC” DDR3 memory. Obviously, this is a big deal because most of the time, your smartphone is in standby mode, doing very little. Many smartphones currently use LPDDR2.

Ubergizmo , Samsung pushes LPDDR3 memory into next-gen devices, Samsung pushes LPDDR3 memory into next-gen devices

Sprint HTC Evo 4G LTE gets price dropped to $49.99 for new customers

Five days ago we brought you news that Sprint's HTC Evo 4G LTE was available at Amazon for only $129.99 in case you were a new customer. That was essentially $70 less than what Sprint is asking for this high-end smartphone, so it was undoubtedly a great deal. However, everyone's favorite online retailer has since decided to go even lower, now offering the Evo 4G LTE for just $49.99. Again, this is for new customers only. And you obviously will need to sign a new two-year contract with the Now Network. However, we're now in feature phone pricing territory (or that of low-end smartphones).

Unwired View , Sprint HTC Evo 4G LTE gets price dropped to $49.99 for new customers, Sprint HTC Evo 4G LTE gets price dropped to $49.99 for new customers

Google's I/O 2012 keynote is up in video form, in case you missed the skydivers the first time

Yeah, two hours can be a lot of press conference to sit through, but if you took a bathroom break, got a drink or just blinked, you might have missed some of the action-packed spectacle that was today's I/O keynote. We got Jelly Bean, the Nexus 7, the Nexus Q and some extreme Project Glass action. Check out the full video after the break. Update: And just like that, it's gone again. Google has apparently made the video private.

Engadget , Google's I/O 2012 keynote is up in video form, in case you missed the skydivers the first time, Google's I/O 2012 keynote is up in video form, in case you missed the skydivers the first time

Nokia 808 PureView on pre-order in the UK, launches on June 30

The Nokia 808 PureView pre-orders at UK retailers' sites are finally starting to list launch dates. Amazon UK will be the among the first stores to get it. Amazon UK has the 808 PureView (black and white) listed for £500 ($780) with a release date of June 30. That's for a SIM-free phone naturally, with VAT included.

Play.com also has the 808 and it's asking £520 for it. They will be releasing the phone on July 2.

Clove UK is less clear on the launch date - the site notes "First stock delayed until mid-late July.

GSM Arena , Nokia 808 PureView on pre-order in the UK, launches on June 30

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digitalhouse, Nokia 808 PureView on pre-order in the UK, launches on June 30

100% Waterproof Case Lets You Take Underwater Photos with Your iPhone

Each Endurance Protective Case for iPhone 4x4S from driSuit Technologies has been tested under 5 meters of water for one hour before it's sold to ensure it meets the IP-68 standards for water exposure.  The case has a hard exterior with a soft interior to provide protection against drops and shocks, too.  There's a waterproof headphone jack assembly that lets you listen to music underwater, and the fluid-filled capacitive touchscreen cover lets you easily interact with the iPhone.  You'll be able to take clear photos and videos through this case, whether you're underwater or if you simply want to protect your iPhone from extreme conditions

The Gadgeteer , 100% Waterproof Case Lets You Take Underwater Photos with Your iPhone, 100% Waterproof Case Lets You Take Underwater Photos with Your iPhone

New child-friendly Vinci Tab II 'M' is smaller, lighter, cheaper

If your Vinci II tablet was working out your children's arms, more than their minds, then fear not. The makers have just announced the arrival of a new, lighter "M" model. The 5-inch kiddie slate is compatible with the Vinci Curriculum and Kids library apps, and keeps the option for Parent Mode for when Dad wants to check the football scores via the Android-based OS. Designed for users kids on the go, the tablets can also be networked for some little-LAN action.

Engadget , New child-friendly Vinci Tab II 'M' is smaller, lighter, cheaper, New child-friendly Vinci Tab II 'M' is smaller, lighter, cheaper

Google launches Google+1 recommendation across the web

Google is rolling out a new feature of Google+'s +1 button today in platform preview. Essentially, when users will hover over a +1 button, they will be able to view recommendations for other contents on their site. For instance, if users will head over to the Chrome Web Store and check out the +1 recommendations of Google's Gmail app, they will be able to view recommended apps as well from their friends. Google pointed out that in order for the recommendations to stay relevant as much as possible, it will be referring to the pages on the same domain or subdomain.
The said feature is expected to go live to all users in the coming weeks.

Ubergizmo , Google launches Google+1 recommendation across the web, Google launches Google+1 recommendation across the web

Why Switch to Fibre Optic Broadband?

Fibre optics are bringing huge improvements to broadband connections across the country. But what is fibre optic broadband and how can it transform the speed of your internet connection. Since the internet was first created, your computer has connected to the internet using electric pulses transmitted over copper wires. These copper wires have been used for over 100 years in telephone lines and more recently with ADSL for broadband internet.

Fibre optic connections replace these copper wires with plastic or glass wires bundled together into cables and instead of electricity they rely on light to transmit information.

LAPTOPGRAM , Why Switch to Fibre Optic Broadband?, Why Switch to Fibre Optic Broadband?

Hundreds of Rogers employees face the ax

. Canadian wireless giant Rogers Communications will be cutting at least 400 more jobs soon after letting 300 workers go earlier this year, the Financial Post reports.

Boy Genius Report , Hundreds of Rogers employees face the ax, Hundreds of Rogers employees face the ax

Microsoft Connected Car team plans to integrate Windows 8 and Kinect into vehicles

. Microsoft's Connected Car team, which is responsible for the technology used in systems such as Ford Sync, may be looking to further integrate the company's solutions into future vehicles. According to a recent job listing on Microsoft's website, the software giant is looking to integrate Windows 8, Windows Phone devices, Kinect, Windows Live, Bing, the Azure cloud platform and TellMe voice recognition technology into the next-generation of Connected Cars.

Boy Genius Report , Microsoft Connected Car team plans to integrate Windows 8 and Kinect into vehicles, Microsoft Connected Car team plans to integrate Windows 8 and Kinect into vehicles

BlackBerry Messenger for BlackBerry 10 gets a possible first sighting, themes to fit that chatty lifestyle

It was scarcely a day ago that we got a first peek at what could be the first BlackBerry 10 devices - and now we're looking at what may be BlackBerry 10's cornerstone app, a reworked BlackBerry Messenger. As long as N4BB's details prove legitimate, the centerpiece of the app will be its theming: owners can customize the chat bubbles and backdrops to fit their finnicky ways. Of course, this being an efficiency-obsessed RIM, the theming should also be integral to keeping power consumption to a minimum: the darker the colors, the less energy a BBM conversation demands from a future BlackBerry's big OLED screen.

Engadget , BlackBerry Messenger for BlackBerry 10 gets a possible first sighting, themes to fit that chatty lifestyle, BlackBerry Messenger for BlackBerry 10 gets a possible first sighting, themes to fit that chatty lifestyle

Vizio Co-Star Stream Player announced

Vizio has just announced the launch of the Co-Star Stream Player which will rely on the most recent version of Google TV in order to turn any HDTV into a smart TV that you would want to make the effort to come home to at the end of each day, where live and streaming entertainment is merged into a singular intuitive and easy experience. With the Vizio Co-Star Stream Player, you are able to instantly access thousands of apps, and to experience full screen web browsing capabilities thanks to Google Chrome with Adobe Flash Player and HTML 5 support.

Ubergizmo , Vizio Co-Star Stream Player announced, Vizio Co-Star Stream Player announced

Deal of the Day – HP ENVY 15t-3200 Core i5 “Ivy Bridge” Laptop

Tuesday's LogicBUY Deal is the 15.6″ HP ENVY 15t-3200 laptop for $949.99.  Features:  1.11″ thick, 5.79-pounds, Intel 3nd Generation Core i5 / i7 processor, 1GB discrete graphics AMD Radeon HD 7750M, up to 16GB DDR3 memory, aluminum design, six built-in speakers and a subwoofer, audio-grade mesh, Beats volume control, optional 1080p LCD screen, 8-cell 72WHr battery, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0 ports, 2-in-1 card reader, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi, HD webcam, Radiance backlit keyboard and more.  Customizable. $1349.99 – $400 coupon code = $949.99 with free shipping. This deal expires June 27, 2012 or sooner.

The Gadgeteer , Deal of the Day â€" HP ENVY 15t-3200 Core i5 “Ivy Bridge” Laptop, Deal of the Day â€" HP ENVY 15t-3200 Core i5 “Ivy Bridge” Laptop

QR codes on apparel share information about yourself to others

I guess business cards are no longer relevant in the future, not when companies start to catch on the idea of printing QR codes on shirts, suits and jackets sometime down the road. Of course, this idea might just occupy a niche market, but only time will tell. What QRTribe apparel has in mind, is to custom print a QR code on your apparel of choice, so that whoever scans this code will be led to a page that shows off a slew of private information – basically, a Wikipedia on yourself.

Ubergizmo , QR codes on apparel share information about yourself to others, QR codes on apparel share information about yourself to others

First BlackBerry 10 phone won't have a QWERTY keyboard

The Washington Post is reporting on a curious decision by RIM - the first BlackBerry 10 device to launch will be touchscreen-only. RIM isn't abandoning their trademark - the full hardware QWERTY keyboard - as such devices will still come later on. While it's true that touch-only devices running iOS or Android are taking BlackBerry's lunch money, the solid typing experience is one of the main reasons people still buy a BlackBerry.

GSM Arena , First BlackBerry 10 phone won't have a QWERTY keyboard, First BlackBerry 10 phone won't have a QWERTY keyboard

Ken Block releases barge-tastic Gymkhana 5 trailer

Ken Block is a talented man, no doubt about it. Though we wish - and we're sure he'd wholeheartedly agree - that his talents led to a few major race wins, Block is nothing if not an effective marketer of his own brand. And, as any budding internet video machine (over 140 million YouTube views for Block's Gymkhana series) can tell you, a web video is hardly a web video unless it's first been teased. And so we bring you the video below. Yes, it's a teaser for Block's upcoming Gymkhana 5 video. Yes, it stars Ken Block and his Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V. rally car.

2DayBlog.com , Ken Block releases barge-tastic Gymkhana 5 trailer, Ken Block releases barge-tastic Gymkhana 5 trailer

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom laughs it up on Twitter as trial looms

. File-sharing giant Kim Dotcom was arrested in January when his mansion in Auckland, New Zealand was raided by authorities. His notorious file-sharing service Megaupload was shuttered the same day, and Dotcom was charged with money laundering, violating piracy laws, racketeering and a number of additional crimes. The flamboyant Internet millionaire immediately denied any wrongdoing. Dotcom, who was released on bail and faces serious charges, appears to be doing his best to make light of the situation with new Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Boy Genius Report , Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom laughs it up on Twitter as trial looms

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digitalblog, Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom laughs it up on Twitter as trial looms

RIM may sell handset business to Facebook or Amazon

. Struggling smartphone maker Research In Motion is reportedly considering a sale of its hardware business as the company continues to explore options that might help it recover. Following news that another round of layoffs has already begun at the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, Reuters cites The Sunday Times in reporting that RIM is now considering an outright sale of its BlackBerry hardware business.

Boy Genius Report , RIM may sell handset business to Facebook or Amazon, RIM may sell handset business to Facebook or Amazon

No Retina displays for the next-gen iMac [Rumor]

With the introduction of a Retina display to the next-gen MacBook Pros this year, we're sure that many are wondering if this is a trend that Apple plans to extend to the rest of its computer lineup in the future, such as the iMac. Now it has been rumored in the past that the new iMacs could feature a Retina display, but with the iMac failing to make an appearance at WWDC earlier this month has left many wondering when they will be able to see a refresh of the all-in-one desktop.

Ubergizmo , No Retina displays for the next-gen iMac [Rumor], No Retina displays for the next-gen iMac [Rumor]

Nokia 808 PureView gets its first firmware update

It's just been over a week since the Nokia 808 PureView went on sale and Nokia has already given the phones its first firmware upgrade. Although an official change log is not available, but according to All About Symbian, the update brings with it improvement in scrolling performance, quicker saving of the 38 megapixel images, smoother auto-rotation and other performance enhancements and bug fixes.

GSM Arena , Nokia 808 PureView gets its first firmware update, Nokia 808 PureView gets its first firmware update

Leaked info confirms Microsoft Surface being priced from $599. Wi-Fi-only models will ship first

New day, new rumors about the Microsoft Surface tablets. Of course the one thing everyone's dying to know right now is how much these puppies are going to cost. Yesterday we brought you the first report on the matter, with rumors saying something about a $599 minimum price for the RT (ARM-based) version, and at least $799 for the one with Intel processor. Today some new leaked info purportedly coming straight from “a source close to Microsoft” brings us more details. Apparently the RT version of the Surface will in fact start at $599, just like we told you.

Unwired View , Leaked info confirms Microsoft Surface being priced from $599. Wi-Fi-only models will ship first, Leaked info confirms Microsoft Surface being priced from $599. Wi-Fi-only models will ship first

Volvo CEO admits automaker's cars are too complicated

Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby has said his company's products are "too complicated for the consumer," according to Automotive News. Jacoby said 75 percent of Volvo customers don't know "all the possibilities they have with their car." He contrasted the automaker with Apple's intuitive products, which make consumers feel in control of a device instead of overwhelmed by its capabilities. The executive also made it clear that in order for the company to thrive, it needs to better cater to the next generation of car buyers. That means finding ways to improve connectivity in the vehicle.

Autoblog , Volvo CEO admits automaker's cars are too complicated, Volvo CEO admits automaker's cars are too complicated

Sony, Panasonic OLED partnership is official, aims for mass production in 2013

The rumor that Japanese electronic giants Panasonic and Sony would team up on OLED HDTV technology is confirmed, as they've just issued a press release indicating plans to establish mass production in 2013. The two have worked separately on different aspects of the technology, and now they'll put their collective heads together on the core and printing technologies necessary to produce the panels.

Engadget , Sony, Panasonic OLED partnership is official, aims for mass production in 2013, Sony, Panasonic OLED partnership is official, aims for mass production in 2013

Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet – The Rest of the World gets ICS

Lenovo has started pushing Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0.3) out to Lenovo Thinkpad Tablets using the Rest Of the World (ROW) and Japanese (JP) image.  Implementation seems to be good, and it seems to be stable and faster than Honeycomb.  If you have an ROW Tablet and you haven't got the update yet, you can go to Settings->About Tablet->System Updates.  If that fails you can download the image from Lenovo's download site. Using Rootkeeper you can also keep root if required, though it does involve changing a few files and partitions back to the “standard” configurations before upgrading if you've installed CWM.

The Gadgeteer , Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet â€" The Rest of the World gets ICS, Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet â€" The Rest of the World gets ICS

Watch David Coulthard catch a speeding golf ball in an SLS AMG Roadster

So we told you a few weeks ago about former F1 hotshot David Coulthard racing down a golf ball in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, setting some sort of goofy world record in the process. Well, now we have video of the feat. While you watch the footage, we encourage you to consider just how a hybrid of golf and racing might work. We think it could have legs as a professional sport, although the feasibility of setting up such a tour would be daunting - clearly golf courses wouldn't be too keen on the fairway damage.

2DayBlog.com , Watch David Coulthard catch a speeding golf ball in an SLS AMG Roadster, Watch David Coulthard catch a speeding golf ball in an SLS AMG Roadster

T-Mobile to receive Samsung Galaxy Note?

It might be a case of being a little bit too late for those who are rocking with T-Mobile as their wireless carrier of choice when it comes to the kind of tablets they can purchase from the carrier directly. There is word going around that T-Mobile has inked plans to launch their own version of the Samsung Galaxy Note sometime later this year, at least this is what Cell Phone Signal reported. The handset in question is touted to arrive later this July 11th – which is around three weeks away, where it will feature Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as the operating system of choice right out of the box.

Ubergizmo , T-Mobile to receive Samsung Galaxy Note?, T-Mobile to receive Samsung Galaxy Note?

RIM may be split in two, is this the final chapter of a great story?

As the layoffs have begun, RIM has reportedly hired JP Morgan and RBC Capital to look at “strategic options” according to Reuters, and among the ideas that came out it, RIM may have been advised to split its business in half, by separating the handset division and the messaging network division. It is fair to say that the messaging division would be seen as the one with more value, while the handset part would be left to fend off for itself, with possibly opening up to more operating systems, be sold – or more likely… die. Can RIM's handset division be bought by Microsoft.

Ubergizmo , RIM may be split in two, is this the final chapter of a great story?, RIM may be split in two, is this the final chapter of a great story?

Netflix goes 'beyond five stars' in a more detailed explanation of recommendations

The Netflix Tech Blog produced part one of a deep dive into how its recommendations work back in April and now the team is back with the other half. If you're among the many wondering why certain movies get pushed to the front of your recommendations and others don't, the key is their attempt to predict, mostly based on data from other users, what you will both play and enjoy. The most interesting bit we found. There's a lot more at play here than just popularity, as one graph shows ratings plus the team's other optimizations improving rankings over the baseline by 200+ percent.

Engadget , Netflix goes 'beyond five stars' in a more detailed explanation of recommendations, Netflix goes 'beyond five stars' in a more detailed explanation of recommendations