Welcome, Zen…Asus Zenbook Prime!

Zenbook comes as well with a redesigned sound system developed in association with Bang & Olufsen ICE power. Asus is positive that the oval voice coil provides clearer vocals through the 2.5-watt speakers and reduces unpleasant vibration. There is also included a custom cooling system, to avoid any troubles during your travels. For those looking for a high-performance display, Asus has improved this feature as well, promoting a model based on 800:1 contrast ratio and a 178-degree viewing angle. 

Zenbook Prime can resist to any gaming or multimedia experience, thanks to the new and improved Intel's processors. Still more speed is provided by a standard 6Gbps SATA III solid-state drive, available in capacities up to 256GB. I think that the most delightful fact about this netbook will be its performance mode letting the computer run for 11 days in standby and resume from sleep in two seconds. Other additional features included are Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi; two USB 3.0 ports, a card slot (MMC and SD) and outputs for mini VGA and micro HDMI. Asus estimated that pricing for the Zenbook Prime will vary from $800 to about $1,600, depending on the model and configuration chosen. 

Samsung Galaxy SIII, Available For $800 Starting With June 1 

Samsung, through US operators, are to announce their own versions of the Galaxy S III, which usually vary from one another. As you can observe from Amazon's promotion, what you will get for $800 is the 16GB SIM-free international version of the S III (blue or white), also known as GT-i9300, with a quad-core 1.4 GHz Exynos processor, a huge 4.8-inch display, 1GB RAM, 8 megapixel camera and the latest version of Android OS, the 4.0 version.  

However, using the Samsung Galaxy S III GT-i9300 in the U.S. means you will have to accept some compromises, since it doesn't include 4G LTE connectivity. This advantage is somehow improved by the fact that GT-i9300 connects to AT&T’s HSPA+ network, meaning high-speed data. On rivals operators like Verizon and Sprint, this feature is missing, unfortunately.

If you aren't very satisfied by this configuration, you can wait a little bit for the US carrier-customized versions of the device, which might not include the same powerful processor, but they will definitely cost you at least $500.

Google Masters Motorola Mobility 

Motorola Mobility`s patent portfolio will assure Google's back against Apple or Microsoft trying to surpass Android.  It seems that Google has learnt its lesson from Oracle's trial and want to make the future brighter and more legal. According to Larry Page, Google CEO, the tech-giant and Motorola Mobility will accelerate innovation and choice in mobile computing and as consumers will get better phones at lower prices. Larry Page confessed that the phones in our pockets have become supercomputers that are changing the way we live, emphasizing what the future might hold for mobile technology. Google has also assured that it will allow early and free access to Android for other hardware makers for future Nexus devices. Still, Motorola could play a bigger role in Google's push towards unlocked-contract free phones and tablets.

Google Masters Motorola Mobility 

Smartphones' world isn't the only objective, that Google has in mind. Motorola Mobility has also created hardware for television providers, so Google could use its new acquisition to push the rumored Google TV. Larry Page didn't mention anything about TVs, but since Samsung and Apple are popular for this idea, is quite likely for Google to try its luck in this field.

Motorola Mobility's acquisition also brought some bad things. Sanjay Jha, who served as Motorola Mobility's CEO since the company get separated from Motorola in 2008, has stepped down. He has been replaced by Dennis Woodside, a former senior vice president of Google for America, whose mission is to fully integrate Motorola inside the search giant's infrastructure.

New Generation Of PC Control: 3D Hands-free Motion

Apple brought touch screens to a global use, Google introduced voice and image-based search in Android and lately in iOS, Nintendo reinvented video game interaction with its Wii controller and then Microsoft improved the idea with its Kinect gesture tracking system, first for Xbox and more recently for PCs. Now it's time for Leap Motion to make its bid to increase our interaction with traditional or new PCs. The company has just announced its new service called The Leap, a motion control peripheral allowing computer users to manipulate traditional desktop computer elements, such as windows, folders and icons and much more to interact with applications, using gestures, as you can notice from the following video.

Believe it or not, Leap Motion, which comprises both a small USB input device and a sophisticated software platform, will cost just $70 and it's rumored to be released this winter, probably for Christmas. The official prototype looks like a candy bar with white edges, topped by black glass screen, so no doubt Christmas will be the perfect opportunity to launch it. For the moment, Leap Motion says it's accepting a limited number of pre-orders for this device, so you should hurry and place your order, I have just made it.

New Generation Of PC Control: 3D Hands-free Motion 

Like Microsoft's Kinect, Motion Leap emits infra-red light reflecting objects in a very sensitive surface, then the device interprets that data to direct the movement of objects on the screen of your computer. If Kinect has been designed to capture large movements to ease the playing of Xbox games, the Leap is great at reading small and quick movements, like browsing over and over or double-clicking on an icon, all based on 3D-modeling. Leap, by comparison with rival gadgets, can sense motion down to the most subtle movements of a finger, which the company says is 200 times more sensitive than anything else on the market. It's more precise and responsive than a touch screen or a mouse, but still as reliable as a keyboard. That means everyone, from game designers to engineers may soon have a helpful assistant for their work.

Leap Motion was created by Michael Buckwald and David Holz, in order to improve 3D experience, so it's likely that Leap Motion to be continued by new prototypes. For the moment, the company works for a new model able to traverse file directories and websites, 2D or 3D drawing, manipulating 3D data displaying and playing computer games.

Leap Motion hopes developers will create or modify apps to take advantage of its Leap device, which I some doubt. I might be wrong, but I bet Leap Motion will be purchased by a bigger fish as Google or Microsoft, the idea is too attractive and dangerous, to be left like this on the market.

Back Up My Samsung Galaxy S II (Source: androidflip.com)

If you are interested in using Titanium backup in order to create backups of the data saved on your Samsung Galaxy S II you should now that this app has a special feature: it’s designed to support incremental backup meaning that the first time it’s used it creates a complete backup while the next times it only back ups the apps and data that have actually been updated. That means the time requested by a complete backup is significantly reduced. The only problem is that in order to even think about using Titanium Backup you need to root your Samsung Galaxy S II. The rooting process is no longer risky because easy to follow techniques have been developed and doesn’t even involve losing the phone’s warranty anymore because you are given even the tools necessary in order to unroot the smartphone. However, it’s still a decision that you need to take being aware of the risks involved.

If you are willing to take the risk you are now ready to head to the Android Market and download Titanium Backup. You will see that the app is available in a free version as well as in a Pro version that costs $6 and makes available a lot more features that you can use. However, in order to get the Pro license you need to first install the free version. The third step that follows the required rooting and the backup app’s download is optional and involves creating a Dropbox account. If you want not only to store the backups created on your smartphone’s SD card but also have them automatically synced to your Dropbox account for extra safety, this is a step that you need to complete.

Not that all the tools you need are in place you are ready to create the first backup of your Samsung Galaxy S II. You will have to start by launching Titanium Backup and then tapping “Allow” in order to grant the app superuser permissions. You will then have to tap “Problems?” and choose “Get Busybox”. These actions will ensure the installation of all the tools that Titanium Backup needs in order to do its job. After the installation process is completed you will receive a notification and you will have to restart the app. After the restart, you are ready to open the preferences section of Titanium Backup by pressing the Menu button and choosing Preferences. You will then have to check the Auto-sync TB option in order to make sure that the settings of Titanium Backup are saved on the SD card and the app is able to restore its settings at any given time. In the next step you will have to focus on Titanium’s main screen and press the Menu button in order to choose the “Batch” option.

As a result all the batch options available will be displayed and you will be able to choose, for instance, the “Backup all user apps + system data” option by tapping the “Run” button. You will then have to tap “Run the batch operation” and wait patiently until the operation is completed. Once the expected success message is displayed you will know that from that moment on you have available a backup of your Samsung Galaxy S II. There is also one last step that needs to be completed only if you have a Dropbox account and you want the backup to be saved in a cloud location. What you will have to do is revisit the preferences section and then check the “Enable Dropbox” option. In the next step you will have to return to the main screen and tap “Sync to Dropbox Now” in order to make sure that the backup makes its way to the cloud.

Back Up My Samsung Galaxy S II (Source: cdn.androidpolice.com)

Now that you’ve created the first backup you can make settings that will update it periodically on a schedule. What you will have to do is visit the Schedule tab of Titanium Backup and enable the “Backup all new apps & newer versions” option that by default performs updates every Sunday at 3AM. To change that default value you simply need to tap Edit. You will also have to schedule the backup of settings by tapping the “Add new schedule” button and then Edit.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Let’s start with the interface. The first thing that I need to mention is that Android 4.0 is designed to not involve the use of buttons. This is a feature that you will truly see in action in the next generation smartphones that will be able to give up all buttons and deliver pristine bezels. For now, on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S II that will definitely be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich, you will still benefit from the support of buttons during navigation. Considering that I’ve just let you know that buttons are no longer of interest for Android 4.0 I think you are now wondering what you will actually have to use. Well, you will notice that the interface makes available three soft keys: Back, Home and Multi-tasking also known as Recent Apps. The last button mentioned is quite new in the world of mobile platforms and is borrowed from the Honeycomb UI with the purpose of providing quick access to recently opened apps. What’s completely new is the easy manner in which you can make sure that undetected background apps don’t drain your smartphone’s battery life: you simply need to swipe sideways to shut down an app that’s, for instance, silently updating. About the Home and Back buttons I can tell you that they have the same old functionality with the difference that they lack the “long press” function. That means you will no longer be able to automatically access the keyboard.

This three buttons that we’ve been discussing are especially designed for the navigation’s ease of use, so let’s now see what happens when you’re interested in watching a movie or browsing the web. Well, from this point of view Android 4.0 seems to be built smart, because in order to make available the entire screen for your current activity it reduces the three soft keys to tiny dots. The only downside is that you will have to be the one remembering what each dot does and you will have to avoid pressing them accidentally. The situation gets even more complicated every time you are interested in altering certain settings and you have a hard time locating the dot that represents the Menu key.

About the homescreens I can tell you that they are 5 in number and there’s no way to increase or reduce their number. What’s also important is that you are given the chance to use your face in order to lock/unlock the screen. This can prove to be an impressive security measure, but for now it doesn’t always work as expected. That’s why many of you will consider it to be just a cool trick. That’s why I think you will be more interested in the notifications bar that now includes larger information slots. Because of those slots when you miss a call, for instance, you will find as part of the notification the usual details as well as the photo’s contact. Fortunately, you can also easily choose what notifications should stay and what notifications should be eliminated. You simply need to swipe away. What I also like about the notifications section is that it now makes available a special slot for the Settings app. That means you will be able to control the status of Wi-Fi or GPS faster, no matter the app that you are currently using.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Another interface addition that you will most like find useful is the dock placed at the screen’s bottom. This dock is part of every homescreen and can be customized, meaning that you are the one who decides what apps it includes and keeps one-tap away at all times. You will also notice that folders have become pretty iOS-like, meaning that you simply need to drag and drop icons one onto the other in order to create folders of apps that you can name as you wish. If you don’t have enough apps for creating folders, you shouldn’t be worried. Google wanted to make sure you can easily make new purchases so it has made available a link to the Android Market in the menu screen’s top right corner. Also kept within reach are widgets that are now viewable on the homescreen the moment you download an app that makes available a widget so that you can decide easier if the widget is worth keeping around or not.

Android 4.0 also makes your life easier when it comes to social networking. The contacts list is better designed and now makes available next to each entry Google+ and Twitter updates. It seems that Ice Cream Sandwich is all about making things simple for users.

One of my recommendations is the Universal Strike iK-1 Bluetooth Car Kit that’s compatible with the iPhone 4S and makes available the ultimate in-car Bluetooth technology in exchange for $199.00. With this hands-free within reach you will actually be able to really take advantage of the Siri software that comes along with iOS 5 and the iPhone 4S. As you might already know, Siri is considered to be an efficient voice assistant that you can use in order to access phone capabilities or the web and find answers to your questions. By using the remote capability of the car kit mentioned you will actually be able to put to good use the capabilities of Siri while still paying the required attention to the road.

What recommends this car kit as one of the choices worth considering is the presence of features like the external microphone, the easy to use buttons, the possibility to manage calls fast and safe, the technology used for noise reduction and noise cancellation and the feature that automatically mutes the car’s system when a phone conversation is detected or you become interested in music playback. You also have the option to dispatch the call or the music playback on the car’s speakers. Not to mention that although it’s extremely useful when paired with an iPhone 4S, this car kit can be used in combination with any other Bluetooth enabled phone that you own.

Best Bluetooth Car Kit For iPhone 4S

Another car kit that you should consider is the Cartel CT-100 Car Kit for iPhone 4S. The price you will have to pay for this accessory is pretty spicy because it’s set at $429.95. However, for the money you will get a car kit that can make sure you have full control over your iPhone 4S even if you are driving and you can’t hold the device in your hands. Before starting to use this car kit you will have to take the time to install it inside your car. When the installation is complete, every time you turn the ignition on, the car kit will automatically link to the Bluetooth enabled cell phone available inside your car. That means this Cartel accessory works with the Apple iPhone 4S as well as with other similar smartphones available on the market. Another feature that you will find useful is the full sized and lighted keypad that’s put at your disposal for easy dialing. You can even use the 2.5mm jack available to plug in a headset. I am also a fan of the feature that makes it capable of storing in its memory details about 4 paired phones between which you can then easily switch. The memory available is also designed to store details about the last 20 received and dialed calls. In the same time the display available makes sure you are aware of the name of the phone connected and its battery status and signal strength.

If the above solution is too sophisticated and pricey for your needs, you should consider the SmoothTalker Charging Holder/Cradle with Antenna Connection. This car kit costs only $79.95 and was designed especially for iPhone 4S use. In the same time it’s an accessory that can keep your Apple smartphone both fully charged and secured inside your car. However, in order to also use it for making good use of your smartphone’s functionality while staying focused on the road you will also have to purchase a Bluetooth headset or a Bluetooth hands-free kit. The upside is that once the accessory is bought, the cradle can be directly plugged into any cigarette lighter power source. So, if you want to make sure that your iPhone 4S won’t get damaged during its car trip while staying fully charged and benefiting from improved reception due to the external antenna included in the kit’s design, you should definitely consider this inexpensive option.

Best Bluetooth Car Kit For iPhone 4S

A more sophisticated option that manages to keep its price under $60 is the TrailBlazer Bluetooth Car Kit & FM Transmitter. With the help of this car kit you will be able to wirelessly use your iPhone 4S for enjoying music and hands-free calls. There are actually quite a few reasons why you should invest in this accessory. There is first of all the possibility to stream the music saved on your iPhone 4S trough the car’s stereo. The same rule applies to phone calls while the built-in microphone makes possible hands-free calling. Another upside is the news that no installation is required: the device is designed to be plug-and-play. I am also a fan of the LED display and the flexible and adjustable gooseneck stand.

Google's Troubles In Europe 

Joaquin Alumina proposed Google to come up with relevant solutions or face formal antitrust investigation and charges, theoretically estimated at 10% of its annual revenue. Unfortunately for Larry Page, Google, the world's most popular search engine, also faced a similar antitrust investigation by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States.

Al Verney, a spokesman for Google, said the online company disagreed with the European Union's conclusions, but added that the company is open to any discussion on this topic. Both sides have been in close contact over the past months, in order to find a reliable agreement. At the start of the probe in November 2010, three competitors, including Microsoft, said that links to their services appeared too low on Google's general search results. They also noted that when Google offers similar services, such as online price comparison, it put its own links higher on the sponsored search results, the very companies that had pay for it. All in all, Google played unfairly and didn't fulfill customers' desires.

Google's Troubles In Europe 

The findings mean that the clock effectively starts ticking for Google to come up with solutions to the antitrust regulators’ concerns or else face formal charges that could result in a hefty fine. Pressure is rising on the dominant search engine as the European investigation coincides with a separate inquiry by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Many antitrust experts say the European Union investigation, which has been going on since November 2010, could set the tone for the US probe.

No doubt made some conscious mistakes, in order to get more profit. The company has expanded rapidly from its main search engine into more specific services. Competitors, who have filed complaints, have accused the company of forcing its dominance in its general search engine to boost the traffic of Google’s other products for instance, by showing Google Maps above all other results, when users search for an address. Foundem, a shopping search site that became one of the first companies to push the EU to investigate Google, said it was pleased with Almunia’s announcement.

Google has always argued that the company is merely trying to offer the best possible search results for users and that sometimes those results are the company’s own products.

Unity For US Wi-Fi 

In other words, if someone is a Time Warner Cable subscriber, but traveling out of a town and in a region served by Comcas Corp., he/she can still access free wireless by logging in, thanks to a so-called Cable WiFi spot. Besides the already mentioned companies, it seems that Cablevision and Cox will join the team of public Wi-Fi, estimated to reach more than 50,000 hot spots in the New York area, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando and Philadelphia. All you have to do is to be a broadband subscriber and register to use the service. Most of the operators offer the service only as a perk to current broadband subscribers, but Time Warner Cable has offered a pay-as-you-go option for non-customers as well.

You have to keep in mind that we talk about a project, which might last at least six months of implementing and it's likely to gather more operators or some of them to give up meanwhile. The cable operators made the announcement on the first day of the annual National Cable & Telecommunications convention held in Boston this week.

Unity For US Wi-Fi 

This partnership comes as the cable industry is seeking to get differentiated from rival phone and satellite companies. For Comcast, for example, mobility is an increasingly important issue, according to Dave Watson, chief operating officer of Comcast, who has already announced Comcast teaming with Verizon Wireless, in order to offer better Wi-Fi services.

A similar agreement was announced in 2010 by Comcast, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable, but it has had limited impact. The service wasn't fully built in some of the denser areas like Manhattan, since some customers reported difficulty signing in and getting decent Internet speeds. Since then, some of the cable operators, including Time Warner Cable, have built out Wi-Fi infrastructure in more of their service areas. Cablevision has said it would increase its investment in Wi-Fi this year. And to simplify signing on, the cable operators have created one network named Cable Wi-Fi, in order to make things easier. For the moment, the new service is tested in beta, following that in the upcoming months, customers will be able to have their devices connect automatically to the network without having to sign on again each time they approach a hot spot.

Alibaba Buys Back A Stake Held By Yahoo For $7.1 Billion 

Alibaba and Yahoo were somehow partners, since the founder of the Chinese e-commerce company, Jack Ma, was a close friend to Jerry Yang, Yahoo's co-founder who led the initial investment in Alibaba. Unfortunately the relationship got cold, since Yang was replaced as CEO by Carol Bartz. Yahoo interim CEO, Ross Levinsohn, said the deal would provide clarity to the company's shareholders on what's one of its biggest investments. The deal was based on a $35 billion floor valuation of Alibaba. There is still a mistery who that big investors would look like, let's not forget Yahoo faced the darkest era of its existence and on the other hand, Alibaba has lost too some ground in Asia.

Yahoo needs Alibaba and any possible friend more than ever. The old pioneer has come under fire from shareholders for failing to take aggressive action for advertising revenue in front of Google Inc and Facebook. In addition to the possible deal, Yahoo and Alibaba will join their existing technology and intellectual property licensing, with Alibaba continuing to operate Yahoo China under the Yahoo brand for up to four years. Yahoo will be freed from restrictions on it, making other investments in China. Alibaba will offer royalty payment of $550 million to Yahoo and keep paying royalties for up to four years.

A source familiar with the deal said Yahoo asked Alibaba, which operates the popular Chinese online marketplace Taobao, to hold an initial public offering by end-2015. Alibaba would buy back half of Yahoo's remaining stake, a 10% holding, at the IPO price or allow Yahoo to sell those shares in the offering before end-2015. At this moment, Alibaba Group is valued at $30-35 billion, quite impressive for an Asian brand.

Alibaba said it would raise the money through a mix of cash, debt and equity. Sources said the group was in talks with Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings to raise about $2.3 billion in equity to close the deal. Things get more confused, since Temasek bought shares from Alibaba employees in September, so it's more likely that either Alibaba or Temasek to use the other partner as official interface, in order to avoid some taxes.

Alibaba has long been the dominant player in China's booming e-commerce sector, but the landscape has evolved with Amazon.com, Dangdang and 360buy emerging as tough competitors. Taobao, Alibaba's creations, has around 90% market share in China's consumer-to-consumer online trading and more than 53 percent of the business-to-consumer market.