Section: Business News

Forrester Research has released statistics that indicate that consumers will spend approximately 10.6 percent less on information technology products this year than last year.  In January, the research firm had predicted a 3 percent drop in tech spending in the United States.  They have now revised that figure to 5.1 percent less for the U.S.

The reports from Forrester Research also predict that technology spending will increase during the fourth quarter of this year for the United States.  Other global areas may not see spending resume until the first quarter of 2010.  In a statement released by Forrester Research, it said the following of the predictions, ““While Q1 2009 saw a scary drop in purchases in the US tech market, ironically that is good news for the long run and we expect to see a stronger rebound sooner.”

All information technology products are expected to experience a drop in sales this year, including computer equipment, software and communications products.  This is not the only market forecast firm to indicate that sales will be much worse than first expected. Gartner released similar findings back in March.

Read [Information Week]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Apple, Computers, Software / Applications, Gaming, Games, Reviews

What is it?

SnapWords is a game by Magnetism Studios that is meant to be played by lots of people.  It’s kind of like Taboo or Password.  Get a word on the game and try to get someone on your team to guess the word.  When your turn is over, hand your iPhone or iPod touch to the other team for their turn. 

The Good:

At $0.99, this is a bargain.  An official Taboo board game from Hasbro can run you $20.  SnapWords has a library of 10,000 words, timer, and score keeper all in one application.  A simple, but cool, feature is the ability to edit your score if you accidentally pressed the wrong button while playing. 

The Bad:

This is not a game you should play on the bus or a train unless you’re a big fan of annoying everyone around you.  There is no support for custom word packs, but this feature may be available in future editions of the game according to the guys at Magnetism Studios

The Crux:

If you’re a fan of party games, this is a fun little application.  I know it could be pretty useful while waiting for a table at a restaurant.  The lack of board game clutter is another plus - no parts to lose. 

iTunes Link: [SnapWords]
Company Site: [Magnetism Studios]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Computers, Software / Applications

We all know that Microsoft has a habit of taking some of the ideas that Apple put into Mac OS X and putting them into Windows.  Just look at Spotlight and the Search in the start menu.  Windows 7 even takes a few cues from the Dock in OS X, even if it merges those ideas with the Windows tradition of the menu bar.  The list could go on, and now the list may include OS licensing.

It seems that somewhere within the latest leaked build of Windows 7 there is text in the licensing agreement that alludes to a family pack.  It reads, “if you are a ‘Qualified Family Pack User’, you may install one copy of the software marked as ‘Family Pack’ on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there.”  Looks pretty definitive there, unless it was added to throw us off.  However,  it’s doubtful that the text would be added just to throw off those who use the leaked versions.

There’s obviously no word on pricing yet, since there has been no official release or statement about the family packs.  It looks like Microsoft might finally be realizing that businesses aren’t the only customers that require more than one license of Windows.  Though there’s always the chance that the family packs won’t sell all that well.  Microsoft has always had an issue with piracy, and why buy three licenses of Home Premium when you could pirate Ultimate or find a friend who can get you a Professional license?  We wouldn’t condone any of those practices, but there’s a good chance they’ll continue with Windows 7.

Read [CNet News]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

FROM APPLETELL - We received a tip with a link to uxsight.com, an online retailer that is marketing a silicone skin for, apparently, the iPod touch 3G.  The difference?  It includes a hole for a camera.
MORE »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Video, Portable Video, Communications

Welcome to this week’s edition of Who’s on Crack.  This week was overflowing with what clearly was drug-induced euphoria.  Maybe we can blame it on summer vacations?  Maybe we can blame it on the torrential rains in the east.  Maybe we can just blame Milli Vanilli.  Whatever the blame, we’ll march these chosen examples right off to rehab.

• Twitter your pulse out
• Sony’s Walkman finally runs out of batteries?
• Stealing images is just wrong
• AT&T confuses iLaunch with Pizza Day

Twitter your pulse

Twitter seems to be catching on everywhere, not just the US and Iran.  Seems Japan is getting into the swing of things and some inventor has come up with this: the Akiduki Pulse Box.  With the touch of a button, this device Twitters your heart rate.  Fun on a bun?

I’ve been trying to figure out a good reason this exists (the Akidui Box, not Twitter) and have come up with just three things: you are an athlete and want to send out your amazingly low resting heart rate, or perhaps you’ve left a suicide note that says push this button so you can Tweet “0 beats per minute” or for porn to show your level of, ahem, excitement.

This device points to a level of automatic tweets that could follow you around.  A purchase in a coffee shop might trigger a tweet: “JG’s on a date or really thirsty” or perhaps a trip to the ATM triggers “JG is rolling in dough (or depending on the available balance) JG could use your loose change.”  Maybe a broken taillight in my car would let my followers know “for a good time, find a cop and have JG drive by him”.  The fun would never end.

Sony, Soni, Sone

With apologies to Tony, Toni, Tone, Sony is in a whirlwind.  To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Walkman, Sony’s blockbuster product, a story comes out that kids see the Walkman as old and outdated.  The writer of the story doesn’t clarify the Walkman was the one from the 80s, not the one from this year.  The brand is done.  If this isn’t a wake up call to finish off the Walkman brand, I don’t know what is.  I actually feel bad for Sony on this.

Sony gets smash idea: PSP+Phone.  Genius.  What I don’t feel bad about is mocking Sony for suddenly perhaps getting the idea that a gaming phone might be big.  It hit me this year when searching for yet another Nintendo DS game in the grass that one of the best things about Apple’s gaming is no physical media to lose.  That right there would tip the scales for me as a buyer.  Can Sony get on this fast enough?  I am not so sure.

I am not a gamer by any stretch of the definition, yet most of the iPhone apps I have are games and I play them frequently.  Can Sony create an elevated gaming experience with its partners?  Or will it be a “me too?”  I fear it is the latter.  Oh, Sony. 

Credit where credit is due

As bloggers, we tend to borrow images from places all over the net.  “Borrow” probably isn’t the right term, “steal” them is probably more accurate.  Take this image from my Pink phone post yesterday.  I borrowed it from Rene Ritchie over at iPhone blog and neglected to say thanks, or in this case, sorry.  I was too hasty.

However, don’t you think the line should be drawn in stealing or borrowing images from your staff, one should get credit?  For example, take these awesome images taken of a Wall Street Journal advertisement that Iyaz posted on.  Iyaz doesn’t say where he got them but surely he didn’t produce them.  But yet, Iyaz is mum on who the photo credits belong to.  He stole them from me.  [Editor Iyaz’s Note:  In my haste to scoop everyone with the news—which we did scoop everyone—and my shock at seeing someone actually reading a newspaper, I forgot to give proper credit.  I have since fixed that.]

AT&T’s best day ever?

Appletell’s Josh Holat reported these feats by AT&T:

• Best-ever sales day in our retail stores
• Second-largest traffic day in our retail stores
• Most transactions processed via our IT systems in a single day
• Most upgrade eligibility checks in a single day
• Largest order day in att.com history
• Largest features sales day in att.com history

Really?  For a look-a-like?  Perhaps it is a reflection of how many original iPhoners didn’t upgrade to the 3G and were finally ready to upgrade?  Did Appletell build that much hype around the new phone with the help from a few other blogs?  Is video recording capabilities that white hot right now?  I have trouble believing this intel.  Remember the lines back at the release of first generation?  Has AT&T just smoothed everything out so they can crank through sales?

There are so many fence sitters now, like me, who are hesitant to upgrade.  Maybe it wasn’t a 3GS rush, perhaps it was the $99 3G?  Or maybe, just maybe, all of this is hooey as it is a leaked document and AT&T hasn’t released a darn thing.

And really, if that is AT&T’s “best day ever,” I feel sad.  I believe the Aquabats said it best:

Well now I’m out of school
And I don’t have a job
I just sit around all sweaty and lethargic
And I’m just thinking ‘bout where it all went wrong
Why I can’t concentrate
On anything but reruns
I wish I had some more stability
I wish I had somebody making lunch for me
I guess I miss the seventh grades in life
The thought of Pizza Day
I thought it was stupid then
But I wish I had it now
I miss my
...
Friday was Pizza Day, the best day of the week
It always came with salad and a side of cold green beans

Hooray for Pizza Day
Hooray for Pizza Day
I miss Pizza Day
The best day of the week.

Have a great weekend.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »