Not one, not two, but three Nokia interviews at Mobile World Congress? Yes, we were lucky to catch up with CEO Stephen Elop — whom we last saw at CES — and chat about the Lumia 610, the white Lumia 900, the 808 PureView imaging flagship, and a hint at what kind of cameras we can expect in the company’s future Windows Phone handsets. Just hit the break to watch our video interview.
Supercharged specs are key, but give us a slick, smooth and satisfying UI to really seal the deal. We chew the fat with Drew Bamford, HTC’s director of user experience to delve into the depths of the mobile experience. Join us live on stage at 12:30PM ET.
Every year at CES, the tech-watching masses engage in a bit of trendspotting — an attempt to identify the one or two big themes of the show that may or may not come to define the year in technology. Some years those are easy to spot (tablets and 3D TV were two big ones recently), and other times they involve a bit of guesswork. This year, one of the most oft-cited trends is the “ultrabook.” Judging from the companies’ announcements at the show and some of the coverage they’ve received, you might think that’s a new sort of device or a radically new type of laptop. But, really, they’re just laptop accessories manufacturers. Small, thin laptops — but laptops.
It’s actually Ultrabook, with a capital “U,” and a (TM). The name is a wholly-owned creation of Intel, and the hype you’ve seen for them at CES is only just the beginning. Intel is reportedly planning its biggest advertising push in eight years to promote Ultrabooks, and it’s clearly already done a decent job of bringing hardware manufacturers on board the bandwagon. How many new “laptop” announcements do you remember from CES?
Though they received a bit less hype at the time, Ultrabooks actually made their official debut in May of last year at the Computex trade show in Taiwan, where Intel described the devices as computers that “marry the performance and capabilities of today’s laptops with tablet-like features and deliver a highly responsive and secure experience, in a thin, light and elegant design.” ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih went even further, promising that Ultrabooks will do nothing short of “change the way people interact with their PC.”
“Ultrabooks” may yet evolve into something that’s truly different, but right now it’s hard to see how they’re deserving of a title all their own, let alone the hype surrounding it. Outside of some concept devices, none have what can legitimately be called “tablet-like features,” and we’re already seeing the term being applied to devices that are indistinguishable from the average mid-sized laptop released over the last few years. Even Intel itself says that 50 percent of 75+ Ultrabooks expected this year will have 14- or 15-inch screens. And just as tellingly, Intel was also using another term, CULV, to describe these very sorts of laptops until it came up with the catchier Ultrabook moniker.
That’s not to say they’re not great laptop accessories products. It’s exciting to see laptops that are smaller, thinner and just as capable as their larger counterparts, but that’s just how laptops have been evolving all these years. The obvious example is the MacBook Air — which you technically can’t call an Ultrabook, even though it is arguably the main competitor to all of the new devices introduced at CES. The first version released back in 2008 was certainly thin and light, but it was also severely underpowered. Then, last summer, Apple released a pair of new models that were not only thin and light, but truly powerful enough to be a viable alternative to the MacBook Pro — at least for those who don’t absolutely need a larger screen and a built-in optical drive. Still, it’s a laptop.
What’s this? If this is true, it looks like one of the jilted partners in the Sony Ericsson split is doing all it can to ruin the nice surprises planned for next month’s MWC. An image has 
appeared at Xperia Blog that purports to be of the ST25i Kumquat, which, if you’ve been paying attention is the cheapest of the three phones due in April listed on the leaked roadmap from a few days ago. The design language matches the Nozomi and the Xperia S we played with at CES, but the accessories for iPad suppliers are clearly bigger: pointing us in the direction of this having a cheaper display (with a worse resolution) than its brothers. Don’t let that Sony Ericsson logo fool you either, the company’s producing versions that bear both branding, at least for this set of releases. We’re off to grab a microscope and see if we can’t glean any more facts from the snap.
Tetsuya Yamamoto, Nikon’s head of development was at CES talking up the future plans of the company’s 1 system cameras after strong holiday sales. The 10.1 megapixel sensor inside the 1 body is sufficiently capable of shooting 2 and 4K video and bringing that functionality into the unit is planned for a future edition. There’s a need for a set of screen protector suppliers with faster auto-focusing, although we’re not sure how much bigger you can get on that petite body. It’s also kicking around the option of letting V1 (i.e. more professional) users get at manual AF control and in-camera RAW editing — while J1 users can expect plenty of features they won’t use much, like in-camera effects. It’s exciting stuff, but let’s hope these new features don’t cause the price to climb any higher, eh?
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t already done so, shop owners are hoping you’ll come into their stores today and buy-buy-buy. As lovely as many store-bought presents are, spending cash isn’t the only way to express love. A wealth of gifts awaits that special someone and the only thing needed to procure them is a little creativity.
Flowers — Flowers are a Valentine’s Day staple and the sweet smell of roses, carnations or a fragrant orchid can linger long after the blooms fade. But don’t forget, flowers grow in earth, not in a florist’s cooler. Consider taking a walk around your own yard to pick a bouquet of your own making. If you notice a particularly pretty or sweet-smelling bloom in a neighbor’s garden, knock on their door and ask permission to pick one or two. Most likely, they’ll say yes. Not only will you return home with a floral display that is uniquely yours to give, you will also have given a second gift to your green-thumbed neighbor. Your appreciation of their garden will make them smile for many days to come.
Sweets — Is any gift sweeter than chocolate or candy? How about a treat from your own kitchen? It doesn’t take long to whip up a cake, sweetbread, muffins, a tray of cookies or a plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries. These days, the Internet makes it easy, even if your baking experience is next to zero. Actually, inexperience is a plus in this case because the recipient of your efforts will know you took extra effort to make them something special. For step-by-step help creating that perfect dessert, check out YouTube videos as well as online recipe websites.
Pampering — We can all use a bit of pampering and a trip to the spa is a wonderful way to tell your love interest how much you care about their overall well-being. But massage sessions can be pricey, especially on a limited budget. Fortunately, you don’t need to schedule an appointment or spend any cash when you create a spa in your own home. The only things needed for this gift is the willingness to turn off the phones for an hour, dim the lights, put on some soothing music and focus on your partner. Brushing your loved one’s hair may not be a normal part of a massage treatment but it can be a wonderful way to pamper your partner and pampering is what this gift is all about. Remember, you don’t need strong hands or expensive oils to give a massage. Soft strokes, light scratches or gentle tickling all go a long way to demonstrating your loving touch.
Honey-do list — We’ve all got them: long lists of chores that need to be done. Taking it upon yourself to do one or two of the most demanding tasks without being asked (that’s the key ingredient here) can result in benefits store-bought presents may never realize. Cleaning out an unkempt closet, painting a wall, weeding a garden, unclogging the gutters or vacuuming the house may not seem like the most romantic offering but be forewarned: Doing these chores can result in unexpected displays of gratitude.
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that most people either love or hate, and many people who are smitten by a new romance are now trying to get into the Valentine’s Day mood with free wallpapers for their computer desktops. This festive new trend has caused people to ask for Valentine’s Day wallpapers ranging from the dangerously sexy to the sweet and cute. Finding almost every kind of desktop wallpaper imaginable has never been easier thanks to website.
Much like many of the people who love everything to do with love, website has now begun offering super stylish love wallpapers for free. With plenty of pages devoted to lovely and fashionable wallpapers, it’s easy to see why so many people who want to spice up their computer’s desktop for the holiday seem to fall in love with this website.
There aren’t too many sites that can compete with the sheer range of different styles that Free Wallpapers 4 Desktop happens to have. Some of the wallpapers are made of very simple yet striking images, such as a photograph of a heart that has elegantly been etched into sand. Others are more complex, like the “Tie Dye Rainbow Love” wallpaper. Even more focus is placed on close-ups of flowers that have been tied to the world of romance for centuries, like roses or bleeding hearts.
What makes Free Wallpapers 4 Desktop unique is that the site doesn’t only feature top-notch wallpapers for free – it’s the fact that many of the blog posts on the site tell people how to create their very own wallpapers. Offering up a helpful array of different tips for beginners who want to try their hand at background creation, website is just as much a resource for professional quality desktop wallpapers as it is a source for amazing tips and tricks when it comes to making new wallpaper designs.
Website users are allowed to submit their own wallpaper images to the site itself to see how they fare when people critique them. website is one of the best places for wallpaper fans and wallpaper makers alike giving them the opportunity to express their opinion about a certain desktop picture by using the site’s online ranking system.
Currently, the site has over 2700 different wallpapers for artsy fans to choose from, and that number is slated to increase dramatically in the near future. website is a great site, and people have been taking notice. It’s not unusual to hear about people who refer others to the site because of the excellent quality of the wallpapers, blog posts, and lively community that the site holds.
Flowers and chocolate are nice, but if the same old gifts can’t cut it this Valentine’s Day, your special someone just might fall head over heels for one of these cameras. Good news for frugal Cupids, too: since retailers need to clear space for the new 2012 cameras, February is a great time to find a deal on the best of 2011.
Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS
It’ll be love at first sight with the Canon Powershot ELPH 100 HS (MSRP $179.99). This pocket-sized, user-friendly point-and-shoot is the best camera for the money right now. It snaps clearer photos than just about any budget digicam out there—including indoors and at night. Even better, it easier on the wallet than a dozen roses and a dinner date.
Sony Cyber-shot TX10
Love hurts, but the Sony Cyber-shot TX10 (MSRP $309.99) can take a licking and keep on clicking. Its sleek, ultracompact exterior belies a waterproof and shock resistant build. But on the inside, this camera is very sensitive — to light. Photos are bright and clear, especially for a tough-cam.
Samsung W200
Without a new Matthew McConaughey rom-com on the horizon, it’s up to you and your Valentine to film the next cheesy tearjerker. Try using the Samsung HMX-W200 (MSRP $159.99): This waterproof pocket camcorder shoots the best 1080p high-def video of any shoot-and-share model out there, and sells for as cheap as $110.
Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1
If you really want to show some love, the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1 (MSRP $499.99) is a real heart-warmer. It looks and handles like a point-and-shoot, but the pictures are much cleaner and sharper, and it can swap lenses, too. A few solid entry-level system cameras are out there, but the Mini offers great bang for the buck — and comes in a few Valentine-appropriate shades, including white, pink, and purple.
Remember a few accessories, too; you can’t go wrong with a memory card and a carrying bag. And really, a box of chocolates can’t hurt.
A lot of people tend to enjoy using their tech without thinking about protective cases, keyboard skins and the like. But you’ll often also find that those people end up with tech that’s scratched, chipped, cracked and dented, and that’s simply because some technology isn’t meant to survive the odd accident!
But that’s not to mean it’s low quality or that it’s not worth getting – Apple products are notoriously fragile and expensive, but they’re solid bits of gear that can allow you to complete tasks at work, log on to Partypoker in a GUI that makes all others look terrible, and generally has that fashion factor that people should be allowed when it comes to their technology.
Protecting it however, is another matter. Keyboard skins and cases are a given, and if you’re wondering why some people use keyboard skins, ask yourself this: do you ever eat near your keyboard? If so, you’ll know that there’s nothing worse than watching a crumb slip underneath a key, knowing it’ll stand a chance of messing with how well that key (or others) works in the future. A skin means it can’t actually get there, and you’re less likely to find yourself popping keys to clear your computer’s innards out once every so often!
Cases and skins will also ensure that while the laptop’s in your bag, it’s not going to have the finish scratched off it, and it won’t take any serious damage even if you drop it. Unibody Macbooks are an exceptional example, as their one-piece aluminium shell means they’re more likely to break what they’re dropped on, then break themselves!
All in all, it’s worth taking care of your technology, if you’re not keen on the idea of simply throwing money away on repairs and new technology to replace the gear you’ve broken through accidents or carelessness. Skins, covers and cases cost a fraction of the price of new gear or repairs, so splashing out on some protection is a no-brainer when it comes to buying new tech.
Consumers will be digging deeper into their pockets to buy flowers, gift cards and chocolates on Valentine’s Day with average spending expected to rise eight percent over last year to nearly $200.And along with their expanding wallets 4 million Americans are expected to pop the question or receive a proposal on Feb 14.
“We’ve seen a consistent trend of consumers saying they will spend more, from holiday shopping to 2012 travel plans, and spending plans for Feb 14 are no exception,” said Sonali Chakravorti, vice president at American Express.
In its latest spending and savings tracker American Express questioned 2,000 adults across the United States to gauge how much and on what consumers will be spending their money on Cupid’s big day.Nearly half of people said they intend to celebrate at a favourite restaurant, seven percent more than last year. Flowers are still the most popular gift for a Valentine, followed by gift cards, jewellery and electronics.
Among couples getting betrothed, 30 percent said they would propose during a weekend getaway or vacation, which have been dubbed engagementcations.To seal the deal, 48 percent of people think an engagement ring costing between $1,000 to $5,000 would be appropriate but 22 percent said up to $2,000 for bling would be more realistic, while five percent thought nothing of spending $10,000 or more on a ring.
Although nearly 40 percent of women think whoever asked for the date should pay for it, 14 percent said the bill should be split, but most unmarried men said they would cover the cost of the date.Finances can be a delicate subject, so half of people don’t talk about money until they have been together six months and 20 percent of married couples did not broach the subject until after they have tied the knot.
After marriage money matters can be a cause of disagreements, although the poll showed arguments over household budgets, spending on the children and everyday purchases have declined since last year.More men than women take credit for paying credit cards, property and school taxes and for filing income taxes, according to the poll, but 70 percent of women said they managed the household budgets.