Growing Up Geek: Zachary Lutz

Welcome to Growing Up Geek, an ongoing feature where we take a look back at our youth and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. Today, we have our very own Contributing Mobile Editor, Zachary Lutz. Perhaps it requires a special breed to proudly wear the label of "geek." No, I'm not talking about circus performers that bite heads off chickens (check the original meaning of the word), but about people like you and me, the folks who pursue their interests to a fantastic degree.









Engadget, Growing Up Geek: Zachary Lutz

Kazaa raised from the dead as also-ran music subscription app

Former renegade peer-to-peer file sharing service Kazaa is back from the dead. After numerous legal battles and settlements that reportedly reached into the hundreds of millions, Kazaa will attempt one last time to use what little heat surrounding its name is left in an effort to sell music. The firm now offers a like-named iPhone and iPad app that works just like Spotify, Rhapsody, Zune and the plethora of other music subscription services on the market today: pay $10 per month, stream as much music as you want, and store files locally if you choose.

Boy Genius Report, Kazaa raised from the dead as also-ran music subscription app

AT&T to push Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update on September 27th

AT&T will begin to push the official Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update to its existing Windows Phone devices next week. The HTC Surround, LG Quantum and Samsung Focus will receive the update beginning Tuesday, September 27th, while the HTC HD7S will be updated to Windows Phone 7.5 some time before the end of October according to an internal AT&T memo obtained by BGR.

Boy Genius Report, AT&T to push Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update on September 27th

VLC Media Player for Android Now Available For Download As Pre-Alpha Release!

It plays almost every media format we've known in existence – which is yet another reason why we love it. Interestingly, the VLC player app has now been developed for the Android OS. According to CVPCS, the developer behind the VLC Android app, the VLC media player for Android is already available for download albeit in pre-alpha state. Hit past the break for the download links and more info.

Recently, an iOS version of the VLC media player was introduced but was subsequently pulled from the app store since it's an open source software and therefore cannot be offered by Apple's proprietary app store, as sources quoted.


Technology Nerd

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techblog, VLC Media Player for Android Now Available For Download As Pre-Alpha Release!

A Tube Full of Power for Your Smartphone or Tablet

The Power Tube 6600 from MiPow looks like an oversized pencil, but it contains enough power to double the battery life in your iPad.  Inside the tube is a 1000mA lithium-ion battery with a 6600mAh capacity.  The tube comes with an AC charger; it can be recharged 500 times.  It has 10 adapter tips so you can charge Apple iPhone 3G /3GS /4, Apple iPad/iPad 2, Apple iPod (except iPod shuffle), Samsung Galaxy Tab, PSP and NDS Lite, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola, LG, Sony Ericsson and Samsung mobile phones.  It's available in light blue, charcoal gray, gold, silver, navy blue, pink, black, and red.

The Gadgeteer, A Tube Full of Power for Your Smartphone or Tablet

Philips GoGear Connect Android PMP Now Available Via JR

The Philips GoGear Android PMP is now available for pre-order via JR. As a reminder, the gadget features a 3.2-inch display, WiFi, built-in speakers, a microSD card slot for additional storage, and the Google Android 2.3 OS. You can also access the Android Market to download more apps and games. The 8GB model is priced at $169.99, while the 16GB version retails for $199.99.

TechFresh, Philips GoGear Connect Android PMP Now Available Via JR

Samsung Galaxy W i8150 priced in the UK: £285

Expected to arrive this month at O2 and Three, the Samsung Galaxy W i8150 will be available unlocked, too, in the UK. Both Expansys and Amazon are currently listing the new smartphone, although neither of them actually have it in stock. Expansys is asking £284.99 (about €325) for the new Galaxy, while Amazon expects you to pay a bit more for it, namely £299.99 (€342). Expansys says the handset should've been released yesterday (September 21), but it wasn't.


Unwired View, Samsung Galaxy W i8150 priced in the UK: £285

LG Optimus EX Promo Pics and Specs Revealed

The boys over at Citizen have just received these press images of Korea's upcoming LG Optimus EX. We saw the device leaked a single pic a few days but now we get the full specs of the device as well as a nice back-shot to boot. The LG Optimus EX comes in at only 9.6mm thick and will feature a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 4-inch 800×480 IPS display, 1GB RAM with 8GB of internal memory, 8MP rear/.3MP front facing cameras, 1080p video recording, full HDMI mirroring and Android 2.3 Gingerbread.


Android Phone, LG Optimus EX Promo Pics and Specs Revealed

Source code snooping points to upcoming quad-core Apple processor

Apple may already be working on a quad-core Apple-branded mobile processor for inclusion in upcoming iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models. Apple's eventual move to a quad-core chipset in its iOS devices seems certain, but it looks like we now have evidence that preliminary quad-core testing may already be under way. While inspecting the source code for the Clang compiler bundled with Apple's Xcode developer tools, an unnamed developer alerted Ars Technica to new references within the code that add support for a quad-core processor. Read on for more.


Boy Genius Report

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techage, Source code snooping points to upcoming quad-core Apple processor

We're live from Facebook's 2011 f8 developer conference! (video)

Oh yeah, we're here, live at the f8 developers conference in San Francisco, and we're going to give you a blow by blow of what's in store for all you Facebook-loving folks. The streets is talking and the rumor mill's churning at full bore about what we can expect, but Mark Zuckerberg's keynote is mere minutes away, and all will be revealed soon. So, check back here to get the scoop on all the new social-networking goodies as he dishes them out. Update: And it's underway.

Engadget

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maximum, We're live from Facebook's 2011 f8 developer conference! (video)

Intel and Google form partnership for smartphone market, Atom powered Android phone?

Will Intel's foray into the smartphone market finally be realized in the next year or so. After today's announcement at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco of the chip maker's new partnership with Google, we say yes and will be keenly looking forward to their new products. The idea of Intel going into the smartphone scene came about ever since Intel's Atom and SOC line started getting smaller and more powerful, but through this strategic partnership with Google, it looks like Android will be optimized to take advantage of the Intel architecture.

2DayBlog.com, Intel and Google form partnership for smartphone market, Atom powered Android phone?

Epson Megaplex Projector With Speakers and iPhone Dock

Epson's projector hooks up directly to your iDevice. When held at movie-watching distance from my face, my iPad's screen appears bigger than any of my friends' TVs, all of which are on the other side of the room. But with more than two people watching a film, things can get a little crowded. Enter Epson's Megaplex MG-850HD, an LCD projector with a pop-out dock.

The Megaplex takes the audio and video from your iDevice and kicks it out through a pair of ten-watt speakers and a 2,800-lumen lamp at 720p resolution.

Gadget Lab, Epson Megaplex Projector With Speakers and iPhone Dock

ASUS UX31 Pricing And Specs Unveiled

ASUS has recently unveiled the new UX31 ultrabook laptop. Powered by a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-2557M processor, the ASUS UX31 features a 13.3-inch (1600×900) LED-backlit display, a 4GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The laptop also features a lightweight aluminum design, a Chiclet keyboard and up to 5-hour of battery life. If you are interested, you can purchase the ASUS UX31 for around $1,300.

TechFresh

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techage, ASUS UX31 Pricing And Specs Unveiled

Are You Waiting for Quad-Core?

Phones surely have come a long way. We've gone from 528MHz processors to 1GHz processors, from single-core to dual-core, and we will soon go from dual-core to quad-core (in tablets, at least). Dual-core devices are still relatively new and we're already about to see quad-core. Is dual-core enough for your or are you always striving to get as much power as you can get.
Earlier this week, NVIDIA released whitepapers detailing their Kal-El chipset (which is essentially the successor to the dual-core Tegra 2 chipset).

Android Phone, Are You Waiting for Quad-Core?

Mango bumps NoDo, rolls the update train to Dell's Venue Pro

You've had a few months to get cozy with NoDo on the Venue Pro, but don't get too chummy - Mango's on the way. An official blog post on Dell's site assures owners of the chunky WP7 slider that Microsoft's much anticipated OS update should be on its way before Autumn's end. Unlocked owners in the US, EMEA and India, in addition to locked handset owners on T-Mobile US and Cincinnati Bell will be treated to the tropical software sauce sometime in the next few weeks. Left out from this upgrade party are contracted device owners on AT&T that'll just have to wait for a future announcement.

Engadget, Mango bumps NoDo, rolls the update train to Dell's Venue Pro

Details of UAW/GM deal reveal minimum wage raise, 6.4K jobs created or retained

Details about the tentative deal struck between General Motors and the United Auto Workers union last Friday are being released, and it would appear the union didn't do too bad for itself. Under the new agreement, General Motors has reportedly agreed to retain or create 6,400 union jobs as part of a $2.5 billion investment in future products and the plants that build them. Those product and plant investments include the following:.

Autoblog, Details of UAW/GM deal reveal minimum wage raise, 6.4K jobs created or retained

Canada: white Samsung Galaxy S II on its way to Bell

The white version of Samsung's Galaxy S II was made official in July, and since then it's made its way to many different countries, but not to Canada. Yet. That's all about to change, though. Bell has been selling the black Galaxy S II since July, and now apparently plans on releasing the white variant of the same device, according to MobileSyrup. We don't know when exactly just yet, but Bell seems intent on having the phone on the market well before the holiday shopping season starts. That right there tells you that the carrier hopes that many of these will end up being gifted, and that may be the case.


Unwired View, Canada: white Samsung Galaxy S II on its way to Bell

Spotify opens up to all in the US with free, unlimited music streaming for six months

It's only been a couple of months since Spotify kicked off its invite-only beta here in the US, but along with announcing new Facebook tie-ins it's finally ready to let the masses into the party. As if lifting the velvet rope weren't enough, Spotify has also seen fit to throw in unlimited streaming for six months on the free plan, instead of the usual ten hours.

Engadget, Spotify opens up to all in the US with free, unlimited music streaming for six months

AT&T Offers to Sell T-Mobile Assets to Sprint, Others

Bloomberg has reported that AT&T's contracted Sprint, MetroPCS, Leap Wireless, CenturyLink and Dish Network in order to negotiate the sale of T-Mobile assets in order to gain approval for their proposed merger. This is likely in response to early reports that suggested AT&T would most likely need to go this route in order to persuade anti-trust regulators and the FCC that their moves aren't to stifle competition. Talks are supposedly preliminary for the time being with no carrier or firm coming to concrete terms with AT&T on this possible sale.

Android Phone, AT&T Offers to Sell T-Mobile Assets to Sprint, Others

Three UK To Release Sony Ericsson Live With Walkman

Three will launch the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman in the UK market later this month. Designed for music lovers, the smartphone comes equipped with a built-in Walkman player, the Sony xLOUD sound enhancement, and a pre-installed 2GB memory card. The Sony Ericsson Live runs on the Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, a 1Ghz processor, a 3.2-inch HVGA scratch-resistant display, a Facebook integration, a 5MP rear camera with 720p video recording, and a VGA front-facing camera. Additionally, the phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi, GPS, and HSDPA.

TechFresh, Three UK To Release Sony Ericsson Live With Walkman

Gears of War 3 Video Review

Here is a video review of Gears of War 3. Developed by Epic Games exclusively for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Gears of War 3 is the third installment of the Gears of War series and the conclusion to the Gears of War saga. In this video game, you will play as Marcus Fenix, the main protagonist of the series.

TechFresh, Gears of War 3 Video Review

Microsoft locks Metro-style apps to Windows Store, developers and enterprise keep sideloading privileges

Microsoft's battening down its hatches, and restricting distribution of Metro-style apps to its Windows Store. Developers and enterprise customers (as well as Win32 desktop apps) get the slide this time 'round the OS reboot, with continued and unfettered access to sideloading on the platform. The decision, much like Apple's approach to iOS, falls in line with Redmond's current Windows Phone 7 app policy, and should only come as a shock to users of Android's open-source ecosystem.

Engadget, Microsoft locks Metro-style apps to Windows Store, developers and enterprise keep sideloading privileges

Pioneer's new DJM-250 budget mixer tries not to fade your balance

Sure, two turntables and a microphone might be where it's at, but you'll only get so far before you wish you had a mixer plonked in the middle. Makers of high end DJ finery, Pioneer, has just added a member to its exhaustive family, the DJM-250, and the sweetest sound it makes is the chuckle of a happy bank manager. Landing in at just a dollar shy of $400, the aforesaid outfit reckons it's the cheapest two-channel mixer on the market that boasts channel filters, for those silky smooth transitions. Aside from those, you'll enjoy up to eight inputs and club-system friendly balanced XLR outs, and a choice of two colors - black and white.

Engadget, Pioneer's new DJM-250 budget mixer tries not to fade your balance

How to deal with the problems of SPAM

Over the past five years, the amount of spam being delivered to email servers around the world has increased dramatically; currently over 90 percent of emails delivered worldwide are spam emails. This means that whilst you may be able to effectively filter emails in house, it will require increasing resources, to manage and maintain.Consider this; your enterprise receives 20,000 emails per day. That's 18,000 emails that must be analysed and inspected by your anti-spam software each day; then another system must scan each email and its attachments to ensure that they do not contain malicious software.

Press Release Distribution

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things, How to deal with the problems of SPAM

AIB launches Mobile Banking

AIB today announced the launch of a new Mobile Banking site, www.aib.ie/mobilebanking, tailored specifically for use on smartphones. Over 650,000 of AIB customers actively use AIB Internet Banking and the bank has seen significant growth in the numbers of customers accessing their Internet Banking using their smartphones.

Press Release Distribution

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gadgetsblog, AIB launches Mobile Banking

Deal of the Day - Dell Professional 24x1080p LED-backlit LCD Monitor

Today's LogicBUY Deal is a 15% discount on the brand new 24" Dell Professional P2412H LED-backlit LCD monitor for $254.15.  Features:  1080p, height-adjustable stand, 3-year Advanced Exchange warranty. $299 - 15% coupon = $254.15 with free shipping.  This is the current best deal for this monitor found by LogicBUY. This deal expires September 23, 2011 or sooner.

The Gadgeteer, Deal of the Day - Dell Professional 24x1080p LED-backlit LCD Monitor

Samsung Galaxy Note coming to UK in November

The giant smartphone/tiny tablet that is the Samsung Galaxy Note just got an unofficial launch date. Clove, an online retailer in the UK, hinted at a late November launch for this hybrid device. Clove mentioned on their blog that the first stock for the Galaxy Note will arrive in late November, which is probably when you can get your hands on it as well, provided you are in the UK. They also mentioned an approximate price of £500 ($773) + VAT for the Galaxy Note.

Even if you are not in the UK, you will probably get the Galaxy Note around the same time. Except if you're in the US.

GSM Arena, Samsung Galaxy Note coming to UK in November

Nokia 700 with Symbian Belle coming to T-Mobile UK this month

T-Mobile UK will launch its very first Symbian Bell smartphone soon: the Nokia 700. Expected to become available before the end of September, the Nokia 700 will most likely be offered by T-Mobile for free on select plans. The handset comes with a 3.2 inch (360 x 640 pixels) AMOLED ClearBlack display, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, 5MP camera, 720p video recording, 1GHz processor, and 2GB of internal memory.


Unwired View

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aboutit, Nokia 700 with Symbian Belle coming to T-Mobile UK this month

Retrieva GPS Dog Collar Helps Locate Lost Pooch

Pet dogs used to have microchips containing owner's information implanted into their skin so the animals can be traced to their homes in case they get lost. Nowadays, GPS can also be used to track where their pets roam. The Retrieva GPS dog tracker is a collar with three years of research and development, promising that it can outperform any other tracking product for pets. The makers of Retrieva assures dog owners that their tracking and anti-theft collar can do what other similar devices failed to do. This waterproof gadget can provide live tracking and location data straight to the owner's smartphone, iPad, or computer.

Gadget.com, Retrieva GPS Dog Collar Helps Locate Lost Pooch

Nikon unveils V1 and J1 mirrorless cameras: 10.1MP CMOS, 1080p video, ships in October for $650+ (video)

Rumors of a Nikon mirrorless camera have been floating around the web since the middle of last year, and recent leaks have made us wonder not if the company would release a compact ILC - only when such an announcement would be made. Well, we finally have our answer. We journeyed to a secret location in midtown Manhattan tonight, with nary a peep from Nikon about what to expect until just before the clock struck midnight - and only after more than two hours of laptop-free house arrest and live Counting Crows.










Engadget

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cherryapple, Nikon unveils V1 and J1 mirrorless cameras: 10.1MP CMOS, 1080p video, ships in October for $650+ (video)