The fate of eBay-owned Skype has been in question for months now. Back in April, it looked as if eBay was going to spin-off the VoIP service as a publicly traded company. Now we’ve learned that Skype will be sold to private investors.

According to the New York Times, eBay will announce a deal tomorrow that will send the popular Internet telephone service to an investment group. It seems as if the group includes the newly formed Andreessen Horowitz venture capital firm, co-founded by Netscape’s founder Marc Andreessen. The deal terms are not yet disclosed.

This deal comes during a very public battle between eBay and the founders of Skype, who are threatening to cut off one of the key peer-to-peer technologies that power Skype and have expressed interest in rebuying their company. It’s even possible they are also part of the sale – we just don’t know yet.

We’ll bring you more information as it develops.

[via mashable]

Samsung has unveiled a new multimedia player called the R1 that boasts some nice specifications that media fans will appreciate. The R1 is hailed as the slimmest and lightest multimedia player around that is compatible with DivX.

DivX compatibility means that users can transfer most media files without needing to convert them. The R1 is only 8.9mm thick and weighs 50g. Samsung says that the device is thin and light enough that users can carry it around inside their wallet.

Despite its small size the device sports a 2.6-inch touchscreen and uses the Samsung exclusive TouchWiz user interface. Loading music and other files onto the device is a drag and drop proposition and the R1 uses Samsung’s DNEs 3.0 sound engine for natural sound processing.

The device also features a Beat DJ feature that allows the user to add their own voice and sound effects to their favorite songs and users can scratch records on the screen to create personalized music. Samsung will offer the R1 with 8GB or 16GB of storage and it will launch in Europe in September with other markets to follow later.

[via slashgear]

Nokia's 3208c will follow in the footsteps of the 6208c by targeting the Chinese market, featuring a touchscreen display, stylus for folks who don't like using their fingers, and handwriting recognition to get those ideograms stored safely into the handset. This mid-range handset comes in a simplistic chassis that is chrome-plated. It will arrive sometime in Q4 this year, where you can choose from graphite black and white pearl colors. Specifications and features of the Nokia 3208c include :-

• 2.4" TFT QVGA touchscreen display at 260k colors
• Tri-band GSM/EDGE connectivity (900/1800/1900 MHz)
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 3.5mm headset jack
• Integrated MP3 player
• Stereo FM radio
• 2-megapixel camera

Nokia’s N900 Internet tablet has just recently been announced and we learn that it’s coming to Germany and Italy, plus it’s available for pre-order in these countries right now. Meanwhile, it seems very likely that AT&T and Rogers will get their own versions of the device, compatible with WCDMA connectivity.

The info regarding an AT&T/Rogers version of N900 was confirmed by mistake thanks to a Nokia employee replying to a customer’s mail. Back to the European side of the pond, we find out that the Internet tablet will be available for $860 in Germany and Italy, if you pre-order now.

The October release date is still available, with a T-Mobile version also included.

[via gsmdome]

Since augmented reality is the coolest thing right now on the iPhone and Android handsets, we might as well use this software for navigation purposes. The folks of Mobilizy already did, by launching Wikitude Drive, an augmented reality GPS navigation app for your handset:

LG has revealed their intention to release OLED TV that uses using organic display technology. LG will release a 15 inch OLED TV and later a 40 inch version. LG would be announcing the 15 inch AM-OLED TV at the IFA 2009 consumer electric show in Berlin in September.

The TV set would be commercialized in Korea in November and offered overseas next year, it said. Currently OLED technology is still too pricey.

[via aurum3]

If you like your memory fast and you like it patriotic, then Corsair’s latest Dominator chips may tick your boxes. The company has revealed its new 8GB and 12GB memory kits for Intel Core i5 and Core i7 systems, each with DHX+ cooling technology and “American Racing Blue” fins and highlights.

The memory also have their XMP profiles set at 1600MHz, with CAS latency settings of 8-8-8-24. According to Corsair, systems using the RAM kits and running Windows 7 demonstrated “substantial performance gains in system startup, shutdown, context switching, and game loading”‘ you can find their full results here [pdf link].

The dual channel configuration (CMD8GX3M4A1600C8) comes with four matched 2GB modules, and is optimized for P55 motherboards, while the triple channel configuration (CMD12GX3M6A1600C8) consists of six matched 2GB modules, optimized for X58 motherboards. Each also includes a color-matched Airflow fan. No word on pricing, but we can’t imagine these will be cheap ways to add memory.

[via slashgear]

Out of nowhere Sony just dropped three new α DSLRs, the α550, α500 and the α850, which we’ll get to a little later. Key new features in the α500 series include the latest gen Exmor CMOS sensors and BIONZ image processors. Sony claims that the new sensors will capture high quality images in low light scenarios with the BIONZ image proc reducing color-noise as high up as ISO 12800. A couple other notables you might want to know about are in-camera HDR and improved Live View functions.

The 14.2-megapixel α550 and 12.3-megapixel α500 will retail for $950 and $750, respectively. Those are prices are for the body only. An 18-55m kit lens can be bundled for an additional $100.

[via crunchgear]

Iomega's latest NAS effort has resulted in the StorCenter ix4-200d that is able to hold up to a quartet of SATA II 3.5" drive bays without taking up too much space on your desktop, while offering RAID 5, 10 or JBOD setups and the ability to handle up to 8TB of storage space. Of course, those who are on a tighter budget can settle for 2TB and 4TB models that are available, where each of them feature automatic RAID rebuild and iSCSI block-level access.Connectivity options include a couple of Gigabit Ethernet ports, a trio of USB 2.0 ports and a one-touch transfer button. It might target small businesses, but would also find a place at home with UPnP media streaming compatibility and the option to hook up an USB Bluetooth dongle that lets you transfer files sans wires automatically as long as your Bluetooth-compatible device is within range. The 2TB, 4TB and 8TB models will retail for $699.99, $899.99 and $1,899.99, respectively.

[via ubergizmo]

Nokia’s new N900 “mobile computer” is now, finally, official. The N900 is most notable for being the first handset to features the Finnish company’s new Maemo 5 operating system, an OS skewed heavily towards internet use and built on a Linux base. Here are the key features of this rather sleek looking new cell.

The screen is touch sensitive (natch) and squeezes 800 x 400 pixels into 3.5-inches, the unit includes GPS, an FM transmitter, TV-out and USB ports and a 5MP camera. And of course it has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, something very important for some people (although there is an on-screen QWERTY, too). It also has a hefty 32GB of on-board memory, expandable with a microSD card.

In short, it does everything a modern phone should. What it will come down to is the software, a place where Nokia has arguably lost its way of late. Nokia’s dumb-phones were probably the easiest to use handsets then available. Will Maemo fix this?

For that, we’ll have to wait for the hands-on test. But the pictures look promising, and the light-on-dark interface is both clear and gorgeous. The N900 will be available in October for around €500 ($710). And one more thing: the Mozilla browser does Flash. Take that, iPhone.

Press release [Nokia]
Product page [Nokia]

[via wired]

Sony has just released its latest S540 Walkman in the US, where it now offers 2.4" of viewing area alongside a pair of stereo speakers that lets you share your favorite songs or movie lines without the need for headphones. Apart from that, you can also record voice notes thanks to the integrated microphone, while a built-in FM radio offers another source of mobile entertainment. Music playback on headphones last up to 42 hours, while video playback has been rated at 6.5 hours. Supported audio file formats include AAC, MP3 and WMA, while video file formats include H.264, MPEG-4 and WMV. The S540 Walkman will come in 8GB and 16GB models that retail for $110 and $130, respectively.

[via ubergizmo]

MSI has just confirmed that their next netbook would be the Wind U150, where this model will be powered by Intel's new Pine Trail line of processors alongside the spanking new Windows 7 operating system. According to an exective from MSI, Pine Trail will offer improved graphics performance as well as a 20% improvement in power consumption at the very minimum, making those concerned with the environment happy with such a purchase. It would be interesting to see how MSI will price this device when it finally hits our shores though.

[via ubergizmo]

Acer’s birthed a $499 all-in-one nettop aimed at cubicle dwellers featuring an 18.5-inch screen and an Intel Atom CPU. The Veriton Z280G is, according to Acer, “perfect for reception areas, hotel lobbies, executive suites, cube environments and any office that requires an integrated, space-saving design.”

The screen has a 1366×768 resolution and there’s a 160GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM on board. The machine comes preloaded with Windows XP, although there’s a Windows Vista Business recovery CD included just in case you want to slow things down a bit.

Aside from that you get pretty standard netbook features with the exception of an included DVD burner and five USB ports. The whole setup is fanless, so you’ll easily be able to hear the girl seven cubicles over arguing with her boyfriend on the phone all day.

Available now(ish) from various business resellers.

[via crunchgear]

Samsung's latest handset to hit South Korea is the SCH-B890 that comes with a 2.8" AMOLED display which is capable of showing off 16 million colors simultaneously, although your eyes probably won't be able to tell the difference on such a small surface. Measuring a svelte 12.2mm slim, the SCH-B890 will feature a 3-megapixel camera, T-DMB support, SOS messenger, English study content, Smile detection and auto-focus capability. No idea on pricing, but you can choose from Noir Black or Pearl White colors if you want one.

[via ubergizmo]

If you're extremely interested in picking up the Zune HD when it arrives, then make sure you remember the image here properly as that will most probably be the box where the Zune HD will come in, making it easier for you to zoom in on your target in a crowded store to pick up the model of your choice. With the last line stating 'games', it could mean the NVIDIA Tegra chip within the Zune HD being put to good use. Hopefully the gaming titles released on the Zune HD will be worth checking out and not end up as shovelware instead.

[via ubergizmo]

The top item on many social news sites this morning is a screenshot (below) that purportedly shows an embarrassing message a woman posted to her public Facebook page. If real, it’s a mistake that might take some time to recover from.

Is it genuine thought? The jury’s out: while it doesn’t appear to be Photoshopped, and the woman’s friends are definitely real Facebook members, it’s very possible the account was compromised by another person.

What do you think: real, fake, a malicious prank…or something else?

[via mashable]

Samsung B3310 has got to be one of the strangest phones we’ve seen in a while, not necessarily because it’s pink, but rather due to its strange keyboard(s). You can notice that aside from the sliding QWERTY keyboard, there’s also a numeric one on the left of the handset’s front side. Bizarre, right?

The phone was just leaked by Mobiles.co.uk and you might have already guessed that it’s an entry level messaging handset with support for Facebook, Flickr and Myspace out of the box. No info on the price just yet, but you should expect the device to drop in mid-September if all goes well.

[via gsmdome]

Samsung is getting ready to launch another low-cost touchscreen phone, namely the Samsung S3650 Corby.

Featuring a design and a choice of colors (yellow + black) that will probably attract many young mobile users, the Samsung S3650 Corby should be available in Europe in the next few weeks – just like the weird-lookingSamsung B3310.

According to AreaMobile.de, the phone’s retail price will be of around €200 ($286).

Here are the main specs of Samsung Corby:

• Quad-band GSM connectivity with GPRS and EDGE
• 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen display
• Access to YouTube, MySpace and Facebook
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
• MP3 player
• FM radio
• 2MP camera
• MicroSD card support
• 103 x 57 x 13 mm
• 92 grams

Samsung Corby S3650 was recently approved by the FCC, so it might be launched in the US, via AT&T or T-Mobile, as a 3G-less, inexpensive handset.

[via unwiredview]

The MSI Wind U200 has been around for quite some time already, but there's a spanner in the works with the MSI Wind12 U200 model that has experienced a slight tweak here and there, hence a new naming convention. The Wind12 U200 will be similar in dimension as other 10" netbooks, tipping the scales at 3.1 pounds on a 3-cell battery while being equipped with the following :-

• 12.1" LCD monitor at 1,366 x 768 resolution
• Intel ULV SU3500 processor
• GMA 4500MHD graphics chipset
• HDMI output
• 1.3-megapixel webcam
• 4-in-1 memory card reader
• Three USB 2.0 ports
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity
• Up to 4GB RAM
• 160GB/250GB/320GB hard drive options

Fake, but nice try. The T in Touch is the wrong case and there is no way the dock would look like that. Bonus points for the product name though.

[via crunchgear]

[via mobilescouk]

AT&T looks set to release a couple of Nuvifones - the Garmin Asus G60 and the Garmin Asus M20. While we have heard plenty about the former, the latter will run on Windows Mobile 6.1 while carrying integrated GPS navigation and advanced features such as Connected Services (a suite of Web-based applications that offer “location intelligence to navigation, phone and browser functions”) and a LBS app known as Ciao!. The M20 is already available for pre-order if you happen to stay in Poland, where it comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, HSDPA support, push email, a 3-megapixel camera, 4GB or 8GB internal memory and a 2.8" VGA touchscreen display.

[via ubergizmo]

T-Mobile has made available the Samsung Gravity 2 that is going for an extremely cheap price of just $29.99 as long as you sign up for a new 2-year agreement alongside a qualifying data plan. For the full list of features and specifications of the Gravity 2, check it out - it will definitely bring you back to earth.

• Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• 2-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom
• Stereo Bluetooth connectivity
• microSD memory card slot
• MP3 playback
• IM and email support
• A-GPS
• Quad-band GSM world phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
• UMTS/HSDPA-capable (1700/2100 – AWS Band IV)

Ricoh just announced their latest point and shoot CX2 digital camera that comes with a 10.3-megapixel count alongside 10x optical zoom, an ISO Range from 80 to 1600, 88MB of internal memory just in case you run out of space on your memory card, a 3" LCD display and the ability to record video in VGA quality. Worth checking out, although if you're looking for something that has a little bit more oomph and closer to DSLR standards, this is the wrong place to be at.

[via ubergizmo]

Canon's latest fall PowerShot would be the G11, where this model will target experienced shutterbugs. Strange to see Canon reduce the resolution to 10-megapixels from last year's 14.7, although the new sensor will compensate that loss by performing much better in low light conditions, hence lowering the number of noise and blur. Apart from that, the G11 will also be the first among all G series to come with a swivel LCD display, allowing budding photographers to shoot interesting images at unusual angles. Other features include a 5x lens, optical image stabilization, RAW support, VGA video capture and light sensitivity settings between ISO 80 and 3,200. Expect the Canon PowerShot G11 to arrive sometime this October for $499.

[via ubergizmo]

Logitech’s newly announced mice, the Performance MX and Anywhere MX, make use of a brand new tracking technology that allows them to be used even on clear glass. Now, I had this same thought when Microsoft unveiled its Bluetrack mice: who uses their mouse on glass, or marble? I think the cases where this technology can come into play are extremely rare. I’m sure the “Darkfield” technology results in more accurate tracking on other surfaces as well, however, so it’s not like it’s a one-trick pony.

When I think about it, these are wireless mice made for taking with you places, so perhaps my initial estimate of how often one encounters glass could be a bit low. After all, when sitting outside at a cafe you may have a little glass table, and it would suck to be unable to use your mouse. The technology relies on the tiny scratches and dust particles invisible to the human eye:

He seems pretty pumped.

Like most Logitech stuff, the performance comes at a price. At $100, the Performance MX is shaped like the much-loved MX Revolution, but it can charge during use via a cord and of course has the Darkfield tracking. The Anywhere MX ($80) is the more mobile of the two. Both have that scroll wheel that I love so much and of course Logitech is a reliably good mouse-maker. We’ll have full reviews of these in a bit but for now you can just fantasize about all the glass tables you can mouse on now.

[via crunchgear]

Canon's latest Vixia HF S11 high definition camcorder could be considered by some quarters to be a professional video camera, where it comes with an additional long-range optical image stabilization system which is able to correct the image across all of the lens' reach, while extra manual controls provide focus and gain to provide seasoned shooters greater control where input is concerned to the final image. Canon has bumped up the internal memory to hit the 64GB mark, which is more than ample storage space to hold up to 24 hours of HD recording with the proper compression. Just in case you feel that this isn't enough, there is the option to slip in an SDHC memory card. The Canon Vixia HF S11 is tipped to arrive later next month for $1,500, where you can opt for a $120 RA-V1 Remote Control Adapter if that's your cup of tea.

[via ubergizmo]

Short Version: If you’ve never purchased a charging dock for your iPhone or iPod Touch and you’re without an alarm clock then the Kensington Nightstand is a perfect alternative for you, friend. Being able to check on the weather first thing in the morning is an added bonus. The $40 price tag might give some of you sticker shock considering the Rise & Shine app is free from the App Store, but a quick look around to other iPhone/iPod accessory vendors quickly reveals that the Nightstand is actually a good deal. If you’re looking to buy a charging dock that is.

Extended Version

I won’t lie; my gut reaction was that the Nightstand wasn’t worth $40. I mean, the Rise & Shine app works without the hardware and any number of combinations would allow me to recharge my iPhone while I slept. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If, and only if, you didn’t already own a charging dock of some sort for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Some may argue that the tiny brick provided by Apple with the purchase of a new iPhone is sufficient enough, but we could go in circles on that one.

The point is that the Nightstand does a good job of converting your iPhone into a nightstand and works great with the Rise & Shine app. It even works in portrait mode but it’s not as stable when it’s standing straight up. To accommodate those with cases, Kensington extended the connector, but there’s no way of knowing which cases it will and won’t work with.

But is it really worth $40, which includes the dock with a USB cable attached and an AC adapter? I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Product page and free app download

[via crunchgear]

Do you remember a time when the only headphones anyone could get, were the big ones that covered our ears? We know, we know, that seems like ancient history, but apparently there must be some kind of market for those things somewhere, because iHome has just released another pair of bright red, over-the-ears kind. Take a gander, if you want to feel like you’re part of history or something.

Now, there has to be some innovation with these things, or who would go out and buy them, right? Right. So, iHome went ahead and put an in-line amplifier in these bad boys, which means if you get tired of wearing them on your head (but you wouldn’t do that, right?), you can set them down and turn them into portable speakers. The iHMP5 comes with a battery-powered, louder amplifier as well when users do want to set it up in speaker-mode, so that power is reduced when using it in private, “normal” mode. The nearly 2 inch drivers provide the sound, and luckily enough there is an extra volume clip just in case you need to have a bit more control.

We’re not sure if it should be all that surprising, but the iHMP5 comes standard with a 3.5mm headphone jack. And, we’re also happy to report that red isn’t the only color: it also comes in blue and silver. So if you’re just dying to get your hands on these things, so you can blare music everywhere you go, they’re available for purchase now, at a reasonably priced $70.

[via slashgear]

Sony explodes (pardon the pun) four new Xplod in-dash CD Receivers that are all compatible with Radio Data System (RDS) technology. This means compatible FM radio stations can send artist and song information which will then be shown on the head unit's display. The higher end CDX-GT640UI and the CDX-GT540UI receivers will feature USB and auxiliary input on the front portion, making it able to handle iPods, iPhones and other portable audio players directly while providing a charge as additional service. Popular audio file formats are supported including MP3 and WMA, while satellite and HD radio modules can be easily integrated. As for the CDX-GT340 and GT240, both models come with a front auxiliary input and ship with a remote control. Available sometime next month, the CDX-GT640UI, CDX-GT540UI, CDX-GT340 and CDX-GT240 will retail for $160, $140, $100 and $80, respectively.

[via ubergizmo]