5:25 PM
Forensics company is offering police a $20 silica-lined bag to drop waterlogged phones into--the bag extracts teh water so police can get useful data from the cell phone:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/15/hydrophilic_baggy/
Computer modeling of swimming wish may lead to better prosthetics for humans and improved robotic systems:
http://newsdesk.umd.edu/bigissues/release.cfm?ArticleID=2254
New type of plastic material has sensory properties so it can monitor itself:
http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2010/09/electronica-2010.jsp
HP announced the Palm Pre 2 (coming to Verizon) and webOS 2.0. Current devices will be able to upgrade to webOS 2.0, which includes Flash and whole bunch of new features:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371014,00.asp
Engineer samples of Android 3.0 tablets will be ready in December and Android 3.0 is expected to begin the big push for Android tablets. It costs $50-60 for Windows OS for tablets but only $10 for Android, and ARM-powered Android tablets cost $30 less than Intel-powered Windows tablets, Remember, Google said that Android 2.2 should not be used by tablets, but some tablet makers didn't want to take their recommendation to wait until Android 3.0:
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20101018PD227.html
Apple had its first $20 billion quarter and blasted through its record for iPhone sales. Apple sold 14.1 million iPhones last quarter while only 12.1 million BlackBerry devices were sold. Apple sold 4.19 million iPads, an increase from the 3.27 million from the previous quarter, but below analyst estimates of 4.7 million:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/apple-storms-ahead-q4-14-1m-iphone-sales/2010-10-18
Article about what Steve Jobs said today to slam BlackBerry, Android, and table makers:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/10/18/apples_steve_jobs_slams_google_rim_and_rival_tablet_makers_on_conference_call.html
It is interesting that Android ad revenue has surpassed iOS ad revenue even though iOS gets more ads shown. Android apps have higher ad prices and a higher click-through rate...one interesting thing is that Android having fewer apps than the iPhone means that the limited supply of apps gives its apps higher fill rates and prices. Android got more ad revenue despite only counting Android smartphones while iOS counts the iPhone, iTouch, and iPad (iPad ad revenue was up 316% last quarter):
http://www.millennialmedia.com/2010/10/companion-post-mobile-mix-%E2%80%93behind-the-numbers/
Verizon is offering a 3G network extender for subscribers who do not have good voice and 3G data service at their homes (Hi Eric!). You can take the box wherever you go, so it will work for those people who go camping or go to remote areas with little wireless coverage:
http://www.androidcentral.com/verizon-wireless-3g-network-extender-now-available
Time Warner customers will be able to watch ESPN3 *and* ESPN via their computers, tablets, and (Flash-capable) smartphones:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/458650-TWC_Lines_Up_For_ESPN_Online_Kick.php
I always find it interesting to see just how much money each TV show got for its commercials before the season began. Here is what each show this year made:
http://adage.com/article?article_id=146495