February 9th, 2010, 2:45 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
Irvine chipmaker Broadcom Corp. has fully joined the Android camp and said today that its wireless technologies fully support Google’s mobile operating system.
What does that mean? Conceivably cheaper phones because Broadcom likes to cram several features into one chip. In this case, the company said its series of wireless chips that offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and VoIP, are now available for Android phones.
While most Android phones already have these features, manufacturers can now purchase one chip instead of three separate ones. That could decrease the cost of making the phone and/or free up space inside the phone since multiple chips are no longer needed.
On top of the full Android support, Broadcom points out that its chips offer the latest Bluetooth technology, previously unavailable for in Android phones. Broadcom offers Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, which means faster connections of up to 24 mbps. That will come in handy for those who like to share videos, photos or other files between phones or any other mobile devices. Broadcom’s new Android push isn’t just for phones but also tablets, which it will demonstrate next week during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Android manufacturers who add the Broadcom chips will be the first with faster Bluetooth.
Broadcom, of course, has long supported the iPhone and was among the first to provide chips for the revolutionary phone. But now, with analysts expecting Android to be the second most popular mobile software by 2013, Broadcom decided to expand its support.
The company isn’t new to Android. It previously demonstrated support for Android on personal navigation devices; Android chips that combine Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM radio; and support for an Android HD camcorder, video player and 12-megapixel camera.
Previously on Broadcom:
Posted in: news • Android • Broadcom • Irvine • mobile world congress • mwc • wireless chips | Post a Comment »
February 8th, 2010, 11:31 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
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Did you get Vizio’s Super Bowl 2010 ad? Comment |
It was hard to avoid Vizio at the Super Bowl yesterday. The Irvine HDTV company was obviously a major sponsor of the football game with its sponsorship of the pre-game show, the field camera and several commercials.
But the big Super Bowl spot starring musician Beyonce failed to resonate with many critics, though it definitely wasn’t the worst of the bunch.
Vizio hired Wally Pfister, the cinematographer for “The Dark Knight” and “Batman Begins” to create a commercial for its new VIA TVs, short for Vizio Internet Apps TVs.
The spot shows a mechanical arm handpicking familiar Internet “content” — from the Twitter bird to the Flickr logo to the Internet celebrities like the overweight guy lip synching “Numa Numa,” Youtube Tay Zonday singing “Chocolate Rain” the Dramatic Beaver and others. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Video & TV • Irvine • Super Bowl • Super Bowl commercial • VIA • Vizio • Web TV | 32 Comments »
February 7th, 2010, 10:12 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
It’s a big year for Orange County’s tech-minded companies. Three are involved in Super Bowl ads, airing today. We got them ahead of time and have set them up to be available once they appear on TV. Until then, you’ll just see some blank spots below and will need to satisfy yourself with the extra filler.
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Vizio, HDTV company in Irvine |
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Posted in: news • Agency 3.0 • Beyonce • Boost Mobile • Irvine • newport beach • Super Bowl • Super Bowl commercial • TV commercials • Vizio | 4 Comments »
February 6th, 2010, 1:31 am by Ed Schwartz, NOCCC
Stump the PC Club is a free tech-advice column written by members of the North Orange County Computer Club, which has been in existence since 1976. Visit the club’s site at noccc.org. And don’t forget to stop by the Gadgetress’ home for the PC Club, at ocregister.com/link/pcclub, to find out how to ask a question and read past answers.
QUESTION: Here’s one that should have strong general application. I do editorial work using XP, and have built up a useful stable of fonts. I just got a new computer using Windows 7, and want to move the fonts over to it, but can’t make anything work. Is there a way to do this?
PC CLUB: Before we get to the punch line, let’s start with some font facts:
- Windows 7 ships with 235 fonts, versus 191 in Vista and 133 in Windows XP. PrePressure.com offers a handy list of typefaces that ship with Windows 7 (link: bit.ly/windows7fonts).
- The more fonts that you install, the more computer memory (or RAM) is used. Your system must load all fonts at boot-up and this may extend your boot time. This is not as critical with newer PCs since they have faster processors and more RAM but it’s something to keep an eye on.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Stump the PC Club • font • fonts • PC Club • Windows • Windows 7 • Windows tricks | 1 Comment »
February 5th, 2010, 3:35 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
Who could forget those crazy Boost Mobile commercials with senior citizens dancing and talking “10 kinds of nasty.” Thank Peter Adderton for that.
The Australian native, (pictured on right) who founded and later left Boost, says that Boost was all about marketing a new brand aimed at the untapped youth market. Branding and marketing is his expertise.
Adderton, who never left Orange County, is at it again on Sunday with Super Bowl XLIV. This time, with his new advertising firm Agency 3.0 in Newport Beach, he developed three TV commercials for some other company: Flo TV, the mobile TV service from San Diego’s Qualcomm Inc (see earlier story, “Qualcomm’s tiny 3.5-inch TV coming this holiday“). The goal is to get consumers familiar with the service, which offers TV shows in a moving car, on your phone and out shopping when you’d rather watch a football game.
“That’s where our strength is. We launched the brand (Boost) and used wireless to push that through,” said Adderton, explaining how he went from founding mobile phone companies to an ad agency. ”Flo TV is an extension of our expertise in that area.”
Added Feb. 6: Peek at Flo TV’s “Moments” Super Bowl ad with Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am remixed “My Generation” by The Who:
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Cell phones • Video & TV • Agency 3.0 • Black Eyed Peas • Boost Mobile • Flo TV • Haiti • Irvine • newport beach • Peter Adderton • Qualcomm • remix • San Diego • Super Bowl • Super Bowl commercial • The Who | 1 Comment »
February 5th, 2010, 3:16 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
I’ve seen Vizio’s Super Bowl 2010 ad with Beyonce but have promised not to reveal anything until after the ad airs during the fourth quarter of the game. But Vizio did share this with readers:
Beyonce is the Irvine HDTV company’s latest celebrity endorsee. It’s great that Vizio signed her but let me say this, she’s not the only celebrity showing up in Sunday’s TV commercial.
Vizio also shares this: Besides the Beyonce commercial, the company has the opening and closing bill boards and two 30-second spots during the pre-game show, which it’s sponsoring. Its Internet TVs will decorate the background of the anchor desk plus its name will be on the camera that hovers above the field — the Vizio Vision Cam.
How much is Vizio spending? No idea, but last year’s ad cost the company a minimum of $1 million in TVs it gave away to consumers.
Read the earlier story: “Beyoncé, Batman, the 2010 Super Bowl and Vizio“
I’ll have all the commercials posted on the blog Sunday after they air. Come back if you feel like giving me some more page views 
Check out the Register’s 2010 Super Bowl coverage HERE. More non-game Super Bowl coverage:
Posted in: news • Beyonce • Irvine • Super Bowl • Super Bowl commercial • Vizio | 2 Comments »
February 5th, 2010, 3:34 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
3D movies today are far from the fuzzy 3D of the 20th century, where blue-and-red cardboard goggles were more of a fashion statement then advancement in technology. At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, it became very clear that 3D is heading to living rooms nationwide.
Pretty much everyone announced a 3D HDTV, including budget TV brand Vizio. But the even bigger news came from companies like DirecTV, ESPN and the Discovery Networks, which all announced major efforts to bring 3D videos to TV sets.
But are consumers ready for a 3D TV?
The simple answer: Not yet. Yes, many 3D TVs will begin hitting store shelves in late Spring. And DirecTV begins offering three 3D channels in June. But experts agree that the content is just not there yet. So, when should you buy a 3D TV?
“2013,” says Alfred Poor, an analyst who covers the TV industry and is known as the “HDTV professor.” “2013 is when we’ll start seeing 3D televisions shipping in quantity. Why? Because of content. Content is king, always has been, always will be. … Hollywood is now committed to producing 15 to 20 3D features this year. That averages to 2 to 3 hours each so that’s about 40 hours of new content. That’s not enough to fill a single week of primetime.”
DirecTV is working with Panasonic to offer the three channels beginning in June. They will include one pay-per-view channel, one special events channel (sports, music) and one video on demand channel. Subscribers who already have DirecTV’s HD box will get a free software update so they can access the 3D channels for free. But viewers will need a 3D TV and 3D glasses to view the content. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Video & TV • 3D • 3d blu-ray • 3D TV • blu-ray • Discovery • espn • Irvine • Mitsubishi • panasonic • Vizio | 8 Comments »
February 4th, 2010, 12:30 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
One way to save some money on TV service? Commit for a year or two.
It’s a business model that both satellite TV companies have offered for years. Over at Verizon FiOS, new customers will save about $240 over a 2-year period for the company’s most popular TV, Internet and phone bundle. Time Warner Cable began offering its price-lock guarantee program last year, saving customers ordering 3 services a $432 over two years.
Cox Communications, too, is doing the same thing but as one reader discovered, not every customer qualifies.
John, a Laguna Beach resident, asked for the discount after learning that Cox is raising cable TV and Internet rates in March. But he was told he wasn’t eligible. No one, not even the service manager, could figure out why.
Lana Ong, a Cox spokesperson, cleared it all up: Price lock is just a trial for the company in certain parts of the country, including Orange County. But if your account is delinquent or already getting a good discount, you don’t qualify. Ong responded: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Video & TV • Cox • Cox Cable • Cox Communications • price lock • Time Warner Cable • TV prices • TV service • Verizon FiOS | 6 Comments »
Here's a list of TV/mobile companies helping consumers one tweet at a time. 
