Microsoft releases first app for Apple App Store

Microsoft's first app to hit the Mac App Store(Credit: CNET) Microsoft has brought its first piece of software to Apple's Mac App Store.  The digital software storefront, which launched just last month, is now home to Microsoft'sWindows Phone 7 Connector software. This is the application that lets Mac users sync up their iTunes and iPhoto libraries with Windows Phone 7 devices. It's also the way Mac users will be able to update the system software on their phones when Microsoft pushes out its first big update next month.  Microsoft first offered up the software in beta in October, and continues to offer it up as a...

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Box.net on iPad gets video-out feature

                                                         (Credit: Box.net) Box.net announced an update to its Box.net for iPad app today, and it's one that could make you leave behind your laptop come your next off-site meeting or business trip.  In fact, four new features join the iOS app for in-the-cloud business collaboration. The first is single sign-on, a convenience that allows you to log in once to connect Box, Google Apps, and PingFederate. Next, there's now iPad locking...

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Should Nintendo partner iOS with Sony chosing Android?

(Credit: Intomobile) For now, the dust has settled following Sony's back-to-back announcements, starting with the NGP and now this past weekend's Sony Ericsson Xperia Play unveiling. Regardless of how one might feel about the position Sony is attempting to secure in the portable gaming market, there are more ramifications that may not be present on the surface.  Portable gaming is no longer a two-console market. Five years ago it seemed Nintendo and Sony would battle to the death with the DS and PSP. Now, in a portable gaming market that has expanded to the world of "waiting room" casual games, the iOS and Android...

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Hands-on with the Razer Switchblade

The Razer Switchblade concept gaming device. (Credit: Damian Koh/CNET Asia)We spent some time with the Razer Switchblade at the company's Singapore office. For the uninitiated, this tiny notebook-like device was unveiled at CES last month and won CNET's Best of CES People's Voice Award. It is a portable gaming PC with keys that can be customized to suit the application being run at the time. The prototype we saw wasn't able to run games but its keyboard showed how it could display different icons based on the game played.Size-wise, the Switchblade is really compact. It is essentially a notebook with a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen...

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Mad Catz scores exclusive rights to make wireless headphones for Xbox 360

Mad Catz has finalized a fairly sweet deal with Microsoft for exclusive rights to produce wireless gaming headphones for the Xbox 360.  Those powerful headsets will be equipped with Dolby 5.1 technology. Mad Catz will also be working on other headsets for the Xbox 360 that are tied down by wires within the Tritton series, but no exclusivity there.  The fruits of this agreement will be seen during the holiday season later this year.  Read more of Mad Catz nabs exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones from ZDNet.&nb...

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DIY telepresence robot for only US$500

Telepresence robots are way cool, but way expensive. We've seen several platforms for these machines that let you remotely guide a robot around a distant location, with prices ranging from US$15,000 for Anybots' QB system to US$3,000 for the R.BOT 100.  Well, Google's Johnny Chung Lee has a history of creating low-cost versions of very expensive devices, such as his US$14 steadycam, and a homemade electronic whiteboard that uses theWii Remote.  To keep in touch with his fiancee after moving to Mountain View, California, where Google's headquarters are located, Lee made his own telepresence robot for only US$500.  As the video explains, he took a US$250 iRobot Create and a similarly priced Netbook, linked them with a few hardware and software modifications, and now communicates...

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MagicWand connects Apple's keyboard to the Magic Trackpad

The MagicWand, two great tastes that taste great together? (Credit: Twelve South) Sure, you could use Apple's gesture-friendly Magic Trackpad and the wireless keyboard separately, but why do that when Twelve South has a device that allows you to connect them together Voltron-style? It's called the MagicWand and it acts as a bridging contrivance between the two wireless input devices. It's not electrical; it's just a mini-mount that allows you to use the keyboard and trackpad together without needing a tabletop, such as while you're in bed or on a therapist's couch.  Or, as the makers point out, it's great for controlling a...

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Sony challenges iTunes with its new Qriocity music service

Screen shot of Sony's Qriocity (Credit: Sony) Sony wants to take back digital music from Apple.  The creator of the Walkman says it is ready to challenge iTunes, forge ahead into music streaming, and also put its doomed prior attempts to build iTunes-killers behind it.  Today, Sony unveiled a new cloud music service in the US that will play songs on a mix of Sony devices, such as the PlayStation3, Bravia TVs, and Blu-ray home theater systems, as well as a range of Sony's portable devices. The service is called "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," and hopefully the service is less clunky than the name.  For US$10 a month,...

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Apple to turn MobileMe into film, music hub?

Apple may turn MobileMe into digital shelves where iTunes users can store electronic books, songs, and movies.  MobileMe is an online storage locker, a service that enables users to keep calendars, address books, and email on Apple's servers. In the future, Apple could turn the service into an entertainment and media hub, where users maintain their digital music and video libraries, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.  MobileMe costs US$99 annually to use, but Apple may turn it into a free service, the Journal report.  Computing done over the Internet is commonly referred to as taking place in "the cloud" and this...

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