Ten Irish firms, including three technology companies, have been selected to represent the country in the next stage of the 2010 European Business Awards.
The chosen Irish firms are: Alternatives, Aviva Health Insurance Ireland, Dell, Intel Ireland, Kingspan Group, Musgrave Group, Paypal Europe Services, Sicon Ltd - SISK Group, The Taxback Group and Unicare Pharmacy.
The awards, sponsored by HSBC, feature eight categories: Business of the Year Award, RSM International Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Business Innovation of the Year Award; HSBC Growth Strategy of the Year Award; Award for Customer Focus; Award for Corporate Sustainability; Environmental Awareness Award; and Employer of the Year Award.
The 10 Irish companies will now face a second wave of judging by a panel of experts including representatives from Diageo, Deutsche Telekom and the Telegraph Media Group.
The panel will evaluate the entries and select the top-scoring companies to become the Ruban d’Honneur recipients in each category. These winners will be announced on 29 July and will then go on to give face-to-face presentations to judges in a bid to win one of the eight categories.
Last year, Irish company Freeflow was the overall winner of the 2009 Ruban d’Honneur European Business Award in the category of the Information and Communication Technology Effectiveness.
Entries are of a high calibre
“These awards provide a great platform to recognise how businesses have excelled despite the financial uncertainty of the past two years. Entries this year have been of a particularly high calibre, highlighting Irish businesses' impressive ability to innovate and generate financial growth despite economic challenges – regardless of sector or size,” said Alan Duffy, HSBC head of corporate banking, Ireland.
“I believe that the 10 we have chosen are indicative of Ireland’s business strengths and confident that they will provide very tough competition for the other European entries,” he added.
According to Adrian Tripp, chief executive of the European Business Awards, the quality of applicants to the awards is rising each year, as are the number of entrants.
“These organisations who have achieved country representative status truly are the best of the best,” he said.
The winners of the European Business Awards will be honoured at a gala awards presentation at The Westin Hotel in Paris, on 16 November before an audience of more than 400 of Europe's top politicians, business leaders and media.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Dell Aero confirmed to offer Google friendly apps
Thankfully the Dell Aero isn't looking like it'll be following in the same footsteps as the Motorola BACKFLIP as some interesting new changes have taken notice since the last time the Dell Aero was seen. Even though we saw AT&T flex its muscles in the wake of the Motorola BACKFLIP's release, the Dell Aero is fortunately seeing some changes that'll have the common set of Google apps from the onset – such as the Android Market, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Gmail, and finally Google Search. The proof of it all can be found on a splash page on AT&T's web site where the Aero is being touted as the “lightest Android smartphone ever.” Additionally it reveals that it'll have access to the over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots, include support for Flash Lite, and have the ability to send content taken from its 5-megapixel camera to popular sites like Flickr, Picasa, TwitPic, YouTube, and Facebook. Now that it's looking a bit better and not as crippled as some thought it would end up becoming, the Dell Aero should prove to offer the full experience of Android from the beginning.
Dell Aero Has Google Apps After All
Here's some good news for you Android fans with AT&T service. The Dell Aero will have the standard fare of Google applications
and services. This includes the Android Market, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Gmail, and Google Search. It was initially reported that AT&T had taken steps to yank out of some the Google in favor of Yahoo, similar to the Backflip experience.
For those unfamiliar with the handset, the touch-only Aero features a 5 megapixel camera and a 3.5" nHD display. No official launch date is known as of yet. Here's to hoping AT&T lets users add apps from outside of the Android Market.
and services. This includes the Android Market, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Gmail, and Google Search. It was initially reported that AT&T had taken steps to yank out of some the Google in favor of Yahoo, similar to the Backflip experience.
For those unfamiliar with the handset, the touch-only Aero features a 5 megapixel camera and a 3.5" nHD display. No official launch date is known as of yet. Here's to hoping AT&T lets users add apps from outside of the Android Market.
Dell Aero confirmed to offer all of Google’s apps
The first batches of these handsets that were tested were missing nearly all of Google’s apps. Like the Bacflip, this handset was also going to have a few core Android apps replaced by bloatware. The most notable omission was Yahoo Search integration instead of Google’s search. Dell has recently confirmed that all of Google’s app will be installed on this device.
The Aero will include Market, Maps, Gmail, and search. Although, there’s no word on the search provider so there’s still a chance it will be swapped out for Yahoo Search. Dell most likely pressured AT&T not to hinder their devices like they did with their first Android handset. The Backflip has essentially been a flop and this is partly due to the restricted Android experience.
The Aero will include Market, Maps, Gmail, and search. Although, there’s no word on the search provider so there’s still a chance it will be swapped out for Yahoo Search. Dell most likely pressured AT&T not to hinder their devices like they did with their first Android handset. The Backflip has essentially been a flop and this is partly due to the restricted Android experience.
Toshiba DELL Compaq Laptops Cheap New
Dell is an American PC manufacturer that offers a variety of desktops and laptops, and printers, monitors and PC accessories. Several coupons and discounts Dell PC can be found online, as well as those offering percentage discounts on merchandise and free shipping for orders above a particular amount.
Dell is an American PC manufacturer that offers a variety of desktops and laptops, and printers, monitors and PC accessories.
Dell offers can be found on the official website of the manufacturer. The company does offer free shipping a number of its computers on a particular amount. In addition, many large discounts can be found on Dell's website out of business, plus special deals on laptops, desktops, electronics and software. At no cost upgrades of memory may also be available on some models of Dell computers. Dell will sometimes offer coupons online for home computers, monitors and printers.
toshiba-dell-compaq-laptops-cheap-new
In addition to these special promotions, other Dell coupons can be found on other online sites. If you're in the market for a Dell computer, consider your options carefully before making a final decision, you may be able to get a considerable amount off your goods.
What do you get another computer or laptop, printer, camera, etc., be sure to use coupons to save Dell $. You can begin by browsing all the different offers, you'll be surprised how much you can save $ on a new computer and electronic products offered by Dell or a Home Business site, thanks to coupons and discounts Dell !
Dell deals and coupons are usually available on websites aggregate content or publishing sites content deals say discounts and websites. There are literally 1000's of these sites, simple searches like "cheap laptops" or "dell coupon" with Google or other search engine will allow you to these sites.
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Why are kings Dell Computers PC
The Dell computers will still be preloaded with trial versions of antivirus software, Acrobat Reader and Google tools. They also advise on new software uninstall utility in the U.S. (pre-installed on Dimension and Inspiron systems) that enables customers to better control and select the software on their system.
The Dell computers will still be preloaded with trial versions of antivirus software, Acrobat Reader and Google tools. Dell computers are now available through eBuy e-catalog. Dell Computers is one of the great successes of the microcomputer revolution. Starting at only $ 1,000 in capital, Michael Dell built a computer manufacturer which is one of the most successful, and has changed the way computer manufacturers offer products to consumers.
Dell computers are often better than the competitors and cheaper components. I really recommend either the XPS or Latitude line of laptops, if you make a purchase. Dell Computers has a wide range of computers and computer accessories available. You can buy desktop computers for your home or office at the click of a mouse. Dell computers are assembled in Austin, Texas, but some 4,500 pieces from hundreds of suppliers scattered around the world, from Malaysia to Korea but clustered especially in Taiwan and China.
Dell computers are sold online as well and can be easily controlled. Dell laptops are known for their reliability. The Dell has a way around this with their online shopping options. Never again will you be subjected to pushy salesmen trying to make a Commission greater.
Dell is an American PC manufacturer that offers a variety of desktops and laptops, and printers, monitors and PC accessories.
Dell offers can be found on the official website of the manufacturer. The company does offer free shipping a number of its computers on a particular amount. In addition, many large discounts can be found on Dell's website out of business, plus special deals on laptops, desktops, electronics and software. At no cost upgrades of memory may also be available on some models of Dell computers. Dell will sometimes offer coupons online for home computers, monitors and printers.
toshiba-dell-compaq-laptops-cheap-new
In addition to these special promotions, other Dell coupons can be found on other online sites. If you're in the market for a Dell computer, consider your options carefully before making a final decision, you may be able to get a considerable amount off your goods.
What do you get another computer or laptop, printer, camera, etc., be sure to use coupons to save Dell $. You can begin by browsing all the different offers, you'll be surprised how much you can save $ on a new computer and electronic products offered by Dell or a Home Business site, thanks to coupons and discounts Dell !
Dell deals and coupons are usually available on websites aggregate content or publishing sites content deals say discounts and websites. There are literally 1000's of these sites, simple searches like "cheap laptops" or "dell coupon" with Google or other search engine will allow you to these sites.
toshiba-dell-compaq-laptops-cheap-new-2
Why are kings Dell Computers PC
The Dell computers will still be preloaded with trial versions of antivirus software, Acrobat Reader and Google tools. They also advise on new software uninstall utility in the U.S. (pre-installed on Dimension and Inspiron systems) that enables customers to better control and select the software on their system.
The Dell computers will still be preloaded with trial versions of antivirus software, Acrobat Reader and Google tools. Dell computers are now available through eBuy e-catalog. Dell Computers is one of the great successes of the microcomputer revolution. Starting at only $ 1,000 in capital, Michael Dell built a computer manufacturer which is one of the most successful, and has changed the way computer manufacturers offer products to consumers.
Dell computers are often better than the competitors and cheaper components. I really recommend either the XPS or Latitude line of laptops, if you make a purchase. Dell Computers has a wide range of computers and computer accessories available. You can buy desktop computers for your home or office at the click of a mouse. Dell computers are assembled in Austin, Texas, but some 4,500 pieces from hundreds of suppliers scattered around the world, from Malaysia to Korea but clustered especially in Taiwan and China.
Dell computers are sold online as well and can be easily controlled. Dell laptops are known for their reliability. The Dell has a way around this with their online shopping options. Never again will you be subjected to pushy salesmen trying to make a Commission greater.
Dell Diagnostic Codes
Most computers come with the ability to produce a BIOS beep code when there is a serious hardware problem that prevents Windows from loading normally. Many Dell models have this feature, as well as additional diagnostic lights to help users and repair technicians quickly troubleshoot problems. In addition to a beep code, your Dell PC might have diagnostic lights on the front panel, lights in the rear labled A,B,C and D and even a power supply LED. These advanced tools can generally point to the problem part if you know what you’re looking for.
Dell System Lights
These lights are located on the front panel. They will change color and blink depending on the issue:
1. A solid green light means the computer is powered on and functioning normally.
2. A blinking green light means the computer is in stand-by.
3. A solid yellow light means there is a device on the motherboard that may not be seated properly.
4. A blinking yellow light means there is likely a problem with the motherboard or the power supply.
If you have a solid green light but are still not booting, be sure to check your monitor connection, listen for beeps or check the rear of the PC for additional lights.
Dell Rear Diagnostic Lights
Rear LEDS are labled A through D and can change from green to yellow. Some typical LED reading might be:
A – yellow, B – yellow, C – green, D – green <—— Indicates a problem with the RAM.
A – yellow, B – green, C – yellow, D – green <—– Indicates a problem with the video card.
Refer to the Dell website for your specific model, as these lights can vary from model to model.
Dell BIOS Beep Codes
Beeps codes are audible beeps issued by the motherboard BIOS that help diagnose problems with hardware. Refer to the Dell website for your specific model. Some typical Dell BIOS beeps codes are:
3-3-4 is a video test failure.
4-2-2 is a shutdown failure.
3-2-4 is a keyboard controller test failure.
If you need more help diagnosing problems with your Dell computer, be sure to visit our free computer forums for more advice.
Dell System Lights
These lights are located on the front panel. They will change color and blink depending on the issue:
1. A solid green light means the computer is powered on and functioning normally.
2. A blinking green light means the computer is in stand-by.
3. A solid yellow light means there is a device on the motherboard that may not be seated properly.
4. A blinking yellow light means there is likely a problem with the motherboard or the power supply.
If you have a solid green light but are still not booting, be sure to check your monitor connection, listen for beeps or check the rear of the PC for additional lights.
Dell Rear Diagnostic Lights
Rear LEDS are labled A through D and can change from green to yellow. Some typical LED reading might be:
A – yellow, B – yellow, C – green, D – green <—— Indicates a problem with the RAM.
A – yellow, B – green, C – yellow, D – green <—– Indicates a problem with the video card.
Refer to the Dell website for your specific model, as these lights can vary from model to model.
Dell BIOS Beep Codes
Beeps codes are audible beeps issued by the motherboard BIOS that help diagnose problems with hardware. Refer to the Dell website for your specific model. Some typical Dell BIOS beeps codes are:
3-3-4 is a video test failure.
4-2-2 is a shutdown failure.
3-2-4 is a keyboard controller test failure.
If you need more help diagnosing problems with your Dell computer, be sure to visit our free computer forums for more advice.
Dell Inspiron 580s: Slimmer, Faster Budget PC Misses the Mark
The Dell Inspiron 580s ($529, as of April 20, 2010) is in many ways a typical budget PC. Its main points of differentiation are a chassis that is slimmer than most in its category and generally strong performance for the price.
The Inspiron 580s is powered by a 2.93 GHz Core i3-530 processor--a chip that dominates our Top 10 Budget PCs chart. The Inspiron 580s runs Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); it offers 4GB of RAM and a paltry 320GB of storage space. Its score of 119 on our WorldBench 6 test suite puts it on a par with the rest of the category's leaders, including the Gateway SX2840-01 (118) and the HP Pavilion p6330f (118). HP's business-centric Compaq 6005 Pro makes a stronger showing (128), but it's more expensive, too.
As expected, the Inspiron 580s couldn't produce playable frame rates in our Unreal Tournament 3 graphics benchmark tests. Most machines in the Budget Desktop PCs category fail to deliver here, owing to their integrated graphics. If you're looking for gaming-grade performance, a system from our Top 10 Mainstream Desktops PCs chart will be a better fit.
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The Inspiron 580s's case is plain but attractive, with a simple honeycomb pattern snaking up the chassis's face. It is equally at ease standing vertically or lying horizontally, thanks to a set of rubber feet on the side. You can't remove these feet, however, and they might be a bit of an eyesore if you prefer to keep their machine upright. The DVD burner and multiformat card reader are masked by a pair of doors, preserving the jet-black aesthetic. Also on the front are headphone and microphone jacks, but only two USB ports.
On the rear of the chassis, Dell provides four more USB ports. The machine also offers 5.1-channel surround sound, a gigabit ethernet port, a VGA port, and an HDMI port. The absence of a DVI port is slightly disappointing; users who lack HDMI support on their displays will have to settle for VGA.
To get inside the Inspiron 580s's chassis, you'll have to remove a pair of screws; once you're there, the slimmer chassis makes tinkering difficult. The system's interior includes a free PCI Express x16 slot and a PCI slot, but cables and the metal braces severely restrict your maneuvering room.
Dell included a generic keyboard and mouse, neither of which offers anything in the way of extra media buttons. Still, they're quite functional. The mouse is symmetrical and curved, with a comfortable groove for your thumb whether you're right-handed or left-handed.
The only bundled software is the obligatory trial version of the Microsoft Office suite. The included user manual is quite nice: About the size and thickness of a point-and-shoot camera's manual, it offers comprehensive info to get you started.
If you're in the market for a generic productivity machine, choosing the right budget PC is chiefly a matter of finding the one that suits your aesthetic and ergonomic preferences. Performance is less of a concern: You can't expect to do much gaming, but you'll have plenty of power in spades to handle most other tasks.
Dell's Inspiron 580s offers fewer connectivity options than its competitors do, but it also costs less and comes in a slimmer package. If you need a bigger hard drive and a greater array of readily accessible ports, Gateway's SX2840-01 and HP's Pavilion p6330f are better bets, albeit with a reasonable price bump to cover the difference.
The Inspiron 580s is powered by a 2.93 GHz Core i3-530 processor--a chip that dominates our Top 10 Budget PCs chart. The Inspiron 580s runs Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); it offers 4GB of RAM and a paltry 320GB of storage space. Its score of 119 on our WorldBench 6 test suite puts it on a par with the rest of the category's leaders, including the Gateway SX2840-01 (118) and the HP Pavilion p6330f (118). HP's business-centric Compaq 6005 Pro makes a stronger showing (128), but it's more expensive, too.
As expected, the Inspiron 580s couldn't produce playable frame rates in our Unreal Tournament 3 graphics benchmark tests. Most machines in the Budget Desktop PCs category fail to deliver here, owing to their integrated graphics. If you're looking for gaming-grade performance, a system from our Top 10 Mainstream Desktops PCs chart will be a better fit.
ad_icon
The Inspiron 580s's case is plain but attractive, with a simple honeycomb pattern snaking up the chassis's face. It is equally at ease standing vertically or lying horizontally, thanks to a set of rubber feet on the side. You can't remove these feet, however, and they might be a bit of an eyesore if you prefer to keep their machine upright. The DVD burner and multiformat card reader are masked by a pair of doors, preserving the jet-black aesthetic. Also on the front are headphone and microphone jacks, but only two USB ports.
On the rear of the chassis, Dell provides four more USB ports. The machine also offers 5.1-channel surround sound, a gigabit ethernet port, a VGA port, and an HDMI port. The absence of a DVI port is slightly disappointing; users who lack HDMI support on their displays will have to settle for VGA.
To get inside the Inspiron 580s's chassis, you'll have to remove a pair of screws; once you're there, the slimmer chassis makes tinkering difficult. The system's interior includes a free PCI Express x16 slot and a PCI slot, but cables and the metal braces severely restrict your maneuvering room.
Dell included a generic keyboard and mouse, neither of which offers anything in the way of extra media buttons. Still, they're quite functional. The mouse is symmetrical and curved, with a comfortable groove for your thumb whether you're right-handed or left-handed.
The only bundled software is the obligatory trial version of the Microsoft Office suite. The included user manual is quite nice: About the size and thickness of a point-and-shoot camera's manual, it offers comprehensive info to get you started.
If you're in the market for a generic productivity machine, choosing the right budget PC is chiefly a matter of finding the one that suits your aesthetic and ergonomic preferences. Performance is less of a concern: You can't expect to do much gaming, but you'll have plenty of power in spades to handle most other tasks.
Dell's Inspiron 580s offers fewer connectivity options than its competitors do, but it also costs less and comes in a slimmer package. If you need a bigger hard drive and a greater array of readily accessible ports, Gateway's SX2840-01 and HP's Pavilion p6330f are better bets, albeit with a reasonable price bump to cover the difference.
Dell Plant to Remain Open Until 2011
ORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. - Dell announced on Friday it will extend the closure date of its Forsyth County plant to January 2011, according The Business Journal.
The extension is the fourth reprieve for the plant and its 400 remaining employees. Dell first announced last October the facility would be closed in early 2010 and more than 900 jobs would be eliminated.
In March, the company announced it would close in October of this year. The city received Dell's repayment of $26.5 million for upfront costs and yearly incentive payments received for its manufacturing facility in November of last year.
The plant opened in 2005.
Winston-Salem city officials said they have a plan to find a tenant for the building once Dell vacates. Mayor Allen Joines said several companies have expressed interest in the plant, including some distribution companies, another computer manufacturing company and a data center. Joines declined to identify the companies by name.
Dell says increased demand for desktop computers is the reason the closing date for the plant has changed.
The extension is the fourth reprieve for the plant and its 400 remaining employees. Dell first announced last October the facility would be closed in early 2010 and more than 900 jobs would be eliminated.
In March, the company announced it would close in October of this year. The city received Dell's repayment of $26.5 million for upfront costs and yearly incentive payments received for its manufacturing facility in November of last year.
The plant opened in 2005.
Winston-Salem city officials said they have a plan to find a tenant for the building once Dell vacates. Mayor Allen Joines said several companies have expressed interest in the plant, including some distribution companies, another computer manufacturing company and a data center. Joines declined to identify the companies by name.
Dell says increased demand for desktop computers is the reason the closing date for the plant has changed.
Dell postpones closing North Carolina plant again; SoCo's Cissi's Market closes
Dell postpones closing of N.C. facility till 2011
Dell Inc. said Friday that it is postponing the closing of its computer assembly plant in Winston-Salem, N.C., for a fourth time.
Dell announced last fall that it would shut the plant in January, but it pushed back that date to April, then July and then October.
Dell's latest plan calls for closing the plant in January 2011. The plant, which employed 905 workers last fall, now has 400 Dell employees and an undisclosed number of contract workers.
Dell said late last year when it first delayed the plant closing that it was seeing increased customer demand. Since then, companies that track the personal computer market have said that a rebound in PC buying is under way.
REBATE PROGRAM
Report: Calls dropped for most rebate seekers
Most Texans who called trying to get appliance rebates this month had their calls dropped by the contractor who handled the program, The Dallas Morning News reported. Nearly 78 percent of the calls were dropped, the newspaper found.
When the rebate program launched April 7, thousands of Texans could not get through to phone banks or a website set up to handle requests for $23 million in rebates for energy-efficient appliances.
Lawmakers have expressed anger at how the program was handled and comptroller's officials have requested a performance report from the contractor, Helgeson Enterprises, to determine what went wrong.
RESTAURANTS
Cissi's Market closes doors for final time
Cissi's Market, the wine bar and South Congress stop for sandwiches, pastries, coffees and specialty groceries, closed at 4 p.m. Friday, a store employee confirmed.
Cissi's opened in 2007. The market attracted some top-flight wine and food talent in its three-year-run, including chefs Deegan McClung and Rebecca Meeker. Cissi's chef Coi Burruss, who was a contestant on the reality show "Hell's Kitchen," will continue her joint duties at Town Market, another gourmet grocery venture from Cissi's owner Victoria Lynden.
Dell Inc. said Friday that it is postponing the closing of its computer assembly plant in Winston-Salem, N.C., for a fourth time.
Dell announced last fall that it would shut the plant in January, but it pushed back that date to April, then July and then October.
Dell's latest plan calls for closing the plant in January 2011. The plant, which employed 905 workers last fall, now has 400 Dell employees and an undisclosed number of contract workers.
Dell said late last year when it first delayed the plant closing that it was seeing increased customer demand. Since then, companies that track the personal computer market have said that a rebound in PC buying is under way.
REBATE PROGRAM
Report: Calls dropped for most rebate seekers
Most Texans who called trying to get appliance rebates this month had their calls dropped by the contractor who handled the program, The Dallas Morning News reported. Nearly 78 percent of the calls were dropped, the newspaper found.
When the rebate program launched April 7, thousands of Texans could not get through to phone banks or a website set up to handle requests for $23 million in rebates for energy-efficient appliances.
Lawmakers have expressed anger at how the program was handled and comptroller's officials have requested a performance report from the contractor, Helgeson Enterprises, to determine what went wrong.
RESTAURANTS
Cissi's Market closes doors for final time
Cissi's Market, the wine bar and South Congress stop for sandwiches, pastries, coffees and specialty groceries, closed at 4 p.m. Friday, a store employee confirmed.
Cissi's opened in 2007. The market attracted some top-flight wine and food talent in its three-year-run, including chefs Deegan McClung and Rebecca Meeker. Cissi's chef Coi Burruss, who was a contestant on the reality show "Hell's Kitchen," will continue her joint duties at Town Market, another gourmet grocery venture from Cissi's owner Victoria Lynden.
New Android-based smartbooks from Dell – Athens and Sparta
Recent leaks bring to light Dell’s plans for full smartbooks. The conventional Athens and the convertible tablet Sparta would both use ARM chips and run either pure Linux or Android. They may have 11-inch displays with 1,024×768 resolution and 4:3 ratio and should have options for Bluetooth and 3G connectivity.
If information from Android Central proves to be correct, the Sparta would be the first to ship sometime in July, which is considered by Dell as part of its fiscal year 2011. Athens would not be ready before January or February 2011.
Dell also claims that the 7-inch Looking Glass tablet would have a staggered launch as already scheduled, with the standard version arriving in August or September and an updated Pro model bringing a higher resolution screen and a TV tuner by February. The Mini 5 (Streak) is intended for launch in May, while the Thunder smartphone, which runs Android, would only be ready in November or December this year.
If information from Android Central proves to be correct, the Sparta would be the first to ship sometime in July, which is considered by Dell as part of its fiscal year 2011. Athens would not be ready before January or February 2011.
Dell also claims that the 7-inch Looking Glass tablet would have a staggered launch as already scheduled, with the standard version arriving in August or September and an updated Pro model bringing a higher resolution screen and a TV tuner by February. The Mini 5 (Streak) is intended for launch in May, while the Thunder smartphone, which runs Android, would only be ready in November or December this year.
Dell Aero for AT&T to have custom UI
More details have surfaced about the Dell Aero smartphone that AT&T (NYSE: T) is expected to launch in the first half of 2010. According to a spec sheet from AT&T, the Android-based Aero will sport a custom UI developed by Dell and AT&T. Although details about the UI are vague, it appears to provide users with direct access to social-network software such as Facebook, Flickr, Picasa and TwitPic.
Dell Aero for ATTThe spec sheet also noted the Aero will have a 3.5-inch touchscreen and will connect to both the operator's 3G network and WiFi. It will also have a 5-megapixel camera and will provide access to standard Android features such as Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk and the Android Market.
The Dell Aero is the company's first smartphone for the U.S. market. The device previously paraded under the Mini3 moniker.
The news is notable considering what appears to be Dell's wide-ranging smartphone ambitions. According to documents recently leaked to the blog Engadget, Dell is planning to develop a range of smartphones running both Google's Android platform and Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Phone 7 offering.
Of course, Dell is not the only computer manufacturer to target the smartphone space. Lenovo and Acer are also boosting their respective smartphone efforts, while computing giant Hewlett-Packard this week agreed to spend $1.2 billion to acquire webOS developer and smartphone manufacturer Palm.
Dell Aero for ATTThe spec sheet also noted the Aero will have a 3.5-inch touchscreen and will connect to both the operator's 3G network and WiFi. It will also have a 5-megapixel camera and will provide access to standard Android features such as Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk and the Android Market.
The Dell Aero is the company's first smartphone for the U.S. market. The device previously paraded under the Mini3 moniker.
The news is notable considering what appears to be Dell's wide-ranging smartphone ambitions. According to documents recently leaked to the blog Engadget, Dell is planning to develop a range of smartphones running both Google's Android platform and Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Phone 7 offering.
Of course, Dell is not the only computer manufacturer to target the smartphone space. Lenovo and Acer are also boosting their respective smartphone efforts, while computing giant Hewlett-Packard this week agreed to spend $1.2 billion to acquire webOS developer and smartphone manufacturer Palm.
Dell Looking Glass Tablet Leaks: Okay, Dell, You Can Stop Now
Now, I'm not saying for sure that Dell is deliberately leaking new products (or possibly mockups) to Engadget, but I am heavily implying it. Because if this isn't intentional, it's ridiculously incompetent. Unfortunately for Dell, if it is intentional (and I'm pretty sure it is), it smacks of desperation.
Last night saw the "leak" of the Lightning, the first Windows Phone 7 smartphone we've seen in any real detail, as well as a whopping three next-gen Android smartphones. I'm not criticizing the products; they all look really promising, and I'm excited that HTC has some competition in both the hardware and aftermarket software sides of the Android fight. But that's not even the end of it.
Also leaked is this 7-inch tablet, supposedly called the Looking Glass. It's the older brother to the Mini 5, which has been restyled and renamed the Streak before its summer launch. The Streak is a goofy product--its 5-inch screen is scarcely bigger than a large smartphone's (the HTC Evo 4G has a 4.3-inch screen), and that difference in size is of questionable benefit but obvious detriment, since it's no longer pocketable. The Looking Glass, luckily, is enough of an upgrade to put it into full-on tablet territory.
With a 7-inch (though fairly low-resolution) screen and a speedy Tegra 2 processor, the Looking Glass is significantly smaller than the iPad but significantly larger than a smartphone. It's said to run Android 2.1, presumably with a custom software skin, has a front-facing camera, and 4GB of internal memory (with an SDHC slot, for up to 32GB more). The screenshot shows AT&T's U-Verse, and coupled with the fact that all those other leaked Android smartphones are AT&T, it's safe to assume the Looking Glass will land on that network as well.
The Looking Glass looks fine, if a bit uninspired, and the rest of this leaked Dell lineup is far more impressive. It's not the products that are the problem--it's the mode of dissemination. Dell could have held a press conference, shown off these products live, and made a far bigger splash than unceremoniously dumping all of these products to Engadget at the same time. The iPhone leak was a big deal because Apple products never leak; the Dell leaks aren't a big deal, simply because Dell traditionally has a huge lineup of products and no cult of secrecy. Dell's gadgets often leak before their intended announcement, and to little effect.
If the leaks really were unintentional, then, well, that's embarrassing for Dell. These six products (one Windows Phone 7, three Android smartphones, two Android tablets) are the company's biggest push in mobile, ever, and I've got to believe they could have kept them quiet if they'd wanted. We can only hope the products themselves are better designed than these leaks.
Last night saw the "leak" of the Lightning, the first Windows Phone 7 smartphone we've seen in any real detail, as well as a whopping three next-gen Android smartphones. I'm not criticizing the products; they all look really promising, and I'm excited that HTC has some competition in both the hardware and aftermarket software sides of the Android fight. But that's not even the end of it.
Also leaked is this 7-inch tablet, supposedly called the Looking Glass. It's the older brother to the Mini 5, which has been restyled and renamed the Streak before its summer launch. The Streak is a goofy product--its 5-inch screen is scarcely bigger than a large smartphone's (the HTC Evo 4G has a 4.3-inch screen), and that difference in size is of questionable benefit but obvious detriment, since it's no longer pocketable. The Looking Glass, luckily, is enough of an upgrade to put it into full-on tablet territory.
With a 7-inch (though fairly low-resolution) screen and a speedy Tegra 2 processor, the Looking Glass is significantly smaller than the iPad but significantly larger than a smartphone. It's said to run Android 2.1, presumably with a custom software skin, has a front-facing camera, and 4GB of internal memory (with an SDHC slot, for up to 32GB more). The screenshot shows AT&T's U-Verse, and coupled with the fact that all those other leaked Android smartphones are AT&T, it's safe to assume the Looking Glass will land on that network as well.
The Looking Glass looks fine, if a bit uninspired, and the rest of this leaked Dell lineup is far more impressive. It's not the products that are the problem--it's the mode of dissemination. Dell could have held a press conference, shown off these products live, and made a far bigger splash than unceremoniously dumping all of these products to Engadget at the same time. The iPhone leak was a big deal because Apple products never leak; the Dell leaks aren't a big deal, simply because Dell traditionally has a huge lineup of products and no cult of secrecy. Dell's gadgets often leak before their intended announcement, and to little effect.
If the leaks really were unintentional, then, well, that's embarrassing for Dell. These six products (one Windows Phone 7, three Android smartphones, two Android tablets) are the company's biggest push in mobile, ever, and I've got to believe they could have kept them quiet if they'd wanted. We can only hope the products themselves are better designed than these leaks.
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