John Sisler

Here is the new speed test after upgrading my Uverse connection.

Run your own speed test at speedtest.net

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Would it be earlier than expected? By a lot. But given how long Google usually takes to test their products—and how long Android was public before the G1 launched—Techcrunch’s report that Chrome OS is imminent isn’t totally ridiculous.

Previously, Google had set the release date had been set roughly at H2 of 2010. In their words,

[T]he first netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010

Of course, that’s when a dedicated product will launch, as in, a netbook from a prominent manufacturer running Chrome OS as sold. But Google did go on to say in the same announcement that that they’d “soon be working with the open source community,” after which Eric Schmidt dropped a few hints that we could see Chrome OS, most likely in beta form, “as early as this year.” So, that brings us to the new rumor: TechCrunch has it from a “reliable source” that we’ll see Chrome OS within a week, available as a download. It’ll have limited driver support, meaning Google will only endorse installation on a limited number of computers—mostly netbooks—including a number of Eee PCs.

The obvious question now is what will it look like, though I’d like to remind you that, in all likelihood we’ve been given a pretty good preview: Remember the version of Chrome browser for Chrome OS that leaked for Linux machines a few weeks ago? It had (or has, above) a nonoperational Start-style button, a clock embedded in the title bar, and a minimalist interface, and it’s probably a pretty good indicator as to where Google’s going with this. [TechCrunch]

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Sometimes, things are out there in plain sight, waiting for that dohment of obvious realization: Here is an old Mini DV tape case—do people use these anymore?—as an iPhone stand. [Twitpic via LikeCool]

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Sometimes we are too concentrated reaching the stars to appreciate what we have right here, under our feet. But then again, if we weren’t reaching for the stars, we would never realize this. Zoom in for the high definition version.

Click on the image to see the high resolution

So simple, that little blue thing. So lost in the blackness of the Void of Nothingness.

This unique perspective of Earth was taken by the OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on board Rosetta, from 393,327 miles (633,000 kilometers) on 12 November 2009 at 13:28 CET. The image—which form by three exposures under orange, green, and blue filters—shows the South Pole at a resolution of 12 kilometer per pixel.

Rosetta is coming back home for the last time, to take the impulse necessary to reach the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. When it reaches it in 2014, Rosetta will first study the comment flying alongside, then it will attempt to set its mechanic feet on it. For that it will use the Philae lander that it carries along its decade-long trip around the Solar System.

Philae will drill holes into the comet to study its nucleus in search for life’s building blocks, and it will land on firing two harpoons to avoid bouncing off its surface. That’s will be when Captain Ahab—the mission controller back in Earth—laughs like a maniac, and Starbuck shakes his head in despair. [ESA]

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This probably won’t affect your day to day life (yet), but it’s an interesting development nonetheless. iTunes now allows you to window shop through your web browser.

Called iTunes Preview, you can now access any iTunes music page through your browser by selecting “Copy Link” and pasting it Firefox, Safari, IE, whatever you use.

At the moment, Apple isn’t doing very much with iTunes Preview. Sure, you can view music (videos and other media not yet online), but to buy or preview anything, you’re redirected into iTunes software. In that way, iTunes Preview really lives up (or down) to its humble name—it’s a non-interactive preview of iTunes content for people who haven’t loaded the software (as well as bloggers who’d just like to link a webpage rather than an app). But is it so crazy to imagine a day when Apple allows us to buy music free from the confines of their software?

Yes, yes it is. [iTunes Preview via AppleInsider]

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Leaked screen grabs appear to reveal several hot prototype HDTVs that Sony is considering for 2010/2011. If they’re legit, updates to Sony’s top-end XBR series could include the XBR11 (white LED-backlit), XBR12 (local dimming LED), plus a brand-new OLED TV.

The updated XBR series would scale up to 60-inches, and feature 240Hz Motionflow, W-LED-backlighting, a new Bravia Engine 3 Pro with HD video processor, and UV2A panel technology. HDTVLounge also believes the shot above may well be a glimpse of the 32-inch XBR11’s new floating glass design.

As for the OLED TV, it’s just one of several models that are on the proposed list:
• KDL-S6100 | Entry CCFL
• KDL-V6100 | Mind Range CCFL
• KDL-W6100 | Mid Range CCFL
• KDL-Z6100 | High Range CCFL
• KDL-X500 | Mid Range Edge-Lit LED LCD
• KDL-650 | High Range Edge-Lit LED LCD
• KDL-XBR11 | High Range W-LED Backlit LCD
• KDL-XBR12 | High Range Advanced LED RGB Backlit LCD
• KDL-ZX Series OLED

Fingers crossed we see some of these at CES in January. [HDTV Lounge]

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Mark said that the PSPgo goes nowhere you haven’t been. He wasn’t impressed, to say the least. Perhaps the fact that it has been hacked and someone added a Sega Genesis emulator will make him change his mind.

But then, that’s nowhere where you haven’t been before, so probably he won’t give a damn either. And I won’t blame him. [Joystiq]

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Last June, the cable/sat industry announced plans for TV Everywhere, a way to bridge your subscription television content to your internet-connected devices. Comcast has just announced that their version of TV Everywhere, called On Demand Online, arrives next month.

Currently in beta with 5,000 subscribers, here’s what we know:

• It’s free with a subscription
• You authenticate up to 3 devices through Comcast.net or Fancast.com
• Video playback on Move Networks player
• Video on Demand content, though no word on HD content
• Streaming will count against Comcast’s 250GB monthly bandwidth caps

But don’t take our word for it. Watch the whole interview with Comcast’s Amy Banse here:

What do you think? Does this sound better than Hulu to you? [NewTeeVee via mediaexperiences2go via Engadget]

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I’m psyched to see Android moving into tablets. Some of the first will be from Innovative Converged Devices (ICD), who say their Tegra-powered 7-, 11-, and 15-inch tablets will arrive through “tier one” carriers in the first half of 2010.

I hadn’t heard of ICD before, either: they’re actually based in the UK and Seattle. They say the Vega tablets are intended to be low cost, so it looks like some carrier subsidies may be in store, too.

The largest model has a 15.6-inch resistive screen (grr) that supports a resolution of 1366 x 768. It’ll have a Tegra processor, 512MB DDR DRAM, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi (no N), and Bluetooth 2.1. The built-in 512MB NAND Flash storage can be expanded via MicroSD cards. It’s expected this mode will weigh about 45 ounces and have a battery life of around 4 hours.

The 15-inch Vega also looks pretty similar to the stylish reference Tegra tablet that we spotted Nvidia’s chief with earlier in the week. The good news is we’ll be able to get a closer look at it come CES time in January. [Innovative Converged Devices]

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There’s not much to make you storm the doors at 6am here, but saving $80 bucks or so on an Acer Aspire One (AOD250-1165) seems decent. A couple of HP laptop deals here, too.

The Canon PowerShot SD780IS and TomTom Go 630GPS also caught my eye at first, but you can pretty pick them up at those prices already if you shop around. [BlackFriday via CrunchGear]

Computers
• Acer Aspire 15.6″ Widescreen Notebook Computer w/AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core Processor L310, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $379.99
• Acer Netbook 10.1″ Computer w/Intel 1.6GHz Atom Processor N270 – $199.99
• Compaq CQ4010F Desktop Computer w/AMD Sempron LE-1300 Processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $229.99
• Compaq Presario AMD LE-1300 Desktop w/18.5″ Monitor – $329.99
• HP Notebook Computer G60-508US w/Intel Celeron Processor 900 – $299.99
• HP Notebook Computer G71-343US With Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6600 – $449.99
• HP Pavilion Desktop P6229PG w/20″ Widescreen LCD Monitor – $499.99
• HP Pavillion Slimeline Intel E5300 Desktop w/20″ Monitor – $519.99
• HP Pavillion Slimline s5220f Desktop Computer w/Intel Pentium Processor E5300, 4GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive – $369.99
• Toshiba 15.6″ Widescreen Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual-Core Processor M500, 3GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $469.99
• Toshiba 17″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II M500, 3GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $499.99

Televisions
• Digital Prism 7″ Portable LCD TV ATSC710 – $84.99
• Samsung 19″ 933HD Widescreen LCD HDTV – $199.99
• Samsung 23″ 2333HD Widescreen LCD HDTV – $249.99
• Samsung 26″ T260HD Widescreen LCD HDTV – $299.99

Digital Cameras
• Ativa Digital 1080p HD Video Camcorder 4x Optical Zoom – $89.99
• Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0-Megapixel Digital ELPH Camera – $149.99
• Canon PowerShot SD780 IS 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera – $179.99
• Kodak EasyShare CD80 Digital Camera Bundle – $79.99
• Kodak EasyShare M381 Digital Camera w/Case & Tripod – $169.99
• Kodak EasyShare Z915 Digital Camera w/Case & Charger – $199.99
• Nikon Coolpix S570 12.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Black) – $149.99
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 Digital Camera – $129.99
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Digital Camera w/Case & Charger – $229.99
• Vivitar Digital Camera Bundle – $49.99

Digital Media Cards
• SanDisk 4GB Ultra II SDHC Memory Card – $12.99
• SanDisk 8GB Memory Cards – $14.99
• SanDisk 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Memory Card – $24.99
• SanDisk 8GB Ultra II CompactFlash Memory Card – $19.99

Electronics
• 1.5″ Digital Photo Frames – $7.99
• Ativa 8″ Digital Photo Frame – $49.99
• Brother P-Touch PT-1290 Electronic Labeler – $9.99
• Panasonic DECT 6.0 Digital Cordless KX-TG9332T Phone Answering System (After Rebate) – $29.99
• Plantronics Explorer Bluetooth Mobile Headset 220 – $14.99
• Sony Earbuds – $7.99

GPS Navigation Systems
• Garmin Nuvi 1200 GPS Navigation System – $119.99
• Garmin Nuvi 1300 GPS Navigation System – $149.99
• TomTom GO 630 GPS Navigation System – $169.99
• TomTom ONE 130 GPS Navigation System – $77.99
• TomTom XL 330 GPS Navigation System – $97.99

Hard Drives
• Seagate 1.5TB Expansion External Hard Drive – $99.99
• Seagate 2TB FreeAgent External Hard Drive – $179.99
• Seagate 320GB Expansion External Portable Hard Drive – $59.99
• Seagate 640GB FreeAgent Go External Portable Hard Drive – $119.99
• Seagate 750GB Free Agent Go External Portable Hard Drive – $149.99
• Verbatim 1TB External Hard Drive – $79.99

Home Theater
• Ativa Home Theater System 5.1 – $39.99

Memory
• Kingston 1GB PC 5300 DDR2 Memory Upgrade – $17.99

Monitors
• Ativa 21.6″ HD LCD Monitor – $119.99

Movies
• Over 50 Sony DVD Movies – B1G1

MP3 Players
• Ativa 2GB MP3 Player With Video And FM Radio – $17.99
• Ativa Speaker Dock For iPod PF112 – $19.99
• Memorex Docking Clock Radio For iPod – $34.99
• Sony Speaker Dock Clock Radio For iPod Or iPhone – $79.99

Networking & Wireless
• D-Link Basic N Wireless Adapter – $19.99
• D-Link Basic N Wireless Router – $19.99
• Linksys Wireless-N Rangeplus Adapter – $39.99
• Linksys Wireless-N Rangeplus Router Or Adapter – $39.99
• Ativa 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder (After Rebate) – $14.99
• Brother FAX 575 Fax/Phone/Copier – $9.99
• CL Shore Mini-Solution Desk w/Hutch – $99.99
• Limval L-Shaped Desk – $49.99
• Office Depot Brand Premium Glossy Photo Paper – B1G2
• Realspace Merrick High-Back Boded Leather Chair – $79.99
• Realspace Soho Harrington High-Back Chair – $99.99
• Realspace Soho Magellan Corner Desk w/Hutch – $139.99
• RS To Go Alvy Task Chair – $34.99
• RS To Go Ruvia Mid-Back Chair – $39.99
• True Innovations High-Back Bonded Leather Chair – $79.99
• Photos
• Ativa 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99
• Portable USB Storage
• Ativa 4GB USB Flash Drive – $7.99
• Lexar 32GB TwistTurn USB Drive – $59.99
• SanDisk 16GB Curzer USB Flash Drive – $27.99
• SanDisk 8GB Cruzer USB Flash Drive – $14.99

Printers
• Brother MFC-295cn All-In-One Printer – $59.99
• Brother MFC-7340 Laser All-In-One Printer – $99.99
• Brother Wireless MFC-490cw All-In-One Printer – $79.99
• Canon 100 LIDE Scanner – $29.99
• Canon PIXMA MP490 Photo All-In-One Printer, Copier, Scanner – $29.99
• Free HP Printer D4360 With Any PC Purchase – $0.00
• HP 6000 Officejet Wireless Printer – $59.99
• HP 8500 Officejet All-In-One Printer – $149.99
• HP CP1518ni Color Laser Printer – $199.99
• HP D5460 Photosmart Printer – $29.99
• HP J4680 Wireless All-In-One Printer – $64.99
• HP LaserJet P1005 Monochrome Laser Printer – $49.99
• HP P1006 Mono Laser Printer – $89.99
• HP Plus Photosmart Wireless Printer – $74.99
• HP Premium Photosmart All-In-One Printer – $99.99
• Lexmark S605 Wireless All-In-One Printer – $119.99
• Lexmark X7675 Wireless All-In-One Printer – $99.99
• Samsung CLP-315 Color Laser Printer – $79.99
• Wireless All In One Printer – $39.99

Software
• $30 Off Rosetta Stone Software – $30 Off
• Interior Design (After Rebate) – $0.00
• Microsft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade – $119.90
• Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 – $79.99
• Norton 360 Premier 3.0 Security Software – $9.99
• Photo Explosion (After Rebate) – $0.00
• Print Master (After Rebate) – $0.00
• Scrapbook Factory (After Rebate) – $0.00