It’s only been a couple weeks since the Windows Vista-capable HTC Shift UMPC was just released in the US and it’s already getting an EV-DO version for you to hook up to Verizon or Sprint (theoretically). LaptopMag’s review of it mirrors what we’ve seen in European reviews of the device (it’s been out there for a few months): it’s got a cramped keyboard, slightly slow CPU, short battery life and weak Wi-Fi. It probably won’t replace your normal laptop if you’re traveling, but if you’re packing light, it makes for a workable substitute. [Amazon via LaptopMag]

Via [Gizmodo]

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Philips’ GoGear SA52 music and video player looks quite nice, with the Creative Zen-like curved lines and directional pad, but where it really stands out is this interesting audio upscaling feature. The DSP is supposed to enhance your MP3s and WMA and AAC files, but to us that sounds like some sort of audio alchemy, creating sound where there was silence before. Is a 128kbps MP3 file going to sound as good as a 320kbps one when you use this? Doubtful, but it might sound slightly better than it did before. 4GB of storage and WMV playback round out this pretty decent looking player. [Tech Digest]

Via [Gizmodo]

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I love the Helio Ocean, and I love Opera Mini. When some shadow devs used their fancy footwork to make the two work together, I was a very happy boy. Helio was impressed too, and today announced that the alternative browser would be officially supported on the Helio flagship handset. This is notable for a few […]

I love the Helio Ocean, and I love Opera Mini. When some shadow devs used their fancy footwork to make the two work together, I was a very happy boy. Helio was impressed too, and today announced that the alternative browser would be officially supported on the Helio flagship handset.

This is notable for a few reasons. This is a user-driven initiative; the vibrant Ocean community more or less said “we’re going to use Opera Mini on the Ocean, like it or not”. Helio then said, “Well, OK. We’ll help.” This is not the response most carriers would give, and it rather shows how into its users Helio is. It trusts their judgment.

The free upgrade is also the first time any carrier has ever said, “Here, use Opera Mini.” It’s always been a third-party download.

We’ve also heard that this could be the first of many deals between Helio and Opera. While the new browser doesn’t replace the built-in browser at this time, it might in the future. Those of you with the un-official version might want to upgrade to the official one, as it was made custom or the Ocean and runs a little smoother, or so we hear.

Kudos the Helio and Opera for innovating for the users where most carriers and developers would be stingy.

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Via [crunchgear]

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Well, the largest and most lucrative airwaves auction in the history of the US is now over with bids totaling up to $19.6 billion, but the FCC has its lips sealed (for once) on the 1,099 license winners. We’ll find out in 10 days who won the C-block that went for $4.74 billion while the […]

Well, the largest and most lucrative airwaves auction in the history of the US is now over with bids totaling up to $19.6 billion, but the FCC has its lips sealed (for once) on the 1,099 license winners. We’ll find out in 10 days who won the C-block that went for $4.74 billion while the D-block found no love from anyone and the FCC will be hashing out a new plan to divvy up the block meant for emergency services and commercial customers. There were some local shenanigans that you can read after the jump if you’re interested.

The winning bids on licenses covering big cities included $892.4 million for airwaves in Chicago, and $884.7 million for New York and Newark, New Jersey. Licenses for two separate spectrum swaths in Los Angeles sold for $580.3 million and $484 million, according the FCC’s Web site.

U.S. Airwaves Bids Total $19.6 Billion; Auction Ends [Bloomberg]

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Via [crunchgear]

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The problem with fanboys is that it’s never enough—no matter how breathlessly one lauds a gadget, pointing out the smallest of flaws inevitably triggers a tidal wave of email accusing you of sucking the competition’s teat (or worse). Mossberg calls it “The Doctrine of Insufficient Adulation.” Turns out, there’s a scientific explanation for fanboys’ maddeningly narrow worldview, Farhad Manjoo explains his new book about the death of objective reality, True Enough. Oh, and congrats, Apple fanboys you’re among the worst:

But many fans of Apple often seem to want more. They care little for honest opinion. They want to pick up the paper and see in it a reflection of their own nearly religious zeal for the thing they love. They don’t want a review. They want a hagiography.

It’s the “hostile media phenomenon” that brings the commentards to virtual doorsteps. Stanford psychologist Lee Moss explains the mind of a fanboy to Farhad this way: “You think there are more facts and better facts on your side than on the other side. The very act of giving them equal weight seems like bias. Like inappropriate evenhandedness.”

So no, they don’t actually want objectivity, or fair criticism of their beloved, whenever they cry that’s all they’re asking for. They want everyone to totally and completely agree with them that the object of their unabashed affection truly is the BEST. THING. EVER. They’re allergic to shades of ambiguity, or as Farhad puts it:

When they come upon that difference — the gulf between what’s in their heads and what’s on the page — the audience tends to assume the worst: The reporter must be licking someone’s balls.

Unfortunately, there’s no mention of a cure. [Machinist via BBG]

Via [Gizmodo]

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Steve-o may have given Adobe the old victory sign in defiance of Flash support for the iPhone, but it looks like Adobe has not heeded his remarks; they’ve already set out on developing a Flash player for the iPhone. Adobe’s CEO, Shantanu Narayen had this to say regarding the matter:

“We believe Flash is synonymous with the Internet experience, and we are committed to bringing Flash to the iPhone…We have evaluated (the software developer tools) and we think we can develop an iPhone Flash player ourselves.”

Well, that seems like the deed is pretty much done, despite what was said earlier on the subject. We’ll keep you posted on any further developments as they happen. [WSJ]

Via [Gizmodo]

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