When the Apple iPad launches next week, the launch will also see 30,000 free eBooks in the US. The free eBooks come from the Gutenberg Project that has a library of books whose copyright has now expired.

Steve Jobs made comment earlier this week that said iBookstore would offer free eBooks although the amount of books and where they came from were not said.

From this information revealed we find out that 30,000 eBooks will be made available. For those out of the US the book selection might differ even to the point of not getting free books at all as each country has different copyright terms which could mean a book free in the US is not classed as such in the UK. [Read more…]

Google [GOOG] are creating a Google TV as well as a set top box it is believed to bring the Android operating system to the TV.

We have heard previously that Google have teamed up with Intel and Sony to create the chips and TVs that will run the new Android OS. We also heard that a set top box was being created that would bring Android to older TVs. Rumours are now saying that the Google set top box won’t actually replace your current box, but instead, will daisy chain between your current box and your HDTV.

“In other words, the MVPD’s set-top’s HDMI output would be connected to the Google TV set-top’s HDMI input, and then its HDMI output would be connected to the TV. The authorized TV channels would still be delivered, but Google TV would collect data from the MVPD’s set-top and introduce an entirely new UI for users to control their TV experience, to include searching and browsing channels. It would also add a host of new interactive web-type capabilities around the content.”

[Read more…]

The US store Best Buy is gearing up for the April 3 Apple iPad launch date by training staff and providing details of events leading up to the launch date.

On April 3 the iPad will only be available to purchase either at an Apple Store or Best Buy (referring to physical locations and not ordering online via the Apple site). The process will see Best Buy set up a store-in-store where a section will be created for Apple products to be purchased. This will happen at 675 of the 1000 or so US locations. Bestbuy.com and the other 325 locations will not carry the iPad.

In preparation for the launch it is believed that Best Buy stores will start receiving display materials early next week which will also contain information that an iMac and a couple of notebooks will not be on display for the iPad launch to make extra space for the event. [Read more…]

With the announcement of the Nintendo 3DS device (a 3D handheld gaming device), the question has been asked about a Sony PSP 3D handheld device and if that was a possibility, or being worked on. In short the answer is no, it is not being worked on right now.

‘Our focus on 3D right now is on the console. There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity on PlayStation 3 with 3D. The amount of interest in 3D from the retail side and game publishers is off the charts. We know we have a hit with 3D on PS3 and we’re going to concentrate our efforts there.

The answer is above where Sony have said they are working on the 3D capabilities of the Sony PlayStation 3. The interview was conducted by IGN who interviewed John Koller from SCEA who is the director of hardware and marketing. [Read more…]

An article over at WSJ indicated that the subscription price for receiving WSJ content on the Apple iPad [AAPL] device will cost $17.99/month. The information came from a fairly long article that speaks of the advertising and subscription models that different high profile magazines and papers are using.

The article also mentions that a four-month ad package will cost $400,000 although Coke and FedEx who are believed to have signed up would not comment on it.

The Apple iPad is certainly a new interesting way to read news daily. With it’s larger screen and full colour display it can showcase some very good interactive content. The Wired application (not specifically for the iPad, as it includes other tablets too), is one example of how the tablet devices are changing the way we see adverts and interact with content. [Read more…]

Tomorrow, Verizon [NYSE:VZ] users will be able to use Skype Mobile over the Verizon network. Skype have announced that the Skype Mobile software will be available as of tomorrow on the said network.

What Skype Mobile will allow users to do is make and receive unlimited Skype to Skype voice calls to people around the world free of charge on the Verizon network, rather than over WiFi which was a previous restriction. As well as being able to use Skype to Skype calls over the data network, SkypeOut calls will also be able to be made lowering the cost of international calls when made through the Skype service.

Instant messages will also be able to be sent over 3G and with the service being “always on” you’ll have an update of which friends are currently online should you want to speak to them. [Read more…]

Sky have announced that are launching their Sky 3D TV channel on April 3rd which is just a couple of weeks away. The Sky 3D channel will be the first channel of it’s kind to broadcast in Europe.

The first programme to be played on the new 3D channel will be a football match between Manchester United and Chelsea. Sky have been testing the Sky 3D service in a number of pups across the UK and already over 1,000 pubs across the UK and Ireland have already signed up for the channel. [Read more…]

Google [GOOG] have shut down their Chinese search site found at Google.cn and instead, redirected that domain to Google.com.hk. The move is in response to all the problems that have arisen over cyber attacks and censoring results over the last few months. By redirecting all google.cn traffic to Google.com.hk they are able to serve up full uncensored results to those in China.

The uncensored results on the .com.hk version of the site are being displayed in simplified Chinese as well as traditional Chinese allowing results to be easily used by all who be accessing the pages. Google say that the move is legal and should keep China happy in terms of the current law. [Read more…]

Although Google [GOOG] have provided a fantastic service by launching Google Street View (in a number of people’s opinions), a few people still dislike it and even the UK government is now after them after they recently uploaded certain images of locations protected by the official secrets act. The UK Government has requested that Google remove those images.

The images included the Special Boat Service and Special Air Service bases as well as the atomic weapons research centre as well as pictures of MI5’s headquarters.

Although these locations can easily be caught on camera, it is actually illegal to take pictures of secret government buildings and those doing so can be fined. With Google publishing the images online it does provide to be a useful service for terrorists who may use the images to their advantage… ie, spotting weaknesses to name a few things. [Read more…]

On Friday, Apple [AAPL] opened up to accepting Apple iPad apps for review. If you are an iPhone OS developer then it’s time to get your apps up-sized or recreated for the iPad to make use of the larger screen.

The Apple iPad section of the App store will open up on April 3 (day of the iPad launch), so now would be a good time to get those apps approved.

To get your app approved you’ll need to log in to iTunes Connect and submit your application. After a short wait you’ll have the review telling you if it was accepted or not and if not, why etc…

To have your app ready for launch day and in the app store ready to buy and download, you’ll need to get it submitted to Apple by March 27 5:00pm PDT at the latest or it will miss the launch day. [Read more…]

Yesterday we mentioned that Windows Phone 7 Series was not going to get a simple copy & paste function which at the time seemed like a huge step backwards. Microsoft [MSFT] were heard to say that users don’t want or need it, which we disagree with.

We are now hearing today that 7 Series users will be getting copy/paste functionality post-launch in an update. We hear that it will be made available via a blogger called Long Zheng who mentions that it will be in there, but due to adding more delays to the operating system launch it has been done away with to allow the OS to launch on time… but will appear afterwards in a post-launch update. [Read more…]

More details of a TV that Google [GOOG] are wanting to make have been revealed. The new TV sets will see Google teaming up with Sony and Intel to create a TV that runs the Google Android operating system. Sony will of course be responsible for the actual TV while Intel will create the chips that power the Android side of things and Google will of course provide the operating system that runs on the TV.

Over the last year we have seen a number of new TV’s feature extra software built in such as TVs offering YouTube and TVs running Skype. Bringing Android to a TV will certainly add a lot more flexibility and might actually provide a decent browser and user experience which occasionally lacks when the web and TV merge. [Read more…]