If your ad didn't generate lift in search volme, you can rest assured it didn't work, no natter what Nielsen tells you - http://bit.ly/bXWbk

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Official Google Voice Apps Arriving for Android, BlackBerry Phones [Mobile Apps]

Google Voice executives told CNET and TechCrunch last night that official Google Voice apps would be available today for Android and BlackBerry phones. The apps—which CNET says should be pushed "at some point Wednesday," while TechCrunch claims arrival this morning—mainly route handset calls through the Voice service, so those on the other end see your Google Voice number, so the caller isn't forced to dial their own number first or make every call through Voice's web site to get the same effect. Voicemail transcriptions will also be available through the official apps, and on Android handsets, call logs and contacts are integrated with the service. iPhone users may have to wait a bit, but Google Voice manager say they're working on an app. The service remains limited to those who've received email invitations, but Google says they're rolling out steadily. We'll have more when the apps arrive. [via Gizmodo]

Update: GigaOM has additional pictures of the apps' SMS and visual voicemail functions, along with a pretty strong review.

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Kindle For Every Schoolkid Proposed, We Strongly Recommend At Least 1 Calculator [Kindle]

The "New" Democratic Leadership Council in Washington has proposed that the government buy a Kindle or other "eTextbook" for each of the 56 million K-12 schoolchildren in America. It's a nice sentiment, but as a plan, it's holey.

I am certain this gave Amazon honcho Jeff Bezos one hell of a tingle when he saw the report, but in spite of the repeated mentions of Amazon and Kindle, I'm pretty sure he had very little to do with it himself. Here's why:

The DLC—'scuse me, NDLC—estimates the up-front cost of materials to be around $200, but could fall to $80 by 2012. Since the government now spends about $109 per student on text books, the initial investment seems in line. However, I don't think they're looking at the appropriate model. The Kindle 2's teardown revealed that it costs around $185, but that includes $60 for the 6" screen. Don't these fat cats in Washington know that textbooks only work on the $489 DX (and even then just barely)? Even at cost, I guarantee you're looking at a lot more than $200 per kid for one with a 10" screen.

And don't even get me started on the subject of smashed Kindle screens.

Doing the math here, my numbers are a lot higher t! han the DLC's, and furthermore my estimates on E-Ink's future price drop are way more pessimistic. Especially since the jury (meaning us) is still out on the longevity of E-Ink as an ideal screen technology, and only volume will really drive down the price. Wait a few years, see what happens with LCD, with laptops and netbooks, with iPhones and other smartphone platforms, and then, just maybe, you'll be able to select a decent product to subsidize 56 million times over.

Oh, and dudes, don't go creating terms like eTextbook—we already have lingo for this stuff, and you sound like you just arrived in a time machine from 1996. [DLC via New York Times]

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Google Voice Apps Coming to Android and BlackBerry, iPhone Users Must Wait [Google Voice]

Google Voice, the sweet service that lets you redirect calls, transcribes your voicemails and way more, is finally coming to smartphones—but only Android and BlackBerry, for now. iPhone users, you can go have some coffee while you wait.

Vincent Paquet, a senior product manager for Google and cofounder of GrandCentral (Google Voice before its name change), announced that Google Voice will be coming to the Android Market and to BlackBerry, although users of the latter will have to download it directly from Google rather than App World for some reason. It'll let you have your Google Voice number displayed on the other end and show transcribed email inside the app, rather than forcing the use of a browser. The invite system of registration, however, will still be in place.

iPhone and WebOS are markedly absent; we can forgive a little tardiness at WebOS because the platform's so new, but iPhone? What gives? Isn't Skype already available? No explanation for the absence was given, but Google assures us it is definitely coming as soon as possible. [CNET]

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Samsung goes bargain hunting with SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 camcorders

We've already had a look at Samsung's most interesting camcorder introduction of the day (that'd be the HMX-U10), but those looking for a more conventional alternative may take interest in one of these two. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 both take a different approach to capturing clips by logging them at 720 x 480 and offering users "HD upscaling" to the HDTV via HDMI. Both devices also boast a 65x optical zoom for those undercover escapades in voyeurism, while the Optical Image Stabilizer keeps things relatively shake-free. The primary difference between the two is the storage options; the K40 requires that you bring your own SD or SDHC card, while the K45 is equipped with a 32GB SSD. Both units sport 2.7-inch LCDs, USB charging and upload-to-YouTube functionality, and they'll each ship this August for $329.99 and $499.99, respectively. The full release is after the break.

Gallery: Samsung goes bargain hunting with SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 camcorders

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Samsung goes bargain hunting with SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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