Branson unveils Virgin Galactic
Sir Richard Branson has unveiled a mock-up of the rocket-powered vehicle that will carry clients into space through his Virgin Galactic business. The Virgin "spaceships" are designed to carry six passengers and two pilots to an altitude of about 140km on a sub-orbital space flight. Tickets on a Virgin Galactic flight are expected to cost $190,000. The Virgin craft are based on the design of SpaceShipOne, built by aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, which became the first privately built vehicle to reach space in 2004. The passenger flights, which could begin in 2009, will take off from a $225m facility called Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert.


Microsoft sets price for Zune, songs
Microsoft said on its new Zune music player will be sold at a price matching Apple Computer's market-leading iPod and, as a result, lose money this holiday season. Microsoft's 30-gigabyte Zune will retail for $249.99 -- 99 cents higher than the iPod with the same amount of storage -- when it goes on sale November 14. Songs available for download at the Zune Marketplace service will cost about 99 cents a song, on par with prices at Apple's iTunes. Microsoft said it will sell a music subscription pass for $14.99 a month, allowing users to listen to any of the songs on Zune Marketplace. It pledges to offer 2 million-plus songs at launch. After the pass expires, users will not be able to access those songs. For consumers looking to own a song, the Zune Marketplace will sell tracks for 79 Microsoft points. A user can buy 80 Microsoft points for $1 and points will also be redeemable at its online video game store, Xbox Live Marketplace.

Jajah going to your Mobiles
Jajah has launched a UK service offering cut-price mobile phone calls, by routing most of the call over the internet using VoIP technology. The idea of dialling a local number and from there being routed cheaply around the world is not new, and there are several companies who have been operating such services for years. But the majority of customers just want to dial a number and be connected, ideally at a cheap rate - they will suffer more expensive calls for the simplicity of direct dialling. Jajah offers that same user experience by providing a Symbian application which the user runs and then dials normally. They are connected and proceed with their call, hopefully unaware that the majority of the routing is being done over the internet. Those without a Symbian handset (or with a Series 60 version 3 handset) can send an SMS to set up the call, or use their WAP browser. Jajah also provides a Java application for some handsets, but none of these options provides the simplicity of experience which sets Jajah apart from alternative services.


Cingular to Offer Apple iPhone?
People have been talking about an upcoming Apple "iPhone" for quite a while, but specific details have apparently been uncovered and reports say Cingular will be its exclusive carrier for the first six months after its release, which should fall sometime in the early 2007 timeframe. Insiders say that Apple expects to ship 25 million of the units next year. At least Cingular has a better stance on user rights than, say, Verizon, which disables its phone's Bluetooth file transfer feature, so that you have to buy ringtones from them rather than making your own, as well as using their data plan to send pictures you've taken to yourself over the Internet, rather than just uploading them to your computer for free. Cingular allows these things, so Apple made a good call there

The New Slingboxs
Sling Media has slung its Slingbox into the HD generation, announcing three products that address the high-end consumer as well as a traveler who simply wants to view the local news while on the road. SlingMedia announced the Slingbox Pro, which will accept high-definition digital television inputs via a standalone dongle. The Pro model will complement the Slingbox A/V, designed to serve as an intermediary for a standard set-top box or PVR. At the low end, Sling announced the Slingbox Tuner, an unobtrusive, analog-only device designed to prevent "poltergeist" tuning of existing Slingboxes. The suggested retail price for Slingbox Pro is $249.99, the same price as the original Slingbox, Sling said. Slingbox Tuner and Slingbox AV will each be priced at $179.99.The Slingbox Tuner, was designed as a standalone device, serving as a means for a traveling parent to be able to watch the local news or a baseball game while the rest of the family tuned in to a separate broadcast.

Just to note, I also think SlingMedia has one of the coolest devices. Its called the SlingLink, connect your Slingbox to your home router. The SlingLink sends an ethernet signal right through your home electrical wiring, and requires no software or configuration.





Chrysler's In-Dash Music Downloads
Chrysler has excelled itself in the in-car infotainment wars with its 2007 Chrysler Sebring sedan that will come with a 20-gigabyte hard drive in the dashboard. The MyGIG system allows drivers to download up to 1,600 songs and users can also put up to eight photos and an address book into the system. The dashboard system stores navigation maps with a three-dimensional appearance and it also integrates real-time traffic information from Sirius Satellite Radio. The all-in-one $1,700 system allows customers to download songs or pictures from a CD or importing them through a USB port on the console.

Today's Site To Peek At:

LicketyShip is a new service launching today that allows you to shop online at a number of different local stores and to have products that you order delivered within 4 hours. It works by co-ordinating the online stores close to you with courier companies, allowing you to receive goods that you order very quickly. The service is currently in alpha though launching today in the San Francisco Bay Area and has plans to expand in other areas over time. The service is easy to use, you search for a product by name and specify your zip code. The site will then query local stores and show you results of products that are available to order. When you place an order, it will fetch the item from the nearest store and then have it delivered to you. The ordering process is simple enough, and the only additional cost is a $19.99 fee for the delivery service. Search is currently restricted to electronic goods, but they also plan to expand on this as well. hey can delivery up to 7pm on most nights while on Friday’s and Saturdays can deliver up till 8pm.

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