HTC may be developing a new hybrid netbook/tablet “internet access device” that combines both Chrome OS and Android, presumably in some sort of dual-boot environment. Samsung and Acer are the only two major suppliers that currently offer devices powered by Google’s Chrome OS, otherwise known as Chromebooks, but DigiTimes said the two firms have only sold about 25,000 – 30,000 units this year. The lower-powered netbooks currently cost between $350 and $450 and will likely need to fall in price in order to attract consumers. HTC is expected to unveil its third Android-powered tablet in February, which will be powered by NVIDIA’s brand new quad-core Tegra 3 processor. HTC has yet to get its feet wet in the netbook space, and we have to admit we would be surprised if it ever did, so we suspect this secret Chrome/Android device could resemble something similar to Asus’s Eee Pad Transformer Prime rather than a traditional netbook.

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Microsoft announced on Thursday that Quanta Computer will begin licensing its patent technology for Android and Chrome-based smartphones and tablets. Microsoft will receive royalties from Quanta, but the terms of the deal not disclosed by either company. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Quanta, and proud of the continued success of our Android licensing program in resolving IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome devices in the marketplace,” Microsoft’s corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of intellectual property, Horacio Gutierrez, said. Microsoft has similar agreements in place with HTC, Viewsonic, Acer and Samsung, among others. Analysts estimate Microsoft pulls in three to five times more revenue from Android royalties than it does from its own Windows Phone devices.

Microsoft and Quanta Computer Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android and Chrome-Based Devices

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Microsoft Corp. and Quanta Computer Inc. have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for Quanta’s tablets, smartphones and other consumer devices running the Android or Chrome Platform. Although the contents of the agreement have not been disclosed, the parties indicate that Microsoft will receive royalties from Quanta under the agreement.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Quanta, and proud of the continued success of our Android licensing program in resolving IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome devices in the marketplace,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft.

Microsoft’s Commitment to Licensing Intellectual Property

The patent agreement is another example of the important role IP plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 700 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsoft’s significant R&D investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio.

More information about Microsoft’s licensing programs is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Intel has delayed its next-generation Cedar Trail Atom processors until November, DigiTimes reported on Monday. The company originally planned to launch its new 32nm chipsets in September but has pushed the launch due to graphics driver issues that have prevented the netbook/nettop platform from obtaining Microsoft’s Windows 7 certification. Cedar Trail’s 1.86GHz Atom N2800 and 1.6GHz Atom N2600 processors support DirectX 10.1, Intel Wireless Display, PC Sync, Fast Boot and Intel Wireless Music and will replace the aging Atom N455 and N475 chips. Intel’s nettop Cedar Trail processors, including the Atom D2700 and D2500, are also delayed until November according to the report.

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T-Mobile announced on Tuesday that it will expand its Direct Carrier Billing option to support more digital products. The service allows T-Mobile customers to make purchases directly from their web browsers and charge them to their monthly T-Mobile bills. Customers can purchase music, games, social networking credits and more from their phones, T-Mobile tablets, or any of their computers connected to a T-Mobile network. Direct Carrier Billing will be available later this month, and once it is active, customers will see the option from participating providers during checkout. There is no additional fee for Direct Carrier Billing and customers can opt-out by contacting T-Mobile support. Read on for the full press release.

T-Mobile USA to Extend Direct Carrier Billing to Digital Content and Services

BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced Direct Carrier Billing – a nationwide purchasing program to provide customers the convenience of securely purchasing digital content and services from their web-enabled device. With Direct Carrier Billing, T-Mobile customers can conveniently charge online purchases of digital games, gaming and social networking credits, music, videos and other digital content offerings directly to their existing T-Mobile account right from the Web browser of their connected device – whether a PC, smartphone, netbook or tablet.

“In 2009, T-Mobile was the first U.S. carrier to offer direct carrier billing for the Android Market. With this new program, we’re extending the hassle-free payment experience to browser-based purchases from virtually any online source and across a variety of mobile devices, delivering more purchasing power to mobile-centric consumers.”

“As the growth in mobile purchasing explodes, we want to be at the forefront in helping customers more easily purchase digital content and services,” said Brad Duea, senior vice president of value added services, T-Mobile, USA. “In 2009, T-Mobile was the first U.S. carrier to offer direct carrier billing for the Android Market. With this new program, we’re extending the hassle-free payment experience to browser-based purchases from virtually any online source and across a variety of mobile devices, delivering more purchasing power to mobile-centric consumers.”

T-Mobile Direct Carrier Billing, which will initially utilize billing services provided by BilltoMobile, Boku, OpenMarket, Payfone, and Zong, simplifies the browse-to-purchase experience for consumers, eliminating the need to manually enter credit card information.

T-Mobile subscribers will be able to visit a wide variety of trusted online storefronts and merchant websites to make secure purchases and have those transactions appear on their monthly T-Mobile bill. As the new offering continues to expand, additional strategic billing service partners and content providers will be added to the program.

Payments that are processed using direct carrier billing will be secured and monitored by both T-Mobile and the billing service partners. Extensive fraud controls, age-appropriate content blocking and spending limit management tools will be available to provide T-Mobile customer with a secure environment for purchasing premium content from trusted brands and merchants. In addition, a two-step customer authentication and purchase verification process will ensure a secure transaction. Purchases will also be detailed on the customer’s monthly T-Mobile bill so they know exactly what they are paying for.

Pricing and Availability:

Direct Carrier Billing is expected to be available later this month. Once available, T-Mobile customers will simply be presented with this option when purchasing online content from participating providers using their mobile device. While standard data and text rates apply, there is no additional fee for T-Mobile subscribers to use Direct Carrier Billing. T-Mobile customers may opt-out of Direct Carrier Billing at no additional charge by contacting T-Mobile’s Customer Care.

During the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco today, Google discussed the future of its “Chrome OS” platform, as well as some future products that will soon hit the market. Google has improved the performance of Adobe Flash playback within the browser, and the OS will now recognize I/O devices — such as cameras — when they’re plugged into the computer. Other new features include Google Music integration, a new photo manager that allows you to send directly to Picasa, and an option to upload files directly to Box.net. Google’s bread and butter, Gmail, Calendar, and Docs are all now accessible while offline. Hackers will also appreciate a new built-in jailbreaking feature. Samsung and Acer will both introduce “Chromebooks” on June 15th for $429 and $399, respectively. Samsung will also sell a 3G version of its Chromebook for $499. Those prices sound a bit high to us considering that you can get a full-fledged Windows 7 netbook for that price, but we’ll see if the market agrees.

On Monday HP announced that it has updated its EliteBook, ENVY, Mini, Pavilion, and ProBook notebook families with some more robust models. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new:

• HP’s ProBook 5330m, designed for business users, is less than an inch thick, weighs 3.9 pounds, and has a 13.3-inch screen. It’s powered by Intel’s Core i5 and Core i3 processors and comes with a fingerprint reader and other security options. It will debut on May 9th for $799.
• The ultraportable EliteBook 2560p can be equipped with either an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, has a 7,200rpm hard drive (or SSD), and sports a 12.5-inch LED-backlit HD display. Its brother, the EliteBook 2760p has a smaller 12.1-inch display and doubles as a tablet. The EliteBook 2560p will launch on May 23rd for $1,099 and the 2760p will hit the market on May 9th for $1,499.
• HP’s updated Mini 210 netbook has been revamped with a more modern aesthetic, weighs under 3 pounds, is less than 1-inch thick, and offers up to 9.5 hours of battery life. HP also added Beats Audio for improved music playback. The Mini 210 will launch in purple, charcoal, red, rose, and blue on June 15th starting at $299.99.
• HP’s Pavilion dv4 notebook has been updated to include CoolSense technology, which adjusts PC cooling on the fly to prevent overheating. It weighs under 5 pounds, has a 14-inch HD LED BrightView display, and will be available in espresso black and blue when it launches for $599 on May 18th.
• HP dropped Intel’s second-generation Core processors into the HP ENVY 14, and also added USB 3.0, a new “HP imagepad” for gesture support, and a precision-etched metal alloy-case. The ENVY 14 sports a 14.5-inch HD BrightView infinity LED display, Beats Audio, and more. It will launch on June 15th for $999.99.

Hit the jump for the full release from HP.

HP Brings Style, Performance and Portability to Notebook PCs

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 9, 2011

HP today expanded its notebook PC line with products and services that provide an optimal combination of sleek style, ultra-portability and high performance to deliver an outstanding mobile experience.

The company also launched HP DataPass,⁽¹⁾ a pre-paid 3G mobile broadband service available in the United States across HP’s business notebook lineup, and expanded HP Beats™ Audio technology to a business notebook and consumer Mini PC.

HP furthered its “FORGE” business notebook design framework with the HP ProBook m-series and HP EliteBook p-series models and built upon its “MUSE” consumer notebook design philosophy with the HP Mini 210, HP Pavilion dv4 and HP ENVY 14.

New products and services include:

• Less than 1-inch thin, the HP ProBook 5330m features a dual-tone color scheme, brushed aluminum chassis and backlit keyboard and is HP’s first business notebook to offer Beats Audio, which allows listeners to hear music the way the artist intended.
• HP’s smallest and lightest EliteBook at only 3.68 pounds,⁽²⁾ the newly designed HP EliteBook 2560p includes a 12.5-inch diagonal high-definition (HD) display⁽³⁾ and high-performance Intel® processor and is the only notebook in the industry with an integrated optical drive in this form factor.
• The redesigned HP Mini 210 sports vibrant new colors, HP Beats Audio and HP QuickWeb 3.0,⁽⁴⁾ creating an ideal mobile companion for on-the-go consumers.
• HP DataPass⁽¹⁾ is a pre-paid 3G mobile broadband service that allows users to purchase wireless broadband data using major mobile carriers in the United States without being tied down by contracts, hotspots and set-up fees.

HP ProBook 5330m – thin, stylish and affordable

Designed for savvy business professionals who value style, performance and affordability, the HP ProBook 5330m measures less than 1-inch thick, weighs 3.9 pound⁽²⁾ and sports a 13.3-inch diagonal HD screen⁽³⁾ for exceptional portability. It also includes a backlit keyboard, making it easier to type in low-light environments

The new ProBook is powered by the latest second-generation Intel Core™ i5 and i3 dual-core processors⁽⁵⁾ and includes the HP Fingerprint Sensor and TPM for enhanced hardware-based data security. Optional Intel vPro technology⁽⁶⁾ helps deliver cost savings and improves security and remote manageability.

HP EliteBook 2560p and 2760p – light, powerful and travel-ready

Available in a stylish platinum color, the ultraportable HP EliteBook 2560p Notebook PC and EliteBook 2760p Tablet PCs blend modern design and precision engineering.

The HP EliteBook 2560p sports a thin, clamshell design with a lightweight 12.5-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD,⁽³⁾ 16-inch x 9-inch display, and an integrated optical drive for added on-the-go convenience. Offering the same functionality as a conventional business notebook along with the flexibility of a writing tablet, the 12.1-inch diagonal HP EliteBook 2760p allows for pen use or finger touch.

Both EliteBook models offer second-generation Intel Core i7 or i5 dual-core processors,⁽⁵⁾ Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0⁽⁷⁾ and vPro technology.⁽⁶⁾ They also feature full-size 7,200 RPM hard disk drives⁽⁸⁾ and solid-state drives (SSDs) for longer battery run time, increased durability and quieter, cooler operation.

HP Mini 210 – stylish, on-the-go computing

With the addition of Beats Audio, the redesigned HP Mini 210 is the ultimate companion PC, offering high-quality entertainment plus productivity while on the go. Weighing under 3 pounds⁽²⁾ and measuring less than 1-inch thin, the stylish HP Mini 210 delivers up to 9.5 hours of computing.⁽⁹⁾

The new Mini 210 design provides a modern, streamlined aesthetic with a sleek upswept back and is available in five colors – sweet purple, charcoal, crimson red, luminous rose and ocean drive.

The Mini 210 also features HP QuickWeb 3.0,⁽⁴⁾ allowing users to be more productive by connecting to the web within seconds of powering the mini. QuickWeb 3.0 includes a customizable widget dashboard and syncs to Windows® bookmarks. Users can chat with friends on Skype, update Facebook posts or tweets, and view their social calendars all in one place.⁽¹⁾

Innovative technologies for enhanced consumer experiences

The sleek, full-performance HP Pavilion dv4 features improved HP CoolSense technology that includes a simplified user interface of on, off and auto. CoolSense uses advanced hardware and intelligent software for a notebook that feels noticeably cooler. Weighing under 5 pounds,⁽²⁾ the dv4 boasts a 14-inch diagonal HD LED BrightView screen⁽³⁾ and comes in two HP Imprint colors – espresso black and pacific blue.

Also featuring HP CoolSense technology is the award-winning HP ENVY 14 notebook PC. Combining power, mobility and aesthetics, the ENVY 14 includes new second-generation Intel Core processors, USB 3.0 and a new HP imagepad that uses image sensor technology for advanced gesture support and more fluid control. The premium machine boasts a precision-etched metal alloy case with a 14.5-inch diagonal, HD BrightView Infinity LED display⁽³⁾ for an eye-popping viewing experience and Beats Audio for fuller, more detailed sound.

Protecting personal information and simplifying password management is easy with HP SimplePass with One Time Password, now available on the HP Pavilion dm4, dv6 metal and dv7 metal notebook PCs. HP SimplePass helps prevent phishing fraud by providing unique “one-time” passwords that are linked to each individual user’s fingerprint. These one-time passwords, generated every 60 seconds, grant more secure access to websites that store financial information.⁽¹⁾

Docking and display solutions for a customized workspace

The new HP 2560p Docking Station makes it easy for business professionals to maintain the connectivity and comfort of their notebook while working from a fixed station. The docking station offers four USB ports and eSATA, DisplayPort and VGA ports for added connectivity to peripherals and compatibility with an array of video devices.

HP’s slimmest business display to date, the HP Elite L2201x display easily connects to a notebook with a single DisplayPort connector. Its sleek easel stand design and external power supply free up limited desk space in smaller office cubicles and the brushed-metal finish matches HP’s EliteBook business notebooks. The HP Elite L2201x features a wafer-thin display panel measuring less than 0.4 inches thick and a 21.5-inch diagonal, LED backlit panel that eliminates the use of mercury and provides solid-state reliability.

Pricing and availability⁽¹⁰⁾

All products will be available in the United States.

• The HP ProBook 5330m starts at $799; the HP EliteBook 2560p starts at $1,099; and the HP EliteBook 2760p starts at $1,499. The HP EliteBook 2760p and 5330m are expected to be available on May 9 and the HP EliteBook 2560p is expected to be available on May 23.
• The HP Mini 210 starts at $299.99 and is expected to be available on June 15.
• The HP Pavilion dv4 starts at $599.99 and is expected to be available on May 18.
• The HP ENVY 14 starts at $999.99 and is expected to be available on June 15.
• HP DataPass pricing starts at $5, for 75 megabytes for a duration of 5 hours.
• The HP 2560p Docking Station starts at $149 and is expected to be available on May 23.
• The HP Elite L2201x starts at $249 and is expected to be available on June 1.

More information about the products, including product specifications and images, is available at www.hp.com/personal.

Acer believes there’s still consumer interest in netbooks despite the surging tablet market, and the firm recently said that it’s not giving up on the mini notebooks just yet. “Tablets have impacted overall netbook sales, but we’re not stepping away from the [netbook] segment,”Acer’s senior product marketing and brand manager, Eric Ackerson, told Forbes. “We think there’s still opportunity for sales, including in the U.S.” Acer’s not ignoring the tablet market — its Acer Iconia Tab A500 recently launched in the United States — but it also has some new netbooks up it sleeves that are expected to launch later this summer. The firm believes that netbooks, which are typically priced far below tablets, are beginning to offer an experience that’s on a par with notebooks thanks to bumps in hardware specs. “The death of netbooks is overstated,” Lisa Emard, an Acer spokesperson said. “We may not see the same explosive growth as before, but the netbook price point is still killer,” she added.

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Details of Samsung’s first official Chrome OS netbook, dubbed Alex, have surfaced in Google’s code repository. According to the Chrome OS development site, the Alex netbook will be powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 processor and sport 2GB of RAM. A SanDisk solid-state harddrive of an unknown capacity, a 1280 x 800 pixel display resolution, Wi-Fi, Ethernet port, front-facing webcam, and Bluetooth along with support for 3G cellular connectivity and a Synaptics TouchPad will also be included. Google’s I/O developer conference is in just a few short weeks… perhaps Sir Alex will make an appearance.

[Via Samsung Hub]

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Intel on Monday officially took the wraps off of its latest Atom Z760 processor, formerly codenamed “Oak Trail.” The Atom Z760 processor promises to provide better performance, specifically with multimedia playback, and it supports 1080p video encoding as well as HDMI-out in a package that’s 60% smaller than previous Atom CPUs. The new processor also supports Windows 7, Android and MeeGo, allowing manufacturers to build tablets that can boot into a variety of operating systems, and Intel says the chip is designed for more portable embedded designs. The Atom Z760 chip — clocked at 1.5GHz – has been shipping to manufacturers for the last few weeks and tablets from OEMs including Lenovo, Toshiba and Fujitsu are expected to hit the market as soon as this May. Intel confirmed with BGR that the “lion’s share” of the Atom Z760 powered tablets will run Windows 7. The chip maker will show devices running the new processor during the Intel Developer Forum, which begins on Tuesday, and it will also tease its next generation “Cedar Trail” chip for netbooks during the forum. Cedar Trail will provide support for Intel Wireless Display, PC Synch, Fast Boot and Intel Wireless Music. Hit the jump for the full release.

Company Outlines Plans to Accelerate Intel Manufacturing Lead with Intel® Atom™ Processor Family and Move Faster than Moore’s Law

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 11, 2011 – Intel Corporation today announced that the Intel® Atom™ platform, formerly codenamed “Oak Trail,” is now available and will be in devices starting in May and throughout 2011. Over 35 innovative tablet and hybrid designs from companies including Evolve III*, Fujitsu Limited*, Lenovo*, Motion Computing*, Razer*, and Viliv* are based on “Oak Trail” and running a variety of operating systems.

In addition, at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, the company will give a sneak peak of its next-generation, 32nm Intel Atom platform, currently codenamed “Cedar Trail.” This solution will help to enable a new wave of fanless, cool and quiet, sleek and innovative netbooks, entry-level desktops and all-in-one designs.

“The new Intel Atom ‘Oak Trail’ platform, with ‘Cedar Trail’ to follow, are examples of our continued commitment to bring amazing personal and mobile experiences to netbook and tablet devices, delivering architectural enhancements for longer battery life and greater performance,” said Doug Davis, vice president and general manager of the Netbook and Tablet Group at Intel. “We are accelerating the Intel Atom product line to now move faster than Moore’s law, bringing new products to market on three process technologies in the next 3 years.”

The new Intel Atom processor Z670, part of the “Oak Trail” platform, delivers improved video playback, fast Internet browsing and longer battery life, without sacrificing performance. The rich media experience available with “Oak Trail” includes support for 1080p video decode, as well as HDMI. The platform also supports Adobe* Flash, enabling rich content and Flash-based gaming.

With these significant improvements in power-efficient performance, the Intel Atom processor Z670 allows applications to run on various operating systems, including Google* Android*, MeeGo* and Windows*. This unique flexibility delivers both new experiences and more choice when it comes to tablets and hybrid designs that combine the best features of the netbook and tablet together.

The platform also helps deliver smaller, thinner and more efficient devices by packing integrated graphics and the memory controller directly onto the processor die. The processor is 60 percent smaller than previous generations with a lower-power design for fanless devices as well as up to all-day battery life ¹. Additional features include Intel® Enhanced Deeper Sleep² that saves more power during periods of inactivity as well as optimized Intel SpeedStep® technology. An integrated HD decode engine enables smooth 1080p HD video playback at a fraction of the power consumption.

In addition, Intel Atom Z670 processors come with the Intel® SM35 Express Chipset, delivering a lead-free³, halogen-free⁴ design with high-speed USB 2.0 for greater performance and Intel® High-Definition Audio to enable premium home theater sound.

Also ideal for small form-factor and portable embedded designs, the platform provides an excellent solution for a range of tablets in retail, medical and industrial applications. Solutions such as mobile clinical assistants allow medical staff to directly input data into patients’ electronic files and avoid paper charting. This can result in a reduction in errors, better workflow, higher productivity and reduced paper handling and overhead costs. In addition to the Intel Atom Z670, Intel is offering the Intel® Atom^TM processor Z650 for embedded devices with 7-year lifecycle support on Windows and MeeGo operating systems.

Based on Intel’s leading-edge 32nm process technology, the next-generation “Cedar Trail” platform will feature improvements in graphics capabilities including Blu-ray 2.0 support, a dedicated media engine for full 1080p playback and additional digital display options including HDMI output and DisplayPort. New features will include Intel® Wireless Music, Intel® Wireless Display, PC Synch and Fast Boot. In addition, the enhancements made in power consumption and TDP will enable fanless designs with longer battery life. This means great acoustics without the hum of a fan and improved ruggedness and aesthetics of the design. Intel is currently sampling “Cedar Trail” to all major OEMs and ODMs. Users can look forward to a new generation of innovative mobile and desktop designs based on the “Cedar Trail” platform in the second half of 2011.

For more information, video, photos and benchmarks visit www.intel.com/newsroom/atom.

Via a press release, Best Buy has made its electronics Buy Back Program – the very same program we broke the news on last week — official. The program will allow users to trade in their laptops, netbooks, tablets, or smartphones for a percentage of the device’s original value. Best Buy is billing its new service as “future proofing.”

“We recognize that technology is changing faster than ever, and our customers tell us they want to enjoy these devices without worrying about when the next or newest version will launch,” said Brian Dunn, CEO of Best Buy. “We call this ‘future-proofing’ because our customers can now have more confidence that they’re protecting the value of the products they’re purchasing today.”

Best Buy’s Buy Back Program will begin to be offered this month and retail for $69.99 for laptops, netbooks, and tablets and $59.99 for mobile phones — the price for TVs (under $5,000 only) was not disclosed in the press release. Hit the jump to read the full announcement.

Buy Back Program from Best Buy Helps “Future-Proof” Today’s CE Purchases

Customers can buy new gadgets with added confidence from an upfront re-purchase schedule, instant re-payment on redeemed gear

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) is launching its first-ever Buy Back Program to help customers embrace new technology with greater confidence. Created for people who want to stay current with their gear but who are concerned about obsolescence, the Buy Back Program provides convenient access to upgrades with the help of a Best Buy gift card from ”buying back” past purchases.

“We recognize that technology is changing faster than ever, and our customers tell us they want to enjoy these devices without worrying about when the next or newest version will launch”
Beginning this month, Best Buy customers can purchase the Buy Back Program in-store or online when buying products in one of five popular categories: laptops, netbooks, tablets, post-paid mobile phones and televisions. Customers may purchase the Buy Back Program when they buy their new devices, with pricing based on the product category. For example, Buy Back protection for any laptop, netbook or tablet is $69.99. Best Buy will purchase the product anytime within two years for laptops, netbooks, tablets and post-paid mobile phones, and four years for televisions.i Customers may receive up to 50 percent of the product’s original purchase price paid in the form of a Best Buy gift card if redeemed within six months of the effective date to purchase new products of their choice.ii

Buy Back Program appeal has been validated by a year of extensive consumer research, and most recently in a study conducted by Impulse Research Corporation.iii In the study, 40 percent of consumers surveyed agreed that concerns about technology becoming outdated have likely prevented them, or would prevent them in the future, from purchasing products such as laptops, mobile phones, TVs, tablets and netbooks. The study also affirmed the appeal of a Buy Back-like program when deciding on where to shop for popular electronics gear in the coming year. It revealed that 30 percent of consumers plan to purchase a TV or laptop in the next 12 months, and that 73 percent of consumers would consider purchasing these electronics from a retailer that offers a re-purchase type of program.

“We recognize that technology is changing faster than ever, and our customers tell us they want to enjoy these devices without worrying about when the next or newest version will launch,” said Brian Dunn, chief executive officer of Best Buy. “We call this ‘future-proofing’ because our customers can now have more confidence that they’re protecting the value of the products they’re purchasing today. With the Buy Back Program, consumers benefit from assurance, convenience and transparency so they can stay current and stay connected.”

Best Buy customers may purchase the Buy Back Program when buying a new product and redeem it at a later time, as long as the device is in good working condition and includes all original parts. Unlike typical retail trade-in programs customers don’t have to wait for re-payment, and can immediately apply money from their Buy Back product redemption to the purchase of new products at any Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile store. Better yet, consumers know what they’ll be paid up front, with a schedule that is available at the time of Buy Back Program purchase and is based on duration of product ownership:

• Redeem your Buy Back within 6 months from purchase effective date, and get up to 50 percent of your purchase price
• Redeem your Buy Back after 6 months to 12 months from purchase effective date, and get up to 40 percent
• Redeem your Buy Back after 12 months to 18 months from purchase effective date and get up to 30 percent
• Redeem your Buy Back after 18 months to 24 from purchase effective date and get up to 20 percent
• For TVs only, redeem your Buy Back within 48 months from purchase effective date and get up to 10 percent

“A program like Best Buy’s Buy Back should encourage higher consumption by early adopters and fast followers that are considering new technologies, because it gives them confidence that the electronic devices they have just purchased will have real value going forward,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for NPD Group.Impulse also found that when purchasing personal electronics, 84 percent of consumers say it’s important to deal with a reputable company who will responsibly re-use and re-cycle their old products. Electronics redeemed through the Buy Back Program will be assessed by its built-in team of Geek Squad Agents, and distributed among Best Buy’s aftermarket, trade-in and recycling programs. To learn more about the Buy Back Program and find the nearest Best Buy store, visit www.bestbuy.com.

In case you had any open questions about Best Buy’s upcoming Buy Back program, a trusted source just sent some more information that will clear up any open questions. The new info includes an internal PDF detailing exactly what this new service means to you, the customer, in addition to Best Buy the company, and also employees that work at Best Buy. The program, as we exclusively reported, will offer customers up to 50% of the purchase price on their laptops, netbooks, tablets, TVs, and mobile phones for two years. Best Buy is positioning this internally as a way to continually lock in customers. For instance, “for every Buy Back plan sold, a future customer purchase is locked in.” The document also states “customers will come back to Best Buy when they are ready to upgrade,” and “customers tend to spend more than the amount of the gift cards they receive.” Hit the break for all the details.

Best Buy has an equipment condition scale that can affect the price you’re given for your electronic device, and here is the break down for that:

• Good: everything is fully functional, and all parts and accessories are included. (minor scratches are OK). No change in Buy Back amount
• Poor: damaged device but can be reasonably refurbished, missing parts or accessories, significant wear and tear (deep scratches or dents, missing keyboard keys, missing charger) — 50% less of the guaranteed Buy Back amount.
• Substantially Impaired: non-functioning device and can’t be reasonably refurbished, missing most parts and accessories (cracked LCD screen, water damage, won’t turn on — no Buy Back amount issued, though Best Buy will give you free recycling and an environmental disposal. (Single tear.)

We have the full document loaded up in our gallery for those of you who want to check it out for yourselves!

One of our trusted Best Buy sources has come through with several documents that provide additional details on the retailer’s new Buy Back program. The new protection plan, which allows consumers to sell back their devices for a percentage of the its original MSRP, will launch covering phones, laptops, netbooks, tablets, and TVs priced under $5,000 on January 5th; the service will be expanded to “other product categories” sometime during fiscal year 2012. To heighten awareness, commercials and advertisements will begin hitting the airwaves and print media beginning on February 6th.

The pricing structure for television “buy backs” will vary from that of computers, tablets, and smartphones. TVs under 6 months old can be turned in for 50% of the original full-retail price; 6 to 12 months, 40%; 12 to 18 months, 30%; 18 to 24 months, 20%; and 10% during the third and fourth years of ownership.

All “buy backs” will be issued in the form of Best Buy gift cards and the company is positioning the program to its sales staff as “protection against obsolescence.” Hit the jump to see a few more images and be sure to let us know what you think.

A lot of people are thinking it, but former Google employee, Gmail creator, and FriendFeed founder Paul Buchheit has come right out and said it. On his FriendFeed page, Mr. Buchheit has levied some harsh judgements on Google’s netbook-centric Chrome OS. Here are just a few of his thoughts:

Prediction: Chrome OS will be killed next year (or “merged” with Android).

I was thinking, “is this too obvious to even state?”, but then I see people taking Chrome OS seriously, and Google is even shipping devices for some reason.

Chrome OS has no purpose that isn’t better served by Android (perhaps with a few mods to support a non-touch display).

It is still unclear how Android and Chrome OS will peacefully co-exist after the tablet-optimized Android 3.0 comes out in 2011, what the genesis of Chrome OS looks like, and what the public will gravitate towards. We’re interested to hear your thoughts concerning the Chrome OS vs. Android debate. What do you think? Too similar? Or is Google one step ahead of the technology pundits?

[Via TechCrunch]

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We just said adéu to our friendly FedEx delivery person and ripped into our care package sent by Google. On first glance, the Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop looks very similar to Apple’s black MacBook. The screen is 12.1-inches, the entire computer is done up in a soft-touch rubberized finish, and — while it’s a bit thick (we’re used to using a MacBook Air) — we have had some fun typing on the well thought out (and well spaced) keyboard. Here are our first impressions:

• We can’t get over how instant this thing is — it boots and wakes from sleep literally in one second max!
• The soft-touch rubber finish, which at first didn’t sound very appealing, works really well on this super stealth, never-being-released notebook.
• This is more of a preference, but we’d take a glossy display over the matte one on here any day… although the matte finished does fit into the anti-gloss vibe of the machine.
• We can’t begin to explain how great of a feeling it is to have Verizon cellular support built in and how simple and easy the set up process is. Activating our 100MB/mo free account was extremely simple. One or two more steps than signing up for AT&T’s prepaid iPad plans — very solid.
• Switching between open windows (think Spaces on a Mac with less jazz) is incredibly quick.
• It’s so hard to get used to the fact that everything is browser-based, but it all has seemed to work very well for us so far.
• Guest accounts rock!
• All of our Google Chrome extensions and bookmarks were transferred over instantly for us — super cool.
• The speed of the machine, in general, is obviously slower than we’d like and for a 12-inch (read: large) computer. But again, this isn’t meant to be released to the general public.
• We had some wonkiness with the upper part of the LCD screen when we first turned it on, but we’re thinking that might have been due to the extreme temperatures this poor sucker had to endure on its journey to us this morning.
• The trackpad hates us. It’s incredibly annoying and difficult to use. First off, it feels cheap, and second, unless you are scrolling with two fingers, don’t even try and have more than one finger at a time on here.

We’re cranking away and exploring Google’s first Chrome OS laptop and we will be sure to report back with more findings over the next couple days. In the meantime, hit up our hands-on gallery while we go make some insanely hot hot-chocolate!

One of our Sprint sources just shot us over some internal slides on a couple of the company’s upcoming product launches. While the BlackBerry Style 9670 was recently launched on October 31st, it seems RIM and Sprint just can’t wait to move these bad boys, as starting November 26th, the BlackBerry Style will be available in a buy one get one free promotion. According to the slide, it seems that there isn’t a limit on the amount of free additional BlackBerry Styles you can purchase as long as you are activating all new lines or two year agreements.

Switching to the Sanyo Taho, it’s a previously unheard of rugged 3G handset which meet military grade specifications. It’s due to launch on December 9th for $99.99 and packs a 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, MP3 player, expandable microSD slot and more. If you’re in an Android kind of mood and feeling crazy, the LG Optimus S in purple is still set for November 21st launch as had been previously reported.

Dell’s Inspiron 11z netbook is also on tap for a November 14th release and clocks in at $149.99 at the register. If that’s too much for your pockets, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (1012) is available for free on the same date. We have all the product information images loaded up in our gallery ready to go for your enjoyment.