Windows Phone software update pulled as woes continue

The first software update to Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphone operating system has been causing users a variety of problems and has "bricked" or even rendered some Samsung Windows Phone devices unusable. A quick fix to the bricking issue has been released and the software update has been pulled until further notice. 

"We have identified a technical issue with the Windows Phone update process that impacts a small number of phones," Microsoft said in a statement.

"In response to this emerging issue, we have temporarily taken down the latest software update for Samsung phones in order to correct the issue and as soon as possible will redistribute the update."

The update is not the feature packed update expected this year but a preparatory enhancement that is supposed to improve the way software is updated in the future.

NBA, NHL and Google in talks to stream live games on YouTube

Google, the NHL and the NBA are reportedly in talks to enable live games to be shown on YouTube. According to a Bloomberg story published today, Gautam Anand, Google’s director of content partnerships for Asia Pacific said that the second half of 2011 would see a number of live sport events streaming on YouTube.  This would supposedlly include the ongoing NBA and NHL games as well as soccer leagues from Europe.

“It’s fair to say that there will be a lot more appealing sports content you’ll see on YouTube,” Anand said. “We have ongoing conversations with pretty much everyone." The NBA has been active in finding ways and means to offer fans access to games from their mobile devices as well as on demand through their NBA League Pass programs 

Source: Bloomberg

Motoring: smart forspeed Electric Roadster concept unveiled

While we've never found Mercedes Benz's smart line of cars appealing, we like what we see with this futuristic new concept vehicle. The smart forspeed Electric Roadster will never see production (sigh!) but a number of its design elements and underlying technologies will. The smart forspeed accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 120 km/h. A 30 kW magneto-electric motor is installed at the rear of the smart forspeed and the vehicle concept provides an immediate powerful response from stationary. They should put a few of these in an upcoming Transformers movie.

Samsung Galaxy S II demo video

Highlights and features from the Samsung Galaxy S II during last week's World Mobile Congress. We need to see this smartphone in Canada sooner rather than later.