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Sunday, January 22, 2012

1/22 Engadget

Engadget
European Union retailers to be required to accept e-waste without charge, says Parliament
January 22, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Not sure what to do with your old, outdated electronics? If you live within the European Union, getting rid of your e-waste may soon be as easy as dropping by the local electronics shop. In an effort to increase electronic waste collection from four kilograms per capita to 20, the European Parliament has approved plans that would require electronic retailers with a retail space of 400 square meters or larger to accept e-waste for disposal, free of charge. The new rules will be implemented over the next seven years, and are part of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive -- a measure that also aims to limit illegal e-waste exports to developing countries. Between keeping your house uncluttered with old gadgets and keeping developing nations clean, what's not to like?
European Union retailers to be required to accept e-waste without charge, says Parliament originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePC World  | Email this | Comments
OrcaM sphere constructs detailed, digital 3D models of wares while you wait (video)
January 22, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Ever wanted a 3D digital copy of all those Little League trophies? Well, the NEK has whipped up something to lend a hand that's a bit larger than another recent scanner. Enter the OrcaM, an Orbital Camera System capable of producing an accurate, digital 3D model of objects up to 80cm (about 31.5 inches) wide and weighing up to 100kg (around 220lbs). Making use of seven shooters simultaneously, the system photographs the object while projecting various light and shadow combinations in order to determine the ware's geometry. The OrcaM is able to reproduce high-quality digital reproductions with a geometric accuracy less than millimeter (nearly .04 inches). As if that wasn't enough, it produces complete color, texture and reflectivity maps so that every minute detail is accounted for. Once your to-be-copied object has been loaded, the OrcaM takes over and is automatic, churning out the completed rendering shortly after the requisite photos are taken. Hit the video up top for a look at the beast in action.
OrcaM sphere constructs detailed, digital 3D models of wares while you wait (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink DVICE  |  sourceNEK (German)  | Email this | Comments
Snapdragon-toting Sony smartphones to get extra global positioning help from The Other GPS
January 22, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Frustrated by the performance of GPS on your current Sony Ericsson phone? Well, if you've got the latest software and a device carrying Qualcomm's Snapdragon S2 or S3 processor, you're in luck. Alongside bright new darlings like the Xperia S and Xperia ion, all will be able to hook up to GLONASS, Russia's very own interpretation of GPS. Support on another global positioning network will increase the total of satellites orbiting around you from 31 to 55 -- more ways to find exactly where you got lost. GLONASS support has already launched on smartphone luminaries such as the iPhone 4S and the pocket-stretching Galaxy Note, but we're very happy to hear that the extra functionality will arrive on older Xperia handsets. According to the developer's own testing, the GLONASS assistance often improved accuracy by as much as 50 percent and should similarly reduce the chances of us being outed as map illiterates. You can grab more info on all the GLONASS goodness at the source below.
Snapdragon-toting Sony smartphones to get extra global positioning help from The Other GPS originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PhoneRPT  |  sourceSony Ericsson Developer World  | Email this | Comments
Sensixa e-AR duplicates the inner ear, knows if you've fallen and can't get up
January 22, 2012 at 9:52 AM
No, it's not a Philippe Starck-designed hearing aid, although we kind of wish it were. What you're actually looking at is an over-the-ear sensor, dubbed the e-AR, made to mimic the human vestibular system. In layman's terms, this 3D accelerometer-equipped device, crafted by Sensixa, is capable of recording real-time information related to posture and orientation, much like the inner ear does, which is then relayed via an embedded low power radio to a remote receiver. The tech, which we spied passing through the FCC's gates, has already undergone several trials for sports and is now being eyed for use in geriatric care. (Take that, Life Alert pendants.) Interest piqued? Then feel free to peruse the rest of the filing and provided user's manual at the source below.
Sensixa e-AR duplicates the inner ear, knows if you've fallen and can't get up originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
Three COWs descend on Lucas Oil Stadium, courtesy of Verizon Wireless (video)
January 22, 2012 at 7:59 AM
When you think of Super Bowl Sunday, many images likely come to mind: malty beverages, nachos, high-budget commercials and -- oh, yeah -- football. Even amongst us mobile fanatics, however, cellular coverage rarely crosses the mind. Fortunately, that's not how Big Red rolls. The company has brought three of its LTE cell-on-wheels rigs to Indianapolis in anticipation of the Big Game, which is expected to draw 85,000 attendees. Amongst other things, Lucas Oil Stadium is now wired to the teeth with $69 million in Verizon gear to ensure that all subscribers will be able to tweet along with each touchdown, fumble and botched call -- like the Giants / Packers game, for instance. In addition to the COWs, the equipment includes 400 mobile antennas inside the stadium to carry voice and data, along with 600 WiFi stations to support a total of 28,000 simultaneous connections. The folks at GottaBeMobile have an excellent spread of how all this came together, but if you're more of the visual type, you'll find a quick video after the break.

[Thanks, Josh]
Continue reading Three COWs descend on Lucas Oil Stadium, courtesy of Verizon Wireless (video)
Three COWs descend on Lucas Oil Stadium, courtesy of Verizon Wireless (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGottaBeMobile  | Email this | Comments
Google Sky Map boldly explores open source galaxy
January 22, 2012 at 4:21 AM
Via its Research Blog, Google has announced the donation of the Sky Map project to the open source community. Originally developed by Googlers during their "20% time," the stellar application was launched in 2009 to showcase the camera sensors in first generation Android handsets. Four years and over 20 million downloads later, Sky Map's code will be donated to the people -- with Carnegie Mellon University taking the reins on further development through "a series of student projects." Hit the source link for the official announcement and a bit of nostalgia from Google.
Google Sky Map boldly explores open source galaxy originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink AndroidCentral  |  sourceGoogle Research Blog  | Email this | Comments
NES controller lets you stomp Koopas, save Princess Peach in capacitive fashion (video)
January 22, 2012 at 2:37 AM
Is your NES controller in another castle? Maybe you're just pining for your smartphone's capacitive game controls for some reason. Regardless, here's a little piece of tech that just might put the fire in your flower: the capacitive touch NES controller. This sucker is milled from a copper board using a device called the MezzoMill, which -- besides making turtle-stomping peripherals -- also can be used to produce guitar effect pads, virtual keyboards, bicycle rim lights and all sorts of circuits that might tickle your fancy. Unfortunately, the creator isn't as well-funded as this inkjet-based control circuit project so he's trying to raise money through Kickstarter to make the mill in a large enough run to lower costs. Given how Kickstarter generated nearly $100 million in funding last year, maybe he's got a fighting chance. See the buttonless controller work its capacitive magic after the break.
Continue reading NES controller lets you stomp Koopas, save Princess Peach in capacitive fashion (video)
NES controller lets you stomp Koopas, save Princess Peach in capacitive fashion (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Hack a Day, Kickstarter  |  sourceMezzoMill  | Email this | Comments
Absinthe A5 Jailbreaker for iPhone 4S / iPad 2 now available for Windows
January 22, 2012 at 1:24 AM
When the Absinthe A5 untethered jailbreak solution hit yesterday it opened Apple's iPhone 4S and iPad 2 for more creative uses by their owners -- as long as they were on OS X. Now the team has returned with a version of the tool built for Windows users who enjoy iLife mixing and matching. All the usual restrictions, warnings and directives apply, but you know what you're here for -- hit the source link below to download a ZIP file straight from greenpois0n's servers and get going, or check the other links for more information on the exact steps to follow.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Absinthe A5 Jailbreaker for iPhone 4S / iPad 2 now available for Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Jailbreak Story, @p0sixninja (Twitter)  |  sourceDirect Download, greenpois0n  | Email this | Comments
HTC and IBM hooking up to charm commercial clients
January 22, 2012 at 12:34 AM
HTC is looking to turn green to blue: it's banking that its hardware expertise will meet the needs of IBM's long list of commercial clients to become a big enterprise player. At the start of IBM Lotusphere, the former PC maker showed off "smart business" applications that ran on the smartphone maker's gear. HTC's David Jaeger has set a sales target of 100 million devices, hoping that whenever big blue is "talking about Android or tablets, HTC is in the conversation." The 'lil green phone company has reportedly taken great pains to ensure its gear is secure and that the Scribe software used in the HTC Flyer and Jetstream plays nice with all of IBM's business-kit. Our tip? It might think about lowering the price on those $80 styluses before it goes schmoozing cash-strapped IT Buyers.
HTC and IBM hooking up to charm commercial clients originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Pocketnow  |  sourceTechWeek europe  | Email this | Comments
Ice Cream Sandwich update for original Transformer coming 'mid-February,' says ASUS
January 21, 2012 at 11:15 PM
Last we heard, the Ice Cream Sandwich update making its way to the O.G. Transformer was still "in the process of being approved" by the G-men. Although we've heard rumors that the holo-coated upgrade would come in February, nothing's been confirmed until now. ASUS replied to a life long fan's Facebook post, revealing that the update should arrive "mid-February." We know hearing the news that you'll have to keep waiting might not stop you from rolling on the floor and throwing a temper tantrum, but hey, you could not be getting one at all.

[Thanks, Udupa]
Ice Cream Sandwich update for original Transformer coming 'mid-February,' says ASUS originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceASUS (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments
Netflix is looking for a new Chief Marketing Officer, if you think you can do better
January 21, 2012 at 9:42 PM
Considering how 2011 progressed for Netflix, it's not entirely surprising to hear some changes are in store at the top when it comes to marketing and communications. The video rental giant announced that its Chief Marketing Officer of the last dozen years, Leslie Kilgore, will be taking a position on its board as a "non-executive director", replaced in the interim by Jessie Becker as it conducts an external search for a permanent replacement. Also shifting positions is Jonathan Friedland who will be the new Chief Communications officer, and both Becker and Friedland will report directly to CEO Reed Hastings. Netflix's relationships with its customers were definitely damaged by last year's price hike and the shocking Qwikster spinoff announcement / unannouncement that followed, with a slate of original content on the way and some changes in store for its content licensing, we'll see if it can get the magic back in 2012 -- we're not so sure that the latest round of ads featuring beavers and hamsters (one's embedded after the break) are the way.
Continue reading Netflix is looking for a new Chief Marketing Officer, if you think you can do better
Netflix is looking for a new Chief Marketing Officer, if you think you can do better originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Another one bites the dust as Google closes Picnik
January 21, 2012 at 8:33 PM
Given the spate of closures, abandonments and wound-up projects, we can't help but suspect Google's mantra switching from "don't be evil" to "sic transit gloria mundi." Mountain View's winding up online-image editing site Picnik in preparation for integration with Google+, joining Wave, Knol, Friend Connect, Gears, Health, Powermeter and at least ten other services that have been shuttered as part of Larry Page's "spring clean." In a statement on the site, the guys are moving over to the Google+ team to "focus on even awesomer things," so expect to see live-editing of your photos appear there before the end of summer. In the meantime, you can enjoy Picnik's premium service until the doors close on April 19th and those who previously stumped up (with, you know, cash) for the added features will receive a full refund.

[Thanks, Henry]
Another one bites the dust as Google closes Picnik originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePicnik  | Email this | Comments
HDNet joins up with AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest to become AXS TV this summer
January 21, 2012 at 7:37 PM
It held on as long as it could, but HDNet is following the path of INHD (which became Mojo before disappearing entirely) and Discovery HD Theater (now Velocity) by rebranding itself, and will see morph into AXS TV this summer. Of course, HDNet has always focused on "lifestyle programming" and from the looks of it the new channel (pronounced: access) will be very similar, at least for now. HDNet is bringing programming like HDNet Fights, Dan Rather Reports, its concerts and more to the joint venture, which will be combined with its partners AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest Media. If HDNet is currently on your programming lineup AXS TV will simply take its place when it launches, and Dish Network actually plans to increase the channel's distribution by adding it to the America's Top 120 package. If you're distressed over the future of Art Mann Presents, check out the press release after the break or a Q&A on the site for more information about what's happening to Mark Cuban's baby.
Continue reading HDNet joins up with AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest to become AXS TV this summer
HDNet joins up with AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest to become AXS TV this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceHDNet / AXS TV Q & A  | Email this | Comments
Huawei Honor review
January 21, 2012 at 5:35 PM
Phone makers love to take pride in the extravagant names they give their products, but it's likely that the Huawei Honor is more to its creator than just a decently-specced handset. After all, the introduction of the Honor -- followed by last week's announcement of the super-slim Ascend P1 S -- appears to represent a shift in the OEM's overall product placement strategy. Huawei has done a great job finding customers in emerging and prepaid markets, but now it has its sights set on cranking out noteworthy phones that will gain the attention of anyone looking for a high-end device.

Based on its laundry list of specs, the Honor isn't a high-end handset compared to some of its LTE and dual-core competitors. And yet, it's still the best device Huawei's offered to date, and it's clear the company's upcoming phones are only going to get better. So we're really eyeing the Honor as a step closer to the OEM finally realizing its ultimate goal. Does it live up to its name? Can the Honor play with the big boys, or is it nothing more than just an outward indication of the company's future? Read on to find out.
Continue reading Huawei Honor review
Huawei Honor review originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NYPD begins testing long-distance gun detector as alternative to physical searches
January 21, 2012 at 3:08 PM
As part of its ongoing effort to keep New York City safe, the NYPD has begun testing a new scanning device capable of detecting concealed firearms from a distance of about 16 feet. Developed in conjunction with the Department of Defense, the technology uses terahertz imaging detection to measure the radiation that humans naturally emit, and determine whether the flow of this radiation is impeded by a foreign object -- in this case, a gun. During a speech Tuesday, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the device shows "a great deal of promise as a way of detecting weapons without a physical search." Kelly went on to say that the technology would only be deployed under "reasonably suspicious circumstances," though some civil liberties activists are already expressing concerns. "We find this proposal both intriguing and worrisome," New York Civil Liberties Union executive director Donna Lieberman said in a statement, adding that the scanner could all too easily infringe upon civilian privacy. "If the NYPD is moving forward with this, the public needs more information about this technology, how it works and the dangers it presents." For now, the NYPD is only testing the device at a shooting range in the Bronx, and has yet to offer a timeline for its potential deployment.
NYPD begins testing long-distance gun detector as alternative to physical searches originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Huffington Post  |  sourceThe New York Times  | Email this | Comments
Notion Ink's Adam II promises TI OMAP CPUs, Ice Cream Sandwich, broken dreams
January 21, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Notion Ink's teaming up with TI in order to get at its OMAP4xx silicon for the forthcoming Adam II tablet. It'll also be jamming in the company's Wi-Link 7.0 and Phoenix Audio gear onto the Ice Cream Sandwich-running slate. The chip was apparently chosen thanks to its modular setup, HD visuals and powerful low-energy multitasking. Novice owners will also get their hands on a modular software architecture which will let casual users develop specific applications using a drag-and-drop interface. It's pitching that functionality at home-brewers, students and professionals who can tailor the software to meet a specific need, casually mentioning that it could be used for signal processing, 3D modeling or medical imaging. Do we hear expectations being raised to unrealistic levels again? Given our experiences with the original, we suspect the answer is: "Yes."
Continue reading Notion Ink's Adam II promises TI OMAP CPUs, Ice Cream Sandwich, broken dreams
Notion Ink's Adam II promises TI OMAP CPUs, Ice Cream Sandwich, broken dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceNotion Ink  | Email this | Comments
LG Connect 4G sips some lemonade over at the FCC
January 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM
What's that coming over the hill? Is it a monster? No, clearly. It's LG's Connect 4G, the company's second LTE-equipped phone which sashayed past the FCC's subterranean bunker on the way to a debut on MetroPCS' network. The CDMA/LTE unit's got the usual assortment of Bluetooth and WiFi b/g/n gizmotronics, plus an inductive cover you can use to confuse elderly relatives. Now that it's been declared fit for purpose by the boys in blue, it's well on course to meet the February launch date we'd heard about back at CES -- at a price that's "still to be determined," the spoilsports.
LG Connect 4G sips some lemonade over at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
University of Vienna researchers quantum leap into the cloud, ensure privacy for distributed computing
January 21, 2012 at 9:33 AM
Afraid of the cloud? You're not alone, as rising concerns surrounding the security of distributed computing have led University of Vienna researchers to seek out quantum mechanics as a privacy fix. The team's findings, soon to be published in the journal Science, prove that an end user's data can remain encrypted throughout its journey to and from remote servers, essentially rendering the quantum computer's calculations as "blind." So, how exactly does this evasive entanglement work? Qubits (or quantum bits) containing the pertinent information are transmitted to a central facility where they're processed according to a specific set of measurements, leaving the resultant computations readable only by the original user. Not obtuse enough for you? Then check out the source below for a more detailed walkthrough.
University of Vienna researchers quantum leap into the cloud, ensure privacy for distributed computing originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink EurekAlert!  |  sourceUniversity of Vienna (Translated)  | Email this | Comments
Eye-Fi CEO slams SD Association's eerily similar Wireless SD card standard, says his IP is being violated
January 21, 2012 at 7:39 AM
Yuval Koren is not pleased. For those unaware, he's the CEO of Eye-Fi, the company that has practically written the rules on embedding WiFi into SD cards. If you blinked last week, you probably missed the SD Association's announcement that it had created a new Wireless LAN SD standard that would effectively give just about anyone the ability to add Eye-Fi abilities to their SD cards. As it turns out, Eye-Fi's none too pleased about it, and Koren has gone so far as to publicly admit that the standard is seriously infringing upon highly valuable Eye-Fi technology. To quote: "As [the SDA's standard is] currently written, essential Eye-Fi patented technology would be violated by anyone implementing this draft specification." Bold.

He goes on to explain that his company has invested "tens of millions of dollars and several years to create unique technology that lets people wirelessly transfer photos and videos directly from their camera and mobile devices," and calls the SDA protocol "flat out misrepresentation." He's effectively calling for the SD Association to either pony up and license Eye-Fi's tech, or scrap the "standard" and rewrite it using something else altogether. The full letter is posted up after the break, with absolutely no elation to be found.
Continue reading Eye-Fi CEO slams SD Association's eerily similar Wireless SD card standard, says his IP is being violated
Eye-Fi CEO slams SD Association's eerily similar Wireless SD card standard, says his IP is being violated originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceEye-Fi  | Email this | Comments
FCC Fridays: January 20, 2012
January 21, 2012 at 7:24 AM
We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!
Continue reading FCC Fridays: January 20, 2012
FCC Fridays: January 20, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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EU online spending estimated to grow 16 percent, reach €232 billion in 2012
January 21, 2012 at 5:45 AM
Pardon us Americans as we act surprised, but it turns out that we have one more thing in common with our Euro brethren: a growing number of us dislike shopping in stores. According to Kelkoo estimates, online spending in the European Union is projected to continue its upward trend, which is said to reach somewhere in the neighborhood of €232 billion before year's end. If the estimate holds, this would be a 16 percent increase over the €200 billion raked by e-tailers during 2011, and is naturally assumed to come at the expense of traditional brick and mortar outfits, whose growth is projected to increase by a mere 1.8 percent.

The data gathered also suggest there's significant room for expansion, however, as online spending accounted for just 7.8 percent of all EU retail sales in 2011, with the UK, Germany and France being responsible for a whopping 71 percent of that tally. The 16 percent projected growth is a slight decline from 2011, which saw EU online spending grow by 18 percent -- although, Europe's growing habit for click-and-ship continues to outpace the US, which grew by only 12.8 percent in 2011. Now, since you've crammed all these numbers, why not check the funny pages?

[Shopping button via Shutterstock]
EU online spending estimated to grow 16 percent, reach €232 billion in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Register  |  sourceKelkoo  | Email this | Comments
Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T passes through the FCC
January 21, 2012 at 4:34 AM
Well that didn't take long. Shortly after getting our grubby mitts on the AT&T variant of Samsung's Galaxy Note at CES, the jumbo phone has made its way into the loving arms of Uncle Sam at the FCC. Naturally, it's not advertised as such, but test documents reveal that a model SGH-i717 handset packing UMTS/HSPA+ (21Mbps) and GSM/EDGE world radios, plus Ma Bell-friendly bands 4 and 17 LTE has passed the FCC's emissions tests with flying colors. So, now that it's got the governmental stamp of approval, all that's left is to find out when we can make with the S Pen action on AT&T's newly minted high speed network. Don't keep us waiting, guys.
Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T passes through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
Alesis brings a pair of new musician-friendly iPad docks to NAMM
January 21, 2012 at 3:42 AM
Alesis AmpDock
If there's been one must have accessory at NAMM this year it's been the iPad. That's right, no mixer, instrument or microphone is stealing the show, it's Apple's 9.7-inch slab of touchability that everyone is after. Alesis is just one of many companies creating compelling musical offerings around the iOS tablet with its latest products, the AmpDock and DM Dock. The DM Dock turns your iPad into the thumping, bumping and crashing heart of an electronic drum system. You can tap out rhythms and build drum sets with the touchscreen, but it's when you start plugging triggers into the 13 1/4-inch inputs that it really comes to life. The AmpDock, as you may have guessed, turns that A5 processor's attention towards your axe. There's a standard 1/4-inch jack as well as a combo XLR / 1/4-inch plug for connecting a second guitar or a mic. The AmpDock also has a separate pedalboard that allows you to control some program parameters while keeping the tablet safe from stray stomps. Check out the gallery below, as well as the video after the break.
Continue reading Alesis brings a pair of new musician-friendly iPad docks to NAMM
Alesis brings a pair of new musician-friendly iPad docks to NAMM originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Gear Diary  |  sourceAlesis 1, 2  | Email this | Comments
LG X3 supposedly leaks, to challenge HTC Edge as first quad-core phone?
January 21, 2012 at 2:31 AM
Your next tablet is going to rock a quad-core chip, so why not stuff that same silicon into your next phone too? Per PocketNow, that's apparently what LG has up its sleeve with the forthcoming X3. Evidently, the four-core Tegra 3 device will also tote a 1280 x 720 4.7-inch display, 16GB of storage, Ice Cream Sandwich and NFC all in a svelte 9mm package. The whispers didn't stop there, of course, indicating it'll also wield 21Mbps HSPA support coupled with 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. So will the X3 be the world's first quad-core phone, much in the vein of LG's G2X that preceded it? Or will it be beaten to the punch by HTC and Samsung? Here's to hoping we'll find out at MWC.
LG X3 supposedly leaks, to challenge HTC Edge as first quad-core phone? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourcePocketNow  | Email this | Comments
























Ericsson, ZTE shake hands, drop patent infringement lawsuits
January 21, 2012 at 1:09 AM
Back in April, Ericsson and ZTE filed patent infringement lawsuits against each other, with each party claiming that its 4G / WCDMA / GSM technology had been illegally appropriated. Today, though, the two have apparently decided to bury the hatchet, and withdraw their lawsuits. In a statement issued yesterday, ZTE said the two firms arrived at the decision after "extensive discussion and consultation," adding that the move will bring an end to "the patent infringement lawsuits filed by Ericsson against ZTE in the U.K., Germany and Italy, as well as the patent infringement lawsuit filed by ZTE against Ericsson." The company went on to deny earlier reports that it was forced to pay €500 million (about $647 million) to Ericsson, though Ericsson has yet to offer any comment on the matter.
Ericsson, ZTE shake hands, drop patent infringement lawsuits originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceBloomberg  | Email this | Comments
Kingston launches new family of high performance SSDs, doesn't care if you're a business or a consumer
January 21, 2012 at 12:47 AM

Kingston's turning its SSD solutions up to eleven on its new SSDNow family of products. The SSDNow V+200 is a solid state drive toting SATA 3.0 SandForce SF-2281, capable of up to 535 MB/s read speeds and 480 MB/s writing speeds. Regardless of whether it's for your office or home rig, Kingston reckons it's got your storage needs covered, offering up the V+200 in 60GB, 90GB, 120GB, 240GB and 480GB sizes. The 2.5-inch drives arrive with self-encryption as standard, alongside a three-year warranty with support -- something that's getting increasingly rare. The full press release is waiting below.

Update: Prices, alongside the upgrade kit, range from $156 to $985 -- depending on exactly how many photo albums you need on solid state storage.
Continue reading Kingston launches new family of high performance SSDs, doesn't care if you're a business or a consumer
Kingston launches new family of high performance SSDs, doesn't care if you're a business or a consumer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceKingston  | Email this | Comments
Carl Icahn smells blood in LightSquared's spectrum, descends to feed on its carrion
January 21, 2012 at 12:23 AM
Oh, the twisted web that continues to weave itself around LightSquared. After incurring a seemingly endless parade of regulatory and industry obstacles, the Philip Falcone-backed network is now facing yet another potential hurdle. Except this time, it's taken the shape of investor Carl Icahn: a business magnate notorious for swooping in on downtrodden companies (see: Time Warner) and seizing control. And it appears the old man's pulled out his tried-and-true bag of tricks, securing a sizeable chunk of the fledgling 4G operation's debt following a value drop last year. What does this spell for Falcone? Well, the move could wind up positioning Icahn as a controlling force, steering the LTE operation away from its hedge fund founder's vision and into more profitable waters -- a welcome turn of events for the cash-strapped company. With FCC approval still pending, Sprint quietly retreating from its partnership deal and a looming fight for executive control, it's safe to say LightSquared's troubles have only just begun.

[Image credit: Sarah A. Friedman]
Carl Icahn smells blood in LightSquared's spectrum, descends to feed on its carrion originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Verizon reportedly trials VoLTE services in two cities, eyes nationwide rollout next year
January 20, 2012 at 11:35 PM
Verizon's Voice over LTE (VoLTE) platform has been in the works for a while now, and according to industry insiders, it's about ready to hit the big time. Catharine Trebnick, an analyst at Northland Capital Markets, told Light Reading Mobile this week that the service has already launched on a trial basis in two cities, and that Big Red plans to roll it out on a nationwide level in 2013. According to Light Reading Mobile, Trebnick's claims were later corroborated by a second, anonymous source. Verizon, as you may recall, had previously pegged 2012 for the commercial launch of its new platform, and could still achieve that goal with launches in select markets, before going live on a nationwide basis next year, as rumored. The company, however, is playing its cards close to the chest, saying in a statement that it's "continuing to work on VoLTE and the services it brings, and will share any launch or availability plans in due course."
Verizon reportedly trials VoLTE services in two cities, eyes nationwide rollout next year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Olympus teases with leaked image of OM-D camera, saves the best for last?
January 20, 2012 at 11:13 PM
Some would say that "one picture is worth a thousand words," but all we're visualizing here are a few camera-driven buttons and a small portion of Olympus branding. Though, 43 Rumors is claiming that this is indeed the soon-to-be new addition to the OM series, which is expected to get unveiled next month. Olympus is no rookie in the Micro Four Thirds game, so it shouldn't come as a surprise for the rumored specs to be a decent upgrade in comparison to its PEN shooters. Allegedly, the rig may sport a magnesium chassis, 16 megapixel sensor with HDR optimization, up to 25600 ISO and a 3-inch OLED swivel display (because Olympus knows you love gadgets with rotating screens), amongst other features. Tickle your fancy? Well, best start saving now, as word on the web is that it'll set you back a cool $1,100 when it's revealed.
Olympus teases with leaked image of OM-D camera, saves the best for last? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Intel does the executive shuffle
January 20, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Time to update your Intel executive playing cards. The chipmaker is doing some serious reshuffling high up in its ranks. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that SVP Brian Krzanich and EVP Dadi Perlmutter will be taking on the roles of chief operating officer and chief product officer, respectively. The big moves come on the heels of some positive looking financial results. The Journal suggests that the decision may be part of the company's attempt to line up a successor for current Intel CEO, Paul Otellini.
Intel does the executive shuffle originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
IRL: The CES 2012 Edition, featuring AirDrop, a new MBP and Crumpler
January 20, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

We came, we saw, we collapsed. After seven days in Vegas and 700-plus posts, we'd love nothing more than to catch up on The Daily Show, eat something other than In-N-Out Burger and bask in what we hope will be a slow news week. Alas, though, the show must go on, and so must our gadget ramblings. And what better place to start than with the gear we schlepped to CES? You'd think, like marathoners prepping for a race, that we'd stick with the high-tech equivalent of broken-in sneakers, red gatorade and other safe bets. But in fact, the week saw a few of us taking a chance on unfamiliar tech -- everything from the Elgato Turbo H.264 to the Sony NEX-C3. For Darren, the transition from thumb drives to AirDrop was benign, though largely ineffectual. In Terrence's case, an impulsive foray into the world of Macs left him without functioning USB ports. Good times, right? Meet us past the break for a few tales of what went right (or dreadfully wrong) last week in Vegas.
Continue reading IRL: The CES 2012 Edition, featuring AirDrop, a new MBP and Crumpler
IRL: The CES 2012 Edition, featuring AirDrop, a new MBP and Crumpler originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve
January 20, 2012 at 9:57 PM
Let's face it, not every occasion calls for pulsating cufflinks, so Adafruit is offering up a little more diversity in its wearable line with Flora, an open-source electronics platform that you can wear on your person. The 1.75-inch board is not quite available for sale, but it's currently being put through some real-world testing. The platform features built-in USB support and will offer up modules for Bluetooth, GPS, OLED and a bunch more. No word on an exact date, though Adafruit has a page you can visit to sign up for shipping notifications, which has the timeframe at around 15 to 20 business days -- check that out in the source links below. As for cost, the company has promised "great pricing" for hackerspaces, resellers and educators. Video of the Flora in action after the break.
Continue reading Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve
Adafruit Flora lets you wear your open-source love on your sleeve originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAdafruit (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments
Korg unveils two new Kaoss family members, brings anarchy to your pocket
January 20, 2012 at 9:38 PM
Two K-words we're almost always pleased to hear: Korg and Kaoss. Good, then, that the former has decided to make more of the latter -- the mini Kaoss Pad 2 (effects unit), and Kaossilator 2 (synthesizer), to be precise. Both new editions will slip in your pocket, and are dominated by that all-important X-Y pad. The mini Kaoss Pad 2 is all about effects, packing 100 programs, three memory slots, and MP3 playback (with pitch adjust). The traditional flanger, filter, delay, and reverb ear candy are also joined by looper, vinyl break, and ducking compressor.

But what good are effects without anything to, er, affect? Enter Kaossilator 2. It's a palm-sized synthesizer, with 150 onboard sounds and a PCM engine for drums. You can sample via a built-in mic, gate and arpeggiate sounds, and create layered textures with loops. Both can record your performance, save it to SD, or impose share with others via a built-in speaker. It's all peace and quiet, though, until April when the Kaossilator lands for about £168 ($260). The KPad, on the other hand won't hit the market until May, retailing at the same price. Full PRs after the break.
Continue reading Korg unveils two new Kaoss family members, brings anarchy to your pocket
Korg unveils two new Kaoss family members, brings anarchy to your pocket originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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RIM's BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 gets splayed by the FCC
January 20, 2012 at 9:09 PM
Thus far, the Waterloo-Stuttgart wünderchild's been scooped, made official and even toyed with back at this year's CES. What hasn't happened yet, is a proper review, but until that joyous day comes we'll take what we can get in the form of this quasi-teardown, courtesy of the FCC. Those with stellar memory and a keen eye will recall we'd seen it pass through governmental annals once before, yet at that time any revealing imagery of its internals were strictly verboten. That's changed, as that once barren page now houses a PDF titled "Temp Confid_Internal Photos" which conveniently splays three snaps of the teutonic device's interior. Sure, it isn't a proper iFixit dissection -- ripe with details and color -- but it'll probably be the closest anyone will get to the innards of the $2,000 BlackBerry for quite a while. Read this far? Go on, don't be shy, espy the governmental shakedown at the source link below.
RIM's BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 gets splayed by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Wireless Goodness  |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments