|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DARPA has its hands and, more importantly, its money in just about everything. Weapons, robots, thermal sensors -- it's a staple of the scientific community. But, it's also a military agency with basic needs, like internet access. The research group's newest project doesn't carry heavy loads (unless you're weighing your cargo in kilobytes) and can't break the sound barrier, but it should be able to deliver 4G speeds to even the most remote of battlefields. DARPA has $11.8 million set aside for its Mobile Hotspots program which will use millimeter-wave signals to deliver high-speed data connections to dismounted soldiers, forward-operating bases and tactical centers. Most importantly, each node in the network extends its range building out a mesh that isn't reliant on existing infrastructure. For more details hit up the PR after the break. Continue reading DARPA planning high-speed wireless for soldiers in the field DARPA planning high-speed wireless for soldiers in the field originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Information Week | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NTT DoCoMo has launched two waterproof Android devices in the glare of the rising sun, and interestingly both are compatible with Japan's new "V-High" broadcasting service -- which means they'll receive the much-hyped multimedia Nottv channel once it starts transmitting on April 1st, as well as the usual one-seg transmissions. We already peeped the Sharp Aquos SH-06D in an FCC filing, but now we know a couple more tidbits: namely that there's a 4.5-inch HD glasses-free 3D display on top of a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. The Medias tablet has a similar processor and also sports a seven-inch WXGA HD display, a thickness of less than 10mm (0.4-inches) plus compatibility with DoCoMo's "Xi" LTE service. Not bad for a morning's work. Aquos SH-06D and Medias Tab N-06D are waterproof, Nottv-ready and official in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  DOCOMO | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you've been following the latest bub around the hub, you may remember Apple's recent scuff with Shenzhen-based Proview Technology -- the Chinese outfit that holds the local trademark on the name "iPad." Not only did Apple lose a trademark lawsuit for the iPad name, but some time later mainland government had the slabs removed from retailers in the city of Shjiazhuang. Now, Apple's claiming that a Hong Kong court has sided with it in a similar battle, saying in a statement to China Daily that they purchased "Proview's worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago," referring, perhaps, to the deal they made Taiwanese arm of the company, "Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple." Xie Xianghui, Proview's lawyer, shot back with his own statement, explaining that the court merely ruled that the trademark couldn't be sold to a third party before hearing ends, claiming that this move does not count as a ruling in Apple's favor. Xie went on to suggest the issue stemmed from Apple underestimating the legal complications of doing business in China. Hong Kong court allegedly sides with Apple in iPad name dispute originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink 9to5Mac | China Daily | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  We were waiting for the details of Apple's new lawsuit in its global battle against Samsung, and now that the court has posted the complaint, we have them. These fresh allegations claim Sammy has... you guessed it, infringed upon Apple's intellectual property. Turns out, there are eight patents at issue, with four of the patents in question having been granted since the last time Apple filed suit against the Korean firm. Among these are patents for missed call management, slide-to-unlock and data-syncing technology. Apple isn't just targeting the Galaxy Nexus with this suit as previously thought, either. In fact, at least 17 devices are alleged to have infringed, including all the US Galaxy S II variants, both the Galaxy Player 4.0 and 5.0, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and Galaxy Tab 8.9. So, should the Northern District of California decide to grant Apple's request for a preliminary injunction, a hefty chunk of Samsung's mobile products will be barred from store shelves here in the States. It'll be a bit before we hear Sammy's side of the story, but for now, you can see all of Apple's latest legal arguments below. Apple v. Samsung: Cupertino's latest complaint alleges 17 devices infringe 8 of its patents originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink FOSS Patents | Complaint (PDF) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | When it comes to streaming music services are you something of an agnostic? That's not necessarily a bad thing -- Spotify, Rdio, MOG, Grooveshark, etc... all have their strengths and weaknesses (Spotify, for example, is a great source for Norwegian black metal). The trouble is, it's neither fun nor easy to jump from app to app, web site to web site just to find what you're looking for. Music Smasher simplifies things by letting you search most of the big sources in online streaming tunes simultaneously. It trolls the four services mentioned earlier, as well as SoundCloud and Bandcamp. Well, it searches Grooveshark in theory, but every query we tried simply returned undefined results. Hit up the source to try it out for yourself. Music Smasher searches Spotify, Rdio, MOG and more in one shot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Back in November, the European Commission, European Parliament and its member states agreed on plans to repurpose their 800MHz frequency bands for 4G mobile networks. Today, that decision has been officially approved. The Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP) has been set up to coordinate the use of this spectrum for fourth-generation services across the continent. Currently, 800MHz is used for analog television, but the new ruling gives member nations until the 1st of January 2013 to switch over to digital and authorize the band for its new role. Those nations dragging their heels can obtain an exemption, but mobile operators will be eager to see the spectrum freed up before then if possible. Swedish politician Gunnar Hökmark, who pushed for the legislation, hopes that it could lead to the EU having the fastest mobile broadband worldwide. Just don't tell AT&T. European Parliament approves January 2013 deadline for 4G spectrum free up originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Next Web | European Parliament | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We're big fans of quantum computing, and hopefully it's about to get a lot more reliable. Researchers at Yale have demonstrated quantum error correction in a solid state system for the first time. Quantum bits were created from "artificial" atoms using superconducting circuits, these qubits are then given either of the typical bit states of "1" or "0," or the quantum state of both simultaneously. The researchers developed a technique that identifies each qubit's initial state, so any erroneous changes can be reversed on the fly. Until now, errors have been a barrier in quantum computing, accumulating and ultimately causing computational failure. A reliable means of fixing these state changes is essential to developing a computer with an exponential speed-up, and fully realizing the quantum dream. The team at Yale hopes that this research might mean its platform of superconducting circuits becomes the one upon which quantum computing is ultimately built. We, on the other hand, just want our parallel universe. Yale Physicists develop quantum computing error correction, are a qubit pleased with themselves originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink PhysOrg | Yale | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Michael Diamond may be best known as Mike D of the Beastie Boys, but he's also an AT&T shareholder, and he's now played a central role in forcing a shareholder vote on net neutrality. He, along with his wife Tamra Davis and John P. Silva of Silva Artist Management previously submitted a proposal to AT&T arguing that shareholders should be allowed to vote a resolution that recommended the company "publicly commit to operate its wireless broadband network consistent with network neutrality principles." AT&T unsurprisingly rejected that proposal, stating that it would "directly interfere with its network management practices," but the SEC has now stepped in and said that net neutrality has become a "significant policy consideration," and that it can no longer be excluded from shareholder ballots. As Bloomberg Businessweek notes, companies can challenge the SEC's findings in court, although it remains to be seen if AT&T or other carriers will take that step. No further word from Mike D on the matter, so we'll take this opportunity to share another important message of his after the break.
[Image credit: Fabio Venni / Wikimedia Commons]Continue reading SEC sides with Beastie Boys' Mike D, says AT&T must allow shareholder vote on net neutrality SEC sides with Beastie Boys' Mike D, says AT&T must allow shareholder vote on net neutrality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Bloomberg Businessweek | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A new proposal set forth by the FCC would modify the Commission's licensing requirements of the 800MHz band by replacing its current site-based model with more contemporary geographic guidelines. Commissioners argue the change is needed, as site-based rules were originally established to consider the propagation of analog signals -- now obsolete by anyone's standards. The move would bring the licensing requirements of the 800MHz spectrum to parity with the 700MHz, AWS and PCS bands and reduce a boatload of paperwork along the way by eliminating current data collection requirements. The proposal would also create a new, two-stage auction process for the unlicensed areas, based on the new geographic approach. The FCC is now seeking public comment, and its PR can be found after the break.
[Tower photo via Shutterstock] Continue reading FCC seeks to streamline licensing requirements for 800MHz band FCC seeks to streamline licensing requirements for 800MHz band originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Phone Scoop | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Have any immediate plans to go to war, escape nuclear fallout or get shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific? Boy has Snow Lizard got the iPhone case for you. The Aqua Tek S is rugged, waterproof, battery-powered, solar panel-packing and in some cases camouflaged -- all said, it looks to be a beast of an iPhone 4 / 4S case that'll make your Otterbox case look like Samuel L. Jackson in Unbreakable. The twist ending here is that the case is currently seeking funding over on Kickstarter, with less than a month to reach its lofty goal of $75,000. When it hits, it's expected to run a pricey $130. Press info and a video of the case in action, after the jump. Continue reading Insert Coin: Aqua Tek S wants to be your desert island iPhone case Insert Coin: Aqua Tek S wants to be your desert island iPhone case originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sometimes being successful at certain bits comes with a cost, and that's exactly what's happening over at MLG HQ. According to Forbes, the Major League Gaming circuit has seen tremendous demand for its streaming services during tournaments, which up until now could be enjoyed in low-res without taking a hit on your wallet. However, that success is pushing the org to experiment with a different, pricier content model. During the upcoming Winter Arena tourny, those of you who want to watch the Mad Catz-sporting pros will have to pay 20 bucks or $15 if you're already rockin' a gold membership. While the move won't be permanent, it could indeed be a sign of things to come. Do you plan to shell over some cash or sit this round out on the bench? Let us know in the comments below. MLG tinkering with streaming fees during Winter Arena tourny originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Forbes | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  If you thought we were done with the numbers game, think again. NVIDIA has just pushed out its figures for Q4 of FY 2012 and things are looking good. Revenue for the quarter was $953 million, a 10.6 percent decline over Q3, but if you look over the entire year revenue increased 12.8 percent over fiscal 2011. Net income, too, was down compared to Q3, but looking annually, when compared to 2011 income more than doubled, from 253 million to 581. CEO Jen-Hsun Huang was predictably pleased with the outcome, saying: "We expect continued growth ahead, as Tegra 3 powers a new wave of quad-core super phones and Kepler, our next-generation GPU architecture, sets new standards in visual and parallel computing." We're expecting plenty of great devices too -- the Transformer Prime TF700T in particular. Continue reading NVIDIA reports Q4 2012 earnings: annual revenue up 12.8 percent, net income doubles NVIDIA reports Q4 2012 earnings: annual revenue up 12.8 percent, net income doubles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This Valentine's Day, the gang over at Google showed iOS users some social-networking love by releasing an update to its Google+ application. Aside from providing "various bug fixes and performance improvements," G+ gave iOS Nation access to a feature that Android users have enjoyed for quite some time: instant photo upload. When configured, the app will automatically -- when running in the background -- send your mobile candids to a private album housed on Google+. After the upload is complete, users are just a few clicks away from sharing the snapshots with their virtual clique; the photos are also, for all intents and purposes, backed up online. This functionality is not new to iOS users, of course -- iCloud's Photo Stream stashes mobile photos to the cloud -- but those that enjoy being swaddled by the Sultan of Search will, undoubtedly, be pleased as punch. Hit the source link, have yourself a download and enjoy. Google+ iOS app updated, instant image upload in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink PCWorld, Google+ | iTunes | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Gigabyte doesn't crank out handsets with the same frequency as, say, Samsung or HTC, so it's a momentous occasion to see a new addition to its lineup getting dressed up and ready to go. The outfit's latest model, the GSmart G1355, is getting some unofficial face time before Mobile World Congress and appears to keep things simple: it's said to bring dual-SIM capability to the table as well as a lightly-skinned version of Android 2.3, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, an 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227T CPU with 512MB of RAM and Adreno 200 GPU. The 11.5mm-thick device also sports a 4.3-inch WVGA display, which is par for the course in today's smartphone market but a behemoth when compared to the rest of Gigabyte's offerings. Since it hasn't officially been announced, we also are unsure about the pricing and availability, but the specs certainly indicate that it's aiming for entry-level status. The G1355 is expected to make its official debut in Barcelona, and we'll be there to get some quality one-on-one time with the new handset. Gigabyte GSmart G1355 leaked ahead of MWC, offers dual-SIM goodness for small wallets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink UnwiredView | GSMArena | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  A week ago today, developer Arun Thampi detailed on his blog how the Path app for iOS accessed users' contact information and uploaded that data to Path's servers -- all without any explicit permission granted on the user's part. That sparked quite the firestorm, including investigations into which other apps behaved in a similar manner (quite a few, it turns out), and some responses from a number of app makers -- Twitter, for one, has acknowledged that it does store users' contact data, but that it now plans to adjust its app to more clearly inform users of that behavior. Now, Apple itself has also responded, with spokesman Tom Neumayr telling AllThingsD that "apps that collect or transmit a user's contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our guidelines," but that it is "working to make this even better for our customers, and as we have done with location services, any app wishing to access contact data will require explicit user approval in a future software release." Still no word on when we can expect that software release. Incidentally, this news comes on the same day that Congressmen Henry Waxman and G.K. Butterfield sent a letter to Apple, asking that it respond to a number of questions concerning the issue no later than February 29th. iPhone address book issue prompts response Apple, apps' access to contact data will require user permission originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | AllThingsD | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ever since the debut of Ice Cream Sandwich, the masses of Motorola owners have yearned to discover when (if?) their devices would receive Android's latest and greatest. Well, Moto's finally let the cat out of the bag, setting out domestic and global timelines for its tablets and phones to get Android 4.0. Xoom WiFi owners here in the states have been enjoying ICS for a month, and Family Edition owners can expect the same tasty treat in Q2 of this year. Folks with RAZRs (including the Chinese MT917 variant) or XT928 (the Chinese evolution of the Droid X) in areas outside the US will be getting ICS in Q2 as well. Atrix 4G, Atrix 2, and Photon 4G owners around the world will have to wait until Q3 of 2012 for theirs, as will Xoom 2 and Xyboard owners. Motorola's blog, Inside Motorola, states that the Bionic, Droid 4, RAZR Maxx, and Electrify will be getting in on the action, too, but its engineers have yet to set a date for their upgrades. Head on down to the source links below to take a gander at the good news yourself. Motorola outs Android 4.0 upgrade schedule, adds Atrix 4G, Photon 4G and others to the ICS party list originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink PC Mag | Motorola Owners Forum, Inside Motorola | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It was once said that if a phone or tablet used a stylus its hardware designers had blown it. It was also said that if the software on that device contained a task manager that coders had similarly missed the mark. The Samsung Galaxy Note on AT&T contains what many would consider a stylus and, if you hold down the Home button, you're presented with what can only be described as a task manager.
So the Galaxy Note, Samsung's massive 5.3-inch "superphone," is critically flawed then, right? No. It is, in fact, one of the best phones to hit the market since another Samsung powerhouse -- the Galaxy Nexus. It's a device with a lot to love and is the kind of phone that would make almost every Android aficionado swoon. However, with its massive 5.3-inch display and generally understated styling, it isn't for everybody. We reviewed it before in European guise, but now read on to see if AT&T's $300 LTE version of this big brute is just right for you.
Continue reading AT&T Galaxy Note review AT&T Galaxy Note review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's been a long time in the making, but the BlackBerry Desktop Software for PCs has just made the jump from version 6.1 to 7.0. Despite the significant numeric hurdle, the software is scant for new features and only a handful of known issues have been fixed. New to the revision, the organizer synchronization component has been overhauled for easier setup and BlackBerry users may now import individual pictures and videos from within the utility -- as if USB Mass Storage mode didn't work well enough. A bug that incorrectly minimized the software to the system tray has been resolved, along with a couple of annoyances that relate only to BES users. Meanwhile, the list of known issues is nearly four pages long. Yikes. Ever get the feeling this software release could've been more aptly named version 6.1.0.37? BlackBerry Desktop Software for PCs makes debatable leap to version 7.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink N4BB, BerryReview | RIM (PDF) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's not often that a company announced it lost 17,000 customers in a quarter and that's considered good news, but for Comcast that's exactly the case when it comes to cable TV. Compared to the 135,000 customers lost in the same period a year ago (which was also lower than the year that preceded it), it's a slowing of a trend over the last few years and if you believe cord cutting is taking a toll on Big Cable, could indicate that is tailing off as well. That's not all of the good news however, as it also increased the number of customers picking up extra services like internet and phone. We didn't get too many tidbits from the earnings call, but did hear a mention that it's investing in new cloud-based software for its TV boxes -- hopefully that means we'll see that new Xfinity TV guide roll out widely sooner rather than later. Comcast slows the flood of video customer losses in Q4 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Comcast | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Okay, so Bullet Time actually used Canon DSLRs, but Nikon D4 owners should soon have their own means of messing with space and time. The WT-5 dongle can control up to ten of the mammoth DSLRs simultaneously or, in more usual set-ups, allow a single camera to share its shots over a network. This'll mean you're no longer tied down by the Ethernet cable that we were forced to use in our recent networking hands-on with the D4. We don't know if this will arrive in stores at the same time as the camera itself, or how much it'll cost, but at least it's now passed through FCC without getting shot down. Click past the break for a few product shots, and note that the status LED glows solid green when there's a network connection, flashes to indicate a transfer in progress, and radiates nasty orange to inform your lead actor that he'll have to bend over backwards for yet another take. Continue reading Nikon WT-5 WiFi dongle wins FCC approval, fires off a ring of D4s to celebrate Nikon WT-5 WiFi dongle wins FCC approval, fires off a ring of D4s to celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Okay, so Bullet Time actually used Canon cameras, but Nikon D4 owners should soon have their own means of messing with space and time. The WT-5 dongle can control up to ten of the mammoth DSLRs simultaneously or, in more usual set-ups, allow a single camera to share its shots over a network. This'll mean you're no longer tied down by the Ethernet cable that we were forced to use in our recent networking hands-on with the D4. We don't know if this will arrive in stores at the same time as the camera itself, or how much it'll cost, but at least it's now passed through FCC without getting shot down. Click past the break for a few product shots, and note that the status LED glows solid green when there's a network connection, flashes to indicate a transfer in progress, and radiates nasty orange to inform your lead actor that he'll have to bend over backwards for yet another take. Continue reading Nikon WT-5 WiFi dongle wins FCC approval, fires off a ring of D4s to celebrate Nikon WT-5 WiFi dongle wins FCC approval, fires off a ring of D4s to celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We've all heard of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy Note... but the Galaxy Note 10.1? That's a new one to us. The pinch of salt you should take this with could rim the entire nation's margarita glasses for a year, but hints have come from more than one source now that Samsung has an up-sized styli-friendly slate in the works. The unconfirmed device was listed on the Samsung site, alongside the standard Note, Wave 3 and Wave Y as being highlighted at a developer event at MWC. We'd have ignored it and written it off as a typo if it wasn't for a listing at Backstage looking for "teen student" to use "his Galaxy Note 10.1." Intriguing, no? Even more suspicious, both the casting call and the developer day listing have been removed. Of course, it's entirely possible that both appearances of the Note 10.1 were simple typos but, we won't lie, we're really hoping a larger sized slate with an S Pen. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 to debut at MWC? Definitely, maybe. originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | Backstage (cached) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ready to submit your premier Windows 8 app? Interested in adding some new accessibility features? Microsoft wants to ensure that its incoming OS can be used by people with disabilities right out of the box, detailing its "comprehensive accessibility platform" that will arrive on the next version of Windows. It's redesigned the built-in screen reader, improving performance speed while adding more languages and voices. Microsoft has also extended its compatibility, including the ability to read output from applications. The Narrator will even assist with the installation of Windows 8, something that's already integrated into the developer preview. The voice assistant will also be better equipped to keep up with your web browsing habits, with improved processing speed and keyboard shortcuts to navigate during narration.
Microsoft's looking to ensure that developers will find it easier to include accessibility into their projects, including support for standards like HTML5 and XAML, as well as accessibility testing tools found within the Windows SDK. Stylistically, the new Metro UI allows for new high contrast viewing options alongside the ability to adjust element sizes. Microsoft promises that these are now simpler to apply and adjust within the OS. Touch-only Windows 8 devices will also benefit from redesigned tools like the magnifier, now transformed into a touch overlay around the border, while a preview view will show exactly where you've zoomed in. Catch the developers explaining it in their own words right after the break. Continue reading Microsoft outlines new accessibility features for Windows 8 (video) Microsoft outlines new accessibility features for Windows 8 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Building Windows 8 blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Not into that whole $500 fuse-melting monster graphics card thing? Then good news for you: AMD has finally brought out two more affordable models in its 28nm Radeon HD range. The 7770 is priced at $169 and claims to be the world's first reference GPU that comes factory over-clocked to 1GHz. Meanwhile, the 7750 comes in at $109 and boasts a low enough wattage (75W, versus 100W for the 7770) that it doesn't require its own power connector. Both cards pack 1GB RAM and run on AMD's Cape Verde architecture, which makes them slightly different to the Tahiti-powered 7900 series, although they do inherit key top-end features like ZeroCore Power, PowerTune and Eyefinity 2.0.
Reviewers have mixed opinions, as befits a healthy blogosphere, but the low-power 7750 generally comes off slightly better, especially for those looking to build a budget or HTPC rig. AnandTech likes the power-to-performance ratio of both cards, but dislikes the price-to-performance of the 7770, noting that the older 6850 still offers more in this respect -- at least for gamers. HotHardware concludes that AMD might have "technically" priced both cards "just right," considering how they stack up against NVIDIA's GeForce GTX560 and 550, but in practice those NVIDIA cards deliver a lot more punch for just a few extra dollars. Feel free to glean further details for yourself via the PR and review links below. Continue reading AMD releases Radeon HD 7750 and 7770 GPUs, reviewers like and don't like AMD releases Radeon HD 7750 and 7770 GPUs, reviewers like and don't like originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | AnandTech, HotHardware, PC Perspective, TechSpot | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Poor Kodak just can't catch a break these days. Nearly a month after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and mere days after shuttering its digital camera business, the sputtering company now finds itself the target of no less a behemoth than Apple. Yesterday, Cupertino's legal team asked a US Bankruptcy Court for permission to go after Kodak on two legal fronts: with a patent infringement lawsuit in a Manhattan district court, and a corollary complaint in the ITC. According to Bloomberg, Apple's patent suit focuses on technologies that Kodak uses in its line of digital cameras, printers and digital picture frames. Unfortunately for Kodak, printers and picture frames are precisely the two product areas it decided to focus on, as confirmed in last week's restructuring announcement. Salt, meet wound. If the bankruptcy court grants the request, Apple will head straight to court, in the hopes of obtaining a block against Kodak's allegedly infringing products. Kodak, meanwhile, could file a request to hold off the district level case until the ITC ruling comes through, though Apple said yesterday that it would press forward, regardless. The company was also quick to point out that it's not legally bound to request permission to sue a court-protected bankrupt company, but did so "out of an abundance of caution," which is really considerate, if you think about it. Apple wants to file patent lawsuit against Kodak, fully aware that Kodak's bankrupt originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Next Web | Bloomberg | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  After having already acquired a stake in Beats Audio, HTC is reportedly looking to expand its reach even further, with the help of a new music streaming service. That's according to a report from GigaOM, which cites unnamed sources "familiar with the company's plans." These plans apparently include a new line of tablets and handsets, along with the aforementioned streaming service, to be spearheaded by Jimmy Iovine -- Beats head and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M. Details, of course, remain scarce, but GigaOM's sources say that the service will be included as a default client in HTC's handsets and tablets, and that it could launch as early as this month, at Mobile World Congress. The idea, apparently, is to differentiate Peter Chow's company from its competitors, and it's one that's been in the works for quite some time. Insiders say the manufacturer is planning to launch a new tablet at this year's MWC, as well, and is reportedly working on a new, Bluetooth-controlled wireless boombox. We'll have to wait a bit longer to see whether any of this actually plays out, but we'll certainly be keeping close watch over it. HTC developing music streaming service, wireless boombox? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | GigaOM | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  LG's got a leak and it's revealing some intriguing details on another flagship smartphone -- even backing them up with some screenshots. According to MoDaCo's mole, it will brandish a 4.7 inch (720 x 1280) display, powered by LG's first Tegra 3 quad-core setup. Processor speeds are pegged at around 1.5GHz on a single core, dropping to 1.4GHz during multi-core use. Hopefully, the 2,000mAh battery will withstand all that thinking power, while Ice Cream Sandwich should help push those multitasking chops to its limit. Camera-wise, you can expect an increasingly standard eight-megapxiel sensor, with a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front. There also appears to be some NFC hardware inside, identified by that circular logo at the top of these tantalizing screengrabs -- something we saw on LG's Prada phone 3.0. We're hoping to get a full explanation (and a look at some hardware) at Mobile World Congress. There's just a few weeks to go. LG's Tegra 3 phone specifications leak, benchmark tests cower in fear originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | MoDaCo | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Gartner's latest bundle of smartphone stats has just hit the wires, bringing with it some encouraging news for the folks in Cupertino. According to the firm's Q4 report, Apple finished 2011 as the world's top smartphone vendor by market share (19 percent), thanks to a Q4 that saw the company grab 23.8 percent of the market. During the quarter, Apple sold some 35.5 million handsets to end users, marking a mildly insane 121.4 percent increase from Q4 2010. This surge also helped Apple overtake LG to become the world's third largest seller of all mobile phones, with a 7.4 percent market share last quarter, trailing only Nokia (23.4 percent) and Samsung (19.4 percent). Nokia, in fact, saw some of its lead wither away during Q4, with sales dropping 8.7 percent over the year, to 111.7 million units. On the OS front, meanwhile, Android continues to dominate Q4 with 50.9 percent of the smartphone market, but that's slightly down from the previous quarter, when it grabbed a little less than 53 percent. Gartner attributes some of this to increased sales of the iPhone 4S, though it expects iOS' share to decline over the next "couple of quarters," as fewer users upgrade to the company's latest handset. For more insight and analysis, check out the full press release, after the break. Continue reading Gartner: Apple leads the way among smartphone vendors, Android sees slight decline Gartner: Apple leads the way among smartphone vendors, Android sees slight decline originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Google says it's fixed a Wallet security flaw that potentially allowed a phone thief to spend a user's prepaid balance. The ability to provision new prepaid cards had been suspended pending the update, but has now been restored. Things aren't quite back to normal in the Big G's world of mobile money, however. Users still find themselves caught between two competing arguments over an entirely different vulnerability, which involves a 'brute-force' attack on rooted devices. Google insists that this isn't a major concern, so long as Wallet users refrain from rooting, and that the system still "offers advantages over the plastic cards and folded wallets in use today." On the other hand, the company that discovered this issue -- zvelo -- has come back at Google with an equally blunt response. It acknowledges that a handset must be rooted to be vulnerable, but crucially its researchers also say that a device doesn't have to be rooted before it's stolen. In other words, they allege that a savvy thief can potentially steal a phone and then root it themselves, and they won't be happy with Wallet until it requires longer PIN number. Whichever argument sways you, it's worth bearing in mind that there's no evidence that anyone has yet managed to exploit these weaknesses for criminal purposes. Google Wallet gets prepaid security fix, but 'brute-force' issue still hangs in the air originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Google, zvelo | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
