|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's six months since Ford partnered with Bug Labs to build OpenXC and now the system is ready for third-party developers to get involved. Rather than following Renault and others down the Android route, OpenXC is a dedicated platform designed to bring together third-party apps and hardware. It comes with an Arduino-based interface module that hooks up to the car's own systems, allowing the software to work with sensors, audio interfaces, safety devices and whatever other add-ons an owner might want to rig up. One app, developed by India's HCL Technologies, is already complete: it sends location updates to selected contacts to warn them if a driver is running late for a meeting. (Finally, Arduino gets to do something useful.) Ford sends out OpenXC beta, vehicle-aware apps should be just around the corner originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Electronista | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | According to CNET, a class-action lawsuit over the iPhone 4's troublesome antenna, aka Antennagate, has been settled. The planned resolution will net US residents who bought one and presumably either $15 in cash or (another?) free bumper case. CNET quotes co-lead counsel Ira Rothken (also the attorney for Megaupload in its case) saying that he believes the settlement is "fair and reasonable", affecting some 25 million people who will be notified by email and through print ads in USA Today and Macworld. Once they've received the heads up, they can go to www.iPhone4Settlement.com (not up and running yet) to register their claims. When the issue first came to light back in 2010 Apple suggested holding it differently before saying it would tweak its signal display formulas and, eventually, offering the free cases. Hopefully for the company and its users, this resolution puts the issue -- which is not a problem on the new 4S -- to bed. We haven't received any response from Apple regarding the case just yet but we'll let you know if we do. iPhone 4 antennagate class-action lawsuit settled, owners to receive $15 or a free case originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  CNET | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Clearly the LG Fantasy ( make that the Miracle) isn't camera shy. Not long after a quick debut with Mr. Blurrycam, the Windows Phone handset has landed a short, poorly lit cameo in someone else's amateur film. Which is to say, the video doesn't reveal anything exciting. Aside from a few swipes and taps around the OS, we also get a quick peek at the device's rear, which is rocking an unmistakable "Not For Sale" sticker, and appears to have a matte finish. That purported 4-inch screen is allegedly of IPS quality, and is said to be paired with a 1GHz CPU, 8GB of internal storage and an NFC chip. The only thing certain about all these early appearances is that LG's fantasies are about to become a reality (sorry, guys). Continue reading LG Fantasy Windows Phone appears on video, keeps us guessing LG Fantasy Windows Phone appears on video, keeps us guessing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Ubergizmo | Mobilissimo (YouTube) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Leaves weren't the only things flying around Mountain View last Autumn if you remember, Google also unleashed its Dart programming language. Now, developers can get their hands on a tech preview version of Chromium, with the Dart virtual machine baked right in. There are Mac and Linux binaries available today, but no details about other platforms (ahem Windows) at this time. The preview lets you run your programs directly on the Dart VM, skipping the separate compilation stage. While it's just for developers at the minute, there are plans to include this in standard Chrome releases in the future. Aim at the source link after the break for the full details. Google's Dart lands in Chromium tech preview originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink CNET | Chromium Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Call us loco, but after this, the 281st edition of the Engadget Podcast, we're excited about a future where desktop operating systems, mobile gaming and telecommunications platforms, and hoverboard interfaces converge into one new distinct product category. We're not sure exactly where in the Walmart it will sit, but we're sure they'll figure something out. They always do.
Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guest: Sean Buckley
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Orbital - Never
00:01:42 - The Engadget Show returns Saturday, February 18th with DJ Spooky and Google -- get a ticket to the taping! 01:12:00 - Listener questions Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [ iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [ RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [ RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [ Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3)
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Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens. Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Twitter: @bheater, @tim_stevens, @seanniccus Filed under: Podcasts Engadget Podcast 281 - 02.17.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | While we impatiently await a Lytro to call our own -- or at least rigorously review -- it looks like the light field technology could be used for video. Ren Ng, CEO of Lytro and the man behind the camera's focus-dodging optical wizardry, mentioned that the main barrier between the curious camera lens and video recording is the amount of processing power required to manipulate all that fully-lit input. He also mentioned that Lytro is continuing to develop the wireless connectivity within the device, something that wasn't fully baked during our hands-on. If it's a processing power issue, those incoming quad-core smartphones might be able to help squeeze some video out of that f/2.0 lens... Lytro video camera 'a possibility', would need more processing muscle originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | TechCrunch | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Remember that first shot across Apple's bow that HTC fired way back May of 2010? No? We don't blame you. Since that initial exchange of complaints against each other the patent war has spun almost completely out of control. Well, in October an ITC judge handed down an initial ruling, rejecting the Taiwanese manufacturer's claim that Cupertino and crew had infringed upon its patents. Now, almost four months later, a final judgment has been issued, consistent with the initial decision -- Apple is not in violation of the patents in question (which primarily concern the dialer and power management features) and the investigation has officially been closed. Don't get your hopes up too much though, this is just the first complaint in a long series of suits the two have filed against each other and HTC can always appeal in a federal circuit court. In other words, there's plenty more where this came from. ITC closes the book on HTC's first complaint against Apple, still working on its sequels originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FOSS Patents | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It may seem a bit odd to see tech industry groups like the CTIA and CEA praising the passage of the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 by Congress, but that rather mundane-sounding bill has provisions attached to it that both groups and others have been pushing for years to happen. In an effort to cover the cost of the payroll tax extension, the bill also sets aside a large block of so-called unlicensed spectrum for auction, which is expected to bring in upwards of $25 billion. That spectrum had previously been used for TV broadcast use, but is now being eyed by various parties for next-generation WiFi networks, which could cover greater distances and potentially be used to bolster existing wireless networks. As part of the bill, Congress has also set aside a slice of spectrum that will be used as part of a nationwide network for public safety agencies. As The New York Times notes, however, it will see be quite a while before anything trickles down to consumers, with the auctions themselves at least a year or two away. The CEA and CTIA's statements can be found after the break.
[Tower photo via Shutterstock] Continue reading Congress passes bill opening up TV spectrum to next-gen WiFi networks Congress passes bill opening up TV spectrum to next-gen WiFi networks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | CIO | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | There are no shortage of iPad 3 rumors out there. Quad-core A6, LTE radio, Retina Display -- we've heard it all, but haven't actually seen much in the way of evidence. Now Mac Rumors claims to have gotten its paws on part of the mythical beast. The site has a 9.7-inch LCD, in the same aspect ratio as the iPad and iPad 2 that certainly appears to be rocking a full 2048 x 1536 resolution. Without a way to power the screen its a little tough to be certain, but the same area of the alleged iPad 3 panel does seem to house twice as many pixels as its predecessor when viewed under the same magnification. Could this in fact be the Retina Display destined to put iOS 5.1 in the hands of millions of tablet fans? We'll just have to wait for Tim Cook to reveal of its secrets too us, which should be happening sooner, rather than later. Alleged iPad 3 Retina Display examined under a microscope originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Mac Rumors | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | There's been plenty of back and forth between the web and RIM lately regarding the debut date of the next OS release for the PlayBook, and now we've got some hard evidence showing that the software is set to be let loose on February 21st . As you can see in the picture above, PlayBook users will be able to download version 2.0 in the early hours of an unknown time zone next Tuesday. The much anticipated update will finally give the tablet a native email client, improved BlackBerry Bridge functionality and plenty of other goodies. Not only that, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will be rolling out that same day, giving IT professionals the ability to manage all BlackBerry devices from a single interface -- with Android and iOS controls coming in March. The picture to prove it is after the break, and now that we got that settled, we can go back to speculating about BlackBerry 10, right?
[Thanks, Anonymous]Continue reading BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 release confirmed for February 21st BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 release confirmed for February 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Consider the high-end smartphone. While you lust after those, Pantech is on the prowl, steadily adding to and improving upon its army of budget offerings in the US. It may not be as formidable a force as the Samsungs and Motorolas of the world, but the outfit is finally beginning to leave a mark. Once a complete unknown outside of Asia, the phone manufacturer is keeping itself incredibly busy on this side of the Pacific, cranking out low-cost devices for AT&T and Verizon. Now, Pantech's focus has turned to LTE, starting with the $50 Breakout on Big Red, followed by a smartphone and tablet option on Ma Bell.
The Pantech Burst is the inaugural entry-level LTE smartphone in AT&T's lineup, debuting at $50 with a two-year commitment. Don't let that bargain-basement price turn you off, though -- this thing's got plenty of mojo to back it up, which makes the Burst a stark contrast to its Verizon counterpart. But what can we expect from a budget-friendly handset? Is Pantech finally pushing out a device that will help it earn a new level of respect from American consumers? We're bursting at the seams to answer those questions and take the device for a spin after the break. (Yes, we just went there.)
Continue reading Pantech Burst review Pantech Burst review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We might not have an official release date for Nikon's new shooters in the US of A, but over in France, well, things are un peu different. Per a Q&A box on the French arm's Facebook page comes the image above, plainly stating its latest twosome will go on sale in March -- the 15th specifically for the D4, and the 22nd for the D800. Following that, tweakers obsessed with finer details will get their fix with the D800E a month later on April 12th. No word on if those dates apply globally, but instead of getting yourself all frothy, we say have a rendezvous with our hands-ons (D4, D800) or lose yourself in some delectable video samples (D4, D800). Go on, we won't judge. Nikon D4 and D800 to ship in March, but only in the land of the baguette? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Nikon Rumors | Nikon (Facebook) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Amazon had some serious trombone action going on last year -- what with all the horn tooting it did about Kindle Fire demand. Turns out Amazon was on to something, as the company officially grabbed the No. 2 spot from Samsung for tablet sales in the last quarter. Amazon sold 3.89 million tablets during the fourth quarter, eclipsing Samsung's 2.14 million units. The numbers equal a 14 percent share of the tablet market for Amazon while Samsung grabbed an 8 percent share, down from 11 percent in the third quarter. The brisk sales came at a price for Amazon, which saw fourth-quarter profits drop since it sold Kindle Fire tablets at a loss. Amazon's tablet sales also were still below the 15.4 million iPads sold by Apple for the period. All the competition is apparently taking a bite out of Apple's juicy market share, however, which fell to 62 percent in 2011, compared to 87 percent in 2010. Samsung did manage to hold on to the No. 2 spot for the year, but with rumors already swirling about new LTE and 8-inch iPads plus the Galaxy Note 10.1, the tablet wars aren't likely to cool off anytime soon. Amazon elbows past Samsung for No. 2 tablet spot in Q4, Apple's iPad still No. 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Bloomberg Businessweek | IHS Inc. | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Happy tidings for TouchPad owners looking for the latest Android 4.0 action: the Alpha 6 build of CM9 can now tune into nightly broadcasts of fixes and updates, courtesy of Teamwin and Eyeballer. This is an unofficial development branch and users have so far seen mixed results, but the main CyanogenMod crew seems content enough to recommend it -- at least until a new Alpha or Beta build comes along with major improvements like video playback or camera support. It's definitely healthier than holding your breath. CM9 for TouchPad gains access to nightly builds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Liliputing | RootzWiki | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Microsoft is making plenty of big changes with its Windows 8 operating system, and that has now also extended to a new logo. As explained by Microsoft's Sam Moreau in a post on the official Windows blog, the logo was created with the help of the design agency Pentagram, which posed a simple question when it began on the project: "your name is Windows. Why are you a flag?" That eventually led to the four-paned window you see above, which not only looks more like a window than the previous logos, but clearly echoes the company's new Metro design language. You can see a bigger version after the break, and read the full story of its creation at the source link below. Microsoft reveals Windows 8's new logo: 'It's a window... not a flag' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Windows Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Angry Birds has spawned countless ports and two sorta sequels, but Rovio has now announced what it's describing as its biggest launch since the original game. Angry Birds Space will be released on March 22nd, and the company has enlisted NASA and National Geographic as launch partners for the game (exactly what that entails is still unclear, though). As you can probably guess, the hook this time around will be some new physics to deal with, including zero gravity and a new "lightspeed destruction" feature, but details on the game itself otherwise remain a bit light, including any specific word on supported platforms. Rovio is apparently planning a big push at launch though, with a simultaneous rollout planned across "mobile gaming, animation, retail, and publishing," and it's promising to reveal more details ahead of that in early March. Continue reading Angry Birds Space announced for March 22nd release, NASA and National Geographic lending a hand Angry Birds Space announced for March 22nd release, NASA and National Geographic lending a hand originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Angry Birds Space | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Angry Birds has spawned countless ports and two sorta-sequels, but Rovio has now announced what it's describing as its biggest launch since the original game. Angry Birds Space will be released on March 22nd, and the company has enlisted NASA and National Geographic as launch partners for the game (exactly what that entails is still unclear, though). As you can probably guess, the hook this time around will be some new physics to deal with, including zero gravity and a new "lightspeed destruction" feature, but details on the game itself otherwise remain a bit light, including any specific word on supported platforms. Rovio is apparently planning a big push at launch though, with a simultaneous rollout planned across "mobile gaming, animation, retail, and publishing." It's also promising to reveal more details ahead of that in early March. Continue reading Angry Birds Space announced for March 22nd release, NASA and National Geographic lending a hand Angry Birds Space announced for March 22nd release, NASA and National Geographic lending a hand originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Angry Birds Space | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Huawei was cycling past the FCC's ominous Washington bunker and dropped off a basket of muffins and its latest phone. The Ascend G 300 U8815 is the latest handset to undergo the Area-51 style autopsy by our boys in blue. Sadly they weren't feeling generous enough to take the usual array of pictures, so we've had to do with pouring through the test reports. We've gleaned that it's running GSM 850/1900 and 900/2100 3G bands as well as the usual WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth gear. Those who know your bands will have noticed that the phone isn't compatible with the 3G in the us, so it probably won't arrive on sale on these shores -- except in the shirt pocket of the odd trans-continental traveler. Huawei Ascend G 300 doesn't settle down at the FCC as it's only for tourists originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For 2012, Onkyo is expanding its lineup with four new entry level receivers and two HTIB all-in-one packages. The receivers all pack the brand new InstaPrevue (PiP preview of each HDMI source with fast switching) and MHL, while the three networked models are the first with access to MP3tunes cloud stored songs, as well as a number of other services including Spotify. The top of the line TX-NR616 ($699, April, pictured above) packs the most power and rocks a THX Select2 Plus stamp of quality and, along with the step down TX-NR515 ($599, March) has Qdeo video processing that scale video up to 4K res and output audio on 7.2 channels. On the HTIBs, the 7.1 HT-S5500 ($649, March) and 5.1 HT-S3500 bring all the usual features wrapped around a new "Wide Range Amplifier Technology" that it claims reduces signal noise while still pimping up the power through discrete output-stage components. The full list of specs, prices and shipping windows are in the press releases after the break, hit the source links for a few more pictures. Continue reading Onkyo debuts new entry level receivers, HTIBs for 2012 Onkyo debuts new entry level receivers, HTIBs for 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Missing Remote | Onkyo (receivers), Onkyo (HTIB) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Still anticipating the Kindle Fire's successor? Well, here's some gossip from the Far East for you Bezos fans. According to the well-connected China Times of Taiwan, it's been informed by parts suppliers that Amazon's next tablet does not yet have a finalized specification, though it hinted that a 10-inch OEM device from Foxconn could be a potential candidate. Amazon's chain of manufacturers -- including Quanta, ACES, Prime View, Singatron, CviLux and the newly added Foxconn -- is allegedly scheduled to supply sample parts in March, followed by mass production (assembled by Quanta and Foxconn, naturally) in May or June before releasing to market by the end of Q2.
Additionally, China Times understands that as an attempt to further reduce manufacturing costs, Amazon will also be personally picking and approving parts; as opposed to the olden days where Quanta took full care of the first Kindle Fire. This is surely a bad sign for Quanta in the short run, but hey, cheaper tablets sell well. The real question is: do people actually want a larger Kindle Fire? We're a tad skeptical at this point. Amazon's second-gen, possibly larger Kindle Fire to set off at end of Q2? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Ubergizmo | China Times | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ah, compatibility, she can be a cruel mistress, prone to leaving your favorite devices out in the cold and your wallet a few bills lighter. Apple's latest OS update, Mountain Lion, is no different. OS X 10.8 won't run on just any Mac, so, the question is, will it run on yours? Well, if you've got any machine from 2009 or newer the answer is yes. Older than that and things get a little bit shaky. iMacs are the most forgiving, with support starting on the mid-2007 models. Any Pro desktop from early 2008 on should be fine, while Xserves get cut off at early 2009 along with the Mac Mini. The original Air is already getting turned aside and you'll need a late 2008 model (or newer) for the update, while vanilla MacBooks are nearing total obsolescence as support starts with the aluminum models from 2008. Lastly, those of you rocking 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pros should be golden starting with late 2007 models. Oh, and any 13-inch Pro should be good to go. PSA: Can your machine run Mountain Lion? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The gang over at BGR have allegedly acquired a bootleg copy of Apple's next mobile operating system iteration, iOS 5.1. In doing so, they have been able to confirm two rumored adds: a new unlock-to-camera action and Japanese support for Siri. In iOS 5.0, users can activate the camera from a locked device by double-tapping the home button and selecting the icon that appears. The new workflow? Wake the phone, then simply slide the lock screen toward the top of the handset -- making this feature easier to use and find. The other major difference is the expansion of Siri's vernacular -- more specifically, the addition of Japanese. iOS users in The Land of the Rising Sun will soon be able to get a synthesized "konnichiwa" from their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Domo arigato, Apple. iOS 5.1 brings new unlock-to-camera action, more cultured Siri originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Apple's kitty cat-flavored OS refresh may have dominated the news this week, but it was a deluge of product reviews that kept the wheels spinning at Distro HQ. Issue 28 is one of our heftiest yet, featuring Sony's stateside PS Vita, Ainovo's $99 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, Motorola's QWERTY kin, the Droid 4, the AT&T version of Samsung's ample Galaxy Note and LG's fashionable Prada Phone. Shaking things up a bit, Zach Honig travels to Yokohama, Japan to bring you the biggest breakouts from the 2012 CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show. And, to round it all out, we've got a healthy helping of content you won't see anywhere else, like Ross Rubin's Switched On, Donald Melanson's Recommended Reading, our Q&A with Netbooknews' Nicole Scott and a lesson on "How to Be Happy" by cartoonist Shannon Wheeler.
Distro Issue 28 PDF
Distro on the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Android Market
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter Distro Issue 28: A slew of device reviews and a look back at CP+ 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | iTunes, Android Market | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We've never been too fussed with how our storage looks -- it's rare that our SD cards linger too long outside the camera anyway. However, for you genius-level aesthetes who demand your internals are as beautiful as your externals, Samsung's got your back. It's releasing a line of SD and microSD cards with a stylish brushed metal body in silver or black that, frankly, looks shinier than whatever they'll be nestled inside. Just like Ryan Gosling, the cards are both pretty and pretty tough -- able to withstand 24 hours in water, 3,200 pounds of pressure or being left in an MRI machine with a power of 10,000 gauss, which we're always doing. After the interval, we've got pricing and stats for each unit (speed improves greatly if you plump for a 4GB card or higher) plus a little PR paperwork. Continue reading Samsung's new SD cards look too good to hide inside a DSLR Samsung's new SD cards look too good to hide inside a DSLR originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Months of rumors about the HTC Endeavor (aka the One X, Edge, Ville) have layered up to provide a pretty complete (if not totally reliable) picture of the forthcoming Tegra 3-powered Android handset. There's room for a few more brush-strokes, however, and one of MoDaCo's tipsters is happy to paint them. We're told the new handset will have a Super LCD display, despite earlier rumors of HTC flirting with AMOLED (again). This could be no bad thing, judging from the stunning 1280 x 720 panel on the Rezound, but the Endeavor is expected to have a larger 4.7-inch screen and hence a slightly lower pixel density. The thinness of the Endeavor's chassis will reportedly be a major selling point, as will be the 32GB of onboard memory that will come as standard. However, this storage won't be expandable -- the tipster says there's no microSD on the back, just a microSIM slot and an 1800mAh battery that may or may not be removable. Again, the provenance of these reports is unknown, but MoDaCo's reports have so far tallied closely with what we saw in a leaked Endeavor ROM. Assuming it's all accurate, will it be enough to give HTC the differentiating leg-up it so badly needs? We're not sure, but we do know that more Beats Audio or a music streaming service won't cut it. More HTC Endeavor whispers: SLCD display, thin chassis, 32GB and no microSD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Android Community | MoDaCo | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  We were admittedly cynical last summer, when Nevada's state legislature passed a law regulating the safety of driverless cars. But maybe we shouldn't have been, because it looks like they're actually serious about it. The state has now begun fleshing out its campaign with new regulations for testing these robocars, which, of course, are still very much in their infancy. According to the Associated Press, drivers looking to test a driverless vehicle will have to first purchase a bond worth between $1 million and $3 million, depending on the specifics of their project. The data from each test, moreover, will have to be shared with state officials, and all automated vehicles must have some sort of black box-like device to securely store this information, in the event of a crash. Most interesting, however, is how humans fit into all of this. Under the state's regulations, a passenger is still considered an "operator" of the vehicle, even if he or she isn't driving. They'll be exempt from Nevada's ban on driving while texting, but they won't be able to rely on their robocar as a designated driver -- which is fine, because it's not like anyone drinks in Vegas anyway. Nevada is getting serious about driverless cars originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechCrunch | AP (ABC News) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stanford researcher Jonathan Mayer has discovered a curious Safari loophole that allows Google to track a user's browsing activity via cookie-laced web ads. As it turns out, Apple's browser normally accepts cookies from sites that a user visits, but automatically blocks them from third-party advertisers. As Mayer found out, though, advertisers can still circumvent this filter by enticing users to interact with ads in different ways. In the case of Google, the search giant embedded a "+1" button on ads produced with its DoubleClick technology, as part of an opt-in feature for Google+ users. If a user was logged in to Google+ and had agreed to see +1 ad displays, he or she would have a cookie planted on their device, thanks to a system that sent invisible forms from Apple computers or iPhones. This made it seem as if a user actually submitted the form intentionally, thereby convincing Safari to allow cookies. These cookies were only temporary, with shelf lives of up to 24 hours, but they could open the door for many more, since Safari allows sites to plant them after having received access to install at least one.
After the Wall Street Journal notified Google of this loophole, the company promptly disabled it and duly apologized, adding that it didn't realize that its +1 system would plant tracking cookies on a user's device. "We didn't anticipate that this would happen, and we have now started removing these advertising cookies from Safari browsers," Google's Rachel Whetstone explained. "It's important to stress that, just as on other browsers, these advertising cookies do not collect personal information." An Apple spokesperson, meanwhile, issued the following statement: "We are aware that some third parties are circumventing Safari's privacy features and we are working to put a stop to it." WSJ: Safari loophole lets Google track Apple users through web ads originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | With companies like Tesla and Ford replacing tactile, in-dash systems with touchscreens and gizmos, the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration wants to set "distraction guidelines" for how automakers implement factory-installed in-car electronics. Nearly a year after discussing the possibility of bringing restrictions to in-car information, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood unveiled phase one of a (potential) three-part, "first-ever federal proposal" loaded with suggestions for keeping driver's eyes and attention on the road. Notably, these voluntary guidelines take aim at "communications, entertainment, information gathering and navigation devices or functions that are not required to safely operate the vehicle." According to Reuters, though, the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers claims that "elements" of the guidelines have been in practice for nearly ten years.
The ideas range from ensuring that one hand is always left free for steering and restricting the entry of text, such as an address, unless the your car is in park, to limiting in-dash text prompts to "no more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the driving task" so that your eyes can't wander off of the road for too long. Vehicles under 10,000 pounds are said to be the primary focus, with the NHTSA noting that electronic warning systems will not be under the radar as they intend to help drivers, well, drive. Before the proposal spins into action, beginning in March it will be up for public comment for 60 days L.A., Washington D.C. and Chicago. Depending on how the phase one guidelines pan out, phase two will focus on devices brought into vehicles, like cellphones, while phase three would set its sights on voice controls. If you're curious about all of the specifics, you'll find more info in the press release after the break and the full proposal draft at the source link below. Continue reading NHTSA issues "distraction guidelines" proposal for in-vehicle electronics, MyFord Touch frets NHTSA issues "distraction guidelines" proposal for in-vehicle electronics, MyFord Touch frets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Reuters | US Department of Transportation (1), (2, PDF) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | With companies like Tesla and Ford replacing tactile, in-dash systems with touchscreens and gizmos, the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration wants to set "distraction guidelines" for how automakers implement factory-installed in-car electronics. Nearly a year after discussing the possibility of bringing restrictions to in-car information, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood unveiled phase one of a (potential) three-part, "first-ever federal proposal" loaded with suggestions for keeping driver's eyes and attention on the road. Notably, these voluntary guidelines take aim at "communications, entertainment, information gathering and navigation devices or functions that are not required to safely operate the vehicle." According to Reuters, though, the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers claims that "elements" of the guidelines have been in practice for nearly ten years.
The ideas range from ensuring that one hand is always left free for steering and restricting the entry of text, such as an address, unless the your car is in park, to limiting in-dash text prompts to "no more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the driving task" so that your eyes can't wander off of the road for too long. Vehicles under 10,000 pounds are said to be the primary focus, with the NHTSA noting that electronic warning systems will not be under the radar as they intend to help drivers, well, drive. Before the proposal spins into action, beginning in March it will be up for public comment for 60 days L.A., Washington D.C. and Chicago. Depending on how the phase one guidelines pan out, phase two will focus on devices brought into vehicles, like cellphones, while phase three would set its sights on voice controls. If you're curious about all of the specifics, you'll find more info in the press release after the break and the full proposal draft at the source link below. Continue reading NHTSA issues "distraction guidelines" proposal for in-vehicle electronics, MyFord Touch frets NHTSA issues "distraction guidelines" proposal for in-vehicle electronics, MyFord Touch frets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Reuters | US Department of Transportation (1), (2, PDF) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The Humble Bundle organization has done a fairly impressive job of raising money for charities with its name-your-price game bundles (also benefiting game developers, of course), but it's doing something a little different this weekend. It's enlisted the help of Minecraft creator Mojang for the Humble Bundle Mojam, a 60-hour coding jam (streamed live) that will see a game made from scratch and eventually sold, with all of the proceeds going to charity. They're also opening up the type of game to a vote, with folks able to choose from a number of different themes and genres, but the real kicker is that they're going to take the highest and lowest votes -- meaning you could see Real Time Strategy Beat 'em Up with a Steampunk / Ancient Egypt theme if the current voting holds up. Hit the source link below if you'd like to try to sway that in a different direction. Humble Bundle Mojam happens this weekend: vote on a game, see it made in 60 hours for charity originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | Mojang, Humble Bundle | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
