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Saturday, February 25, 2012

2/24 Engadget


     
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Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphones
February 24, 2012 at 12:02 PM
 
Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphones
The audio nerds at Fraunhofer are set to raise the bar for Voice over LTE next week in Barcelona, as the company has announced a new technology known as Full-HD Voice. By leveraging the AAC-ELD codec, Fraunhofer claims that consumers will experience audio quality that rivals the experience of chatting face-to-face. Technically speaking, it's said the codec offers four times the audio bandwidth of regular phone calls and twice the bandwidth of HD voice services, all without an increase in bit rate. The technology will only be available for Android phones initially, but that seems like a fine place to start. The full PR is after the break -- presented in Full HD, of course.

Continue reading Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphones

Fraunhofer's Full-HD Voice brings high fidelity VoLTE to Android smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo software coming to Pace set-top boxes
February 24, 2012 at 10:52 AM
 
Pace HD DVR
You may have never heard of Pace, but you might have some of its hardware in your house right now. If you're a DirecTV subscriber, that satellite receiver you rely on every day might actually be made by Pace. Or, perhaps the box your cable company gave you that you just never gave much thought to. The up and coming set-top box maker has recently even had some success with the biggest cable company of them all, Comcast. The latest partnership for the company trying to overthrow both Motorola and Cisco in the cable box space? TiVo. This global partnership will ensure that TV providers that buy hardware from Pace and software from TiVo will have almost no work left to do. In other words, it'll make way for an out-of-the box TiVo-verified platform. Pace indicates this will help answer the "strong interest" from TiVo's list of service providers, but that seems a bit optimistic. Our cynical side reminds us of all the great Sling powered hardware marketed to those same providers that years later, still has not been put into use.

Continue reading TiVo software coming to Pace set-top boxes

TiVo software coming to Pace set-top boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint launches New Ventures arm, adapts ID and Zone apps for foreign markets
February 24, 2012 at 9:49 AM
 
Like any money-hungry corporation, Sprint's branching out to pursue greener (as in the color of dolla dolla bills) pastures. The Hesse-led co's just announced the creation of its New Ventures unit, an overseas- and wholesale-focused entity which is set to expand upon Android's rapidly growing user base to generate some lucrative B2B handshakes with manufacturers and foreign operators. First up on the organization's plate is the white labeled extension of the company's branded apps, now nestled under the carrier agnostic Mobile ID and Mobile Zone monikers. Those software packs will function much like they do here in the US, offering subs a pre-selected assortment of skins containing applications, ringtones and wallpapers, in addition to a centralized hub for account management. No word yet on what international partners have signed up for the licensed service, but with Mobile World Congress only a few days away, we're sure those necessary details will be forthcoming.

Continue reading Sprint launches New Ventures arm, adapts ID and Zone apps for foreign markets

Sprint launches New Ventures arm, adapts ID and Zone apps for foreign markets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Proton and Yes team up to offer Malaysia's first 4G-connected car, promise more to come
February 24, 2012 at 8:57 AM
 
The first one may only amount to a MiFi housed in the dash (although that does come standard), but automaker Proton and Malaysian carrier Yes seem to have some fairly grand designs on 4G-connected cars. In addition to providing a WiFi hotpot for passengers, they eventually hope to use the 4G connectivity for a range of automotive-related applications, including vehicle diagnostics, security, and other location-based services. Notably for potential buyers, Yes's 4G coverage of Malyasia is fairly widespread, encompassing over 65 percent of the country's populated areas and the full 960 kilometer stretch of the country's North-South Expressway, as well as a "large portion" of its East-Coast Expressway. While details on those promised services or any future cars remain a bit light, that first one (the P3-21A sedan) will apparently soon be available.

Continue reading Proton and Yes team up to offer Malaysia's first 4G-connected car, promise more to come

Proton and Yes team up to offer Malaysia's first 4G-connected car, promise more to come originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Forbes  |  sourceProton, Yes  | Email this | Comments
   
   
FCC thinks ISPs should do a better job preventing fraud, theft
February 24, 2012 at 8:16 AM
 
Internet fraud and theft are major problems, there seems to be little doubt about that -- according to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, some 8.4 million credit card numbers are stolen every year. The question, then, is who should be addressing the issue. Genachowski this week called for "smart, practical, voluntary solutions," asking internet service providers to put more effort into helping prevent data theft, hacks and other issues, or risk having "consumers lose trust in the internet," thereby "suppress[ing] broadband adoption and online commerce and communication." The chairman asked ISPs to help avoid hijacking through more efficient traffic routes and to instate DNSSEC to help weed out fraudulent sites.

FCC thinks ISPs should do a better job preventing fraud, theft originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Robot navigates, reassembles truss structures
February 24, 2012 at 7:23 AM
 
Sick and tired of your boring old truss? This handy little robot may well be just the solution you're looking for. It can navigate a truss structure using its 3D-printed bi-directional gear innards, unscrew a beam with its rotational mechanism and reattach it, transforming the structure into a new shape. The structure itself is specially designed for the bot, with robot lockable connectors and reflecting segments that can be picked up by its sensors to help it detect its location. The folks behind the plucky little robot are currently working a number different concepts for the project. You can see a few of them in action in the video after the break.

Continue reading Robot navigates, reassembles truss structures

Robot navigates, reassembles truss structures originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCreative Machines  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Apple patent application points to DJ-like beat matching, pairs iTunes with fist pumps
February 24, 2012 at 6:41 AM
 
Once upon a less digital time, there existed the art of the mixtape: a tedious labor of love that required timing, taste and a penchant for musical progression. No longer in this iTunes-era, where personally curated song collections that once served as the background to our lives can now be automated by our dear friends in Cupertino. And, based on a patent application filed back in August of 2010, those Apple-made robo-playlists could get even smarter and slicker, with your perennially hip, millennial compadres being none the wiser. According to the claims covered, "an electronic device" (insert Mac or iOS product here) would be able to locate and interpret beats from a preceding AAC, MP3 or WMA file and crossfade them into those of the following track. In other words, it's a virtual disc jockey built into your machine; one that would supercede the currently available DJ feature. Whether or not this Sven Väth-like software will pan out in the company's favor remains to be seen. So, until that fateful day arrives, the creation of those fist-pumping, house mixes is better left to the few, the proud, the orange-skinned.

Apple patent application points to DJ-like beat matching, pairs iTunes with fist pumps originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceUSPTO  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Roku remote for iOS updated, easier navigation features in tow
February 24, 2012 at 5:58 AM
 
Roku remote for iOS updated, easier navigating features in tow
Good news for folks who are enjoying the virtual hook-up between a certain line of miniature entertainment boxes and an iOS device. The Roku app's just hit version 1.1 and is bringing along some relatively fancy, but more importantly, useful features. Some of the new bits include a D-pad filled with buttons and shortcuts for apps like Netflix, Pandora and Crackle. Also, there's the inclusion of a new swipe-based remote -- which is optional -- that should help make navigating through applications a bit easier while you're lounging on the couch. You can grab the updated goodies now by heading to the App Store or hitting up the source link below.

Roku remote for iOS updated, easier navigation features in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Zatz Not Funny  |  sourceRoku (iTunes), Roku Blog  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Hack enables fast refresh mode on Nook Simple Touch (video)
February 24, 2012 at 5:20 AM
 
As anyone who's used an e-reader knows, page refreshes aren't the most elegant feature of E Ink. Well, if you've got a Nook Simple Touch a hack released by XDA Developers member marspeople could put an end to your page-changing woes. You'll need to root your device and install an .apk, then simply activate fast refresh mode by a four-tap gesture -- sadly, not the Konami code. What is impressive, is just how fast the screen refreshing actually is. Fluidly browsing documents and the web on e-readers suddenly has the potential to be a whole lot less frustrating. Check the video after the break to see a demo, and touch the source link below if you want in on the fun.

[Thanks, Nate]

Continue reading Hack enables fast refresh mode on Nook Simple Touch (video)

Hack enables fast refresh mode on Nook Simple Touch (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Digital Reader  |  sourceXDA-Developers  | Email this | Comments
   
   
'Hugo' director Martin Scorsese, cast explain the advantages of shooting movies in 3D (video)
February 24, 2012 at 4:53 AM
 
We'll have to wait until this weekend to find out if Martin Scorsese's Hugo takes home any hardware from the Academy Awards, but we've got an early preview of one the Blu-ray 3D release's special features right here. Press play to hear the director explain why 3D affects the storytelling by bringing in qualities usually found in the theater to film, as well as comments from actors Christopher Lee and Sascha Baron Cohen. Scorsese explains "We see in 3D, we see in space... most of us do. Space is part of our lives. It means something. I think, for the individual person who has a vision of telling a story through images, how that person uses space -- that extra element, that extra dimension -- to tell a story is very, very important." Adapted from a book inspired by filmmaker Georges Méliès, the movie hits stores February 28th -- check out the trailer after the break.

Continue reading 'Hugo' director Martin Scorsese, cast explain the advantages of shooting movies in 3D (video)

'Hugo' director Martin Scorsese, cast explain the advantages of shooting movies in 3D (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Interview: BlackBerry PlayBook product manager Michael Clewley
February 24, 2012 at 4:00 AM
 
There's no getting around it: it's been a rough couple of years for Research in Motion. This week's on-time release of its PlayBook 2.0 software marked a rare bright spot in an otherwise grim era, bringing much needed features for the QNX platform such as a unified inbox, deeper social integration and updates to the company's BlackBerry Bridge app.

At the same time, the release of the 2.0 software has brought many of our outstanding questions to the fore: why weren't these features present in the first go-round? Why did the company take so long to flesh out its software? And lastly, when will we see some proper second-gen hardware? We sat down with PlayBook product manager Michael Clewley to discuss the slate's ups and downs, and how the revamped tablet stacks up in an increasingly crowded field.

Continue reading The Engadget Interview: BlackBerry PlayBook product manager Michael Clewley

The Engadget Interview: BlackBerry PlayBook product manager Michael Clewley originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mozilla rumored to debut LG-made Boot to Gecko device at MWC
February 24, 2012 at 3:28 AM
 
B2G
Mozilla hasn't exactly been quiet about the fact that it has some big stuff to show off at Mobile World Congress. We've already gotten a peek at Boot to Gecko and it's announced it'll be joining the app market fray. But, what we haven't heard anything about just yet, is hardware. A mobile operating system and software outlet are only useful if you've got a physical platform to run it on. Now rumors are circulating that LG is in cahoots with the makers of Firefox and will be building developer hardware for for its fledgling OS. Mozilla CTO Brendan Eich has said publicly his foundation will be at MWC with "partners..." plural. Who exactly those ally companies are isn't clear, but we'd say it's safe to assume there is at least one hardware maker in the mix. And, if the sources at ExtremeTech are right, that manufacturer already has a rather busy schedule. We'll just have to wait till we land Barcelona to find out for sure.

Mozilla rumored to debut LG-made Boot to Gecko device at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  source@BrendanEich, ExtremeTech  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Drexel University turns to 3D scanners, printers to build robotic dinosaurs
February 24, 2012 at 3:02 AM
 
3D printers, 3D scanners and robotics are usually more than enough on their own to get us interested in something, but a team of researchers at Drexel University have played one other big trump card with their latest project -- they've thrown dinosaurs into the mix. As you can probably surmise, that project involves using a 3D scanner to create models of dinosaur bones, which are then reproduced (at a somewhat smaller scale) using a 3D printer. The researchers then hope to use those to build working robotic models that they'll use to study how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals may have moved and lived in their environments. That work will start with a dinosaur limb that they expect to have completed by the end of the year, after which they say it will take a year or two to build a complete robotic dinosaur replica.

Drexel University turns to 3D scanners, printers to build robotic dinosaurs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  sourceDrexel University  | Email this | Comments
   
   
TiVo releases Q4 results, announces transcoder and IP set-top box on the way
February 24, 2012 at 2:28 AM
 
Today TiVo announced its earnings for Q4 2011 and the full year, however the most interesting note was word of a few new boxes on the way. From the sound of things, the company will deliver a four stream transcoder similar to the one we saw demonstrated at CES (pictured above) capable of dishing out video to multiple devices (phones, tablets, etc.) within the home simultaneously. Also on the way is an IP set-top box coming to retail that sounds very much like the TiVo Preview multiroom extender, however it could include access to internet video services as well. As mentioned on Tech of the Hub, CEO Tom Rogers' statements indicate the transcoder will enable both live streaming and DirecTV Nomad-style "high speed" sideloading of recorded content for offline viewing. More concrete are its positive numbers from the partnership with Virgin Media in the UK, and progress on a plan for Pace to develop TiVo-compatible set-top boxes for cable operators here and abroad. The Comcast partnership is also apparently progressing, with VOD access in beta trials and preparing to launch "soon" in the San Francisco area.

Continue reading TiVo releases Q4 results, announces transcoder and IP set-top box on the way

TiVo releases Q4 results, announces transcoder and IP set-top box on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTech of the Hub  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Samsung demos new 32nm quad-core Exynos ahead of MWC
February 24, 2012 at 2:05 AM
 
Exynos
If you were lucky enough to be at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference, then you might have caught a glimpse of Samsung's latest sliver of mobile silicon. The as yet unnamed Exynos parts will come in dual- and quad-core configurations running at up to 1.5GHz. Perhaps the most important change though, is the switch from a 45nm manufacturing process to 32nm. That means smaller parts that draw less power, while delivering better performance. The A9 cores are paired with Sammy's own GPU, an OpenGL ES 2.0-capable chip with four pixel processors. According to the company, the new CPUs deliver a 26 percent boost in performance and up to a 50 percent increase in battery life. Of course, we'll have to wait to run our own benchmarks to confirm that lofty claim. Who knows, maybe we'll see it show up in some phones at MWC.

[Thanks, Vlad]

Samsung demos new 32nm quad-core Exynos ahead of MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Unwired View  |  sourceEE Times Asia  | Email this | Comments
   
   
LG's upcoming MWC lineup runs into some Italians, gets documented on video
February 24, 2012 at 1:36 AM
 
You might have already seen LG's upcoming Optimus Vu in video form, but what about the rest of the company's Mobile World Congress debutants? Enter Italian site Telefonino, who's managed to wrangle hands-ons with that phablet and two of its co-stars, the Optimus 3D Max and the delectable Tegra-3 powered Optimus 4X HD. Catch the latter running LG's customized version of Ice Cream Sandwich in the embedded clip above, and those seeking demos of its other brothers can head on over to Italia, via the conveniently placed source links below.

LG's upcoming MWC lineup runs into some Italians, gets documented on video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life  |  sourceTelefonino (1), (2), (3)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Everything Everywhere promises 'small-scale LTE launch' in UK by the end of 2012
February 24, 2012 at 1:12 AM
 

Everything Everywhere's spilled more details on its 4G hopes and dreams. That £1.5 billion investment is aiming to get a small scale LTE launch by the end of the year -- subject to Ofcom's say-so. The lucky epicenter of for the future of mobile communications in the UK? That'll be Bristol, which will begin its trial on 1800MHz spectrum from April. It's already tested out the 800MHz in Cornwall, which is apparently better suited to rural coverage. But before we hit those dizzying fourth generation speeds, customers on the not-so-unholy union of T-Mobile and Orange will also benefit from more HSPA+ upgrades across the network. Coverage across the network-sharing carriers currently stands at around 60 percent, but Everything Everywhere aims to reach full coverage before the close of 2012. How's that London trial going, O2?

Continue reading Everything Everywhere promises 'small-scale LTE launch' in UK by the end of 2012

Everything Everywhere promises 'small-scale LTE launch' in UK by the end of 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceEverything Everywhere  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Insert Coin: Node helps your smartphone monitor pretty much everything
February 24, 2012 at 12:49 AM
 
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.
Fallen out of love with sensor? Don't worry, Variable Technologies is here to help. The company's working to bring the world Node, a project aimed at helping smartphone users "explore the fun and power of sensors." The "Swiss Army knife-sized" modular device communicates with the iPhone 4S and Android devices via Bluetooth. It has a built-in accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope and can detect physical motion and space, temperature and elevation, to name but a few. It also has a game control module and eight LEDs that can double as a camera flash, with carbon monoxide and radiation detection on the way. The Node will be compatible with Arduino devices and will have an open API, firmware and source code. There's a month left to help Variable hit its lofty $50,000 goal. Click the source link for more info.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Node helps your smartphone monitor pretty much everything

Insert Coin: Node helps your smartphone monitor pretty much everything originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceKickstarter  | Email this | Comments
   
   
The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!
February 24, 2012 at 12:30 AM
 
We're back in the studio this week -- well, Brian and Dana are. Tim's still in his undisclosed location upstate. Join us tonight at 5PM, as we gear up for Mobile World Congress and discuss the surprisingly busy week that was. You can join along in the fun with the streaming video and chat after the break.

Continue reading The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!

The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS MWC teaser video hints at possible hi-res tablet display?
February 24, 2012 at 12:15 AM
 
What's not to love about a short video insinuating something marvelous may be coming soon -- especially if it means a hi-res screen on a tablet, à la that purported Retina Display we saw a few days back. We have to give ASUS credit for this one, as it's teasing us with a clip titled "Twice the Detail, Twice the Fun." The vid's lead actors are a plethora of colorful marbles and a beige box that's very reminiscent of the form factor we're used to seeing on slates. And, let's not forget to mention the quick cameo by the famed Google search bar, a weather widget and a few other walk-in icons like YouTube's own. Could it be a case of the "Mo Pixels, Mo Problems Detail? We'll have to wait and see until we arrive in Barcelona for MWC. In the meantime, take a virtual jump past the break to check out the full 17-second clip.

Continue reading ASUS MWC teaser video hints at possible hi-res tablet display?

ASUS MWC teaser video hints at possible hi-res tablet display? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Community  |  sourceASUS (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 chips get LTE support, radio makers GCT and Renesas on board
February 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM
 
After yesterday's clarification that Tegra 3's architecture will now be known as 4-PLUS-1, NVIDIA's got something a little meatier to share. The outfit just announced that its quad-core chips are getting LTE support, with modem makers GCT and Renesas pledging support right off the bat. In a way, it's hard to believe Tegra 3 didn't already support 4G officially, given that the chip was detailed a whole five months ago. In any case, these partnerships feel somewhat transitional, given that NVIDIA's "Project Grey" Tegra chips will get integrated, NVIDIA-made modems in 2013, though it might be an exaggeration to say these current partnerships will be moot then. In the meantime, we'd love to get our hands on some quad-core, LTE handsets, but something tells us we'll get our fill in Barcelona.

NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 chips get LTE support, radio makers GCT and Renesas on board originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNVIDIA  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Google+ Circles heading to Google Voice, creepers heading straight to voicemail
February 23, 2012 at 11:41 PM
 
If you've spent some quality time with Google+, we're sure you've encountered Circles. You know, the feature that enables you to control who sees your G+ posts and who doesn't. Now, the folks in Mountain View have added the social network management tool to Google Voice. You can organize your contacts into groups who can actually ring your Galaxy Nexus and those who are sent straight to voicemail. Custom greetings can also be added to each Circle, should you feel the need to offer some Punch Brothers instead of the boring ol' standard ringback. Looking to take 'er for a spin? Hit the Groups & Circles tab in your Voice settings in order to customize your sets of contacts, but take note that your existing Google+ Circles are getting cozy there already.

Google+ Circles heading to Google Voice, creepers heading straight to voicemail originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Voice Blog  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Korea's largest ISP plans 'network fees' for datahogs like YouTube, internet TV
February 23, 2012 at 11:19 PM
 

Korea's largest ISP plans 'network fees' for datahogs like YouTube, internet TVSouth Korea's biggest internet provider plans to recoup high traffic network upgrades by charging YouTube and other data-hungry sites. KT will start by blocking access to some TV apps found Samsung's internet TVs, looking to strike up a payment deal where data-heavy services would possibly have to share advertising income or pay fees to the ISP. According an interview with Reuters, KT's vice president of smart network policy, Kim Taehwan said it's not just Samsung that it'll be tapping up for cash; once its system is in place, the company will be moving on to bandwidth-taxing manufacturers, "be it Apple or Google."

Korea's largest ISP plans 'network fees' for datahogs like YouTube, internet TV originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Google, Microsoft and Netflix want DRM-like encryption in HTML5
February 23, 2012 at 10:59 PM
 
HTML5 is supposed to set the web free. Free to deliver and shape online media in any web browser. However, several of the standard's greatest champions want to be able to restrict the use of and tags through encrypted media extensions. A draft proposal has been submitted by Google, Microsoft, and Netflix to the W3C -- the curators of HTML5 -- to add encrypted media extensions to the web standard's spec. The proposed system works using a key-based content decryption system controlled by applications, thusly providing the copy protection that so many content owners desire. Naturally, the proposal specifically states that "no DRM is added to the HTML5 specification" if it's adopted, but letting apps lock up audio and video content sure sounds like digital rights management to us. However, there's already some discord amongst the W3C's members as to whether the proposal will work as promised, so its addition to HTML5 is far from assured. You can read the full proposal at the source below, and check out the more coverage links for some added perspective.<audio> and <video> tags through encrypted media extensions. A draft proposal has been submitted by Google, Microsoft, and Netflix to the W3C -- the curators of HTML5 -- to add encrypted media extensions to the web standard's spec. The proposed system works using a key-based content decryption system controlled by applications, thusly providing the copy protection that so many content owners desire. Naturally, the proposal specifically states that "no DRM is added to the HTML5 specification" if it's adopted, but letting apps lock up audio and video content sure sounds like digital rights management to us. However, there's already some dischord amongst the W3C's members as to whether the proposal will work as promised, so its addition to HTML5 is far from assured. You can read the full proposal at the source below, and check out the more coverage links for some added perspective on the proposal.

Google, Microsoft and Netflix want DRM-like encryption in HTML5 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceW3C  | Email this | Comments
   
   
MetroPCS Q4 results are in: increased revenue, slowing growth
February 23, 2012 at 10:38 PM
 

MetroPCS Q4 results are in; revenue and ARPU up, growth slows

The nation's fifth largest wireless provider -- MetroPCS -- has checked in with its Q4 2011 financials, and on the whole, the company looks to be doing quite well. Metro reported $1.2 billion in consolidated quarterly revenues and $362 million in earnings, an increase of 16% and 15% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. A few other positive vitals: average revenue per user (ARPU) was up $0.76, net income rose to $77 million and churn dropped 80 basis points from 4.5% in Q3 to 3.7% in Q4. Two small blemishes can be found in the net customer additions and cost per user (CPU) columns. While MetroPCS added well over 197,000 new customers in Q4, the rate at which it grew slowed dramatically -- down 34% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. The company's CPU also rose $1.17 during that same period -- which can be partially attributed to LTE network services, along with general expansion and operating costs. One other mildly unfortunate note was word that voice over LTE wouldn't be launching till the second half of the year, slightly later than we had been anticipating. Taking all that into consideration, it was still a strong quarterly showing from the value-centered wireless carrier.

Continue reading MetroPCS Q4 results are in: increased revenue, slowing growth

MetroPCS Q4 results are in: increased revenue, slowing growth originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 review
February 23, 2012 at 10:00 PM
 
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of email. Yes, email! Sure, many of you have given up on the stuff in favor of more instant means of communication, but don't worry, because that's here too! Yes, the BlackBerry PlayBook, which was released 10 months ago, is now finally able to send messages all by itself. Sure, BlackBerry Bridge is still there and more useful than ever, tying the PlayBook even closer to your work-issued smartphone, but the 7-inch slate finally feels like it can stand a little more solidly on its own two feet.

Thankfully that's not all -- this recently refreshed refreshed tablet has a few other tricks up its sleeve, most notable being the ability to run some (focus on the some) Android apps without having to resort to any messy tweaks or hacks. The experience isn't entirely clean, nor does it quite feel like the refresh the "two dot oh" moniker implies, but it is a nice step forward. Click on through to see what you get.

Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 review

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google 'close' to picking new Motorola Mobility CEO, say the usual gang of sources
February 23, 2012 at 9:59 PM
 
Google's first act with Motorola Mobility under its wing? Picking a new head for the company, apparently. According to some anonymous-type sources over at Bloomberg, Mountain View "is close" to picking its own SVP, former ad man Dennis Woodside, to succeed Sanjay Jha. Google, naturally is refusing to comment on the matter, which is still waiting the completion of the $12.5 billion acquisition.

Google 'close' to picking new Motorola Mobility CEO, say the usual gang of sources originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ComScore report finds 42 percent of US mobile users have smartphones, Android at nearly 50 percent
February 23, 2012 at 9:46 PM
 
ComScore released its annual Digital Future in Focus report earlier this month, offering new findings on things like email and web use, and it's now out with its latest Mobile Future in Focus report, which provides a year-end wrap of mobile device use both in the US and around the world. Not surprisingly, that year was marked by the continued growth of the smartphone, with the adoption rate among US mobile users jumping from 27 percent in 2010 to just under 42 percent in 2011 (similar growth was found elsewhere, with it cracking the 50 percent mark in a few countries). Among those, Android proved to be the most popular platform with a 47.3 percent market share, followed by iOS at 30 percent and RIM at 16 percent (exactly half of what it was in 2010). Incidentally, Canada was the sole country where RIM retained a lead, but just barely; it accounts for 32.6 percent of the smartphone market in the country, followed closely by iOS at 31.2 percent and Android at 27.8 percent.

Breaking things down further, while Android had the largest market share among smartphones, Apple had the three biggest selling phones in the US for the year with the iPhone 4, 3GS and 4S; the BlackBerry Curve 8530 snagged the fourth spot and the HTC EVO 4G took fifth. Of course, ComScore also took a look at tablets, and found that close to 15 percent of all US mobile users owned a tablet in addition to a phone, with the iPad of course accounting for an overwhelming majority of those. Notably, it also estimates that iPads account for over half of all iOS traffic, which helped boost iOS' overall share of mobile device traffic to a whopping 90.4 percent, although it notes it expect that to decline somewhat in 2012 as devices like the Kindle Fire peck away at the iPad's dominant market share. The full report can be found at the source link below.

Continue reading ComScore report finds 42 percent of US mobile users have smartphones, Android at nearly 50 percent

ComScore report finds 42 percent of US mobile users have smartphones, Android at nearly 50 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gevey Ultra S SIM brings freedom to iPhone 4S, unlockers rejoice (video)
February 23, 2012 at 9:24 PM
 
GEVEY Ultra S brings freedom to iPhone 4S, unlockers rejoice (video)
Fancy yourself a world traveler but steadfastly refuse to pay a premium for an unlocked variant of Apple's 4S? Or perhaps it's just not up for grabs on that beloved carrier of yours. Well, a solution to all of your iPhone's freedom problems may be on the way -- and no, it doesn't involve jailbreaking. That is, if you're on iOS 5.0 or 5.0.1 and your Baseband digits are within the 1.0.11, 1.0.13, 1.0.14 boundaries. Unfortunately, those of you lingering on 04.11.08 are out of luck for now. The Gevey Ultra S, as it's so cleverly dubbed, is set to start shipping on March 3rd for $55. We've yet to come across anyone we know who's put it to the test, thus you'll be taking the dive at your own risk. Meanwhile, you can jump past the break to catch the Ultra S in some self-promoting action.

Continue reading Gevey Ultra S SIM brings freedom to iPhone 4S, unlockers rejoice (video)

Gevey Ultra S SIM brings freedom to iPhone 4S, unlockers rejoice (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lumus' OE-31 optical engine turns motorcycle helmets, other eyewear into wearable displays
February 23, 2012 at 8:57 PM
 
After showing off a duo of wearable, see-through displays at CES, Lumus is back with a second optical engine -- one that could be used in any style of frames, from prescription glasses to ski goggles. Available in binocular and monocular configurations, the tiny OE-31 sensor weighs just 10 grams (.35 ounces), allowing it to accommodate a variety of form factors besides your run-of-the mill (and quite dorky-looking) 3D glasses. As always, Lumus' hook is its ability to combine head up displays, augmented reality and see-through displays, though this time around the sensor allows for a 19-degree field of view and a full-color, 640 x 360 picture. Though that's not as impressive as the 720p, 3D-capable frames on offer at CES, the company argues it should be adequate for reading text, particularly since the viewing experience will be comparable to starting at a 40-inch screen from 10 feet away. No word, of course, on where we might see these discreet head up displays turn up, though maybe, just maybe, we'll catch a demo in Barcelona. For now, we've got photos below along with a handful of demo videos after the break.

Continue reading Lumus' OE-31 optical engine turns motorcycle helmets, other eyewear into wearable displays

Lumus' OE-31 optical engine turns motorcycle helmets, other eyewear into wearable displays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OMAP 5's dual A15 cores wipe the floor with four A9s in browsing benchmark
February 23, 2012 at 8:35 PM
 
OMAP 5
We've seen Texas Instrument's OMAP 5 in action, but we haven't been able to pit it directly against a competitor. The Dallas company must be growing more and more confident in its product however, as its posted a video demoing its pair of A15 cores alongside an unspecified quad-core A9 part -- presumably the Tegra 3. The video shows the next-gen TI part powering through the EEMBC BrowsingBench in 95 seconds, while its opposition takes a whopping 201. What's more, this thrashing was performed by an 800MHz part -- the four A9s were clocked at 1.3GHz. Of course, Tegra 3s are already in shipping products, while the OMAP 5 might not find a home in consumer devices before 2013. It's also unclear just how much of a hit these new high-powered ARM cores will have on battery life or how much the pair of M4 companion cores helped in the benchmark. Head on after the break to watch a pair of tablets load up 20 websites in quick succession.

Continue reading OMAP 5's dual A15 cores wipe the floor with four A9s in browsing benchmark

OMAP 5's dual A15 cores wipe the floor with four A9s in browsing benchmark originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AnandTech, CNXSoft  |  sourceTexas Instruments (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
The winners of the 2011 Engadget Awards -- Readers' Choice
February 23, 2012 at 8:00 PM
 

The results for the 2011 Engadget Awards are in! With more than 250,000 total votes, the response this year has been tremendous -- and no, that's not just another name for the Galaxy Note, which garnered just 3.5 percent of tallies in the Smartphone category. Instead, the iPhone 4S took top prize for Smartphones, followed by the Samsung Galaxy S II as the runner up. The ASUS Zenbook was the first pick among this year's Laptops, with the Apple iMac besting the rest of 2011's Desktops. Canon and Nikon battled it out till the end, but the former eventually came out ahead, earning 17.9 percent of the Digital Camera vote for its T3i, while the Nikon D5100 represented a very respectable 17.6 percent. That's just a small sample of this year's top gadgets -- there are 15 categories in all, and we're crowning both Readers' and Editors' Choice winners for each. Jump past the break for an unabridged look at your selections for the 2011 Engadget Awards, and check back tomorrow for the Editors' Choice. And if you're wondering who came in almost-first place, you can find the runners up for each category in this week's issue of Engadget Distro.

Continue reading The winners of the 2011 Engadget Awards -- Readers' Choice

The winners of the 2011 Engadget Awards -- Readers' Choice originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPD: Apple grabs over a quarter of the mobile PC business in Q4 2011 (including iPads), HP tops with laptops
February 23, 2012 at 7:45 PM
 
Just what is a "mobile PC" these days? According to market research firm NPD, that category now includes both tablets and laptops -- and by that definition, Apple is unsurprisingly way ahead of its competitors. Based on its preliminary numbers, Apple shipped 23.4 million mobile PCs in the fourth quarter of 2011 (nearly 80 percent of which were iPads), which was enough to snag a market share of 26.6 percent (and keep it in the top spot for the year). In contrast, the four companies rounding out the top five relied almost entirely on laptops to fill their numbers, with HP coming in at just under a 10 percent market share, followed by Dell, Acer and Lenovo. Looking just at laptops, however, HP comes in first with a 15.5 percent market share, while Apple falls to fifth with just over eight percent. As for tablets, Apple is estimated to have a 59 percent market share for Q4, followed by Amazon at 16.7 percent (based on shipments of 5.3 million), and Samsung, ASUS and Barnes & Noble each in single digits. Additional numbers can be found in the press release after the break and at the source link below.

Continue reading NPD: Apple grabs over a quarter of the mobile PC business in Q4 2011 (including iPads), HP tops with laptops

NPD: Apple grabs over a quarter of the mobile PC business in Q4 2011 (including iPads), HP tops with laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNPD DisplaySearch  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1PM EST!
February 23, 2012 at 7:40 PM
 
It's a special Thursday afternoon edition of the Engadget Mobile Podcast! We'll all be en route to Barcelona tomorrow, so we've bumped it up a day early to help you get even more excited about Mobile World Congress. So join Myriam, Sean, Brad and Joseph as we all talk ourselves silly about things present and very near future on today's podcast, live at 1PM EST!

February 23, 2012 1:00 PM EST

Continue reading Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1PM EST!

Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1PM EST! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hauppauge Broadway review
February 23, 2012 at 7:00 PM
 
New ways to watch TV, we're always looking for 'em. New products for you to buy, companies are always trying to make 'em. The two aspirations converge with Hauppauge's latest product, Broadway. The idea here isn't exactly novel, but with few exceptions Sling Media has been left to dominate the placeshifting category. The Broadway picks up where Sling kicked off, adding WiFi and more interestingly, shedding the need for costly clients, instead using a built-in web server to access the live video streams. Interesting idea, sure, but is it actually useful and worth the $199 it demands? We hope to reveal just that, after you click through of course.

Continue reading Hauppauge Broadway review

Hauppauge Broadway review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CineSquid suction tripod system looks to add car-mounted footage to your video repertoire
February 23, 2012 at 6:49 PM
 
You may recall Cinetics from the outfit's Kickstarter campaign to fund its CineSkates rolling tripod. Well the same folks are at it again -- only this time suction cups are the videography weapon of choice. The company has launched CineSquid, a suction mount solution reminiscent of its elder sibling. Soon, you'll be able to capture exterior shots via DSLR from your Jeep while heading down the Blue Ridge Parkway. Packaged with a tripod and ball head, the system will set you back $235 with the first hundred pre-orders shipping March 24th. What's that? You already splurged on the CineSkates? No worries. For $120, the set of suction cups can be yours that'll play nice with your previous Cinetics purchase. If you're in need of a little more convincing, take a look at the video demo just beyond the break.

Continue reading CineSquid suction tripod system looks to add car-mounted footage to your video repertoire

CineSquid suction tripod system looks to add car-mounted footage to your video repertoire originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows support will last forever (almost), thank you Microsoft!
February 23, 2012 at 6:34 PM
 
Just when you needed one more reason to carry on loving Windows Vista, Microsoft has gone and increased its customer support period. An extension has also been granted to Windows 7, which will get a full ten years of support instead of the usual five. There's been no announcement or fanfare, except for a brief communication from Microsoft Japan that sets out the new end dates. XP's support will stop in 2014, Vista's will shut down in 2017 and Windows 7's will come to a close in post-apocalyptic 2020, at which point call center staff will no doubt throw a party on Europa.

Windows support will last forever (almost), thank you Microsoft! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft adds new feature to Bing, wants you to stay Linked (video)
February 23, 2012 at 6:19 PM
 
Looks like Microsoft isn't done flipping the switch on fresh bits within its beloved search engine. The new feature, dubbed Linked Pages, can "decide how you look to your first crush" by allowing you to select which results are actually related to you. If you're bent on making it easier for people to stalk you, then all you need to do is pop in your Facebook credentials and allow the Bing app to do its magic once it's accessed your account. The Redmond folks say you'll be able to link anything from a blog, personal site, organizations or your friends (just make sure to ask first). Unfortunately those of you outside of the States looking to Bing yourself are out of luck for now. In the meantime, head past the break to check out a full-on tutorial courtesy of The Bing Team.

Continue reading Microsoft adds new feature to Bing, wants you to stay Linked (video)

Microsoft adds new feature to Bing, wants you to stay Linked (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Zipel oven takes instructions from your Android phone
February 23, 2012 at 5:59 PM
 
Smart ovens have long been a promise of appliance-makers, but they haven't exactly caught on with the general public just yet. Samsung's now making another push to change that, however, rolling out its new Zipel oven in Korea. In addition to some decidedly modern styling, that standout feature here is some built-in WiFi that lets the oven communicate with your Android-based smartphone, which can be used to dial the oven in just right for 160 different dishes. The oven itself is also an infrared oven, which promises more versatility than a conventional oven, and it packs a number of "smart" features into the oven itself, including the ability to display the number of calories of a particular dish. Unfortunately, there's no indication of a price just yet, or a release outside of Korea.

Samsung Zipel oven takes instructions from your Android phone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge, Unwired View  |  sourceSamsung  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Samsung Rugby Smart officially coming to AT&T March 4 for $100
February 23, 2012 at 5:42 PM
 
It was only a matter of time, we suppose. After having seen the Samsung Rugby Smart poke its head out from time to time, Samsung's new rugged smartphone is officially hitting AT&T stores on March 4th. Much like the Pantech Element, the Rugby Smart will be "waterproof," meaning it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water. The phone itself is built to mil-spec 810F standards, so it's going to handle most extreme conditions pretty well. So let's list off the specs we've heard so far: it will launch with Android 2.3 -- shocker, we know -- as well as a 3.7-inch WVGA Super AMOLED panel, 4GB of internal storage, 1,650mAh battery and a 1.3MP front-facing shooter for video chat along with a 5MP rear facing autofocus camera with LED flash and 720p video capture. The Smart will also be 12.19mm thick (also not a surprise, given its rugged nature) and weigh 4.2 ounces. We don't know what CPU's inside yet, but we'll update as soon as we find out. To check out all the extreme details, head to the videos and press release under the break.

Continue reading Samsung Rugby Smart officially coming to AT&T March 4 for $100

Samsung Rugby Smart officially coming to AT&T March 4 for $100 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White House gets behind online 'bill of rights,' companies to adopt 'do not track'
February 23, 2012 at 5:32 PM
 
White House
President Obama is throwing his weight behind a consumer bill of rights that includes protections against online companies in particular, and aims to safeguard customer privacy. While the plan doesn't come prepackaged with a new set of laws for companies to abide by, the Commerce Department is working to develop enforceable policies with help from the concerned parties. The bedrock of the new bill of rights is that consumers should have control over the kind of data companies collect and what they do with it. Internet firms would have to be transparent about what information is gathered and how it's used. There is also a call for limitations on the use of certain personal data. As part of the push a number of major players in the field, including Google, have agreed to include a "Do Not Track" button in their browsers and to honor the system -- the latter being a tiny detail that has made implementations of the feature ineffective until now. Hit up the source links for a few more details.

White House gets behind online 'bill of rights,' companies to adopt 'do not track' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceReuters, Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
   
   
HTC Ville to run on a dual-core Snapdragon S4?
February 23, 2012 at 5:14 PM
 
Well looky here. A phone bearing the alluring name of "HTC VLE_U" just cropped up on NenaMark2 with a healthy 57.50 average frame rate. More interesting than the score, however, is the reference to a Qualcomm Adreno 225 GPU, which -- assuming this is legit -- strongly implies the presence of a powerful Snapdragon S4 sitting in the Ville's engine compartment. This tallies with earlier hints of the Ville carrying a 1.5GHz dual-core processor along with a (roughly) qHD display, and it also lines up with another MSM8960 benchmark from a reference handset spotted a few weeks ago. By extension, all the Tegra 3 smoke that's been billowing out of HTC recently must come from an entirely different fire -- namely the Endeavor or One X. Either way, it's certainly nice to see HTC hotting up.

HTC Ville to run on a dual-core Snapdragon S4? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PocketNow, TmoNews  |  sourceNenaMark2  | Email this | Comments
   
   
NEC jumps the gun, debuts its MWC smartphone lineup ahead of Barcelona
February 23, 2012 at 4:56 PM
 
NEC jumps the gun, debuts its MWC smartphone lineup ahead of Barcelona
2012 may prove to be a very good year for NEC, which has launched two smartphones and a tablet in the past month alone. Having not missed a beat, the Japanese firm has gone ahead and revealed its lineup for Mobile World Congress a full week ahead of the show in Barcelona. Rather than actual shipping models, you can think of each of these as prototypes for the carriers, where the only fixed specification is the screen size. Most interesting among the bunch is without a doubt the "Best Cloud UX Device," which offers two 4.3-inch displays that open and close like a book -- a hell of a lot better than Kyocera's attempt, if you ask us. Also among the mix will be a 5-inch "Large Screen in One Hand" model, along with another 4.3-inch "Stylish" unit. Unlike previous products, the latest trio fully embrace the design philosophy of Ice Cream Sandwich and eschew the dedicated navigation buttons from bygone days.

NEC jumps the gun, debuts its MWC smartphone lineup ahead of Barcelona originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceImpress Watch (translated), Gadget Haishin (translated)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics
February 23, 2012 at 4:30 PM
 
Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics
It was just over a year ago when we met with the folks from Immersion, and they showed us a prototype handset packing its HD haptics technology. Since that time, the piezoelectric actuator that makes the tactile magic possible has gone into mass production, and the first commercial device packing such hi-fi haptics, the Pantech Element, hit store shelves. Immersion's got greater aspirations for its tactile tech, however, and its new HD Integrator platform aims to put high fidelity haptics in every handset. We got to sample the HD haptics goods once again and chat with Immersion about the new platform and its technology, so head on past the break to see what the company has in store.

Continue reading Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics

Hands-on with Immersion HD Integrator hi-fi haptics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic ViewPad G70 with ICS launching at MWC?
February 23, 2012 at 4:15 PM
 
Word on the street is ViewSonic's getting ready to unveil a fresh, ICS-equipped 7-inch tablet at MWC (along with everyone else). The ViewPad G70, which would be a follow-up to that budget-friendly E70 we showed you at CES, is rumored to carry a slightly heavier $350 price tag than its sibling. While the slate's best feature could be Google's 4.0 treat, ViewSonic's also purportedly hoping you'll be enchanted by some more humdrum specs, including a 1024 x 600 display, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 3G radio. We'll know more once Mobile World Congress gets rolling, and you know we'll be taking it for a spin as soon as we get a chance.

ViewSonic ViewPad G70 with ICS launching at MWC? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Notebook Italia  |  sourcePocket-lint  | Email this | Comments
   
   
AT&T announces home automation platform, eco-ratings for consumer devices
February 23, 2012 at 4:00 PM
 
AT&T announces home automation platform, eco-ratings for consumer devicesToday, AT&T revealed that it's working on a new home monitoring and automation platform known as Digital Life. While it'll be marketed toward service providers, the IP-based system will allow business and residential users alike to remotely monitor cameras, lighting, thermostats, motion detectors, window and door sensors, along with a litany of other devices. It'll be demonstrated next week in Barcelona as part of the GSM Association's Connected Home experience. As you'd expect, we'll be there to bring you a peek of AT&T's handiwork.

The company has also announced that, later this year, customers will find eco-rating labels on AT&T-branded mobile devices. With this initiative, shoppers may evaluate criteria such as a product's energy efficiency, the percentage of recycled materials used in manufacture, and the inclusion of metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. These factors and more will be presented as a composite score that evaluates the sustainability attributes of each device -- think of it as an easy way to get your green in gear. You'll find the PR for both announcements after the break.

Continue reading AT&T announces home automation platform, eco-ratings for consumer devices

AT&T announces home automation platform, eco-ratings for consumer devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Transformer TF101 finally receives ICS update, Taiwan takes the first bite (update: US tomorrow!)
February 23, 2012 at 3:42 PM
 
Shortly after amending the Eee Pad Transformer Prime's locked bootloader fiasco, ASUS has just announced that the original WiFi Transformer's much anticipated Ice Cream Sandwich update is now slowly rolling out, with Taiwan being the first region to receive the home-baked Android dessert over the air. The 3G Transformer and folks around the rest of the world are told that they'll get their share soon after, which should be no later than March if ASUS's promise is still valid. Meanwhile, Hasbro remains the only Transformer fan who's still not happy about this.

Update: ASUS's Twitter account mentioned that the US should start receiving the update tomorrow! Thanks @areddy78!

ASUS Transformer TF101 finally receives ICS update, Taiwan takes the first bite (update: US tomorrow!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceASUS (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
ASUS Transformer TF101 finally receives ICS update, Taiwan takes the first bite
February 23, 2012 at 3:42 PM
 
Shortly after amending the Eee Pad Transformer Prime's locked bootloader fiasco, ASUS has just announced that the original Transformer's much anticipated Ice Cream Sandwich update is now slowly rolling out, with Taiwan being the first region to receive the home-baked Android dessert over the air. Folks around the rest of the world are told that they'll get their share soon after, which should be no later than March if ASUS's promise is still valid. Meanwhile, Hasbro remains the only Transformer fan who's still not happy about this.

ASUS Transformer TF101 finally receives ICS update, Taiwan takes the first bite originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceASUS (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Google adds Esperanto as its 64th machine translatable language
February 23, 2012 at 3:29 PM
 
Esperanto isn't just something Microsoft uses to tease Google for abandoning video codecs, it's a legitimate, manufactured language. Created in the late 1800's by Dr. Ludwig L. Zamenhof, Esperanto was designed to be an easy to learn language that would help folks from all over the world understand each other. Seeing as how Google Translate shares similar goals, the Mountain View firm felt Zamenhof's homemade tongue would be the perfect fit for its machine translation service. Despite a rather small sample size of pre-existing translated material to feed the Google language machine, the firm says Google Translate handled Esperanto surprisingly well -- partially crediting the language's learner friendly construction for the service's success. Sure, it may not be the most useful addition Google Translate's ever seen, but hey, it gets us one step closer to watching cult classics like Incubus without the subtitles. What's that, you haven't heard of William Shatner's pre-Star Trek, all Esperanto romp? Crack open your machine translator and head past the break, then.

Continue reading Google adds Esperanto as its 64th machine translatable language

Google adds Esperanto as its 64th machine translatable language originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TheNextWeb  |  sourceGoogle Translate Blog  | Email this | Comments
   
   
Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 12-65 hits North America in March for $11,350
February 23, 2012 at 3:19 PM
 
Have you been shoring up funds since you first heard about the Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 12-65 last month? We sure hope so. The company has announced that its 65-inch full HD and 3D compatible plasma TV will hit showrooms in the Canada, Mexico and the US in a matter of days. Featuring an integrated center speaker and a NeoPDP panel, the BeoVision display will carry a hefty price tag of $11,350. If money really is no object, you can spring for the $19,749 package that includes the B&O's BeoSystem 3 'stage manager' for your living room. The 12-65 arrives stateside in March, so you've got a short time to finish getting your finances in order. But for now, hit the eyes-on gallery below for another look before committing.

Continue reading Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 12-65 hits North America in March for $11,350

Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 12-65 hits North America in March for $11,350 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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