|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Know what takes the sting out of your crashing stock portfolio? Arduino fun, silly geeks. Alright, so in this case it's an FTDI Basic board, but the spirit of this hack remains the same. A Swarthmore student by the name of Ames Bielenberg picked up where his hobbyist Pops left off and cooked up a Spring Break scheme to reanimate a late 19th century Universal Ticker. What's that, you ask? Only an old timey way of printing out pulses of what those monthly dividends were going to look like. So, while other youngins were going six shots deep, our enterprising tinkerer blacked out the windows, forgot about the bikinis and gently transformed this rare relic (of which there are only 6,000) into a Mac accessory. Using that above mentioned circuitry, lightly modified to accommodate RTS output and sufficient power demands, and the addition of a simple python script to translate that fluctuating index into real-time ticks, Ames was able to breath new life into an antiquated piece of Americana. Hop on past the break for a video demo of this tech walk down memory lane. Continue reading Universal ticker hack takes a look back at a time before NASDAQ (video) Universal ticker hack takes a look back at a time before NASDAQ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Hack a Day |  Swarthmore College | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Holy crap! CyanogenMod, the custom ROM of choice for many power users, will no longer offer root access upon first install. Now before you panic, let's make this part clear: everyone so inclined may still enable superuser access -- for ADB, apps or both -- from the Developer Options menu. The biggest change, in fact, is that CyanogenMod is making a significant departure from the majority of custom ROM developers, which offer root access to all users by default (and often without their knowledge). The move is an attempt by CyanogenMod leaders to make the platform more secure, and given the number of ROMs that are based on CyanogenMod (or glean its packages), we wouldn't be particularly surprised to see this feature become more commonplace amongst other custom Android ROMs. To learn more about the rationale of the project leaders, be sure to hit up the source link below. CyanogenMod disables root access by default, now requires user configuration originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Phandroid | CyanogenMod | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Second gen Roku media streamers should be seeing a software update the next time they're powered up, as a company blog post mentions v4.3 is rolling out right now, following the last update that hit back in December. The Roku 2 and Roku LT should experience a variety of improvements to Netflix streaming that include video startup, screen navigation, audio / video sync and settings for subtitles and audio. There's also upgrades to HTTP Live Streaming format support (no word on how or if that may affect Plex, but forum posters report an issue with standard def video quality is still a problem after the update), multiple gaming remotes and device discovery for remote apps on Android and iOS. As usual it will be delivered automatically over the next day or two, while the impatient can hit their settings menu to grab it right now. Roku 4.3 update tweaks Netflix, device discovery issues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Roku | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Are you strapped in? Got your helmets on? Good, because you're gonna need 'em this time out. We've got one action-packed, high-flying episode of The Engadget Show coming your way this month. We'll be testing the latest GoPro and Contour cameras in the deserts of Nevada and the skies above them, paying a visit to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and checking out the latest new 'bots from iRobot. We'll also be talking to Sony Electronics president Phil Molyneux and media theorist Douglas Ruskoff. We'll be live tonight at 6PM ET, and you can join us at this very URL -- so keep your browser locked to this spot. The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | While the fires that burn inside the hearts of Sidekick fans will probably never go out, the venerable Android slider is being put out to graze. T-Mobile announced last week that the Sidekick 4G was to be discontinued, but it's now added that it's not leaving that pervasive brand behind. In a statement to The Verge, the carrier affirmed that there would be future devices, but didn't reveal anything more substantive on new handsets in the pipeline. We'll keep twiddling our QWERTY-addled thumbs until more details arrive. T-Mobile retires Sidekick 4G, but brand will return originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TmoNews | The Verge | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sure, you can take us on our word that the new iPad really is that much sharper than its predecessor -- or, you can opt for a more scientific approach, and peek at that Retina display under a microscope. Our own Richard Lai slid his 64GB WiFi iPad under a USB scope, going far beyond the naked eye for a close-up look at those gorgeous high-density subpixels. As you can imagine, it's impossible to distinguish one dot from the next when you're looking at a cool three million pixels packed tightly within a 9.7-inch slab, but that view clears up quite nicely under a 230x microscope. Some easy math confirms what you'll see -- those tiny red, green and blue dots are now 50 percent smaller, when compared to the iPad 2. That means text that's easily legible without a pinch, smooth icons and far sharper pictures. There's a dramatic improvement for sure, but is that new display alone enough to justify the upgrade for you? A quick click through the gallery below should help clear things up.
Richard Lai contributed to this report.Under the microscope: a closer look at the new iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | What's in a name? Or, more importantly, what's in a digit? Would that which we call an iPad by any number less than 2 be less sweet? That's the question Apple posed for us indirectly when it unveiled the new iPad and relegated its future slates (and, presumably, phones) to a numeral-free future. And that new slate? It's much the same as the old one, with a slightly more chipper processor at its (quad) core and support for both Verizon and AT&T's fancy new LTE networks.
But there's one bigger change here, one that will ripple across the industry as each manufacturer struggles to keep up in this ever-accelerating market. That feature is the iPad's new 2048 x 1536 Retina display. It's the best display ever featured on a tablet, probably the best display ever on a mobile device, but is that enough to keep this tablet ahead of the pack? Believe it or not, the answer is yes.
Continue reading iPad review (2012) iPad review (2012) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sony has already confirmed that we won't be seeing a next-generation PlayStation at this year's E3 trade show, and now Microsoft has also come out and dampened any expectations about a new Xbox possibly making its debut. In a statement published by Kotaku (following a report on Twitter from Bloomberg's Dina Bass), a Microsoft spokesperson says flatly that "while we appreciate all the interest in our long-range plans for the future, we can confirm that there will be no talk of new Xbox hardware at E3 or anytime soon." The statement goes on to say that "2012 is all about Xbox 360," before rattling off a list of milestones and some of the big titles planned for release this year. That leaves Nintendo with the stage to itself hardware-wise, which will presumably be showing off more of its next-generation console, the Wii U. Microsoft says there will be 'no talk of new Xbox hardware at E3 or anytime soon' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TG Daily | Kotaku | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This American Life is airing a new episode today titled "Retraction." The title and show are a direct response to the January 6th edition of the popular public radio program titled "Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory," an adaptation of a one-man show that helped put Cupertino's involvement with Foxconn back in the public spotlight. "Regrettably," the show's producers write in the description of this week's episode, "we have discovered that one of our most popular episodes was partially fabricated." The hour-long show has been dedicated to clearing up some of the misconceptions, including an interview with Mike Daisey to discover "why he misled This American Life during the fact-checking process." For his part, Daisey responded on his personal blog, explaining, "What I do is not journalism." Daisey adds:
My show is a theatrical piece whose goal is to create a human connection between our gorgeous devices and the brutal circumstances from which they emerge. It uses a combination of fact, memoir, and dramatic license to tell its story, and I believe it does so with integrity. An MP3 file of the episode will be made available for download on Sunday.'This American Life' issues retraction episode over FoxConn report originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | This American Life, Mike Daisey | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This American Life is airing a new episode today titled "Retraction." The title and show are a direct response to January 6th edition of the popular public radio program titled "Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory," an adaptation of a one-man show that helped put Cupertino's involvement with Foxconn back in the public spotlight. "Regrettably," the show writes in the description of this week's episode, "we have discovered that one of our most popular episodes was partially fabricated." The hour-long show has been dedicated to clearing up some of the misconceptions, including an interview with Mike Daisey to discover "why he misled This American Life during the fact-checking process." For his part, Daisey responded on his personal blog, explaining, "What I do is not journalism." Daisey adds,
My show is a theatrical piece whose goal is to create a human connection between our gorgeous devices and the brutal circumstances from which they emerge. It uses a combination of fact, memoir, and dramatic license to tell its story, and I believe it does so with integrity. An MP3 download of the episode will be made available on Sunday.'This American Life' issues retraction episode over FoxConn report originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | This American Life, Mike Daisey | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's been less than a month since Samsung confirmed that it would be spinning-off its LCD business into a separate company, and it looks like things are proceeding along speedily. The company's shareholders have now approved the spin-off, paving the way for the tentatively-titled Samsung Display Co. to come into existence on April 1st. Samsung Electronics will have a 100 percent stake in that company, and the current executive vice president of its LCD business, Park Dong-gun, will take on the position of president in the new firm. All of that, Samsung says, is being done in an effort to make the company more nimble and able to respond to its clients' needs more quickly. Samsung shareholders approve spin-off of LCD business originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Sammy Hub | Korea Herald | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Not every smartphone stakes its claim on speedy processors, huge gorgeous screens or slim and sexy physiques. Some take a relatively modest set of specs and add a little wrinkle to make them stand out from the crowd. The Samsung Rugby Smart is one such device. Though it adds Android to what we'll now refer to as the Rugby Dumb, we can already tell you this handset isn't for the spec snobs among you. But, if you're more concerned with durability and tank-like construction, you might want to stick around a while. This AT&T-branded phone is built to mil-spec 810F standards, meaning it's shockproof, dustproof and can be immersed in up to a mater of water for up to 30 minutes. If these are qualities you desire in a phone, meet us past the break to see how it stacks up against its competition.
Continue reading Samsung Rugby Smart review Samsung Rugby Smart review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Chances are this won't affect you but, just in case, we figured we'd give you a little heads up -- Google will soon end app support for mobile browsers that don't support cookies. This primarily means that older phones, most of them in Japan as the web giant points out, will no longer be able to log in to Google services. Some, like search and Maps, which don't require you to log in, will still be available through the aging browsers, but things like Calendar will not. The change will go into effect on May 1st, so, if you're still using a six-year-old flip phone to check your Gmail -- it might be time for an upgrade.
[Thanks, Num0]
[Original cookie photo via Shutterstock.] Google to end support for cookie-free log-ins on mobile devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Google | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If US patent application 20120062371 is to be correctly understood, Nokia has at least thought about a topical haptic notification system. The first claim covers "An apparatus comprising: a material attachable to skin, the material capable of detecting a magnetic field and transferring a perceivable stimulus to the skin, wherein the perceivable stimulus relates to the magnetic field." It then goes on to clarify its relation to telecommunications messages and communications indications. Based on ferromagnetic powder, the material would respond to magnetic fields and vibrate in response. Our guess is that this could be used as a notifier that could be "painted" onto the skin, and although there is mention of the word tattoo, we're hoping that's just part of the required legalese. But alas, until it's granted, it's just a subject of our curious imaginations. Those curious, can read more at the source.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Nokia applies for skin-friendly haptic material patent, hints at notification system originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Unwired View | USPTO | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Dutch site Focus Media got its hand on Samsung's new mirrorless camera. While it's labeled up as pre-production model, that didn't stop it getting the once-over. A larger frame than the existing NX11 apparently makes space for a new 20.3-megapixel APS-C sensor now capable of 1080p video. Other specification bump-ups include a new max ISO of 12800, a minimum shutter speed now reaching 1/6000 of a second and WiFi connectivity to boot. Pricing and date information remain non-existent, but once it gets acknowledgment from Samsung's higher powers, we'll get you the full technical rundown. Until then, a full gallery is waiting at the source. Samsung NX20 WiFi gets unofficial reveal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Sammy Hub | Focus Media (translated) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We hope you're having a nice March. Ours has been pretty swell so far. We've been hanging out in Barcelona, flying over the skies of Nevada, playing around with robots in New England, interviewing Sony bigwigs and four-wheelin' through desert sandstorms. Thankfully, all it hasn't been in vain -- we've got a heck of an Engadget Show for all of our hard work. Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff will be joining us live in the studio, and even if you didn't manage to get one of those tickets in time, you can join us live as well. We'll be getting this party started at 6PM ET tonight, so point your browsers to this here URL. You won't want to miss it. Subscribe to the Show: [ iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V). [ Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V). [ RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically. The Engadget Show is live tonight with Douglas Rushkoff, Sony, iRobot, MWC and air combat! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nothing like a little drama in the ongoing never-ending saga between Samsung and Apple to spice up your Friday morning, eh? As legions of consumers are cashing in a vacation day in order to pick up one of Apple's newest iPads, a court in Mannheim, Germany has stayed Apple's second slide-to-unlock case. According to FOSS Patents, the decision was made for the "duration of a parallel proceeding before the German Patent and Trademark Office that could lead to the revocation, in whole or in part, of Apple's slide-to-unlock utility model." Purportedly, the judge said that the court was not convinced of the "validity of that intellectual property right in all respects, with particular concern about the broadest group of claims." Lawyers who'd love to do nothing more than read about things related to their profession can tap that source link; everyone else can resume their best efforts of trying to be Woz when they grow up. Apple's second slide-to-unlock case against Samsung stayed in Germany originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TUAW | FOSS Patents | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Boom. Just like that, another giveaway materializes out of the ether, and it's a doozy. There's a particular tablet getting a whole bunch of attention today, and NVIDIA has a sinister idea to distract you from the newest slate on the block: offer up a couple Tegra 3-powered ASUS Transformer Primes, complete with keyboard docks! No matter what kind of fanboy or girl you are, everybody wins today in one way or another, and it's hard not to be interested in anything that uses a quad-core CPU (with a 5th battery saver core thrown in for good measure) with a bunch of games to take advantage of the experience. So as usual, make sure you read the rules and leave a comment to enter the contest. Continue reading Engadget Giveaway: win one of two ASUS Transformer Primes, courtesy of NVIDIA! Engadget Giveaway: win one of two ASUS Transformer Primes, courtesy of NVIDIA! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Google's Flight Search -- which was conjured up after its acquisition of ITA -- has been giving Kayak and Bing Travel a run for their respective dollars here in the States, but an airline search engine is only as good as its reach. This week, the company announced that over 500 airports outside of the US are now being included in the results (but, sadly, only if you start in the US), and while no specific promises were given, Google says that it's "working hard on expanding [its] global coverage and adding more routes in the future." Oh, and for those looking to disconnect in Samoa, APW totally made the cut here. Happy trails!
[Thanks, sciwiz]Google's Flight Search engine adds 500 international destinations, more on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Jeff Huber (Google+) | The Official Google Search Blog, Google Flights | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Now that the new iPad is out, we don't have anything to talk about because it changed our world in so many ways that we're not even sure what we're doing with out lives when we're not staring at an 8.5 by 11-inch slab covered in zillions of lilliputian pixels. JK! Not much is that different, which means another 80 minutes of totally tubular tech talk from your favorites. And a healthy dose of beluga/Mariachi duets.
Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater, Dana Wollman
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Orbital - Never
00:01:50 - Bringing wireless to the disconnected: internet tales from the South Pacific
00:12:30 - HP Envy 14 Spectre review
00:22:28 - Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft: three very different takes on portable gaming at GDC 2012
00:40:55 - Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Dual Core hands-on (video)
00:44:00 - Samsung considering Android-based digital camera
00:48:07 - The Engadget Show returns Friday, March 16th with Douglas Rushkoff, Sony, iRobot, MWC and air combat
00:52:30 - iRobot Scooba 390 hands-on
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, @danawollman Filed under: Podcasts Engadget Podcast 285 - 03.15.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Granted, claims by the JuiceTank's creators that their product is "the first ever iPhone charger and case in one" may be a bit overblown, but its design is certainly novel enough to make us give it a second look. The product looks like a pretty standard hard-shelled iPhone 4 / 4S case from the front -- flip it over though, and you'll see two charging prongs embedded in the back. Click the button just below and they'll pop up, allowing you to plug the handset directly into the wall -- no cords or separate chargers needed. Of course, this initial version is made specifically for North American-type outlets, so if you live outside the region or travel a lot, the novelty might be lost on you. If you're covered, however, you can pick up a limited edition green version by being one of the first 400 people to pledge $40 or more. Check out a video explanation / plea after the break. Continue reading Insert Coin: JuiceTank is a two-pronged iPhone case Insert Coin: JuiceTank is a two-pronged iPhone case originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  The writing's been on the wall for a few weeks and now Sprint's officially severing its partnership with LightSquared. Philip Falcone's project had a contractual deadline of March 15th to gain regulatory approval for its LTE service on the 1.6GHz spectrum, which was shot down by the FCC in February. A day later, Big Yellow exercised its right to pull the plug, paying back $65 million in prepayments and continuing to build out a LTE network on its own. Nextel's better half didn't slam the door shut entirely however. If, by some miracle (and it would be a big one), the company can change Julius Genachowski's mind, it'd certainly consider teaming up again, so no hard feelings, eh? For its part, LightSquared has issued a formal response, saying that the contract termination is in "the best interests of both parties" and "not unexpected given the regulatory delays." On the upside, the company has had its coffers swelled by a not inconsiderable $65 million, which is the first good news its had for a while. Continue reading Sprint to LightSquared: it's over Sprint to LightSquared: it's over originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | With the Ultrabook onslaught in full effect, manufacturers are doing their best to make their Air opponents stand out from the crowd. For its part, HP has outfitted its ultra offering, the Envy 14 Spectre, with a touch of glass and NFC baked-in. In this issue of Distro we'll find out if those two additions are enough to make it worth the $1,400 starting price. Also in this issue, Sean Buckley reports from GDC 2012 with a look at the portable gaming industry's "big three." In addition, we put HTC's Sense UI 3.6 and Sony's Xperia S to the test, Tango's Eric Setton takes on the Q&A and Box Brown draws a Last Word with the drinksman in mind. So grab yourself a beverage and get to downloading.
Distro Issue 32 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 32: HP's glass-clad Envy 14 Spectre and the state of portable gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | iTunes, Play Store | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | What if within minutes, anyone could visit a website to build a native iOS, Android and Windows Phone app, then install and run it on any phone? That's exactly what TheAppBuilder -- which launched at Mobile World Congress -- promises. It features a simple HTML5-based user interface that lets you create an app by choosing and populating some widgets -- like RSS feed, webpage, Twitter, Facebook, news and photo gallery (to name a few). Once finished, you'll receive an email with links to download and install a native iOS, Android and Windows Phone version of your app for free. From there you're able to customize and submit your app to the App Store, Play Store, and Marketplace for $29 per month. We caught up with TheAppBuilder's Matthew David at SXSW and put the product's claim to the test by making and deploying our very own Engadget app -- all in record time. Browse the gallery below for some screen shots and hit the break to see the magic unfold in our hands-on video. Continue reading Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video) Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The city of London will soon have a new underground train to climb aboard, dubbed the Crossrail. But, before anyone can ride the line, tunnels will have to be dug. That means its time to break out the TBM beasts. Over 490 feet long and topping 1,000 metric tons, these giant metal moles will slowly carve new tunnels under the city at about 330 feet per week. At that rate the Crossrail won't open until 2018 but, until then, we can all sleep soundly knowing that machines -- more than thrice as tall as a man -- are slowly eating away at the largest city in the British Isles from underneath. For more images of London's mayor, Boris Johnson, standing next to the German-made monstrosities, dressed in his daddy's suit hit up the source link. Visualized: giant 'metal moles' ready to chew through London's underground originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink BBC | Crossrail | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Another day, another app release from the folks at Sky, who have this time around delivered v2.0 of Sky Sports for iPad (formerly Sky Sports News). Coming just in time for the F1 2012 season, this iteration includes not only live streaming of the four Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports F1 HD, but it also has a new F1 Race Control companion feature built-in. During a race, it lets viewers choose from eight different camera feeds with in-car and pit lane views, in-race highlights, live race data like lap times and integrated social media feeds -- while these are just for racing now, according to Sky's blog post, we may see similar ones for other sports soon. Access to the app is included with various Sky TV packages, while those in the UK and Ireland without a TV plan can get access to the app and Sky Sports News channel streaming for £4.99 per month, billed through iTunes. Check it out there for a few more screenshots or to download and get ready for the Australian GP. Sky Sports for iPad 2.0 launches with live TV streaming, F1 Race Control companion originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Digital Lifestyle | Sky, iTunes | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | See that up there? It's called inertia, and it's what the crew at Microsoft is trying to overcome. For the past 17 years, Internet Explorer has been little more than meme fodder and a litmus test of whether you knew how to navigate the web -- and let's be honest, the addition of the 'Go' button in IE5.5 only reinforced the stigma. Sure, Internet Explorer 9 was a huge leap in the right direction, but it's done little to restore the product's lousy reputation or stem its dwindling user base. Fortunately, Microsoft knows how to poke fun at itself, and the company's latest ad campaign fundamentally screams: our product's no longer awful, so please use it for something other than downloading another browser. Yeah, it smacks of desperation, but now that Mammon's awoke and realized, "Lo! It was naught but a follower," we can appreciate its sense of humor. Follow the break for a good laugh, and just for the hell of it, use IE while you're at it. Continue reading Microsoft PSA: Internet Explorer 9 can do more than download other browsers (video) Microsoft PSA: Internet Explorer 9 can do more than download other browsers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | The Browser You Loved to Hate (Microsoft) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The device that started as a $10 laptop, graduated to a $35 tablet and settled on a $60 reality is about to get its first successor: the Aakash 2. Like its predecessor, the new Aakash is twist on a DataWind Ubislate, namely the Ubislate 7+. According to TechSnapr, $40 (or 2,000 Rupees) buys a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, a 3200 mAh battery and a 700MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor -- nearly doubling the oomph of the original. Datawind, however, pegs the Ubislate 7+ at familiar 2,999 Rupees (about $60), noting that the unbranded hardware runs Android 2.3 and features WiFi and GPRS connectivity. Students in India should be able to pick up the budget-friendly slab sometime in April.
[Thanks, Pravesh]Aakash 2 to land in April, set budget tablet lovers back a measly $40 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Ubislate, TechSnapr | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Watching the seconds go by is a frightening reminder that time pauses for no one, but somehow, a hacker going by the name of Ekaggrat has figured out how to make the process a bit less daunting. The so-called Doodle Clock is an Arduino-powered robotic arm that's been trained to jot down the time with a dry erase marker; once the minute passes, he erases the last digit and rewrites it -- a number beyond what he just erased, of course. Per usual, these things are better seen than read about, so why not hop on past the break and mash play? Smiles await. Continue reading Arduino-powered Artbot writes the time, erases it, writes again (video) Arduino-powered Artbot writes the time, erases it, writes again (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Hack A Day, MAKE | ekaggrat (YouTube) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Good news for fans of the iOS and Android ports of Google Earth: the apps are getting updated to version 6.2, which brings more customizable experience with it. Just like the browser and desktop variants, Keyhole Markup Language files are now accessible, meaning you'll be able to open up information overlays you find on websites, or from the app itself now that Google Earth Gallery's been added. Better yet, Android users will be pleased to know that their even gets baked-in screenshot functionality, while both versions feature "improvements in navigation." Although the iOS version will get released sometime soon, those of you running Google's goods can download the update from Google Play right now to get exploring. As per usual, make your way over to the source link below for all the details. Google Earth for Android and iOS reaches version 6.2, supports custom KML overlays and more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | Google Lat Long Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
