|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We're big fans of Samsung's work and the prevailing feeling is that the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is the pinnacle of the family. The original 7-incher was too expensive and ran Android 2.2, so we were delighted to see the revamped edition running Honeycomb and costing a very reasonable $400 (it's even cheaper now). In our review, we couldn't find too much wrong with the device, in fact it's on a par with the 8.9, just a little bit smaller. But you, our friends out there, have had three or four months of constant use with this slate now, so how do you feel about it over the long-term? Does the slightly weaker screen resolution get you down? Do you wish you could make calls from it? Do you long for an S-Pen enabled edition? In a world chock-full of Samsung slates, what would you do to make this one the most desirable? How would you change the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This week, the Engadget Mobile Podcast is freer than free 4G and now features 1000% more Sascha Segan. So what are you waiting for, really?
Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen, Joseph Volpe
Guest: Sascha Segan
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)
00:01:40 - The iPad Wins Because Android Tablet Apps Suck: An Illustrated Guide
00:10:23 - Android Lacks Focus, and It's a Problem
00:29:42 - New iPad's Screen Hogs Battery Power
00:45:10 - AT&T rolls out Android 4.0 to HTC Vivid, other devices getting ICS in the 'coming months'
00:56:53 - FreedomPop rumored to introduce iPhone case with free WiMAX service
00:58:30 - NetZero launches '4G' wireless service, we go hands-on
01:04:10 - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review (Verizon Wireless LTE)
01:15:30 - Verizon updates Revolution with Remote Diagnostics, HTC turns to LogMeIn
01:25:30 - HTC and Sprint ready to show off a new 'collaboration' April 4th, might be the One X
01:32:05 - Nokia to Apple: don't cha wish your nano-SIM was hot like ours?
01:43:00 - Apple's nano-SIM proposal draws fire from Motorola, Nokia, RIM
01:44:50 - Galaxy Note ICS upgrade pushed back to Q2, adds exclusive set of stylus-ready apps (video)
01:49:00 - FCC weighs Dish 4G network and 700MHz interoperability (updated)
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@tnkgrl @phonewisdom @engadgetmobile @jrvolpe @saschasegan Engadget Mobile Podcast 131 - 03.25.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  You might know Square for accepting payments on your smartphone via a cute dongle, but you're probably less familiar with its second offshoot, Card Case -- a separate app that has enabled hands-free and NFC-free payments at over 70,000+ merchants for more than a year now. That effort is getting a complete overhaul today, cumulating in an entire rethink of the app and experience, in addition to its more-apt new title: Pay with Square. The redesigned UI loses its former card and leather-based garnish, opting instead for a simplified list of merchants sorted by distance and relevancy. Also making its debut today is a search box, in addition to a spiffy map view, and the ability to share merchants to friends through text, email or Twitter. We're most excited, though, for feature parity across iPhone and Android, which means formerly iOS-exclusive features like the auto-creation of tabs at pre-approved venues (thanks to iOS 5's geo-fencing APIs) are now present to green little robots everywhere. That's no small feat, as the company's had to roll their own geo-location API to pick up where Google's left off. We're still looking for either updated version in the App Store and Google Play and will update when we do. Filed under: Software Square's Card Case rechristened 'Pay with Square,' is first to bring geo-fenced hands-free payments to Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
Energy-efficient transportation soared to new heights this week as MIT unveiled designs for a supersonic biplane that promises to be the successor to the Concorde. Meanwhile Boeing, Airbus and Embraer partnered to develop a new breed of affordable biofuels, and Volkswagen used space foil to make cars safer. In hot car news, Porsche announced plans to release a plug-in hybrid Panamera in 2014, and we brought you sneak peeks of several sexy electric vehicles that will be unveiled at the New York Auto Show in just over a week: Fisker's Nina plug-in hybrid and Infiniti's new Nissan leaf-based EV.
On the subject of energy efficiency, it was a big week for clean tech as Inhabitat reported that the world's most powerful wind turbine was just installed off the Belgian coast, and the National Ignition Facility flipped the switch on the world's first two-megajoule ultraviolet laser in an attempt to unlock nuclear fusion. Meanwhile, scientists discovered a link between trees and electricity by studying the way they affecty the concentration of positive and negative ions in the air, and OriginOil announced plans for an urban algae farm near Paris that will heat buildings while treating wastewater. The solar industry heard good news this week as a report showed that solar installations in the US more than doubled in 2011, and President Obama toured the states touting his "all of the above" approach to energy.
This week Inhabitat also showcased several amazing public infrastructure projects - including a series of gigantic fruit-shaped bus shelters in Japan, gmp Architekten's gorgeous new Hangzhou South Railway Station, the fresh new designs for section 3 of NYC's High Line elevated park, and a soaring 30-storey-tall wood skyscraper in Vancouver.
In robot news, a Virginia Tech team created a self-charging robo-Jellyfish that harvests hydrogen fuel from water, and we shared 6 incredible inventions made possible by nanotechnology. F.A.T. Labs released a Free Universal Construction Kit that can connect LEGOs to 8 other types of building blocks, and Amazon purchased a robot company to improve working conditions in its warehouses. As most of you probably know, This American Life issued a retraction of its Apple factory exposé - and while Mike Daisey may lost his credibility, we believe strongly that distrust in the integrity of his "reporting", should not be a reason for consumers to turn a blind eye to working conditions at Foxconn and other electronics ODMs. This week Nokia filed a patent for magnetic tattoos that could vibrate when someone calls, and we learned that free smartphone applications could consume 75% more energy than paid versions. Speaking of mobile phones, new research linked cellphone radiation during pregnancy to behavioral disorders in offspring so we looked at ways pregnant mothers can protect their babies from potential cellphone radiation exposure. Last but not least, we brought you an interesting high-tech clothing concept from Stella McCartney - a sports bra with a built-in heart sensor. Inhabitat's Week in Green: supersonic biplane, urban algae farm and magnetic tattoos originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 20:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of March 19th, 2012 Refresh Roundup: week of March 19th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This week, the Engadget Mobile Podcast is freer than free 4G and now features 1000% more Sacha Segan. So what are you waiting for, really?
Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen, Joseph Volpe
Guest: Sacha Segan
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)
00:01:40 - The iPad Wins Because Android Tablet Apps Suck: An Illustrated Guide
00:10:23 - Android Lacks Focus, and It's a Problem
00:29:42 - New iPad's Screen Hogs Battery Power
00:45:10 - AT&T rolls out Android 4.0 to HTC Vivid, other devices getting ICS in the 'coming months'
00:56:53 - FreedomPop rumored to introduce iPhone case with free WiMAX service
00:58:30 - NetZero launches '4G' wireless service, we go hands-on
01:04:10 - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review (Verizon Wireless LTE)
01:15:30 - Verizon updates Revolution with Remote Diagnostics, HTC turns to LogMeIn
01:25:30 - HTC and Sprint ready to show off a new 'collaboration' April 4th, might be the One X
01:32:05 - Nokia to Apple: don't cha wish your nano-SIM was hot like ours?
01:43:00 - Apple's nano-SIM proposal draws fire from Motorola, Nokia, RIM
01:44:50 - Galaxy Note ICS upgrade pushed back to Q2, adds exclusive set of stylus-ready apps (video)
01:49:00 - FCC weighs Dish 4G network and 700MHz interoperability (updated)
Hear the podcast
Subscribe to the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
Download the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
Contact the podcast
podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com.
Follow us on Twitter
@tnkgrl @phonewisdom @engadgetmobile @jrvolpe @saschasegan Engadget Mobile Podcast 131 - 03.25.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.Ever since the tablet market exploded, we've seen we've seen a wide range of designs find both success and failure. But most of the tablets on the market have something in common: they are primarily designed for adults or at least children old enough to be responsible for a fragile device. Particularly for the popular iPad, we have seen a number of specialized cases design to protect the tablet for use with young ones. But a small cadre of tablets aimed specifically at kids -- including preschoolers -- begs several questions. Are tablets good tools for kids? Is there value in optimizing them for kids? And if so, how should they be optimized? Continue reading Switched On: Tablets are toys. No, really. Switched On: Tablets are toys. No, really. originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  The FCC's campaign to secure the internet gained new momentum last week, when a group of major ISPs signed on to a new code of conduct aimed at mitigating cybercrime. Adopted by the FCC's Communications, Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), the new code targets three main security threats: botnets, DNS attacks and internet route hijacking. The Anti-Bot Code of Conduct invites ISPs to adopt sharper detection methods, and to notify and assist consumers whenever their computers are infected. The DNS code, meanwhile, offers a list of best practices by which ISPs can tighten security. Though it doesn't call for a full adoption of DNSSEC technology, the guidelines do represent a "first step" toward implementation, allowing web users to verify the authenticity of their online destinations. As for internet route attacks, the CSRIC calls for a similarly collective approach, asking ISPs to collaborate on new technologies within an industry-wide framework. In a statement, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said that these practices "identify smart, practical, voluntary solutions that will materially improve the cyber security of commercial networks and bolster the broader endeavors of our federal partners." The industry apparently agrees, as heavyweights like AT&T, CenturyLink, Comcast, Cox, Sprint, Time Warner Cable, T-Mobile and Verizon have already signed on. For the FCC's full statement, check out the source link below. Major ISPs agree to FCC's code of conduct on botnets, DNS attacks originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  ThreatPost |  FCC (PDF) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A force-feedback steering wheel. It's quite literally the stuff of racing games, and AT&T labs, along with Carnegie Mellon, is researching the possibly of throwing similar tech into your real-world whip. MIT's Technology Review recently highlighted the project, which uses 20 vibrating actuators shoved inside of a steering wheel to create a variety of patterns -- a counter-clockwise sequence could indicate a left turn, for example. As you might have guessed, one of the goals is to keep drivers less distracted by the likes of visual turn-by-turn GPS navigators and more focused on the road. While it's currently being tested with driving simulators, the results are positive so far, if a bit modest. When supplemented with typical audio / visual navigation, folks near the age of 25 kept their eyes planted on the asphalt for 3.1 percent more time than without it. Notably, the improvement wasn't found with those over 65 in the aforementioned instance, however, supplemented with just the audio, the vibrating wheel had them focusing on the road by an increase of four percent.
According to Technology Review, this isn't the first time haptic feedback has been tested as a driving aid, although past tests have, notably, resulted in "fewer turn errors" by those behind the wheel. Best of all, the tech is capable of sending more than just navigation cues -- it could certainly be useful in a Telsa. So when can you expect to find a force-feedback steering wheel in your ride? Technology Review cites Kevin Li, an AT&T Labs researcher on the project, who says the main hurdle is making something that people will just "get," and that it's still "years" away from becoming a possibility. While there's no photos of the setup just yet, a full report on the research will get release in June. Hey, there's always Forza and Gran Turismo, at least for now -- right? AT&T Labs, Carnegie Melon research haptic-feedback steering wheel for turn-by-turn directions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Electronista, The Verge | MIT Technology Review | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A force-feedback steering wheel. It's quite literally the stuff of racing games, and AT&T labs, along with Carnegie Mellon, is researching the possibly of throwing similar tech into your real-world whip. MIT's Technology Review recently highlighted the project, which uses 20 vibrating actuators shoved inside of a steering wheel to create a variety of patterns -- a counter-clockwise sequence could indicate a left turn, for example. As you might have guessed, one of the goals is to keep drivers less distracted by the likes of visual turn-by-turn GPS navigators and more focused on the road. While it's currently being tested with driving simulators, the results are positive so far, if a bit modest. When supplemented with typical audio / visual navigation, folks near the age of 25 kept their eyes planted on the asphalt for 3.1 percent more time than without it. Notably, the improvement wasn't found with those over 65 in the aforementioned instance, however, supplemented with just the audio, the vibrating wheel had them focusing on the road by an increase of four percent.
According to Technology Review, this isn't the first time haptic feedback has been tested as a driving aid, although past tests have, notably, resulted in "fewer turn errors" by those behind the wheel. Best of all, the tech is capable of sending more than just navigation cues -- it could certainly be useful in a Telsa. So when can you expect to find a force-feedback steering wheel in your ride? Technology Review cites Kevin Li, an AT&T Labs researcher on the project, who says the main hurdle is making something that people will just "get," and that it's still "years" away from becoming a possibility. While there's no photos of the setup just yet, a full report on the research will get release in June. Hey, there's always Forza and Gran Turismo, at least for now -- right? AT&T Labs, Carnegie Mellon research haptic-feedback steering wheel for turn-by-turn directions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Electronista, The Verge | MIT Technology Review | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We're not saying this could be the date-of-reveal for the Galaxy S III, but we also can't say it's not. What we can surmise, however, is that either Samsung or UK retailer Phones 4u (possibly both) apparently have something to unveil on March 30th. According to Eurodroid, widow pictured above, simply reading "coming 30.03.12" under a Samsung logo, was photographed by one of its readers outside of the Phones4u located on Oxford St. in London. The site also notes that this same location was the exclusive retailer for the Galaxy Nexus when it launched, making the little meat that's currently here all the more juicy. Whatever Sammy has in store, you'll just have to keep guessing as it remains a mystery for now. Hit up the links below for more photos and speculation, and be sure let us know your best guess in the comments. What do Samsung and Phones 4u have to show the UK on March 30th? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Gizmodo UK | Eurodroid | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Now that all of the Harry Potter movies have been released, Warner Bros. has seen fit to slide them together in one truly epic set. Harry Potter Wizard's Collection spans 31 discs including the theatrical version of each movie, extended cuts of the first two flicks, 3D versions of the last two, Ultraviolet digital copies and several bonus discs with ten hours of new to disc bonus content and 5 hours of never before seen extras. Of course, we should also mention the incredibly detailed box it all comes in, seen in the CG video above. Of course, you can't always have everything, and some fans are upset are upset about what this collection doesn't include -- extended versions of the last six movies. Those still interested can preorder the $400 MSRP set (currently selling $349 on Amazon) for delivery September 7th, and get an early preview of one of the special features embedded after the break. Continue reading Harry Potter Wizards Collection brings home all eight movies on a ridiculous 31 discs (video) Harry Potter Wizards Collection brings home all eight movies on a ridiculous 31 discs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Amazon | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We knew it was coming, but now it's finally landed. Yep, those Sky+HD subscribers who get their internet from elsewhere are now free wander into the formerly fortified town of Anytime+. For the first time, all Sky+HD users with broadband can access the full range of online programming, which includes content from the BBC and ITV. Not a Sky customer, but like the sound of this? Sky's already thought of that, and should have something to ease your pain anytime now. Sky Anytime+ now available via all broadband providers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Sky | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Way back before NRG was making electric DeLoreans and building solar power plants, it co-owned a slew of power facilities in California with Dynegy -- an energy outfit that got caught up in a long-term litigation over some old energy contracts with the state. Long story short, that legal dispute became NRG's problem in 2006, after it acquired Dynegy's majority stake in the partnership -- a problem it's finally resolving by peppering California with 200 fast-charging EV stations. The $120 million settlement promises to create jobs, invest in the state's economy and provide job training for the stations' maintenance and installation crews.
NRG may be shelling out some serious cash, but the deal is still mutually beneficial -- those extra vehicle chargers will be running on its own fee-based eVgo network, after all. Governor Jerry Brown calls the settlement the beginning of a "virtuous circle" that will boost EV sales for the state, which will in turn, provoke investors to expand California's charging infrastructure, which will, of course, sell more cars. In fact, he's banking on it, and has signed an executive order setting targets for EV adoption. If all goes as planned, you'll be looking at a smog free San Francisco skyline by 2050. Won't that be nice? Continue reading NRG to bring 200 fast-charging EV stations to the Golden State, pump $100 million into CA infrastructure NRG to bring 200 fast-charging EV stations to the Golden State, pump $100 million into CA infrastructure originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Forbes | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
