|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Adobe has already hinted at its plans for Flash Player 11.2, but today, those plans finally became official. The company formally announced both 11.2 and AIR 3.2 this morning, reaffirming its commitment to browser-based gaming. With 11.2, Adobe is bringing support for mouse-lock, right and middle click events, and multi-threaded video decoding. The software also supports 2D and 3D graphics at speeds of up to 60 frames per second, and, when running on Windows machines, will automatically update itself in the background. As for AIR 3.2, it now supports Stage3D graphics on both iOS and Android, promising "jaw-dropping visuals" with monstrously fast GPU rendering. A new partnership with Unity, meanwhile, will allow developers to easily upload 3D games to Flash Player, as part of its premium features package. Devs will be able to use these higher-tiered features for free until their apps accrue $50,000 in revenue. Once they do, they'll have to siphon off 9 percent of their earnings to Adobe, though these conditions only go into effect as of August 1st. (AIR 3.2 apps are exempt from this charge.) For more details on the new releases, check out the source links below, or the explanatory video after the break. Continue reading Adobe releases Flash Player 11.2, AIR 3.2, still very much into gaming Adobe releases Flash Player 11.2, AIR 3.2, still very much into gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  The Verge |  Adobe (1), (2) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We'd previously seen Lenovo work its app game by handing out dev classes to high schoolers, and now it's got some application bits for the grown-ups. Earlier today, the Chinese manufacturer introduced its Enterprise App Shop, which is said to run on Android slates that are sporting Honeycomb or any later version of the OS. Lenovo's also stuffed an "App Shop Manager" feature in the biz-oriented market, allowing companies to build a mini app store where they can add and control their own applications. The ThinkPad maker says the Enterprise App Store Shop's simplicity will help by "eliminating factory resets and streamlining app installation," while being "very intuitive and easy to use." We'll have to wait and see if that's indeed the case. Lenovo outs Enterprise App Shop for business-oriented Android folks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechCrunch | TabTimes | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Google today announced the grand opening of the Nelson Mandela Digital Archive, an online collection of digitized photos, videos and documents centering around the former South African president. The site, based out of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg, South Africa, was developed with the help of $1.25 million in funding provided by the software giant. The collection includes unseen drafts of Mandela's work, letters to friends and family members and diary entries made during his 27 year imprisonment. The multimedia archive is available for view now. You can check it out by clicking the source link below. Google celebrates Nelson Mandela with virtual museum originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Slashgear | Google, Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We'd previously seen Lenovo work its app game by handing out dev classes to high schoolers, and now it's got some application bits for the grown-ups. Earlier today, the Chinese manufacturer introduced its Enterprise App Shop, which is said to run on Android slates that are sporting Honeycomb or any later version of the OS. Lenovo's also stuffed an "App Shop Manager" feature in the biz-oriented market, allowing companies to build a mini app store where they can add and control their own applications. The ThinkPad maker says the Enterprise App Store Shop's simplicity will help by "eliminating factory resets and streamlining app installation," while being "very intuitive and easy to use." We'll have to wait and see if that's indeed the case. Lenovo outs Enterprise App Shop for business-oriented Android folks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechCrunch | TabTimes | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you're a fan of Plex's media server software and Roku's do-everything hockey puck media streamers then today is your lucky day, as bringing the two together is now easier than ever. While Plex has supported streaming to Roku devices through an unofficial channel since last year, today it announced it's officially available in the Channel Store. That's not the only thing that has changed either, since a blog post indicates the new official channel brings a new upgraded UI and features like myPlex support, audio and picture support, and Direct Play of video without transcoding on compatible videos. Hit the Plex blog for a few more screenshots and details, or just turn on your Roku and add the app directly. Also, if a Google TV device is your preferred Plex client, that app has also just been updated with a few new bugfixes. Roku players now have an official Plex channel with upgraded UI and new features originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Plex, @Plex (Twitter) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Like that one friend who cares enough to update everyone about a "killer party" they're headed to without saying where it is, the official ASUS Facebook page has dropped a teaser that is as tantalizing as it is frustratingly vague. The note promises "awesome new features" in the next update for its Transformer Prime, but has absolutely no details on what that means. So what could be in store, some minor .01 revision ICS bump, further GPS tweaks, custom ASUS apps or some celebratory Hasbro wallpapers? Of course, we'd love to hear that everyone's getting a new higher-res display swapped into their Tegra 3 tablet, but even with lasers and time travel still on the table, we're thinking that's not it. Feel free to dream big in the comments below -- for the moment, anything is possible. ASUS teases 'awesome new features' for Transformer Prime, doesn't say what they are originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Phandroid, Android Police | ASUS (Facebook) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's no secret that Samsung's been teasing a major interest in premium audio since CES, blending digitally powered speakers with vacuum tube pre-amplifiers. We didn't get a chance to check the systems out in Vegas, but today the company's spilling the details regarding US pricing on a trio of systems, all of which will be available in the Spring. The star of the show is the $800 DA-870 Audio Dock, featuring the rear-mounted dual dock for Galaxy (charging only) and iOS devices we first saw last month. Clad in a polished wood case (available in black or cherry), the 2.1 stereo system pumps out up to 100 watts of power through its glass fiber speakers and tweeters. As an added touch, its JJ Electronics 12AU7 tubes (the same you could use for guitar amps) are sunken in from its top under glass, allowing for clear view of their glow. Best of all, aside from the requisite USB and 3.5mm inputs, the DA-870 works wirelessly with Samsung's AllShare Play, AirPlay and Bluetooth 3.0 w/ aptX.
Moving past the HiFi category, Samsung's also priced a duo of surround sound systems aimed at the home theater market. To start, there's the $1,000 HT-E6730W Blu-ray 3D 7.1 home theater system and its $800 5.1 sibling, the HT-E6500W Blu-ray 3D -- both of which feature the same tube pre-amp and similar wireless capabilities as the DA-870. Notably, the E6730W features a tiltable top speaker on each of its stereo towers, allowing for a more personalized output depending on your room. Furthermore, if you happen to have a DA-870, too, you'll be able to stream the audio via Bluetooth if you find yourself far away from your television. There's no exact date on when you'll be able snag any of them, but Samsung notes that the 5.1 system is currently shipping. Samsung's vacuum tube driven speaker lineup gets priced for US, available this Spring originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you thought a robot fighting championship just sounds like the plot for a Hugh Jackman vehicle, you'd be partly right. We'll tell you who does have the real steel though, the plucky fellas you see above. They're competing for this year's ROBO-ONE championship, an annual competition where humanoid robots slug it out to the death (or power failure at least) held this weekend in Kawasaki, Japan. This is no toy fair either, with contestants bagging a $12,000 pot if their android-avatar wins the crown. This year, that title goes to GAROO, winning for the second time in a row by defeating Gargoyle Mini for the spoils. Rumors of LED gauging were unfounded, as you'll see in the video after the round... we mean break. Continue reading Cute mini-robots compete for championship title, gladiator freedom (video) Cute mini-robots compete for championship title, gladiator freedom (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | Robot Dreams, Robo-One (Japanese) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Electronics makers love a spec they can get behind and make the center point of their marketing efforts -- no matter how useless it is as a comparison. The undisputed be all arms race HDTV metric for the past few years, LCD refresh rates, has recently become even muddier according to HD Guru. Terms like Clear Motion Rate (Samsung) and Scenes Per Second (Vizio) are meant to confuse the customer while resembling the somewhat useful (and, as of late, unmentioned on the box) refresh rate. Our advice? Ignore this spec completely and instead find a TV that can accurately display your favorite content at its native frame rate (24, 30 or 60) -- leave all that soap-opera looking frame interpolation technology to the modern day twelve o'clock flasher. PSA: Real LCD HDTV refresh rates are getting harder to find behind marketing fluff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | HD Guru | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We're generally satisfied with our internet performance, but we wouldn't say no to a speed boost. A Microsoft blog post reveals plans to enable just that, with the company's proposed "HTTP Speed + Mobility" approach to HTTP 2.0. Have you thought about what life would be like with a faster internet? MS says Y-E-S! "There is already broad consensus about the need to make web browsing much faster," the company proclaimed. Juicy. The suggested protocol will, well, focus on achieving greater speed, but Microsoft hasn't detailed exactly how it will accomplish that, beyond mentioning that it's based on the Google SPDY protocol, which on its own aims to reduce latency and congestion by prioritizing requests and removing the limit on simultaneous streams over a single TCP connection. For its part, MS says it will be expanding on SPDY to "address the needs of mobile devices and applications," which we presume would be in Google's best interests as well. It's safe to say that Microsoft's being a bit more forthcoming during its meetings with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) this week -- the organization responsible for creating HTTP 2.0 -- so perhaps we'll be hearing more about this fabled faster internet before we turn anew to Q2. Microsoft's 'HTTP Speed + Mobility' aims to make the web faster, could be the next big ping originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Webmonkey | Microsoft | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In 2010 President Obama stated, in no uncertain terms, that our country's competitive edge and technological leadership were conditional on our ability to open up broad swaths of spectrum for commercial and governmental use. Two years later, we've made progress, but our wireless providers are still struggling to keep up as our demand for cellular broadband skyrockets -- even spectrum hog Verizon claims to be gasping for air. The Commerce Department and US National Telecommunications and Information Administration are suggesting a new approach to opening up the airwaves to carriers that doesn't involve the wholesale abandonment of radiowave real estate by its current residents. The NTIA thinks there is room for both federal agencies and companies in the 95MHz between 1755 and 1850MHz. This would open up the prime spectrum to commercial use, but would also save the time and money normally needed to relocate existing government services which, in this case, includes military communications and missile guidance systems. In typical bureaucratic fashion, more study will be needed before a formal recommendation can be made to the FCC. But, there's plenty more detail to be had in the meantime -- just check out the PR after the break and the full report at the source link.
[Tower photo via Shutterstock] Continue reading Department of Commerce and NTIA suggest spectrum sharing for government and commercial services Department of Commerce and NTIA suggest spectrum sharing for government and commercial services originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | NTIA | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Today we've got a special treat for you: not one, but two knockoff Galaxy Notes from across the Pacific. Both lack the raw power of Sammy's 5.3-inch device, and even knock the resolution down to a paltry 800 x 480. Our first contestant is rockin' only a 1GHz single-core processor and 512MB of RAM, but it's using those rather pedestrian components to push ICS through its little 9.7mm thick body. The second of today's players certainly wins the audacity contest -- brandishing its clearly unearned Samsung logos. It also wins the spec war here by jumping up to 768MB of RAM and a dual-core CPU, even if the later is an asymmetrical design with a 650MHz ARM7 and a 250MHz ARM9 inside. It also trades up in the camera department going with an eight-megapixel sensor, though, it does settle for Gingerbread. Now all we have to do is think up a new name for the segment, it seems wrong to bless these KIRFs with the phablet name. We were thinking slone or phlate... either way, check out the bonus hands-on vid after the break. Continue reading KIRF Notes are the Slankets of the phablet world (video) KIRF Notes are the Slankets of the phablet world (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink M.I.C. Gadget | MyDrivers (translated) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's easy for life to imitate art when you're armed with near billion dollar coffers. Taking a cue from his 1989 hit, The Abyss, James Cameron made a solo plunge down to the deepest part of the Earth -- a spot seven miles below sea level known as the Challenger Deep -- and recorded his journey in 3D for our slack-jawed, couchbound amusement. The terrain, described by Cameron as both "desolate" and "lunar," is part of the Mariana Trench and had remained unexplored by humanity since the Trieste first touched down in 1960. That two man crew, hampered by the technological advancements of the time, didn't have the luxury of capturing the undersea trek, so when Cameron's footage finally hits screens, it'll be the planet's first peek at a truly alien world. Conspiracy theorists and New Age-y types will be disheartened by the lack of any reported close encounters of the aquatic or Steve Zissou kind, as the blockbuster filmmaker only spied a variety of small, whitish and, predominantly, eyeless creatures. The trip was seven years in the making, and involved the construction of the Deepsea Challenger -- the high-tech mini-sub which carted Cameron safely to the Pacific Ocean's depths and back. Curious to see what only the world's richest can experience first-hand? Then click on past the break for a brief docu-tease. Continue reading James Cameron journeys to the Challenger Deep, lives to tell the tale in 3D (video) James Cameron journeys to the Challenger Deep, lives to tell the tale in 3D (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Gizmodo | National Geographic | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Looks like racking up those loyal points may just pay off in the near future, as Ma Bell's rolling out a new loyalty program dubbed AT&T Plus. The free service -- which is only available in Houston, Colorado and Minneapolis at the moment -- will let customers get tidbits such as a "personalized customer experience," with access to a special 1-855-ATTPLUS customer service line. Additionally, AT&T Plus users get a 25 percent discount on accessories (sorry, no iPhone or iPad add-ons) as well as waived activation and upgrade fees. AT&T's yet to say what you'll need to get a Plus party invite, but we'd imagine that staying away from any warning is the first step... AT&T Plus now in trial stages, lets loyal users in on special deals and more originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Electronista | AT&T Plus | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Chances are you're still melting over the impressive HTC One X benchmarks, and that's just the dual-core Snapdragon S4 taking care of business. As you may know, those of you in the Old Continent will see a quad-core flavor hit the shelves, and it's looking like that version is getting priced a wee bit earlier. So, just how much will you have to shell out to snag one of HTC's latest? Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse both have the One X listed as high as £329.99 (about $527), though you can also grab a free one if you take on a longer, more expensive plan on Orange, O2 and Vodafone. Carphone's site shows you can expect the device to land at your doorstep in the week of April 2nd. In the meantime, take a look at our hands-on to remind you how badly you need it. Update: It looks like Canadians can now also pre-order the HSPA+ version of the phone courtesy of NCIX, although they'll have to part with a hefty $800 (off-contract, of course). PSA: HTC One X priced up to £330 in the UK, also available for free (update: $800 in Canada) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Mobile Syrup | Phones4U, The Carphone Warehouse | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Chances are you're still melting over the underpowered impressive HTC One X benchmarks, and that's just the dual-core Snapdragon S4 taking care of business. As you may know, those of you in the Old Continent will see a quad-core flavor hit the shelves, which theoretically should outperform its American sibling on any given day. So, just how much will you have to shell out to snag one of HTC's latest? Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse both have the One X listed as high as £329.99 (about $527) with a 24 month contract and minimal data usage, though you can also grab a free one if you take on a longer, more expensive plan on Orange, O2 and Vodafone. Carphone's site shows you can expect the device to land at your doorstep in the week of April 2nd. In the meantime, take a look at our hands-on to remind you how badly you need it. PSA: HTC One X priced up to £330 in the UK, also available for free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Phones4U, The Carphone Warehouse | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eager to get a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich while you wait for an update on your phone? Then you now have another option to do so relatively cheaply if you don't mind venturing into Coby's bargain bin of tablets. It's begun rolling out no less than six new slates to retail stores today (most of which we saw at CES in January), which pack screens ranging in size from seven to ten inches and each run Android 4.0. Specs are otherwise fairly identical across the board, with each boasting the same single-core 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, microSD card slot, front-facing cameras, HDMI out and either 4GB or 8GB of storage. Unfortunately, they all also come with one key drawback common to budget Android tablets: there's no official access to Google Play. If that's not too much of a deterrent, you can pick these up for between $179 and $279. Coby's budget-minded Ice Cream Sandwich tablets go on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Android Community | Coby | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  No guests this week, just us but we've got a quick and dirty podcast with news of TiVo's latest DVR plus some freshly updated iPad apps from Netflix and DirecTV. The Xbox 360 has its own new apps to deliver as well, while Sky is still creeping towards a different kind of pay-TV service with its upcoming Now TV. Home automation heads will be interested in the Motorola Connected Home Gateway that appears to be right around the corner, and we've also got a quick look at the latest legal developments for Aereo. Finally, we'll check in with the latest TV and Blu-ray releases this week -- press play and see if we can get Ben caught up on Game of Thrones in time for the season premiere.
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)
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06:37 - TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs
09:30 - TiVo sues Time Warner Cable, Motorola Mobility in fresh patent assault
12:00 - Microsoft and TiVo agree to drop ongoing patent suits, we ask the world to follow
14:55 - Netflix iPad app upgraded with Retina quality icons and images now, HD video soon
19:27 - DirecTV iPad app adds (some) TV and movie streaming 'Everywhere'
21:40 - BBC iPlayer app finally launches for all UK Xbox 360s
24:08 - Sky dubs upcoming internet TV service 'Now TV', chases those currently without pay-TV
25:45 - Xbox 360's Comcast Xfinity TV app in beta testing, won't count against data caps when it launches
29:00 - Motorola Connected Home Gateway home automation all-in-one hits the FCC with Verizon tags
31:02 - Aereo countersues broadcasters over its internet TV streaming service
33:36 - Must See HDTV (March 26th - April 1st)
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LISTEN (AAC) Engadget HD Podcast 292 - 03.27.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Coming up with original gadget names is tough work, and, after all, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery -- right? So it was no surprise when ASUS happened upon an alias that more than slightly resembled that of a popular fictional mutant semi -- you know, Transformer Optimus Prime. However shockingly, Hasbro wasn't a fan, opting to battle ASUS to the death in the U.S. court system. And, after countless weeks and many bank holidays, we finally have a victor. It appears that the leader of the Autobots will continue to share its name with the Taiwanese company's tablet -- that's what you get for leaving the fate of the world to mere human bureaucrats. Just don't be surprised when it comes time to name the world's next Superhero, Ms. Zenbook UX31. US Judge rejects Hasbro / ASUS sales ban, Transformer Prime prevails originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink SlashGear | PaidContent | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Seems like it was only yesterday that Microsoft took the wraps off version 1.0 of Kinect for Windows, putting the power of voice and gesture controls in the hands of the hoi polloi. Now, the gang in Redmond has said that version 1.5 will be coming in May, and will bring 10-joint skeletal tracking to let the sensor bar work while users are seated. The update also includes Kinect Studio, an app that allows devs to record, play and debug clips of users to fine tune their applications. Additionally, it brings language support for French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, plus there's added support for regional dialects in those languages and English as well. Lastly, Microsoft is promising a whole slew of new countries around the globe will be getting Kinect for Windows in May and June, so to see if your homeland made the cut, check out the source below. Kinect for Windows version 1.5 to be released in May originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Next at Microsoft | Kinect for Windows blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Novatech has just put its own spin on the Ultrabook theme, outing its new nFinity line of svelte, 14-inch, portables. The base model is driven by an i3 chip, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of SSD storage, for a £430 (about $687) asking price. If you want a little more pep, however, there are naturally i5 and i7 options too (£580 / $926 and £699 / $1,117 respectively), both of which get a RAM upgrade to 4GB, and double the SSD at 128GB. There are a few things which might dampen your purchasing flame, such as the lack of USB3.0, and perhaps the plastic finish. But when you're fully booted in the (claimed) 15 seconds, and still going 7 hours later, maybe that won't seem so bad a trade-off. The range lands on the 30th of this month, so not long to wait, or click on past the break for the promo video. Continue reading Novatech Ultrabook range goes to nFinity, well, at least four Novatech Ultrabook range goes to nFinity, well, at least four originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Netbook News | Novatech | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | When it rains Archos tablets, it pours Archos tablets. A day after The Arnova A9 G3 tablet strutted its way through the commission's approval process and into our hearts, two more members of the line the are ready for their cold, governmental closeups. Archos's Arnova 7F G3 and 8C G3 have also found their way onto the the FCC's site, carrying on the company's long standing policy of making a heck of a lot of tablets -- these ones, most likely, are set to serve as the seven and eight-inch counterparts to their slightly larger, slightly older sibling. Two more Archos Arnova tablets roll through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FCC (1), (2) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For those unaware, going at it alone in the cutthroat display business isn't exactly a recommended business approach. To wit, Sharp -- once a mainstay in the LCD industry -- has just sold an approximate 10 percent stake of itself to Taiwan's Hon Hai Group. Sharp will be issuing new shares worth $808 million to Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., and we're told that it'll go down as the largest investment ever in a Japanese company by a Taiwanese one. Moreover, Hon Hai will grab half of Sharp's 92.96 percent stake in its LCD panel factory in Sakai, Japan. Though it may not be obvious, seeing Sharp accept this fate is hugely symbolic, and it's happening just as the company gets ready to eat "multibillion-dollar losses" for this fiscal year -- which just so happens to be the 100th anniversary of its founding. Sharp executive managing officer Takashi Okuda said this during a news conference in Tokyo: "We have tried to do everything by ourselves, but the environment is tough." Here's hoping for a better tomorrow, though. Continue reading Hon Hai Precision snaps up 10 percent of Sharp in display tie-up Hon Hai Precision snaps up 10 percent of Sharp in display tie-up originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Reuters | Marketwatch | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  That moment when you physically hurt your ear by mashing your cellphone up against it in a futile bid to hear the person on the other end. That's the very moment that RIM's gunning to make history with its latest patent, which was filed way back in November of 2007 but just granted today. The BlackBerry-maker's patent describes an adjustable acoustic speaker output "based on an estimated degree of seal of an ear about a speaker port" -- effectively a system where the volume can automatically increase if a handset jostles further from your ear. Not surprisingly, the description details "at least one touch sensor" used for detecting the distance between one's ear and the device, and the connecting method of adjusting the audio depending on what information the sensor picks up. We're guessing folks who walk and talk would be keen on taking advantage, but then again, you could just walk around with a Bluetooth headset on. (Keyword being could, not should.) RIM's latest patent details automatic volume adjustments based on handset placement originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Those working on life-changing uses for NFC in phones will now find it even harder to explain why life still hasn't changed. According to Berg Insight, annual global sales of NFC-equipped handsets increased ten-fold to reach 30 million units in 2011 and are forecast to grow to 700 million units by 2016. The analysts attribute this rise to general smartphone adoption rather than to demand for NFC as such, which makes sense from where we're sitting. Aside from a few proximity-based apps, Google Wallet and some other handbag-spurning payment schemes, there's still no overwhelming reason to gear up. GPS and WLAN, on the other hand, remain must-haves, and the PR below looks at their prevalence too. Continue reading 30 million NFC-equipped phones shipped in 2011, could reach 700 million by 2016 30 million NFC-equipped phones shipped in 2011, could reach 700 million by 2016 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  If not for Leap Day, Apple would've seen this one granted a year to the day after it was filed; as it stands, 365 days will just have to do. At any rate, Apple has not only managed to secure a patent this fine morning for an ejectable SIM tray, but also one for an antenna isolation apparatus. In simple(ish) terms, the patent details an antenna structure in a portable electronic device that's comprised of "first, second, and third resonating elements aligned along a common axis parallel to a ground plane," with a multiple-arm, multiple-frequency design taking shape. It's also pretty clear that the intention here is to reduce radio-frequency interference between the antennas -- something that'll prove increasingly important as wave support is added in future iPhones. Unfortunately, there's no word on whether this patent will allow AT&T-infused iPhone 5 handsets to display "7G" in the indicator bar. Apple secures patent on multiple-arm, multiple-frequency antenna design originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Samsung trotted out a cluster of new video shooters back at CES, including a refresh of its hand-impartial HMX-Q10 movie maker. Now, it looks like sinister filmmakers can finally get their (left) paws on the WiFi enabled QF20. The debut also brings with it mention of a few minor details that we didn't hear about in Vegas, namely an on board "BGM" background music tool, a 230,000 pixel count on the LCD viewfinder, and news that the sensor is a 5-megapixel BSI CMOS affair. If this sounds like the answer to your camera-handling dreams, Samsung wants ₩449,000 (about $395) no matter which hand you reach for your wallet with. Samsung launches Switch Grip QF20 WiFi camcorder, shoot with both guns originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Samsung Tomorrow | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We're guessing it's just coincidental timing here, but it looks as if Apple has been granted a patent surrounding "ejectable component assemblies" that are designed to be "flush with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture." In other words, a SIM card tray. Granted, there's no specific verbiage in the independent claims of this one letting us know what exact size we're talking about, so it's highly unlikely that a patent application filed in December of 2010 (but granted today) would be directly referencing the nano-SIM war that's currently ongoing. That said, the description most certainly sounds like the tray that we've seen throughout the iPhone's life cycle, and if Apple's trying to go small in future handsets, there's a better than average chance that the ejection mechanism will be all too familiar. Legalese lovers can find the usual load down in the source link. Apple patents ejectable SIM card tray as nano-SIM battle rages on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Slashgear | USPTO | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | That LG Lucid we've heard so much about lately? Yep, it's real, and Verizon is now ready to publicly acknowledge its existence.The LTE-capable device lays more in the mid-range, but for $80 (with a two-year commitment and after a $50 mail-in rebate) you're getting a 4-inch display covered in Gorilla Glass, 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear-facing camera with 1080p video capture and a front-facing cam of unknown resolution. And for the folks keeping track at home, the Lucid will be shipping with Gingerbread installed, though Verizon is quick to admit that ICS is in the works. Sound like your cup o' tea? You won't have to wait long -- it's heading your way on March 29th. Continue reading LG Lucid becomes official on Verizon, can be yours March 29th for $80 LG Lucid becomes official on Verizon, can be yours March 29th for $80 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hard to believe we're mere months from learning all about Android 5.0, and the lion's share of Android devices haven't even heard of v4.0. That said, Samsung already promised that its polarizing Galaxy Note would be grabbing ICS in the second quarter of this year, and it looks as if the company's designers already have an inkling as to what that'll look like. Shown here at Samsung Mobile USA's official Facebook portal, we have one Galaxy Note sporting Ice Cream Sandwich, but there's no fuss made about (officially, anyway) in the description below. We'd probably still hope for late Q2 based on history, but perhaps the update really is closer to seeing the light of day than we'd been led to believe.
[Thanks, Binyamin]Samsung's own Facebook page shows Galaxy Note wearing Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Samsung USA (Facebook) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | You knew it was coming, and now Microsoft's ready to make MLB.tv on your Xbox 360 official. Just like previous sporting efforts on the console, Redmond's gone and built a custom layer atop a partner's content in hopes of creating a richer and more immersive experience. A premium MLB.tv subscription still applies here, which'll grant you access to HD streams of every out-of-market game -- all of which are watchable live, in recap or archived forms. We liked the "My Teams" functionality which enabled us to quickly earmark content from teams we cared about, which makes triaging through MLB's rather large catalog far more palatable. There's a spiffy mini guide too, which makes for swapping between games a painless affair, in addition to split screen view, where two games are splayed side-by-side -- each which can be paused, or rewound to your hearts content. And it wouldn't be a party if gesture and voice controls, courtesy of Kinect, didn't make an appearance here too. So go peep that dashboard for the update, or hop past the break for a demo video of the whole shindig. Continue reading MLB.tv lands on Xbox 360, gets cozy alongside ESPN and UFC MLB.tv lands on Xbox 360, gets cozy alongside ESPN and UFC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The importance of privacy has been dwindling for quite some time, and smartphones have become one of the biggest culprits. Allegations against Carrier IQ, location-based tracking, the recent concerns about Path snatching up iOS address book information -- all of these are just a few examples of mobile carriers and other wireless companies taking our personal data, selling it to the highest bidder (or using it for their own purposes) and not bothering to let us know or give us a choice. The last few aspects of our life that we choose not to share on Facebook seem to get out into the ether, whether we like it or not. And here's the scarier part: there may be companies grabbing information off of our phones right now without us knowing about it.
Too much of a doomsday scenario? Perhaps, but it's important to drive home the point that it has become so outrageous over the past year that we can't help but become nervous anytime we download an app or type in a password. Is our phone secure? How can we really be sure? Can we really trust (insert carrier or manufacturer name here)? This week, the very same situation is resurfacing as Verizon and HTC have made significant moves to install remote diagnostic tools on select devices. It's all done in the name of customer support, but how can we tell this isn't just another sneaky way of snagging our personal deets and selling them to a third party without telling us? We wanted to find out, and here's what we've learned so far. Continue reading Remote smartphone diagnostics: the new Carrier IQ or helpful support tool? Remote smartphone diagnostics: the new Carrier IQ or helpful support tool? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We've been eagerly anticipating the full-on release of BlueStacks' App Player, so imagine our excitement, now that the software has officially made the leap from its brief alpha stage to "beta-1" status. If you'll recall, the App Player can virtually run over 450k Android apps on Windows XP, Vista and 7, all without developers needing to tweak their respective coding. Notably, this latest build has a host of updates including LayerCake, allowing x86-based machines run apps written for ARM -- and with hardware graphics acceleration, no less. Other notable goodies from the beta build include official localization in 10 countries, mock accelerometer support (arrow keys), an updated UI and Direct AppStore Access. If the mere thought of running Android Angry Birds on Windows has your interests piqued, you'll find further details about BlueStacks in the full press release and video overview past the break. Continue reading BlueStacks App Player hits beta, supports ARM-written Android apps on x86-based Windows (video) BlueStacks App Player hits beta, supports ARM-written Android apps on x86-based Windows (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | BlueStacks | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Look, how many bits you choose to process in the privacy of your own home is entirely your business, but don't expect the latest Photoshop to work on anything less than a 64-bit multi-core Mac running a minimum of Snow Leopard. Adobe's update brings a compute-heavy 'Mercury Graphics Engine' as well as better 3D and video manipulation, with the sacrifice of 32-bit support unless you're running Windows -- although even then certain features will be limited. The message is clear: jump on the upgrade treadmill or sacrifice 65 user-feedback-inspired features and a new crop tool. Don't bother buying Adobe Photoshop CS6 for your 32-bit Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink CNET | Adobe | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Windows Phone may be picking up the pace in the hardware department thanks to some Nokia know-how, but the platform still lags behind its competition in the apps department. Team Redmond and team Espoo are taking steps to remedy that dearth of software, however, with their new AppCampus development program. The program will call Finland's Aalto University home, and is being created to provide design and technological support in addition to business coaching to help app developers build quality apps that make money. (Sound familiar?) In keeping with the motive to help developers grow their businesses, the program lets devs who utilize its services keep all the IP rights in their apps as well. AppCampus isn't only preaching the Windows Phone gospel either, folks wanting to code for Symbian and Series 40 are invited, too. Of course, supporting such a program isn't cheap, which is why both Microsoft and Nokia are kicking in 9 million euros ($12 million) each to make it happen. It's a good start, guys, but you've got a long way to go. Nokia and Microsoft create AppCampus to teach devs how to make more Metro apps originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink All Things D | AppCampus | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | There's fashionably late and then there's Boeing 787 Dreamliner late -- something that the folks at Japan Airlines learned firsthand following a three-year delay for the highly anticipated aircraft. Fortunately for JAL, the delay wasn't quite on the Duke Nukem Forever scale as the carrier finally got its first set of shiny, new Dreamliners this week. That's two down and 43 more to go for JAL, which no longer has to make hungry eyes at that first 787 that rival All Nippon Airways got last year. As for those other Dreamliners, well, Boeing continues to struggle with some production issues -- including a delamination problem discovered in February involving the carbon composites of some rear fuselages. Nevertheless, Boeing hopes to ramp up production from 2.5 to 3.5 planes per month as it builds up to a final monthly goal of 10 planes. In the meantime, you can try designing your own 787 or check out our Dreamliner review. That's right, we reviewed a whole freaking plane 'cause that's how we roll around here. JAL gets twins as Boeing delivers two 787 Dreamliners originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
