|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Even if you don't have DirecTV, you've probably heard of the HR34 if you're into DVRs. That's because it's the only DVR from a provider that can record five HD shows at once and it also works in multiple rooms of the house thanks to RVU. All that upside came with a big downside, though, the old and ugly DirecTV DVR user interface. We figured it was only a matter of time before DirecTV's new HD user interface made it's way to the big daddy, and now Solid Signal reports that it's everything you've been waiting for with only slight differences from the HR24. No word on exactly when this update will roll out to HR34 DVRs everywhere, but we suspect it can't be long now. DirecTV's latest HD interface comes to the five tuner HR34 DVR originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Solid Signal | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The so-called Value Pack upgrade that was initially rumored and then later leaked for original Samsung Galaxy S devices after the company announced they would not be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich has been officially released, at least in Korea. The official Samsung Tomorrow page has a link to Gingerbread and Froyo upgrades for the Galaxy S, as well as the Galaxy K and Galaxy U phones. Just like the leaked version, it adds some Ice Cream Sandwich features to these non-Android 4.0 phones, including Face Unlock, the ability to take pictures while shooting video and launcher improvements, without the fully reworked underpinnings of the new OS. Owners of compatible devices can hit the source link for all the details and the files, as long as they have Kies 2.0 at the ready and a bit of open storage space (backing up existing data is also, naturally, encouraged). Of course whether this will officially come to any of our US-carrier optimized Galaxy S models is still unknown. Samsung Galaxy S ICS-like 'value pack' upgrade officially released in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Samsung, Samsung Tomorrow | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The so-called Value Pack upgrade that was leaked for original Samsung Galaxy S devices after the company announced they would not be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich (it was later given a passing mention in the Galaxy S II ICS upgrade notes) has been officially released, at least in Korea. The official Samsung Tomorrow page has a link to Gingerbread and Froyo upgrades for the Galaxy S, as well as the Galaxy K and Galaxy U phones. Just like the leaked version, it adds some Ice Cream Sandwich features to these non-Android 4.0 phones, including Face Unlock, the ability to take pictures while shooting video and launcher improvements, without the fully reworked underpinnings of the new OS. Owners of compatible devices can hit the source link for all the details and the files, as long as they have Kies 2.0 at the ready and a bit of open storage space (backing up existing data is also, naturally, encouraged). Of course whether this will officially come to any of our US-carrier optimized Galaxy S models is still unknown. Samsung Galaxy S ICS-like 'value pack' upgrade officially released in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Samsung, Samsung Tomorrow | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Here's some good news for those of you in Bulgaria, Iceland and a handful of other countries: the Windows Phone Marketplace has just arrived at your doorstep. Microsoft heralded its arrival in a blog post today, enumerating a grand total of 13 new markets: Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Today's announcement comes just a few months after the Marketplace launched in Argentina, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru and the Philippines, expanding Windows Phone's global coverage to a total of 54 countries. If you live in one of these newly minted markets, you can find out how to configure your handset at the links below. Some developers may be befuddled as to why the App Hub hasn't been expanding as fast as the Marketplace, but according to Microsoft's Todd Brix, the delay can largely be attributed to regulatory red tape. Fortunately, though, the company's global publisher program will allow devs to create apps for countries where the Marketplace isn't yet available. For more details, check out the coverage links below. Windows Phone Marketplace now available in Iceland and 12 other countries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Windows Phone Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you've been putting Evernote through its paces on your Android device, a new update adds a few more bells and whistles. First, the outfit has integrated speech-to-text transcription to go alongside its existing audio notes feature. Don't worry, the original audio is also attached to each note and the new tool can be disabled for sound-only reminders. This feature only works with Android 4.0 tech and "certain other devices" though.
Are those standard widgets just not doing the trick? An update to the Evernote Widget app should do the trick. Now, you can customize color, buttons and exactly which notes appear in the large widget. There's also a single function widget that rests on the home screen just like a regular ol' app icon does. Finally, a new Quick Snapshot function enables blazing fast captures that are added to your account and automatically titled. Catch all that? Good. Hit the source link below for all the details before hoping over to Google Play to download the goods. Evernote for Android adds speech-to-text and custom widgets in latest update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  MobileBurn | Evernote, Google Play (1), (2) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's taken considerably longer to roll out than the few weeks that were promised back at CES in January, but Verizon has now confirmed that the Novatel-built, LTE-capable Jetpack MiFi 4620L will be available on April 12th for $49.99. That's on the usual two-year contract, of course, and after a $50 mail-in rebate. In addition to supporting up to ten WiFi connection, it also notably has a removable battery that can be swapped out for a higher capacity 3000mAh unit (double the capacity of the included the one). Look for it at Verizon stores and Verizon's website initially, with a roll out to Best Buy locations following shortly thereafter. Verizon confirms Jetpack MiFi 4620L will be available April 12th for $50 on-contract originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Verizon | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | UKers hoping for a hasty rollout of Everything Everywhere's 4G LTE network are apt to be sorely disappointed, as regulation entity Ofcom has shoved back the final decision on its proposal. We're told that the ruling will be moved from April 17th to May 8th, with the decision made to give stakeholders more time to respond. With the additional weeks, folks like O2 and Vodafone are expected to voice their own thoughts (read: objections) on the matter, likely pointing out that its proposal would give Everything Everywhere the lion's share of spectrum in the 1,800MHz range. For now, we'll have to wait and see what kind of rebuttals are cooked up, and if history is any guide, we're guessing one or two more delays will be making themselves known before we get a definite answer one way or the other. Ofcom delays decision on Everything Everywhere's 4G proposal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | Ofcom, PCPro | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gesture control's no longer restricted to P.K. Dick novels, having firmly broken away from its fantasist scifi roots into practical, everyday use. It's only natural then that those advancements, typically reserved for computing, would bleed into other areas of consumer tech, like digital imaging. For researchers at Japan's Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences, that manual dexterity appears to be the next great photographic leap, as the L-squared hand-framing you're accustomed to seeing photogs mime on TV and film could wind up replacing physical point-and-shoots soon.
The team's prototype, dubbed Ubi-Camera, may look more like a mini-cube than mini-cam, but it works rather intuitively: simply hook it onto your index finger, adjust the focus by moving the "viewfinder" nearer to your face for wide-angle shots or further away for close-ups and then snap away using the side-mounted shutter button. The project's not without its hiccups, however, as the in-development unit's infrared sensor, used to determine range, can be easily affected by lighting conditions. Additionally, there's no zoom function, as that process is handled entirely in post on a desktop PC. All told, these are really rather small bumps in the road to an inevitable marketplace debut. Next up for IAMAS? Crushing people's heads with your fingers. At least, that's on our wish list. Video demo after the break. Continue reading Ubi-Camera frames photos with fingers, fails to call you fabulous (video) Ubi-Camera frames photos with fingers, fails to call you fabulous (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Akihabara News | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | When Sharp sold off some of its LCD manufacturing business to Hon Hai Precision we knew the company had fallen on tough times, we just didn't realize how bad things truly were. That joint venture it formed with Sony, well, it's all but over at this point. The two companies have amended their deal with each other and Sony has decided not to inject any more capital into the project. That's not entirely surprising since the relationship was already starting to show signs of strain, but the partnership could crumble at any moment. A study period has been designated, through the end of September, to decide what the future holds for the two regarding the production and purchase of large panel LCDs, but at any time Sony can simply demand that Sharp buy back its shares and leave the venture. For Sharp's sake, we certainly hope Hon Hai is in this for the long haul. Check out the legalese stuffed PR after the break. Continue reading Sony and Sharp joint venture hits a rocky patch, Sony cuts off capital Sony and Sharp joint venture hits a rocky patch, Sony cuts off capital originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Let's just say you have an HSPA+ Samsung Galaxy Nexus (I9250) or a UMTS / GSM Nexus S (I9020). It may behoove you, then, to begin frantically checking your phone to see if any updates are available, because Google has taken to its favorite social network to announce that Android 4.0.4 is rolling out to these devices as well as the Motorola Xoom WiFi, as we reported earlier. This news comes nearly two weeks after we learned from our sources that the Nexus S update was nigh at hand. This is incredibly exciting for anyone who wasn't able to download ICS on their Nexus S before the update was pulled, and equally thrilling for owners that have been using the version Google disowned since this past December. Heck, it's jubilant enough to make any fan of firmware updates shout with glee. Ready for the asterisk? It's not rolling out to the CDMA counterparts... at least, not yet. We're reaching out for word on when (or if) we can expect the refresh to hit the Verizon Galaxy Nexus and Sprint Nexus S 4G, but Mountain View's lips are shut in the meantime.
(image courtesy Mirzet Kadic)Android 4.0.4 rolls out to HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus and GSM Nexus S originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Google Plus | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Amazon has started pushing out an over-the-air update that'll bring a slew of new features to its budget Kindle Fire tablet. Topping the list of upgrades is new sharing functionality that makes it possible for readers to send passages and notes from within the comfort of a book via social networks like Facebook and Twitter by highlighting and clicking "Share." Also on the slate is supplemental material powered by Shelfari, letting users find character descriptions, glossaries of of common terms, locations and author information from the comfort of a text. Version 6.3 also brings "print replicas" of textbooks, which include linked tables of contents and Whipsersyncing of notes and highlights. For a full rundown of the new features, check out the source link below. Kindle Fire update brings sharing, 'print replica' textbooks, more to tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Amazon | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | At the end of last year, Telenav revealed its browser-based HTML5 turn-by-turn navigation system and made it available to a select few devs to put it to good use. For an encore, it unveiled its personalized GPS service, Scout, at CES. Now, the company has created Scout for Apps and made the service available to all developers who want it, assuming they're coding iOS or HTML5 applications (Android support is in the works, and is slated to arrive later this year). That means that apps and websites can now incorporate turn-by-turn navigation directly, as opposed to launching a separate application to get you where you want to go. Keep in mind that Telenav isn't pitching this as a full GPS replacement -- more a value added proposition to developers -- and after spending some time using Scout, we can see why.
We tested the browser-based Scout service on our Android handset to run a few errands, and we found it a useful tool, but it certainly pales in comparison to its application counterparts. There's noticeable lag when attempting to swipe around maps, no pinch to zoom (onscreen buttons are the only option), and it lacks features like traffic reports or a way to remember favorite locations. That said, it does do a good job of getting you where you want to go, and the rudimentary nav functionality is certainly more appealing than the static maps found in apps currently. Plus, it's quite nice to not have to launch a separate application to get directions. If you want to test Scout for Apps on your mobile, hit the source link below, but check out the PR and video after the break to learn a little more before you do. Continue reading Telenav opens up Scout for Apps, the HTML5 GPS navigation service, to all interested devs Telenav opens up Scout for Apps, the HTML5 GPS navigation service, to all interested devs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Scout for Apps, Telenav Developers | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Still holding out on Nokia to squash any lingering battery bugs lurking inside your Lumia 800's beautiful shell? For some of you, today's your lucky day, as Espoo's just released a fresh batch of bits, which bring "significant improvements in battery performance and power management." We've seen version 1600.2487.8107 make the rounds once before, but previously when it was a Vodafone-branded variant -- which you may recall WPCentral discovered was responsible for an impressive 3x improvement (!) in battery life. Enhancements to audio are present in the build as well, with the company tweaking bass for "better voice quality" and your music enjoyment. Those ready to update should peep the Zune desktop software, although Nokia cautions not everyone will will get updated today, as coordinating across multiple carriers in different markets is like "herding sheep," resulting in a multi-stage rollout in the coming four weeks. More details, including a video on how to update, await at the source. Nokia's Lumia 800 firmware update juices handsets, banishes battery issues originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Conversations by Nokia | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Things could be getting a tad bit messy for the world's richest man, Carlos Slim, as Mexico's CFC (or Federal Competition Commission) has ruled one of his companies holds too much power in a key wireless sector. The CFC's beef with Telcel isn't exactly novel; earlier this year the antitrust agency served the phone outfit with an 11,000,000 pesos fine (around $864,000) for "monopoly practices." Telcel's latest troubles date back to 2011, when the CFC deemed the company "too dominant" in the mobile call termination game, and now it's taken a unanimous vote that'll allow it to implement "asymmetric" regulations on Telcel's service quality, charges and information. Not all is lost for Slim's carrier, however, since it could still appeal the CFC's decision. Mexico's CFC deems Telcel 'too dominant' in mobile call termination, more regulations coming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Wall Street Journal | CNN (Spanish) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jealous of all of your right-handed mates and their Naga-wielding gaming rigs? Well, it appears Razer has heard the clamoring and plans to produce a southpaw version of the gaming mouse. The catch? A Facebook book page must receive 10,000 Likes in a month in order for the project to move forward. Before you get too excited, the outfit warns that the left-handed Naga will take a year or more to complete -- but if the vote quota is reached, Min-Liang Tan gave his word to make it happen. Seems like it'll happen, too, as the page has currently received over 6,000 Likes. So if that lefty DeathAdder just isn't cutting it anymore, hit the source link below to further the cause. Razer to arm lefties with the Naga if it gets 10,000 Likes before April 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Facebook | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Know that gadget you're currently using to read this article? It may be one of 916 million "smart connected devices" that shipped in 2011, with global revenue totaling some $489 billion last year. But the IDC expects that figure to jump to 1.1 billion for 2012, with a total of 1.84 billion new web-connected gadgets hitting the market in 2016. Those numbers include most devices that connect to the internet, such as tablets, smartphones and x86-compatible PCs -- the latter of which now represent 36.9 percent of the market, but will slip to a 25.1-percent share in 2016. Android's piece of the pie will grow from 29.4 percent to 31.1 percent by 2016, while iOS will make the jump from 14.6 to 17.3 percent in the same timeframe. IDC reps say that Asia will be partially responsible for increased smartphone sales, where mobile operators in China are subsidizing purchases to make devices more accessible to consumers. Do you plan to take possession of one of the 1.1 billion gadgets that IDC expects will ship this year? Jump past the break and let us know in the comments. Continue reading IDC: nearly 1 billion 'smart connected devices' shipped last year IDC: nearly 1 billion 'smart connected devices' shipped last year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechnoBuffalo | BusinessWire | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It hasn't made its official open-source debut yet, but Android 4.0.4 should be hitting the repositories very soon. Leaks of the next Ice Cream sandwich update have been circulating since early February, and Moto's Xoom was given the first taste today. Now Jean-Baptiste Queru, an engineer on the mobile OS, has posted over at the Android Open Source Project forums to let us know that the appropriate files are being pushed as we speak. Of course, this doesn't mean that 4.0.4 will hit your handset any time soon... or ever, for that matter. But, it does mean that more custom ROM devs will be incorporating its pile of bug fixes into their products. Watch the source links to be alerted the moment it goes live. Android 4.0.4 rears its head again, this time over at AOSP originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Android Central | AOSP 1, 2 | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Making good on its word, Freescale's line of Vybrid controllers is now ready for prime time multiprocessing. That asymmetrical setup, announced last October, takes the high / low approach we've seen gradually crop up in computing, pairing an ARM Cortex A5 and Cortex M4 in uneven, albeit harmonious CPU matrimony. The company's not targeting this new platform at consumers, though, as that market's already being served by the likes of NVIDIA's Tegra 3. No, this controller arrangement's headed directly for the industrial sector, where medical, point-of-sale and smart energy equipment can benefit from the cores' decreased power demands and ability for real-time control. Eager to dig deeper into this silicon platform? Then feel free to parse through the rest of the company's jargon-y release after the break. Continue reading Freescale intros Vybrid controller line, weds ARM A5 and M4 cores for an asymmetrical bang Freescale intros Vybrid controller line, weds ARM A5 and M4 cores for an asymmetrical bang originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tim Cook's visit to China this week marks his first as Apple's CEO, but what originally appeared to be a casual jaunt to Beijing with possible carrier meetings on the agenda, has turned out to be a carefully orchestrated visit, including appointments with top government officials to talk economic development and intellectual property rights. Xinhua, the country's official press agency (and therefore not the most objective of sources), reported that Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang stated that the country will "strengthen intellectual property rights protection" and "pay more attention to caring for workers." Typical of state-sponsored releases, the report failed to expand on either statement, but even if nothing comes of this particular meeting, Keqiang is in line to take over as Premier next year, making him a solid addition to Cook's rolodex. There's a Chinese-language video of the encounter waiting just past the break. Continue reading Tim Cook meets Chinese Vice Premier in Beijing, talks IP law, worker rights Tim Cook meets Chinese Vice Premier in Beijing, talks IP law, worker rights originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Xinhua | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | So you've started a Hangout on Google+ with some pals. Now what? Are you just going to sit around and talk? Thanks to some new additions to the social network, you don't have to rely solely on your conversational skills anymore. The software company announced today the addition of a number of apps to the Facebook competitor, which should make your Hangout time all the more riveting. Now you and a few close friends can play poker and pop culture trivia, add mustaches and glasses to one another, collaboratively doodle and share presentations on the service. Google+ also announced today that it has taken its Hangouts API out of preview, letting developers share the fruit of their work with the rest of the site's fake facial hair-sporting community. Google+ gives you a few more reasons to Hangout, put mustaches on things originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Google+, Google+ Developers Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Tales of leaked Android 4.0.4 builds have been told for months, and we've even heard whispers of 4.0.5 coming to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the very near future. We still haven't seen any official firmware rollouts of either version, until now. Owners of the Motorola Xoom WiFi should be getting their hands on an update to 4.0.4 -- also known as build IMM76 -- any time now. According to an email from Moto announcing the update, the latest refresh offers improved stability, quicker screen rotation, better phone number recognition, camera and image quality improvements, enhancements to Microsoft Exchange and even a new setting that lets you choose whether you want the power button to lock the device immediately or not. If you aren't seeing the update hit yet, Droid-Life has reported that the file is available for download thanks to XDA, but it appears that some users have experienced errors when attempting it. So if you're feeling adventurous and don't want to wait for the OTA download, feel free to give it a shot. You'll need to drag the file into a USB stick, plug it in using a USB host cable and boot your Xoom into stock recovery. Motorola Xoom WiFi gets first official dibs on Android 4.0.4 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Droid-Life | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Did you, like most of us, mourn the death of Microsoft's Courier like it was a relative that you never got to know as well as you would have liked. Well, as long you're willing to settle for just a single screen and are comfortable with Apple products, you might be able to fill that void in your life. Taposé delivers many of the same features as the Redmond concept, but within the confines of the iPad's 9.7-inch display. The $2.99 app, which has been in the works for some time, hit the app store yesterday, delivering the ability to copy and paste content from the web, mark it up with text and doodles then sync your notes online. You get 400MB for free with the purchase of the app, but unlimited cloud storage will set you back $30 a year. The information collecting doesn't end with snapshots of websites either, you can add audio, video and maps and do it in a dual pane layout that mimics the two-panel Courier. Hit up the source link to download it now and see it in action after the break. Continue reading Tapose resurrects Courier concept for the iPad, rubs salt in your wounds (video) Tapose resurrects Courier concept for the iPad, rubs salt in your wounds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink SlashGear | Tapose (iTunes), Tapose (blog) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Sometimes, you have to go all-in. Why not sue all the leading smartphone makers at once? That's what Graphics Properties Holdings is doing, channeling the ghost (and intellectual back-catalogue) of Silicon Graphics. Filing six cases against Apple, Samsung, RIM, HTC, Sony and LG, the lawsuits reference floating point calculations for rendering graphics, something that the company received patent approval for only yesterday. GPH claims that several phones, including the iPhone, Galaxy S II and BlackBerry Torch, infringe on its intellectual property. Layman legal types can sniff around the patent in question at the source below. Apple, Samsung, HTC and Sony sued over graphics rendering patents originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Slashdot | TechWorld, USPTO | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | First the leaked product shots, then the Mr. Blurrycam pictures, and now the real deal in our own hands! When we spotted this upcoming T-Mobile MyTouch slider, we just so happened to be chilling out at Huawei's headquarters in Shenzhen where the phone was displayed as the Ascend G312 QWERTY, or "Buddy" according to the "About phone" info ("MyTouch Buddy"?). We didn't see the non-QWERTY variant, but judging by the name, we don't doubt that there's also an Ascend G312 lurking somewhere.
Anyhow, this new MyTouch packs a 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255T chip, a 4-inch WVGA screen, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage and microSD expansion, along with features like DLNA connectivity and five-second fast boot. As for image capturing you get a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera plus a five-megapixel main camera (with 720p recording) on the back, and you'll find a handy camera button at the usual place as well. Interestingly, the spec sheet listed Ice Cream Sandwich while the demo unit was only running on Android 2.3.6, so we'll probably need to wait for T-Mobile's final say on this end.
During our quick hands-on we were pretty satisfied by the phone's overall build quality, especially with its spring-loaded sliding mechanism and keyboard feedback. The screen isn't the best in class when it comes to viewing angles and contrast, but bearing in mind that this phone comes with a Snapdragon S2 processor, we expect it to be priced almost as sensibly as LG's MyTouch handsets -- stay tuned for the official announcement, of course. Hands-on video after the break.
Continue reading T-Mobile's next MyTouch: Huawei Ascend G312 QWERTY hands-on T-Mobile's next MyTouch: Huawei Ascend G312 QWERTY hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Remember this guy, the titular sequel to Samsung's 10-inch tab? Well, it was just was given a passing grade by the FCC, meaning it's at least one step closer to hitting the shelves. The GT P5100 is the same model of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 we saw back at MWC, which supports HSPA+ on bands II and V -- as opposed to the WiFi only model that was given a stamp of approval last week. The 1900 and 850MHz compatibility means it'll work on AT&T here in the US, though, we've heard no word about an American release. Uncle Sam's testing didn't end with the cellular radio, the regulators also took a stab at the 802.11n and Bluetooth 3.0 antennae. If you're a fan of radiation charts you'll find all you've ever wanted at the source link. Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) takes a ride through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We recently saw Stephen Wolfram reveal what he called the personal analytics of his life (built from decades of meticulous data collection), and it looks like Google is now going some way towards making that easier for you to do yourself. It rolled out its new Account Activity feature today, an opt-in tool (still technically in beta) that tracks your activity across Google's services and delivers a report each month on your internet use. That includes things like the number of emails sent and received, your most contacted email addresses, information about your search history (if you have it enabled), stats from Google Latitude, and the different browsers and devices you've used to sign into Google services. What's more, that's apparently just the beginning -- Google says it plans to incorporate even more services over the next few months. Google dives into personal analytics with new Account Activity feature originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Official Google Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | You might think the POV / action sports camera world has been a bit of a two horse race recently. That could all change, however, now ION has muscled into the scene with its Air Pro HD sports camera. The firm's dabbled with handy cameras before, but now it's dipping a well armored toe into the helmet-cam market. Needless to say, that means it's rugged, waterproof, and built to eat dirt -- or at least capture the moments when you do.
Your action is scooped-up in full 1080p HD, and there's a 5-megapixel stills option for when you want to frame that killer jump for static posterity. The lens is a 170-degree wide-angle affair, you can change the FOV if you wish, but it's definitely enough to grab all the action. There's also no display on the device itself, but there's a reason for that: operating the Air Pro is a ridiculously straightforward task. With just one click you're recording, even if switched off. The two controls on top are all you need to get the essential jobs done with this device, a button for switching it on and off (and taking stills) and the sliding record switch -- this set-up also means you can physically feel if it's recording, even when you can't see it. Continue reading ION Air Pro POV camera: shoot on the piste, upload to the cloud, we go hands-on (video) ION Air Pro POV camera: shoot on the piste, upload to the cloud, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you're an avid Box user, what we're about to say is apt to have a great, positive impact on your life. For everyone else -- well, chances are you aren't about to swap out of whatever cloud ecosystem you're already entrenched in. In an effort to create a somewhat unique take on iCloud and Dropbox, Box has introduced OneCloud for iOS, a self-proclaimed "enterprise mobile framework to bring together your mobile content and the mission-critical apps designed to work with it." For now, it'll support over 30 iOS programs, four of which add "round-trip" integration; in other words, OneCloud will enable you to open a document in QuickOffice, edit it, and save it back without ever having to manually switch programs. To its credit, this is about as close as one could come to being genuinely productive on a device that tends to have productivity a bit lower on the priority rungs, but the video after the break still shows just how clunky the whole operation is. For our money, an ultralight laptop still makes more sense for business professionals on the go, but it's certainly not a bad backup to have around for making tweaks in a pinch. Continue reading Box OneCloud learns from Dropbox and iCloud, allows simpler document editing on-the-go (video) Box OneCloud learns from Dropbox and iCloud, allows simpler document editing on-the-go (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | Box, App Store | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It looks like plastics may not be something for the squeamish in the not-too-distant future. Researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi recently revealed a new type of plastic they've been working on that takes its inspiration from human skin -- it "bleeds" red when it's scratched or cut and then heals itself when it's exposed to light. As Popular Science notes, self-healing plastics aren't something entirely new, but the "bleeding" (achieved using small molecular links or "bridges" that break when the plastic is scratched) is, as is the fact that this plastic can heal itself over and over again in the same spot. What's more, as it's made from water-based copolymers, it's also more environmentally-friendly than other plastics. Of course, it's all a ways from being used in actual products, but the researchers see no shortage of possibilities, including everything from self-healing car fenders to aircraft applications that could warn of problems before they get too severe. Continue reading Researchers develop new plastics that 'bleed' and heal like human skin Researchers develop new plastics that 'bleed' and heal like human skin originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Technabob | ACS | 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.
Here's a neat little project -- a parametric speaker that can only really be heard from the front. According to its inventor, the Soundlazer utilizes ultrasonic carrier waves, focusing its output in a single direction. The Soundlazer has a 20 to 30 foot range. You can hear it from head-on, but if you move to the side or shift the direction of the speaker a bit, the output drops off. The project has 52 days to go, to reach its goal of $48,000. Interested parties who pledge $175 or more will get a fully assembled speaker kit. To see the device in action, check out the video after the break. Continue reading Insert Coin: Soundlazer speaker plays music with extreme focus Insert Coin: Soundlazer speaker plays music with extreme focus originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink CNET | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | To say General Motors' Cadillac division is taking safety seriously on its upcoming 2013 vehicles would be an understatement. The automaker recently announced its high-tech accident avoidance packages dubbed Driver Awareness and Assist, the earlier of which is set to debut this Spring on its new XTS model, moving along to the ATS by the summer. Driver Assist (set to release in the fall) packs goodies like Automatic Collision Preparation and auto-braking, while the Awareness version aims to help keep you in your lane and safe from blind spots, among other things. Despite the differing monikers, both sport many of the same systems such as Adaptive Forward Lighting that can shift 15 degrees based on your turn, radar-based adaptive cruise control and Rear Cross Traffic Alert so you don't get sideswiped while backing up. Most notable among both is the company's Safety Alert seat -- AT&T Labs may be testing a force-feedback steering wheel, but GM's gone and planted haptic feedback into the drivers' bottom seat cushion. Essentially, using the radar, cameras and sensors around the car, the seat can rumble on its left, right or all around, in order to "nudge" you in situations such as getting too close to another car or veering out of your lane. You can also opt for audio cues if you're not fond of vibrations, or use both together. Of course, there's a whole lot more to it, so if you're curious to see it all in action you'll find a duo of videos and more information in the press releases planted after the break. Continue reading Cadillac focuses on safety with vibrating drivers' seats, other accident avoidance tech (video) Cadillac focuses on safety with vibrating drivers' seats, other accident avoidance tech (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Remember the Clarion Malaysia IVI that was teased back in December? The company's just unveiled the finished product, which you can call Mr. Clarion Mirage. The Android-running car stereo, head unit, erm, In-Vehicle Infotainment system is a hefty Double DIN unit, with a 6.5-inch display up front and plenty of tech packed inside. Intel's embedded systems division Wind River supplied the customized version of Froyo, Navigon offered up a navigation engine and industrial designers Plextex helped design the hardware. The Clarion Mirage has USB and AV-out ports, an SD card slot and is designed to be as flexible as a smartphone: capable of playing back music and video, running apps from Google Play or working as a display repeater with consoles. There's no official word on pricing or availability, but the scuttlebutt says it'll arrive in Q4 of this year. We've reached out and will update if we learn more. Continue reading Clarion's Android-running Mirage IVI: a head unit that can play Angry Birds Clarion's Android-running Mirage IVI: a head unit that can play Angry Birds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Confused over Apple's liberal use of the 4G moniker? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reckons you have a point and took those concerns to Apple Australia. The company has now responded to the country's federal court, offering to contact -- by email -- everyone who bought the retina-screened slab and promise a refund if they felt misled over its connectivity capabilities. Apple will also amend its point of sale details to explain that while it can connect to 4G (LTE) networks in the US and Canada, it won't connect to Australia's own next-generation network offered by Telstra. Apple also thinks that the existence of HPSA capability -- and its nebulous definition as either a third-generation or fourth generation network -- in the Land Down Under meant it could still hold onto those 4G credentials. Apple offers refund over Australian 4G iPad confusion originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Register | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mozilla is flexing its HTML5 muscles today, with a new game called BrowserQuest. Designed specifically for browser-based gaming, BrowserQuest brands itself as a "tribute to classic video games with a multiplayer twist." The game's plot is relatively routine -- warriors, hidden treasure, etc. -- but what's most interesting is its underlying architecture. Its 2D tile graphics engine is powered by HTML5 Canvas, with browser-to-server communications handled by WebSockets. Sound effects, meanwhile, are powered by HTML5 audio APIs, and each player's progress is saved using localStorage. The game also supports lots of simultaneous players, thanks to a JavaScript-coded backend that runs on Node.js. You can keep track of the player load in real-time at the BrowserQuest Dashboard (linked below). For more details, check out the source link at the bottom of the page, or click past the break for a brief demo video. Continue reading Mozilla releases BrowserQuest for HTML5 gamers and warriors (video) Mozilla releases BrowserQuest for HTML5 gamers and warriors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 06:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Ars Technica | Mozilla | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Worried what your smartphone says about you? The Beeb isn't. That venerable British broadcasting institution is adopting a "four screens" strategy, with the overarching goal of creating a mobile news site that embraces devices of all specs, sizes and prices. Known as 'responsive design,' the company's back end will reportedly tackle the task of figuring out the specific demands of your phone or tablet and then deliver a touch-screen optimized site suited to your unit's particular profile. The changes, set to affect about 26 percent of BBC News Online's traffic, haven't been given a firm scheduling as of yet, with a tentative rollout on track to hit simpler phones first, while the more robust features, reserved for more capable tech, set to come later. According to Head of Product, Chris Russell, it's all part of a "wider 'under the bonnet' project" aimed at spreading the News division's reach to all corners, especially those less fortunate areas where internet access can "be crucially important to their lives." Hit up the source below to read Russell's full take on this move towards digital universality. BBC News Online adapts mobile site to smartphone demands, doesn't discriminate against specs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TheNextWeb | BBC Internet blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | So if you live out in China, and were counting down the days until you could get your hands on a legit Lumia 800 (or the 610), you're almost there. Nokia's slab of Windows Phone, renamed the 800C was unveiled by China Telecom today as we'd heard, and will launch in stores fully next month. There'll be 20,000 apps available in the Marketplace when it does finally ship, which should be enough to keep you going. Color-wise there'll be cyan and black options, setting you back 3599 RMB sans contract. Head down to the official PR for the company pomp. Continue reading Nokia unveils the Lumia 800 in China, calls it the 800C Nokia unveils the Lumia 800 in China, calls it the 800C originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Nokia Conversations | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The promise of free energy is an enticing one -- that's free as in renewable source, not cost. (This is capitalism, after all, someone's got to foot the bill.) Economic gripes aside, research outfits like M.I.T. are getting us one step closer to this cleaner fuel future with the creation of three dimensional photovoltaic cells. The team's findings, recently published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, demonstrate how these computer-modeled structures, rising upward in an unfolded accordion shape, have been proven to increase their energy yield over contemporary flat panels by up to 20 times in field and theoretical testing. This capacity gain, made possible by an efficient harvesting of sunlight during less optimal hours of the day, could be especially helpful in powering regions prone to overcast or wintry climates. The tech is still far from consumer friendly, though, with the actual price of the associated juice exceeding that of traditional solar tech. With continued improvements to the manufacturing process, however, residential and business customers could very well look forward to a future outfitted with solar towers only a Cubist could love. Continue reading MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Earth Techling | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
