|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you've ever downloaded an app from iTunes then congratulations, you are a part of history. Just a few minutes ago Apple notched its 25 billionth download, thanking all involved for getting there, and of course (like it did for 10 billion, and 1 billion), gifting the lucky individual who crossed the line with another $10k gift card. Not sure what you would buy with $10,000 in App Store bucks? That's ok, since you probably don't have it, but don't forget -- our official Engadget and Distro apps are free, and will love you back all the same. Remember way back in 2008 when all this was fresh and new? Relive the iPhone SDK press conference via our liveblog right here. Apple crosses 25 billion App Store downloads, thanks all the little people originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 01:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Apple | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich Android-running hardware has had access to HD resolution YouTube streams since launch (as seen above), but an update to the app that rolled out yesterday finally brings HD to some devices running Froyo or Gingerbread. The catch is that YouTube HD res won't work on every Android 2.2 or 2.3 phone or tablet, as we're told it is set dynamically based on screen size and resolution. Another quirk is that some devices still won't install the updated version directly from the Market, like our Epic 4G Touch. Still, assuming you can snag the update -- through official or unofficial means -- if you have the pixels to spare you should see upgraded video quality from now on. YouTube Android app update brings HD video streaming to 'capable' 2.2+ devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Android Market | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Remember back in December when the International Trade Commission ruled on a Microsoft complaint from 2010 that Motorola's Android products infringed on seven of its patents, siding with Microsoft initially on one of them? Since that's so hard to forget, it probably comes as no surprise to hear that the ITC announced today it would review the decision in part, as Motorola noted in its press release at the time. Don't expect a final ruling for another month or so (we'd keep that NFL Draft window clear if we were you), but if you're looking for details, FOSSPatents has the notes on which segments are under review. Don't worry if you miss a step though, we'll be sure to let you know once it's all over (hint: it will never, ever be over.) ITC to review its decision on Microsoft, Motorola patent case originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Reuters, FOSSPatents | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you've snagged one of those Mango-packing Lumia 710s but were quietly wishing to add some colorful spice to it, Nokia's got something in the works for you. That's if, you live in the States, and can bust out a mighty proof of purchase. Once those credentials are in order, you'll need to head over to the promo site and pop in a bit of personal info along with the must-have IMEI digits. The Finnish freebies will let you grab a single Xpress-on cover that comes in a variety of colors, including cyan, fuchsia, yellow and white. There's no word as to when, or if, the nice gesture will hit folks from other countries. That said, those of you meeting the requirements can take advantage by giving the source link below a quick click. And, be sure to let us know how it all worked out. Nokia keeps it 'amazing everyday' in the US, gives Lumia 710 owners free colorful covers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Nokia | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For a company so focused on secrecy, Apple never really did all that good of a job keeping its connection with Corning under wraps. We've always suspected that the company enlisted the Gorilla Glass maker for the iPhone, though it didn't really go out of its way to admit it -- even going so far as omitting the New York-based company from its 2011 suppliers list. Cupertino offered it a little love today, however, giving Corning a nod in its chipper job creation report. While it didn't actually mention Gorilla Glass by name on the page, Apple was happy to talk up the "Corning employees in Kentucky and New York who create the majority of the glass for iPhone." Apple name-drops Corning as iPhone glass manufacturer, we feign surprise originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  iMore | Apple | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If netbooks are your cup of tea and you've been waiting to get your hands on an ASUS Eee PC Flare 1025C like we did back at CES, you're in luck. Matte Black and White color options are up for preorder now from Amazon. Get ready to part with $300 for one of the available schemes, as the kit is set to ship out next week. If you recall, the 10.1-inch netbook packs a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N2600 dual-core processor, 1,024 x 600 LED display, 1GB of DDR3-1333 memory, a 320GB 5,400RPM hard drive and weighs-in at just under three pounds. The PC's six-cell, 56WHr battery touts a 12.5 hour life span, giving you ample time to submit those TPS reports sans outlet. If you're looking for all the fine details, hit the coverage link below before committing. ASUS Eee PC Flare 1025C netbook up for preorder, ships March 10th for $299 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink NetbookReviews | Amazon (1), (2) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Google's certainly not alone in its vision of a future in which the smartphone makes credit cards go the way of the Palm Pilot. The software giant may have gotten a bit of a head start on some of the others, but it's already got some stiff competition in the form of the carrier-led Isis and a slew of new initiatives unveiled at MWC. According The Wall Street Journal, the field may soon be getting even more stiff competition. Walmart and Target have reportedly joined two dozen or so fellow retailers to develop a mobile payment system to call their own. While most of the participants have yet to be named, the list includes a pretty broad spectrum of companies, including fast food joints, big box retailers and drug stores. Google, for one, welcomes such competition, telling the paper, "We think it's great that there are other companies innovating in the payments space. This will create more choice for consumers, and in the end we believe choice is a good thing." No word on when exactly the initiative is set to launch. WSJ: Target, Walmart, other retailers teaming up to take on Google Wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Techmeme | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sorry to be forward, but we think we know you pretty well, and it seems like you haven't had enough MWC or Windows 8 or iPad 3 chat in your life, and we just wanted to help, so we did this! Enjoy.
Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guest: Michael Gorman
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Orbital - Never
00:03:45 - Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview detailed impressions
00:30:45 - Sony Xperia U hands-on (update: video!)
00:32:00 - Sony Xperia P hands-on (video)
00:34:04 - AT&T HTC One X hands-on
00:37:05 - ASUS Padfone formally unveiled: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon S4 CPU, ICS, HSPA+, coming in April
00:42:55 - Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) hands-on (video)
00:48:45 - Mozilla Boot to Gecko hands-on (video)
00:53:30 - iPad 3 rumor roundup
Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [ iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [ RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [ RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [ Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace. Filed under: Podcasts Engadget Podcast 283 - 03.02.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Word on the street is Ivy Bridge has been delayed, but that doesn't mean you have to wait till June to get the low down on some of the shiny new silicon Intel has in store for you. Chipzilla posted a sales book, presumably on accident since it's been pulled, with details about upcoming i5 and i7 refreshes. The only page we were able to find was loaded with Core i5s, including third generation parts like the 3.4GHz 3570K which packs the new HD4000 and, most likely, an unlocked multiplier. Most of the rest of the lineup, save the 3475S, is rocking Intel's HD2500 IGP, while the lone dual-core part is the 3470T, which is also the only chip to sport Hyper-Threading and ship with only 3MB of cache. Now, as far as when you can buy these processors or how much they'll cost, we're still in dark, but at least we've got a better idea of what we'll be shopping for. Head on after the break for a slightly better look at the new parts. Continue reading New Intel Ivy Bridge i5 details leaked in Intel sales book New Intel Ivy Bridge i5 details leaked in Intel sales book originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Inquirer | CPU World | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | APIs, as essential as they are to our modern computing experience, aren't the sort of thing we usually get too excited about. HTC is walking away from Mobile World Congress having announced four new application interfaces though, that have piqued our interest. First up, and the most spotlight hogging of the bunch, is Beats. Soon enough any music app, game or what-have-you will be able to take advantage of the bass-boosting software equalizer. Perhaps more interesting, if a little less headline grabbing, is the ability to integrate your app with the Sense lockscreen -- a feature we'd love to see come to stock Android. Now lockscreen widgets wont be limited to Google's own music app... so long as you've got an HTC. The manufacturer is also prepping a MediaLink API for streaming content over wireless HDMI. Now the One X is looking even better than before, huh? HTC unveils new APIs, opens Beats, lockscreen and more to devs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | HTC | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Not long after handing its Android application a video-friendly refresh, SugarSync's back with more updated goodies. Now, the sweet Dropbox adversary is stuffing version 3.5.1 with some productivity and social-driven bits. The rejuvenated app, which won't ask anything of your wallet, is boosting its sharing features by allowing you to handout contacts, files and folders via Zuck's social network and that famed 140-character box. Facebook and Twitter's integration doesn't stop there, SugarSync's letting anyone grab 500MB of extra storage at no cost by referring other humans through the aforementioned sites. Another new feature is the on-the-fly file management, which essentially allows you to copy, move and delete any of your docs while you're on the go. Eager to give it a try? It's up for grabs at the source link below or you can get it directly from your Big G-approved device. Continue reading SugarSync for Android updated, adds enhanced sharing and on-the-go file management SugarSync for Android updated, adds enhanced sharing and on-the-go file management originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Android Market (SugarSync) | 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.
 We've had a bunch of fun testing out GoPro cameras, but one thing that has always been a source of frustration is the fiddly mount system. A problem that's seemingly inspired a Kickstarter project called Headcase Pro. Effectively it's a lightweight aluminum case aimed at making the GoPro infinitely more mountable. Unlike the bog-standard plastic housing, the Headcase Pro has a self-tightening door that should prevent it from flying open on impact, along with gunk-repelling rubber sealed buttons. Most pleasing to frustrated directors will be the nine threaded mount holes, letting you attach it to your existing tripods and peripherals. Also, the Headcase Pro is large enough to work with the BacPac and battery packs without the need to change doors, and a protective lens ring is a final sweetener. For those of us with more amateur needs, there is the Headgear model, which fits around the standard GoPro case, but still bumps your mount choices and protects your lens. Think this has got legs? Or simply want one for yourself? Then $328 will get you one of the first run, and push the project along to its $25,000 goal. Still not sure? Then focus on the video after the break for a demo.
Continue reading Insert Coin: UNRULY Headcase, wants to make your GoPro less 'so so' Insert Coin: UNRULY Headcase, wants to make your GoPro less 'so so' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Smartphone fanatics may recall the Neonode N2 -- a rather unique recall-plagued feature phone that ultimately resulted in the demise of the company's handset arm. Neonode is still a major player in the portable device market, but may be more familiar to OEMs that employ its infrared LED-based touch technology, rather than consumers that utilize it in e-readers, with tablets soon joining the mix. zForce offers several advantages over its capacitive-based counterparts -- it's incredibly responsive and accurate, and can now measure the intensity (or pressure) of your touch, and not just position. There's also a built-in proximity sensor that can be added to any device for a few pennies, which is considerably less than traditional offerings. However, because Neonode uses an array of infrared LEDs and photodiodes, a raised bezel is required to accommodate the additional hardware, making it impossible to integrate a flush display.
We went hands-on with an updated smartphone-sized embed of the company's zForce technology that not only works with any object, such as a finger, pen or a paint brush, but also recognizes both the pressure of your implement and also its size, so a larger paint brush has broader strokes than a smaller one, for example. Because the device can operate at 500Hz all the way up to 1,000Hz (refreshing 1,000 times per second), it appears to be incredibly responsive, with an almost unnoticeable delay between the time you touch the pad and when your input is displayed on the screen. A second demo unit, called Stargate, offers dual-layer touch with support for 3D control -- you can literally reach inside the unit to manipulate an object. There's no word on when this latest tech will make its way into devices, or how exactly we'll see it used, but you really need to see it in action to get a feel for how it works -- jump past the break for our video hands-on. Continue reading Neonode zForce uses infrared LEDs to measure pressure, replace capacitive touch (hands-on) Neonode zForce uses infrared LEDs to measure pressure, replace capacitive touch (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This is the Netbook Navigator NAV13X Windows 7 Ultrabook and if we're honest, we think it's a very attractive looking device. That said, we're not so sure it's going to be on sale for too long, which is a genuine shame. Despite being called an Ultrabook, it's not an Intel-sanctioned device, which won't go down well with Santa Clara's lawyers. Secondly, it's actually a Netbook running a 1.86GHz dual-core Atom CPU with 2GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD, with build to-order options running to larger memory and storage. Thirdly, we're fairly sure we've seen industrial design like this before, and given the litigious nature of the company involved, we expect a metric ton of cease-and-desist notices to be delivered to Navigator's New Jersey HQ before the weekend's over. However, if it can survive the barrage of paperwork from two of the industry's biggest companies, it'll arrive very soon, setting you back a slight $500 sans OS or $600 with Windows 7 Home Premium. KIRF MacBook Air is the prettiest netbook we've seen today originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Übergizmo | Netbook Navigator | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Receipts. You request them every time you make a claimable purchase. Then you put them in your pocket, the washing machine, the dryer, an old envelope, until they've been everywhere except where they need to go. Sure, you can use a smartphone app, but wouldn't you be so much more diligent if you had a $140 dedicated portable scanner like PlanOn's SlimScan SS100? It's taken a while to come to market since we went hands-on, but it's finally available with immediate effect. You swipe the credit card-sized stainless steel device over your receipts and store the images -- up to 600 of them -- on its built-in storage. Then you hook it up to your PC over wireless-schmireless USB, auto OCR the images, correct any inaccurate fields and export the data straight to your spreadsheet. Then you wash it, dry it, put it in a drawer... Continue reading Look the business with PlanOn's super-slim receipt scanner Look the business with PlanOn's super-slim receipt scanner originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | PlanOn | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | With each subsequent release of Windows we're left bracing for what will surely be another overwhelming assortment of retail packaging options. With Windows 7 there was a dizzying 6 SKUs to choose from, and we're sorry to say that, at least for now, there are even more coming with Windows 8. As noted by windows 8 beta the registry contains the keys for all current versions of the OS and, with a quick trip to Regedit we were able to verify with the screenshot above. That boils down to the following list: - Windows 8 Starter
- Windows 8 Home Basic
- Windows 8 Home Premium
- Windows 8 Professional
- Windows 8 Professional Plus
- Windows 8 Enterprise
- Windows 8 Enterprise Eval
- Windows 8 Ultimate
- Windows 8 ARM edition
We will of course point out that this is from the Consumer Preview, so not necessarily a final tally, and the Enterprise Eval version is of course just for trials, but it's interesting to note the addition of Professional Plus. Office 2010 Pro Plus adds in extra integration with Sharepoint and Office Communications Server, leaving us to wonder if this flavor of Windows 8 won't offer some similar collaborative tools. And then there's just that one, lonely ARM edition, which could leave non-x86 hardware buyers out of the cross-shopping fun altogether.
[Thanks, Sagar]Windows 8 registry shows nine separate flavors to choose from originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Windows 8 beta | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  VLC is the Swiss Army knife (nope, not you Perian) of media players and it has never baulked at any of the increasingly weird and wonderful formats we've thrown at it -- which is good because now it's available on Android. The unsupported, unofficial beta by user adridu59 is tailored to run on selected Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich handsets. It's available to grab from the source link, with the caveat that as an unofficial build, it'll require a little bit of tinkering at your end Unofficial VLC beta hits Android, no video format is safe originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | So, it looks like Precise Pangolin has just crawled out of its Alpha hiding hole, and into the open plains of Beta testing. The Beta 1 version of Ubuntu 12.04 is available to download today, and Beta 2 is already in the crosshairs, one month from now. Being an LTS (Long Term Support) release, we knew changes weren't going to be drastic, but there are some noteworthy ones. We heard RhythmBox would be back as the default media player, and it is, and it looks like Ubuntu One synching also showed up as expected. Under the hood, the kernel goes from 3.2.0-12.21 to 3.2.0-17.27 and RC6 for Sandy Bridge systems has been enabled. The final freeze is only eight weeks away, so if you want to steer the Pangolin in the right direction, curl up on that source link for the goods.
[Thanks, Robert]Continue reading Ubuntu's 'Precise Pangolin' emerges into Beta, enjoys the fresh air (video) Ubuntu's 'Precise Pangolin' emerges into Beta, enjoys the fresh air (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Ubuntu | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mannheim judge Andreas Voss is nothing if not decisive. FOSSPatents reports he's just thrown out a third Samsung v. Apple patent lawsuit relating to use of the 3G/UMTS standard. Not to be one-sided, he's also rejected the first of two Apple v. Samsung cases involving slide-to-unlock patents. Weirdly, this latter decision appears to contradict a recent ruling by a Munich court that upheld a similar slide-to-unlock claim by Apple against Motorola, but Judge Voss and his trigger-finger aren't bothered. Keep it up old boy, and maybe we can have this whole thing nailed by the summer. Oh wait, no, both sides are expected to appeal. German court guns down third Samsung patent lawsuit, plus one from Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | FOSSPatents | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ...And here's the catch: the game you need is Motorstorm Arctic Edge (or 'Raging Ice' in Japan), and it appears to have already been pulled from the PS Store. Besides, it was never compatible with US-registered Vitas in the first place. Nevertheless, if you happen to have bought this old PSP title for your Vita already, then this may just work. Hacker Wololo claims that later today he'll release Vita Half Byte Loader files, which will give you a "limited PSP homebrew experience" on your lovely new handheld -- and indeed we've already seen it playing Sega Genesis titles. The hack supposedly uses an exploit in this particular Motorstorm title -- but since Sony is already on VHBL's tracks, who knows if it'll really work or how long it'll last? Video evidence after the break.
[Thanks, Patrick]Continue reading PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video) PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Wololo (1), (2) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We know you've already added the Fisher Price DVR to the list of gadgets that may withstand the physical trauma your kid's about to put it through. But how does an ICS-equipped, 7-inch slate with parental controls sound? Dubbed Child Pad, this sticky finger-friendly tab isn't just flaunting the fact it's tasting Android's freshest treat before most of you, it's doing so with a rather modest 1GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM. In theory, that should be enough to handle your little one's multitouch doings. Speaking of, Archos is pairing up the $129 machine with access to the AppLibs Kids App Store, which offers a portfolio of over 10,000 games, books and apps. Unfortunately, there's no word on what kind of ports or internal storage the Child Pad's packing. The good news is Archos isn't saying you need to be in first grade to use it, so feel free to grab one for yourself (or your kid) when it hits shelves at the end of the month. Continue reading Archos unveils 7-inch Child Pad slate: $129, Ice Cream Sandwich on board Archos unveils 7-inch Child Pad slate: $129, Ice Cream Sandwich on board originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
