|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Would you be willing to wear an additional device in order to avoid interacting with another? That's the conundrum posed to us by Christian Loclair, a master's student at the Hasso Plattner Institute. His thesis, titled Thumb on Hand Interaction, proposes that users control their mobile equipment with simple hand gestures that are performed independently of their device's touchscreen. This level of freedom requires that users wear a depth camera on their chest, and builds upon prior research from the Hasso Plattner Institute that required use of both hands. Loclair proposes a diverse new set of gestures that users can perform with only one hand, where one's thumb acts as the primary navigation tool and one's palm serves as a trackpad. Another set of gestures is based on the interaction of one's thumb and index finger, which allows users to control sliders and the like. Perhaps once the research team determines how to implement this technology without making our lives more complex, we'll be able to sink our teeth into this one. In the meantime, you'll find a video demonstration after the break. Continue reading Researcher proposes Thumb on Hand gestures, no touchscreen necessary (video) Researcher proposes Thumb on Hand gestures, no touchscreen necessary (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Christian "Mio" Loclair | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | You'd be forgiven for thinking you've already read this article. Truthfully, you pretty much already have. The software is the same (App Inventor), the milestone is the same (public availability), even the development status is the same (beta). So, what praytell is new then? Well, the Android apps creation tool is no longer being managed by Google -- MIT has snatched up the source and worked up its own version. Now you, or anyone else for that matter, can go and log into the MIT App Inventor, so long as you have a valid Google ID. Interested in giving it a try? Did you miss out when it was the Google App Inventor? Hit up the source link for more. MIT opens App Inventor to all, launches public Beta originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Android Central | MIT | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Face it, Google already knows you better than your friends or family, so why not cuddle up next to the giant and let it make your life a touch easier to manage? Today, the folks in Mountain View announced that recent search history is now accessible from Google's mobile homepage for Android and iOS, where users may now easily access the businesses and places they've searched for within the last day. We attempted to try the addition for ourselves, but it seems the new functionality hasn't yet hit every user. Naturally, you must opt-in to have your searches archived in the first place, and from there, you'll need to sign into your account from your mobile device to access the helpful tidbits. One thing is now certain: even if you've forgotten where you're going, Google is sure to remember. Google sharpens its memory, brings recent search history to Android and iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Phone Scoop | Google Mobile Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Usually when a stranger gets behind the wheel of your car, it's more a situation for the authorities than General Motors. But with the impending nationwide rollout of RelayRides' P2P car sharing program, owners of GM vehicles will soon be actively looking for complete strangers to take a spin at their wheels in exchange for cash. The startup, backed by venture capital from Google, launched its unique rental service two years ago in Boston and San Francisco and is now poised to expand that reach to about six million OnStar subs with an upcoming smartphone app. Admittedly, it's a bizarre, though potentially lucrative concept, as those who opt-in and open their driver-side doors to randoms could net anywhere from $250 to $1000 per month, while renters only have to cough up about $5 to $10 per hour. It's a tough sell when compared up to the more traditional, well-established likes of, say, ZipCar, but if you're keen on sniffing that previously-owned car smell, this should be right up your alley. RelayRides hooks up with GM, opens P2P car sharing to OnStar subs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Forbes | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A small but fundamental shift happened this evening in the Android Market, as Google has raised its rather arbitrary maximum application size from 50MB to a hefty 4GB. While APK files retain the traditional 50MB restriction, developers will be able to bundle two additional 2GB expansion files with their apps, which (in most cases) will be downloaded automatically. The move is fundamentally a goodwill gesture toward game developers -- who were previously forced to host any content in excess of 50MB themselves -- but it also bodes well for consumers, who can now view an application's actual file size. As a further benefit, the refund period won't initiate until the entire download completes. Those interested to know the gory details can find the complete story in the source below. Android Market raises maximum app size to 4GB, APK files still limited to 50MB originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Android Developers Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | You didn't think a company like Gigabyte would roll into CeBIT empty-handed, did you? The Taiwanese company knows how to rock a trade show properly and came packin' a whole bevy of goodies. Getting top billing are the brand new U2442 ultrabooks and the P2542G gaming laptop. The slim and light model comes in two versions. The U2442N comes rocking an Ivy Bridge class Core i5 or i7 in a shell that's 18.5mm thick at its narrowest point and starts at 1.49Kg (3.3lbs). The U2442V trades in the standard voltage CPUs for ULV ones, while keeping the same 14-inch 1600 x 900 display. They both also offer a GeForce GT 640M GPU with 2GB of memory, up to a 750GB hard drive as well as USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Thunderbolt connections.
The 15.6-inch P2542G sacrifices portability, but comes packing high-end components like an Ivy Bridge Core i7, a 2GB GT 660, a Blu-ray drive, a THX certified, dual-woofer sound system, a 1920 x 1080 display, oh, and an HDMI out jack in addition to the usual assortment of USB ports. For more check out the gallery below and PR after the break.
Continue reading Gigabyte unveils U2442 ultrabooks and P2542G gaming laptop at CeBIT Gigabyte unveils U2442 ultrabooks and P2542G gaming laptop at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's been a few months since Ford promised us that juicy refresh to its whips' infotainment system, but it looks as if the wait is about to come to an end. The Built Tough manufacturer says it's finally shipping those 2GB USB sticks (plus an SD card if you have Navigation) to proud owners of MyFord Touch-equipped rides. Included in the fresh update -- which promises to be faster, simpler and better -- are things such as easier controls, audio support for tablets, improved Sirius commands and the ability to jam listen to Audible audiobooks. Folks rockin' the Nav add-on will also see bits like updated map views, additional 3D landmarks as well as better graphics. So you should probably be hitting up your mailbox more often than usual to grab your stick as soon as it arrives, and if you'd like to prepare yourself, then head on over to the source where an installation walk-through video awaits. [Thanks, Letalis] MyFord Touch update rolling out now, promises to be 'faster, simpler, better' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink DailyTech | Ford | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Big East Championship
One of the 3D early adopters and looking for something to watch? While there are many conference championships taking place in the run up to March Madness thisweek, ESPN #D's cameras are set to catch all the action at the Big East Championship, meaning several games each day, leading up to the final game Saturday night. Last year it was Kemba Walker and UCONN lighting up the stage on their way to an NCAA Championship, now we'll see which team makes a run in 2012.
(All week, ESPN 3D)
Game of Thrones
Assuming you haven't been forced at gunpoint into piracy, the first season of HBO's acclaimed series finally comes home on Blu-ray this month. Whether you're just reliving your trip to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros or visiting for the first time, if fantasy , intrigue and drama is your thing, this should be a good fit. Winter is coming.
($34.99 on Amazon, March 6th)
Mass Effect 3
The final chapter of Bioware's epic trilogy finally arrives on Xbox 360 and PS3 this week. If you haven't caught on to the series blend of action and RPG elements yet it may be too late, but for fans this final battle to protect the universe should be yet another incredible battle. Now featuring multiplayer, if you see a sudden dropoff in post count over the next few days then this game is probably the reason why.
($59.99 on Amazon, March 6th)Continue reading Must See HDTV (March 5th - 11th) Must See HDTV (March 5th - 11th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  If you thought Google's Kansan stab at blistering gigabit speeds was lust-worthy, then this latest fiber feat out of Germany should have you flooding the room with drool. Part of Deutsche Telekom's OSIRIS (Optically Supported UP Router Interfaces) project, the telco's T-Labs team managed to successfully transfer data "over a single optical fiber wavelength channel" from Berlin to Hanover and back at speeds of up to 512Gbps -- that's over half a terabit. It's hard to imagine just what exactly you'd be able to do with all that bandwidth (upload your entire music and video library, perhaps?), but this real-world experiment should go a long way towards helping operators shore up increasing network demands, going so far as doubling their backhaul capacity. As for any actual implementation of the next-gen tech, well, the good news is that a costly and lengthy cable deployment won't be necessary; all that's required to get these state-of-the-art dumb pipes up and running is some newfangled terminal equipment. Don't hold your breath, though, as with all things bleeding edge, this tech is still light years away from your mitts. Deutsche Telekom tests 512Gbps fiber optic network in Germany, breaks record in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink GigaOM | Deutsche Telekom Innovation Laboratories | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | When we heard last year that the Nokia N9 wouldn't be coming to the US, we were left feeling a little letdown even though we half-expected the news. Espoo has assigned a similar fate to the esteemed 808 PureView -- our pick for the best innovation at Mobile World Congress -- and the same string of emotions overwhelmed us once more. According to Nokia's developer site, the 41MP-toting Belle device will enjoy a global release... with North America as the only listed exception. We assume this is in large part because carriers aren't expressing interest in subsidizing the device, but it doesn't necessarily mean interested folks won't have any way to snag an unlocked version to call their own. Several e-tailers, for instance, currently offer the PureView on pre-order. As long as this isn't purely an act of finger-crossing, we should at least be able to import it over to this side of the Atlantic soon enough -- at a much higher cost than the rest of the world.
Continue reading PSA: Nokia 808 PureView not coming to North America PSA: Nokia 808 PureView not coming to North America originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TheVerge, PhoneArena | Nokia | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The fact that Facebook had a dedicated messaging app up its sleeve for Windows will go down as one of the worst kept secrets in the history of techdom. In fact, after the client leaked back in December, Zuck and Co. unceremoniously dumped the executable on the web, opened up the help page and did so without an ounce of fanfare. Now the program is getting a proper launch, complete with a landing page and a press release (which you'll find at the source). There's not much here to shock or surprise -- Messenger for Windows allows you to chat with your Facebook friends in a simple tabbed interface, check your news feed and delivers notifications to your desktop. Hit up the source link to download it now. Facebook Messenger for Windows app now officially official originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink VentureBeat | Facebook 1, 2 | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | So, you've got the carriers on board, and the banks and even the handset makers. Problem is, without compatible registers and point of sale terminals, your mobile payment tech is worthless. Thankfully Isis, the NFC wallet system that aims to crush Google's buzzed-about platform, just scored a host of partners including VeriFone and Equinox that make a pretty large chunk of world's payment terminals. Those companies, along with Ingenico and ViVOtech have agreed to support Isis on future hardware and, in some cases, update the software on machines in the field to communicate with the app. For a few more details hit up the PR after the break and prepare for the Isis invasion to kick off sometime towards the middle of the year. Continue reading Isis partners with VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox, prepares to take over the world Isis partners with VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox, prepares to take over the world originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Electronista | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Still not sure how the 808 PureView can best other pro camera rigs? Then take a trip over to Nokia's Conversations blog for an inside look at the obsessive scientists behind the Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division. These are the men and women responsible for the module included in Espoo's 41-megapixel wonder and, of course, the Lumia line. So, what's the magic that makes these phones waft a "certain [professional] smell?" Why, that'd be their use of extremely aspherical, molded plastic lenses; a manufacturing process that creates sensors which lie closer to the surface and a dimple that allows for better refraction of light. The only downside to this high-end optical whizzery is the size required, so fans of anorexic handsets with exceptional imaging will just have to get used to those unsightly rear humps. Be sure to check out the source below for the full synesthetic quote and a more detailed glance at the world of mobile optics. Nokia pulls back the curtain on Carl Zeiss division, gives off that pro lens smell originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Nokia Conversations | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | As winter recedes, the Crapgadgets emerge from their hibernation as they attempt to separate fools and their money. Today's selection includes a ridiculous workaround to a ridiculous accessory, an iPad case that has lips like Jagger and a hook for, er, spinning your iPhone around like a Wild West gunslinger.
Read - Our biggest regret in life is not being able to spin our $600 cellphone around on a $20 sticky coat hook.
Read - We're expecting the iPad 3 to be able to recreate the title sequence of the Rocky Horror Picture Show without the aid of this case.
Read - If you were into smartphones before they were cool and portable, you'll love the ability to carry around your over-sized retro handset on your jeans.
Read - Nothing evokes the grace, beauty and power of Enzo Ferrari's engineering than these decade-old-spec flip-phones that kinda resemble a Ferrari 966, if you squint from a distance.
Read - This "noiseless microphone" has two functions, and only one is to prevent your karaoke from annoying your neighbors.
View Poll Crapgadget: Spring Phling edition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | China Mobile may be the world's largest telco with 655 million subscribers, but it's missing one major ingredient that any top tier carrier needs -- the iPhone. Apple's exclusivity deal with China Unicom is about to come to an end and China Telecom is going to start selling the 4S next week. Yet, China Mobile, the state owned behemoth, won't be joining the iOS fray officially until it starts shipping with an LTE radio (which we assume will happen next year). Still, according to the company, it has managed to rack up 15 million subscribers using unlocked iPhones on its 2G network. Perhaps most amazing, is that it was only in October that China Mobile announced it had 10 million subscribers using Apple's pride and joy. We can only imagine the pandemonium that will break out when the world's most popular phone comes to the planet's largest cellular carrier. China Mobile claims 15 million iPhone subscribers without selling Apple's handset originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Next Web, Penn-Olson, Textually | Sina Tech (translated) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In just eight months, Line has gone from a glimmer in Naver's eye to a 20 million member strong VoIP and messaging service. Perhaps most impressively, it's done so with only iPhone and Android apps available. The company is working on PC, Mac and tablet clients, but for now this is a mobile phone-only app. The speed at which its growing is significantly faster than both Facebook and Twitter, a fact the company is immensely proud of -- but, we wouldn't read to much into that. Naver's Skype competitor Line crosses 20 million mark originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Next Web | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | There's no official word about this laptop, and if any of you are caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge. Still, you can't stop a good rumor, which is why details have emerged about a supercharged edition of MSI's GT780DX that dials the original hardware up to 11. The GTI 780GX has a 17.3-inch 1600 x 900 display (with the option to boost it to 1920 x 1080) and weighs a workout-worthy 3.85kg. Justifying that heft is a Core i7 Extreme Edition 2920XM CPU which'll hit 4.16GHz in Turbo mode, thanks to a "Cooler Boost" heat-sink that'll stop the laptop from singeing your flares. Paired up with such a meaty chip is 16GB of DDR3 RAM, a GeForce GTX570M (itself with 3GB of DDR5 inside) and space for two (two!) HDDs that each hold up to 750GB. You'll also get a Steelseries gaming keyboard, THX Sound and a 9-cell battery. Given that the laptop doesn't officially exist yet, there's no word on pricing or availability but we'll keep our eyes peeled. MSI GT780 GX rumored specs appear online originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Notebook Italia (Translated) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We covered Acer's two Android devices at last week's show, but what in the world happened to its Windows Phone? It's easy to forget about the Acer Allegro because we haven't seen it show up beyond the reaches of Asia and France, but we hunted one down at Mobile World Congress and snapped a few shots for posterity. Intended to tempt bargain hunters, the device offers a 3.6-inch WVGA display, 1GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 CPU, 8GB internal storage, 5MP rear camera with LED flash and a 1,300mAh battery. It also features Fast Charge, which provides the Allegro with a full battery two and a half times faster than a standard Acer. On the unfortunate side, it's also 13mm thick and lacks a front-facing shooter, which may be enough for the hardcore Windows Phone fan to lose interest. But if you're still reading on, feel free to gaze upon our pics below.
Sean Cooper contributed to this hands-on.
For more coverage of MWC 2012, visit our event hub!Acer Allegro hands-on at MWC 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We still don't have detailed specs or even a model number, but we just had a chance to go hands-on with Fujitsu's new Lifebook Ultrabook at CeBIT. The 14-inch device will ship in red and silver, and is very thin -- 16mm, to be more precise -- including a frameless display that folds flat 180 degrees to lie flush. The nearly edge-to-edge LCD looks fantastic, at least powered off. There's a webcam up top, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, a proprietary Ethernet connector, SD card slot, an HDMI port, headphone jack and a Kensington Security Slot. There also appears to be a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader -- just one of the proposed security features for Fujitsu's yet-to-be-named enterprise Ultrabook. The magnesium body is very lightweight, at 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs), though the lid did feel a bit flimsy, at least on the sample we saw today. Pricing details have yet to be announced, though Fujitsu reps have confirmed that the Ultrabook will ship by early summer. Jump past the break for a closer look in our video hands-on. Continue reading Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on (video) Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Google has already tasted European hot water over its revised privacy policy, and soon the European Court of Justice (ECJ) may expand its remit to consider other related issues too. Spanish judges are asking the top court to consider complaints from 100 Spaniards who wish to have their names removed from news articles and websites. Among the complainants are a plastic surgeon who wants to delete archived references to a botched operation, and a man who appears on the Google News aggregator for alleged non-payment of social security. Google itself told Reuters that it supports the "right to be forgotten," but only if it's applied to search engines "in a way that protects both the right to privacy and the right to free expression." If only life was as simple as Pay N' Spray. Do we have the right to be 'forgotten' on Google? Spain asks ECJ to investigate originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Like the Nintendo Wii before it, Microsoft's Kinect has been braving the storm of new peripheral adolescence, awkwardly shuffling users through jump, wave, lean and jiggling gameplay, typically at a leisurely pace. Sure it's had its moments on the dance floor, but aside from being a good listener, the spatially aware sensor hasn't exactly redefined core gaming. Almost a year and half after its launch, however, the often hacked device is taking another crack at reaching the hardcore. We dropped in on Xbox's spring showcase this weekend to find out how that effort is going -- see what we found after the break. Continue reading The best Kinect to come: Microsoft's Xbox 360 spring showcase The best Kinect to come: Microsoft's Xbox 360 spring showcase originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Where is Hannover, you ask? Well it's definitely in Germany -- of that much we're sure. This town certainly isn't a tourist haven, save for a week in March when tech pros from every continent arrive and grow the city beyond its typical community of 500,000, but CeBIT is among the world's largest tech trade shows, and it's the sole purpose for our brief jaunt to Kansas City's sister metro. It's never crystal clear just what we'll see at CeBIT, though we've begun poking around one day shy of the show's official ribbon cutting, turning up a few surprises, such as this pink Galaxy Note. We'll of course be sharing whatever we happen to find between now and Thursday, so check back often for an inside look at Germany's flagship enterprise trade show.
Protip: Use our "CeBIT 2012" tag for all of our updates from the floor! We're live from CeBIT 2012 in Hannover, Germany! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In recent years, it's become a fashion for Apple prototype parts to pop up just weeks ahead of hardware launches; and it seems like there's no exception for the upcoming next-gen iPad, which is believed to feature a 2,048 x 1,536 IPS LCD within the same 9.7-inch footprint. While we're only two days away from seeing Tim Cook and co. unveiling said tablet, we couldn't help but take a look at its bits and bobs acquired by our good friends over at M.I.C. Gadget.
What we have here is allegedly the external essentials of the "iPad 3," which include a white glass cover (sans frame) with a home button already installed, along with a 3G-ready aluminum body plus cables for the dock connector and the volume rocker. With a quick glance you may easily mistake this as just the iPad 2, but look close enough and you'll spot the larger lens on the prototype, which may suggest that Apple's finally giving its tablet a more capable back camera. There's also a more subtle difference between the two bodies: not only is this "iPad 3" marginally thicker, but the curvature from the flat bottom to the sides is ever so slightly more emphasized, thus providing a tad more internal space for the components -- most likely the battery for the sake of feeding the rumored LTE radio. Well, until Mr. Cook gives us the answers, you can keep yourselves busy by watching M.I.C. Gadget's funkadelic hands-on video after the break.
Continue reading More 'iPad 3' prototype parts show up, we go hands-on More 'iPad 3' prototype parts show up, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink M.I.C. Gadget | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We're here at the Fujitsu press conference at CeBIT, where the company just teased a yet-to-be-named premium Ultrabook. We don't have many details at this point, but we were able to confirm that it will include a 14-inch frameless display, a magnesium housing and a standard variety of connectivity options, including LTE, WLAN and Bluetooth. The notebook will weigh in at less than 1.5 kg and will measure 16mm thick. Fujitsu is marketing the Ultrabook as an enterprise device, with a full suit of security features, including a fingerprint scanner, TPM module, FDE and ATP. More details are promised for tomorrow, so you'll need to hang tight for a model number, pricing and a full spec rundown, though we're told to expect it to hit the market this summer. Fujitsu teases new premium Lifebook Ultrabook at CeBIT, promises more details tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  We're sure many have fallen in love with Nokia's new cameraphone, but are perhaps not so willing to get back together with its Symbian OS. Fortunately, it looks like Nokia will be -- unsurprisingly -- gently placing its Pureview technology inside a future Windows Phone family member. Confirmed in Finnish broadsheet Aamulehti, Senior Vice President Jo Harlow said that although no date was penned in quite yet, it wouldn't be all that far away. The high-end camera credentials gifted to the Pureview 808 at MWC last week surprised plenty, given that Nokia proclaimed that its whole company had nailed its colors to the Windows Phone mast when it came to its flagship OS. Regardless, a polycarbonate PureView sounds pretty good to us. Nokia Senior VP: PureView imaging technology coming to our Windows Phones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink WPCentral | Aamulehti (translated) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AMD's Radeon HD 7000-series onslaught continues, with still no 28nm retort from NVIDIA. The latest offerings are the 7870 priced at $349, and the 7850 priced at $249. Both are based on the Pitcairn GPU and hog the mainstream gamer spot below the Tahiti-based 79xx cards and far above the 77xx options. In terms of competition, these cards go head-to-head with the older NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 and GTX 560Ti, which currently retail for between $20 and $50 less. However, most reviewers found plenty of reasons to side with AMD despite the extra outlay, as you'll discover at the links below.
HotHardware -- hailed the performance, low power consumption, noise levels and features of both cards, but noted that they're "not much faster than previous gen counterparts." For example, 3DMark 11 benchmarks generally beat NVIDIA's rivals by around two or three percent, while the Radeon HD 7850 barely scored any higher than its predecessor, the 6850, in that test.
AnandTech -- found the 7870 to be "faster, cooler and quieter" than the GTX 570, with a roughly nine percent performance advantage that puts AMD "in the clear for the time being." As for the 7850, it was regarded as less of a steal, trailing the cheaper GTX 560Ti in some games -- including an eight percent lag in Battlefield 3.
TheTechReport -- reckoned both the 7870 and 7850 are "better options than comparable GeForces," because they deliver more FPS-per-dollar when Arkham City, Battlefield 3, Crysis 2 and Skyrim performances are averaged out.
PC Perspective -- concluded that the Radeon HD 7870 "more or less matches" the GTX 570 in the six games it compared, with two wins, two losses and two draws for the AMD card, but is still "pretty impressive" for the price. The HD 7850, meanwhile, "completely dominates the performance metrics" while using "56 fewer watts!"
TechSpot -- gave the Radeon HD 7850 slightly higher marks for being the "best mainstream card to buy at $250," while also praising the HD 7870 delivering "excellent performance and overclocking" and "almost reaching the level of the more expensive HD 7900 boards." Continue reading AMD's 'sweet spot' Radeon HD 7870 and 7850 graphics cards get reviewed, recommended AMD's 'sweet spot' Radeon HD 7870 and 7850 graphics cards get reviewed, recommended originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sure, you can personalize your Galaxy Note by sketching with the 5.3-inch phablet's S Pen, but there's no better way to express your mobile-obsessed self than by dressing your device in a flashy new color. Pink is the flavor of the month over at Samsung, which just gave us a sneak peek at its rosy Android hybrid at its CeBIT booth in beautiful Hannover, Germany. The sample on hand is of the shell-only variety, in that it doesn't include any internals, but looks pretty juicy even in its static state. The device is virtually identical to its blue and white counterparts, though its backplate is textured like that of the blue model, rather than the glossy rear you'll see on the white. There's not much more to say about pinky here, considering that the sample device won't even power on, but jump past the break for our hands-on video if you'd care to take a closer look. And keep an eye out for the pink Note in a store near you -- it's expected to land (in Germany, at least) within the next two months. Continue reading Samsung confirms Pink Galaxy Note coming soon, we go hands-on (video) Samsung confirms Pink Galaxy Note coming soon, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | China claimed 900 million mobile users last April, but back then it still seemed possible that India might reach the billion user milestone first. China was ahead in absolute terms, while India's user base was growing faster. According to the latest figures from its government, however, China is ready to stake its claim. It had 997 million phone owners by late February, with growth of around three million per week, which means it should have tipped the scales in the last few days. Of course, it's not really about who gets there first: The salient fact is that millions more humans can now ring each other up, just, you know, to chat. China claims one billion mobile phone users, India shrugs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink AllThingsD | Sina.com (Chinese) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you've wanted to cozy up to Siri, only holding back in your search for a price break on Apple's current iPhone 4S, then your latest opportunity has arrived. C Spire Wireless is now offering the device at the starting price of $150 for the 16GB variant in return for signing a two-year commitment. Naturally, $250 snags you 32GB of storage, while the 64GB variant will run you $350. All in all, these iDevices at about $50 dollars less than you'd normally find 'em for on carrier subsidies -- unless you happen to reside in Puerto Rico, that is. Best of all, it appears that this isn't merely a limited-time offer. Don't take our word for it, hit up the source link below for all the details. C Spire drops iPhone 4S price to $150, asks you for two years of commitment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 06:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink 9to5Mac | C Spire Wireless | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Vizio snuck mention of its $150 XCV100 Skype-enabled webcam into its CES 2012 accessories announcements, and now the two companies have announced its compatibility with "most" Vizio Internet App TVs. There's no list of which models specifically support it, and which can manage up to 720p streams, but owners can check the capabilities of their model on Vizio's website. The webcam itself features an HD camera and four built in mics, and clips directly on the top of Vizio's flatscreens. Assuming you're into videoconferencing from your living room, have one of the HDTVs and are ready to drop a benjamin and a half for the privilege, all that's left is to find one of the cameras, currently marked as sold out on Vizio and Amazon. Now, if we could just get an update on that $99 ARM-powered Google TV set-top box... Skype videoconferencing app and add-on camera roll come to Vizio Internet Apps HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Skype, Vizio | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Samsung's barely finished packing up from its recent stint in Barcelona, but that hasn't stopped another device surfacing on the Korean peninsula. The Galaxy Player 70 Plus appears to be a powered-up version of its 5-inch device from last year, side-stepping the design tweaks we saw last week on the Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 -- the other new (similarly long-winded) Android PMP from Samsung. Alongside a dual-core 1GHz processor, other hardware improvements include a (Korea-only) DMB TV tuner, 5-megapixel camera and a 2,500mAh battery to keep that expansive screen running for longer. The media player will arrive in both 16GB and 32GB capacities, priced up at 399,000 won ($356) and 469,000 won ($418) respectively, although there's no news just yet on whether the wider world will get to wrap their hands around that substantial 5-inch screen. Until there's more to go on, you can attempt to decipher the Google-translated press release -- it's right after the break. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Plus is the world's first dual-core media player Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Plus is the world's first dual-core media player originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Samsung (translated) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Having braved the wilds of Tanzania and emerged with some brilliant photos, but a camera destroyed by a lion, the remote control BeetleCam is back at it. This time around, the buggy's got a Canon 550D, is sporting an armored shroud and it brought a buddy with some serious imaging chops to help it get up close and personal with a pride of lions in Kenya's Masai Mara. The new BeetleCam, dubbed the Mark II, has six wheels, two flashes, a Canon EOS 1Ds MK III for stunning stills and GoPro camera capable of streaming HD video. How did round two in Africa turn out? Pretty darn well, but as they say, the proof is in the pudding, so check out the amazing shots taken by the twin BeetleCams at the source below. BeetleCam's back with armor on board, and it brought a friend packing a Canon EOS 1Ds MK III originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Burrard-Lucas Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Android's native web browser can now lay claim to being the most popular mobile browser, according to StatCounter's latest survey. Mapping use over the past year, Google's mobile internet browser has grabbed around 23 percent of all users, up from just over 14 percent back in February 2011. The phone and tablet-based browser may have soaked up BlackBerry and Nokia users on its way to the top, with the two companies dropping browser share to six and 11 percent, respectively. Opera continues to hold its own, with a stable market share of around 21 percent throughout 2011, while the iPhone's Safari isn't far behind, notching up 20 percent by the end of last month. Conspicuous by its absence, Windows Phone's Internet Explorer hasn't made the table just yet and Google is surely hoping to see its mobile version of Chrome enter the table soon -- presumably once it's available on more than one device. Statcounter: Android web browser claims biggest user share originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TNW | StatCounter | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Oddly, Random House deciding to triple the price of its e-books for libraries is being considered a compromise. While others, like Penguin, are pulling their electronic tomes from the virtual shelves of our lending institutions, Random House is at least willing to still play ball -- even if it's making its wares prohibitively expensive. Now titles from the company start at $25, with many popular books going for more than $100, though, releases are available on day one and wont have an expiration date. Obviously, the fact that e-books can be pirated and never need to be replaced as their pages tear or bindings wear down is of concern to publishers that are losing out on a continuous stream of revenue. However, many of our libraries are underfunded and will likely balk at the new sky high prices. But, we suppose, a higher one-time cost is easier to swallow than an annual licensing fee. Random House drastically raises the price of e-books for libraries originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechCrunch | The Digital Reader | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
