|  |  |  | | | | | Engadget | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Today's Sony press conference is a biggie, and it's not just because this is the premier wireless tradeshow, or because the company is a household name. This will be the first time we've heard from Sony's phone division since Sony split with Ericsson and rebranded the operation "Sony Mobile Communications." But what's in a name, right? It's the gadgets we're after, and gadgets we'll see. So, will we get the Xperia U? A dash of Pepper? Sony's about to set the record straight, so stay tuned for a blow-by-blow of all the details. February 26, 2012 12:00 PM ESTLive from Sony's Mobile World Congress 2012 press event! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If ever there was a "One more thing moment" it came at Huawei's Mobile World Congress 2012 press conference today, where the company's chairman waited until after a Q&A session to say, oh by the way, it'll sell a 10-inch version of its MediaPad tablet. The company stopped short of providing specs, and in the hands-on area outside the event, journalists were prohibited from actually touching the device. Here's what we know, though: it has a 10-inch 1080p, IPS display, and the same industrial sign as the original MediaPad (aka the T-Mobile Springboard), with what appears to be a unibody aluminum design. You'll also find that white piece of plastic on the back that brings to mind HTC devices of yore, but instead of capping either portrait end, it stretches across the top of the back, where the camera is. And, as before, the skinning atop Android seems minimal -- vanilla, even! Other specs: it has the same new K3V2 chip found inside the Ascend D Quad smartphone announced today. It'll ship in markets like China and Europe in Q2 (that means we don't know about US availability yet). For now, though, we've got some eyes-on shots below for your viewing pleasure.
Huawei MediaPad 10 eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's no secret that Huawei is intent on joining the big boys in the smartphone arena, and the Ascend D quad is undoubtedly its most promising attempt yet. We just took an opportunity to play around with the potential game-changer, and our initial impressions were quite positive. Immediately, our attention was drawn to the display itself, which boasts incredibly vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles. We're going back for our second round with the device, and we'll have additional impressions to share with you shortly.
Developing...Huawei Ascend D quad (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It's no secret that Huawei is intent on joining the big boys in the smartphone arena, and the Ascend D Quad is undoubtedly its most promising attempt yet. The manufacturer is determined to make some serious headway into the world of smartphone relevance dominance, and the Ascend D Quad -- alongside its larger-battery XL brother -- are ready to play ball in the specs game. With a homegrown 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, 8MP rear camera, 720p display and plenty more components that top the charts, we think the chance of Huawei making a big name for itself is more promising than it ever has before.
We just took an opportunity to play around with the potential game-changer, and our initial impressions were quite positive. Immediately, our attention was drawn to the display itself, which boasts incredibly vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles. And the device, with its elegant soft-touch back, was incredibly comfortable to hold -- in fact, it felt much similar to the Honor in many respects, with the exception of its width. The unit we played with was running on stock ICS, but it's quite possible this won't be the final software version when the thing is fully baked. We hope to get add more impressions throughout the week as we go to Huawei's booth and spend some more quality time. For now, however, check out a few images below.
Developing...Huawei Ascend D Quad (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  For whatever reason, researchers have long been stuck on the idea of harnessing the wasted energy potential of the human body. We've seen our nation's brightest try to siphon power off of our spare body heat, our breath and even our blood -- we haven't been able to cast off our wall chargers just yet, but progress is being made. Today's no-socket wonder comes from Wake Forest University's Center of Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, and it falls into the body-heat category. Power Felt, a new fabric-like thermoelectric device comprised of layers of carbon nanotubes and flexible plastic fibers, can create an electrical charge from temperature differences.
The Power Felt's layered nanotubes allow it to generate more electricity than standalone carbon nanotube / polymer composite films and, according to researchers, could add only $1 to the cost of a charging cell phone cover. "Imagine it in an emergency kit, wrapped around a flashlight, powering a weather radio, charging a prepaid cell phone," said project head David Carroll, "Literally, just by sitting on your phone, Power Felt could provide relief during power outages or accidents." The thermoelectric technology still has a long way to go before it's ready for the market, however, leaving the US military's technology savvy tailors hanging off the edge of their seats. Researchers develop battery boosting Power Felt, encourages you to sit on your phone originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Geek |  Wake Forest University | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | While we haven't seen 3D phones take the world by storm just yet, that hasn't stopped LG refining it's Optimus 3D series. Mobile World Congress 2012 has been hit by the Optimus 3D Max and it's faster, thinner and, well, just plain better looking. Unfortunately, there's been less progress on the software side; this dual-lens Android phone is still wearing last year's Gingerbread jacket. Our full first impressions and video are incoming, but for now, a tour of the hardware awaits in the gallery below.
Developing... LG Optimus 3D Max hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ViewSonic has kicked off the Showstoppers festivities at Mobile World Congress with a couple new tablets: the ViewPad G70 and E70 (pictured left and right). The twin tabs are specced just about the same save for a couple minor differences in bells and whistles and the E70's 150€ (roughly $200) price tag ringing in at half of the G70's €300 tally. Both tablets will ship running Android 4 ICS, feature 7-inch displays -- with E70 getting an 800x480 version and the G70 a 1024x600 unit -- 1Ghz Cortex A9 CPUs, and 3300mAh cells. The E70 should start shipping by April this year and the G70 in late June, and we're pretty sure ViewSonic will need all that time to polish both of these up -- no, not the fingerprints, though they are magnets. The device's response to touch input wasn't particularly accurate and the interface was very lagged when using it. Unfortunately we were also unable to ignore how weak these two displays were, and on a device that uses the screen for its principal point of interaction, that's a dealbreaker for us. Here's hoping these two get a buff and polish before launch time. Hit the gallery for some pics.
Zach Honig contributed to this postViewSonic ViewPad E70 and G70 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The quad-cores have arrived and the first out of the blocks is LG's sequel to its dual-core Optimus 2X. The Korean phone maker has apparently recruited its "best engineers "on this wafer-thin slab of power and it shows; the phone is light and slim. It's taken a detour from the Prada Phone stylings we've seen on the Optimus Vu and L-series, but looks noticeably more mature than last year's efforts, with Android's Ice Cream Sandwich in attendance -- with a few tweaks. We're uploading our hands-on video as we speak -- including some very responsive video manipulation and yet more impressions. Until then, take a 360-degree tour of the device at our gallery below.
Developing...
LG Optimus 4X hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We'd seen some prior leaks, but aside from poorly translated marketing jargon, Huawei's managed to keep its latest and greatest smartphone under wraps -- until now, that is. The device is being billed as the "world's fastest quad-core smartphone" with the company's own K3V2 CPU, clocked at 1.2GHz/ 1.5GHz, powering the unit. Sharing the same slim 8.9mm profile as its P1 predecessors, this Android 4.0 beast sports a 4.5-inch 720p display, Dolby 5.1 surround sound and an 1,800mAh battery bolstered by a proprietary energy management software that the manufacturer claims will last for up to two days.
Developing...Continue reading Huawei outs Ascend D quad: 4.5-inch 720p display, Dolby 5.1, 1.5GHz K3V2 CPU Huawei outs Ascend D quad: 4.5-inch 720p display, Dolby 5.1, 1.5GHz K3V2 CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Powermat may have a bright future, but the company's products to date have been expensive, slightly clunky and a generally imperfect solution for bringing wireless power to mobile devices. That could all change with WiCC. The Wireless Charging Card (WiCC) is an IEEE Power Matters Alliance (PMA) standard, with the potential to integrate Duracell Powermat technology within every mobile gadget. The incredibly thin device resembles those wafer-like SmartMedia cards once used in early digital cameras, with a similar form factor, but significantly more practicality. Each WiCC includes all the PowerMat circuitry found in the company's charging cases, while also doubling as an NFC antenna. The card's success is of course contingent on cooperation from device manufacturers, who will need to add a slim connector above the battery leads, including two for power, two for NFC and two for data -- an app will monitor charging. Powermat reps say that such a connector would cost pennies to implement, however, making it a potentially easy sell.
Powermat President Daniel Schreiber sees this as a major breakthrough for the smartphone industry, saying "we're going to do for wireless power what the memory card did for storage in mobile phones." We had a chance to take a look at a mock-up of the wireless card at MWC, which was resting just above the battery in a Samsung Galaxy S II. Because the phone's battery is slightly recessed, both the card and battery fit below the device's original backplate -- the WiCC lies flush with the phone's camera lens. Overall, we think there's some serious potential here, assuming device manufacturers are game to come on board. Still, don't expect to see these hitting stores anytime this year -- the company expects its other products to come to market long before the Wireless Charging Card. So for now, jump past the break to take a closer look, but don't make any plans to toss that power adapter just yet. Continue reading Duracell Powermat WiCC could bring wireless charging to any smartphone, we go hands-on (video) Duracell Powermat WiCC could bring wireless charging to any smartphone, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ALK (that's the company behind CoPilot Live) is no stranger to GPS apps, but it's starting afresh this week with a new application offering more featuresfor free. CoPilot GPS, which will be available on iOS and Android, goes the way of Nokia Maps in that it stores all those millions of points of interests offline, so you don't need an Internet connection to calculate directions. Download the free version and you'll also get some requisite social networking integration, walking and driving directions, the ability to choose from up to three routes and built-in Bing and Wikipedia search functionality. The app also matches Google Maps with voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation and 3D maps, but you'll have to shell out $19.99 as a one-time in-app payment for the privilege. Real-time traffic updates are also an option, but that'll cost you an additional $9.99 for a 12-month subscription. According to ALK, the app will be available for iOS and Android in early to mid March, but in the meantime we've got a handful of screens below to give you a taste of what to expect.
Continue reading CoPilot GPS app includes free offline maps with optional traffic data and turn-by-turn navigation, headed to Android and iOS CoPilot GPS app includes free offline maps with optional traffic data and turn-by-turn navigation, headed to Android and iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Samsung, expected to make a quiet showing at this year's Mobile World Congress due to the fact that it doesn't have a press conference scheduled today or tomorrow, is actually projecting to offer a bit more buzz than the Ace 2 or Mini 2. How? With a projector phone, of course! Sammy's latest phone announced for the show is the Galaxy Beam, a refreshed version of the projector phone, with a bit fancier specs. The device is packing a 4-inch WVGA display, dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 Cortex A9 CPU, 768MB of RAM and a 2,000mAh battery. Of course, those aren't the important specs to consider here -- the projector is. Taking advantage of a nHD (640 x 360) resolution and 15 Lumen brightness, the 12.5mm thickness helps Samsung claim the title of "world's thinnest projector phone." All in all, the phone felt very comfortable to hold, and the lump that incorporates the projector isn't an eyesore in the slightest -- in fact, Samsung managed to add it in a rather stylish manner. Our only concern? The projector itself is found on the very top of the device without any recession, which will likely make it a candidate for being a fingerprint magnet. We also liked the dedicated power button for the projector on the top right of the phone, just above the normal phone switch. We're also expecting to see some docks become available for the phone (which itself should be available in select markets in Q2) that will help stabilize it and keep it from shaking, as well as amplify sound for watching movies or video presentations. We'll add in more pics and videos momentarily. Developing...Samsung Galaxy Beam hands-on at MWC 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | As a species, we're distrustful of versatility. When Justin Timberlake is as successful in acting and business as he was as a singer, we cry foul. Therefore, it's only natural that Samsung's Optical Smart Hub should raise a hackle or two. It boasts of being a CD / DVD player for your mobile device, a wireless access point, a portable disc burner for your laptop and a backup server (with the help of a USB drive). Doing the work of four gadgets would certainly free up a lot of real estate on anyone's desk -- so is it worth $130 of your hard-earned? The answer's a little more nuanced than you might expect, so join us after the break to find out more. Continue reading Samsung Optical Smart Hub SE-208BW review Samsung Optical Smart Hub SE-208BW review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | When our forefathers were amending the constitution for the fifth time, they probably didn't have TrueCrypt-locked hard drives in mind. However, a ruling from the 11th Circuit Appeals Court has upheld the right of an anonymous testifier to not forcibly decrypt their data. The case relates to a Jon Doe giving evidence in exchange for immunity. The protection afforded to them under this case wouldn't extend to any other incriminating data that might be found, and as such Doe felt this could lead to violation of the fifth amendment. The validity of the prosecution's demands for the data decryption lies in what they already know, and how they knew it -- to prevent acting on hopeful hunches. The prosecutors were unable to demonstrate any knowledge of the data in question, leading the 11th Circuit to deem the request unlawful, adding that the immunity should have extended beyond just the current case. This isn't the first time we've seen this part of the constitution under the digital spotlight, and we're betting it won't be the last, either. Court upholds Fifth Amendment, prevents forced decryption of data originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink ExtremeTech | USA Courts (PDF) | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Okay, guys, time to finish up those Sunday errands, because we have quite the prime time lineup planned, and you're not going to want to go anywhere (Oscars, schmoscars, right?). Coming up at noon EST Sony is delivering its first press conference since breaking up with Ericsson and rebranding its phone division "Sony Mobile Communications." Bookmark this page and come back a few minutes before noon, at which point we'll be reporting live on the Xperia U, the Pepper or whatever it is Sony has up its sleeve. And then when we're done you can stick around for our HTC liveblog, yeah? Yeah. See you there. February 26, 2012 12:00 PM ESTJoin us for Sony's Mobile World Congress 2012 press event at noon EST originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Okay, guys. Time to finish up those Sunday errands, because we have quite the prime time lineup planned, and you're not going to want to go anywhere (Oscars, schmoscars, right?). Coming up at noon EST Sony is delivering its first press conference since breaking up with Ericsson and rebranding its phone division "Sony Mobile Communications." Bookmark this page and come back a few minutes before noon, at which point we'll be reporting live on the Xperia U, the Pepper or whatever it is Sony has up its sleeve. And then when we're done you can stick around for our HTC liveblog, yeah? Yeah. See you there. February 26, 2012 12:00 PM ESTJoin us for Sony's Mobile World Congress 2012 press event at noon EST originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have flipped the switch on a new type of computer circuit. Unlike conventional silicon, the new chip uses light -- not electricity -- to perform its logic. By creating an array of nano-rods, light-flow can be treated like voltage and current. These rods can then be configured to emulate electrical components such as resistors, inductors and capacitors. The benefits of the so-called "metatronic" system would be smaller, faster and more efficient computer chips, which is clearly a welcome prospect. Another curious property the team discovered, is what it calls "stereo-circuitry." Effectively one set of nano-rods can act as two different circuits, depending on the plane of the field. This means your CPU could become a GPU just by changing the signal. We can't speak for the light itself, but our minds are certainly bent. Light-based 'Metatronics' chip melts minds, not copper originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink ExtremeTech | University of Pennsylvania | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Could it be that Samsung really, truly, has another 10.1-inch slab in store for us this week? After seeing the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 make its official debut earlier, it appears more and more likely that it'll have a counterpart equipped with an S-Pen before the week is over. Apparently, someone was snooping sneaking around a hotel that the Sammy folks are staying at -- and are planning to show off its products -- and uncovered a poster teasing the wildly rumored Galaxy Note 10.1. Naturally, this doesn't guarantee we'll actually see the mystical tablet in Barcelona (after all, we'd imagine something like this would merit a press conference), but it's looking a heckuva lot more likely now, isn't it? [Thanks, Peter] Signage suggests Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 en route for MWC debut originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Cnet | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Facebook wasn't kidding when it said it wanted to build better backends for the digital world -- after sharing the plans for its customized data center, it's looking to do the same with storage hardware. "We're taking the same approach we took with servers," Frank Frankovsky, Facebook's director of Hardware Design, told Wired. "Eliminate anything that's not directly adding value." Frankovsky says they are working on a completely tool-less design, eliminating the need for mounting screws and plastic handles on hot-plug driver carriers. The goal is to get the outfit's new storage digs to run as efficiently as its previous efforts, streamlining hardware to be more serviceable, cost less and use less energy. The new storage designs are set to debut at the Open Compute Summit in early May, and hopes that sharing the designs will help redefine how storage hardware is made. Check out the source link below for Wired's in-depth look at the project.
[Photo credit: Jon Snyder/Wired.com]Facebook's Open Compute takes on data storage, designs a better home for your photos originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Wired | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Google may stir controversy from time to time, but you can't deny it's one of the better provider of virtual tools that help make your life a bit easier. In this case, the Big G's bringing along some concert listings to its world renowned search engine. All you've got to do on your end is show up, pop a simple hunt query for your favorite band / artist ( Kanye, Swift or whatever you're into) and within milliseconds you'll know where and when the next gig's taking place. That is, if that certain musician you're looking for is on tour or has some booked shows coming up (no, it won't get Daft Punk to come play at your house). The fresh tidbit's available now for those G-searching in English, though the plan's to "expand the feature to more countries in the future." You can also make your boy band's next gig show up in results by dropping a rich snippets markup on your site -- hit up the source link below for the full deets. Google search now shows upcoming concerts, helps you find the next gig originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink The Verge | Inside Search Blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Hugh, who wants his businesses conference calls broadcasted in eye-watering detail. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. Our office here in Sydney is getting some big screen HDTVs hooked up to a PC running Skype. We'd like to put together an amazing HD video conferencing setup with a webcam that can show the six or seven people around our table as well as a noise canceling microphone or USB table mic. Any suggestion anyone has would be great, thanks heaps! Let's improve the general standard of the traditionally dour boardroom IT setup by suggesting something world-class, okay chaps and chapesses? It's over to you.Ask Engadget: Best boardroom Skype gear? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  We already saw Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) just over a week ago, and now the company has come clean with its 10.1-inch variant (along with a new Galaxy Beam smartphone). Aside from bumping up the screen resolution of its LCD to 1280 x 800, from 1024 x 600 on the 7.0, the 10.1 features the same 1Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, front and rear cameras (VGA and 3-megapixels, respectively) and 21Mbps HSPA+ connectivity if you opt for the 3G model over WiFi. The 10.1-incher notably comes equipped with a 7,000 mAh (up from 4,000 on the 7.0), hopefully ensuring a healthy amount of battery life. The slate is unsurprisingly loaded with TouchWiz-flavored Ice Cream Sandwich, and will be offered in 16 and 32GB models (expandable by up to 32GB if you supply your own microSD card). There's no word on pricing just yet, but Sammy plans to start selling all 10.1-inches of this treat during March in the UK -- and you can bet we'll get our own in-person hands-on while we're traversing the show floor here at MWC. For now, you'll find full details about the slate in the press release after the break and press images in the gallery below. ...DevelopingContinue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) officially announced at MWC, 3.1 extra inches of Ice Cream Sandwich Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) officially announced at MWC, 3.1 extra inches of Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Synaptics, Atmel,N-trig, Raydium, Cypress and Focaltech -- big names in the field of touch-based devices -- have all agreed get on board with NVIDIA's DirectTouch platform. The tech offloads some of the work needed to track and process finger input from the controller to the Tegra 3, improving response and battery life. We were first introduced to the architecture at CES, but wasn't clear that others would embrace it. With two of the biggest makers of touchscreen controllers, Synaptics and Atmel, throwing their weight behind the project, though, things are looking up for NVIDIA-powered tablets. N-trig is even leveraging the processing power to improve the response of capacitive styli by combining DirectTouch with DuoSense (the tech behind the HTC Flyer). For more info check out the PR and video after the break. Continue reading NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video) NVIDIA gets big names to embrace DirectTouch tech in Tegra 3 devices (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We may live in a digital world, but analog still rules the roost when it comes to audio, and a dedicated DAC can improve the quality of your tunes considerably. Back at CES, we teased you with NuForce's Air DAC that wirelessly streams music from mobile to your home stereo on the 2.4GHz band at a range of 30-65 feet (10-20 meters). Well, it's been priced and is now officially available. For those with Apple devices, the 30-pin iTX dongle will set you back $79, and those keeping their music elswhere can grab the uTX USB transmitter for $59. On its own, the DAC receiver costs $149, though the whole iOS-compatible kit can be had for $199, while the USB version's yours for $179. PR's after the break. Continue reading NuForce Air DAC wireless audio streamer on sale: $199 for iDevices, $179 for everything else NuForce Air DAC wireless audio streamer on sale: $199 for iDevices, $179 for everything else originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | As amazing as Super Hi-Vision televisions are, most of the footage we've seen is of slow-moving cityscapes, nature and portraits. We may get more action sequences soon, thanks to a new CMOS sensor capable of picking up 8K (33MP) footage at 120 frames per second. The joint project between NHK, Shizuoka University and the Research Institute of Electronics is being shown off on the 27th at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference The chip is developed on a .18 micrometer process, with an enhanced analog to digital converter that enables the faster frame rates. That cut down data processing time and power consumption, all key to getting some sweet super high res televisions (16x more pixels than your current HDTV) in our living room sooner rather than later. Our only question? If they can build a new camera around it in time to catch the world's fastest human being do his thing at the 2012 London Olympics. NHK's new Super Hi-Vision sensor captures 8K at 120fps, fast enough for Usain Bolt? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink AV Watch | NHK | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | There are DIY projects that you should do at your own risk, and then there are DIY projects that you should do at your own risk. This conductive ink concocted by Jordan Bunker falls into the latter category, but it should be relatively straightforward for those who know what they're doing (or those with proper supervision), and it results in a product that's markedly cheaper than existing off-the-shelf alternatives (Jordan spent around $150 for a decent-sized batch). That can then be used for any number of electronics projects, of which you'll have to discern your own degree of danger. Jordan's promising a video soon, but you can find the complete instructions for making your own at the source link below in the meantime. DIY'er makes his own conductive ink, teaches you how to do the same originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Hack a Day, Pumping Station: One | Jordan Bunker | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It may be the dead of winter, but you wouldn't know that in Barcelona. The sun's shining bright on Fira, the Spanish city's main exhibition center, as construction crews work furiously (read: gather on staircases for seemingly day-long lunch breaks) to prepare for Mobile World Congress. We've arrived in the Catalonian capital to bring you the latest and greatest from el mundo de la telefonia movil, beginning with tomorrow's manufacturer previews. For now, grab a glass of sangria and enjoy el fin de semana -- the fun begins at dawn.
Protip: Use our "mwc2012" tag to see all of this week's Mobile World Congress news and hand-ons! We're live from Mobile World Congress 2012! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Just because Arris found limited success with its Moxi DVR in the consumer space, that doesn't mean it won't continue to seek success providing hardware to cable companies. Ultra TV is what the number 15 TV provider (432k subscribers) in the US, WOW!, will be calling the 6 tuner, 500GB multi-room DVR, with MoCA, VOIP and WiFi -- a deal that seems to be a bit better than the one TiVo offers for the number 16 provider in the US, RCN. The Moxi user interface in the video below looks like the Moxi we know, but we assume the DVR gateway and players will resemble the Shaw counterparts rather than the retail ones. A comment on the WOW Buzz blog indicates that a gateway and two players will set you back $25 a month, while another indicates that installs are already being scheduled. Continue reading Moxi whole-home six tuner DVR on its way to WOW! customers Moxi whole-home six tuner DVR on its way to WOW! customers originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In our review of PlayBook 2.0, we were eager to check out how well Android apps worked on the platform, and one of the first we reached for was the Dolphin HD browser. Curiously enough, it turns out Dolphin's makers MoboTap had no idea their app was available via BlackBerry's App World. The discovery came after we were notified by developer Steve Troughton-Smith that Dolphin HD had been submitted to App World by white label store Handster (owned by Opera). We reached out to MoboTap who confirmed they didn't authorize any submission by Handster, with a spokes person telling us "We do not condone Handster submitting our Dolphin Browser app to BlackBerry's App World for us and are currently working to take it down and assure Handster will not submit our app for us again. We will assess developing for BlackBerry when the time is right." Dolphin HD may be a free app, but the question remains: why is Handster submitting it without permission? Has your app been submitted to App World without your knowing? Continue reading Is your Android app on BlackBerry App World without you knowing? Is your Android app on BlackBerry App World without you knowing? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | BlackBerry App World | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | EV maker Tesla has come under fire for allegations that its vehicles can be "bricked" when their batteries are completely discharged. Such instances require that the cells be replaced to the tune of $40,000, which doesn't sit well with folks who already forked over six figures to buy a Roadster in the first place. Tesla doesn't deny the charge (pardon the pun), but it does offer a common sense suggestion to avoid the problem: simply plug the car in. Tesla implies this danger is only likely for early adopters, and says it's also made strides to idiot-proof later vehicles with advanced warning systems -- Tesla 2.0 Roadsters can phone home to Tesla headquarters with a low juice alert, for example. Tesla documents safe battery charging practices in the owner's documentation, though, so here's an idea: if you're going to spend $109,000 on an electric sports car, maybe it's a good idea to RTFM (read the freaking manual). Tesla to owners: Plug it in originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Tesla blog | Email this | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
