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HTC aside, not every manufacturer is willing, ready and committed to opening up its device portfolio to the idle hands of hackers. Which is why Auraslate, a recently launched start-up, is stepping in to fill that void, instituting a sea change in how devs translate their unsanctioned software concepts into actual end user products. To do this, the humble outfit's offering up 7- and 10-inch Android tablets that range in price from $139 to $270 and come loaded up with an ARM Cortex A9 CPU, 4GB storage and a Gorilla Glass-coated capacitive touchscreen. Prospective haxxors can choose between two configurations available on the site: an Advance Development Kit which includes a source code disk and a cheaper Novice option. For the money, you'll get that aforementioned hardware, peripherals (usb plug, power adapter), as well as access to Aura's forums and ROM refreshes, although ICS is limited to its top shelf Lifepad 1026. So if you're tired of damning the Man with every OEM-issued, security-patching update and just want to be left to your coding best, it might be wise to bask in this company's glow.
Auraslate opens Android tablets up to developers, welcomes mischief originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink  TechCrunch |  Auraslate | Email this | Comments |
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 The days of ignoring WinZip's incessant nagging that you actually pay its registration fee may be long gone, but that isn't to say the file compressing firm hasn't learned from your failure to pony up. WinZip, the Windows user's go-to compression software since the early nineties, is now available on iOS -- free of charge. The mobile utility will let users open Zip attachments from email, browse compressed files and extract encrypted archives. Actual compression of an iOS device's files, however, will still need to be done on a desktop computer.
Permalink TUAW | iTunes | Email this | Comments |
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If you've been avoiding ditching your CDs because ripping them all to an easily digestible and streamable format has proven too much of a hassle, then Tranquil PC might have the answer for you. The Skinny Ripper is a slim, fanless server with an optical drive that automatically rips any disk you insert and saves the contents to the internal 1TB drive. The embedded version of Fedora also has Subsonic music streaming app preinstalled so you can playback your collection from any smartphone or computer with a browser. You can order one now at the source link, starting at £665.83 ($1,051).
Tranquil PC Skinny Ripper is a slim music-archiving server originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink UWHS | Tranquil PC | Email this | Comments |
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Tower defense games have been done in damn near every way possible: on consoles, mobile apps, and online flash-based games. However, there's a new Kickstarter project, called Doodle Defense, that's putting a new spin on that simple gaming idea using some open source algorithms, a whiteboard, computer, Kinect and a projector. The game works by projecting the battlefield and bad guys on the whiteboard, while users can draw in obstacles using a black marker and towers of varied attack abilities in red, green, and blue. Kinect tracks where your drawings are onscreen, and reroutes the invaders accordingly, while also keeping track of how much ink you have left to use. Check out the video after the break to see the game in action, and if you want to pitch in to the inventor port Doodle Defense to the iPad, hit the source link below.
Continue reading Doodle Defense game uses Kinect to turn white boards into displays, dry-erase markers into weapons
Doodle Defense game uses Kinect to turn white boards into displays, dry-erase markers into weapons originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments |
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It's been nearly a year since Samsung first announced HBO Go access would be coming to its Smart TVs, and today the company announced on all forms of social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google+ -- there may be a YouTube video out there somewhere) it's finally available. Most should be familiar with HBO's TV Everywhere offering that opens its archives to users on various internet devices and has already been well received on iOS, Android and Roku platforms. The official HBO Go Twitter account mentions news on the Xbox 360 client is "coming soon" but for now subscribers can just grab the app and start watching -- with a few caveats.
For reasons not mentioned, the HBO Go app doesn't play nicely with every Smart TV, with access available on all 2010 and 2011 models with the exception of several from last year (listed after the break). Also key to remember is that not every TV provider has given its blessing to allows customers access to HBO Go in the living room, so it seems Comcast, DirecTV and Time Warner customers are still out of luck. If you've got the right combo of service provider and hardware go forth and download from the Samsung Apps marketplace right now, we'll be busy trying to figure out where the old episodes of Arli$$ are.
Continue reading HBO Go rolls out to most Samsung Smart HDTVs -- but not through all providers
HBO Go rolls out to most Samsung Smart HDTVs -- but not through all providers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Tech of the Hub | Samsung | Email this | Comments |
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Apple's legal assault on Android has ratcheted up another notch with Cupertino's newest complaint against Samsung, in which it alleges a bevy of devices infringe upon its slide-to-unlock patent. Help may be on the way, however, as a recent Google patent application shows Mountain View aims to acquire some device-unlocking IP of its own. Titled "Input to Locked Computing Device," the application claims a method for a device unlocking process using one or more user inputs while simultaneously executing a command -- like calling a specific contact or opening an application. Those user inputs can take the form of passcodes, touch and drag, or audio commands. While the application's drawings depict such a system on a phone, it claims an unlocking system for desktops and laptops as well, so it could easily find its way onto a Chromebook or two. Of course, it's just an application, so there's no telling when, or if, it'll actually become an addition to Android's courtroom arsenal, but feel free to check out the app itself by surfing on over to the source link below.
Google files patent app for unlocking devices, says we don't need no stinking slide-to-unlock originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Patently Apple | USPTO | Email this | Comments |
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 Sure, an AR.Drone 2.0 will afford you 720p HD video recording in the skies for just 300 dollars, but how does 1080p with 11 megapixels of sensor sound in comparison? That's exactly what Lehmann Aviation is offering on its new LFPV civil UAV. This $2,300 kit is far less expensive than the company's $17K LP960 from a few years back, but it certainly isn't lacking in the drool inducing features department -- and yes, it'll capture straight up photographs, too. Apart from letting you conduct reconnaissance of your local strip mall, the LFPV packs a "live data connection" to keep you informed about its GPS coordinates and altitude, among others things, like how soon you'll need to recharge. Better yet, it uses the same Ground Control System as Lehmann's other flyers (perfect for when it's time to upgrade), offering an 800 x 480 live video stream of your journey and total control of where you're piloting the aircraft. Best of all, the LFPV even packs autopilot if you need to take a break from the controls . We'd be remiss not to point out Eye3's $999 bring-your-own-camera hexicopter for those already equipped with a beefy ILC shooter, but if the LFPV is right up (or over) your alley, you'll find a full press release and video just past the break.
Lehmann Aviation's LFPV UAV packs GPS, autopilot, 11MP cam, 1080p video, yours for $2,300 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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Barclays Bank has unleashed Pingit, an iOS, Android and BlackBerry app that lets you send up to £300 ($470) each day to family, friends or technically-aware muggers. UK mobile number and bank account holders can get started in minutes as long as you've got one of the Barclays-branded PINSentry tools. You'll be asked to come up with a five digit code that will lock the app to anyone but yourself (or, you know, that mugger) and then you can start spreading your cash around, baller-style. We set up our own account in the app and if you're curious about our impressions, you can find out what we thought after the break.
Continue reading Barclays releases Pingit mobile payments app, we go hands on
Barclays releases Pingit mobile payments app, we go hands on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Barclays | Email this | Comments |
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 The Beeb has finally detailed its plans for 3D broadcasts during the London 2012 Olympic Games this summer, and unfortunately for fans of the technology, the content available for live viewing will be pretty limited. The BBC's site lists the Opening / Closing ceremonies and the men's 100m dash for its experimental coverage... and that's it. At the end of each day a "highlights package" will be available, but we're still not sure what other sports will be included yet. This approach harkens back to NBC's 24 hour tape delayed HD broadcasts of 2004, and according to director Roger Mosey, is mostly due to limited capacity. If the BBC is using one of its HD channels for the free-to-air 3D broadcast, then it takes away an HD channel for another event at the same time, so the ceremonies have the advantage of not blacking out any other coverage. In the US, it's possible things could be different if 3D broadcasts are made available on a dedicated events channel as Versus nee NBC SportsTalk has done before, but we'll wait to hear what NBC has planned and hope Usain Bolt doesn't false start again.
BBC 3D London Olympics plans include one live sporting event, daily highlights originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | BBC, Roger Mosey | Email this | Comments |
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In the market for a HDTV upgrade? Then you may be interested in hearing how much you'll need to pony up for Samsung's new screens. HDGuru's got its hands on a whole list of purported MAPs (minimum advertised prices) for its 2012 range and, sadly, they're slightly pricier than last year's models. You will, however, be getting some extra bang for your buck; its latest top-end sets include built-in cameras, speech recognition and gesture-sensing remotes. The LED LCD 8000 series of Smart TVs maxes out at 75 inches ($7,299), "shrinking" down to a 46 inch model ($2,699). These all pack a 3D screen alongside dual-core processors for TV-based apps. Meanwhile, if you're in the market for a plasma, expect to pay around $2,249 for the 51 inch model with the same specifications outlined above, while a 64 inch vista will necessitate 3,399 notes. Prices aren't set in stone just yet and could change depending on competitor's pricing ahead of hitting the shelves. We're hoping any potential price adjustments will be in the downward direction. Check the full -- and pretty darn comprehensive -- list at the source below.
Samsung's 2012 HDTV family prices leaked? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | HDGuru | Email this | Comments |
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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 love the snooze button as much as everyone else. But we've all postponed exiting the comfort of our Tempur-Pedic one too many times. Enter the Ramos alarm clock, a rise-and-shine solution that integrates a Defuse Panel in order to silence your wake-up call. Don't expect to stay in bed to enter the code either, as the keypad can be wirelessly situated in another room to prevent further slumber. Two time keeping options, LED and Nixie models, await your minimum pledges of $160 and $350 before the April 1st deadline. The latter features a nixie tube display that will put any regular ol' alarm clock's digits to shame. You can spring for a long-range kit if you need to place your key panel more than 50 feet away from your nightstand. If you're feeling extra generous, a pledge of more than $800 will allow you to select the type of wood used for your Ramos. In need of a bit more convincing? Peep the video on the other side of the break for a closer look.
Continue reading Insert Coin: Alarm clock makes you enter a code to silence it, in another room (video)
Insert Coin: Alarm clock makes you enter a code to silence it, in another room (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments |
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Need another reason to cough up for that PS Vita? Well, Sony's attempting to sweeten the pot for existing PS3 owners with the launch of a promotional lure that'll make a trio of titles available for cross-platform play. Yes, that portable-to-console bridge has been attempted before and though it's always reeked more of gimmick than true killer feature, that's not stopping the electronics juggernaut from giving it the ol' college try. Gamers that download either Hustle Kings, WipEout 2048 or Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 on the PlayStation Store will be able to transfer and play that content on both devices for the price of one. If you currently claim any of the above as your own, not to worry, you'll still be able to take part in the company's pan-PS content share. So, are you red E? Then hit up the source below for the extended deets.
Sony promo lets PS Vita, PS3 hold hands for cross-platform play, because sharing is caring originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | PlayStation blog | Email this | Comments |
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The National Cable & Telecommunications Association and Boxee don't see eye to eye on whether or not ClearQAM is good or bad for us. Boxee argues that encrypting even those channels free and clear via an antenna, as a few cable companies have requested permission from the FCC to do, will increase your bill and limit competition. The NCTA alternatively claims that eliminating ClearQAM will enable self installs, thus reducing costs and truck rolls, because the coax outside your house will no longer need to be disconnected when you cancel service, and that Boxee should just adopt CableCARD if it wants the Boxee Box to access live cable TV -- of course most anyone who has had a CableCARD setup knows that a simple truck roll to connect a cable outside is child's play. While this struggle has played out in public with FCC filings, social media and blog posts, we all just fondly remember a day when setting up a TV was as simple as connecting a single coax cable and running a channel scan. Of course, it would be nice if the FCC would actually force more QAM to be sent in the clear and require accurate PSIP data while it's at it, but we gave up on that dream years ago.
Boxee and the NCTA debate if ClearQAM is good for us originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Boxee Blog 1, Boxee Box 2, Cable Tech Talk | Email this | Comments |
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Mozilla surprised us last summer when it announced plans for its Boot to Gecko mobile OS. Now, it looks like the project has some industry support, with CTO Brenden Eich tweeting that the company will make a partner announcement at MWC this month. There are no details right now as to who might be involved, but given that developer support is already there (the operating system is based on existing web standards, after all), the hopes are that this could indicate vital operator, or even hardware manufacturer backing. Another encouraging development is the first sighting of the platform's Gaia UI, further suggesting the project might well meet its planned Q2 release target. It doesn't stray too far from the Android / iOS model that we're already familiar with, but give the source link a swipe if you want to see more.
Mozilla offers Gaia UI first look, will reveal Boot to Gecko partners at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink CNET | Brendan Eich (Twitter), Ars Technica | Email this | Comments |
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Where are Lone Starr and Barf when you need'em? Would that those two (fictional) interstellar handymen-for-hire were real, space agencies like Switzerland's own, could outsource the tricky and costly intergalactic housekeeping that's fast becoming a high-priority. Instead, the famously neutral country is investing 10 million Swiss francs (about $10.8 million USD) into the production of a new breed of satellites dedicated to the collection and destruction of orbital debris. The project, dubbed CleanSpace One, will tackle one of two Swiss-borne, celestial objects -- the SwissCube or Tiasat -- for its initial mission, slated for some time within the next three to five years. While our very own NASA has proposed the use of a laser to redirect these non-operational and potentially hazardous craft, the brains over at EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute for Technology) are in the process of developing a micro-electric propulsion system, in addition to a retrieval mechanism for the unit. So, what'll happen to both this outer space Rosie and her doomed cargo? Well, rather unfortunately, it's a suicide mission, as both are destined for burn-up on re-entry. Yes, it's a rather grim end to an otherwise noble voyage, but such is the price of our scientific spring cleaning.
Continue reading EPFL's CleanSpace One: clearing up cosmic clutter (video)
EPFL's CleanSpace One: clearing up cosmic clutter (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink USA Today | EPFL | Email this | Comments |
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NASA can't just park up in the middle of space and rely on Robotnaut 2 for its entertainment. Actually, it probably can, but at some point the urge to explore new worlds will become too strong to resist. That's when it'll need a suborbital rocket guidance system like the GENIE ("Guidance Embedded Navigator Integration Environment"), which transforms a flood of sensory data into reliable and autonomous maneuvers. Fortunately, the system's economics make a whole lot more sense than its name, which is why NASA is depending on technology like this to control the next generation of affordable and reusable space craft. The test flight shown after the break can only boost GENIE's chances: it took a Xombie rocket up to 160 feet and then made it fly laterally for another 160 feet before landing with a degree of swagger that makes the previous flight in 2010 look plain rickety.
Continue reading GENIE rocket system does smooth VTOL, lateral flight, cheap trips to Mars (video)
GENIE rocket system does smooth VTOL, lateral flight, cheap trips to Mars (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Wired | Draperlaboratory (YouTube) | Email this | Comments |
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Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
Of this week's IRL contributors, two have already tried out that replacement for iChat. For the purposes of this column, though, all three are waxing on about something very old, at least by early adopter standards. For starters, James still get the warm-and-fuzzies holding his Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, despite its crawling page load times. Joe, our resident audio guru, explains why he tosses a reference to Bowers & Wilkins' P5 into almost every one of his headphone reviews. And the object of Mat's affection -- a laptop skin -- slipped under our radar when it came out over a year ago. So is James actually still using that N800? What's Joe's obsession with B&W? And why would anyone spend $50 on a notebook prophylactic? Read on to find out.
IRL: Bowers & Wilkins P5 headphones, Speck SeeThru Satin and the Nokia N800 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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By now, you've seen all that RIM's 2.0 software update for the PlayBook is prepared to give -- just not in your own hands. But that could all very well change if news of a February 21st release date, supposedly confirmed by the lips of Waterloo's own during an early morning webcast, prove true. According to BerryReview's sources, the roll out is purportedly scheduled for next Tuesday, falling neatly in line with earlier reports that it would hit users' slates sometime later this month. So, if you've been clinging to that understated tab and looking forward to an OS-future populated by a native email client, address book, BlackBerry Bridge enhancements and social networking integration, well, it appears your dreams are about to come true.
RIM to release BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 on February 21st? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink N4BB | BerryReview | Email this | Comments |
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Rumor had it that Acer's latest slate, the Iconia Tab A510 would be hitting the market in April. Well, the Android 4.0-sporting slab just inched closer to its debut by sauntering through the FCC. This particular model comes loaded with Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS, but there's no 3G or 4G in sight. The ten-inch tablet didn't reveal all its secrets to us in the filing, and the images of its prerequisite dissection have not been posted yet. Still, it's nice to know that this slimmer and pleasantly plasticy device should be hitting the market soon and serving up a much needed slice of Ice Cream Sandwich. Hit up the source link if you're really into graphs and radiation reports.
Acer Iconia Tab A510 hits FCC, refuses to reveal all its secrets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments |
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To say it's been a bumpy road for LightSquared over recent months would be an understatement. However, developments this week could see the beleaguered company reach a critical fork in the road. On Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration confirmed that LightSquared's planned network would indeed interfere with global positioning systems, and that there was no "practical way" to work around this. The FCC subsequently proposed to indefinitely suspend LightSquared's authority to migrate its satellite spectrum to land-based use. Unsurprisingly, this evoked a less than cheerful response from the troubled startup, which slammed the FCC in a statement, claiming it's "harmed not only LightSquared, but also the American public" and accusing the committee of "the height of bureaucratic irresponsibility." The following day, the Wall Street Journal reported that firm was now making a last-ditch effort to revive hope, by attempting to exchange its wireless licenses for ones similar to those operated by the Department of Defense. Reuters has since reported that contrary to rumors that the company was seeking restructuring advice, hedge fund manager Philip Falcone claims that filing for bankruptcy would be off the cards, defiantly stating "there are other ways around this." As to what these other ways include we're as yet to see, but we admire the optimism.
LightSqured grasps at straws, slams FCC in a statement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear | Wall Street Journal, Reuters | Email this | Comments |
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It's 2012, and we're connected to the web every second of every day. And then, near the end of each daily cycle, it all stops. "My battery is dead." Is it really your battery that's become depleted? Of course it's not, though it certainly feels as though it might as well be. Stassi Anastassov experiences that daily setback just like you and I and the rest of the world. But the Duracell President and long-time Proctor and Gamble executive is in a position to find a way around it, and that's exactly what he plans to do. We sat down with Anastassov in our New York City office to chat about the past, present and future of battery tech, and we even had a chance to meet the Duracell Bunny (yes, that furry hare was property of the "Trusted Everywhere" company long before it made its move to Energizer). So how does P&G plan to transform the portable power industry, and what's that Duracell Powermat joint venture all about? You'll find the answers to those questions and more in our interview just past the break.
Continue reading The Engadget Interview: Duracell President Stassi Anastassov on future battery tech (video)
The Engadget Interview: Duracell President Stassi Anastassov on future battery tech (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments |
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Clearly, cats are in. But Mac, it seems, is out. Apple has quietly dropped the Mac name from its latest OS X Mountain Lion operating system, while also retroactively changing the Lion branding on its website. While it's clearly a marketing move and won't affect the user experience, it looks like Cupertino is further defining the line between hardware and software -- Mac is hardware, OS X is software, and that's the end of that. Apple purists will need to download the developer preview of Lion to see the change reflected on the OS side of things, though that could always change with 10.7.4. Hit up the source link to see for yourself.
Apple drops the 'Mac' from OS X Lion, Mountain Lion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Verge | Apple | Email this | Comments |
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Sure, we knew it was coming, but now Hulu Plus has officially arrived for the Nintendo Wii, letting you stream "current-season hit TV shows such as... New Girl and Vampire Diaries" in all their high standard-definition glory. We know, you're already caught up on all that New Girl action, but The Biggest Loser's latest win will look even juicier in gorgeous 480p SD resolution, so head on over to the colorful Wii Shop Channel to get your $7.99 monthly Hulu fix. Or, if you're not keen on paying for your teevee, you can download a two-week free trial of the service anytime within the first month of availability. And what about that 3DS version? You'll need to wait until "later this year," unfortunately. Full PR is just past the break.
Continue reading Nintendo Wii joins the Hulu Plus watch party
Nintendo Wii joins the Hulu Plus watch party originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq | Business Wire | Email this | Comments |
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Okay, this may not bring the most sweeping changes in the history of the Google Maps application, but who can say no to the promise of better battery life? The fresh update to the Android app, version 6.3 to be exact, brings along the customary bug fixes. And, for those of you using the Latitude and location history, you should notice some improvements in the juice department -- because you need all the power you can get when stalking folks all over town. We know you're eager to get past VIP status and become the Guru at the local watering hole, so head on down to the source link and get the update to make it happen.
Permalink | Google Maps (Twitter), Android Market | Email this | Comments |
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 The cost of entry to the LGA-2011 party just tumbled by around $250 thanks to Chipzilla's Core i7-3820 processor. It's a proper Sandy Bridge E processor with PCIe 3.0 support and more PCIe lanes, more memory bandwidth and room for more RAM compared to older platforms, but of course it's also lower specced than the pricey 3960X and 3930K. It 'only' has four cores (and eight threads), 10MB of L3 cache and it isn't fully unlocked -- as denoted by the lack of a K or an X in its title. Priced at around $300, it looks like a steal when stacked up against an LGA-1155 cousin like the $332 Core i7-2700K, which has the same 3.9GHz base clock speed, 8MB of L3 cache and none of the added benefits of Sandy Bridge E. However, once you factor in the cost of an X79 motherboard and perhaps also a new cooling solution, Intel's pricing starts to make more sense. AnandTech reviewed and benchmarked this chip a while back and reached a glowing conclusion -- check it out at the More Coverage link below.
Intel releases Core i7-3820 CPU, proves Sandy Bridge E isn't entirely elitist originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | The Inquirer | Email this | Comments |
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You may still be purring your way through our in-depth preview, but Mountain Lion is now officially out of the bag, with Apple releasing a preview version of its latest OS X to the members-only Developer Program. If you're up to date on those $99/year dues, you can head on over to the Member Center to get your OS 10.8 fix, and start checking out those shiny new Messages, Reminders, Notes and Notification Center apps. Or kick up your feet and bring your desktop to the big screen with AirPlay Mirroring. If you have the Apple-approved credentials to proceed, you can find all that and more by making your way over to our source link just below.
Apple unleashes OS X Mountain Lion Preview to Mac Developer Program originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iFixit's (counter-intuitively) done it again. This time it's made gamers of the world weep by ceremoniously un-fixing a PS Vita, Sony's latest portable gaming powerhouse. Standard screws and fittings -- alongside a modular design -- made for a relatively pain-free deconstruction for these tinkerers -- especially compared to recent iFixit visitors. Highlights from the tech autopsy include a 2,200mAh battery, Toshiba SDRAM and an OLED display that is unfortunately fused to the plastic, reducing the score down to a could-be-worth-a-fixin' 8 out of 10. Get your goggles, grab a surgery mask and meet us at the source below. Things could get a little messy.
PS Vita torn apart by iFixit, gets its vitals checked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | iFixit | Email this | Comments |
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If you've been following the latest camera industry accounting scandal, then you're probably well aware that all is not well at Olympus. The Japanese company took its latest blow today when former chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa was arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of having falsified financial statements. The Tokyo prosecutor's office released a statement saying that two other former execs were also brought into police custody, including Hisashi Mori, a former executive vice president, and Hideo Yamada, a former auditor. Olympus is also faced with the possibility of being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange -- the decision has been deferred awaiting further evidence. So what does all this mean for the scandal-ridden camera maker's position in the industry? Little, perhaps, from a consumer perspective, considering that Olympus has continued to announce and ship new products, including the well-received EM-5. The fate of its former executives, however, is less auspicious.
Former Olympus chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa comes down from the mount, into police custody originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | The New York Times | Email this | Comments |
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You can bid farewell to the days of Apple's theatrical OS reveals -- at least until OS 11 rears its head, anyway. In the meantime, the outfit has seemingly been content to strip away more and more pomp and circumstance with every subsequent big cat release. Lately, the company has settled into an evolutionary release schedule, eschewing full-fledged makeovers in favor of packing in lots of smaller changes, many of them quite granular indeed. It's a trend that can be traced as far back as 2009's OS X Snow Leopard (10.6), a name designed to drive home the point that the upgrade wasn't so much a reinvention of the wheel as a fine tuning of its predecessor, Leopard.
The arrival of Lion (10.7), though, marked a full upgrade. With features like Launchpad and Mission Control, it seemed like it might be the last version Cupertino dropped before finally pulling the trigger on operating system number 11, and perhaps transitioning to something with an even stronger iOS influence. Right now, at least, the company's not ready to close the book on chapter X, but it is giving the world a first peek at 10.8. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mountain Lion.
Continue reading Apple OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) in-depth preview
Apple OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) in-depth preview originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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You can bid farewell to the days of Apple's theatrical OS reveals -- at least until OS 11 rears its head, anyway. In the meantime, the outfit has seemingly been content to strip away more and more pomp and circumstance with every subsequent big cat release. Lately, the company has settled into an evolutionary release schedule, eschewing full-fledged makeovers in favor of packing in lots of smaller changes, many of them quite granular indeed. It's a trend that can be traced as far back as 2009's OS X Snow Leopard (10.6), a name designed to drive home the point that the upgrade wasn't so much a reinvention of the wheel as a fine tuning of its predecessor, Leopard.
The arrival of Lion (10.7), though, marked a full upgrade. With features like Launchpad and Mission Control, it seemed like it might be the last version Cupertino dropped before finally pulling the trigger on operating system number 11, and perhaps transitioning to something with an even stronger iOS influence. Right now, at least, the company's not ready to close the book on chapter X, but it is giving the world a first peek at 10.8. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mountain Lion.
Continue reading Apple OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) in-depth preview
Apple OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) in-depth preview originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Specs aren't always accurate, especially when it comes to the frequencies supported by the devices we review -- something we learned the hard way with T-mobile's G2x last year. While both Samsung and AT&T list the radios in the awesome new Galaxy Note LTE as quadband GSM / EDGE, tri-band UMTS / HSPA+ (850 / 1900 / 2100MHz) and dual-band LTE (1700 and 700MHz, bands 4 and 17) we've read emails, tweets and comments suggesting that Samsung's giant phone (or little tablet?) is also compatible with AWS (1700 MHz) for HSPA+, which is used by T-Mobile in the US. Bell, which carries the same Galaxy Note in Canada, shows it supporting 1700MHz for HSPA+, further adding to the confusion. Of course, it's possible the Canadian handset is slightly different, but we wanted to verify the radio specs for AT&T's model so we unlocked our white review unit with the help from our friends at Negri Electronics. The verdict? AT&T's Galaxy Note does not support AWS for HSPA+ -- it's EDGE only on T-Mobile USA. Sure, it's rather unfortunate considering Samsung's flagship unlocked Galaxy Nexus features a pentaband HSPA+ radio, but to be clear, the same restriction applies to the global non-LTE version of the Galaxy Note that we reviewed last year.
PSA: AT&T's Galaxy Note does not support AWS for HSPA+ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Unless Samsung's produced yet another 7-inch tablet that's unannounced, we can be reasonably sure that the slate seen departing the FCC's underground bunker is the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). Eagle-eyed viewers will notice the back plate in the image above resembles the Tab 7.0 Plus -- but don't write in just yet, as the documents confirm the GT-P310 (Plus) schematic was used to disguise this new GT-P3113. The usual multimeter-and-ruler prodding revealed there's a Broadcom radio module with 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0 tucked inside. It jibes with what we've heard about an initial UK release for the device in March, but perhaps the company is ensuring it has worldwide approval, or that the USA can start getting excited about the budget ICS device a little sooner than expected.
Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments |
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 Publicly, at least, AT&T is bursting at the seams as it runs out of space to put all of its customers. The failed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile was all about trying to match (or better) Verizon's reserves of wireless spectrum. Given the FCC's block of LightSquared and stymieing future spectrum auctions for the time being, AT&T needs to make some more purchases (it bought Qualcomm's small slice of the airwaves for $1.9 billion). If the Wall Street Journal is to be believed, there's a whiteboard in Whitacre Tower with Dish, Leap and MetroPCS written all over it. Reportedly, a purchase of Leap is the nearest to fruition, with "under the table" talks already underway. However, the Cricket Wireless operator would only provide a short term solution to Ma Bell's very long term woes. The other big target is Dish Network's reserved spectrum, kept back for its own planned broadband network, but if it fails to get Government approval, it might look to offload it. Third on the roster and marked as "highly unlikely" is a purchase of MetroPCS. The carrier was bitterly opposed to the T-Mo merger and pouted at the idea of purchasing some of Big Blue's divested assets, so if those two met around a table, they'd have a lot of awkward apologizing to do.
Image courtesy of Fierce Mobile Content
Permalink | WSJ | Email this | Comments |
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This slide was reportedly displayed at a press conference yesterday, but perhaps it gives away a little bit more than Fujitsu -- or at least Microsoft -- would have intended. The box on the far right appears to show a tablet with a Metro-style UI and it clearly says "Win8 Launch" and "Q4 2012," even though there is still no official launch schedule for the OS. Of course, the slide might specifically be referring to the launch a Fujitsu tablet running Windows 8, rather than the software itself, but even so this tallies with earlier rumors of an autumnal birth of the new Windows.
Fujitsu roadmap hints at Windows 8 arrival in Q4, reveals ultrabooks and slates too originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | NetbookItalia | Email this | Comments |
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Remember those color problems experienced by some Xbox 360 users after last year's dashboard update? Microsoft appears to have fixed the issue in its latest system update, although it will take time for the fix to roll out across the associated apps -- we've been told this will happen over the next few months. Its Sony rival also rolled out its own (optional) update for the PS3 yesterday, improving "certain aspects" of the UI. The Xbox team promise that their update will also increase performance, but don't take their word for it; the update is rolling out now -- let us know how it goes.
Xbox 360 system update gets its colors in order, makes it mandatory originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Major Nelson, PlayStation blog | Email this | Comments |
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 Kodak took another step along the road to recovery yesterday, after receiving court approval to borrow $950 million in restructuring funds. Nearly a month after the camera maker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, US Bankruptcy Judge Allen Gropper granted Kodak's request on Thursday, allowing the company to continue operations during its ongoing transition. Gropper's decision, handed down in a Manhattan court, follows a series of negotiations between Kodak and its lenders, and adds an extra $300 million to the $650 million awarded during January's Chapter 11 filing. The company is also allowed to end its sponsorship of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, after successfully arguing that doing so would be in the best interest of Kodak and its creditors. Under the deal, Kodak is obliged to pay $72 million over the course of 20 years. It currently shells out $3.6 million per year and still has $38 million in outstanding payments, but Kodak's lawyers argued that the agreement was too costly. Kodak Chairman and CEO Antonio Perez issued the following statement in response to yesterday's decision: "Today's agreement is another step towards ensuring that Kodak is positioned to execute on the goals the Company set out last month: Bolster our liquidity in the U.S. and abroad, monetize our non-strategic intellectual property, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable Kodak to focus on its most valuable business lines."
Kodak gets court approval to borrow $950 million, end theater sponsorship originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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