4/5 Engadget

Engadget       Next Issue Media launches on Android, $15 a month for access to 32 magazines April 4, 2012 at 2:11 PM   If you've taken issue with your usual choices for buying magazines on your tablet, be it pay-per-issue or per-subscription, you're not alone. If you'll recall, it was nearly a year ago that Next Issue Media launched the preliminary version of its "Hulu-meets-magazines" app on the Galaxy Tab, and it's finally ready to release this physical newsstand alternative officially. After raking in a slew of deals last November, its Android 3.0 app is now available -- users can fork over a monthly fee of $10 to access all of its monthly and bi-weekly content, while an extra five bucks adds in weekly content, essentially giving you access to every publication on offer. Singular subscriptions are also available for two to 10 bucks, and you'll currently have a choice of 32 mags from the likes of Car and Driver to The New Yorker. Interestingly, TechCrunch notes that NIM plans to get the app over to iOS "soon" -- it'll surely be interesting to see how it competes with Apple's own Newsstand. You'll find more info at the via links below, and you can flip over to the source for details about a 30-day trial offer. Next Issue Media launches on Android, $15 a month for access to 32 magazines originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechCrunch, TIME, All Things Digital  |  Next Issue Media  | Email this | Comments     Nokia Lumia 900 teardown peeks behind that $99 price (video) April 4, 2012 at 1:31 PM   We've always admired Nokia's ability to make a solid phone to a budget, when it's done right, your average user won't notice the difference. Given the strict hardware limitations imposed by Windows Phone, the Lumia 900 was never going to be a hyper-powered handset, but now we can see how the company have managed to get it out for just $99. Tech Republic tore down its review model to confirm the handset's internals are almost uniformly modest. There's a single-core 1.4GHz Qualcomm CPU paired with 512MB of RAM, a fixed 16GB of storage and that limited (but pretty) 800 x 480 AMOLED display. Still, the accountants didn't get at that beautiful 8-megapixel camera, even if it is the same unit we'd seen in the N9 and Lumia 800. If you'd like to watch the handset get torn to pieces (the secret's in the SIM slot) then take a look at the video we've got for you below. Continue reading Nokia Lumia 900 teardown peeks behind that $99 price (video) Nokia Lumia 900 teardown peeks behind that $99 price (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink WMPoweruser  |  Tech Republic  | Email this | Comments     Nokia Maps Suite 2.0 rolls out to Symbian devices, breaks free from beta chains April 4, 2012 at 1:02 PM   Symbian users haven't seen any shortage of love come their way in 2012. Just look to the 808 PureView for proof of that platform's staying power. Now, Nokia's doling out even more good news, dropping the beta tag from its Maps Suite 2.0 and officially rolling out that software to ^3, Anna and Belle handsets. For those unfamiliar with this bundle of location services, it's primarily a tidy integration of Espoo's Maps, Drive and Transport apps sewn into one, with tailored icons, enhanced UI customization, voice search and photo-tagging. Interested parties can get to downloading the currently available refresh via an OTA update on their phones now. And while you wait for that lengthy install, check out the source link below for additional shots of the packaged goods. Nokia Maps Suite 2.0 rolls out to Symbian devices, breaks free from beta chains originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink All About Symbian  |  Nokia Beta Labs  | Email this | Comments     Microsoft 'Shopping assistant' patent could help you find Elmo, more time for the kids April 4, 2012 at 12:01 PM   Microsoft's just been granted a patent entitled "Shopping assistant." The claims indicate a system that generates a route to a product based on user-defined criteria (i.e. quickest, cheapest, shortest distance,) it also indicates that certain real-time conditions from participating merchants, such as stock levels, could also help determine the route. Now we're no CSI, but sounds to us like someone got fed up pounding the Mall looking for the last Buzz Lightyear, and cooked up a system to help save folk from the same pain. The problem is, we're not sure we like the idea of Windows Shopping all that much either... Microsoft 'Shopping assistant' patent could help you find Elmo, more time for the kids originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink   |  USPTO  | Email this | Comments     Sprint HTC 'Evo One' gets some in-person pics, kickstand and all April 4, 2012 at 10:57 AM   While the supposed HTC One series variant destined for Sprint only just broke cover in a leaked PR photo yesterday, now there's more concrete evidence of its existence in a few pics posted by Android Life. Still being referred to as the HTC Evo One, the specs listed are the same, with a 4.7-inch 720p screen, 8MP camera, Android 4.0.3 with the Sense 4.0 UI that we've already become accustomed to and that oh-so-familiar kickstand around back. According to the description, the hardware is up to the standards of HTC's other One phones, and the software is predictably running "buttery smooth". All that's left now would appear to be the official unveiling (which may only be hours away now), hit the source link for a few more close up shots. Sprint HTC 'Evo One' gets some in-person pics, kickstand and all originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink   |  Android Life  | Email this | Comments     Japanese researchers show off 'interactive' plants: real leaves, artificial emotions April 4, 2012 at 10:33 AM   Looking for a little more companionship from your household plants? Then a team of researchers from Keio University in Japan may have just the thing for you. They've developed a rather elaborate system that promises to lets plants react to you and display a variety of different emotions (see "anger," pictured above). Yes, that's a real plant sprouting up out of the box, which contains sensors and microphones that monitor its surroundings, as well as some actuators that are connected to the plant itself with some fine cords. Lest you worry about the safety of the plants themselves, the researchers say that they've had plants rigged up like this for nearly a year and none have wilted. Of course, there's no indication of a commercial version just yet, but you can get a glimpse of the current state of things in the video after the break courtesy of DigInfo TV. Continue reading Japanese researchers show off 'interactive' plants: real leaves, artificial emotions Japanese researchers show off 'interactive' plants: real leaves, artificial emotions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink   |  DigInfo TV  | Email this | Comments