IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 09/04/2010

Multitasking comes to iPhone OS 4.0!

You heard that right, people -- iPhone OS 4 just brought multitasking to the platform! Apple says they've figured out how to implement third party multitasking without hurting performance or battery life, and they're demoing it now -- you just double click the home button and see a list of your apps, and you can just tap to switch between apps.

Developing...
Make sure to check out the ongoing iPhone OS 4.0 liveblog!

Multitasking comes to iPhone OS 4.0! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Live from Apple's iPhone OS 4 event!

We're on the ground outside of Apple's iPhone OS 4 event, awaiting the doorbuster stampede we hope to be a part of soon. Keep it tuned here, and check back at the times below for the official start!

07:00AM - Hawaii
10:00AM - Pacific
11:00AM - Mountain
12:00PM - Central
01:00PM - Eastern
06:00PM - London
07:00PM - Paris
09:00PM - Moscow

Continue reading Live from Apple's iPhone OS 4 event!

Live from Apple's iPhone OS 4 event! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

iPhone OS 4.0 unveiled, adds multitasking, shipping this summer

Just a bit more than a year after we first laid eyes on iPhone OS 3.0, Apple is back with the latest big revision of the OS that powers the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It's shipping this summer, and the developer preview will be out today. The biggest new feature is multitasking, which Apple says is going to be the "best" implementation in the smartphone space, though not the first. App switching is activated by double tapping the home button -- what currently brings up iPod controls. Developing...

Make sure to check out the ongoing iPhone OS 4.0 liveblog!

iPhone OS 4.0 unveiled, adds multitasking, shipping this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Apple's sold 450,000 iPads as of today, pushed 3.5 million iPad app downloads (update: 50 million iPhones!)

There you have it -- according to Steve Jobs at today's iPhone event, nearly half a million iPads have been pushed so far alongside 3.5 million iPad app downloads -- a perfect few orders of magnitude above the 3,500 iPad apps presently available. It's not clear whether that includes units sold to third party retailers (like Best Buy) that are still sitting on store shelves, though, so there's quite a bit of potential variability there. Separately, he's mentioned that 50 million iPhones have now been sold worldwide alongside 35 million iPod touches -- so yeah, needless to say, the iPad has some big shoes to fill if it wants to hit the same level of rousing success.

Apple's sold 450,000 iPads as of today, pushed 3.5 million iPad app downloads (update: 50 million iPhones!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

New Mitsubishi 3D DLPs arrive for 2010, is this the mysterious StreamTV?

Sure most other manufacturers are new to this 3DTV thing but Mitsubishi is already on its fourth generation, announcing the new 638, 738 and 838 series DLP TVs. New for the 2010 lineup, and possibly giving some insight to those weird HDTVs that appeared on Amazon yesterday is "StreamTV" interactive media which appears to be a new (post Wal-mart acquisition?) branding for the VUDU Apps service we spotted during CES with Pandora, Flickr, Picasa and others built in. If that sounds like a little too much then don't worry, it's not in the base 638 series televisions while the 738 models add StreamTV, an optional WiFi N adapter and video calibration options, and the top of the line 838 models offer Mitsubishi's 16 speaker built-in iSP surround sound tech along with a few other minor adjustments as upgrades. We're still waiting to find out when these ship (probably in the next month or so), but one thing that never changes is projection's ability to go big for less money than its flat-panel competitors, ranging from $1,199 for the 60-inch WD-60638 to $4,499 for the 82-inch WD-8238 (don't forget to add in the price of a special checkerboard compatible 3D Blu-ray player or an adapter to make everything work.) Check after the break for a full breakdown, we'll let you know once more info is available -- or if some $6k autostereoscopic options pop up on the horizon.

Gallery: Mitsubishi 2010 3D DLPs

Continue reading New Mitsubishi 3D DLPs arrive for 2010, is this the mysterious StreamTV?

New Mitsubishi 3D DLPs arrive for 2010, is this the mysterious StreamTV? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Netflix looking to hire 'Android video playback expert'

Netflix will stop at nothing, we say -- nothing -- until you have the ability to watch films like Failure to Launch and Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom on every conceivable device in your possession. It's hit the Wii, it's coming to the iPhone, and now? That's right, the kids at Los Gatos want YOU to help "build Instant Streaming client implementations on Android devices." Are you "a senior engineer with a strong background in embedded and mobile development, specifically on media-enabled devices," with over ten years experience, hands-on experience with media playback on the Android platform, and a knack for DRM technologies? You're in luck! Hit the source link to get started. And if you do get hired, make sure you keep us in the loop as things progress. You owe us at least that much, right?

[Thanks, jt.shen]

Netflix looking to hire 'Android video playback expert' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Netflix | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Eclair shocker! Android 2.1 leaked for Samsung Moment

Feeling impatient? Can't wait until Moment gets its Android 2.1 upgrade? The kids at SDX-Developers feel you, with one forum member providing a simple, straightforward download link to a 7z archive containing not one but two leaked builds: ECLAIR.DC23 and ECLAIR.DD03. According to the hub-bub, the latter seems to be giving people the most luck, although some are reporting a "faulty" Marketplace. That said, both builds do seem to work with voice and data. And yes, it will wipe your phone completely -- but if you're looking to get into this sort of action you're probably a risk-taker and a heart-breaker anyways. Good luck, and if you brick your phone don't blame us.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Eclair shocker! Android 2.1 leaked for Samsung Moment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | SDX-Developers | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

What it takes to properly convert a 2D movie to 3D

3DTVs are useless without content and while to some sports is the killer app for 3D, others prefer movies. When it comes to new movies, there's Avatar and then there's everything else -- most movies are converted to 3D instead of using 3D cameras. The company In-Three originally formed with the intent of converting classics like Star Wars to 3D -- yes Lucas says he wants to do all six -- but with all the money 3D movies are making in theaters today, In-Three is spending their time working with producers on new movies like Alice in Wonderland.

Anyone who saw both Alice and Clash of the Titans will tell you that all dimensionalization isn't created equal. While most didn't realize Alice wasn't actually shot in 3D, reviews of Clash were titled like "the first film to actually be made worse by being in 3D." While the dimensionalization of Alice took four to six months, Clash was done in eight to ten weeks -- as well as being converted by different companies. We can't blame 'em for trying though, as In-Three tells 3DCineCast blog it uses four to six hundred people while wearing 3D glasses 50 to 75 percent of the day, and costs about 80 to 100 thousand dollars per minute to do dimensionalization properly. Which is just crazy as well as makes us wonder how that's cheaper than just using 3D cameras. The good part about doing it in post processing though is it gives the creators more artistic control as the dimensionalization is done by hand, frame by frame. Of course the concern is that people will see movies like Clash of the Titans in 3D and write off the dimensionalization process all together, or worse 3D entirely.

What it takes to properly convert a 2D movie to 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | 3DCineCast Blog | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Verizon's HTC Incredible gets a user's manual

You can't buy an Incredible from Verizon just yet, but we're getting awfully close -- and in the meantime, you've got some exciting new reading material to pore over. It looks like the full, unabridged, seemingly final version of the phone's user's manual has just leaked over on Android Forums, and while there aren't any blockbuster revelations in here as far as we can tell, it confirms what we've long suspected: this is basically a CDMA Desire with an 8 megapixel camera. You've got the full Sense UI experience atop Android 2.1, a 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display, 1GHz Snapdragon, and an optical joystick -- a new trend out of HTC that looks destined to completely supplant the trackball, much as it has already done for RIM. Around back, we've got some confirmation that the Incredible is going to feature a positively bizarre contoured battery cover; it might not be your first choice, but honestly, you're not going to let that stop you from buying, now, are you?

[Thanks, eipee73]

Verizon's HTC Incredible gets a user's manual originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Android Forums | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Apple granted design patent on Cover Flow

It was patent-grantin' day at the USPTO on Tuesday, and while most of the patents handed out to Apple, HP, Microsoft and others were pretty boring, it looks like Apple patent number D613,300 is going to make some waves -- it's a design patent on Apple's Cover Flow UI element. That's a design patent, not a utility patent, so it covers the look of the system and not its functionality; think of it as covering the distinctive shape of a Coke bottle and not how it works and you'll get it. That means Apple now has the ability to sue anyone using a system that looks "substantially similar" to Cover Flow, so Symbian^3 and Songbird are probably in for some changes. We'll see what happens -- it's not like anyone's called the lawyers in. Yet.

P.S.- We were going to include the HP Slate here, but we went back and watched the video and ironically enough they're actually faking flick scrolling a Cover Flow view using iTunes -- an app that doesn't actually support flick scrolling. Sigh, HP.

Apple granted design patent on Cover Flow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Patently Apple | Patent D613,300 (PDF) | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Festo's flying AirPenguin robot induces daydreaming beyond the sea (video)

Penguins. Such graceful creatures. Mommy never told us why these birds don't fly, but here's proof that this won't be a concern for our little 'uns. What you're looking at is the Festo AirPenguin's rare appearance outside its German labs -- the Gotengo-esque airship is at The Gadget Show Live in Birmingham, UK this week. Sure, this baby's a bit old, but being up close and personal with it is way more sensational than watching the mere 40-second-long segment from last time, and at least we now know it's the real deal. Video after the break.

Gallery: Festo's bionic AirPenguin robot doesn't blow bubbles, but will blow your mind

Continue reading Festo's flying AirPenguin robot induces daydreaming beyond the sea (video)

Festo's flying AirPenguin robot induces daydreaming beyond the sea (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

SnapStream's monster DVR records 50 channels at once, even when nothin's on

Get ready for an acute case of DVR inadequacy courtesy of SnapStream, which has pieced together what it's calling the world's largest DVR, and we're inclined to believe them. Run a coax in the back and, with a fully configured unit, you can record a whopping 50 channels simultaneously onto over 100TB of storage. The trick is it's actually five separate rack-mounted SnapStream DVRs that all join together to share storage, work across tuners, and to fight the evil King Zarkon from the planet Doom -- or at least to record all the Voltron reruns ever aired, ever. No word on the cost of a fully-configured rack, but given the size of that thing (check out the door in the background for comparison) we're thinking it might not fit in our entertainment center anyway.

Gallery: SnapStream's monster DVR

SnapStream's monster DVR records 50 channels at once, even when nothin's on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | SnapStream | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Hiton HT-960 tablet rocks HP Slate's specs, $100 cheaper price

Right now HP's Slate is looking like it'll possess a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen, all for somewhere between $549 and $599. What we have here is another tablet offering almost identical netbook-like specs (though with only 16GB of SSD storage compared to HP's 32+) at a price of just $418. That's quite a savings if you can get over the rather chunkier styling -- and the unfortunate Windows XP install. You can even get 3G wireless for an extra $80 if you're so inclined, and according to the site it's available to ship right this very moment. But, after the recent issues with another no-name tablet, we'd think twice before dropping our credit card on this particular order form.

[Thanks, Dan]

Hiton HT-960 tablet rocks HP Slate's specs, $100 cheaper price originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | eCrater | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Segway RMP bots used for sniper target practice, other nefarious deeds (video)

Are your snipers bored of the same old stationary, predictable cardboard targets? What they need is disconcertingly realistic acting robotic ones! The Australian Defense Force and Marathon Robotics took a number of two-wheeled RMP 200 Segway robots, placed hoodie-clad foam dummies on top, armored the bottoms, and then programmed them to wander randomly around a small village. A sniper perched up on a hill then picks off his target and, like magic, the remaining robots all scatter automatically in a game way more fun than Modern Warfare could ever hope to be. There's a video of that after the break, along with an RMP 400 doing some sweet jumps off-road, even roaring up stairs. The YouTube channel at the source link has plenty more Segway demos, some new and some old, so if you have some time to kill today you know where to click.

[Thanks, Mark E.]

Continue reading Segway RMP bots used for sniper target practice, other nefarious deeds (video)

Segway RMP bots used for sniper target practice, other nefarious deeds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | YouTube | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Samsung NX10 reviewed: a worthy alternative to Micro Four Thirds

We doubt you need too much reminding about Samsung's "hybrid DSLR" shooter -- it's not every day you hear of a 14.6 megapixel APS-C sensor strapped inside a mirrorless body. Aiming to best Olympus and Panasonic at the game of tempting compact camera users up in price class and SLR image quality obsessives down in weight category, the NX10 is certainly an ambitious project. But does it succeed? According to dpreview, the control layout, user interface, ergonomics, and (crucially) image quality were all praiseworthy, though the sensor exhibited more noise than they would have liked and higher ISO images lost detail due to noise reducing algorithms. Photography Blog agreed that this camera is "an excellent first entry" into a developing market, and could only point out the proprietary NX lens mounting system and slightly bulkier dimensions than on Micro Four Thirds shooters as significant disadvantages. Check out the full reviews for some truly exhaustive analysis.

Samsung NX10 reviewed: a worthy alternative to Micro Four Thirds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | dpreview, Photography Blog | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Runco's WindowWall gives you the $100,000 view you always wanted (eyes-on)

You see them, as soon as you set eyes on the gigantic, nine-panel screen. Those black lines are plainly visible. But the 46-inch Samsung panels in Runco's WindowWall have 7.33mm bezels that almost disappear from ten feet away, and when we first walked in, we actually thought they were part of the image. In a nutshell, WindowWall is a modular display system that turns entire walls into displays capable of rendering giant images across many screens, or display different media -- say, Doctor Who, LOST, FlashForward, V, Castle, 24, a couple computer screens and an episode of Firefly for good measure -- on each individual one. Making the system work in sync requires quite a bit of hardware, including a power supply unit and display controller unit for every four 1366 x 768 panels used, not to mention an upscaling box and a seriously sturdy stand (sorry, Humanscale) to hold up all that glass. The company boasts the whole system is scalable, meaning you can make it work with as few as four or as many as twenty panels and still run the entire system as a single screen at its full, gigantic native resolution. We weren't able to see these nine pumping pixels at 4098 x 2304, unfortunately, as the only content on hand was 1080p, but the footage did seem to be well synced across all nine screens. Of course, with a system like this the catch is cost -- for the nine panels, frame, reels of CAT cable and veritable server rack required to run this particular WindowWall, Runco said we should expect to pay a heartstopping $100,000. Droolworthy, to be sure, but too rich for our blood. Perhaps if the whole neighborhood chipped in, right before Super Bowl?

Gallery: Runco WindowWall modular LCD multi-display

Runco's WindowWall gives you the $100,000 view you always wanted (eyes-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Runco WindowWall | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Sony and FIFA release more details on World Cup 2010 3D broadcast

Sony and FIFA have just released a list of World Cup 2010 games that'll be broadcast in 3D, with ESPN taking care of the US audience, Sogecable for Spain, and more partners to come (including eight matches for selected 3D cinemas around the world). Out of all ten stadiums, only five of these -- Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth -- are chosen for the 3D broadcast, which sadly leaves out Rustenberg and its England-USA match that most of us here anticipate. Each venue will have seven 3D-camera positions with three above the pitch and four on pitch level, and don't forget the two "3D Outside Broadcast" trucks that'll be busy shuffling between stadiums to process the footage for us all. If you end up totally loving the 3D experience, a Blu-ray 3D compilation disc will be available within 2010. This souvenir should go nicely with the updated PS3 by then -- we were told by Sony that its console's expecting its 3D upgrade around the same time as the launch of its 3D TVs, which just so happens to be around E3 as well. Boy, June sure going to be a fun one this year.

Continue reading Sony and FIFA release more details on World Cup 2010 3D broadcast

Sony and FIFA release more details on World Cup 2010 3D broadcast originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

HP touts memristor development, bleak future for transistors

Silicon transistors are the stuff all our dreams of android sheep are made of, but there will ultimately be a limit to how many of them you can squish together inside a processing chip. The progressive avoidance of physical limitations by moving to yet more minuscule dimensions is admirable, but some folks at HP seem to believe the answer lies in a whole different technology. The company has been talking to the New York Times about its memristor (memory resistor) development, which promises to perform both data processing and storage tasks (even without an electrical charge), while also being capable of stacking in a three-dimensional array that would allow for vast scaling potential down the line. Promises for the future include a three nanometer memristor that can switch on and off in a nanosecond, as well as a 20GB per square centimeter memory density that we might expect to arrive within three years. If we believe the dudes in the white coats, that is. The important thing is that memristor-based storage has already been tested to successfully perform "hundreds of thousands" of read and write operations without failing, so the potential is indeed there. Now we just need a bit of luck and a smidgen of patience.

HP touts memristor development, bleak future for transistors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | New York Times | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse completes first full test flight, nears another frontier (video)

We've tracked this solar-powered tub from its announcement last year, through its first runway tests, past the little hop that counted as its first flight, and now we've arrived at the HB-SIA's first legitimate test flight. The Solar Impulse, brainchild of one Bertrand Piccard, took the upward plunge into the skies yesterday, successfully rising to 5,500 feet and a speed of 30 knots before gliding down gently and calling the whole thing an unqualified success. You can find video of the event after the break. A nighttime test flight is planned for later this year, after which a bulkier production model will be cobbled together with the intent of reaching the final goal of circumnavigating the globe by 2012.

Continue reading Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse completes first full test flight, nears another frontier (video)

Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse completes first full test flight, nears another frontier (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink BBC | Solar Impulse | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

TSA: Netbooks, e-readers and iPads can be kept inside bags during airport checks

The American Transportation Security Administration has used its blog, of all things, to inform the good people traveling to, from, and within the USA that portable computers smaller than "the standard sized laptop" need not be removed from their bags. What is the standard sized laptop, you ask? Well, we're not exactly told, but Kindles, iPads, Sony Readers, Nooks, and "Net Books" are explicitly named as being exempt from the annoying requirement to unbag your computer for the airport's prissy X-ray scanners. There's still the disclaimer that staff might want to take a second look at anomalous-looking gear, but for the most part you'll be just fine leaving that Eee PC in your backpack while making the barefoot jaunt through security.

TSA: Netbooks, e-readers and iPads can be kept inside bags during airport checks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | TSA | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Android Market gets 9,000 new apps in March, world domination can't be far behind

Wanna know what exponential growth looks like? Try following Android's progress over the past few months and you'll be treated to plenty of rapidly ascending charts. This latest one from AndroLib is no different, illustrating as it does the ever-increasing influx of new games and applications for Google's mobile platform. Developers must clearly believe Android's growing market share is only going to keep expanding, as last month saw their most productive output yet, with a sweet 9,308 new additions to the Market. Naturally, the same proviso applies as with Apple's inflated App Store numbers -- quantity does not guarantee quality -- but what we're witnessing is surely the solidification of Android as a legitimate and fully fledged member of the smartphone OS upper echelon. And that can only be a good thing.

Android Market gets 9,000 new apps in March, world domination can't be far behind originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Arena | AndroLib | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Five Foxconn workers attempt suicide in last month, are we the cause?
Whether you know it or not, the people employed by Foxconn, aka, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., have more than likely built something in your home. In fact, the computer or smartphone that you're using -- be it from Apple (yes, the iPad too), Nokia, HP or Dell -- to read these words was probably assembled by the hands of Foxconn workers; remote villagers that dedicate a few years of their lives (and typically 12 hours per day) to Foxconn's manufacturing cities. In return, Foxconn pays a relatively competitive wage that enables its workers to support distant relatives or eventually return to their interior province to purchase land or open up a local shop. So it's a bit startling to hear that five (5!) Foxconn workers at its Longhua plant have attempted suicide since March 11th; a facility that employs, feeds, and houses an estimated 300,000 workers. This is especially disturbing after the much publicized suicide of a Foxconn employee supposedly entrusted with an iPhone prototype. Is our obsession with cheap gadgets from a consumer electronics industry preoccupied with secrecy, profit, and speed, creating the conditions where -- for some -- suicide is the only escape?

Five Foxconn workers attempt suicide in last month, are we the cause? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Telegraph | Xinhuanet | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Canon debuts XF305, XF300 pro camcorders with direct-to-CF recording

Looking for a pro-level video camera that's somewhere south of an ARRI ALEXA or RED ONE but still impressive-looking enough (and feature-packed) to not be mistaken for an average, off-the-shelf prosumer camera? Then you might want to consider Canon's new XF305 and XF300 models, which both come in under $8,000 and not only offer the usual native 1080p recording, but support for recording directly to CompactFlash cards as well. Both cameras also use the same MPEG-2 4:2:2 50Mbps codec and DIGIC DV III image processor, and pack the same 4-inch LCD, 0.52-inch electronic viewfinder, built-in stereo microphone and dual XLR audio inputs, while the XF305 adds support for multi-camera or 3D setups as well. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look, and look for both cameras to be available in later June.

[Thanks, Stephen C]

Gallery: Canon XF305, XF300 press shots

Canon debuts XF305, XF300 pro camcorders with direct-to-CF recording originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Canon | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

ICD's Tegra 2-toting Gemini tested, briefly enjoyed

It's only been a single day since the Tegra 2-powered ICD Gemini promised us a world in which tablet PCs could magically make calls, sport webcams and play Flash content (yes, we're still a bit sore about that), but somehow one man has already managed to get his hands on a prototype of the wannabe iPad killer. The verdict? "Blisteringly fast," according to Stuff.tv, albeit buggy and thoroughly unready for market. The website liberally praised the large, 11.2-inch screen for superb color and detail even as it found the resistive touch controls sluggish, and was blown away by how quickly the 1GHz Tegra 2 dealt with web browsing on Android OS. Sadly, it seems there wasn't time to get Hulu running on the device, and important features (including those webcams) weren't working on this early prototype. But don't worry, the publication says the feature-packed slate won't even hit the company's native UK until August, when ICD expects carrier deals to be signed. Now, Stuff, assuming you haven't returned that shiny tablet -- how about you shoot us some video?

ICD's Tegra 2-toting Gemini tested, briefly enjoyed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Stuff.tv | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Sony Walkman RDP-NWV500 Soundmug fits your car's cupholder, looks good with a rifle

Sony's ¥20,000 (about $214) RDP-NWV500 speaker, like the Rolly before it, is one of those rare devices that can be seen as either brilliant or foolish at first glance. Built to fit in your car's cupholder, the 16W tumbler tethers to your music player to pump out 360-degree sound from its 2-way speakers (56-mm woofer, 20-mm tweeter) that can be managed via top-mounted controls or the included wee remote control -- power is supplied from the car's accessory socket, not an internal battery as you might have hoped. At home the Soundmug fits into it's bundled charging dock that simultaneously charges your Walkman. Crazy, like a fox? Check the video demo after the break.

Continue reading Sony Walkman RDP-NWV500 Soundmug fits your car's cupholder, looks good with a rifle

Sony Walkman RDP-NWV500 Soundmug fits your car's cupholder, looks good with a rifle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Sony | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

AMD's hexacore Phenom II X6 will offer Turbo Core automatic overclocking

AMD might be playing catch-up with Intel at the moment, but at least it's keeping the distance fairly close. Intel has yet to fully transition its desktop line over to its Turbo Boost-boasting Core 2010 series, yet its competitor has already announced its own, imaginatively titled, competing technology in the form of Turbo Core. It's a less sophisticated auto-overclock, whereby three of the six cores are decelerated in order to give the other trio some extra voltage and speed for more serialized workloads. The truly impressive thing is that operation under the Turbo Core mode and the default hexacore arrangement will fit within the same power envelope as current Phenom II X4 CPUs, while AMD also reassures its loyal users that the new Phenom II X6s will be compatible with existing AM3 and AM2+ sockets. Nice. The table above, provided by AnandTech, confirms the models we heard about a couple of weeks ago, though we'll have to wait a little bit longer to get confirmation on pricing.

AMD's hexacore Phenom II X6 will offer Turbo Core automatic overclocking originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | AnandTech | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

YikeBike foldable electric bicycle hands-on

The Honda U3-X might look all futuristic and highly portable, but it doesn't pack much speed -- probably for the sake of stability. The Segway? Far too bulky, plus it's so yesterday (sorry, Woz). This brings us to the YikeBike -- a bizarre-looking foldable electric bicycle that was announced back in September. Since then this mini whizzer's been given a slight bump to its top speed (now 25km/h or 15.5mph) and range (10km; 40-minute charge time), while weighing just 22 pounds thanks to its carbon fiber composite frame. Once you've folded the bike up, you can even wear it using the supplied shoulder strap to go on the bus or subway.

During our hands-on, we started off with a bit of a wobble while adjusting to the backward handles, but five minutes later we learned to ignore the conventional cycling posture and leaned slightly further back, plus we got the right grip for the throttle (right) and brake (left). We also found the indicator, front light and horn buttons to be easily accessible by our thumbs. As you will see in the video after the break, we were traveling at fairly high speeds towards the end. The only problem that couldn't be fixed was our legs being a tad short for the pedals, but word has it that YikeBike's planning on releasing a smaller model in the near future. No word on US availability yet, but if you happen to be carrying £2,995 / €3,495 / $4,659 somewhere in Europe, then you're eligible to pre-order now for a June delivery -- just in time for the summer breeze.

Gallery: YikeBike foldable electric bicycle hands-on

Continue reading YikeBike foldable electric bicycle hands-on

YikeBike foldable electric bicycle hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Nokia's all you can download Comes with Music service is finally DRM free... in China (updated)

We've been browbeating Nokia for using DRM to "protect" its Comes with Music offering ever since the service launched back in December of 2007 -- a time when the industry was just beginning to shed its DRM shackles. Now get this, the idle talk is over, Nokia just launched its all-you-can-eat (for 12, 18, or 24 months, typically) Comes with Music service in China without any DRM at all. India is on deck as Nokia looks to hook more emerging markets on the (kind of) free music drug. That means you no longer have to strip the DRM illegally to play your downloaded content on devices other than your main PC and Nokia Comes with Music handset. And yes, you can keep the tracks for life after your CWM subscription expires.

At launch, Chinese consumers will have a choice of eight (ok, seven really) CWM handsets (X6 32GB and X6 16GB, 5230, 5330, 5800w, 6700s, E52 and E72i) with prices starting at a local equivalent of €140 (the CWM service fee is baked in to the cost, mind you) excluding taxes and subsidies. Suspiciously, Nokia's not making the usual boast about the millions of tracks available in the CWM catalog. It is, however, reassuringly supported by all the Big 4 music labels in addition to some Chinese indies, as you'd expect. Sorry, no word on when they'll strip the DRM from its European CWM stores and we're still not clear when CWM will finally see a US launch. Hopefully soon as a service like this could go over very, very well Stateside -- a market that Nokia is desperate to crack. Get on to the other side of the break for the full press release.

Update: We met with Jyrki Rosenberg, Director of Music at Nokia, who shed a bit more light on the offering. Unfortunately, while DRM-free music aligns with Nokia's global vision, he had nothing to announce for the US or Europe today. And as you might expect, the onus to go DRM-free in China was in part driven by rampant, local piracy concerns -- recovery of any revenue was better than nothing at all in the eyes of the Big Four. Jyrki also told us that Chinese CWM subscriptions will be 1 year in length but the terms of renewal are still being hammered out. We also know that the music catalog numbers in the "hundreds of thousands" at launch (comparable to competing services in the region, according to Jyrki) and is growing every day. Privacy advocates will be happy to hear that the 256kbps MP3 files are "clean" -- in other words, no user data is embedded in the files unlike the practices of Apple and Walmart, among others.

Continue reading Nokia's all you can download Comes with Music service is finally DRM free... in China (updated)

Nokia's all you can download Comes with Music service is finally DRM free... in China (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Pulse Music Box evokes 1930s factory life, also happens to play tunes

We've seen more designer iPod docks than we can shake a stick at, but we've never laid eyes on one quite like this. Part pipe organ, part black monolith, this one-of-a-kind work of art is called the Pulse Music Box, and actually uses that brass organ crank to control the volume from the amp and stereo speakers tucked inside its black tiled frame. Creators Johannes Tjernberg and Rasmus Malbert told Moco Loco the dock's design was inspired by the classic Charlie Chaplin film Modern Times; hopefully, we won't have to drag them through the bowels of a giant machine to get hands-on. We hear the creation's currently headed to Milan, probably to take part in the 2010 Milan Furniture Fair -- and sorry potential buyers, we can't seem to get a lock on whether or not it's for sale.

Continue reading Pulse Music Box evokes 1930s factory life, also happens to play tunes

Pulse Music Box evokes 1930s factory life, also happens to play tunes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Johannes Tjernberg, Rasmus Malbert | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Barnes & Noble Nook arriving at Best Buy, will go on sale April 18

Looks like the e-reader wars are heating up, retail-style: we just found out that Target will be selling the Kindle later this month, and now multiple sources are telling us that Best Buy will start selling the Barnes and Noble Nook on April 18th -- a rumor we can back up with this shot of Big Blue's inventory system. We're also informed that units are arriving at stores right now, so keep your eyes peeled -- we're assuming an overeager stocker will let one slip out onto the floor sooner or later. You know you can take a photo and tip us right from the Engadget smartphone apps, right?

Barnes & Noble Nook arriving at Best Buy, will go on sale April 18 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Dell refreshes Latitude E series with latest Intel chips

Targeted at the enterprise, there's plenty of stuff in the Latitude E series (which has been floating around here and overseas, but is finally official) that Joe Consumer couldn't care less about, like "Distributed Device Management" and "Client Configuration Toolkit" to handle massive rollouts of identical computing environments across a company. Still, there's plenty of Latitude left over for those of us with simpler, lower volume tastes. The new E6410 (14.1-inch, pictured) and E6510 (15.6-inch) start at $1,129 and $1,164, respectively, with a rugged version of the 14.1-incher, the E6410 ATG rounding out the crew. All the laptops offer Core i5 and Core i7 processors and DDR3 RAM, with options for discrete NVIDIA NVS 3100M 512MB (non-switchable) graphics and the Latitude ON instaboot auxiliary system. Of course, outside of those basics you can go wild with the configuration options Dell is so well known for. 4-cell batteries come standard on the 1-inch thick systems, but you can ramp up to a 9-cell, or even add on a 12-cell battery slice, and Dell promises roughly an hour per cell with the integrated graphics. The ATG model can be configured exactly like the E6410 outside of a lack of discrete graphics, but adds in MIL spec STD 810G for shock, vibration, temperature, humidity and altitude resistance. Check out a family press release after the break.

Gallery: Dell Latitude E press shots

Continue reading Dell refreshes Latitude E series with latest Intel chips

Dell refreshes Latitude E series with latest Intel chips originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

KARVT wooden MacBook skins -- because sometimes aluminum just isn't enough

Is the Apple logo on your MacBook not brash enough for everyone in the coffee shop to see? Is that streamlined aluminum appearance too Pro for you? Time to enter the newly opened KARVT online store, where unabashed Apple fans can finally add the sophistication of "100% real authentic wood" to their beloved machines. Most popular tastes can be accommodated, with different shades of cherry, bamboo, pine, and walnut on offer, and there's even an artists' section where some design flair is added to your timberrific purchase. The skins will fit on any recent Apple laptops, and prices are $35 for the wood grain or $50 for the artsy ones, with deliveries starting on May 1. Bargain or what?

Gallery: KARVT wooden MacBook skins

KARVT wooden MacBook skins -- because sometimes aluminum just isn't enough originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | KARVT | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Nexus One complaints mount, no firmware update in sight

We've had a Nexus One in daily use for a couple months now with relatively little drama, but Google's official support forums for the so-called superphone appear to be piling up a good head of steam on a handful of issues troubling owners. Perhaps the highest profile among them is the 3G signal strength issue -- a problem that predates the Nexus One's first and only firmware update -- but users are complaining about everything from unresponsive touchscreens, to failed text messages, to problems with the ambient light sensor, and there are enough "me too" responses in the support threads to warrant some serious attention. We know Google hasn't been sitting on its hands behind the scenes, so this is probably more of a timing issue than anything else -- could it be that they're waiting for Flash 10.1 before pushing the next release?

[Thanks, Ramon]

Nexus One complaints mount, no firmware update in sight originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Google Nexus One support forum, 2, 3, 4 | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Intel's Intelligent Home Energy Management device is an OLED beauty, sadly just a concept

We know, the last thing the world needs is another home tablet (see Sony Dash, HP Dreamscreen and Chumby), but bear with us for a second on Intel's Intelligent Home Energy Management proof of concept. Instead of providing just the typical weather, Pandora, and video memo apps, the Atom Z530-powered screen also manages your home's energy consumption. The idea is that the WiFi-enabled device works with your local energy company to provide data as well as suggestions on how to lower that insane monthly bill. It also apparently can update you as to what government subsides are being offered and deals on more power efficient appliances. If that all sounds too earthy to you, we at least can tell you it's one beautiful gadget -- the 11.2-inch capacitive OLED screen is simply stunning and the user interface that's been built on top of Windows XP isn't so bad looking itself. For now the whole thing is just a concept, but Intel was quite confident in saying that we will see gadgets with its Home Energy platform popping up sooner or later. We just hope someone picks up that beautifully designed hardware. Don't you worry you can see it too in the video demo after the break.

Gallery: Intel Intelligent Home Energy Management system hands-on

Continue reading Intel's Intelligent Home Energy Management device is an OLED beauty, sadly just a concept

Intel's Intelligent Home Energy Management device is an OLED beauty, sadly just a concept originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Plastic Logic expects to ship QUE proReader in June

So, Plastic Logic perhaps isn't for sale, but what about that long-awaited QUE proReader of theirs? Well, we just got an update on that front. A hapless tipster who pre-ordered the devices way back on January 9th just got an email from Plastic Logic saying they should expect a June 24th ship date now. Pre-orderers at least have the opportunity to confirm or deny that they still want the device, and won't be charged until it ships. So, will it be worth the wait? And more importantly: what color will your hovercar be?

[Thanks, Shane B.]

Plastic Logic expects to ship QUE proReader in June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Orange Music puts PC into guitar amp -- ours is not to reason why

Now this is an interesting one. Classic British amp maker Orange Music had a bit of a surprise behind its booth at the 2010 Musikmesse show. The O PC is, well, a guitar amp and a PC rolled into one convenient package. We didn't catch the processor, but there will be an option to use either the NVIDIA GeForce 9300 or ramp up to the 512MB ATI Radeon 5670. Standard fare is there, USB ports and WiFi, but no clue as to processor / memory. On the aural side of things, there's a stereo option for plugging in an extension speaker, a 1/4-inch guitar jack, basic EQ knobs, and yet-to-be-finalized modeling software -- nothing trial, everything full version, assures the Orange rep. Once that's sorted, the estimated ship time is two to four months, with price unmentioned. Video presentation after the break.

[Thanks, Hessel]

Continue reading Orange Music puts PC into guitar amp -- ours is not to reason why

Filed under: Desktops

Orange Music puts PC into guitar amp -- ours is not to reason why originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Premiere Guitar | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Our live coverage of Apple's iPhone OS 4 event starts April 8th, 10AM PT, 1PM ET!

We don't know what the future holds for the iPhone OS. Will we see multitasking? Will there be widgets? Will Apple forgo the whole idea of icons in exchange for constantly mutating digital lifeforms? Luckily, we're less than 24 hours from finding the answer to those questions (and hopefully many more). We'll be bringing you live, up-to-the-minute coverage of Apple's event starting tomorrow morning, delivering each astounding factoid with the speed and precision that only Engadget can provide. Tune in at the times (and URL below), and be prepared for more magical revolutions.

Here's where the liveblog will be, and the start times (by timezone) are below. See you then!

07:00AM - Hawaii
10:00AM - Pacific
11:00AM - Mountain
12:00PM - Central
01:00PM - Eastern
06:00PM - London
07:00PM - Paris
09:00PM - Moscow

Our live coverage of Apple's iPhone OS 4 event starts April 8th, 10AM PT, 1PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Squeezebox Touch ships at long last

Pulling back from the verge of a bottomless pit of vaporware despair comes the Squeezebox Touch, the latest in Logitech's line of connected music players that had originally been slated to launch way back in December of last year. The device is the spiritual successor to the Squeezebox 3, eschewing the older model's VFD display for a 4.3-inch color touchscreen LCD and adding in support for SD cards and USB mass storage devices directly from the unit itself. At $299, it's not the kind of knee-jerk purchase you can make without thinking twice -- but compared to Sonos, it's still the value brand. Anyone else see the potential for a Chumby app on this thing?

[Thanks, remd]

Squeezebox Touch ships at long last originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Squeezebox forums | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

DIY VR rig makes neck pain an un-virtual reality

Sure, there's plenty of practical VR options available these days (DIY and otherwise), but there's also something to be said for rigs that stick to virtual reality's cumbersome, unwieldy roots. Sharing that sentiment is DIYer Gavan Woolery, who combined an Acer GD235HZ 3D monitor, a pair of shutter glasses, and a TrackIR 5 head-tracking system to build this rig that manages to make the helmet from Videodrome look comfortable. Of course, Woolery is completely up front that the rig is "not in any way designed to be practical," but it does seem to work remarkably well, and it's reasonably inexpensive to build yourself if you're so inclined -- at least compared to other dedicated VR rigs. Head on past the break to check it out in action, and hit up the source link below for the complete details.

Continue reading DIY VR rig makes neck pain an un-virtual reality

DIY VR rig makes neck pain an un-virtual reality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink 3D Vision Blog, Hack a Day | Kiwi 64 | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---

Sorry your iPod nano got so scratched five years ago, here's your $37.50

Hey, remember five years ago when the first-gen iPod nano came out and everyone in the world (literally) was sad because it scratched so easily? And then Walt Mossberg was sad, too? And then, inevitably, there was a class-action lawsuit filed, even though the lead plaintiff was like, "no, really guys, I'm cool?" No? Well shake off those cobwebs and get ready to party in a moderate way, because your check for $37.50 is in the mail. Yep, that's all individual consumers get in the settlement, which first started processing claims in December -- we're guessing the plaintiff's attorneys managed to score themselves a little more than that, because they worked so hard defending our interests. But hey -- one thirteenth of an iPad ain't so bad, right? And you wonder why we rarely cover class-action lawsuits.

[Thanks, Phil]

Sorry your iPod nano got so scratched five years ago, here's your $37.50 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | iPod nano Settlement | Email this | Comments
Read More ...

---