Thursday, May 20, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 20/05/2010



Google partnership has GM OnStar exploring Maps, open APIs and more
In a move that could shape the mobile landscape -- or simply suck down cash, of course -- General Motors just revealed that Google was its mysterious infotainment partner. In the final hours before Google I/O, we sat down with GM VP Nick Pudar to tell us what the future thus holds for OnStar. As we saw in January, GM's already developing smartphone apps for the Chevy Volt on iPhone, Blackberry and Android that will let you remotely lock doors, honk the horn, check tire pressure and more.... But sometime after the Volt launches, Google Maps Navigation will be integrated into the smartphone app, and we got a hands-on tour. Check out the new interface and hear about GM's strategy after the break.

Continue reading Google partnership has GM OnStar exploring Maps, open APIs and more

Google partnership has GM OnStar exploring Maps, open APIs and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 12:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google launches open WebM web video format based on VP8 (update: hardware partners)
Google's plan to open-source the VP8 video codec it acquired when it purchased a company called On2 hasn't exactly been a secret, and the company's finally made it official today as part of a new format called WebM. The WebM container is based on Matroska, with VP8 video and Ogg Vorbis audio streams packed inside -- Google says the format is efficient enough to support playback on lower-power devices like netbooks, tablets, and handhelds, while the encoding profiles are simple enough to limit complexity when you're trying to create WebM files. WebM is open-sourced and licensed royalty-free under a BSD-style license, so all those H.264 patent licensing concerns shouldn't be an issue -- and as you'd expect, Mozilla is supporting WebM right off the bat, with support in Firefox nightly builds as of today. Chromium nightlies will also support WebM as of today, with Chrome early access builds getting support on May 24 -- and Opera is listed as "coming soon."

Google's also going to be supporting the format as an option for YouTube playback, so that should drive adoption in a big way -- if you're running these latest Firefox or Chromium nightlies you can actually try it out now. The big question, of course, is whether Apple and Microsoft will roll WebM support into Safari and IE and onto their mobile platforms. We'll see -- Google definitely has the ability to push a format into the mainstream.

Update: Industry support announced at I/O -- including Adobe, who'll be rolling VP8 support into Flash Player. Take note the hardware partners, though: AMD, ARM, Broadcom, Freescale, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and TI, among others. Missing in action? Intel.

[Thanks, Sean]

Continue reading Google launches open WebM web video format based on VP8 (update: hardware partners)

Google launches open WebM web video format based on VP8 (update: hardware partners) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceWebM | Email this | Comments
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Google Wave opens doors to public, asks old friends for new chance
To think, it was about this time last year that Google first unveiled its "collaboration tool" Wave, and today the company's taking out the invitational step and opening it to the public at large -- which begs the question, did anyone not have an invite that wanted one at this point? It'll also be now available in the enterprise-centric Apps suite for no extra charge. On the developer side of things, expect some more open source code be unleashed, including most importantly the rich text editor. Can't say we've really dug around in the service ourselves since its beta launched, but co-creator Lars Rasmussen tells us we should be giving it another go. He further acknowledged that they've got some work to do on educating users on the best ways to use the service, which at this point seems to be mid- and small-scale collaboration. To that end, expect some new tutorial videos, and with any luck, some amusing animation.

Gallery: Google Wave opens doors to public, asks old friends for new chance

Google Wave opens doors to public, asks old friends for new chance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese gurus unveil 50TB magnetic tape cartridges, are officially 'taking it way back'
It's comical, really -- we can't get a decently powerful Atom to save our lives, but the absolutely thrilling world of magnetic tape storage is bounding ahead at a record pace. Priorities, people. For the archivists and A-type pack rats in the crowd, you'll probably be atypically elated to know that Hitachi Maxell and the Tokyo Institute of Technology have teamed up in order to develop the world's most capacious tape cartridges. Back in January, IBM and Fujifilm celebrated a momentary victory by announcing a 35TB version of this same product, but this record shattering attempt takes areal density to spaces never before ventured into in order to hit the magical 50TB mark. 'Course, you'll probably never see one outside of your state's largest library, but at least that 3TB HDD you're drooling over for your next PC seems so much more bodacious now. Oh, wait.

Japanese gurus unveil 50TB magnetic tape cartridges, are officially 'taking it way back' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 11:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Physorg | sourceMaxell | Email this | Comments
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India's 3G auction draws to a close
It's been a long time coming, but after countless delays in getting the auction underway, bidding on nationwide 3G spectrum in the world's second most populous market has ended -- and four companies appear to have come out on top. Most of the Indian markets only had three licenses available, so you'll likely be doing some roaming if you travel much, but Reliance, Bharti, Aircel, and Tata have all come away with significant swaths of airspace. And how much did it end up costing for the privilege of delivering high-speed wireless 'round these parts? After kicking off India-wide bidding for one slot at 35 billion rupees (about $773 million), the auction wrapped up at 167.51 billion rupees ($3.7 billion) after some 183 rounds of bidding in just over a month. Now, the hard part: actually building those 3G networks. Chop chop, guys!

India's 3G auction draws to a close originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GSMA Mobile Business Briefing | sourceIndia Department of Telecomm | Email this | Comments
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Barnes & Noble to open 'PubIt!' self-publishing portal this summer
Self-publishing has long since been possible through Amazon, but you won't catch us kvetching about a little competition in the market place. In an attempt to do for indie writers what InstantAction has done for indie game developers, Barnes & Noble has just announced its intentions to open up a self-publishing portal this summer. We wouldn't say that the PubIt! name is the greatest of all time (for a variety of reasons, frankly), but the world's largest bookseller is hoping to expand its importance in the digital realm by giving wannabe authors the ability to upload and sell their material through B&N's website and eBookstore. Details on the compensation model (read: profit split) will be announced "in the coming weeks," but the real kicker here is this won't be limited to the Nook; pretty much any e-reader, tablet or PC will be able to tap in and make purchases, so the potential audience is quite large. Hit that source link if you want to be notified when invitations are going out, and given just how close we are to this mythical "summer" thing, we'd suggest you start putting pen to paper -- and fast.

[Thanks, Victor]

Continue reading Barnes & Noble to open 'PubIt!' self-publishing portal this summer

Barnes & Noble to open 'PubIt!' self-publishing portal this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceBarnes & Noble | Email this | Comments
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Intel lifting netbook screen size restrictions for next-gen Atom netbooks?
Intel lifting netbook screen size restrictions for next-gen Atom netbooks?Put on your conductor hat and overalls, because it's time to take the rumor train to Atomsville. DigiTimes is reporting that Intel is cooking up another new dual-core Atom processor, this one called the N550, and that netbooks using it will have to feature at least 1GB of DDR3 memory and 32GB of SSD or 250GB of platters. That's hardly revolutionary, but slightly more interesting is an allowance for netbook makers using the chip to bump up their maximum screen size to 12.1-inches. That's a sizeable increase over the current 10.2-inch maximum and could further blur the line between net and note... assuming this train reaches the station.

Intel lifting netbook screen size restrictions for next-gen Atom netbooks? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 10:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceDigiTimes | Email this | Comments
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iAngle holds your earbuds and your iPhone... at an angle
iAngle holds your earbuds and your iPhone... at an angle
That picture above is about all you need to know, because if you go to this product's website there's virtually no text -- just that self-explanatory image showing the thing and what it does. The thing is the iAngle and what it does is double as an earbud case and a mini stand, perfect for your coach class commutes. Massive advancement in the world of gadgets? Hardly, but it's a neat little deal, and at $10 it won't break the bank either. We're thinking it might work with other gadgets too, at least those of roughly the iPhone's thickness, but you're on your own for verifying that hypothesis.

iAngle holds your earbuds and your iPhone... at an angle originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 10:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceiAngle | Email this | Comments
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Sony's waterproof and dustproof DSC-TX5 stands up to review scrutiny
You'll remember the TX5 as Sony's do-it-all solution for compact camera fans. It aims to be both stylish -- with a slender 0.7-inch profile and a 3-inch touchscreen -- and rugged, thanks to a metal frame that makes it impervious to water, dust and sub-zero conditions. Throw in the backlit Exmor R CMOS sensor, optical image stabilization, SDHC compatibility, and 720p movie mode and you've got a pretty fearsome paper tiger on your hands. But does it roar in reality? According to Photography Blog, you won't be getting the finest image quality around, but the TX5 impressed with some terrific high ISO performance, excellent handling of chromatic aberrations, and a versatility that allows you to take photos you might not otherwise get to with more conventional shooters. That is an opinion broadly shared by CNET, though both reviewers agreed that pricing will be a tough pill to swallow given that this is still just a 10 megapixel point-and-shoot. Hit the sources for more or mosey on past the break for a sample video.

Continue reading Sony's waterproof and dustproof DSC-TX5 stands up to review scrutiny

Sony's waterproof and dustproof DSC-TX5 stands up to review scrutiny originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 09:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourcePhotography Blog, CNET | Email this | Comments
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iPad-controlled blimp is one magical dirigible (video)
iPad-controlled blimp is one magical dirigible
Some are smitten by the iPad, some wonder just what the heck they'd do with the thing. We finally have an answer for members of the latter group: iPad blimp. The lighter-than-air portion of this equation features an Arduino controller board and some helium, while the decidedly heavier-than-air iPad runs an app to receive a video signal from the blimp and to send it controls via accelerometer. It was created by Breakfast NY and made its debut at an after party following the Munny Exhibit, part of Design Week, where it seemed to be quite a hit amongst the gathered group of drunken humanity, who you can see frolicking with the shiny airship after the break.

Continue reading iPad-controlled blimp is one magical dirigible (video)

iPad-controlled blimp is one magical dirigible (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wired | sourceBreakfast NY | Email this | Comments
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mSpot stores your music* in the cloud, makes it available anywhere**
Whoa there, vaquero -- don't get too excited just yet. As with just about every other gratis backup service on the web, there's a catch you should know about with mSpot's latest endeavor. The free limit is right around 2GB (exact size is TBD), so if you've got more than a second generation iPod's worth of audio, this here service will only serve as a tease. For those who fall under that threshold, there's plenty to love, and if you're down for ponying up, you'll be able to secure 10GB for $2.99 per month or 20GB for $4.99 per month. Launched today at Google I/O, this "freemium" music cloud service essentially syncs your entire music library (either in iTunes or a user-designated arrangement of folders) with mSpot's servers -- provided your library is less than 20GB, of course -- and then makes it available anywhere. Phones and other computers should have no issue tapping in (though only Android will be supported out of the gate), and the app itself runs quietly in the background in order to check for new additions / subtractions and mirror said changes in your online library. For now, the service is available by invitation only through mspot.com, with public availability slated for next month. Size limits aside, the service worked well for us in our limited testing, though that first 20GB upload is a real pain over Time Warner Cable's obviously capped Road Runner internet. Oh, and if you're bummed about not being guaranteed an invite today, you shouldn't be. Hit that source link and enter "engadget" as the password -- the first 500 get immediate access, but once they're gone, they're gone.

*20GB tops, buster!
**Only on Android, Macs and PCs at first, chief!

Continue reading mSpot stores your music* in the cloud, makes it available anywhere**

mSpot stores your music* in the cloud, makes it available anywhere** originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourcemSpot | Email this | Comments
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HP's Envy 17 and refreshed Pavilion laptops now shipping to stylish, on the go sorts
HP's Envy 17 and refreshed Pavillion line now shipping to stylish, on the go sorts
That sexy HP Envy 17 that became official a few weeks back? It's up for grabs, starting at $1,399 in its base configuration with a Core i5 processor, but getting much higher if you start tickling those option boxes in the customization screens. No word on the Envy 14 yet, but the 13 is still available... for now. Also on offer is the refreshed Pavilion line, the dm4, dv5, dv6, and dv7, showing off their new metal casings and swirly paint jobs. The dv6 starts at $699 while the others predictably go on up from there.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HP's Envy 17 and refreshed Pavilion laptops now shipping to stylish, on the go sorts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink LogicBuy | sourceHP Envy 17 | Email this | Comments
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Sony's last cassette-blastin' boom box is precisely how Ruff Ryders roll('d)
Sony may not shed a tear for the 3.5-inch floppy disk when it meets its maker in March, but you'd better believe the company's crafted a retirement plan for the format that propelled it to fame: the compact cassette. To be fair, the CFD-A110 CD / cassette boom box above isn't actually a new product -- it's a relabeled CFD-A100TV from 2003 minus the nigh-obsolete analog TV band -- but if you're rocking magnetic mix tapes we're guessing you'll welcome this blast from the past. For your projected ¥20,000 (about $215) you'll get a pair of full-range speakers, 14 AM/FM presets, an external microphone port for karaoke and a remote when it launches in Japan this June 21st. What that won't buy you, however, is an obnoxiously large gilded chain, a beefed up left shoulder for carrying it around, and a time machine needed to actually fit in while using this. Ya heard?

Sony's last cassette-blastin' boom box is precisely how Ruff Ryders roll('d) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 08:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Impress Watch | sourceSony Japan | Email this | Comments
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Students accelerate cubicle arms race with PlayStation Eye-tracked, iPhone-guided coilgun (video)
DIY weaponry gets more lethal with each passing year; where once we were content with a simple foam missile launcher, technology has progressed such that our automated turrets now spew screwdriver bits, airsoft and paintballs. As progress forges ahead, two engineering students at the University of Arkansas have added injury to insult with this four-stage DIY coilgun. Using an Arduino microcontroller to actuate the firing mechanism and steer the monstrous wooden frame, they nimbly control the badass kit with an iDevice over WiFi, and line up targets using a repurposed PlayStation Eye webcam. While we'd of course prefer to have our phone SSH into the gun over 3G, we're not going to argue with success. We'd like to keep our lungs un-perforated, thank you very much. See it in action after the break.

Continue reading Students accelerate cubicle arms race with PlayStation Eye-tracked, iPhone-guided coilgun (video)

Students accelerate cubicle arms race with PlayStation Eye-tracked, iPhone-guided coilgun (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 07:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PC World | sourceHack A Day | Email this | Comments
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iPod touch with 2 megapixel camera leaked in Vietnam (video)
118diggsdigg Guess who has another Apple scoop? Tinhte, the upstarts from Vietnam have first pics of the mythical iPod touch with a camera. The "DVT-1" stamp on the back makes it clear that this is an early design verification test unit in the evolution of product testing. In other words, this might not be the final design whenever Apple chooses to announce it, say, on June 7th. A check of the device's serial number identifies a late 2009 third generation iPod touch -- could be that this device was one of those eBay prototypes that never made it to production for whatever reason.

The Foxconn manufactured device is also running the same base diagnostic utility that we've seen before (who could forget that "serial number" icon). The Foxconn label appears to indicate a 64GB model ("64G" using a pair of Samsung 32GB Flash modules presumably) in addition to a 2 megapixel, backside illuminated sensor manufactured by Omnivision (part OV2665-6s). Video after the break.

Gallery: iPod touch with 2 megapixel camera leaked in Vietnam (video)

Continue reading iPod touch with 2 megapixel camera leaked in Vietnam (video)

iPod touch with 2 megapixel camera leaked in Vietnam (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 06:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceTinhte | Email this | Comments
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Hanvon CEO smashes Apple effigy at TouchPad launch (video)
Want to draw attention to an otherwise ordinary piece of consumer electronics? Do something emotive like, say, smash a giant Apple ice sculpture in front of the world's Chinese press. Besides putting the boys in Cupertino on notice, Hanvon's officially launching the company's TouchPad B10 -- a 10.1-inch multitouch capacitive slate that we went hands-on with back in March. A €500ish device that runs Windows 7 on a retired 1.3GHz Celeron M ULV743 processor and Intel GMA 4500 graphics capable of delivering about 3.5 hours of battery life. Other specs include 2GB of memory, a regular ol' 2.5-inch 250GB or 320GB hard disk, HDMI-out, and WiFi. Watch the theatrics after the break while we wait for Hanvon's 1 million units sold announcement.

Continue reading Hanvon CEO smashes Apple effigy at TouchPad launch (video)

Hanvon CEO smashes Apple effigy at TouchPad launch (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 06:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceShanzai | Email this | Comments
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Sprint's Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade
Assuming you resisted the temptation to either root your Hero or update it with the recently leaked 2.1 firmware, this is your very first chance to finally slap a dash of Android future on your senescent device. Sprint has at long last made the update available, though it isn't quite yet ready to download from its site. Fear not, the good folks behind the yellow network have put together a guide on upgrading through your phone and we'll link up the download as soon as it's ready for consumption. Time to start enjoying that Google Maps Navigation magic and all the other goodies constituting Eclair's delectable filling.

Update: It's now available direct from HTC's website. Thanks, all!

[Thanks, Jonathan]

Sprint's Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceSprint support, HTC | Email this | Comments
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O2 UK will get Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on May 28, skin you alive with pricing
You didn't think Germany was gonna have all the Palm fun, did you? The UK is keeping pace with its longtime nemesis by matching the May 28 launch date for the Pre and Pixi Plus on O2, and has even supplied us with a handy reference sheet containing all price plans available for the handsets. You'll find it after the break, but sadly it'll only be of interest to true WebOS enthusiasts. There's nothing south of £25 ($36) per month available, and if you want a reasonable call allowance, you'll have to get on into the £30 and above bracket. All contracts do at least come with unlimited texts and data, but overall the cost seems too steep to entice us, what with all the Desires and Bolds floating around at better price points.

[Thanks, Chris W.]

Continue reading O2 UK will get Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on May 28, skin you alive with pricing

O2 UK will get Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on May 28, skin you alive with pricing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 05:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceO2 UK | Email this | Comments
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HTC Wildfire priced by T-Mobile, coming to UK on June 14
The biggest outstanding question about the Wildfire has now been answered by at least one carrier -- T-Mobile will be delivering HTC's student-friendly handset at the £20 ($29) per month price point on two-year contracts. Frankly, that's a bigger financial commitment than we'd expected to have to make, but it will presumably include unlimited (which in T-Mobile lingo means a 3GB fair use policy) data use and a healthy allowance of calls and texts. If that doesn't rub you up the right way, look out for Virgin Mobile to reveal its pricing in the near term, having announced it'll be carrying the phone via a tweet.

Continue reading HTC Wildfire priced by T-Mobile, coming to UK on June 14

HTC Wildfire priced by T-Mobile, coming to UK on June 14 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 05:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Cool Smartphone | source@virginmedia (Twitter) | Email this | Comments
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IDC and Gartner award smartphone growth prizes to Apple and Google

Get ready to rumble, the latest Gartner and IDC smartphone numbers are out to give us a pretty good idea of how things shape up globally. Remember, IDC measures vendor shipments while Gartner measures actual handset sales to end users. So what does the data tell us? Well, to start with, in terms of smartphone devices, Gartner claims a 48.7% increase in smartphone sales of 54.3 million units in Q1 2010 compared to Q1 2009 -- IDC pegs growth at 56.7% on 54.7 million units for the same period. Both estimates easily outpace the 17% or 21.7% growth in worldwide units of mobile phones moved according to Gartner and IDC, respectively.

IDC's list of top 5 smartphone device makers (pictured after the break) has Nokia at the number one spot repeating its 39.3% share as it did in Q1 of 2009 while RIM is down slightly from 20.9% in 2009 to a 19.4% market share in 2010. Apple (up from 10.9% to 16.1%) more than doubled its device shipments in the last year as HTC (up from 4.3% to 4.8%) and Motorola (up from 3.4% to 4.2%) all managed to increase their shares on higher volumes.

Regarding smartphone OS market share, Android's global numbers echo its success in the US jumping from a 1.6% market share to 9.6% in just one year. Gartner claims that sales of Android-based phones increased 707% year-on-year to displace Windows Mobile in the top 5 for the first time. Apple's iPhone OS also saw growth from 10.5% in 1Q09 to 15.4% in 1Q10 as both RIM (down from 20.1% to 19.4%) and Symbian (down from 48.8% to 44.3%) dropped. See the OS numbers broken down into a no-nonsense table after the break.

Continue reading IDC and Gartner award smartphone growth prizes to Apple and Google

IDC and Gartner award smartphone growth prizes to Apple and Google originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 04:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceIDC, Gartner | Email this | Comments
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Facebook launches free mobile access site for emerging markets... and Denmark
183diggsdiggFollowing in the footsteps of Coca-Cola, Facebook is seeking to feed your addiction with a new zero version of its online service. 0.facebook.com leads users to a stripped down, text-only version of the social site, which will incur no data charges from your carrier. Of course, you won't be able to access any other sites or rich media without paying for it, but at least the core functionality of reading your friends' witty status updates and writing satirical responses will be there free of charge. This service is being rolled out primarily in the so-called emerging markets, though more mature environments like Belgium, Denmark and Finland are also present on the list (available after the break). SFR in France, 3 in the UK, and Australia's Telstra are also going to be joining in soon. Guess it's just a matter of finding a pliable carrier to accede to offering the minimal bandwidth necessary in exchange for being Liked by Facebookers.

Continue reading Facebook launches free mobile access site for emerging markets... and Denmark

Facebook launches free mobile access site for emerging markets... and Denmark originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 03:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink mobile bulgaria | sourceFacebook | Email this | Comments
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NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround delayed, ATI gloats with an Eyefinity demo site
If you're one of the truly lilliputian proportion of PC gamers who actually bought two of either the GTX 470 or GTX 480 from NVIDIA in the hope of running a tri-monitor 3D gorgefest, we've got bad news for ya. If you're anyone else, enjoy the schadenfreude of knowing that those first guys will have to keep waiting for 3D Vision Surround support until the end of June. As NVIDIA tells it, the driver bringing the tri-dimensional, multi-monitor gaming nirvana was targeted for an April release, but has now slipped a couple of months. It's disappointing to see one of the major selling points of the GTX 400 series coming so much later than the cards' release, but at least ATI's around to console you if you're feeling jilted. The company has set up an Eyefinity Experience Tool that does a good job illustrating the benefits of gaming on a trifecta of monitors over a single display. Hit the source links for more.

NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround delayed, ATI gloats with an Eyefinity demo site originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PC Perspective | sourceThe NVIDIA Blog, ATI | Email this | Comments
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Nike+ heart rate monitor tipped for June 1 launch
It was hinted at back in September 2009, now it appears certain that Nike will deliver a Nike+ heart rate monitor iPod accessory to the US on June 1st. The following Nike forum post by a long-time contributor and a suspected Nike employee has set heart valves aflutter:
"I have a U.S. launch date for the Nike+ compatible heart rate monitor. It will officially launch on June 1, 2010, although it may reach some retail outlets slightly sooner. It will reach Canadian markets in June and will launch internationally in summer 2010, exact date to be determined."
We might buy one just to prove that we're still alive.

Nike+ heart rate monitor tipped for June 1 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TUAW | sourceNike | Email this | Comments
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HDTV tests pit fantasy land specs against real world performance -- guess what happens
Good luck keeping up with the ever changing specs on the latest HDTVs, but as the numbers get more impressive, are the displays actually improving in any noticeable way? Dr. Raymond Soneira , president of DisplayMate, goes about breaking down many of the more often misused and misleading technical buzzwords in an article on MaximumPC. If you're wondering how manufacturers have advanced contrast ratios from thousands, to millions, to unlimited over the space of just a few years, there's a breakdown of what "dynamic contrast ratio" actually measures and why it's worth ignoring -- unless you watch your TV when it's only displaying one color at a time. When it comes to colors colors, some of the most scathing words were pointed towards Sharp's Quattron quad-pixel technology, which "can only decrease picture quality and accuracy!"

Whether you believe the good Dr., a glistening review or Cmdr. Sulu, the factual heat burned hottest during a test of motion blur compared on LCDs, LED LCDs, plasmas and even a pro CRT. While additional motion processing and upgraded internals on newer HDTVs can help in many other ways, viewers couldn't detect any blur caused by a display even on an old 60Hz set, despite newer and faster 120Hz, 240Hz and 600Hz (plasma) sets claiming their technology helped them eliminate it. You'll need a minute to read through for the full details but it's a good, and unfortunately necessary, reminder to keep your eyes on the display and not just the spec sheet (just make sure you're getting a proper look that represents the way you watch TV at home first.)

HDTV tests pit fantasy land specs against real world performance -- guess what happens originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 19 May 2010 01:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceMaximumPC | Email this | Comments
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MacBook refresh includes Mini DisplayPort that pumps out HDMI audio
When it comes to port standardization, Apple marches to the beat of its own drum... but in a rare show of leniency, the company's newly refreshed MacBook will throw home theatre aficionados a bone. Though Cupertino hasn't moved to actually include an HDMI-out (sacre bleu!), a new support document shows its Mini DisplayPort now provides an audio signal alongside the video feed. Should you move to purchase a VESA-compliant Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter like the one Apple's apparently not selling, you'll finally be able to enjoy digital sound without dropping $70 for the privilege. Fancy that! Now we just need USB 3.0 ports -- placed on opposite sides of the machine -- a SATA 6G socket and a FireWire 400 port. What can we say? We're the sentimental sort.

MacBook refresh includes Mini DisplayPort that pumps out HDMI audio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 22:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MacRumors | sourceApple | Email this | Comments
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iPhone OS 4.0 beta 4 includes AT&T tethering option
See that screen there? That's from the minty fresh beta 4 of iPhone OS 4.0, which was just released to developers moments ago. Unless our eyes are badly mistaken, that's an option to setup internet tethering on AT&T, something that WWAN warriors have been waiting for since... oh, forever. We're downloading the new build as we speak, and we'll let you know if we find anything out. Oh, and don't get your hopes up too high -- AT&T proclaimed that it was "still waiting on better network performance" before enabling iPhone tethering just three weeks ago.

Update: There's a video of the screens after the break, just in case your belief was temporarily suspended for any reason. Thanks, Jerish!

Update 2: Well, this is interesting -- we just updated an iPhone 3GS in Chicago, and we're not seeing the tethering option. We're guessing this is a glitch or just a mismatched carrier setting file, since so many others are seeing it, but we'll do some digging and see what's up.

Update 3: Okay, we've got it sorted -- all it took was a quick network settings reset. Thanks, Gray!

[Thanks, Pete]

Continue reading iPhone OS 4.0 beta 4 includes AT&T tethering option

iPhone OS 4.0 beta 4 includes AT&T tethering option originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 21:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceMacRumors | Email this | Comments
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Twitter for iPhone (Tweetie 3.0) slowly going live around the world
So look -- you've got a plethora of options on the iPhone to keep you connected to the Twitterverse, but if you're looking for something a touch more official, the wait is nearly over. A few short weeks after Twitter acquired Atebits, the creators of the Tweetie app, the company issued the first official Twitter app for Android; tonight, it looks as if a revamped version of Tweetie (3.0, obviously) will claim that same crown over on iPhone OS. It's tough to say exactly what changes are coming, but a few sporadic tips are coming in from far-flung corners of the globe saying that it's already available. If we were the betting type, we'd say it'll finally pop up in the US app store right around midnight. Pins and needles, we know.

Update: It's live in New Zealand, and the full changelog is after the break. Hang tight, everyone else!

Update 2: We're seeing scattered reports that it's now available in the US. Thanks for the image, Danny!

[Thanks, Mike]

Continue reading Twitter for iPhone (Tweetie 3.0) slowly going live around the world

Twitter for iPhone (Tweetie 3.0) slowly going live around the world originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 21:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceMac Stories, Tweetie (iTunes link) | Email this | Comments
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iPhone OS 4 beta 4 drops in
If you like living on the brutal, life-altering bleeding edge the same way we do, odds are you've got iPhone OS 4 beta 3 installed on that 3GS of yours -- assuming you have an iPhone 3GS, naturally. That also means that you'll likely be interested to hear that beta 4 is now out and ready for you to download, install, and not brick your phone if everything goes according to plan, just as long as you've got access to an Apple iPhone Developer Program account. Go forth, intrepid readers -- and do report back on your exploits, won't you?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone OS 4 beta 4 drops in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 20:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Stowaway from the PDA era
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Their screens lacked color and their apps lacked Internet access, but one thing the PDAs of yore had in common with the smartphones of today was text input that couldn't compare to a full-sized keyboard. The challenge, of course, is that full-sized keyboards generally aren't very good traveling companions for pocket-sized devices. In 2000, a startup called ThinkOutside addressed the issue with the first Stowaway keyboard, an ingeniously designed folding keyboard that used the dock connector of Palm PDAs to create a touch-typing experience that fit in your pocket. (Stowaway designer Phil Baker is the author of the book From Concept to Consumer, which explains how ideas become products that get built overseas and ultimately sold back here).

ThinkOutside went on to create versions for PocketPCs, infrared (to accommodate incompatible dock connector standards) connections, and then finally Bluetooth. The company was eventually purchased by accessory maker Mobility Electronics, which renamed itself iGo after its flagship power adapter product, and eventually cancelled the Stowaway. At the time, PDA sales were sinking and relatively few handsets supported Bluetooth; most of those that did supported only the profiles needed for headsets and speakerphones, not keyboard input.

Continue reading Switched On: Stowaway from the PDA era

Switched On: Stowaway from the PDA era originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Air Force gets 3,000 new 'cyberspace officers'
The U.S. Air Force already made a sizable push in November of last year by establishing a new cyberspace operations division with no less than 27,000 officers, and it looks like it's now further bolstered their ranks by promoting some 3,000 communications officers to the rank of "cyberspace officer." That new title also comes complete with the impressive-looking badge pictured above, not to mention a full 115 days of additional training that promises to "raise the bar on technical competency." Hax0rs, beware.

U.S. Air Force gets 3,000 new 'cyberspace officers' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 19:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink @GreatDismal (Twitter) | sourceAir Force Times | Email this | Comments
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HP says webOS coming to slates and web-connected printers

We joked about HP printers running webOS almost the second we learned about the Palm acquisition, but it turns out that's actually part of the plan: HP CEO Mark Hurd told analysts that webOS would hit a "variety of form factors, including slates and web-connected printers" on the company's Q2 financial results call today. webOS tablets were obviously a no-brainer, but printers are slightly more intriguing, in a way: while we're not overly surprised HP wants to leverage webOS on its line of advanced touchscreen printers, we're very curious to see what that actually looks like in practice -- a printer with Synergy-level Facebook integration for easy photo printing? A printer that can play 3D games like Need for Speed? A printer that can... multitask? The possibilities are amusingly endless, if you think about it -- and HP's printing and imaging division is a $6.4 billion dollar business, so the money and motivation to push this idea into strange new places are certainly there. Speaking of money, HP's doing just well on that front in general: profits were up 25 percent this quarter to $2.9 billion on total revenues of $30 billion, so yeah -- Palm certainly has the money and resources it's desperately needed. Now it just needs some new products and sharper execution.

HP says webOS coming to slates and web-connected printers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 18:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceCNET, HP financials, HP Twitter | Email this | Comments
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Sony rumored to be announcing premium PSN service at E3
We've been hearing about a premium PlayStation Network service for some time now -- even from Sony's Kaz Hirai himself -- and if a report from VG247 is to be believed, it looks like it could finally become a reality at E3 next month. According to the site, a "highly-placed source" says that Sony will be announcing the service and a slew of new premium PSN features during its June 15th keynote at the show, and that it will cost less than £50 (or $70) per year. As we'd heard previously, the current PSN service would apparently remain as-is for anyone that doesn't wish to upgrade, but it seems that Sony will be throwing in some pretty big incentives to get folks to pay up -- you'll supposedly get a free PSN game from a choice of "two to four" each month with your subscription. Details on the premium service are otherwise still pretty light, but VG247 says it will include a music streaming service similar to Spotify.

Sony rumored to be announcing premium PSN service at E3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 17:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GamesIndustry.biz | sourceVG247 | Email this | Comments
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Sprint CFO: 'Pre didn't work out as well as we hoped'
The worst of Palm's fears may be over now that HP has played the knight-in-shining-armor role, but Sprint -- the States' number three carrier -- still has a ways to go before it can claim it's out of the woods, having gone a solid string of fiscal quarters now without posting a profit or a net gain in subscribers. Of course, this is the kind of situation that puts dudes with the word "financial" in their titles on the hot seat, and sure enough, Sprint CFO Robert Brust came out swinging at an investor conference this week. Brust points to narrowing losses and an expanding prepaid presence as reasons he thinks the company can grow revenue by year-end, not to mention an expanding 4G footprint and -- on a closely related note -- the imminent release of the EVO 4G. Showing a bit of humility, he also said that the company has "learned a lot" since the launch of the Pre, acknowledging that the phone "didn't work out as well as [they] hoped." In other words: we wouldn't expect any more crazy two-phone exclusive deals with Palm lasting the better part of a year any time soon.

Sprint CFO: 'Pre didn't work out as well as we hoped' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 16:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink InformationWeek | sourceThe Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft Kin Two gets torn apart, reveals Sony image sensor
Sure, we already know most of the Kin Two's main specs, but there's nothing like a proper teardown to find out exactly what makes something tick, and the folks from Chipworks have now kindly ripped one apart so you don't have to. Among the highlights are the expected NVIDIA Tegra APX2600 processor, a slew of chips and memory from the likes of Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Hynix, and Samsung and, perhaps most notably, an image sensor from none other than Sony. That sensor, the IMX046, is one of the smallest in its class with a pixel size of just 1.4 microns and, according to Chipworks, something of a surprise -- they were expecting a sensor from OmniVision. Hit up the links below for the Chipworks' complete blow-by-blow account, as well as some further analysis from the folks at iFixit -- and, no, there isn't a teardown of the Kin One just yet.

Microsoft Kin Two gets torn apart, reveals Sony image sensor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET News | sourceChipworks, iFixit | Email this | Comments
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NEC rolls out Windows CE-based N-08B MID / phone for Japan
The chances of this one ever making its way to these shores are about as slim as can be, but it looks like folks in Japan will soon be able to get their hands on NEC's new N-08B, which is part phone and part MID (but mostly MID). Relying on the venerable Windows CE operating system, this one packs a 4.6-inch, 854 x 480 display (non-touchscreen, it seems), along with a full QWERTY keyboard complete with a trackpoint-like pointer, WiFi and 3G connectivity, a micro SD card slot for expansion, a 3.1 megapixel camera, and a promised 350 minutes of talk time when used as a phone. Still no indication of a price, but this one will apparently be available on NTT DoCoMo in August.

NEC rolls out Windows CE-based N-08B MID / phone for Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GadgetMix, Impress | sourceNEC | Email this | Comments
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Cisco buys MOTO Development Group to beef up consumer design chops
Cisco's already taken some big steps into the consumer market by buying the Flip cam line and releasing the Valet routers, but the company isn't done yet -- it's just acquired the MOTO Development Group, a San Francisco design house that's worked on a variety of high-profile products like Zune 2.0 and the LiveScribe Pulse. MOTO's also done some work on Android-based e-readers and MIDs that never really went anywhere, but you probably know the company best for its controversial smartphone touchscreen linearity test, which caused so much ruckus the firm actually re-did the whole thing with a robot in charge. Cisco says the MOTO crew will live in the consumer products division, alongside Linksys, Valet, and Flip, so we should see some interesting cross-pollination soon -- and based on Cisco's middling recent efforts like the Flip Slide HD, we'd even say MOTO might do well to lead a total revamp of the company's approach to consumer design. We'll see how it goes.

Cisco buys MOTO Development Group to beef up consumer design chops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 14:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GigaOM | sourceCisco PR | Email this | Comments
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Xperia X10 Mini unboxed, dwarfed by its own peripherals (video)
Sony Ericsson wasn't kidding when they called this one the Xperia X10 Mini. We must admit, it's a cute little guy -- if you'd like to see for yourself, we have the company's own unboxing video for you after the break. This is one of the very first consumer samples that's become available, and there will be some differences between what you see here and whatever lands in the UK and US, for instance. While a USB cable, charger, and stereo headset will come standard depending on market and carrier, extras -- including remote headset, powered stereo speakers, and additional back covers besides the standard black or white -- will differ accordingly. What are you waiting for? Hop past the break to see for yourself.

[Thanks, Ernst]

Continue reading Xperia X10 Mini unboxed, dwarfed by its own peripherals (video)

Xperia X10 Mini unboxed, dwarfed by its own peripherals (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 14:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceSony Ericsson Product Blog | Email this | Comments
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Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs
We managed to get an early look at Panasonic's TV-friendly implementation of Skype back at CES in January, but the company has just now finally activated the app on all of its 2010 VIERA Cast-enabled TVs (including the VT25, VT20, G25, and G20 Series). To take advantage of it, however, you'll also have to shell out $170 for Panasonic's TY-CC10W webcam, which supports both VGA and 720p video, and packs four unidirectional microphones, an echo canceling system, and some beam-forming technology that promises to deliver clear audio over a typical TV viewing distance of three to four meters. Head on past the break for the complete press release, as well as Panasonic's requisite old-people-don't-get-technology ad for the TVs.

Continue reading Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs

Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video)
CTA strikes again! The company known for its unorthodox (and rather silly) game controllers is back with a plastic drawbar / foot pedal combo that is supposed to be "very similar to a rowing machine you would find at the gym," although we highly doubt it. Designed for games like Wii Sports Resort and Jillian Michaels' Angry Sports Resort, this is something that would probably only enter your home as an ill-considered Christmas gift before gathering dust in the back of a closet, alongside your Bowling Ball and Football controllers. But we must admit, even if the company's products are dubious, its infomercials are an endless source of entertainment. See for yourself after the break. As for the rowing machine, it's up for pre-order now at Amazon, as if you care.

Continue reading Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video)

Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | sourceAmazon | Email this | Comments
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ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop -- won't help that there oil spill
Way back at CES in January, we spied ViewSonic's full offering, and we caught wind then of the VOT125 nettop -- but we didn't really have any details to go on. Well, the company's officially announced the VOT125 PC Mini today, and the slim little guy looks pretty cute. Sold as a space-saving PC with green design, ViewSonic says that the VOT125 uses up to 90 percent less plastic than similar nettops, and consumes up to 90 percent less power, making use of a range of ultra low power Intel ULV CPUs. The VOT125 boasts 2GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, four USB 2.0 ports, plus DVI / HDMI. You can grab one up starting today, and it's got a starting price of $499. The full PR follows.

Continue reading ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop -- won't help that there oil spill

ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop -- won't help that there oil spill originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 12:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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