Thursday, July 1, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 01/07/2010



Kinect detailed in newly precise tech specs
Sure, you know Kinect, but do you know Kinect? While retailers have backed off publishing $150 pricetags for Kinect in bizarre displays of solidarity, UK shop Play.com has up some new specifics on the technology in its listing for the device. Here are a few of the standouts that were news to us:
  • Field of view is relatively limited, something we could sense when spending time with Kinect at E3. The unit sees 57 degrees of horizontal and 43 degrees of vertical, with a 27 degree physical tilt to keep you in the action.
  • Depth of view is similarly strict, ranging from 4 feet to 11.5 feet.
  • Skeletal tracking is limited to two active players at a time, as we knew, but the system can at least keep its eye on up to six people at once -- like that totally optional pair of backup dancers in Dance Central.
  • Resolution, because we know you were wondering, is detailed as well: 320 x 240, 16-bit at 30 fps (we're guessing this is the depth camera), 640 x 480, 32-bit color at 30 fps (yeah, this is the color one), and 16-bit audio at 16 kHz.
No huge surprises, and we're sure a few more details will leak out before launch -- can't you just wait to get " off the couch, on your feet and in the fun"?
Kinect detailed in newly precise tech specs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Engadget Spanish  |  sourcePlay.com  | Email this | Comments
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Sony to recall half a million 'too hot to handle' VAIO laptops
Well, this isn't good. Sony's issued a warning that about half a million of its VAIO laptops are at risk of seriously overheating, and could even cause burns. The company says that the heat-monitoring chips of its VAIO F and C series laptops (which were launched in January) could be defective, causing them to overheat and physically warp. Sony says it's received about 40 total complaints about the issue, and that affected customers will be able to download a software fix or contact the company directly to have the laptop picked up for a repair.
Sony to recall half a million 'too hot to handle' VAIO laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Terrafugia Transition flying car gets a little closer to reality with FAA approval
Terrafugia Transition flying car gets a little closer to reality with FAA approval
If you're a little heavier than your spouse would like, you have two choices: get a new diet, or get a new spouse. However, if you're the Terrafugia Transition flying car and you're a little heavier than the FAA would like, you have a third option: get an exemption. The, uh, car is 120lbs too heavy to fit into the FAA's "light sport" designation, defining craft that can be flown by pilots with only 20 hours of logged seat time. However, the 1,560lb craft was given special exemption, enabling it to continue onward to production. If you haven't been following along, the thing can manage 115mph in the air then land, fold up its wings, and get 30mpg on the highway. If all goes according to plan we should be seeing this car get its big, beautiful self up for sale sometime next year -- all $194,000 worth of it.
Terrafugia Transition flying car gets a little closer to reality with FAA approval originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Autoblog  |  sourceDaily News  | Email this | Comments
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Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song
It's probably not the first Foleo to ever splash down on eBay, but this one might just be the most comprehensive of them all. Palm's companion laptop-that-never-was will almost definitely remain a tech mystery for eons to come, but today, the chance is yours to own the flop of the last decade for just $750. Better still, that Buy It Now price includes a smorgasbord of applications, so you won't have to go hunting in order to find programs that actually take advantage of the thing. The only downside is the lack of a VGA dongle and the original packaging, but there's only so much griping you can do about a Foleo that costs less than an Adamo.
Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Onkyo's top of the line receivers get a HDMI 1.4a makeover this fall
Say hello to the high end of Onkyo's receiver line, now refreshed with the newest tech already featured in its lower end and midrange receivers earlier this year. Beyond the eight 3D-capable HDMI 1.4a inputs, DLNA 1.5 (Windows 7 Compatible) and streaming support that we've come to expect from any 2010 home theater equipment, the TX-NR3008 and TX-NR5008 receivers include THX Certification, 9.2 channel audio, two HDMI outputs, HQV Reon VX video processing and powered audio output for up to three different rooms. Still, the best information from the press release (after the break) is that the upgraded components haven't increased prices from last year -- the TX-NR3008 has an MSRP of $2,099 while the TX-NR5008 will add on upgraded transformers, capacitors and extra USB for $2,699 when both ship this August.
Gallery: Onkyo TX-NR3008 & TX-NR5008 networked receivers
Continue reading Onkyo's top of the line receivers get a HDMI 1.4a makeover this fall
Onkyo's top of the line receivers get a HDMI 1.4a makeover this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Documents show that Dell knowingly sold defective computers, misled those needing support
Documents show that Dell knowingly sold defective computers, misled those needing support
What happens when capacitors go bad, spewing out their tangerine innards like the ones in the photo above? Components die. In the early to mid naughties there was a rash of failures, the so-called "capacitor plague" that affected many manufacturers thanks to millions of bogus units filled with an electrolyte mixture that was a bit off. However, nobody was quite affected like Dell. The company took a $300 million charge in 2005 to cover costs related to the faulty machines that went out with these components, and now we're getting a better picture of just how bad it was -- and continues to be.

According to recently released documents stemming from a three year-old lawsuit, Dell not only knew about the bogus components but some of its employees were actively told to play dumb, one memo sent to customer service reps telling them to "avoid all language indicating the boards were bad or had issues." Meanwhile, sales teams were still selling funky OptiPlex machines, which during that period had a 97 percent failure rate according to Dell's own study. (And you thought the Xbox 360 had problems.) With that on the minds of shoppers, plus Throttlegate and some other recent laptop quality issues, we have to think consumer confidence for Dell must be at an all-time low at the moment.

[Image courtesy of Bushtails]
Permalink   |  sourceThe New York Times  | Email this | Comments
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TeliaSonera gears up to ship first dual-mode LTE / 3G USB WWAN modem
Care about Samsung's GT-B3730? Probably not... but what if we told you that that very device is the planet's first commercially available dual-mode LTE / 3G WWAN modem? Now that we've got your attention, you may be interested in knowing that overseas operator TeliaSonera -- hailed as the first carrier on the planet to fire up an LTE network and make it available to Joe and Jane last year -- is just about ready to start shipping the aforesaid Samsung. As of now, the only way to hop onto their LTE superhighway is with a 4G-only modem, and while it had promised a two-faced stick in the second quarter of 2010, we're elated to finally put a face to a promise. The primary downside is that there's no current way for the USB modem to switch from LTE to 3G (or vice-versa) on the fly; instead, you'll need to kill the connection and start a new one when you leave / enter a 4G zone. Purportedly, the stick will play nice with both Windows and OS X, and it can hit real-world download rates as high as 80Mbps and upload rates of 16Mbps. Suddenly, a relocation to Sweden seems altogether more inviting, no?
TeliaSonera gears up to ship first dual-mode LTE / 3G USB WWAN modem originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePC World  | Email this | Comments
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Jaybird's SB2 Sportsband Bluetooth headset ain't afraid of no rainbow
Not wasting any time on trumping the original, are we Jaybird? Just a scant five months and change after introducing the eye-pleasing SB1 Sportsband Bluetooth headphones, along comes the SB2 for those who just like to live life on the vivacious side. In fact, the SB2 isn't all that different than the SB1 in terms of features, but if you're scouting a set with a little lot more flair, you'll find these available in nine fresh colors: Limonade Green, Sonic Blue, Orange Crush, Runner's Red, Toffee Apple Red, Midnight Black, Polar Blue, PowderPuff Pink and -- drum roll, please -- Snow White. You should know, however, that these also ship with apt-X onboard, which is said to "clean up" your jams while adding depth, bass and treble, and if your BT device has apt-X (or if you use an apt-X enabling BT adapter), these guys can kick it up a notch further with "CD quality output." Best of all, these are still priced at $99, making the toughest decision of all which hue to pick.
Jaybird's SB2 Sportsband Bluetooth headset ain't afraid of no rainbow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Engadget Spanish  |  sourceJaybird  | Email this | Comments
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Apple hiring iPhone antenna engineers for some reason
263diggsdigg Three Apple job postings for iPhone / iPad antenna engineers to "Define and implement antenna system architecture to optimize the radiation performance for wireless portable devices." All three were posted on June 23rd, the same day that we started seeing widespread reporting of the left-handed reception issues. Coincidence?

[Thanks, Abe]
Apple hiring iPhone antenna engineers for some reason originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceApple (1), (2), (3)  | Email this | Comments
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ASUS Eee PC 1215N with NVIDIA Ion and dual-core Atom D525 is a netbook powerhouse
The phrase "netbook powerhouse" would typically be considered an oxymoron. That was before ASUS announced its Eee PC 1215N bumpin' a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor with NVIDIA Optimus to intelligently switch between its NVIDIA Ion discrete and integrated graphics. That means it'll cut through 1080p video without any problem when displayed on the 12-inch 1,366 x 768 pixel display or out to an HDTV via the included HDMI jack. Other specs include Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, integrated webcam with lens cover, choice of 250GB or 320GB hard disk drives augmented by 500GB of ASUS WebStorage, and pass-through USB to charge connected devices like cellphones when the Eee is powered off. Sorry, no mention of battery performance, price, or availability on this so-called netbook.Continue reading ASUS Eee PC 1215N with NVIDIA Ion and dual-core Atom D525 is a netbook powerhouse
ASUS Eee PC 1215N with NVIDIA Ion and dual-core Atom D525 is a netbook powerhouse originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink EeePC.IT  |  sourceASUS (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments
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RIP: Emblaze kills First Else
9diggsdigg Hate to say it but we were right: Emblaze just announced that it's shutting down the First Else handset. $40 million and the hopes of many (ok, a few) gone in an instant. In a regulatory announcement issued today, Emblaze states the following:
Due to critical delays in deliveries and the current status of the project, the board has now decided to cease any further investment towards manufacturing of the First ELSE mobile device and to concentrate efforts only on licensing the ELSE Intuition platform and technology in order to realize its potential upside.
So there's still hope that we'll see the First Else user experience applied elsewhere if Emblaze can find a buyer. See the full release after the break.

[Thanks, Yair M.]Continue reading RIP: Emblaze kills First Else
RIP: Emblaze kills First Else originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video)
Scene: Impossibly mature high school "girls" mingling in front of a locker. Action!
Bitter Barbie: "What are you doing? Is that a new phone?"
Bland Barbie: "Yeah, I'm checking my Kin. I'll just write on Hannah's wall from here."
End scene.

Yes, ABC's new Pretty Little Liars show is the future of American television, where entertainment morphs into infotainment and bakes the minds of an entire generation into a lovely pie of corporate servitude. We blame TiVo. Oh, and just because Palm quit making creepy commercials doesn't mean that they've given up on promoting its Pre to women. Looks like Roger McNamee was right about that backside mirror's appeal. See what we mean in the PLL episode 3 embeds posted after the break.

[Thanks, Dave]Continue reading Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video)
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Lenovo's Skylight and U1 Hybrid being revived with fresh Qualcomm silicon?
What's this? A new sliver of hope in a dark, lost world? Before you throw your hands up and shut your eyes, you should know that all of this is coming from Digitimes, so taking it all in with an unhealthy dose of salt is highly suggested. According to them, Lenovo is actually planning to eventually ship its Skylight and IdeaPad U1 Hybrid (yeah, the two machines that were kinda-sorta shelved a month ago), but with far different specifications. For starters, they'll rely on Qualcomm's recently announced dual-core processor line, and rather than using the now-nonexistent Skylight OS, they'll both rely on Google's Android. If all goes well, the official launch will occur before the dawn of 2011, but there's no solid word on when they'll actually ship. In related news, there's also word that Toshiba will be readying a smartbook in its long-standing Dynabook line, with NVIDIA's Tegra 250 under the hood, a 10.1-inch panel and Android running the show. Now, who's up for seeing if any of this actually comes to fruition?
Lenovo's Skylight and U1 Hybrid being revived with fresh Qualcomm silicon? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink I4U News  |  sourceDigitimes  | Email this | Comments
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RoboCup Soccer 2010 finals show impressive realism by feigning injuries (video)
The World Cup may still be ongoing (despite what the US, England, and a handful of others may think), but the RoboCup 2010 in Singapore has just closed shop with an edge-of-your-seat display of autonomous action. The final game came down to two German teams, the Darmstadt Dribblers and the FUmanoids. As seen at numerous points, both android teams have even learned the ancient art of diving, toeing the uncanny valley a little to close for comfort. Video after the break -- we won't to spoil the ending, so let's just say Germany won by a sizable margin.

If fierce competition isn't your cup of tea, we've also got footage of DARwin-LC, a low cost (hence the name) humanoid from our friends at Virginia Tech's RoMeLa. These adorable little guys cost about $2,500 apiece and will be going out to 11 of VT's partner universities.

[Thanks, Stefan]Continue reading RoboCup Soccer 2010 finals show impressive realism by feigning injuries (video)
RoboCup Soccer 2010 finals show impressive realism by feigning injuries (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Twitter (@Dribblers), Plastic Pals  |  sourceI, Bioloid, RoboCup 2010  | Email this | Comments
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Hulu Plus preview arrives in iTunes App Store, Flash be damned
The free Hulu Plus app just hit the iTunes App store, kids, with the promise of 720p streaming over WiFi or 3G to iOS devices including the iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and 3rd generation iPod touch. They're calling it a "limited preview" release that will ultimately require a $10 per month subscription on top of the commercials you're forced to watch. Oh, and it's still restricted to US-only viewership. Well, at least the Flash barrier has been removed. Huzzah?

[Thanks, MT H.]
Hulu Plus preview arrives in iTunes App Store, Flash be damned originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Does adjusting or trimming the iPhone 4's micro SIM fix the antenna issue? Probably not.
Ever since Apple decided to do little about the iPhone 4's pronounced reception issues except suggest that users hold the thing differently and / or buy a nice case, the voodoo engineering remedies have been flying in full force -- sure, we'll admit we tried sticking some tape over the side of our phone (no dice), but we stopped short when people suggested we try a couple coats of nail polish (insanity). Even we have limits, after all. But the latest snake oil fix is definitely the craziest we've heard so far: according to a 13-page (and growing) thread at MacRumors, the iPhone 4's reception issue can be fixed by adjusting or even trimming the micro SIM so the contacts don't touch the metal tray. The popular belief is that touching the side of the phone somehow shorts across the micro SIM, causing (mumble mumble) and leading to dropped signal. Making things more interesting, Apple and AT&T are apparently using several different types of micro SIMs, including one with a significantly larger contact area -- you can check a shot of two of our iPhone 4 micro SIMs side-by-side after the break.

So does all this hocus pocus actually work? In a word, no. We tried it on a few of our particularly bad iPhone 4s -- the ones that consistently demonstrate the issue -- and achieved no meaningful results. We even went so far as to line the edge of one of our trimmed micro SIMs in electrical tape (pictured above) to ensure that no contact was being made, and we were still able to flatline the phone using the "death grip." Sorry folks -- we wanted this to work too, but it looks like people are just being hopefully optimistic. We'd say the real fix is going to have to come from Apple -- and given the growing discontent over this relatively severe issue, the sooner the better.Continue reading Does adjusting or trimming the iPhone 4's micro SIM fix the antenna issue? Probably not.
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Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use
Looks like the Android-toting Cius wasn't the only tablet out of Cisco this week -- the company's also announced a countertop unit for home energy management with a 7-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen. Running Ubuntu Linux for MID on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom chip, the Home Energy Controller connects to smart thermostats and appliances over 802.11n WiFi or gigabit ethernet using protocols including ZigBee. It then lets you keep tabs on your electricity usage, and suggests ways you could improve -- assuming you're using the tablet for its intended purpose instead of watching hardware-accelerated videos on Mediafly, browsing the included app store, or (potentially) using it as a phone of some sort. Forbes reports the device will run $900 per installation, though it's more likely it'll arrive subsidized by a monthly power bill. See it in action right after the break, and hit up that PDF at the more coverage link for a full spec sheet.Continue reading Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use
Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview
You'd think we'd be totally sick of Samsung's Galaxy S phones after seeing AT&T's Captivate and Sprint's Epic 4G, but we're just not done lovin' the 4-inch Super AMOLED, Android devices. Verizon's Fascinate and T-Mobile's Vibrant happen to be the last two Sammy phones to jump into our hands-on, but coincidentally, they're also the most alike. Design-wise, both remind us of the iPhone 3G / 3GS -- they're all screen on the front, strikingly thin, and have black shiny backs. And just like the Captivate and Epic 4G, they've got four touch sensitive buttons along the bottom edge. The Super AMOLED screens continue to impress, and watching a clip of Avatar on both versions was pretty breathtaking. (No, we didn't have an iPhone 4 on hand for comparisons, but make sure to check out the post where we put them head-to-head).

We didn't get to put the 1GHz Hummingbird CPU to the test in our short hands-on time, though both Android 2.1-running phones seemed to perform briskly when opening videos and pulling up the browser. Beyond Samsung's TouchWiz skin, both are preloaded with Swype and other carrier apps -- Verizon's version had Skype Mobile as well as a number of VCAST applications. Oh, and unlike most of the other Galaxy S phones, the Fascinate had a flash on its backside. We don't have much more on these bad boys for now -- we're still waiting on pricing and availability -- but the pictures and videos after the break should hold you over.
Gallery: Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant hands-on

Gallery: Samsung Verizon Fascinate hands-on

Note: Pay no attention to the background -- there isn't any intended symbolism to draw here, it was just the best lighting arrangement we could muster.Continue reading Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview
Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Palm retroactively refunding $50 webOS app submission fee -- each and every one
Palm's made a few half-baked attempts at wooing developers in the past, like that time in October when it waived the fees and review process for open-source apps (but not App Catalog entries) or when it provided discounted handsets that happened to carry a large carrier-specific ball and chain. This week, Palm's decided to be a bit more generous -- it's eliminating the $50 App Catalog submission fee entirely and putting every last cent back where it came from. With only 2,684 apps in the store, that's just $134,200 in total, but symbolically it's a very welcome gesture, no? According to the official Palm Developer Center Blog, developers should see credits appear in their PayPal accounts soon -- though perhaps not soon enough to spend it on the fruit of their fellow man's labor at 50 percent off.
Palm retroactively refunding $50 webOS app submission fee -- each and every one originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PreCentral  |  sourcePalm Developer Center Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Switched On: Token gestures
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

In early 2005, even after the launch of the Nintendo DS, Switched On critiqued pen computing, noting that it was too cumbersome and unnatural to become a mainstream input method. That column was validated by the launch of the iPhone, which banished the stylus to "blown it" status and popularized "finger-friendly" handset designs from all major smartphone OS developers.

Many have described the user interfaces of products such as the iPhone and Surface as ushering in the post-WIMP (windows-icon-mouse-pointer) era. Former Windows Magazine editor Mike Elgan has referred to the new paradigm as "MPG" (multitouch, physics, gestures) However, while these user interfaces feature streamlined designs and more direct manipulation, they still form a bridge with the graphical user interface. The main shift has been to more direct manipulation as the device processes more natural inputs.

The same can be said for Kinect. For a tidy sum and some untidiness, Kinect enables the kind of motion-sensing gameplay that has become the Wii's hallmark without having to strap the controller to various limbs (as with EA Active for Wii). In fact it eliminates the need to hold a controller entirely, just like the iPhone and iPad free users of mice and styluses. Beyond Soviet Russia, the input device uses you.Continue reading Switched On: Token gestures
Switched On: Token gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung's American Galaxy S phones pose for family portrait
Samsung's US team held a swanky event in NYC this evening to launch all four of its new US-spec Galaxy S phones in style. If you haven't been brought up to speed on Samsung's stateside Android invasion, the Captivate is headed to AT&T, the Fascinate to Verizon, the Epic 4G to Sprint and the Vibrant to T-Mobile. Each of the phones have 4-inch Super AMOLED screens, 1GHz Hummingbird Cortex A8 CPUs, and cams that can capture 720p video. We've already got detailed hands on impressions of the Captivate and Epic 4G, but stay tuned for Fascinate and Vibrant previews tonight. In the meantime, check out the family all together in the pictures in the gallery below.
Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S family
Samsung's American Galaxy S phones pose for family portrait originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung says all Galaxy S phones will get Android 2.2
Samsung has mercifully confirmed at an event in New York this evening that all Galaxy S versions -- including the Captivate, Epic 4G, Vibrant, and Fascinate -- will be receiving updates to Android 2.2 Froyo later this year and offer compatibility with Flash 10.1. All of the devices will be shipping with Android 2.1 out of the gate, so considering that Froyo's already launched, we're sure there'll be no shortage of pressure to get the updates fast-tracked. Sprint says it won't be a long wait on the Epic, but otherwise, we don't have any time frames at this point.
Samsung says all Galaxy S phones will get Android 2.2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTwitter (via @SamsungMobileUS)  | Email this | Comments
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Optimus Popularis keyboard finally pictured, still on track for sub-$1000 release
Art Lebedev doesn't have a fantastic track record when it comes to timing, but we'll be damned if those boutique devices don't look hot when they hit the scene -- just check out this first render of the Optimus Popularis keyboard, which the studio informs us will still (despite years in the making) cost less than $1000 when it eventually arrives. We're loving the new chiclet keys with typewriter spacing, even as we mourn the loss of a dedicated numpad in favor of industrial design -- though Art Leb says a press of the FN key will remedy that issue. When every button has a screen built into it, you can put that ten-key wherever you want, right?
Optimus Popularis keyboard finally pictured, still on track for sub-$1000 release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceOptimus Project (LiveJournal)  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung Epic 4G preview
We've seen our fair share of Samsung Galaxy S phones in the past few weeks, but the Sprint Epic 4G version (or the Galaxy S Pro, as we'd previously suspected it would be known) looks like it could take the cake. The phone has all the same specs as the others family members -- including a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, 5 megapixel cam, a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, and Android 2.1 -- but it also boasts a front facing camera and a physical keyboard. So, is the new slider as epically amazing as we've been imagining? We got to spend some time with a unit this afternoon, so hit the break for some early impressions and a quick video.
Gallery: Samsung Epic
Continue reading Samsung Epic 4G preview
Samsung Epic 4G preview originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple telling reps to smooth over iPhone 4 reception complaints, not to offer free bumpers?
BGR appears to have nabbed a document being distributed by Apple corporate to AppleCare reps tasked with handling iPhone 4 customers miffed with the antenna performance fiasco -- and for the time being, the recommendations are focusing on managing expectations, not fixing the problem. In a nutshell, reps are being instructed to pass on a more politically correct version of Steve's email by telling customers that they should "avoid covering the black strip in the lower-left corner of the metal band." Interestingly, they agree that bumpers might fix the problem, but they're emphatic in saying that they "ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers - DON'T promise a free bumper to customers." And yes, that statement is complete with caps and bold in the source document, so they mean business, it would seem. If it's any consolation, Apple says that "the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best [they] have ever shipped," but let's be honest: for those zapping their calls into the afterlife every time they brush their phone the wrong way, it's not much consolation at all.
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Samsung Intercept to replace the Moment on Sprint?
Looks like the Moment's over for Samsung and Sprint -- check out these leaked shots of the SPH-M910 Intercept, said to be the carrier's new mid-range Android slider. Screen size is said to be the same at 3.2 inches, and the keyboard certainly looks much nicer, but we can't help but be bummed to hear this thing will launch Froyo-free with Android 2.1 -- a 2.2 update is said to be a "high probability," but it took Samsung and Sprint some seven months to update the Moment to 2.1, so we're not holding our breath. The rumored launch date is July 11, so we'll see how much of this is true around then -- for now, we're betting Samsung will be doing its best to keep us focused on Galaxy S sets like the Epic 4G.
Samsung Intercept to replace the Moment on Sprint? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceSamsung Hub  | Email this | Comments
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Pages for iPhone gets a full walkthrough
We've been seeing hints here and there that the iPad versions of Apple's iWork apps will eventually trickle down to the iPhone and iPod touch, and now it looks like we've got some definitive proof: 9to5 Mac has published a thorough screenshot walkthrough of Pages. As you'd expect, it looks a lot like a smaller version of Pages for the iPad, but there are some interesting tidbits here and there: all documents sync over the air with all your iOS devices, there's integration with the oft-forgotten iWork.com, and you can export in .doc and PDF in addition to Pages format. Interesting stuff, to say the least -- hit the read link for the complete set of shots.
Pages for iPhone gets a full walkthrough originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Community-developed Pivot Power strip now available to order
The community-driven Quirky website has already managed to bring products like the Space Bar and DigiDude camera mount to market, and it's now offering what may well be its most useful product to date: the Pivot Power strip. That, as you can probably surmise, is a power strip that pivots, which lets you plug in up to six power adapters or chargers of any size (within reason). This being Quirky, however, things are done a bit differently that your usual retailer -- only 960 units are available for pre-sale right now, and you can "commit" to buying one for $23. If all those are sold, the Pivot Power will go into production, and its designers and top "influencers" will receive a small percentage of each sale. That goal should be easy enough to meet in this case, though -- more than half of the pre-sale slots have already been snapped up as of this writing. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look, and head on past the break for a video and the complete press release.
Gallery: Pivot Power strip
Continue reading Community-developed Pivot Power strip now available to order
Community-developed Pivot Power strip now available to order originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Panasonic's CTO takes your 3D questions live via Ustream tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Panasonic should be living the easy life, the newest iteration of its acclaimed V-series plasma HDTVs have been touted as having the best looking 2D and 3D available, the first 24-hour US 3D channel launches this week, and there's even at least one Blu-ray 3D movie is on retail shelves. But even with all that, there's a lot of confusion and questions about whether or not 3D is a good thing and what consumers should expect, so it's taking the unusual step of putting Chief Technology Officer Eisuke Tsuyuzaki on a live Ustream webcast taking questions from you, the public. Whether you're wondering if any focus has been taken away from 2D image quality, what can be done about cross manufacturer 3D glasses compatibility or anything else, show up at 3 p.m. EST tomorrow, June 30 and see what Panasonic has to say in response. Check the read link for the Ustream channel or just pop right back here, it's embedded after the break.Continue reading Panasonic's CTO takes your 3D questions live via Ustream tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Panasonic's CTO takes your 3D questions live via Ustream tomorrow at 3 p.m. originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Epson shows off IU-01 interactive whiteboard module for projectors
Epson's just unveiled a new module -- the IU-01 -- which will serve as an interactive whiteboard for its projectors and eliminate the need for an actual whiteboard. It'll also come with two pens which allow for user interaction with the screen, allowing them to open and close files and programs, as well as write on the screen. The IU-01 will be released in October, and it'll run you $599. See the full press release below, if you're so inclined.Continue reading Epson shows off IU-01 interactive whiteboard module for projectors
Epson shows off IU-01 interactive whiteboard module for projectors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Verizon iPhone in January, claims Bloomberg
Stop us if you've heard this one before: Bloomberg says Verizon will get the iPhone... sometime in January. Yep, it's another fuzzy rumor sourced from "two people familiar with the plans," and while we really do believe Big Red will eventually get the iPhone in our lifetimes, at this point we're beyond cynical about pieces like this -- chatter about a Verizon iPhone now regularly reaches deafening levels before crashing down in yet another cloud of AT&T-exclusive dust. However, if you must insist on living this impossible dream, Bloomy's latest rumor does at least line up with the piece from the Wall Street Journal in March claiming that CDMA iPhone would begin production in September, giving Apple plenty of time to ramp up for a January launch.

Of course, we have to wonder if it's the smartest move to announce the hotly-anticipated Verizon iPhone right after the holiday buying season, and we can't imagine all those iPhone 4 buyers who were just enticed into signing new two-year AT&T contracts are going to be happy to discover they could have waited and escaped the Blue, but we'll have to wait and see -- Apple just told us that they "don't comment on rumors and speculation" when we pinged them and asked for comment. Fingers crossed, we suppose.
Verizon iPhone in January, claims Bloomberg originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Engadget HD Podcast 200 - 06.29.2010
Yes, that is right sir, we have recorded our 200th episode. It's been a long road, four years since our first show and while only one host has made it through every episode -- but one that is -- we've had a number of great hosts and guests along the way. In fact we've had more guests than we can count and four hosts that have passed the baton, so we figured we'd take a stroll down memory lane with a few like Kevin Tofel who was one of the first hosts, and Ryan Block who was instrumental behind the scenes and even made it on a few shows. Of course we couldn't do a proper number 200 without Steven Kim, co-host of over 100 shows. Last but not least, we looked forward to the next 200 with the one and only Joshua Topolsky. So while we didn't talk about any current HD news (that episode will come later this week) each of the guests had plenty to say about the show and HD in general -- almost 2 hours worth in fact. It has been a fun trip and we hope you continue to enjoy it with us. Thanks to every one of you who has been a part of the ride.

Get the podcast
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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@Rjcc)

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:04:25 - Kevin Tofel (@kevinctofel)
00:25:15 - Ryan Block (@ryan)
01:06:50 - Steve Kim (@stevekim)
01:35:36 - Josh Topolsky (@joshuatopolsky)

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)
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Engadget HD Podcast 200 - 06.29.2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony's Yoshida says PS3 is now turning a profit, no plans for a price cut
We'd already seen some evidence that Sony was lowering the manufacturing costs of the PlayStation 3, and it looks like that's now finally starting to pay off -- Sony exec Shuhei Yoshida has confirmed to IGN that the console is at long last actually turning a profit. Of course, that profit is apparently still a fairly small one (and might just be breaking even), with Yoshida only saying that "this year is the first time that we are able to cover the cost of the PlayStation 3," and that "we aren't making huge money from hardware, but we aren't bleeding like we used to." That also unsurprisingly means that Sony still isn't planning a price cut anytime in the near future, with Yoshida instead saying that Sony will focus on more bundles like Move / Sports Champions package announced at E3.
Sony's Yoshida says PS3 is now turning a profit, no plans for a price cut originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink GamesIndustry.biz  |  sourceIGN  | Email this | Comments
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Fujitsu Lifebook TH700 brings convertible tablet magic at a more affordable price
With a 2.26GHz Core i3-350M processor and a $1,149 asking price, the Fujitsu Lifebook TH700's no netvertible, to be sure, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a tablet with more bang for the buck. Near as we can tell, this svelte 12.1-inch convertible's built on the same chassis as the Lifebook T730 we saw last month, with half the RAM and a slower CPU but all those lovely goodies intact. That means for $700 less than its older brother, you're getting a pen-and-capacitive-touch dual digitizer on top of that LED-backlit display, fingerprint and ambient light sensors plus a removable dust filter -- not to mention the standard 320GB hard drive, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, DVD burner and HDMI port. With a $50 mail-in rebate presently available to celebrate its stealthy arrival, it sounds like a done deal to us -- assuming, of course, that no other corners were cut.
Fujitsu Lifebook TH700 brings convertible tablet magic at a more affordable price originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink @shopfujitsu (Twitter)  |  sourceFujitsu  | Email this | Comments
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Cisco unveils Cius Android tablet with HD video capabilities (update: video!)
Cisco's just announced a business-aimed Android tablet, and it's calling it the Cius. The tablet will offer HD video streaming, real-time video, multi-party conferencing, plus all the regular tablet functions like messaging, email, and browsing. We're not sure about the size of the device yet, or any of it technical specs, but we do know that it's going to weigh in at 1.15lbs, so it can't be terrifically large. There's also no word yet on pricing yet, but expect to see the device the first quarter of 2011; we'll let you know about the former as soon as we do, okay, businessmen? Full press release is below.

Update: And now we've got video showing off the Cius under the drone of a limp corporate voiceover and synthesized soundtrack. How can you resist clicking through to the embed?Continue reading Cisco unveils Cius Android tablet with HD video capabilities (update: video!)
Cisco unveils Cius Android tablet with HD video capabilities (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hulu Plus announced with support for iPad, iPhone, PS3, Xbox Live, and more (update)
We've just received word that the premium Hulu service we've heard chatter about for a while now has just become official. Dubbed Hulu Plus, the $10 / month service will feature entire seasons of shows that are available in limited quantities on the free service, as well as other programming not available via Hulu on the web. There will be iPod and iPad apps available (streaming with WiFi or 3G), along with support for Samsung connected TVs and Blu-ray (via Samsung Apps). Also in the works is support for TVs and Blu-ray players from both Vizio and Sony (fall 2010), PS3 (July) , and Xbox 360 (as part of a "custom experience" in Xbox Live Gold, early 2011). Hit up the source link to get in on the "invitation only" preview of the service, and to keep abreast of availability for your favorite hardware. Video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Gallery: Hulu Plus
Continue reading Hulu Plus announced with support for iPad, iPhone, PS3, Xbox Live, and more (update)
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Google modifies its policies in China, resumes hosting some content on Chinese servers
Well, it looks like that "entirely legal" workaround to Google's censorship woes in China may not have been the answer the company hoped it was. Faced with the possibility of China revoking its license to operate in the country (in addition to blocking the site), Google has now stopped automatically redirecting Chinese users to its Hong Kong website and is simply presenting them with a link to Google.com.hk instead. What's more, Google has now also starting hosting some content on Chinese servers again, including maps, music and translation services that it says cannot be censored, and which can be accessed on Google.com.hk from within mainland China. Google will continue to host its main search operations on servers in Hong Kong, however, and it still remains to be seen if these changes will be enough to ensure it keeps its license -- China will reportedly decide that on Wednesday.
Permalink   |  sourceCNN Money  | Email this | Comments
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Is the iPhone 4 having proximity sensor troubles?
The iPhone 4's massive launch hasn't been blemish free, with reports of spotty displays (which seem to have disappeared) and antenna woes being rather widely reported. Well -- it looks like it's possible there's another issue too -- this time with the proximity sensor. Now, we're no strangers to spontaneously turning on speakerphone with our faces (though admittedly our cheeks are pretty round), so it's hard to say if this is an iPhone 4-specific issue, but the mounting reports would suggest that it's possible the new handsets sensor is a little bit... over sensitive. Reported issues include accidentally disconnecting calls, throwing the speakerphone switch, and putting people on hold accidentally. What about you? Are you having problems with your iPhone 4's proximity sensor? Let us know in the comments.
Is the iPhone 4 having proximity sensor troubles? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Apple Insider  |  sourceApple Support  | Email this | Comments
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Keepin' it real fake: Air Phone NO. 4 out-KIRFs the KIRFs with FaceTime app
We've already seen some pretty good iPhone 4 KIRFs, but it looks like there's a new king in town: the Air Phone NO. 4. Not only does it faithfully emulate the iPhone 4's hardware design with what we can only assume is the highest quality materials (it even eliminates those pesky seams), but it packs a "non-smartphone OS" that has all your favorite apps including Safari, Mail, "Games," "Sound" and, last but not least, FaceTime -- or a FaceTime icon, at least. Curious to see what other wonders await behind that familiar veneer? Then you can apparently snag one of these in China right now for just $100.
Keepin' it real fake: Air Phone NO. 4 out-KIRFs the KIRFs with FaceTime app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PMP Today  |  sourceShanzhaiji  | Email this | Comments
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iPhone lines crop up at AT&T stores as humanity slips ever further toward its inevitable destruction
We get it, the iPhone 4 is pretty cool, and of course the opportunity to obtain it on the very first day has a bit of an allure. But lining up for a camp-out in front of your strip mall-ensconced AT&T store five days later for the first day of walk-in sales is... well, we don't want to judge. At least you documented the soul sucking process with these blurry photos of your lines, some of which stretched as far as 100 people. Don't worry, the iPhone 4 will manage to snap much better shots of this process as it inevitably repeats itself next year, to the clear detriment of mankind. Oh, and if you onlookers were thinking of joining in on the fray, you might want to hold off: the word on the street is that most AT&T stores have run out of this fresh stock already.
Gallery: iPhone lines crop up at AT&T stores


[Thanks to everyone who sent these in]
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