Friday, July 16, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 16/07/2010



Ericsson estimates mobile lines have hit 5 billion, gives shout out to China and India for the help
Ericsson -- one of the world's top-tier infrastructure suppliers for mobile networks -- has crunched some numbers recently, figuring the five billionth cellphone line came into existence last Wednesday, July 8, largely from major surges in uptake in emerging markets like China and India. Mobile broadband access (which we take to mean access to 3G speeds and beyond) still trails significantly at just 360 million in 2009, though they're predicting a cool 3.4 billion users by 2015. To put things in perspective, Ericsson points out that we were at 720 million mobile lines in 2000 (and about 2.7 billion in 2007), so that's some pretty spectacular growth over the decade -- particularly considering that we're coming up on the Earth's population now. Of course, we don't know what happens when the world finally has more mobile subscriptions than it has humans -- but need we remind you that 2012 is drawing near? Follow the break for the full press release.
Continue reading Ericsson estimates mobile lines have hit 5 billion, gives shout out to China and India for the help
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Senator Chuck Schumer writes open letter to Steve Jobs, world is officially doomed
Look, we get it. There's a problem with the iPhone's antenna. But was the open letter to Jobs calling for a "clearly written explanation of the cause of the reception problem" and a "public commitment to remedy it free-of-charge" really necessary? What, you don't have better things to do? The full press release (and the Senator's letter) is after the break.Continue reading Senator Chuck Schumer writes open letter to Steve Jobs, world is officially doomed
Senator Chuck Schumer writes open letter to Steve Jobs, world is officially doomed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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HTC pulls sideload-capable Sync app for AT&T's Aria
We suppose this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but we're still disappointed to see that HTC has pulled the version its Sync app that had been posted late last week with support for sideloading of Android apps on AT&T's Aria, seemingly by mistake. Given that the new version of Sync had never been accompanied by an over-the-air firmware update to enable non-Market app installations from the phone itself, this seems to totally confirm what had been suspected all along: it was nothing more than a mix-up, and AT&T hasn't approved any sweeping changes in its branded Android philosophy. Considering the excitement and buzz this whole thing generated, we can still hope AT&T has a change of heart, of course -- but in light of everything we know, we certainly wouldn't get our hopes up.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HTC pulls sideload-capable Sync app for AT&T's Aria originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iOS 4.0.1 hitting iPhones right this second (update: 3.2.1 for iPads, too)
25diggsdiggWell it's not the full 4.1 we were expecting... but here's a little tidbit from Apple. One of the main features? The update "improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display." Interesting. We're updating some devices right now, and will report back with what we find.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: It looks like iOS 3.2.1 for iPad is coming down the tube, as well. We'll let you know what changes we're seeing!

Update 2: Here's a quick before-and-after shot of the signal meter. Clearly, Apple wasn't yanking any chains about changing the sizes of those leftmost bars.

iOS 4.0.1 hitting iPhones right this second (update: 3.2.1 for iPads, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Rumored HTC Desire HD specs surface: 4.3-inch screen, 8-megapixel camera
We didn't have a ton of details on the so-called HTC Ace when it turned up in a leaked roadmap last week, but a fresh set of rumors are now suggesting that the Ace is actually the Desire HD, which will reportedly pack a number of HD-esque upgrades over the standard Desire. That includes a larger 4.3-inch WVGA screen -- no word if it's AMOLED or SLCD -- and an 8-megapixel camera with 720p video recording. Other rumored details include Android 2.2, 4GB of internal storage, the same 1GHz Snapdragon as the current Desire and, perhaps most interestingly, talk of a "unibody aluminum design." Unfortunately, the rumors still don't include any actual images of the device, but there's still plenty of time for those to leak out before the supposed October release.
Rumored HTC Desire HD specs surface: 4.3-inch screen, 8-megapixel camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceSuperETrader  | Email this | Comments
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Elgato debuts Turbo.264 HD Software Edition, cuts price of hardware edition
Here at Engadget HQ, there's hardly a more overused piece of equipment than Elgato's (Mac only) Turbo.264 HD -- in our experience, it chews through bloated video files at a breakneck pace, leaving us with shrunken versions of CES hands-on and the like without any noticeable degradation in quality. Now, that same functionality is being introduced sans an easy-to-forget USB dongle as the Turbo.264 HD Software Edition. For all intents and purposes, the SE version does the exact same thing as the original, albeit at a presumably slower pace. 'Course, it'll still convert videos for use on portable devices (or just shrink the files sizes for easier archiving) far quicker than whatever method you're using now, and the $49.95 price tag is certainly a bit easier to swallow. Oh, and speaking of MSRPs -- Elgato just hacked $50 from the price of the hardware-accelerated version, leaving it at a delectable $99.95. Mmm, files. Delicious.Continue reading Elgato debuts Turbo.264 HD Software Edition, cuts price of hardware edition
Elgato debuts Turbo.264 HD Software Edition, cuts price of hardware edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Chile becomes first country to guarantee net neutrality, we start thinking about moving
Chile becomes first country to guarantee net neutrality, we start thinking about moving
Net neutrality: you want it, we want it, ISPs pretty much hate it. Chilean politicians? Those guys love the stuff! The Board of the Chamber of Deputies voted almost unanimously to to pass Bulletin 4915 which, among other things, forces an ISP to:
...ensure access to all types of content, services or applications available on the network and offer a service that does not distinguish content, applications or services, based on the source of it or their property.
There are other provisions as well forcing ISPs to protect user's privacy and the integrity of their systems, but it's the network neutrality bit we're really digging here. However, the cynics among us are wondering how long until ISPs start claiming that bandwidth-hogging sites pose a risk to user's systems. We're sure they just don't want your tubes to get backed up.
Permalink Slashdot  |  sourceCamara de Diputados de Chile  | Email this | Comments
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Xbox 360 getting dashboard revision this November?
Let's face it, the New Xbox Experience isn't exactly "new" any more, but it looks like Microsoft may be getting close to another complete revision. If a set of purportedly authentic images that surfaced on Logic Sunrise (and have since been pulled at Microsoft's request) are any indication, it appears that the Xbox 360 dashboard will be tweaked to match the appearance of the new Family Center component that Microsoft recently announced (and is set to launch in November). Those changes include a new horizontal menu system instead of the current slanted design, and some other more minor tweaks like smaller text for the menu options. The image above may well not be the final dashboard, however, considering that some of the other leaked images made reference to Natal instead of Kinect, suggesting that they're from an older build.
Xbox 360 getting dashboard revision this November? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceKotaku, Logic Sunrise  | Email this | Comments
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Dell Streak very likely coming to AT&T any day now
11diggsdigg You may have heard chatter recently that Dell's Streak is destined for AT&T as soon as July 19 -- and now, with a little dot-connecting, we're pretty much on board with that theory. We've just been tipped with some images of a corporate-owned AT&T store where contractors are in the process of installing new kiosks in the "Smartphones" area of the floor under tight security; they've apparently been made to sign NDAs and a number of employees "are already on the chopping block" for trying to figure out what it is. We suppose it could be something Captivate-related, but considering the level of security here, we think it's something much bigger. Like 5 inches or so, if you catch our drift. Catch another shot after the break.Continue reading Dell Streak very likely coming to AT&T any day now
Dell Streak very likely coming to AT&T any day now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Enphase Enlighten system controls home heating, cooling, solar production in the same web app
Enphase Energy has some pretty interesting tech for you to consider if you're thinking about going the Larry Hagman-esque solar power route (as opposed to the Barbara Eden veil-and-pantaloons route). The Microinverter System, for instance, converts DC power to AC household current at the solar panel, instead of sending the power accumulated at all the panels to one central inverter. And the microinverters aren't merely, well, "inverting." Nope, they also send stats to a gateway that, working with the Environ Smart Thermostat, allows you to keep tabs on your heating and cooling system as well as track solar panel performance all in the same web app. Pretty sweet, right? Or did we lose you at "Barbara Eden"? Hit the source link for more info.
Permalink Ubergizmo  |  sourceEnphase Energy  | Email this | Comments
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iPod touch FaceTime calling to be based on email addresses?
We've been assuming that the next iPod touch will get in on Apple's FaceTime video-calling action, but the open question has been how calls will actually be initiated without phone numbers, and BGR's saying it has the scoop: it's going to be based on email addresses. Registering an email address with the touch and FaceTime will let people videocall you using that address, but apparently calling an iPhone user will still involve knowing their phone number, which is a little odd -- but BGR believes the email-based system will extended to the phone eventually as well. It all sounds plausible enough, but we'll wait and see -- we've been burned waiting for Apple to add a camera to the touch before, after all.
iPod touch FaceTime calling to be based on email addresses? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sigma's mysterious SD15 DSLR finally ships to US, gets unboxed enthusiastically
We've all waited close to two years for this day to come, and now that it has, just a single question remains: "Does your credit card have the space?" Sigma's SD15 -- which is outfitted with a 14 megapixel Foveon X3 sensor, 3-inch LCD, True II processor, an ISO range from 50 to 3,200 extended) and support for SD / SDHC cards -- is now available to order on American soil. Better still, both B&H Photo and Adorama show the beast as "in stock" for just under a grand ($989, if we're counting), and the fine folks over at Akihabara News have managed to wrangle one for a glorious unboxing. Dig into those links below if you're hungry for more, but don't blame us if you come away a fair bit poorer.
Sigma's mysterious SD15 DSLR finally ships to US, gets unboxed enthusiastically originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAkihabara News, B&H Photo, Adorama  | Email this | Comments
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Bloomberg: Apple engineer was concerned about iPhone 4 antenna early on
As if we needed any more drama in this situation, Bloomberg has someone "familiar with the matter" that claims Apple's own antenna expert, Ruben Caballero, told Apple management that the iPhone 4 antenna design could cause reception problems, dropped calls, and a serious engineering challenge. Caballero is a senior engineer for Apple with a large quantity of antenna patents under his belt, and while we certainly don't know the whole story -- perhaps his claims were somehow quelled by Apple's own testing -- it certainly adds a twist to this story if Steve Jobs and co. had been alerted to this very real problem during the design phase. The Bloomberg article also claims, from a different source, no less, that a carrier partner also raised antenna concerns before the release. Apple and Caballero naturally did not comment on this report. We're not really sure about the real-world implications of all this behind-the-scenes drama, but we suppose we'll see what Apple has to say for itself tomorrow.
Bloomberg: Apple engineer was concerned about iPhone 4 antenna early on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Elonex 710EB color e-reader gets cheeky price bump, available for pre-order
Good golly, not another e-reader! Well, for once the Brits may actually be getting something rather affordable here -- we were promised a £99 ($152) price point when Elonex announced its 710EB e-reader back in April. Sadly, this 7-inch 800 x 480 color LCD device never materialized in mid-May, but a quick phone call to Elonex just now revealed a new launch date in early August. Before you cast your doubts, this is also semi-confirmed by the availability date on HMV's pre-order page -- we're just slightly mystified by the slight price bump to £119.99 ($184). Either way, here's hoping that we actually see something before the autumn rain keeps us indoor.
Elonex 710EB color e-reader gets cheeky price bump, available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Brammo goes street fighting with the 100mph Empulse electric motorcycle (video)
Brammo goes street fighting with the 100mph Empulse electric motorcycle (video)
When we took Brammo's Enertia motorcycle for a test ride last summer we found it to be a lovingly crafted and fun to ride bike that really only disappointed when it came to ultimate performance -- far closer to your average scooter than your average sportbike. Since then the company has gone racing, taking on the iconic Isle of Man as part of the all-electric TTXGP and finishing third place with a top speed of 102mph. That fully-faired bike was called the TTR, and now the company is making a naked version for you: the 100mph Empulse. Read on for full details and a little video too.
Gallery: Brammo Empulse electric motorcycle
Continue reading Brammo goes street fighting with the 100mph Empulse electric motorcycle (video)
Brammo goes street fighting with the 100mph Empulse electric motorcycle (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aegis Bio grows to 640GB of fingerprint-protected storage
Apricorn specializes in the fine art of making people believe their data is worth stealing and charging them for the privilege of protecting it. Its Aegis Bio range has now been expanded, both in number and in capacity, as the former ceiling of 250GB has been lifted with the introduction of 320GB, 500GB and 640GB variants. The 2.5-inch external disk validates user identity with that handy fingerprint scanner on top before allowing access to the otherwise 128-bit encrypted precious stuff within it. Prices of the new models top out at $160 for the most voluminous one, making them thrifty enough to buy even if you don't need secret agent-level security -- which, let's face it, you don't. Full PR after the break.Continue reading Aegis Bio grows to 640GB of fingerprint-protected storage
Aegis Bio grows to 640GB of fingerprint-protected storage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Buffalo's LT-V100 Link Theater streams every format under the sun at 1080p
Buffalo's LT-V100 Media Theater streams every format under the sun at 1080p
If for some reason none of the media streamers on the market at the moment have suited your particular tastes, perhaps Buffalo's new LT-V100 Link Theater is just right. It's a little box offering HDMI and composite video plus optical and good 'ol 3.5mm audio outputs, able to manage 1080pwhen streaming content either over Ethernet or pulling it right from USB-based storage. Naturally these little darlings live or die by their format compatibility, and in that regard Buffalo's is quite a fighter, able to play anything from RealVideo to Matroska, naturally with various flavors of MPEG, WMV, and Xvid along the way. It'll also do images and plenty of audio formats as well. All this can be yours later this month for ¥11,500 -- about $130 -- if you live in Japan.
Gallery: Buffalo LT-V100 Link Theater
Buffalo's LT-V100 Link Theater streams every format under the sun at 1080p originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceBuffalo  | Email this | Comments
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HP Android tablet coming later than you think, or not at all
Although nothing official has come from HP on this front, we got some pretty solid word back in April that the American giant was mulling an Android tablet. As it turns out, what with the WebOS acquisition that followed and HP's dogged commitment to Windows 7, that Googly project has apparently slipped out of the limelight in HP HQ. Word from All Things Digital is that there'll be nothing forthcoming this year (as was tentatively expected) and if an HP Android tablet is to materialize, it'll have to come in 2011. The company seems to be in the midst of reallocating resources to its higher priority projects, and who knows, should that rumored Hurricane tablet blow us all away, Android might never gets its chance to shine at all.
HP Android tablet coming later than you think, or not at all originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAll Things Digital  | Email this | Comments
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Apple and HTC lead charge as smartphone market looks set to grow and grow
A recent survey of 4,028 US consumers by ChangeWave has thrown up a number of illuminating statistics, which you might consider as predictable as they are informative. The chief takeaway is that people are keen on buying smartphones like never before, with 16% of respondents saying that they'll be taking the plunge within the next 90 days, which marks the biggest increase in the survey's history. Secondly, and crucially for vendor loyalists, Apple and HTC seem to be the biggest beneficiaries (or are they the stimulants?) of this interest, with both improving their share by over 50 percent between March and June of this year. RIM and Motorola have taken a tumble in that same timespan, while Palm has sadly failed to register even a single percentage point. We can definitely see the Droid X and BlackBerry 6 remedying things for the big boys, but Palm's route out of ignominy seems a little less straightforward. You'll find a chart of customer satisfaction -- dominated by Apple in imperious fashion -- after the break, and the full breakdown at the source link.Continue reading Apple and HTC lead charge as smartphone market looks set to grow and grow
Apple and HTC lead charge as smartphone market looks set to grow and grow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceChangeWave Research  | Email this | Comments
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Lenovo ThinkPad X300 series to be phased out, replaced by T400 this year
We're not sure what tea they're being served in the Far East these days, but the peeps at Lenovo have somehow convinced themselves to let go of the legendary 13-inch ThinkPad X301 and replace it with the 14-inch T410s by the end of the year. Ouch. While you mop up the tears pooling around your boots, here's Marketing Director Wang Lipin's reasoning: with the T400 series capable of offering more powerful CPU and GPU at a similar portability but much lower price (we're talking about a $980 difference between the T410s and X301 base models, at the time of writing), the X300 series has since lost its special place in the ultraportable category. It's tough to argue with figures like that, and hey, at least that's one less temptation for the sake of your piggy bank. Or so we're left to tell ourselves.
Lenovo ThinkPad X300 series to be phased out, replaced by T400 this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceSina Tech  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung Vibrant launching today, awaits new owners in T-Mobile's online store
A tiny bit of uncertainty has been cleared away thanks to good old Twitter, where T-Mobile has made July 15 (aka, today!) the official launch date for its Galaxy S derivative, the Vibrant. The original Tweet seems to have disappeared into the ether apart from that screenshot above, but T-Mo has reiterated the statement in subsequent missives, telling its followers that the Vibrant will be on sale today. We imagine the typical $199.99 price point will remain unaltered, so all you'll really need to do now is decide whether this is the Super AMOLED handset for you, or whether you can wait the extra few days until Sprint et al intro their offerings. Decisions, decisions.

[Thanks, Alex]

Update: And it's now available to buy directly from T-Mobile's online store [Thanks, Volaris].
Samsung Vibrant launching today, awaits new owners in T-Mobile's online store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink phonedog  |  sourceTMobile_USA (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
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NetTalk reveals the Duo, we await MagicJack's response
If you've never heard of the NetTalk TK6000, you're certainly not alone -- suffice it to say it's an as-seen-on-TV product that converts a standard ethernet internet connection into a VoIP telephone cord. And to be clear, the new NetTalk Duo doesn't seem to offer anything different than its predecessor, only a shiny bullet case, but that just makes it the perfect salvo across incumbent MagicJack's bow. We can hardly wait to see how the latest chapter in the infinite long distance call saga will play out. However, on the off-chance you've been looking to Fire Your Phone Company(R), don't wait, act now -- peep the press release after the break for your ten percent discount.Continue reading NetTalk reveals the Duo, we await MagicJack's response
NetTalk reveals the Duo, we await MagicJack's response originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNetTalk  | Email this | Comments
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Rex, the robotic exoskeleton, aims to make wheelchairs obsolete
New Zealand isn't exactly known for being a hotbed of tech innovation, but this set of bionic legs might just realign that perception a little bit. The product of seven years of development work, the Rex exoskeleton is capable of supporting the full weight of a person -- making it suitable for paraplegics -- and moving him or her around in a familiar bipedal fashion. It's operated using a joystick and control pad and is simple enough for handicapped users to self-transfer in and out of. The best news, perhaps, is that it's about to go on sale in its home country this year, with an international launch following in 2011. The worst news? Probably the $150,000 (US) initial asking price, but then we'd hardly say we're qualified to judge the value of being able to walk again. Video and full press release after the break.

[Thanks, Kurt and Simon]Continue reading Rex, the robotic exoskeleton, aims to make wheelchairs obsolete
Rex, the robotic exoskeleton, aims to make wheelchairs obsolete originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink NZ Herald  |  sourcerexbionics (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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Droid X available to buy now
Yes, the Droid X has joined the Kin... in being available to buy on Verizon's online Wireless store. No shock or awe here, it's a cent under two Benjamins with a two-year deal and you can give it the shopping basket treatment right now. Either that or wait in line overnight like a lovesick puppy, it's up to you.

[Thanks, Nick]
Droid X available to buy now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceVerizon Wireless  | Email this | Comments
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Viewsonic's NexTV VMP75 media streamer now shipping
Viewsonic wasn't being too specific with a launch date when it announced its NexTV VMP75 media streamer last month, but it looks like that little detail's now been cleared up -- the device is shipping now from both Amazon and Newegg. According to Review Horizon, however, the official release date is July 19th, although it seems possible you could receive it before then if you've already pre-ordered the device or get your order in soon. As for the device itself, it's still listed at $129.99, and will give you the usual Netflix streaming, and support for playback of content from either your home network or an attached drive.
Viewsonic's NexTV VMP75 media streamer now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAmazon, Newegg  | Email this | Comments
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Atheros and Wilocity embrace 'tri-band' wireless wares, 60GHz wireless PCIe
The amount of dual-band products (you know, those that support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands) is slowly growing, but already a pair of companies are thinking about the next big thing: tri-band. Atheros and Wilocity have both been eying that 60GHz stuff that the WiGig Alliance is pushing around these days, and now they're announcing a collaboration to "build tri-band wireless solutions that combine the ubiquity and coverage of WiFi with the multi-gigabit performance of the Wireless Gigabit Alliance's 60GHz technology." The new gear would enable all sorts of backwards compatibility, and while there aren't too many details being shared just yet on exactly what kind of kit is in the pipeline, we do know of one particular tidbit. That tidbit, of course, is wireless PCI Express, or wPCIe. Developed by Wilocity, this black magic would essentially enable PCIe devices to be docked outside of the desktop and have their signals beamed to a receiver card within the desktop. Think external graphics, storage arrays, etc., all sans cabling. It's being reported that wPCIe can push data at up to 5Gbps, and if all goes to plan, the spec should scale easily to 7Gbps. Be sure to give the links below a visit for a deeper dive, and get ready to give that SFF machine you've often overlooked... well, another look.Continue reading Atheros and Wilocity embrace 'tri-band' wireless wares, 60GHz wireless PCIe
Atheros and Wilocity embrace 'tri-band' wireless wares, 60GHz wireless PCIe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Motorola Droid X gets cinematic 'See You Tomorrow' trailer (video)
Yeah, we said trailer. The Droid family has seen its fair share of atypical ads, and while this one won't tug on your heartstrings, it'll definitely captivate. Unless you're already three sheets to the wind and well on your way into an early weekend. Either way, you should really have a look after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading Motorola Droid X gets cinematic 'See You Tomorrow' trailer (video)
Motorola Droid X gets cinematic 'See You Tomorrow' trailer (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcemotodroidlife (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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SanDisk's elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without
Oh, sure -- SanDisk's 32GB microSDHC card has been "shipping" since late March, but have you actually tried to find one? It's been a lesson in frustration for many, and while a few e-tailers have shown stock off and on, the card has generally evaded archivists who simply need an insane amount of available storage on their handset. Starting tomorrow, however, that should change. Verizon Wireless -- of all companies -- has somehow managed to become the "only retailer that offers customers the 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card." We're assuming it's referring to brick and mortar retailers, but at any rate, the gem will be on sale tomorrow at VZW outlets for $149.99, or just $99.99 if you purchase one alongside Motorola's Droid X. The only trouble with that? You're stuck figuring out what to do with the 16GB microSDHC card that ships inside of the phone. Thank heavens for the Bay, right?Continue reading SanDisk's elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without
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Apple to hold iPhone 4 press conference this Friday
1,003diggsdiggHeadline says it all folks. Obviously the company is going to be getting out in front of this antenna drama (finally). We've been invited and we'll be there, reporting live! It all happens at 10AM PT, Friday the 16th.

 If you haven't caught up on the story (and if that's the case, where have you been?), here's a little background on the issue in reverse chronological order:

Yes, the iPhone 4 is broken / No, the iPhone 4 is not broken
Consumer Reports confirms iPhone 4 antenna problems -- and so do we
Apple: iPhone 4 reception problem is a software issue, fix coming in 'a few weeks'
 iPhone 4's antenna problem looks worse than it is, but it's still bad
Apple hiring iPhone antenna engineers for some reason
Apple telling reps to smooth over iPhone 4 reception complaints, not to offer free bumpers?
iPhone 4 antenna woes contextualized by dude in the know
The Jimmy Fallon Test: is the iPhone 4 dropping fewer calls?
Hey Apple, you're holding it wrong
Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way
Apple to hold iPhone 4 press conference this Friday originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jolicloud 1.0 demonstrated on Acer Aspire One 533, coming to your netbook soon
We're always skeptical when it comes to underground operating systems whipped up for one specific purpose, but Jolicloud has managed to continually impress us with each passing build. Now, at long last, the netbook-centric OS has arrived at the magical 1.0, and our comrades over at Netbook News have managed to score an early copy. Better still, they're showcasing it on Acer's just-released Aspire One 533, and if the bootup speed is any indication, we'd say the two are a match made in heaven. The 1.0 version sure looks grown-up compared to those earlier builds, and while we suspect it would take a bit of getting used to before we really found ourselves comfortable in an app-driven desktop OS, we definitely like the looks of it. Feel free to hop on past the break for a lengthy video demonstration of the refaced system, and if you're currently using an earlier version, the company has informed the world that upgrades will start slipping out as early as this week.Continue reading Jolicloud 1.0 demonstrated on Acer Aspire One 533, coming to your netbook soon
Jolicloud 1.0 demonstrated on Acer Aspire One 533, coming to your netbook soon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hulu Plus on PS3, hands-on (update: video)
Sure, we already told you what Hulu Plus looked like on iPhone, iPad and a Samsung TV, and not much has changed since that juncture, but we expect a number of you care quite a bit about how it will operate on PlayStation 3, especially considering you'll (presently) have to cough up an additional $50 annually for the privilege. The good news is it's absolutely nothing like the PS3's disc-based Netflix solution -- here, you're looking at a responsive experience through and through, and the interface is about as simple and full-featured as we'd hoped.

After a 28MB download, we were invited to either log in with an email/password combination or link our console at Hulu's website, both of which launched the program nigh instantly from the hard drive. The interface afterwards is a dead-ringer for the Samsung TV version, except optimized for console control, with the analog stick and shoulder buttons smartly seeking through programs at high speed, or tapped to jump ahead in fifteen-second increments. You can similarly adjust video quality (and thus, bandwidth usage) with a press of the R1 button, watch picture-in-picture programs while you browse, and the search function admirably narrows down Hulu's content as quickly as you can type the letters in. It does have its bugs, like when we tried to watch High Fidelity and were asked if we wanted to subscribe to the show, and there was the time we got caught in an unending advertising loop for body wash, but that time we think the app was just trying to tell us something. Yeah, we'd better run out to the store, but don't go away -- hit the gallery below for a brief tour.

Update: Our friends at Joystiq have a video walkthrough; check it after the break!
Gallery: Hulu Plus on PS3
Continue reading Hulu Plus on PS3, hands-on (update: video)
Hulu Plus on PS3, hands-on (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Laptop's 2010 tech support showdown reveals ugly truth: you're (almost) on your own
Dealing with warranties is one thing -- it's almost always a crap-shoot, and you're continually pressing your luck when trying to get something covered without any out-of-pocket expense. But how's about the tech support that's so whimsically promised with so many laptops these days? Our pals over at Laptop put in an inordinate amount of work in order to find out, pinging a full dozen manufacturers via phone and chat in order to measure hold time, level of support offered and overall satisfaction. Just about every major laptop maker was included (Acer, Apple, Dell, Lenovo, HP, Toshiba and Fujitsu, just to name a few), and an in-depth report of their findings was posted for each one. In general, though, they found that most companies wouldn't hang around long enough to answer those nagging questions that typically end up in forums ("How do I remove bloatware?"), oftentimes pointing the caller to a paid alternative that would actually take the time to address their issues. If you're considering a new machine, and you aren't exactly one of those nerdy go-getters who can troubleshoot everything yourself, you should certainly give the source links below a look. Just try not to get too depressed, cool?
Permalink   |  sourceLaptop [1], [2]  | Email this | Comments
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Fujitsu's wireless guidance system promises to free patients from the waiting room
It may not do much to speed up wait times, but Fujitsu is at least doing its part to make the time outpatients spend at hospitals and clinics a bit easier. It's announced a new wireless outpatient guidance system, which packs an electronic paper display, and accommodates a card that a patient would receive when they arrive for their appointment. When placed in the card reader, the device would automatically register the patient at the hospital or clinic, guide them to their destination, and continually inform them of their wait time and place in line. It'd also, of course, work anywhere there's a wireless signal, so you'd be able to leave the waiting room without having to worry about missing your appointment. No word on any hospitals that have signed up to use it just yet, but the system will be commercially available in February of next year. Full press release after the break.Continue reading Fujitsu's wireless guidance system promises to free patients from the waiting room
Fujitsu's wireless guidance system promises to free patients from the waiting room originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Letcool 350JP game console does double duty as handheld, digital camera
For the KIRFsters and Crapgadgeteers of the world, whipping up a retro game console is a quick and easy way to make a couple bucks. Case in point: the LetCool 350JP features a 3.5-inch screen, 4GB of storage, microSD card slot, TV out, FM tuner, an unspecified still camera, and compatibility with NES, SNES, Sega, and GameBoy ROMs (not to mention MP3 audio and AVI video). And the price of all this... stuff? $76. We'll let you search your soul and decide for yourself it it's worth the cost. Available now from Etronix.
Letcool 350JP game console does double duty as handheld, digital camera originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Red Ferret Journal  |  sourceEtronix Mart, Chinavasion  | Email this | Comments
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iOS 4.1 seeded to developers (updated)
The first update to iOS 4.0 is jumping all the way up a full tenth of a point to 4.1, and it's now available for those of you signed up for Apple's iPhone Developers Program. It looks like there are major changes to Game Center (which has yet to launch) in this build, but otherwise, we're not sure what's up just yet -- and no, as far as we can tell, there's no iPad support here. Stay tuned!

Update: So we're definitely noticing some differences. The signal bars are, in fact, larger in the new OS, and we're seeing fewer bars on our 4.1 device when compared to a standard 4.0 iPhone 4 (see the image after the break)... which is pretty much exactly what Apple said would happen. We're testing now and will report back what we find!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading iOS 4.1 seeded to developers (updated)
iOS 4.1 seeded to developers (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ZVRS to support live sign language translation via iPhone 4's FaceTime for calls between deaf and hearing users
While SMS and mobile email are great, they still can't match the emotion, interaction, and intonation of a live conversation with someone -- that's why our phones still ship with microphones and speakers, apparently. Of course, this is much more difficult when one of the parties is deaf or hard of hearing, which is where video relay services come in. With the help of a videophone or your computer's webcam, you can make a call with a live translator, who speaks your signed ramblings out loud to the hearing person on the other end. Of course you're usually stuck at a desk when doing this, but now ZVRS is going to be supporting calls made from the iPhone 4 over FaceTime. It might not be quite as sexy as Apple's goosebump-raising iPhone 4 commercial, since the phone obviously makes two-way sign language calls possible, but if the person on the other end doesn't have an iPhone 4 or doesn't know sign language, ZVRS seems like the next best thing. The new service will launch on July 26th. Check out a video of it in action after the break, the actual call starts at 2:25.Continue reading ZVRS to support live sign language translation via iPhone 4's FaceTime for calls between deaf and hearing users
Permalink TUAW  |  sourceZVRS  | Email this | Comments
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Google is the latest to support the FCC's new IP video gateway
Google TV by Logitech
The FCC is currently accepting comments about the replacement for CableCARD and amongst the usual suspects of cable companies, consumer electronics manufactures, and industry groups is a comment by one company that stuck out -- don't worry, we're still going to read the rest. Now obviously with the announcement of Google TV, it makes sense that Google has something to say about how 3rd parties should be able to work with cable and satellite TV providers, but there are plenty of others in the space that don't stick their neck out for consumers. Basically Google puts its support behind the new IP video gateway solution (nicknamed AllVid) that TiVo and Sony originally championed, but goes on to say that the goals of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 have not been achieved and that "parties from all corners of the video space agree that the current navigation device marketplace is wholly inadequate" (hey, Google and Apple do still agree on some things). A specific example given is that while searching the entire internet is something Google can do, searching what's on your provider's video-on-demand isn't. There are a number of steps to go before any of this can become reality, but we'll be following this closely in the hopes that one day our set-top box options are half as compelling as modern smart phones.
Google is the latest to support the FCC's new IP video gateway originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC.gov (PDF)  | Email this | Comments
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Hulu Plus launches on PS3, exclusive to Sony's console through 2010
The Sony Defense Force has reason to celebrate today, as the circle is now complete -- where Netflix HD once spited PS3 for Xbox 360, today Hulu Plus has chosen the PlayStation for limited console exclusivity through the end of the year. Today, "a select group" of PlayStation Plus subscribers can download the Hulu Plus app and start watching immediately, while regular ol' paying members can ask nicely (via the same app) and wait patiently for the privilege of shelling out an additional $10 a month. Those who aren't dropping $50 a year on PlayStation Plus aren't entirely out of luck, they'll just have to wait till the end of the preview period to get their Hulu on. Press release after the break, more info at the official PlayStation.Blog.Continue reading Hulu Plus launches on PS3, exclusive to Sony's console through 2010
Hulu Plus launches on PS3, exclusive to Sony's console through 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PlayOn for iPhone brings a wealth of streaming video to iOS, we go hands-on (update)
It's ugly. It's buggy. It requires a Windows PC. But PlayOn for iPhone actually works, slinging Netflix, Hulu, CBS and more to your waiting Apple device over WiFi and (occasionally) 3G. Using the same PlayOn desktop client that presently redirects video-on-demand to your game console or a media streamer attached to your TV, subscribers can download an app on July 15th that transcodes content for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad as well, and is today the only way to get Netflix on your phone.

We spent some quality couch time with the program over the last couple of days, and with a powerful PC, fast internet and WiFi connection, we found video quite watchable on our iPhone 4, and there's no knocking PlayOn's breadth of content available, with loads of TV, a good deal of anime and your entire Netflix streaming queue available on the phone. The interface is barely there, though, just a series of poorly-spaced nesting menus, and it can take quite a few touchscreen presses and a bit of thought to find what you want to watch. There are a few bugs too, like one that kept shooting us back to the main menu randomly upon a button press, and another that locked us into a particular piece of content until both app and desktop server were restarted. Some content could have looked better on the 3.5-inch Retina Display if only we'd had the option to press the HD button, but the only controls Media Mall provides are forward, backward and volume, and even with full bars we're afraid we couldn't get 3G playback to work reliably. Since the company still offers a free 14-day trial of the service, the software's definitely worth a try, but if you want Hulu or Netflix on the go (or even around the house), we imagine you'll eventually end up using their dedicated apps instead.

Update: PlayOn's PR team tells us some of the exact bugs we found have already been fixed for tomorrow's launch, including crashes that return the user to the main menu, and system states that chain the user to a previously selected video. That's an impressive turnaround!

Update 2: The same team just pinged us again, and it looks like they've hit a roadblock. Apparently the app is once more "in review" under Apple's watch, so only Cupertino knows when exactly it'll be released to the world. We'll let you know as soon as we hear more.
Gallery: PlayOn for iPhone hands-on
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Acer said to be launching 7-, 10-inch Android tablets before the end of the year
Acer's already offered some indication that it planned to launch at least one Android-based tablet before the end of the year, and it looks like we're starting to get few more tidbits of information. According to DigiTimes (reasonably reliable when it comes to Acer rumors), the company is planning to launch both 7-inch and 10-inch tablets sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, both of which will reportedly be ARM-based and run Android 2.2 (complete with Flash support_. Details are otherwise still pretty light, but DigiTimes is backing up earlier talk that Acer's looking to partner with mobile carriers on the devices, which we presume means they'll both at least have a 3G option.
Acer said to be launching 7-, 10-inch Android tablets before the end of the year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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مرسلة بواسطة Abdalrhman Albayyat
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