Wednesday, August 11, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 11/08/2010



Panasonic GF1 is ready to take the plunge Big Daddy style with the INON X-2 waterproof housing
Panasonic GF1 is ready to take the plunge Big Daddy style with the X-2 waterproof housing
It takes a special suit to stand up to the worst that Rapture can throw at you, and for the Panasonic DMC-GF1 that suit is the INON X-2. It's an aluminum alloy case available in white or black that looks beefy enough to survive far deeper than the 75 meters it's rated for. It also seems capable of standing up to being driven over by a car or being thrown down a flight of stairs. Add on two optional M1 grips plus underwater lights and you have yourself the diving rig pictured above, absolutely dwarfing the tiny GF1 cowering inside. Its cost does too, with the case alone going for 186,900 yen, about $2,200, and each grip costing 10,000 yen (about $115). That seems like an awful lot to spend to protect a $650 camera, but don't let such words dissuade your capitalistic instincts.
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Blockbuster including games in its by-mail rentals
It's almost inspiring, the way that Blockbuster bravely marches on, despite such moves as boning Total Access and cutting back on its new movie purchases. And the latest bid for relevance? If you're receiving your, um, "blockbusters" via snail mail you'll soon be able to add your Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii games to the mix (and by "soon," we mean "now"). Ready to add the latest installment of Splinter Cell to your copy of The Bucket List? Well, you should probably get out of the house more. Or you can click the source link to get started.

[Thanks, Kevin]
Blockbuster including games in its by-mail rentals originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Motorola Droid 2 (and R2-D2 edition!) finally official: Android 2.2, Swype, $200 on contract
All together now: "Finally!" At long last, the leaks are being plugged by none other than Verizon itself, who today confirmed that the Droid 2 is more than just a figment of everyone's imagination. Shortly after hamstringing the Froyo update for the original Droid, Big Red is tossing a tempting upgrade all up in your grille, as the Droid 2 ships with Android 2.2, mobile hotspot (a $20 / month add-on), Flash Player 10.1 and a revised QWERTY keyboard. It also ships with Swype pre-installed, though we'd prefer Swiftkey thrown in for good measure. You already know the specs by now -- a 3.7-inch multitouch display, 5 megapixel camera, DLNA streaming, 8GB of onboard memory and a 8GB microSD card -- but what you haven't known is the on sale date. VZW is putting this gem up for pre-sale tomorrow at $199.99 on a 2-year contract, with in-store availability locked for Thursday.

In other news, that R2-D2 edition Droid 2 we told you about last month is legit, and we're having a hard time containing our excitement just dreaming about the design. Said phone will be available online only in September, and it'll ship with "exclusive Star Wars content and external hardware designed to look like the trusty Droid from the film saga." We're guessing these will sell out in no time flat, but there's no price being divulged just yet. Oh, and if you're wondering how on Earth you're going to swing this upgrade, Verizon's allowing any customer with a contract ending by December 31, 2010 to upgrade now (to any other smartphone, including the Droid 2) sans penalty. Sheesh guys, you shouldn't have!Continue reading Motorola Droid 2 (and R2-D2 edition!) finally official: Android 2.2, Swype, $200 on contract
Permalink   |  sourceDroid Does, Verizon Wireless  | Email this | Comments
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Exemode DV5000UW waterproof HD camcorder gives Steve Zissou a run for his money
Sure it's a truism, but when it comes to waterproof camcorders, you really get what you pay for. It looks like Exemode's latest offering in that space cuts corners in the looks department, but what the hell? You can't really argue with a hi-def (720p), 12 megapixel camcorder that sports USB, HDMI, and A/V (NTSC and PAL) output, 32MB on-board memory, SD card support, and a $150 price tag. Did we mention that it's waterproof?
Exemode DV5000UW waterproof HD camcorder gives Steve Zissou a run for his money originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Oh Gizmo!  |  sourceExemode  | Email this | Comments
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Netflix, EPIX deal is official; Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate movies start streaming September 1
Netflix streaming queue starting to look a little stale? It's working on that, and has signed a deal that brings EPIX's library of movies to Watch Instantly -- just not that instantly. If you're not familiar with EPIX, allow us to refresh you, it's a network launched last year by Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate that brings their movies home (though often unfortunately cropped and zoomed to 16x9) through a linear channel, video on-demand or internet streaming. Under this new agreement, movies from those studios can come to Netflix 90 days after they debut on the premium pay-tv and subscription VOD services. While that means streamers won't get access to Iron Man 2, The Expendables, or Dinner for Shmucks anywhere near day-and-date with their DVD or Blu-ray releases, those kinds of high profile flicks will show up and stick around with greater regularity than we've been used to. The companies haven't released further details, but rumors reported by the L.A. Times suggest licensing costs could reach $1 billion over the next 5 years. The first movies covered by the new deal arrive September 1, likely with flicks from the Star Trek, James Bond and Indiana Jones series (hopefully not Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) among them.Continue reading Netflix, EPIX deal is official; Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate movies start streaming September 1
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Nanosys forms alliance with Samsung to further the art of nanotech, fight the gray goo menace
Nanosys forms alliance with Samsung to further the art of nanotech, fight the gray goo menace
Nanotech: it's about to get big -- well, figuratively speaking anyway. California-based Nanosys, who has worked to apply little tech to everything from flash memory to LED-backlit displays, is now applying it to solve a new problem: cash flow. Through a partnership with Samsung, Nanosys will receive "funding and resources" plus a $15 million equity investment while Samsung will presumably get first dibs to produce the fruits of this partnership. The press release, embedded below, specifically mentions applying research to develop better solar tech, but also indicates a hope to improve "electronics" in general, opening the door for just about anything. We're going to go ahead and hope for nanotech foot massaging running shoes, but feel free to lodge your own requests in the comments section below.Continue reading Nanosys forms alliance with Samsung to further the art of nanotech, fight the gray goo menace
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New prosthesis sends feedback to the brain, might alleviate phantom pain
Even as prosthetic technology advances, the problem of phantom limb sensation persists. Essentially pain, pressure, or some other stimulus attributed by the brain to a limb that has been lost, the exact cause for this is unknown -- and it's a very real problem for amputees. Hoping to better understand (and someday maybe eliminate) the phenomenon, researchers at the University of Jena in Germany have developed a prosthesis that uses sensors and a stimulation unit to send feedback from the patient's artificial hand back to the brain, offering some relief to the individual in the process. So far, the team has had some success, but as the school's Dr. Thomas Weiss points out, there is quite a bit of work yet to be done to determine if "the hand is helpful to only a few people or if it is a therapeutic for all wearers of artificial limbs."
New prosthesis sends feedback to the brain, might alleviate phantom pain originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGizmag  | Email this | Comments
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Google's South Korean offices raided by police as part of Street View investigation
Google may be trying to make nice and play ball with all the thoroughly outraged governments affected by its unintentional WiFi snooping with Street View cars, but that apparently hasn't been good enough for South Korea. Earlier this morning, Google's Seoul HQ was subjected to a raid and search operation by the cyber crime unit of the Korean National Police Agency, due to suspicions that it may have collected and stored data from WiFi networks without authorization. So it's the same old complaint the rest of the world's been dealing with, only the zeal of the methodology seems to have been turned up to 11. It'll be interesting to see if this raid uncovers anything more salacious than what we already know; we'll keep you posted if it does.

[Thanks, D. Kim]
Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
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Is Microsoft quietly opening up a Kinect beta program?
Well what do we have here? It appears our friends over at Joystiq have received word from diligent tipsters that Microsoft's Connect customer feedback service is sending out Kinect beta program invites. Details are predictably sparse, but naming ironies aside, the note does specify that chat will be limited only to those involved in the preview program. While this isn't really surprising given the context, Joystiq surmises that this choice clarification could hint invitees will have the chance to sample the video chat app available through the Kinect's new dashboard, which was shown off at E3. Unfortunately, Ballmer and crew have yet to lend any official credence to these murmurs, though apparently the email address behind these notes is valid. It's also not that outrageous to imagine Microsoft wanting to spin Kinect's wheels in the wild before releasing it to the unwashed gaming masses on its official November 4th launch date. Considering the program would have to put hardware in the hands of testers though to pull something like this off, we're counting on more than a few overly excited gamers shining additional light on the situation should things get serious.
Is Microsoft quietly opening up a Kinect beta program? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ce-Oh no he didn't!: Larry Ellison likens HP board to 'idiots' at Apple
Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO and regular tennis buddy of the disgraced (and now former) chief of HP Mark Hurd, has decided to share his thoughts on the matter of Hurd's departure in an impassioned email to the New York Times:
"The H.P. board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple board fired Steve Jobs many years ago. That decision nearly destroyed Apple and would have if Steve hadn't come back and saved them."
The communique, also obtained by the Mercury News, included other tasty tidbits such as Ellison describing HP's disclosure of the apparently unfounded sexual harassment claim against Hurd as "cowardly corporate political correctness," and dismissing the financial irregularities that forced the former CEO's resignation as "petty expenses report errors." So, in short, the world according to Larry is populated by messianic CEOs who shouldn't be held up to the same petty standards as the rest of us.
Ce-Oh no he didn't!: Larry Ellison likens HP board to 'idiots' at Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink All Things Digital  |  sourceNew York Times (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments
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TI picks up first license for ARM's Eagle CPU core, mass market devices still a couple of years off
The mythical next generation of ARM's Cortex-A series, the Eagle, has made a reappearance in the news this week, but much of the mystery remains. Texas Instruments has now revealed itself as the first licensee of the new core, while also waxing poetic about its deep involvement and collaboration with ARM on its design and particular specifications. No, nobody was kind enough to let us in on what those specs might yet be, but since -- technically speaking -- the Eagle CPU hasn't even been announced yet, that's probably fair enough. For its part, TI expects to be first to market with its OMAP systems-on-chip integrating the latest Cortex core, but that won't be happening for a good while yet, as most projections peg the Eagle's landing to be no sooner than 2012. Guess we'll just have to make do with some dual-core Snapdragons until then.Continue reading TI picks up first license for ARM's Eagle CPU core, mass market devices still a couple of years off
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Pre designer Peter Skillman latest to leave Palm, entire senior staff now in exodus
Sure, the Mark Hurd departure has given HP quite an interesting (if not tumultuous) place in the news cycle, but here's one that's gotta sting pretty bad on its own. TechCrunch reports -- and independent sources confirm with us -- that Peter Skillman, the man with 11 years tenure and the reported designer of the Pre, has left HP / Palm. He joins... sorry, we need to catch our breath here... Michael Abbot, Mike Bell, Lynn Fox, Matias Duarte, Rich Dellinger, and Caitlin Spaan. That's all the Senior VPs (and almost all the VPs) now gone. We hope CEO Jon Rubinstein isn't feeling too lonely with most of his one-time dream team having defected en masse. [Photo Credit]
Permalink PreCentral  |  sourceTechCrunch  | Email this | Comments
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RED Scarlet makes surprise cameo filming EPIC's fast focus
The two-second video after the break may not seem like much -- a RED EPIC S35 with a 85mm Canon lens changing its focus from a box at a distance to a hand being moved in front of the lens ("closer than close focus," according to "Fire Chief" Jarred Land). What's more interesting here is what was used to take the video. In the same forum thread that unveiled the footage, employees claimed it was shot using the RED Scarlet 2/3" and provided the above pic as proof: Scarlet is above, EPIC on the bottom, and a standard pocket camera capturing the moment. Not a lot to glean from the video and no definitive update on the production schedule, but hey, take solace in knowing a Canon mount for EPIC is ready and will be therefore presumably be available when the camera does eventually find its way out the door. Video and larger version of above pic after the break.Continue reading RED Scarlet makes surprise cameo filming EPIC's fast focus
RED Scarlet makes surprise cameo filming EPIC's fast focus originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceREDUSER.net  | Email this | Comments
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Nokia 5250 set to replace the 5230, turn the ugly dial down from 10 to 6?
It wasn't that long ago that T-Mobile USA launched Nokia's venerable 5230 as the Nuron, but you've got to admit -- with a mug only a mother could love, Nokia owed it to itself to get cracking on a prettier replacement. On that note, we've got a shot of an alleged model 5250 today, sporting the same button configuration as the 5230; considering the gargantuan bezel, we're figuring on a smallish screen, which points to the low end of the touchscreen spectrum -- right where a proper 5230 successor would belong. Thing is, we'd figured Nokia was moving away from the four-digit naming convention for its smartphones altogether -- in other words, we'd expect this new device fit somewhere between the C5 and C6 -- so it's unclear whether this is real and represents a current, non-canceled model in the product pipeline. It's not going to turn any heads, of course -- but if Nokia were able to push this for something crazy like $120 off contract, it'd be hard to ignore.
Nokia 5250 set to replace the 5230, turn the ugly dial down from 10 to 6? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ASUS rolls out B series laptops with Boston-Power's Sonata batteries
Well, it looks like HP is no longer your only option to get Boston-Power's "game-changing" Sonata batteries -- ASUS has just announced that it will be offering the long-life lithium-ion batteries as standard equipment on its new B series laptops. Those come in both 14.1-inch and 15.6-inch versions -- the B43 and B53, respectively -- and are available with your choice of Core i5 or Core i7 processors, ATI Mobility Radeon 5470 or integrated Intel graphics, 2GB or 4GB of RAM, a standard 320GB hard drive, and ATI Eyefinity support to accommodate two additional displays. As for those Sonata batteries, while they won't last much longer in day-to-day use, they do promises to work at 80% of their capacity for three years, which is backed up by a three-year warranty. Look for the B53 to hit retailers immediately starting at $1,099, while the B43 is said to be coming "in the near future" for an unspecified price.
Continue reading ASUS rolls out B series laptops with Boston-Power's Sonata batteries
ASUS rolls out B series laptops with Boston-Power's Sonata batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL at the San Francisco Zoo
Looks like Nintendo's DSi XL has finally found its target audience. Video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Continue reading Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL at the San Francisco Zoo
Gorilla goes hands-on with Nintendo DSi XL at the San Francisco Zoo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSpicuzza Photo a Day  | Email this | Comments
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Seagate Momentus XT hybrid hard drive review
Earlier this year, Seagate promised to flip the 2.5-inch HDD industry upside-down, but it wouldn't do so by using an SSD in sheep's clothing. Rather, it'd be doling out a new breed of hard drive, one that actually has a pinch of pure, unadulterated NAND inside for picking up the pace in certain scenarios. The idea of a hybrid hard drive isn't totally new, but the Momentus XT is one of the first hybrid HDDs to actually make it out of the lab and into the hands of consumers. The most intriguing aspect of the drive is the price -- at around $130, it's just under half as pricey as Seagate's conventional 500GB Momentus 7200.4. That uptick in price isn't nothing, but it's still far less than what you'd pay for a 2.5-inch SSD with half the capacity. We've already shown you the benchmarks, so we figured we'd slap this bad boy in our main rig for a few weeks to see if we actually noticed any real-world performance increases to justify the cost. Head on past the break for our two pennies.
Gallery: Seagate Momentus XT hybrid hard drive hands-on
Continue reading Seagate Momentus XT hybrid hard drive review
Seagate Momentus XT hybrid hard drive review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google and Verizon's net neutrality proposal explained
digg After a week of rumors hinting at Google and Verizon brokering some sort of net neutrality "deal," the two companies made some waves this afternoon with a hastily-arranged press call during which CEOs Eric Schmidt and Ivan Seidenberg emphatically denied any sort of formal business arrangement and instead put forth what they called a "joint policy proposal" -- seven principles they say will preserve the open internet while allowing network operators the flexibility and freedom to manage their networks.

What's interesting is that the announcement comes just few days after the FCC declared its closed-door net-neutrality meetings with ISPs and other interested parties to be dead -- it's odd for Google and Verizon to claim their new proposal is just an extension of their joint statement in general support of net neutrality from last October when it's very clearly an articulation of a specific plan that was undoubtedly proposed and rejected during those failed meetings.

Now, we don't know for sure what happened, but we've got a theory: the proposal reads to us like Verizon's basically agreeing to trade neutrality on its wired networks for the right to control its wireless network any way it wants -- apart from requiring wireless carriers and ISPs to be "transparent" about network management, none of the neutrality principles that govern wired networks will apply to wireless networks. That's a big deal -- it's pretty obvious that wireless broadband will be the defining access technology for the next generation of devices and services. But you know us, and we don't do hysterics when we can do reasoned analysis instead -- so grab a copy of the official Verizon / Google Legislative Framework Proposal right here and let's break it down step by step, shall we?Continue reading Google and Verizon's net neutrality proposal explained
Google and Verizon's net neutrality proposal explained originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceProposal (PDF), Verizon, Google  | Email this | Comments
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Motorola's Jha says MOTOBLUR brand will fade from view
We'd already had a pretty good indication that Motorola was shifting its strategy when it came to MOTOBLUR, and it looks like co-CEO Sanjay Jha has now finally made that move official. Speaking on the company's Q2 earnings call, Jha said that while MOTOBLUR will continue to be incorporated into some of it's phones, Motorola has decided that it will "focus on the value proposition of products and not MOTOBLUR as a brand name in its own right." Jha further went on to explain that "being able to convey the value proposition around MOTOBLUR is not an easy thing to do in a 30-second ad spot," but insisted that "MOTOBLUR continues to be important," and added that he thinks "you will see increased functionality in MOTOBLUR" -- you just won't be seeing the MOTOBLUR name much in public anymore.
Motorola's Jha says MOTOBLUR brand will fade from view originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAndroid and Me  | Email this | Comments
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Verizon rumors: LTE, Android 3.0 tablets, a Droid Pro, and more
BGR's lined up a handful of very believable rumors for Big Red today -- and if you're an Android fan, you're going to want to pay very close attention (heck, even if you're not, you should probably take a look). First up, Motorola's said to have a full-touch Android 2.2 handset in the works with global roaming capability on GSM and presumably HSPA -- a first in the CDMA Android world -- that apparently looks a bit like a Motorola Q (without the keyboard, of course). Interestingly, we've recently been clued into a global roaming Moto from a trusted tipster of ours with the codename "Venus" that's slated to enter internal testing on the 27th of this month, so that lines up pretty nicely with this rumor -- but Venus could also be another global Android smartphone allegedly in the pipeline from Motorola, the Droid Pro. As its name suggests, BGR says the Droid Pro will be a monster, featuring a 1.3GHz core (faster than the 1GHz Droid X and Droid 2) and a 4-inch screen with a target street date in November -- just in time for the holidays. There are also apparently global Android handsets in store from Samsung and HTC; additionally, our tipster tells us that there will be a Motorola "Ciena" sans global roaming, a phone could possibly be that WX445 we saw not long ago. It's entering carrier acceptance testing on the 17th.

Follow the break for the rest of the lowdown!

[Thanks, HTC Kid]Continue reading Verizon rumors: LTE, Android 3.0 tablets, a Droid Pro, and more
Verizon rumors: LTE, Android 3.0 tablets, a Droid Pro, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Amazon Kindle DX Graphite review
Just over a year ago, we reviewed Amazon's jumbo-sized Kindle, the Kindle DX. And just a few weeks ago, Amazon outed a new, $379 Graphite gray version of the DX. This time, it's got the new Pearl display from E Ink, which supposedly boasts a much higher contrast ratio and a faster page refresh rate over its predecessor. Other than that, you're looking at pretty much the same unit as before, and if you like a large e-reader, that's probably a good thing. Read on for our full impressions of the device.Continue reading Amazon Kindle DX Graphite review
Amazon Kindle DX Graphite review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple snags Liquidmetal IP, may just revive the eMac with an amorphous metal chassis
Ah, who are we kidding -- we're guessing a true, bona fide headless iMac would hit the market before the eMac ever makes a triumphant return, but it's surely a novel thought, no? In a recent 8-K filing with the SEC, Apple made public that it had essentially acquired "substantially all of [Liquidmetal's] intellectual property assets," not to mention a "perpetual, worldwide, fully-paid, exclusive license to commercialize such intellectual property in the field of consumer electronic products in exchange for a license fee." In other words, Apple just bought up the rights to integrate Liquidmetal's amorphous metal alloys into its product line, which would allow the company to create metallic wares without sweating the typical structural or strength limitations found in conventional metals. There's no mention of dollars exchanged here, nor any details on what exactly Apple plans to do with its newfound IP (shown after the break), but we're guessing the procurement team didn't sign the dotted line for kicks and giggles.Continue reading Apple snags Liquidmetal IP, may just revive the eMac with an amorphous metal chassis
Permalink The Mac Observer  |  sourceSEC  | Email this | Comments
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Sharpie Liquid Pencil writes and erases like a pencil, dries like a Sharpie (video hands-on!)
10diggsdigg Doesn't look like we've ever covered a pencil on Engadget before, but this is just too nifty to pass up: the Sharpie Liquid Pencil uses liquid graphite to write like a pen, erase like a pencil, and eventually dry like a permanent marker. Sharpie's blog says the Liquid Pencil go on sale in September, but Office Depot has a $5 two-pack with six erasers in stock online now -- and we were charming enough to snag an early review sample.

It basically works as described, although the marks don't erase completely clear -- because you're writing with a metal pen tip, there's no way to avoid impressing the paper a little, and the indentations are pretty visible. Still, it's better than any erasable pen we've ever used, and it definitely writes like a decent clicky-pen, so we can't fault it too much. Oddly, Sharpie's blog says it takes three days for the ink to dry to permanence, but the back of the package says 24 hours, so we'll have to see how long our test scribbles last -- we'll let you know. Video after the break.
Gallery: Sharpie Liquid Pencil hands-on
Continue reading Sharpie Liquid Pencil writes and erases like a pencil, dries like a Sharpie (video hands-on!)
Permalink Wired  |  sourceSharpie blog, Office Depot  | Email this | Comments
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U-verse Mobile 2.0 for iPhone available, combines downloadable TV shows with remote DVR access
Just as we'd heard it would, AT&T has officially launched version 2.0 of its iPhone app for U-Verse TV customers. Now dubbed U-Verse Mobile, it still allows users to manage and schedule DVR recordings on the go, but now has an updated UI, a favorite channels list, and most notably will allow users (with the U399 or U450 packages) to download a limited selection of shows directly to their phone. While that should make it easier to catch up with Lost, Grey's Anatomy or whatever other shows AT&T makes available while on the subway or otherwise out of streaming reach you won't be downloading your own DVR recordings, and you won't downloading any of them over 3G since that's WiFi only. While AT&T is loudly proclaiming it's the first to allow downloads, by comparison Dish already lets users Sling whatever they want from its 922 -- if they can get it to work right now. Check out the press release and a quick video demo after the break if you're still not exactly sure how all this will go down, or just go straight to iTunes and grab the free app right now. Blackberry Torch fans should keep an eye out too, since a compatible version is on the way -- no word yet on Android or webOS.
Gallery: AT&T U-verse Mobile for iPhone 2.0
Continue reading U-verse Mobile 2.0 for iPhone available, combines downloadable TV shows with remote DVR access
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Google and Verizon publish joint policy proposal for 'an open internet'
digg UPDATE: We've done a full breakdown of the proposal right here -- go check it out!

Back in October of last year, Google and Verizon came together in order to provide an intense amount of corporate support for the FCC's then-fledgling net neutrality push. Today, said push has turned into quite the monster, with a recent court ruling asserting that the FCC doesn't actually have the authority to impose net neutrality. Since then, a cadre of telecommunications firms have banded together in one form or another to attempt a compromise (and slyly get what each of them really want), and today the Big G and Big Red have taken the stage together in order to publicize a well-thought out policy proposal for "an open internet." Both firms seem to agree that web users "should choose what content, applications, or devices they use," and they both want "enforceable prohibition against discriminatory practices" -- and yeah, that definitely includes prioritization and blocking of internet traffic, including paid prioritization. In an odd twist, what seems to be happening here is that both Google and Verizon are actually in favor of more government oversight on the internet, but they want that oversight to be beneficial to consumers. In other words, more regulations from the feds to enforce fewer regulations imposed on you from your ISP. Get all that?

Where things really get interesting is when they touch on the wireless angle; essentially, they're admitting that the very proposals they are putting forth for wireline shouldn't apply to wireless just yet (aside from the whole "transparency" thing). It seems that the prevailing logic is that there's simply not enough spectrum for this idyllic "play fair" scenario to truly work, so fewer restrictions would be necessary for the wireless internet space to blossom as the wireless side already has. Moreover, we get the impression that these guys feel the wireless space as a whole is simply too competitive right now to withstand any red tape.

The proposal also mentions that, if passed into law, the FCC would have the ability to fine "bad actors" (read: misbehaving ISPs) up to $2 million for breaking any of these "open internet" stipulations, and naturally, both outfits are highly in favor of the National Broadband Plan taking hold, moving forward and getting broadband to places that are currently using a strange mixture of used canisters and rope to check their inbox.
Google and Verizon publish joint policy proposal for 'an open internet' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Public Policy Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Google and Verizon announcing something policy-related at 1:30PM ET -- we're liveblogging right here
It was super short notice, but Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg are holding a joint press call at 1:30PM EST to announce what we can only surmise is something related to those recent rumors of a net-neutrality-related "deal" -- we'll be liveblogging as fast as we can, so keep it locked right here.Continue reading Google and Verizon announcing something policy-related at 1:30PM ET -- we're liveblogging right here
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Multitouch DJ table lets you swipe to rock
We just recently got a glimpse of one possible future of DJing, but our world has now already been turned upside down once again with this multitouch-enabled rig built by Gregory Kaufman. The big difference with this one, as you can probably guess, is that it employs a gesture-based interface that lets you spin the virtual turntables and use a variety of taps and finger swipes to replicate the main functions of a regular DJ deck. What's more, Kaufman says that the only gear a DJ would have to carry is a USB drive with their own music and settings, which they'd simply plug into the multitouch table at a club -- assuming the idea catches on, that is. Top top things off, the system would also be able to accommodate regular DJ gear for some added flexibility, and even provide enough room for two DJs if you're looking to battle or share the stage. Head on past the break to check it out in action.
Continue reading Multitouch DJ table lets you swipe to rock
Multitouch DJ table lets you swipe to rock originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMultitouch Light Table (Behance)  | Email this | Comments
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iPad gets Xvid AVI video playback with CineXPlayer app on iTunes, hell freezes over
Now here's a surprise. Apple isn't exactly known to be super friendly when it comes to video compatibility, and we can sympathize to an extent. However, for some inexplicable reason, Steve's brethren decided to give this CineXPlayer app the green light for general consumption, thus finally allowing iPad users to load up their stash of Xvid AVI files -- sans conversion -- via iTunes. While this is worth a quick celebration, it's still rather absurd having to resort to underhanded apps for such basic functionality -- something that we've been able to do natively on many other tablets and PMPs for years. Let's not also assume that this free app is staying for good, so grab it while it's hot. Video instructions after the break.Continue reading iPad gets Xvid AVI video playback with CineXPlayer app on iTunes, hell freezes over
Permalink Electricpig  |  sourceiTunes  | Email this | Comments
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Screen Grabs: Ari Gold will definitely fire this guy once he notices he's using an iPad
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

The latest episode of HBO's Entourage (if that's the kind of thing you're into) might have been a bit of an eye opener if you're also the kind of person who keeps an eye open for gadgets. Ari Gold's legal adviser (seen in around the 4th minute of the episode if you need the proof) has an iPad set up, keyboard and all. Now, we know Ari's character pretty well. He's the BlackBerry Bold type -- and while his wife uses an iPhone, we have a hard time believing Ari's going to put up with the iPad in the office nonsense for very long. You, young man, are on very thin ice. There's one more shot after the break.

[Thanks, Pat]Continue reading Screen Grabs: Ari Gold will definitely fire this guy once he notices he's using an iPad
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Cut-rate, webcam-based 3D scanner coming soon to a MakerBot store near you
3D scanning seems magical enough without bringing things like Lego Mindstorms contraptions into the mix. Now a cat named Andy Barry (a research engineer at NASA Ames Research Laboratory's Autodesk Innovations Lab) has gone and built one out of a webcam, a laser, and a whole lot of moxie. The premise is pretty straight-forward: a red laser sweeps across an object while the webcam keeps an eye on the beam's deflection (the more the beam shifts, the closer the object is to the camera). The computer uses this data to calculate the thickness of the object. Sounds like the perfect compliment to your Cupcake 3D printer, eh? With any luck, you should see it at the MakerBot store at around the $200 mark sometime this fall.
Cut-rate, webcam-based 3D scanner coming soon to a MakerBot store near you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWired  | Email this | Comments
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PhotoFast GM-7300 SDXC-to-CF adapter gives your pro DSLR another storage option
You're probably wondering how you'll get 2TB or so into a single CF slot of your D3S. Or even if you're not, you're probably wondering how you can strap a trio of CF cards together for a 6TB slab of flash storage. So far as we can tell, PhotoFast's the first with an adapter that enables devices with CompactFlash slots to accept those minty fresh SDXC cards, which would theoretically allow anything that understands CF to now recognize. The GM-7300 SDXC-to-CF adapter is expected to ship next month in Japan for ¥2,980 ($35), but there's no word yet on when it'll be headed up over the Bering Strait and down into the US of A.
PhotoFast GM-7300 SDXC-to-CF adapter gives your pro DSLR another storage option originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePhotoFast  | Email this | Comments
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UK gamers finally get a taste of overpriced immersion with the PS3 X-Dream Gyroxus motion chair (video)
UK gamers finally get a taste of overpriced immersion with the PS3 X-Dream Gyroxus motion chair (video)
Leaning in your chair while gaming? It's a natural thing -- we all do it. However, it's rare that the chair helps, doing its part to increase the thrill factor by tipping you even closer to the laminate flooring. That's exactly what the X-Dream Gyroxus Gaming Chair offers, motion gaming in a somewhat portable package rather more friendly for the living room than some alternatives we've seen. However, it's also rather more limited, working with either the Xbox 360 or PS3, courtesy of custom controllers, but having no room for a wheel and pedals, so Gran Turismo junkies will have to choose between this and their G27. Then there's the cost: a rather steep £399.95. If that doesn't sound bad, consider that this chair has been available to rumble American behinds for over two years now and is currently selling for $250 -- well less than half what UK gamers are being asked to pay. Worth the premium? Let the video after the break be your guide.Continue reading UK gamers finally get a taste of overpriced immersion with the PS3 X-Dream Gyroxus motion chair (video)
Permalink ChipChick  |  sourceBoysStuff.co.uk  | Email this | Comments
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Artificial bee eye gives diminutive robotic air drones wider range of vision
We'd bother telling you up front that it also gives them a new sense of purpose, but you're already versed in how the impending Robot Apocalypse is going to go down. Wolfgang Stürzl and his best buds over at Bielefeld University in Germany have just published a report detailing how an artificial bee eye could improve the vision of miniature robots -- ones that fly, in particular. By using a catadioptric imaging system, which captures an image using both mirrors and lenses, they were able to utilize a single camera to capture a full 280-degrees of vision, and a lowly internal computer is able to stitch the two panes together in order to create a usable image that humans can interpret. The idea here is to provide more sight with less space, bringing us one step closer to actually having our very own 'fly-on-the-wall' moment. Comforting, no?
Artificial bee eye gives diminutive robotic air drones wider range of vision originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink New Scientist  |  sourcePhysics World, IOP  | Email this | Comments
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Sony Ericsson Xperia 10 officially debuts on AT&T: $130 on contract
If ever there were a place for using the phrase "it's about time," this would be it. If you'll recall, we heard rumors that Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 would be headed to AT&T as far back as November of last year, possibly proving just how grueling the certification process is for getting a handset onto Ma Bell's network. Those whispers flared up again back in April, and our hunches about yesterday's tease seem to be confirmed today. The Android-powered X10 (v1.6 so far as we can tell, but the PR carefully dodges the issue) will be available for consumers starting on August 15th, with the handset boasting a 4-inch touchpanel, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, inbuilt GPS, 8.1 megapixel camera (with LED flash), 8GB of onboard memory, a 2GB flash card and a couple of SE's own apps atop the stock Android build (Mediascape and Timescape). AT&T's claiming that this bad boy will set you back $149.99 on a 2-year service plan, but Sony's saying that it can be picked up in a local Sony Style store for $20 less. Oh, and if you wait a week, it'll be $49.99 on contract over at Amazon. Decisions, decisions.

Update: Yep, it's Android 1.6. Commence weeping.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia 10 officially debuts on AT&T: $130 on contract
Sony Ericsson Xperia 10 officially debuts on AT&T: $130 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSony Style  | Email this | Comments
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