Saturday, August 28, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 28/08/2010



Court reaffirms: fourth amendment rights not violated if the police install a GPS device on your car when it's not in your garage
Back in January, a court in Portland, Oregon ruled that the Fourth Amendment rights of one Juan Pineda-Moreno had not been violated by the police when they tracked him using various GPS devices they installed on the underside of his Jeep with magnets. You see, the police suspected that Pineda-Moreno was growing Marijuana somewhere, and they really didn't like that. Eventually, Pineda-Moreno was arrested and convicted of crimes involving the growth of said Marijuana -- but he appealed the decision because he thought that his Fourth Amendment rights (the one which guards against unreasonable search and seizure) had been violated. The appeals court has recently upheld the original decision, but there were five dissenting votes, meaning that the case is anything but cut and dried. Now, what's obvious is that the police didn't have to traverse into "private" space to attach the tracking device to the suspect's car, but clearly it's debatable -- even as far as the judges are concerned -- what constitutes private and public space. The case is surely not going to end here, so we'll keep you updated. In the meantime, watch your back.
Permalink Time  |  sourceFourth Amendment, Decision (PDF)  | Email this | Comments
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Engadget Podcast 210 - 08.27.2010
Do you hear that? It's the sound of Nilay Patel's heavy breathing and ice clinking, but not there. Enjoy it, this week only.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Dancing Queen

00:02:29 - Samsung Galaxy Tab gets official teaser video
00:13:28 - Exclusive: Dell Thunder prototype preview (video)
00:13:50 - Exclusive: Samsung Cetus i917 bows for AT&T, shows off its Windows Phone 7 ways
00:13:58 - Exclusive: T-Mobile G2 in the wild!
00:14:05 - T-Mobile G2 again, this time with less Mr. Blurrycam
00:14:17 - Exclusive: LG C900 for AT&T has Windows Phone 7, shows off a little carrier branding
00:14:20 - Exclusive: HTC's Windows Phone 7-equipped T8788 breaks cover for AT&T
00:14:30 - Exclusive: Motorola MB520 Kobe / Diablo for AT&T in the wild
00:26:15 - Sony Alpha A55 and A33 hands-on
00:31:42 - Canon EOS 60D: 18 megapixels and 1080p video flexes its articulating screen this September
00:36:43 - Apple to hold 'special event' September 1st... we'll be there live!
01:05:07 - The Engadget Show returns tomorrow, with Samsung CSO Omar Khan, Rock Band 3, crazy giveaways, and much more!


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Engadget Podcast 210 - 08.27.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Amazon Kindle review (2010)
Amazon's third major iteration of its flagship reading device, the Kindle, comes out of the gate looking strong: the new graphite finish (just like its big brother, the Kindle DX) with a slimmer, lighter form factor, plus a bumped refresh rate for its E Ink screen. Best of all, the WiFi only and 3G readers have newly lowered prices (though they're still not exactly bargain basement level). We've spent the past few days putting the tinier Kindle through the paces to see just how much Amazon's improved it. Though the market is increasingly flooded with cheap readers, the Kindle is arguably still the leading name in the field, and Amazon is already touting the third model as its bestselling ever -- even though there are still no sales figures to be had. So, is this the best Kindle ever? Read on to find out.
Gallery: Amazon Kindle unboxing and hands-on
Continue reading Amazon Kindle review (2010)
Amazon Kindle review (2010) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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G-Mate Mag Gun controller for Xbox and PS3 gets FCC approval; we'd like to see them try and stop it
Hopefully you had your Campbell's Chunky Fully Loaded Beef Stew this morning, because it takes a Man to look down the barrel of the G-Mate Mag Gun and live. The weapon just passed through the FCC unscathed, and now it's gunning for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. The basic operation is simple enough, with triggers, face buttons, a d-pad and everything else you'd need to ape a modern console controller. There's only one analog nub, but that's of course because the gun's own motion is meant to emulate the second. G-Mate isn't so clear on how that part of the gun works, but from what we can glean, it's basically an accelerometer and / or gyroscope, which you calibrate to the center of your particular screen with a dedicated button. A sensitivity knob completes the Mag Gun-specific functionality -- which probably won't revolutionize the FPS genre, but certainly might give those suspicious of the Move or too masculine for the XCM Fire something to watch out for. Check out some videos of it in action after the break.Continue reading G-Mate Mag Gun controller for Xbox and PS3 gets FCC approval; we'd like to see them try and stop it
Permalink Wireless Goodness  |  sourceHKCC  | Email this | Comments
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Ciclotte exercise bike goes from concept to product
11diggsdigg
We can't say we had too much hope that the futuristic-looking Ciclotte exercise bike concept we saw last year would ever turn into an actual product, but it looks like this is one concept that's defied the odds. Of course, it'll set you back more than ten grand, but you will soon be able to order the unicycle-style bike online, and in your choice of three different colors no less (full carbon, silver or purple). Apart from its striking design, the bike also boasts an epicycloid crank system and a magnetized main wheel to generate resistance, a steel and carbon frame, an adjustable seat and handlebars, and a few other modern amenities like a touchscreen display to adjust the settings. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look.
Gallery: Ciclotte exercise bike
Ciclotte exercise bike goes from concept to product originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Wired  |  sourceCiclotte  | Email this | Comments
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Nike Air Maxes get a Wii Balance Board infusion
Recently Nike -- a shoe company that seems to enjoy a side dish of tech from time to time -- challenged 78 artists to "hack" its shoes and come up with something decidedly different than your typical Air Force Ones. Now, a lot of the projects were more art and less tech, but that can't be said for entrant Nick Marsh's contribution to the experiment. The designer fused the internals of a Wii Balance Board with a pair of Air Maxes to create a gaming experience that may not be nuanced, but certainly seems capable of making you break a sweat. According to Nick, games are played exactly as they would have been previously, but since you can't step of the board, you're required to lift your foot or sit down when you need to back off on the pressure. Nick finished the project in April, but it sounds like a slightly more polished version could be in the offing. Check out a quick video of the shoes in action after the break, and hit the source for a slew of pics.Continue reading Nike Air Maxes get a Wii Balance Board infusion
Nike Air Maxes get a Wii Balance Board infusion originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink DVICE  |  sourceNick Marsh  | Email this | Comments
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ASUS NX90Jq now available... sort of
Remember this classic from way back at CES in January? We had such high hopes for the ASUS NX90 Jq. The 18.4-inch multimedia laptop boasts dual large touchpads and was designed by Bang & Olufsen's chief designer... and that shows. This beauty also has (in case you forgot) B&O ICEpower speakers, a Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 334M graphics, and can house up to 1280GB of storage. Now, we knew this thing wasn't going to be cheap from the first time we touched it -- $2,500. However, we didn't really expect to have to wait quite so long for it to hit retail. Well, if you don't mind purchasing things on the "internet," it looks like you can actually get one at a few retailers now for about that $2,500 price. Hit up the source link if you're ready to put down some cash or if you just like to window shop.
ASUS NX90Jq now available... sort of originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Laptoping  |  sourceGoogle Product Search  | Email this | Comments
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Dell dropping Windows Phone 7 devices from its roadmap? (update: Dell responds, is definitely still in the game)
Now we don't have much more to go on here than some analyst chatter and a lengthy article from TechCrunch, but if you believe what you read, a major player has just dropped Windows Phone 7 devices from its roadmap. And that player is Dell. According to Jonathan Goldberg, an telecom analyst at Deutsche Bank, the only remaining partners currently working on Windows Phone 7 handsets are HTC, Samsung, and LG. If this is true (and that's a big if), that means that the seriously awesome looking Dell Lightning that we spied in leaks recently will never see the light of day -- as a WP7 device, at least.

We already knew that HP was out of the game (instead focusing on webOS phones), but the casual suggestion that Dell has made for the door here is somewhat suspect. The company itself hasn't made any statements (we've reached out but have yet to hear back), and while Dell has certainly concentrated a lot of effort on Android devices recently, its partnership with Microsoft is long-standing (despite dabbling in the world of open source). If the story turns out to be true, it could spell mixed (if not outright bad) tidings for the Windows Phone 7 launch, which Goldberg alleges may cost Microsoft upwards of half a billion dollars -- no small fee. Losing two of the biggest computer-makers in the world can't feel very good when you're trying to fight your way back to relevancy, but at least on the bright side, neither HP nor Dell have a track record of making anything other than heroically mediocre handsets. Take this all with a grain of salt right now, however, as the author of the TechCrunch article provides no source for the statements from Goldberg, and... well, he's an analyst, and they're prone to making up all kinds of crazy things. We're investigating, and will let you know as soon as we have more info.

Update: We've been pinged back by Dell's Matt Parretta, and he was 100 percent clear that Dell was most certainly still part of the Windows Phone 7 game. In the company's words:
Any reports, or speculation, that report Dell will not support Windows Phone 7 are false... Microsoft announced Dell as a supporting partner at this year's Mobile World Congress and nothing's changed. We are excited to collaborate with Microsoft on Windows Phone 7, and are looking forward to bringing customers amazing mobile experiences.
Furthermore, the analyst in question here (Jonathan Goldberg) has also reached out to us to clarify his statements, saying that he believes Dell is still a partner on Windows Phone 7, just not a launch partner. Dell was mum on release schedules, but one thing is clear -- they intend to follow through on this collaboration.
Permalink Business Insider  |  sourceTechCrunch  | Email this | Comments
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Verizon confirms Android 2.2 update for Droid Incredible hits today
Just as we thought, HTC's Droid Incredible for Verizon is getting boosted from Android 2.1 to 2.2 today, which should make plenty of owners (and plenty of non-owners who've been unable to find any stock for the past couple months) happy as a clam. Major features include pre-installed Flash 10.1, 720p video recording, mobile hotspot support as first introduced for Verizon on the Droid X, and naturally, all the other standard greatness you've come to expect with Froyo. We imagine this update will take a couple weeks to roll out to everyone, so show some patience, Droid Incredible owners -- or, you know, do like we do and search frantically for an update.zip to get posted somewhere.

[Thanks, Ryan]
Verizon confirms Android 2.2 update for Droid Incredible hits today originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  source@VZWSupport (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
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Griffin's PartyDock does four-player iPhone/iPad gaming with just one device
Griffin's PartyDock does four-player iPhone/iPad gaming with just one device
Huddling around the iPhone, squinting at a tiny LCD is no way to spend your game nights. Even with an iPad the idea of multiplayer, single-device, cheek-to-cheek gaming doesn't sound much more appealing... unless it's one of those parties, perhaps. Anyhow, Griffin is apparently looking to make four-way iDevice gaming a little more palatable with the PartyDock, just spotted crossing the great FCC. It has a dock connector for your iPhone, iPod, or iPad and four simple wireless controllers for interacting with four-player games, pumped to your TV over composite and component. It basically creates a simple gaming console out of your portable device, an interesting idea, but what will make or break it will naturally be the software. Griffin has a few four-player games it will release for the thing, but short of a flood of titles hitting the App Store we have a hard time believing this will be a hit -- whenever it ships, and for whatever it sells for.
Griffin's PartyDock does four-player iPhone/iPad gaming with just one device originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink GigaOm  |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung: MetroPCS launching LTE service next month
What now, Verizon? We kid, we kid -- regional player MetroPCS' bid to become the first American carrier to launch a commercial LTE network won't likely have much bearing on the competitive landscape, but that doesn't make it any less impressive. We'd already known on the record that the company was on track for a launch before the end of 2010, but Samsung -- which is producing MetroPCS' inaugural 4G handset, the Craft -- is now saying on no uncertain terms that they're ready to flip the switch in the service's first two commercial markets, Dallas and Las Vegas, next month. Interestingly, MetroPCS won't confirm Samsung's statement, so we suspect Sammy just blew the lid off this thing before MetroPCS was ready. Whoops! Service pricing -- and device availability beyond the Craft -- both remain to be seen.
Samsung: MetroPCS launching LTE service next month originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink GSMA Mobile Business Briefing  |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Nanotechnology enables ultra high-def LCDs, cheaper stacked-electrode OLED screens
Pixel density enthusiasts, pay close attention, because science is ready to blow your minds -- the University of Michigan has developed an LCD technology that can display their logo in a space just nine microns high. By creating a filter made of microscopic metal gratings with differently sized holes just a few hundred nanometers wide, researchers discovered they could precisely capture wavelengths associated to red, green and blue light, producing pixels roughly eight times smaller than those in the iPhone 4's famous screen, and entire images that could practically fit inside a single dot of Kopin's microdisplay.

Meanwhile, OLEDs (which don't require filters to produce their color) saw a nanotech breakthrough of their own last week, as a group at the University of Florida have discovered that carbon nanotubes can revitalize a once-inefficient but promising vertical stacking technique. Layering thin sheets of aluminum, carbon nanotubes, organic material and finally gold on top of a glass substrate, scientists have created OLEDs that promise to be cheaper, faster and require one-tenth of the power of those using polycrystalline silicon, and could theoretically be printed as a flexible display as well. Here's hoping we'll see the fruits of these fellows' labors soon -- we can't wait to pen a follow-up to this epic fight.
Nanotechnology enables ultra high-def LCDs, cheaper stacked-electrode OLED screens originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TG Daily, OLED-Info.com  |  sourceTechnology Review, University of Michigan  | Email this | Comments
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Pikachu is really, really excited to charge your Nintendo DSi
Pikachu is really, really excited to charge your Nintendo DSi for you
The last time we plugged in our Nintendo DSi to recharge it all we got as thanks was a little light. It turned on, the electrons flowed, and we continued our humble existence. Just think how much more exciting that menial act could have been if only we had this sucker. Hori's Pikachu charger accepts a DSi or DSi XL into its faux-poké ball slot and, presumably, jumps up and down excitedly as lightning bolts dance from its maniacal little fingertips to juice up your dead cell. Or, maybe it just pulls power from an AC adapter and sends it through the connector. Either way, it's certainly more exciting than most other simple charging stands we've seen but, at 3,981 yen (just shy of $50), it's also rather more expensive.
Gallery: Hori Pikachu charger for Nintendo DSi
Pikachu is really, really excited to charge your Nintendo DSi originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGame Watch  | Email this | Comments
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MIT Seaswarm autonomous robots coming soon to an oil spill near you (video)
Think of it as an autonomous, swarming, photovoltaic legion of seagoing Roombas (or don't, if you're easily upset). The Seaswarm project at MIT takes a thin, hydrophobic material and drags it behind a robot outfitted with GPS and WiFi for determining its location and communicating within a swarm. When deployed, the group finds the outer edges of an oil spill, and works its way into the center, coordinating the cleanup with minimal human interference. The material itself can take on twenty times its weight in oil. And yes, the whole thing is re-usable. According to researchers, 5,000 of these relatively low cost devices could have cleaned up the BP oil disaster in a month -- which is more than we can say for Kevin Costner! See it in action after the break.
Continue reading MIT Seaswarm autonomous robots coming soon to an oil spill near you (video)
MIT Seaswarm autonomous robots coming soon to an oil spill near you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Switched  |  sourceMIT  | Email this | Comments
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Viewsonic ViewPad is an OlivePad rebadge?
Remember when Viewsonic was a respectable company? It made modest but reputable monitors that seemed to define the product category. Now the company is slapping its colorful finches onto just about any OEM device it can grab. Next on the agenda is the 7-inch Viewsonic ViewPad tablet, expected to launch at the big IFA show next week with an Android OS and 3G and WiFi connectivity. Thing is, the device leaked to Pocket-lint (pictured above) is the very same tablet known since July as the Olive Pad VT00, aka, "India's first 3.5G Pad." So line up now if you like your seconds served stale and without originality.
Viewsonic ViewPad is an OlivePad rebadge? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePocket-lint  | Email this | Comments
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Viking Modular's SATADIMM jacks an SSD into your memory slot
Explaining the differences between DRAM and non-volatile storage is about to get that little bit harder, thanks to Viking Modular. The company's decided to "borrow" the DIMM form factor for its latest enterprise SSD offering, equipping it with a 240-pin array to draw power from your spare memory slots. Of course, you'll still need to hook up a SATA cable to get data flowing to this SSD -- at a very respectable 260MBps for both read and write -- but we must admit we're in love with the very idea of it. This new design offers another option for consolidating storage right onto the motherboard and should help case modders yearning for ever-slimmer enclosures. Alas, the SATADIMM is only available to enterprise and OEM clients for now, but we can't think of any reason why it won't test the consumer waters as well -- if not by Viking, maybe someone else?

[Thanks, David]Continue reading Viking Modular's SATADIMM jacks an SSD into your memory slot
Viking Modular's SATADIMM jacks an SSD into your memory slot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Gizmag  |  sourceViking Modular  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung 90 and 30 series LCDs work hard as computer monitors, play hard as 1080p HDTVs
Samsung 90 and 30 series LCDs work hard as computer monitors, play hard as 1080p HDTVs
The dividing line between computer monitor and HDTV grows ever thinner. Samsung is announcing two new series of multi-function monitors, displays that handle the computing you need with sizes ranging from 21.5- to 24-inches, 1920 x 1080 worth of pixels, and a response time of 5ms. But, they also handle the entertainment you want, with HDTV tuners, built-in speakers, and even remote controls. The $420, 24-inch 90 Series offers LED-backlighting and a retina-punishing 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, while the 21.5-, 23-, and 24-inch 30 Series makes do with a paltry 70,000:1 dynamic ratio at prices ranging from $270 to $330. All these genre-benders are shipping now, perfect for your dorm room escapades.Continue reading Samsung 90 and 30 series LCDs work hard as computer monitors, play hard as 1080p HDTVs
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MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV resists its human opressors, joyrides over Washington DC
A Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV strayed into restricted airspace above Washington DC after departing Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland on August 2, the result of a software logic flaw that caused the operator to momentarily lose contact with the drone. Programmed to circle when communications are severed, the chopper failed to follow its failure protocol, instead heading twenty-three miles on a north/northwest trajectory -- which could have had serious consequences had it been equipped with 70mm Hydra rocket pods or Hellfire tankbuster missiles. Although this type of incident is rare, it is not unheard of: last September the Air Force had to take down an MQ-9 Reaper in Afghanistan when it failed to adhere to failure protocols after dropping communications with the ground. At least, that's what we'd like to believe... the alternative scenario is too frightening to consider.
MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV resists its human opressors, joyrides over Washington DC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Register  | Email this | Comments
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Airborne electricity is ripe for the picking, claim researchers
Electricity might not grow on trees, but it is freely available in the air -- provided you know how to catch it. Such is the contention presented by Dr. Francesco Galembeck of Brazil's University of Campinas at the 240th annual American Chemical Society shindig. He and his crew have shown how tiny particles of silica and aluminum phosphate become electrically charged when water vapor is passed over them. This aims to prove two things: firstly, that airborne water droplets do carry an electric charge, and secondly, that metals can be used to collect that charge. Detractors have pointed out that Dr. Galembeck's team may be generating the droplets' electrical charge by the act of pumping the air over the metals -- which might imply you couldn't practice this technique with still, humid air -- while there's also the rather large caveat that the little electricity they were able to collect from vapor was a hundred million times less than what you could obtain from a solar cell of equivalent size. Still, it's another new door unto a potential alternative energy source and we don't ever like having to close those.Continue reading Airborne electricity is ripe for the picking, claim researchers
Airborne electricity is ripe for the picking, claim researchers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PhysOrg  |  sourceBBC  | Email this | Comments
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ExoPC sets a shipping schedule, now let's see if it keeps it
Been having lurid dreams of 1080p-playin' Windows 7 tablets with a touch-delighting UI layer on top? Probably not, but if that sounds like your kind of thing, you'll want to know that ExoPC is about to collect its first pre-orders starting on September 3. The slate's makers are being nice to their forum members by allowing the first 1,200 on board to have first bite at this cherry, which will be shipped out to them on September 30. Ten days before that, on September 20, is when the initial 120 production units will roll off the assembly line, though they've already been assigned to potential distribution partners. The really interesting date here will be October 15, as that's when the Ciara Vibe -- the first rebadged partner slate -- is expected to hit retail availability in Canada. Let's just hope this schedule isn't written with a Sharpie Liquid Pencil, eh?
ExoPC sets a shipping schedule, now let's see if it keeps it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceExoPC  | Email this | Comments
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Kinect beta Dashboard update gets leaked as soon as it arrives, hardware kits are 'being packed'
Man, leakers don't sleep! That hush-hush Kinect beta program is indeed in full effect, and while hardware is en route to giddy testers, the accompanying Xbox 360 Dashboard update has already been distributed -- and promptly leaked. Joystiq has a gallery of screenshots from the new interface, including a revamped Avatar editor and some navigational alterations to account for using your body as the controller. We like this just for the humor value, including the note above instructing you to take a break if you get "sore" and the full-page list of prohibitions against talking about or showing the beta program's interface. Ah well.
Permalink   |  sourceJoystiq  | Email this | Comments
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ATI leaks out Southern Islands codenames for next-gen GPUs
Um, oops? ATI's latest Catalyst driver release has dished out some info that we imagine the company didn't want to reveal quite yet. The names of some Southern Islands have been spotted -- Cayman and Antilles appear to be the flagship chips -- suggesting a refresh to the critically acclaimed Evergreen line of GPUs may not be far off. Rumors have been swirling for a while about ATI's reputed shift to island-based nomenclature, and while hard specs are nowhere to be found, we can see that the Red Team is planning an overhaul with no less than 10 new additions to its roster. Hardly unpredictable, but good to know that ATI has something to counter NVIDIA's heart-stealing GTX 460.

[Thanks, Jack]
ATI leaks out Southern Islands codenames for next-gen GPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Fudzilla  |  sourceVR-Zone  | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft set to up bit rate on Xbox Live voice comms, pwners everywhere rejoice
This might not be as sexy as its recent physical redesign, but the Xbox 360 is about to take what might be a major leap forward for many gamers. The console's voice chat codec is going to be tweaked in an upcoming system update to allow a higher bit rate, and consequently better audio, through. Originally put together to run on 64k internet connections with the original Xbox, the codec's finally catching up with our broadband times and should see itself renewed some time this fall, potentially alongside the retail launch of Kinect. Great, now when 12-year old kids destroy us in Halo, we'll be able to hear their high-pitched gloating with crystal clarity.
Microsoft set to up bit rate on Xbox Live voice comms, pwners everywhere rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceEurogamer  | Email this | Comments
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Netgear announces NeoTV 550 & 350 HD Media Players plus other networking goodies
This week Netgear made a battery of new product announcements related to home entertainment and Powerline networking. On the media side, the NeoTV 550 & 350 HD players look a lot like last year's Digital Entertainer Elite, minus the 500GB of internal storage and access to VOD services like CinemaNow. Both are however capable of playing a robust list of codecs in full HD from a variety of attached sources like USB, eSATA (in the case of the 550) or SD storage, as well as streaming content from UPnP, DLNA or WMP11 networks. The 550 adds in support for external Blu-ray drives and BD-Live too, all for $219, which should appeal any of the poor souls with an unused standalone drive.

Three new Powerline kits -- AV 200, AV 500, and AV+ 500 -- were also announced to help consumers avoid the pain of stringing Ethernet in every direction. The entry level AV 200 appears to improve on the previous HDXB101 kit by offering the same theoretical 200mbps in addition to push button security enhancements and greener power consumption. The AV 500 kit provides the same and ramps the networking speeds to up to -- you guessed it -- 500mbps, while the "+" version throws in a pass-through filtered AC socket to avoid sacrificing precious outlets. Priced all below $200, every kit will available by mid November for all the fall home networking networking your heart could desire. Peep the galleries and PR below for further details.
Gallery: Netgear NeoTV 550 & 350 HD
NetGear NeoTV 550 HDNetGear NeoTV 550 HDNetGear NeoTV 350 HDNetGear NeoTV 350 HDNetGear NeoTV 550 HD
Gallery: Netgear Powerline AV 200, AV 500, and AV +500
Powerline AV 200Powerline AV 500Powerline AV500 BottomPowerline AV 200Poweline AV200





Continue reading Netgear announces NeoTV 550 & 350 HD Media Players plus other networking goodies
Netgear announces NeoTV 550 & 350 HD Media Players plus other networking goodies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Blockbuster filing for bankruptcy next month? Probably.
It's not official, but rumor that Blockbuster is preparing to file for bankruptcy in September is certainly believable. Expected even. According to several sources speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Blockbuster chief executive Jim Keyes along with representation from Blockbuster's senior debt holders met last week with the six major movie studios to announce the company's intention to enter a mid-September bankruptcy. Meetings that no doubt hoped to secure an uninterrupted flow of new content from Hollywood as Blockbuster restructures its $920 million in debt and closes another 500 of its 3,425 US stores. In its fight to remain relevant in the age of digital downloads / streaming, Blockbuster has lost $1.1 billion since early 2008. It's expected that Blockbuster's debt holders will likely own a substantial portion of the company when all is said and done. We call dibs on those Archos 10 netbooks.
Blockbuster filing for bankruptcy next month? Probably. originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceLA Times  | Email this | Comments
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Garmin rolls out touchscreen-based Edge 800 cycling GPS
Multifunction GPS watches are one thing, but those that put cycling first are likely more interested in something like Garmin's line of Edge GPS devices, to which you can now add the touchscreen-based Edge 800. That packs a 2.6-inch color display, some all new mapping options including Garmin's BaseCamp route planning and BirdsEye satellite imagery, so-called "HotFix" GPS technology to quickly acquire and maintain a signal, and support for a wide range of heart rate monitors, cadence sensors and other ANT+ devices, to name a few features. What's more, while the device won't be available until this October (for $449 or $649 depending on the bundle), it's already received a few early reviews that paint a pretty positive picture -- DC Rainmaker has even go so far as to say that the device "rocks," and that "it's everything that most cyclists have been asking for." Hit up the links below for a closer look, and head on past the break for the complete press release.
Continue reading Garmin rolls out touchscreen-based Edge 800 cycling GPS
Garmin rolls out touchscreen-based Edge 800 cycling GPS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fully-functional Android port for N900 threatens to beat N9 to market
The NITDroid project has been slogging along this year in an effort to get Android fully ported to Nokia's N900, and the progress has been promising so far -- but wouldn't it be nice if you could, you know, make calls? Looks like these guys are making some solid progress there with a new video showing both incoming and outgoing calls doing... well, something or another on the N900 side. Cellular data's coming along nicely, too, as you can see on the video after the break -- so here's the million-dollar question: when this is rock-solid and ready for prime time, are you jumping ship or sticking with Maemo?Continue reading Fully-functional Android port for N900 threatens to beat N9 to market
Fully-functional Android port for N900 threatens to beat N9 to market originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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RIM files patent for flipping, rotating smartphone keyboard
Now we've seen some pretty wild keyboard patent applications in the past, from folding keyboards, angled keyboards, keyboards you can reconfigure by hand, and even keyboards with displays in every key (hello Optimus Maximus). But now RIM seems to have a new take on the smartphone keyboard concept. The company has filed a patent application for a keyboard which not only can be turned 90 degrees from portrait to landscape orientation (that you hold in a portrait manner, kind of like a reverse of this hideous thing), but one which flips as well. In the diagram the phone-maker provides, a numeric pad could be spun around to become a QWERTY input surface, and the whole rig repositioned to make for more comfortable typing. Now, it's not clear how exactly RIM plans to mechanically turn this into a reality, but given the company's recent interest in non-standard form factors, it's not totally inconceivable that this could be turned from patent fantasy to smartphone reality. Of course, we're not sure RIM should be worrying about its keyboards so much as it should be concerned with the software and internals of the devices themselves. You're actually doing the keyboards right... maybe some work elsewhere is in order?
RIM files patent for flipping, rotating smartphone keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink GoRumors  |  sourcePatent filing  | Email this | Comments
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Ask Engadget: best multitouch / touchscreen-enabled laptop?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Sid, who ain't buying a laptop if it's LCD doesn't react to his digits, you understand? If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"What is the best multitouch entertainment laptop? The only one I'm aware of is the HP DV6Tse with a multitouch display. I'm just wondering if there's a better value multitouch laptop out there?"
Well, we know for sure that you have a few options, but that whole "value proposition" thing is anyone's call. Any readers out there care to chime in on what their favorite / least favorite touchscreen laptop is? You know where to go.
Ask Engadget: best multitouch / touchscreen-enabled laptop? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AIST's i3Space tactile 3D interface: destroyer of (virtual) worlds
Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST, to friends) is responsible for a good many innovations that the denizens of the year 2030 take for granted, and the new i³Space certainly won't tarnish the institute's record. Built on the foundation of AIST's own GyroCubeSensuous for tactile feedback, the i³Space tracks the motion of the operator's two index fingers in 3D space, and sends back "illusionary tactile and kinesthetic sense" through the controllers. Details are still a little thin, but AIST plans to show the full rig off at CEDEC next week, with eyes on reducing the size of the system of courting gaming, design, and medical applications in the near future. Hopefully they throw in this Earth-prodding simulator for free, we always wanted to have a good go at Greenland.
AIST's i3Space tactile 3D interface: destroyer of (virtual) worlds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink DVICE  |  sourceTech-On!  | Email this | Comments
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Lamborghini dishes out a Reventon you can actually afford: a 1:10 scale RC car
At long last even us plebeian supercar lovers can afford to say we own a Lambo. And we wouldn't even be lying if we claimed it had an internal combustion engine (3cc, vroom vroom!), hydraulic shock absorbers, disc brakes, or permanent all-wheel drive. Such must have been the stringent requirements handed down from Lamborghini HQ to DeAgostini, which has scored the license to produce a limited run of 65 1:10 scale models of the Reventon. The radio-controlled mini-supercars haven't been priced yet, but we suspect they'll fall quite a few zeroes short of the real deal's $1.2 million sticker.

Update: As it turns out, these come in parts and can be built up if you keep buying a collection of 65 "booklets." Each one costs €8 and the remote control is priced at €60, leading you to a total around €580 ($737) [Thanks, wii_willie!]
Lamborghini dishes out a Reventon you can actually afford: a 1:10 scale RC car originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Autoblog  |  sourcereventon.rcmodel.it  | Email this | Comments
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MPEG-LA makes H.264 video royalty-free forever, as long as it's freely distributed
404diggsdigg The H.264 codec that makes a good deal of digital video possible has actually been free to use (under certain conditions) for many years, but following recent controversies over the future of web video, rightholders have agreed to extend that freedom in perpetuity. Whereas originally standards organization MPEG-LA had said it wouldn't collect royalties from those freely distributing AVC/H.264 video until 2016, the limitless new timeframe may mean that content providers banking on WebM and HTML5 video won't have an expensive surprise in the years to come. Then again, patent licensing is complicated stuff and we'd hate to get your hopes up -- just know that if you're an end-user uploading H.264 content you own and intend to freely share with the world, you shouldn't expect a collection agency to come knocking on your door. PR after the break.Continue reading MPEG-LA makes H.264 video royalty-free forever, as long as it's freely distributed
MPEG-LA makes H.264 video royalty-free forever, as long as it's freely distributed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Qualcomm job listing for iPhone dev guru sets internet absolutely aflutter
"The iPhone has no secret for you? Well, that's what you think... join us and develop the most challenging product of your life!" So reads a now-removed job listing on Qualcomm's website for an "iPhone Developer Guru" (still cached, thanks to Google). Responsibilities will include "iPhone software design and development but not restricted to it" as well as some Android and... oh, you've already jumped to conclusions, have you? The forerunners of CDMA technology asking for iPhone software engineering? Teasing with the most challenging product of your life? We wouldn't fault for Qualcomm for a bit of boasting, and for all we know this could be much ado about nothing. Then again, we really don't know anything, and this isn't exactly some super clue in some giant mystery. Sorry, Encyclopedia Brown; don't get your hopes up.
Qualcomm job listing for iPhone dev guru sets internet absolutely aflutter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Apple Insider, Slash Gear  |  sourceQualcomm (cached)  | Email this | Comments
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Hulu Plus has 14 percent more content than Hulu, 2,840 percent more Family Guy
Hulu Plus is more than just extra content, it's an iOS, game console and TV-based app that streams in HD, but if programming is indeed your primary concern, you might be disappointed with what's included in your $10 monthly fee. Research firm One Touch Intelligence decided to catalog each and every episode on Hulu and Hulu Plus, and discovered the paid service had 28,418 full-length episodes -- only 14 percent more than regular Hulu's 24,854 -- during one week of testing in August. Looking at the sample chart immediately above, it's plain to see you're getting your money's worth if you're a Supernanny or Law & Order fan, but Hulu's got a content deal or three to make if it wants Hulu Plus to leapfrog its existing ad-supported service.Continue reading Hulu Plus has 14 percent more content than Hulu, 2,840 percent more Family Guy
Hulu Plus has 14 percent more content than Hulu, 2,840 percent more Family Guy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Gizmodo  |  sourceOne Touch Intelligence  | Email this | Comments
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Commodore USA announces the PC64, an Atom-powered PC in a replica Commodore case
We have a fondness for Commodore computers (as you've probably noticed by now) and we are psyched that Commodore USA is still flying the flag for the once-ubiquitous brand, but as they always are in this biz, things are a little... complicated. We were first contacted way back in March when the company shared the news that it had acquired the rights to sell PCs under the name. Then what happened? Turns out this was not exactly the case... although CEO Barry Altman assured us that they were on their way towards hammering out a deal. And here we are, in possession of a press release saying that indeed, Commodore USA, LLC, and Commodore Licensing B.V. have finally come to an agreement, meaning that your subsequent purchases will at least come with a Commodore decal. But that ain't all! This also paves the way for the company's newest offering, the Commodore PC64, an Intel Atom-powered PC featuring 4GB DDR3 memory, SATA 1TB HDD, HDMI output, optical drive (either DVD/CD or optional Blu-ray), and more -- all in "an exact replica" of the original beige C64 chassis. Of course, doing any significant amount of work with the original Commodore keyboard will probably be a challenge, but we like to think we're up to it. As always, we'll believe it when we see it, but in the meantime we'd like to be the first to formally request a review unit. If everything goes according to plan, this bad boy should be out in time for the holidays. PR after the break.
Continue reading Commodore USA announces the PC64, an Atom-powered PC in a replica Commodore case
Commodore USA announces the PC64, an Atom-powered PC in a replica Commodore case originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Best Buy and Target announce video game trade-in programs, clearly don't read webcomics
For some reason the used-video-games-as-controversy stars have aligned, and Best Buy and Target picked now of all times to announce new used game trade-in programs. Target is going to offer in store credit for all sorts of electronics trade-ins, including games and DVDs, with just a few stores for now, but expanding to 850 stores by the end of the year. Target isn't making any mention of reselling that stuff just yet, but Best Buy plans to start selling used games "soon," on top of the 600 stores it's launching it own trade-in program in this week. What's so special about all this? Well, THQ CEO Cory Ledesma just made headlines for a bit of a rant about the topic ("We hope people understand that when the game's bought used we get cheated"), and then Penny Arcade weighed in with a comic, as is their wont, which kicked off a bit of a gamer vs. publisher vs. retailer internet battle of the words. Which is our favorite kind. With online distribution, one time unlock codes, and DLC all warring to make used games obsolete, this debate might be moot in a few years time, but for now there's no shortage of opinions on the subject, and we'd love to hear yours in the comments!Continue reading Best Buy and Target announce video game trade-in programs, clearly don't read webcomics
Permalink Joystiq  |   | Email this | Comments
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The Engadget Podcast, live at 6:30PM EST!
Nilay's out of town, but you can still have 2/3rds the fun for the same low price of nothing when today's podcast starts rolling somewhere in the vicinity of 6:30PM EST. The chat and show can be found after the break.

P.S. And don't forget that Ustream has Android and iPhone clients as well, if you out and about and you can't join in on the Flash-based fun below.

Update: It's over, thanks for tuning in! If you missed the live stream watch out for the download sometime tomorrow.
The Engadget Podcast, live at 6:30PM EST! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Fascinate shows up in Verizon warehouse manifest, destined for September launch?
While Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile customers have been enjoying their epic, vibrant and captivating Galaxy S variants for weeks, the only thing fascinating about Verizon's take on the Samsung smartphone is how long it's taken to arrive. Come September, however, that's all liable to change, as a very familiar-looking SCH-I500 has just allegedly appeared in Verizon warehouse databases. Coupled with the fact that the MTV Music Video Awards (airing on September 12th) are now officially sponsored by "Samsung Fascinate a Galaxy S phone" and Verizon Wireless itself, we're thinking it's a safe bet that early September will find the 4-inch Super AMOLED handset on store shelves.
Permalink Android Central, Boy Genius Report  |  sourcePhandroid, MTV Video Music Awards  | Email this | Comments
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The Engadget Show returns tomorrow, with Samsung CSO Omar Khan, Rock Band 3, crazy giveaways, and much more!
It's that time again, the Engadget Show is back in a big way tomorrow, August 27th at 8pm! First up, Josh is sitting down with Samsung Chief Strategy Officer Omar Khan to chat up the company's recent Android sprint, then Engadget's investigative correspondent Rick Karr is back to scale a skyscraper and check up on an AT&T team tasked with improving New York's data infrastructure. Next up, Josh and Paul welcome fellow editor Joanna Stern back to the roundtable and we've got an exclusive live demo of Rock Band 3, plus a special Harmonix surprise... oh, and be ready to rock out to mind numbing chiptunes music, since Zen Albatross and invaderbacca are back for an encore performance! You were wondering about giveaways? You're in luck, because this time we'll be giving away, not one, but four Samsung Galaxy S phones! Yep, we're talking about four phones, on four different carriers. And if that isn't enough, we're also giving away an insane laptop rig from AMD, featuring the HP Envy 17 Eyefinity laptop and three (count em!) HP ZR24w 24" S-IPS Pro LCD monitors! Whatever you do, don't miss this one! As usual, we'll be doing the giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream at right here on Engadget.

The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's all the info you need:
  • There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
  • The event is all ages
  • Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 5:30PM on Friday, doors will open for seating at 7:30PM, and the show begins at 8PM
  • You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
  • Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full
  • The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
  • The show length is around an hour
If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Subscribe to the Show:

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[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically. Continue reading The Engadget Show returns tomorrow, with Samsung CSO Omar Khan, Rock Band 3, crazy giveaways, and much more!
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LG putting 9.7-inch color, 19-inch flexible e-paper displays into production
LG's shown off plenty of display prototypes that may or may not ever wind up in actual products, but it looks like two of them are about to get real -- a recent SEC filing has revealed that LG is expecting to put both a 9.7-inch color e-paper display and a 19-inch flexible e-paper display into mass production by the end of the year. Details beyond that are expectedly light -- including any word on what type of products they'll be used in -- but the 19-inch display is apparently the same one we first saw back in January (pictured above). That could conceivably be used for a newspaper-sized device, or possibly things like digital signage, which might be a tad more likely given the constraints in tacking a touchscreen layer and other components on top of the display.
LG putting 9.7-inch color, 19-inch flexible e-paper displays into production originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PC World  |  sourceSEC  | Email this | Comments
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