Saturday, October 2, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 02/10/2010



SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ review
SanDisk's original Sansa Fuze may have had a solid run -- it's been a particular favorite among those looking for a good, inexpensive player that doesn't skimp on features or audio quality -- but there's no question that it was long overdue for an update, and SanDisk recently came through on that front with the completely revised Sansa Fuze+. Boasting a considerably sleeker design, the Fuze+ replaces the Fuze's venerable tactile click wheel with a capacitive touch panel (but not a touchscreen), and it hangs onto many of the features that made the original Fuze stand out, including a microSD card slot, FM radio, and support for a wide range of formats (including FLAC and AAC). Are all the changes for the better? Read on for our full review.
Gallery: SanDisk Sansa Fuze+
Continue reading SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ review
SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sky's 3D TV channel launches in the UK
You've seen it explained by none other than Stephen Fry and -- if you're in the UK, that is -- you can now finally check out Sky's brand new 3D TV channel for yourself. That's the first such channel in the UK, and it will be broadcasting a range of programming from movies to football (also known as "soccer" to some) for 14 hours a day -- it kicks things off today with the Ryder Cup. To get the channel, however, you'll have to sign up for the top-end Sky World HD package, which will run you £61, or about $96 a month. Need a bit of a refresher on this whole 3D business? Head on past the break for Mr. Fry's video.Continue reading Sky's 3D TV channel launches in the UK
Sky's 3D TV channel launches in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Shocker! Samsung licenses Windows Phone 7
Okay, two crazy bits of news here: first off, it seems Samsung intends to start making cellphones. Second, some of them will be running Windows Phone 7! Insane, right? Okay, we kid, but Sammy is just now getting official with the news that it has licensed Microsoft's upcoming mobile platform for its own purposes, and that the company "plans to launch several models based on Windows Phone 7 this year in the US, Europe and Asia." Of course, one of the most prominent WinPho 7 prototypes Microsoft has been trotting around this year has been a Samsung loosely based on the i8910 HD, so this should come as... well, absolutely no surprise whatsoever. Follow the break for the full press release.Continue reading Shocker! Samsung licenses Windows Phone 7
Shocker! Samsung licenses Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Gateway gives its ZX One multitouch all-in-ones a new look and some new specs
Having trouble finding an all-in-one PC that fits you? We have no idea why, they're everywhere these days, but just in case you're still striking out you might want to check out Gateway's new ZX One series refresh. The desktops have a fresh little curved look to them, with prices starting at $900 for a 21.5-inch machine (ZX4951) with a 2.8GHz Pentium G6950 processor, while a 23-inch number (ZX6951) with a 3.2GHz Core i3-550 processor is a mere $100 more. If those prices sound steep to you for machines with Intel HD integrated graphics, you should know that multitouch screens and Blu-ray come standard in this lineup. Both computers are available now online and at retail.Continue reading Gateway gives its ZX One multitouch all-in-ones a new look and some new specs
Gateway gives its ZX One multitouch all-in-ones a new look and some new specs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Logitech to unveil its Google TV lineup October 6th
Sorry, Sony. Logitech's looking to beat you to the Google TV punch by hosting is own event on October 6th, just six days before yours. (Then again, Sony's contribution also made a cameo earlier this week at a Best Buy event, but we digress.) The event's invite is vague on the "line of products" (note: plural) it'll be showing, but we'd venture a guess that Revue has already RSVPd and been promised some stage time. With any luck, the Lonely TV will MC the proceedings -- hey, we can dream.
Logitech to unveil its Google TV lineup October 6th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Xcom Global international MiFi / data rental service review
A few months earlier in the year, we covered the arduous process of staying connected while traveling abroad. One of the ways we mentioned for jetsetters, backpackers and common tourists to stay jacked in while situated far from their homeland was a MiFi rental service from Xcom Global. The company has only been operating for a matter of months, but we recently took their services for a spin in order to give you a more detailed look at what to expect. The long and short of it? These guys are the guys to contact when you're about to grab your next passport stamp. Read on to find out why.Continue reading Xcom Global international MiFi / data rental service review
Xcom Global international MiFi / data rental service review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sharp trots out AQUOS Quattron 3D HDTVs, complete with Blu-ray recorders
You should know by the inclusion of a Blu-ray recorder that these guys are reserved for the Japanese market, but what's stopping you and yours from drooling over 'em? The 52-inch LC-52LB3 and 46-inch LC-46LB3 are the latest members of the AQUOS Quattron 3D family, and aside from packing 1080p panels and integrated TV tuners, you'll also get a slot-loading Blu-ray drive that plays back BD films and can toast material on BDXL media. Not too shabby, eh? They'll be on sale halfway across the world this November, but pricing remains a mystery -- we're guessing it's one of those 'if you have to ask...' type scenarios.
Sharp trots out AQUOS Quattron 3D HDTVs, complete with Blu-ray recorders originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Netbook Navigator Nav 9 Slate PC review
It's been over nine months since Steve Ballmer whipped out the HP Slate at CES and divulged that there'd be Windows 7 "Slate PCs" hitting the market. It sure was a memorable keynote, but since that fateful day all we've got to show for actual Win 7 tablets are a slew of leaked videos of HP's elusive device, information / trade show sightings of lots of similar products, and the less than stellar Archos 9. Until now that is. A small company, interestingly and rather ironically called Netbook Navigator, has managed to get its act together slightly ahead of the rest with its Nav 9 Slate PC. Starting at $599, the 8.9-inch resistive-touch Windows 7 Home Premium tablet is powered by an Intel Atom N280 processor and can be configured with up to 2GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage. Yep, it sounds a heck of a lot like your first generation netbook with its keyboard cut off... and, well, that turns out to be just one of the Nav 9's major problems. You'll want to see what we mean in our full review after the break.
Gallery: Netbook Navigator Nav 9 review
Continue reading Netbook Navigator Nav 9 Slate PC review
Netbook Navigator Nav 9 Slate PC review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Belkin Conserve Gateway will track your whole home energy usage, confuse this guy
Belkin Conserve Gateway will track your whole home energy usage, confuse this guy
We're not sure exactly what Kevin Ashton is looking to find inside the back of the Belkin Conserve Gateway he's holding. As General Manager for the division that produced it, he should know quite well what it is: a sort of wireless gateway that connects your smart meter and smart appliances to your network, letting you capture your whole-home energy usage in real-time. Earlier entries in the Belkin Conserve line allowed you to track and manage individual devices, but this new gateway uses ZigBee to talk to your meter and compatible devices, then turns around and pumps that information to a "cloud-based device management system." Belkin hasn't shown us any interface shots yet, so we don't know exactly how that information will be presented, but we're assured it will be easy to understand -- even for corporate executives who confuse Ethernet ports with kaleidoscopes.
Gallery: Belkin Conserve Gateway
Continue reading Belkin Conserve Gateway will track your whole home energy usage, confuse this guy
Belkin Conserve Gateway will track your whole home energy usage, confuse this guy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony outsourcing some image sensor production to Fujitsu
Whoa. Sony sure didn't mention anything about this at its Photokina press conference last week, but then again, it's not the most glamorous announcement to make. According to Reuters, Sony is aiming to "outsource some production of image sensors used in digital cameras and mobile phones to Fujitsu," and as you'd expect, it's being done in a bid to shave costs and "cope with tough global competition." According to a Sony spokesperson, the company has been mulling this decision for awhile, but it's unclear if this will have any further impact in Sony's employment numbers. It's also unclear why "some" sensor production will remain internal -- we're guessing that newfangled Translucent Mirror technology may have convinced the firm to keep the DSLR lines a bit closer to the chest. It's bruited that Sony will begin subcontracting output to Fujitsu later in the year, and it could shift even more output if things go swimmingly. Funny enough, an eerily similar scenario hit Sony's LCD department back in early 2008. What's next? Subcontracting Walkman production to Apple?
Sony outsourcing some image sensor production to Fujitsu originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Seat's Ibe concept is the electric sport coupe of our dreams we'll probably never wake up to
Seat's Ibe concept is the electric sport coupe of our dreams that we'll probably never wake up to
Seat doesn't have much of a presence here in the US. In fact, we're sure 10 out of 10 'Mericans would mispronounce the Spanish company's name given the chance. (It's "SAY-at," for the record.) And that's totally fine, because at this point Seat largely produces generally boring VW-based hatchbacks, sedans, and vans. The Ibe concept, however, is good reason to get a little more familiar with the brand. Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, this curvaceous coupe offers 2+2 seating and a deliciously lithe 2,425lb curb weight, doubly notable due to the batteries required to spin its entirely electric underpinnings. The heart is a 102hp motor with 148lb/ft of torque, offering a top speed of 100mph, 81 miles of range, and a 0-60 time of about 10 seconds. Okay, so that's performance more in-line with Honda's CR-Z than Tesla's Roadster, but the weight and torque should make it a blast to drive -- assuming it ever sees production. If it does it certainly won't be filled with the lovely white interior pictured after the break. Imagine trying to keep that clean...Continue reading Seat's Ibe concept is the electric sport coupe of our dreams we'll probably never wake up to
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AT&T launching Windows Phone 7 handsets on November 8, unveiling them October 11?
Windows Phone 7 is really building up a head of steam, as AT&T and Microsoft are said to be planning a debut event for new handsets on October 11 in the US, to be followed by a retail launch in the week commencing November 8. A trifecta of launch devices is on tap, says the Wall Street Journal, with one each from LG, Samsung and HTC, and AT&T is unsurprisingly fingered as the exclusive early carrier for WP7 goodness. In exchange for that little favor, Microsoft will receive AT&T's "marketing support" in pushing the message out about Windows Phone 7's release. So long as nobody decides that home party packs are a good idea, we'll be cool with whatever.
AT&T launching Windows Phone 7 handsets on November 8, unveiling them October 11? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google expands Android's reach, accepting paid apps from 20 more countries, selling to 18 more
Google expands Androids's reach, accepting paid apps from 20 more countries, soon opening Market to 18 more landsAndroid may be climbing the charts when it comes to market share, and the Market may be quickly approaching the 100,000 apps mark, but the whole thing is hardly a global proposition. As of earlier this week, paid apps were able to be purchased in just 14 countries, submitted by developers of just nine nationalities. That changes now, with Google adding 20 countries to its list of approved submitters, meaning developers living in 29 nations are eligible to submit paid apps to the Market. Over the next two weeks the purchasing of those apps will be flipped on for users in 18 countries, 32 in all that will have the "buy" button enabled -- music to the ears of Java app developers everywhere. Which flags are newly embracing app capitalism? We have the lists waiting for you below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading Google expands Android's reach, accepting paid apps from 20 more countries, selling to 18 more
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Screen Grabs: FaceTime hits prime time on Hawaii Five-0
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.

Did you know that there's a 're-imagined' version of the classic 1970's television series Hawaii Five-O currently airing on CBS? Well, neither did we, but there is, and apparently, this guy (pictured above) talked to that smaller guy (also pictured above) on FaceTime on an episode which aired recently. We hope everything went well.

[Thanks, Silvio]
Screen Grabs: FaceTime hits prime time on Hawaii Five-0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab on sale in UK on November 1, will be available from all major carriers
Need some hot new hardware to offset the onset of another miserly winter? Samsung wants the Galaxy Tab to be the thing that keeps you warm and fuzzy over the holidays and has just announced a November 1 launch date for its tablet in the United Kingdom. All major carriers are signed up to offer the Android 2.2 device and usual suspect Carphone Warehouse will also be dishing it out if you have the cash to snap one up. How much cash, you ask? That's the one important piece of information that Samsung is still leaving to hang in the air, proffering only the contention that it "will be available on a range of attractive price packages." Never mind, we'll just let our imaginations do the accounting.Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab on sale in UK on November 1, will be available from all major carriers
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Apple touchscreen iMac rumor just won't die
The Apple rumor that keeps on giving -- the touchscreen iMac -- has just been given another shot of monger juice. DigiTimes (who else) cites industry sources who claim again that Sintek Photonics is shipping Apple touchpanels to sample for use in a future 20-plus-inch iMac. Specifically, the panels are of the projected capacitance type (same as iPhone/iPod touch/iPad) and integrate the touch sensor with the glass cover for reduced thickness and weight while exhibiting "good" viewing angles and brightness. While the image above, extracted from an Apple patent, gives us a clue as to how a touchscreen iMac might be used, we remain unconvinced of its advantages (drawing stylus, anyone?). Then again, we're sure Apple has lots of whacky products in house for R&D so why not one more.
Apple touchscreen iMac rumor just won't die originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wireless USB reaches revision 1.1, makes for smarter and more efficient toys
Wireless USB 1.1 is here, whether you like it or not, and we're betting you're going to like it if manufacturers make it work. The USB-IF's new spec, finalized this week, is still capped at the same 480Mbps of its wired cousin USB 2.0, but it reportedly brings with it reduced power consumption and near-field communication for proximity-based pairing. And if the idea of, say, touching your smartphone and a wireless Pixel Qi panel together to automatically connect the twain doesn't make you jump for joy, we're not really sure what would. Perhaps you're still waiting for the one-gigabit-per-second Intel's Jeff Ravencraft promised three years ago this month? Download the full spec at our more coverage link to see what's what.Continue reading Wireless USB reaches revision 1.1, makes for smarter and more efficient toys
Wireless USB reaches revision 1.1, makes for smarter and more efficient toys originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Panasonic teases a 13.2MP 'Lumix phone' for October 5 unveiling
Looks like we'll soon have another heavyweight to throw into the renewed cameraphone wars, as Panasonic has put up a teaser site for its first Lumix-branded phone. Lumix is of course Panasonic's camera label, which counts among its luminary membership the likes of the GF1 and the newly refreshed LX5. The new phone shooter promises to beat both in terms of pure resolution with its 13.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, which is accompanied by a 3.3-inch LCD atop a 146-gram body. Much like Nokia's N8 and its protruding sensor compartment, this Lumix handset will have to make room for its expanded imaging equipment, which is why it'll offer a comparatively chubby 17.7mm thickness, to go along with a 116mm height and 52mm width. We'll know more next week when CEATEC 2010 gets rolling over in Tokyo.

[Thanks, Anton]

P.S. -- It's also noteworthy that Panasonic's press release indicates a folding mechanism for this handset, which, given current trends in Japan, makes it most likely to be a clamshell device. It's also got some DLNA voodoo inside and is coming out by the end of this fiscal year (April 2011).
Panasonic teases a 13.2MP 'Lumix phone' for October 5 unveiling originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePanasonic Japan, Lumix Phone  | Email this | Comments
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FCC quietly changes guidance on cellphone radiation risks, further isolates San Francisco law
Here's something that'll surely send Birthers and Roswellians into a tizzy. The FCC quietly changed its long-standing recommendation that consumers concerned with cellphone radiation should purchase phones with lower SAR levels -- SAR meaning Specific Absorption Rate or the rate at which at which energy is absorbed by the body. The revision to the FCC website was made last week without any formal announcement. Odd, given the brouhaha created when the city of San Francisco passed a law requiring retailers to display SAR values next to cellphones as part of "right to know" safety campaign. A move that caused the CTIA to pull its fall event out of The City only to replace it with a big fat lawsuit. Here's a snippet from the FCC Consumer Fact sheet about SAR for Cellphones:
Many people mistakenly assume that using a cell phone with a lower reported SAR value necessarily decreases a user's exposure to RF emissions, or is somehow "safer" than using a cell phone with a high SAR value. While SAR values are an important tool in judging the maximum possible exposure to RF energy from a particular model of cell phone, a single SAR value does not provide sufficient information about the amount of RF exposure under typical usage conditions to reliably compare individual cell phone models. Rather, the SAR values collected by the FCC are intended only to ensure that the cell phone does not exceed the FCC's maximum permissible exposure levels even when operating in conditions which result in the device's highest possible - but not its typical - RF energy absorption for a user.
So why the sudden, unannounced change? Collusion between the cellphone industry's lobbying machine and big gov? Doubtful, the claification certainly makes sense to us. Besides, The Washington Post says no, citing a source familiar with the FCC's decision. Great, case closed then.
Permalink Textually  |  sourceThe Washington Post  | Email this | Comments
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Josh invades Late Night studio with flying robot army of one (video)
Lest you weren't glued to your television sets last night, our own Josh Topolsky raised quite a bit of mayhem on Jimmy Fallon's Late Night show. After doing the professional thing and showing off the minuscule Apple TV and Roku XDS media streamers, Josh proceeded to power up an AR.Drone quadricopter and fly it around the studio in a decidedly menacing fashion. For video of Jimmy's courageous reaction and the fallout from this robot invasion, jump past the break.

[Thanks, Sonny]Continue reading Josh invades Late Night studio with flying robot army of one (video)
Josh invades Late Night studio with flying robot army of one (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Crapgadget: 'cubicle shoot-out' edition
This crapgadget installment features things that would get you immediately fired from most right-thinking American corporations, HR Department be damned. Seriously: if Morty over in Accounts Receivable ever rolls into work with a USB fan tie, fingerless USB powered hand-warmin' gloves (or, failing that, a mouse that also heats up), or starts fussing over the goldfish in his desktop USB aquarium, it's time to start working out escape routes (or at least look forward to a mention in a revised edition of Mark Ames's Going Postal). But what about the landline telephone shaped like a large set of lips? Oh, that one's totally awesome.

Read - Thanko USB Necktie Cooler
Read - Kitty USB Hands Warmer
Read - Cartoon USB Warmer Optical Mouse
Read - USB Desktop Aquarium Holds Real Fish Along with Your iPhone
Read - Grimacing Mouth Phone
View Poll
Crapgadget: 'cubicle shoot-out' edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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This Android android runs Android, eats humans
Don't get enough Android in your life between your daytime Droid pal and that raging evening Engadget Podcast addiction? Well, try this on for size, fanboy: two Japanese companies, RT Corporation and Brilliant Service, have teamed up to make an Android logo-shaped Android that runs Android and that can be controlled by an Android device over WiFi. Happy now? All Google loyalist needling aside, this little bot is actually pretty wild, with an Armadillo 500FX board inside controlling the sizable green creature. In fact, Android and robotics has been a bit of a love fest over the past year or so, and we're excited to see where they're headed -- hopefully recursive mascots isn't the evolutionary endpoint here. Check out some video of the bot after the break.Continue reading This Android android runs Android, eats humans
This Android android runs Android, eats humans originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple TV jailbreak complete, next step: figuring out how to run apps (video)
Well, there you have it, kids. Your new favorite hobby has gone from having a confirmed exploit to a legitimate jailbreak in the space of a mere couple of days. MuscleNerd reports that the Shatter jailbreaking endeavor has claimed its latest iOS victim today, though as you can see for yourself, it's "not quite ready for prime time yet." App installations still have to be figured out, but at least the door's been opened for making some good, if not magical, things happen. You'll find video evidence of root access after the break.

[Thanks, dsbilling]Continue reading Apple TV jailbreak complete, next step: figuring out how to run apps (video)
Apple TV jailbreak complete, next step: figuring out how to run apps (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 02:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink @MuscleNerd (Twitter)  |  sourceDev-Team Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung terminates support for Symbian
It was almost a year ago that a senior Samsung VP was quoted expressing plans to drop Symbian. Samsung quickly backtracked on those comments with a vague commitment to its multi-OS strategy. Well, the other shoe just dropped via an email sent to registered Symbian developers advising that Samsung would close its Symbian forum and remove all Symbian content by year's end. Not that we can blame them -- while Symbian is just starting to show signs of recovery the OS has been floundering over the last few years. And Samsung, Nokia's biggest threat in its bid to democratize smartphone sales, is already plenty busy with Bada, Windows Phone 7, and Android. So while Samsung might still be a member of Symbian Foundation, it, like Sony Ericsson, is doing so in name only.

[Thanks, Rohit]
Samsung terminates support for Symbian originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 01:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Peugeot shows off tablet-equipped HR1 concept vehicle
Yes, not even an auto show can escape a bit of tablet news these days. This one comes courtesy of Peugeot, which is showing off its new HR1 concept vehicle at the Paris Motor Show, and which, as you can see above, comes complete with what appears to be an Archos tablet of some sort. Details on it are otherwise a bit light, but the tablet does apparently dock with the car and connect to the in-dash system, which itself boasts a heads-up display and a movement recognition system that'll let you scroll though options (and attract passers-by) with a wave of your hand. As for the vehicle itself, it's a hybrid that promises 81 miles per gallon, and boasts a whole host of other impressive features, not the least of which are some electric scissor doors that will let you get into tight parking spots. Unfortunately, Peugeot also says it doesn't currently have any plans to actually bring the vehicle to market. Hit up the links below for a closer look.
Peugeot shows off tablet-equipped HR1 concept vehicle originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAutoblog, Gizmag  | Email this | Comments
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Nokia N8 vs. iPhone 4: camera showdown
What's the first thing you should do when you get the N8? Considering it packs the biggest image sensor embedded in a phone yet, Carl Zeiss optics, and an eight-digit pixel count, it seemed obvious to us that the answer was to take it on a picture- and video-taking stroll around London. On our way out we saw our iPhone 4 looking all sad and lonely, so we went ahead and brought it along as well. Below you shall find one gallery of pure, unadulterated N8 sample shots, another interspersed with the iPhone's results for comparison's sake, and a final one with side-by-side 100 percent crops from each image taker. Once you've digested all of those, we suggest hopping past the break and tucking into some tasty video comparisons for dessert.

Naturally, all the images are entirely unretouched (but for our masterly watermarking) and the iPhone 4's HDR hocus pocus has been left off. We've also provided a zip file containing all the full-res imagery shot with the N8 in a link below.

A quick note is also merited about the N8's resolution. The sensor's display ratio is 4:3, which means that full 12 megapixel shots are only available in those dimensions. The camera software, however, defaults to shooting 9 megapixel snaps at the increasingly popular 16:9 ratio -- this is done simply by cropping away the "excess" bars at the top and bottom of the image, meaning that the 9 megapixel images are giving us identical performance as the 12 megapixel ones, they're just chopped down (from 4000 x 3000 to 4000 x 2248) for the sake of convenience. Now, on with the show!
Gallery: Nokia N8 sample photos
Gallery: Nokia N8 vs. iPhone 4: cameraphone fight!
Gallery: Nokia N8 vs. iPhone 4: full resolution crops

Continue reading Nokia N8 vs. iPhone 4: camera showdown
Nokia N8 vs. iPhone 4: camera showdown originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Latest smartphone displays pitted in no-holds-barred deathmatch
If you're a numbers geek, you're trying to be scientific about your next smartphone purchase, or you just like pretty colors, you might appreciate DisplayMate's latest report rounding up examples of all (well, most) of the latest and greatest display technologies out there: IPS LCD, Super AMOLED, AMOLED, and TFT, represented by the iPhone 4 and Droid, the Galaxy S, the Nexus One, and the iPhone 3GS, respectively. Noticeably missing is SLCD, the technology HTC has been using to make up for lost ground on its AMOLED shortage from component supplier Samsung, but we've got a hunch DisplayMate's hard at work at adding that into the mix.

Anyhow, considering the sheer number of variables the firm takes into consideration -- everything from color depth, to brightness, to reflectance, to color gamut -- there's no clear-cut winner, but the Droid and iPhone 4 are obviously a cut above the rest with generally higher scores and better performance across the board. The Galaxy S' Super AMOLED turns in a decent performance, too, but takes a little hit for its 16-bit color depth and blown-out colors. Of course, if you consider any of these -- even the crappy TFT on the 3GS -- to a phone from five years ago, it still looks like science fiction... so you really can't go wrong, can you?
Latest smartphone displays pitted in no-holds-barred deathmatch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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T-Mobile G2 gets an early unboxing
T-Mobile's official street date for the G2 is Wednesday next week, but we knew some pre-orderers would be getting the phone early, and it looks like we've already got an unboxing to show for it. Rugged, free-spirited tipster Silverwolfe did the honors, and even managed to size the phone up against the original G2 while he was at it. Check out a few shots below, or hit up the source link for the full gallery.
Gallery: T-Mobile G2 unboxing
T-Mobile G2 gets an early unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ask Engadget: what's the ultimate network media streamer?
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 Brett, who seems just marginally overwhelmed by the recent flood of network media streamers. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I'm looking for a network media player that can play a variety of videos from my NAS as well as connect to media services like Netflix, Pandora, Hulu, etc. I thought I found the perfect match with the new Sony SMP-N100, but the DLNA sharing system was awful compared to an old Apple TV with XBMC installed. Any suggestions on the ultimate Network Media Player? Bonus points for being able to remotely queue videos or control it from a smart phone."
We've been to this rodeo before, but the situation (and consumer demands, too) has changed quite dramatically from just a year ago. Given that there are more players connecting to more portals than ever before, we'd curious to know what box you'd recommend for Brett. Don't hold back, cool?
Ask Engadget: what's the ultimate network media streamer? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 22:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Malata launches a candy-colored educational smartbook, we give it a whirl
The tablet craze may have pushed smartbooks out of the spotlight, but don't tell Malata that -- the ODM's launching an ARM-powered mini laptop in China this very week. Spotted at Mobilize 2010, the Malata T9000 is a cute-as-a-button blue and black clamshell with a 10-inch, 1024 x 600 screen and a Marvell Armada 166 inside, running a Chinese version of Linux (on an 8GB SSD) designed for the educational market. It's almost certainly cheap and underpowered, but we weren't really able to tell, as the UI didn't actually launch any usable applications when we randomly clicked on the icons strewn about. That said, it's got a fairly usable, springy little keyboard and a good number of ports, so it might be fun to tinker with, but we won't shed a tear if the machine never makes it stateside.
Gallery: Malata T9000 smartbook, hands-on
Malata launches a candy-colored educational smartbook, we give it a whirl originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Marvell's quad-core Armada processor won't see tablets or phones, destined for a mystery game platform
Looks like that quad-core Armada processor won't be having apps for breakfast after all -- confronting Marvell's Jack Kang at Mobilize 2010, he told us the chips proved too power-hungry for devices without a dedicated cord. That doesn't mean we won't see them soon, however, as the man let slip that it's actually the quad-core chip that will appear in a new game system, though we can probably rule out the Nintendo 3DS for the same reason as the phones.

Marvell's still hoping to get in the mobile market in a big way, though, and that's what the tri-core Armada 628 is all about, which uses low power profiles to save battery life. According to Kang, however, the system's actually a little more exciting than that -- its two up-to-1.5GHz cores kick in when the system's under a multimedia strain, but actually shut off completely for day-to-day use, relying instead on the third 624MHz processor which slowly sips your battery juice. All we know is, we'd better find out which devices will sport these chips, and soon -- our curiosity is beginning to gnaw.
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NFL 'currently talking' with Verizon to distribute programming on tablets
Ah, so now we understand Verizon's intentions to hastily roll out LTE service to NFL cities. The NFL, which has sided with Sprint over the years when it comes to cellular distribution of content, is apparently in even deeper talks with newfound partner Big Red in order to get its prized content into even more hands. As the idea of watching NFL games on-the-go because more and more sensible, the league is apparently mulling the decision to distribute games (and potentially more) on the next big thing. You know, tablets. Brian Rolapp, the NFL's senior vice president of media strategy, recently said the following: "The NFL will be on a tablet. It's a question of what shape or form. We are currently talking to Verizon about it." VZW declined to comment on the rumblings, but it's really not a shocker -- the carrier's doing everything it can to get a live LTE network here in the States, and inking a deal with America's most popular sporting league would obviously bring in boatloads of revenue. The real question is this: what tablet is the NFL eying, and if it's not the Samsung Galaxy Tab, what's Verizon's second tablet going to be? Inquiring minds would love to know.
NFL 'currently talking' with Verizon to distribute programming on tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says Apple's 99-cent rental model threatens sales
Well, this isn't going to be surprising to many, but certain executives of certain big studios and networks aren't wasting anytime letting everybody know what they think of Apple's new 99-cent rental model for the Apple TV. If you've read our review of the tiny new iOS device, you're already aware that one of Apple's biggest challenges with the product is getting the content providers on board for such a reduced price -- so far, the company's managed to pull in ABC, Disney, Fox, and the BBC -- but Jobs has said that studios will quickly "see the light" and join up. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes seems to disagree, however. "How can you justify renting your first-run TV shows individually for 99 cents an episode and thereby jeopardize the sale of the same shows as a series to branded networks that pay hundreds of millions of dollars and make those shows available to loyal viewers for free?" Bewkes recently asked, joining the now growing chorus of executives to decry the new scheme. Jeff Zucker recently said he thought Apple's 99-cent rentals "devalue" the content, while Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said the rental model was "not good."
Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says Apple's 99-cent rental model threatens sales originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Apple Insider  |  sourceHollywood Reporter  | Email this | Comments
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Droid R2-D2 hands-on
Look what landed in our galaxy this morning! You and your friends may be moaning about the recent news that Star Wars will have a 3D theatrical re-relase, but nobody's going to complain about the cute weirdness that is the Droid R2-D2 edition, now are they? No surprises here -- just hit the gallery below.
Gallery: Droid R2-D2 hands-on
Droid R2-D2 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sprint execs leave Clearwire board out of an 'abundance of caution'
Well, it looks like Sprint and Clearwire aren't taking any chances when it comes to some of the new antitrust rules now in place. Clearwire has just announced that the three Sprint executives now on its board will be resigning out of an "abundance of caution" -- that includes Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, along with division presidents Keith O. Cowan and Steven L. Elfman. Not many more details than that at the moment, but Sprint does still hang onto the right to appoint members to the Clearwire board, and the four Sprint appointees currently on the board will remain in place. As The Wall Street Journal notes, however, the move would seem to clear the way for Clearwire to potentially make another deal, although no one involved is saying anything publicly at the moment beyond what's in the brief press release after the break.Continue reading Sprint execs leave Clearwire board out of an 'abundance of caution'
Sprint execs leave Clearwire board out of an 'abundance of caution' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Moco News  |  sourceThe Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Engadget Podcast 214 - 09.30.2010
We thought about calling this podcast "Unchained Melody" or "The Engadget Podcast: RAW" but our COO got a little concerned about violating some sort of intellectual property laws, so you just get the plain vanilla name. Regardless, it is quite a monster, complete with a radio play set in an AT&T store and 3-D versions of Jerry Seinfeld and Jar-Jar Binks. Dunno how else we can sell you on this one.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: The Addams Family
AT&T Store music: El Remolon - Riki Ticki

00:02:37 - T-Mobile G2 now shipping to some pre-orderers
00:03:45 - T-Mobile G2 preview
00:06:30 - Editorial: Firmware, forums, and desperation -- the dark side of Android hacking
00:08:00 - Apple TV review (2010)
00:13:15 - Roku adding Hulu Plus channel this fall
00:14:32 - Hulu Plus coming to TiVo Premiere too
00:24:38 - Roku XDS review
00:36:18 - Sony's Google TV makes an early public appearance, reveals little
00:43:45 - RIM introduces PlayBook -- the BlackBerry tablet
00:50:00 - BlackBerry PlayBook first eyes-on!
00:57:20 - HTC Mondrian stars in leaked AT&T ad campaign, jump-kicks lesser smartphones? (video)
00:58:02 - LG's Optimus 7 gets previewed by Korean newspaper, has voice to text feature?
01:21:30 - Sony Ericsson LiveView acts as a 1.3-inch remote control for your smartphone, requires Android 2.0


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Engadget Podcast 214 - 09.30.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Confirmed: Apple TV can play 1080p content from iTunes, but still only outputs 720p
The header says it all folks. We just ran some tests on the AppleTV's playback limits by streaming 1080p movie trailers in iTunes and managed to verify murmurs saying the device can accept 1080p content. Unfortunately, output is a different story, since it downscales the image back to 720p on your display. Yes it's a little frustrating -- especially since it's predecessor was up to the challenge -- but it should at least comfort those with a massive library of 1080p videos who were worried about reconverting for their new black box. Considering the hardware gems discovered in the AppleTV teardown however, we're still holding out for the jailbreak community to let us play our 1080p files, and display them too. Oh, and if they could get to work on Super-Hi Vision support at some point, well, that'd be just dandy.
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Verizon scoop extravaganza: Motorola Venus with portrait QWERTY, Stingray LTE tablet, and more?
We've been tipped by multiple sources today on some interesting developments in Verizon's roadmap over the next couple quarters, and if you're a BlackBerry fan, an Android fan, or a fan of exceptionally fast data, you're probably going to want to tune in. Let's get right into the meat of it, shall we? Follow the break!Continue reading Verizon scoop extravaganza: Motorola Venus with portrait QWERTY, Stingray LTE tablet, and more?
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HP names Léo Apotheker as new CEO and President
HP has just named its new CEO and President, former CEO of SAP, Léo Apotheker. Mr. Apotheker, who was with SAP for over 20 years, will also join HP's Board of Directors. His elections are to take effect November 1st. The decision has been expected since Mark Hurd's dramatic exit in August, though Mr. Apotheker's name was not one widely circulated as being in the running. The company has simultaneously named Ray Lane as the Chairman of its Board of Directors. Full press release is below.
Continue reading HP names Léo Apotheker as new CEO and President
HP names Léo Apotheker as new CEO and President originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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