Wednesday, October 27, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 27/10/2010

White iPhone 4 evidence shows up in Apple Store app's update?
So, you may or may not have noticed that this morning, Apple updated its own Apple Store app for the very first time, and version 1.1 has a little surprise. That's right, in the 'Reserve Products' screen, the much delayed white iPhone 4 shows up as an option. Now, before you lose control of yourself, keep in mind that you can't actually reserve one... yet. Of course, this could just be some sort of cruel glitch in the system, or it could be a tiny bit of evidence that the white iPhone is actually, finally on its way. At the very least, we know that Apple's still thinking of it... just like us.
White iPhone 4 evidence shows up in Apple Store app's update? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Redmond Pie  |  sourceSlashGear  | Email this | Comments
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Epson shoves a Core i7 processor in a chunky nettop, will build it to your specification
Epson shoves a Core i7 processor in a chunky nettop, will build it to your specification
Tiny desktops? Good. Wimpy processors? Bad. Epson's Endeavor ST150E? Possibly the best of both worlds. Sure, it's bigger than your average nettop, about twice as tall, but for that extra girth you get a selection of Intel processors ranging from a Celeron P4600 all the way up to a Core i7-640M. It also sports a DVD-R/W drive, up to 8GB of RAM, 640GB on platters or a 64GB SSD, mountability behind an LCD, and power consumption as low as 16 watts -- though we're guessing that's with the Celeron. Indeed you can get this built however you want, with a starting price at 64,890 yen, or just under $800. But, get liberal with the options and you could be looking at a rather less frugal 190,000 yen. That's about $2,300, and an awful, awful lot for a little machine.
Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceEpson Japan  | Email this | Comments
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Western Digital stuffs 1TB HDD into Live Hub networked media streamer
WD's no stranger to the media streaming game, but things apparently just got serious. Gone is the My Book-esque design that has been used on all of the units prior, and in is a sleeker, sexier box that's quite clearly designed to slip right on top of your existing cable set-top. The WD TV Live Hub is easily Western Digital's most feature-packed streamer yet, with a 1TB HDD within for storing who knows what locally. There's also an Ethernet socket for pulling down content via the web or your local network, and a pair of USB ports allow for storage expansion or transfers. Naturally, it'll handle Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Blockbuster on Demand and UPnP / DLNA streaming to your favorite game console, but the lack of inbuilt WiFi (it's available via an optional adapter) puts a mild damper on an otherwise fantastic sounding product. It's available immediately around the globe, with Americans able to snag one for $199.99 directly from WD or at Best Buy.

Update: Looks as if Desktop Review has a lengthy review on this guy, along with a slew of user interface shots. The botto line? It's the best player yet from the company, though the price tag did present a bit of sadness. Hit it up for the full skinny.
Gallery: WD TV Live Hub media center
Continue reading Western Digital stuffs 1TB HDD into Live Hub networked media streamer
Western Digital stuffs 1TB HDD into Live Hub networked media streamer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Hot Hardware  |  sourceWestern Digital  | Email this | Comments
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The Blaze Blink Now saves you from Computer Vision Syndrome, is always watching
The Blaze Blink Now saves you from Computer Vision Syndrome, is always watching
Big Brother is watching you, and you'd better remember. Forget for just a moment and you could find yourself committing thoughtcrime doupleplusquick. Enter the £49.99 ($78) Blink Now. It's ostensibly a device designed to save you from Computer Vision Syndrome, a modern affliction that causes headaches and blurry vision among those who spend a little too much time basking in the glow of a CRT or LCD. But, we're thinking its purposes are rather more nefarious. It's basically just a little LCD that you hang in your monitor and connect via USB. It presents an eye, always looking at you, lazily and nonchalantly blinking. In theory, if you see an eye blinking you'll blink more often yourself and cut down on eye strain. In reality, the thinkpol is always watching and this is just another reminder.
The Blaze Blink Now saves you from Computer Vision Syndrome, is always watching originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceBlaze  | Email this | Comments
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Grace debuts GDI-IR2550p WiFi radio with built-in Pandora controls
It may not exactly be one of the biggest "firsts" around, but Grace Digital Audio's new GDI-IR2550p WiFi radio is apparently the first such radio to pack built-in Pandora controls on the radio itself -- the company's earlier Digital Allegro only had controls on the remote and accompanying iPhone app. Unfortunately, Grace has paired that somewhat unique feature with a radio that seems to have confused retro good looks with bland and dated -- that same four-line LCD used on every other Grace radio doesn't help things either. If that's not your primary concern, however, you will get a decent range of features from the radio, including support for a slew of other internet content besides Pandora, streaming music from your Mac or PC, the aforementioned iPhone app, and all the usual alarm clock functionality you'd expect from a desktop radio. Look for this one to set you back $169.99.

Update: Looks like this is just Grace's first of the sort -- this here Livio device did the same thing last year. For shame. Thanks, Brandon!Continue reading Grace debuts GDI-IR2550p WiFi radio with built-in Pandora controls
Grace debuts GDI-IR2550p WiFi radio with built-in Pandora controls originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGrace Digital Audio  | Email this | Comments
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Nissan Leaf launches in Europe, takes us for a drive
26,000 people can't be wrong, right? That's the current tally of Leaf pre-orders that Nissan has collected from US and Japanese drivers excited by its all-electric hatchback. Yesterday, the car that's built to plug into the same wall outlet as your toaster held its official pan-European launch party -- with the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal getting the first deliveries in early 2011 -- and we were on site to grab a few closeup pictures and some precious time in the driver's seat. American drivers should look out for a new set of keys in their mailbox this December, so there's probably no better time than now to give them a preview of what they're getting themselves into. Jump past the break for more on the Nissan Leaf.
Gallery: Nissan Leaf press images
Gallery: Nissan Leaf test drive
Continue reading Nissan Leaf launches in Europe, takes us for a drive
Nissan Leaf launches in Europe, takes us for a drive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ality's backlit WeeBoard: yet another bantam RF HTPC keyboard
Quite frankly, you've probably got more mini keyboard options than you need, but given that Ality decided to throw backlighting into its latest, we're giving it the edge over the other guys. The aptly named WeeBoard is an RF-based wireless keyboard that's designed for use on the couch, likely in conjunction with your HTPC. There's also an integrated optical trackpad for moving a mouse cursor, and there's even a row of customizable media shortcut keys for launching specific applications and actions quickly. It's expected to go on sale direct from Ality this December, with a retail price of $79.99 -- hang tight if you're looking for retail distribution partners.
Gallery: Ality WeeBoard RF wireless keyboard
Continue reading Ality's backlit WeeBoard: yet another bantam RF HTPC keyboard
Ality's backlit WeeBoard: yet another bantam RF HTPC keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 06:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAlity PC  | Email this | Comments
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Yamaha PDX-31 iPod / iPhone speaker dock: too sexy for your 90s era living room
Truth be told, there's precisely no reason for the world to ever see yet another iPod sound system. If we haven't found one to suffice at this point, we're very clearly doing it wrong. That said, Yamaha has a knack for cranking out iPod / iPhone sound systems that look just as good (if not better) than they sound, and that's remaining the case on the PDX-31. Aside from reminding us of the gorgeous Oregon shoreline, this here speaker dock handles iPods and iPhones with a 30-pin Dock Connector, ships in a trio of hues (dark red, black and light gray) and offers up an auxiliary input for those other media players. It also houses a pair of 3.25-inch speakers, dual wall construction and arrives with a bundled remote for good measure. It'll carry an MSRP of $169.95, 80 percent of which is the premium for this thing looking so darn seductive.Continue reading Yamaha PDX-31 iPod / iPhone speaker dock: too sexy for your 90s era living room
Yamaha PDX-31 iPod / iPhone speaker dock: too sexy for your 90s era living room originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceYamaha  | Email this | Comments
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Google Instant showing up on some Android devices in beta form?
If you believe the good readers of Droid Life (and there's no reason why you shouldn't), Google has started sneaking out its Instant search option to Android phones in the USA. So far, reports include the original Motorola Droid, the Droid X, and HTC's Droid Incredible. Lest you've been enjoying a lengthy holiday in the tropics, Google Instant throws up search results as you type your query, delivering either much faster results or a much more annoying search experience, depending on how you look at it. Reported operation so far aligns with our early hands-on, with Instant taking a bit of time to get its bearings, but the software is still at the beta stage, after all. Why not jump into your browser this morning and tell us if your Android's answering your questions before you even hit the Enter key?
Google Instant showing up on some Android devices in beta form? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 04:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceDroid Life  | Email this | Comments
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Sanyo glams up Eneloop batteries for fifth anniversary
How do you celebrate half a decade as the world's best loved and most efficient rechargeable battery? You throw a party, of course, which is exactly what Sanyo is doing with its Eneloop Tones Glitter limited edition set. Packs of eight technicolored AA and AAA Eneloops will go on sale in Japan on November 14, augmenting the brand's signature longevity with a dash (hell, make it a heaping) of glamorous style. For the functionalists out there seeking an excuse to jump on board, each box contains one of each color, meaning you can claim you bought them to color-code your battery management operation. Yeah, we'll believe you.
Sanyo glams up Eneloop batteries for fifth anniversary originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceSanyo  | Email this | Comments
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Android Market surpasses 100,000 apps: can't stop, won't stop growing
Ah, there we go. Right around three months after we falsely suspected that El Goog had crossed the 100,000 mark in its Android Market, the company itself has today confirmed the passing of that line via Twitter. For those keeping count, it took but three months to go from 70,000 to 100,000 and seven months to go from 30,000 to this point. Of course, Apple's still holding down the lead in terms of sheer numbers with close to 300,000, but there's no question that the Android Market has nearly everything a boy (or girl, for that matter) could want. Except for a quote generator from Step Brothers. Oh, wait....
Android Market surpasses 100,000 apps: can't stop, won't stop growing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  source@AndroidDev (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
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HTC Speedy a Knight in Sprint armor coming January 6th?
We were just getting used to HTC Knight when along comes more supposed details of the still-unconfirmed slider. Boy Genius Report has what it claims is a leaked accessories list from Sprint that reveals a case for the Knight is due on January 6th, 2011. Does that mean the phone itself is launching on the same date? Would that date have something to do with the start of CES? Oh, and BGR also claims from a source the Knight is getting a new title. What do you think about the HTC Speedy -- descriptive, eh? As far as we can tell, there isn't really much else to go by at this point, so our jump to conclusion will just have to stay under the bed for now.
HTC Speedy a Knight in Sprint armor coming January 6th? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceBoy Genius Report  | Email this | Comments
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N900 can run unmodified webOS games, what can your Linux-based phone do?
Ah, standards. Palm and Nokia know what we're talking about, which is why they support similar methods of developing native Linux apps, namely SDL 1.2. Add on the hardware similarities between the Palm Pre and the N900 (OMAP3430, PowerVR SGX, Open GL ES 2.0 support) and you have a beautiful recipe for cross-platform gaming. Some hardcore Maemo users have taken this to heart and released a new "Preenv" package for the N900 that allows the phone to run unmodified webOS games. Of course, you'll need to root your Pre to get at those games, and if you want to make a launch icon for the game on the N900 you'll have to root it as well. Still, this is exciting beyond the potential for playing Need for Speed on much-lauded Nokia hardware: with easy portability between platforms, there's all the more reason for a developer to be attracted to MeeGo and webOS in the future.

[Thanks, Andy D.]
N900 can run unmodified webOS games, what can your Linux-based phone do? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMaemo.org  | Email this | Comments
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iOS 4.1 glitch lets you bypass lock screen to access Phone app, photo album (video)
Your iPhone's passcode entry can't block everything, it seems -- at least not with iOS 4.1. We're hearing various reports that simply inputting a random number in the emergency call field, pressing call, and then promptly hitting the hardware lock button will take you to the Phone app, thereby granting you access to the call history, voicemail, and address book. We've tried this with iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4, all with the same result. We can't get out of the field without trying to place a call, and after that we're still stuck back at the passcode screen. Additionally, selecting "share contact" and then the camera icon will give you access to the photo album. Pay mind that your particularly paranoid pals could probably use this to see if you really did stop calling your ex and delete all his or her pictures. We won't judge, but they will. Video proof of concept after the break.

Update: Feel free to hold down the menu button to access voice control and play some locally-stored tunes while you're at it. And if you've got 4.2 beta like some of our staffers do, this "trick" should work just the same.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading iOS 4.1 glitch lets you bypass lock screen to access Phone app, photo album (video)
Permalink Boy Genius Report  |  sourceViddler, 9 to 5 Mac  | Email this | Comments
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PlayOn now available on Roku: more content for a price
We knew that Hulu Plus was making a beeline for Roku's stable of media streaming boxes, but now owners have yet another avenue to grab online content: PlayOn. For those unaware, PlayOn delivers online material from Hulu, PBS, TBS, ESPN, CNN, MLB.tv and YouTube (among other places), but the catch is that there's an annual fee for having access ($34.99 for the first year; $19.99 each year thereafter). Furthermore, you'll need a PC on the same network as the Roku in order to fetch the content and send it over, but if you're already setup, you can hit the source link for download and pricing details.
PlayOn now available on Roku: more content for a price originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePlayOn  | Email this | Comments
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Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac moves to public beta
That didn't take long, did it? The promised beta of Windows Phone 7's Mac-friendly companion app is now available, bringing basic media sync capability -- notably with iTunes and iPhoto integration -- to that shiny new Microsoft-powered phone of yours. In fact, Microsoft delivered the client so fast that it beat every single American WP7 device to market -- so AT&T and T-Mobile folks, you can rest easy knowing that you'll be Mac-compatible from day one. Notably, the so-called Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac lacks any Zune functionality; Microsoft has never written a true Zune client for Mac, unfortunately, but at least this is a critical first step that makes these things usable for Mac owners that aren't tied to the iPhone. Let us know how the app treats you in comments, alright?
Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac moves to public beta originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Mac Rumors, Phone Scoop  |  sourceMicrosoft  | Email this | Comments
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BlackBerry PlayBook Simulator Beta hands-on
Sure, you might have to be at Adobe's MAX conference to actually hold a PlayBook in your hand... but RIM's offering us all the next best thing by turning a beta version of its PlayBook simulator loose on devs way, way in advance of the tablet's release -- ostensibly in the hopes of drumming up a beefy third-party app catalog in time for retail. On that note, we've spent a few minutes playing with the simulator today, which is delivered in the form of an ISO that can be loaded as an operating system installer for a VMWare virtual machine on either Windows or Mac. There's seriously very little to see here so far, but you can play with the on-screen landscape keyboard, confirm the presence of inertial scrolling in text areas, and get a quick look at how the status and app bars work. Speaking of apps, there aren't any -- not a single one -- but it's way early, and that's obviously where RIM hopes you come into play with that million-dollar software idea of yours. Follow the break for a video walkthrough!
Gallery: BlackBerry PlayBook Simulator Beta hands-on
Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook Simulator Beta hands-on
BlackBerry PlayBook Simulator Beta hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Verizon's Galaxy Tab won't have Skype, NFL Mobile, or V Cast video apps at launch
Looks like that plan to bring NFL content Verizon tablets is on hold, at least for now -- we just got Big Red's employee training materials for the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and they explicitly say that Skype Mobile, NFL Mobile, and V Cast Video won't be available on the seven-inch tablet at launch. That's disappointing for a variety of reasons -- particularly the loss of Skype, which would have made up for the lack of voice calling ability -- but we're hoping the holdup is mostly due to app-compatibility issues and not corporate politics. We'll find out, we suppose. Hit the gallery for the rest of the training docs.
Gallery: Verizon Galaxy Tab training docs
Verizon's Galaxy Tab won't have Skype, NFL Mobile, or V Cast video apps at launch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Adobe confirms Flash Player 10.1 is coming to BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 and more
We've already known that Adobe would be bringing Flash Player 10.1 to Windows Phone 7, but the company has just now made that fully official at its currently-happening MAX conference (alongside its Air 2.5 announcement), and it's also confirmed exactly which other mobile platforms the plug-in will be headed to. That includes WebOS 2.0, which we've already seen first hand, along with BlackBerry OS, Symbian, MeeGo and, last but not least, the LiMo platform -- those will all of course join Android 2.2, which already supports the plug-in. Unfortunately, there's still no timeline for a release on each platform, with Adobe only saying that Flash 10.1 is "expected" to hit each mobile OS. Head on past the break for the relevant snippet from Adobe's press release.Continue reading Adobe confirms Flash Player 10.1 is coming to BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 and more
Adobe confirms Flash Player 10.1 is coming to BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 and more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceBrighthand  | Email this | Comments
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Palm Pre 2 and webOS 2.0 showcased in new commercial
It's hard to tell if the ad embedded after the break is purely official, but it definitely reeks of HP. In a good way, that is. Uploaded by the same fellow that gave us our first sneak peek at webOS 2.0, this "Sizzle" ad shows 34 solid seconds of Palm Pre 2 action, complete with a glimpse at Angry Birds, Facebook and all sorts of new 2.0 features. We're aren't totally digging the tunes, but otherwise, it looks to be rather attractive -- way better than the first wave of original Pre ads, that's for sure.

Update: Hey, hey -- looks like the ad's now embedded on Palm's website. Kudos!Continue reading Palm Pre 2 and webOS 2.0 showcased in new commercial
Palm Pre 2 and webOS 2.0 showcased in new commercial originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Pocketnow  |  sourceYouTube (webos1337), Palm  | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft says it's 'doubling down' on PC games
Well, it looks like the forthcoming launch of Microsoft's browser-based Games for Windows Marketplace could just be the beginning of a broader PC gaming push from the company. Speaking with Kotaku, Microsoft's Peter Orullian, group product manager for Windows PC and Mobile, said rather boldly that PC games "is a place where we are doubling down." Exactly what that means beyond the new Games for Windows Marketplace isn't clear, but Orullian did mention that Microsoft has a "healthy list of features we're going to start bringing out once the store launches" in response to a question about further integrating PC and Xbox 360 gaming (something the company is also exploring with the revised Xbox.com).
Microsoft says it's 'doubling down' on PC games originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceKotaku  | Email this | Comments
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Daiwa House enlists Moogle for remote control crawlspace inspections
Apparently Japanese homebuilder Daiwa House offers crawl space inspections as part of its warranty service, and to that end have enlisted Moogle (rhymes with "goggle," not "Google"). The robot weighs just under 30 lbs, measures roughly 20 x 12 x 9.5 inches, and rocks a laser rangefinder, WiFi connectivity, and two cameras: one for driving, one for inspecting. If you happen to be in the country yourself and wish to try the thing out, it can be leased monthly for ¥40,000 ($500) or purchased outright for ¥200,000 ($2,500). Just brace yourself -- you never know what you're gonna find when you start digging around under people's houses. See it in action after the break.
Continue reading Daiwa House enlists Moogle for remote control crawlspace inspections
Daiwa House enlists Moogle for remote control crawlspace inspections originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Akihabara News, Plastic Pals  |  sourceIza  | Email this | Comments
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LG Optimus T hitting T-Mobile on November 3 for $30
Look out, dumbphones of the world: your days may really be numbered now that we've got US carriers blowing out brand new honest-to-goodness smartphones for $30 on contract. The phone in question here is LG's Optimus T, stablemate to the Optimus S, Optimus One, and Optimus Chic featuring a 3.2-inch HVGA display, 3 megapixel cam, and pre-loaded Swype all sitting atop Android 2.2. In order to get down to the promised $29.99, you'll need to sign up for a new two-year contract (naturally), score a qualifying data plan, and wait around for a $50 mail-in rebate when the phone goes on sale Wednesday, November 3 in your choice of black or burgundy (pictured).
LG Optimus T hitting T-Mobile on November 3 for $30 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceT-Mobile (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments
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No custom ringtones for Windows Phone 7? (video)
We just sat through an eight minute long video of someone at Pocketnow sampling every ringtone on his HTC Surround. Why did we do this? Just wanted to see if we could stand it; suffice it to say, we never want to hear a ringtone again. Perhaps more importantly, our man points out that Microsoft seems to have left the ability to add your own custom ringtones out of Windows Phone 7 altogether. The Surround itself has a couple recognizable fan favorites that we recognize from AT&T and HTC phones past, so it looks like manufacturers and carriers will be able to bring their own to the table, but for the end user, it looks like you won't be able to roll your own -- at least for the time being. And now we're going to go put our phones on vibrate.Continue reading No custom ringtones for Windows Phone 7? (video)
No custom ringtones for Windows Phone 7? (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePocketnow  | Email this | Comments
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Viper SmartStart app goes to 2.0, gets potentially cheaper and throws roadside assistance into the mix
About a year ago Viper got into the app game, releasing SmartStart the iPhone and allowing control of the locks, trunk, and ignition on their car. Since then Android and BlackBerry versions have trickled out, but now it's time for 2.0. What wondrous new functionality does this new major release offer? Not much, really, but it does come with one major improvement: cost. Before you were out at least $299 while the new version is said to cost as little as $199 according to the PR below, though the wording is awfully vague. PR states you can find "dealers advertising Viper SmartStart as low as $199," but under Viper's 2.0 site the MSRP is stated to be $299 -- the same as before. So, YMMV on the price cut, apparently depending on what your local dealer feels like charging, but know that whatever you pay you'll now get "Viper Motor Club" roadside assistance included. That should offer a little extra peace of mind as we enter dead battery season.Continue reading Viper SmartStart app goes to 2.0, gets potentially cheaper and throws roadside assistance into the mix
Permalink Android Community  |  sourceViper  | Email this | Comments
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Jolicloud prepping a netbook of its own
What do you do if you're the maker of a popular netbook operating system? Create your own netbook, of course! Okay, it does seem like a rather odd step, but Jolicloud CEO Tariq Krim tweeted a few teaser images this morning and then confirmed with the exclusive shot above that the software company is in fact working with a hardware partner to create its own 10.1-inch netbook. The details are fairly slim at the moment, but Krim did share that the mini-laptop will boot Jolicloud 1.1 and be primarily aimed at those in the 12 to 25 age range. As for specs, your guess is as good as ours at this point, although he boasted that it will be able to rock 720p video. We can't tell much from the picture above, but it sure does have a funky lid, VGA port and a few USB sockets. Pricing and availability are being firmed up now, but it will apparently hit for under $500 and before those long-awaited Chrome OS netbooks. That's not really saying much at this point since we've been wondering about the whereabouts of those Chrome-books for almost a half a year now, but hit the gallery below for a few more mysterious shots and we'll promise to fill you in on the details when we hear more.
Gallery: Jolicloud netbook
Jolicloud prepping a netbook of its own originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  source@tariqkrim  | Email this | Comments
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BlackBerry PlayBook demoed in the flesh at Adobe MAX, Air-based SDK launched
RIM's PlayBook just got real -- quite literally -- at Adobe's MAX conference today. Granted, out-of-the-box Flash and Air support are being billed as a big deal for the PlayBook, but it still seems a little strange that the company showed non-functional dummies running video loops encased in Plexiglas at its developer conference just a few weeks back, only to let Adobe show the good stuff at its own event here. There is some logic behind it, for what it's worth: Adobe and RIM have announced availability today of an Air SDK targeting the PlayBook's QNX-based platform with deep hardware integration, giving devs plenty of ramp-up time considering that the tablet won't be available until early next year. Kobo was among the companies on-hand to talk about the sheer awesomeness of the dev environment, and the general attitude toward the PlayBook's ease of development seems to be a positive one; we all know how important third-party apps are to a mobile platform's success at this point, of course, so we'll need a few thousand more Kobos on board to leave these guys with a happy ending. Check the full demo from the MAX keynote stage after the break.

Update: RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis -- who was up on stage with Adobe's Kevin Lynch for the demo -- announced that devs who get PlayBook apps approved into App World will get a free PlayBook. Not a bad incentivizer, if we do say so ourselves.Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook demoed in the flesh at Adobe MAX, Air-based SDK launched
BlackBerry PlayBook demoed in the flesh at Adobe MAX, Air-based SDK launched originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAdobe  | Email this | Comments
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Symbian Foundation winding down operations?
2010 hasn't exactly been a banner year for Symbian, with Symbian^3 getting lipstick-on-a-pig reviews via the just-launched Nokia N8, top-tier supporter Samsung moving on, and chief exec Lee Williams either quitting or being shown the door. On that note, it comes as little surprise that doomsday rumors are starting to swirl -- and The Register is citing a "source close to Symbian" as saying that new CEO Tim Holbrow is under orders to square things away for closure while some employees have apparently already been offered severance packages. Seeing how Sammy was one of the Foundation's primary sponsors (along with Nokia and Sony Ericsson), it's reasonable to believe that they're finding themselves in a cash pinch -- and now that Nokia is de-emphasizing the concept of Symbian^4 altogether, it seems like there might be little work for these guys left... especially considering that Sony Ericsson has no new Symbian products in the pipe. Putting a CFO in charge of a company is often a sign that the bottom line -- not product innovation -- is the priority, and realistically, there's never been a better time for Nokia to bring things back in-house since other manufacturers have moved on and MeeGo isn't ready for prime time just yet. Time to call Symbian dead? Far from it, but a major shake-up is starting to feel inevitable.
Symbian Foundation winding down operations? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceEl Reg  | Email this | Comments
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The Engadget Show - 014: Aaron Woodman, Windows Phone 7, Google TV, MacBook Airs, Palm Pre 2, Halloween Costumes, and more!

Get ready humans, because we have an all new, amazing Engadget Show fresh out of the box. For your viewing pleasure, Josh sits down with Microsoft director Aaron Woodman to chat Windows Phone 7 and demo nearly all of the new devices, including the Dell Venue Pro. Next up, Darren Murph joins the round table for a bunch of demos, including the new MacBook Airs, Palm Pre 2, and more Windows Phone 7. Nilay leads a thorough demo of Google TV via the Logitech Revue and Engadget editors Ben Drawbaugh and Tim Stevens make some unbelievable cameos. We've got highlights from the New York Reader Meetup, plus a Halloween costume contest that quickly gets out of hand. To round it all out, Kris Keyser brings the jams with a rocking set of chiptunes music with visuals from noteNdo. What are you waiting for? Watch it now! Hit up the new video stream after the break, now with convenient chapter markers!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Special guests: Aaron Woodman, Darren Murph, Ben Drawbaugh, Tim Stevens, Tim Stevens' dog Bowser
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger
Edited by: Danny Madden
Music by: Kris Keyser
Visuals by: noteNdo
Reader Meetup music by: Zen Albatross
Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec

Taped live at The Times Center

Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 014 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 014 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) / The Engadget Show - 014 (Small)

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
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Gallery: The Engadget Show - 014: Windows Phone 7, Aaron Woodman, Google TV devices, and our first Halloween costume contest!
Continue reading The Engadget Show - 014: Aaron Woodman, Windows Phone 7, Google TV, MacBook Airs, Palm Pre 2, Halloween Costumes, and more!
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Kindle books outselling print 2 to 1 for Amazon's top 10 bestsellers, and other relatively positive sales figures
Amazon has its own applied theory of special relativity, in the sense that we never really know definitive sales figures and instead have to rely on the occasional ratio and comparative figure (based upon aforementioned unknown variables) to glean any sense of success. Jeff Bezos and company are happy to announce the latest Kindle has, in its three months or so since release, surpassed sales of the previous device in its 2009 holiday season (the shopping-heavy October through December period) -- in other words, it expects even greater sales for this year's equivalent quarter, but it can't exactly time travel to report on the future (yet). Ready for more? Amazon's also boasting that, for its top 10 bestselling books, Kindle digital books are outselling print (both hardcover and paperback combined) at a rate "great than 2 to 1." We're going to guess those are better figures than its tipping point back in July, but Mass-Sales Equivalence was never our strong suit in college. More fun factoids and artistic displays of applied statistics can be found in the press release after the break.Continue reading Kindle books outselling print 2 to 1 for Amazon's top 10 bestsellers, and other relatively positive sales figures
Permalink   |  sourceAmazon  | Email this | Comments
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HTC 7 Pro squares away its FCC approval?
So, here's what we know: a Windows Phone from HTC just earned its FCC wings, it's production (meaning non-prototype) hardware... and it's a CDMA device. That alone is notable considering that Microsoft has said that CDMA won't be available until the first half of next year, and here we are in October with an FCC-approved, production-ready device waiting in the wings already. We're not the type to be floating conspiracy theories, but could it be that we're dealing with an artificial delay here, or is the CDMA software stack really that far away from being solid? Anyhow, if we had to guess, this is probably the tilt-sliding 7 Pro, seeing how that's the only CDMA Windows Phone 7 device to bow so far, equipped with 802.11b / g / n alongside Bluetooth + EDR. Sprint, let's make this happen.
HTC 7 Pro squares away its FCC approval? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
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Panasonic's Power Loader Light slims down, stays out of fights with aliens
Panasonic's full-size Power Loader exoskeleton certainly has its place, but there are times when giant freaking robots arms might be considered overkill. Thankfully, Panasonic (or more specifically, its Activelink subsidiary) has considered such situations, and has now come out with its streamlined Power Loader Light (or PLL). As you can see, this model eschews the robot arms altogether, but it makes use of the same direct force feedback system that's able to predict your leg movements and increase your leg strength by up 40 kilograms. Of course, even the Light version is still a bit out of reach for everyday use -- it will initially cost around $223,000, but Panasonic is offering a grant program to potential developers that would cut the price in half.
Panasonic's Power Loader Light slims down, stays out of fights with aliens originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePlastic Pals  | Email this | Comments
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ASUS officially walks away from Garmin-Asus partnership
Chalk another up to the rumor mill. Just as we'd heard, the Garmin-Asus partnership will soon be no more. After a few arguably valiant attempts to break into the smartphone market, it seems as if ASUS is walking away in hopes of finding greener grass elsewhere. According to Reuters, an unnamed ASUS official has confirmed that it would be "ending its mobile phone cooperation agreement with Garmin." We're expecting the rest of the breakup details to roll tomorrow, but honestly, you'd turn the other cheek and move on if you were classy. But we both know that's not happening, right?
ASUS officially walks away from Garmin-Asus partnership originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung to unveil new Android device November 8th
Two weeks. That's how long you'll have to wait before Samsung Mobile officially shows off its latest Android device. We say officially, because as these things go, there's a chance the gadget will make it into the limelight via unofficial channels. No indication what it might be, but if we had our say, the Continuum and its secondary OLED screen would make for a nice treat... hey, why are you even asking? Of course we'll be there covering it live!
Samsung to unveil new Android device November 8th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Galaxy Tab for Sprint confirmed for November 14th: $400 with two-year contract
Well, that didn't take long. After hearing this morning that Samsung's Galaxy Tab might possibly be hitting Sprint on November 14th, the carrier has come out and confirmed the date, along with some pricing details. Whereas the Verizon deal is a penny under $600 with no commitment required, Sprint's offering the 7-inch slate for $399.99 along with a necessary two-year 3G Tablet Mobile Broadband plan (according to Phone Scoop who contacted the company, there'll also be a $599.99 offer with no contract). That'll run you $29.99 for 2GB and $59.99 for 5GB. Can't wait to see what price the GSMers might offer? Pre-orders start today.
Galaxy Tab for Sprint confirmed for November 14th: $400 with two-year contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSprint  | Email this | Comments
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Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 reviewed, deemed a worthy W1 successor for slightly less early adopters
Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 reviewed, deemed a worthy W1 successor for slightly less early adopters
Early reviews of Fuji's FinePix Real 3D W1? Not so hot. However, a year later the $450 refreshed W3 seems to be doing better, scoring a "Recommended" review over at Photography Blog. The camera's dual 1/2.3-inch, 10 megapixel CCDs and 3X zoom lenses are carried over from before, but a new design and more user-friendly interface is said to make a huge improvement -- even if it's still too easy to stick a finger over either of the two light portals up front. Build quality is solid and the new 3.5-inch, glasses-free 3D LCD on the back is called "impressive," far brighter than last year's parallax barrier. The machine will capture 720p 3D movies and can save both 3D MPO images and 2D JPEGs simultaneously, meaning your holiday snaps are future-proofed even if you haven't jumped on the 3D bandwagon just yet.
Permalink   |  sourcePhotography Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Ubuntu 10.10's multitouch Unity UI demoed on Dell, makes multitasking look easy (video)
Want to see how multitouch works in Maverick Meerkat's Unity UI, but don't have a convertible tablet PC? You're in luck today, as Ubuntu Developers put together a handy-dandy video of the Ubuntu 10.10 interface running on their very own Dell Latitude XT2's dual-digitizer touchscreen. As you'd expect, the $2,400 convertible does a bang-up job as a tablet PC, playing Flash video and OpenGL games with ease, but the uTouch gestures appear to contribute to the overall experience by making window management a relative breeze. But in the immortal words of LeVar Burton, you don't have to take our word for it -- see for yourself right after the break, while we pray for Canonical to reconsider its stance on a dedicated tablet version of Ubuntu.Continue reading Ubuntu 10.10's multitouch Unity UI demoed on Dell, makes multitasking look easy (video)
Permalink HotHardware  |  sourceUbuntu Developers (Blip.tv)  | Email this | Comments
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