Thursday, November 25, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 24/11/2010



SlingPlayer Mobile app hits the iPad
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad was looking pretty slick when we saw a preview a couple weeks ago, and now, just like that, it's arrived at the App Store. Folks who already invested in the iPhone app might be a bit disappointed to find they need to fork out another $30 for the iPad version -- although they can keep using the iPhone app in "Compatibility Mode" if they'd like -- but Sling is touting new video quality levels for the iPad, that your iPhone can only dream of, to sweeten the deal. There's also a new program guide UI and other iPad-friendly tweaks. Check out that video preview after the break to learn more, or just hit up your local App Store and start downloading (it's rolling out in typical App Store fashion, which means it might take a few minutes to pop up in your particular iTunes).Continue reading SlingPlayer Mobile app hits the iPad
SlingPlayer Mobile app hits the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony's Qriocity video-on-demand services goes live in Europe
Sony said it was coming, and come it has. Just in time for expatriated Americans basking in the glory of being paid in pounds to enjoy over "Thanksgiving," Sony has flipped the switch on its Qriocity on-demand movie service. The UK launch marks the European debut of the service (we're also hearing that it's like 'across Europe'), offering "hundreds" of pay-per-view streaming flicks to those with a network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray player or Blu-ray home theater system. We're told that the library consists of material from Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Starz Digital Media, The Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal and Warner Bros., with both new releases and heralded classics up for grabs. Rental prices for SD content start from £2.49 for library content and £3.49 for new releases, while HD content start respectively from £3.49 and £4.49. Not exactly free, but it's a small price to pay to keep that keister planted on Turkey Day.Continue reading Sony's Qriocity video-on-demand services goes live in Europe
Sony's Qriocity video-on-demand services goes live in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Windows Home Server 'Vail' drops drive extender support, MS suggests you buy bigger HDDs
Windows Home Server 'Vail' drops drive extender support, MS suggests you just buy bigger HDDs
If you're a current Windows Home Server user there's a very good chance you've taken advantage of the drive pooling features of the OS. Need more storage? Pop in a new HDD, watch some lights blink for a bit, and then you're ready to get back to downloading... whatever it is you're downloading. Granted things didn't always work perfectly, but this tech, formally called Drive Extender, makes adding storage easy, makes it possible to replicate only the data that needs it, and is completely hardware independent. And now it's going away. Microsoft has confirmed that the next release of Windows Home Server, Vail (due in the first half of 2011), will not feature Drive Extender, indicating you'll need to simply buy bigger drives and manually handle data replication or rely on RAID to make this happen, solutions that are decidedly less intuitive for non-techie users. The reaction among WHS fans has been overwhelmingly negative, with 148 comments (and counting) on the announcement post, most telling MS where it can shove its RAID controller. Feel free to keep on venting here if you like.

Update: Malcom dropped this link into comments, where Windows guru Paul Thurrott indicates the issue is related to MS trying to position this to the small business sector -- that Drive Extender can't keep up with more professional loads.Permalink   |  sourceWindows Home Server Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Racing Green Endurance team completes its 16,000 mile, electric Pan-American trip (video)
Racing Green Endurance team completes its 16,000 mile, electric Pan-American trip (video)
Hey, remember the crazy Imperial College kids in the Racing Green Endurance team, the ones who took a perfectly wonderful Radical racer and stripped it of its internal-combustion assets, flew it to Alaska, and then pledged to drive it all the way down the Pan-American Highway? Well, they made it. 26,000km later (that's 16,155 miles) the team has reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America and a long, long way from Anchorage. Traveling an average of 300km (186 miles) per day the team conquered desert, jungle, and torrential rain storms, conditions the purely electric and decidedly track-focused machine certainly wasn't meant for, but proving that an EV can be driven way beyond its maximum range -- if you don't mind taking nearly six months to do it.

[Thanks, Amanda]Continue reading Racing Green Endurance team completes its 16,000 mile, electric Pan-American trip (video)
Permalink BBC  |  sourceRacing Green Endurance  | Email this | Comments
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Anti Sleep Pilot promises to keep drivers alert, warn them when to pull over
Looking for an alternative to that extra large cup of coffee or energy drink to keep you awake on long haul drives? Then you'll soon have another option in the form of the Anti Sleep Pilot, which promises to keep you from nodding off through the magic of technology. Already on sale in Denmark, the device is able to automatically turn itself on and off by monitoring the movement of your vehicle, and it attempts to keep you alert by regularly performing various tests that you can respond to just by tapping the device. That promises to not only prevent fatigue in the first place by keeping your mind active, but also warn you when it's really time to take a break by monitoring your reaction times to each test. Still no word on an official price over here just yet, but we assume it'll cost somewhere in the neighborhood of the 1,499 kr (or $270) the device currently runs in Denmark.
Anti Sleep Pilot promises to keep drivers alert, warn them when to pull over originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Chip Chick  |  sourceAnti Sleep Pilot  | Email this | Comments
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Mercedes-Benz's hydrogen-fueled B-Class F-Cell gets priced at $849 a month
It's unfortunately not the F800 Style "research vehicle" the company is working on, but those looking to avoid a hybrid or all-electric vehicle in favor of fuel cell technology can now place an order for Mercedes-Benz's new B-Class F-Cell vehicle. Those orders actually first opened up in October, but the automaker has only just recently revealed the actual cost to customers. That will be $849 a month on a lease-only basis, which may seem a tad high but does include both fuel and insurance (alright, so it's still high). As you might expect, however, the car won't exactly be widely available -- Mercedes-Benz says the first few will reach "selected" customers by the end of this year, with "at least 70 more" set to become available in the Los Angeles and San Francisco area by 2012. Full press release is after the break.
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz's hydrogen-fueled B-Class F-Cell gets priced at $849 a month
Mercedes-Benz's hydrogen-fueled B-Class F-Cell gets priced at $849 a month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAutoblog Green  | Email this | Comments
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Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs
A recent article from Brian Krebs highlights a new trend in ATM skimmers: by using parts from cut-rate audio players and spy cams, criminals are able to construct something called an audio skimmer that records the data from the magnetic strip for later playback. Also included in the device is a miniature spy cam, which captures the user's PIN. The basic methodology behind the device is nothing new (for instance, it could be found in an issue of Phrack dating back to 1992) although the use of DAPs means that the whole thing is a lot more elegant than it was in the days of the portable cassette recorder. According to a recent report by the European ATM Security Team (EAST), devices of this type have been found in five countries, two of them "major ATM deployers" (with 40,000 active ATMs or more). Please guys, don't get any ideas. PR from EAST after the break.
Continue reading Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs
Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Slashdot  |  sourceKrebs on Security  | Email this | Comments
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Flash Rods' DeLorean hard drive: $250, 500 jigabytes!
Is a full-size DeLorean (time machine or otherwise) a bit out of your budget? Then you might want to consider Flash Rods' latest 1:18 scale replica, which not only faithfully reproduces the DeLorean Time Machine (complete with Mr. Fusion reactor from Back to the Future II), but actually packs a 500GB Seagate hard drive inside to give you some justification for actually having it on your desk. Of course, it will cost a considerable premium over a regular 500GB hard drive, but we can certainly think of plenty of worse ways to spend $250.
Flash Rods' DeLorean hard drive: $250, 500 jigabytes! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink OhGizmo  |  sourceFlash Rods  | Email this | Comments
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New electrowetting technique could do e-paper on real paper, lead to disposable Kindles
New electrowetting technique could do e-paper on real paper, lead to disposable Kindles
Wahey, another day another theoretical display that will revolutionize the world, this time one that fits right in with your disposable, capitalistic lifestyle. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found a new way to utilize electrowetting, modifying the water repellency forces of a given surface to move colored ink and create a reflective display -- a technique that has long been the domain of Liquavista. This new version of that technique enables the creation of e-paper on actual paper, requiring no glass or fancy circuitry and, in theory, creating displays nearly as cheaply as magazines are printed today, opening the door to disposable e-readers and the like. No word on when such devices might be available outside of a lab, but we'll go ahead anyway and take this opportunity to remind you should always recycle your high-tech future e-readers.Permalink Physorg  |  sourceUniversity of Cincinnati  | Email this | Comments
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Nissan Leaf blessed with 99MPG 'equivalent' sticker, roundtable arguments ensue
Cue the pundits. Nissan's incoming Leaf has just nabbed an official EPA sticker, with a mind-melting 99MPG "equivalent" rating set to grace every single window. That'll undoubtedly catch eyes, but it's also likely to spur a huge debate on what "miles per gallon" truly means when you're throwing a battery into the mix. We actually had the pleasure of driving one ourselves late last month, but we weren't able to take off on any extended joyrides to really put MPG claims to the test. At any rate, the 99 rating breaks down to 106MPG in the city and 92MPG on the highway, but there's quite a bit of fuzzy math here that gas guzzlers aren't accustomed to considering. Nissan claims that the EPA uses a formula where 33.7 kWhs are equivalent to one gallon of gasoline energy, and that the entity also found the Leaf's efficiency to be 3.4 miles per kWh. Given that the car has a 24 kWh battery pack and can go 73 miles officially, then the EPA says it could theoretically go 99 miles if it had a 33.7 kWh pack. Still, the Leaf has to await its other label from the FTC, but it's apt to show a range of 96 to 110 miles of range. Head on past the break for the full presser.Continue reading Nissan Leaf blessed with 99MPG 'equivalent' sticker, roundtable arguments ensue
Nissan Leaf blessed with 99MPG 'equivalent' sticker, roundtable arguments ensue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Squirt water gun robot pesters raccoons, takes orders from Android (video)
It's not uncommon to see Mr. Android and Sir Arduino team up in the world of homegrown robotics, but Squirt has managed to hop out of the me-too crowd with a downright charming control scheme (and even more charming looks). Put simply, this water gun robot was designed to "water plants and chase away raccoons," but from a broader perspective, the creator was looking to demonstrate how robotics could be used in small irrigation and well systems. Better still, this is far more than just a robot that's controlled remotely via smartphone; if you switch it into 'guard mode,' it'll search and destroy -- pelting anything "that moves" with a blast of water. And yeah, it can also be controlled via SMS, so even the cats can't celebrate too quickly once the owner heads out for work. Hit the source link to find out more on how this masterpiece was constructed, or head beyond the break for a quick demo vid.Continue reading Squirt water gun robot pesters raccoons, takes orders from Android (video)
Squirt water gun robot pesters raccoons, takes orders from Android (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceCell Bots  | Email this | Comments
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Kuwait bans DSLRs, leaves Micro Four Thirds question hanging in the air
We're not sure what the humble DSLR has ever done to offend the Kuwaiti government, but, according to the Kuwait Times, the recreational use of Digital Single-Lens Reflex cameras has now been outlawed in the country. The Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance (hello, 1984!) have collectively decided to ban the use of the chunky shooters in public places, except where it can be shown that it's for journalistic purposes. This decision has left a lot of people scratching their heads, not least because every self-respecting smartphone nowadays can pump out screen-filling images. And then there's also the matter of determining where the line between compact cameras, which are still allowed, and DSLRs resides -- for example, is the Lumix G2 an illegal shooter just because it looks like one?
Kuwait bans DSLRs, leaves Micro Four Thirds question hanging in the air originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Next Web  |  sourceKuwait Times  | Email this | Comments
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Chinese man plays MMO on titanic screen, pleads for higher pixel density (video)
Never mind your 103-inch plasmas or Guiness Word Record-holding stadium displays, real gamers do their thing on LCDs that span a cool seven thousand and five hundred square meters (translated into imperial measuring units, that's... a lot!). What you see above is a little glimpse of an MMO enthusiast with a big passion and no less sizable wallet. The gent in question was displeased by the fact a competing guildmaster in the Chinese MMO Magic World Online 2 got to play in an IMAX theater, and therefore decided to one-up him in the only way possible: by hiring Beijing's crazily oversized display (titled "All Beijing, look up!") for a little session of supersized gaming. Jump past the break to see it on video.Continue reading Chinese man plays MMO on titanic screen, pleads for higher pixel density (video)
Chinese man plays MMO on titanic screen, pleads for higher pixel density (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 04:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Kotaku  |  sourceMMOSite  | Email this | Comments
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Scientists finally find a practical use for metamaterials: boosting antenna performance (video)
Scientists finally find a practical use for metamaterials: boosting antenna performance (video)Metamaterials can do all sorts of cool things in theory, like create invisibility cloaks or focus lasers. In practice, though, they're rather less useful. Or at least they were, before the team at Fractal Antenna figured out that a simple sleeve made out of fractal-based metamaterials triples the bandwidth of a simple monopole antenna and boosts its gain by 3dB. All you need to do is slip the fractal sleeve on and and, hey presto, instant super antenna. You can see it demonstrated in the video after the break before reading all the nitty, gritty, infinitely-repeating details in the PR, which is down there too.Continue reading Scientists finally find a practical use for metamaterials: boosting antenna performance (video)
Permalink   |  sourceFractal Antenna Systems  | Email this | Comments
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iPhone gets UberTwitter client, BlackBerrys have one less reason to exist
If the name UberTwitter sounds familiar, that'll be because it's one of the more popular mobile Twitter clients, accounting for 10 million tweets each day from BlackBerry users around the globe. And now it's also available on the iPhone. Citing the "growing dominance" of Apple's one-device-to-rule-them-all mobile platform, the UberTwitter crew has decided to expand its offering with a new open beta, which is available to download now. The major distinguishing feature being touted is something called UberView, which allows access to links within tweets without exiting the app or opening up a new window within it. Looks a pretty slick idea, but there are still some early issues to be ironed out -- as with all beta iterations -- and a final v1.0 should be ready to do battle with Twitter's official app by the middle of December.Continue reading iPhone gets UberTwitter client, BlackBerrys have one less reason to exist
iPhone gets UberTwitter client, BlackBerrys have one less reason to exist originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceUberTwitter  | Email this | Comments
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WD TV Live media players gain Blockbuster on Demand, USB wireless keyboard support
It's not like anyone could predict the media streamer war that would erupt in 2010, but it looks like Western Digital's taking things pretty seriously. The company has just issued a somewhat major overhaul for its WD TV Live Plus and WD TV Live media players, adding Facebook support while also giving US-based users the ability to instantly rent or purchase movies via Blockbuster on Demand. Post-firmware update, users will also be able to tap into Deezer (an on-demand music service), Flingo (another internet TV portal) and AccuWeather (a place that "forecasts" what's happening in our "atmosphere"). Potentially more important than all of that, however, is the addition of USB wireless keyboard support -- simply plug in a USB wireless dongle that ships with most every wireless keyboard out there, and you'll be free to update your Facebook status or search for "Bed Intruder Song" through YouTube, all from the comfort of your sofa. Huzzah!Continue reading WD TV Live media players gain Blockbuster on Demand, USB wireless keyboard support
WD TV Live media players gain Blockbuster on Demand, USB wireless keyboard support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWestern Digital  | Email this | Comments
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LG BD690 is the first Blu-ray player certified for Wi-Fi direct, keeps Bluetooth paranoid
The possibilities teased in 2009 by Wi-Fi Direct have probably kept Bluetooth up at night, and we're sure the commencement of device certification last month hasn't helped, either. Now the LG BD960 has emerged as the first Blu-ray player on the Wi-Fi Direct certification list, hinting direct P2P communication in our home theaters among WiFi devices (without the need for a routing middleman) could soon go from fiction to fact. Unfortunately, mum's still the word on shipping and pricing. The mere chance however that the player could stream content to any other WiFi-equipped device -- Direct certified or not -- is a big enough deal to give our dedicated media streamers Defarge-like glances already. Particularly, if the BD960 comes packed with features similar its suspected predecessor the LG-BD390, which can stream both Netflix, Vudu, and DLNA network content, as well as play DivX HD 1080p content. Until more details surface though, we'll simply have to keep reminding our poor Galaxy S that it isn't destined to be alone in this cold, cruel world forever.Permalink Zatz Not Funny  |  sourceWi-Fi Alliance  | Email this | Comments
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Pocketbook spills the transflective colored beans, announces Mirasol e-reader for CES this year
Details are about as scant as can be, and The Digital Reader claims the entire announcement was a mistake, but PocketBook USA just outed what could be the very first Mirasol e-reader in a CES 2011 press release. In addition to the newish PocketBook Pro e-readers spotted at IFA 2010, the company will apparently showcase a brand-new model with one of Qualcomm's transflective color screens, and to commemorate the long-awaited occasion it's tentatively christening the reader "Mirasol," too. Early whispers suggest the device cost a bundle and won't have a fast enough refresh rate (12fps) for video speeds, but we'll find out the truth of the matter come the first week of January. PR after the break.Continue reading Pocketbook spills the transflective colored beans, announces Mirasol e-reader for CES this year
Permalink   |  sourceThe Digital Reader  | Email this | Comments
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Nielsen: 31 percent of kids want an iPad, other stuff
Hey look, a chart with the iPad on top. Aren't statistics fun? And yet, this chart may not mean quite what you think it does. The Nielsen Company presented a cadre of individuals with a list of nice, shiny gadgets and let them cross off anything and everything they'd like to buy in the next six months, and 31 percent of kids 6-12 picked the iPad as one of them. That doesn't mean these youngsters wanted the iPad any more than a game console, mind you, it just means more of them picked the tablet than any other single game console on the list. Also, it turns out that the iPad was the only tablet PC available, so it could well ave served as a proxy vote for other slates -- Galaxy Tab, anyone? The survey results also don't factor in ownership, so if the Xbox 360's low on the buy list, it could be because respondents already have one... but we suppose this is the definitive proof we've been searching for that e-readers are on the outs in the 12-and-under crowd. Jeff Bezos is crying over his evening oatmeal right now. After the break, see what the same chart looks like for teenagers and adults. (Hint: they aren't all that hot on handhelds.)Continue reading Nielsen: 31 percent of kids want an iPad, other stuff
Nielsen: 31 percent of kids want an iPad, other stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink IGN  |  sourceNielsen Wire  | Email this | Comments
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60 year-old remote-controlled robot made from scrap parts makes a dramatic, beautiful comeback
This is George. He's a six-foot tall robot handmade from the aluminum scraps of a crashed bomber in 1950. George is remote controlled, and was built by Tony Sale, the same man who recently resurrected the nearly forgotten robotic darling from the storage shed where he's spent the last 45 years or so. Some oil and batteries were all it took to get George up and walking again, and he'll now have a permanent home at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, England. And that's the next museum we'll be visiting, because we cannot get enough of this giant. Tear-inducing video is after the break.

[Image Credit: Geoff Robinson, Daily Mail]Continue reading 60 year-old remote-controlled robot made from scrap parts makes a dramatic, beautiful comeback
Permalink Switched  |  sourceRobots  | Email this | Comments
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Screen Grabs: BlackBerry Eyed PlayBooks (video)
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 dot com.

Whoulda thunk that the third time we'd see the BlackBerry PlayBook on video, it'd be in the hands of cube-headed dopplegangster Will.I.Shill? Not us, but we're terribly excited to see the 7-inch tablet show off its augmented reality chops in the Black Eyed Peas' latest music video. We're not really sure what alternate reality hijinks turned the musicians into 8-bit portraits nor pixelated their world, but the BEP sure look adorable as Xbox LIVE-friendly avatars. Watch it after the break, or skip to 2:12, 3:16 and 3:54 if you just want to get your tablet on.

[Thanks, Jamesy]Continue reading Screen Grabs: BlackBerry Eyed PlayBooks (video)
Screen Grabs: BlackBerry Eyed PlayBooks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceDipDive  | Email this | Comments
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AT&T-branded BlackBerry Bold 9780 spotted by way of eBay
T-Mobile's got an American lock on the Bold 9780 at the moment, but you know how it goes with BlackBerrys: they tend to go pretty much everywhere (Storm and Torch notably excepted) if you give 'em enough time. Sure enough, an AT&T-branded version just popped up... and if you've got $899 lying around and an undying love for unreleased RIM gear, it can be yours. The phone's chilling on eBay right now with a prominent AT&T logo silkscreened at the bottom; obviously, it stands to reason these guys would want to replace their Bold 9700 before too long, so we're not surprised to see it go down like this. Want a white version, though? Well, you'll just have to wait for that.
AT&T-branded BlackBerry Bold 9780 spotted by way of eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Pocketnow, PocketBerry  |  sourceeBay  | Email this | Comments
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HTC and Samsung license entire Intellectual Ventures patent portfolio, gear up for war
Looks like HTC and Samsung are taking some aggressive steps to protect themselves from Android patent litigation -- in the past week both companies have entered into long-term patent licensing agreements with Nathan Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures. (Mhyrvold was once Microsoft's chief technology officer, but he's arguably more famous for Intellectual Ventures.) Both HTC and Samsung now have access to IV's entire portfolio of "more than 30,000 IP assets" to wield against current or potential legal opponents -- like, say, Apple or Oracle -- and IV also plans to help them manage their existing patent portfolios. It sounds to us like HTC and Samsung decided that they needed more patent muscle in order to survive in the now crazy-litigious smartphone market, and indeed, the PR announcing the HTC deal flatly says the smartphone maker is "working with IV to mitigate its patent risk."

Of course, this is also a bit of a deal with the devil -- Intellectual Ventures might be the most infamous patent troll in history, and HTC and Samsung have essentially decided the risks and cost of doing business with IV are more favorable than the risks and cost of going to court. Either way, we'll see how this all shakes out -- and we've got a feeling that the Apple / HTC lawsuit is about to get seriously interesting.Permalink TechFlash (1), (2), Rahul Sood (Twitter)  |  sourceSamsung PR, HTC PR  | Email this | Comments
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RIM: Kik was pulled from App World over 'breached contractual obligations'
Looks like RIM has made a final decision on the Kik situation after having pulled the wildly popular upstart instant messaging app from the BlackBerry App World a few days ago -- and for current and hopeful Kik users, the news isn't good (bold added by us):
"RIM became aware of a number of issues and customer concerns regarding the Kik app and service. Following discussions with Kik, the app was removed from BlackBerry App World on November 12. Upon further investigation, RIM concluded that Kik had breached contractual obligations. Based on the broad scope and seriousness of the issues and concerns, RIM terminated its agreements with Kik and withdrew RIM's support for Kik's service."
Now, Waterloo is still being pretty coy about what exactly Kik did to rock the boat so badly, but there are two obvious theories floating around: one, that Kik's contact harvesting was a big privacy no-no; and two, that the product came a little too close to BBM's functionality for RIM's comfort.

Hard to say what went down, and Kik's official response doesn't do much to clear up the situation. Though the company has thrown up a public response on its blog, it doesn't clarify what transpired, what "contractual obligations" were allegedly breached, or what (if anything) Kik might do to attempt to smooth over the spat. Instead, the post is more of a PR play, praising the relationship Kik's had with RIM in the past and saying it doubts rumors that BBM envy could account for the pull. It does say, however, that RIM has fully revoked Kik's access to push notifications and the BlackBerry SDK, so it's going to be tough for these guys to stay relevant on Bolds and Curves across the land unless RIM reverses its decision.
RIM: Kik was pulled from App World over 'breached contractual obligations' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink CrackBerry  |  sourceKik, BGR  | Email this | Comments
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Gibson sues WowWee, retailers over Paper Jamz toy guitars; would rather some other company get all that free advertising (video)
It looks like WowWee is learning the implications of that old saw, "imitation is the surest way to get your company sued." That's right, the company's radical looking, fun for about twenty minutes, paper-thin plastic toy guitars have recently drawn legal fire from Gibson, who recognizes a distinct resemblance between some classic axes (like the Flying V and the Les Paul) and the aforementioned Paper Jamz line. Which we could certainly see -- even if WowWee hadn't name dropped Gibson in its product literature (which seems to us to be rather on par with taunting the company outright). And if that weren't bad enough, the company is going after retailers, such as Toys 'R Us and eBay, who it claimed kept selling the things after receiving a cease and desist letter. Of course, this raises a few questions: At which point is a design so ubiquitous that it becomes fair game for companies like WowWee? And wouldn't Gibson want the kiddies (who will be ready to move up to real guitars soon enough) hooked on their brand? And most importantly -- when are we getting a Paper Jamz Rickenbacker? Because there has to be an easier way to be like Paul Weller. Commercial after the break (it adds nothing to the post, but it's kind of a laugh).
Continue reading Gibson sues WowWee, retailers over Paper Jamz toy guitars; would rather some other company get all that free advertising (video)
Permalink   |  sourceTech Dirt  | Email this | Comments
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Acer announces new 3D monitor, AS5745DG 3D laptop availability
Acer announces new 3D laptop, monitor, prices could make you go all crosseyed
More 3D choices for your 3D lifestyle. Acer is launching a pair of products that'll give you another excuse to wear fancy active-shutter glasses at all times, starting with the HS244HQ, a 1080p monitor that measures 23.6-inches across, has the requisite 120Hz refresh rate and manages a 12,000,000:1 contrast ratio thanks to its LED backlighting. We're also learning more about the AS5745DG laptop, a "high cost-performance model" 15.6-inch laptop with NVIDIA GeForce GT425M graphics, 2.53GHz Intel Core i5-460M processor, 4GB of RAM, 640GB of storage, and a 120Hz display with a pair of 3D Vision glasses to match. It's a bit meatier than the company's 5738DG from last year, and rather pricier too, with an MSRP set to fall just under 100,000 yen -- about $1,200 when it ships next month. No word on the monitor's cost yet, but don't expect a bargain.
Acer announces new 3D monitor, AS5745DG 3D laptop availability originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink iTech News Net  |  sourceAcer, Akihabara News  | Email this | Comments
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Snyderphonics Manta controller takes on Ableton Live, looks (and sounds) great doing it (video)
We sure do love our obscure instruments here at Engadget. Even something as simple as the Monome, with its grid of 64 pads (and little else) can get the creative juices flowin' when partnered with the right software. Well, we just received word that SevenUpLive, the driver that gets Monome to play nice with Ableton Live (via Max / MSP), has just received support for Snyderphonics' handsome Manta controller. What's this all mean? Well, besides looking great, Manta features velocity sensitive plates and polyphonic aftertouch, which means a higher level of control than many of your boutique controllers. But you need a demonstration, right? Why didn't you say so? Video after the break.
Continue reading Snyderphonics Manta controller takes on Ableton Live, looks (and sounds) great doing it (video)
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LG Quantum, HTC Surround and Samsung Focus: BOGO from AT&T starting Friday
Here's hoping you didn't choose to adopt early. Not even three weeks after Windows Phone 7 went on sale in the US of A comes this: a buy one, get one free sale christened by Microsoft and AT&T. Starting November 26th (that's Black Friday, we'll have you know), sleepy-eyed consumers can drag themselves into their local AT&T store in order to pick up an LG Quantum, HTC Surround or Samsung Focus in BOGO fashion -- best of all, you can mix and match, enabling users to snag a Quantum and a Surround (or a Focus) for just $199. Naturally, you'll still be signing a pair of two-year agreements with Ma Bell, but it's still the cheapest way to indulge in WP7 for the time being. There's no telling when the deal will end, but common sense would say to jump in early if you've got a hankerin'.
LG Quantum, HTC Surround and Samsung Focus: BOGO from AT&T starting Friday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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MacBook Air 2010 meets Colorware, births skinny rainbow children
Not feeling like enough of an individual owning the same ultrathin Apple laptop as everyone else? We feel your pain, you need something more in your status symbol hardware. This is where Colorware enters, asking for (at least) $1,850 in exchange for a MacBook Air -- made in 2010, exactly to your chromatic specifications. Come on, we can mock and we can decry the price, but if this were ever within the disposable income portion of your budget, wouldn't you jump at the opportunity? Alas, there's no option for repainting an Air if you've already bought one, so whether you want the 11.6-inch or 13-inch version, you'll have to buy it directly from Colorware.

Update: It originally seemed as if the 11-inch Air wasn't available, but it is, hence the body of the post has been updated accordingly.
Continue reading MacBook Air 2010 meets Colorware, births skinny rainbow children
MacBook Air 2010 meets Colorware, births skinny rainbow children originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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TerreStar Genus now available to anyone who wants one for just $1,150
Just how much is the promise of anywhere, anytime cellphone reception worth to you? If you answered "one thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars," well... your time has finally come. After initially launching through business channels alone for $800, TerreStar's unique GSM / HSPA Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone for AT&T with satellite connectivity is now available to consumers from all walks of life, as long as you've got $1,149.99 lying around. The Genus features Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, a 2 megapixel camera, and pretty much every other amenity you'd expect form a WinMo 6.5 smartphone with circa-2008 hardware specs, with the obvious exception that it can be used anywhere you can see TerreStar's satellite pretty much anywhere in North America. Of course, we'd be a little hesitant about buying a four-figure phone that operates on a bankrupt service, but if you need coverage in the boondocks, your options are pretty limited. Follow the break for TerreStar's demo video and full press release.Continue reading TerreStar Genus now available to anyone who wants one for just $1,150
TerreStar Genus now available to anyone who wants one for just $1,150 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo returning to CES after a 16-year absence
If there's one event that's immune to being overhyped, it's the annual January expo of everything consumer electronics, known to you and us as CES. The only downer to this geek endurance test is that we've felt it's been lacking a little on the gaming front lately, which is why we're so giddy to hear the news that Nintendo will be rejoining the ranks of exhibitors over in Las Vegas in a few weeks' time. CES 2011 will be the first time in 16 years that the console sales leader has deigned to pitch up a stand at America's biggest tech show, with our suspicion being that the event will be used as an opportunity to remind the world about the upcoming 3DS handheld. Or to drop that Wii HD bombshell we've all been waiting for. Yeah, right!Continue reading Nintendo returning to CES after a 16-year absence
Nintendo returning to CES after a 16-year absence originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Dell Inspiron Duo tablet / netbook now on sale, arrives December 15th
We've seen so, so much of the beautiful and crazy Dell Inspiron Duo tablet / netbook hybrid that we must confess we might just need one of our very own. If you're like us, then today is your lucky day, because this wild and crazy laptop (last spotted at the Microsoft Store) is now on sale at Dell. The 10-incher boasts a dual-core Atom N550 CPU, Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, and some serious attitude. The Inspiron Duo has a starting price of $549, and you can order it right this minute at Dell. Hit up the source if you care to, and expect your shipment to arrive around the 15th of December, only six days too late for Hanukkah. Full press release is below.Continue reading Dell Inspiron Duo tablet / netbook now on sale, arrives December 15th
Dell Inspiron Duo tablet / netbook now on sale, arrives December 15th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Acer Iconia first hands-on! (update: video!)
Acer's dual-screen Iconia laptop is bold, for sure -- eschewing a physical keyboard for another display -- but its LCD panels are also mighty glossy. If you've got a light in the vicinity above you, there's gonna be glare -- we saw it on stage, and we just saw it now in person. That said, the screen is clear and the touch functionality is pretty clever (five fingers open up a widget where you can scroll through other touch-friendly apps). The keyboard, on the other hand, is pretty hard to use -- even the rep admitted there's a learning curve. You can't rest your fingers down without hitting something, of course. We managed to browse to Engadget, but it took several tries. Check out the photos below!

Update: Now with video! It's after the break.
Gallery: Acer Iconia first hands-on!
Continue reading Acer Iconia first hands-on! (update: video!)
Acer Iconia first hands-on! (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Acer's Android tablets hands-on!
We wish we had better news about our hands-on success here at the Acer global press conference, but because all of the company's Android tablets will run Honeycomb / 3.0 or Google's "tablet OS" most of the units just weren't functioning. The 10.1-inch, dual-core Tegra-powered version was the only unit that would power on, and though we did get to see it blaze through some HD video, for the most part it was very sluggish and clearly acting like a pre-production unit. As far as the hardware goes, the display was bright and surprisingly had decent viewing angles. Acer's been notorious for using terrible LCDs, so this is quite a nice change! Oh, and as you already knew, it does have two cameras.

We eventually convinced a very nice Acer rep on hand to bring out the 4.8- and 7-inch devices for a hardware demo -- both of them were also very early units, but they did look nice from afar with glossy black screens and brushed metal backs. The phonlet's 4.8-inch, 1024 x 480-resolution screen (it has a 21:9 aspect ratio!) makes it much wider than a Streak, and reminded us a lot of the LG GW900 (may it rest in peace). We told you we didn't have much in the way of impressions, but hit the gallery below for some more hands-on shots and the break for a quick video of the 10-incher in action. April can't come soon enough, can it?
Gallery: Acer 10-inch Android tablet hands-on
Gallery: Acer Android tablets - hardware shots
Continue reading Acer's Android tablets hands-on!
Acer's Android tablets hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Acer launches Alive digital content platform and app store, plans to pre-load it onto future machines
Acer's Global press event today focused primarily around its Clear.fi content sharing system and a slew of new hardware introductions, but there's one tidbit of software news that seems too significant to ignore. Here shortly, Acer will begin pre-loading its newfangled Alive digital content platform onto its machines. Hard to say if that includes tablets and smartphones (update: Acer has confirmed that it'll eventually hit "netbooks, laptops, smartphones and tablets), but the screens we're seeing today lead us to believe this is a desktop-only affair for now. Acer's playing this up as being "more than an app store," but there's no question that an app store lies at the heart. A cornucopia of partners (Intel, Zinio, Adobe, etc.) will be providing content, and newly pushed material can be easily viewed via Twitter or Acer's own Channel concept. Five main sections will be present: Listen, Watch, Read, Play and Application. Both free and paid content will be supported, with users in the UK and Italy getting first access next month. Mum's the word on how long it'll take to spread elsewhere (a more thorough rollout will "begin" in Q1 2011), and there's no mention at all about an SDK for developers. Something tells us this will end up as more of a collection of apps from various app stores than anything else, but at least we'll know for sure in just a couple weeks.
Gallery: Acer Alive app store and digital content platform
Continue reading Acer launches Alive digital content platform and app store, plans to pre-load it onto future machines
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Acer debuts 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet: AMD-powered, inbuilt 3G, coming February 2011
Whoa, what's this? Tucked between a fresh-out-of-the-oven Android tablets is a new 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet from Acer, and it looks as if this fellow will be gracing store shelves long before its Google-based brethren. Boasting an ebony motif and more gloss than a man could ever know what to do with, this (also unnamed) device will measure 15mm thick and weigh under 2.2 pounds, and while we're still left to wonder about the screen resolution, HDD size or memory amount, we are told that it'll use AMD silicon. It's not often you find an AMD-based tablet, so we're more than eager to get our paws around this thing and see how it compares to Qualcomm / Intel-powered alternatives. And judging by this image above, Acer is planning a docking solution in order to make it more useful at home -- an idea we saw revealed at Computex with ASUS' Eee Pad. Other tidbits include a pair of 1.3 megapixel cameras (one rear, one front-facing), inbuilt WiFi and 3G and February 2011 ship date. Now, if only we had a price to pore over...
Gallery: Acer debuts 10.1-inch, AMD-based Windows 7 tablet
Continue reading Acer debuts 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet: AMD-powered, inbuilt 3G, coming February 2011
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Acer reveals 4.8-inch Android smartphone with 1024x480 screen resolution
Acer may be calling this "100 percent smartphone. 100 percent tablet," but something just doesn't add up there. That being said, we have to agree that a 1024x480 screen resolution on a 4.8-inch smartphone is downright drool-worthy. Clocking in at just a smidgen smaller than Dell's Streak, this here phone (no finalized name has been bestowed quite yet) was just revealed at Acer's Global press event in New York City. It was only shown briefly, demonstrating an unknown version of Android and the "evolution of Acer UI." Specs wise, there's a two megapixel front-facing camera, eight megapixel rear camera (with LED flash), 720p video recording, a six-axis Gyroscope + accelerometer package and LED edge lighting. Per usual, Acer's keeping a lid on any pricing estimates, but it'll be shipping out to gape-jawed customers everywhere in April 2011.

Update: We've got the full PR after the break, which informs us of the atypical 21:9 aspect ratio in use here as well as its "full metal body." Curiously enough, it's also rocking a curved back (is that a trend we spot?), Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, HSDPA support, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and an HDMI output. Delicious, all the way around.

Update 2: Does that elongated form factor seem a wee bit familiar? It should.
Gallery: Acer reveals 4.8-inch Android smartphone in NYC
Gallery: Acer's 4.8-inch Android smartphone press photos
Continue reading Acer reveals 4.8-inch Android smartphone with 1024x480 screen resolution
Acer reveals 4.8-inch Android smartphone with 1024x480 screen resolution originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Acer introduces 7-inch and 10.1-inch Android tablets, shipping April 2011
Shocker of shockers, folks -- Acer's getting into the tablet game, too. With the holidays too close for comfort, the outfit's giving everyone pause that was considering that janky Android tablet on sale for Black Friday. All jesting aside, the flagship 10.1-incher looks quite interesting, boasting a dual-core 1GHz processor, an HDMI output and a native 1280x800 (!) screen resolution. You'll also get a 5 megapixel rear camera, an "HD" front-facing camera for video calling and full multitouch support. Hard to say how many clams it'll cost ya, but at least there's an April 2011 ship date to mark down. Moving on, the 7-inch tablet (also unnamed as of now) packs the same screen resolution, a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm CPU and the same Flash 10.1 support -- so far as we can tell, the "Android Tablet OS" Acer speaks of is Froyo, or Android 2.2. That one's also coming in April of next year, and you can bet we'll be scrounging up more details as soon as we can.

Update: PR's live after the break, and here's what's new. The 10.1-incher boasts a 13.3mm thick shell, 1080p output over HDMI, a ten-point multitouch system and an inbuilt Gyroscope for gaming purposes. The 7-inch sibling seems mostly identical save for the screen size, packing a dual core CPU, DLNA technology, WiFi and integrated 3G.
Gallery: Acer introduces 7-inch and 10-inch Android tablets in NYC
Gallery: Acer Android tablet press photos
Continue reading Acer introduces 7-inch and 10.1-inch Android tablets, shipping April 2011
Acer introduces 7-inch and 10.1-inch Android tablets, shipping April 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Acer reveals Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, Clear.fi cloud-based media sharing system
Here in New York at Acer's Global press event, the company's talking touch. Lots and lots of touch. It'll be introducing a veritable smorgasbord of equipment as the minutes roll on, but it's kicking things off with its Windows 7-based Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, a device we've seen before. For all intents and purposes, this is Acer's version of the Toshiba Libretto W105 (or that far-flung ASUS concept we saw at CeBIT 2009), boasting a pair of glossy touchscreens and no hard specifications to speak of. Naturally, you won't find a keyboard here -- rather, a virtual one will emerge from the secondary panel. There's also a fairly slick media management system that's obviously gesture based -- some real potential there. We'll be digging for details surrounding a price point and release date, but for now, have a gander at the image above and just imagine how it could revolutionize your life.

In related news, the company also teased its new Clear.fi media sharing system. As the story goes, it's a cloud-based system that's designed to play multi-format content over multi-platform devices, enabling any number of gadgets to talk to one another in order to make content visible and shareable with any other device. So far, it looks as if that could apply to movies, games, photos and music, but it's a single-house affair for now. So long as there's a router and a WiFi connection nearby, any Clear.fi-enabled device should be able to share, search and consume.

Update: The full PR is now after the break, and we've gone hands-on with the device right here! We've also scored the specifications -- she's running Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) and is equipped with an Intel Core i5-480M / 560M / 580M CPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, a pair of 14-inch multitouch displays (1366x768 resolution), integrated Intel HD graphics (128MB RAM), VGA / HDMI outputs, an inbuilt microphone and a S/PDIF interface. There's also a 320/500/640/750GB hard drive, Acer's CrystalEye webcam (1280x1024 resolution), 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, integrated 3G WWAN, gigabit Ethernet, a four-cell battery and a total weight of 6.18 pounds. Closing things out, there are a pair of USB 2.0 ports, a single USB 3.0 jack and a one-year warranty.
Gallery: Acer Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet shown in NYC
Gallery: Acer Iconia Windows 7 dual-screen tablet and Clear.fi media sharing
Continue reading Acer reveals Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, Clear.fi cloud-based media sharing system
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Live from Acer's global press conference
Hey, remember the time when Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci got on stage, ripped a netbook in two and unveiled its Android tablet? Us neither, but who knows, it might all happen in the next hour or so. We're there covering it live, and the action is supposed to start around 10:15AM 11:00AM ET. Join us!Continue reading Live from Acer's global press conference
Live from Acer's global press conference originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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