Saturday, December 25, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 24/12/2010



Apple Remote app updated for AirPlay video streaming
Version 2.0 of the app already brought support for the new Apple TV and the iPad, but Apple's has now just released another more minor update to its Remote app for iOS devices that adds another much-anticipated feature: support for AirPlay video streaming. What's more, the app now also boasts the ability to access internet radio stations from iTunes on your computer, as well as the ability to control movies and TV shows on your computer that are rented from iTunes -- not to mention the usual stability and performance improvements. As always, it's also completely free -- you know where to find it.
Apple Remote app updated for AirPlay video streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceiTunes Preview  | Email this | Comments
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Archos 70 and 101 Internet Tablet review
We've seen our fair share of budget tablets from the Augens, Cobys, and Viewsonics of the world over the last six months, but let's not forget that before everyone and their mother jumped into the cheap-o Android tablet pool, Archos was already in the shallow end with its own sub-$200 tablets. But, while the company was first to market, products like the Archos 5 and 7 Home Tablet certainly weren't anything to wait in line for -- they both packed slow processors, resistive displays, and ran outdated versions of Google's mobile OS. Whether it was the mediocre reviews or the competition coming up behind them, the French company knew it was time to step it up, and its Archos 70 and 101 attempt to right all those wrongs. The 7- and 10-inch tablet both have Android 2.2, 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processors, and capacitive screens. Oh, and don't forget the front-facing VGA cameras. With each ringing up at $299, has Archos finally mastered the art of the cheap tablet? Find out in our full review!
Gallery: Archos 70 and 101 Internet Tablets
Continue reading Archos 70 and 101 Internet Tablet review
Archos 70 and 101 Internet Tablet review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Skype finally bringing video calling to iPhone 4, maybe other mobile platforms?
So let us set this up for you: Skype has been telling everyone that it'll be making a "series of video-related announcements" at CES next month... and it's participating in a panel called "Video Calling Gets Ready for Primetime," so yeah, needless to say, we'd have to guess that Skype's finally getting ready to enter the mobile video calling game in a big way. Anyhow, the final piece in the puzzle filtered into our inbox this morning: a help document on Skype's site detailing making video calls using Skype for iPhone. We don't know whether there's a corresponding document out there for Android, Symbian, or other operating systems, but we're certainly hoping so -- because if these guys come to the table at once with versions for all the major phone platforms, we've got a feeling they'll be dominating the mobile-to-mobile and mobile-to-PC video calling market in no time.

Oh, and here's a little trivia fact for you: the Nokia N900 was actually the first device to get official video calling support from Skype, so this isn't a first for these guys -- but it'll certainly be the first time they've taken it to a mass market. Seems like they'll probably have the MeeGo build ready to go, at least.

[Thanks, Nelson]
Skype finally bringing video calling to iPhone 4, maybe other mobile platforms? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSkype  | Email this | Comments
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FCC releases full net neutrality rules
Here's a fine Christmas Eve present from Uncle Sam: the FCC has just released the full text of the net neutrality rules it passed earlier this week by a hotly-debated 3-2 vote. The rules are basically what we expected: the three basic rules require ISPs to be transparent about their network management practices, and further forbid them from blocking any lawful application or service or discriminating against different types of traffic. The biggest tweak comes in the language around paid prioritization, which would let some companies pay for selectively faster access to an ISP's customers -- the FCC is pretty clear that such arrangements will be heavily scrutinized and probably won't pass muster. And then, of course, there's wireless, which is subject only to the transparency and no-blocking rules; the FCC decided to take "measured steps" with mobile because it believes that is still too new and fluid. We'll have a full breakdown later today, but hit the source and check out the full rules yourself -- you're going to be hearing a lot about them over the next few weeks.

[Thanks, Phil]
FCC releases full net neutrality rules originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Washington Post  |  sourceFCC Report and Order (PDF)  | Email this | Comments
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Monster sues Fanny Wang, purveyor of fine knockoff headphones
Monster Cable's reign of legal terror has resulted in several things over the years -- a tiff with the Chicago Bears over the "Monsters of the Midway" nickname, a lawsuit against a minigolf company, and eventually even a hard ban on the pages of Engadget -- but we can't say we ever expected the target of a Monster lawsuit to try and use the case for cheap free publicity. Well, surprises come in all forms: the delightfully-named Fanny Wang is now proudly proclaiming that it's being sued for copying Monster's Beats headphones and trying to score some free good press -- even though it appears that Fanny's headphones are indeed a fairly close copy of Beats. (Just check the image above.)

To give you an idea of the ridiculousness at work, Fanny's presently hosting a copy of the Beats design patent and Monster's complaint on its own website, right next to a rebuttal of the charges. Fanny claims its headphones have different packaging and minor design differences such that "no reasonable consumer would likely confuse the two," which we suppose is arguably true -- but we'd also point out that Fanny's original press release proudly proclaims that "the same sound engineer who designed the Beats by Dr. Dre acoustics tackled the Fanny Wang collection." Copy, coincidence, or crafty PR strategy? You be the judge... for now.
Monster sues Fanny Wang, purveyor of fine knockoff headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFanny Wang  | Email this | Comments
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Apple applies for 'logo antenna' patent, hides your resonator behind the brand indicator
Apple applies for 'logo antenna' patent, hides your resonator behind the brand indicator
Embedding an antenna in the external body of a phone? Maybe not such a good idea. Hiding it behind the logo sounds a little more practical, and that's the idea Apple wrote up in a patent application dated June 17th, 2009, back before we knew antennas and gates could be so wickedly conjoined. That was also before we knew about the iPad, which seems to have one of these so-called "logo antennas" within it, as found when iFixit did their dirty thing. The same can be said for iMacs, which also have antennas peering through an apple-shaped hole to avoid any reception issues caused by an aluminum chassis. It looks to be a good solution, but not exactly a novel one. In roaming around the USPTO archives we found a similar 2003 patent from Dell also called "Logo Antenna," the big difference being that while Apple's logo forms a window for the antenna the logo in Dell's patent actually is the antenna.
Permalink Patently Apple  |  sourceUSPTO  | Email this | Comments
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Nanopore DNA sequencing technique promises entire genome in minutes or your money back
Scientists refine speedy nanopore DNA sequencing technique, entire genome in minutes or your money back
Those vaguely affordable DNA tests that promise to tell you just how likely you are to be stricken by some horrible and unavoidable genetic affliction in the future? They only look at a tiny fraction of the bits and bobs and bases that make up your genetic code. There's a race on to develop a quick and inexpensive way to sequence a human's entire genome, a process that costs about a million dollars now and takes ages but, via the technique under development at Imperial College London, could be done in a few minutes for a couple of bucks in 10 years. The process relies on nanopores, which are the go-to tech for companies trying to pull this off. Basically, a DNA strand is pushed through a 2nm hole on a silicon chip and, as it moves through, that chip is able to use an electrical charge to read the strand's coding sequence. That is then spit out to a supercomputer to crunch the numbers at a speed of 10 million bases per second and, within minutes, you too can have some hard data to make you freak out about the future -- and maybe a place to put your iPod, too.
Permalink   |  sourceImperial College London  | Email this | Comments
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Chumby grows up, gains competitors' Dashing good looks?
There's not much to go on here -- just a picture of a small-screened device we've never seen before -- but if that six-fingered squid is the real deal, there's a brand-new Chumby on the way. Gizmodo says the T-shaped unit's working codename is "Chumby Opus," and we wonder if that might actually refer to song; If that grille on the left's also duplicated on the right, perhaps we'll get some stereo speakers this time around. Wouldn't that be nice? Either way, it looks like black, slightly leaning flat-panel displays are still in style.
Chumby grows up, gains competitors' Dashing good looks? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceGizmodo  | Email this | Comments
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Google and NORAD's Santa tracker is another victory for terrorists
Google and NORAD should rethink their annual Santa tracking service. Do we really want the evil doers to know the exact whereabouts of Mr. Claus on Google Maps and Earth from any PC or smartphone? A man so old that he's ineligible for a driver's license in some states yet pilots a 353,000-ton missile around the globe at a rate of about 650 miles per second? For shame.
Google and NORAD's Santa tracker is another victory for terrorists originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 06:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Google Blog  |  sourceNORAD Tracks Santa  | Email this | Comments
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BenQ rumored to debut 10.1-inch R100 Android tablet in early 2011
Chances are that we'll find out for sure next month at CES, but PC World has it on authority that BenQ will be throwing its hat into the overcrowded Android tablet ring early next year. The so-called R100 will be a 10.1-inch device, complete with a 1024 x 600 resolution touchscreen, an unspecified flavor of Android and a Samsung-built ARM CPU humming along at 833MHz. Moreover, we're told that the battery will run for a solid 12 hours before begging for mercy (and calling it a night), and it can also be used with a stylus -- you know, for handling both simplified and traditional Chinese handwriting. 8GB of internal storage, an SD slot, mini-USB port, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a mini-HDMI socket are also marked for inclusion, and of course, an 802.11b/g/n radio will be planted right alongside a Bluetooth module. There's no mention of a price just yet, and a company representative noted that images wouldn't be available until the device "was officially launched." Bah! Humbug!
BenQ rumored to debut 10.1-inch R100 Android tablet in early 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 05:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePC World  | Email this | Comments
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Nokia N8 earns its fashion wings, fills in for DSLR on magazine cover shoot
There's really no higher compliment a cameraphone can receive than when a professional team of photographers is blown away by the results they're able to achieve when using it, so Nokia's N8 gets a well-earned tip of the hat for shooting the December / January cover of South African photography mag PiX. In the team's own words, "we wanted to show that it is not the hardware that makes a good photographer but rather the technical execution of an idea" -- very true, we think, but it obviously doesn't hurt when you know your way around Photoshop and you're using just about the best-equipped camera on the smartphone market today. See the pretty stunning final result (and the making-of video) after the break.Continue reading Nokia N8 earns its fashion wings, fills in for DSLR on magazine cover shoot
Nokia N8 earns its fashion wings, fills in for DSLR on magazine cover shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 03:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PhoneArena, All About Symbian  |  sourcePiX Magazine  | Email this | Comments
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Logitech said to be halting Revue production until Google TV software revamp
Oh dear. Google TV isn't having the best of starts to its life in the internet-connected TV world and Logitech seems to have taken notice. DigiTimes' nameless sources today report that Gigabyte, the company charged with building Revue units for Logi, has been instructed to stop production of them for the period covering December 2010 through January 2011. The restart in manufacturing will be conditional, we're told, either on a significant update to the current Google TV software or a whole new version rolling out. The Revue is still available to buy through Logitech -- shipments are only drying up in the channel between manufacturer and vendor -- but if the insiders have their story straight, this'd be a clear indication that early sales expectations have not been met. Better luck next year, we say.
Logitech said to be halting Revue production until Google TV software revamp originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 02:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceDigiTimes  | Email this | Comments
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Sony buying back Cell chip fabrication facilities from Toshiba, it's official
It's official. Sony and Toshiba just issued a press release saying that the two companies have signed a binding memorandum of understanding to transfer Tosh's fabrication facilities, operated by Nagasaki Semiconductor Manufacturing, back to Sony. A deal that is rumored to cost Sony some 50 billion yen (about $835 million) -- a bargain considering that Sony sold the facilities that manufacture the Cell Broadband Engine, RSX graphics engine, and other SoCs to Toshiba for 90 billion Yen back in 2008. Unfortunately, Sony's being coy about its plans for the new facilities. The two hope to complete the transfer sometime in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.Continue reading Sony buying back Cell chip fabrication facilities from Toshiba, it's official
Sony buying back Cell chip fabrication facilities from Toshiba, it's official originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video)
We've seen plenty of Kinect hacks over the last few weeks -- trouble is, beyond the initial wow factor they're just not very useful on a daily basis. That situation just changed, however, with the release of KinEmote, a free public beta that lets Windows users navigate XBMC and Boxee menus using nothing but hand gestures. Better yet, the software is built around OpenNI and NITE middleware from PrimeSense, the company behind the Project Natal reference gear. It certainly looks impressive in the video after the break. Good enough that we suspect many of you will hit up the source link below instead of finishing up your last minute holiday shopping -- hey, Santa can wait, this is progress!Continue reading KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video)
Permalink   |  sourceKinEmote  | Email this | Comments
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Ask Engadget: best high-capacity (250GB or more) portable media player?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Dhruv, who needs to live about 20 years in the future, where all PMPs start at 160GB. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"So I'm a music lover of sorts and my (already compressed) iTunes library is nearing 150GB. I used to have an iPod Classic 160GB, but that doesn't allow for much growing room. Seeing as Apple has pretty much given up on the Classic's future, I was hoping there was another player out there that would have higher capacity drives in it. I know Toshiba makes a 240GB and 320GB 1.8" drive, but I see nothing using it.

Also, I would love for it to have physical buttons. And like the Classic, it should be portable. I saw the Archos 5 online and it's a mammoth. Basically, my ideal player is an iPod Classic with at least a 250GB HDD inside. Thanks!"
It's a shame that Cowon's gorgeous X7 tops out at 160GB, else that'd be a solid solution. Outside of the Archos 5, does anyone have any solid, high-capacity solutions? Looks like your best bet may be to snag a lower-end PMP that'll hold a 1.8-inch drive, and then hack a larger one in yourself.
Ask Engadget: best high-capacity (250GB or more) portable media player? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 22:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Cambridge developing 'mind reading' computer interface with the countenance of Charles Babbage (video)
For years now, researchers have been exploring ways to create devices that understand the nonverbal cues that we take for granted in human-human interaction. One of the more interesting projects we've seen of late is led by Professor Peter Robinson at the Computer Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, who is working on what he calls "mind-reading machines," which can infer mental states of people from their body language. By analyzing faces, gestures, and tone of voice, it is hoped that machines could be made to be more helpful (hell, we'd settle for "less frustrating"). Peep the video after the break to see Robinson using a traditional (and annoying) satnav device, versus one that features both the Cambridge "mind-reading" interface and a humanoid head modeled on that of Charles Babbage. "The way that Charles and I can communicate," Robinson says, "shows us the future of how people will interact with machines." Next stop: uncanny valley!
Continue reading Cambridge developing 'mind reading' computer interface with the countenance of Charles Babbage (video)
Permalink   |  sourceIEEE Spectrum  | Email this | Comments
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EOps Noisezero i+ Eco earbuds get cornstartch construction, finger-friendly design (video)
Hard to say when (or if) these beauts will ever hit the market, but we've all ideas they'd move quite briskly if positioned in a nondescript kind of store that tends to sell fruit, peripherals and things heavily prefixed with "i." Designed Michael Young has teamed up with EOps to create the Noisezero i+ Eco Edition earbuds, which are constructed with cornstarch (you know, in honor of Ma Earth), equipped with an iPod / iPhone-friendly inline remote and outfitted with a unique design that purportedly makes it easier for these to be inserted into one's ear canal. We're told that they'll eventually be available in charcoal, rustic brown, midnight blue and sage green, and yes, a carrying case would be included. Too bad there's nary a hint as to where you can actually buy 'em, but the video just below the break will give you a better idea of what to hunt for.Continue reading EOps Noisezero i+ Eco earbuds get cornstartch construction, finger-friendly design (video)
Permalink Gizmodo  |  sourceMichael Young, Dezeen  | Email this | Comments
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Acer Aspire One 522 falls from the clouds, sporting dual-core 1GHz Ontario APU?
AMD Fusion's taken its sweet, sweet time getting here, but we're hearing you'll be able to get your hands on some Atom-beating netbook chips soon -- for instance, in this Acer Aspire One 522, which will reportedly drive its oh-so-glossy 10.1-inch, 720p screen with a 1GHz AMD C-50 Ontario APU. In case you need a brief refresher, Ontario's the chip rated at just nine watts, meaning we should expect some fairly decent battery life here, though possibly not the heroic performance of its 1.6GHz Zacate cousin. Aside from those specs, the Acer's mostly your standard netbook -- three USB ports, VGA-out, a webcam and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi -- though it does have HDMI out, something you won't find on the otherwise similar Aspire One D255. It's hard to say what it'll cost stateside, but a Thai e-tailer's ringing up a version right now with 2GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive for 12,829 baht (about $425). Wonder if it runs Android?
Acer Aspire One 522 falls from the clouds, sporting dual-core 1GHz Ontario APU? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink NetbookNews  |  sourceMacles, InvadeIT  | Email this | Comments
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Volvo turns the C30 hatchback into an EV, loans it out for a short test drive
Volvo turns the C30 hatchback into an EV, loans it out for a short test drive
In many ways, Volvo's C30 is the perfect blend of modern styling and retro sensibility with its aggressive front-end and that oversized glass hatch on the back. Now, with the EV model, it's looking better than ever. Okay, so we could do without the obligatory graphics up the side, but the wing on the back (shown below) gives it a smooth profile and, oh yeah, did we mention it's an EV? The car has been graced with a 110hp equivalent electric motor and 24kWh battery pack that's expected to deliver an average of 100 miles worth of range along with performance that, according to The Truth About Cars, matches the current petrol-powered version's. Handling too is said to still be taut despite a 260lb weight disadvantage. Volvo is pledging the car will be making an appearance as a 2012 model, though we're guessing lucky Swedish drivers will be getting a first crack at this one.Continue reading Volvo turns the C30 hatchback into an EV, loans it out for a short test drive
Volvo turns the C30 hatchback into an EV, loans it out for a short test drive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Truth About Cars  | Email this | Comments
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Rovi announces agreement to acquire Sonic Solutions for $720 million
Rovi Corporation has already gone though a few significant transformations -- it was once the DRM-centered company known as Macrovision -- and it's now set to undergo another big one. The company has just announced a "definitive agreement" to acquire Sonic Solutions in a deal valued at $720 million. Among other things, Sonic owns RoxioNow (the service formally known as CinemaNow), which will give Rovi access to over 10,000 movies and TV shows, and Sonic also just acquired DivX earlier this year, which Rovi points out has a presence on more than 350 million consumer electronics devices. Head on past the break for the official press release, and look for the deal to close sometime in the first quarter of next year if all goes according to plan.Continue reading Rovi announces agreement to acquire Sonic Solutions for $720 million
Rovi announces agreement to acquire Sonic Solutions for $720 million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Exclusive: the Dell Streak 7 will be televised, here's the ad treatment
Well, that was fast. Not long after we saw Dell's 7-inch tablet earn its WiFi certification, we happened upon a treatment for its in-production commercial -- exhausted Android mascot and all. Of course the video'll touting the gaming, social, and internet capabilities, but it's also got Blio reader, Stage UI (same skin as the 5-inch Streak), the new campaign slogan ("You can tell [it's] Dell"), and yes, even a name: Streak 7, as said by the voice over. Not the most original, but when you got a brand, might as well keep it going. Looks like we've got something else to keep an eye out for when CES rolls around in a few weeks. Peep the treatment for yourself below.
Gallery: Dell Streak 7 commercial treatment
Exclusive: the Dell Streak 7 will be televised, here's the ad treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mighty Car Mods details the rigors of zombie-proofing your auto (video)
Sure, there are plenty of folks who will teach you how to mod your car for speed, power, or aesthetics -- but what about the things that really matter? A recent episode of Mighty Car Mods detailed the re-tooling of a 1987 Nissan Pathfinder into a vehicle suitable for survival in the event of a zombie apocalypse (although we think it would help in case of a robot apocalypse as well). What are you waiting for? An ounce or prevention is worth a pound of cure, after all. Check it out the video -- and get prepared -- after the break.
Continue reading Mighty Car Mods details the rigors of zombie-proofing your auto (video)
Mighty Car Mods details the rigors of zombie-proofing your auto (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nuu MiniKey for iPhone 4 preview: yep, another (bulky) keyboard case
A number of iPhone keyboard cases have popped up lately, from the TK-421 flip-out case (which we reviewed) to the BoxWave Keyboard Buddy. We've spent the better part of 24 hours using an engineering sample of Nuu's MiniKey QWERTY slider for iPhone 4 -- expect "a few minor changes to be made" before actual launch -- that the company was kind enough to send over. So, how's it stack up?
Gallery: Nuu MiniKey for iPhone 4 preview
Continue reading Nuu MiniKey for iPhone 4 preview: yep, another (bulky) keyboard case
Nuu MiniKey for iPhone 4 preview: yep, another (bulky) keyboard case originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AT&T, Verizon, RIM get serious about security for mobile devices
As commonplace as smartphones have become, it's about time that carriers and manufacturers start getting serious about mobile security (and no, we don't mean iPhone tethers). According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Verizon is currently working with Lookout, a San Francisco-based company known for remote backup and geolocation apps for BlackBerry, Android, and Windows Mobile devices, while RIM has recently announced a little something called BlackBerry Protect, which promises to lock or even wipe a misplaced phone, pinpoint the thing on a map, and make regularly-scheduled wireless backups. By far the most ambitious plans in the article, however, belong to AT&T, which -- aside from recent deals with MobileIron and McAfee -- is currently opening a new mobile security lab in New York City. From here, the company will research malware, worms, viruses, and other threats as they develop in the mobile sphere. "Everyone is realizing that this is an uncontrolled environment," said AT&T chief security officer Edward G. Amoroso. "We don't want to have the same problems that we had with PCs."
AT&T, Verizon, RIM get serious about security for mobile devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Rollei goes 3D with Power Flex 3D point-and-shoot, Designline 3D photo frame
There may still be some camera makers resisting the 3D trend, but that's getting to be an increasingly dwindling lot -- the latest to jump into the game is Rollei, the 90-year old German manufacturer, which has just announced its new Power Flex 3D point-and-shoot and accompanying Designline 3D photo frame. As you can see above, the camera looks fairly unremarkable expect for that second lens, and the specs are also pretty much in line with some similar 3D point-and-shoots, including 720p video recording, 5 megapixel still images, and a 2.8-inch LCD 'round back that promises to let you see your images in something resembling 3D without the need for 3D glasses. The photo frame also apparently uses the same sort of no-glasses 3D, but thankfully packs a larger 7-inch screen -- check it out after the break. Still no word on a release over here, but both the camera and photo frame will be available in Europe next month for €300 (or just under $400) apiece.
Continue reading Rollei goes 3D with Power Flex 3D point-and-shoot, Designline 3D photo frame
Rollei goes 3D with Power Flex 3D point-and-shoot, Designline 3D photo frame originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink DC Views  |  sourceRollei  | Email this | Comments
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Dell's 7-inch (or 10-inch) Android tablet gets WiFi certification?
Remember how Dell's supposed to be introducing a 7-inch Tegra 2-powered Android tablet, like, right now, possibly followed by a 10-inch model in a few months? Well, we're not saying that's what's going on here, but consider the facts: the original 5-inch Streak has a model code of M01M, and a new device with code M02M just popped up in the Wi-Fi Alliance's certification database identified as a "Mobile Internet Device" in the Smartphone category. Yes, 7 inches is a bit large for a "smartphone," but the Alliance doesn't have a great category for these tweeners that support cellular data (and like the European Galaxy Tab, some of them really are smartphones anyway). PocketNow suggests that we could also be looking at the Streak 2, which is possible -- but considering the groundswell of rumors we've been hearing about a slightly larger tablet in the pipeline, that's where our money lies. That holds especially true considering how close we are to CES, which promises to be a veritable tablet-fest this year -- but regardless, we bet the truth comes out within the next couple weeks.
Dell's 7-inch (or 10-inch) Android tablet gets WiFi certification? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PocketNow  |  sourceWi-Fi Alliance  | Email this | Comments
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Lenovo LePad and U1 Hybrid early hands-on
Believe it or not, it's been almost a year since we caught a look at Lenovo's IdeaPad U1 Hybrid, and while we've heard numerous times that the device and a new tablet part -- the LePad -- were still kicking, we've got some rock solid evidence this time around. Okay, we got some of the best evidence out there -- pictures and early impressions of the China-bound 10.1-inch LePad tablet and its U1 dock / shell. Now, we don't want to get your hopes up too much -- we didn't get to spend all that much time with either of the units and they were in very early form, but that didn't stop us from playing around with both of them and taking some notes. Interested? We thought so. Hit the break for a short rundown and don't forget to peruse the gallery below on your way.
Gallery: Lenovo Le Pad and U1 Hybrid
Continue reading Lenovo LePad and U1 Hybrid early hands-on
Lenovo LePad and U1 Hybrid early hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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TalkTorque robot gets day job as creepy museum guide, TalkTorque 2 is now the future (video)
TalkTorque robot gets day job as creepy museum guide, TalkTorque 2 is now the future (video)
As if there weren't enough Greys flying around in saucers and conducting strange experiments on us at night, a team at Tsukuba University went ahead and created their own. Two of them, as a matter of fact. It started with TalkTorque, a short, white bot with swoopy arms and head designed to help research in non-verbal communications. That poor guy is old news now, relegated to guide duty at the school's Groupware Lab. TalkTorque 2 has come along with slightly refined looks and a chunky collar containing a trio of motion- and range-sensing cameras to help the thing figure out who it should be talking to. Of course, it still has no mouth, so the "talking" will be in broad arm gestures, which it will surely use to guide you to his ship's examination chamber. There's a video of that communication technique below, along with some dramatized footage of the TalkTorque 2 in action.Continue reading TalkTorque robot gets day job as creepy museum guide, TalkTorque 2 is now the future (video)
Permalink CrunchGear  |  sourceTsukuba University Groupware Lab  | Email this | Comments
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Visualized: world's largest neutrino observatory rivals Guatemala sinkhole
Without question, one of the images from 2010 will be the insane, almost incomprehensible sinkhole that emerged in Guatemala earlier this year, but this particular shot from the South Pole does an outstanding job of vying for equal attention. Coming directly from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this is a look into the planet's largest neutrino observatory, which was just completed after half a decade of work with $279 million. The goal? To detect "subatomic particles traveling near the speed of light," and when you have an ice-bound telescope that encompasses a cubic kilometer of Antarctic ice, well... you've high hopes for success. Will this pipe into the underworld finally lead us to understanding Dark Matter? Will century-old mysteries of the universe finally have answers? Even if not, we're envisioning a heck of an entry fee when it's converted into the world's longest firehouse pole and marketed to affluent tourists who make the trip down.
Visualized: world's largest neutrino observatory rivals Guatemala sinkhole originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Fast Company  |  sourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, IceCube  | Email this | Comments
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Olympus E-5 DSLR reviewed: solid upgrade for E-3 owners, not much appeal for anyone else
Olympus E-5 DSLR reviewed: solid upgrade for E-3 owners, not much appeal for anyone else
The DSLR market just seems to keep on speeding up, and it looks like Olympus might be lagging back toward the caboose a bit with its latest full-body DSLR, the E-5. It's the successor to the E-3, jumping to 12.3 megapixels and adding 720p recording with full exposure controls, plus a handy swiveling LCD. But, according to reviews, it just doesn't quite compare to something like a much cheaper Nikon D7000. PhotographyBlog liked the improved image quality and the rugged build, but not the ugly rolling shutter effect in video recording and the poor high ISO performance. Similarly DigitalCameraReview says this $1,699 beast "feels like a modest update to the E-3," a sentiment shared by Pocket-Lint as well. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Permalink   |  sourceDigitalCameraReview, Pocket-Lint, PhotographyBlog  | Email this | Comments
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Iain Sinclair Poco Pro: little camcorder, big expectations
The Poco Pro from Iain Sinclair, manufacturers of fine tiny things, is said to be "the world's thinnest" 1080p HD pocket camcorder. Poco's specs tout dimensions of 54 x 85.6 x 5mm, much smaller than JVC's Picsio, Samsung's HMX-E10, and even Toshiba's Camileo, but we are definitely wary of image quality on a sensor as small as this one. We're not entirely sure we get the purpose of its optional WiFi capabilities, either -- the site claims they're for "wireless data transmission," but we don't know if that's to a PC or some sort of service. If you're dying to find out, you can reserve a Poco of your own for £100, or about $155, but be patient, this little guy won't hit the market until June.
Iain Sinclair Poco Pro: little camcorder, big expectations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink OhGizmo!  |  sourceIain Sinclair  | Email this | Comments
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Pioneer's 3D Blu-ray compatible, Netflix streaming player triumvirate now shipping
After debuting quietly at CEDIA Pioneer's 2010 line of Blu-ray players is finally available for purchase, including the low end BDP-430 and its two Elite cousins, the BDP-41FD and BDP-43FD. Other than the obvious addition of Blu-ray 3D compatibility, key upgrades from 2009 include WiFi readiness with optional dongle, streaming from YouTube (after a firmware update), Netflix and Pandora, an expanded continue mode to make sure you start The Twilight Saga: Eclipse right where you left it and the return of Pioneer's iControlAV remote app for iOS devices. Starting price? $299 for the BDP-430, $399 for the BDP-41FD and its home automation-friendly RS-232 port, while $499 is required to bring home the "armored chassis" of the BDP-43FDContinue reading Pioneer's 3D Blu-ray compatible, Netflix streaming player triumvirate now shipping
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Pioneer's 3D Blu-ray compatible, Netflix streaming player triumvirate now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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DARPA aims to make soldier of tomorrow impervious to sneak attacks with 360 degree vision
DARPA is currently soliciting proposals for the development of Soldier Centric Imaging via Computational Cameras, also known as SCENICC for those who prefer brevity. This latest project is a visual enhancement system that seeks to meet all of our armed forces terrorist-hunting and war-waging visual needs. The system, which is purely theoretical at this point, will provide a 360 degree, three-dimensional field of view for soldiers in the field. This optical omniscience is obtained through the use multiple cameras, including images from airborne drones. Soldiers will have real time 10x zoom capabilities and can operate everything via voice commands. As if that weren't enough, SCENICC employs augmented reality to identify and track targets in a way (we presume) not unlike your garden variety T-800. As this bit of kit is years from production, our commandos will have to make do for now with smartphones and wrist displays to keep an eye on enemies of the state.
Permalink Wired  |  sourceDARPA (PDF)  | Email this | Comments
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Chevy explains why two MPG numbers are better than one
So, are you confused about the presence of two MPG numbers on your newly delivered Volt? Fear not, the folks at GM are doing their best to educate the huddled masses about the Volt's industry-leading fuel economy, and just how the EPA arrived at the car's previously released 93MPG (electric equivalent) and 37MPG (straight gas, homey) ratings. No word on plans for a film explaining where the missing 137MPG went. Check the video after the break.Continue reading Chevy explains why two MPG numbers are better than one
Chevy explains why two MPG numbers are better than one originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google buys gigantic former NYC Port Authority building, takes a chunk out of Chelsea
Google buys gigantic former New York City Port Authority building, takes a chunk out of Chelsea
Growing companies need growing workspaces, and Google just bought one of the biggest possible in NYC. It's the former Port Authority Building at 111 Eighth Avenue, a massive brick establishment that, according to Wired Epicenter, set the company back an equally massive $1.9 billion. There's a helipad on top, perfect for quick getaways in the company's ROFLcopter, but more importantly a major fiber line runs through the building, giving the Googs priority access to bits flowing through the city. Google already has a presence within those crimson walls, which also houses offices of communications companies like Verizon and Level 3, companies who might just need to be finding new spaces when their current leases expire, because Google is "hiring across the board," apparently hoping to fill that thing to the brim.
Permalink Wired Epicenter  |  sourceThe Official Google Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Dell Venue launched in Hong Kong, we go hands-on
Isn't it fun when you hit the right place at the right time? We just happened to be chillaxing in Hong Kong when Dell chose the city for the Venue's global launch (and it's actually hitting the shops slightly ahead of South Korea), so a quick hands-on is inevitable. As we've seen previously, this HK$3,999 (US$514) handset is essentially the Venue Pro's Android 2.2 cousin, sporting the same curved (or "Shear Design") vibrant AMOLED display at 4.1 inches and 800 x 480, but missing the slide-out keyboard. Under the hood lies a 1GHz Snapdragon with 1GB ROM and 512MB RAM, along with the usual microSD expansion, 1400mAh battery, 8 megapixel AF camera with LED flash, Bluetooth 2.3 EDR, WiFi and AGPS.

There aren't any surprises in terms of software -- the Venue shares the same snappy Stage UI and Swype keyboard with the Streak, except for the lack of landscape orientation for the homescreen (and that's with orientation enabled in system settings). As for hardware, the killer feature here is the screen, and we found its curved Gorilla Glass to be surprisingly nice for our thumbs while swiping across it. The AMOLED panel underneath is also vibrant with great viewing angles. Elsewhere, build quality is almost solid bar the squeaky battery door, but at least it provides some grip. That's all we got for now -- we'll delve into more details in our forthcoming review, so stay tuned.
Gallery: Dell Venue hands-on
Continue reading Dell Venue launched in Hong Kong, we go hands-on
Dell Venue launched in Hong Kong, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google's Honeycomb Android tablet release slated for March?
The only official timeframe we have for an Android 3.0 Honeycomb release is sometime "next year." A little too vague for our liking and for a seemingly infinite list of manufacturers chomping at the bit to release their fully sanctioned Android tablets onto the world. Now DigiTimes narrows things down a bit with an off-the-cuff comment about MSI preparing to sell its Tegra 2-based tablets in April or May "after Google releases Android 3.0 in March." Of course, a March release seems almost definite what with Acer hoping to ship its tablets with Honeycomb in April as well. Hopefully we'll get this confirmed at CES in early January.
Google's Honeycomb Android tablet release slated for March? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Android Community  |  sourceDigiTimes  | Email this | Comments
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LG Optimus 2X dual-core Android phone hits Europe in January
We already knew that it was coming to its home country of Korea in January. Now we know that LG's Tegra 2 Optimus 2X will bring its 4-inch display and 1080p video recording capability to the Android loving shores of Europe in the first month of 2011. The detail was hidden in a rather mundane press release touting the inclusion of 25 audio files (including 15 custom ringtones) from famed film composer Ennio Morricone, a man most recognizable for scoring those Sergio Leone "Spaghetti Westerns." While we're not sure how this oddball partnership materialized, we do know that there are two kinds of people in this world. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig? So we're not going to push it.Continue reading LG Optimus 2X dual-core Android phone hits Europe in January
LG Optimus 2X dual-core Android phone hits Europe in January originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashPhone  |   | Email this | Comments
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Moto Mundo world tour pushes all-electric Nissan Qashqai to its limit
They're far from the first to put an all-electric car to an endurance test, but the team behind Moto Mundo are certainly near the head of the pack when it comes to sheer ambition. They set out from Denmark with a pair of Nissan Qashqai SUVs turned electric by AfutureEV back in June, and recently entered the US after making treks across Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia and China. As for the vehicles themselves, they apparently have a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour and a range of 200 kilometers on a charge (at 80 kph), although they can apparently eek out 300 kilometers in "slow city driving." Making the trek even more impressive, as one Autoblog Green commenter has pointed out, is the fact that two similar cars converted by AfutureEV have apparently burst into flames and sparked some serious fires. No such problems have plagued Moto Mundo's trip, though, and they're soon set to roll into the Detroit Auto Show for an appearance.
Moto Mundo world tour pushes all-electric Nissan Qashqai to its limit originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Autoblog Green  |  sourceMoto Mundo  | Email this | Comments
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ASUS 12-inch Windows 7 'Eee Slate' EP121 and more teased for 2011 (updated)
It's been awhile since we've heard anything official from ASUS about its 12-inch EP121 tablet announced back at Computex in May. That changes today as ASUS Chairman, Jonney Shih, promises an "Eee for everyone" at CES 2011 -- and that's not an exaggeration what with 7-, 9-, 10-, and 12-inch Armdroid and Wintel tablets expected. While the video doesn't show the physical EP121 first revealed as a prototype in Taipei, it does call it an "Eee Slate" (not an "Eee Pad" like before) while demonstrating pen-based input on the multitouch display riding Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system and a Core i5 processor. Naturally, ASUS is also promising better performance and more flexibility than existing tablets. Don't worry, we'll be getting hands-on with this beast in a few weeks before it hits retail sometime (somewhere) in January. Until then, you can watch the teaser after the break.

Update: DigiTimes claims that the EP121 will target enterprise customers when launched. Additionally, two 10-inch Eee Pads (one with Windows 7 on Oak Trail and one with Android on Tegra 2) will hit retail as early as March for $499 to $599. Meanwhile, 7-inch Android models will also launch as early as March featuring either Tegra 2 or Qualcomm chipsets with at least one model featuring a "3.5G" radio for "phone functionality."

[Thanks, Sal]
Continue reading ASUS 12-inch Windows 7 'Eee Slate' EP121 and more teased for 2011 (updated)
ASUS 12-inch Windows 7 'Eee Slate' EP121 and more teased for 2011 (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Tech in Style  |  sourceASUS (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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