Sunday, January 30, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 29/01/2011




German researchers prototype 6mm thick pico projector
Pico projectors just keep shrinking, and a new prototype developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Engineering is helping said shrinking along pretty strikingly. The team has developed a prototype pico which is just 6mm thick, making it the world's slimmest ever. Better yet, the projected image is 10 times brighter than a pico projector of its size would have previously been -- had it existed. The new lens on the projector is so small that it could potentially be integrated into smart phones without boosting size or weight. The new prototype is made of 45 red, green or blue microlenses, each with a 200 x 200 pixel LCD, inspired by a microlens array called a fly's eye condenser. The resulting resolution is nearly, but not quite, WVGA with 11 lumens of brightness. The prototype will be shown off at Nano Tech 2011 in Tokyo.

[Image credit: Fraunhofer Institute]
German researchers prototype 6mm thick pico projector originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTechnology Review  | Email this | Comments
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Android 2.3 security bug shows microSD access vulnerability
A researcher at North Carolina State University is warning of an Android 2.3 security vulnerability that gives attackers access to your personal information, further proof that Gingerbread isn't all sugar and spice (to be fair, that SMS issue has since been remedied). According to Xuxian Jiang, the bug allows malicious websites to access and upload the contents of a user's microSD card, including voicemails, photos, and online banking information to a remote server. The flaw apparently resembles a similar bug in previous version of Android, thought to have been addressed with Gingerbread. However, as Jiang points out, that fix is easily bypassed. Apart from removing the microSD card, disabling JavaScript, or switching to a third-party browser, Android 2.3 users have little recourse in squashing the bug. The folks at eWeek reported that Google is working on a solution to the problem, but there's no word on when we can expect to see an update.
Android 2.3 security bug shows microSD access vulnerability originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNorth Carolina State University  | Email this | Comments
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Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web
Sure, you followed along with our Tokyo liveblog and breathless posts announcing Sony's Next Generation Portable (codename: NGP, get it?) successor to the PSP. But nothing's quite like viewing a video posted 48-hours after the event to get a true feel for the historic occasion... historic to nerds like us anyway. The power is now in your hands -- use it wisely to watch a thrilling three-part trilogy after the break. More videos at the source link below.Continue reading Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web
Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePlayStation  | Email this | Comments
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Layar Player lets AR loose on iPhone apps
Layar's been the go-to platform for augmented reality on Android since 2009, bringing you the useful, the creepy, and the just plain weird -- and now it's unleashing the beast on iOS. The Netherlands-based company just launched Layar Player, a free tool that allows anyone -- with a little developer know-how -- to create their very own AR iPhone app. Accompanying the announcement are three brand new Layar Player-enabled apps: the Bing-sponsored Snowboard Hero, which incorporates a special AR mode for collecting points; a contractor locator called Layer Trade; and VerbeterdeBuurt, an app that acts as an AR community bulletin board. The company's press release touts the "democratization of augmented reality," and while we can get behind their AR-for-alll message, we've already seen Layar used in ways that give us the willies. Don't get us wrong, we're still excited about the endless AR possibilities, but we're hoping, at least for now, that iPhone app developers can keep the AR monsters at bay.Continue reading Layar Player lets AR loose on iPhone apps
Layar Player lets AR loose on iPhone apps originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceLayar  | Email this | Comments
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Study shocker! Mobile users piddle around on the internet while watching TV
Shocker of shockers, folks: people do more than just watch TV when they're watching TV. A study of over 8,000 willing individuals from Nielsen and Yahoo recently discovered that some 86 percent of mobile internet users tinker around on their devices while situated in front of the tube. It seems that Googling random facts, checking their Facebook news feed and seeing who has tweeted in the past 30 seconds were atop the list of activities to do while watching, but strangely, a full 20 percent confessed to search for more information about a commercial they recently saw. Hit the source link below (PDF) to be instantly bombarded with facts and figures, but first, refresh that TweetCaster feed. Ah, so much better.
Study shocker! Mobile users piddle around on the internet while watching TV originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNielsen / Yahoo [PDF]  | Email this | Comments
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LG Optimus 2X and Optimus Black priced at €499 by Amazon Germany, not yet available to buy
Amazon's German outlet has started listing LG's two latest and undoubtedly greatest phones: the Optimus 2X (seemingly renamed the Optimus Speed here) and the Optimus Black. Both run Android 2.2 on 4-inch screens, with the former offering a dual-core Tegra 2 processor capable of 1080p video recording and HDMI output, and the latter cranking up the display brightness to a quite unreasonable 700 nits. The Optimus Black also has one of the thinnest profiles on a smartphone of its class at 9.2mm, and will be one of the first phones to offer WiFi Direct connectivity. Intriguingly, Amazon's Optimus Speed / 2X listing also shows a brown color option for the handset, though only its black SKU is subject to a neat €50 discount bringing its price to €499, the same as the cost of the Optimus Black. We don't know when either one will drop, but you can go and reserve yourself one (or a dozen) at the links below.

[Thanks, Julian]Continue reading LG Optimus 2X and Optimus Black priced at €499 by Amazon Germany, not yet available to buy
Permalink   |  sourceAmazon DE (Optimus Speed), (Optimus Black)  | Email this | Comments
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Callaway Upro mx offers touchscreen GPS to golfers, we long for a Caddyshack edition (video)
The folks at Callaway just announced the Upro mx, a followup to the device they so humbly referred to as the "iPhone of golf GPS technology." PNDs for golfers aren't exactly rare, but the new Upro claims to be the only one packing "hi-resolution actual aerial photography" of 25,000 different courses. It also boasts a multi-gesture touchscreen and optical finger navigation, as well a slew of viewing modes: Virtual Green offers exact putting distances, Smart View displays the best angle for each shot, and ProMode features video flyovers. Who knows, if they could land a Bill Murray tie-in we might actually be enticed to pick up a club and ... Oh, who are we kidding? The Upro mx hits stores in May at $199, and you can check out a video of the device in action after the jump -- that is, if you swing that way.Continue reading Callaway Upro mx offers touchscreen GPS to golfers, we long for a Caddyshack edition (video)
Permalink   |  sourceCallaway  | Email this | Comments
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Verizon turns on iPhone 4 pre-order countdown, existing customers can order on February 3rd at 3AM
The grapevine did already hint at the timing of the Verizon iPhone 4 pre-orders, but now, to be absolutely sure nobody misses them, we have a countdown! Eager iPhone bandwagon jumpers will have to stay up till 3AM EST on February 3rd to get their orders in from a "reserved quantity" of handsets, which will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis -- presumably to be delivered on that February 10th launch date everyone's been anticipating for so long. Sadly for Verizon newcomers, a contract with the network will be a prerequisite for signing up when the countdown expires.

[Thanks, Jarrett and Anthony]Continue reading Verizon turns on iPhone 4 pre-order countdown, existing customers can order on February 3rd at 3AM
Permalink   |  sourceVerizon Wireless  | Email this | Comments
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Plantronics Calisto 800 speakerphone and Voyager Pro UC headset make concalls cool again
Plantronics Calisto 800 speakerphone and Voyager Pro UC headset make concalls cool again
We'd all rather be flown to some exotic, Caribbean location for our next corporate get-together, but in these hard economic times sometimes a good 'ol audio bridge makes the most sense. Increasingly those concalls are happening via some sort of VOIP bridge, and Plantronics' latest are ready for it. First up is the Calisto 800 series "multi speakerphone" devices, which offer connectivity to an analog phone line, a mobile phone over Bluetooth, and even a PC over USB. This lets you easily dial in to just about anything and naturally offers a full duplex speakerphone with noise cancellation and an LCD with caller ID. There's even an optional wireless microphone that you can plunk down on the table so the lamentations of the entire QA team will be picked up loud and clear.

Plantronics Calisto 800 speakerphone and Voyager Pro UC headset make concalls cool againAlso new is a revised version of the Voyager Pro UC, a rather more traditional Bluetooth headset with an extended boom for better voice pickup and the ability to pair to a mobile phone and a PC (via a tiny USB adapter) simultaneously. It'll even do A2DP so you hold music won't be the only tunes you hear. Both appear to be available now, and both start at $199.95, putting them out of reach for most non-corporate attendees.Continue reading Plantronics Calisto 800 speakerphone and Voyager Pro UC headset make concalls cool again
Permalink   |  sourcePlantronics Calisto 800, Voyager Pro UC  | Email this | Comments
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Panasonic adds Sandy Bridge to Let's Note J10, N10, S10 and B10 laptops
You can rest assured that hundreds -- if not trillions -- of new laptops will be rolling off of production lines this quarter with Intel's Sandy Bridge platform inside, and those looking for a little love over in Japan won't have to wait much longer. Panasonic has just updated its Let's Note line with four new Sandy Bridge models: the B10, S10, N10 and J10 have all been blessed with new silicon. The B10 in particular ships with a Core i5-2520M, 4GB of memory, a 15.6-inch 1080p display, HDMI output, Blu-ray drive, SDXC card slot and 802.11b/g/n WiFi. The N10 and S10 are outfitted in similar fashion, while the J10 goes diminutive with a 10.1-inch panel. There's also a higher-end J10Q variant that steps up to a Core i5, 128GB SSD, 2GB of RAM, WiFi, HDMI output, inbuilt WiMAX model and an SDXC slot, with the craziest aspect being the claimed 12 hours of battery life. Hit the links below if you're hungry for pricing clues and ship dates, but it looks as if the whole gang should be out and about by the close of March.
Panasonic adds Sandy Bridge to Let's Note J10, N10, S10 and B10 laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Netbooks Review  |  sourceImpress, Akihabara News  | Email this | Comments
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Cella Energy says its hydrogen microbeads could fuel your car, cost $1.50 per gallon
Cella Energy says its hydrogen microbeads could fuel your car, cost $1.50 per gallon
Your average hydrogen-powered car is a marvel of modern science -- fuel cell sifting electrons out of pure H2 and emitting nothing but water -- powered by big, heavy, high-pressure tanks of gas. Cella Energy is here to ditch the tank, having first developed a means of storing hydrogen in microfibers that could greatly simplify the design of these vehicles. But, perhaps even more impressive is a "synthetic fuel" the company is working on which is, essentially, pure hydrogen captured into microbeads. You know, like the kind that float in your shampoo and give your hair that extra lustre, but explosive. According to Cella these beads can be poured into the gas tank of a car with an internal combustion engine (presumably suspended in some sort of liquid) and, with no modification, that car will run just fine. Best news is that this concoction costs just $1.50 per gallon -- or will, eventually. Supposedly. Maybe?
Permalink GizMag  |  sourceCella Energy  | Email this | Comments
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Moovida's new media center software has great looks, so-so personality
With Microsoft planning a move away from the HTPC space and a shift to Windows Media Center embedded products, perhaps the gang at Moovida is looking to take Redmond's place in the home theater geek segment. The company has unleashed a beautiful new media browsing UI called 'Immersed' that's powered by a 3D game engine, a fact which makes its media center bretheren look dowdy in comparison. There is a steep price to pay for this digital eye candy, however, as the current version lacks the ability to stream content -- so no Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube for you. Moovida's software also packs an underlying desktop-optimized UI, 'Core', that provides automated media backup and cataloging, syncs your music and video with peripherals, and plays any non-DRM content known to man. Presently in beta, Moovida promises greater functionality in future releases and we can only hope that means streaming capability is coming soon, as in immediately.
Moovida's new media center software has great looks, so-so personality originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Yahoo!  |  sourceMoovida  | Email this | Comments
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Watch Pro Bowl practice through Michael Vick's eyes -- and his ContourHD 1080p helmet cam

This weekend's NFL Pro Bowl might be one of the more useless spectacles in American sport, but since there's nothing at stake, the NFC coaches allowed Michael Vick to strap a ContourHD 1080p camera to his helmet during practice -- and the resulting few moments of footage are pretty awesome, if you're a football fan. We gave the 1080p a pretty decent review, and it certainly delivers here: you get to watch Vick break the huddle, fire off a pass to Jason Witten, hand off to Adrian Peterson, and run a play-action to Witten, all the while exchanging some friendly banter with Matt Ryan and Drew Brees. It might actually be more interesting than the Pro Bowl itself, actually. Now if only the NFL would let Aaron Rodgers wear one of these during the Packers' inevitable Super Bowl victory, we'd be happy as clams.

Update: We hate to remind everyone, but this is a gadget blog, and as such we like to keep the conversation on topic and geared towards that. Since most people can't seem to stay on topic, we're closing threads on this one.
Permalink   |  sourceNFL.com  | Email this | Comments
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Google announces Android event for February 2nd
Had enough Honeycomb this week? Perhaps -- but next week is a whole new week, and Google's got your back. Mountain View has selected Wednesday, February 2nd for an event that'll include "an in-depth look at Honeycomb, Android ecosystem news and hands-on demos," so by all accounts this seems to be more than a mere wrap-up of everything they've announced in the past few weeks. New tablets? Honeycomb for smartphones? Android 2.4? Something else entirely? We'll be there to find out, of course.
Google announces Android event for February 2nd originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nook Color earns its very early, very unofficial Android 3.0 Honeycomb wings
One of the first things that happens after a new platform emulator breaks loose is that a bunch of hackers far smarter than ourselves get hold of it, tear it apart, and port it to whatever's convenient. In the case of this week's Android 3.0 Honeycomb preview, "whatever's convenient" would be the Nook Color, which reigns as perhaps the cheapest decent-quality Android tablet money can currently buy. Naturally, xda-developers has a thread going on the subject as we speak; the current port is said to be really slow and mostly broken -- but then again, that kind of describes the current state of the emulator itself. Good news is that the developer says he plans on working on graphics acceleration to improve performance over the weekend, so with any luck, the Xoom might have some unofficial competition before too long. Follow the break for another shot.

[Thanks, s30zgt]Continue reading Nook Color earns its very early, very unofficial Android 3.0 Honeycomb wings
Nook Color earns its very early, very unofficial Android 3.0 Honeycomb wings originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcexda-developers  | Email this | Comments
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UN: worldwide internet users hit two billion, cellphone subscriptions top five billion
The UN's International Telecommunication Union predicted last fall that the number of internet users worldwide would hit two billion by the end of 2010, and it's now issued its full report that confirms just that -- 2.08 billion, to be specific. As the ITU's Hamadoun Toure notes, that number represents a huge leap from the mere 250 million internet users that existed a decade ago, and it means that roughly one third of the world's population now has internet access of some sort -- of those, 555 million have a fixed broadband subscription, and 950 million have mobile broadband. Just as impressive as that (if not moreso), are the number of cellphone subscriptions worldwide, which has now crossed the five billion mark. That's up from 500 million at the beginning of the year 2000, although the agency notes that it's only accounted for "subscriptions," and not individual users. Any way you slice it, however, that's quite a record of growth for the first decade of the 21st century.
Permalink @BryanAlexander (Twitter)  |  sourceITU, AFP  | Email this | Comments
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White House backs plan to reserve 700MHz 'D Block' for public safety network
Public safety agencies in the US have been pushing for some time to have the so-called 'D Block' portion of the 700MHz wireless spectrum all to themselves, and it looks like they can now officially count on the support of the White House in that effort. The Obama administration announced today that it's backing plans to reserve the airwaves -- estimated to be worth $3 billion if they were auctioned off -- for a new national public safety network, and it also plans to ask Congress to approve the additional spending needed to actually build out the network, which the FCC estimates could cost as much as $15 billion. As The Wall Street Journal notes, the fate of the proposed network is now largely in the hands of House Republicans, who remain divided on the plan -- although some key members have come out in support of it in recent days.
White House backs plan to reserve 700MHz 'D Block' for public safety network originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Daily Wireless  |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support
Thought Honeycomb was just for tablets? Well, it's not! Sure, tablets might be Google's main thrust with the release, but we've been able to dig up enough evidence in the preview SDK's emulator released yesterday to suggest that these guys are still keeping their eyes on the smartphone prize.

Here's how it works: the emulator can be set to load at an arbitrary screen resolution. By default, that's WXGA, 1280 x 768 -- perfect for tablets, but obviously a wee bit large for even the biggest smartphones. Well, it turns out that setting the emulator to WVGA (like you might find on a modern mid- to high-end smartphone) triggers a moderately different shell UI that lacks most of the whiz-bang home screen stuff Google's shown on the Honeycomb tablets. In fact, the default launcher crashes out entirely, which means you need to install a replacement (Launcher Pro works nicely) just to play around.

Once you get in, it's pretty raw, but you immediately notice that the emulator's got some traces of smartphone support. Notably, the status bar reverts to a more smartphone-friendly form, albeit one with pre-Gingerbread background coloration and incorrectly-inverted font colors. The lock screen (pictured above) is back to its old form, not the webOS-esque circular lock in the Honeycomb tablet UI. The browser -- which has been completely revamped in Honeycomb -- works, though without visible tabs; Google might be thinking that they'd take up too much real estate on a screen this small.

Again, you can't glean much here, but it's interesting primarily because the emulator knows to revert to a smartphone UI layout at the lower resolution -- a possible sign that Honeycomb will be a true dual-mode, dual-purpose platform from day one. And even if it isn't, it looks like they're setting themselves up for a two-UI strategy down the road.
Gallery: Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support


[Thanks, Andrew]
Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Engadget Show returns this Sunday with Steve Wozniak!
Clear your calendars everybody, because this Sunday, January 30th, the inimitable co-founder of Apple Steve Wozniak will be joining us for the first Engadget Show of 2011! It will be a night to remember as Woz joins us for an evening of frank, eye-opening, and all-around awesome conversation. We'll be streaming live at 6:00PM from Cooper Union's Rose Auditorium and we've got about 200 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis if you want to join us in person. We'll also have music from the talented Zen Albatross and the usual crazy giveaways. Trust us when we say that this episode is going to be epic.

REMINDER: The Show will be taking place in a lovely new venue, the Rose Auditorium in Cooper Union's New Academic Building (ie. not the TimesCenter), located in Manhattan at 41 Cooper Square. Seating is extremely limited, so get there early!

Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know:
  • There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
  • The event is all ages
  • Ticketing will begin at the Cooper Union New Academic Building at 2:00PM on Sunday, January 30th, doors will open for seating at 5:15PM, and the show begins at 6:00PM
  • We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed -- you won't have to get back in line to get a good seat.
  • You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
  • Seating capacity is limited (only about 200 seats in the theatre), and once we're full, we're full
  • The venue is located at 41 Cooper Square New York, NY 10003 (map after the break)
  • The show length is around an hour
Unfortunately, we won't be running the usual text-to-win sweepstakes for this episode (we know it sucks, but it's out of our hands), so if you want a seat you'll have to show up in person. If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.


Subscribe to the Show:

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[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.Continue reading The Engadget Show returns this Sunday with Steve Wozniak!
The Engadget Show returns this Sunday with Steve Wozniak! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Flip Mino HD with 802.11n WiFi hits the FCC
We'd been hearing rumors that a next-gen Flip camera with WiFi would hit sometime in the first half of the year, and what's this? A new Flip video camera with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11n WiFi just popped up in the FCC database. Based on the shape of the FCC label, the location of the HDMI port, and the M3260 model number, it definitely looks like a member of the Mino family, but that's really all we know -- although if we had to bet, the 5GHz support is there so it can beam movies to the FlipShare TV. We'll see, we'll see.
Flip Mino HD with 802.11n WiFi hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
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Twelve South's BookArc for Air stand cozies up around your MacBook Air
Twelve South's made somewhat of a name for itself by crafting unexpected (and generally visually pleasing) accessories for everything Apple, but the ouftit's latest just seems particularly superfluous. The BookAir for Air is described as a vertical stand for the MacBook Air, enabling you to hoist your new ultraportable upright for use with a desktop monitor and keyboard. 'Course, we have to believe that only a smattering of individuals have any real interest in using their MBA as a desktop replacement, but hey, at least there's now a stand should you fit into that category. She'll be on sale soon for $39.99, with initial shipments to head out next month.
Gallery: Twelve South's BookArc for Air stand
Continue reading Twelve South's BookArc for Air stand cozies up around your MacBook Air
Twelve South's BookArc for Air stand cozies up around your MacBook Air originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTwelve South  | Email this | Comments
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Razer trots out mildly overhauled DeathAdder Black Edition USB gaming mouse
When you've got a good thing rolling, why stop? That's the mantra applied to Razer's latest, which is actually the third DeathAdder to be released. You may remember the original slinking out way back in 2006, with the southpaws in attendance finally getting one of their own in March of last year. Today, in order to celebrate the device's Wood Anniversary, Razer's loosing the USB-connected DeathAdder Black Edition. For all intents and purposes, this is the same DeathAdder that we came to love last decade, but with an ever-so-slightly tweaked design that adds non-slip rubber sides and an all-black finish. It'll ship globally next month for $59.99 / €59.99, with orders being taken right... about.. now.
Gallery: Razer DeathAdder Black Edition USB gaming mouse
Continue reading Razer trots out mildly overhauled DeathAdder Black Edition USB gaming mouse
Razer trots out mildly overhauled DeathAdder Black Edition USB gaming mouse originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceRazer  | Email this | Comments
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Visualized: Google's periodic table of APIs
The world of Google APIs and developer tools can be a confusing one, but the company has now at least brought a bit of order to the chaos with its own take on the periodic table of the elements. As you can see above, Android occupies the top spot normally reserved for hydrogen in the actual periodic table, and the remaining APIs and developer products are all grouped into their appropriate categories -- and, of course, linked to their respective websites. Hit up the link below to check out the table in its interactive form.
Visualized: Google's periodic table of APIs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Motorola lifts our spirits with new Atrix 4G video
Been feeling down this cold and dreary January? Well, let Motorola "introduce" you to its new smartphone! The CES conqueror we already know as the Atrix 4G has received its first promo video from the mothership, highlighting its laptop and HD multimedia docks (giving us a decent peek at the docked UI for both), dual-core processor and related gaming credentials, and, of course, that gorgeous qHD screen resolution on the handset itself. It's all set to a very uplifting soundtrack, connoting all the beautiful opportunity and potential that our collective smartphone future holds.

[Thanks, engadgeteer]Continue reading Motorola lifts our spirits with new Atrix 4G video
Motorola lifts our spirits with new Atrix 4G video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Pocketnow  |  sourcemotorola (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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Tesla details Closed Loop battery recycling program for Europe
Tesla details 'Closed Loop' battery recycling program for Europe
Electric cars need big 'ol batteries, like the Model S pack shown above, and while we've seen time and again that those cells hold up better than expected for years, eventually they're going to need to be decommissioned. What happens then? Tesla already has a recycling program in the US and now it's detailing plans for a similar program in Europe in partnership with Umicore. Tesla's packs are now eligible for Umicore's "Closed Loop" process, disassembling them to remove easily re-used components and then refining the rest of the cell constituents into things like lithium cobalt oxide, which can be used in other batteries, and other various byproducts that can be used in cement or as fill. The whole process of breaking down and extracting all the components is actually profitable, so hopefully Euro drivers won't get hit with any pricey Roadster disposal fees when they trade up to a Model S.
Tesla details Closed Loop battery recycling program for Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTesla Blog  | Email this | Comments
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Sony Cyber-shot HX100V and HX9V models leaked, superzoomers in large and small sizes
Sony Cyber-shot HX100V and HX9V models leaked, superzoomers in large and small size
Two new additions to the Cyber-shot line have apparently leaked, and while they're perhaps not as titillating as some other consumer electronics the company has managed to let slip ahead of their announcement, we'll bring them to you just the same. First is the HX100V, a 30x zoom (27 - 810mm) compact that borrows some features and styling from the Alpha line. It has a 16.2 megapixel backside-illuminated sensor with BIONZ processing capable of recording 1080p video and, supposedly, has GPS in there somewhere too. Next up is the HX9V, pictured below, a rather more compact compact offering what looks to be the same 16 megapixel sensor but tucked behind a smaller, 16x optical zoom lens. It too is said to do 1080p video but, alas, we don't have any clue about price or availability for either.Continue reading Sony Cyber-shot HX100V and HX9V models leaked, superzoomers in large and small sizes
Permalink   |  sourceLetsGoDigital HX100V, HX9V  | Email this | Comments
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Lockheed Martin's CHIL blends motion capture with VR, creates zombie engineers (video)
Lockheed Martin's CHIL blends motion capture with VR, lets engineers do the robot at work (video)
Computer-aided design is a great way to build products, but does it let you bust a funky move while wearing some crazy glasses and gloves? Heck no. You need Lockheed Martin's CHIL for that. It's the Collaborative Human Immersive Laboratory, virtual reality goggles and gloves combined with motion capture enabling teams of engineers to work together in a virtual space. You can see it in action below, used first for installing polygonal munitions into a rendered version of one of the company's F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, then for doing a little VR tai chi. A Lockheed rep promises that this enables the team to ensure the plane can be more easily and affordably maintained, but we just see this as high-tech training tool for the company's world-renowned synchronized dance teams.Continue reading Lockheed Martin's CHIL blends motion capture with VR, creates zombie engineers (video)
Permalink Switched  |  sourceLockheedMartinVideos (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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USC Smart Fences use spatio-temporal sensor patterns to create a DRADIS for airports
USC Smart Fences use spatio-temporal sensor patterns to create a DRADIS for airports
How do you send an automated alert to a security guard whenever anyone tries to climb a fence, but ignore anyone simply leaning on said chain link? How can a sensor pick up the presence of a Jeep but ignore a steady flow of gigantic airliners? Damned if we know, we're just bloggers, but a team at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering figured it out, creating what's called the Smart Fence. It's a series of sensors plus some associated circuitry that easily handle the situations described above and do so with amazing accuracy. How amazing? Here are the results of one test:
A perfect (100%) identification of unexpected intrusion events, and an average of less than two false positives per week and zero false negatives for recognition of human footsteps. In addition, no false positives or false negatives were reported by the installed fence sensors for a duration of 45 days of unattended operation, which included several days of seasonal storms.
Yeah, pretty good. The system is being developed for use around airports and military bases and is currently being funded largely by Navy grants. Now, if only they could create a system to prevent "laser events" and airport blizzards we might be able to travel safely again.
Permalink PhysOrg  |  sourceUSC Viterbi School of Engineering  | Email this | Comments
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Chevrolet rolling out Volt nationwide by end of year, everybody gets a plug-in
Chevrolet rolling out Volt nationwide by end of year, everybody gets a plug-in
Sick of waiting for your Leaf? Maybe you'll have more luck finding a Volt. Sure, it's not a pure EV, or even a pure series hybrid, but it is going to be a lot easier to find in the near future. Chevrolet has confirmed that the car will be going nationwide by the end of the year, expanding from its current availability in just a few states -- the crimson ones above. By the third quarter it will hit the great Pacific Northwest and the muggy Southeast, and then toward the end of the year it'll fill in the bits in the middle and warm the hearts and garages of Americans all the way up in Maine and Alaska. So, who's buying?Continue reading Chevrolet rolling out Volt nationwide by end of year, everybody gets a plug-in
Chevrolet rolling out Volt nationwide by end of year, everybody gets a plug-in originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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HP CEO: New webOS products shipping weeks after February 9 reveal, another big announcement March 14
It's been a few months since Leo Apotheker took the top spot at HP following the Mark Hurd debacle, and it sounds like he's got some big plans for the company -- speaking to the BBC, he says he hopes "one day people will say 'this is as cool as HP,' not 'this is as cool as Apple.'" How does he plan on doing that? By speeding up ship times, for starters -- unlike the year-long wait for the HP Slate, Apotheker says that "when HP makes announcements, it will be getting ready to ship," and that the new webOS products announced on February 9 will ship just a "few weeks" later. Speaking of the February 9 event, Apotheker said the new product line of tablets and mobile phones will have a new name that falls under the HP brand, which sounds like the Palm name is done for. (If we had to guess, it'll be HP webOS, but that's just a guess.)

On top of all that, the BBC calls February 9 just the "starting gun," because Apotheker's "secret answer" and "vision of what HP is capable of in the future" will come on March 14, where he'll try to pull together HP's vast product portfolio into a cohesive narrative. According to Apotheker, HP's size is its "basis of strength," and no other company sells everything from servers to phones the way HP does. Sounds extremely exciting -- and if Apotheker can pull it off, there's a chance we'll remember Mark Hurd's dalliance as the best thing that ever happened to HP.

[Thanks, soydeedo]
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Motorola Atrix 4G apparently priced at $150 by Costco, too
Never would we have guessed that third-party wireless retailers would be aiming to launch AT&T's powerhouse Atrix 4G for just $150 on contract -- $200 or $250, sure, but not $150. Alas, just a few hours after AmazonWireless' peep show, we're seeing an alleged leaked screen shot of Costco's inventory system showing the same blockbuster price. Now, bear in mind that AT&T itself will probably sell the phone for at least $50 more -- third parties usually have a second ETF on top of the carrier's that allows them to subsidize a little more heavily -- but it's a good sign regardless.
Motorola Atrix 4G apparently priced at $150 by Costco, too originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAndroidCentral  | Email this | Comments
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IDC: ZTE takes fourth in global cellphone rankings, leapfrogs Apple and knocks RIM out of top 5
IDC: ZTE takes fourth in global cellphone rankings, leapfrogs Apple and knocks RIM out of top 5
You like numbers? Good, because it's the season and amid all these lovely financial reports we've been hitting there are some broader trends to look at. IDC has released its mobile phone report for 2010 and has concluded that, worldwide, the industry grew 18.5 percent over 2009, shipping a massive 1.39 billion units. That's nice and all, but check out this bit about ZTE. The manufacturer boosted its annual shipments by 94 percent, stealing Apple's recently-won fourth place position globally and, in doing so, knocking RIM straight into the dreaded "others" category. Can RIM make it back? Will Apple recover? Will Siobhan and Lucky ever reconcile their differences? Tune in next quarter to find out.
Permalink BGR  |  sourceIDC  | Email this | Comments
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VW confirms it will build hyper-efficient XL1, Autocar gets to drive one
VW confirms it will build 313mpg XL1 diesel, Autocar gets to drive one
Think the Volkswagen XL1 concept is too far out there to ever get built? Tell that to the blokes in Wolfsburg. German source Automobilewoche is reporting that executives Ferdinand Piech and Martin Winterkorn both confirmed that the car will be produced in small numbers, first for Germany and later coming to the US and China. It's powered by a diesel engine with less than one liter of displacement, managing 313mpg combined (that's Imperial, 260mpg using American units) putting out just 48hp and thankfully assisted by a 27hp electric motor. Not much, but enough for the 1,750lb car, which Autocar correspondent Milton Holloway got to drive and said feels "fully sorted" despite an engine that's a bit rattly. It is a diesel, after all.
VW confirms it will build hyper-efficient XL1, Autocar gets to drive one originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Autoblog Green  |  sourceAutomobilewoche, Autocar  | Email this | Comments
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FCC grants LightSquared terrestrial-only waiver, puts an end to LTE drama
If you've been following the drama over LightSquared's application to build a wholesale integrated broadband / satellite network, it's time to put away the tissue box and toss out the bonbons. That's right, the FCC finally approved the company's conditional waiver for an ancillary terrestrial component integrated service rule. In other words, the entity gave LightSquared the green light to offer terrestrial-only phones, in addition to satellite service, as long as interference problems are addressed before the company starts building its network. Just two weeks ago, it looked like the FCC might strike down the proposal on a recommendation from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which warned of potential interference on the SMS network with the likes of Department of Defense Communications. LightSquared remained silent during deliberation, but following the FCC's decision, both parties gave a thumbs up to the outcome. Honestly, we could have done with a more heated back and forth, but we'll leave that to the professionals. What time is Bridalplasty on again?Continue reading FCC grants LightSquared terrestrial-only waiver, puts an end to LTE drama
FCC grants LightSquared terrestrial-only waiver, puts an end to LTE drama originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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New research suggests our brains delete information at an 'extraordinarily high' rate
The mysteries of the brain may be virtually endless, but a team of researchers from two institutes in Göttingen, Germany now claim to have an answer for at least one question that has remained a puzzle: just how fast does the brain forget information? According to the new model of brain activity that the researchers have devised, the answer to that is one bit per active neuron per second. As Fred Wolf of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization further explains, that "extraordinarily high deletion rate came as a huge surprise," and it effectively means that information is lost in the brain as quickly as it can be delivered -- something the researchers say has "fundamental consequences for our understanding of the neural code of the cerebral cortex."
Continue reading New research suggests our brains delete information at an 'extraordinarily high' rate
Permalink Geek.com  |   | Email this | Comments
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Sony Ericsson LiveView update is here, promises improved connections and Bluetooth compatibility
Good news, fellow Bluetooth watch fanatics! Just as promised, Sony Ericsson's finally doled out a major update to cure the LiveView once and for all. With this patch, users should now be seeing much better stability and compatibility with non-SE phones, as well as being able to install up to 30 plug-ins. We had a quick go on our refreshed LiveWatch and noticed that it now auto reconnects much better as well, and hopefully the same applies to everyone else. To get the update, simply use the SE Update Service for Windows (sorry, no Mac support) and follow the instructions -- download link available below if you're new to this.
Permalink Sony Ericsson Product Blog  |  sourceSony Ericsson  | Email this | Comments
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Geolocation app appeals to your inner good samaritan, makes you an amateur EMT
When you go into cardiac arrest, you've got about ten minutes to live if you don't receive medical attention, and the average emergency response time is seven minutes after you dial 911. In an effort to get folks help more quickly and leverage the iPhone's life saving abilities, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in California has created the FireDepartment app to enlist the help of the citizenry in fighting the (unfortunate) results of a lifetime of eating tacos. The iPhone app -- Android and BlackBerry versions are currently in the works -- allows emergency dispatchers to notify users via text of a nearby crisis. For those feeling heroic, the app displays a map with the victim's location and any nearby automatic electronic defibrillators, and provides "resuscitation reminders" in case you're the CPR teddy-toting type. For now, the service only works in San Ramon but there are plans to port it for use elsewhere. That means we can look forward to a nation of amateur EMTs, which makes us thankful that mouth-to-mouth is no longer a part of CPR. Check the video after the break to see the app in action.Continue reading Geolocation app appeals to your inner good samaritan, makes you an amateur EMT
Geolocation app appeals to your inner good samaritan, makes you an amateur EMT originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink O'Reilly Radar  |  sourceSan Ramon Valley Fire Protection District  | Email this | Comments
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Smart USA won't be stopped by snow, delivers first Fortwo Electric Drive to a customer
Smart USA won't be stopped by snow, delivers first Fortwo Electric Drive to a customer
Hertz may have been the first to get the suckers on the road, but Mindy Kimball of Silver Spring, MD is the first American customer to have a Smart Fortwo Electric Drive of her very own. She's a US Army Major and now has a funky little green (but not olive drab) and white coupe at home -- probably buried under a foot or two of white stuff at this point. She's member numero uno of Smart USA's so-called "Team 250," which will make up the first 250 owners of the cars, each of which offer a maximum of 72 miles of range and a top speed of 70mph. All while looking super cute.

[Thanks, Jason]
Permalink   |  sourceBenzInsider  | Email this | Comments
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Apple job posts point to built-in NFC capabilities for iPad / iPhone
Ladies and gentlemen of the, ahem, jury, we intend to show -- through rumors and circumstantial evidence -- that Apple might very well be building Nexus S-like NFC capabilities into next-generation iPhones and iPads. We present for your consideration exhibits A, B, and C: three Apple job posts, seeking two managers of global payment platforms and one test engineer for iPhone hardware. According to the original post, the right engineer possesses a background in both ICT (information and communication technology) and RFID (radio frequency identification), which forms the basis for NFC. Suspiciously, Apple removed the "ID" in "RFID" sometime in the past 24 hours. Still not convinced of Apple's NFC involvement? Consider this: Apple's manager of global payment platforms is tasked with contributing "to the analysis and development of new payment types and processes." Okay, so there's not a smoking gun in sight, but a little innocent conjecture never hurt anybody.
Apple job posts point to built-in NFC capabilities for iPad / iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink AppleInsider  |  sourceApple (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments
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Nikon patents DSLR camera / projector, high-end photographers may get to join the projection party
Nikon's done the projector-in-a-camera thing before, but the S1100pj was aimed at the compact digital camera crowd. In what appears to be an effort to take its game to the next level, the company has obtained a Japanese patent for a way to give a DSLR those same mythical projector capabilities. Though the patent's english detailed description states that images are "projected on the screen of the photographing instrument exterior via the eyepiece of an electronic view finder," something may have been lost in translation -- the drawings show the projection coming out of the camera's lens, and our hopes and dreams won't let us see anything else. Regardless of how the thing works, we hope that Nikon puts it into production soon, as we -- proud members of the "serious" photo-snapping crowd -- would like to share our pics at parties, too. Hit up the source link for the translated patent documents, but be aware that the link won't work in Chrome (IE or Firefox only) and you'll need to put in "A" for the Kind code and "2011-10098" in the Number field to get them. What, you thought surfing the world wide web was easy?
Permalink Nikon Rumors  |  sourceIndustrial Property Digital Library  | Email this | Comments
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