Friday, February 4, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 03/02/2011




N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 controller attachment now shipping
Admit it, you know you want one of those wild N-Control Avenger controller attachments: there's no shame in that, we want one too! The so-called "Exo-Suit" -- which we checked out at CES -- gives your Xbox controller an overhaul, and it is now officially shipping. The little unit will run you $39.99, so you can hit up the source link if that's what you're into.
N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 controller attachment now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAvenger Controller  | Email this | Comments
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News Corp. set to unload Myspace?
We hate to say it, but we could see this coming a mile down the road: After Myspace (or, as the kids say, my[_____]) relaunched itself as an entertainment portal to little effect late last year, and then the company went and laid off fifty percent of its staff, what's the next step? Tears -- a flood of bitter, bitter tears. And after that? Well, it looks like News Corp. is considering a couple options. As COO Chase Carey said on a recent earnings call, "The new MySpace has been very well received by the market and we have some very encouraging metrics. But the plan to allow MySpace to reach it's full potential may be best achieved under a new owner." Continuing with the theme, he told Paid Content the following: "There's been a lot of interest, because there's been some indication we're pursuing this path. We'll consider all options... it could be a sale, it could be an investor coming in to it, it could be us staying in with a restructured ownership structure with management." Now, that's a whole bunch of "corporate speak" there, and while the future is up in the air, we're fairly sure that if you called our man Chase and offered him cold, hard cash, you could probably take Myspace off his hands at a fairly reasonable price. Make sure you ask him to throw in the Blingees for free.
News Corp. set to unload Myspace? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Download Squad  |  sourcePaid Content  | Email this | Comments
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Canadian goverment vows to reverse CRTC decision on usage-based internet billing
It's happened before when Canadian government overturned the CRTC's decision and allowed Globalive to enter the Canadian cellphone market, and it looks like Ottawa is about to again weigh in and reverse an even more controversial ruling by the regulatory agency. As confirmed by Industry Minister Tony Clement on Twitter, the government plans to overturn the recent CRTC decision that effectively imposed usage-based internet billing if the agency doesn't back down and "go back to the drawing board." Citing a senior government official, The Toronto Star further reports that the reversal could come as early as next week. As any Canadians reading this may well be aware, the issue of usage-based internet billing has been simmering for some time, but it reached a tipping point with the CRTC's decision last week that affected smaller internet service providers who rely on the major telecom companies' networks. Under the new ruling, those companies would be have been faced with increased costs that would drastically limit the amount of maximum amount of data they're able to offer to customers each month -- one such ISP, Teksavvy, had in fact already sent out notices to customers informing them that their current 200GB cap would be dropping to just 25GB on March 1st, with any additional data use to be charged by the gigabyte.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Canadian goverment vows to reverse CRTC decision on usage-based internet billing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Toronto Star, @Tony_ClementMP (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments
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Motorola's Atrix 4G coming to AT&T on March 6th for $200, bundled with Laptop Dock for $500
Don't ever say Ma Bell lacks cahones. On the same day that existing Verizon customers began pre-ordering the CDMA'd iPhone 4, AT&T has come clean with what's next on America's largest GSM network. While announced at CES 2011, pricing and release information had eluded the luscious Atrix 4G... until now, that is. AT&T will begin pre-sales for the Froyo-powered Motorola Atrix 4G Android superphone on February 13th, with the standard $199.99 + two-year contract ($50 more than we were led to believe, mind you) getting one into your grubby mitts. We're told to expect general availability on March 6th "or earlier," putting it just about in line with the date we'd heard rumored. Moreover, those looking to buy will should have a difficult time laying off of the Laptop Dock bundle, which nets you an Atrix 4G as well as a $499.99 dock for the grand total of $499.99 on contract. You heard right -- those who opt to buy the dock at a later time will be asked to shell out five Benjamins, whereas that same tally on day one will also include the phone. It should be noted, however, that the bundle only applies if you also sign your name to a Data Pro plan and tethering add-on, so be sure you're down for that monthly hit before committing in haste. Oh, and just in case you simply can't stop spending, the carrier is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for Atrix 4G customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.Continue reading Motorola's Atrix 4G coming to AT&T on March 6th for $200, bundled with Laptop Dock for $500
Permalink   |  sourceThe Wall Street Journal, AT&T  | Email this | Comments
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Sony posts $1.64 billion profit, PlayStation has strong holiday quarter
Sony had quite a good holiday during its third quarter for fiscal year 2010, posting a ¥137.5 billion (approximately US $1.68b) operating income. Year-over-year, however, it's actually six percent lower than Q3 FY09, with some blame attributable to a five percent stronger yen. Although sales were more or less the same in most divisions (with pictures and music seeing a more noticeable drop), operating income saw dramatic changes. Consumer, Professional and Devices dropped 47 percent to ¥26.8b ($327.3m), while Networked Products and Services (which includes the PlayStation brand) jumped a whopping 134 percent to ¥45.7b ($559.78).

Looking at unit sales, Bravia sets were way up (7.9m units versus 5.4m in Q3 FY09), and video cameras, compact digital cameras, and PCs all saw moderate gains. PSP hardware took a pretty big hit, going from 4.2m last holiday to 3.6m this past quarter (the now-profitable PlayStation 3 saw a slight decline, 6.5m to 6.3m). Software-wise, though, both gaming machines saw a bump -- 57.6m (from 47.6m) for PS3 and 16.4m (from 15m) for PSP. The PlayStation 2, now almost 11 years old, actually had about the same 2.1m hardware unit sales YOY, though software took a pretty hard hit (from 11.2m to 5.3m). Sony's golden years console isn't going down without a fight -- then again, it might've been a different story had the company managed to add backwards compatibility to the PS3.
Sony posts $1.64 billion profit, PlayStation has strong holiday quarter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq, Kotaku, Business Week  |  sourceSony  | Email this | Comments
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Suck, squeeze, bang, bust: the death of internal combustion
I don't smoke and I never have. I can't say as I've felt the temptation to ever try that particular vice, especially given the cost these days. 50 years ago my avoiding that lifestyle choice would have put me in the minority, and if I'd dared asked a smoker to step outside or made any implications about what their habit was doing to my lungs... well, that wouldn't have gone over well.

Today, of course, such questions and expectations are the norm, with legislation forcing smokers into the cold and science showing that what comes out of their mouths isn't great for passers by. But why am I talking about cigarette smoking on a gadget blog? In a few decades this is what it's going to be like to drive a car with internal combustion, a life full of exorbitant taxes, constant inconveniences, and state-sponsored attempts at inducing shame among those who would dare putter around with an engine that casts off 70 percent (or more) of its energy as waste.Continue reading Suck, squeeze, bang, bust: the death of internal combustion
Suck, squeeze, bang, bust: the death of internal combustion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Verizon can now throttle top five percent of bandwidth hogs, downres multimedia transfers
Nice timing, Verizon. Just as thousands -- possibly zillions -- of smartphone users are pondering the switch to Big Red for Apple's iPhone 4, the carrier has slipped in two critical policy changes that are apparently effective immediately. Tucked within loads of fine print in a new PDF that surfaced on the company's site, there's this:
"Verizon Wireless strives to provide customers the best experience when using our network, a shared resource among tens of millions of customers. To help achieve this, if you use an extraordinary amount of data and fall within the top 5 percent of Verizon Wireless data users we may reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high quality network performance for other users at locations and times of peak demand. Our proactive management of the Verizon Wireless network is designed to ensure that the remaining 95 percent of data customers aren't negatively affected by the inordinate data consumption of just a few users."
To our knowledge, this is the first time that VZW has taken a notable position on throttling, and the link to its stance on net neutrality (as it applies to wireless, anyway) is fairly obvious. What's most interesting to us is the five percent of data users figure; the top one or two percent isn't a huge amount, and there's a good chance that bandwidth abusers are up in that echelon. But we're guessing that quite a few business travelers will fall within this particular range, and given that VZW now holds the right to throttle data for your existing billing cycle and the next one... well, good luck gritting your teeth and lasting through that two-year contract.

In related news, the company is also implementing optimization and transcoding technologies in its network, which is a politically correct way of explaining that it can downres any multimedia you try to send through Verizon's pipes. Head on past the break for the full quote.Continue reading Verizon can now throttle top five percent of bandwidth hogs, downres multimedia transfers
Permalink Mac Rumors, Boy Genius Report  |  sourceVerizon Wireless [PDF], (2)  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung refutes high Galaxy Tab returns, says rate is 'below 2 percent'
Samsung refutes high Galaxy Tab return rate claims
Poor Samsung can't catch a break. First executive Lee Young-hee was misunderstood, saying that sales of the Galaxy Tab were "quite smooth" but the transcript of that conversation saying that they were instead "quite small." Now the company is refuting another claim, that return rates for the Tab are near 16 percent. The company did so in a statement so tersely worded we can feature its entirety right here:
The return rate of the Galaxy Tab in the US as claimed by an North American market research firm is incorrect. According to Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications Business the return rate is below 2 percent.
So, there you have it. Below two percent, and right on par with what we've heard for the iPad.
Samsung refutes high Galaxy Tab returns, says rate is 'below 2 percent' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink BGR  |  sourceSamsung Tomorrow  | Email this | Comments
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Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video)
Quick, what's wrong with this picture? Oh, that's right -- dominoes don't topple all by themselves, do they? But these aren't your average tiles. Constructed by Japanese interaction researchers in 2009, these "Esper Dominoes" each have ZigBee radios inside, and as each stone falls it wirelessly tells the next to follow suit, all down the line. Of course, knowing all that, why would you ever settle for a boring row of five? Hit the break to see what these bones are really capable of, and join us in praying that some entrepreneur mass produces these perfect stocking stuffers before another two years fly by.Continue reading Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video)
Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Make, Japan Trends  |  sourceJarashi Works  | Email this | Comments
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Panasonic's 2011 HDTVs shown off in Japan with prices, March release dates
Panasonic's found time to show off its latest series of HDTVs in Japan, including the new top 3D-capable VT3, GT3 and ST3 generation plasmas, and DT3 LCDs, . As one might expect, the feature list is predictably similar to the US models with the next iteration of 3D panel technology, including a few Japan-specific features like VOD services and recording TV to USB drives.According to AV watch it looks like the starting prices have gone down slightly YoY as well, with the new 50-inch VT3 predicted to arrive March 18 for 380,000 yen ($4,654) down from 430,000 yen ($5,267) last year. The lower end GT3 series and new DT3 3D LCDs should arrive a week earlier on March 11, though we'll probably have to wait until much closer to launch again to find out precisely what the predictably lower US pricing will be this time around. Click on through for all the details you can stand in the meantime.
Panasonic's 2011 HDTVs shown off in Japan with prices, March release dates originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Impress  |  sourceST3, GT3, VT3, DT3  | Email this | Comments
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Shell Oil pulls the plug on its last algae biodiesel research project
Algae biodiesel has looked so promising (as in 100 times more fuel than corn or soy) that the U.S. Department of Energy gave $9 million to Cellana, a joint research venture between Shell Oil and HR Biopetroleum, specifically to look into the alternative energy source's prospects. It seems, however, that those prospects were no longer attractive to Shell, which has announced it will no longer pursue algae biodiesel, because it feels it doesn't have sufficient commercial viability. Partner HR Biopetroleum has stated it cannot continue the project on its own as Shell pursues other biofuel initiatives with other companies.
Shell Oil pulls the plug on its last algae biodiesel research project originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAutoblog  | Email this | Comments
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Xperia Play commercial surfaces, makes back alley surgery fun again (video)
You know, it just wouldn't be an ad campaign for a Sony game system without a suitable "WTF?" moment. And why would Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play (a.k.a. PlayStation phone, a.k.a. the Worst Kept Secret in the Business) be any different? There isn't much to say about this ad, except that the fine folks at Droid NYTT got hold of a copy, and that we hope these back-alley thumb transplant goons know a thing or two about anesthetics. See for yourself after the break.
Continue reading Xperia Play commercial surfaces, makes back alley surgery fun again (video)
Xperia Play commercial surfaces, makes back alley surgery fun again (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceDroid NYTT  | Email this | Comments
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AMD Radeon HD 6970M reviewed: major leap from HD 5870M, not quite a GTX 485M
What has 960 shaders, two gigabytes of dedicated GDDR5 memory with throughput of 115.2GBps, and the ability to churn 680 million polygons each and every second? Yes, the Radeon HD 6970M. AMD's fastest mobile chip to date has been doing the review rounds recently and the response has been unsurprisingly positive. Most modern games failed to trip up the 6970M even at 1920 x 1080 resolution, though the usual suspects of Crysis and Metro 2033 did give it a little bit of grief. All in all, the leap from the HD 5870M was significant, although NVIDIA's still relatively new GeForce GTX 485M has managed to hold on to its crown as the most powerful GPU on the mobile front. Benchmarks, architectural details, battery life tests (what battery life?), and value-adding enhancements await at the links below.
AMD Radeon HD 6970M reviewed: major leap from HD 5870M, not quite a GTX 485M originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceHot Hardware, Notebook Check, Tom's Hardware  | Email this | Comments
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Skifta Android app nabs DLNA certification: tablets and smartphones now streaming to STBs and more
Using your Android phone as a remote is hardly new, but using it to actually send content to a TV-connected set-top box? Now that's a novel concept. Skifta for Android has just become the first piece of software to be certified by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) under its new Software Certification program, enabling any Android-based smartphone or tablet to stream onboard media to any DLNA source, including TVs, stereos, PCs and Sony's PS3. It's hard to say what kind of phone (and what kind of bandwidth) will be needed for this to actually be an enjoyable experience, but those curious to find out can download the app for free in the Android Marketplace... provided you're using a device with Android 2.2 (Froyo) or higher, of course. Head on past the break for a explanatory video.Continue reading Skifta Android app nabs DLNA certification: tablets and smartphones now streaming to STBs and more
Permalink   |  sourceQualcomm  | Email this | Comments
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JVC GC-PX1 can't decide if it's cam or camcorder, does 1080p60 video and 10.6 megapixel stills
JVC GC-PX1 can't decide if it's a camera or camcorder, does 1080p60 video and 10.6 megapixel stills
We missed JVC's GX-PX1 camera when it was at CES, just a concept at that point but now getting more real. Impress got a little hands-on time with the curious model that features an incredibly slim, compact-like body behind a hunky, camcorder-like lens assembly. It'll do 1080p60 at 36Mbps, writing to SDXC or 32GB of internal memory, can capture 10 megapixel stills and, if you don't mind stepping down to 640 x 360, will manage 300 frames per second. There's a tiltable LCD on the back and a 10x optically stabilized zoom lens up front. The camera is due to be released later this month, but JVC hasn't seen fit to tell us how much it'll cost just yet.
Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceImpress  | Email this | Comments
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Best Buy's Buy Back Program to be made official during the Super Bowl... by Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne
We heard about this during the news avalanche that was CES early last month, but today Best Buy has started making its new Buy Back Program official in emails sent out to valued Reward Zone customers. The gist of the scheme is that Best Buy will offer you set "Buy Back" prices for goods you purchase from its stores, advertising it as a reassurance that your electronics won't depreciate too much during your ownership. The leaked info we saw in January showed that you'll have to pay an extra fee at the point of purchase to enroll into the Program and Best Buy's highest re-purchase offers were capped at 50 percent of the initial price, so don't expect this to be any great favor to you, Mr. Consumer. For more info, keep your eyes locked on the Super Bowl this Sunday, when Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne (no, seriously) will do their best to explicate Best Buy's new venture.

[Thanks, Jeff and John]
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Visualized: Nokia R&D spending, almost 3 times its peers
Our initial reaction to the Bernstein Research chart above is to wonder what value Nokia's massive R&D spending has achieved. Sadly, that's our second and third reaction, too, having spent some time with the company's Symbian OS. Let's just hope all that money was poured into MeeGo or some other megaprofitable ecosystem that it will "build or join" in 2011.

Update: Added a snapshot of Nokia's R&D spending from 2007 and 2008 (when the company topped the EU with US$7.24 billion spent on R&D) after the break. Continue reading Visualized: Nokia R&D spending, almost 3 times its peers
Visualized: Nokia R&D spending, almost 3 times its peers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAll Things Digital  | Email this | Comments
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GM CEO Dan Akerson wants next-gen Chevy Volt to be $7,500 cheaper, we do too
GM CEO Dan Akerson wants next-gen Chevy Volt to be $7,500 cheaper, we do too
We like the idea of the Chevy Volt, but at a starting price of $40,280 it's a bit of a tough sell -- even considering the $7,500 tax break you'll get for being on the cutting edge. GM CEO Dan Akerson agrees, according to GM-Volt.com giving his designers the task of cutting $7,500 out of the car's cost by the time its next generation appears at dealers. Assuming our federal tax credit still exists that would push the out the door figure for the car down to around $25,000, about the same as the Nissan Leaf and into the budgets of far more Americans than it currently targets. We're not sure exactly what corners will be cut to make this happen, but we're hoping they don't try to make the wheels any thinner.
GM CEO Dan Akerson wants next-gen Chevy Volt to be $7,500 cheaper, we do too originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Green Car Advisor  |  sourceGM-Volt.com  | Email this | Comments
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Mad Catz snatches up exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones
The crazy kitties over at Mad Catz have signed yet another licensing agreement to further sink their claws into the world of gaming peripherals -- they've just sealed a deal with Microsoft to be the exclusive supplier of Xbox 360 wireless headphones, as well as non-exclusive rights for wired 360 headphones. All products under the agreement will bear the Xbox logo, as well as the signature "T" from Mad Catz's recently acquired Tritton series, but don't go out looking for them anytime soon -- these cats won't mark their territory until Christmas 2011.Continue reading Mad Catz snatches up exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones
Mad Catz snatches up exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMad Catz  | Email this | Comments
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Agility Saietta unveiled, the decidedly unconventional electric sports bike
Saietta
A new player has entered the electric motorcycle game, joining the likes of Brammo's Empulse but doing it with rather more... unconventional styling. It's the Agility Global Saietta, an all-electric sports bike that will come in two flavors: the 50 mile range Saietta S and the 100 mile Saietta R. The former of the two will be quicker than the first, getting to 60 in under four seconds, whereas R riders will have to wait another tick of the stopwatch due to extra battery weight. Naturally that extra range and speed will cost you: £9,975 for the S and £13,975 for the R, figures that equate to roughly $16,200 and $22,650. Hefty sums, both, but nobody said being on the cutting edge of the humpbacked sport bike trend was going to be cheap. We weren't given any specific horsepower or weight figures, but we're told the power to weight ratio is 675hp per ton. You can make your own guesses about weight to try and get a firm power figure, but it certainly should be peppy enough.

At this point we don't know much about the bikes themselves beyond what you can see in the photos, which show a trellis frame cradling a sizeable battery pack. The swingarm is a combination of machined parts and pipes, rear suspension elevated to make room for the electric motor sitting just above the pivot point. Front suspension also shows an unconventional design, offset steering linkage and a single damper eschewing the traditional fork design found on your average (non-BMW) motorcycle. These images are, of course, just renders, but the bike has just made its word debut at the MCN London Motorcycle Show and we'll be bringing you some actual pictures as soon as we get them. As to when those who order the bikes will get theirs, we're told shipments begin in April.

Update: We have some pictures from the Saietta launch at MCN. Real, honest to gosh photos, these.

Update 2: We're told it's actually the lighter S that's quicker to 60, not the R, despite what the PR says below.
Gallery: Agility Saietta

Gallery: Saietta Launch
Continue reading Agility Saietta unveiled, the decidedly unconventional electric sports bike
Agility Saietta unveiled, the decidedly unconventional electric sports bike originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPhone 4 to get AT&T mobile hotspot capabilities on February 13th?
So you might have noticed a few reviews of Verizon's iPhone 4 crop up last night, nothing unusual about that, but a couple of its reviewers have had something to say about AT&T's version of the phone as well. Walt Mossberg and David Pogue (who has since stricken the date from his review) both pinpoint February 13th as the date when they expect AT&T to turn on the Personal Hotspot capability that Verizon's iPhone will have from launch. That's expected to happen with an update to iOS 4.3, which recently went out to developers in its third beta iteration, suggesting the software's nearly mature enough for public consumption and seemingly fitting right into this timeline. Mind you, this is still not concrete information, as Mossberg could conceivably have been talking of AT&T's Mobile Hotspot app which is launching on the same day on devices like the Inspire 4G, and Pogue could have deleted the date for similar reasons, but we're somehow disinclined to believe that two gentlemen in a position to have insider(ish) intel would both make such a mistake at the same time.
iPhone 4 to get AT&T mobile hotspot capabilities on February 13th? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAll Things Digital, AppleInsider  | Email this | Comments
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EyeSight brings its gesture controls to Android tablets, Windows-based devices
EyeSight has been bringing its hand-waving UI to all sorts of mobile devices for some time now, and it's now expanded things yet again. Following up its launch on Android last summer, the company has announced that its gesture recognition software has now also been tailored specifically for Android tablets and other "computer-based" Android platforms, and it's announced that it's now available for Windows-based devices as well. As before, the software is able to work with just about any built-in camera, and the company says that it has been "highly optimized" for mobile platforms, with low CPU and memory requirements. It's not something available directly to users, though -- it's up to developers to license it and include the functionality in their applications. Head on past the break for an idea of how it works -- just try to ignore that conspicuously out of place iPad at the beginning of the video.Continue reading EyeSight brings its gesture controls to Android tablets, Windows-based devices
EyeSight brings its gesture controls to Android tablets, Windows-based devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thanko's USB kitty mask might get you noticed
You know why he's so happy? Because he's Japanese, and being Japanese is awesome. Trains run on time, robots do the work, and you get to wear kitty-faced masks with a USB- or battery-powered fan to circulate the atmosphere in front of your air holes... and nobody cares. ¥1,980 (about $24), or ¥2,190 gift wrapped for someone special.
Thanko's USB kitty mask might get you noticed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceThanko  | Email this | Comments
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Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play retail booths exposed
We said it at the Show and we'll say it again, Sony Ericsson just can't keep a lid on (any) secret information. The Xperia Play, formerly and more poetically known as the PlayStation Phone, has been previewed, videoed, and loved (mostly by us), but today we can add even more to our foreknowledge about this still unannounced device in the form of its in-store booths. Yes, SE has planned out how resellers and carriers will pimp its gaming smartphone at retail, and yes, renders of that "brand experience" have leaked out. It's nothing jaw-dropping, just some upright pedestals with the words "smart phone, smart gaming" on its side, but at least it signals that we're at an advanced stage of preparations ahead of the handset's launch. There is a T-Mobile logo on there too, but that could be just a placeholder or could refer to territories outside the US. Either way, spring does sound like the perfect time for some more Gingerbread in our lives.

Update: Although we've been assured that the layout above is genuine, the slim device pictured on top of the stands looks like the Xperia Arc. The device at the bottom looks more like a cross between a PSP Go and the Xperia Play. Of course, we're expecting to see a myriad of Android devices announced with PlayStation Suite support, so who knows.
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play retail booths exposed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink @Domipost (Twitter)  |  sourceAll About Phones  | Email this | Comments
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HTC Pyramid emerges from the mists of speculation with a 1.2GHz dual-core, 4.3-inch screen, T-Mobile 4G
First Sprint got a 4G-capable, 4.3-inch Android phone from HTC, then this January AT&T (Inspire 4G) and Verizon (Thunderbolt) received promises of the same. Is T-Mobile feeling left out? It might not be for long, as the rumor mill has just churned out a rather mighty 1.2GHz dual-core beast of a handset and is ascribing it to the Magenta network for a launch some time around May or June. We're hearing it'll come with qHD resolution (960 x 540, just like the Atrix 4G) and the SOC within will be that famed Snapdragon MSM8260 that Qualcomm teased briefly at CES a couple of weeks ago. Lending credence to this scuttlebutt is the fact that both TmoNews and Android and Me found sources affirming the Pyramid's existence, leaving us only to wait and wonder about what we can do with a device of its kind.

{Image credit: Nina Aldin Thune]
Permalink   |  sourceTmoNews, Android and Me  | Email this | Comments
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What is Google Who? (updated)
You see what we're seeing in the browser history? Google Who. Google Who? What's that? It appears at the 32 minute mark from yesterday's Android event video. Perhaps it's just an internal directory lookup or maybe it's something more, a 20 percent project possibly. Tommy, can you hear me?

Update: Aww, we just got word that it's The Goog's internal employee directory. Thanks for playing.

[Thanks, Joshua G.]
What is Google Who? (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Watch Google's Android event in full: Honeycomb on the Xoom, Android Market website, in-app purchases, and Cee-Lo Green

There was plenty about yesterday's Android event that didn't make headlines but was worth noting. Hardware acceleration of both 2D and 3D UI elements -- shown off to great effect by Google's Hugo Barra, who managed to scroll through three lists simultaneously without inducing any lag on the Motorola Xoom -- should make Honeycomb as delicious to look at as it sounds, while our personal favorite, the new tablet-specific email interface, should be part of Gmail yesterday. The email UI is built out of elements Google calls fragments, which will supposedly be easy to transition down to smartphones, so thumbs up all around. The video above also runs you through the big news of the day, namely that Android Market can now be accessed via a dedicated website and apps downloaded to your device remotely, along with the equally important (for devs) addition of in-app purchases. Finally, Cee-Lo Green pops in for a video chat session from wherever he is on the internets, and we're all treated to an exhibition of lag-afflicted, awkward conversation. What's not to love?
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Robo-Rainbow, all the way (video)
Paul Vasquez, meet your mech god... if god rode a bicycle and illegally tagged decrepit streetscapes with happy bands of color. Watch this complicated technical solution assist with a simple act of vandalism art urban renovation in the video after the break.

[Image credit: Donna Zoll]Continue reading Robo-Rainbow, all the way (video)
Robo-Rainbow, all the way (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Adafruit  |  sourcemudlevel (Vimeo), donnazoll (Flickr)  | Email this | Comments
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Dropcam app comes to Android, lets you monitor your security cameras from afar
iPhone users have been able to keep watch on their Dropcam security cameras from the convenience of a dedicated app since the Dropcam Echo launched last summer, but Android users have unfortunately been left with no other option than to simply use the standard, less-than-mobile-friendly web interface. The company's now finally corrected that oversight, however, and released a full-fledged app for Android smartphones running Android 2.2 or higher. The key advantage with a Dropcam setup -- as we noted in our review of the camera itself -- is that it's entirely cloud-based, and doesn't need to be connected to your home computer to record or share video (unfortunately, that convenience comes at quite a cost). As for the Android app, it will let you receive things like motion and audio alerts, and of course let you check in on a live stream or access recordings -- those just looking try the service can also simply access some public webcams to test it out.Continue reading Dropcam app comes to Android, lets you monitor your security cameras from afar
Dropcam app comes to Android, lets you monitor your security cameras from afar originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceDropcam  | Email this | Comments
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BMW's Wherever You Want To Go explores the future of mobility
Perhaps you weren't sold on the concept of urban mobility in your car of tomorrow when Audi started researching the subject, but maybe BMW's new documentary film series will persuade you. Chapter one of Wherever You Want to Go made its debut today and features interviews with visionaries from both in and outside the automotive community -- from astronaut Buzz Aldrin to co-founder of ZipCar Robin Chase -- speaking about how cars can and will adapt to meet the needs of future metropolitan denizens. This first movie is pretty much an extended trailer, so we'll be interested to see the full conversations in the coming installments -- and we can only hope these chats with forward-thinkers convince BMW to re-evaluate its ridiculous car of tomorrow concepts. Chapter two drops on February 8th, so stay tuned. Vid's after the break.Continue reading BMW's Wherever You Want To Go explores the future of mobility
BMW's Wherever You Want To Go explores the future of mobility originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Translogic  |  sourceBMW  | Email this | Comments
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Apple to require in-app subscriptions for periodicals by March 31st, fine print still a bit fuzzy
We knew The Daily was to be just the first drop what's destined to be a flood of titles with in-app purchases for the iTunes store, but we weren't quite sure how hard Apple would be twisting the faucet -- until now, that is. According to The Wall Street Journal, Cupertino will reject any newspaper or magazine app that doesn't take subscription payments through the iTunes store. It doesn't have to be solely Apple's store -- developers can still sell through websites in addition to the mandated in-app option. (If you recall, this is the same issue that Sony Reader for iOS just faced.) There are a few big questions lingering out there: will the 70 / 30 revenue sharing apply? Does the "rejection" apply to apps already in the store like Amazon's Kindle? You bet your (virtual) bottom dollar we'll be finding out soon enough.
Permalink   |  sourceWSJ  | Email this | Comments
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Hulu CEO welcomes back The Daily Show & more from Viacom, lays out a battle plan for the future
The news spinning around Hulu hasn't been positive lately, with increasing competition and rumors of a change in business model, but CEO Jason Kilar's latest blog post tells a different side of the story. First, after popular choices like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report were unceremoniously yanked back in April it has a new deal with Viacom that's bringing those shows back to Hulu and Hulu Plus starting today, with episodes of current shows like Jersey Shore and Tosh.0 showing up 21 days after they air. Strictly for the pay subscribers, library episodes of The Chappelle Show and others will show up on Hulu Plus.

As for the future of the business, he sees Hulu as able to serve trends giving customers more convenient video access with less ads and more social media presence -- a goal we can get behind, but that may leave content providers wondering how they'll get paid in this shiny new world. To that end he's touting the growth of Hulu's ad revenue as seen in the chart after the break and the rising number of Hulu Plus subscribers with a promise to hit 1 million this year. While that's well behind Netflix's most recent count, he's taking a new shot at the throne by claiming Hulu can afford to pay more for content and that studios should start signing deals on per-user, per-month basis instead of the flat rates Netflix has negotiated so far. Give the full thing a read to get a better idea of where Jason's head is at (when he's not planning a GTL run, check the pr after the break for more details on that), we'll be busy watching Jon Stewart's interview with Michael Steele.

Update: Peter Kafka over All Things Digital has word that the deal cost Hulu somewhere between $40m and $50m -- and that sum could increase depending upon the shows' performance.
Continue reading Hulu CEO welcomes back The Daily Show & more from Viacom, lays out a battle plan for the future
Permalink   |  sourceHulu Blog  | Email this | Comments
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RoboEarth teaches robots to learn from peers, pour European fruit beverages (video)
It's not quite war-ready, but a new Skynet-like initiative called RoboEarth could have you reaching for your guide to automaton Armageddon sooner than you think. The network, which is dubbed the "World Wide Web for robots," was designed by a team of European scientists and engineers to allow robots to learn from the experience of their peers, thus enabling them to take on tasks that they weren't necessarily programmed to perform. Using a database with intranet and internet functionality, the system collects and stores information about object recognition, navigation, and tasks and transmits the data to robots linked to the network. Basically, it teaches machines to learn without human intervention. If the introduction of this robo-web hasn't got you thinking of end times, maybe this will do the trick: it's already taught one robot, the TechUnited AMIGO, to deliver a box of creamy fruit juice to a bedridden scientist. You can check out video of the newly appointed automated waiter after the jump.Continue reading RoboEarth teaches robots to learn from peers, pour European fruit beverages (video)
Permalink Materialise  |  sourceRoboEarth  | Email this | Comments
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Verizon iPhone review
The Verizon iPhone 4 is an interesting product for Engadget to review. Firstly, it's not exactly a new device (not in any outwardly noticeable way). From design, down to its CPU, RAM, and even cost, this iPhone is the same as the AT&T model... save for that one small but really important thing: it's got a CDMA radio inside. The device is also somewhat tricky to review based on its software, since we've all been using (and even took a deep look at) iOS 4.2 for quite some time. So for us the task is to make clear the differences between these two devices and their networks. Now that's a little easier, because we're sure you have the same questions as us. What are calls like? How are the data rates? Is service notably improved or different than AT&T's? Most importantly, if you're currently a frustrated iPhone 4 owner, does it make sense to make the switch? We're going to answer all those queries (and more), so read on for a full review of the Verizon iPhone 4!
Gallery: Verizon iPhone review photos
Continue reading Verizon iPhone review
Verizon iPhone review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Graphene coatings used to repel, attract water, could make Rain-X decidedly obsolete
Graphene coatings used to repel, attract water, could make Rain-X decidedly obsolete
Graphene looks poised to replace our silicon and our touchscreens, even fix our batteries. Now it's due for something perhaps a little less revolutionary: keep our pants clean. Physicist James Dickerson and a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University have created two ways to apply thin graphene sheets that either make them super-hydrophobic or super-hydrophilic. These alternate arrangements, termed "rug" and "brick," make the water bead up and run off or spread out and form incredibly thin sheets. Potential applications are windshields that don't need wipers, pants that cause red wine drops to just bounce off, and goggles that never, ever fog -- no buffing required.
Permalink Graphene-Info.com  |  sourceVanderbilt Research News  | Email this | Comments
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BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen partner for future hybrid tech, put that Great War thing behind them
The last century saw no shortage of disputes between the French and the Germans, but in this century everything's going to be totally cool. BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën, the company that quite naturally owns the Peugeot and Citroën marques, have come to form a partnership focused on the creation of advanced hybrid systems. The name for this new partnership? BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification, quite naturally. The fruit of this holy union will be better battery packs, generators, and electronics that will not only help the manufacturers that have joined together here, but will also be sold to other manufacturers who need a little help from their friends. We'll have to wait a little while before we see any results, though: actual components aren't expected to hit the road until 2014 at the earliest -- coincidently about 100 years since things got awfully testy at Alsace-Lorraine.Continue reading BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen partner for future hybrid tech, put that Great War thing behind them
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HEX debuts iPod nano watch band compatible with Nike+
Sure, you can get a Nike+ SportsWatch, or a simply pair an iPod nano with Nike+, but those looking to use their iPod nano as a watch with Nike+ have so far been left with few options beyond the DIY route. Watch band-maker HEX now looks set to change that, however, with its new Sports Watch Band that's set to debut in April. As you can see above, there's not a whole lot too it -- just a reasonably stylish wristband with a "port" that's able to accommodate the Nike+ attachment. No word on a price just yet, nor is there any indication that it will come in colors other than white -- though that seems a safe bet if the company's previous watch band is any indication.Continue reading HEX debuts iPod nano watch band compatible with Nike+
HEX debuts iPod nano watch band compatible with Nike+ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Engadget Show: Xperia Play / PlayStation phone previewed, 'shoulder flippers' in tow (video)

We expect each and every one of you to watch the Engadget Show's initial live stream and to download / re-watch it when we post up the official HD files -- and that expectation goes double for episodes featuring Steve Wozniak. So when we tell you about this awesome breakout clip of Nilay and Josh playing with Sony's top secret Xperia Play / PlayStation phone prototype -- the one Richard Lai previewed last week -- it's not because we suspect it's the first time you've seen the footage. No, we just want to provide yet another excuse to watch Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha with slow framerate, and get a visual cue of the custom-made Josh Topolsky soundboard app. We imagine the games to be much Suite-r by the time the device makes its (much more likely than not) Mobile World Congress debut this month.
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Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' can encrypt all your data, needs a full hour's charge
Diving through the Motorola Xoom's sweet, sweet blend of Android 3.0, we found an interesting perk -- there's an "Encrypt Tablet" option buried in the settings page, intended to secure all your personal data with a password or PIN. While a handy Google rep couldn't tell us which cryptographic standards the OS uses, he did tell us the feature is part of Honeycomb as a whole, not a Motorola exclusive, so we're sure to see the option in other business-minded Android slates to come. Oh, and Google asks that all you sysadmins stay tuned, as the company's whipped up an API that lets you enforce policy restrictions upon your peons as far as encryption is concerned. Just make sure they remember to keep the tablet charged. See a close-up after the break.Continue reading Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' can encrypt all your data, needs a full hour's charge
Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' can encrypt all your data, needs a full hour's charge originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Seven airlines now offering free in-flight Facebook
Free and fast in-flight WiFi may be an unrealizable dream, but free in-flight Facebook? Wish no more. As of today, seven airlines are running a promotion with Gogo internet to bring your in air Facebook dreams to life. The airlines include Delta, AirTran, American, Virgin Atlantic, Alaska, US Airways, and United, who with Gogo now offer internet on 1,100 commercial and 5,000 private planes. It's unclear how long the promotion will last -- nothing good lasts forever -- but get in there while you can and do a few status updates, maybe check out your friends' awesome Groundhog Day 2011 links.
Seven airlines now offering free in-flight Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceUSA Today  | Email this | Comments
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