Friday, February 11, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 10/02/2011




Obama announces plan to free up 500MHz of spectrum, invest in 4G for rural areas, and build out nationwide public safety network
We knew the White House was on board with the FCC's desire to free up an additional 500MHz worth of spectrum over the next decade from private and federal holders, as announced last year, and now Obama has announced the plan to do it. The plan is to incentivize the current spectrum squatters with a share of the revenue gained from auctioning off the spectrum -- mostly for mobile broadband use -- which only seems fair, and for now it seems those auctions will be voluntary. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, the plan also includes a $5 billion investment in constructing 4G networks in rural areas (with a goal to reach at least 98% of Americans with the service), a $3 billion fund for 4G R&D to help the rollout, and $10.7 billion for a wireless public safety network. The beauty of this plan is that all these proposed costs are offset by the spectrum auction, which is estimated to raise $27.8 billion, of which $9.6 billion will be dedicated to deficit reduction. Oh, and the best news? The government has already found 115MHz worth of Federal spectrum that it can free up by using its other spectrum more efficiently, and has another 95MHz worth in its sights. Hit up the source link to see President Obama's speech on the subject, which has just begun, or check it out embedded after the break.Continue reading Obama announces plan to free up 500MHz of spectrum, invest in 4G for rural areas, and build out nationwide public safety network
Permalink CBC News  |  sourceWhite House Press Release  | Email this | Comments
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Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor
HP already put out the first official word about Qualcomm's new Snapdragon APQ8060 processor yesterday when it revealed that its TouchPad was based on it, but Qualcomm's now also come out and properly announced the new processor itself. That's, of course, a dual-core processor, and comes paired with an Adreno 220 GPU that Qualcomm says helps to deliver "unprecedented processing and 3D graphics performance." What's more, while the TouchPad is the first device to use the processor, it obviously won't be the last, and Qualcomm has now also given us an idea of what sort of capabilities those devices (including smartphones in addition to tablets) might have -- namely, cameras up to 16 megapixels, and the ability to capture and display 1080p stereoscopic 3D video or 8 megapixel stereoscopic still images. Head on past the break for the complete press release.Continue reading Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor
Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Internet Explorer 9 RC now available to download, tracking protection in tow
The Internet Explorer 9 beta pleasantly surprised us with Microsoft's renewed competitiveness in the web browser wars, and the pinnable, hardware-accelerated experience is getting even better today -- you can download the IE9 release candidate right now, which streamlines and beautifies the tabbed browsing layout considerably, adds those previously promised, fully customizable tracking protection lists for privacy and freely toggled ActiveX filters, as well as an updated Javascript engine, geolocation support via HTML5, the ability to pin web apps to the taskbar, and a host of assorted speed and functionality improvements. Find the files you need at our source link below, and let us know if the Beauty of the Web captivates you this time around.
Internet Explorer 9 RC now available to download, tracking protection in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Download Squad  |  sourceMicrosoft  | Email this | Comments
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Nokia's Capital Markets Day is tomorrow, and we'll be there live!
February 11th, 2011. It looks set to be a day to remember in the grand history of that titan of the mobile industry, Nokia Corporation. Its fearless new leader has been trumpeting the need for change both in public appearances and in the private corridors of Espoo, and tomorrow he gets the stage all to himself, having been handed the keys and told to pick a direction in which to drive. Will he steer Finland's proudest export into the warm embrace of Microsoft and its developing Windows Phone 7 platform? Will he respond to being described as the orchestrator of a turkey sandwich? Or will he be his usual understated self and lay out a sensible roadmap for righting the wrongs of Nokia's recent past? If we're lucky, he'll do all three tomorrow morning. The show gets started early, at 10AM GMT, but whether you're staying up late or getting up early, we don't expect you to miss a moment of it.

12:00AM - Hawaii
02:00AM - Pacific
03:00AM - Mountain
04:00AM - Central
05:00AM - Eastern
10:00AM - London
11:00AM - Paris
01:00PM - Moscow
03:30PM - Mumbai
07:00PM - Tokyo
09:00PM - Sydney
Nokia's Capital Markets Day is tomorrow, and we'll be there live! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Windows Phone 7's copy and paste update now coming in March?
If you don't have a Windows Phone 7 device, you may have assumed that first major update with copy and paste support had been released to end users by now -- and we wouldn't necessarily blame you. If you do have a Windows Phone 7 device, however, you know how very untrue that is... and the latest rumors suggest that you won't be on track to get it this month. To be fair, Microsoft never promised that we'd see the update on handsets in February in any official capacity, but rumors at one time had suggested it'd happen; of course, they also suggested January, so you see how that goes. Anyhow, both Neowin and ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley are liking March 8 as a possibility, citing the difficulties in getting carriers and manufacturers on board for a coordinated launch of a firmware update that they're all accustomed to having more control over. Since early last year, Microsoft had said it'd be controlling platform updates pretty tightly -- certainly more tightly than in the disjoint Android world -- and we can imagine that takes a little bit of adaptation for the likes of LG and Samsung. Anyhow, here's hoping everyone's up to date on the 8th, eh?
Windows Phone 7's copy and paste update now coming in March? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceZDNet, Neowin  | Email this | Comments
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HTC to debut Android phone with dedicated Facebook button that doubles as Winklevii irritant
Do you know how much time is lost having to jump out of an application to click on the Facebook icon (or widget) on your home screen? That 0.4 seconds, when done hundreds of times each and every day (assuming you ever leave the Facebook screen in the first place) can really add up -- precious time you could spend updating your status and liking your girlfriend's brother's Business Cat wall post. INQ figured it out, and HTC may have found a way to restore those precious seconds, as well. According to The Financial Times, the company plans to introduce an Android device with a dedicated Facebook button (note: not a "Facebook phone"). We wouldn't expect anything crazy out of the clicker, however, as the dream crushers known currently as "people familiar with the device" say its purpose is to take you to the Facebook front page -- if you want something more. HTC is expected to introduce it this month, and if we were betting folk, we'd say that meant Mobile World Congress next week.
Permalink   |  sourceFT.com  | Email this | Comments
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Sprint posts best customer gains in five years
The decision to move to WiMAX instead of LTE will probably be second-guessed by pundits and investors for years to come, but regardless, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has emerged as one of the wireless industry's great comeback kids now that he appears to be succeeding in his goal of turning the carrier's tailspin right around. The latest victory comes in the form of Sprint's fourth quarter 2010 results, which reveal its largest subscriber gain since the first and second quarters of 2006 -- yes, 2006. Total adds were 1.1 million, though net postpaid adds were only 58,000, suggesting that prepaid services are the big push right now. Additionally, Sprint reported its lowest postpaid customer churn in the fourth quarter of any year in its history at 1.86 percent. On the downside, the company's still technically in the red, reporting an operating loss of $139 million on revenues of $8.3 billion. Overall, Hesse says they've got "momentum" heading into the new year, anticipating net customer additions in 2011. Give us an EVO 4G 2, Dan, and we might just be willing to agree.
Sprint posts best customer gains in five years originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSprint  | Email this | Comments
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Camera Mic app turns your iPhone mic into a shutter release
Camera Mic app turns your iPhone microphone into a shutter release
That pretty much says it all, folks. It's an app for your iPhone that lets you run your finger across the mic on your handset or headset and use it to trigger the camera. Simple? Yes. Genius? Maybe, so long as you aren't the sort who mindlessly strokes your headphone cable while on the subway or bus. Yours now for a buck.
Camera Mic app turns your iPhone mic into a shutter release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink life hacker  |  sourceiTunes  | Email this | Comments
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Pelican Imaging's prototype array camera could make your pictures better, phones thinner (video)
Pelican's prototype array camera could make your pictures better, phones thinner (video)
If you want to look for life on another planet you don't build one radio telescope that's miles wide, you build a bunch of smaller ones and create an array out of them. As it turns out that basic idea works for capturing visible wavelengths as well. It's called a plenoptic camera, using an array of very small lenses that, when combined, can create an image as good as a larger one. Pelican Imaging is largely interested in the slim factor this kind of system could offer, potentially allowing for thinner phones, but this could also open the door to some interesting effects. Check out the video after the break for an example of the dynamic aperture control this sort of setup can allow, where you can change the focal plane of an image after it was taken. Given the small size of the array here you probably couldn't do anything too crazy, like take a picture through a tree, but the days of poorly focused cameraphone shots might finally be at an end -- whenever this actually comes to market.Continue reading Pelican Imaging's prototype array camera could make your pictures better, phones thinner (video)
Permalink CNET  |  sourcePelican Imaging  | Email this | Comments
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RunCore USB 3.0 Express SSD offers 64GB of storage and two ports in one killer device
RunCore USB 3.0 Express SSD stores 64GB of birds with one, USB 3.0-having stone
Let's say you have a laptop. It has an ExpressCard slot but, because it's a little old, it doesn't have USB 3.0. Also, it just doesn't have enough storage to suit your needs any more. Oh, and the keys are kind of worn and shiny, especially H for some reason. RunCore can't help with that last problem, but it certainly has a tidy solution for the other two, a solution with a highly appropriate name: the USB 3.0 Express SSD. It offers 64GB worth of SSD storage plus a pair of cerulean USB 3.0 ports poking out the side just waiting for something -- like maybe another SSD. No word on price or availability, but we're hoping for soon, because this ExpressCard slot here isn't going to fill itself.
Permalink   |  sourceEverything USB  | Email this | Comments
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Marvell unveils Avastar 88W8797, first wireless SoC for mobile devices with 2x2 MIMO
Avastar 88W8797The days of the shotgun modem live on with MIMO -- multiple-input and multiple-output adapters that offer numerous antennas to aggregate numerous parallel connections. Marvell just became the first to put such a solution on a tiny SoC, debuting its Avastar 88W8797 with dual 802.11n connectivity for transmission and receiving. This allows for 300Mbps transfers along with Bluetooth 4.0 and even FM transmission and reception, all built into a single chip with "advanced power management designed specifically for handheld products such as smartphones and tablets." You know what that means: shotgun WiFi in next-gen mobile devices. Yee haw!Continue reading Marvell unveils Avastar 88W8797, first wireless SoC for mobile devices with 2x2 MIMO
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Inq Cloud Touch preview
We can't accuse Inq of having the best timing in the world -- the company announced its new Facebook-centric Cloud Touch and Cloud Q phones at about the same time that HP was busy blowing minds with its new webOS range in San Francisco -- but at least that gave us an excuse to get out of the Engadget bunker this morning and go check out some new gear. We've gotten to grips with the 3.5-inch touchscreen-equipped Cloud Touch and have broken down our first impressions of the device for you after the break. Aside from Facebook, Inq has chosen to integrate Spotify Premium into this phone along with Fluency, the typing prediction engine that powers SwiftKey. The two serve as significant upgrades on the default media player and keyboard software, respectively, and add a nice sprinkling of value to a phone that's already expected to go easy on the wallet. The gallery below will illustrate anything else you may need or want to know, although you'll have to check out the video to see the multifunctional unlock screen and Facebook widgetry in action.
Gallery: Inq Cloud Touch preview
Continue reading Inq Cloud Touch preview
Inq Cloud Touch preview originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Immersion's MOTIV development platform integrates haptics into Android, we go hands-on
You may know that Immersion's haptic technology is in everything from surgical simulators to game controllers, but we're willing to bet you didn't know it's already baked into over 200 million existing devices -- including every Samsung Galaxy S smartphone and handsets by Nokia and LG. Now, using Android handsets' existing vibrator motors, a cheap software upgrade can inject force feedback into existing elements across the entire Android UI (2.2 and up), and with future devices -- built with multi-dollar piezoelectric actuators that vibrate the screen itself -- the haptic experience goes hi-fi. Now that it's revealed that little easter egg to the world, Immersion wants you to build some apps, and to that end it's releasing the MOTIV developer platform this March. Read all about it after the break.
Gallery: Immersion's piezoelectric haptic reference handset, hands-on
Continue reading Immersion's MOTIV development platform integrates haptics into Android, we go hands-on
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Sonos Controller for Android with voice search will blow you away (video)
You can exhale Sonos fans, it's finally happening. The Sonos Controller for Android is official. After almost a year in development, the free WiFi music remote finally gives Sonos owners control over their whole-home audio system from any Android 2.1 and above device with a screen size of HVGA 320 x 480, WVGA 480 x 800 or WVGA 480 x 854. At least it will when it hits the Market at the end of March. Better yet, it trumps the Sonos iOS controller with music controls mapped directly to the buttons on your Android hardware. As such, you can control the volume of your Sonos system with the physical volume rocker on your Desire Z or use the search button on your Droid X to forage for that certain artist, track, or album. Oh, and the Sonos Controller for Android also supports voice search -- take that iOS app. Sorry, Sonos isn't announcing anything related to an Android tablet-equivalent of the Sonos controller for iPad today as the company is waiting to see how that market develops and which screen sizes and resolutions gain the most traction. Nevertheless, we'll be getting our first hands-on opportunity of the handset controller at Mobile World Congress next week. So, until then, why not wipe the tears from your $349 Sonos CR200 controller and watch the video preview after the break.Continue reading Sonos Controller for Android with voice search will blow you away (video)
Sonos Controller for Android with voice search will blow you away (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Amazon app released for the newest Windows Phone 7 models
It's an important day for Windows Phone 7 users. No, not because the free Amazon app was just launched in the Windows Phone Marketplace. It's because we get to test drive this Photoshop image in preparation for Friday. You feelin' it?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Amazon app released for the newest Windows Phone 7 models originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Phantom of the Floppera (video)
This is what happens when you connect a few floppy drives to a PIC18f14k50 microcontroller operated by a MIDI-wielding madman. Be sure to watch until at least the 2 minute 30 second mark for a 5 1/4 inch surprise. Look closely, and you might just notice that Box 5 was left empty.

[Thanks, Jussi J.]
Phantom of the Floppera (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 07:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFunToTheHead (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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WiFi-only Motorola Xoom tablet does its FCC duty, silver version spotted in Dubai (video)
WiFi-only Motorola Xoom tablet does its FCC duty, silver version spotted in Dubai (video)
We heard some weird reports over the weekend that the 3G Motorola Xoom tablet couldn't be sold unless you bought at least one month of wireless data. That, plus the groan-inducing $800 MSRP, is surely giving some potential buyers a wee bit of pause. This might help. Crossing the wires at the FCC is what appears to be a WiFi-only version of the Xoom, called a "wireless tablet with embedded WLAN." It's lacking a 3G radio so, unless Moto has another trick up its sleeves, this is probably that. Obviously any speculation on price would be highly... speculative, but here's to hoping ditching that modem brings this thing down a Benjamin or so. Also spotted, this time in Dubai but also embedded below, was a silver version of the Xoom, sporting a two-tone back that will nicely complement your Casio Data Bank calculator watch. No word on whether we'll get that on these shores, but we hope so. Variety is, dear readers, the spice of life.Continue reading WiFi-only Motorola Xoom tablet does its FCC duty, silver version spotted in Dubai (video)
Permalink wireless goodness  |  sourceFCC, t-break  | Email this | Comments
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Brain-controlled robot arm kicks off new FDA program to speed up approval of medical devices
As we've seen, the FDA approval process for medical devices and other gadgets can be a long one, but it looks like things could soon be speeding up considerably. The agency has just announced a new "Innovation Pathway" program that promises to allow for priority reviews of "truly pioneering technologies," which could potentially cut the approval process time in half. Somewhat ironically, however, that program itself will first need some further review before it's broadly deployed, but the FDA has already kicked things off on a limited basis with its first submission: a brain-controlled robotic arm from DARPA. It's not clear which arm that is, but it sounds a lot like the now-famous "Luke" arm (pictured above) developed by Dean Kamen's Deka organization, which just so happens to be funded by DARPA. Head on past the break for the official press release, and a video of the FDA's webcast announcing the program.
Continue reading Brain-controlled robot arm kicks off new FDA program to speed up approval of medical devices
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Researchers steal iPhone passwords in six minutes (video)
Losing your smarpthone is bad enough. But if you lose your iPhone and don't issue a remote wipe command (available for free with the Find My iPhone app) then you could find yourself in a world of hurt. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute Secure Information Technology (Fraunhofer SIT) can jailbreak and decrypt passwords from the iPhone's keychain -- for say, your Gmail account, corporate VPN, home WiFi, and MS Exchange -- in about six minutes using existing, known exploits. Sorry kids, your flimsy lockscreen passcode won't help. Video proof, after the break.Continue reading Researchers steal iPhone passwords in six minutes (video)
Researchers steal iPhone passwords in six minutes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePCWorld  | Email this | Comments
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Gartner and IDC dispute Android's dominance over Symbian in Q4 2010
According to Gartner's latest mobile sales numbers, the rise of Android hasn't been quite as meteoric as you might think -- even with 888.8 percent growth in 2010. Last month, Canalys quoted Android as the top earner for smartphone platforms in Q4 of last year, beating out Symbian for the top spot, but Gartner says it ain't so. In fact, IDC already quietly chimed in on the topic a few days ago saying that Symbian was still the smartphone OS "market leader." Gartner's numbers do show Android overtaking Nokia's Symbian devices in unit sales, but it points out that the OS' use across a variety of brands in Q4 actually "kept Symbian slightly ahead of Android." Symbian ultimately outsold Android by more than 44 million units last year, but considering the little green robot's astronomical growth in 2010, we'd say even super star is an understatement. Check out the PR after the jump to see how the rest of the competition stacks up.Continue reading Gartner and IDC dispute Android's dominance over Symbian in Q4 2010
Gartner and IDC dispute Android's dominance over Symbian in Q4 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceGartner  | Email this | Comments
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Beauty Lift High Nose puts the plastic in (and leaves the surgery out of) plastic surgery
Sizable schnoz? Problem probiscis? Looking for a dubious, crapgadgety alternative to costly rhinoplasty? A Japanese company called Omni has a device called the Beauty Lift High Nose that claims it will do the trick. You can get yours for $140 if you dare -- but don't hold out for an Engadget review before placing your order.
Continue reading Beauty Lift High Nose puts the plastic in (and leaves the surgery out of) plastic surgery
Permalink CrunchGear  |  sourceJapan Trend Shop  | Email this | Comments
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Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 available for everyone on February 22nd
Get ready for it because the final release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) have just been handed off to Microsoft's OEM partners. What that means for you is that starting February 22nd you can download Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center or via Windows Update. MSDN and TechNet subscribers will see the official updates a bit earlier on February 16th... about the same time they'll be released unofficially into the bitTorrent and usenet wilds.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 available for everyone on February 22nd originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Winrumors  |  sourceBlogging Windows  | Email this | Comments
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Olympus E-PL2 Micro Four Thirds camera now shipping, Penpal still has us buzzing
Right on cue, Olympus' latest entrant into the world of Micro Four Thirds is now shipping. Just a month after receiving its official unveil at CES, the E-PL2 is finally taking over for the E-PL1. Aside from an ISO range topping out at 6,400, a 3-inch rear LCD, an SDXC slot, RAW image support and a newfangled accessory port, this guy's also fully compatible with the Penpal Bluetooth dongle. For those unaware, that enables photos to be shared and uploaded on the fly so long as your BT-enabled, 3G-ready smartphone is by your side, though it looks as if the camera itself has beat said accessory to market. The camera's yours for the taking at $599.99 (bundled with a ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens) at the source links below.

[Thanks, Tom]
Olympus E-PL2 Micro Four Thirds camera now shipping, Penpal still has us buzzing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceOlympus, Amazon  | Email this | Comments
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Skype for iPhone upgrade lets it videocall Skype for TV, if you actually want to
There's a new update out for Skype on iOS devices today that which expands the new videocalling compatibility to "a wider selection of Skype clients and devices" by adding the h.264 compatibility necessary to chat with any Skype for TV clients. That's available on certain LG, Panasonic and Samsung HDTVs right now, while Sony and Vizio have both announced it will be in some of their new HDTVs coming out later this year. The ability to call mobile devices seems to give a big edge to Skype over other living room videochat setups from Cisco, Logitech or Microsoft's Kinect, but even with a compatible (& pricey)camera in hand, good luck finding someone out enjoying the world who wants to chat while you're chilling on the couch.
Skype for iPhone upgrade lets it videocall Skype for TV, if you actually want to originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 9to5Mac  |  sourceiTunes, Skype  | Email this | Comments
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Researchers aim to replace copper with aluminum as a conductor in auto power systems
As every lonely cat lady with a police scanner knows, the price of copper is as high as it's ever been -- and there is no reason this trend won't continue. Of course, this affects more than those creeps that sneak into basements to steal the plumbing: the aforementioned ductile metal is currently the best conductor for on-board power systems in automobiles. But with any luck this might soon change. In order to replace copper with aluminum in power supply systems, several challenges need to be addressed, including the fact that aluminum creeps as temperatures increase, and the corrosive effect of bringing the two materials together. Among the efforts of Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM) and BMW to bring aluminum into EVs, the LEIKO power plug uses a sheet metal cage and a pressure spring to allow copper and aluminum elements to remain in contact. If all goes according to plan, TUM's Professor Udo Lindemann (not to be confused with Udo Dirkschneider, the diminutive frontman of German heavy metal bands Accept and U.D.O.) predicts that "the high-voltage on-board systems of most electric vehicles to be based on aluminum by 2020." Check out an awesome picture of Dirkschneider after the break.
Continue reading Researchers aim to replace copper with aluminum as a conductor in auto power systems
Permalink   |  sourceGreen Car Congress  | Email this | Comments
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Mophie sneaks out new Juice Pack Air with Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4 compatibility
There's been no shortage of cases for Verizon's flavor of the iPhone 4 -- Ballistic, iLuv, iKit, AGF and Scosche have already announced ones of their own -- but if you're looking for a mainstay in the industry, you can now turn to Mophie. The company's life-doubling Juice Pack Air has been ever-so-slightly reengineered to work with both AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4 units, with initial shipments expected by the end of the month. At first it'll ship in black with silver accents, while soft-touch red and glossy white versions are scheduled for release shortly thereafter. Still $79.95, and still awfully hard to resist for 3G power users.Continue reading Mophie sneaks out new Juice Pack Air with Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4 compatibility
Mophie sneaks out new Juice Pack Air with Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4 compatibility originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMophie  | Email this | Comments
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Monopoly Live adds a nagging, money counting computer to the Hasbro classic
Once again, technology might have just sucked the fun out of a beloved (or at least tolerated) past-time. Hasbro's refresh of Monopoly -- Monopoly Live -- includes a ten-inch tower that sits in the center of the board, keeping an eye on it via IR technology. This bad boy rolls the dice, counts the money, and makes sure you don't nudge your thimble someplace it shouldn't be. Of course, the game's basics remain intact: domination of your friends and loved ones with skill and greed -- although we fail to see how kids are to properly learn about capitalism when they no longer have the ability to cheat. Coming soon for $50.
Monopoly Live adds a nagging, money counting computer to the Hasbro classic originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Switched  |  sourceThe New York Times  | Email this | Comments
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Rovi Connected Platform brings another flavor of Android-to-anything streaming
And then, there were two. Just days after Qualcomm pushed out its DLNA Certified Skifta Android app for streaming content from your smartphone / tablet to just about anything else, along comes Rovi with an awfully similar alternative. The company -- which swallowed up Sonic Solutions just months ago -- obviously has a thing for slinging contained media all over the place, and its new Connected Platform will soon be available pre-ported to Android 2.1 or higher. In short, that'll enable Android devices to beam multimedia stored on their microSD cards to an array of PCs, set-top boxes or NAS devices, which in turn would be connected to a monitor or HDTV of some sort. The dirty details on what kinds of devices it'll support remain murky, but we're hoping to hear more once the app makes its debut in the Android Marketplace sometime this quarter. Something tells us you'll need a phone with a bit more oomph than the Acclaim to actually have decent streaming performance, though.Continue reading Rovi Connected Platform brings another flavor of Android-to-anything streaming
Rovi Connected Platform brings another flavor of Android-to-anything streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceRovi  | Email this | Comments
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Visualized: a hundred CDMA iPhone 4 handsets prepare for Best Buy assault
Too preoccupied to pre-order? Looks like Best Buy's your best bet starting tomorrow morning. And don't try anything sneaky -- you know, like sneaking the whole lot into Israel.

[Thanks, J.]
Visualized: a hundred CDMA iPhone 4 handsets prepare for Best Buy assault originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hamster-powered miniature Strandbeest proves that sometimes, cute is a gadget
Sometimes, after a hard day of gadget blogging, you just want to sit down at your terminal and watch a funny, heart-warming video of a hamster running furiously (as they will) in a plastic ball attached to a Strandbeest traveling across a table to the delight of watching children. Right? Video is after the break.Continue reading Hamster-powered miniature Strandbeest proves that sometimes, cute is a gadget
Hamster-powered miniature Strandbeest proves that sometimes, cute is a gadget originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PC World  |  sourceCrabfu Artworks  | Email this | Comments
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Apple TV gaming hinted strongly in iOS 4.3 beta code
Let's not jump to any conclusions, but a trusted tipster has uncovered evidence that's suggests some folks in Cupertino have learned a thing or two from Xbox Live. New code in the iOS 4.3 beta 3 firmware hints that Apple TV may soon support online gaming. Several references have been found pertaining to "ATVGames" and "ATVThunder" that point to a controller of some sort, leaderboards (think Game Center), a way to schedule games (multiplayer?), and a store front (think App Store, iTunes). We're particularly intrigued by two strings -- "com.apple.appletv.play.live.thunder" and ".play.archive.thunder" -- but what those actually mean in the grand scheme of things is ultimately ambiguous. Apple TV's minimum storage capacity (about 8GB) suggests the company might look to streaming not entirely unlike how OnLive works; as our tipster speculates, the OpenGL is mature and thoroughly implemented enough that streaming low bandwidth data and computing locally could happen, but that's just theoretical with nothing in the code to back it up.

Additionally, there are two more codenames and a handful of other strings that popped up relating to Apple TV: Sedona and Flagstaff. Based on references to director, episode, season, and the like, we reckon Sedona is all about video merchandising and streaming, something tightly integrated into the traditional iTunes experience. As for Flagstaff, aside from a nod to Account Types and Merchants (i.e. iTunes merchandising), there's really nothing else to say. Think of it as a mystery wrapped in an enigma hung on a, erm, flag staff. Our tipster found numerous other little goodies, but the only other one really worth bringing up is feature_remote_screensavers, which suggests that you can use screensavers from other devices -- like, say, your Mac.

Finally, elsewhere in the world, Alex Hisrbrunner used a Harmony remote to find hidden Apple TV commands that resemble iOS functions not normally possible with the standard ATV remote -- namely, wiggling icons that can me resorted using the directional pad. Video of that is after the break.Continue reading Apple TV gaming hinted strongly in iOS 4.3 beta code
Apple TV gaming hinted strongly in iOS 4.3 beta code originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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webOS Enyo framework free to developers today, brings pixel density agnostic apps to phones, tablets and PC (video)
Development frameworks don't make for exciting gadget news, but HP's Enyo is kind of a big deal. It's the little dealie that allows new webOS apps to stretch between vastly disparate screen resolutions -- say, tablet and phone -- and still work just fine, and since it's based completely on web technologies, they can also run in a PC browser with no formal emulator or OS install required. While dev team lead Matthew McNulty pitched the browser functionality as a debugging boon, we're starting to wonder if that's how HP could bring webOS to PCs to start -- rather than a dual-boot or a UI layer, it could simply make your favorite apps available in a web store. Sound like fun? HP says you can download the basic package right now for free if you're a member of the webOS developer early access program, and start cracking on some apps of your very own. We'll have video of an Enyo-powered app on PC in just a tad, so keep your eyes glued to this post.

Update: Video after the break!
Gallery: webOS framework "Enyo" eyes-on
Continue reading webOS Enyo framework free to developers today, brings pixel density agnostic apps to phones, tablets and PC (video)
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CIA adds social media functions that nobody asked for to its website
The CIA just revamped its website -- that's right guys -- the CIA has a website. Now you may not spend a ton of time trolling the government's various portals of information but the new and improved CIA website is a veritable treasure trove of data. The CIA isn't immune to the world around it, either, and its refreshed design brings with it a YouTube channel, a Flickr stream (we culled the photo you see above from there), as well as Quick Links for sharing on various social media sites. Now, we can't embed the best video we found on the CIA's YouTube channel (they're not that social yet) but it's called "CIA Overview," and is surely worth your time. There's a press release after the break.
Continue reading CIA adds social media functions that nobody asked for to its website
CIA adds social media functions that nobody asked for to its website originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Former Lucasfilm CTO Richard Kerris takes over as head of webOS developer relations
HP's having a blowout webOS developer event here in San Francisco to bookend its big product announcements from this morning, and it kicked things off with a personnel announcement -- Richard Kerris is taking over as head of webOS developer relations. Don't recognize the name? Richard was formerly the chief technology officer at Lucasfilm, where he was named one of Variety's "Top 10 innovators to Watch," and before that he was a senior director of developer relations for a little company called Apple. That's quite a pedigree -- and Richard told the crowd here that he views developers as his primary customers, so it's clear he'll be working hard to win their favor. That said, we think he's got quite a challenge evangelizing developers to support a platform that won't have compelling new products out for months -- let's all wish him luck.
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Bloomberg: Nokia definitely in talks with Microsoft, partnership likely (update: WSJ, too)
Nokia will jump from the burning platform this Friday, but whither will it dive? Towards Microsoft and Windows Phone 7, as continually rumored, or towards Google and Android? Two turkeys told us the latter isn't likely, and Bloomberg's anonymous sources seem to agree, saying that Nokia is indeed in the final stages of talks with Microsoft, and is "close to announcing a software partnership." These spooks also say that Google was also in the running, but is no longer favored for the job, and as such we're very likely to see Windows Phone 7 running on Nokia devices soon. We're sure you'll have some very strong opinions about that -- we had a few ourselves -- but please keep it clean in comments below!

Update: The Wall Street Journal just published a report of its own, by and large saying pretty much the same thing as BW. "If an agreement can be reached in time... Elop likely would announce the deal Friday." The report also said an executive shakeup might be in the works, with "several senior members of the executive board expected to leave." Show of hands, who all's excited for Friday's announcement?
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Activision kills Guitar Hero division to the consternation of fake musicians everywhere

Guitar Hero had its time in the sun as one of the most successful franchises in musical gaming. Still, it's been no secret that the once-respected brand, owned by Activision, has experienced pretty steep declines in the past few years, especially on the lackluster Guitar Hero 5. So, surprising or not, the announcement today that Activision would disband the Guitar Hero team and kill off development of the next title in the series is a sad bit of news to hear (though in fact, not as sad as hearing, say, Chinese Democracy). This announcement comes on the heels of larger-scaled layoffs at Activision, and more cuts are rumored in the DJ Hero division, as well. At least we still have Rock Band, right?
Permalink Switched  |  sourceArs Technica  | Email this | Comments
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Visualized: A very young Steve Jobs prepares for television
Back in the late 70's Steve Jobs wasn't exactly a household name, but he was important enough to appear on Nightline. The footage after the break is not of the actual interview, Steve's just getting his microphone and monitor set up, but he's visibly nervous and seemingly impressed with the technology around him. It's not exactly news, but it is a very interesting way to spend one minute and thirty-seven seconds on the internet.

[Thanks, GDub]Continue reading Visualized: A very young Steve Jobs prepares for television
Visualized: A very young Steve Jobs prepares for television originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Original Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi and Pixi Plus won't get updated to webOS 2.0
We had a chance to sit down with Jon Rubinstein after HP's webOS event today, and he confirmed some unfortunate news for us: older Palm devices like the original Pre, the Pre Plus, the Pixi, and the Pixi Plus won't receive that previously promised update to webOS 2.0. Jon was pretty candid with us, saying that Palm had "missed a product cycle" in the midst of its financial troubles and subsequent acquisition by HP last year, and that the older products simply don't have the horsepower to properly run webOS 2.0 and beyond. That said, it's clear that he wants to do right by customers -- he told us that HP would do "something special" for owners of older hardware when the Pre 3, the Veer, and the TouchPad hit the market. We'll see what that entails -- and whether or not anyone actually sticks it out on webOS 1.4.5 until the new gear ships sometime this summer.

P.S.- We have lots more from our talk with Jon coming up -- including some actually good news -- so keep an eye on this space.
Original Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi and Pixi Plus won't get updated to webOS 2.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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WSJ: Clearwire moving away from retail, will concentrate on network wholesale business
Though it apparently doesn't have any plans in place to close its existing 140 stores around the country, The Wall Street Journal is reporting this evening that network operator Clearwire is halting its direct retail strategy to concentrate on selling the use of its airwaves to other providers -- providers such as Sprint and Comcast, for example, both of which make use of Clearwire's WiMAX network for their own 4G services. The move doesn't come as much of a surprise since the company announced unfortunate numbers back in November of last year -- numbers that forced it to scale back its headcount and its dreams of launching Clear-branded handsets in the near term -- and WSJ says that the move may make Sprint more comfortable investing more cash in the company since they'll no longer be giving off the appearance that they're competing head-to-head on the customer level. Investment is exactly what Clearwire needs to survive right now, and whether it comes from Sprint or another national carrier that's in the market for 4G spectrum, you know what they say: money is money.
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Broadcom announces yet another Android-friendly dual-core processor
Broadcom is giving Google a lot of love of late, with the announcement of its second Android-ready processor in as many months hitting us today. The new BCM28150 is a big step up from its predecessor (released in December), and sports a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 at 1.1GHz; an HSPA+ modem doing 21Mbps; and Broadcom's VideoCore IV VPU (vector processing unit). What's more, it touts 12-megapixel camera imaging, 3D video and gaming at 1080p, HDMI out, and the obligatory Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS amenities. If the BCM28150 is your bag, Broadcom plans to demo the thing in Barcelona next week, but if a trip to Spain is too rich for your blood, you can always check out the PR after the jump (and keep it locked right here for our own MWC coverage, of course).Continue reading Broadcom announces yet another Android-friendly dual-core processor
Broadcom announces yet another Android-friendly dual-core processor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Phone Scoop  |  sourceBroadcom  | Email this | Comments
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مرسلة بواسطة Abdalrhman Albayyat
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