Saturday, March 5, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 04/03/2011




Google Maps routes itself to v5.2, gets hotpot tweets, Latitude 'pings' and better search results
We're still waiting for someone to one-up Google Maps Navigation, but until that fateful day shines down upon us, it looks as if we'll have to once again point our attention to El Goog. Google Maps has just been updated to version 5.2, with three main additions to focus on. For one, the new edition allows users to tweet their reviews of places and share recommendations with Hotpot friends. Next up, there's Latitude pinging, which enables you to send a quick message to a nearby Latitude friend rather than having to use a text or call; they'll receive an Android notification from you asking them to check in at a place, and when they check in using your request, you'll get a notification right back so you know which place to go to meet up with them. Finally, a new 'Search More Places' button has been added under the standard list of places to check in at, which ought to prove helpful in highly congested cities with multiple places stacked atop one another. Hit that Android Market link below to get your update going, and if you're fixing to use that new ping feature, you and your friends will need v5.2 (or higher, if you're reading this in the year 2043).
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Mobile Blog, Android Market  | Email this | Comments
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Verizon hosts its own iPad 2 notification portal, no last-minute mention of LTE to be found
We knew good and well that both Verizon Wireless and AT&T would be getting their own 3G iPad 2, and while the latter is still trumpeting the original iPad on its site, VZW has gone ahead and put up a placeholder for what's next. A scant four months after the first iPad hit Verizon airwaves (by way of a MiFi), the "thinner, lighter, faster and FaceTime-equipped" model is just around the bend -- complete with an embedded CDMA 3G module. Hit the source link if you'd like to be notified of updates, or just make sure to wake up on March 11th. Whatever's easier for you.

[Thanks, Aaron]
Permalink   |  sourceVerizon Wireless  | Email this | Comments
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AT&T Mobile Hotspot for iPhone 4 limited to just three WiFi devices (update: it's an iOS 4.3 thing)
Say it ain't so! According to this here slide, which details a bit of insidery AT&T information about the impending release of iOS 4.3, Ma Bell's iPhone 4 will have its Personal Hotspot restricted to use with just three devices. Just about every MiFi / mobile hotspot device we've ever seen -- including Verizon's iPhone 4 -- has supported five WiFi devices, but unless AT&T pulls a 180 here, it'll be limiting its iPhone to just three connections. What's wild is that we've found AT&T to actually have superior 3G speeds when you can actually get a signal (and thus, be more conducive to tethering five devices at once), and since you'd be on a data cap anyway, it's not like AT&T risks losing millions from five P2P servers being ran over one's iPhone. Granted, it's possible that some unicorn crafted this piece of paperwork to throw us all off, but we've reached out to AT&T and are awaiting comment. You know, just in case.

Update: Based on Apple's iOS 4.3 page, only three WiFi devices are supported through the Personal Hotspot connection. If you'd like to tether five total devices, the other two will need to be over Bluetooth / USB. Don't go blaming AT&T here -- we're guessing Verizon's model will be set up the same way. Thanks, Christian!

[Thanks, Anonymous]
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Coda sets target of 50,000 electric vehicles sold by 2015, mostly in the US
Upstart Coda Automotive may not have met its original goal to start selling its all-electic sedan in California by the end of 2010, but that's not stopping it from making some other fairly bold projections. Apparently, the company is now on track to begin selling the car in the US sometime in the second half of this year, and it's set a target of 10,000 to 14,000 cars sold in the first 12 months after its launch, and a full 50,000 sold by 2015 -- all mostly in the United States. As for the car itself, it doesn't look like a whole lot has changed lately -- it'll run you $37,400 after the federal tax savings, and give you a range of between 90 and 120 miles on a charge from its lithium iron phosphate battery, which can be fully topped off in just six hours. You can already reserve one at the link below if that sounds like the electric car you've been waiting for.
Coda sets target of 50,000 electric vehicles sold by 2015, mostly in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceCNET, Coda Automotive  | Email this | Comments
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New SteelSeries gaming headsets come to CeBIT, now iPhone compatible
As you might have heard, a little something called CeBIT is going down in Hanover, and all the usual suspects are there. And that includes the kids at SteelSeries, who are debuting three more headsets for the gamers in the crowd. Siberia v2 for PS3 is compatible with the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac, featuring 50mm driver units, leather earcups, and a retractable microphone for your clumsy pick-up attempts while playing Assassin's Creed. This bad boy also features independent volume controls for game action and conversation, as well as LiveMix audio presets. But wait -- there's more! The company's Siberia v2 and SteelSeries 7H headsets are now available in Apple-approved flavors with a single 3.5mm jack for audio and voice, an inline remote, and compatibility with your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad. Look for the Siberia v2 for PS3 in Q3 2011 for $120 MSRP. Look for SteelSeries 7H and Siberia v2 for iPod, iPhone and iPad soon for $130 and $100 respectively. PR after the break.
Continue reading New SteelSeries gaming headsets come to CeBIT, now iPhone compatible
New SteelSeries gaming headsets come to CeBIT, now iPhone compatible originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSteelSeries (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments
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EasySign iPhone app halts the print / sign / email cycle, trees everywhere celebrate
All together now: "flippin' finally!" For anyone in the business world who has been blocked from receiving information due to the inability to locate a printer, ink pen, scanner, publicly available PC, a working printer driver and a fifth of Jack, say hello to your savior. EasySign is a delightfully simple new iOS app (yeah, we're already begging for an Android port) that solves a painful problem, and it should make signing documents on the go a whole heck of a lot easier for those who tote iPhones. The concept is simple: you download the document you're supposed to sign right onto your iPhone, and then you use your finger to enter your John Hancock. It'll stamp whatever date you want onto the form, and with a simple button press, it's converted to a PDF and shot back to the sender. We'd probably recommend using the stock black ink, but it seems that a few color options are available for those who prefer to roll a bit more casually. Head on past the break for a demo, and then hit that iTunes link for a free trial. Once you send three documents, you'll need to pony up $4.99 for another 20 docs (an unlimited version is coming soon). But hey, given that petrol looks like a steal compared to your average inkjet cartridge, you'll probably still come out ahead. Continue reading EasySign iPhone app halts the print / sign / email cycle, trees everywhere celebrate
Permalink   |  sourceEasySignMobile, iTunes  | Email this | Comments
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Conan O'Brien produces a more honest iPad 2 promotional video
Feeling a little underwhelmed by this week's iPad 2 launch? This promotional video recently unearthed by Conan O'Brien goes some distance in explaining why this might be... and why you're probably not alone. But just in case you did buy into the hype, don't feel bad: it's easy to get suckered by a smooth talker with "a non-specific ethnic accent." See for yourself after the break.
Continue reading Conan O'Brien produces a more honest iPad 2 promotional video
Conan O'Brien produces a more honest iPad 2 promotional video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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USB 3.0 shocker! Supersonic Magnum thumb drive rocks 200MB/s read times, sure to be rather pricey
You thought the 70MB/s write speeds were wild? The kids at Patriot are making the scene at CeBIT with the successor to the Supersonic USB thumb drive we first saw at the tail end of last year, and it's putting its old man to shame. The Supersonic Magnum series, sporting capacities up to 128GB, boasts a single eight channel controller with 200MB/s read and 110MB/s write speeds. And it will fit in your hip pocket! Release date TBA, and we can only imagine it will cost you a pretty Deutschmark.
Permalink   |  sourceHexus  | Email this | Comments
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POV.HD camera review
POV.HD review
It's time for another new entrant into the increasingly crowded pov camera fray, a high-end selection for current or budding professionals. It's the POV.HD from V.I.O. and, if you hadn't guessed, it shoots footage in high definition. Properly high as it were, up to 1080p30, though it'll happily make stops at 720p30, 720p60, and even a tasty 1080p24 along the way. A $599.95 MSRP makes it a bit of a tough sell for casual action sports enthusiasts, but is this what you semi-pro snowboarders need to catch your next big pow adventures? Read on to find out.
Gallery: V.I.O. POV.HD
Continue reading POV.HD camera review
POV.HD camera review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Better Place swappable EV batteries priced, Renault is definitely onboard
Better Place swappable EV batteries priced, Renault is definitely onboard
It's going to be a little while before you're able to recharge your battery-electric EV as quickly as you can refuel your gasoline-powered machine. Until then there's Better Place, offering a suite of options including traditional recharging and fast battery-swapping. The idea is you don't buy a car with a battery you buy a car then lease the battery, and now we're getting an idea of what that lease is going to cost. It's launching first in Denmark with the Renault Fluence Z.E., a €27,496 ($38,500) car. If you're okay with driving less than 20,000km per year you can get by with monthly battery fees between €199 and €249 ($278 to $348), which includes recharging at Better Place locations or five-minute battery swaps if you're in a hurry. For €399 monthly ($558) you get unlimited mileage, but all plans get stuck with a €1,341 ($1,874) up-front fee to install a home charging station -- a bit steep compared to Ford's $1,500 option but not bad overall.

Renault is also announcing Better Place support for its Twizy, which is featured in a video below. It's a tiny little thing that will cost just €6,900 ($9,640) and is due to ship this year. That's astonishingly cheap for an EV but, of course it comes without a battery pack, so you'll need to be leasing one. However, we're told there'll be a 7,500km lease option for just €45 ($63) per month. It also won't be coming to the States, planned only for a European launch, a land of smaller roads that'll be better suited to this flea-sized creation. And now, if you'll excuse us, we'll be sending our poor currency-converting intern on break. Poor gal really needs a coffee. Continue reading Better Place swappable EV batteries priced, Renault is definitely onboard
Better Place swappable EV batteries priced, Renault is definitely onboard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Green Car Advisor (1), (2)  |   | Email this | Comments
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Intel's SSD 510 reviewed, measures up well against Vertex 3
Been wondering how that new 6Gbps SATA interface and Marvell controller have been treating Intel's latest SSDs? The answer, it turns out, is really rather nicely. Faced off with OCZ's awesomely quick Vertex 3 drive, the 250GB SSD 510 from Intel more than holds its own, occasionally flashing ahead and taking the lead. Opting for Marvell's processing chip has improved Intel's sequential performance, but has actually led to it taking a ding on random read speeds -- the latter being arguably more important on a day-to-day basis. Still, this $584 drive is one of the finest the consumer world has yet had to feast upon and should encourage high expectations from Intel's 25nm G3 storage units, which are still to come. As to having the extra Serial ATA bandwidth, we'll leave it to Anand from AnandTech to summarize: "these next-generation SSDs not only use 6Gbps SATA, they really need it."
Intel's SSD 510 reviewed, measures up well against Vertex 3 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAnandTech, PC Perspective  | Email this | Comments
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Columbia Omni-Heat Circuit Breaker Softshell electric / heated jacket review
Back when old man winter was first starting to bear down here in the States for the 2010 - 2011 Winter Season, we dropped by to check out a few toasty newcomers from the folks at Columbia. Pleased as we were after trying a few things out at the demo booth, we reckoned the outfit's line of Omni-Heat electric gear would be best evaluated in the wild. You know -- places like Whitefish, Montana and the northern interior of Alaska, all during the winter.

We were fortunate enough to snag one of Columbia's Omni-Heat Circuit Breaker Softshell electric / heated ski jackets prior to departing for our bone-chilling escapades, and after a couple of months of use, we're happy to report that this thing really is all it's cracked up to be. Those situated in places like Yellowknife and International Falls have been dreaming of a non-bulky, quasi-stylish heated coat for years now, and those dreams may very well be converted into reality when this particular one starts shipping this fall. Read on to see if an outdoors outfitter really nailed the technological integration, and how your life in the winter months may be forever changed because of it. Continue reading Columbia Omni-Heat Circuit Breaker Softshell electric / heated jacket review
Columbia Omni-Heat Circuit Breaker Softshell electric / heated jacket review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Harman-Mercedes Map Pilot modular built-in nav system becomes reality
A little over two years ago, we opined on the lack of decent built-in nav systems, hopelessly waiting for Harman and Mercedes to make good on their promise of an easily upgradable in-dash setup. Well, the day has finally come, and the partners in automotive innovation are gearing up to introduce the Becker Map Pilot to the world at the Geneva Motor Show. As promised, the system combines the flexibility and features of a PND with the integration and good looks of a built-in setup -- although the interface shows up on the auto's central display panel and relays voice instructions over the car's speakers, the main unit is stored in the glove compartment, where it's easily removed and upgraded via the internet. If you can afford the mammoth price tag, Map Pilot will roll out in the new Mercedes-Benz SLK and C-Class, but if you don't have an extra $50,000 lying around, we'll still let you peep the PR after the break. Continue reading Harman-Mercedes Map Pilot modular built-in nav system becomes reality
Harman-Mercedes Map Pilot modular built-in nav system becomes reality originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceHarman  | Email this | Comments
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Elfoid is the human-shaped phone from Japan that tickles when it rings (video)
The Telenoid R1 achieved a new level of creepiness on the Japanese robotic front -- quite an achievement given the country's long history of oddball automated creations. Elfoid takes the cake, though. Developed at Osaka University and with help from NTT DoCoMo, Elfoid looks just like the Telenoid and, indeed, does much the same thing: giving you a human(ish) silhouette to talk to. This one, though, is designed to be stuffed in your pocket. It's basically a cellphone shaped like a vaguely human torso and head. You put it in your pocket and it tickles you when it rings. You talk into its belly and it speaks to you in response, playing the voice of whoever's on the other line through its face. It also moves and gesticulates to make you think that you're actually holding not Elfoid but that person you're conversing with. It's an odd concept, but holding a doll to your head still beats side talkin' on N-Gage. Continue reading Elfoid is the human-shaped phone from Japan that tickles when it rings (video)
Elfoid is the human-shaped phone from Japan that tickles when it rings (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNews.com.au  | Email this | Comments
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ASUS' Jerry Shen pledges 3D tablet, MeeGo and Android netbooks, plus a 2012 Windows Phone
ASUS (A-seuss) CEO Jerry Shen is rarely a man without a good quote or two for journalists and this year's CeBIT has been no exception. Sitting down for a chat with some Russian scribes, Shen outlined ASUS' general product roadmap, which includes a 3D tablet (the iPad 2-threatening secret weapon, perhaps?), Atom-based netbooks for both MeeGo and Android platforms, and a Windows Phone device that should be with us next year. An aside from his PR aide Mae Wang also states that ASUS aims to be second in the tablet market by 2012, with a giant five to eight percent market share. We're sure the Apple board are all shaking in their hemp sandals right now. Anyhow, hit up the source for the full story.
Permalink   |  sourceHi-Tech.mail.ru  | Email this | Comments
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LTE iPhone noise builds steam with a grain of Wang
Has it got the fourgees? Well, if you're talking about Apple's iPhone and believe what you hear from China Mobile Chairman Wang Jianzhou, it very soon will. Following in the well publicized footsteps of Verizon CEO Dan Mead, Mr. Jianzhou tells us that Steve Jobs himself "has expressed his interest in an LTE iPhone and is willing to start the development at an early date." Of course, the crux of the issue will be in ascertaining how early "an early date" might be, but it's not completely out of the realm of reason to believe that Apple may already be cranking away on an LTE-capable iPhone 5. We all know how much Steve loves to compare measurements with the competition and the iPhone's lack of a fourth G will probably be driving him mad by the time the summer rolls around. Either way, we've now got two extremely senior dudes claiming LTE is on Apple's roadmap.
LTE iPhone noise builds steam with a grain of Wang originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceBloomberg  | Email this | Comments
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Smartphones and tablets still have a long way to grow
Anyone who believes we're nearing some sort of saturation point with the two hottest device classes of the moment -- smartphones and tablets -- ought to check out this latest data from investment bank RBC Capital Markets. It shows an estimated 394 million people already possess one of these newfangled gadgets, and -- while we don't consider the world's population a relevant metric here -- sets that number up against some other illustrative stats.The most important one for smartphone growth is the tally of mobile subscribers, which stands at just over five billion presently and dwarfs any inroads that smart mobile devices have made to this point. The total of nearly 1.3 billion PCs should also be encouraging for companies seeking a market for their tablets, as it quantifies the sheer volume of computers we use and need. So, next time anyone asks you if it's "too late" for Nokia to right its smartphone strategy or HP to deliver its tablets, you can juice up your negatory response by dropping this statistical knowledge bomb.
Smartphones and tablets still have a long way to grow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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T-Mobile getting ready to roll out new webConnect broadband plans, offer 20 percent discount
T-Mobile getting ready to roll out new webConnect broadband plans, offer 20 percent discount
Already a T-Mobile subscriber? Been thinking about adding a mobile broadband plan to go along with it? Hold on to that credit card for a little longer, as we're hearing that the company is about to roll out new webConnect plans that will, at least in some cases, include a 20 percent discount for those who already have voice plans. The date March 13th is mentioned as something of a line in the sand between the current and new offerings, but really that's about all we know at this point. Well, about these plans, anyway. We know lots of things about other stuff.
Permalink   |  sourceTmoNews  | Email this | Comments
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Toshiba shows off dual-core-powered Z2 HDTVs, Regza app for Android
Toshiba always likes to push the boundaries of TV technology -- Cell TV, Media Center extender TVs and its more recent glasses free 3D efforts come to mind immediately -- but there's always room for more conventional HDTVs and it showed off a few in Japan recently. The Z2 series of LED lit LCDs ship later this month and utilize a dual-core "CEVO (Cell Evolution) Engine" processor that has the horsepower to run its super resolution video upconverting algorithms. It also claims a mere 0.7 frames of input lag in game mode thanks to First In First Out memory that matches the performance of screens used in arcade cabinets. Even if you don't play Marvel vs. Capcom 3 on one of these, the company also announced it will release a version of its currently iOS-only Regza remote control / DLNA streaming app for Android and Windows PCs. So far the app is still a Japan-only thing, so while we wait for this tech to make it over to the US you can check out the specs for the TVs Toshiba actually did announce are coming to the States this year after the break. Continue reading Toshiba shows off dual-core-powered Z2 HDTVs, Regza app for Android
Toshiba shows off dual-core-powered Z2 HDTVs, Regza app for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink AV Watch, Engadget Japan  |  sourceToshiba  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung finds parts of Galaxy Tab 10.1 'inadequate' compared to iPad 2, reconsiders pricing
Whether you love or loathe Apple, you have to be happy with the company's aggressive upgrade of the iPad. It has led to Samsung, purveyor of an Android 3.0 tablet by the name of Galaxy Tab 10.1, to look more closely at its own hardware and pricing model and, according to executive VP Lee Don-Joo, "improve the parts that are inadequate." We don't know what those are, specifically, however he notes that "Apple made [the iPad 2] very thin" and also goes on to say that Samsung will be rethinking its pricing strategy with the Tab 10.1. It was originally going to cost more than the 7-inch Galaxy Tab, but in light of Apple's new product, Samsung might have to cut into its profit margins... or maybe even forgo profits altogether to make its new Tab a success.
Permalink AFP (PhysOrg)  |  sourceYonhap News Agency  | Email this | Comments
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Apple working on unlimited downloads of purchased iTunes music, setting MobileMe free?
You know all that rumor and speculation about Apple launching a subscription-based streaming music service? Forget it -- at least until the next rumor comes along. Bloomberg is citing three people with knowledge of private talks between Apple, Universal Music, Sony Music, and Warner Music to make purchased music more easily accessible to iTunes users. Two sources claim that an agreement could be announced by midyear. Contrary to popular speculation aroused by Apple's purchase of Lala, they're not talking about streaming music from Apple's new North Carolina data center scheduled to come online in the spring. According to Bloomberg's sources, Apple is instead, planning to offer unlimited downloads to any device linked to the same iTunes account. So, purchase a track on your iPhone and download it again for free to your iPad without having to go back and tether the mobile device to your PC or Mac for a sync. Hard disk crash? No worries, there's a permanent backup in the cloud. Of course, there's nothing preventing Apple from providing unlimited downloads in parallel with a streaming service except for the labels and artists who prefer the higher revenues paid out by download services. Then again, if it was left to them we'd still be buying our music on $15 CDs.

Incidentally, one Bloomberg source was also caught blabbing about Apple's plans to overhaul the MobileMe service to store pictures, video, and other online content sometime this year. Better yet, it could drop from $99 per year to free -- something already reported by the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago.
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Japanese researchers weave capacitive touch into large-area textiles, want to make them wearable (video)
Conductive fibers, yo, they're the future. Japan's AIST is back with yet another quirky idea, this time integrating capacitive touch sensors into 1-micron thick nylon fibers. The results is a big old cloth that can sense your loving touch and inform nearby computers of what you're up to. Initial uses envisioned by the research outfit include implementation in hospitals to monitor bedridden patients, but the ultimate goal is to make this extra-sensitive array a wearable accoutrement. Wouldn't that be lovely? Continue reading Japanese researchers weave capacitive touch into large-area textiles, want to make them wearable (video)
Permalink   |  sourceDigInfo.tv  | Email this | Comments
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HP shows off Metal Watch concept (video)
Give yourself a cookie if you can still remember as far back as August 29th of last year. That was the day when HP's Phil McKinney teased the world with images of three new prototypes being developed in his company's labs -- there was a tablet, now known as the HP TouchPad, a smartphone that's since taken on the name of Pre 3, and something snaked around his wrist that looked suspiciously like a watch. Today, we learn more about this Metal Watch, as HP calls. It's a continuation of the company's overarching theme of mobile interconnectedness, however unlike its webOS devices, this connected watch is nowhere near ready for prime time (or maybe it's just like them since none are actually shipping yet!). The new Metal fella is still a research project as much as anything else, but it's seen as a key part of our future, acting as an easy-to-use information aggregator. It looks just like any old watch to us, but why not jump past the break and let HP's CTO enlighten you on what makes it special?

[Thanks, Obstacle-Man] Continue reading HP shows off Metal Watch concept (video)
HP shows off Metal Watch concept (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink MobileSyrup, Pre Central  |  sourcehpcomputers (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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Researchers find flaws in neodymium magnet crystalline structure, still in love with its personality
Given China's status as the worlds largest producer of rare earths and its recent proclivity for reducing exports of the stuff, everyone else is looking for ways to reduce dependency on rare earths or optimize the use of these sought-after elements. Well, neodymium is one of those rare earths, and a team from St. Pölten University in Austria recently discovered "disturbances in the crystalline structure in neodymium magnets" that weaken their magnetic fields -- and consequently the efficacy of all those electric motors and hard drives that utilize such magnets. For now, research is ongoing to fully understand the properties of neodymium and other rare earths so that their use can be "optimized." We aren't exactly sure how we'll benefit from all this optimization, but we hope it means cheaper and more powerful gadgets, TVs, and cars for all of us.

[Image source: Thomas Schrefl]
Permalink Physorg  |  sourceAustrian Science Fund  | Email this | Comments
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Updated Windows Phone 7 update isn't updating some Samsung phones for March update
Man, talk about a flustercuck. After missing a cycle with its mobile phone strategy, the last thing Microsoft needed was a support fiasco related to its very first Windows Phone 7 software update. But after re-releasing a patched software update meant to solve the update issues seen by some Samsung owners, we're now seeing reports of a new issue on Twitter and in a variety of support forums and blog comments. At the moment, there's no clear fix to the dilemma characterized by a wonderfully descriptive "error code 800705B4." Unfortunately, what solves the problem for some (reboots, removing apps, freeing up space on the handset) doesn't work for others. Microsoft's official Windows Phone 7 Support Twitter account has responded to one frustrated customer saying, "We are aware of the error code are are looking into it right now," telling another to hold off on the update while MS investigates. Funny thing is, this minor WP7 update wasn't meant to do anything except prepare phones for the first feature update scheduled for early March. Not funny ha ha.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Updated Windows Phone 7 update isn't updating some Samsung phones for March update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Windows Phone Thoughts  |  sourceMicrosoft Answers  | Email this | Comments
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Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace returns to theaters in 3D February 12, 2012
It's time to mark your calendar Star Wars fans, whether you plan to be first in line to check out the new 3D-converted editions of each movie, protest their rerelease in a new format or just avoid the theater altogether now that The Phantom Menace has officially been slated to return next year on February 12th. The effects guys at Fox, Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic reckon the immersive visuals of each flick lend themselves to being viewed in 3D and the yearly releases of the movies should be good test of both whether a 3D conversion really is worthwhile and if audiences are interested in paying to watch it. Of course, there's also the alternative of just grabbing the Blu-ray discs (original trilogy only, if you so desire) skimming the Red Letter Media review and calling it a day, but we won't get pushy. Continue reading Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace returns to theaters in 3D February 12, 2012
Permalink Cinematical  |  sourceStarWars.com  | Email this | Comments
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VIA says Eden X2 is world's most power-efficient dual-core processor
Following close behind the low-power Nano X2 comes the Eden X2, or what VIA is calling "the world's most power-efficient" fanless dual-core processor. While we've yet to see any official numbers, the original Eden did 500MHz on one watt of power, so we should see similarly thrifty specs here. Aside from that, the unit houses two 64-bit cores in a 21 x 21 millimeter package, is compatible with Windows CE and Linux operating systems, and was built using a 40-nanometer manufacturing process. The Eden X2 made its debut at the World Embedded conference this week, and should make it to the real world by the end of Q2. Full PR after the break. Continue reading VIA says Eden X2 is world's most power-efficient dual-core processor
VIA says Eden X2 is world's most power-efficient dual-core processor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Multi-core voltage regulator uses fast voltage scaling to curb your processor's wasteful habits
Your processor may be able to react to your every, fickle demand when it comes to churning out the numbers that make the magic happen, but when it comes to managing its own power it's a bit more lazy. Chips can throttle an individual core's consumption back, but do so slowly, a problem that Harvard grad student Wonyoung Kim appears to have solved. He's created an on-chip multi-core voltage regulator that uses what's called fast-voltage scaling, a technique of rapidly cutting power that could drastically extend battery life on mobile devices -- or, you know, make it so that your gaming rig doesn't dim the lights quite so badly when you crank it up to the gigahertz. No word on when this regulator will start making an appearance in consumer electronics, but Mr. Kim has achieved a patent for his work, so you can be sure he'll be making bank whenever it does.
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New Chrome OS update finally fixes the Cr-48's touchpad issues
Google's Chrome OS, and thus the Cr-48, has seen a lot of updates and big fixes since we took a hard look at it back in December, but the wonky touchpad, which we seriously struggled with, hasn't exactly seen much love. That is, until today. The most recent Chrome OS update, which now brings it to version 0.10.156.46, includes new "trackpad and sensitivity settings," and it definitely makes a world of difference. We updated ours just a couple of moments ago and lots of the issues -- namely the jumpy cursor and the flaky scrolling -- have been mended. Thanks to the fresh software, we had a much easier time highlighting text and scrolling down the length of this very website. That said, the touchpad still isn't as responsive as what you get with Apple's MacBooks or Synaptics ClickPad Series 3, and that's because the physical hardware is based on Synaptics' older generation profile sensing technology rather than its newer image sensing panel. Either way, the new software update makes the Cr-48 a lot less frustrating to navigate. Google's also rolled in some new power optimizations, screen indicators, and GChat improvements -- go on and try it out for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments.
New Chrome OS update finally fixes the Cr-48's touchpad issues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTechcrunch  | Email this | Comments
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WiFi-only Motorola Xoom appears at Sam's Club, bearing $539 price?
You might have seen Motorola's WiFi-only Xoom popping up at European e-tailers, but it's reportedly flying the red, white and blue today, having materialized at Sam's Club in the good ol' USA. Droid-Life stumbled upon several snapshots of these Xoom Wi-Fi vouchers, with a $539 price tag hanging above their heads -- plenty cheaper than a cellular Xoom, and also slightly more affordable than a similarly specced iPad 2. Of course, Sam's Club deals in wholesale merchandise, and even should this price be accurate the tablet may not be widely available at the same rate, so don't count out $599 as the Xoom Wi-Fi's MSRP. Meanwhile, let us know if you manage to find and ring one up at the register, eh?

[Thanks, Michael]
WiFi-only Motorola Xoom appears at Sam's Club, bearing $539 price? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceDroid-Life  | Email this | Comments
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Ask Engadget: what's the best iPad keyboard case?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Courtney, who obviously thinks the virtual iOS keyboard isn't svelte enough for her needs. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I'm sort of overwhelmed by the amount of iPad keyboard cases on the market, and would love to hear opinions from owners. Which one feels most sturdy, and which has the nicest key travel? They're all priced nearly the same, so it really comes down to quality, fit and finish. Thanks for any guidance!"
Ignore the fact that the iPad 2 is likely just a few weeks away -- we're talking about the here and now. You've read our $0.02 on a few of these, but why not throw a few opinions of your own in comments below?
Ask Engadget: what's the best iPad keyboard case? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google's self-driving cars take TED attendees for a wild ride
Google gave folks a brief glimpse at its super secret self-driving cars last fall, but nothing like what it's just showed off at the TED conference that's happening this week in Long Beach, California. The company is not only actually letting attendees inside the autonomous car for a first-hand demonstration, but it's intentionally stepped things up to an "aggressive" level to show just how capable the car really is -- we're talking squealing tires and really tight cornering (all on a closed course, naturally). Head on past the break for a view from both inside and outside of the car courtesy of Search Engine Land. Continue reading Google's self-driving cars take TED attendees for a wild ride
Google's self-driving cars take TED attendees for a wild ride originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSearch Engine Land  | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft tablet OS not coming until fall 2012?
We've caught wind of many whispers about a Windows designed specifically for tablets, but the latest scuttlebutt states we won't get to add them to our mobile arsenal anytime soon -- Bloomberg's anonymous sources report that Microsoft won't release a tablet operating system until the 2012 back-to-school season, and will only begin to publically test the OS at the end of this year. That suggests not only a timeframe, but also a likely plan -- it's not hard to imagine Microsoft would enjoy a slice of the educational market before iPads replace textbooks entirely at schools with cash to burn. Of course, Dell seems to think there'll be a Windows 8 slate in January of next year.
Microsoft tablet OS not coming until fall 2012? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceBloomberg  | Email this | Comments
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Editorial: It's Apple's 'post-PC' world -- we're all just living in it
On Wednesday, Apple introduced the world to the iPad 2. A beautiful device, to be sure. Feature packed? You bet. Soon to be selling like hotcakes? Absolutely. But the introduction of an iteration on an already existing product wasn't the most notable piece of the event, nor was the surprise appearance of Steve Jobs. No, Wednesday's event was significant because it introduced the world to Apple's real vision for the foreseeable future, a theme the company has hinted at but never fully expressed. This week, Apple showed everyone where it was headed, challenged competitors on that direction, and made it clear that the company not only has staked a claim in that space, but is defining it.

This week, Apple stepped into the "post-PC" era of computing -- and there's no looking back, at least not for the folks in Cupertino.

By joining the company's ongoing vision of a "different" kind of computing with a soundbite friendly piece of marketing-speak, Apple has changed the rules of the game, and made the competition's efforts not just an uphill battle, but -- at least in the eyes of Steve Jobs and co. -- essentially moot. But what exactly is the "post-PC" world? And why is it significant? Let me explain. Continue reading Editorial: It's Apple's 'post-PC' world -- we're all just living in it
Editorial: It's Apple's 'post-PC' world -- we're all just living in it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Netflix for iPad updated with a new custom UI but loses features like DVD queueing
While its page on iTunes doesn't show any change, HackingNetflix points out Netflix for iPad was updated today with a new version of the app that gives it a customized interface instead of just pulling up a lightly customized version of the standard webpage. That reduces browsing options to four areas: Home, Genres, Search and Instant Queue. Note the word instant, because there is no longer any way to access one's DVD queue from within the app (pulling up the Netflix page in a browser window or using a third party app, still works just fine) mirroring the changes made on TV streaming frontends in January. While there are a few reviews praising it for sleeker, speedier access, removing access to DVDs (plus detailed info on each movie like user or critic reviews, cast lists and more) has already been met with angry comments. We've always found the Netflix interface on iPhone and iPad somewhat lacking when it came to queue management anyway, now that Watch Instantly streaming is its only reason for being we're wondering if you consider that a positive or negative change.
Netflix for iPad updated with a new custom UI but loses features like DVD queueing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceHacking Netflix, iTunes  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung's Exynos 4210 flexes 3D gaming muscle at GDC 2011 (video)

What might Android gaming look like on a Samsung Galaxy S II? You're staring it in the face right now. We spotted Samsung's Orion / Exynos 4210 at GDC 2011, showing off the power of its dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 CPU and Mali-400 graphics on a nice big 1080p television screen --- with a completely playable asteroid obstacle course that ran at a butter-smooth 60 frames per second in stereoscopic 3D. ARM representatives told us the chip actually has even more headroom, but was actually constrained by its HDMI 1.3 port, and could push stereoscopic content at up to 70fps if their reference board had HDMI 1.4. When we asked if there were any plans to publish the TrueForce space shooter demo, ARM said it might indeed be done; the company's thinking of releasing it on the Android Market as a benchmark of sorts.
Samsung's Exynos 4210 flexes 3D gaming muscle at GDC 2011 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ASUS U36Jc review
At this point, it feels like almost every laptop under the sun is being described as "thin and light," but the thinnest and lightest with a standard voltage processor? Well, that's a new distinction, and ASUS claims its 13.3-inch U36Jc is just that. The .76-inch thick chassis tips the scales to just 3.7-pounds, but doesn't skimp on the horsepower or battery life to attain those trim dimensions like some other ultrathin systems out there. Sure, the U36Jc may ditch the optical drive, but it packs a Core i5-460M processor (the "older" Nehalem generation), NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics, 4GB of RAM, a USB 3.0 port, and a 500GB, 7200rpm hard drive for just $969. Okay, so it doesn't have Intel's latest Sandy Bridge processors, but there are plenty of other reasons we think those who are looking for an ultraportable for under a grand may want to consider the U36Jc. Hit the break to find out what those things are exactly in our full review.
Gallery: ASUS U36J review
Continue reading ASUS U36Jc review
ASUS U36Jc review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony celebrates PS3 success at GDC, 41 million sold worldwide
Sony trumps PS3 sales at GDC, 41 million sold worldwide, more than 80 percent are online
It's tough to get solid numbers out of Sony for hardware sales, usually they're cloaked behind a vague "shipped" figure, but at GDC this week the company gave us one rather impressive number: 41 million. That's the number of PS3 consoles the company says it has sold worldwide, and over 80 percent are sucking down data from ye olde internet. Confirming the moneymaking trend we heard about last month, in 2010 the PlayStation store saw a 60 percent boost in traffic and a 70 percent boost in revenue from a total of 70 million PSN accounts. Let's see... 70 million PSN user accounts, 41 million PS3 consoles, 80 percent of which are online -- that means almost everyone has one account for gaming and a second for griefing. Sounds about right.
Sony celebrates PS3 success at GDC, 41 million sold worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceJoystiq  | Email this | Comments
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Ford SYNC goes global, 2012 Focus will accept commands in 19 languages
Ford SYNC goes global, 2012 Focus will accept commands in 19 languages
For a long time Ford kept its best cars in Europe and Australia, leaving Americans to make do with the Tempo or teasing us with a Focus that wasn't nearly as good as those elsewhere in the world. That's all changed now, and we're dutifully returning the favor. SYNC, which has been present on many an American Blue Oval since 2007, is now going international, Ford and Nuance managing to add an additional 16 languages to the voice recognition processing, bringing the total to 19. Emergency assistance has also been expanded to cover other languages as well, so you can now hollar for help, schreien for hilfe, or even schreeuwen om help. Continue reading Ford SYNC goes global, 2012 Focus will accept commands in 19 languages
Ford SYNC goes global, 2012 Focus will accept commands in 19 languages originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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CTIA exec promises 'significant' new tablet launch at trade show next month
A trade show executive attempting to generate interest in his own trade show may not exactly be news, but CTIA vice president Rob Mesirow has made things a bit more interesting than usual by promising today that a "significant" new tablet will be launched at the mobile-focused show, which runs from March 22nd to the 24th. What could that tablet be? Well, we already have a pretty strong indication that Samsung will announce an 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab at the show -- but is it "significant" enough to match the hype? As for any other announcements we might see, Mesirow was fairly tight-lipped, with him saying only that "Android, Android, Android" will be the big platform at the show, and that while we will see more out of Windows Phone 7, it will be "moving into the fall show in a much bigger way." Whatever is in store, you can count on us being there to see it first hand.
CTIA exec promises 'significant' new tablet launch at trade show next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePC Magazine  | Email this | Comments
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