Thursday, March 10, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 09/03/2011




Transportation secretary Ray LaHood: no restrictions (yet) on in-car information
Worried that the fancy-schmancy SYNC system you just ordered up in your Mustang will soon be outlawed? Fret not, speed demon. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will reportedly not push for restrictions on handsfree phones or in-car technology until "the government conducts further research." There are generally two prevailing trains of thought: one feels that any type of calling -- be it handsfree or otherwise -- is a terrible distraction to the driver, while the other feels that properly integrated technology is safe enough for use on the road. As the story goes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating whether systems like SYNC post a "cognitive distraction," while some automakers suggest that motorists are going to goof off with their phone anyway -- might as well make it as safe as possible for 'em. Of course, things could change in short order once this so-called "research" gets finalized, but for now, feel free to request that your OnStar system read on to the next post. Your OnStar system can read Engadget, right?
Transportation secretary Ray LaHood: no restrictions (yet) on in-car information originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink emgCarTech  |  sourceThe Detroit News  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
64GB iPhone 4 prototype spotted in China? (video)
Apparent 64GB iPhone 4 prototype spotted in China (video)
If 32GB just isn't enough to carry your entire collection of Police bootlegs and Greatest Hits compilations, prepare to look enviously upon this bastion of storage salvation. It's a 64GB iPhone 4, a supposed prototype leaked by a Foxconn employee. M.I.C. Gadget scored a quick video of the phone, even prying off the back cover revealing internals that certainly look official. The back is curiously designated "XXGB," which thankfully does not indicate a turn to Roman Numerals, while the model number and FCC ID are similarly X'd out. Other details, like a missing silver ring around the camera lens, indeed make this look like a prototype, but of course the question now is whether this plucky little handset will ever follow its dreams of becoming a production model before getting relegated to obsolescence. Continue reading 64GB iPhone 4 prototype spotted in China? (video)
64GB iPhone 4 prototype spotted in China? (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceM.I.C. Gadget  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
China clones the sliding netvertible tablet PC
We'd forgive you for thinking you're looking at a smartphone in the picture above -- seeing how HTC and Nokia owners have enjoyed this form factor for years -- but that's actually a netbook up there, sporting a full five-row keyboard and a desktop operating system. Yes, what took Samsung and ASUS until CES 2011 to realize has been copied by Shenzhen in two months flat, and even if you'd thumb your nose at its vanilla configuration (10-inch 1024 x 600 screen, 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, 3700mAh lithium-ion battery) and optical touchpad next to the display, it's hard for a lover of all things gadgety not to appreciate that. Besides, the 1,600 yuan (about $244) price tag doesn't hurt any.
China clones the sliding netvertible tablet PC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Cloned In China  |  sourceShanzhaiben  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Hulu Plus on TiVo apparently being tested, live streaming to iPad apparently being considered
So, an update. Er, a refresher if you will. Back in September of last year, TiVo announced that ingrained Hulu Plus access would be coming to its DVRs "in the coming months," but we've heard precisely nothing on the matter ever since. Enter the present. We've got a tipster who owns a TiVo Premiere and was just invited to join a Field Trial to "test Hulu Plus on TiVo," and he's also receiving codes to receive a free month of service. It's hard to say what kind of gap we're looking at between the testing period and the go-live period, but at least we've got a little assurance that no one simply forgot about their promise. In related news, other tipsters are starting to receive some fairly interesting surveys from TiVo itself, with a few questions in particular asking consumers how they'd feel about the option to "stream live TV, DVR recordings and TV shows from a cable company's On Demand library to one's iPad." This seemingly includes in-home and remote streaming, and we have to say -- streaming to the tablet just might be the magic feature that finally gets TiVo out of the hurt locker. Probably not, but are you really going to judge us for being blindly optimistic?
Gallery: TiVo's Hulu Plus, iPad streaming survey
Permalink   |  sourceTiVo Field Trial Login  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Toyota unveils its Global Vision, pledges 10 new electrified cars by 2015
Toyota unveils its Global Vision, pledges 10 new electrified cars by 2015
Toyota's getting serious with this plural Prius stuff. If you still don't buy that Prii is the correct term you'd better hurry up and get over it, as the company just announced its "Toyota Global Vision," including a plan to launch 10 more hybrid vehicles by 2015. Surely that counts the new models unveiled in Detroit, the taller Prius V and the funkier Prius C, but it remains to be seen exactly what else the company will use to build up those numbers. Toyota also says that more fuel cell and fully electric cars are coming, along with numerous "genuinely exciting models," so maybe if we're really good over the next four years one of those Prii will actually be fun to drive.
Toyota unveils its Global Vision, pledges 10 new electrified cars by 2015 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceToyota  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
VMware View brings virtual desktops to iPad with touchscreen-friendly controls (video)
Remote controlling your personal desktop from an iPad is one thing, but today VMware is offering something a little heftier -- a streamlined app to connect to enterprise-class virtual desktops. Like Citrix Receiver, the idea is that you'll get the iPad client for free, and hopefully pay to have the cloud computers served up, but instead of streamlining applications for tablet use, VMware's app hands you customizable PC-like controls. There's a handy-looking virtual touchpad you can use for fine control over the mouse cursor if your fingers prove too pointy, a set of Windows shortcut keys at the top of the virtual keyboard, multi-finger gestures and more -- but why not just watch the video after the break to see what's in store? Continue reading VMware View brings virtual desktops to iPad with touchscreen-friendly controls (video)
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
WebOS will be on 'every HP PC' shipping next year, says CEO
You'd think Leo Apotheker, HP's newest CEO, would want to save a bit of thunder for his March 14th event. Instead, the man continues to unleash stentorian quotes with unabashed candor like today's claim that "HP has lost its soul." He's also making bold proclamations about every HP PC being able to run WebOS and MIcrosoft Windows as an integrated experience in 2012 -- a move the company hopes will create a "massive platform" to attract those all important developers. Apotheker's strategy will reverse Mark Hurd's cost-cutting emphasis with a renewed focus on product quality and innovation -- the latter achieved by breaking down inter-company barriers that currently separate product groups and by boosting the R&D budget already pegged at $2.96 billion last year (a pittance by some measurements). Click the source link below to read the Businessweek article in full if you're interested in Leo's issue with being the smartest person in the room and his attempts at Californication. Cool? Awesome.
WebOS will be on 'every HP PC' shipping next year, says CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceBusinessweek  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
NES becomes world's least efficient flash drive (videneo)

Hold on to your Zapper, because we're about to blow some minds -- this Nintendo Entertainment System has been outfitted with a USB port, and its Tetris cartridge transformed into an 8GB USB flash drive. Not only that, there are simple step-by-step instructions to craft your own online, so you too can slot, socket, mount and feel blissfully anachronistic all the same time. Speaking of time -- it looks like we've finally got a sufficiently retro alternative to your Iomega ZIP drive.
NES becomes world's least efficient flash drive (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Technabob  |  sourceInstructables  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Canonical christens Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot'
Canonical's still one month away from letting Natty Narwhal (also known as Ubuntu 11.04) out of the cage, but it's already teasing us with another OS flaunting an alliterative mammalian monicker. Like the Narwhal before it, Oneiric Ocelot (or Ubuntu 11.10), due out this October, will offer a 2D OpenGL-based Unity interface to support older computers, as well as Qt -- you know, the framework Nokia loved and left hanging. You can also expect Ubuntu to scale back on the number of cloud services with the Ocelot, as it gears up for the release of the as-of-yet unnamed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (long term support). For now, that's all she wrote, but if you're dying to find out how they come up with those adorable Animalia appellatives, check out the source link below.
Canonical christens Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Inquirer  |  sourceMark Shuttleworth  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Samsung Galaxy Tab goes WiBro, yo
Making fun of WiBro -- the Korean moniker for what's otherwise known as IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX -- never gets old. Fortunately, Samsung just gave us another reason to "pose hard" with the announcement of the WiBro- and T-DMB-equipped Galaxy Tab now available from the Korean operator KT for 900,000KRW or just a bit more than $800. Otherwise, it's pretty much the same 7-inch Android tablet that's about to get an 8.9 inch big brother on March 22nd. Hey Sprint, you seeing this?

[Original image via ImSoGangsta.org]
Samsung Galaxy Tab goes WiBro, yo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Chosunilbo  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Nissan to give Leaf faster charger in 2012: home charging goes from glacial to a snail's pace?
Though well on its way to joining the Dodo, one of the internal combustion engine's advantages over its plug-in competition is refuel time -- it only takes a few minutes to gas up, but you're talking hours for an EV to top off its batteries via a standard 220 / 240-volt socket. This fact is not lost on Nissan, as it just revealed plans to offer a higher-rate charger in its 2012 Leaf -- the current model's 3.3kW charger needs eight hours to power up -- in order to better compete with the Ford Focus Electric's three to four hour charge time courtesy of its 6.6kW. And all you early adopters won't be "orphaned," as 2011 model Leafs can be retrofitted with the new electrics -- no word if Daddy Warbucks will be footing the bill.
Permalink Autoblog Green  |  sourceGreen Car Reports  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Logitech intros $350 Surround Sound Speakers Z906, Black Eyed Peas still capable of ruining them
It's not often we see a single product grace these pages and then remain "current" for half a dozen years, but the successor to Logitech's heralded Z-5500 speaker set is just now touching down. Logi's Surround Sound Speakers Z906 offer 5.1 channels of oomph, a 500-watt (RMS) amplifier, digital / analog inputs, yet another remote to add to your (prayerfully dwindling) collection and a dedicated control console. This particular set is both ready and willing to sync up with a cornucopia of sources -- everything from your TV to your game console should feel right at home. Head on past the break for the full specifications list, and if you're game, you can exchange $349.99 (or £329) for a set later this month. Continue reading Logitech intros $350 Surround Sound Speakers Z906, Black Eyed Peas still capable of ruining them
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Profit shocker! Android brings home more bacon than iOS for Pocket Legends developer
Back in 2009, we wrote a story on crack mobile developer Larva Labs lamenting its inability to make a living off top-rated games in the Android Market. Well, to put it lightly, it ain't 2009 anymore: the Android ecosystem has expanded exponentially in every conceivable direction, the Market has taken on tens of thousands of additional apps, and -- according to one research firm, anyway -- Android has now overtaken BlackBerry to become the most prolific smartphone platform in the US.

To that end, Spacetime Studios -- the company behind mobile MMORPG Pocket Legends, which brings in revenue through in-app purchases -- was shocked to discover that it's making some 30 to 50 percent more from its Android users than its iOS ones. Furthermore, they're spending more time playing and downloading the app with far greater frequency, which might be a testament to the fact that really great apps still stand out in the Market better than they do in the more mature (and more populated) App Store. The in-app purchase disparity is a little more difficult to explain, though -- especially since iOS has a slick, integrated purchase mechanism that Google won't be rolling out in Android for a little while yet. At any rate, the online mobile economy -- regardless of platform -- clearly still has some growing, maturing, and stabilizing to do.

[Thanks, Michael]
Permalink   |  sourceComputerworld  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Philips FloatingCushions headphones have you on cloud nine
Philips FloatingCushions headphones, have you on cloud nine
Comfort is certainly the aim for Philips' new SH series headphones, and they certainly have a compelling case. The magic behind these lightweight cans is FloatingCushion, which is essentially just memory foam that seals nicely around your ears for both comfort and reduced audio loss. Simple, but seemingly effective. No word on whether these softhearted headphones will make it to the US, but according to Pocket-lint there will be six of these in total, four of which being a Bluetooth SHB9100 model, an over-the-ear SHP8000, and two folding compact SHL9000 variants (one with in-line remote and mic). Head over to the via link for some hands-on pics.
Gallery: Philips SH-series FloatingCushion headphones
Philips FloatingCushions headphones have you on cloud nine originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Pocket-lint  |  sourcePhilips  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
CloudSight Search gives you instant, unified access to email and social networking archives
Remember those thousands of folks who you suddenly lost contact with last week? Unfortunately for them, they're still looking for years of Gmail records, but if they were proactive enough to initialize a Backupify account, they'd have their entire inbox (as well as their outbox, sent folder, and everything else) just a restore-click away. Backupify's free backup services have worked well here at Engadget HQ, providing a level of assurance that our emails, tweets, photos and Facebook statuses aren't going anywhere -- even if an account is hacked. Now, the company's taking the next logical step by introducing CloudSight Search. It's hailed as the first searchable archive solution for social media and Google Apps, and it lets you type in a single search term / phrase in order to sift through your email accounts and social networking handles for any communications related to the aforesaid query. One search, multiple communication outlets. Of course, it only sifts through what's archived, but given just how frequently the service backs things up, it's pretty darn close to fetching in real-time. The only downside? There's no mobile app, so it looks as if you'll have to consult a legitimate browser to get your search on. Those interested in signing up for the private beta launch can do so in the source link, or if you'd rather learn more via video, the play button is just beneath the break. Continue reading CloudSight Search gives you instant, unified access to email and social networking archives
Permalink   |  sourceBackupify  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
BlackBerry Playbook to feature 7digital's 13 milllion track music store
7digital and RIM are back in bed with news that the BlackBerry PlayBook will ship pre-installed with access to 13 million high-quality (320kbps) MP3 tracks from the London-based media company. At launch, the deal affects the US and Canada only, with more countries promised in 2011. PlayBook users will be able to search and preview tracks before purchasing with a discovery assist provided by 7digital's music recommendation engine. The whole kit will be previewed this week at South by Southwest where we hope to get some hands-on time. Full press release after the break. Continue reading BlackBerry Playbook to feature 7digital's 13 milllion track music store
BlackBerry Playbook to feature 7digital's 13 milllion track music store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceCrackBerry  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Samsung's latest 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab teaser hints impressive slimness
Samsung hasn't been entirely shy about its forthcoming 8.9-inch tablet, though Mr. Blurrycam seems to be having some trouble getting on a plane in Seoul. Fortunately for us, today the Korean giant decided to give us mere mortals a sneak peek at said device, and it sure looks promising -- as you can see above, the bulge seems to imply that the tablet's general thickness almost matches the headphone jack's height. If true, this would put Samsung's 8.9-incher head to head with Apple's 8.8mm thick iPad 2 in a fitness contest. Bring on March 22nd!
Samsung's latest 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab teaser hints impressive slimness originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSamsung (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Google brings Instant Previews to mobile, makes them seriously useful (video)
We've never had a use for Google Instant Search on mobile, so we didn't expect much when Google's Instant Previews invaded the smartphone realm as well. You know what? They're actually surprisingly useful. Instead of trying to cram additional information into Google's already-crowded mobile website, Instant Previews adds a little magnifying glass next to most every result instead, and clicking on the magnifier brings up a series of cached thumbnails of each page that you can scroll through in portrait or landscape modes. It's a very visual way of finding what you're looking for, and more importantly, it's quick even over 3G, saving time and mobile bandwidth that would otherwise be spent clicking through links one by one. Rather than decipher that long-winded explanation, though, why don't you try it out for yourself or watch our video demonstration after the break? Continue reading Google brings Instant Previews to mobile, makes them seriously useful (video)
Google brings Instant Previews to mobile, makes them seriously useful (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Mobile Blog  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Swedes to start text message-based postage system, girl with dragon tattoo reportedly pleased
The Swedish Postal Service has announced that it will soon replace traditional postage stamps with a text message-based system. The system will work pretty simply -- customers will send a text message to a particular number, and a special code will be texted back to them which they can then write on the letter. A spokesperson for Posten AB, the Swedish Postal Service, says the system will work for packages weighing up to two kilograms, and that it will be just as secure as traditional postage. That's all well and good, but how will they adorn their letters with famous Swedish crime writers?
Permalink Textually.org  |  sourceThe Local  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Intel brings vPro to Sandy Bridge CPUs, makes losing your work laptop slightly less painful
Imagine, if you will, business travelers gallivanting across the globe with nary a care in the world -- secure in the fact that should they lose their laptop by hook or by crook, they can disable it with a simple text message. Well, the dream is now a reality as Intel has put its third-gen vPro technology in Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 business chips, giving users the ability to lock down and reactivate a PC remotely via SMS. Not exactly a fresh idea, but nice to see it passed on to more modern chipsets. To further simplify the lives of IT professionals, the new version of vPro also has an encryption login requirement upon awakening from sleep mode, 1920 x 1200 resolution remote management, and host-based configuration to allow the set up of countless PCs at once. Of course, that assumes your employer's willing to pony up for Chipzilla's new gear -- the economic downturn's almost over, right?
Permalink InformationWeek  |  sourceIntel  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color, in a manner of speaking
TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color without Bluetooth
The smart folks over at ComptonSoft are looking to provide a GPS receiver to your mobile device in a rather unconventional way. TetherGPS links up your Android phone's GPS to the Nook Color by means of WiFi -- either on the same network or via a WiFi tether -- because the Nook Color is lacking in the standard usable Bluetooth department. After connecting the two devices, it makes a second link by running a TGPS server on the phone and a TGPS client on the Nook. The two devices are then intertwined in a blissful, all-you-can-GPS buffet of routes and roads. For the most part, the Nook's location-aware Android applications, such as Google Maps, will draw from this connection for location data and use it as if there were a GPS receiver on board. TetherGPS is up for grabs for $2.99 on the Android Market, and there's also a free "Lite" version for those who only need GPS for five minutes at a time -- we'll assume you know who you are.

[Thanks, Red]
TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color, in a manner of speaking originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink ReviewHorizon  |  sourceAndroid Market  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Microsoft's Ventura could be a cloud music / video platform, have something to do with Zune
Zune hasn't gotten much love from Microsoft as of late, but that might change over time -- ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley noticed that the company is staffing up for a cloud-based multimedia project (by a group known as "Ventura Media Services") directed at PCs, TVs and mobile devices. "The team is a tight group of music and video lovers that create services and experiences revolving around music/video discovery and consumption," read a series of job postings that date back at least as far as July of 2010, calling for software developers in Beijing and Redmond who are familiar with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. (Two of them have "Zune" in the job title.) While it's hard to say if this project is a major focus for Microsoft no matter how often the job posting says "large scale" (we count four times) it'd definitely be nice to have some competition for Google and Apple when they start drawing the multimedia-streaming battle lines.

[Thanks, zblack]
Permalink ZDNet  |  sourceMicrosoft Careers  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Nokia C7 with T-Mobile user's manual hits FCC: is this the Tiger?
Rumors have been circulating the past few days that Nokia would be teaming up with T-Mobile to release the Symbian^3-powered C7 -- right on the heels of the Nuron 2's possible cancellation -- as the Tiger. Well, here's some fuel for the fire: a version of the C7 with AWS 3G support and mentions of T-Mobile in the attached user's manual just showed up in the FCC. Interestingly, there's absolutely no sign of T-Mobile branding on the phone itself, but it's possible Nokia's prototype here simply didn't have the final silkscreens applied. Of course, plenty of devices get FCC approval without ever seeing the light of day -- but it's a sign. Who's buying?
Nokia C7 with T-Mobile user's manual hits FCC: is this the Tiger? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Instaprint service is the Polaroid of the Instagram generation, no shaking required (video)
Sure Polaroid brought its headline product into 2011 by teaming up with Lady Gaga, but most of us are just fine with using our phones to quickly capture memorable moments. Well, Instaprint aims to recreate the photo craze of yesteryear by tying it in to Instagram -- the wildly popular (and currently iOS-only) app that lets you apply various filters to your photos for quick sharing among friends. The Instaprinter (our term, not the company's) is essentially a modified Zink photo printer with internet connectivity and tie-ins to the Instagram API, that automatically prints items tagged with any hashtag you choose. As of now, the company is planning to rent Instaprint boxes and demo the service at SXSWi, targeting it as a novel way to capture all angles of whatever event you may be hosting -- which to us seems like a fun idea. That is, until someone starts abusing the system and tags a photo of their derriere with #GrandmasBirthday. You can try it out now by tagging your shots with #Instaprint, and see it printed live in the stream embedded after the break. Continue reading Instaprint service is the Polaroid of the Instagram generation, no shaking required (video)
Permalink   |  sourceInstaprint  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine
Forget the tablet, 2011 is the year of the shower radio! Last week we reported on Toshiba's wirelessly connected water-proof song box and, just as our nerves began to settle from the excitement, someone came along and dropped this eco-friendly, shower-ready gem on us. Not only is the H2O Shower Powered Radio waterproof, but it actually uses the water from your shower to pump out the jams. The thing connects directly to your shower hose, and uses the flow of water to set a micro-turbine spinning, thus charging an integral battery and eliminating the need for disposables. As the video below points out, the radio "doesn't just offer 80s classics -- it has the full spectrum of FM," and its creators say it's compatible with 99 percent of showers, but what we really want to know is: how well does it crank the Ke$ha? Video after the break. Continue reading H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine
H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Tech Digest  |  sourceTango Group  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit
We've heard plenty about the perils of cellphones in general and text messaging in particular, but are there some instances where it might actually be good for your health? Well, sort of. Some researchers at the University of Oregon and a few other participating institutions have now found a way to pinpoint the areas of the brain that are most active in controlling the urges to smoke, and they say that information can also be predictive of real-world behavior and the individuals' ability to respond to various smoking cessation programs. One of those such programs tested by the researchers involved sending eight text messages a day to an individual, which they had to reply to in order to document their cravings, mood and cigarette use. That's similar to other programs that rely on a dedicated device to collect data (which have been shown to be effective in helping smokers quit), but the researchers found that using text messages proved to be at least as effective, and is obviously a simpler and cheaper solution. Continue reading Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit
Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PhysOrg  |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Verizon CTO: 'working through issues' with LTE phones, still on track for first half launch
No blockbusters here -- nothing that's going to give you much insight into an exact launch day for the Thunderbolt -- but Verizon CTO Tony Melone made a few comments about its LTE handset launches at a financial conference yesterday that border on the interesting. Asked whether the company was facing any challenges in getting the phones solid and ready for commercial consumption, Melone responded by saying that they're "facing is what you would expect, and that is a new technology, you are working through issues. And [they] anticipated that, and [they] are pleased at how [they] are working through issues." In the same breath, he reminded the audience that Verizon had said the phones would be coming in the first half of '11 all along and that hasn't changed -- so they're not late by a long shot. Pressed on whether battery life specifically was a concern for the Thunderbolt, Melone said that he thinks the juice "will be acceptable to consumers." Considering what we've been hearing about recent firmware revisions on the test units, we're hopeful he's right -- Verizon has a reputation for testing the crap out of devices prior to release, after all.
Permalink   |  sourceZDNet  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Early mid-week shocker: research says we are overly reliant on GPS
Well, this can't be good, but it's certainly not surprising, either. Researchers have concluded that people living in developed nations have become overly reliant on satellite navigation such as GPS devices, and that the results can be... dangerous. Anyone with a think tank could probably figure this one out on their own, but the research shows that such over-reliance on the devices can produce some bad results when said devices inevitably fail out. The report goes a lot father than warning individual drivers, however, and says that systems such commercial airline traffic and those which direct train doors to open also rely on the US-based GPS system, which are all vulnerable to widespread failure should the system encounter any interference or downtime. The report does suggest further development of backup systems -- such as the European-based Galileo system, but essentially concludes that the vulnerabilities are likely to remain. Comforting, huh?
Early mid-week shocker: research says we are overly reliant on GPS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePhysorg  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Asus reveals ET2700 all-in-one desktop, lets you get touchy-feely with all ten digits (video)
After HP dropped its TouchSmart 2, myriad manufacturers jumped on the all-in-one touchscreen bandwagon -- and Asus has a new 27-inch beaut riding shotgun. Unveiled at CeBIT last week and dubbed the Asus All-in-One ET2700, this prototype machine comes with ten-finger multitouch, 178-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angles, SonicMaster audio, and some decidedly Apple-inspired aesthetics. Details on price and specs shan't be revealed for a few weeks, so the video below must suffice to sate your all-in-one appetites -- patience is a virtue, after all. Continue reading Asus reveals ET2700 all-in-one desktop, lets you get touchy-feely with all ten digits (video)
Permalink   |  sourceNotebook Italia  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
URL Hunter game takes place entirely in your browser's address bar, courtesy of HTML5
That's right, kids: the tyranny of the browser window is over! Thanks to Corey from ProbablyInteractive (as well as clever use of HTML5 and the Canvas tag), we now have URL Hunter. Using the left and right arrows keys, the player controls an ASCII "O" that has nothing better to do all day but kill the letter "a." When you find yourself on top of the "a" key, hit the space bar to earn a point. Simple? In theory, yes. But trust us -- It's harder than it sounds! Hit the source link to try for yourself.
Permalink Geek.com  |  sourceProbablyInteractive  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Japanese elevators get voice recognition, Japanese elevator rides get even more awkward
We here at Engadget are all about helping the less fortunate, so Mitsubishi Electric's latest innovation in elevator tech has us all warm and fuzzy. The new interface allows for blind users -- and presumably lazy users -- to select their destination floor by voice, with a subsequent announcement when they arrive. Additionally, the system kicks in whenever it detects a wheelchair, replacing the potentially difficult process of reaching high buttons with the simple act of speaking. No word on whether the system works in English just yet or if it'll make it to the States, but you might want to brush up on your Japanese either way.
Permalink   |  sourceAkihabara News  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Eyez video recording glasses promise to 'revolutionize' social networking
Could this pair of relatively normal looking glasses "revolutionize" video on social networking sites? That's the bold claim made by the folks behind these so-called "Eyez," at least, which unsurprisingly seem to be filled more with vapor than any actual hardware at the moment. If the company is to be believed, however, they'll eventually pack a built-in camera that's able to record 1080p video, 16GB of flash memory, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a 350 mAh lithium ion battery that promises three hours of recording on a charge. You'll even apparently be able to pair the glasses with your phone via Bluetooth, and automatically upload or even stream live video to various social networking sites via an app. Of course, there's not even so much as a hint of a release date or a price, nor is there any evidence that an actual prototype even exists. There is, however, dramatic music on a Flash-heavy website -- and that counts for something, right?
Continue reading Eyez video recording glasses promise to 'revolutionize' social networking
Eyez video recording glasses promise to 'revolutionize' social networking originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceZion Eyez  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Second Sight retinal prosthesis cleared for sale in Europe, a better one already in development
We'd bother with the obvious, but there's no sense in acting exasperated that this thing is finally shipping -- let's just be glad it didn't take a day longer, shall we? Second Sight, a California-based company aiming to help those with degenerative eye disease by way of technology, has finally seen its flagship product approved for "clinical and commercial use" in Europe. The product is the Argus II, and for all intents and purposes, it's a retinal prosthesis (read: implant) that can at least partially restore lost vision. It works a little like this: patients don the camera-laden glasses, where signals are grabbed and fed wirelessly to a chip implanted near ones retina. The information is beamed to around 60 electrodes that "stimulate retinal cells, producing light in a patient's view." According to Technology Review, "the process works for people with retinitis pigmentosa because the disease damages only the light-sensing photoreceptors, leaving the remaining retinal cells healthy." For now, the $115,000 device will only be available through a smattering of clinics in Switzerland, France and the UK. If all goes well, it'll be actively seeking FDA approval next year for use in the US of A, and a version with way more electrodes shouldn't be too far behind.
Permalink Gizmodo  |  sourceSecond Sight [PDF]  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Plugable DC-125 dock turns your solitary PC into a multiple workstation powerhouse (video)
We've seen a few docking stations 'round these parts that use the venerable DisplayLink technology to great effect, but nothing quite like this before. Plugable's DC-125 USB 2.0 Docking Client connects to your PC allows you to connect your display, speakers, keyboard, and mouse via one USB port -- small potatoes, right? Well, if said PC has a compatible multi-user OS (such as Windows Multipoint Server or Userful Multiseat Linux) you can daisy chain docks to add several terminals to the setup. Terminals! Now you can relive the dark, backwards days when you had to go to the college computer lab to get any work done -- in the comfort of your own home. Available now for $65 a pop. Get a closer look after the break.
Continue reading Plugable DC-125 dock turns your solitary PC into a multiple workstation powerhouse (video)
Permalink   |  sourcePlugable  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
EVOtainment System brings emulation greatness to the HTC EVO on a Wiimote and a prayer (video)
EVOtainment System gives brings emulation to the HTC EVO on a Wiimote and a prayer
In a world full of cheap, plastic Wiimote accessories, aisles that overflow with flimsy little steering wheels for Mario Kart, one man found purpose. One man found something good to do with them. One man created the ridiculous contraption you see above. That man is Jack Malone, crafter of this the so-called EVOtainment System. It's a Wii racing wheel from Nerf that's been drilled out and augmented to enable a Classic Controller to join the party, backed with a strip of 3M Dual Lock. Up top a universal GPS mount clings desperately on to his HTC EVO, which connects over Bluetooth to the Wiimote. It's emulatory bliss in a design that's only a little bit less chunkier than the Game Gripper.

Update: Video after the break!

Gallery: EVOtainment

[Thanks, Jack] Continue reading EVOtainment System brings emulation greatness to the HTC EVO on a Wiimote and a prayer (video)
Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Networked 'On Air' light illuminates when webcast begins, dims when it ends (video)
We won't get into the myriad ways to impress one's audience while engaging in a live video podcast, but here's one that slides into the 'surefire' category. The crafty folks over at MAKE decided to construct an automated On Air light for their new live sessions, and rather than automating it with a human hand flipping a switch at a predetermined time, they decided to wire it up to receive signals from a UStream API. In essence, the light is programmed to turn on when the podcast shows 'online,' and turn off when that status changes to 'offline.' It's a beautifully simple concept, and yet, so illuminating. See for yourself after the break. Continue reading Networked 'On Air' light illuminates when webcast begins, dims when it ends (video)
Permalink   |  sourceMAKE, XBee  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
T-Mobile's new data plans detailed, launching March 13th
As it turns out a 20 percent discount isn't all that's in the cards for T-Mobile webConnect subscribers. We now have what looks to be full details on the new data-only plans for laptops and other devices that, rather sadly, feature price increases across the board. T-Mo will be offering a monthly 200MB plan for $29.99, 5GB for $49.99, and a new 10GB choice for $79.99. That compares to $24.99 for the current 200MB plan and $39.99 for the current 5GB plan -- but don't forget those 20 percent discounts if you also have T-Mobile voice, which bring the cheapest plan down to a more tangible $23.99, 5GB to $39.99, and 10GB to $63.99. The last two are overage-free, but they're also throttling-enabled.
T-Mobile's new data plans detailed, launching March 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink BGR  |  sourceTmoNews  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Chrome gets a performance boost, simplified settings interface
It was just a month ago that Google brought Chrome up to version 9 with various performance upgrades and other improvements, but it's now already back with version 10, which is fresh out of beta today. That boasts yet more upgrades in speed -- include a 66 percent improvement in JavaScript performance on the V8 benchmark suite -- along with a completely revamped settings interface that replaces the usual window with a tab in the browser. You can also now synchronize your saved passwords across different computers, and Google has extended its sandboxing technology to the integrated Flash player in Chrome, which promises to better guard against malicious websites. As usual, Google has also explained all of the improvements in some handy videos -- check those out after the break.
Continue reading Chrome gets a performance boost, simplified settings interface
Chrome gets a performance boost, simplified settings interface originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Chrome Blog  | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
مرسلة بواسطة Abdalrhman Albayyat
في 1:00 PM
التسميات: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)