IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 26/03/2011

Apple looking to 'radically improve' iOS Maps experience, may look to you for help

It's tough to read too much into this, but when Apple publishes a couple of job applications hoping to bring on folks who can "radically improve how people interact with maps and location-based services," we can't help but take note. The outfit's currently seeking a pair of full-timers to be labeled as iOS Maps Application Developers, and it's honing in on applicants with "excellent skills in object-oriented software design and programming." We've felt for awhile that Apple's built-in Maps application wasn't even comparable to Google Maps Navigation, but it could be time for that to change. Even now, iOS users need to fork out cash on a legitimate turn-by-turn app if they're hoping to navigate with the iPod touch or iPhone, but we can only hope that these applications are hinting at a more full-fledged internal program for the software's next major iteration.'Course, we're sure TomTom would beg to disagree...

Apple looking to 'radically improve' iOS Maps experience, may look to you for help originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Player 70 captures vision of Android-ruled world in new promo video

It's getting a bit tough to tell Samsung's various Galaxy Players and their changing names apart these days, but the company has found a fairly unique way to drum up attention for its new Galaxy Player 70 model, which looks to be nearly identical to the Galaxy Player 5 being released over here. Mixed into an otherwise bright and cheery new ad are images of what we can only presume is an alternate reality where the Android robot is real, and in charge. Head on past the break to see for yourself.

[Thanks, Rachid] Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Player 70 captures vision of Android-ruled world in new promo video

Samsung Galaxy Player 70 captures vision of Android-ruled world in new promo video originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid Den | SamsungTomorrow (YouTube) | Email this | Comments
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Slide launches Disco: Google's group texting app comes to iPhone, not Android

When Google acquired Slide way back in August of 2010, when it was warm and sunny and phones only had single-core processors, the plan was to "build a more social web." Now we know a little more about that plan... sort of. A new app from Slide has just hit the app store and an accompanying site has just hit the internets. It's called Disco, a group texting service that has an app and a web interface. When you sign up you're assigned a new phone number (ours was a 302 -- hello Deleware) and you're invited to send texts to a number of people, any people, regardless of whether they're Disco users themselves. Those people can then reply and things get bounced around all crazy like, so make sure those you add have opted for unlimited texting. Intriguingly at this point the app is only available for iPhone, and that's certainly the platform that takes front and center on the main Disco site. Given the Google parentage here we have to assume that there's an Android flavor coming here, but crazier things have happened at the club.

[Disco Stu could not be reached for comment, but has in the past indicated an affinity for group texting.]

Slide launches Disco: Google's group texting app comes to iPhone, not Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch | iTunes, Disco | Email this | Comments
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Xtreamer Ultra HTPC grabs a €249 price, May 3rd ship date

We've heard, we've toyed, and we've waited. And now, we're presenting you with two vital nuggets of information surrounding the Xtreamer Ultra HTPC. The Ion 2-based machine is one of the most compact (and most affordable) pre-built HTPCs available, complete with six USB sockets, 4GB of DDR3 memory, an HDMI socket, IR remote and -- if you place a pre-order before the end of April -- a mini wireless keyboard, 8GB USB key, an HDMI 1.4a cable and a fresh copy of Linux. €249 will get one headed your way on May 3rd, or $323 if you're Livin' In America. Hit the source link to get in line, ya heard?

[Thanks, Tim and Henrik]

Xtreamer Ultra HTPC grabs a €249 price, May 3rd ship date originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change OnLive's MicroConsole game system?

The concept of a streaming console has been around for ages, and while Phantom Entertainment never could quite pull it off, the folks at OnLive seem to be onto something. 'Course, only time will tell if that "something" is a legitimate enough business to make sustainable, but at least it has moved well beyond the point of vaporware. Now that the MicroConsole has been raiding living rooms for a few months, we're curious to know your thoughts on things. Have you been able to try one out? Are you still reverting back to your conventional consoles? Are you pleased with OnLive's performance given your ho hum cable connection? Would you have inked deals with a few more game publishers before pushing it out? Go on and get really real down in comments below -- given the small size of the company, there's a better-than-average chance it'll be listening to what you have to say.

How would you change OnLive's MicroConsole game system? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers show off scalable architecture for quantum computing, expand our minds

Okay, so we might be chasing the flying unicorn of modern technology here -- and, no, we're not talking about the white iPhone 4 -- but as you've probably noticed, our hunger for a quantum computer is basically insatiable. Lucky for us, some folks who actually know something about producing qubits are similarly persistent -- a team of researchers recently presented a scalable quantum chip at a meeting of the American Physical Society in good old Texas. The 6 x 6-cm processor sports four qubits, the basic units of quantum computing, and its creators say it has the potential to be scaled up to support 10 of the things within the year. So what does that mean for our quest for the ultimate super computer? Well, it means we're closer than we used to be... and the dream lives on.

Researchers show off scalable architecture for quantum computing, expand our minds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charge Anywhere update turns Nexus S into full-on mobile payment terminal
Processing mobile payments via an external dongle? That's so early 2011. Charge Anywhere has a less troublesome idea, and if you're the lucky owner of a Google Nexus S, you could soon be accepting cold, hard virtual cash via NFC. For those already familiar with the space, you'll know that this very company already has applications out for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices, but all of those obviously require a credit card swiping mechanism to be connected. According to CNET, the latest version will include support for the NFC module embedded within the Nexus S, enabling it to be a full-on mobile payment terminal with no additional hardware required. Both MasterCard PayPass and Visa Blink payments could be ingested, but don't go searching for the update in the Android Market; the company's done with the new build, but it won't be let loose to the public until it's ran past larger customers first. We don't get the impression that the NFC-compatible version will run any more than the $9.99 per month, but it's obviously a wait-and-see affair for now.

Charge Anywhere update turns Nexus S into full-on mobile payment terminal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T says Atrix 4G, Inspire 4G will have HSUPA enabled in April

We've already seen some hints that something was coming soon courtesy of the FCC, and now AT&T has confirmed to CNET that both the HTC Inspire 4G and Motorola Atrix 4G will have their HSUPA capabilities enabled sometime in April via a software update. That should dramatically increase upload speeds on the phones (up to 5.76 Mbps), and make them more "4G" than ever before, but still not quite as "4G" as some other "4G." Incidentally, the Samsung Infuse 4G has also been confirmed to be shipping with HSUPA enabled, although it's still not clear exactly when it will ship.

AT&T says Atrix 4G, Inspire 4G will have HSUPA enabled in April originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Show Live! with Jon Rubinstein

Humans, keep your eyes tuned to this post -- because at 7:00PM ET, we'll be starting The Engadget Show live with HP's Jon Rubinstein, joining us for a evening of frank, eye-opening and all-around awesome conversation. There'll be mind-blowing devices, crazy giveaways, and much, much more! We've even got music from Minusbaby. The stream is available after the break, just click the "read more" button to watch! Continue reading The Engadget Show Live! with Jon Rubinstein

The Engadget Show Live! with Jon Rubinstein originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wham-O's Frisbee Forever iOS app promises to change backyard fun... forever
If there's one thing the iPhone needs -- and we mean exactly one thing -- it's clearly a Frisbee app. Er, Frisbee(R) app. Not a legitimate Gmail app. Not a new notification system. A Frisbee(R) app. As the story goes, Wham-O has linked hands with Kiloo in order to develop the Frisbee Forever app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, which is said to offer avid iOS gamers "unique challenges and obstacles in a rich complete 3D environment." What kind of challenges, you say? We're hearing that you'll be able to toss a variety of Frisbee models across 100 levels of lush, colorful worlds, but beyond that, most everything else is shrouded in mystery. All will be revealed in May, but till then, we'd encourage you to step outside and actually throw a Frisbee. We hear dogs are super into fetching them, too. Continue reading Wham-O's Frisbee Forever iOS app promises to change backyard fun... forever

Wham-O's Frisbee Forever iOS app promises to change backyard fun... forever originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad 2 international launch causes people to line up in line all over again

You may or may not know this, but the iPad 2 became available in 22 countries today, and from the looks of it above (snapped at London's Regent Street store), waiting in line was part of the deal. Now, we have this theory that people love to line up for anything, so we're not going to draw any conclusions about how dreamy the product is, but please, if you shot any line photos today, feel free to send them our way and we'll throw them in our post after the break. Continue reading iPad 2 international launch causes people to line up in line all over again

iPad 2 international launch causes people to line up in line all over again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo C30 Electric test drive (video)

We've been covering the Volvo C30 Electric pretty closely because, well, let's face it: it's one of the few genuinely good looking electric cars in the pipeline. Sure, the Focus Electric looks fine, despite the excessive dental gear, and Tesla's products are certainly saucy, but for every Roadster in the world there are a couple-dozen Leafs and Prii putting their owners to sleep.

The C30 Electric, however, looks almost exactly like the C30 non-electric, which is a good thing, and it drives more or less like one too. About four months after we first saw the thing Volvo finally tossed us the keys, in the process taking us on a tour of Indianapolis-based Ener1, source of the battery packs that make the thing move. Yes, it's a funky little Swedish car with a big 'ol American battery pack. Read on for our impressions.

Gallery: Volvo C30 Electric

Continue reading Volvo C30 Electric test drive (video)

Volvo C30 Electric test drive (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A series of unfortunate demises: classic arcade game deaths compiled into a tender tribute video

Whatever your flavor of old school gaming, whether you were a future-loving RoboCop killer or a skeleton-slaying Golden Axe swinger, there's a little slice of nostalgia here for you. The guys from BoingBoing have lovingly compiled some of the most memorable death scenes from the games of yore into a video tribute, and they've been nice enough to leave out the names of all the games featured. There's no Pokémon action in there, but still, can you guess 'em all? Continue reading A series of unfortunate demises: classic arcade game deaths compiled into a tender tribute video

A series of unfortunate demises: classic arcade game deaths compiled into a tender tribute video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is your iPad 2 experiencing intermittent WiFi connection issues?

Some things, they never change. Boys will be boys, free never really is, and iPads will have WiFi issues. If you'll recall, the original Apple slate also had such troubling issues with maintaining a wireless connection that the folks in Cupertino actually made a promise to fix things in time. Eventually, that patch was indeed rolled out, but then we heard that iOS 4.2 was being pushed a bit due to -- you guessed it -- more WiFi issues. Now that the iPad 2 has made its way out into the adoring public's hands, we're starting to see a growing cadre of customers raising similar gripes. Our in-house iPad 2 hasn't shown any WiFi connection issues as of yet, but there's a 10+ page thread over in Apple's forums that have us wondering if we're amongst the lucky few. Have you noticed any internet quirks with your new iPad? Or are all of these people simply using the world's worst router? Let us know in comments below.

[Thanks, Brian]

Is your iPad 2 experiencing intermittent WiFi connection issues? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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