Wednesday, March 30, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 29/03/2011




Researchers manage 448Gbps on commercial hardware, coming soonish to a trunk near you
Researchers manage 448Gbit/s on commercial hardware, coming soonish to a trunk near you
We've seen many a theoretical demonstration of lightning-quick networks, but most use some rather special purpose hardware -- like lasers and such that your average ISP doesn't have hanging around. However, this new benchmark of 448Gbps is a little more impressive because it was achieved on commercial fiber hardware. A few teams of researchers were the ones shoveling the bits, including the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, the National Inter-university Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT), and good 'ol Ericsson. It's said to be the world's first transmission line operating at that speed, and what's most impressive is that it'll be tested on further network segments in the coming months ahead of becoming an actual product at some point in the not-too-distant future. Not soon enough.
Permalink Tom's Hardware | sourceScuola Superiore Sant'Anna | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Japan sends Kounotori 2 spacecraft on suicide mission to study re-entry process
An unmanned cargo ship built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to go up in flames tomorrow in the name of interplanetary research. Along with a load of space station junk, the Kounotori 2 spacecraft is packing something akin to a black box, also known as a Re-entry Breakup Recorder (REBR), that will collect and transmit data about the ship's final moments. The space station's crew will activate the REBR before Kounotori 2 begins its final assignment. As soon as it starts showing signs of re-entry, the sensor will begin to collect data including temperature, acceleration, and rotation rate, and will then break away from the craft for a final free fall to Earth, at which point the REBR will dump its findings. Scientist hope the device will help answer questions about exactly what happens when things fall apart during re-entry. If all goes according to plan, the REBR will plunk down in the ocean sometime later, but its host will never be seen again... farewell, Kounotori 2.
Japan sends Kounotori 2 spacecraft on suicide mission to study re-entry process originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceSpace.com | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
German students make life-sized VR Fruit Ninja, declare war on digital produce (video)
Do you enjoy the produce-slashing action that Fruit Ninja affords, but feel constrained by the meager display capabilities of handheld devices? Well, some German students from FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences have created a VR version of the game to make your dreams of having more massive melons fly at your face come true. Using a CAVE four-walled virtual environment to display the hurtling fruit and a modified Wiimote to do the slicing and dicing, players can exorcise their cantaloupe and kumquat demons in a life-sized fruit cleaving frenzy -- with none of the Gallagher-style mess. See it in action after the break, just be sure to don your Kikou first. Continue reading German students make life-sized VR Fruit Ninja, declare war on digital produce (video)
Permalink The Gadget Site | sourceYouTube (crimsonking44) | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
NASA forced to abandon plans for 3D camera in next Mars rover, James Cameron not losing faith yet
Among the many great feats of his career, film director James Cameron counts the rather unorthodox achievement of being able to convince NASA to use a stereoscopic camera on its next Mars rover project. Unfortunately for him, us, and the hard working folks over at Malin Space Science Systems, technical snags have been encountered in the integration of the jumbo mastcam (pictured above) with the rover's hardware and the resulting delays have caused NASA to nix the idea altogether. You might think that 3D visuals of Red Planet gravel will be no great loss, but the MSSS cams also had zoom lenses attached, whereas the research project will now be returning to tried and true fixed focal length imaging. Ah well, such is the bumpy road to interterrestrial enlightenment. NASA's rover, titled Curiosity, is set to begin its voyage in November of this year, while Cameron and co remain upbeat about the future, saying they're "certain that this technology will play an important role in future missions."
Permalink Space.com | sourceMalin Space Science Systems | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
O2 scraps mobile tethering surcharges, cheers up a whole United Kingdom
This is weird. UK carrier O2 has decided to do exactly what we've been asking mobile operators to do for donkeys' years -- it's going to allow users to chew through their data allowance in whatever fashion they like, without imposing artificial surcharges for tethering secondary devices to your phone. Up till now, you'd have had to swallow a salty £7.65 ($12.24) charge each month to get your tether on with O2, but for whatever reason, that has now been scrapped for subscribers on pay-monthly deals. Hit up the source link for a detailed list of O2's new contract options -- they don't include any unlimited 3G data plans, unfortunately, but we'll take what we can get for now.

[Thanks, Neerav]
O2 scraps mobile tethering surcharges, cheers up a whole United Kingdom originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceO2 | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
IDC fails to learn from previous mistakes, issues 2015 smartphone predictions
The stat guardians at IDC are among the most reliable sources for keeping track of the latest developments in the smartphone market, but we've got to say their forecasts haven't always benefited from the same accuracy. It's with this disclaimer that we present you the world of 2015 as seen through the IDC prism. In just four years' time, says the data, Windows Phone 7 (or whatever version it reaches by then) will have ascended to occupy a fifth of the market and second spot overall behind Android, whose leading position is expected to stabilize somewhere around the 45 percent mark. Apple and RIM are projected to hold steady with shares close to where they are today. It has to be humbling for the IDC, which predicted Symbian would continue to dominate all the way into 2013, to now have to foretell of its almost complete extinction (a mere 0.2 percent) and total irrelevance in the smartphone market. Alas, while the new prediction sounds very reasonable today, four years of unknown unknowns is a mighty long time to try and forecast through, and we have a feeling we'll be looking back and chuckling at this within a few short months -- probably (hopefully!) in the midst of a massive webOS revival. Continue reading IDC fails to learn from previous mistakes, issues 2015 smartphone predictions
IDC fails to learn from previous mistakes, issues 2015 smartphone predictions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
JBL intros OnBeat iPad / iPhone / iPod speaker dock, prices it at $150
This planet we call home needs another iDock about as bad as we need another Charlie Sheen running around aimlessly, but no matter -- we're getting one, and it's being delivered from JBL. The company has just outed its first-ever iPad speaker dock, the OnBeat. Truth be told, it's capable of handling iPod touches, iPhones and iPads (no word on the iPad 2), but it's clearly engineered to hold the largest of the bunch best. Aside from providing joints and jams to those situated in your living room (or basement, if that's how you roll), it can also pipe Netflix and YouTube content directly to one's television via a composite video output, and if you're running around sans an iDevice, the 3.5mm auxiliary jack ensures that any other source will still function just fine. You'll also be able to charge and sync any docked devices, but you'll be asked to dole out $149.95 in order to bring one home when it ships next month. Continue reading JBL intros OnBeat iPad / iPhone / iPod speaker dock, prices it at $150
JBL intros OnBeat iPad / iPhone / iPod speaker dock, prices it at $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceJBL | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Lenovo CEO: LePad's slimmer successor should arrive in September or October
Lenovo may have just launched the much delayed LePad in China, but it's already giddying us with a surprisingly early date for said Android tablet's successor. At last night's opening banquet for the 2011 Chinese IT Leadership Summit, CEO Yang Yuanqing revealed that the second-gen LePad will be slimmer (which is a given these days), and is expected to be launched in September or October -- merely three or four months after le original LePad's upcoming global launch in June. Shedding no light on specifications, Yang added that the next LePad was developed in parallel with its predecessor under a separate team, allowing it to come to fruition in just nine months. Very well, but actually making it to the market is an entirely different story, so we shall sit tight and watch -- hopefully Mr. Blurrycam will deliver the goods beforehand, too.
Lenovo CEO: LePad's slimmer successor should arrive in September or October originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Engadget Chinese | sourceCCIDnet | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Acer slaps $1,200 price tag on dual-screen Iconia-6120 touchbook, lets US and Canada pre-order
Acer's had its fair share of Iconia's land in the past few months, but none are as breathtaking (and potentially world-changing) as the Iconia-6120. Said machine was priced at €1,499 earlier in the year, but that doesn't mean an awful lot to folks situated in America and the Great White North. As of today, consumers in both of those nations have a price and release date to ponder, with $1,199.99 (both US and CAD) netting you a touchbook with two 14-inch Gorilla Glass touchpanels, a Core i5 CPU, 4GB of memory, integrated Intel HD graphics and a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. You'll also get USB 3.0 support, a 640GB hard drive, a 1.3 megapixel camera, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, an HDMI output, gigabit Ethernet, a chassis that weighs in at 5.95 pounds and a battery that'll probably sputter along for nine or ten minutes (on a good day). Lookin' to dive right in? Amazon, as well as "other" fine e-tailers, should be taking orders momentarily.
Gallery: Acer's Iconia-6120 dual 14-inch touchscreen laptop
Continue reading Acer slaps $1,200 price tag on dual-screen Iconia-6120 touchbook, lets US and Canada pre-order
Permalink | sourceAmazon | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Kindle subscription to the New York Times will net you free web access as well
Can't get enough New York Times over your Whispernet? Worry not, dear Kindle reader, for Amazon's on a roll with its announcements today, the latest of which is that a subscription to the NYT on its world-conquering e-reader will also grant users access to the paywall-protected NYTimes.com online portal. No complex rules or conditions, you'll just be one of the insiders who get unfettered access to all the fine old school journalism practiced at Times towers. See Amazon's press release after the break or hit the source link to learn more about the $28-a-month (for international users) subscription.

Update: The sub price is $20 in the USA, the $28 cost we first saw relates to those signing up from the UK and other international markets. Thanks, russke!
Continue reading Kindle subscription to the New York Times will net you free web access as well
Kindle subscription to the New York Times will net you free web access as well originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceAmazon | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Shocker! President Obama owns an iPad and computer, won't have to borrow yours (video)
Barack Obama is quite likely the most computer literate president (which isn't saying much) these united states have ever had. So it's really no surprise to hear that the BlackBerry wielding prez also owns an iPad and, gasp, his own computer -- except, perhaps, to Univision's Jorge Ramos. Obama's incredulous stare and jocular response to the questions are as hilarious as they are candid in their casual delivery. See for yourselves in the video after the break. Continue reading Shocker! President Obama owns an iPad and computer, won't have to borrow yours (video)
Permalink TUAW | sourceCBSNewsOnline (YouTube) | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Nokia keeps the lawyers well fed, returns to the ITC with fresh complaints about Apple
Like a desperate suitor unable to take "no" for an answer, Nokia's come back to the ITC with fresh allegations about Apple using its patented technologies without proper authorization. On Friday, the International Trade Commission made an initial determination that Apple wasn't actually making use of five patents held by the Finnish company -- a ruling that has yet to be ratified by the Commission itself, notably -- which Nokia predictably "does not agree" with and is now countering with the addition of seven more patents it believes have been infringed. Those relate to multitasking, data synchronization, positioning, call quality, and Bluetooth accessories, and affect "virtually all products" in Cupertino's portfolio. Rather boastfully, Nokia informs us that a total of 46 of its patents are now being actioned in some sort of lawsuit against Apple, whether you're talking about the ITC, US, Dutch, German, or British courts. As the old saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, send in the lawyers. See Nokia's press release about this latest legal activity after the break. Continue reading Nokia keeps the lawyers well fed, returns to the ITC with fresh complaints about Apple
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Samsung Galaxy S II shows off motion-zoom option in TouchWiz 4.0 (video)
It's skinny, it's fast, and it can do some seriously fun stuff with its gyroscope accelerometer. Yes, we're talking about the Galaxy S II, Samsung's upcoming followup to one of Android's biggest successes to date, the Galaxy S. The new handset will bring with it a revised version of Sammy's Android skin, TouchWiz 4.0, which will harness the motion sensors inside the phone to allow you to zoom in and out of webpages as well as navigate the UI with the movement of your hands. Basically, instead of the traditional pinch-to-zoom, resting two fingers atop the screen will allow you to zoom in by bringing the S II closer to your face or zoom out by holding it further away -- a naturalistic gesture that makes all the sense in the world to us. Moreover, when adding new widgets to your home panels, you'll be able to move between them by propelling the phone laterally. It's quirky and appealing stuff, see it on video below.

[Thanks, Lawrence]

Update: We initially thought this was done using the gyroscope inside the Galaxy S II, but as commenter ClioCreslind helpfully points out, it's far likelier that Samsung's using the phone's accelerometer to achieve its new fanciness.
Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II shows off motion-zoom option in TouchWiz 4.0 (video)
Samsung Galaxy S II shows off motion-zoom option in TouchWiz 4.0 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 06:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceAndroid Community | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Spotify now streaming over European Onkyo receivers
While Spotify still isn't available to US households, the streaming music service just made its first jump to European audio receivers with the help of Onkyo. Having already made its first move to the living room on Sonos systems back in September, Spotify Premium subscribers in Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK can now stream 320kbps audio while browsing their personal, what's new, and starred playlists from televisions connected to any 2011 networked home cinema receiver from Onkyo, starting with the new 7.2 channel TX-NR609. With any luck, Onkyo will soon be updating its Onkyo Remote iOS app to replace the need for a power-hungry TV just to browse Spotify's 10 million tracks. Sorry North America, at least you've still got dibs on Rdio.
Spotify now streaming over European Onkyo receivers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Gizmodo | sourceOnkyo, Spotify | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Sigma confirms pricing and availabilty for DP2x compact camera: $800, late-April
Sigma provided most of the details for its new DP2x compact camera when it announced it back in February, but it left out two key ones: pricing and availability. It's now finally (mostly) come clean on both those counts, however, and announced that the high-end compact will run $800 and be available in "late April." As for the camera itself, you'll get a 14-megapixel FOVEON X3 sensor that's said to be twelve times larger than those found in similarly-sized cameras, along with a fixed 24.2mm F2.8 lens, full manual controls with RAW image support, and an new AF algorithm that promises "high-speed" autofocus. Full press release is after the break.
Continue reading Sigma confirms pricing and availabilty for DP2x compact camera: $800, late-April
Sigma confirms pricing and availabilty for DP2x compact camera: $800, late-April originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Sony Ericsson will let you unlock the bootloader on new Xperia Android phones -- subject to conditions
While one group of Android phone makers is swinging towards locking their hardware down, Sony Ericsson is resolutely headed in the other direction. The Swedo-Japanese consortium has just announced it will provide a secure and legal way for eager Android hackers to gain full control of the bootloader on some of its upcoming 2011 Xperia line of phones. All four models are covered, the Xperia Play, Neo, Pro, and Arc, however you have to make sure you buy a handset that isn't SIM-locked to a carrier and then there are territorial considerations to take into account. Warranties may still be voided by fooling around with your Xperia's software (again, depends on individual handsets and markets) and SE warns gravely of the potential for "physical injuries or material damage" if you freak your Android into overheating or worse. So proceed with caution, but know that Sony Ericsson is by your side*.

* Subject to terms and conditions, repair charges may be incurred, Android upgrades are promised but never guaranteed.
Permalink | sourceSony Ericsson Developer Blog | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Nokia promises strong Symbian devices through Windows Phone transition, major OTA update this summer
Nokia loves telling the world about the 150 million Symbian handsets it will ship in the years to come. Problem is, that's far from a factual statement -- it's a goal, a hope, and something that will only be possible if developers and fans don't abandon the platform wholesale as the company transitions from Symbian to Windows Phone smartphones over the next two years. As such, Nokia is desperately trying to convince us that Symbian and the Qt developer framework are far from dead. In an open letter of encouragement to developers from Purnima Kochikar, VP of Nokia Forum & Developer Community, Purnima attempts to coax devs into fine-tuning their Qt skills in preparation for a "strong portfolio" of new Symbian products with "GHz+" processing and faster graphics coming in 2011 and 2012. Presumably she's talking about the T7, X7, and E6 leaks among others. And because Symbian is still the leading smartphone platform in markets like China, India, Russia, and Turkey, she hints that Nokia will likely continue to support Symbian well beyond the transition to Windows Phone, at least in select markets.

Of course, hardware has never really been Nokia's issue so it's nice to hear Purnima commit to a first major Symbian user experience update this summer that includes the new home screen, icons, browser, and navbar we've already seen, in addition to a "fresh look and feel" to the Ovi Store and Maps with the latter also getting a integrated social media services update. The Symbian update -- some of which has already been seen on the C7 Astound -- will come to "all users" over the air. Too late to save the platform but just in time for the Symbian faithful.
Permalink | sourceForum Nokia | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
The Thinking Machines flashes back to 1968 for a lesson in computer logic, sideburns (video)
Another dusty gem's emerged from the vintage gold mine that is AT&T's Tech Channel archive, and this one's packed full of useful information and some classic Jetsons-style animation. The Thinking Machines pits man against computer to explain how the things reason, and it does so with a soundtrack that's straight out of, well, 1968. Unsurprisingly, the film's populated by giant, button-laden switchboards, early computer graphics, ladies sporting beehives, and gents rocking unfortunate facial hair, but if that doesn't do it for you, it also offers genuine pearls like this: "Best of all, they never get bored. Like other machines, they can do the same monotonous chores all day long without complaining." Someone should tell that to the disgruntled Roomba residing in our hall closet. Check out the full video in all its dated glory after the break. Continue reading The Thinking Machines flashes back to 1968 for a lesson in computer logic, sideburns (video)
Permalink | sourceAT&T Tech Channel | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Sprint begins Kyocera Echo reservations, challenges you to a 'dual'
Surely you remember the Kyocera Echo, that dual-screen Android 2.2 phone that Sprint unveiled way back in February. Well, if it managed to pique your interest, then you'll be glad to know that Sprint's thrown up quite the unique reservation page that will let you reserve the phone now for $200 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) to ensure you'll have it on its April 17th release date. The company warns that there'll be limited quantities, so if you want to be the only one in town rocking a dual-screen smartphone, hit the source link and punch in your info -- and don't forget to try your hand at a game of Bottle Bustin' Bandits while you're there for a chance to win one of these phones.
Sprint begins Kyocera Echo reservations, challenges you to a 'dual' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Slashphone | sourceSprint | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Verizon's Samsung LTE Mobile Hotspot goes on sale: $100 on contract
We'd heard March 31st for this thing, but hey -- are we about to complain when it goes on sale early? That would be a definitive "no," and we're happy to report that Samsung's SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot with 1x, EV-DO Rev. A, and LTE compatibility on Verizon's network is now being offered on the carrier's website for $99.99 on contract after a $50 instant discount. That makes it the cheapest way to get five devices attached to some of the fastest wireless broadband around -- sure, you can do it with a Thunderbolt, but it'll run you a little more upfront and you need a voice plan. Who's in?

[Thanks, Nick R.]
Verizon's Samsung LTE Mobile Hotspot goes on sale: $100 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceVerizon | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Amazon Cloud Player goes live, streams music on your computer and Android
Oh snap! Look who just ate Apple and Google's lunch here? Minutes ago, Amazon rolled out its very own music streaming service which is conveniently dubbed the Amazon Cloud Player. Existing Amazon customers in the US can now upload their MP3 purchases to their 5GB cloud space -- upgradable to a one-year 20GB plan for free upon purchasing an MP3 album, with additional plans starting at $20 a year -- and then start streaming on their computers or Android devices. Oh, and did we mention that this service is free of charge as well? Meanwhile, someone will have some catching up to do, but we have a feeling it won't take them too long.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: As some readers have confirmed, it appears that the Cloud Player will support music purchased from iTunes as well, presumably from the post-DRM era.

Update 2: Press release after the break. Continue reading Amazon Cloud Player goes live, streams music on your computer and Android
Amazon Cloud Player goes live, streams music on your computer and Android originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceAmazon | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Netflix Canada announces new bandwidth management settings for capped users
The second bit of news for Canadian Netflixers in less than 24 hours deals with the other pressing issue facing the service in the Great White North: bandwidth caps. While they exist in the U.S., many Canadian ISPs have set the max amount of data allowed at much lower levels and they may cut further if a recent CRTC decision on usage-based billing stands. In response, starting today Netflix.ca accounts all have a new Manage Video Quality setting that lets users select Good / Better / Best bitrates as defaults for their video streams. According to CPO Neil Hunt's blog post, previously watching 30 hours of Netflix would typically consume up to 30GB of data, while now it can be as low as 9GB under the "Good" setting. Of course, dropping bitrate means lowering picture quality accordingly, despite promises that "the experience continues to be great." Even with HD and 5.1 audio available, PQ probably isn't your highest priority if you've turned to streaming, but it remains to be seen if customers find the compromise suitable, and whether a similar option comes to U.S. users facing similarly limited connections.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Netflix Canada announces new bandwidth management settings for capped users originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceThe Netflix Blog | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Fujitsu LifeBook AH572 starts shipping, Sandy Bridge and 3D for under a grand
We saw the Fujitsu LifeBook AH572 way back in January at CES, and at the time, we were intrigued by the prospect of Sandy Bridge speed and 3D capability -- it boasts a passive 3D display and dual cameras for recording in the third dimension -- for an eminently reasonable $999. Well, were you able to resist the wave of laptops from the rest of computing's usual suspects, you can now get your hands on Fujitsu's 3D lappy packing Intel's latest silicon, a 500GB HDD, and Blu-ray combo drive to boot. Sound good? Hit the source link to grab some of the laptop love for yourself.
Fujitsu LifeBook AH572 starts shipping, Sandy Bridge and 3D for under a grand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Techfresh | sourceFujitsu | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
HTC EVO 3D coming to Europe, keeping the sexy name and specs
Earlier this year, HTC allowed its previously Verizon-exclusive brand name out to prowl the globe with the Incredible S, and now it's doing the same with the heretofore Sprint-only EVO moniker. The EVO 3D, says a tweet from HTC's French mouthpiece, is coming to the land of baguettes, stylish mustaches and stripy pullovers, though a little bit of mystery remains as to when exactly its arrival shall be. Whatever the schedule (the EVO 3D's set for a "summer" release in the US), the rest of Europe's unlikely to be left out, meaning a 4.3-inch superphone with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1080p video recording in 2D and 720p in 3D, HTC's newest Sense skin and Android's freshest Gingerbread build, is headed out to the Old World. And that, fellow pilgrims, is a mighty awesome thing indeed. Continue reading HTC EVO 3D coming to Europe, keeping the sexy name and specs
HTC EVO 3D coming to Europe, keeping the sexy name and specs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Coolsmartphone | source@HTC_Fr (Twitter) | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Droid X and Droid 2 get unofficial Android Gingerbread 2.3
Is your Motorola Droidphone hungry for some Gingerbread? Well, the lucky little guy can now get its taste with the recently released Android 2.3 builds for Droid X and Droid 2 from My Droid World. Droid Life's got all the details, including a hands-on video (provided after the break) and complete instructions for rooting your device and downloading the OS. Gingerbread brings you the new blue Blur, a customizable dock, an app management shortcut, an overhauled camera app, and super fast navigation speeds, among other things. So for you eager beavers who just can't wait for an official release, follow the source links below and feed your phone. Continue reading Droid X and Droid 2 get unofficial Android Gingerbread 2.3
Droid X and Droid 2 get unofficial Android Gingerbread 2.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Droid Life | sourceMy Droid World (1), (2) | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Quadrocopters juggle balls cooperatively, mesmerize with their lethal accuracy (video)
You've seen one quadrocopter juggle a ball autonomously while gliding through the air, but how's about a pair of them working cooperatively? Yeah, we've got your attention now. The Zurich-based lab that brought us the piano-playing and ball-bouncing quadrocopter is back with a simply breathtaking display of robotic dexterity and teamwork. Like all mad scientists, they call their Flying Machine Arena research "an experiment," though we see it a lot more as a Pong-inspired dance of our future overlords. We all know how far video games have come since two paddles batted a ball between one another, right?
Continue reading Quadrocopters juggle balls cooperatively, mesmerize with their lethal accuracy (video)
Permalink Robots.net | sourceETH - IDSC | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Paul Baran, early internet engineer and architect, passes away at 84
Most of you may not believe it, but the internet as we know it didn't really exist a mere 20 years ago. Paul Baran, an engineer of the ARPANET (an early attempt at a networked information superhighway) has passed away today at the age of 84. As the father of packet-switching -- the basis of all online information exchanges -- he was initially scoffed at by major communications players like AT&T, who thought the tech was too advanced to be realized at the time. However, after the US Department of Defense saw the need for an effective large-scale information network following WWII, the ARPANET was eventually -- and successfully -- built based on these packet-switching concepts and evolved to form the current interweb. We've definitely lost a visionary in the field of networking, and here's to hoping the next generation of like-minded innovators has the same perseverance and success.

[Image: Computer History Museum]
Paul Baran, early internet engineer and architect, passes away at 84 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceYahoo! News | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Smart Fortwo ED gets official EPA ratings: 94 MPG city, 79 MPG on the highway
Looks like "Team 250" is primed to add a few new members now that the EPA has revealed its official MPGe ratings for Smart's Fortwo EDs. Rated at 94 miles-per-gallon in the city and 79 on the highway, the car takes motorists 63 miles per charge -- making it slightly less able than Nissan's Leaf with its 73 mile range, 106 MPG in town, and 92 MPG on the open road. Now that the Fortwo ED has its governmental blessing, interested parties can lease one from selected dealers -- sorry folks, buying's not an option -- for a hefty $599 per-month, which seems staggeringly high compared to the $349 monthly lease rate for the larger, more capable Leaf. Perhaps the Smart squad won't be getting many new teammates after all.
Smart Fortwo ED gets official EPA ratings: 94 MPG city, 79 MPG on the highway originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electric Cars Report | sourceUS Department of Energy | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Tesla Roadsters cover 10M miles, American Chiropractic Association members laugh maniacally
Tesla Roadsters cover 10 million miles, American Chiropractic Association members laugh maniacially
If you've been following the development of Tesla's first production car, the Roadster, you probably already know that it can do up to 240ish miles on a charge -- or an awful lot more in perfectly ideal conditions. Cumulatively, though, they can go much, much further. Tesla has sold around 1,500 of the things since they were introduced in 2008, and the company is able to keep track of just how far each has covered. Together that first batch of cars has just covered its 10 millionth mile, which is probably enough to drive to Pluto or to some other arbitrary feat that usually gets bandied about when these sorts of milestones are achieved. Suffice it to say it's a long way. Tesla says roughly 500,000 gallons of gasoline were saved compared to what would have been burned in conventional supercars, but given the pretzel-like contortions required to climb in and out of these things we're left wondering just how many backs were broken in the process. Continue reading Tesla Roadsters cover 10M miles, American Chiropractic Association members laugh maniacally
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video)
Remember this guy, the QB robot that was priced at a whopping 15 grand? Seemingly, the webcam wheeler inspired a team of young minds at the University of Waterloo, who've unleashed the DIY in themselves to build one of their own. TIPI, or Telepresence Interface by Pendulum Inversion, was designed to give humans the feeling that they're not actually talking to a six-foot tall cyclops cyborg with an LCD face and webcam eye, but rather, evoke the emotions drawn when speaking the old, conventional, face-to-face way. Thanks to this team of mechatronics engineers, the low-cost TIPI uses an accelerometer, gyro and pendulum to balance by itself and can be remotely controlled while communicating via its Beagle Board and Polulu Orangutan SVP brain. Head past the break to see the robot struttin' its stuff -- oh, and get ready to rave. You'll see what we mean. Continue reading Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video)
Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Make | sourceProject TIPI | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Lenovo gets serious with cubicle-approved ThinkStation E30 and ThinkCentre M81 desktops
They're a far cry from being beautiful, but they're also tremendously more powerful than that joke-of-a-machine you're using now. In an effort to help those who live and breathe within Excel experience a life filled with fewer frustrations, Lenovo is cranking out a pair of new desktops for the working world. Both the ThinkStation E30 and ThinkCentre M81 can be outfitted with Intel's Sandy Bridge CPUs, and the E30 can be equipped with an 80GB or 160GB SSD, NVIDIA's Quadro / NVS graphics, up to 16GB of memory, USB 3.0 and a SATA III interface. The M81 steps down a bit with integrated Intel graphics (or a discrete ATI option), but both rigs are optimized for fast start up and shut down time under Lenovo's Enhanced Experience (EE) 2.0 for Windows 7 program. The bad news? $629 and $599 starting points in order of mention, and you'll have to wait until late April / early May to get your grubby paws around one. Full release is after the break, per usual. Continue reading Lenovo gets serious with cubicle-approved ThinkStation E30 and ThinkCentre M81 desktops
Permalink Hot Hardware | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Shocker! Sprint officially opposes AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile
Yes, you read that right. Sprint is actually going out on a limb and officially opposing AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA. Apparently, it thinks that the transaction would "reduce competition and harm consumers" if it's allowed to go through, and it's vowing to "fight this attempt by AT&T to undo the progress of the past 25 years and create a new Ma Bell duopoly." It further goes on to note that the combined company would be almost three times the size of Sprint in terms of wireless revenue, and that it and Verizon would "overwhelmingly dominate" the US wireless industry and have "unprecedented control" over the post-paid market. Full press release is after the break.
Continue reading Shocker! Sprint officially opposes AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile
Shocker! Sprint officially opposes AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
No iPhone 5 at WWDC this year? That's how it looks from here
By now you've seen the announcement for WWDC 2011 (coming June 6th), but what you may not have heard yet is that this one is going to be a little different than some of the dev cons from years past. Namely, unlike the events in 2008 through 2010, you won't see the announcement of a new iPhone (or iPad... or anything else hardware related). We're hearing the same kind of chatter from sources that solid writers like Jim Dalrymple of The Loop and All Thing D's John Paczkowski have been reporting today -- that this WWDC is going to be all about the future of iOS and OS X.

Of course if that pans out, all eyes are going to be on the company's Fall event, which seems like an increasingly likely place to launch a new phone -- especially considering the fact that the iPod's place in Apple's lineup has become diminished thanks to the success of its mobile devices. The timing also sets Apple up nicely for a brisk season of holiday phone purchases. As for the iPad, Daring Fireball's John Gruber speculated that we might see some kind of new model at this year's Fall event, and while that seems highly unlikely to us given the recent launch of the iPad 2, a new tablet would make a perfect companion to that new phone. What September holds is pure speculation right now, but for the time being, it looks like you can just get comfortable with your iPhone 4.
No iPhone 5 at WWDC this year? That's how it looks from here originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
MIT professor touts first 'practical' artificial leaf, signs deal with Tata to show up real plants
A professor at MIT claims to have Mother Nature beat at her own game. Dr. Daniel Nocera says his invention is ten times more efficient at photosynthesis than a real-life leaf, and could help to bring affordable alternative energy to developing countries. Described as an "advanced solar cell the size of a poker card," the device is made of silicon, electronics, and inexpensive catalysts made of nickel and cobalt. When placed in a gallon of water under direct sunlight, the catalysts break the H2O down into hydrogen and oxygen gases, which are then stored in a fuel cell -- the energy produced is apparently enough to power a single house for a day. Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen scientists try to one-up nature, in fact, we've seen solar-powered leaves before, but this thing actually looks poised for the mass market -- Nocera signed a deal with Tata in October. Full PR after the break. Continue reading MIT professor touts first 'practical' artificial leaf, signs deal with Tata to show up real plants
Permalink Green Car Congress | sourceAmerican Chemical Society | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Visualized: Google charts the rise and fall of United States revenues
Where would we be without Google? Well, we wouldn't have pretty charts to gawk at, for starters! The Mountain View squad has pulled 10 years' worth of fiscal data from the US Census Bureau and compiled it into some gorgeous, infinitely sortable, and re-organizable graphs. They inspire both our admiration and apprehension, as their lines illustrate most starkly the shrinkage that replaced US economic growth over the latter half of the last decade. We've only picked out a few of the big states here, but all 50 are in Google's public database -- why not hit the source link and check up on your local governors' pecuniary (mis)management skills, eh? Continue reading Visualized: Google charts the rise and fall of United States revenues
Visualized: Google charts the rise and fall of United States revenues originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceGoogle Public Data Explorer | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
American Express challenges PayPal with 'Serve' digital payment platform
American Express may have been lagging a bit behind the likes of Visa and Mastercard with digital payments over the years, but it's making a pretty big play in the field today. It's just announced its new "Serve" digital payment platform, which is more or less a straight-on competitor to PayPal. That means you'll be able to transfer funds to your Serve account from your bank account or credit card, send money to others using either the website or mobile app (currently available for iOS and Android), and even link your account to a reloadable Serve card, which you can use at any retailer that accepts American Express credit cards. Nothing fancy like NFC payments just yet, but American Express is promising to "quickly evolve" the platform by adding new features and functionality, and it's hoping to kick start things by waiving most of the consumer fees for the first six months. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and hit up the source link below if you'd like to sign up. Continue reading American Express challenges PayPal with 'Serve' digital payment platform
American Express challenges PayPal with 'Serve' digital payment platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceServe | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Westone 4 earphones review
Westone isn't exactly a household name, even in the earphone universe. But what the company lacks in recognition, it more than makes up for in quality. If you'll recall, we had a listen to its ES5 custom in-ear monitors earlier in the year, and while they cost a staggering $950, they also managed to melt our brain and thoroughly spoil us in the process. Thankfully, there's a budget alternative: the Westone 4. Granted, even 50 percent off still lands you right around $449, but many audiophiles would argue that said price is a small one to pay when looking at a quad-driver setup, a three-way crossover network and an insanely robust set of earbud tips. There's no question that these guys are aimed at the professionals in the crowd, and if you're interested in seriously stepping up your mobile listening game, you owe it to yourself to peek our full review. It's after the break, per usual.
Gallery: Westone 4 earphones hands-on
Continue reading Westone 4 earphones review
Westone 4 earphones review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | sourceWestone | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
The Engadget Show - 019: HP's Jon Rubinstein, Palm TouchPad demo, Nintendo 3DS, Samsung 9 Series
Get ready humans, because we have an all new episode of The Engadget Show that you absolutely don't want to miss. First, Josh sits down with HP's Jon Rubinstein for a long chat about the future of webOS, the latest Palm devices, and an exclusive demo of the TouchPad. Then, Josh and Joanna welcome Paul Miller and Nilay Patel to the roundtable for a raucous breakdown of the latest gadget news including demos of Samsung's new 9 Series laptop and the Nintendo 3DS. Rounding things out is some incredible music from Minusbaby with visuals from The C-Men. It's everything you love and more! What are you waiting for? Hit up the video stream after the break or download the full show in HD below!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Joanna Stern
Special guests: Jon Rubinstein, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger
Edited by: Chad Mumm
Music by: Minusbaby
Visuals by: The C-Men
Opening titles by: Julien NantiecAnimation by: Nick Criscuolo

Taped live at The Times Center
Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 019 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 019 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) / The Engadget Show - 019 (Small)

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (MP4).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (MP4).
[RSS MP4] Add the Engadget Show feed (MP4) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.
[HD RSS] Get the Engadget Show delivered automatically in HD.
[iPad RSS] Get the Engadget Show in iPad-friendly adaptive format. Continue reading The Engadget Show - 019: HP's Jon Rubinstein, Palm TouchPad demo, Nintendo 3DS, Samsung 9 Series
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
Intel rolls out third-generation SSD 320 Series drives
It's had quite a run, but Intel's venerable X-25M series of SSDs has now finally been replaced by the company's new, third-generation SSD 320 Series. Those rely on some brand new 25nm Intel NAND flash memory, and are available in capacities ranging from 40GB to 160GB for mere mortals, plus some higher capacity 300GB and 600GB models for particularly demanding users. What's more, Intel is quick to boast that the new drives are actually 30 percent cheaper than the previous generation, with prices running from just $89 for 40GB to $1,069 for that 600GB drive. Head on past the break for the official press release, and check out the more coverage links below for some early reviews.
Continue reading Intel rolls out third-generation SSD 320 Series drives
Intel rolls out third-generation SSD 320 Series drives originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Read More ...
مرسلة بواسطة Abdalrhman Albayyat
في 12:00 PM
التسميات: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)