Saturday, December 10, 2011

IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 10/12/2011





HP: webOS to live on through open source, hardware lineup still dead (for now)
When HP abruptly announced it was discontinuing the TouchPad and ceasing work on any future devices running webOS, we took that to mean the underdog operating system had died a premature death. But when the company ousted bumbling CEO Leo Apotheker and replaced him with Meg Whitman, we had to wonder if webOS might have some life in it yet. Well, the company just came back with a final verdict: the company will continue to develop webOS, as promised, but with the help of the open source community. In other words, webOS as a platform will live on, and developers both inside HP and out will spruce up the OS for interested OEMs (whoever they may be), along with people who already own webOS devices. Says Sam Greenblat, CTO of the outfit's advanced technologies division: "We looked at all the various options we have on the table. We think this option for the tech industry and HP."



Still, if you were hoping Whitman would resurrect the TouchPad and Pre 3 beyond just another fire sale, we hate to be the bearer of disappointing news. The bottom line: HP's webOS hardware lineup is still dead -- for now, at least. Greenblat emphasized that HP might later choose to build devices running webOS, the same way any other OEM would evaluate any other operating system. In an interview, company representatives were also quick to say that with the help of developers outside HP, webOS could become a more attractive choice for devices other than phones and tablets (printers, anyone?). Still, though Greenblat says there has been a "great deal" of interest from companies eyeing the software, it remains unclear which manufactures, if any, will decide to give the OS a more immediate home.
Continue reading HP: webOS to live on through open source, hardware lineup still dead (for now)
HP: webOS to live on through open source, hardware lineup still dead (for now) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Windows Store fine print puts consumers first
Digging into the Windows Store fine print reveals Microsoft's "consumer first" policy for the metro-style apps for next year's operating system. The company wants developers to make every app fully touch compatible, with every gesture working the same way as it does in Windows 8. It'll have to cater for every CPU architecture as well (or face having to tailor multiple editions) since users can install it on up to five machines. Video downloads are capped at 256Kb/s and audio at 64Kb/s to prevent apps maxing out the data caps on your plan -- if it wants any more, it'll have to politely ask for your permission. The only thing the company isn't offering to users is a returns policy, (except in countries where it's legally obligated to) but we can't have it all our own way, eh?
Windows Store fine print puts consumers first originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Phone Arena, Slash Gear, iStartedsomething  |  sourceMicrosoft (1), Microsoft (2)  | Email this | Comments

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Dutch officials contemplate barring KPN, T-Mobile and Vodafone from spectrum auction
A spectrum auction looms on the horizon in the Netherlands, but three of the country's largest players may be excluded from participation. As you know, earlier this week, Dutch authorities raided the offices of KPN Mobile, T-Mobile Netherlands and Vodafone Netherlands in a price-fixing investigation. The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa), which carried out the raid, stressed that its visit does not mean the operators are guilty of collusion or hint at the outcome of its investigation.



Now, Dutch lawmakers and the country's Minister of Economic Affairs must come to a decision about the auction that's set to take place in the spring of 2012 -- which is likely to be well in advance of any final report from the NMa. One option tossed around has been to postpone the auction, though, as lawmakers point out, this could hinder the development in the mobile space and further limit competition. Alternately, had any of the named companies actually profited from the alleged collusion, there's a risk that these monies could be used to purchase additional spectrum and further extend their dominance. Those discussing the matter hope to move quickly, though it certainly seems difficult to make any decision of this magnitude lightly.
Permalink   |  sourceTweakers.net (translated)  | Email this | Comments

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Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: winter 2011 edition
The winter holidays are a special time of the year. Christmas lights are going up on homes, carolers are filling the streets, fireplaces are glowing, and we're taking stock of the best smartphones of 2011. Whether you're planning to purchase one of these amazing devices for yourself or a loved one, Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide is your essential source for selecting a handset that best suits your desires and budget.



No doubt, you've already had an opportunity to review our holiday gift guide for 2011. The smartphone buyer's guide is a bit different. Here, we examine the variety of options from each carrier, large and small, along with its most solid alternatives. Those insistent upon QWERTY keyboards will find each provider's pick of the litter, and we also select a high quality budget offering with $80 as the absolute ceiling. Compared to our previous buyer's guide, Samsung is lighting up the scoreboard more than ever -- largely in part to the Galaxy S II, but that isn't keeping other manufacturers from pushing back. The past 12 months have shown amazing development in the smartphone arena, so join us after the break as we round up the most exciting options of the year.
Continue reading Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: winter 2011 edition
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: winter 2011 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple just arrived at Grand Central Terminal, we hop aboard (video)
For many New Yorkers, Grand Central Station Terminal is where you go to escape the island -- not to leisurely browse aisles of iPhone accessories, or pop in for a Genius Bar appointment. But apparently Apple has a slightly different vision for the city's transportation hub, opening its fifth NYC store along the main hall's 23,000 square foot east balcony. We dropped by for the grand opening this morning, which came complete with the standard Apple Store t-shirt giveaway and what seemed like hundreds of red shirt-clad retail employees.



As NYC's gateway to Connecticut, Grand Central is typically incredibly crowded during rush hour, but the enormous sunlight-filled main hall was packed to the brim today with spectators -- eager customers queued up in a hallway out of view, beginning early this morning. The store itself is huge, occupying the entire east balcony and several side rooms, with a large genius bar, training area and accessory alcove at either side. Eager to pop in for a visit? Thumb through the gallery below to step inside, and jump past the break to experience the cacophonous chaos at Grand Central.
Gallery: Apple Store Grand Central
Continue reading Apple just arrived at Grand Central Terminal, we hop aboard (video)
Apple just arrived at Grand Central Terminal, we hop aboard (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceApple  | Email this | Comments

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Engadget Podcast 267 - 12.09.2011
The Engadget Podcast clocks in at just over .5 hours this week, but wouldn't you know, we managed to stuff an entire week's worth of news into that rarified space? This week it's all about quality, not quantity...at least in the discussion. The gadgets themselves, we can't say the same for. Grab an energy drink and get ready for some fast-burning, high-octane technology chat.



Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater

Guest: Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Music: The Edge Of Glory



01:14 - Carrier IQ VP says software poses no threat to user privacy, backs up his argument with metaphor

05:40 - Motorola Xoom 2 review

14:20 - Meizu MX first hands-on!

17:09 - LG DoublePlay review

19:18 - Kobo Vox review

24:00 - Listener questions















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Engadget Podcast 267 - 12.09.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Android Market's ten-cent promo moves into day 4 with Need for Speed Shift, Shazam Encore and eight more
The Android Market ten-cent promo has moved into Day 4, once again offering up a fresh daily set of apps to celebrate the virtual venue's ten billionth download. As of this writing, yesterday's apps are still on sale (and still featured on the Market's main promo page), but today's sale includes titles like Need for Speed Shift, Shazam Encore, Farm Frenzy, Sentinel 3 and Jelly Defense. Rounding out the lineup: Spirit HD, Toddler Spanish, Game Dev Story, Baseball Superstars 2011 and My Beach HD. Amazon doesn't appear to be matching the sale price this time around (yet), so if any of these titles are striking a chord, you'll need to go through the Market itself to check 'em out.



Note: It appears that at the time of this writing most if not all paid apps are experiencing technical difficulties when downloading -- on either the online Market or the phone -- so if you're having trouble getting one of the ten cent apps, we recommend taking a brief hiatus and coming back to try again a little bit later.



Update: The promo page has been updated and it looks like all of the apps are downloading just fine now. Head to the source link to get started.



Update 2: So it seems that Google Wallet is having issues staying live today, so it's quite possible that you'll continue to have issues purchasing your apps until the service is fully restored.
Permalink AndroidCentral  |  sourceAndroid Market  | Email this | Comments

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Untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.0 showcased on YouTube (video)
Love to jailbreak but hate to tether every time you reboot? Then help could soon be at hand courtesy of hacker Pod2g. He just put out a video showing off a new exploit that continues to work on an iPod Touch even after it has been switched off and on. It appears to be running on iOS 5.0 rather than 5.0.1, so some downgrading might be called for. We don't know when it'll be released to the masses, or how long it'll last once Apple catches wind, but in the meantime there are of course various alternatives if you can stomach the risks and don't mind a bit of USB tomfoolery.



[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Continue reading Untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.0 showcased on YouTube (video)
Untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.0 showcased on YouTube (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePod2g (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

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FCC Fridays: December 9, 2011
We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!
Continue reading FCC Fridays: December 9, 2011
FCC Fridays: December 9, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Super Talent intros enthusiast-level TerraNova SSDs
Super Talent has released a new range of "enthusiast" level MLC NAND Flash SSDs that offer the sort of face-melting speed that only comes when someone else is paying. The SATA Rev. 3.0 drives come with a SandForce 2200 processor (with a firmware tweaked for performance) in a 2.5-inch form factor that offers the usual 6Gb/s pipeline in: 64GB (540 Read / 490 Write), 120GB (540 / 510), 240GB (540 / 520) and 480GB (540/480) flavors. The drives begin shipping "today" and will set you back $109 / 60GB, $179 / 120GB, $365 / 240GB and $920 for the 480GB whopper. Head on past the break to see what the company has to say on the matter.
Continue reading Super Talent intros enthusiast-level TerraNova SSDs
Super Talent intros enthusiast-level TerraNova SSDs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Slashgear  |  sourceSuper Talent  | Email this | Comments

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Engadget Distro Issue 17 takes a bite out of Android Ice Cream Sandwich -- get your om nom on!
No matter how you feel about Roboto, there's no denying the anticipation that's built up around the latest overhaul of the Android operating system. In this week's issue of Distro, Brad Molen gives you the sweet lowdown on Mountain View's Ice Cream Sandwich, while Zachary Lutz explores why Carrier IQ is leaving a sour taste in some user's mouths. We also have reviews of two Android tablets: Motorola's Xoom 2 and ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Zach Honig and Richard Lai take us inside Tokyo Motor Show 2011, Ross Rubin considers a trip with Siri and Box Brown tackles the cosmos and Facebook's "like" button in the Engadget comic. So hit that download button and feed your brain.
Continue reading Engadget Distro Issue 17 takes a bite out of Android Ice Cream Sandwich -- get your om nom on!
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Nokia Lumia 710 now shipping, global rollout slated for 'coming weeks'
It's been a few months coming, but today, Nokia announced that its Lumia 710 handset has finally hit store shelves in Taiwan, ahead of its broader international release. Priced at around €270 (or about $332), the Mango-laced handset will arrive in stores across Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Russia over the next seven days, before expanding to other global markets "over the coming weeks." The 3.7-inch device joins the Lumia 800 as Nokia's latest Windows Phone offering, though it remains to be seen whether or not it'll make its way to T-Mobile anytime soon, as earlier rumors indicated. For more details on the phone, check out Nokia's full press release, after the break.
Continue reading Nokia Lumia 710 now shipping, global rollout slated for 'coming weeks'
Nokia Lumia 710 now shipping, global rollout slated for 'coming weeks' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ads will possess your phone using subliminal sound waves
Er, we don't want to sensationalize this or anything, but your phone could soon be at the mercy of inaudible sound pulses that trigger location-specific ads, sales promotions and other potentially demonic notifications. Unlike normal advertising within apps, and also different to sound-responsive apps like Shazam and Shopkick, a new platform called Sonic Notify is meant to work discreetly in the background, without the need for any user activation. Its creators, NY-based digital agency Densebrain, plan to attach small high-frequency sound-emitting beacons to store shelves, which will "set people's phones off" when they stand in front of a particular product. It's not clear how the platform might affect your battery life, or why you wouldn't just disable it at the first inopportune alert, but drug stores, TV networks and big players like Proctor & Gamble are nevertheless said to be gripped by the concept.
Ads will possess your phone using subliminal sound waves originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAdWeek  | Email this | Comments

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Motorola wins injunction against Apple Sales International in German patent dispute
After issuing a default judgment against Apple last month, Germany's Mannheim Regional Court has now granted a "preliminarily enforceable" injunction against Ireland-based Apple Sales International, on the grounds that its products may violate some of Motorola Mobility's patents. At issue is Motorola's European Patent 1010336 (B1), which covers a "method for performing a countdown function during a mobile-originated transfer for a packet radio system." According to Foss Patents, the court's injunction encompasses the iPhone (3G, 3GS and 4), iPad 3G and iPad2 3G. The ruling also states that Apple can avoid the injunction if it removes the patent-infringing elements from its devices, though it's more likely that Cupertino will appeal to the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court, in the hopes of obtaining a stay. We've already reached out to Apple for comment, and will update this post as soon as we get more information.
Permalink   |  sourceFoss Patents  | Email this | Comments

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TomTom looks to shed ten-percent of workforce in restructuring effort
We have some sad news to report out of Holland today. TomTom has announced that it will release nearly ten-percent of its employees as the company works to reorganize and move away from the personal navigation device market. The struggling firm previously stated that it would trim €50 million from its annual operations budget, and many of TomTom's employees will now face the ramifications of this effort. Moving forward, the company will focus primarily on in-dash navigation equipment that's pre-installed by automotive manufacturers, along with fleet management for delivery companies. Hopefully we'll see some better times ahead for the Dutch firm. Frankly, we don't know what we'd do without the likes of Mr. T, Han Solo and Burt and Ernie leading the way.
TomTom looks to shed ten-percent of workforce in restructuring effort originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Electronista  |  sourceFinancial Times  | Email this | Comments

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Fall Xbox 360 Dashboard update brings WTV file support, but don't get too excited
Browsing WTV files on the Xbox
If you've actually heard of the WTV recorded TV file format, then you're probably a Windows 7 Media Center fan, and thus you're excited at any indication that Micorosft hasn't completely forgotten about you. That small gesture came this week with the new Xbox Dashboard update, but sadly it isn't much to get excited about. It's bad enough that it took Microsoft over three years to add support for WTV at all, but now it's here and it's one step above useless. Sure, you can play the files -- after waiting almost 30 seconds for them to load -- but you can't fast forward, rewind, skip around or even resume. The list of shows only displays the episode title and rather than the actual show name, and that's the only metadata you get. Speaking of the show title, that is also the only way to sort -- no folders or by date. So yeah, the new Dashboard supports WTV, but not in a way which actually makes it useful. Better than nothing, we guess.
Fall Xbox 360 Dashboard update brings WTV file support, but don't get too excited originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Digital Lifestyle  | Email this | Comments

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LG and Prada invites us to see its 2012 collection in London, we dust off the tux
No sooner had the LG and Prada partnership reappeared in benchmark tests did this glossy JPEG arrive at our inbox. Vowing to show us "the new Prada Phone by LG 3.0," we're undergoing a rigorous fashion transformation in preparation, and will be there next Wednesday night to clue you in on what the collaboration's got up its perfectly-ironed sleeves.
LG and Prada invites us to see its 2012 collection in London, we dust off the tux originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung Galaxy Note vs. Dell Streak 5... fight!
Sure, some may have had a good ole laugh at the Streak 5, arriving with enough display real estate to border on tablet territory -- in fact that's what Dell sold it as. Fast forward a year, and it looks like that weighty slab of phone -- or tiny tablet, depending on your interpretation --was simply ahead of its time. Most phone manufacturers are now skating around the five-inch mark, and Samsung even went a little further. With the Galaxy Note recently paying a visit to the FCC, we thought it was time to see how these two barely-phones stacked up against each other. We're leaving the technical specs aside at this point -- you can check the reviews for those -- but we can still line them up and take plenty of photos of the resulting face-off. The full gallery awaits below.
Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Note vs. Dell Streak 5
Samsung Galaxy Note vs. Dell Streak 5... fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Spotify Radio feature turns into an app, offers Pandora-like stations with unlimited skips
While Spotify has had little trouble cranking up its subscriber base so far, one feature that has notably been lacking is its radio / auto playlist feature. Today (tied in with an appearance by CEO Daniel Ek at LeWeb 2011) that's been upgraded, as the freshest preview builds move the Radio section down among the new Spotify Apps, where it now lets you drop in any song from your library for it to automatically create a radio station of similar music around. Subscribers not interested in upgrading yet can find similar functionality tied to Spotify's library with the EchoFi tool, but this venture represents the service's debut of an "all-new intelligent recommendation engine" meant to dig the tracks you want out of its millions-deep library. Advertising "unlimited skips" is a clear jab at Pandora, but it's not immediately clear if you'll still need a premium paid-up account for truly unlimited listening (well, maybe not). Hit the source link to grab a Radio-enabled preview build and see if some algorithm can defeat even the mightiest Yacht Rock playlist crafted by our own Brian Heater.
Permalink   |  sourceSpotify  | Email this | Comments

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Wacom tablet leaves sketchy trails at the FCC, possibly a new Intuos4 (updated)
There's not a lot of detail here, but if you've been eyeing up a new Intuos4 wireless graphics tablet then it might be worth bearing this recent FCC application in mind. Behind all the confidentiality agreements and abstract descriptions that are standard fare for unannounced products these days, the official paperwork lists a highly suggestive model number: PTK-450. The smallest Intuos4 currently available is the PTK-440 and it's been around for a couple of years already, so perhaps we're due a refresh.



Update: Now the two bigger tablets have made an appearance: the PTK-650 and the PTK-850, which would hypothetically complete this updated Intuos4 range.
Wacom tablet leaves sketchy trails at the FCC, possibly a new Intuos4 (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceFCC (PTK-450), FCC (PTK-650), FCC (PTK-850)  | Email this | Comments

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Watson now hunting down patent trolls, plans Ken Jennings' elaborate demise
The Watson supercomputer used its speech recognition, natural language processing, machine learning and data mining abilities to crush puny human Ken Jennings' dreams of winning at "Jeopardy!", but now Big Blue has it chasing down medical patent trolls for fun. Incorporating the Strategic IP Insight Platform, IBM has now programmed Watson to scan millions of pharmaceutical patents and biomedical journals to discover, analyze, and record any info pertaining to drug discovery. SIIP can then look for the names of chemical compounds, related diagrams, the company and scientist who invented and works with the compounds and related words to determine a patent's rightful owner. The SIIP function can also highlight which patents could be targeted for acquisition by trolls looking to control a property via a lawsuit or licensing agreement. Click past the break for a video outlining the project, along with Watson's announcement of its engagement to "Skynet".
Continue reading Watson now hunting down patent trolls, plans Ken Jennings' elaborate demise
Watson now hunting down patent trolls, plans Ken Jennings' elaborate demise originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceExtremeTech  | Email this | Comments

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Nintendo, Boingo bring free airport WiFi to 3DS, commuter rage to slightly dip
Know what could save you from that inevitable bout of holiday travel-induced rage? Free WiFi on your 3DS, that's what. Let's be real, you and a few million others are about to be stuck waiting on a tarmac somewhere or suffocating in a boarding area throng of weary travelers. So, if you've got Nintendo's latest portable handy, you'll at least have a free internet connection to latch onto, courtesy of Boingo. The company's recently announced an agreement with the Big N to make its service free of charge to users across 42 of our nation's airports. You'll be able to take advantage of the gratis goods once your console receives a scheduled firmware update, due to roll out today. Now if that doesn't get you in a festive spirit, you're probably just a mean, green 'ol Grinch -- or a PSP owner.
Continue reading Nintendo, Boingo bring free airport WiFi to 3DS, commuter rage to slightly dip
Nintendo, Boingo bring free airport WiFi to 3DS, commuter rage to slightly dip originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Panasonic reveals 4.3-inch OLED smartphone with global ambitions, no name
We knew that Panasonic's mobile division was summoning its strength for a return to the Old World, and finally we have some detail: it's aiming to bring an "ultra-slim D-shaped" Android smartphone with a slim bezel, 4.3-inch qHD OLED screen, NFC and some rugged credentials to Europe in March next year. The manufacturer hopes to use Europe as a stepping stone to the US, China and the rest of Asia, aiming to broaden its range of Android devices and sell at a total of nine million of them outside of Japan by the end of March 2016. Read on for the full PR.
Continue reading Panasonic reveals 4.3-inch OLED smartphone with global ambitions, no name
Panasonic reveals 4.3-inch OLED smartphone with global ambitions, no name originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Motorola's Droid Xyboard tablets go up for sale at Verizon, prices start at $430 (update: in stores on December 12th)
Motorola's pair of Droid Xyboard tablets has finally gone up for order on Verizon's site this morning, fulfilling the promise that Big Red made earlier this week. The 8.2-inch version is now available with 16GB of storage for $430, or 32GB for $530 (on a two-year contract). The 10.1-incher, meanwhile, is available in three flavors: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, for on-contract prices of $530, $630 and $730, respectively. All five Honeycomb models, as previously noted, come laced with LTE functionality, and all five are available now, at the source link below.



Update: Verizon has just posted a press release confirming the above report. According to the provider, both tablets will hit Verizon's stores on December 12th. Read it for yourself after the break, or check out some high-resolution images, in the gallery below.



[Thanks, Jordan]

Gallery: Motorola Droid Xyboard
Continue reading Motorola's Droid Xyboard tablets go up for sale at Verizon, prices start at $430 (update: in stores on December 12th)
Permalink   |  sourceVerizon Wireless  | Email this | Comments

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Smart to unveil tiny For-US electric pickup at North American International Auto Show
Smart For-US
Do you dig the size and efficiency of the Smart Fortwo, but need something a little more manly than that snub-nosed hatchback? Well, it looks like your prayers will be answered at January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Reports have it that will be where the For-US, Smart's plug-in pickup, will have its official unveiling. At about 12 feet long the "truck" is almost 50-percent larger than its sub-compact counterpart, but that extra room is put to good use. The bed in the back is home to a pair docking stations for the company's Ebikes. It's a pretty interesting concept, but we're wondering how lugging two heavy electric cycles will affect the range of 17.7kW/h lithium ion battery. Head on past the break for one more image, and hit up the source for even more sketches of the upcoming mini EV pickup.
Continue reading Smart to unveil tiny For-US electric pickup at North American International Auto Show
Permalink Inhabitat  |  sourceAutoblog, Sydney Morning Herald  | Email this | Comments

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JVC's Procision, Reference Series projectors now available, replete with '4K precision'
After making their grand debut at this year's CEDIA Expo, JVC's line of Procision and Reference series projectors have finally begun marching out to market. The manufacturer announced the news this week, confirming that its array of seven new projectors are now available for purchase, with prices ranging from $3,500 to $12,000. All seven devices feature JVC's proprietary e-Shift technology, and are capable of projecting images in 3840 x 2160 resolution -- not exactly 4K, but still four times what you'll get with full HD. The Procision Series, including the DLA-X90R, DLA-X70R and DLA-X30, is geared toward the consumer market, while the Reference Series (DLA-RS65, DLA-RS55, DLA-RS4800 and DLA-RS45) is now available through JVC's Professional Products Company. For more details on pricing and availability, check out the full PR after the break.



Update: So, we got a little mixed up by the poorly worded JVC press release, but it looks like only the DLA-X90R, DLA-X70R, DLA-RS65 and DLA-RS55 actually sport the company's e-Shift tech.
Continue reading JVC's Procision, Reference Series projectors now available, replete with '4K precision'
Permalink   |  sourceJVC  | Email this | Comments

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Researcher brings modified Touchpad into the MRI room, breakthrough ensues
Yes, the Touchpad is officially dead, but that hasn't stopped Stanford researcher Andrew B. Holbrook from using HP's tablet in a somewhat unexpected setting: the MRI lab. Holbrook, it turns out, has been developing a new, webOS-based system that could make it a lot easier for doctors to conduct interventional MRI procedures. Unlike its diagnostic counterpart, this brand of MRI can only operate within highly magnetic fields, thereby posing a threat to many electronic devices. Holbrook, however, may have found a way around this barrier, thanks to a modified Touchpad. With the help of HP engineers, the researcher stripped his tablet of metallic components, including its speakers and vibration motor, resulting in what the manufacturer calls a "minimally metallic device that could be used almost anywhere within the magnet room." With his Touchpad primed and loaded with apps for data manipulation, Holbrook went on to successfully integrate the device within an MRI system. He also developed a series of apps that allow technicians to monitor and manipulate an MRI procedure on their devices, regardless of whether they're in the magnet room itself, or outside. Holbrook says he's already started applying the same approach to webOS phones, in the hopes of providing doctors and researchers with an even more compact way to keep track of their patients. For more details on the system and future developments, check out the source link below.



[Thanks, Mina]
Researcher brings modified Touchpad into the MRI room, breakthrough ensues originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcewebOS Developer Center  | Email this | Comments

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Tamron unveils 18-200mm E-mount lens, ups your NEX glass selections
With a whopping total of eight official lens choices (and two wide angle converters), saying that Sony's NEX cameras could use a few more options in the decent glass category would be putting it lightly. Thankfully, Tamron today announced its latest zoom lens, the BO11 18-200MM F/3.5-6.3 DI III VC, which is made specifically for E-mount shooters. The BO11 weighs in at just over a pound and features a built-in stepping autofocus motor, along with Tamron's moving coil-equipped Vibration Compensation technology -- a must given that Sony's NEX shooters rely on their lenses for image stabilization. While there's no mention of price, the lens will be shipping to dealers starting December 15th and you'll have your choice of either black or silver. Of course, we'd be remiss not to point out the option of lens mount adapters, but if you're set on dedicated solutions you'll the full press release just past the break.
Continue reading Tamron unveils 18-200mm E-mount lens, ups your NEX glass selections
Tamron unveils 18-200mm E-mount lens, ups your NEX glass selections originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Qualcomm's two new 1GHz dual-core chipsets make S1-to-S4 migration easier for manufacturers (updated)
If the most recent batch of S4 chips from Qualcomm wasn't enough to completely satiate your thirst for new SoC's, the folks from San Diego are adding two more options to the already heapin' pile. At the 2011 Uplinq China Conference in Shenzhen, Qualcomm announced the MSM8625 and MSM8225 S4-class dual-core chipsets, both of which can clock up to 1GHz and pack an Adreno 203 GPU plus a 3G modem. While these numbers aren't relatively exciting at this day and age, the real selling point here is that these chips are actually software and hardware-compatible with the entry-level MSM7x27A and MSM7x25A S1 chips, meaning some of the existing S1-based designs can be quickly and easily adapted to these new S4 chips. Interested manufacturers can nab some of this new silicon from the third-generation Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) program -- which was also announced today as Qualcomm enters the smartphone reference design business -- or standalone in the first half of 2012, but let's just hope we won't end up seeing too many familiar-looking phones. Press release attached after the break.



Zach Lutz contributed to this report.



Update: We just did a hands-on with one of Qualcomm's new reference designs -- the one we played with had Dianxin OS installed, but we also came across one powered by Aliyun OS. Neither were running smoothly but we've been told they were slightly rushed so we'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Anyhow, enjoy the photos.

Gallery: Qualcomm Reference Design "QRD 1.5"


Gallery: Qualcomm Reference Design ecosystem presentation
Continue reading Qualcomm's two new 1GHz dual-core chipsets make S1-to-S4 migration easier for manufacturers (updated)
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Clues point to Lumia 710 as the mystery Nokia handset on T-Mobile
The event: T-Mobile and Nokia are throwing a little bash with a performance by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. When: the evening of December 14th. The reason: to announce the release of the Lumia 710 Windows Phone. At least, that's the conclusion we're coming to as more clues continue to filter in. Our first clue was discovered by TmoNews, who dug through the Lumia 700's FCC filings and stumbled across a recently-released user manual complete with diagrams of the phone that showed the US carrier's logo plastered just below the screen. Hint number two, an even stronger indication of the phone's impending arrival, is the above image -- leaked to The Verge -- which shows the accessory lineup for the device along with suggested talk tracks. The mystery: solved.
Continue reading Clues point to Lumia 710 as the mystery Nokia handset on T-Mobile
Clues point to Lumia 710 as the mystery Nokia handset on T-Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TmoNews  |  sourceThe Verge  | Email this | Comments

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AT&T's 4G LTE network is live in San Francisco
New York City by the end of 2011? How's about San Francisco by the end of December 8th? We can't say for certain that it's lit up for good ("testing," you know), but at least for now it's absolutely screaming on our LTE-equipped AT&T handsets in downtown SF. Seeing similar? Let us know how it's going for you in comments below, and feel free to stick your tongue out in the general direction of the Big Apple. (They won't see you.) Video after the break.



[Thanks, anonymous]
Continue reading AT&T's 4G LTE network is live in San Francisco
AT&T's 4G LTE network is live in San Francisco originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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SPHERE 2 mouse turns the premium dial up to platinum, can hide in perfumeries
You can't have enough premium spherical mice, can you? OreObject is hoping not, trumpeting its "environmentally sensitive" sequel to the SPHEREtouch. Sure, the SPHERE 2 still packs all sorts of curves, but it's now been crafted from "surgical grade" stainless steel, with four-way navigation chops and a detachable, tangle-free USB cord thrown into the mix. It's the curious scroll wheel at the apex of the sphere that now furnishes the orb with four-way scrolling, and the peripheral will be available in three different finishes: titanium ($185), gold ($290) and platinum ($320). The one percent among us can sniff out the preorder form at the source link below. Or get the butler to do it.
SPHERE 2 mouse turns the premium dial up to platinum, can hide in perfumeries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Australian High Court just says no to Apple appeal, Samsung breathes a sigh of relief
First, Apple got Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned from Oz, then Sammy got the temporary injunction lifted. Undaunted, Apple vowed to appeal the Korean company's victory to the High Court of Australia, and today, The Register reports that the court has denied Apple's appeal. Details are sparse as to why Cupertino's arguments were unpersuasive, but one thing's for sure: Samsung's going to have a much more merry Christmas as a result of its latest legal victory.



[Thanks, Jeremy]
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White Nokia N9 descends from Lintukoto, goes on sale in Finland
Espoo isn't making it any easier to say goodbye to MeeGo's last dance with polycarbonate. Nokia's alluring and elusive N9 in-snow-white-dress appears to now be on sale... in Finland. Web retailer Verkkokauppa has the handset listed on its site for 630€ -- that's $840 for you import types. Memento hunters throughout Europe can buy what this Finnish site's selling or just sit tight and wait for the color variant to hit their respective markets this December. But if patience isn't at the top of your priority list, we'd suggest you hit up the source below with some plastic in hand.
White Nokia N9 descends from Lintukoto, goes on sale in Finland originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink My Nokia Blog  |  sourceVerkkokauppa  | Email this | Comments

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High school senior kills cancer with nanotech, still can't legally drink
Ever ask yourself, "What am I doing with my life?" No? Well, a little existential crisis is in order then. Because while you and the rest of Team teen America were busy dressing like Gaga, dancing to the Bieber and playing Angry Birds, high school senior Angela Zhang was killing cancer. Yes, this 17-year old medical prodigy from Cupertino was just awarded the Siemens Foundation grand prize -- a $100,000 payday -- for her work "Design of Image-guided, Photo-thermal Controlled Drug Releasing Multifunctional Nanosystem for the Treatment of Cancer Stem Cells." It's certainly a mouthful, but this nanotech is what one fellow researcher's calling the "Swiss Army knife of cancer treatment," as her gold and iron-oxide nanoparticle does double duty delivering the drug salinomycin to a tumor site, in addition to aiding MRI and photoacoustic imaging. If that's not impressive enough, this real-life lady Doogie Howser's also won Intel's ISEF grand award in both 2010 and 2011 for other health science-related work. Sure, Angela might inadvertently fall into the overachiever category, but girlfriend definitely deserves to win that Prom Queen crown.
High school senior kills cancer with nanotech, still can't legally drink originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Geek  |  sourceGeorge Washington University, Siemens Foundation  | Email this | Comments

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Leica rehashes Panasonic's Lumix Fz150 as the V-LUX 3, because 'image' matters
Leave it to Leica to rebrand a recent Panasonic camera, tack on its iconic red dot and then likely charge a premium. Such is the case with its "new" V-Lux 3 digital superzoom, which is essentially its take on the venerable Lumix FZ150 we spent some hands-on time with back in August. To recap, this shooter features a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, Leica's DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5 - 108 mm f/2.8 - 5.2 ASPH lens (that's 25 - 600mm for you full-frame buffs), 1080p AVC HD video recording at up to 60fps with stereo sound and an a77-like 12fps continuous burst mode (albeit using manual focus). On back, you'll find an articulating 3-inch LCD loaded with a 460K pixel resolution and a 0.2-inch EVF, both of which feature nearly 100% frame coverage. While there's no word price, you can surely expect the V-Lux 3 to cost a few Benjamins more than its Lumix counterpart when it hits shelves in January. Hey, at least you can say its a Leica, right?
Continue reading Leica rehashes Panasonic's Lumix Fz150 as the V-LUX 3, because 'image' matters
Leica rehashes Panasonic's Lumix Fz150 as the V-LUX 3, because 'image' matters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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CompactFlash Association readies next-gen XQD format, promises write speeds of 125 MB/s and up
We don't need to tell you CF is one of the few memory card formats that's managed to survive the SD tidal wave (remember when you needed Memory Stick to use a Sony point-and-shoot?). But if you're the kind of serious shooter who uses CF, you might be tickled to know its high-speed successor is just about good to go. The CompactFlash Association said it's finished work on XQD, a next-gen format that promises faster speeds, along with a smaller footprint than current-gen CF cards. As for transfer rates, the included PCI Express interface promises theoretical write speeds as high as 5 Gb/s, though the association is quick to peg real-world writes at 125 MB/s and up. Still, that's plenty fast for processing RAW stills and 1080p video, and it's a clear bump over the 100 MB/s write rates (max) you'll get from today's CF cards. No word on availability or partnerships, though we know Nikon led XQD's development, and that Canon endorsed it, so it's safe to say we'll see this in some major releases sometime after the association starts licensing the technology in early 2012.
Permalink   |  sourceCNET, TechCrunch  | Email this | Comments

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ZTE squeezes 7-inch V66 tablet with Verizon LTE through the FCC's halls
We just learned that ZTE has its eyes set on bringing LTE smartphones to the US market next year, but where does the Chinese company stand on tablets? The company announced at this spring's CTIA that a 10-inch slate with the high-speed connectivity was in the works and would land sometime in the second half of 2011. Despite unveiling tablets for non-US markets such as the Froyo-packed Light Tab 2 and Tegra 3-powered T98, the manufacturer's been awfully quiet about this March's announcement. That all changed today, however, as this 7-inch LTE tablet waltzed through the FCC approval process. The V66, as it's currently known, not only sports LTE band 13 -- Verizon's flavor of "4G" -- but it even shows Big Red's LTE logo on the back. ZTE actually outed the V66 at a Beijing tech expo in September, proclaiming that it would come with a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, Android 3.2, a 1,280 x 800 display, 1GB of RAM and a 4,000mAh battery. Of course, FCC approval doesn't guarantee availability, and we're thinking that the chances of arriving before the end of the year are pretty slim. Check out the extra pic after the break.
Continue reading ZTE squeezes 7-inch V66 tablet with Verizon LTE through the FCC's halls
ZTE squeezes 7-inch V66 tablet with Verizon LTE through the FCC's halls originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toshiba's Excite Honeycomb tablet confirmed for Canadian launch in January
We've already heard a fair bit about Toshiba's forthcoming 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet, but the company has only now finally confirmed a name -- Excite, previously seen in a trademark filing -- and a launch date (or month, anyway) for the tablet outside of Europe. You can look for it to roll out for an as yet unspecified price sometime in January -- in Canada, at least (though we'd presume a US launch will be around the same time). It will come in both 16GB and 32GB versions, each of which pack a 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP 4430 processor, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, a 5 megapixel cam 'round back, and a microSD card slot and a micro HDMI port. Toshiba also boasts that it's the "world's thinnest, lightest tablet," with it measuring just 7.7 mm thick and weighing in at 558 grams (or 1.23 pounds).
Toshiba's Excite Honeycomb tablet confirmed for Canadian launch in January originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceToshiba Canada  | Email this | Comments

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ZTE expects to launch high-end LTE smartphones in the US by mid-2012
ZTE's no small company by any stretch of the imagination, but it's still largely an unknown in the US. The phone manufacturer has been focused on selling lower-end devices in the prepaid market -- often with carrier-specific branding -- but is now hoping to steer the ship in a different direction. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, North American president Lixin Cheng mentioned the company intends to bring LTE-capable high-end smartphones to the US at some point in the middle of next year. While he didn't cough up details on availability, he said that the vendor is in talks with all four of the country's national carriers and would likely be based on either Android or Windows Phone. Cheng also stated that he expects the US to be ZTE's "largest market for handsets" by 2015. Lofty goals, of course, but definitely reachable.
ZTE expects to launch high-end LTE smartphones in the US by mid-2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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