Friday, December 30, 2011

IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 30/12/2011





HTC updates bootloader unlock utility to support latest Android lineup
It wasn't long ago that HTC's bootloader unlock utility hit the masses, thereby righting the company's silly decision to lock its phones down in the first place. Now, continuing its commitment to mod-lovers and those who appreciate freedom, The House of Chou is announcing that its latest lineup of Android phones can find a similar (and proper) fate. The company has released an updated bootloader unlock tool that supports all Android devices released after September of this year. Naturally, this includes such handsets as the HTC EVO Design 4G, Rezound, Rhyme and Vivid. The company has yet to release an updated list of supported devices, but promises to do so in the coming days. While we're still not crazy about users losing their rights to a warranty, for the moment, that seems to be the price of freedom.
HTC updates bootloader unlock utility to support latest Android lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Android Central  |  sourceHTC  | Email this | Comments

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LG unveils 84-inch 'ultra definition' 4K TV it's bringing to CES 2012
LG let us know at CES 2011 that it had 4K LCD televisions in the pipeline, but unfortunately they didn't make it out this year. Expect for that to change in 2012, as the company just announced it's bringing an 84-inch "ultra definition" (3840x2160) TV to Las Vegas to go along with its 55-inch OLED. It has all of LG's Cinema 3D and Smart TV features built-in, including support for that upgraded Magic Motion remote and voice control. There's no official word yet on when we'll see these on shelves or at what price, but it certainly looks production ready compared to other prototypes that have been displayed over the years. While we don't have easy sources of 4K-res video content yet, one of the reasons LG is making the jump first is for 3D. Its Cinema 3D tech uses a Film Pattern Retarder (FPR) screen and passive glasses that result in lowered resolution, but with those extra pixels there's no question about whether viewers are still getting at least an HD picture. So far 4K at home is the domain of Sony and JVC's high-priced projectors, but we'll see if any other companies (we'll check off Toshiba right now) show off upgrades in size and resolution of their HDTVs this year. Check the press release after the break for a few more details.

Gallery: LG 4K UDTV
Continue reading LG unveils 84-inch 'ultra definition' 4K TV it's bringing to CES 2012
LG unveils 84-inch 'ultra definition' 4K TV it's bringing to CES 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video)




Sure, we've shown you the goofy SBU v2.0 unicycle, but what's better than a glorious DIY project? MIT student Stephan Boyer has built his own electrical uni-ride, which he's dubbing the "Bullet." The single-wheel transporter packs a custom MIG-welded steel body, two 7Ah 12-volt batteries, an ATmega328 chip and a 450-watt electric motor. While the Bullet isn't the speediest of solowheel demons (15mph max), it's on par with its $25,000 Ryno Motors counterpart. As far as power efficiency, the Bullet can go up to five miles on a single charge -- more than enough juice to hit a few classroom round-trips. There's some "Learning to Ride" tips from the creator himself at the source link, but in the meantime you can watch this unified purple rider in action after the break.
Continue reading MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video)
Permalink DVICE  |  sourceStephan Boyer  | Email this | Comments

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SIM-LEI EV gets a video walk-through: shaped like a fish, has a big screen (video)
SIM-LEI
We got our first whiff of the SIM-LEI, an EV from across the Pacific, in March. Back then it was just an oddly shaped prototype with an impressive range of 207 miles and a top speed of 93mph. With the SIM-Drive's concept marching closer to a planned production date sometime in 2013 the company is finally giving a more detailed look at the car at the 2011 Electrical Vehicle Industrial Exhibition. The tapered, fish-like shape reduces drag, but the tiny coefficient of 0.91 couldn't be reached without shrinking the mirrors to their legal limit. The SIM-LEI compensates for the minuscule side and rear-view reflectors with a trio of cameras that feed video to the 19-inch (yes, we said 19-inch) monitor in the dashboard. Check out the video after the break for a complete tour of its advanced motoring tech.
Continue reading SIM-LEI EV gets a video walk-through: shaped like a fish, has a big screen (video)
SIM-LEI EV gets a video walk-through: shaped like a fish, has a big screen (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceDigInfo  | Email this | Comments

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Researcher finds vulnerability in WPS protocol, looks for manufacturers to offer fix
On the plus side, your router's mostly secure. Security researcher Stefan Viehbock has just discovered a major security hole which allowed him to use a brute force technique to access a WPS PIN-protected network in about two hours. According to Viehbock, a design flaw allows the WPS protocol's 8-digit PIN security to fall dramatically as additional attempts are made. With each attempt, the router will send a message stating whether the first four digits are correct while the last digit of the key is used as a checksum and then given out by the router in negotiation. As a result, the 100,000,000 possibilities that the WPS should represent becomes roughly to 11,000.



The US-CERT has picked up on this and advised users to disable WPS on their routers. Viehbock, in turn, claims to have attempted to discuss the vulnerability with hardware vendors such as Buffalo, D-Link, Linksys, and Netgear, but says he has been roundly ignored and that no public acknowledgement of the issue has been released. As a possible final step, Viehbock has promised to release a brute force tool soon, thereby pushing the manufacturers to work to resolve the issue. In other news, that evil supercomputer from the movie War Games just got a few more digits of the nuclear launch codes -- maybe one of Stefan's pals can look into that one.
Permalink The Verge  |  sourceStefan Viehbock, US-CERT  | Email this | Comments

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RunCore outs new storage solutions for CES, Marvell-based Falcon series included
If you're looking to quell your inner storage enthusiast after the holidays, RunCore may have something to satisfy your appetite. The company announced that it has two products intended for launch at CES. The Falcon series is a Marvell-based storage solution that boasts R / W IOPS speeds that best the outfit's Pro V SATA 6Gb/s SSDs. Speaking of the Pro V series, RunCore is looking to set up shop in Ultrabooks with a 7mm model of its 2.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s SSD with 540 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write speeds. Looking for a bit more info? Hit the full PR after the break.
Continue reading RunCore outs new storage solutions for CES, Marvell-based Falcon series included
RunCore outs new storage solutions for CES, Marvell-based Falcon series included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Japanese vending machine doubles as WiFi hotspot -- no purchase required




It looks as if facial scans for snack-dispensing purposes isn't the only mind-blowing feature on the whiz-bang generation of vending machines. Japanese company Asahi has just unveiled an advanced dispenser that's capable of doubling as a WiFi hotspot, so good luck getting through the mobs of leechers just to buy a soda. The machine sends out the internet waves free of charge and covers about 164 feet around it; of note, there's a 30-minute limit on each session -- but it's nothing that a fresh login can't solve. Asahi is planning on rolling out 1,000 of these in the upcoming year, but if you don't call the Land of the Rising Sun your home, you won't be able to experience the smart vendors anytime soon. Now, if only this same magic would slide over to park benches, blades of grass and molecules of oxygen, we'd be content.
Japanese vending machine doubles as WiFi hotspot -- no purchase required originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceAsahi  | Email this | Comments

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Windows Phone Marketplace hits 50,000 app-submission milestone
Just over one month after crossing the 40,000 app-submission threshold, Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace has hit another milestone: 50,000. According to analyses done by All About Windows Phone, the Taj Mahal of tiles has seen developers submit just over 50,000 applications for review -- 42,655 of which are currently available in the United States. What may be more telling is the rate at which developers are submitting their wares. Over 17,000 apps have been submitted to the Marketplace in the last 90-days from over 13,000 different publishers (an average of 265 per day). With Apple's iOS App Store and Google's Android Market sitting firmly atop the mobile-app-ecosystem totem pole, Microsoft is looking to close the gap and put distance between itself and Research In Motion's BlackBerry App World. Hopefully, the gang from Redmond can keep the positive momentum going through 2012... even with its next major mobile OS revision being a minor one.
Windows Phone Marketplace hits 50,000 app-submission milestone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashPhone  |  sourceAll About Windows Phone  | Email this | Comments

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DISA gets a spoonful of Froyo, approves Dell Venue for military use
Remember when the DoD approved the Android-powered Dell Streak for military use? Well the DISA's latest list of approved gear now includes Dell's Venue and the custom version of Froyo that it runs. Sadly, there are some limitations: operatives won't have access to the Android market, all surfing has to go via a secure proxy server and there's a ban on all classified information being received on the handset. Now if you'll excuse us, we're gonna imagine a unit of Venues at boot camp all chanting "If I play Angry Birds in a combat zone, box me up and send me home."
DISA gets a spoonful of Froyo, approves Dell Venue for military use originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 9to5 Google  |  sourceDISA  | Email this | Comments

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IRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy Note
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.



For those of you who think all we do in IRL is wax nostalgic about gadgets we've owned for years, you'd be... mostly right. Indeed, this week we've got Mr. Ben Drawbaugh talking up the HDTV he owns (as opposed to the one he wants), and James is here to break down the limitations of his discontinued Tonium Pacemaker. We've got one happy new gadget owner, though, and that would be Zach Honig, who recently traded his iPhone 4 for a Samsung Galaxy Note. So how's that S-Pen working out for him? Head past the break to find out.
Continue reading IRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy Note
IRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy Note originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Verizon experiencing nationwide data outage? (update: Verizon confirms)
That phone on Big Red having problems with data? Apparently you're not alone, as the carrier appears to be having issues again judging by the metric ton of emails we've gotten from you experiencing LTE, and in some cases EV-DO, blackouts across the country. Our Galaxy Nexus in New York is chugging along with 1xRTT while a Thunderbolt in Washington DC is doing just fine with EV-DO. We've just pinged Verizon and will update if we hear back.



Update: Verizon wrote in with the following statement:

We are investigating reports of some customers experiencing trouble accessing the 4GLTE network. The network itself continues to operate and all customers continue to be able to make calls, send text messages and utilize data services. 3G devices are operating normally.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Verizon experiencing nationwide data outage? (update: Verizon confirms) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wicked Audio's Solus headphones let you listen like a DJ at the flick of a switch
For what it's worth, Wicked Audio has a habit of producing egregiously loud headphones -- looks-wise, that is. Hence our surprise, when we glanced at its latest red and black offering in our Gmail inbox. The Solus, "Latin for be yourself" as we're told, doesn't look like much more than a basic set of cans, but the inline volume control on its braided cable serves a unique function for all you budding record-spinners out there. With a flick of this puppy's "DJ switch," you'll be able to rattle both of your ears in stereo, or have an easier time listening with just one of 'em when it comes time to crossfade into your next track. No word on specs (not that we'd expect any), but letting go of a Benjamin will snag you the Solus when it officially releases at CES. Wicked.



Update: A representative for the company has sent over some specs for cans:


  • 40mm "high performance" drivers

  • 106 dB SPL

  • 20-20,000 Hz

  • 32 ohms

  • 4 ft cord

  • gold plated plug
Continue reading Wicked Audio's Solus headphones let you listen like a DJ at the flick of a switch
Wicked Audio's Solus headphones let you listen like a DJ at the flick of a switch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWicked Audio  | Email this | Comments

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Intel starts shipping Atom N2600, N2800 processors for netbooks, ten hours of battery life promised
We've already seen a few benchmarks and other hints that they'd soon be shipping, and Intel has now officially announced that its new Cedar Trail Atom processors are finally available, with the first systems using them set to roll out early next year. The two chips you'll likely be seeing the most of are the Atom N2600 and N2800 -- both dual-core, and both designed for use in netbooks, where they promise to allow for up to ten hours of battery life and "weeks of standby," and offer support for 1080p video playback. Also rolling out today are the D2500 and D2700, which are designed for use in entry-level desktops and all-in-one computers, as well as more commercial systems. As for all those systems themselves, details remain a bit light, but Intel says you can expect to see some from Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Toshiba.
Continue reading Intel starts shipping Atom N2600, N2800 processors for netbooks, ten hours of battery life promised
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HP TouchPad Go gets reviewed, but remains already long gone (video)
While we already rode the white unicorns of HP's now disintegrated webOS series, there was one little filly we didn't get to saddle up. A developmental model of the seven-inch TouchPad Go has now made it into the hands of webOSnation and has been given a thorough going over. The major differences from its bigger brother? A rear-facing 5 megapixel camera and a smudge buffering matte finish on the back are the main signifiers. Aside from those (and an experimental build of the next firmware update), it's a tiny TouchPad. The Go matches the resolution of the original, also packing the same processor innards of the defunct white TouchPad. Those unwilling to accept the future of webOS can still absorb the full critique of what could have been in a video review after the break.
Continue reading HP TouchPad Go gets reviewed, but remains already long gone (video)
HP TouchPad Go gets reviewed, but remains already long gone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcewebOS Nation  | Email this | Comments

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M-Edge suit accuses Amazon of corporate bullying, patent infringement over Kindle cases
Case maker M-Edge filed suit with a Maryland court last week accusing Amazon of "unlawful corporate bullying" and patent infringement relating to the company's line of Kindle cases. According to M-Edge, the company signed a three-year agreement with Amazon in November 2009 for a 15-percent sales commission, only to have the retail giant demand a new contract with a 32-percent cut a mere two month later. A lawyer for M-Edge told The Wall Street Journal that Amazon punished the case maker over its refusal to play ball, after threats of burying the company's products on its site. According to the filing, M-Edge finally caved and signed a new contract in July of last year, given the fact that Amazon apparently drives nearly 90-percent of the small company's revenue. The suit also accuses Amazon of "knocking off" its reading light-packing covers with lighted jacket designs for the Kindle 3. Amazon, for its part, has refused to comment on the matter.
Permalink Geekwire, Geek.com  |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

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Gameloft fends off winter blues with dollar sale on Android Market
The French game publisher already sprinkled 99¢ allspice on its iOS and Amazon Appstore titles, plus a two-for-one deal on the Xperia Play, but soon it'll bring that volume-not-margin recipe to the Android Market too. Almost all of its paid titles will reportedly go for less than a dollar between December 26th and January 5th, so if you're about to click 'Buy' on a premium purchase like Asphalt 6: Adrenalin, 9mm or The Adventures of Tintin, then it might be worth relaxing your trigger finger. The notable exception is Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, which will apparently only be discounted for a single day sometime around New Year's Weekend -- though hopefully not while you're still preoccupied with running around in yesterday's clothes and hugging random strangers.
Gameloft fends off winter blues with dollar sale on Android Market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceGameloft (Twitter), DroidGamers  | Email this | Comments

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It's not a flying fish, it's a submarine-launched UAV
VTOL may be old news already, but here's another great USP for any UAV: the ability to launch from a submerged submarine. The technology is still in development, but the Navy wants to try it from periscope depth during exercises in the Pacific Ocean next year. If all goes to plan, a Switchblade folding-wing drone will be ejected from the submarine's trash disposal unit and then carried to the surface by an SLV ('submerged launch vehicle'), which will keep it dry, point it into the wind and then hurl it heavenwards so it can go a-snooping. Whether the experiment succeeds or fails, we've glimpsed a worrying possibility: submarines are capable of dumping their trash right into the ocean. Until now, we sort of assumed they took it home with them.
It's not a flying fish, it's a submarine-launched UAV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAviation Week, Defense Systems  | Email this | Comments

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Microsoft job opening hints at forthcoming backup / restore features for Windows Phone
The current state of performing backups for Windows Phone is far from ideal, although a new job posting from Microsoft suggests that a better solution may be coming to the smartphone platform in its next major software release. According to a job posting from the monolith in Redmond, the company is seeking a talented employee to join its Windows Phone Backup, Migrate and Restore team. The listing goes on to state, "Our goal is to ensure that no matter if someone loses their phone, drops their phone in a lake ... a user can quickly and seamlessly get their phone back to a good state." Whether this involves backup to the cloud, or simply more robust features within the Zune software is never explicitly stated, although Microsoft does suggest it aims to leapfrog the competition in this arena. Not a moment too soon, either.
Permalink Electronista, wpcentral, WMPoweruser  |  sourceMicrosoft  | Email this | Comments

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Sprint caps year of Network Vision milestones with first LTE cluster deployment in Kankakee, Illinois
Overhauling a nationwide wireless network isn't exactly for the faint of heart, but Sprint continues marching toward its LTE future and the broader plan known as Network Vision. With a majority of the rollout to be in place by 2013, the carrier is working to bring multi-modal functionality and spectrum integration to its towers, which the provider suggests will deliver expanded coverage, stronger signal and fewer dropped calls for all customers. Earlier this year, Sprint launched its first multi-modal tower in Branchburg, New Jersey, and has now completed its first cluster of sites in Kanakee, Illinois. With the first LTE-capable devices on track for a mid-2012 arrival, Sprint claims that it's wrapped-up field tests and is poised for a rapid LTE deployment. We certainly hope so, because AT&T and Verizon are hardly wasting time in flooding the airwaves with blistering 4G goodness. You'll find the full PR after the break.



[Thanks, Xavier]
Continue reading Sprint caps year of Network Vision milestones with first LTE cluster deployment in Kankakee, Illinois
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Android and iOS share a merry little Christmas: seven million total device activations
Google's SVP of Mobile just provided us with another glimpse inside the horse's mouth, claiming that Android scored 3.7 million new device activations over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. To put that in context, Flurry reported that total Android and iOS activations on Christmas Day alone totaled 6.8 million. If we can accept a very high margin of error, and if we assume that the vast majority of Rubin's activations were on the 25th, then we might extrapolate a roughly even split between the two rival platforms. Considering where Android was just a couple of Christmas's ago, it's no wonder that Mr Rubin is in the tweeting mood.
Permalink Forbes, BGR  |  source@Arubin (Twitter), Flurry  | Email this | Comments

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ZVOX intros three new Z-Base models, lowers the pricing soundbar
Because it's never too early to get a start on Christmas 2012, ZVOX has announced the release of three new Z-Base models, the most affordable members of that soundbar line, all designed to live beneath flat screen TVs. The low-end Z-Base 220 packs three full-range speakers, a subwoofer and a 35-watt amplifier in a DVD player-sized footprint for $200. The 320 measures 24 inches and will run you an extra $50. At the high-end is the Z-Base 420, a 28-incher with five speakers, a 5.25-inch subwoofer and a 45-watt amplifier. That one'll cost you $300. All three soundbars also feature the company's proprietary PhaseCue II virtual surround sound system. More info after the break.
Continue reading ZVOX intros three new Z-Base models, lowers the pricing soundbar
ZVOX intros three new Z-Base models, lowers the pricing soundbar originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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XBMC Eden finally makes it to beta, promises HTPC superpowers
Remember that big XBMC update teased back in October? Well, v11.0's multifarious additions are finally ready for a spot of beta testing. These include all-round speed increases, a "vastly improved" default skin, the ability to rollback unpleasant add-on updates, and better hardware support for iOS devices, plus a host of other new features that can only be listed in full at the source link.
XBMC Eden finally makes it to beta, promises HTPC superpowers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceXBMC  | Email this | Comments

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CM9 launcher available in alpha, ROM flashers tweak in anticipation
January's right around the corner and with the promise of a new year comes the anticipated release of CM9. So, to whet those ROM-flashing appetites, the CyanogenMod team's made an alpha of its Trebuchet launcher available as an .apk and .zip file over on XDA, bringing with it the ability to customize the number of homescreens, resize widgets and sort the app drawer, amongst other planned features. As is the nature of Android's underbelly, you'll need to have your device rooted, as well as running 4.0.3 in order to take part. And if you do decide to take the plunge, remember this is far from the final build, so things are bound to get buggy. Check out the source below to preview the ICS goods.
CM9 launcher available in alpha, ROM flashers tweak in anticipation originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Droid-Life  |  sourceXDA Developers  | Email this | Comments

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