Friday, April 27, 2012

IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 27/04/2012





Google asks car makers "Ullo John, wanna self-driving motor?"
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Larry Page's tenure as Googler-in-chief has heralded the death of many ambitious experiments, but even he refuses to kill the self-driving car. His project head, Anthony Levandowski, has now asked the car makers of Detroit to sign up with Mountain View for hardware testing, saying that if driverless cars are not ready by the next decade, then it's "shame on us as engineers." There's still some way to go before the tech is road-worthy, but Google is already working with insurers to work out how your car is going to handle making that call to Geico when things go wrong.
Continue reading Google asks car makers "Ullo John, wanna self-driving motor?"
Google asks car makers "Ullo John, wanna self-driving motor?" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceWSJ  | Email this | Comments

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Samsung intros 'world's thinnest' external DVD writer, tries to convince you to pack it with your tablet
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Generally, a new optical disk drive is nothing to write home about, but how about one that's specifically purposed for tablets and Ultrabooks? That's the pitch Samsung is selling for its SE-218BB DVD / CD writer, which the company also notes as being the world's thinnest external ODD -- because what better to go with your svelte computing devices than more pluggable doohickeys. Cynicism aside, Samsung says this $60 add-on is just 14mm tall, "18 percent thinner than conventional DVD writers" and eight percent less weighty than its standard DVD ODD. The bus-powered unit connects via USB, and it'll work with Macs, PCs and devices running Android 3.1 and up. Oddly fascinated? The drive is currently on-sale worldwide if you're willing carry it along with you. You'll find full details in the press release after the break.
Continue reading Samsung intros 'world's thinnest' external DVD writer, tries to convince you to pack it with your tablet
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EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video)
EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video)
A joint venture of Canadian carriers Rogers, Bell and Telus called EnStream is in final talks with the country's leading banks (likely CIBC, TD, RBC, Scotiabank and BMO) to bring a mobile wallet solution to the Great White North within six months. The system, which was demoed at the CWTA Wireless Showcase last September, enables mobile payments by storing a user's financial credentials on the SIM located inside their NFC-capable phone. It aims to replace credit and debit cards at first -- perhaps even driver's licenses and loyalty programs down the road. Carriers plan to charge banks a flat rate instead of a per-transaction fee.
According to Almis Ledas, EnStream's COO, "banking machines will become the payphones of the future". While we command this attempt to standardize mobile payments in Canada, the time frame seems rather optimistic in light of the slow progress AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have made with Isis in the US so far. Different countries, different rules of course -- still, we think it's going to take quite a while to make loonies obsolete. Maybe this is the perfect window of opportunity for Google Wallet and Square to jump across the border, eh? Time will tell. Check out EnStream's mobile wallet in action on video after the break.
Continue reading EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video)
EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink MobileSyrup  |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments

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Box releases new API for developers, announces 15 more OneCloud apps
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It's been quite a week for cloud storage, with Dropbox rolling out a significant new update, Microsoft's SkyDrive getting a new Windows Phone app, and Google Drive making its long-awaited debut. Now Box is getting in on the act, announcing the release of a brand new API that is says makes it easier than ever for developers to integrate the Box platform into their products. Along with it, the company has also announced 15 more Box OneCloud apps for iOS devices, and teamed up with the NYC-based General Assembly and TechStars in an effort to "drive innovation in enterprise software." You can get a quick rundown of the new API in the video after the break, and find all the details on how to get started with it at the links below.
Continue reading Box releases new API for developers, announces 15 more OneCloud apps
Box releases new API for developers, announces 15 more OneCloud apps originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Yahoo! News / Mashable  |  sourceThe Box Blog, The Box Developer Blog  | Email this | Comments

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TSMC 2012 Q1 results: profits down again as 20-nanometer process proves expensive
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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has offered up its first quarter results for the year, revealing yet another middling quarter. While turnover was NT$105.51 billion ($3.6 billion) and net profit was NT$33.47 billion ($1.1 billion), that's still 7.7 percent down on the NT$36.28 it made in the same quarter last year. On the upside, the chip foundry, which produces silicon for plenty of the world's biggest electronics companies, managed to claw back some of those profit dips from Q4 of last year, suggesting milder climes may lie ahead.
The company is also encouraged by strong demand for its new 28-nanometer chips, which should offset the $8.5 billion spent on developing them, alongside a forthcoming 20-nanometer facility. 28-nanometer hardware still only equates to 5 percent of overall revenue, which should grow as companies use up their older inventory. If you've got a currency convertor to hand, head on past the break for the detailed breakdown.
Continue reading TSMC 2012 Q1 results: profits down again as 20-nanometer process proves expensive
TSMC 2012 Q1 results: profits down again as 20-nanometer process proves expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PC World  |  sourceTSMC  | Email this | Comments

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Google's gunning for web spammers, bans us from mentioning Bieber
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Google's changing its search algorithm to punish sites that emphasize search-engine optimization over quality. Mountain View's data centers will exclude sites that offer no useful content, have articles written in keyword-sprinkled gibberish or only link to sites within a cluster. If the computers find it, the site's pagerank will be demoted, with the company expecting to affect around three percent of all English language queries when it goes live later this week. The company isn't providing more details (lest it help those trying to game the system), so just get all of those gratuitous Justin Bieber references out of your system before Friday, okay?
Google's gunning for web spammers, bans us from mentioning Bieber originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Macworld  |  sourceGoogle Inside Search  | Email this | Comments

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Panasonic Eluga now available unlocked in Europe, yours for £369 or €460
Panasonic Eluga now available unlocked in Europe through Expansys, yours for £369 or €460
Wouldn't ya know it, but Panasonic was spot on with its announcement of the Eluga smartphone's European arrival this month. The elegant, waterproof handset is now available unlocked from Expansys, where it retails for £369 and approximately €460, with slight variations among countries. While the phone supports quadband GSM, its UMTS / HSPA connectivity is limited to the 2100MHz and 900MHz bands, which makes it less than ideal for North American use -- though, if you really want one, it seems safe to peg this one in the $600 territory.
Similarly available through NTT DoCoMo as the P-04D, we first managed to get a hands-on with the Eluga at Mobile World Congress. For those in need of a quick refresh, the phone features a TI OMAP 4430 SoC with a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a rather paltry 1,150mAh battery. The Eluga includes a heavily-skinned version of Android 2.3.5, although an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich has been pegged for release this summer. The phone represents Panasonic's return to the smartphone arena, and while it's a bit behind the curve, it's no doubt a fine starting point.
Panasonic Eluga now available unlocked in Europe, yours for £369 or €460 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Android Central  |  sourceExpansys  | Email this | Comments

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HP's On-Screen Display Utility released, aims to alleviate Envy 15 screen color complaints
Back when we reviewed HP's latest Envy 15, we found a glaring issue with its otherwise spectacular 1080p IPS display -- namely, its less-than-pleasing color reproduction. Making good on a promise it made back in March, HP has finally released its On-Screen Display Utility software for the machine in hopes of quelling user complaints. If you'll recall, HP stated that the displays are of a higher quality than other laptop panels, which can make colors look odd in comparison. That said, while this gesture is certainly welcome, at least one tipster wrote into complain that he "wasn't able to get a satisfactory change. It's basically just gamma adjustment and r/g/b sliders." Of course, we've only cited one anecdote here, so if you've got an Envy 15 you'd like to test this on, hit up the source link below. Be sure to let us know your results in the comments.
[Thanks, Anthony]
Permalink   |  sourceHP  | Email this | Comments

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Nintendo posts first annual loss of $460 million, predicts turnaround next year
Nintendo posts first annual loss of $460 million, predicts turnaround next year
Nintendo has announced its first annual operating loss following an initially lukewarm response to its new 3DS handheld and an aging Wii console -- set to be replaced later this year. Nintendo made an operating loss of 37.3 billion yen ($459.54 million) from 2011 to 2012, but intends to spin it around to a 35 billion yen operating profit in the forthcoming year. Net sales dropped by 36.2 percent compared to 2010-2011 , despite price cuts on its existing hardware like the 3DS and Wii. The Japanese games manufacturer has also seen increased competition from new rivals on Apple and Android hardware, as mobile gaming continues to go from strength to strength.
Nintendo also laid some of the blame at the feet of the weakened yen, but expects the incoming Wii U, cheaper 3DS production and incoming titles like New Super Mario Bros. 2, Brain Training and Animal Crossing will all help turn its fortunes around. Nintendo intends to sell the 3DS "below cost" by the middle of the next financial year, following strong sales after a substantial price cut last year. The company sold 13.53 million 3DS devices and 36 million 3DS games, compared to 80.2 million on the original DS. The original DS still managed to sell 5.1 million units in the last year. Nintendo's main console, the Wii, sold 9.84 million units in the last year, with 102.37 million games sold.
Nintendo posts first annual loss of $460 million, predicts turnaround next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Reuters  |  sourceNintendo (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

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Square's feeling good, on pace to take $5 billion in payments per year
Square's feeling good, on pace to take $5 billion in payments per yearDespite growing competition from PayPal, Intuit and Verifone, it appears that Square's business is still going gangbusters. The grandaddy of all smartphone payment systems is set to take $5 billion in payments this year, up from $2 billion a scant six months ago. According to company COO Keith Rabois, such expansive growth has been fostered by the fact that Square makes the cash from transactions available to merchants the next business day -- a feature greatly appreciated by small businesses. Clearly, Huey Lewis was right, and you can see what we mean after the break.
Continue reading Square's feeling good, on pace to take $5 billion in payments per year
Square's feeling good, on pace to take $5 billion in payments per year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceBloomberg  | Email this | Comments

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Sky considering launching Sky Sports 3D, one channel too small for three dimensions
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Sky is reportedly considering splitting its stereoscopic programming into separate Sports and Entertainment channels as its content stable swells. Speaking to Pocket-lint, movie bosses Simon Rexworthy and Ian Lewis confirmed that they don't have enough time in the schedules unless sporting coverage is hived off to a distinct "Sky Sports 3D". After the split, Sky 3D would only broadcast films, factual and TV content, with the caveat that they're prioritizing quality over quantity. Lewis mentioning that one recently-released flick has been blacklisted from the service after making the testers sick, although he neglected to mention its title.
Permalink   |  sourcePocket-Lint  | Email this | Comments

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Friendster reborn as a gaming site, wishes Facebook cared
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Friendster's as good as dead to the western world (it hasn't really crossed our radar since 2005), but Forbes reports that the site is still huge in Southeast Asia -- though not for the reasons you might think. It was the original social network when in launched in 2002, but its acquisition by e-payment provider MOL Global in 2009 led to its reincarnation as a top online gaming destination for countries such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia. The new Friendster just officially emerged from beta as a game-centric site, and the remaining vestiges of its social networking past -- you can still add friends, after all -- are gamified with reward points. Moreover, owner MOL Global has added e-payments to the mix, letting users buy Friendster Coins to purchase virtual goods. Given predictions that the Asian gaming community will exceed 1 billion by 2016, the site's future is looking rosier than ever. That might lessen the sting of being plum blown out of the social networking game by the big dogs.
Friendster reborn as a gaming site, wishes Facebook cared originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Columbia's GPS Pal app for Android and iOS logs your hikes, geotags memories (video)
Columbia GPS Pal app
Move over, My Tracks -- you've got serious company. Google's own adventure tracking app just got majorly one-upped by a company that also happens to make heated jackets. Columbia's just-launched GPS Pal app is not only available on both Android and iOS, but it's actually designed to be used with a user account so that activity logs are neatly housed in a searchable, organized portal. It's free to download, and aside from monitoring your hikes and treks via GPS, it also syncs photos, videos, and trail information to a web journal automatically, complete with pinpoint geotagging information on each piece of media.
As for data points? It'll keep track of elevation changes, current speed and distance traveled, and it makes sharing said trips to social networks quite the lesson in simplicity. Naturally, you'll need a data connection in order to upload media while on the trail -- something that's often hard to find -- but at least the app tells you how poor (or great) your GPS signal is at all times, which is all that's required to keep track of your actual steps. Head on past the break for a promo video, or hit the links below to grab it for your platform of choice.
Continue reading Columbia's GPS Pal app for Android and iOS logs your hikes, geotags memories (video)
Permalink   |  sourceColumbia (1), (2), App Store, Google Play  | Email this | Comments

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NBA Baller Beats for Xbox 360 encourages you to play ball in the house
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Forget everything your mother told you about playing ball in the house, Majesco thinks it's a terrific idea. NBA Baller Beats takes a rhythmic music game-like approach to the game of roundball, incorporating a real live basketball as a controller for the Xbox 360 title, as part of its full-body tracking Kinect action. And in case you're having trouble motivating off the couch, the gamemakers have brought the likes of Kanye, Run DMC, The Gorillaz and Common to help get you to your feet. Just make sure you remove that priceless antique vase from the living room before you do. At present, all we've got is a teaser trailer, which you can check out after the break. More info is coming at E3.
Continue reading NBA Baller Beats for Xbox 360 encourages you to play ball in the house
NBA Baller Beats for Xbox 360 encourages you to play ball in the house originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Dolby's Atmos technology gives new meaning to surround sound, death from above
Dolby's Atmos technology gives new meaning to surround sound, death from above
Psst, did you hear that? Apparently, the folks at Dolby Laboratories are no longer content with scaring the bejesus out of moviegoers by simply funneling those horrific audio cues from today's standard theater setup. Instead, the mad audio scientists claim they can recreate a more lifelike and sensory audio experience by pushing sound from even more directions -- a feat made possible by the company's new Dolby Atmos technology. By leveraging up to 64 speaker feeds and 128 simultaneous audio inputs, for example, Dolby says it would be possible to more accurately recreate the sound of creepy footsteps coming from the floorboards of a higher floor. Yes, you could use the system to better simulate stuff like rain, too, but that doesn't sound nearly as fun as making hapless moviegoers pee their pants. Combined with Dolby's foray into 3D, it looks like the company's really focusing on kicking up viewer immersion. Dolby plans to debut the Atmos tech in 10 to 15 theaters showing Disney/Pixar's Brave this year, followed by a larger rollout by 2013. For more on the potentially bladder-busting technology, scope out the PR after the break.
Continue reading Dolby's Atmos technology gives new meaning to surround sound, death from above
Dolby's Atmos technology gives new meaning to surround sound, death from above originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Bits (New York Times), The Hollywood Reporter  |  sourceDolby  | Email this | Comments

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TED-Ed website launches in beta, lets teachers customize video lessons
Last month, TED announced its new education initiative -- fittingly named TED-Ed -- with a YouTube channel showcasing teachers' lessons presented as animated videos. Today, the program moved forward, as TED opened up a beta version of a website meant to complement those lessons. Though there are plenty of study aides here, ed.ted.com is really about the grown-ups on the other side of the classroom. The site lets teachers with a TED account "flip" videos from TED-Ed and YouTube -- i.e., customize them to include multiple-choice and open-answer questions and links to additional info on a topic. Currently there are 62 videos and 238 "flips" available for viewing, but TED is gearing up for a full launch to be timed with the new school year in September.
Continue reading TED-Ed website launches in beta, lets teachers customize video lessons
TED-Ed website launches in beta, lets teachers customize video lessons originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceTED-Ed  | Email this | Comments

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Two-thirds of Americans unwilling to spend over $50 a month on mobile data, says Parks Associates
Two-thirds of Americans unwilling to spend over $50 a month on mobile data, says Parks Associates
In a recent report titled Mobile Data and Applications, research outfit Parks Associates found that a large chunk of Stateside consumers aren't willing to pay more than $50 per month for a mobile data plan. What's also interesting here -- but not surprising -- is the study shows nearly 50 percent of smartphone users are completely oblivious to the amount of data they're consuming every month. Parks Associates says this highlights the "risk" networks like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile are taking by making the transition from all-you-can-have to those tiered data plans we're so fond of. The firm's Mobile Research Director, Harry Wang, sees this as a necessity for carriers, though, expressing that "moving mobile users to usage-based plans will be difficult and painful, but changes are necessary for operators to maintain revenues." So, are you part of the two-thirds keeping bits under 50 bucks? Let your voice be heard in the comments below.
Continue reading Two-thirds of Americans unwilling to spend over $50 a month on mobile data, says Parks Associates
Permalink   |  sourceParks Associates  | Email this | Comments

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Google Maps offers photo tours of popular destinations, won't make you leave the couch (video)
Google Maps offers photo tours of popular destinations, won't make you leave the couch (video)
Looking to get a better feel for that Yosemite National Park expedition this summer? Google Maps is looking to go beyond the regular ol' snapshot and offer an experience that feels more like an actual visit -- only you won't have to leave your sofa. The folks in Mountain View have added photo tours to over 15,000 sites around the globe from Italy to the aforementioned Half Dome in California. A search for your virtual destination of choice will indicate whether or not a tour is available for that particular locale. How does it work? The outfit uses user-contributed Picasa and Panaromio photos -- only those listed as public -- alongside some fancy computer techniques to provide a 3D tour. Along the way, Maps selects the best possible path through the highest quality images. At the bottom of each photo, contributor credit is given and Goog says when more shots get shared, these tours will improve over time. You'll need Google Maps with WebGL to get the sightseeing started, though. If you're looking for a quick preview, hit the video just past the break.
Continue reading Google Maps offers photo tours of popular destinations, won't make you leave the couch (video)
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Lat Long Blog  | Email this | Comments

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European Patent Office invalidates IPCom 3G patent, gives good news to Nokia and HTC
European Patent Office invalidates IPCom 3G patent, gives good news to Nokia and HTCIPCom's had its way with many mobile manufacturers, including Nokia and HTC, by suing them for patent infringement in German courts. However, the Finnish and Taiwanese firms got good news today when the European Patent Office invalidated one of its 3G patents -- the very same one it used to obtain an injunction against HTC. IPCom's not going away quietly, however, as it plans to appeal the EPO's decision. That means that the folks in Espoo and Taoyuan City aren't out of the woods yet -- but it should at least give them a bit more bargaining power in negotiations to end their (seemingly endless) legal spats.
Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments

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Samsung announces 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad as basis for Galaxy S3
Samsung announces 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad as basis for Galaxy S3
Looking for something a bit more solid than a third-party benchmark? We can do that. "Already in production the Exynos 4 Quad is scheduled to be adopted first into Samsung's next Galaxy smartphone that will officially be announced in May," the horse's mouth reveals. Samsung boasts that the new 32nm 1.4GHz quad-core processor flaunts twice the processing power over its predecessor, thanks to its High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) low-power technology. The net energy savings? About 20-percent. "The application processor is a crucial element in providing our customers with a PC-like experience on mobile devices," explains Hankil Yoon, Senior VP of Product Strategy Team at Samsung, "Samsung's next Galaxy device, which will be officially announced soon, offers uncompromised performance and ground breaking multitasking features, thanks to Exynos 4 Quad's powerful performance and efficient energy management technology." Sammy says it's shopping the new processor around to other handset manufacturers (like Meizu), noting that the Exynos 4 Quad is pin-to-pin compatible with the Exynos 4 Dual (the brains behind the Galaxy S II and Note), which gives designers the ability to update product designs with minimal costs. Check out Samsung's full press release after the break.
Continue reading Samsung announces 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad as basis for Galaxy S3
Samsung announces 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad as basis for Galaxy S3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Frame rate debate rages on with 48 fps projection of 3D Hobbit footage
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With his use of Red cameras, 3ality rigs, and high frame rate 3D technology, no one can accuse Peter Jackson of being stuck in the past. Need more evidence of his anti-luddism? He just gave the first projection of footage from his 3D opus "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" in its full 48 fps glory at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas. With the public having endured 80 years of 24 fps film-watching, Jackson appealed to viewers to allow their eyes to adjust to the doubled rate during the ten minute screening. But the reaction showed that public acceptance might take a while. One projectionist compared it to made-for-TV fare, and others referenced Mexican soap-operas and TruMotion. The reply to these criticisms by Jackson (and James Cameron) has always been that 3D is better suited to faster frame rates than 2D -- making it more immersive, reducing headaches and improving stereoscopy. We'll have to wait for the film's release this December to find out whether he's right, or if this attempt at high frame speeds will go the way of Showscan.
Frame rate debate rages on with 48 fps projection of 3D Hobbit footage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceLA Times  | Email this | Comments

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RIM's first BlackBerry 10 device may come as early as October
RIM's first BlackBerry 10 device may come as early as October
It's no secret that there's currently a sense of urgency in Waterloo, but if a recent report from N4BB is accurate, it seems that both consumers and enterprise are bound to benefit. According to the site's confidential source, Research in Motion is preparing to reveal its first BlackBerry 10 device in mid-August and will have the product in the hands of consumers by October. We'd previously known that RIM intends to have these units in the hands of developers next month, which gives a bit of credence to this most recent revelation. As for what consumers may expect, the first device is said to offer just a touchscreen, whereas we'll need to wait until Q1 of next year to see a handset with a physical QWERTY keyboard. As you'll recall, the company's previous leader, Mike Lazaridis, previously stated that consumers wouldn't see a BlackBerry 10 device until the end of the year, but this was due entirely to a shortage of the chipset that RIM deemed crucial to its manufacture. Perhaps Mr. Heins was able to light a bit of a fire under the company's partners, no?
RIM's first BlackBerry 10 device may come as early as October originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceN4BB  | Email this | Comments

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Flickr outs new Uploadr feature for image uploads: HTML5-based, drag-and-drop UI
Flickr outs new Uploadr feature for image uploads: HTML5-based, drag-and-drop UI
If you'll recall, it was only a few weeks ago when Flickr announced Aviary was replacing the vanished Picnik as the main photo-editing tool on the site. Now, continuing its ongoing makeover, the Yahoo-owned image hosting service is introducing yet another feature. Uploadr, as it's very cleverly dubbed, is an HTML5 web apparatus, which Flickr says will make for a "completely new uploading experience." There's a few major attributes Uploadr brings to the table, including improvements in the speed department, a drag-and-drop UI and bigger file size limits for paid and free users. Flickr notes that folks will now see a boost in uploading speeds of up to 30 percent, while "some" international users may see a spike of somewhere between 50-60 percent. As for file sizes, the limits have been bumped to 50MB for Pro hogs and 30MB for those enjoying the freebies. Uploadr's set to be rolling out over the "next couple of weeks," and is currently offering browser support for Chrome, Safari and Firefox.
Flickr outs new Uploadr feature for image uploads: HTML5-based, drag-and-drop UI originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceFlickr Blog  | Email this | Comments

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3M launches its Cloud Library e-book lending service, hardware and apps in tow
3M launches its Cloud Library e-book lending service, hardware and apps in tow
Almost a year after it was first announced 3M's Cloud Library e-book lending service is getting a proper rollout. Introduced today at a beta site in St. Paul, the system is now ready for its kiosks, e-readers and apps to hit the hands and eyes of library patrons. The touch-based Discovery Terminals allow catalog browsing for visitors and selections can be checked out -- along with 3M's eReaders -- like other library materials. Already have a mobile device? E-books will play nicely with your iPad, Nook or Android device via the Cloud Library app. If you find yourself needing to read a bit on your computer, checked out items are compatible with both PCs and Macs as well. "With this technology, we are able to offer cutting-edge technology to all our patrons, whether they own their own e-reader or not," said Kit Hadley, director of the Saint Paul Public Library. A handful of other library systems across the US have also implemented the service. The list of those sites and all details on the introductory period await your click in the PR below.
Continue reading 3M launches its Cloud Library e-book lending service, hardware and apps in tow
3M launches its Cloud Library e-book lending service, hardware and apps in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  source3M Cloud Library  | Email this | Comments

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Engadget HD Podcast 296 - 04.25.2012
Engadget HD Podcast 296 - 04.25.2012It took an extra day, but we've got new Engadget HD podcast for you covering DVR news from such luminaries as whiteman Technologies, Dish Network and TiVo. Of course, they're not the only ones busy over the last few days as Cablevision and Time Warner Cable added new wrinkle to their IPTV offerings and DirecTV brings the DVR to hotels. On the business end of things we've got quarterly numbers from Netflix, Verizon and AT&T, while DTS and SRS Labs are getting together to do... something.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)

Producer: Trent Wolbe
00:20:00 - Eyes-on Whiteman Technology's Delta DVR, plus more hardware details
00:25:45 - Dish adds Pandora to Hopper Whole-Home DVR system
00:34:43 - TiVo quietly rebrands the Premiere Elite DVR as the Premier XL4 under cover of darkness
00:36:20 - Cablevision's Optimum Online live TV streaming now available on Windows and Mac
00:38:07 - Time Warner Cable brings ESPN, Fox and Turner sports live streaming to apps, website
00:39:53 - DirecTV DVRs available in over 100 hotels, never miss the restaurant opening times again
00:45:00 - DirecTV drops NFL Sunday Ticket price for current subscribers
00:50:21 - Netflix Q1 results: 3 million new streaming subscribers worldwide, record viewing hours
00:56:21 - Verizon's vitals: quarterly revenue up five percent to $28 billion, earnings of $1.7 billion
00:58:45 - Google TV's TV and Movies app gets to know you better with ratings, favorites and more
01:04:30 - DTS and SRS Labs to combine into one big happy family
01:07:40 - Must See HDTV (April 23rd - 29th)
Hear the podcast

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Engadget HD Podcast 296 - 04.25.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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BlackBerry Curve 9320 spotted in Vietnam, leaves nothing to the imagination
BlackBerry Curve 9320 spotted in Vietnam, leaves nothing to the imagination
Indeed, the Curve 9320's been anything but shy in these past couple of months. First, it was spotted while on a purported trip to India and shortly after that posing for T-Mobile's UK site. Now, the BlackBerry handset has been pampered by a full hands-on treatment from the Vietnamese folks over at Sohoa. Unlike its other adventures, though, this one presents far less speculation. As we'd previously heard, the device is in fact running BlackBerry OS 7.1, as well as being equipped with that undisclosed single-core CPU, 512MB of RAM, 3.2-megapixel rear shooter and a 1450mAh battery. Per the translation, Sohoa also notes the Curve 9320 offers a "better keyboard" and is thinner than the rest of the Curve lineup. There's an extra photo for your viewing pleasure after the break, but for the entire rundown be sure to check out the the source link below.
[Thanks, @tranquochuyvn]
Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 9320 spotted in Vietnam, leaves nothing to the imagination
BlackBerry Curve 9320 spotted in Vietnam, leaves nothing to the imagination originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceSohoa  | Email this | Comments

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AnTuTu pegs Galaxy S III as most powerful Android device, potentially reveals its specs
AnTuTu pegs Galaxy S III as most powerful Android device, potentially reveals its specs
Ah, the Galaxy S III. We always knew it'd be a keystone among Android smartphones, but according to the AnTuTu benchmark suite, it'll be the one device to rule them all. While there's no way to verify whether this test is indeed legitimate, all Android users may currently peep the AnTuTu app, which not only shows the smartphone as having bested the mighty Transformer Prime tablet, but it also reveals the most comprehensive set of specs we've yet seen for the Galaxy S III -- again, take this with a grain of salt. The device is said to wield a Samsung Exynos 4212 SoC with a dual-core 1.4GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 4.7-inch, 720p HD display. This lines up similarly with the product listing from Amazon Germany, as the specs also reveal a 12 megapixel primary camera on the rear, along with a 2MP shooter on the front. No big surprises for the OS, which is listed as Android 4.0. Should the benchmark tests turn out to be legitimate, the HTC One X will no doubt have some very stiff competition.
Update: Samsung has revealed the 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad as the basis for its next superphone.
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Motorola Solutions reports Q1 2012 sales of $2 billion, expects jump in Q2

Motorola Solutions (MSI) -- the less familiar Motorola that makes radios, barcode scanners and such for government and enterprise sectors -- just posted sales of $2 billion for the first quarter of 2012. This is a seven percent boost over Moto's results from the same period last year, and that growth reflects an 11 percent jump in government sales. It wasn't all rosy for Motorola this quarter, though: Profit was down two-thirds to $157 million, and sales to large businesses slipped two percent. MSI (not that MSI) expects second-quarter sales to grow six percent compared to last year's earnings, so it doesn't look like government clients will be dropping those wearable displays any time soon.
Continue reading Motorola Solutions reports Q1 2012 sales of $2 billion, expects jump in Q2
Motorola Solutions reports Q1 2012 sales of $2 billion, expects jump in Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PSA: Sprint's LTE-infused Galaxy Nexus now available online and in stores
sprint galaxy nexus
Google itself may have thrown the pricing situation out of whack by offering up a contract-free GSM version of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus for just $399, but those adhering to Sprint's plans can't make use of that, anyway. The other CDMA / LTE-infused Galaxy Nexus is now shipping from Sprint, several months ahead of its first LTE rollout. $199.99 on a two-year contract nets you a device, while you can snag one for $549.99 sans any strings. It's also available in stores nationwide for those who'd prefer to try before they buy, and yes, Sprint users who activate a Google Wallet account within a week of activation will receive a $10 instant credit and an additional $40 within three weeks. Just try to ignore that Galaxy S III that'll launch next month, okay? (It's not a pure Google device, anyway.)
PSA: Sprint's LTE-infused Galaxy Nexus now available online and in stores originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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15-inch Series 7 Chronos with Ivy Bridge surfaces on Samsung's Canadian site
When it rains it pours. Hot on the heels of announcing that 17-inch Series 7 Chronos laptop it teased back at CES, Samsung is doing the predictable sensible thing and refreshing the 15-inch version with an Ivy Bridge processor as well. So far, we see it listed on Samsung's Canadian site with a 1GB NVIDIA GT640M GPU and a quad-core Core i7-3615QM CPU (remember that Intel hasn't announced its dual-core variants yet). Curiously, though, we don't actually see it for sale online anywhere, it's unclear how much it costs and that Ivy Bridge configuration isn't even listed as an option on the company's US site. We've emailed Samsung for clarification, but in the meantime you may as well consider this a placeholder -- and will yourself to hold off a little longer before pulling the trigger on a mid-sized laptop.
[Thanks, Hugo]
15-inch Series 7 Chronos with Ivy Bridge surfaces on Samsung's Canadian site originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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DIY 'Descriptive Camera' captures images, prints out prose
DIY 'Descriptive Camera' captures images, prints out prose
Have you ever wished that cameras could capture not only an image of the scene in front of them, but also describe it to you in plain English? Ok, what if it bypassed the whole "photo" thing and just spit out a slip of paper with words on it? Well, if you're still interested, the impressive Matt Richardson (of Make fame) has a project right up your alley. The Descriptive Camera is a relatively simple device really. A Logitech webcam is connected to a BeagleBone dev board, which is in turn plugged into a thermal printer from Adafruit. Obviously, the tech required to analyze a scene recognize the objects then convert that pile of pixels into a slice prose is outside of the budget and capability of your average DIY project. So Matt turned instead to Mechanical Turk, Amazon's marketplace for HITs or Human Intelligence Tasks. Images captured by the cam are uploaded via the BeagleBone, where an actual person describes what he or she sees and the resulting literature is printed out. For more details and images check out the source.
DIY 'Descriptive Camera' captures images, prints out prose originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMatt Richardson  | Email this | Comments

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Former MakerBot exec launches Solidoodle sub-$500 3D printer
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Let's be honest -- we all want a a 3D printer to call our own, right? Price has always been a significant barrier to the dream of printing pretty much everything your imagination can conjure (barring some hardware limitations, of course). For its part, MakerBot has made some significant strides toward tearing some of those barriers, and now Solidoodle, led by that company's former COO Samuel Cervantes, is looking to take the trend even further. The company's current self-tilted model starts at just under $500. The printer, which is now up for pre-order, can print plastic pieces up to 6" x 6" x 6", and "all you need to supply is a computer and power." Also, interestingly, "a 200-pound man can literally stand on top of the machine while it's printing. " So, that's a bonus. Check out a video of the printer in action after the break.
Continue reading Former MakerBot exec launches Solidoodle sub-$500 3D printer
Former MakerBot exec launches Solidoodle sub-$500 3D printer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Verge  |  sourceSolidoodle  | Email this | Comments

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Google+ Share button gives you another option aside from plain 'ol +1s
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Although Google's had its +1 button all over the web for some time now, helping folks show their allegiance to things they like, it's lacked a dedicated button just for sharing content. That's now changed, as the Google+ development team recently let loose the Share button. The button is similar in appearance to its +1 sibling, but rather than just being a shortcut for quickly slapping content with a virtual high-five, it gives you a way to easily share pages on your Google+ profile. (Yes, you could share through the +1 button, too, but consider this one a bit more focused). Best of all, the Google+ Share button is ready to roll, so move your cursor to the source link below if you'd like to put it on your site or find out more. Happy Liking sharing!
Google+ Share button gives you another option aside from plain 'ol +1s originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Google+ Developers Blog  | Email this | Comments

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Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast with special guest Chris Davies, live at 5PM ET!
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After a weeklong hiatus, we've been aching to get back on the mics and speak our minds about all the crazy stuff going on in the world of mobile. And Myriam and Brad aren't going it alone: they're bringing Chris Davies of Slashgear fame (or is it infame?) to the hot seat and grilling him with the tough questions. It'll be a blast, so you absolutely must join us, won't you?
Oh, and if you have time to spare, we encourage you to sign up for a UStream account and participate in our podcast chats.
April 25, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
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Growing Up Geek: Sarah Silbert
Welcome to Growing Up Geek, an ongoing feature where we take a look back at our youth and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. Today, we have our new reviews editor, Sarah Silbert.
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I'm not your textbook-case geek. On that authoritative dork-geek-nerd venn diagram, I sit undeniably closer to the nerd quadrant. I mean, a childhood defined by penning mini-zines, banging on the piano and filming countless movies in my garage hardly earned me a reputation as a precocious little techie. Sure, I liked computers and math -- and I, er, may have graphed the distribution of my Halloween candy once or twice, just for fun -- but my entryway into gadgets and geekdom was an overactive imagination.
Continue reading Growing Up Geek: Sarah Silbert
Growing Up Geek: Sarah Silbert originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Drive is coming to Linux, tells users to 'hang tight'
Google Drive is coming to Linux, tells users to 'hang tight'
As you may know, there is at least one out and proud Ubuntu devotee on staff. So, when Google Drive was announced, there were a few grumbles from those who noticed Linux was absent from the list of supported platforms. Especially in the wake of Picasa for Linux, many were afraid that Big G was slowly killing off it's (comparably) robust support of the open-source OS. But, rest easy, in addition to Dropbox and Ubuntu One, soon enough you'll be able to use Google's offering as well. Google Docs community manager Teresa Wu (we assume, soon enough, that will be Google Drive community manager) swung by a potential customer's Google+ profile to assuage his ire over the lack of Linux support. The message, while not very detailed, was quite clear: "we're working on Linux support -- hang tight!"
Google Drive is coming to Linux, tells users to 'hang tight' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceChad McCullough (Google+)  | Email this | Comments

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Oracle v. Google trial reveals renders of original Google phone design
Oracle v. Google trial reveals renders of original Google phone design
Not all the news coming out of Judge Alsup's courtroom concerns IP infringement and dollar signs, as some renders of a never-before-seen Google phone have made their way out of the courtroom and onto the web. It appears that before the T-Mobile G1 came to be, Google had its heart set on a portrait QWERTY design for its initial Android offering -- and different from what was found in the first Android emulator. Evidently, it was slated to pack at least a 200MHz chip, 64MB of RAM and ROM, a miniSD card, 2-megapixel camera with a dedicated shutter button and a non-touch-enabled QVGA display. That's a far cry from modern smartphones, but this thing was set to be sold five years ago, so such meager specs are to be expected. Intrigued? More pictures and details can be found at the source below.
Oracle v. Google trial reveals renders of original Google phone design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Verge  | Email this | Comments

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Lava's Medfield-based Xolo X900 smartphone gets reviewed by AnandTech
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We briefly got our hands on the Medfield-based Xolo X900 back in February, and have seen some benchmarks from Lenovo's K800 (based on the same reference design), but AnandTech has now provided a typically thorough review of the device that's ushering in Intel's new push into smartphones. In short, the phone is a solid first step, but not something that AnandTech sees as a flagship device. Battery life is respectable and performance is even better (scoring among the top of the heap in most benchmarks), and both the screen and camera manage to impress, but AnandTech didn't find anything that pulled the device ahead of the competition. In its own words, "on the one hand it's a good thing that you can't tell an Intel smartphone apart from one running an ARM based SoC, on the other hand it does nothing to actually sell the Intel experience." Hit the source link below for the full review and benchmarks.
Lava's Medfield-based Xolo X900 smartphone gets reviewed by AnandTech originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceAnandTech  | Email this | Comments

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Reminder: Webby Award voting ends tomorrow, give the Engadget Show some love
Webby Award voting ends tomorrow
Do you really want to hurt us? Do you really want to make us cry? If not, you should head on over to the Webby Awards site and vote for the Engadget Show. Seriously, though, it's an honor just to have our humble production nominated for the third year in a row alongside several other impressive products. Ballots do close tomorrow and, if you're a fan of segments like our epic tour of Asia's gadget markets, then click here (no, seriously, right there) to give us and the dozens of people who put in countless hours of hard work to make them happen a virtual pat on the back. Thanks for reading, watching and being a fan, and we promise to continue working our butts off to keep you informed and entertained.
Reminder: Webby Award voting ends tomorrow, give the Engadget Show some love originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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EyeRing finger-mounted connected cam captures signs and dollar bills, identifies them with OCR (hands-on)
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Ready to swap that diamond for a finger-mounted camera with a built-in trigger and Bluetooth connectivity? If it could help identify otherwise indistinguishable objects, you might just consider it. The MIT Media Lab's EyeRing project was designed with an assistive focus in mind, helping visually disabled persons read signs or identify currency, for example, while also serving to assist children during the tedious process of learning to read. Instead of hunting for a grownup to translate text into speech, a young student could direct EyeRing at words on a page, hit the shutter release, and receive a verbal response from a Bluetooth-connected device, such as a smartphone or tablet. EyeRing could be useful for other individuals as well, serving as an ever-ready imaging device that enables you to capture pictures or documents with ease, transmitting them automatically to a smartphone, then on to a media sharing site or a server.
We peeked at EyeRing during our visit to the MIT Media Lab this week, and while the device is buggy at best in its current state, we can definitely see how it could fit into the lives of people unable to read posted signs, text on a page or the monetary value of a currency note. We had an opportunity to see several iterations of the device, which has come quite a long way in recent months, as you'll notice in the gallery below. The demo, which like many at the Lab includes a Samsung Epic 4G, transmits images from the ring to the smartphone, where text is highlighted and read aloud using a custom app. Snapping the text "ring," it took a dozen or so attempts before the rig correctly read the word aloud, but considering that we've seen much more accurate OCR implementations, it's reasonable to expect a more advanced version of the software to make its way out once the hardware is a bit more polished -- at this stage, EyeRing is more about the device itself, which had some issues of its own maintaining a link to the phone. You can get a feel for how the whole package works in the video after the break, which required quite a few takes before we were able to capture an accurate reading.
Gallery: MIT Media Lab: EyeRing
Continue reading EyeRing finger-mounted connected cam captures signs and dollar bills, identifies them with OCR (hands-on)
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Available Tags:Google , Samsung , tablet , profits , Panasonic , Nintendo , gaming , Facebook , Android , iOS , Xbox , Nokia , HTC , Galaxy , 3D , BlackBerry , hardware , Engadget , Motorola , Ivy Bridge , Google+ , Oracle , smartphone , AnandTech ,
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