IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 4/7/2012

Amped Wireless High Power R10000G Router and Smart Repeater hands-on

Until now, Amped Wireless has been best known for its industrial networking gear, capable of maintaining a signal up to 1.5 miles away from the base station. Now, though, the outfit's also selling some equipment for folks with a more modest setup: the R10000G Home Router and SR10000G Smart Repeater, which promise to coat 10,000 square feet of your abode / office in robust, high-quality WiFi. Of course, we just had to test these claims out for ourselves, and see if these units really were formidable enough to leave our own router crying in the corner. We devised three simple experiments to see how they hold up in the real world -- head on past the break to find out how they fared.

Gallery: Amped Wireless R10000G Router and Smart Repeater hands-on

Continue reading Amped Wireless High Power R10000G Router and Smart Repeater hands-on

Amped Wireless High Power R10000G Router and Smart Repeater hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 288 - 04.05.2012

If you look at this edition of the Engadget Podcast through our own pair of tortoise shell-framed, azure-lens'd Google Glasses it looks like Darren is saying "Welcome to the Ghost Rider 900 edition of the Engadget Podcast" from beyond the void.

Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater, Darren Murph
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Orbital - Never

00:03:20 - HTC One S review
00:03:30 - HTC One X review
00:04:00 - HTC One X vs. One S: which phone is The One for you?
00:11:25 - Nokia Lumia 900 review
00:16:30 - Instagram comes to Android, available to download now
00:16:45 - Instagram for Android hands-on
00:36:50 - Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE preview (video)
00:45:20 - New York International Auto Show
00:45:40 - Fisker Atlantic EVer unveiled in New York, we go eyes-on
00:49:05 - Terrafugia Transition aircraft first hands-on (video)
00:53:05 - Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow hands-on (video)
00:53:35 - Nikon D4 field review

01:00:30 - Google testing heads-up display glasses in public, won't make you look like Robocop
01:12:00 - HTC Sense 4 review

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Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 288 - 04.05.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friendcaster for Facebook gets shiny new 5.0 update on Android, rocks new UI

When it comes to alternative Facebook apps, Friendcaster checks in as one of the more robust options for Android. Now the app is getting a major status update thanks to a 5.0 makeover. Highlights touted by the Friendcaster team include design improvements, real-time notifications, higher resolution news feed images, the ability to tag more than one friend at a time in a post, a new check-in interface and memory improvements. The update -- which is compatible with Android 1.6 and higher -- also kicks off with a suite of themes in six fresh colors, with more in the works. After all, if you're gonna ignore yet another Farmville and Texas Hold'em request, you may as well do it in style.

Friendcaster for Facebook gets shiny new 5.0 update on Android, rocks new UI originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Distro Issue 35 gets smart with the Smartphone Buyers Guide, HTC's army of Ones and Nokia's Lumia 900

Just last week, Nielsen announced that smartphones now account for almost half of US mobile ringers. As such, we thought it only fitting to dedicate this, the 35th issue of our fine weekly, to those intelligent pocket dwellers. In it, we'll bring you our top handset picks from the big four and beyond, with the Spring 2012 edition of our Smartphone Buyers Guide, as well as our in-depth impressions of the HTC One S, One X and Sense 4 UI and Nokia's Lumia 900. Also in this issue, a look back at the history of the smartphone in this week's Stat, a Q&A with Jared Polin of FroKnowsPhoto and the comic stylings of Dustin Harbin for the Last Word. So hit the appropriate link below and enjoy!

Distro Issue 35 PDF
Distro on the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Android Market
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Distro Issue 35 gets smart with the Smartphone Buyers Guide, HTC's army of Ones and Nokia's Lumia 900 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DARPA's next Grand Challenge to focus on humanoid robots

DARPA's Grand Challenges have already helped put plenty of self-driving cars on (closed) roads, but it looks like the agency has something a bit different in mind for its next one. As first reported by Hizook, DARPA has apparently set its sights on humanoid robots as its next target -- specifically, robots that are human-like enough to navigate rough terrain, drive a vehicle and manipulate regular tools (the idea being to simulate assisting in an industrial disaster zone). What's more, participants will have to develop robots that can do all of that "semi-autonomously," with only "supervisory teleoperation" permitted. No word on a timeline for the challenge just yet, but DARPA will apparently have more to say when it makes things completely official within the next few weeks.

[Thanks, Travis]

DARPA's next Grand Challenge to focus on humanoid robots originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel 313 SSDs bring improved caching to ultrabooks, desktops, life in general
Just like Intel's older 311 batch of small cache SSDs, the new 313 series is designed to sit alongside a traditional spinning HDD in order provide a tasty blend of speed and capacity. These newer drives are still SATA II, so there's no 6Gbps action here, but they use superior 25nm SLC flash, offer faster speeds for the same price (starting at $120 for 20GB) and are explicitly approved for use in the coming wave of Ultrabooks -- so don't be surprised if that's where you meet 'em next.

Intel 313 SSDs bring improved caching to ultrabooks, desktops, life in general originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D

Didn't score a ticket to the 2012 Olympics in London this summer? If you're in the UK at least you can still catch the games live and in 3D, since even though the BBC is tape delaying its 3D coverage, there will be live action available on the dedicated Sky 3D channel from Eurosport. There's no word on what other carriers or regions may have access, but those two are promising over 100 hours of 3D action over the course of the games, with eight hours of live coverage alongside four hours of highlights. That's enough to cover events including the opening and closing ceremonies, men's 100m dash final, gymnastics, swimming, basketball and more. Also, Sky plans to open up the channel to all of its current HD subscribers during the Games instead of just the current 250,000 subscribers, so all you'll need to bring is a 3D-ready HDTV and glasses (maybe). There's a press release after the break with all the details currently available, and also Stephen Fry's introduction to the channel for no reason other than that it's Stephen Fry.
Continue reading London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D

London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corsair debuting Vengeance gaming headset, PC case at PAX East

You don't need a webcam-charted mood-graph to tell you that gaming can be a frustrating, enraging experience. Unbridled rage only begets revenge -- lucky for you, then, that Corsair is beefing up its Vengeance gaming line-up. Its $149 Vengeance 2000 2.4GHz wireless 7.1 headset, for instance, hopes to help you suss out the location your foe with its optimized HRTF (head-related transfer function) positional audio chops. Failing that, you could always wrap your hardware in the outfit's new C70 PC gaming case, a rugged rack designed to look like an ammo-box. This $139 steeled exterior case has room for eight PCI-E slots, 10 fan mounts, dual USB 3.0 ports and six SSD-ready hard drive bays -- in arctic white, gunmetal black and the traditional military green. You can mosey on past the break for a peek at Corsair's official press release, but folks in Boston will be able to able to check out the new digs in person at PAX East this weekend. If, you know, Vengeance is your thing.

[Thanks, Justin]
Continue reading Corsair debuting Vengeance gaming headset, PC case at PAX East

Corsair debuting Vengeance gaming headset, PC case at PAX East originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 06:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung expects to double Q1 profit versus last year, sends itself a love note

Sammy has issued guidance for its financial performance between January and March 2012, ahead of a fuller earnings report due later this month. In contrast to HTC's latest news, the Korean giant looks rosy enough -- it's predicting an operating profit of 5.8 trillion won ($5 billion), which is almost double the quarterly profit from last year. Overall revenues continued to grow steadily too, rising nearly 22 percent to 45 trillion won ($40 billion). We'll need to wait for more detail to see where the growth is coming from, but it'd be cheesily nice to think our affection for the Galaxy Note had something to do with it.
Continue reading Samsung expects to double Q1 profit versus last year, sends itself a love note

Samsung expects to double Q1 profit versus last year, sends itself a love note originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dropbox enables drag-and-drop uploads on web browsers
Finished convincing friends, family and perfect strangers alike to sign up to Dropbox -- and selfishly upping your own storage in the process. The cloud storage service has just made changes to its web-baser interface, adding drag-and-drop functionality from your folders and desktop. The feature works across Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers and once the site detects the movement, it'll start uploading to that ethereal data cloud in the sky. You can start dragging those files around at the source now.

Dropbox enables drag-and-drop uploads on web browsers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC's unaudited Q1 2012 financials: revenue down by 35 percent

HTC's unaudited financials have just hit the wires and it looks like the negative trends from last year are continuing. For the first quarter of 2012, revenues are down nearly 35 percent year-on-year, with revenues of 67,790 million Taiwanese dollars (around $2.3 billion) for the period. Operating income was 5,099 million Taiwanese dollars (roughly $173 million) and profits after tax 4,464 million Taiwanese dollars ($151 million). The company must be hoping that this represents the end of the nasty hangover from its previous scatter-gun approach to phone production. Now that it's gone with the sleek and slender One series lineup, we'll see how well the company's about-turn does in the next two quarters.

HTC's unaudited Q1 2012 financials: revenue down by 35 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Big Bang Theory S1 and S2 will finally hit Blu-ray July 10th

Considering the usual subject matter of The Big Bang Theory it's a bit bizarre that the first couple of seasons weren't already available in high definition, but Warner Home Video has now announced they will be released on Blu-ray July 10th. While later seasons have already seen Blu-ray releases, those looking to start back at the beginning for Leonard, Sheldon, Penny and the rest of the crew had been stuck with DVDs. Assuming you're a fan of CBS' comedy series, you can preorder each Blu-ray / DVD combo release now, priced at $23.99 for the first season and $54.97 for the longer second season. Of course, what we're really wondering is what this means for other orphaned releases that only have some or none of their seasons available on Blu-ray as studios have shifted strategies, we're still waiting for How I Met Your Mother season one. Drop a note about any other shows you're following that have holes in their HD releases in the comments below, or just check out a video clip of the show with the canned laughter cut out -- it's... different.
Continue reading The Big Bang Theory S1 and S2 will finally hit Blu-ray July 10th

The Big Bang Theory S1 and S2 will finally hit Blu-ray July 10th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry PlayBook with '4G' out and about, wants to know where you put its SIM

Jim Balsillie might be on the outs, but it looks like his once boastful pet-project -- a BlackBerry PlayBook with integrated cellular wireless -- is finally coming to fruition. Per CrackBerry's forums comes the above snap of the Canadian slate donning a SIM card slot, nary a month after we first spotted the company's HSPA+ and LTE tablets pass through the FCC. That also lines up nicely with a previously leaked roadmap, promising a summer arrival. Will the mythical 4G-wielding PlayBook ever make it to market? Or like it's WiMax brother, will it never be given the chance? While you ponder that, more pics await at the source.

BlackBerry PlayBook with '4G' out and about, wants to know where you put its SIM originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google co-founder Sergey Brin spotted wearing Project Glass prototype IRL

Wondering what it might be like to sport Google's Project Glass augmented reality HUD in your daily life? It would appear company co-founder Sergey Brin already knows, as he was spotted by tech pundits Robert Scoble and Thomas Hawk rocking a prototype at a Dining in the Dark charity event for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Scoble has already posted a couple of pictures with Brin on Google+, mentioning more photos would be forthcoming from Hawk after the event concluded and that he'd heard other people, including Google exec Vic Gundotra, have the devices already. For now he mentions the glasses appeared to be "self contained" and that he could see a blueish light flashing on Brin's eyes. Hit the source link for more pics and details, we'll let you know if we find out more later -- details on where to snag a set may remain confidential until we've had a chance to try them on first, of course.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin spotted wearing Project Glass prototype IRL originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  Robert Scoble (Google+), @Scobleizer (Twitter), Flickr  | Email this | Comments

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Android 4.0 arriving for HTC Rezound today, Droid RAZR update delayed

April 4th has come and gone, and sadly, both the Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx remain without their promised bites of Ice Cream Sandwich. The latest communique from Best Buy confirms the delay, and similarly, a tweet from Motorola Mobility adds that a new release date has yet to be established. As a touch of silver lining to the otherwise gloomy news, the Best Buy crew reiterates that the HTC Rezound is set to receive Android 4.0 today -- in all its Sense 3.6 mediocrity. Cross your fingers, Rezound owners: this looks to be the big day.

[Thanks, VoxPCS]

Android 4.0 arriving for HTC Rezound today, Droid RAZR update delayed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Page looks back at a year of leading Google, promises velocity, execution and focus in the future
A year and a day after taking over the reins at Mountain View, Google co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Larry Page has plenty to say about where the company has been recently, and where it's going. While there aren't any Project Glass bombs dropped, in this open letter he's promising a Google that will achieve even more, and faster, as it goes forward. First, a spoiler alert: he really likes Google's products. From Google+, to tighter integration with results for things like weather and airfare to that little Android side project there's plenty of praise to go around. One of the longest segments is dedicated to the "love and trust" Google desires to deserve from its users, mentioning that creating "a much better, more intuitive experience across Google" is a focus for 2012. Hit the source link to have your own look at the Google boss' innermost thoughts -- do you think he's on the right track?

Larry Page looks back at a year of leading Google, promises velocity, execution and focus in the future originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shocker: People who read e-books read more

Are you ready for a bombshell? Turns out people who read e-books read more books than those don't. That tidbit comes from the number crunchers at Pew. According to a new report titled "The Rise of E-Reading," the e-book readers read an average of 24 books in the past year, versus the 15 books read by those who didn't. Also, not particularly surprising is the fact that the percent of folks reading e-books is on the rise as well -- the number who claimed to have read an e-book in the year prior made a bit of a jump from 17-percent in December to 21-percent in February. Naturally, the whole printed thing is still a bit more widespread, with 72-percent claiming to have read a paper-type book in the year prior, when surveyed back in December.

Shocker: People who read e-books read more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS placates Transformer Prime owners with free GPS Extension Kit add-on

ASUS took a few OTA stabs at fixing the Transformer Prime's satellite blindness, sure, but now the outfit is taking a more direct approach at fixing its GPS reception woes: hardware. New Prime owners registering their slab on ASUS' member site are now being greeted with an application for a GPS Extension Kit, a free dongle that "may help improve signal reception and optimize the user experience." According to a series of emails posted by an XDA forums user, the kit is due to ship in mid-April, and will "be a flush fit on the bottom of the unit if held in landscape, matching the color of your Prime Chassis." ASUS says the dongle will be available to all customers who picked up the tablet, and carefully notes that the accessory does not "replace, alter or amend any existing warranties." Fair enough. Now, what if we want to type while we find our way around the world?

Gallery: Transformer Prime GPS Extension Kit Application

ASUS placates Transformer Prime owners with free GPS Extension Kit add-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel and Nissan collaborate on Infiniti's 2013 infotainment system, Atom inside

Intel is notorious for marking its territory on a wide array of consumer gear, but one piece of kit that's unlikely to sport that famous sticker is the infotainment system of Nissan's 2013 Infiniti lineup. Unveiled today at the New York International Auto Show, the in-vehicle computer represents a collaboration between Intel and Nissan and was showcased within the Infiniti LE concept vehicle. On the inside lurks an Atom CPU, which bucks the general trend toward ARM architecture in these systems. Both companies put their collective heads together to create cloud-based services for smartphone users such as video surveillance, vehicle control and monitoring. As another nice refinement, users will also be able to use their phone's NFC capabilities for keyless entry to the carriage -- no word on whether it can similarly activate the ignition. You'll find the full PR after the break.
Continue reading Intel and Nissan collaborate on Infiniti's 2013 infotainment system, Atom inside

Intel and Nissan collaborate on Infiniti's 2013 infotainment system, Atom inside originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Webcam programmed to capture your face while playing Xbox: gauges your excitement, graphs ennui

Sometimes, those Modern Warfare sessions really take their toll. Now, there is a way to measure the emotional rollercoaster you're subjecting yourself to when you login for those regular gaming stints. Dale Lane decided to hook up the webcam above his main TV to grab a shot of his face every 15 seconds. This then wings its way to the Face.com API, which calculates all sorts of information about the image and sends it back to Dale, who uses a Python script to cook it into these graphs. This one measures his early evening session playing Blur on Xbox Live. Yeah, red means angry.

Webcam programmed to capture your face while playing Xbox: gauges your excitement, graphs ennui originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaCie eSATA Hub Thunderbolt Series now available for $200

Back at CES, we first got word of the LaCie eSATA Hub Thunderbolt Series that would put two hard drives of the eSATA sort to good use. The company announced today that the storage peripheral is available now via its online store with a $199 price tag. If you recall, the device will allow you to daisy chain up to 12 drives (six hubs) to a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac while still showcasing 3Gbps eSATA speeds. If you're wanting a closer look or you're ready to commit, visit the source link below.
Continue reading LaCie eSATA Hub Thunderbolt Series now available for $200

LaCie eSATA Hub Thunderbolt Series now available for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Warner Cable app for Android tablets with live streaming is (still) right around the corner

To be fair, when we heard that Time Warner Cable's TWC TV app for Android tablets might add live TV streaming by the end of March it was described as a "very loose" projection, so it's not much of a surprise we're still waiting for it now, in April. It is still coming however, and a new post is up on the blog teasing the above image of the app in action and promising to make the feature available in the next few weeks, certainly by Memorial day. we should also note, it's for Ice Cream Sandwich loaded tablets only -- they have the required "security and stability" (read: DRM) necessary. Also noted is that developing a live video streaming app for iOS was easier simply because of the limited number of manufacturer, OS and hardware combinations, which mirrors what we heard previously from Netflix. Still, it's on the way, so if you're looking to use your slate as an extra TV screen in the home, you should look next to your manufacturer to make sure it's been updated with ICS.

Time Warner Cable app for Android tablets with live streaming is (still) right around the corner originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caption Contest: HTC's down-to-earth photo shoot

With the Android handset market as jam-packed as it is, it can be tough to distinguish your device from the maddening crowd. We've seen some bizarre and sublime attempts to do so over the years, but few have reached the terminal velocity of HTC's skydiving fashion photoshoot aimed at promoting its new One line of phones. Has the company hit the bullseye here, or is it and its accompanying light-headed skydivers destined to splatter all over the advertising landscape? It just might take a caption contest to find out for certain.

Zach Honig: "If I make this reverse overhead shot do you promise to attach a parachute to my string?"
Sean Buckley: "Drop test #3 will commence in 3.. 2.."
Christopher Trout: "Who needs a facelift when you have wind effects like these?"
Darren Murph: [Yelling, to combat the wind] "WHY DO WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE TO PROMOTE THE ONE LINE?"
Brian Heater: "Another dropped call from AT&T."
Myriam: "Looks like we fixed that bug in the accelerometer! It's working just fine right now..."
Tim: "Hang on, trying to decide which Instagram filter to apply... so many choices..."

Michael: "Well, whaddya know, Face Unlock works while free-falling at 10,000 feet!"
Zach Lutz: Despite the fabulous view, Guy couldn't resist his overwhelming urge to check for available software updates.
Sharif Sakr: As if throwing Dr Dre and his Beats Audio out of a plane wasn't enough, they had to shoot him in the back with an arrow.
Richard Lawler: What do you mean there aren't any FourSquare badges for this?
Jose Andrade: "Don't move. I'm almost done with this DrawSomething drawing"
Billy Steele: "You just hold the phone and I promise I'll pull the 'chute. Maybe."

Caption Contest: HTC's down-to-earth photo shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See a Qbo robot built from scratch in a minute-and-a-half (time-lapse video)

Ever wondered just how fast a Qbo robot can be built from scratch? Perhaps not, but TheCorpora is happy to show you anyway. The answer is just under three hours (by a skilled engineer, of course), but the company has managed to whittle that down to a minute-and-a-half thanks to the magic of time-lapse video. Head on past the break to see it for yourself -- and, if you haven't already, catch up with some of the tricks the bot is able to do once it's fully assembled.
Continue reading See a Qbo robot built from scratch in a minute-and-a-half (time-lapse video)

See a Qbo robot built from scratch in a minute-and-a-half (time-lapse video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint announces ICS for the Nexus S 4G, official download now available

To all the broken-hearted owners of the Nexus S 4G waiting for their chance to play with an official build of Ice Cream Sandwich: wait no longer. Sprint announced in a forum post (and subsequently on Twitter) that it's finally ready to unleash Android 4.0.4 to the anxious masses -- not just the adventurous souls willing to try out the leaked version last weekend. If you own this phone, we're guessing you're no longer reading this post. But, if you are, go check to see if your update is available. Do it.

[Thanks, Brent]

Continue reading Sprint announces ICS for the Nexus S 4G, official download now available

Sprint announces ICS for the Nexus S 4G, official download now available originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GSM Galaxy Nexus seeing signal issues after Android 4.0.4 update?

Sometimes, updates aren't as sweet as they initially sound. Such is the case with Android 4.0.4, which recently rolled out to owners of the GSM Galaxy Nexus. According to an increasingly vocal swath of members at xda-developers (and confirmed by a listing on Google's own Support page), there are mysterious signal issues now troubling the device. For many users, there's an inexplicable loss of signal -- a complete inability to make or receive calls and text messages -- after applying the v4.0.4 update, though it's beginning to look like Sleep is the issue. For some, preventing the phone from going to into a deep sleep mode has solved the dilemma, but it has also created a life where a nearby AC outlet is more of a necessity than usual. Hit up the source link to submit a bug report if you're experiencing precisely this, and let us know of any potential fixes down in comments below.

GSM Galaxy Nexus seeing signal issues after Android 4.0.4 update? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink xda-developers, Android Community  |  Google  | Email this | Comments

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The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!

Hey! We're back! And this time out, Tim and Brian will be joined by the Darren Murph, the Engadget staff's foremost expert on Nic Cage trivia. Follow along, after the break.

Continue reading The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!

The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic KX-TG7740 and KX-TG7730 cordless phones feature Link2Cell, iPhone ringtone integration

Sure, you may have long ditched the landline, but you could still be in the market for a cordless phone. Two such rigs from Panasonic let you tap your mob for a voice connection, with Link2Cell. The KX-TG7740 and KX-TG7730 can both sync up with Bluetooth-enabled phones, letting you make calls through your smartphone as it charges in another room. You can also transfer up to 3,050 address book entries to the household system, while this year's models add an extra layer of iPhone integration, enabling ringtone matching and transfer -- you'll now be able to hear that iOS jingle through any connected handset. Both models also include the standard gamut of features, including talking caller ID, call block for pre-programed numbers and a handset locator. The 7730 series ships with three handsets for $100 (TG-7733S), two handsets for $80 (7732S) or a single handset for $60 (7731S). Likewise, the 7740 adds a dial pad to the base, and is available with five handsets for $150 (7745S), three for $110 (7743S), two for $90 (7742S) or one for $70 (7741S). You'll find the full PR rundown just past the break.
Continue reading Panasonic KX-TG7740 and KX-TG7730 cordless phones feature Link2Cell, iPhone ringtone integration

Panasonic KX-TG7740 and KX-TG7730 cordless phones feature Link2Cell, iPhone ringtone integration originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC

If you're excited about convertible tablets but can't wait for the IdeaPad Yoga to arrive, then perhaps Novero's Solana might give you a temporary fix. It's a dinky netbook (yes, netbook) that runs both Windows 7 and Android, but you can flip the display over in its frame to turn it into a tablet PC. It's packing a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom N2600, Intel GMA 3600 IGP Graphics, 2GB of RAM and a choice of 32 or 64GB of solid-state storage. Fortunately, it looks like it won't be long before we get to clench it to our chests since it's now been given the thumbs-up from the assembled experts down in the FCC's underground bunker. For around $800, you too can pretend it's 2009 all over again, just remember to bring the Flo Rida.

Continue reading Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC

Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is that a 3D prototype in HTC's EVO 4G LTE making of video? (update: nope)

An HTC Evo 4G LTE with dual cameras could only mean one thing, right? It's unclear whether the 3D rig in the company's intro video is simply a design mock-up, or a functional prototype of a model to come, but there's definitely something of the sort floating around HTC's labs. The device in question looks identical to the Evo we saw at yesterday's Sprint launch event -- kickstand and all -- save for that unique dual-lens design. And if such a smartphone did come to fruition, what could we expect for a name? Sprint HTC EVO 4G 3D LTE? We sure hope not. We've reached out to HTC to get a better idea of what we're looking at, but for now, this clip will have to do. You'll find the video in its entirety just past the break, but you'll want to skip to the 25 second mark for the 3D proto.

Update: Well, we just heard back from HTC and the company confirmed that it's not a prototype of any future device. Apparently, it's just an early design when HTC and Sprint were considering carrying over the 3D feature, but it didn't make the cut. Mystery solved!
Continue reading Is that a 3D prototype in HTC's EVO 4G LTE making of video? (update: nope)

Is that a 3D prototype in HTC's EVO 4G LTE making of video? (update: nope) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube lets you watch 1080p 2D videos in '3D' with your anaglyph specs

Another day, another bit of news out of Mountain View. Stereoscopic 3D videos have been on YouTube for nearly three years, and since last year, the site has given viewers the option to transform "short-form" 2D content to 3D -- with a single click on the settings bar, that is. Today, the beta feature comes to 1080p videos, meaning you'll now be able to watch your favorite Phillip DeFranco and Shay Carl vlogs with extra chromatic impact in full HD. YouTube notes that it's "constantly improving the underlying conversion technology," which figures out how to simulate the effect based on characteristics of the video itself and true 3D videos uploaded to the site. We'd say there's still something slightly amiss about using folding blue and red glasses to watch two-dimensional HD video in faux anaglyph 3D, but you can make the call for yourself by reading up about the magic at the source link below.

YouTube lets you watch 1080p 2D videos in '3D' with your anaglyph specs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pantech breaks the mold with ceramic Vega Racer 2

Late last spring Pantech was making waves with its world-first 1.5 GHz dual-core phone, the Vega Racer. Now, it's introducing its successor, which also claims a mobile first -- a ceramic body (and they don't just mean the color). Apart from the fancy housing, there's a generous 4.8-inch, 720p LCD screen. It's Qualcomm in the engine room again, this time the MSM8960 S4 variant. This offers the same number of cores, but Krait is a much more tantalizing prospect over the aging S3. It also means you can expect LTE along with the usual suspects like WiFi, FM and GPS. If you can't hold out for that other Korean handset, you should be able to part with your Won later this month.

Pantech breaks the mold with ceramic Vega Racer 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC One X vs. One S: which phone is The One for you?

HTC One X review

HTC One S review

HTC Sense 4 review

Jet Li starred in a 2001 movie called "The One." In it, his character traveled to parallel universes and grew stronger as he killed alternate versions of himself. This continued on until there was only one other copy left, with the movie culminating in an epic battle between the two. We won't spoil the ending, but we were reminded of this movie when thinking about the One X and the One S: both are incredibly powerful phones that we'd be proud to use as our daily drivers, but the vast majority of us are only able to choose one One. (The One V is also a possible option but for the purposes of this feature we're laser-focused on HTC's two higher-end models.)

How can we make a sound decision? The two phones are considered premium devices with top-notch components and relatively few flaws. The major difference, however, is going to be the price. Naturally, the cost will vary depending on where you live and which carrier you choose, but make no mistake: the S is going to be less expensive. Is it worth spending the extra money to go with the top-shelf model, or will the little guy be plenty? Now that the two devices are officially on sale in Europe, it's time to pick a side. We can't decide for you, but our goal is to present each phone's pros and cons, going round by round. Which one is right for you? Read on to find out.

Gallery: HTC One X vs. One S... fight!

Continue reading HTC One X vs. One S: which phone is The One for you?

HTC One X vs. One S: which phone is The One for you? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viacom wins appeal against YouTube, gets another chance to prove copyright infringement

It's been almost two years since YouTube's triumph in its copyright infringement case against Viacom. As is the way of things, Viacom appealed the decision, and now the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to breathe new life into Viacom's case. Apparently, the appeals judge didn't see eye to eye with the District Court's ruling that no reasonable jury could have found that YouTube had actual knowledge or awareness of infringement on its site.

You see, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) requires such awareness for service providers like YouTube to be guilty of copyright infringement, and that safe harbor provision was the grounds for YouTube's victory on summary judgment. Furthermore, to succeed on summary judgment, YouTube had to prove that no reasonable jury could find that it knew of any infringing activity. While the lower court felt that YouTube carried that burden, the appeals judge disagreed, and has remanded the case back down for the District Court to determine if YouTube knew about or willfully ignored the infringement. What does this mean? All we can say for sure is that it'll expend more judicial resources and make more money for the attorneys involved. The result could very well end up, once again, in YouTube's favor, but we'll have to wait and see.

Viacom wins appeal against YouTube, gets another chance to prove copyright infringement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE gets teardown, gives literal best viewing angles

We have waxed lyrical about the Galaxy Tab 7.7's Super AMOLED Plus delights -- twice. Color us not entirely shocked, then, to see that Samsung's proudly tore apart the Korean LTE variant for component-obsessed fans. Some Korea-only features include a DMB TV antenna just below the 1280 x 800 display, while a magnesium cover above that keeps the thickness and weight down. Conversely, however, the border of the rear cover was increased by 0.1mm to defend the touchpanel against scratches and ensure that the rear camera doesn't stick out too much. The layer-by-layer walkthrough is on show at the source below, just remember to look with your eyes, not with your hands.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE gets teardown, gives literal best viewing angles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 3DS outselling four Sony devices in Japan, now has 65 percent of the market

The latest figures from Japan's Media Create are in, showing that last year's trend has been fully reversed. Now the consumers are hungry for Nintendo's 3DS, given that it shipped 121,921 units in the week ending April 1st. That put it comfortably ahead of the PlayStation 3 (23,771), PSP (18,356) and PS Vita's (12,105) sales combined. The stats reveal that the 3DS is now accounting for 65 percent of all hardware sales in the country, a marked turnaround from when the console's future looked gloomy. Meanwhile, the biggest selling game was Kingdom Hearts 3D for Nintendo's newest handheld, which managed to shift over 200,000 units in just seven days.

Nintendo 3DS outselling four Sony devices in Japan, now has 65 percent of the market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon launches Kindle eBook store en Español, over 33,000 libros to choose from

Buenas noticias para todos los amantes de los libros que viven en Estados Unidos. Amazon acaba de anunciar una nueva tienda llamada eBooks Kindle en Español. El nuevo servicio dará acceso a más de 33,000 libros que se podrán leer en los diferentes dispositivos Kindle. Esta biblioteca virtual incluirá una lista con los títulos más vendidos de Nielsen, autores mexicanos como José Emilio Pacheco y Sergio Pitol, libros para niños como Dora la Exploradora y Go Diego Go, mientras que también habrá traducciones de Hunger Games, The Help y la biografía de Steve Jobs. Todos aquellos autores independientes que también estén interesados podrán publicar sus libros usando el sitio KDP de Amazon. Si quieres conocer más detalles, puedes echar un vistazo a la nota de prensa o incluso hacer clic en la fuente para realizar el tour completo por la tienda.

Psst... head on past the break for a translation.

Continue reading Amazon launches Kindle eBook store en Español, over 33,000 libros to choose from

Amazon launches Kindle eBook store en Español, over 33,000 libros to choose from originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple patent app details 'active packaging,' a new level of window shopping

Apple's generally not one to go overboard with packaging; a simple white box with a few unmistakable logos is just about all it takes to get the point across. But in a future world -- one where people have digitized skin and NFC readers in their fingernails -- we'll obviously need something with a bit more... flamboyance. A patent application originally filed on December 12th, 2011 (and just made public today) details an "active electronic media device packaging," which outlines a method for packaging gizmos in a box that "may include one or more electrical traces in-molded or printed onto the packaging."

It gets a little ambiguous from there, but it sounds as if "one or more wireless power techniques" may be tapped into in order to keep marketing material humming when folks walk by. Speaking of which, the app also explains that POM sensors could be used to "detect various movements events," potentially activating as prospective consumers stroll by. To reiterate, an application for a patent doesn't mean that any of this stuff will get close to coming to fruition, but if you'd like to make absolutely sure you don't live in a world where products call to you from the shelves, we heard Sir Richard Branson can assist.

Apple patent app details 'active packaging,' a new level of window shopping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon D4 field review

Right around 2.5 years after the introduction of Nikon's most recent game-changer (yeah, we're bragging about the D3S), its proper successor has emerged. Without qualification, the amount of hope and expectation surrounding the Nikon D4 was immense. In a way, most Nikonians were (perhaps foolishly) expecting the D4 to be to the D3S what the D3S was to the D3, and we'll confess that we were cautiously saving up precious pennies in the event that the game was changed yet again.

For better or worse, the actual specifications of the D4 ended up as hardly worth writing home about, with an ISO range mirroring that already seen on the D3S, a megapixel rating lower than that of the cheaper D800 and a battery rated for fewer snaps than the outgoing D3S. All at an MSRP that's starting at $800 above where the D3S started. You'll notice a lot of comparisons throughout this article with the Best Camera of 2009, but that's intentional; yours truly has spent the last 2.5 years using the D3S for business and pleasure, and it's only logical to pit the D4 against a camera that has become molded to many palms here at Engadget HQ. Is the D4 a worthy upgrade? Or even a worthy successor? Let's find out.

Gallery: Nikon D4 hands-on gallery

Continue reading Nikon D4 field review

Nikon D4 field review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US government sticking with BlackBerry, appreciates RIM's focus on security

Just when you thought RIM couldn't catch a break, The Washington Post is reporting the US government doesn't plan to jump smartphone ships anytime soon. According to the publication, Casey Coleman (chief information officer at the General Services Administration) says that while the agency may have handed out iPhone and Android phones to the staff, a big chunk of the 12,000 agency-issued handsets are BlackBerry devices. The main reason behind the choice of Berries is RIM's focus on security, which Coleman notes "is paramount for government use." Still, the GSA officer isn't ruling out switching to a different OS in the distant future, as platforms like iOS and Android start to become "equally secure." For RIM's sake, we hope the refocusing on enterprise pays off.

US government sticking with BlackBerry, appreciates RIM's focus on security originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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