Thursday, May 17, 2012

IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 17/05/2012





New Roku HD, 2 and LT updated to version 4.7, slew of 'under the hood' improvements in tow
New Roku HD, 2 and LT updated to version 4.7, slew of 'under the hood' improvements in tow
It's been nearly a month since we saw the Roku 2 and LT get hit with some performance-boosting updates, and now the pair's about to be on the receiving end of some additional enhancements. Version 4.7 -- which is also coming to that new Roku HD -- brings with it a slew of improvements, including refined stability for the aforementioned player and a sharpened device discovery method on the company's Android / iOS applications. Inside v4.7, Roku's also added support for channels using Microsoft Smooth Streaming as well as other improvements to help with launch of "several new partner channels" later this year. The refresh is set to arrive automatically over the next 48 hours, though you could always grab it manually by hitting the Software Update menu on your tiny box.
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NTT DoCoMo hopes to expand content game with Buongiorno buyout
NTT DoCoMo hopes to expand its content game with acquisition of Buongiorno
Japanese mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo, is making a play at the Italian firm Buongiorno, a mobile content provider that boasts two billion customers across 57 countries. The €224 million offer must still be approved by Italian regulators, and would reflect a purchase price of €2 per share for the entirety of Buongiorno's outstanding stock. For its part, NTT DoCoMo hopes the buyout will help bolster its reach outside the home country of Japan, although the purchase is a bit of a gamble just the same. As it stands, Buongiorno's annual operating profit hovers in the neighborhood of €7 million, which means DoCoMo may be in for a bit of a wait before this deal bears fruit. You'll find the nitty gritty details in the PR after the break.
[Raining money photo via Shutterstock]
Continue reading NTT DoCoMo hopes to expand content game with Buongiorno buyout
NTT DoCoMo hopes to expand content game with Buongiorno buyout originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 03:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ESPN Radio app gets a refresh, now properly outfitted for the iPad
ESPN Radio app gets a refresh, now properly outfitted for the iPad
If you're needing to keep Mike & Mike an arm's length away at all times, ESPN has refreshed its Radio app to help with just that. Now optimized to the iPad in addition to the iPhone and iPod touch, the software allows you to sort your listening habits by sports, teams and athletes that you follow. The free version offers access to podcasts, the 20-minute SportCenter cycle, and offline listening for on-demand content. Currently, the premium version of the app is free as well -- touting custom stations / playlists, live audio pause / rewind, myESPN personalization, alerts / push notifications and a few more gems to keep you well informed on the latest Red Sox debacle. After a "limited time," though, you'll have to shell out $4.99 for the premium app and its 35 ESPN radio stations. What about Android and WP7 devices, you ask? The folks in Bristol claim that apps for those platforms will arrive later this summer.
Continue reading ESPN Radio app gets a refresh, now properly outfitted for the iPad
ESPN Radio app gets a refresh, now properly outfitted for the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 03:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Panasonic gifts NTT DoCoMo with Eluga V, Eluga Power smartphones and Eluga Live tablet
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Among the slew of new Android 4.0 devices unveiled by Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo today were a trio from Panasonic, including the Eluga Power phone we'd seen before and a few new entries in the Eluga V phone and Eluga Live tablet. We've already gotten our mitts all over the Eluga Power's 5-inch screen and 1.5Ghz dual-core S4 CPU at MWC, so this time we'll take a close look into the other two Ice Cream Sandwiched models. The P-06D Eluga V is a 4.6-inch variant (sliding between the Power and original P-04D Eluga) while still packing a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU. The P-08D Eluga Live tablet measures at 10.1-inches, packs DLNA streaming features and slots stereo speakers into a smooth curved edge design. The Eluga V is scheduled to arrive July 6th, while the other two should hit Japanese shelves in January, hit the source link and brink your kanji skills (or translation software) for more information.
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Kantar: Windows Phone clawing back share thanks to Nokia, but Android still rules the roost
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It's seldom the case that we get to look at world smartphone market share on a national level, but Kantar WorldPanel has given a rare peek that might give Windows Phone fans some good news to crow about. Even though things haven't always gone well for the Microsoft camp, Nokia phones like the Lumia 800 sparked a minor Renaissance in some countries in the three months leading up to mid-April: Windows Phone was up to between three and four percent in France, Italy, the UK and the US. The Metro interface must also be sehr gut for Germans, which nearly doubled Windows Phone's local share to six percent in that short space of time.
Kantar is eager to point out that it's still mostly a tale of Android and iOS successes, though. Google took extra ground in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US, while Apple was on a tear both on its native soil and in the UK. HTC's upbeat predictions may have played a significant part in Android's continued rise -- the One X cracked the British top 10 list despite having only been in shops for a few days. About the only underdog story not going well in early spring was RIM's, where the BlackBerry's share of the US was cut to a third of its year-ago glory at three percent.
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Upcoming Mozilla Marketplace lacks Linux support; open-source fix in the works
ImageBack in March, Mozilla outlined plans to further integrate web apps into Firefox to complement its upcoming Marketplace. And while the web store will launch with Windows and OS X compatibility, the browser has -- at least for the time being -- snubbed Linux. Given that Firefox is the default browser for most Linux distros, the community behind that OS is none too pleased. Though Mozilla execs have expressed their desire to add Linux support eventually, community contributors are already working on a patch to add compatibility for GNOME desktop. How's that for taking matters into your own hands?
Upcoming Mozilla Marketplace lacks Linux support; open-source fix in the works originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 01:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NTT DoCoMo launching 19 new devices this summer, brings Galaxy S III to Japan
NTT DoCoMo launching 19 new devices this summer, brings Galaxy S III to Japan
If you aren't already accustomed to Japan's regular deluge of device announcements, brace yourself: NTT DoCoMo just stepped forward with 17 new phones, as well as a mobile WiFi hotspot and a tablet. Throw a stone at the pile of hardware, and you're likely to strike something running Ice Cream Sandwich -- with the exception of the WiFi hotspot and a single handset designed for kids, every device on the list is running Android 4.0. Among the hodgepodge of handsets, DoCoMo is offering ten dual-core devices with screens ranging from 3.7 to 5-inches, a 10.1-inch 1.2Ghz dual-core slate, camera sensors of all sizes (from 8 megapixels to 13, that is) and a curious "Raku-Raku smartphone" that promises the "sensation of pressing actual keys" to smartphone newbies. The lineup's superstars, however, can all be found in DoCoMo's "NEXT" series of smartphones, bolstering the carrier's Xi LTE service with heavy hitters like the Galaxy S III, the Optimus Vu, Sony's Xperia GX and the Tegra 3 touting Arrows X. Hit the source links to check out the smartphone smorgasbord for yourself, or read on for our list of the never-before-seen ICS devices (they're all waterproof!) as well as DoCoMo's official press release.
Continue reading NTT DoCoMo launching 19 new devices this summer, brings Galaxy S III to Japan
NTT DoCoMo launching 19 new devices this summer, brings Galaxy S III to Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 01:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceNTT DoCoMo (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

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IKEA Uppleva HDTV to retail for $960 in Europe beginning next month, US launch in 2013
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Details continue to emerge as we approach the IKEA Uppleva's June launch. GigaOM has discovered that the set will be available in sizes ranging from 24 to 46 inches and will be priced "around $960" -- with a scale relative to the display size, we presume. The TV will feature a built-in Blu-ray player and a wireless subwoofer, and is being assembled by TLC, a manufacturer in China. Uppleva is expected to roll out to France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden beginning next month, then to other European countries later in the year, followed by the US in 2013. There will also be a handful of applications that will vary based on region, including Dailymotion, Vimeo and YouTube, along with games, music playback and video-on-demand apps, and the Opera for TV web browser. There's a familiar sneak-peek vid awaiting you just past the break.
Continue reading IKEA Uppleva HDTV to retail for $960 in Europe beginning next month, US launch in 2013
Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourceGigaOM  | Email this | Comments

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The BBC's coverage promises to make you sick of the Olympics by the time it's done
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How much Olympics is too much Olympics? The BBC aims to find out at this year's London 2012 games, by offering up "the most comprehensive coverage ever," a list that includes 2,500 hours of coverage via the broadcaster's site and up to 24 live HD streams. Live coverage will be offered up for every sport and each sport, athlete, venue and country will have its own page on the site. The BBC will also be providing a free mobile app, a mobile browser site and apps for connected TVs -- 3D and Super Hi-Vision coverage is a bonus. Check out an explanatory video about the new video player after the break, as well as some scheduling information in the source link below. And maybe think about a training regiment to get ready to watch this summer's games.
Continue reading The BBC's coverage promises to make you sick of the Olympics by the time it's done
The BBC's coverage promises to make you sick of the Olympics by the time it's done originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The de/Rastra oscillographic synthesizer will make you wish you hadn't tossed out that old TV set
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You know the old saying: one man's trash is another man's oscillographic synthesizer. The de/Rastra project from Kyle Evans takes an old CRT set and turns it into an audio / visual work of art, courtesy of four force sensing resistors, an accelerometer and several switches. Evans's goal with the project was unlocking the "capabilities intrinsic to all CRT devices" in order to "[break] down the device's 'consumption only' nature." The result is a rather spectacular performance art video. You'll be able to join in on the fun as well, as Evans plans to offer up tutorials on his hacking methods. In the meantime, you can brush up on your dance moves by checking out the video after the break.
Continue reading The de/Rastra oscillographic synthesizer will make you wish you hadn't tossed out that old TV set
Permalink Hackaday  |  sourceYaktronix  | Email this | Comments

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Isis partners with Austin and Salt Lake City merchants, throws John Stockton elbow at Google Wallet
Isis partners with Austin and Salt Lake City merchants, throws John Stockton elbow at Google Wallet
Mobile payment system Isis continues to rack up passengers on its merry bandwagon, gaining support from local merchants in two cities for its NFC wallet service. The carrier-based program announced that hundreds of merchant locations in Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah are entering the Isis fold -- joining national entities such as Coca-Cola and Macy's in its initial list of partners. The selection of participating local businesses runs the gamut from cafes and restaurants to a country club and the Utah Jazz. The platform has already corralled support from handset makers, point-of-sale terminal purveyors and credit card companies such as American Express. Expect some Mortal Kombat action for your mobile purse strings between Google Wallet and Isis once the latter launches this summer. In the meantime, check out the obligatory PR after the break.
Continue reading Isis partners with Austin and Salt Lake City merchants, throws John Stockton elbow at Google Wallet
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Plinko Poetry hands-on (video)
Plinko Poetry hands-on
Don't lie, you love The Price is Right. There's no shame in it. Maybe you don't watch it religiously, but you get a thrill every time you see them break out the Plinko game. Now, what if you could combine that visceral thrill, with the absurdity of magnetic poetry, while juxtaposing the conflicting political perspectives of Fox News and the New York Times. That's exactly what Inessa Selditz and Dequing Sun did with Plinko Poetry, an installation on display at the ITP Spring Show. Operating it is as simple as dropping a red plastic disc, but the tech behind it is decidedly more sophisticated. It starts with a script that harvests headlines from the Twitter accounts of the New York Times and Fox News. Those streams of words then scroll across a screen dotted with yellow pegs. A simple webcam with a polarizing filter tracks not only those pins, but a red disc that you feed through the top of the display. As it tumbles, the words it passes over are selected to create mashups of the days top stories that are sometimes unintentionally hilarious or accidentally beautiful but, more often than not, predictably gibberish. Once the Processing script on the controlling computer constructs the new phrases, they're fired out into the digital ether via the @PlinkPoetry Twitter account, which you can monitor on the iPad mounted next to the Plinko itself. To see the art in action, head on after the break.
Gallery: Plinko Poetry hands-on
Continue reading Plinko Poetry hands-on (video)
Plinko Poetry hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Intel brings Ivy Bridge to third-gen Core vPro business platform
Intel brings Ivy Bridge to third-gen Core vPro business platformNow that Ivy Bridge has established its presence in notebooks from Acer to Samsung, Intel is unveiling the third generation of its Core vPro processor platform. In its announcement today, the chip maker said this technology will be available on Ultrabooks, laptops, desktops, workstation and all-in-ones. Though the Intel Core vPro platform will work across many PC categories, it clearly has a business bent, with features such as the company's branded Identity Protection Technology for adding a second layer of user authentication and Active Management Technology for remotely managing PC activities and fixing glitches. In addition to adding extra protection, the third-gen vPros offer support for up to three external displays and enable HD video conferencing. Skip past the break for even more corporate jargon in the press release.
Continue reading Intel brings Ivy Bridge to third-gen Core vPro business platform
Intel brings Ivy Bridge to third-gen Core vPro business platform originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 22:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toshiba Canvio 3.0 external drives bump up to 1.5TB, give Mac users some love
Toshiba Canvio 3.0
Toshiba's Canvio external drives have just gotten a hefty boost, most of all for data swappers that play both the Mac and PC sides of the computing fence. Both the regular Canvio 3.0 and the Canvio Basics 3.0 have made the jump from 1TB to 1.5TB of capacity to hold that much more in the way of backups and videos. If you spring for the top-end 1.5TB Canvio 3.0, though, you'll also get a new NTFS driver for the Mac that lets you take the USB 3.0 disk between a Mac and a Windows PC without having to either load a special reader app or wipe the drive clean. Living in that technology utopia will cost you $200 when it's ready in early June, but the Mac- or Windows-only among us can pay as little as $120 to get a 500GB Canvio while still getting backup software and one of six glossy colors. More frugal travelers can pay $10 less at the capacity for one of the software-free Basics drives.
Continue reading Toshiba Canvio 3.0 external drives bump up to 1.5TB, give Mac users some love
Toshiba Canvio 3.0 external drives bump up to 1.5TB, give Mac users some love originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 22:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ASUS PadFone gets benchmarked: a mere teaser of what's to come
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It was only last week that we learned of the varied battery life of ASUS' phone that would be a tablet that would be a laptop. Now, a further trickle of its performance might has passed our way, giving us insight into the real-world chops of its dual-core S4 processor and companion Adreno 225 GPU. The tests, carried out by the fine folks over at Netbooknews, highlight the device's strengths across a swath of the usual benchmarks, putting it just below AT&T's One X variant in Quadrant with a score of 5,057 and Sunspider at 1,917ms. The company's hybrid did, however, manage to eke out a victory against its similarly CPU-equipped smartphone rival in Vellamo, as well as NenaMark 1 and 2, coming in at 2,554 and 60.4fps / 60.5fps, respectively. We'll have our own comprehensive review of the PadFone ready for your eyes in the days to come, but for now, sate your appetites with these various nuggets.
ASUS PadFone gets benchmarked: a mere teaser of what's to come originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 21:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony applies for wireless power patent, wants to daisy-chain your energy
Sony wireless power patent
As much as we're familiar with wireless power, we know developing a truly contact-free form of charging has a whole raft of extra challenges, such as getting into the sweet spot for power delivery and the potential traffic jam caused by throwing another device into the mix. Sony thinks it has these problems licked through a newly-published patent application. Its method uses location-finding to steer users until they're close enough for the wireless power source to reliably do its job. In some cases, it can use one mobile device to relay power to another, keeping everything fed even if the main power hub is tied up. Multiple power sources next to each other can go so far as to decide which of them should be the one to send power. The patent isn't a certain sign that your VAIO or Xperia is about to cut the cord altogether -- Sony first submitted this vision of the future in 2009. Even so, it gives us hope that our gadgets will one day start charging themselves instead of making us hunt down a wire or charging plate.
Sony applies for wireless power patent, wants to daisy-chain your energy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 21:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE delayed at customs due to ITC exclusion order
HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE delayed at customs due to ITC exclusion order
We've just received a statement from HTC indicating that two of its flagship devices -- the One X for AT&T and the EVO 4G LTE for Sprint -- have been delayed at customs due to an ITC exclusion order that was handed down last December at Apple's behest. That order was set to go into effect on April 19th, and it looks like HTC's two new stateside superphones are the first to feel Apple's the government's wrath. Here's HTC's take on the matter:
The US availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order. We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval. The HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE have been received enthusiastically by customers and we appreciate their patience as we work to get these products into their hands as soon as possible.
We've reached out to HTC for clarification on the delay and to find out if this will affect the launch of the EVO 4G LTE, which is expected to hit the shelves this Friday, May 18th. Stay tuned for updates.
Update: While HTC doesn't have any additional information to share at this time, we've also contacted AT&T and Sprint for comment. Let's just hope that the issue can be resolved in a timely manner.
HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE delayed at customs due to ITC exclusion order originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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RIM patent proposes battery-charging cellphone holster
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Even after the many announcements at this year's BlackBerry World Conference, Waterloo is keeping that patent train a-rollin'. In a filing granted today, we get a glimpse of what RIM could have up its sleeve, er, on its hip. The claims detail flexible batteries built into holsters that recharge your phone when you're on the go -- all the while communicating to your BB's CPU to bring you alerts through its own speakers -- thus avoiding muffled sounds from covered parts. That's all well and good, but here's the real question: will these things eventually play nice with fuel cell-powered Berries?
RIM patent proposes battery-charging cellphone holster originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 20:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Etch-a-Sketch 3.0 hands-on (video)
Etch-a-Sketch 3.0 hands-on
The Etch-a-Sketch. A standard bearer for childhood, and one that most of us never really mastered. While Yelizaveta Lokshina can't help you create awe-inspiring portraits from aluminum powder, she has managed to update the toy for the digital age. Using an Arduino, a few buttons and a pressure sensor crammed inside a hollowed-out Etch-a-Sketch, the 3.0 version of the doodler is able to draw in old school gray, as well as vibrant colors created by blending an RGB palette. While holding down the red, green or blue button you squeeze the pressure sensor to add more or less of individual hues. The same sensor is used to change brush width when you hold down the black button. There's even a secret mode that automatically cycles through colors and thicknesses for creating vibrant, almost hallucinatory patterns.
At the moment, the dual doodle knobs need to be physically connected to a computer so that a Processing script can work its magic and render the virtual Etch-a-Sketch. But, future versions may include wireless for sketching out images from the comfort of a couch and an accelerometer for the replicating the satisfying sensation of shaking the red fram to erase your creation. Basically, it's still a work in progress. Drawing with the Etch-a-Sketch 3.0 is just as satisfying, in a tactile sense, as the original, though we struggled slightly to get the hang of the pressure sensitive selector. One thing's for sure, though, the kids love it even more than the 1960 creation. Check out the video after the break to see it in action on the floor of the ITP Spring Show.
Gallery: Etch-a-Sketch 3.0 hands-on
Continue reading Etch-a-Sketch 3.0 hands-on (video)
Etch-a-Sketch 3.0 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 20:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Microsoft rolling out new apps to Xbox 360, including MUZU.TV and Manga in the US
Microsoft rolling out new apps to Xbox 360, including Manga and Muzu.tv in the US
You can never have enough apps, right? With that in mind, Microsoft's rolling out a couple of new applications to Xbox 360s in the US and Canada. For starters, those of you living Stateside will now have access to Manga Entertainment and MUZU.TV (also available in the True North); the first of which allows you to watch free video content from its catalog, while the latter has around 40,000 music videos ready for your viewing pleasure. In addition to the aforementioned apps, the Australia-only FOXTEL application has been updated with support for Redmond's Kinect, allowing Oz folks to control it with hand gestures or by voice. We've already seen the new apps pop up on our Xbox, so you should be seeing them hit your console any time now.
Microsoft rolling out new apps to Xbox 360, including MUZU.TV and Manga in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 20:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Burritob0t hands-on (video)
Burritob0t hands-on
ITP, or the Interactive Telecommunications Program at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU churns out some of the most reliably interesting tech-centric artists in the world. Every so often, the school opens its doors to the public and the press and, of course, we jumped at the chance to see what the grad students were cooking up... literally. Marko Manriquez took the opportunity to showcase his thesis project, the Burritob0t, a 3D printer the spits out edible piles of beans and cheese, instead of non-toxic (but, highly inedible) plastic. The base is built largely around a standard RepRap machine, with the Frostruder attachment from MakerBot. From there it's pretty simple to plug in any 3D model and build your creation from highly-processed Mexican food -- on a heated platform from the Thingomatic, of course.
Marko says that his creation not only seemed like a logical way to combine "edible bits and digital bytes" but also a way to address the increasingly mechanized food industry and our growing reliance on manufactured "food." Sadly, we weren't able to get a complete demo on the show floor. The current incarnation of the device relies on air pressure to push the ingredients through syringes, and firing up the compressor was not an option. A Kickstarter is forthcoming, however, and Marko plans to upgrade the components to ditch the bulky and loud compressor. He also hopes to actually serve food from his printer, perhaps by taking up residence in a park. But, we suspect it'll be a while before you can get a Burritob0t burrito while you wait for your Concrete from Shake Shack. Check out the video after the break.
Gallery: Burritob0t hands-on
Continue reading Burritob0t hands-on (video)
Burritob0t hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Engadget HD Podcast 299 - 05.15.2012
Engadget HD Podcast 296 - 04.25.2012Episode number 299 comes in with a bang as automated commerical skipping makes its triumphant return to the DVR with Dish Network's "Auto Hop" and we also take a peek at the updated TiVo Premiere XL4. Also invading this week is a flood of OLED news, from production models delivered by Samsung and some tasty Panasonic / Sony team-up rumors. Also in the news is BBC's Sport app and WatchESPN on Comcast, while the return of Total Recall on Blu-ray is definitely reason to celebrate.

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

Producer: Trent Wolbe
03:38 - Dish Network adds 'Auto Hop' commercial skipping feature to its Hopper DVRs
12:26 - Dish Network Remote Access iPad app upgrade brings a new UI, more speed
16:42 - TiVo Premiere XL4 review
20:00 - TiVo Spring update brings new Netflix and YouTube experience
25:26 - Nuance takes credit for voice features inside Samsung's 2012 Smart TV lineup
31:35 - Samsung shows off production 55-inch OLED HDTVs at the 2012 World's Fair
33:30 - Panasonic racks up a record loss for 2012, looks forward to profits and a partner for OLED TVs
35:15 - Panasonic, Sony purportedly entering into OLED TV team-up, torrid love affair
35:45 - 'Hundreds' of Cablevision iO TV on-demand rentals now past 48 hours, procrastinators rejoice
36:09 - New DVD anti-piracy warning now packs double the nag
38:30 - BBC Sport app brings Olympics and more to Sony Bravia TVs, PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray players
42:08 - WatchESPN finally streams to Comcast customers, but not on Android
44:02 - Total Recall 'Mind-Bending' Blu-ray remembers a better looking video transfer July 31st
47:38 - Must See HDTV (May 14th - 20th)
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Engadget HD Podcast 299 - 05.15.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Comcast fires back over Xfinity TV on Xbox 360, says no way, no how it's violating net neutrality
Comcast Xfinity TV on Xbox 360
Complaints by Netflix's Reed Hastings and a handful of politicians must have rankled Comcast CTO Tony Werner, as he just posted a particularly detailed explanation of why Comcast believes the Xfinity TV app on the Xbox 360 isn't violating net neutrality. We'd previously heard the argument that the Xfinity app's traffic is simply being routed through Comcast's internal network and isn't the same as the Internet data of Netflix, but Werner now contends that the Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) tags that some think are breaking FCC rules by favoring Xfinity video are really just necessary switches. They're not prioritizing traffic, they're setting it aside, the claim goes. Of course, Hastings and others believe that setting Xfinity video aside is prioritizing, and Comcast's point of view sidesteps the practical reality that watching Netflix, Amazon Instant Video or iTunes will lead you closer to that ever-present 250GB cap while Xfinity doesn't. The FCC during its rulemaking warned against special private services being used as end-runs around neutrality concerns; it's up to the agency to decide whether or not that's true here, or whether Comcast is just offering its usual service in a new way.
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Cox seeks 700MHz spectrum transfer to AT&T, U.S. Cellular
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Spectrum is the new oil. Or, so it would appear given all the backbiting that's overtaken the wireless industry as of late. One company, however, is perched advantageously to benefit from these squabbles and that's Cox. In separate filings to the Commission dated today, the cabler's begun the official process of seeking approval to transfer portions of its 700MHz holdings in the A and B blocks -- acquired during an FCC auction back in 2008 -- to U.S. Cellular and AT&T, respectively. Barring any (Big Red) opposition, this exchange would put eight licenses in AT&T's fold and four in U.S. Cellular's that would enhance existing voice and date service, while also aiding in LTE buildout across southern CMAs. All three parties still have a ways to go before these deals pass regulatory approval, but if the recent state of the wireless union's any indication, one of the three primary carrier colors is bound to rear its nay-saying head.
Cox seeks 700MHz spectrum transfer to AT&T, U.S. Cellular originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Panasonic's interactive plasma display means never having to clean another eraser
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Will writing a sentence on the chalkboard 200 times ever be the same, once we switch over to interactive pen functionality? And how will such technologies affect the opening of The Simpsons? These are important questions we must ask as classrooms ready themselves to move over to boards like Panasonic's 65-inch TH-65PB1. The interactive plasma display can be oriented horizontally and vertically and utilizes a new electronic pen system that the company promises will deliver "high-speed drawing and smooth and highly accurate writing." The whiteboard killer will be hitting the US, Europe and Japan late next month. Panasonic has also promised to deliver 85- and 103-inch versions before year's end. More information on the death of chalk dust can be found in the press release after the break.
Continue reading Panasonic's interactive plasma display means never having to clean another eraser
Panasonic's interactive plasma display means never having to clean another eraser originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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A day in the life of a Gmail email
A day in the life of a Gmail email
Electronic mail, or email to those in the know, has become so ubiquitous and transparent that many take for granted the effort and engineering required to make this near-instant communication medium a reality. In an effort to remind the general public about this digital miracle, Google (a company that knows a thing or two about the subject) has launched a new mini-site dubbed The Story of Send. The web novella leverages animations and videos to explain what happens to a Gmail dispatch once it's jettisoned from your mail client of choice. Message transmission, data security and green computing initiatives are just a few of the topics on the menu. Saunter past the break, have a peek at the video primer then make sure to check out the full Story of Send site.
Continue reading A day in the life of a Gmail email
A day in the life of a Gmail email originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceThe Story of Send, Official Gmail Blog  | Email this | Comments

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Researchers use virus's rogue traits to create electricity from motion
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Viruses are the swarming bullies of biology, but it turns out their alarming self-replication could one day power your iPod. We've seen them in batteries before, but researchers at Berkeley Labs have now coated electrodes with modified M13 bacteriophage, a harmless bacteria-eating virus, to create the first ever organic piezoelectric material -- which can convert force to electricity. The team explained that such a substance would be non-toxic, organize naturally into thin layers and self-regenerate, giving it a possible advantage over chemical options. In theory, by attaching a thin film of it to your shoes, power could be generated when walking, lending volts to the myriad electronics we pack around nowadays. To see a finger-powered video demo of our frequent-enemies making themselves useful for a change, stroll on past the break.
Continue reading Researchers use virus's rogue traits to create electricity from motion
Researchers use virus's rogue traits to create electricity from motion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Maps adds always-available home and work locations for the navigation-needy
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Although it's been true for some time that Google Maps will remember frequent searches as long as you're signed in to Google, it hasn't had the option of permanently tagging important places by their familiar names. An update to the web version of Maps now lets you define specific home and work locations that will stay attached to your Google account, no matter how much PC-hopping you do. Along with just speeding up day-to-day direction searches, the locations are particularly handy if you're staying in a foreign country and don't yet have the neighborhood committed to heart. The addition should already be live, so you can establish home base at the same time as you're checking out Chrome 19's tab syncing.
Google Maps adds always-available home and work locations for the navigation-needy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Lat Long Blog  | Email this | Comments

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Fisker rep defends Karma hybrid sedan in garage fire aftermath
Fisker rep defends its hybrid sedan in garage fire aftermath
Last week, a newly purchased Fisker Karma went up in flames, damaging its owner's home and earning the company behind that hybrid sedan plenty of bad press. The auto maker hasn't submitted an official explanation for the fire, though the former chief engineer for the late General Motors EV1 electric car places the blame on the hybrid's tight engine bay packing. Fisker clearly isn't having any of that -- according to the company's director of powertrain:
Our technologies and engine design have been fully tested and certified at the highest level. It is irresponsible and ill-informed for technology pundits to suggest otherwise in order to secure media attention for unfounded claims.
No defensiveness there, then.
Fisker rep defends Karma hybrid sedan in garage fire aftermath originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google reportedly planning stable of Nexus devices with Android 5.0, will sell 'em direct
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Hand firmly grasping hat? Good. The Wall Street Journal is reporting on quite the bombshell today, noting that Google is about to cause its carrier partners in the States all sorts of grief -- indirectly, of course. Just weeks after placing its heralded Galaxy Nexus on sale for $399 unlocked, the report states that said move is only the beginning of a new initiative. Likely to be formally revealed at Google I/O, the mega-corp is planning to partner with a variety of OEMs (rather than just one at a time) in order to have up to five Pure Google (read: Nexus) devices available at once. Better still, the whole stable will ship with Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) and will be sold directly from Google in unlocked form to consumers in America, Europe and Asia.
The move is significant in a myriad ways. For one, more unlocked Nexus devices means more choice when it comes to carrier selection. Furthermore, the move is likely to quell fears that certain partners may have about Google making Motorola Mobility its favorite after a $12 billion acquisition. Not surprisingly, Google's not commenting on the matter, but sources "close" to the situation say that the company's hoping to have the 5.0 cadre on sale by Thanksgiving -- you know, just in time for Black Friday and the looming holiday shopping season. We're all guessing that this will address the growing "app situation" head-on; by making a push to eliminate carrier-infused bloatware (while also providing early Android OS access to more partners), we're hoping that the whole "skinning" dilemma is addressed, too.
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Sony gives VAIO S and VAIO Z lines Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models
Sony gives VAIO S and Z Series Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models
Sony began introducing its new Ivy Bridge lineup last month with the VAIO E Series 14P, a multimedia laptop complete with gesture controls. Today, the company announced two larger models to round out that family, the VAIO E Series 15 and 17. Unlike the 14P, these notebooks don't come with Ivy Bridge power, but then their larger displays (15.5 inches and 17.3 inches, respectively) and an optional Blu-ray player on the larger model should be enough to tell you that these are entertainment-focused machines rather than next-gen powerhouses. Both the VAIO 15 and 17 run Intel Core i5-2450M CPUS and handle graphics with a AMD Radeon 7650M GPU and either 1GB or 2GB of VRAM depending on the model. Each also has a 750GB hard drive spinning at 5,400 RPM, plus a built-in webcam, USB 3.0 with a sleep-charge feature, HDMI, Bluetooth and WiFi. The main difference between the two is screen resolution: while the 15.5-incher sports a 1366 x 768 display, the 17.3-inch version has a more brilliant 1600 x 900 pixels. Pricing info is still MIA.
While the VAIO E 15 and 17 didn't make the Ivy Bridge cut, Sony's business-focused VAIO S and VAIO Z lines will get the processor update. The VAIO S will be available in 13.5- and 15.5-inch flavors, each sporting backlit keyboards and a thin design featuring aluminium, magnesium or carbon fiber (depending on the model). While the 13.3-incher's display resolution is yet to be determined, the 15.5-inch model will ship with a 1080p IPS screen. And while we simply know that the VAIO S 13 will come with a choice of Core i5 or Core i7 processors, the VAIO S 15 runs a Intel Core i7-3612QM with 8GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GT640M LE GPU (along with an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip). On the storage side, the 15 has a 1TB hard drive. Both the VAIO S 13 and 15 will have SSD options, and Sony will offer a separate sheet battery for up to 14 hours of longevity. Weight-wise, the outlet is short on specifics, though both models will tip in at less than 4.4 pounds.
Continue reading Sony gives VAIO S and VAIO Z lines Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models
Sony gives VAIO S and VAIO Z lines Ivy Bridge upgrade, outs two new VAIO E models originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Honda's UNI-CUB mobility device is the butt of ASIMO's jokes
Honda's UNI-CUB mobility device is the butt of ASIMO's jokes
Our humanoid friend ASIMO had better start counting his blessings. If fate had dealt him another hand, he could have ended up as the behind-wearing UNI-CUB. Honda's latest personal mobility device appears to be a robotic stool with an omnidirectional wheel (dubbed the Honda Omni Traction Drive System, no less). You control speed and direction of the UBI-CUB by shifting your weight in the saddle, and the unit is designed to keep you at eye-level with non chair-riding pedestrians. Obviously this is no all-terrain vehicle, but it does claim to be able to handle gradients, has a top speed of six km/h and a range just under four miles. Which should be plenty for the National Museum of Engineering in Japan where these butt-supporting bots will be demonstrated in June.
Continue reading Honda's UNI-CUB mobility device is the butt of ASIMO's jokes
Honda's UNI-CUB mobility device is the butt of ASIMO's jokes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pantech P8010 meets FCC, brings AT&T LTE along to say hello
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Though it hasn't been officially announced, AT&T's likely has a new Pantech LTE phone in its reasonable future. The P8010 just got approved by the FCC, and its next-gen radio offers support for no less than four LTE bands: the 700 / 1700 frequencies used by AT&T, as well as 850 / 1900. What's curious about the latter pair of bands is that they're the same ones used by the largest GSM carrier for its HSPA+ / WCDMA needs, suggesting that AT&T's planning ahead for possible refarming of its spectrum. Aside from this hefty nugget of info, the federal docs don't give much else away, aside from a well-detailed diagram showing the back of the phone -- complete with its microSD and micro-SIM slots -- and the usual smattering of compatible GSM / EDGE and 3G radios. According to preliminary benchmark results, however, the P8010 will likely be a step up from the Burst, sporting a 1.5GHz dual-core Krait processor, qHD display and Ice Cream Sandwich. To sneak a peek at the docs yourself, head to the source.
Pantech P8010 meets FCC, brings AT&T LTE along to say hello originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ivy Bridge-based Windows 8 Ultrabook reference design shown off at IDF 2012 in Brazil (update)
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Intel's been playing the slow tease with its Haswell microarchitecture as far back as 2008. But today, we finally have a glimpse at what devices running that 22nm core might look like. Shown off at IDF 2012 down in Sao Paulo, the company's Brazilian prexy, Fernando Martins, was photographed brandishing an Ivy Bridge-loaded Windows 8 Ultrabook powered by that next-gen CPU, replete with touchscreen functionality. While it remains to be seen if such hands-on features will make it into the final consumer product, this reference design does at least tip us off to a potential form factor. When those chips do make their official market debut, you can expect a line of svelte laptops that will reportedly consume 20x less power and last up to ten days on standby. That'll make for some nice computing kit, for sure. Now you just have to endure the wait. Hop on past the break for a closer look at this work-in-progress.
Update: A spokesperson for Intel reached out to let us know that the device above is not, in fact, running a Haswell core. The Ultrabook in Martins' hands is actually an Ivy Bridge reference design.

[Thanks, Henrique]
Continue reading Ivy Bridge-based Windows 8 Ultrabook reference design shown off at IDF 2012 in Brazil (update)
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Cox and Verizon Wireless join forces, launch service bundles in Oklahoma
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It's a moderately good day to be an Oklahoman. Wireless subscribers living near Oklahoma City or Tulsa will be among the first to reap the benefits of a new collaboration between Cox Communications and Verizon Wireless that bundles services from both companies, letting customers sign up for packages that include video, internet and voice services from Cox, and wireless service from VZW at a discounted rate. They'll also be eligible to receive debit cards valued at $100-400 if they make the switch to a co-sponsored bundle. You can head over to select retail outlets from either company to sign up, or hit up the source links past the break for more info.
Continue reading Cox and Verizon Wireless join forces, launch service bundles in Oklahoma
Cox and Verizon Wireless join forces, launch service bundles in Oklahoma originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Docs gets new Research tool, lets you search without leaving your work
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Google has already brought a pile of new fonts and templates to Google Docs this month, and it's now back with another fairly big new feature. Open a document today and you'll find a new Research tool on the side of your page (which can be toggled on and off), offering the ability to search for any topic and get results without having to leave the document you're working on. Those results can include images, quotes and other basic information that's delivered right in the sidebar -- and, of course, the usual search results that you can open in a new tab or window if you want to dive deeper on a subject. Hit the source link below for all the details on how to use the new tool, or simply fire up a new document to try it out for yourself.
Google Docs gets new Research tool, lets you search without leaving your work originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google's Project Glass prototypes can transfer still images, do little else
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This was probably a given, but there won't be any freakishly detailed social profile overlay as you pass strangers on the street in the initial iteration of "Google Glasses." Instead, current prototype functionality includes features like photo sharing (directly from the eyewear to Google+), and... well, that could be it. The in-your-face functionality that we saw in the original Google teaser could come "one day," as the video title itself reveals, but we certainly won't be creepin' on random friends-to-be on sidewalks, trains and parties for some time to come. And just in case you're curious to see what you won't be doing with Project Glass this year, Google's original teaser is after the break, with a popular parody vid tossed in below for good measure.
Continue reading Google's Project Glass prototypes can transfer still images, do little else
Google's Project Glass prototypes can transfer still images, do little else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NYC's Made in New York Digital Map lets you see who's hiring in the tech field
NYC's 'Made in New York Digital Map' lets you see who's hiring in the tech field
You can't deny Mike Bloomberg's often coming up with different ways to involve New Yorkers in tech-related bits. On this occasion, Mayor Bloomberg & Co. have introduced a novel way for citizens of The Big Apple -- and others who plan on making the move -- to find jobs in the technology sector. Dubbed "Made in New York Digital Map," the service aims to make it easier for folks to see which tech companies are seeking engineers, designers, developers, etc. At the moment there's more than 325 outfits looking for new hires, with over "thousands of jobs" being up for grabs. Mayor Bloomberg says this is only the beginning and he's encouraging startups to set up shop here in the City, as he believes this "is the place to be if you're a growing tech startup." You can take a tour of the Digital Map now via the source link below.
NYC's Made in New York Digital Map lets you see who's hiring in the tech field originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 14:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Next Web  |  sourceMade in New York Digital Map  | Email this | Comments

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NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang announces cloud-based, virtualized Kepler GPU technology and GeForce GRID gaming platform
NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang announces cloud-based, virtualized Kepler GPU technology
We're here at NVIDIA's GPU technology conference here in San Jose, California and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang just let loose that his company plans to put Kepler in the cloud. To make it happen, the company has created a virtualized Kepler GPU tech, called VGX, so that no physical connections are needed to render and stream graphics to remote locations. So, as Citrix brought CPU virtualization to put your work desktop on the device of your choosing, NVIDIA has put the power of Kepler into everything from iPads to netbooks and mobile phones.
While the virtualized GPU has application in an enterprise setting, it also, naturally, can put some serious gaming power in the cloud, too. Fear not, for Jen-Hsun's crew has created GeForce GRID technology that leverages Kepler's cloud capabilities to augment online gaming services like Gaikai by greatly reducing input latency by up to 30ms. Naturally, NVIDIA's not spilling the secret sauce that makes it happen, but you can read all about the new technology at the PR and source below.
Sean Buckley contributed to this post.
Continue reading NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang announces cloud-based, virtualized Kepler GPU technology and GeForce GRID gaming platform
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PSA: LG Optimus Elite available today on Virgin Mobile USA for $150
PSA: LG Optimus Elite available today on Virgin Mobile USA for $150
If you were one of those who jumped on last week's pre-order, chances are you're eagerly waiting for this Virgin-branded Optimus Elite to show up at your doorstep today. For those who decided to wait it out, however, you'll be happy to know LG's Gingerbread slab is now up for grabs at "major" retail shops in the States as well as Virgin Mobile USA's site. The contract-free flavor of the Optimus Elite carries a $149.99 price tag, which isn't a bad deal when you take into consideration its NFC and Google Wallet capabilities -- that said, its biggest trait's likely to be that lack of a two-year commitment. So, hit the source link below if you'd like one of these for yourself, or you could always take a quick road trip to one of your favorite stores.
Continue reading PSA: LG Optimus Elite available today on Virgin Mobile USA for $150
PSA: LG Optimus Elite available today on Virgin Mobile USA for $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 14:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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1 comment:

gman said...

That is fantastic that you are looking at the Auto Hop feature, Engadget, because I have looked at it in my home, and it is totally worth a look. I have been using it for a few days, and I can press one button to skip commercials on my PrimeTime Anytime recordings, the next day. That is a huge help to me so I can make breakfast and watch TV while I’m getting ready to go to work at Dish.

May 18, 2012 at 1:23 AM

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