IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 14/06/2012

Layar lays the AR on thick with worldwide Stiktu app rollout

Layar's no stranger to the AR game. The company's been acting as an enabler of sorts, putting its Player and Creator dev tools into the hands of the masses across iOS and Android for some time. Now, the outfit's making Stiktu -- a social app that attaches augmented reality tags on everyday objects -- available outside of its previously defined European borders for worldwide consumption. Users who download the platform will be able to set virtual drawings, images or text to objects and leave those invisible markers behind for other curious parties to scan and discover. The practical applications aren't exactly obvious, but as a crowd-sourced scavenger hunt, it'll do just fine. Hit up the source below to download the goods on your platform of choice.

Layar lays the AR on thick with worldwide Stiktu app rollout originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft patent application could match online moods with emotionally-targeted ads

It's a match made in marketing heaven: users let their guards down within the internet's virtual walls and ads are served up to complement their fickle mental states. At least, that's one possible version of your hyper-targeted digital future, if a patent application, filed by Microsoft back in December of 2010, is any indication. The USPTO documents outline a system wherein users' online activity would be monitored and associated with a corresponding tone, their reactions recorded and an overall emotional state affixed to that behavior. This information, once properly indexed, would then be fed into a large database containing user-identifiable emotional profiles used to deliver mood-specific ads. Clearly, this proposed endeavor all but screams privacy concerns and begs the inclusion of a giant, blinking opt-out clause. Color us paranoid, but we'd rather not see the day when our PCs know we're having a particularly gloomy Sunday.

Microsoft patent application could match online moods with emotionally-targeted ads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 02:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Thunderbolt Software Update causing sporadic errors, frozen boot screens

Software updates can be a bit of a mixed bag -- just ask anyone who's ever been on the other side of a botched firmware install. While many users react with itchy trigger fingers to download the goods, the more prudent (read: hardened) prefer to hold off in the event potentially crippling bugs creep on out. So, it comes as no great surprise that Apple's recently issued Thunderbolt update version 1.2 -- intended to add support for a Gigabit Ethernet Adapter -- is subjecting a portion of frustrated users to unexpected errors and frozen boot screens. Currently, the only officially sanctioned remedy seems to be a fresh install of OS X Lion. So, if you haven't already taken the plunge on this minor feature add-on, you'd be well advised to wait it out.

Apple Thunderbolt Software Update causing sporadic errors, frozen boot screens originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DOJ looking into whether Comcast, other TV giants are unfairly (knee)capping Hulu, Netflix

The Department of Justice may have taken Netflix chief Reed Hastings' net neutrality complaints about Comcast as a lot more than just sour grapes. It's reportedly conducting an investigation into whether Comcast, AT&T and other TV providers are anti-competitive in their data restrictions. The Wall Street Journal cites primary concerns that Comcast's Xfinity TV cap exemption might unfairly punish competing services, but also claims that officials are worried the caps themselves steer viewers away from internet video, helping the incumbents cling to legacy TV for just a little while longer. On top of its cap anxiety, the DOJ may be looking into policies requiring traditional TV subscriptions just to watch online. None of the involved parties have commented on or confirmed the investigations, so there's no guarantee of any full-fledged lawsuit. Still, while TV operators insist they're being fair and need to keep data use in check, that might not deter legal action when the DOJ has supposedly questioned Hulu, Netflix and other relative newcomers who feel they're being squeezed. When Sony postpones its IPTV goals after fretting over US data caps, it's hard to imagine that there aren't at least a few raised eyebrows in Washington.

DOJ looking into whether Comcast, other TV giants are unfairly (knee)capping Hulu, Netflix originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TecTiles: programmable NFC stickers for select members of Samsung's Galaxy

NFC's a curious thing. That once heavily buzzed about feature's found a home in many of the handsets that occupy Android's swiftly rotating throne, but eager users wielding those enabled devices haven't been given much to do with it. Visa's payWave aside, Samsung's finally cooked up a means of making the near field tech a more integrated and efficient aspect of our modern lives -- well, the lives of other Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II (T-Mobile only), Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S 4G and Galaxy S Blaze 4G owners, to be precise. Enter: TecTiles. In tandem with its flagship's impending US launch, the company's going to be offering packs of branded NFC stickers at retail that can be programmed with useful actions and placed wherever adhesive is welcome. Need to set up a seamless Foursquare check-in for your place of business, leave a message on the fridge for members of your family, effortlessly transfer your contact info or even silence your phone automatically at a meeting? That's where Sammy's stickers come in handy, sidestepping the multitude of taps it normally takes to enter data or navigate a mobile UI with a simple close encounter of the NFC kind. If the implementation sounds eerily familiar, that's because you may have seen it before in the form of Smart Tags -- Sony's own spin on the communication tech.
As you might imagine, there's an app to manage each individual TecTile's settings that will be made available after an initial pairing. And, according to one of the company's reps, each unlocked sticker can be programmed up to 100,000 times, a high enough ceiling that should get you plenty of mileage, glue willing. Naturally, there's a limit to this initial rollout's NFC-love and that's where things could get pricey, given that each TecTile can currently carry only one function at a time. Plans are underway, however, to expand beyond this limitation by enabling multi-functions in future iterations of the tacky tech -- whenever version 2.0 touches down. For now, though, you'll have to make frugal use of the stickers, considering they'll be marked at $15 for a pack of five. So, if you're still standing undecided on a Galaxy S III purchase despite its litany of capabilities, then this long-overdue feature could very well prove to be the wallet-tipping point.

Gallery: Samsung TecTiles

Continue reading TecTiles: programmable NFC stickers for select members of Samsung's Galaxy

TecTiles: programmable NFC stickers for select members of Samsung's Galaxy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla gives Model S Signature drivers a year of free data, reveals their cars' true colors (video)

Although Tesla has already delivered the first Model S to its eager owner, the fledgling automaker is still offering a steady stream of treats to those patiently waiting for the official June 22nd date. Drivers who spring for the Signature Series trim level of the EV sedan now get a year's worth of mobile data at no extra cost, a bonus no doubt helpful for buyers who get lost on the first drive. Regardless of which Model S might eventually find the driveway in the future, Tesla is providing a look at how it paints the car's chosen color. Each aluminum shell is dipped in an electro-coating solution, baked in an oven, water-sealed and given its final clear coat paint by robots -- no dealer will be charging extra for weatherproofing here. It's all appropriately futuristic, and you can get a peek at the whole process in the video after the break as well as at the source.
Continue reading Tesla gives Model S Signature drivers a year of free data, reveals their cars' true colors (video)

Tesla gives Model S Signature drivers a year of free data, reveals their cars' true colors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plans for European Extremely Large Telescope approved, is indeed extremely large

We see a lot of "world's largest" claims around here. And this isn't even the first one for a telescope. But this one is actually for the world's biggest optical telescope, and that somehow makes it easier to grasp the magnitude of. At a cost of 1.1 billion Euros, it doesn't come cheap, but the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) has just been given the go ahead -- and truly lives up to its name. The mirror it uses will measure 39 meters across (four times that of typical mirrors,) comprising nearly 800 hexagonal pieces, and will swallow 12 times more light than the current biggest in existence. This, of course, means that it will be able to peep galaxies much farther away, and those in the process of formation in much more clarity. The project was approved by the European Southern Observatory council, which got the nod from ten countries in the continent, with others provisionally giving the thumbs up pending government backing. The telescope itself, however, will be located atop Chile's Cerro Armazones mountain in the Atacama Desert once completed.

Plans for European Extremely Large Telescope approved, is indeed extremely large originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac Pro refresh irks Andy Hertzfeld, Apple confirms revisions 'likely' in 2013 (update)
Along with the introduction of new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro computers, Apple yesterday introduced a new swath of Mac Pro desktops. The introduction was a quiet one for sure, and WWDC attendees of Tim Cook's keynote were none the wiser. It's hard to fault Apple for the decision, as the upgrade was modest at best, but that's exactly what has most upset Andy Hertzfeld, one of the Mac's original designers. Now an employee of Google, Hertzfeld directed harsh criticism at Apple. The following is an excerpt from his Google+ profile:

"The specs for the "new" Mac Pro had hardly changed, except for a tiny, inconsequential processor clock bump. Still no Thunderbolt, still no USB 3.0, no SATA III or RAM speed improvements -- it seems like it's stuck in time in 2010. The only thing that's still high-end about it is the bloated price."

Yesterday's speed bump to the Mac Pro might've come as a disappointment to many power users, but we're given reason to believe that a more substantial upgrade is on the horizon. While it's somewhat uncharacteristic of Apple to comment on unreleased products, company representatives have confirmed to both David Pogue and Forbes that a new Mac Pro and iMac "will likely be released in 2013." Naturally, the wording intentionally leaves the possibility that we may see refreshes come a bit earlier -- and we'll certainly cross our fingers -- but for the moment, both systems seem like safe buys for those needing to upgrade their desktop Macs. For those willing to wait, however, we'd like to believe that Apple has a few tricks up its sleeve for 2013.
Update: Apple has since circled back to Forbes to clarify that only the Mac Pro is targeted for an update in 2013. As for the iMac, we're merely left to hope that an Ivy Bridge refresh is already in the pipeline.

Mac Pro refresh irks Andy Hertzfeld, Apple confirms revisions 'likely' in 2013 (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MacRumors (1), (2)  |  The New York Times, Forbes, Andy Hertzfeld (Google+)  | Email this | Comments

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Paramount Movies Ultraviolet app released for Xbox 360

It appears that Microsoft is picking up the pace on the addition of video streaming apps for the Xbox 360. After it took months for many of the more anticipated apps from the first wave like HBO Go, Verizon and Comcast to arrive, a new app from Paramount has been released just days after it was part of the next wave announced at E3. The Paramount Movies app is a console based version of its Ultraviolet service already unleashed on the PC and iOS, letting users stream digital copies from their cloud libraries. While the overall Ultraviolet sign-up process and its multiple logins hasn't gotten any easier, once we created a ParamountMovies.com account we were able to stream a copy of Hugo unlocked by the Blu-ray 3D version in HD just by signing into the free app (XBL gold subscription required) on the Xbox 360 -- no antiquated discs necessary. There's no word on the other apps Microsoft announced were headed to the Xbox 360, but we'll keep an eye out for the arrival of WatchESPN all the same.

Paramount Movies Ultraviolet app released for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Which iOS 6 features can my device run?

So you're eagerly awaiting iOS 6 in the fall, but you'd like to know just how many features you'll end up skipping if you cling on to your existing iPad, iPhone or iPod touch for one more generation. Apple has gone to the trouble of alerting would-be upgraders just what features they'll get when they check for the update this fall, and we've compiled it in a chart for an at-a-glance view of what you'll need. The short answer: you'll want an iPhone 4S if you're craving every iOS 6 feature. Some feature gaps are defined by obvious differences like the absence of cellular hardware, but the performance limits of the iPhone 3GS or fourth-generation iPod touch turn their upgrades into a patchwork. There's also a pair of questions about iPod touch support and whether or not "iPhone 4 or later" explicitly rules out the media player; we'll update should we know more. Either way, it's evident that Apple is bending over backwards to support burgeoning markets, but also that anyone who bought in 2010 or earlier is feeling the pressure to pick up something new -- especially original iPad owners, who can't upgrade at all.

		iPhone 3GS	iPod touch	iPhone 4	iPhone 4S	iPad 2	iPad (2012)
Chinese service integration		X	X	X	X	X	X
Facebook integration		X	X	X	X	X	X
FaceTime over 3G/4G		-	-	-	X	-	X
Flyover and turn-by-turn GPS		-	-	-	X	X	X
Guided Access		X	X	X	X	X	X
Made for iPhone hearing aids		-	-	-	X	-	-
New content stores		X	X	X	X	X	X
Offline Reading List		-	?	X	X	X	X
Passbook		X	X	X	X	-	-
Phone replies and reminders		X	-	X	X	-	-
Safari tab syncing		X	X	X	X	X	X
Shared Photo Streams		-	?	X	X	X	X
Siri		-	-	-	X	-	X
VIP list, flagged/VIP mailboxes		-	?	X	X	X	X

PSA: Which iOS 6 features can my device run? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Street View's WiFi snooping triggers renewed scrutiny in the UK

You remember that little Street View privacy problem that Google had back in 2010? Authorities in the UK sure do and Mountain View's gonna have some serious splainin' to do if the Information Commissioner's Office has anything to say about it. Big G initially denied that its cars were used to willfully snatch up personal info from open WiFi networks, but a recent investigation by the FCC, coupled with earlier accusations, has prompted renewed scrutiny. The report from the US even suggests that "investigators in France, Canada and The Netherlands found that Google intercepted complete email messages, instant message conversations, video, audio, medical and legal information," which could lead to a big headache for the company. We really don't want to imagine the possible consequences of a nationwide Street View ban.

Google Street View's WiFi snooping triggers renewed scrutiny in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii U GamePad won't feature multi-touch

The Wii U's 6.2-inch killer feature might look a whole lot like a tablet, but prospective buyers shouldn't expect it to function like one at all. In a recent interview with Kotaku, NOA prexy Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed that multi-touch capabilities will indeed be purposefully absent from the upcoming GamePad. It's a puzzling omission for sure, but not one made lightly on Nintendo's part. According to Fils-Aime, the existence of hardware buttons on the controller itself render that full-blown slate functionality redundant, not to mention cost-prohibitive and "unwieldy." So you see, the Big N giveth and the Big N taketh away, but all in the name of user convenience. You can check out the full blow-by-blow with the House that Mario built's American keeper at the source link below.

Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii U GamePad won't feature multi-touch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple fashion

There's no shortage of iPhone-friendly headsets. Not many are actually designed to match an iPhone's looks, however, and Harman Kardon is counting on that urge to coordinate to draw a few listeners into a new line of very tersely-named headphones and headsets. The more conspicuous resemblances to Apple's creation come through the wired CL on-ear headphones, the Bluetooth-equipped BT over-ears and the noise-cancelling NC over-ears, all of which share a distinctly familiar-looking leather-and-steel design. Subtler listeners will still get a trace of similarity with the in-ear NI and upgraded AE buds, although most of the iPhone friendliness at their size comes through an in-line microphone and remote. Both the BT and NC are battery-powered and last for 12 and 30 hours for their respective special tricks; they'll both keep working through a wire if you've forgotten to charge up just before that Hong Kong vacation.
In step with the iPhone-heavy focus, Harman Kardon is only selling the quintet of headphones through Apple's online and physical stores, where they start at $100 for the NI and peak at the NC's $299. One caveat: we wouldn't factor the NC into any short-term trips, as it won't show until the late summer.

Gallery: Harman Kardon AE, BT, CL, NI

Continue reading Harman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple fashion

Harman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple fashion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video)

The Squid Shirt that we checked out earlier today at Northeastern University certainly has the potential for healthcare use beyond straight off-season workout sessions, but the ATLAS project is an even purer expression of that application. The name is an acronym for the rather unwieldy Angle Tracking and Location At home System. In short, the system is a bimanual-rehabilitation glove system, a tracking device that utilizes two gloves to monitor the hand movements of stroke victims. The "Home System," part of the name, meanwhile, signifies its creators' intention to eventually release the ATLAS as an at-home testing system, allowing users to get more regular readings than industrial versions.
The system is comprised of two standard black gloves -- the first version (it's currently on version three), assistant academic specialist Mark Sivak tells us, was comprised of gold lycra gloves. The gloves have bend sensors in each finger and internal measurement sensors on the back of the hand. The bend sensors are anchored on the back of the hand, located beneath a moveable flap. They're embedded in the glove, running down each finger. The hand orientation inertial sensor is comprised of an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer located on a box strapped to the top of the glove. The bend sensors feed straight into a box with an Arduino Mega inside, while the inertial sensors first pass through their own Arduino microcontrollers before rejoining the data feed back to the PC.

Gallery: ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation gloves hands-on

Continue reading ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video)

ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mozilla Marketplace is live, lets you run web apps like desktop programs

An early version of the Mozilla Marketplace is currently live, offering users with the Firefox 16 Nightly build some 100-plus apps to install, including Evernote, Jolicloud and Springpad. Apps from the store can run on Mac or Windows machines, and it looks like Linux support is here, too. As Liliputing reports, rather than just providing web apps and extensions à la the Chrome Web Store, the Mozilla Marketplace offers apps that act more like desktop programs once installed: they'll show up in your list of installed programs, for instance, and they can be launched from the Windows Start Menu.

Mozilla Marketplace is live, lets you run web apps like desktop programs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video)

The HyCycle isn't the kind of thing you'd want to have to take through airport security -- at least not in its present state. The electricity-generating electric bike prototype is bit of a mess of wires and blinking boards at the moment, plus a battery that looks an awful lot like a block of C4. All are attached to one of its creators' rust-colored Schwinn road bike. The bicycle is a project of a group of Northeastern students, an attempt to build a cheaper electric bicycle -- one that can be offered as a do-it-yourself kit that users can snap to their existing bike frame.

Gallery: HyCycle electricity-generating bike hands-on

Continue reading HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video)

HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Northeastern University Squid Shirt torso-on

It seems like everyone's got a solution for workout tracking, these days, and the undergrad students at Northeastern University are no different. We traveled to the bowels of the Boston school's Egan Research Center, to try the Squid Shirt that we saw back in February on for size. Our own Terrence O'Brien donned the garb, and while the current prototype has dropped much of the unwieldy wires and suction cups that gave the wearable its name, it's still a bit of a production, taking several minutes to put on with the aid of assistant academic specialist, Mark Sivak (who assured us that the student this specific model was designed for had gotten the whole thing down to a two or three minute streamlined process).
The shirt has a total of 13 EMG sensors, monitoring data from three muscle groups: the pecs, lats and delts. Every signal requires two sensors (with one attached to the hip for ground), which are ultra cheap and disposable, meaning you can just toss them away at the end of each workout session. In addition to monitoring muscle activity, a standard Polar heart rate monitor slips into a sleeve inside the shirt to keep track of your pulse. The shirt itself is machine washable, which again is good news, if you plan on working out in the thing. This is due in part to the fact that the box -- the brains of the operation -- is removable. This also means that you can use a single box to plug into different garments, which could include things like workout pants in the future.

Gallery: Northeastern University Squid torso-on

Continue reading Northeastern University Squid Shirt torso-on

Northeastern University Squid Shirt torso-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 spring update rolling out to some now, everyone else next week

It doesn't bring quite the overhaul that previous updates have, but at least some Xbox 360 users should be seeing a new software update available the next time they turn on their console. Xbox's Major Nelson confirmed on Twitter today that the spring update is rolling out to "a few" users this week, with everyone else set to receive it next week. As for details on the update, he's only gone as far as to confirm that it contains "behind the scenes improvements & prep for future enhancements." Presumably, those future enhancements include many of the new features we saw at E3 last week, but there's still no official word as to when they'll actually roll out.

Xbox 360 spring update rolling out to some now, everyone else next week originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony kicks off back to school promotion with a free PS3 or Vita for VAIO PC buyers

Not to be outdone by Microsoft offering a free Xbox 360 to students buying a new PC, Sony has now come out with a back to school promotion of its own that could net folks their choice of a free PlayStation 3 (160GB) or PlayStation Vita (the WiFi-only model). Unlike Microsoft's promo, though, you can't just buy any PC -- you'll need to purchase an eligible Sony VAIO computer, which includes a range of the company's laptops and all-in-one desktops starting at around $750. Alternatively, you can also choose to get $200 off your choice of other PlayStation gear, or simply get eight percent off the purchase price of the computer itself. Complete details on the offer (which is for college students and faculty only) can be found at the source link below.

Sony kicks off back to school promotion with a free PS3 or Vita for VAIO PC buyers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS PadFone, Transformer and Transformer Prime hang out under the sun

While cooking up our ASUS PadFone review, we decided to bring its Android tablet cousins together for a family portrait, because why not? Sadly, at the time of shooting these photos the Transformer Pad TF300 wasn't yet available in Hong Kong, so the original Transformer TF101 and the Transformer Prime TF201 will do for now. While you enjoy our gallery below, take a close look at how strikingly similar the keyboard docks for the TF101 and the PadFone are. Enjoy!

Gallery: ASUS PadFone, Transformer and Transformer Prime hang out under the sun

ASUS PadFone, Transformer and Transformer Prime hang out under the sun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured

Nintendo vowed at E3 to provide Netflix on the Wii U, but tracking down the mythical streaming video beast has proven elusive. Thankfully, Engadget has obtained the first shots illustrating how it will work. While it's a prototype that could easily change between now and the Wii U's holiday release (or whenever the app is available), what we've seen so far makes it clear Netflix will milk that second screen for all it's worth. The GamePad is normally used to browse the movie queue and playback controls without distracting from the video on the TV. Should Junior want to catch up on his favorite flick while you're on a Breaking Bad marathon, the reverse will also work: the video can play on the controller while the TV is at most used to show what's playing, and more likely switched over to your DVR. Questions still remain on deck, like whether or not the video can seamlessly hand off from one screen to the other, but for now it's nice to see that Netflix on the Wii U is more than just a quick-and-dirty port.

Gallery: Netflix on Wii U early images

Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pricetag

If money really isn't an issue when it comes to your search for the finest sound possible from your iPhone, V-Moda has a new accessory for you to consider. The company has announced the VAMP: an iPhone 4 / 4S case that converts digital to analog for hi-fi listening. How does it work? Well, the kit uses a 150mW x 2 amplifier to bypass the smartphone's internals to offer the auditory elbow grease needed to adequately power that set of fancy headphones. For controls, you can expect a volume knob, hi / lo gain switch and toggle switch with LED indicator for either Pure or VQ listening mode. There's also an optical audio output for using your phone as a vehicle "for the purest and unparalleled audio listening experience," but you'll have to splurge for an extra cable to do so. In addition to the aforementioned conversion, the aircraft-grade metal add-on provides eight hours of playback from it's own battery -- which can be used as a backup for your Apple handset, should the need arise. Sound good so far? Well, the VAMP is now shipping and will set you back a whopping $650 with $50 of the asking price benefitting the InTheLoop Foundation. You know, if you happen to really love listening to Sigur Rós on the go and are obsessed with high fidelity playback.

Gallery: V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone

Continue reading V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pricetag

V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pricetag originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the shopping channel

Those late-night adverts for a steam-powered ab-crunching bagel toaster (just $400, plus $99 postage and packing!) will soon be much harder to resist, thanks to TiVo. The DVR maker has teamed up with PayPal to enable you to purchase goods with your remote control during the commercial. A global financial meltdown will probably ensue just as soon as the company can get compatible adverts developed, currently slated to begin airing during this year's fall TV season.
Update: According to PayPal, it's also "exploring" opportunities with Comcast, although discussions are still in early stages.
Continue reading TiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the shopping channel

TiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the shopping channel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous'
Rumors of a hook-up between AMD and ARM have been circulating ever since someone coined the phrase "the enemy of Intel is my friend." As of today, however, that alliance is real and cemented in the form of the HSA Foundation -- a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the dark arts of Heterogeneous System Architecture. It's a relatively old concept in computing, but the Foundation's founding partners (AMD, ARM, Imagination Technologies, MediaTek and Texas Instruments) all stand to gain from its wider adoption. How come? Because it involves boosting a chip's performance by making it use its various components as co-processors, rather than treating them as specialized units that can never help each other out.
In other words, while Intel pursues Moore's Law and packs ever-more sophisticated transistors into its CPUs, AMD, ARM and the other HSA pals want to achieve similar or better results through parallel computing. In most cases, that'll mean using the graphics processor on a chip not only for visuals and gaming, but also for general tasks and apps. This can already be achieved using a programming language called OpenCL, but AMD believes it's too tricky to code and is putting mainstream developers off. Equally, NVIDIA has long had its own language for the same purpose, called CUDA, but it's proprietary. Whatever niche is left in the middle, the HSA Foundation hopes to fill it with an easier and more open standard that is not only cross-OS but also transcends the PC / mobile divide. If it works, it'll give us a noticeable surge in computational power in everyday apps by 2014. If it fails, these new-found friends can go back to the less awkward custom of ignoring each other.
Continue reading Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous'

Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS PadFone review

It's been a long ride for the PadFone. ASUS' last smartphone was the Android 2.1-powered A10 from two years ago, then five months later the company ended its smartphone partnership with Garmin (though they're still friends). The next thing we knew, the outfit was openly considering Windows Phone, but obviously nothing came to fruition despite its E600 engineering units floating about in the wild. Meanwhile, a bunch of Android Eee Pads started entering the market to get a slice of that hot tablet pie.
Eventually, the PadFone shocked the industry at last year's Computex (remember our brilliant mockup based on the teaser pics?), but ASUS went on to miss its Christmas launch target, allowing it extra time to rejig the phone's software and design. Then CES and MWC went by, with the latter hosting the official launch event to unveil the PadFone's final design and availability date. This time, the new April target was missed by only three weeks, and shortly afterwards we got hold of our retail unit from Taiwan, which is still the only place where you can get hold of the product.
But enough with the story. What we want to know is whether ASUS' courageous and unique project has all the right ingredients to squeeze itself into a market now dominated by the likes of Apple, Samsung and HTC. Most importantly, will the company set a new trend with this two- or three-in-one form factor -- in the same way it did with netbooks -- thus taking the Android ecosystem to the next level? Let's see.

Gallery: ASUS PadFone review

Gallery: ASUS PadFone review (accessories)

Continue reading ASUS PadFone review

ASUS PadFone review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeater

Anyone keeping track of Amped Wireless' new range of dual-band products might have spotted that repeater-shaped hole in the team. It should come as no surprise that the company is now unveiling its SR20000G repeater, capable of extending your wireless network by a further 10,000 square feet. Built with the same five Ethernet jacks and USB 2.0 port for file sharing that we saw on its brother, it'll set you back $180 when it arrives later this month.
Continue reading Amped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeater

Amped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeater originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC decides to buy S3 after all, keeps it on ice for future patent wars

HTC was exhibiting more than a bit of buyer's remorse after its acquisition of S3 Graphics went off the rails: it had used the $300 million deal to scoop up a company with a victory over Apple in a patent dispute at the ITC, only to see that decision reversed and its dreams crumble. S3 will be glad to know that HTC wants the shotgun wedding to last. The One X creator's general counsel, Grace Lei, is now promising that the buyout will wrap up at some point in the near future after "cautious assessment" of its worth. The union won't help HTC fend off escalating Apple assaults, but the 270 patents may make other companies think twice before starting a feud -- oh, and give HTC some graphics technology to improve its products.

HTC decides to buy S3 after all, keeps it on ice for future patent wars originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC confirms One S with 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 being sold 'in select markets'

Confirming the news that HTC's One S had arrived in the mother land of Taiwan toting a higher-clocked (but older) Snapdragon processor, the company has added where this rejigged device is headed -- at least broadly. While the US, UK, Japan, Korean, France and Germany have been enjoying the high-performance thrills of a dual-core Snapdragon S4, according to The Verge, the S3 variant will launch across Asia-Pacific regions and some (as-yet unspecified) European markets. HTC will, however, be marking out which sort of processing hardware's inside the two models -- if it's got a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, you've got the Snapdragon S3, if it's 1.5GHz then you have the newer S4. The company is also working to claim more of Qualcomm's latest mobile processor for the One S roll-out, but we'd advise checking the spec sheet before you take the plunge in the aforementioned regions.

HTC confirms One S with 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 being sold 'in select markets' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly!

Now here's a giveaway we know you'll really like: an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III (aka GT-I9300)! The Korean giant's latest flagship is the talk of the Android community right now, so of course you're going to want to make it your daily driver. Thanks to Bubble Motion, the developer behind Bubbly, you now have that chance. Bubbly is a "voice social network," which means you can create and share short voice updates with followers -- sort of like a Twitter for soundbytes. It's free to sign up, and it's available on Android and iOS. Intrigued? Head to the links below to grab the app! With this particular contest, there's just one additional rule: when you leave a comment, be sure to tell us what celebrity you'd most like to hear voice status updates from. Good luck!
Continue reading Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly!

Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year'
And then there were six. With US Cellular breaking the barrier of regional carriers getting a flagship device at the same time as its national rivals, C Spire (formerly Cellular South) wants to join the cause by announcing that it will carry the Samsung Galaxy S III -- and we doubt it will be the last to hop on board, given that MetroPCS was listed on the US sign-up page alongside these other six carriers. The company wasn't so keen on providing exact details of pricing or availability, so all we know is that it's on track for a release "later this year" and we'll get more information in the coming weeks. If we were the gambling sort, we'd bet that C Spire is aiming to push this as its inaugural LTE device when the network is deployed this coming September. Judging by the picture alone, we're not expecting any major surprises with this particular flavor, but that shouldn't come as a shocker to anyone who has been following the GS3 news on the US front. Welcome to the party, pal.
Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year'

Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours

The NASA control center, responsible for a huge chunk of space-faring history, will open its doors to tour groups for the first time in over 30 years, celebrating the Kennedy Space Center's 50th anniversary. Starting this Friday, a "limited number" of tours will take bright-eyed enthusiasts into the Launch Control Center, where all 152 launches were counted down -- visitors will even get to peer at the very same clock. NASA has also granted access to the "bubble room", which is surrounded by windows showing what went on in the firing room just below. The daily tour also throws in a drive-by viewing of one of the shuttle launch pads. The tours will run through the end of 2012 -- adults will need to fork out an extra $25, while kids will cost $19 on top of the typical entrance fee.
[Image Credit: Britannica Online, 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com]

NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanho HyperJuice Plug solves the multiple iPad owner's power conundrum

One for fun, the other for work? If that's how you roll with your iPads, then you might be well trained in the art of battery juggling. If, however, you're not, or you just like to keep things tip-top at all times, then makers of fine accessories, Sanho, have the product for you. The company claims the HyperJuice Plug is the world's first 15,600 mAh portable battery pack that can recharge a brace of iPads at the same time -- complete with retractable wall plug for convenience. It's not just Apple's slates, of course, with pretty much all USB gadgets being able to mainline the 15 watts (sharable over two ports) of juice. The HyperJuice Plug launched this week at the Singapore PC show, and lands in six "juicy" colors, yours from an equally juiced up $129.
Update: As some of you have pointed out $129 is the price for the 10,400mAh version, with the 15,600mAh device costing $159
Continue reading Sanho HyperJuice Plug solves the multiple iPad owner's power conundrum

Sanho HyperJuice Plug solves the multiple iPad owner's power conundrum originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget HD Podcast 303 - 06.12.2012
Apple's WWDC keynote did not reveal many directly TV related technologies, but its new Retina Display laptops are definitely in our wheelhouse so we'll start there. Of course, for true audiovisual bliss it's hard to beat the promise of either Dolby Atmos theaters or 8K Ultra HDTV Super Hi-Vision broadcasts, so we'll tell you where to find both. While Comcast is rolling out more TiVos and Sky is (slightly) updating its guide, the wildest innovation at the moment is coming from Google and Intel's attempts to brute-force their way into the TV market. Finally we've got some kiosk and digital movie rental news before we check in with our thoughts on Prometheus (spoiler alert!) in 3D and finally what we're watching this week.

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

Producer: Trent Wolbe
00:09:05 - Apple announces first Retina display in a MacBook, 220ppi with 2880 x 1800 resolution
00:24:52 - Dolby reveals Atmos launch locations, invites you to come and 'see' the sound
00:26:20 - NHK lays out Olympic broadcast plans, Super Hi-Vision test viewing locations in Japan
00:27:10 - YouTube will live stream HD Olympics coverage to 64 territories in Asia, Africa
00:28:45 - Comcast VOD for TiVo Premieres expands to Boston, old Comcast TiVos shut off in August
00:29:45 - Sky+ rolls out a new HD guide starting today, keeps live, DVR and VOD TV level
00:31:08 - Google Fiber GFHD100 'IP set-top box' breezes through the FCC, doesn't say where it's headed
00:33:20 - Intel's TV service aims at Nielsen, big cable, might not get here
00:35:30 - Disney troubled over early offering of John Carter DVD by Netflix and Redbox
00:38:36 - Walmart ad hints at Vudu streaming on Roku players
00:40:09 - Google TV update touts Google Play and YouTube movie rentals, distinct lack of popcorn
00:41:00 - Must See HDTV (June 11th - 17th)
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Engadget HD Podcast 303 - 06.12.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon Cloud Player app arrives on iPhone and iPod Touch

Amazon has rolled out its Cloud Player to Apple's smaller screens, with both the iPhone and iPod able to play the full catalogue of music stored in your Cloud Drive. This time, it's a dedicated app, although it may mean re-purposing the music library you've already built up from Apple's own collection. You can't buy tracks from within the app just yet, but at least your iTunes-bought AAC tracks are transferable. There's unlimited storage available for anyone willing to pay up for a storage plans and for those less willing to pay, Amazon's willing to offer up 5GB of storage gratis. Hit up the source to download, then upload, then listen.
Continue reading Amazon Cloud Player app arrives on iPhone and iPod Touch

Amazon Cloud Player app arrives on iPhone and iPod Touch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naver's Skype rival Line arrives on Windows Phone

Japanese Skype rival Line is branching out from its iPhone and Android garden to visit Windows Phone. Whilst the app will initially arrive with free calls disabled, the company has promised to rectify that issue in the near future. Still, WP7 users can enjoy all of that free messaging as soon as they've downloaded the app, available at our source link.
Continue reading Naver's Skype rival Line arrives on Windows Phone

Naver's Skype rival Line arrives on Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Velocity Micro relaunches Overdrive gaming desktop: overclocked to 4.6GHz, with trio of GeForce graphics

After furnishing its latest machines with fresh Ivy Bridge processors, Velocity Micro has decided to tend to its high-performance gaming machines. The desktop's Overdrive BigBlock GTX promises to be "the new benchmark for extreme speed and luxury." It reckons it accomplishes this with a Core i7 3960X processor, "hyperclocked" to 4.6GHz, 32GB of quad-channel memory, three (yes, three) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 graphics cards in Tri-SLI and two SSDs backed up with a weighty 2TB hard drive. The machines will also get treated to a splash of sports car-style paint, aiming to mirror the likes of Ferrari and BMW. Naturally, all that top-drawer tech corresponds to a similarly top-drawer price tag. The gaming rigs start from $8,000, which helps soften the blow of another recent product launch.
Continue reading Velocity Micro relaunches Overdrive gaming desktop: overclocked to 4.6GHz, with trio of GeForce graphics

Velocity Micro relaunches Overdrive gaming desktop: overclocked to 4.6GHz, with trio of GeForce graphics originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Vostro line gets Ivy Bridge CPUs, optional 4G LTE

Dell's Vostro line of entry-level business notebooks is next up to receive the good 'ol Ivy Bridge update. Today the company is announcing the Vostro 3360, 3460 and 3560 laptops, in 13-inch, 14-inch and 15-inch sizes, respectively. All models will be configurable with either second- (Core i3) or third-gen (Core i5 or Core i7) Intel CPUs along with several graphics options and up to 8GB of RAM. And let's not forget those business features: fingerprint readers, file and folder encryption and security software are available on all three models. The Vostro 3360 and 3460 will also offer optional 4G LTE mobile broadband.
Getting more specific, the $649 Vostro 3360 measures 0.76 inches thick, weighs 3.67 pounds and comes standard with a 320GB hard drive spinning at 7,200RPM (a 750GB configuration and an optional 32GB SSD are also available). Starting at $599, the 4.92-pound Vostro 3460 comes with the same processor options and is available with NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M graphics and up to a 7,200RPM, 750GB hard drive coupled with a 32GB SSD. Unlike the 3360, the 14-incher comes with a backlit keyboard and includes an optical drive. Lastly, there's the 15-inch, 5.75-pound Vostro 3560, which can be configured with AMD Radeon HD 7670M graphics and a 1920 x 1080 display (you get the same storage options as the 3460, along with the same backlit keyboard and optical drive). The Vostro 3560 is currently on sale for $599 on Dell's website, while the 3360 and 3460 will be available on June 21st. Head past the break for more photos and the full press release.

Gallery: Dell Vostro 3360, 3460 and 3650 hands-on

Continue reading Dell Vostro line gets Ivy Bridge CPUs, optional 4G LTE

Dell Vostro line gets Ivy Bridge CPUs, optional 4G LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon's Share Everything data plans go live June 28th, let you add family (or a tablet) for a little extra

Verizon has been promising shared data plans for awhile, so it's with some relief (and trepidation) we can say they're here. Share Everything, as it's called, starts off with the assumption you'll want unlimited voice and messages and then bolts on shared data along with a maximum of 10 individual devices: a core plan starts at $50 per month for 1GB of data and requires that you tack on $40 a month for every smartphone, $30 for basic phones, $20 for hotspots and $10 for tablets. Of course, Verizon will gladly let you pay for more data if your family loves to stream Netflix on 4G all day, up to $100 for a common pool of 10GB. A stiff price, but it also includes tethering or hotspot creation support on any device in the mix. The new plans will be ready to tempt you away from your unlimited data on June 28th.

Verizon's Share Everything data plans go live June 28th, let you add family (or a tablet) for a little extra originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Columbia announces Omni-Freeze ZERO, sports gear that cools you down the hotter you get (video)

Columbia is announcing the Omni-Freeze ZERO, a range of sports gear that cools you the more you sweat. Blue rings of cooling polymer cover the garments, which swell when exposed to moisture -- letting air pass around you as if you had goosebumps. Unlike typical compression garments, which wick the sweat away from you, this puts your natural resources to good use, so much so that the company believes it's cooler than taking your top off entirely. The futuristic gear will also turn up in a new range of footwear, but before you can get too excited, there's a catch; it isn't due to hit stores until next year, so you've still got a few months of getting sweaty.
Continue reading Columbia announces Omni-Freeze ZERO, sports gear that cools you down the hotter you get (video)

Columbia announces Omni-Freeze ZERO, sports gear that cools you down the hotter you get (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nike+ Basketball and Training slamdunk the FCC, jog one step closer towards availability

It was back in the cold, cruel darkness of February -- when physical exertion was far from our mind -- that we learned about Nike+'s Basketball and Training experiences. Now, in the warm glow of early summer, here they are, limbering up at the FCC. So, it might be a little too late for you to inject a little tech-spice into your college season, but you'll have all year to train up for the next one. Either way, looks like Nike is going to cross the line in plenty of time for that June 29th release date.

Nike+ Basketball and Training slamdunk the FCC, jog one step closer towards availability originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 07:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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