Saturday, August 11, 2012

IT News Head Lines (Engadget) 11/08/2012





Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today we're getting down to the very important business of helping you sift through laptops, and you can always head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!
DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012 mainstream laptops
Freshman year of college may no longer be the gateway to the magical world of laptop ownership, but even if you already have a notebook, who can resist a new machine in the spirit of starting fresh when September rolls around? Whether you're looking for a Core i5 companion to get you through semesters of paper-writing, Facebooking and WoWing, or a super-sleek centerpiece to your bare-bones dorm, there's a vast playing field of machines to choose from. While sifting through the countless options would surely get you back in the academic research frame of mind, it's a daunting task. We're here to take some of the work off your plate with nine solid mainstream laptops that should satisfy every budget.
Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops
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Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on)
Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel handson
It worked just fine for Pinocchio, so why not animatronic stuffed bears? A group of researchers from the Tokyo University of Technology are on hand at SIGGRAPH's Emerging Technologies section this week to demonstrate "Stuffed Toys Alive!," a new type of interactive toy that replaces the rigid plastic infrastructure used today with a seemingly simple string pulley-based solution. Several strings are installed at different points within each of the cuddly gadget's limbs, then attached to a motor that pulls the strings to move the fuzzy guy's arms while also registering feedback, letting it respond to touch as well. There's not much more to it than that -- the project is ingenious but also quite simple, and it's certain to be a hit amongst youngsters. The obligatory creepy hands-on video is waiting just past the break.
Gallery: Stuffed Toys Alive! hands-on
Continue reading Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on)
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Best Buy founder wants slashed prices, Apple-style customer service in $10 billion rescue plan
Best Buy founder wants slashed prices, Applestyle customer service in $10 billion rescue plan
Best Buy founder Richard Schulze is proposing a plan to turn around the ailing electronics store as part of a $10 billion buyout. He's proposing the retailer slashes prices to compete with online rivals like Amazon, while offering Apple Store-levels of customer service. He's concerned that the current closure and size-reduction policy will spell the end of the business, which is rumored to announce another round of closures shortly. It's yet to be seen if his plan, which would mean running Best Buy at a loss for several years, would be accepted by the company's management, who are meeting to discuss the proposals at the end of the month.
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Cheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written
Cheap NFCbased chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and writtenA new generation of cheaper, passively powered smart tags could accelerate NFC adoption very soon. Developed at Sunchon National University and Paru Printed Electronics Research Institute in Korea, the circuits could be printed in a similar method to newspapers, but it's the inclusion of the rectenna that makes the new chip technology so appealing. The combination antenna and rectifier can pick up residual radio waves from your phone to power itself. This new technology could apparently drop the cost of installing NFC to as little as one penny per unit, while offering up additional two-way functionality over its RFID rival. And if there's a speed boost in the process, well, all the better.
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Cheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink New Scientist  |  sourceNanotechnology  | Email this | Comments

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Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD spills the beans (and its guts) at the FCC
Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD spills the beans at the FCC
There isn't much we don't already know about Huawei's 10-inch MediaPad FHD, revealing most of its secrets well before its launch later this month. Now that it's swung through Washington to be poked and prodded by the screwdriver-clutching mavens at the FCC, we know that the US Government thinks it's safe for human consumption. The slate's impressed even the surliest of our staffers when we played with it, making us deeply excited for its arrival in stores. Those interested in seeing what lies beneath that glass-and-aluminum surface should check out the autopsy gallery we've got for you below.
Gallery: Huawei MediaPad 10 Internal Photos
Huawei MediaPad 10 Internal Photos
Continue reading Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD spills the beans (and its guts) at the FCC
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Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD spills the beans (and its guts) at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Scientists release biggest ever 3D map of the universe, lacks turn-by-turn navigation (video)
Astronomers release biggest ever threedimensional map of the sky, lacks turnbyturn navigation
The stargazers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have released a huge three-dimensional map of outer space, a core part of its six-year survey of the skies. Encompassing four billion light-years cubed, the researchers hope to use the map to retrace the movements of the universe through the last six billion years. Using the latest Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III), the center says the data will help improve their estimates for the quantity of dark matter in space and the effect that dark energy has on the universe's expansion, "two of the greatest mysteries of our time" -- if you're an astrophysicist. Even if you're not, you'll still want to board the animated flight through over 400,000 charted galaxies -- it's embedded after the break.
Continue reading Scientists release biggest ever 3D map of the universe, lacks turn-by-turn navigation (video)
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Permalink PC World  |  sourceHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics  | Email this | Comments

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Distro Issue 52: Does the MakerBot Replicator signal the dawn of in-home 3D printing?
Distro Issue 52 Does the MakerBot Replicator signal the dawn of inhome 3D printing
Almost every day it seems like folks are finding a way to add to the number of practical uses for 3D printers. What was once a hobbyist's dream gadget is now being used to produce faux arteries for lab-grown tissue and Magic Arms. As the pricey peripherals work their way into the mainstream, are they soon to be found in most homes? That's the quandary we tackle in this edition of our weekly tablet mag as Brian Heater spends some quality time with the MakerBot Replicator at Engadget's NYC Headquarters. Not really into $2,000 output devices? No sweat. The Meizu MX 4-core, Toshiba U845W and Parrot Zik headphones all get the proper review treatment. "Hands-on" visits SIGGRAPH, "Weekly Stat" examines the shortcomings of our handsets, "Reaction Time" discusses THQ, "IRL" packs in three more of our gadget confessions and GameStop CEO Paul Raines admits his affinity for Jelly Bean in this week's Q&A. Go on and usher in the weekend by hitting up your download link of choice down below.
Distro Issue 52 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter
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HTC One X gets Android 4.0.4 update today: enhances camera app, adds menu functionality to multitasking button
If you thought the One X's capacitive button layout jarred with the Ice Cream Sandwich experience you saw on the Galaxy Nexus, you'll like what HTC's just told us. An update to version 4.0.4, launching today, will allow users to map menu functionality to the lower right 'recent app' key, while it will also treat its owners to white balance and continuous autofocus improvements within its well-received camera app. Expect a handful of stability improvements as well as a dedicated tab switcher for the built-in browser -- if you haven't already made the leap to Chrome. According to HTC, the update for the international iteration rolls out today, with the AT&T version already doing the rounds. The full statement's included below. Let us know how you get on.
Continue reading HTC One X gets Android 4.0.4 update today: enhances camera app, adds menu functionality to multitasking button
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Zotac's ZBOX ID84 mini PC sports Cedar Trail CPU and optional NVIDIA, starts at $229
Zotac's new ZBOX ID84 is miniature PC with Intel Atom CPU, starts at $229
As recent history would kindly tell us, Zotac really, really loves its tiny computing boxes. Now the outfit's introduced yet another one to its mini PC mix: enter the ZBOX ID84. The standalone unit -- which lacks an HDD and memory sticks -- is set to be priced at a not-too-shabby $229, while the "Plus" model will carry a more expensive $319 price tag, but does come sporting a decent 320GB (5,400RPM) hard drive, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 520M GPU alongside the dual-core Intel Atom D2550 CPU. Ports-wise the ZBOX ID84 Plus is pretty well-stacked, sporting two USB 3.0, four USB 2.0, a notorious 6-in-1 card reader, gigabit Ethernet, plus DVI and HDMI. All in all, it looks like Zotac's latest miniature could get most anyone through the days, though we wouldn't blame you if you're interested in something with a little more power under the hood.
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Dish Network rumored to have bought Clearwire's $400 million debt in secret transaction
Dish Network rumored to have bought Clearwire's $400 million debt in secret transactionWe're not in the habit of entering the dry world of corporate debt notes, but Sprint's latest financial release might disguise a juicy bit of news. There's a rumor in the business press that Dish Network might have bought around $400 million of Clearwire's debt -- helping relieve the pressure on Sprint, which has been keeping its subsidiary alive on handouts. Unsurprisingly, no-one's commenting on the rumors, although Dish CEO Joseph Clayton did say he was open to a partnership (or acquisition) with Sprint / Clearwire late last year. If true, it could signal that it's getting ready for a fight against AT&T -- or maybe it just wanted to throw Dan Hesse a bone.
Continue reading Dish Network rumored to have bought Clearwire's $400 million debt in secret transaction
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Morpheus lander crashes, burns and explodes in untethered flight test, NASA remains optimistic (video)
Morpheus lander crashes, burns and explodes in untethered flight test, NASA remains optimistic
As noisy as we found Project Morpheus' tethered flight test, its untethered follow-up was far, far louder. Yesterday, the experimental lander suffered a hardware component failure, which NASA says "prevented it from maintaining stable flight." This caused it to crash into the ground and well, explode. On the upside, the space agency says that these kinds of failures were anticipated, stating that they are a normal part of the development process and will be used to build better systems moving forward. You didn't think Curiosity made its touchdown on Mars without learning from a few mistakes, did you? Click onwards to check out the test -- and its aftermath -- in 5, 4, 3, 2, er...
Continue reading Morpheus lander crashes, burns and explodes in untethered flight test, NASA remains optimistic (video)
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Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)
Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)
We've seen a number of options for controlling real worms, but never a worm robot, until now. Enter Meshworm, the latest creation from researchers at MIT, Harvard University and Seoul National University. The bot is made from "artificial muscle" composed of a flexible mesh tube segmented by loops of nickel / titanium wire. The wire contracts and squeezes the tube when heated by a flowing current, but cut the power and it returns to its original shape, creating propulsion in a similar way to its living kin. Taking traditional moving parts out of the equation also makes it pretty hardy, as proven by extensive testing (read: hitting it with a hammer). DARPA is known for getting its fingers in all sorts of strange pies, and it also supported this project. We can't see it being the fastest way of gathering intel, but the potential medical applications, such as next-gen endoscopes, sound plausible enough. Full impact tests in the video after the break.
Continue reading Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)
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Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink BBC  |  sourceMIT news  | Email this | Comments

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Disney's REVEL could turn the whole world into a tactile touchscreen (video)
Disneys Revel could turn the whole world into a touchscreen video
Disney Research think it can go one better on Tactile and Haptic touch displays by using electrical fields to add sensation to nearly anything you can touch. Using Reverse Electrovibration, REVEL works by strapping an electrostatic signal generator to your body, so when you come into contact with an object on the same electrical plane, that low-level field can be altered to create friction. It's hoped that the technology could revolutionize touchscreens, add a whole new level of feeling to augmented reality and help blind people feel their way around. There's a video after the break, but be warned, it's light on the sort of cartoony hijinks you'd normally expect from the House of Mouse.
Continue reading Disney's REVEL could turn the whole world into a tactile touchscreen (video)
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Disney's REVEL could turn the whole world into a tactile touchscreen (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink MIT Technology Review  |  sourceDisney Research  | Email this | Comments

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Red claims Dragon is 'single most significant sensor in the history of image capture'
DNP Red claims new Dragon is 'single most significant sensor in the history of image capture'
Red Camera's bombastic CEO, Jim Jannard, says that internal testing of the new 6K Dragon sensor proves that it's the new "resolution and dynamic range king." He also claims it will be "the cleanest sensor you have ever seen, ISO 2000 looks better than MX [the current sensor] at ISO 800." The imaging chip was first outed at NAB in April, promising 15+ stops of DR and 120fps at a full 5K of resolution, with $6,000 upgrades for Epic customers by the end of the year. Owners of the $9,700 (brain only) Scarlet-X will also get the Dragon, though no price or date has been given yet for that camera. Needless to say, some independent testing will be needed to substantiate his claims, but Jannard sure does sound confident.
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PBS delves into the finer points of buggy behavior in 'The Art of Glitch' (video)
PBS delves into the finer points of buggy behavior in The Art of Glitch video
To think that all those times people were cursing at their terminals every time they got the Blue Screen of Death, they should've been charging for admission. At least that's the idea one would get after checking out PBS' latest Off Book short doc, The Art of Glitch. The six-minute video takes a closer look at a movement that views a typically frustrating electronic phenomenon and considers it to be glorious, wonderful art instead. From neon signs on the fritz to digital files that are edited to cause buggy behavior, the range of glitch art is as broad as the imaginations of the people who prize them. The short doc is the latest offering from a web-original series that looks at "cutting edge arts" such as animated GIFs and 8-bit creations. In the meantime, you can bug out on the finer points of glitch art by checking out the video below.
Continue reading PBS delves into the finer points of buggy behavior in 'The Art of Glitch' (video)
PBS delves into the finer points of buggy behavior in 'The Art of Glitch' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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India's prime minister reportedly working on giving free handsets to low-income families
India's prime minister reportedly working on giving free handsets to low-income families
We've seen companies like Microsoft help out low-income people by dropping prices on its hardware and software in the past, and now India's prime minister's allegedly taking a similar approach but with mobile handsets being the focus behind this nice gesture -- and better yet, at no cost whatsoever. Per the Times of India, sources have told the publication Manmohan Singh's got a plan in the works that'd bring one mobile device to "every family living below the poverty line," with said "Har Hath Mein Phone" scheme expected to be announced as early as next week. Notably, if all goes according to the purported plan, this would help over 6 million Indian families, most of which are currently lacking any sort of communication device in their household. There's still a few days until we find out whether the project is indeed real, for now let's just hope our friends in India don't experience some more power outages anytime soon.
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Doodle friday: End your week with a penalty shootout
Doodle friday: End your week with a penalty shootout
Relive the nail-biting insanity and inherent unfairness of soccer's penalty shootout over at Google right now, as you try to match our first-attempt score of 18 points and two gold stars. (We'll update this post as soon as an Engadget editor gets a result we can be proud of.) It's a ballistic way to end a run of Doodles that has already involved canoeing, hoops, hurdles and all-round Olympic work avoidance. Post your scores here at your own risk.
Update: Did we say 18? We meant 81, but forgot to take a grab, so officially we'll have to make do with a top score of 34.
Continue reading Doodle friday: End your week with a penalty shootout
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Doodle friday: End your week with a penalty shootout originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 04:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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BeagleBone gets plenty of expansion options with new 'cape' add-ons
BeagleBone gets tons of expansion options with new 'cape' addons
Arduino has shields and now BeagleBone has capes. The Cortex A8-based hobbyist board has earned a number of fans for its speed and affordability. Now it's adding simple versatility with 20 expansion capes, ranging from touchscreens, to cameras and even weather stations. Some have been available for some time, but the latest -- the Camera Cape -- allows you to easily capture 3.1 megapixel images. Obviously, the perfect partner cape would be one of the several displays available, such as the seven-inch 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen. Really, they're essential if you hope to preview your photos before snapping them. To check out all the available boards hit up the source link, and check out the PR after the break.
Continue reading BeagleBone gets plenty of expansion options with new 'cape' add-ons
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BeagleBone gets plenty of expansion options with new 'cape' add-ons originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony Reader PRS-T2 up for $130 pre-order at J&R
Sony Reader PRST2 up for preorder at J&R
We first caught sight of Sony's latest reader when it mysteriously swung past the FCC, but now the PRS-T2 has arrived to spill the beans at Park Row's most famous resident. J&R's pre-order page reveals that the 6-inch touchscreen WiFi-only device is packing a 800 x 600 E-Ink display, a battery promising two months life and a built-in stylus. Software options include six dictionaries, Evernote Clearly, Facebook for Reader and a free copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The electronics superstore has the device listed as "coming soon," and when it arrives, will set you back $130 -- but, as its write-up notes, that's the price you pay to avoid being bothered with adverts.
Sony Reader PRS-T2 up for $130 pre-order at J&R originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 04:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink The Digital Reader  |  sourceJ&R  | Email this | Comments

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T-Mobile UK confirms unlimited tethering won't be available to new Full Monty customers
T-Mobile UK confirms unlimited tethering won't be available to new Full Monty customers
Well, well, so much for being "truly unlimited," right? As TechRadar adequately reports, T-Mobile UK's confirmed that any new customer looking to snag the Full Monty data plan won't be offered an unlimited tethering feature on their all-you-can-have bundle. Effective immediately, the change is a sudden move from the carrier and it wasn't quite clear as to what made it backpedal on its initial "unlimited" promise, only saying, "From 8th August, tethering is not permitted for new customers under the terms and conditions of the Full Monty." Surely this is a small blow to UKers hoping to grab the Full Monty for the all-out tethering alone -- but hey, at least you've still got the data, texts and calls.
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WatchESPN Android app update finally brings access for Comcast subscribers
WatchESPN Android app update finally brings access for Comcast subscribersWhile the WatchESPN app for iOS got an update that opened up mobile streams for Comcast cable customers back in May, it's taken until now for Android devices to enjoy the same access. Along with unspecified bug fixes, version 1.6.0 worked on the Nexus 7 and Galaxy S II we tried it on, although we did need to log out and log in again with our account credentials to get the streams working the first time. The video streams we were able to pull in didn't seem to be quite as high res as those accessed on the iPad however, although all those with the right combination of services and hardware can grab the free app at the source link below and try it out themselves.
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WatchESPN Android app update finally brings access for Comcast subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google gives mobile search a makeover for quick-answer queries
DNP Google gives mobile search a makeover for quickanswer queries
If you're looking for flight times, currency conversions, word definitions and more, you'll notice that Google has dressed up the responses in new, Now card type clothing. On top of being prettier, the look is designed to make the data easier to parse and also adds an interactive element -- letting you change a distance or unit when doing metric conversions, for example. Currently the refresh is limited to smartphone and tablet searches, but Google has promised to roll it out soon to desktop searches and international users. The change is part of an ever-evolving list of tweaks and updates to Mountain View's venerable search engine -- check the source for more info.
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Google gives mobile search a makeover for quick-answer queries originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 02:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Earth adds detailed 3D imagery for Denver and Seattle, might not render the local Starbucks
Google Earth adds 3D imagery for Denver and Seattle, might not render the local Starbucks
Google only launched detailed 3D maps in Google Earth for a handful of cities, but it's branching out to provide that extra dimension to a wider swath of the public. Today, it's Denver and Seattle: Android and iOS app users can immediately see the dense, textured 3D City View in their respective western cities. The updates probably won't let Seattle residents spot their hometown coffee brand without going into Street View, but it will let them thread the eye of the Space Needle while their friends in Denver spin past the State Capitol. We can't help but think that Google also enjoys offering some Microsoft staffers a little taste of what they're missing.
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Permalink The Next Web  |  sourceGoogle Lat Long Blog  | Email this | Comments

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PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package
PlayBook Mobile Responder App
The PlayBook may not have taken off in the consumer market, but its enterprise-friendly features may help it find a home elsewhere -- especially now that it's packing a speedy 4G radio. Fresh on the heels of the LTE edition hitting Canadian shores, Intergraph has unveiled its Mobile Responder app that turns RIM's slate into a formidable tool for police and other emergency responders. The app taps into the company's Computer Aided Dispatch system, which pulls in data from police databases, keeps dispatch centers just a tap away and allows the immediate filing of incident reports. The suite is getting its first public demo next week at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Nova Scotia. For more, check out the PR after the break.
Continue reading PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package
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PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ears-on with Klipsch's latest intra-aural headphone lineup: Image S4 (II) series, X7i
Earson with Klipsch's latest intraaural headphone lineup Image S4 II series, X7i
Been fancying a new set of in-ear headphones as of late? If you'll recall, it was last week when Klipsch quietly revealed its new $200 Image X7i and a trio of Image S4 (II) series in-ears. Today, after getting our mitts on the new Image One on-ear models at its NYC event, we were able check out the in-ears for the first time. To refresh your memory, the X7i is the company's first set crafted from ceramic materials, featuring balanced-armature drivers and intended as a step-down option from its $350 X10i. The S4 (II) models, on the other hand, are unsurprisingly refreshes of its tried and true S4 line. So if you're interested in finding out more, join us past the break for our detailed impressions.
Continue reading Ears-on with Klipsch's latest intra-aural headphone lineup: Image S4 (II) series, X7i
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Samsung Exynos 5 Dual white paper confirms new high marks for mobile graphics, memory performance
Our SIGGRAPH demo of the ARM Mali-T604 GPU gave a brief preview of Samsung's upcoming Exynos 5 Dual CPU, but now all the details of the company's next great processor are ready for us to view. Other than that GPU which includes support for up to WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) resolutions -- perfect for the 11.8-inch P10 mentioned in court filings -- and much more, the white paper uncovered by Android Authority also mentions support for features like Wi-Fi Display, high bandwidth LPDDR3 RAM running at up to 800MHz with a bandwidth of 12.8GBps, USB 3.0 and SATA III. It also claims the horsepower to decode 1080p video at 60fps in pretty much any codec, stereoscopic 3D plus handle graphics APIs like OpenGL ES 3.0 and OpenCL 1.1. All of this is comes courtesy of a dual-core 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 CPU built on the company's 32nm High-K Metal Gate process and Panel Self Refresh technology that avoids changing pixels unnecessarily to reduce power consumption. There's plenty of other buzzwords and benchmarks floating around in the PDF, you can check them out in the PDF linked below or just sit back and see what tablets and phones arrive with one of these -- or the competition from Qualcomm's S4 and NVIDIA's Tegra -- inside starting later this year.
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Permalink The Verge, Android Authority  |  sourceSamsung Exynos Blog, White paper (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

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Foursquare brings nearby check-ins back to BlackBerry and iPhone, saves our pub crawls
Foursquare brings nearby checkins back to BlackBerry and iPhone, will never let you miss a pub crawl again
The Foursquare 5.0 revamp wasn't all good news for some of the location service's most loyal fans: the design quietly scrapped the option to only see check-ins from nearby friends. After much clamoring, Foursquare has found a way to tuck it back in, starting with BlackBerry and iPhone users. A pull or a tap now filters between check-ins worldwide and just those from friends gallivanting around town -- just in case you'd rather not see your international friends enjoying the weekend before you do. Android phone owners will have to take Foursquare's word that their update is "coming soon," but those who can get it today on other platforms will likely appreciate knowing exactly when it's time to join friends at that fourth consecutive bar.
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Permalink Foursquare Blog  |  sourceApp Store, BlackBerry App World  | Email this | Comments

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Google, PayPal, VeriFone and US carriers band together to form Mobile Payments Committee
Google, PayPal, ISIS and US carriers band together to form Mobile Payments Committee
There's little doubt that mobile payments hold a ton of potential for the future of commerce, but without proper direction (and willingness for adoption), the technology remains little more than an impractical curiosity for the majority of consumers. In an effort to define a way forward for the mobile payment industry, a large number of heavy hitters have banded together under the umbrella of the Electronic Transactions Association to form the Mobile Payments Committee. Not only does the group include all four of the top US carriers, but also Google, Isis, VeriFone and PayPal. Add to that financial institutions such as Wells Fargo and Capital One, along with American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa, and you'll quickly realize that this group is playing to win.
Primary goals of the Mobile Payments Committee include fostering relationships with merchants, ensuring consumer access to modern payment methods, exploring best practices and ensuring interoperability of networks, equipment and financial institutions. The group will also engage in lobbying activities with legislators and regulators, and will additionally work to educate both merchants and consumers about the potential of mobile payments. With so many key players (and competitors) sitting around one big table, what wouldn't you give to be a fly on the wall during those meetings? For a little extra insight, just hop the break for the full PR.
Continue reading Google, PayPal, VeriFone and US carriers band together to form Mobile Payments Committee
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Apple, Samsung reveal sales data to the court, boast of millions served
Apple, Samsung reveal sales data to the court, boast of millions served
Have a smartphone from Seoul or Cupertino riding in the pocket of your jeans? You aren't the only one. New documents filed in Samsung and Apple's ongoing legal battle reveal specific sales data going back several years, confirming something we always knew to be true: there are a lot of devices out there. Samsung's filing reveals that it has sold 21.25 million "accused" phones and 1.4 million tablets from June 2010 to June of this year, and further breaks down the data by device and, in some cases, carrier. The Galaxy S II, for instance, takes the lion's share of US sales with over 4.1 million units sold between all models and carriers. The Epic 4G makes an appearance at 1.89 million sold, and the Captivate totals in at 1.39 million. Finally, the Samsung Prevail lives up to its moniker by netting 2.25 million in sales, lagging only behind the Galaxy S II -- though its $180 asking price brought in significantly less revenue per unit.
Apple's charts are a bit less specific, detailing the total sales of its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch lines rather than the sales of each specific hardware iteration -- though where it falters in detail it makes up in numbers. U.S. consumers have snatched up 85 million iPhones since 2007, alongside 34 million iPads and 46 million iPod touch devices -- bringing in almost $80 billion in revenue, collectively. Puts those quarterly reports into perspective, doesn't it? Check out both charts in full at the source link below.
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Apple, Samsung reveal sales data to the court, boast of millions served originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 22:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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SlingPlayer survey hints at possible expansion to game consoles
We haven't exactly been lacking in SlingPlayer-supporting devices as of late, but it looks like the placeshifting service could possibly be set to expand to an entirely new area: game consoles. That word comes from a new Sling survey obtained by Zatz Not Funny, which attempts to gauge customers' interest in a SlingPlayer app for game consoles (it specifically asks if they own an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Wii). As you might expect, however, details are light beyond that, with the survey only mentioning that such an app would let you watch video from your SlingBox in full HD, and that you'd naturally be able to control it with your console's controller. Of course, while it does come directly from Sling itself, it is also still just a survey, so we wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up too much for the time being.
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SlingPlayer survey hints at possible expansion to game consoles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Blake Patterson's Byte Cellar: the ultimate man cave for aspiring geeks
Blake Patterson's Byte Cellar the ultimate man cave for aspiring geeks
Apple IIGS? Of course. Commodore 64C? You betcha. NeXTstation Turbo Color? Booyah! These three classics are just part of Blake Patterson's tricked-out technology den that's known as the Byte Cellar -- and yes, we're seething with jealousy. Take notes, folks, because this is how it's done. In all, the Byte Cellar currently plays home to 69 computers, video game consoles, PDA's and other noteworthy gadgets. Need to switch between the Atari and the Amiga? Not a problem, as each system is thoughtfully laid out on a workbench that allows one to easily scoot between rigs. Even the walls bleed vintage cred with a Space Invaders motif, rare posters and hardware components from bygone eras.
Be sure to take it all in with a panorama photo that's been linked up below, along with a complete list of the equipment currently in Blake's collection. Regardless of whether you agree with his taste in hardware, one thing is for certain: the man must go through a lot of compressed air.
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Blake Patterson's Byte Cellar: the ultimate man cave for aspiring geeks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Lifehacker  |  sourceByte Cellar (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

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Researchers use bioimpedance as a biometric, let health monitor devices know who you are
Researchers use bioimpedance as a biometric, let health monitor devices know who you are
Wouldn't it be great if fitness and medical gadgets automatically knew who was wearing them? Researchers from Dartmouth have come up with a new way to provide health monitors just such an ability using a tiny electric current and a bioimpedance sensor. You see, each person's body provides a different amount of opposition to electrical current, so bioimpedance can be a unique biometric identifier. The researchers' idea is to create a bracelet that uses bioimpedance readings to recognize its wearer in a secure, unobtrusive manner and communicate that identity to other wearable devices.
Using such a bracelet, "the devices discover each other's presence, recognize that they are on the same body (and transitively learn from the wrist device whose body), develop shared secrets from which to derive encryption keys, and establish reliable and secure communications." As opposed to other biometrics or password authentication, bioimpedance readings can be taken passively, which is much more appealing than remembering passcodes or scanning fingerprints and retinas. For now, the researchers have created an eight-electrode proof-of-concept bracelet, but its accuracy leaves something to be desired -- it correctly identifies its wearer only 80 to 90 percent of the time, whereas fingerprint recognition has a failure rate of less than 1 in 1,000. So, we're a ways off from bioimpedance-based security, but research is ongoing, and you can learn all about it at the source below.
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Permalink Technology Review  |  sourceUSENIX  | Email this | Comments

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Mystery Samsung GT-P8110 tablet passes through the FCC (update: likely not the P10)
Mystery Samsung GTP8110 tablet passes through the FCC
We know our fair share about the redesigned Galaxy Note 10.1, but wait -- what's this? Another Samsung tablet, the GT-P8110, has made a trip through the FCC to complicate what was looking to be a simple near-future strategy for the Korean tech giant. The likely Galaxy Tab variant isn't a familiar design by any stretch, with curved sides and the absence of a back antenna window pointing to a change in aesthetics. The wireless features of the 16GB model at the agency are the conservative elements -- there's just 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC. Our only current hint at what the unknown slate might be is a mention of the 11.8-inch P10 in court evidence, but we don't know if that's what the P8110 represents or if the P10 is even on track for 2012, as Samsung's roadmap hinted in the past. We're not counting on Mobile Unpacked to shed any more light on the subject than the FCC does today.
Update: We're less inclined to think it's the P10, since the dimensions as we understand them wouldn't realistically support that 11.8-inch screen.
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Permalink Liliputing, Netbooknews  |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments

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Blizzard suffers security breach, encrypted passwords and authenticator data compromised
Change your passwords Blizzard suffers security breach, security questions, encrypted passwords compromisedAccording to a recent Blizzard security update, now might be a good time cook up a new password. Blizzard's security team found that its internal network has been illegally accessed, and answers to personal security questions, authenticator data and cryptographically scrambled Battle.net passwords have found their way into the perpetrator's hands. The team is confident, however, that the compromised data isn't enough to give the attacker access to user accounts, and says that there is no evidence to suggest financial data (credit cards, billing addresses and customer names) were accessed. Blizzard President Mike Morhaine recommends that users update their passwords all the same, and we couldn't agree more. Check out his official statement at the source link below and get that Diablo III account locked down.
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Permalink Massively (Joystiq)  |  sourceBlizzard  | Email this | Comments

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Current Caller ID app adds social info, weather details, suggests a good time to ring back
Current Caller ID
If staring at the incoming callers' visage just wasn't enough, Current's Caller ID might worth a try. The utility app adds a raft of extra detail to your smartphone when it rings, from recent tweets and status updates through to weather conditions and even location data. After loading up the app, you can connect to your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, which Current Caller ID combines with your existing contact list. Based on your use history, the app will even offer up a time to return missed calls. There's the nice addition of some metrics between you and your phonebook, visualizing that precarious balance between text messages and calls with your significant other -- or a timegraph of when you call Mom. These stats are possibly more useful than the caller ID features, and while the design does jar a little with the typical Android aesthetic, it's hard to complain when the app's free. If you're willing to forgive those minor visual flaws, the download awaits at the source below.
Continue reading Current Caller ID app adds social info, weather details, suggests a good time to ring back
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Permalink Lifehacker  |  sourceCurrent Caller ID (Google Play)  | Email this | Comments

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Roto-a-Matic retro vending machine injection molds toys while you wait (video)
Roto-a-Matic retro vending machine injection molds toys while you wait (video)
The advent of 3D printing is most certainly upon us, and its helped injection molding make the crucial transition from dated tech to a retro novelty. The Roto-a-Matic has recently gone live in toy maker Rotofugi's store in Chicago, and will create a polyethylene plastic figurine for you in under a minute, provided you feed it a token. Rotofugi and product design company Squibbles INK have given the vintage Mold-a-Rama vending machine a new lease of life, and now they are looking for artists to contribute designs for future molds. Currently a one-eyed dragon designed by sculptor Tim Biskup is on offer for Chicago-based hipsters, but for the wind-averse, a token-to-toy video demo resides beyond the fold.
Continue reading Roto-a-Matic retro vending machine injection molds toys while you wait (video)
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Roto-a-Matic retro vending machine injection molds toys while you wait (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePSFK  | Email this | Comments

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Skype now selling prepaid cards in Mexico, makes it easier to get unlimited calling plans
Skype now selling prepaid cards in Mexico, makes it easier to get unlimited calling plans
Believe it or not, prepaid cards are indeed a thing south of the US border. In fact, the majority of folks in Mexico often choose to go this route rather than sticking with some sort of monthly contract. Not surprisingly, Skype's done its homework and has taken note of this situation, as the Microsoft-owned service has announced its plans to start selling a couple of prepaid card options in Mexico. For starters, there's a 100 pesos (around $8) per-month deal which offers an unlimited calling plan to both mobile and landlines in the US, while the pay-as-you-go sheet costs 150 pesos but charges by the minute at a modest 30 cents and includes calls to more than 170 countries. According to Skype, these cards will be available at multiple stores all over Mexico, such as Best Buy, Radio Shack, 7 Eleven and El Palacio de Hierro.
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Permalink CNET  |  sourceSkype  | Email this | Comments

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CM9's first stable release lands for GSM Galaxy Nexus
CM9's first stable release lands for GSM Galaxy Nexus
Well, it's certainly taken a while, but the popular CyanogenMod finally has a stable version of its ninth iteration. It's yet to hit the ROM's homepage, but that's probably because its only available for the GSM Galaxy Nexus at the moment. The Ice Cream Sandwich-based ROM has clearly posed some issues for the devs, but it's worming its way towards a wide release and work on CM10 (which is based on Jelly Bean) is already progressing quite nicely. In many ways moving to a build of Android 4.0.4 will be a step backwards for those running stock 4.1, but CM9's support for themes, gestures and the top-notch DSP equalizer will surely lure a few away from the official Google release. Hit up the source to download the stable Maguro-friendly release for yourself.
[Thanks, Jul]
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CM9's first stable release lands for GSM Galaxy Nexus originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NVIDIA Q2 earnings bounce back through Tegra: $119 million profit on $1.04 billion in revenue
NVIDIA logo
NVIDIA's fiscal performance in its second quarter shows the rewards of patience in the mobile sphere. It just saw its profit double versus a glum first quarter to $119 million, even though the company only slightly edged ahead in revenue to $1.04 billion. In explaining the success, the company is quick to point to a confluence of events that all worked in favor of its bank account: a slew of Tegra 3 phones and tablets like the Transformer Pad TF300 made NVIDIA's quarter the brightest, but it could also point to a much-expanded GeForce 600 line on the PC side and the shipments of the first phones with NVIDIA-badged Icera chips. The graphics guru expects its revenue to climb more sharply in the heat of the third quarter as well -- between the cult hit Nexus 7 tablet and a role as a major partner for Windows RT, NVIDIA has at least a temporary license to print money.
Continue reading NVIDIA Q2 earnings bounce back through Tegra: $119 million profit on $1.04 billion in revenue
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BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE hands-on
BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE handson
RIM's attempts to get a cellular-equipped version of the BlackBerry PlayBook have been troubled, to say the least. The company signalled its intentions around Mobile World Congress last February, only to watch as carriers backed off -- partly as RIM focused its attention on LTE, and partly after carriers grew skittish over sales of the WiFi version. A year and a half later, we finally have an LTE version, and with a faster 1.5GHz processor to boot. But do 4G data and a processor bump make all the difference? And does the upgrade stand a realistic shot in a competitive field that has moved on since the original PlayBook? We'll find out in our hands-on.
Gallery: BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE
Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE hands-on
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BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Available Tags:3D , HTC , Android , CPU , NASA , Sony , UK , Google , Samsung , BlackBerry , tablet , security , Skype , Galaxy , NVIDIA , 4G ,
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