Workers at Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory strike in reaction to new iPhone 5 quality standards
Unbox that shiny new iPhone 5 only to find it marred with scratches and blemishes? Good news: Apple is asking Foxconn to adhere to stricter quality demands for its flagship handset. Not so great news: workers at the firm's Zhengzhou factory are striking over the demands. According to China Labor Watch, three to four thousand workers stepped off the production line to protest the new standards, which only allow for a 0.02mm appearance defect. "it's tough under such stringent quality requirements," writes Sina Weibo user and Foxconn employee Yefudao. "A 0.02mm appearance defect is already beyond that of our vision. With such a demanding task, worker mental pressure becomes so immense that they have to vent it."
China Labor Watch reports that the issue stems not only from the higher quality demands, but the fact that workers are being asked to meet them without receiving the training necessary to do so. The situation hasn't broken out into a riot, but a dispute between line workers and quality control inspectors reportedly sparked a fight that led to property damage, injury and some hospitalization. Production lines have temporarily been frozen by management while Foxconn deals with the situation.
Workers at Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory strike in reaction to new iPhone 5 quality standards originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Oct 2012 01:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Chevy Volt EcoHub app tells drivers how little they pay to charge, goads them into staying green (video)
GM's OnStar team would really like us to stay on the electric side of the Chevy Volt's powertrain as much as possible. That's the selling point, after all. Rather than simply preach green driving and hope for the best, the division is testing a new EcoHub app that reminds Volt drivers just how miserly their plug-in hybrids can be. Qualifying owners who opt in or subscribe to OnStar have the Volt's energy usage costs compared to their home's total electricity bill, showing how much cheaper it can be to avoid the gas pump. There's more if money isn't enough of a motivator -- the app also builds in a counter that estimates how much gas Volt drivers are saving nationwide. The eco-friendly ego boost is currently limited to Android users participating in Pecan Street's smart grid project in Austin, but long-term plans have the app reaching iOS and all Volt fans eager to justify their ride.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Mobile
Chevy Volt EcoHub app tells drivers how little they pay to charge, goads them into staying green (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 23:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Seeing is believing, Disney crafts 3D printed optics (video)
A group of engineers from Disney Research have crafted a new method to create interactive objects using 3D printers. Referred to as "printed optics," the lure of this technology is the ability to transform inert 3D models into interactive subjects by embedding 3D printed light piping into an object with minimal electronic components. Illuminated by LEDs and mobile projectors, this new breakthrough in optics has the potential to replace LCD and LED screens to display information on smaller interactive devices. If you find yourself scratching your head trying to visualize such a mojo in action, then check out the video after the break. It will enlighten you.
Continue reading Seeing is believing, Disney crafts 3D printed optics (video)
Filed under: Misc, Peripherals, Alt
Seeing is believing, Disney crafts 3D printed optics (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Adafruit releases WebIDE alpha for Raspberry Pi, eases beginners into coding
If you've been intrigued by the Raspberry Pi but were hesitant to get one because you're new to Linux, Adafruit has a solution for you. The team that brought us the Raspberry Pi Education Linux Distro has come up with a special WebIDE (Web Integrated Development Environment) designed to run on the affordable barebones computer. It's entirely web-based so there's no need to install any software -- just launch a browser, hook up your Pi, and you're ready to go. To make life easier for coders, the platform has a terminal built in, plus there's an automatic updater included to keep folks running only the freshest version of WebIDE. It's currently at the alpha stage, so only experienced users should install it for now, but Adafruit's hoping to roll out a stable release suitable for programmers of all levels sometime soon.
Adafruit releases WebIDE alpha for Raspberry Pi, eases beginners into coding originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Verizon Windows Phone 8X may have passed through the FCC
Now, we don't know for sure what the PM23100 that just made its way through the FCC is, but we'd put pretty good odds on it being Verizon's Windows Phone 8X. Only a couple of hours after what appears to be the AT&T-bound 8X was given the thumbs up by regulators, yet another HTC Windows Phone appeared, with an incredibly similar model number, CDMA radios and compatibility with Big Red's 700MHz LTE. Knowing that it's an HTC Windows Phone and that it packs NFC really doesn't leave too many possibilities. The one pleasant surprise, it's also compatible with GSM frequencies 850 and 1900,, so you'll be able to roam the globe with just the swap of a SIM. Hit up the source to see the filling for yourself.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC, Verizon
Verizon Windows Phone 8X may have passed through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jay-Z streaming Brooklyn show live tomorrow, in a YouTube state of mind
Between the end of an eight night string of shows, the whole Brooklyn Nets thing and the launch of a new YouTube channel, Jay-Z's got plenty to celebrate. And just to show he cares, he'll be streaming the last of his shows from the Nets' own Barclays Center tomorrow at 9:30 PM ET to celebrate. Sure it's not quite like being there, but at least you don't have to deal with the post-show traffic at the Atlantic Avenue station after the show.
Continue reading Jay-Z streaming Brooklyn show live tomorrow, in a YouTube state of mind
Filed under: Internet
Jay-Z streaming Brooklyn show live tomorrow, in a YouTube state of mind originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kindle Paperwhite gets its own jailbreak, E Ink spews everywhere
If you're an avid tinkerer who managed to secure a Kindle Paperwhite before they sold out, then we have some news that may well brighten up your day. A jailbreak based off of the hack for the Kindle Touch has been developed for Amazon's new e-reader and is now available for fearless Paperwhite owners. If you're up to the task, your bravery will award you some elite features which include: using your device as a weather station display and serial terminal access with Raspberry Pi systems. If all of this sounds like a fun weekend project waiting to happen, head on over to source link for step by step instructions.
Filed under: Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite gets its own jailbreak, E Ink spews everywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkSlashGear | MobileRead forums | Email this | Comments Read More ...
AT&T launches VoteHub, brings the presidential election to your pocket
Need yet another constant stream of election information? AT&T's joined up with the Pew Center to bring election coverage to your pocket, courtesy of VoteHub. The new app is a "nonpartisan clearinghouse for essential voter information," including candidate info, AP press coverage, election results and the requisite social sharing through sites like Twitter, Facebook and Google+. The app's available now for Android, with an iOS version coming in the near future.
Continue reading AT&T launches VoteHub, brings the presidential election to your pocket
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
AT&T launches VoteHub, brings the presidential election to your pocket originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Leap of faith: Felix Baumgartner's historic jump from the edge of space
BASE jumping might just be about to enter the mainstream. What has typically been considered a fringe activity, reserved for thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies, could soon be firmly cemented in the public view. For the uninitiated, BASE jumping is like skydiving, without the plane. Participants throw themselves off bridges, antennae, buildings, cliffs, and well, whatever high object they can find. It's not illegal, "in theory", but as many of the chosen launch spots are public or private property -- or pose a risk to public safety -- gaining access to, or jumping from them, can mean stepping over the legal line.
This otherwise obstreperous activity has largely kept to itself, occasionally popping up in magazines, or YouTube videos, but -- all going well -- on Monday that changes. Serial boundary pusher (of wing suit across the English Channel fame) Felix Baumgartner is set to leap, in the most literal sense of the word, from relative obscurity into the history books. How? By jumping to earth from the edge of space, likely breaking the sound barrier as he does so. How does one go from humble Austrian beginnings to a capsule 120,000 feet (about 23 miles) above the Earth's surface? Make a comparatively tiny leap past the break to find out.
Continue reading Leap of faith: Felix Baumgartner's historic jump from the edge of space
Leap of faith: Felix Baumgartner's historic jump from the edge of space originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Dude recreates first-gen iPod in-browser, won't put 1,000 songs in your pocket
Here's a bit of web fun to liven up your weekend: a digital artist by the name of Pritesh Desai has recreated a fully functional first-generation iPod that you can play directly in your browser. In remembrance of Steve Jobs, Desai built the faux iPod using HTML5, CSS3, and a touch of jQuery. You can drag the click wheel around just like with the real deal, change the volume, hit play / pause and even skip tracks. Especially nice is the addition of Extras like the Clock and the Calendar. Unfortunately, you won't be able to play any of your own tunes, but Desai had compiled a list of Creative Commons songs, so you can see how the player works. The next step is for someone to fill this up with hits of the early aughts ("Last Nite" by The Strokes, perhaps?) so you can truly travel back in time to the heydays of Windows XP and the Enron scandal.
Filed under: Misc
Dude recreates first-gen iPod in-browser, won't put 1,000 songs in your pocket originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkGizmodo | Inventika Solutions (1), (2) | Email this | Comments Read More ...
Parrot Zikmu Solo reaches US in November, makes a tower of wireless sound yours for $999
Parrot has taken some time trotting out the Zikmu Solo speaker since we first saw it at CES, but those enamored with very vertical audio can rest easy now that the unit has a North American release schedule. Both Canada and the US can buy the Philippe Starck-crafted speaker in November, when it will cost $999 for Americans in its black and white guises (sorry, no red for now). While that's a lot to pay for a 100W speaker, Parrot is counting on the unique acoustic design, a conventional iOS dock and a mix of Bluetooth, NFC and WiFi to tempt people away from the land of horizontal sound. It's undoubtedly one of the easiest ways to make a speaker dock the focus of a room -- and that's part of the point, isn't it?
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video
Parrot Zikmu Solo reaches US in November, makes a tower of wireless sound yours for $999 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Alcatel intros OneTouch T10 tablet with 7-inch display and Ice Cream Sandwich
Even though Alcatel does have devices out in the market like that Venture or OT986, the company still isn't exactly known for its hardware offerings. With the 7-inch (800 x 480) OneTouch T10, Alcatel's entering the overcrowded Android tablet space, and doing so without much flare -- especially when compared side-by-side with, say, Google's flagship, the Nexus 7. Something also tells us the OneTouch T10 might just be one of those reincarneted slates, but that's not to say some won't appreciate the inclusion of Ice Cream Sandwich alongside a 1GHz, single-core Rockchip CPU, 1GB RAM and 4GB of internal storage (expandable up to 32GB via microSD). Details on pricing and availability are still a tad bit scarce, though word on the web is it'll be priced at €130 (around $170) once it's up for grabs in the US and Europe.
Filed under: Tablets
Alcatel intros OneTouch T10 tablet with 7-inch display and Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nielsen says game consoles get men to use TV more: hurray, we think
We're not sure if we should always cheer figures that reflect sedentary behavior. Still, chalk one up for greater (if superficial) gender equality. Nielsen finds that, as of this past March, men who owned a modern game console like the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or Wii were using their TVs almost as much as women: while males in the broader population typically spend 37 fewer minutes in front of the big screen every day than females, that gap shrank to a negligible 11 minutes when console use came into play. Unfortunately, the agency doesn't say just what's getting men to tune in for that much longer. Gaming is the most likely culprit, but a raft of streaming video options could have some of those refined couch potatoes watching Hulu or Netflix instead of playing one more round of Gears of War. If consoles have people of all genders spending more time together, we're in favor of it; given that men still spend over twice as much time on consoles as women, though, it's clear there's still a bridge to cross if we want more of a balance in the kinds of TV activity we enjoy.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Alt, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo
Nielsen says game consoles get men to use TV more: hurray, we think originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Likely HTC Windows Phone 8X with AT&T-friendly LTE surfaces at the FCC, just in time
Isn't that convenient. With only weeks left to go before the official Windows Phone 8 launch event, what's likely a version of the HTC Windows Phone 8X with North American LTE support has stopped by the FCC for approval. The PM23300 variant we see here (the international 8X is the PM23200) supports both the needed 700MHz LTE band for its eventual appearance at AT&T as well as AWS for wider AT&T coverage and the big three Canadian carriers. All are good signs that HTC is just about ready, although T-Mobile and Verizon subscribers might not want to get overly excited just yet -- there's no AWS 3G, CDMA or Verizon-ready 700MHz LTE to be found on this 8X, which shows that any US launch will still demand multiple editions. The others won't be far behind in the FCC race with that November release window already locked in.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Likely HTC Windows Phone 8X with AT&T-friendly LTE surfaces at the FCC, just in time originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Japan's LED-stacked cubesat will burn Morse code into the heavens
If you thought cloud writing was cool, then how about a message from space burnt into the night sky? A group of unassuming cubesats recently left the comfort of the ISS and joined Earth's orbit -- among them was FITSAT-1 (aka Niwaka), a four-inch-cubed Japanese satellite covered in high-powered LEDs. Its mission is to broadcast the message "Hi this is Niwaka
While its creator, Professor Takushi Tanaka, has said the Morse broadcast has "no practical aim", we think it would make a good emergency beacon for natural disasters (or, more worryingly, alien invasions). FITSAT-1 will try and fulfill all requests for appearances, but it can't control the weather, so you'd better hope for a clear night if it visits your part of the world. If you're as excited as we are to see it in action, bookmark the source links below, which should be updated with its orbit schedule in the near future. And, even if you don't speak Japanese, the video after the break will give you an idea of what to expect.
Continue reading Japan's LED-stacked cubesat will burn Morse code into the heavens
Japan's LED-stacked cubesat will burn Morse code into the heavens originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |Fukuoka Institute of Technology (1), (2) | Email this | Comments Read More ...
Dish gives up effort to turn Blockbuster into a Netflix competitor
It's been an especially bumpy road for the Blockbuster brand these past few years, and things just got a bit more rough. In an interview with Bloomberg, Dish Network founder and CEO Charlie Ergen confirmed that the company is abandoning its current efforts to challenge Netflix with Blockbuster, saying that it no longer plans to use the brand as a video streaming or DVD-by-mail service in the US. Ergen did say that Dish had other plans for Blockbuster, but he didn't elaborate on what those may be. He also seems to be fairly resigned to the whole matter, saying "worst case, we'll take our money after having wasted some time, not much money, and life goes on."
Dish gives up effort to turn Blockbuster into a Netflix competitor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Australia Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder goes live as the world's quickest radio telescope
Australia's Shire of Murchison is quickly becoming a hotbed for radio telescopes. As of of Friday, the territory is operating the world's fastest radio telescope in the form of the Australia Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). The 36-antenna grid's eventual use of six phased array feeds, each with 188 receivers, will let it scan a field of view 150 times larger than the moon's visible area while processing that information much faster than a typical single-pixel radio telescope feed -- CSIRO estimates that an image of the Centaurus A galaxy that would take 10,000 hours to process with rivals should take five minutes with ASKAP. Ultimately, the array should grow to 60 antennas as part of the Square Kilometer Array, which includes South Africa in its hunt for pulsars, quasars and other unique parts of the universe. Just don't get your hopes up for booking alien listening sessions anytime soon. Commissioning started virtually as soon as the ribbon was cut, and scientists have already scheduled their usage slots for the next five years. We're sure we'll get over any frustration when we see the first ASKAP results published within the next year.
Australia Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder goes live as the world's quickest radio telescope originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Print your own headphones on a MakerBot Replicator and beat Dre at his own game
As 3D printers become more and more accessible to a consumer audience, one question lingers above the rest: why? Granted, they're incredibly cool, but what, if any, are the practical implication of such a technology? For the most part, the great ambassadors of 3D printing have largely been printable toys -- cool, but not particularly useful. The question, as posed by John Mabry reads as follows,
What if printed prototypes could become actual products? Meaning, once off the print bed an object could be assembled without any tools and be made functional by readily attainable components.
An attempt at the answer comes in the form of the 13:30 printable headphones, which can by created on a MakerBot Replicator and coupled with some off-the-shelf components, making for a pair of slick-looking, functional headphones that, at the very least, will help you stand out from the rest of the Beats By Dre enthusiasts on a crowded subway train.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Alt
Print your own headphones on a MakerBot Replicator and beat Dre at his own game originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkTeague Labs | Thingiverse | Email this | Comments Read More ...
ARIS 100-watt wireless speaker shipping for $499 with DLNA and Windows 8 certification
If you're on the look-out for a decently boombastic wireless speaker but can't quite stump up three grand for the latest B&O, then perhaps the ARIS from Aperion Audio is worth a gander. Having finally emerged from pre-order status, it's available from Amazon and other retailers priced at $499, which gets you a 100-watt (RMS) output from six internal speakers housed in a 15-inch wide single-piece aluminum enclosure held up on a red wire frame. The ARIS handles regular DLNA and is also certified with work with Windows 7 and 8 sources over your home WiFi network -- just in case you should happen to have any cash left after that pricey Surface Pro.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless
ARIS 100-watt wireless speaker shipping for $499 with DLNA and Windows 8 certification originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Rovio hints at Angry Birds tie-in with Star Wars on October 8th, Red Bird Five standing by
The green pigs have had their moment in the sun: it's time for the Angry Birds to come back. Rovio Mobile has posted a teaser of a collaboration between its frustrated avians and Star Wars that will get a grand reveal on October 8th at Toys R Us' Times Square location in New York City. No clear giveaways exist as to what's coming, although Rovio is promising animations, comics and other material in the weeks ahead -- we imagine it means more than a toy line, as unique as that can be. But does it mean an Angry Birds Space add-on that goes well beyond the Martian landscape, an entirely new game or something else altogether? We've asked the company for more details and will let you know if we're given more information. In the meantime, get ready for what's likely to be a geek culture explosion.
[Thanks, Jaakko]
Filed under: Gaming
Rovio hints at Angry Birds tie-in with Star Wars on October 8th, Red Bird Five standing by originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkRovio Mobile (Twitter), Joystiq | Angry Birds (Tumblr) | Email this | Comments Read More ...
Square making Starbucks debut in November, will accept digital tips in 2013
If you're wondering when Starbucks is finally going to get around to rolling out Square, wonder no more. The company announced that starting in November customers will be able to pay for their no-fat soy mocha lattes using the platform founded by Jack Dorsey. Of course, being able to use Square Wallet at the nation's largest coffee chain is a major milestone for the mobile payment scene as a whole, but loyal customers likely already have a Starbucks card and its associated app. Only problem with both Square and the Starbucks app is you still need to carry cash to tip your barista. Thankfully, at some point in 2013, the company will start accepting tips through its own app and Square Wallet. Which also means you'll be out of convenient excuses for not tipping, you cheap bastard.
Continue reading Square making Starbucks debut in November, will accept digital tips in 2013
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
Square making Starbucks debut in November, will accept digital tips in 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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German court sides with Motorola, says it didn't violate Microsoft patent (updated)
Perhaps it's not as loud or high profile as Apple vs. Samsung, but there is another patent war raging that is no less vicious between Motorola and Microsoft. The two have been at each others' throats for a few years now and, while Google has offered an olive branch or two to Apple, we've yet to see a similar gesture made in Redmond's direction. The latest chapter in this saga sees the regional court in Mannheim handing Moto a victory in a complaint filed by Microsoft over a patent relating to a set of mobile phone APIs. Its a rare bright spot for the new Google subsidiary, which has struggled to score legal points both in Germany in the US. Microsoft has scored several injunctions against Motorola products, while the lone ban awarded to the phone manufacturer remains unenforceable pending a breach of contract lawsuit. For a bit more detail dig into the more coverage link.
Update: Microsoft's VP and Deputy General Counsel, David Howard, just issued this statement in response to the ruling.
This decision does not impact multiple injunctions Microsoft has already been awarded and has enforced against Motorola products in Germany. It remains that Motorola is broadly infringing Microsoft's intellectual property, and we hope it will join the vast majority of Android device makers by licensing Microsoft's patents.
Filed under: Mobile, Microsoft, Google
German court sides with Motorola, says it didn't violate Microsoft patent (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nokia Lumia 920 to be a Rogers exclusive in Canada, we wonder if red is an option
Where goeth AT&T, so often goeth its one-time partner Rogers. That's certainly true for the Nokia Lumia 920: Rogers has confirmed that it will have an exclusive on the Windows Phone 8 flagship in Canada, much as AT&T has a lock on the device in the US. While there's no pricing or color options yet, the Canuck model will share the November shipping window and LTE support, and it's easy to imagine Rogers gravitating towards its signature (and coincidentally patriotic) red. Other Canadian carriers haven't chipped in about the Lumia 820; if history is any indicator, though, we'd anticipate the less expensive portion of Nokia's lineup going Telus' way.
Continue reading Nokia Lumia 920 to be a Rogers exclusive in Canada, we wonder if red is an option
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia
Nokia Lumia 920 to be a Rogers exclusive in Canada, we wonder if red is an option originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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TomTom Navigator hits (some) Android devices, we go hands-on
TomTom just released its Android navigation app on Google Play to the robot-toting hordes, some three years after its iOS version debuted. Unfortunately, quite a number of newer smartphones, like the Galaxy S III, aren't yet compatible, due to a current resolution limitation of 800 or 854 x 480 (WVGA or FWVGA). That didn't deter us from wanting to take it for a spin anyway, so we took our old Galaxy S out of mothballs -- and there's no place better to sample a GPS maker's wares than rural France, which has endless tiny tracks criss-crossing the countryside. To see how we made out, head past the break for the rest of the story.
Continue reading TomTom Navigator hits (some) Android devices, we go hands-on
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
TomTom Navigator hits (some) Android devices, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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3M, Roku team up for Streaming Projector to ship this November for $299
3M's partnered up with Roku to provide a "big-screen" cinema experience from the comfort of your home. Announced today at a joint event, the Streaming Projector is a 4.3 x 4.2 x 2.0 inch palm-sized device that can project images in WVGA resolution up to 120-inches across walls or any other smooth surface of your choosing with a brightness of 60 lumens. The 1lb pod-like gadget has a battery life rated at just under three hours -- a little more than the running time of most blockbuster movies -- and also features a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio out, in addition to an inbuilt speaker. Of course, you need media to pair with it and that's where Roku's included streaming stick comes in handy, delivering an array of commercial content over dual-band WiFi. It's set to ship sometime this November for $299 as an Amazon exclusive.
3M, Roku team up for Streaming Projector to ship this November for $299 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |3M | Email this | Comments Read More ...
Engadget Podcast 312 - 10.04.2012
With TechCrunch's Jordan Crook on board, the Engadget Podcasters explore the Wild Wild East of technology, AKA CEATEC, and also go for topics closer to home like the new Kindle and a thermostat. What we're saying here, basically, is that we've got both you and your grandma covered in this, the three hundred twelfth iteration of the Engadget Podcast.
Hosts: Brian Heater, Dana Wollman
Guest: Jordan Crook
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Orbital - Never
03:00 - Toyota's Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition
03:15 - Tokyo University of Science shows off robotic suit powered by pneumatic artificial muscles (video)
07:49 - Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review
19:02 - Deutsche Telekom and MetroPCS agree on $1.5 billion T-Mobile merger (updated)
42:03 - Zuckerberg: more than one billion people using Facebook actively each month
44:54 - AT&T adds HTC One X+ and One VX to its future lineup, will arrive in the 'coming months'
50:30 - Nest Learning Thermostat gets refreshed with a slimmer design, improved scheduling features
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Filed under: Podcasts
Engadget Podcast 312 - 10.04.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Distro Issue 60: Infinitec's rebirth gets Kickstarted in the Dubai desert
Another week has come to a close and that signals the arrival of a brand spanking new issue of our weekly e-magazine. This time out, Darren Murph makes the trek to the United Arab Emirates to chat with Ahmad Zahran about how crowd sourcing has jumpstarted his company, Infinitec, for a second time. We also pay a visit to to the Paris Auto Show to take a gander at the latest in transportation tech, while Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite and the Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G get the full review treatment. "Eyes-on" tackles a suitcase full of sound, "Weekly Stat" offers a look at data consumption amongst Android users and NVIDIA's Nick Stam tells all in the Q&A. Grab a spot in your favorite reading chair because the latest issue is just a few clicks away.
Distro Issue 60 PDF
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Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile
Distro Issue 60: Infinitec's rebirth gets Kickstarted in the Dubai desert originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple's Tim Cook remembers Steve Jobs' life on the anniversary of his death
On the first anniversary of his passing, Apple has converted the front page usually monopolized by the latest shiny gadgets to a tribute to its late co-founder and CEO. "Remembering Steve" cycles through some iconic images and moments in the tech pioneer's life, including the memorable launches of the iMac and iPhone. It's a touching tribute, coupled with a hopeful note from his successor, Tim Cook, who asks the rest of us to reflect on Jobs' life, while adding that he considers the company's current output a tribute to his "memory and everything he stood for."
Filed under: Apple
Apple's Tim Cook remembers Steve Jobs' life on the anniversary of his death originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Edifier releases the Esiena and Bric Bluetooth speakers for iOS devices
With the arrival of the iPhone 5 and its legacy-wrecking Lightning port, this holiday season is likely to be the last that heavily features the now-obsolete dock connector. Two products caught in the wrong turn of history are Edifier's new pair of iOS device docks for home and on the go. If you need a "big" sound in a modest package, then the Esiena Bluetooth offers 3-inch full-range drivers and a class D digital amplifier -- and it's also packing Auxiliary, USB, SD card inputs and a digital FM radio. If you're more the adventuring type, then the portable Bric Bluetooth offers 2.75-inch full range drivers and the same class D amplifier in addition to a traveling pouch to keep the hardware safe on your travels. The Esiena will set you back $300 and the Bric a slender $100, with both arriving in the US and Canada from today.
Continue reading Edifier releases the Esiena and Bric Bluetooth speakers for iOS devices
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Edifier releases the Esiena and Bric Bluetooth speakers for iOS devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Behringer iNuke Boom Junior shrinks a giant iOS dock, won't trigger as many earthquake warnings
As enraptured as we might be with Behringer's monolithic iNuke Boom, the 8-foot-long frame and 10,000W output don't really lend themselves to a home installation. Not unless we want to produce false positives on the USGS' earthquake meters, anyway. We're happy to say the company has addressed that domestic oversight with the iNuke Boom Junior. The iOS- and iPod-capable speaker dock won't launch nearly as large-scale an audio assault at 50W, but it's also less than a twentieth of the size of its parent; no one will need a forklift to get Junior into the living room. In spite of the less than ego-inflating dimensions, the smaller system appears balanced with discrete woofer, tweeter and mid-range components as well as separate bass control. We just wish it was slightly more futureproof. As glad as we are that the iNuke Boom Junior's $180 price at Costco spares us from raiding our retirement funds, the speaker is still using a pre-Lightning dock connector and lacks any wireless audio -- iPhone 5 owners will have to turn to an adapter or the aux-in jack. At least we won't be violating any local noise laws in the process.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video, Apple
Behringer iNuke Boom Junior shrinks a giant iOS dock, won't trigger as many earthquake warnings originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 08:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toys R Us launches family-friendly internet movie service, plans Tabeo access, HD video and more
Like Amazon, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble before it, Toys R Us is following the path of being a retailer distributing its own branded hardware (Tabeo, Nabi) with an accompanying app store, and then supplementing those offerings with a digital media service. ToysrusMovies.com is a Rovi-powered digital storefront currently available to PCs, Macs and other Flash compatible devices, with an app planned for the Tabeo soon, as well as Blu-ray players, HDTVs and other mobile devices including iOS and Android. The content consists of "more than 4,000" titles from big names like Disney, Fox, NBCUniversal and more, available for 24-hour rental starting at $2.99, and $5.99 for download or streaming. Right out of the gate its scored an early release of Madagascar 3 two weeks before the disc release, currently a $16 purchase with "unlimited" streaming to activated devices, with downloads to up to 5 devices. Now of course, all it needs is some compatible devices, but building an ecosystem is a process, and may be key to separating Toys R Us' offerings from the competition. Check out more details in the press release after the break or at the site.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD
Toys R Us launches family-friendly internet movie service, plans Tabeo access, HD video and more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 07:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Microsoft buys PhoneFactor, adds smartphone authentication to its cloud services
With a hand-in-glove relationship with the world of business, it's key that Microsoft ensures it can keep companies data safe. That's what prompted Steve Ballmer to whip out his checkbook to snap up PhoneFactor, a multi-factor authentication company that uses smartphones instead of code-generating security tokens. With its new toy, Redmond plans to integrate the feature into its services like SharePoint, Azure and Office 365, letting users sign on with their own device as a key element of the signing in process.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Microsoft
Microsoft buys PhoneFactor, adds smartphone authentication to its cloud services originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 06:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony stops Xperia Tablet S sales due to gaps between display panel and case
When Sony's designers put a port flap on the Xperia Tablet S in an effort to make it splash-proof, they surely didn't count on their good intentions being undermined by leaky build quality in other areas. According to Reuters though, that's exactly what has happened: a number of tablets have come off the production line with gaps between the screen and the chassis, and it must be a significant proportion because Sony has now decided to halt sales until it can get the problem fixed. The company is also promising to repair any of the 100,000 tablets that have already shipped, but doesn't expect the issue to be serious enough to dampen its earnings (which, let's face it, could already do with some time out in the sun).
Sony stops Xperia Tablet S sales due to gaps between display panel and case originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 05:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Scarlet Motors partners with Metropolia University for electric sports car development
It wasn't long ago we witnessed the birth of EV manufacturer Scarlet Motors, and it's growing up so fast. The company has just announced it has united with the Finnish Metropolia University of Applied Sciences to accelerate the development of its all-electric sports car. Metropolia isn't new to the EV game, and already has the achievement of the E-RA sporty prototype to its name. Students actively work on research and development projects, and Scarlet's CEO feels the "unique" university environment will "push the boundaries." Don't expect them to have all the fun, however, as Scarlet is creating an online community of motorists to help steer its open design process, even if it does need boffins to build it.
Filed under: Transportation
Scarlet Motors partners with Metropolia University for electric sports car development originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 04:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PBS mini-documentary explores indie game creation, shows what they do that majors can't (video)
The indie game world has undergone a metamorphosis over the past few years, transforming from an often overlooked niche into as much a staple of the game industry as once-every-year blockbusters like the Call of Duty series. It's that fast-rising side of gaming that PBS' Off Book has explored in a succinct documentary. As both developers and game journalists explain, the small and more flexible nature of indie teams lets them delve into game concepts, art and sound that major developers typically avoid -- you probably wouldn't get Bastion, Fez or Super Meat Boy out of a company focused mostly on hitting its quarterly revenue targets. Crowdfunding and internet distribution methods like Steam and Xbox Live Arcade have similarly removed many of the barriers that either kept these games from commercial success or forced uncomfortable deals with large publishers in the past. Accordingly, the indie sphere that PBS sees in 2012 is less about trying to become the next Activision or EA and more about experimentation and personal expression. If you've ever wanted an elegant summary of what makes Spelunky feel so special, the whole Off Book episode awaits after the break.
PBS mini-documentary explores indie game creation, shows what they do that majors can't (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 03:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Logitech's $180 WiFi webcam gets outed, targeted for the Mac
That mysterious Logitech WiFi webcam we spotted on the FCC in July might have finally been outed, thanks to a tip sent to Zatz Not Funny. This Logitech Wireless Webcam for the Mac listed on B&H certainly fits the bill, as it touts both wireless capabilities and apparently a rechargeable battery. There also looks to be an interesting status indicator on the top. Seeing as most Macs already come with a pretty decent front-facing camera, we're assuming the Logitech offers higher quality video (1080p perhaps?) and greater flexibility for broadcasting or recording to the cloud. The B&H Photo listing doesn't exactly provide many details, but it does reveal a $180 price tag. We'll be sure to keep an eye on this when it gets official.
Filed under: Cameras, Internet
Logitech's $180 WiFi webcam gets outed, targeted for the Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 02:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fraunhofer develops extra-small 1Gbps infrared transceiver, recalls our PDA glory days
Our 1997-era selves would die with envy right about now. Fraunhofer has developed a new generation of infrared transceiver that can transfer data at 1Gbps, or well above anything that our vintage PDAs could manage. While the speed is nothing new by itself -- we saw such rates in 2010 Penn State experiments -- it's the size that makes the difference. The laser diode and processing are efficient enough to fit into a small module whose transceiver is as large as a "child's fingernail." In theory, the advancement makes infrared once more viable for mobile device syncing, with room to grow: even the current technology can scale to 3Gbps, lead researcher Frank Deicke says, and it might jump to 10Gbps with enough work. Along with the usual refinements, most of the challenge in getting production hardware rests in persuading the Infrared Data Association to adopt Deicke's work as a standard. If that ever comes to pass, we may just break out our PalmPilot's infrared adapter to try it for old time's sake.
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Mobile
Fraunhofer develops extra-small 1Gbps infrared transceiver, recalls our PDA glory days originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 01:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkGizmag | Fraunhofer | Email this | Comments Read More ...
Heroes in a half shell: autonomous robot sea turtles in development
Sure you could have a robot assist you around the home, or even one that'll make factories friendlier, but we'll opt for a robot sea turtle any day of the week. The Swiss folks over at ETH Zurich are working on making that a reality with the Naro-Tartaruga, a turtle-inspired machine that would swim efficiently while carrying cargo in its shell. It's currently a cylindrical aluminum vessel with a couple of flippers, but concept designs include that totally bad-ass bot in the image above. The turtle-bot has a top speed of over 7 knots, so it'll handily beat any real sea turtle in a race, and the big torso has enough space for battery and sensors that are necessary for autonomous function. The fins on the turtle have a fully three-dimensional mechanism -- there are three actuators per fin, and each actuate the fin axle independently. The end goal is for the development of underwater autonomous vehicles, which will hopefully bring us one step closer to SeaQuest DSV. In the meantime, we'd like one just so we can freak the hell out of our cats.
Heroes in a half shell: autonomous robot sea turtles in development originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkIEEE Spectrum, PopSci | ETH Zurich | Email this | Comments Read More ...
Vic Gundotra post hints Snapseed for Android may be close, bring Google+ integration
When Google bought Nik Software, there was some worry that Snapseed would go the proverbial dodo's route and fade into obscurity as part of a larger Google app. We won't see that ignominious end anytime soon if Senior Engineering VP Vic Gundotra's photography is as valid a clue as it looks. On an evening flight to Baltimore, Gundotra posted a view of the setting sun to Google+ using Snapseed -- a rather unique achievement given that the existing, iOS-only app doesn't know the social network exists. Knowing the executive's usual choice of smartphone, the public use could be the hint of the already planned Android port getting close to launch, even if there's no way to know exactly when and how the image editing app could arrive. Let's hope that Gundotra's post is more than just a fleeting glimpse of a product that gets shelved later on.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Vic Gundotra post hints Snapseed for Android may be close, bring Google+ integration originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkGooglePlusUpdate (Google+), TechCrunch | Vic Gundotra (Google+) | Email this | Comments Read More ...
Researchers create algorithms that help lithium-ion batteries charge two times faster
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have devised new algorithms that can cut lithium-ion battery charge times in half, help cells run more efficiently and potentially cut production costs by 25 percent. Rather than tracking battery behavior and health with the traditional technique of monitoring current and voltage, the team's mathematical models estimate where lithium ions are within cells for more precise data. With the added insight, the team can more accurately gauge battery longevity and control charging efficiency. The group was awarded $460,000 from the Department of Energy's ARPA-E research arm to further develop the algorithm and accompanying tech with automotive firm Bosch and battery manufacturer Cobasys, which both received the remainder of a $9.6 million grant. Wondering if the solution will ever find its way out of the lab? According to co-lead researcher Scott Moura, it'll see practical use: "This technology is going into products that people will actually use."
Filed under: Alt
Researchers create algorithms that help lithium-ion batteries charge two times faster originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkEurekAlert! | UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering | Email this | Comments Read More ...
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