Linux Foundation vet explains setbacks in getting a Secure Boot key for Windows 8 PCs
Linux fans wondering why they still don't have a
friendly UEFI Secure Boot option for
Windows 8 PCs won't get a solution in hand this week, but they'll at least get an explanation. The
Linux Foundation's primary backer for the alternative OS efforts,
Parallels' server CTO James Bottomley, has revealed that Microsoft's requirements for signed,
Secure Boot-ready code are tough if developers aren't entirely onboard its train of thought. The Redmond crew demands a paper contract signature (remember those?), agreements on work beyond the relevant software and a packaging process that complicates attempts to use open-source tools. Bottomley has already overcome most of these challenges, although he's still waiting for a Linux Foundation-specific key that should theoretically clear a major hurdle. Whether or not that leads to a remedy in days or weeks is up to Microsoft; in the meantime, we'll take comfort in knowing that a signature is so far a convenience for booting into Linux, rather than a necessity.
Filed under:
Software,
Microsoft
Comments
Via: ZDNet
Source: James Bottomley
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Microsoft's Greater China VP says Windows Phone 7.8 to launch in the 'coming weeks'
Sure, Microsoft has already delivered its new
Windows Phone 8 OS to the masses, but the WP7.8 release details, on the other hand, have been extremely minimal since we learned about the upgrade
earlier this year. Well, according to Microsoft's Greater China Vice President,
Windows Phone 7.8 will be hitting the Chinese market in the coming weeks, adding that there's an honest belief both numerical versions (
maybe more?) of Redmond's mobile OS could easily live alongside each other in this country. Still, in the "coming weeks" could mean anything, although rumors around the web suggest the
7.8 version could make its official debut as early as next month -- which goes perfectly on par with previous whispers of an eventual launch by the end of 2012. We'll have to wait and see.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Mobile,
Microsoft
Comments
Via: WMPoweruser
Source: MENAFN
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Nokia Transit updated with segmented maps, advance routing on Windows Phone and Symbian
Nokia still has a ways to go before directions in Nokia Transit (also known as
Nokia Transport) are on par with
Google's, but the Finnish crew is clearly on the right track with a fresh update to its Windows Phone and Symbian apps. Travelers now see segmented route maps that provide a closer look at key points in the trip as well as more focused directions at those crucial moments. The app is that much more savvy about travel times, as well -- the forward-thinking can at last plan trips days in advance, and there's new options for relative arrival times as well as a simplified destination history. Symbian even gets its own specific update with long-overdue support for route updates in-app, rather than through upgrading the app itself. Lumia owners on
Windows Phone 8 devices can get the spruced-up version of Transit or Transport today as a regular update; Symbian and Windows Phone 7 users willing to live on the edge can get roughly equivalent betas at the same time.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
GPS,
Mobile,
Nokia
Comments
Source: Conversations by Nokia,
Nokia Beta Labs (1),
(2)
Read More ...
Former Nokia exec Damian Dinning announces he's headed to Jaguar Land Rover
The
sudden departure of Nokia imaging head Damian Dinning caught many by surprise earlier today, but now he's announced where his next post will be: Jaguar Land Rover. In a statement posted at
PureView Club, he explained that other than photography, cars are another lifelong passion and at Jaguar he'll be "driving future innovations in the exciting new field of Connected Car." His family also seems to have played a significant role, since while Nokia is concentrating many of its "strategic roles" in Finland, he desired to remain in the UK. He also sought to calm the nerves of fans of Nokia's camera tech, noting there was a team behind the division's success, not just one person
.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Transportation,
Mobile,
Nokia
Comments
Source: PureView Club,
Damian Dinning (Twitter)
Read More ...
Tesla Model S price hike incoming, current reservations can dodge the increase
Just two weeks after announcing its expectations to become
cash flow positive,
Tesla's clued us into an upcoming price hike for the Model S. The word is mum regarding a reason for the change and how much more customers will have to pony up for the
award-winning EV, but Musk and Co. are planning to reveal more details within the next two to three weeks. As part of the price increase, the automaker will be tweaking Model S package options, making some standard features optional going forward. Model S enthusiasts with reservations will remain unaffected by the price and package changes so long as they configure and finalize their cars "within a fair, predefined timeframe" before the heftier price tag goes into effect. Likewise, those who've deferred their reservations will have a similar period of time to finalize their order and escape the higher asking price.
[Thanks, Jarrod]
Filed under:
Transportation
Comments
Via: Autoblog
Source: Tesla Motors
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The Daily Roundup for 11.23.2012
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Continue reading The Daily Roundup for 11.23.2012
Comments
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Google Play, developers slash prices on apps and media for Thanksgiving weekend
If you've taken advantage of the myriad
Black Friday deals on mobile devices and PCs, you're probably looking for content to feed the technology beast. Google and app creators are pulling out all the stops to make sure that beast stays full:
Google Play has discounts throughout the Thanksgiving weekend for just about every format on offer. Android apps are the highlight, with
SwiftKey 3,
Shadowgun and
Documents To Go on the list of those with grander price cuts, although there's some definite bargains to be had in media. Among the picks are price drops on books like
The Hobbit, movies like
The Big Lebowski and
Serenity, and music from the likes of Diana Krall and Kendrick Lamar. We can't possibly mention every offer here, so check our links for some of the larger deals.
Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Home Entertainment,
Portable Audio/Video,
Tablets,
Internet,
Mobile
Comments
Source: Google Play (1),
(2)
Read More ...
Instaturkey: Instagram hits all-time high, over 10 million pictures shared on #Thanksgiving Day
They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- and boy did Instragram's servers have a colossal amount of words to deal with yesterday. Via its blog, the
Facebook-owned picture sharing service announced that, on
Thanksgiving Day, more than 10 million holiday-related images were shared on the social network, which saw peak hour come in at around 12:00pm Pacific time with over 200 filter-packed (
no filter, in some cases) images per second being Instagrammed. Moreover, Thanksgiving marked one of the app's most active days in its short history, with
Instagram saying that yesterday "broke all records as we saw the number of shared photos more than double from the day before, making it our busiest day so far." Now bring on the #leftovers.
Filed under:
Internet
Comments
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Instagram Blog
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Samsung's SCH-W2013 is a quad-core, dual-screen flip phone, designed for Jackie Chan
It's been almost a year since the ridiculously expensive
SCH-W999 launched on China Telecom, so it's about time for Samsung to come up with yet another dual-screen flip phone to lure folks with too much money. Launched in conjunction with a big charity concert (again) earlier today is the SCH-W2013, a 1.4GHz quad-core (likely an
Exynos 4412) device with Android 4.0 and dual-3.7-inch 800 x 480 Super AMOLED touchscreens. On top of that there's 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, microSD expansion of up to 64GB, 1,850mAh of battery juice, an eight-megapixel main imager plus a whopping 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. As with many flagship devices on China Telecom, the W2013 comes with dual-SIM support: one for CDMA2000 800/1900 and the other for GSM 900/1800/1900. The damage? Well, there's nothing official yet, but it's believed to be somewhere between ¥18,000 ($2,900) and ¥20,000 ($3,210). After all, it ain't cheap to hire Jackie Chan (
and he was also given a W2013 at the concert).
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Mobile,
Samsung
Comments
Source: Samsung
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Nokia imaging head Damian Dinning makes 'personal decision' to leave the company
Nokia's cameras and imaging systems have garnered the company plenty of attention in recent years, but it looks like it's now facing something of a turning point in that area. As
Amateur Photographer reports, the man responsible for leading that charge,
Damian Dinning, has announced that he's leaving the company effective November 30th. According to a statement released by Nokia UK, that move is a "personal decision" Dinning made following the company's decision to relocate a number of key strategic roles to Finland. As for what's next for Dinning, he rather cryptically tweeted just two days ago that he's "incredibly excited about the 10th Dec," adding that he "can't say more than that right now other than to say it's nothing to do with Nokia directly." There's also no word yet from Nokia on who will take over his role.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Cameras,
Mobile,
Nokia
Comments
Via: PureViewClub,
The Verge
Source: Amateur Photographer,
@PhoneDaz (Twitter)
Read More ...
Engadget holiday gift guide 2012: accessories
Welcome to the Engadget holiday gift guide! Picking presents for friends and loved ones is never a simple task, and with thousands of options for each category, buying technology can be an especially frustrating experience. We're here to help. Below you'll find today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. And don't forget to enter our giveaway -- leave a comment for a chance to nab AT&T's LG Optimus G.
Sure, Ultrabooks and Windows 8 tablets are flashy gift options, but it's extras like the ones found here that really make 'em sing. Whether it's a desktop or portable storage solution, a smart thermostat or a secondary camera for those more experimental shots, we've got you covered. This collection of high-tech add-ons will surely snag the attention of anyone on your holiday shopping list, so mosey on past the break to start perusing.
Continue reading Engadget holiday gift guide 2012: accessories
Filed under:
Misc,
Apple
Comments
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Sharp unveils bright, 90-inch LCD for uncannily life-sized signage
It would be a shame if Sharp kept that giant
90-inch AQUOS TV confined to living rooms, wouldn't it? The company is inclined enough to agree that it's building an industrial version, the PN-R903, for
digital signs. Its 1080p resolution and local-dimming LEDs are as familiar as a well-worn pair of shoes, but that 6-foot, 8-inch width lets Sharp claim a record for public spaces: the R903 is supposedly the first LCD sign with its technology that can display average humans at real size when tilted to a portrait view, making it an ideal fit for fashion or most anything where one-for-one scale matters. The 700cd/m2 brightness helps by keeping the picture visible in harsher lighting. If you're not quite ready for the
uncanny valley, you'll be glad to know that the R903 won't ship until January 28th, when it goes on sale with open pricing. Those who'd still prefer something less imposing can buy a 60-inch PN-R603 at the same time or wait for the 70-inch PN-R703 to grace storefronts on February 25th.
Filed under:
Displays,
HD
Comments
Via: Impress Watch (translated)
Source: Sharp (1),
(2),
(3)
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Sharp Cocorobo vacuum gets new Android app, lets you control it from afar
Perhaps in response to iRobot's recent
Wireless Command Center, Sharp has introduced a new Android app that lets you remotely control
the company's little Cocorobo while you're
out of the house. You can map out your floor plan so that it'll know what objects to avoid, specify cleaning patterns and even receive carpet-view photos so you can admire the robot vacuum's handiwork. If you attach an optional Navi controller to its USB port, you can even use the app to control other Sharp devices like televisions, air conditioning systems and LED lights. Sharp also introduced a smaller version of the Cocorobo, the RX-V60, which measures about 4.7cm less than the original. Designed to fit in tighter spaces, the RX-V60 will be available in Japan for 75,000 yen ($900) starting December 13th. Check out the video after the break to peek at the new smartphone app and miniaturized vacuum 'bot.
Continue reading Sharp Cocorobo vacuum gets new Android app, lets you control it from afar
Filed under:
Robots
Comments
Source: Cocorobo Square (Google Play),
DigInfo TV,
Slashgear
Read More ...
Will.i.am promises to turn your iPhone into a 14-megapixel 'genius-phone'
Not content with his
deliberately undefined role at Intel, the main pulse behind the Black Eyed Peas is preparing for yet another incursion into the world of technology -- this time by launching a dedicated camera accessory for the
iPhone 4 and
iPhone 5 (and presumably the
4S, too). Will.i.am claims the device has "its own sensor and a better flash" and will "turn your smartphone into a genius-phone" by replacing the native 5- or 8-megapixel camera module with one that churns out 14-megapixel images instead.
The Telegraph reports that the add-on will be the first of a series of "i.am+" branded accessories that will launch on November 28th. No pricing has been revealed so far, but the range will be sold solely by Selfridges in London and -- much like
Harrods with its own
glam gadget exclusives -- that store isn't particularly known for
bargains.
[Photo credit: Getty Images]
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Cameras
Comments
Source: The Telegraph
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David Attenborough's Galapagos 3D begins airing New Year's Day in the UK on Sky 3D
The long nights, relentless Christmas adverts and brisk chill in the air are all signs the year is coming to an end, and what better way to see in the next than with British documentary legend
Sir David Attenborough? The first episode of his new three-part natural history series
Galapagos 3D, written and presented by the man himself, will be airing New Year's Day on
Sky 3D in the UK. Like most of his projects, it's sure to be a stunning visual treat that'll make you forget about even the worst of New Year hangovers. So, don't forget to stoke the fire, switch on your 3D TV, and enjoy an educational tour of the
Galapagos Islands to start off your 2013.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
HD
Comments
Source: BSkyB
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Russian technology firms agree to avoid poaching each other, keep salaries in check
American companies that reach no-poaching agreements do so behind closed doors, as it's
considered illegal and anti-competitive. No such reservations appear to exist in Russia, as several of the country's top technology giants have openly admitted to reaching an unprecedented verbal deal: Acronis, Epam,
Kaspersky Labs,
Parallels and
Yandex have all promised not to actively recruit each other's staff. They contend to
CNews that it's a way to prevent salaries from getting out of control as staff are lured away, and that fear isn't entirely without justification -- there's a well-known salary war between Facebook and Google in Silicon Valley, for example, that makes it tough for smaller companies to attract the same talent. Whether or not the pact stands may be another matter. There's no history of Russian court action versus anti-poaching deals, but concern exists that the truce may not be strictly above-board.
[Image credit: Jennifer Boyer,
Flickr]
Filed under:
Internet,
Software
Comments
Via: The Next Web
Source: CNews (translated)
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Nexus 4 shown working on Canadian LTE through simple carrier menu code (video)
Want LTE on your new
Nexus 4? Well, you might have to move to another country. Unless it's some elaborate post-Thanksgiving hoax from our Canadian neighbors, several Telus customers have demonstrated that the
LTE chip hiding inside the Nexus 4
does work, and have connected to some data speeds resembling a 4G connection. This was enabled through the test menu, accessed by dialing *#*4636#*#*.
Tapping on the preferred network type option, you can select either LTE on its own, or a mix of LTE, GSM and CDMA. According to the videos, the Google phone then taps into your carrier's LTE network if Band 4 is available, and you're good to go. We've so far been unable to replicate it in the UK, which doesn't use the same
LTE Band 4 (AWS 2100 / 1700MHz) of Canadian carriers Bell, Rogers and Telus. We have also tested this with AT&T's LTE, but had no luck there either -- we tried it in a Band 17 area, not a Band 4 area (which is less common). This is, however, great news for T-Mobile customers as this is precisely the type of LTE they'll be getting
very soon. But for now, there's two working videos already doing the rounds from Canada and we've included them both below.
[Thanks Kaung]
Update: There was a typo in the code required to activate the test menu. We've updated with the correct key combination.
Continue reading Nexus 4 shown working on Canadian LTE through simple carrier menu code (video)
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Mobile,
Google,
LG
Comments
Via: Tekgadg,
XDA Developers (1),
(2)
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Apple announces Black Friday deals: $101 off laptops, up to $61 off the new iPad
The finest
Black Friday deals may involve risking
life and limb in a Best Buy scrum, but that doesn't mean you can't save some cash shopping online. Apple's one-day shopping event has begun, with the company knocking $41 off the price of the 16GB
4th generation iPad and $61 off the 64GB model. If you'd prefer to stick with the older
iPad 2, it's available with $31 taken off the tag, and you can also get money off accessories like the
AirPort Extreme ($21 cheaper) and
EarPods ($7 cheaper). On the computing side, Cupertino has deducted $101 off the
MacBook Pro with Retina Display,
MacBook Pro and
MacBook Air.
Filed under:
Apple
Comments
Source: Apple
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IN-TENTA DROP eco-hotel: a green way to live post-apocalyptically
Futuristic
eco-hotels are
nothing new, but there's something unique about the one shown above: it's well on its way to being created. Crafted by the Barcelona-based IN-TENTA creative design group, the removable hotel room is scheduled to be manufactured by Urban Square. Reportedly, it'll be dropped into "natural locations," with the shell keeping everything above ground in order to make a minimal dent in the Earth itself. As these things usually go, there doesn't seem to be much talk on how the
plumbing will be handled, but really, who cares about details when you're living like this?
Filed under:
Household,
Alt
Comments
Via: Inhabitat,
Designboom
Source: IN-TENTA
Read More ...
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 to receive Android 4.1 with Premium Suite (video)
Samsung has already begun delivery of Android 4.1 for the
Galaxy Note 10.1 in
some parts of the world, but in a move that'll no doubt add to the anticipation, the company has now revealed Premium Suite as an accompaniment to the OS upgrade. Along with Jelly Bean, users can expect greater Multi Window functionality, which brings the ability to open up to 16 apps at a time, each which can be moved, resized and pinned to remain on top. Samsung's Air View is also incorporated within Premium Suite, which allows users to preview appointments, emails, video and the like by hovering the S Pen above the screen. Not to stop there, Samsung is also upping the ante with new additions such as Easy Clip, Quick Command, Photo Note, Paper Artist and an enhanced S Note app. No definitive timeline is known for Samsung's rollout of Premium Suite and Android 4.1, although it's now clear that "
soon" can't come quickly enough. In the meantime, be sure to hop the break to preview all the new features that are on deck.
Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 to receive Android 4.1 with Premium Suite (video)
Filed under:
Tablets,
Software,
Samsung
Comments
Source: Samsung
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Chrome OS developer update adds extended desktop support
Google issued an update this week for the developer edition of
Chrome OS, which adds extended display support via HDMI or VGA.
Chromebooks packing
A15 and
Intel Celeron processors are said to fit the bill, while older machines such as the
Cr-48 may experience a few hangups. The Dev Channel update also brings a newer version of Flash and Intelligent Window positioning, which automatically organizes your content displayed. If you'd like to go hands-on with these new features before they make their official debut, you'll need to switch your Chromebook over to the Developer Channel. This can be done by toggling: Menu, Settings, Help, More Info and then selecting the Dev Channel option. However, if patience is your strong suit and you prefer to wait for a certified stable release, at least you now know what lies ahead.
Filed under:
Laptops,
Software,
Google
Comments
Via: Liliputing
Source: Google
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Limited-edition White Nook Simple Touch lands at $79 this Black Friday
Another decent discount on Barnes & Noble's entry-level e-reader means you can now get the
sans Glowlight Nook Simple Touch for just under $80. This prices it below to
Amazon's (ad-free) basic e-reader but
above the $50 price tag that
Target's announced. However, this limited-edition Nook is encircled with a white border, which at least
sounds a little more festive -- we haven't managed to snatch a glance at one just yet. Barnes & Noble says that it'll remain at this price for as long as in-store stocks last, but bare a thought for your transatlantic cousins, who are paying the same amount,
but in pounds, for an identical e-reader.
Continue reading Limited-edition White Nook Simple Touch lands at $79 this Black Friday
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Source: Barnes & Noble
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Disney Research robot plays catch and juggles with humans, won't replace their parents (update: cameras explained!)
It's entirely possible for
robots to juggle or play catch. They've usually been relegated to playing with their own kind, however, which is as good an excuse as any for
Disney Research to experiment with a ball-tossing robot tailored to games with humans. The
animatronic creation uses a depth-aware motion camera -- there's conflicting mentions of using both the Microsoft
Kinect and ASUS'
Xtion Pro Live that we're hoping to sort out -- to track any mid-air balls as well as throw them back to a human participant. Disney's robot does more than just move the robot's arm to account for imperfect tosses, too, as it knows to feign a dejected look after a botched reception. The company suggests that its invention would ideally bring two-way interaction to theme parks, so it's more likely to show up at Disneyland before it stands in for a parent in the backyard. It's just as well; when the
Robopocalypse comes, the last thing we'll want at home is a machine that can toss grenades.
Update: Team member Jens Kober has filled us in on just why both cameras are mentioned. The team started off using the Kinect and switched to the Xtion Pro Live, once it was available, to get hardware-synced timing between a regular camera and the depth camera. The project didn't require the panning motor or microphone array of Microsoft's system.
Continue reading Disney Research robot plays catch and juggles with humans, won't replace their parents (update: cameras explained!)
Filed under:
Robots,
Microsoft,
ASUS
Comments
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Popular Science
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UCSB sensor sniffs explosives through microfluidics, might replace Rover at the airport (video)
We're sure that most sniffer dogs would rather be playing fetch than hunting for bombs in luggage. If
UC Santa Barbara has its way with a new sensor, those canines will have a lot more free time on their hands. The device manages a snout-like sensitivity by concentrating molecules in
microfluidic channels whose nanoparticles boost any spectral signatures when they're hit by a laser
spectrometer. Although the main technology fits into a small chip, it can detect vapors from explosives and other materials at a level of one part per billion or better; that's enough to put those pups out of work. To that end, the university is very much bent on commercializing its efforts and has already licensed the method to SpectraFluidics. We may see the technology first on the battlefield when the research involves funding from
DARPA and the US Army, but it's no big stretch to imagine the sensor checking for drugs and explosives at the airport -- without ever needing a kibble break.
Continue reading UCSB sensor sniffs explosives through microfluidics, might replace Rover at the airport (video)
Filed under:
Science,
Alt
Comments
Via: Gizmag
Source: UCSB
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The Daily Roundup for 11.22.2012
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Continue reading The Daily Roundup for 11.22.2012
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