Department of Energy seizes $21 million reserve account from Fisker
Fisker just can't catch a break. As if enduring the
layoffs of three out of every four employees and the
resignation of its founder
wasn't unsettling enough, it's now come to light that the Department of
Energy recently confiscated the company's $21 million reserve account
in an attempt to recoup
some of the government's loan. Fisker's first payment on the
$192 million federal loan
was due Monday, but the Energy Department revealed that it actually
took the money 12 days beforehand, simply due to the company's high risk
of default -- a move it characterized as an "appropriate action on
behalf of taxpayers." If you're thinking the writing's now on the wall,
you're correct... the
WSJ reports that Fisker has hired a
bankruptcy attorney, and the company admits that it's actively in search
of a new owner. Will luck swing in Fisker's favor next time around?
Place your bets.
Filed under:
Transportation
Comments
Via: TNW
Source: WSJ
Read More ...
ASUS Cube Google TV review
The past year has been a busy one for Google TV -- in fact, with
the big I/O conference right around the corner, we're sitting down to review our
fifth
such device in the past 12 months. The ASUS Cube naturally does
everything one would expect from a Google TV set-top box, but it also
has a few tricks of its own, like a mic for voice search and a unique
"Cube" main menu interface. At $129, it's priced just above the
Vizio Co-Star and far below the
Sony NSZ-G57. So how does it stack up? Let's see.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
HD,
ASUS
Comments
Read More ...
AMD reveals G-Series X embedded chips, drops a little ARM-powered bombshell
We're no strangers to AMD's
embedded processors,
designed for specialist applications such as casino gaming and
dashboard infotainment systems. But this latest announcement of an
updated G-Series processor reveals something totally unexpected. It's
not just that the chip contains four Jaguar cores of
PlayStation 4 fame, or that it also includes a
Radeon 8000 GPU and I/O module on a single piece of silicon -- although that's all interesting enough. The key thing is actually the
"X" in the lower right corner of the logo, which signifies that this is
an x86 chip of the type we'd normally expect from AMD. The question is
this: Why bother even
mentioning the "X" when everyone knows AMD is an x86 stalwart already? Read on and we'll explain its true significance.
Filed under:
Laptops,
Tablets,
AMD
Comments
Read More ...
Preva Mobile for iOS aims to track your workouts, keep you going to the gym
Dragging
yourself to the gym in the wee hours of the morning already takes a
heaping helping of dedication, but fitness equipment manufacturer Precor
is betting that it can provide
additional motivation
with its new iOS app: Preva Mobile. By wielding the software, users can
monitor and set goals for calories burned, distance and duration, and
even log their actions outside the gym for activities ranging from
rollerblading to skiing. What's more is that the application acts as an
extension of the firm's Preva
fitness tracking
console built into its 880 line of cardio equipment, and keeps data
synced between devices and exercise machines through the cloud.
In
addition to helping folks keep tabs on their activity, the digital
logbook rewards users with points and badges, which they can
brag about
share on Twitter and Facebook. There's no sign of an Android version
just yet, but we doubt your personal trainer will buy that as an excuse
to stray from your workout regimen.
Filed under:
Software,
Mobile
Comments
Source: Preva (iTunes)
Read More ...
Nike+ FuelBand app for iOS adds friends and sharing, no small amount of bragging
Where's the fun in owning an exercise tracker like the
Nike+ FuelBand
if you can't lord your healthiness over others? Nike must have wondered
the same thing, as it just updated the FuelBand's iOS app to add Nike+
Friends. Wearers can now learn where their step count places them
relative to their peers and share the results for all to see. Should
there be any doubters, owners can attach photos, locations and mentions
of nearby friends to back up their boasting. Yes, it's an upgrade that's
primarily focused on oneupmanship, but it's good in our book if it
makes us walk just a bit further each day.
Filed under:
Peripherals,
Wearables
Comments
Source: App Store
Read More ...
Ultra Mobile debuts $19 calling plan with unlimited international SMS
If you're living on a tight budget but still need to keep in touch with
loved ones who live abroad,
you'll be glad to know of a new calling plan from Ultra Mobile. The
upstart MVNO offers discounted access to T-Mobile's network, and for $19
per month, you'll fetch unlimited text messages to 194 countries, 250
voice minutes (with $1.25 toward international calling), and 50MB of
data usage. For comparison, Simple Mobile offers a $25 plan that
includes unlimited international texting
and domestic calling,
but if you let your thumbs do most of the talking, Ultra Mobile brings a
lot of value to the table. You can snag its $19 plan starting tomorrow,
which might be the perfect match for
whatever Nokia has up its sleeve.
Filed under:
Wireless,
Mobile
Comments
Source: FierceWireless
Read More ...
Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 8:30PM ET
It's
Monday, and you know what that means; another Engadget HD Podcast. We
hope you will join us live when the Engadget HD podcast starts recording
at 8:30
PM. If you'll be joining us, be sure to go ahead and get
ready by reviewing the list of topics after the break, then you'll be
ready to participate in the live chat.
Filed under:
HD
Comments
Read More ...
Must See HDTV (April 22nd - 28th)
Welcome
to your spring sporting season -- the NBA playoffs are underway, the
NHL's postseason close to beginning and the NFL draft is this weekend.
Jurassic Park is back in 3D, and
Dead Island has returned to consoles with the Riptide edition. Don't like sports, or games? There's always
Stonados
(yes, that's tornadoes, with stones in them -- Stonados) on Syfy. Look
below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our
weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.
NFL Draft
With most of the first round NBA playoff series manifesting blowouts
and probably sweeps, this weekend's NFL draft is the most exciting thing
on the schedule for sports fans (unless you think Chael Sonnen really
has a shot against Jon Jones, of course). No matter how well your team
performed (or disappointed) last year, there's always room for hope in
the form of this year's draft pick. The first three rounds are again
spread over two days in prime time, so you can watch large men in suits
walk across the stage to shake hands with (or bear hug) the
commissioner.
(Round 1 - April 25th, 7PM, ESPN & NFL Network)
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
HD
Comments
Read More ...
Windows RT and Server 2012 updates mentioned in recent 8.1 leak
Windows Blue,
Windows 8.1,
Windows 8 SP1... whatever Microsoft wants to call it, it's coming soon.
And along with it there will be updates to its RT and Server products
too. References to Windows RT 8.1 Preview and Windows Server 2012 R2
were found buried in a DLL of a
leaked build
of Blue. (Build number 9374, to be specific.) The mentions turned up in
basebrd.dll.mui, if you're wondering what file to start rifling
through. Don't get too excited, though: there's basically no info to
glean other than their existence -- which is no surprise at all.
Hopefully all of the much whispered about updates will arrive sooner,
rather than later, and pack a
few tweaks that will make the Microsoft faithful feel a little bit more at home.
Filed under:
Software,
Microsoft
Comments
Via: WinBeta
Source: @Windows4Live (Twitter)
Read More ...
The Daily Roundup for 04.22.2013
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.
Comments
Read More ...
Futurama gets canceled a second time, finale to air on September 4th
Bad news, everyone. Five years into
Futurama's
revived presence on Comedy Central, the animated sci-fi series is
getting the boot for the second time in its long and tumultuous history.
Long-time fans will remember the first series finale ("The Devil's
Hands are Idle Playthings") on Fox in 2003, the show's brief rerun stint
on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, the foray into four direct-to-DVD
movies (which were separated into sixteen episodes for its inaugural
season on Comedy Central) and its eventual deal with the cable network
that brought us
South Park and
The Daily Show. But it seems even after stunts like playing on
our gadget obsessions and coming up with a
brand new mathematical theorem,
the fine folks over at Planet Express just couldn't slake Viacom's
thirst for viewers. So, with a heavy heart, we await the series finale
(dubbed "Meanwhile") to air on September 4th. But hey, maybe someone can
convince Netflix to give life to yet
another brilliant-but-canceled series?
Update: To check out a preview of the show's final season -- to debut on June 19th -- take a peek at the second video after the break.
Filed under:
HD
Comments
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Read More ...
Samsung Galaxy S 4 coming to AT&T stores April 27th, pre-orders arrive April 25th
Pre-orders of the
Samsung Galaxy S 4
have already begun at AT&T, but the operator has been oddly
silent about the actual date customers can expect to purchase one in
stores and online. Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have
both announced
specific launch dates (April 24th and 27th, respectively), the largest
GSM carrier in the country has followed up by declaring its intent to
sell the flagship Samsung device on the 27th of this month. This is four
days earlier than the anticipated pre-order shipment date, which means
the
HTC One
has merely a full week to bask in the spotlight by itself. What's more,
if you simply couldn't wait and jumped on those pre-orders, you'll get
yours a full 48 hours early (read: April 25th). As expected, the GS 4
will be offered for $200 (16GB) and $250 (32GB) in both black and white.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Wireless,
Mobile,
Samsung,
AT&T
Comments
Source: AT&T (Twitter),
AT&T
Read More ...
BeagleBone Black packs 1GHz ARM CPU, 512MB RAM for just $45 (video)
The
BeagleBone might be just the piece of kit for the DIY set itching to
boot Linux in 10 seconds,
but the freshly unveiled BeagleBone Black packs an even greater punch
-- and the same speedy start times -- at just half the price of its
predecessor. The $45 credit card-sized package totes a 1GHz ARM
Cortex-A8 processor, 3D graphics accelerator, a pair of PRU 32-bit RISC
CPUs, 2GB of built-in storage, a microSD slot and 512MB of RAM.
Connectivity-wise, the canine-themed board carries support for USB,
Ethernet, micro-HDMI and two 46 pin headers. Those pining for hardware
flexibility can make use of the platform's existing
"cape" hardware add-ons.
Though it ships from Texas Instruments with Angstrom Linux on board,
it's also tuned to support Android and Ubuntu, and arrives pre-loaded
with the Cloud9 IDE. BeagleBone Black is already up for grabs in limited
quantities, but it's expected to ship en masse by the end of May. Hit
the second source link to start ordering, or head past the break for a
video tour of the pint-sized computer.
Filed under:
Misc
Comments
Source: BeagleBoard,
Texas Instruments
Read More ...
ITC tosses Motorola's sensor-based complaint against Apple
If
you thought the patent war between Motorola (Google) and Apple was
already over, you were mistaken. Though, today's decision by the ITC to
toss Moto's complaint against Cupertino regarding the use of sensors to
control the interface of a phone, might be one of the final blows
struck. The claim over patent No. 6,246,862, was the last patent-in-suit
standing from its
2010 complaint
against Apple. Now it's been completely invalidated. The decision can
still be appealed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit, and we can almost guarantee the company will take advantage of
that option. (In fact, it already is with previous decisions that did
not go in its favor.) With courts tossing out complaints
left and
right, and some companies even willingly
withdrawing them, we certainly keep hoping that the era patent Risk is coming to an end.
The
ITC tossing out yet another complaint is a big loss for Motorola and
Google. But, Apple has lost plenty of its own suits recently. It seems
that both sides are settling into a stalemate. And ultimately pushing
these competitors to innovate in the market instead of the courtroom is
good for consumers.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Mobile,
Apple,
Google
Comments
Source: FOSS Patents,
ITC (PDF)
Read More ...
Razer Comms voice chat launches in open beta with an always-on overlay (video)
Dedicated
gamers are very familiar with loading chat apps like Teamspeak or
Ventrilo to coordinate their multiplayer sessions, but such software
usually sits in the background -- it's hard to tell who's speaking
without switching apps and losing focus.
Razer's
new Comms open beta may just give players a chance to stay in touch
without those rude interruptions. The Windows app provides the
obligatory home for group voice and text chat, but its real standout is
an optional on-screen game overlay that will keep the conversation
going, either with a full window or a minimalist ticker that shows who's
speaking. Razer's
war on lag
persists here, as well: Comms' servers reportedly minimize delays and
hiccups in the heat of battle. Not everyone will need the beta when many
games already have chat baked in. Those that want a more consistent
experience, however, can give Comms a spin today.
Filed under:
Gaming,
Software
Comments
Source: Razer
Read More ...
Visualized: A walk through the Inside 3D Printing Conference and Expo
We
didn't find much in the way of news at the Inside 3D Printing
Conference and Expo here in NYC (and, we're sad to say, our press badges
were just old-fashioned 2D printed), but there was plenty to look at,
thankfully. Between the slew of business and
consumer devices
and the boatload of printed objects, the event was part business
conference, part art show. And while the real star was the still-fresh
world of desktop home printers, plenty of companies brought out their
big-gun industrial devices (including at least one really sweet giant 3D
scanner). Peep the gallery below to check out some of the eye candy
from the event.
Filed under:
Peripherals
Comments
Read More ...
Nest Energy Services link home cooling to utilities' cloud data
As clever as the
Nest Learning Thermostat
can be, its intelligence only extends as far as the front door: it
hasn't really been aware of how neighbors or the seasons affect our
power bills. Nest Labs is improving that connection to the outside world
through Nest Energy Services, a new program that links its device to
the collective, cloud-based knowledge of utility companies. When owners
are with an Energy Services-aware provider, the thermostat will know
when to brace for an energy "rush hour" and automatically limit its
cooling during peak (read: expensive) periods. It also gives a heads-up
for seasonal discounts that fine-tune the temperature schedule over the
course of a few weeks. Unlike previous utility-guided approaches, Nest
users can always retake control if they genuinely can't stand the heat.
Only
Austin Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Reliant and Southern California
Edison have lined up for the synced climate control so far, although
Nest is sweetening the deal by expanding
utility-based discounts
for the thermostat itself. Customers of National Grid can get an
immediate $100 rebate through Nest, while those who sign up with Reliant
can still receive their thermostats for free with certain plans. The
deals are calculated tradeoffs for companies likely to recoup their
investment down the road, but they could represent big wins for
homeowners still jittery about paying up front to save money later.
Filed under:
Household
Comments
Source: Nest (1),
(2),
(3)
Read More ...
Netflix added 3 million subscribers worldwide in Q1, will offer a 4-stream $11.99 plan
Netflix has reported its
financial results
for the first quarter of 2013, and in that period it's added over 3
million customers worldwide. Domestically it added 2.03 million
customers alone, pushing its total number over 30 million (including
trial users) in the US. That means it's passed HBO in paying subscribers
for the first time ever, while notching $2.69 million in net profits on
$1.02 billion in revenue for the quarter. Internationally there were
over a million new sign-ups and it's planning to launch in a new
European market during the second half of this year, which we should
hear more about on its Q2 earnings call in July.
One
change all users will notice is to its package of streaming plans, as
CEO Reed Hastings mentioned an $11.99 per month option is incoming that
will allow subscribers to stream as many as four videos simultaneously,
up from the current official limit of two. There's some question over
whether Netflix will begin to crack down harder on account sharing, but
Hastings claims he expects less than one percent of users to opt for the
new plan. The company is also continuing to test the
personalized profiles we got a peek at during CES, and expects to roll them out "in the coming months." Another major note is that as it expands its suite of
original content, it's shifting focus away from some of existing "bulk, nonexclusive" licensing deals and will let a
major one from Viacom
expire in May. Specifically referenced is content from Nickelodeon, MTV
and BET, although it's negotiating for access to particular shows. In
the future, its preferred option will be exclusive deals with the
studios that produce the shows, like the one it announced earlier this
year
with Warner. Check after the break for a few more details, including updates on the progress of some of its original series.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
HD
Comments
Source: Netflix Q1 Investors letter (PDF)
Read More ...
iTunes Store update lets you buy media today, download it tomorrow
While we like the convenience of shopping the
iTunes Store
from any device, that doesn't mean we want the download wherever we
happen to be -- just ask anyone trying to buy the Beatles Box Set using a
flaky coffee shop hotspot. As of a quiet update noticed by
Macworld,
customers won't have to risk a long wait for some of their impulse
purchases. Buy from iTunes on any device and you now have the option to
defer very large downloads, whether they're music box sets, movies or TV
shows. Shoppers have to live in an area where
iTunes in the Cloud
is up and running for downloads elsewhere, but that's about the only
major catch. Swing by the source link for Apple's explanation of how its
delayed gratification works for each format.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Tablets,
Internet,
Software,
Apple
Comments
Via: Macworld
Source: Apple
Read More ...
Netgear 802.11ac update adds beamforming, delivers up to 60 percent faster WiFi
Although Netgear was one of the quickest out of the gates with
802.11ac WiFi hardware, that doesn't mean its hardware is the quickest today: without
beamforming to optimize the signal, it risks trailing behind newcomers who've had more time to prepare. Starting with the R6300 router and
A6200
USB adapter, the company will soon catch up through a firmware update
that rolls in support for the beamforming standard. The upgrade targets
wireless signals at devices' specific locations, offering a big speed
boost at shorter distances -- Netgear estimates up to a 60 percent
improvement at a 50-foot range. R6300 and A6200 owners can swing past
the source links today for their tune-up, while those using Netgear's
other 802.11ac devices should expect brisker speeds around the early
summer.
Filed under:
Peripherals,
Networking
Comments
Source: Netgear (1),
(2),
(3)
Read More ...
Slickdeals' best in tech for April 22nd: GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition and more
Looking
to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this
round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked
with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long.
The first installment of this week's tech deals has arrived, folks. A
GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition
gets quite the handsome discount, but other enticing gadgetry resides
on the other side of the jump as well. Head there for all the details
and the essential purchase links.
Filed under:
Cameras,
Misc,
Household,
Portable Audio/Video
Comments
Source: Slickdeals
Read More ...
Facebook building $1.5 billion data center in Altoona, Iowa
Facebook has already set up shop in
North Carolina and Oregon, but it's heading to Iowa for its next -- and biggest -- data center. According to the
Des Moines Register,
the town of Altoona will be home to a 1.4-million-square-foot facility
(code-named Catapult), and it will reportedly be the "most
technologically advanced center in the world." Why Altoona, you ask? The
city is already home to several data hubs, as its fiber-optic cable
system, access to power and water utilities and affordable land are big
draws for companies. Facebook will complete project Catapult in two $500
million phases, though the entire cost will reportedly ring in at $1.5
billion. The social network is also seeking wind energy production tax
credits, which is no doubt connected to its
Open Compute Project for promoting energy efficiency. That's all we know so far; suffice to say a center this big won't be built overnight.
Filed under:
Internet,
Facebook
Comments
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Des Moines Register
Read More ...
WhereverTV streaming service still exists, is now available on iOS
Don't let the name fool ya -- "
WhereverTV" wasn't on any iOS devices until this morning when the
Neuros-powered
streaming global television service got an App Store launch. It's
intended for a wide variety of iOS devices -- the iPhone 3GS through the
5, as well as iPod Touches and iPads running iOS 4.3 or newer -- and
offers access to WhereverTV free international TV streaming options, as
well as paid options for Greek, Moroccan, and Arabic programming (the
app's been available on Android devices for some time now).
Users aren't limited by connection, either, as even 3G signal is supported by the app; of course, we wouldn't suggest you go
depending on that option, but it will
function should you try. WhereverTV
is also promising updates in the future, such as DVR scheduling and
playback, as well as more free channels. That is, in addition to the
company's ongoing quest to make good on its name.
Filed under:
Cellphones,
Handhelds,
Tablets,
Software,
HD,
Mobile
Comments
Source: iTunes
Read More ...
IRL: Bluelounge Messenger and the Blackmagic Cinema Camera
Welcome to IRL,
an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're
using in real life and take a second look at products that already got
the formal review treatment.
How do you make our one-man French bureau really, really happy?
Obviously,
the answer is to give him sparkling wine, a baguette and maybe a
striped boatneck shirt. And also, hand him a $3,000 camera to tinker
with. If you're at all interested in the three-grand Blackmagic Cinema
Camera, Mr.
Steve Dent has some detailed impressions (and complaints) after the break. And if you're not, we're
still on the hunt for the perfect gear bag.
Filed under:
Misc
Comments
Read More ...
Netflix updates iOS app with episode selector, new audio menu
Netflix
has released an update to its iOS app, bringing a few subtle design
tweaks in addition to a feature that wasn't available in
version 3.0.
Along with a redesigned audio menu and subtitle selector, the refreshed
app includes a button for switching episodes within a series while an
episode is playing. This is an essential feature if you, like us,
occasionally forget where you left off in sagas like
The West Wing. Check it out via the source link.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment,
Software,
HD
Comments
Source: iTunes
Read More ...
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