Google Earth 7.1 for Android introduces Street View and improved location search
Google Earth's desktop version added Leap Motion controls in version 7.1, and now its Android counterpart has picked up a few new features. Available today, version 7.1 introduces Street View which lets users take Pegman from space to your neighborhood with the power of a double tap. Search is also enhanced with updated location suggestions and improved directions that displays routes for transit, walking, biking and driving in 3D. Rounding out Earth's new feature set is a revamped interface that lists layers like Panoramio Photos, 3D buildings and Wikipedia on a slide-out pane. So, if you're having trouble figuring out where your good friend Waldo is, perhaps this refreshed app will assist you with your quest. Swing by the source link below for more details.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google
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Via: Google Earth (Google+)
Source: Google Play
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Airbus A320 family to use Dell Latitude laptops for electronic flight bags
Airbus isn't putting all its eggs in one basket -- or rather, one bag. While it already has a suite of iPad cockpit apps to assist pilots, the aircraft maker is hedging its bet with a deal to use Dell Latitude laptops as electronic flight bags on the A320 family. Crews will get the Latitude E6330 installed as a Class-2 device that can link up with the A320's avionics; as you'd expect, the PCs will also ship with software for maps, manuals and weather. We've reached out to learn just which carriers are going this route, although possible expansion to other Airbus vehicles could make Dell a common sight at 36,000 feet.
Filed under: Laptops, Transportation, Dell
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Source: Dell
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ASUS 'We Transform' Computex teaser leaves us waiting for more teaser videos
Just like last year, ASUS is filling time before the Computex trade show by posting teaser trailers. Sporting a "We Transform" tag, its first one for 2013 features the spun metal casings, touchscreen laptops, convertibles, tablets and phones we've become accustomed to from the company. So what's next? The video doesn't appear to provide any hints, however the press page linked below includes a countdown to ASUS' press conference June 3rd, and blank spaces for four more videos to come. We'll keep an eye out for anything else that fills in the blanks (US release info for the Transformer Book would do the trick), check the video after the break to "transform your expectations of technology."
Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, ASUS
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Source: ASUS
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China's LeTV debuts 'Super TV' X60, throws in a quad-core S4 Prime chip
Quad-core smart TVs? Move over, Samsung and Haier, because another company's now joining the party. At a press event in Beijing yesterday, Chinese video content provider LeTV announced its first TV series dubbed "Super TV." Despite the cheesy name, there are a handful of big names behind it: Kai-Fu Lee's Innovation Works, Qualcomm, Foxconn and Sharp. The last two aren't surprising considering Foxconn's parent company, Hon Hai, is an investor of Sharp as well as LeTV. It's also worth noting, though, that Hon Hai already has a deal with RadioShack to make and sell a 60-inch TV, the RS60-V1, in China since January.
The flagship X60 (pictured above) features an aluminum alloy body that encases Sharp's 10th-generation 60-inch 1080p panel -- as featured on the RadioShack TV -- with 120Hz 3D, on top of a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Prime MPQ8064 (with 2GB of RAM and Adreno 320 graphics), dual-band WiFi and S/PDIF optical output. You can also add an optional 2.4GHz gyroscopic remote control and a PrimeSense motion sensor just for giggles. But most importantly, LeTV now streams over 2,000 TV apps as well as some 90,000 TV episodes and 5,000 movies for free (LeTV claims to own the rights to 95 percent of the video content). So, the ¥6,999 or $1,140 price tag seems a steal for the X60. There will also be a 39-inch 1080p (likely 2D only), dual-core S40 model priced at ¥1,999 or about $330, and both TVs will be available by the end of June.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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Via: Engadget Chinese
Source: LeTV
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Google Translate Android app gets Phrasebook syncing, additional language support for visual translation
Google Translate's truly a wonder of modern technology, with the ability to translate
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Google
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Source: Google Translate blog
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Nokia pits Lumia 928 against Galaxy S III again, challenges Samsung to audio recording contest
Ready for round two? Nokia is: it's put the Galaxy S III and its own Lumia 928 back in the ring, challenging Samsung's handset to an audio recording duel. The company's latest video tasks both phones with capturing a musical performance in a New York subway. Naturally, Nokia uses the clip to promote the Lumia's strengths, flipping back and forth between the 928's clear, undistorted audio, and the much noisier recording captured on the Galaxy S III.
A graphic overlay jumps and dips with the volume, peaking into the red distortion threshold whenever the view switches to the Samsung phone's perspective. "Nokia Lumia retains audio quality under high volume recording with no distortion," it reads, and indeed the Lumia's footage does sound clearer by comparison, if a bit muted. What Nokia's handset lacks in volume, however, it makes up in balance -- not only is the audio free of distortion, it also lacks the echo picked up by the Galaxy S III. Even so, the test should be taken with a grain of salt -- the proctor has an interest in the Lumia coming out on top, and the GSIII isn't Samsung's latest, exactly. Smartphone audiophiles with a discerning ear can find the full video after the break.
[Thanks, Emmett]
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Source: Nokia
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Sony Xperia A hits the FCC with 5-inch screen and removable battery
Many have suspected that Sony wasn't done with its 2013 high-end phones just because the Xperia Z and ZL were shipping. As of today, that's more than just speculation: a once-rumored Xperia A has swung through the FCC for approval as NTT DoCoMo's SO-04E. The filing is unusually detailed for a device that isn't official, showing a 5-inch, 1080p handset that maintains Sony's OmniBalance look while including a removable, 2,300mAh battery that we haven't seen in the Z or ZL. The manual also has the Android phone sharing the Z's 13-megapixel camera, 16GB of built-in storage and LTE, although mum's the word on any upgrade to the Snapdragon S4 Pro. Sony hasn't confirmed what we're seeing, but we may not have long to learn the full story when NTT DoCoMo is revealing its summer mobile lineup on May 15th.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony
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Source: FCC
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Samson Expedition Express PA does Bluetooth and XLR, ships this month for $200
It's been a while since we've looked at enhanced PA speakers, and one of the last big hitters in the category was a little ostentatious. Samson's new Expedition Express keeps things a little lower-key. The one-piece system will take both Bluetooth audio as well as quarter-inch and XLR instrument inputs, but it's subtle enough to feel at home at both the beach and the boardroom. It's also more portable than others -- the small, 10-pound box should be easier to shlep around and lasts a reasonable eight hours on its rechargeable battery. The Expedition Express won't be cheap when it ships this month for $200, and it certainly won't make up for our ham-fisted guitar skills. It might, however, be a solid choice for a backyard party soundtrack.
Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio/Video
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Source: Samson
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CyanogenMod 10.1 hits Release Candidate, nears a 'stable' future
If you're a fan of CyanogenMod, there's a good chance that flashing nightly builds of the 10.1 release is now damn near second nature. Fortunately, a more stable future is in store for you and your phone, as CyanogenMod has revealed that a final release is close at hand. As a buildup to that point, you'll find that Release Candidate builds are now available for installation. For the uninitiated, CyanogenMod 10.1 is based on Android 4.2.2, and along with many additional features, it serves as a great way to upgrade your device in the case that its manufacturer has given up. Hit the break for the complete list of devices to receive the Release Candidate treatment.
Filed under: Software, Mobile
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Source: CyanogenMod
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Pulse for iOS adds LinkedIn sharing
LinkedIn is quickly settling into its ownership of Pulse: fresh from integrating itself into the news app's Android edition, it's doing the same for iOS. Version 3.1 of the news aggregator largely mirrors the Android refresh and lets users flick a switch to share stories through the extra channel. The update also simplifies saving articles to Evernote, Instapaper and Pocket for those that aren't quite so public with their reading habits. Whichever camp you're in, the Pulse upgrade awaits at the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet
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Via: 9to5 Mac
Source: App Store
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The Daily Roundup for 05.08.2013
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.
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This is the Modem World: The Great Computer Cold War of 1982
Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.
I've known my friend Jeff since I was 2 years old. He was one year ahead of me in school, but in everything else -- little league, school, girls -- we were extremely competitive. We both had two sisters and looked to one another as brothers and yardsticks for prepubescent success. He was better at baseball and I usually had better luck with the ladies. Being better at baseball helped him with the ladies and having a way with the girls made the baseball thing kind of irrelevant. In short, I was better.
I saw Jeff last week, and as we reminisced about the good old days of baseball and babes, he reminded me of what he called The Great Computer Cold War of 1982.
"The great what?" I asked him.
Filed under: Misc, Software, Apple
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Slacker lures 6 million new listeners, makes profit on both free and paid users
When Slacker launched its big software overhaul in February, many were skeptical that a refresh could bring it back to prominence. Apparently, all that doubt was misguided: Slacker says it's racked up 6 million new listeners in the past three months, 3.5 million of which are on mobile. They're more involved, too -- there are 100,000 new paying customers, iOS installs have tripled and members of all kinds tune in for an average of 25 percent longer. And did we mention that Slacker may even benefit from the rush? Where some peers face a constant fight to stay above water without enough premium customers, Slacker says both its ad-supported free radio and paid on-demand service are profitable. While there's no guarantee the company will hold on to those bedazzled new users, it's good to see renewed competition in a field with fewer and fewer participants.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet
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Source: Slacker
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San Francisco reneges on proposed cellphone warning sticker, leaves citizens to chat at their own risk
Californians
already see earthquake notices in elevators and falling rock signs on
the beach, but if certain lawmakers had managed to get their way, locals
would find warning stickers on their cellphones,
too. The proposed tags, which detail energy transfer from the device to
your body by displaying a device's SAR (Specific Absorption Rate), will
no longer be implemented. The sponsoring group, whose move has been on hold for several years,
now faces a permanent injunction; in other words, the stickers will
likely never see the light of day. The FCC, which measures SAR, is
tasked with determining that each device meets certain safety standards,
keeping citizens safe from radiation -- sticker or no sticker, people
who speak on cellphones are generally not at any risk.
Filed under: CellphonesComments
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Reuters
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AT&T's Lumia 900 gets a second life through Windows 7.8 update
Plans to update the Nokia Lumia 900 with Windows Phone 7.8 have been slow-going, to say the least. Today, however, marks the beginning of a new life for the aging handset, as it welcomes a much-anticipated 7.8 refresh. Naturally, this means the former flagship is getting an injection of new features and improvements -- namely, that revamped Start screen with flexible tiles. Users will also enjoy various enhancements to the lock screen, including the option to use Bing's image of the day as a wallpaper. Rounding out the list are various other under-the-hood tweaks to make the experience smoother and help close the gap with current smartphone powerhouses. The good news is that it's here now, and can be all yours by following the step-by-steps at the More Coverage link below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Nokia, AT&T
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Via: WMPoweruser
Source: NokiaCareUS (Twitter)
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Tesla turns a $15 million profit in Q1 2013 on $562 million in revenue (update)
Despite a bit of bad press for its Model S and a less-than-ideal close to the 2012 financial year, things have been looking up for Tesla. Sales are on an upward climb, company CEO Elon Musk has sworn to deliver more superchargers, better service for customers and continues to tout his EV's high resale value. After promising in Q4 of 2012 that Tesla would turn a profit the next quarter, the EV manufacturer has done so -- generating $15 million in net income and $562 million in revenue in Q1 2013.
During the first quarter the company built 5,000 Model S cars, and is scheduled to build the same number in Q2 to keep pace with the 20,000 orders expected this year. To better service all those vehicles, Tesla opened 12 new service locations in Q1, with 18 more to come online by the end of 2013. Additionally, the company plans to start deliveries of Teslas in Europe in Q3. An investor call with Mr. Musk will be starting shortly, and we'll update things here should he have any other news to share.
Update: During the call, Musk said that the company plans to build upon its newfound financial success by continuing to focus on increasing production efficiency for the Model S -- which is why the Model X has been delayed until late 2014. He also made mention of the fact that roughly half the folks buying the 60 kWh Model S are upgrading to supercharging hardware at purchase (85kWh cars have it standard), and he expects that number to grow as the Supercharger network grows in 2013.
Filed under: Transportation
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Source: Tesla [PDF]
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Virus-based sensors find superbugs in minutes, may lead to safer surfaces
Viruses usually have to be rendered inert to work in humanity's favor, as anyone who has received a flu shot can attest. Auburn University has bucked that trend by discovering a way to put active viruses to work in not only diagnosing sickness, but in preventing it in the first place. It's using bacteria-hating (and thankfully harmless) viruses as biosensors to quickly identify superbugs, or antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can sometimes prove fatal. As the viruses change color once they've reached impervious bacterial strains, in this case variants on Staphylococcus, they can reveal superbugs within 10 to 12 minutes -- a potentially lifesaving interval when current purification-driven methods can take hours. Auburn would like to eventually use what it has learned to develop more effective antibacterial glass and similar surfaces. If successfully put into practice, either breakthrough could mitigate what's already a major medical crisis.
[Image credit: Bob Blaylock, Wikipedia]
Filed under: Science, Alt
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Via: The Verge
Source: JoVE
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Microsoft's Amy Hood named CFO as Peter Klein departs
If you'll recall, Microsoft revealed as a footnote to its Q3 2013 earnings report that then-CFO Peter Klein would be stepping down. Today, we're learning a bit more about the transition. Starting right now (well, a few minutes ago), corporate vice president Amy Hood has been moved up to chief financial officer, and while Klein is set to remain onboard through June, Hood is grabbing the title right away. Prior to this role, Hood served as CFO for Microsoft's Business Division, and has been with the company for just over a decade. Asked if she had any immediate plans, she softly nodded and whispered: "I'm bringing Clippy back." Just kidding. But that would've been awesome.
Filed under: Microsoft
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Source: Microsoft
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Hipstamatic launches Oggl, an all new photo app with subscription model
The folks at Hipstamatic know better than to mess with success. Their flagship photo filter app will continue to evolve, albeit slowly. More dramatic experiments in business model and UI design will instead show up in Oggl, the company's newest app that doesn't stray too far from the mold. The basic functionality is the same: snap a pic, edit it then post it for others to see. There are some key differences, however, besides the obvious aesthetic ones. Perhaps the most striking is the new business model, where users are charged $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year for full access to the library of Hipstamatic photo effects. There's also a focus on building a photo-sharing community around Oggl, much in the way Instagram has. The app is invite only (and we're still waiting for ours), but when it launches later this week the crowded high-brow photo sharing space will have yet another competitor.
Filed under: Internet, Software
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Via: AllThingsD
Source: Oggl
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Slickdeals' best in tech for May 8th: Samsung NX1000 mirrorless camera and Amazon Kindle Fire
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this roundup, 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.
Sure, tablets and cameras discounted on the regular in our twice weekly roundup, but today an A/V system sees the big price drop. A Denon AVR-1613 receiver and Harmon Kardon HKTS 16 speaker bundle is reduced by over 50% with the aid of a simple discount code. All of the particulars, and the rest of the list, await on the other side of the break.
Filed under: Cameras, Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video, Tablets
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Source: Slickdeals
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Roku can now tell you how to get, how to get to Sesame Street with new PBS channels
Big Bird (or "Big Yellah," as we like to call him) and his Sesame Street cohorts are now available for streaming on your Roku box. Not just that, but his non-avian colleagues from PBS and PBS Kids are also making the trip, arriving today in new PBS and PBS Kids Roku channels. The two new channels offer more than the on-demand access to PBS programming you'd expect; PBS Digital Studios' work is also available to stream (we're quite fond of it, if you couldn't tell).
While it's not 100 percent clear what exactly is available at any given time, PBS' announcement says "hundreds of videos" can be accessed, which are pulled from the archives, from national and local daily programming, and include biggies like NOVA, Frontline, and American Experience (it stands to reason that heavy hitter Downtown Abbey won't be available, given its exclusive license with Amazon starting next month). PBS Kids is similarly well-stocked, with "more than 1,000 videos," which includes everything from Curious George to, yes, Sesame Street. There's a short teaser video of the service being used just below the break, should you not be able to contain yourself until you get home.
Update: According to Roku, not all Roku players support the new PBS channels. "Both PBS and PBS Kids are available immediately for all Roku 3, Roku 2, Roku LT, new Roku HD players and the Roku Streaming Stick in the US," the company says. Heads up!
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Science, HD
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Source: Roku
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Engadget Primed: The rise (and rise?) of Bitcoin
Ask anyone about why Bitcoin has suddenly risen to prominence and they may offer one of a number of theories. Perhaps it'll be the one about Cypriots smuggling money out of their country, or the promise of a digital gold rush, or perhaps the tale of a disruptive new economy created by a person who may not even exist. Either way, if you'd like to untangle the myths, half-truths and labored economic newspeak behind the world that is Bitcoin, why not join us after the break?
Filed under: Internet
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Klipsch's Music Center KMC 3 Bluetooth speaker costs $400, will be available in June
Klipsch is known for offering everything from well-designed headphones to home theater systems, but the audio-focused outfit has been staying away from producing relatively portable Bluetooth speakers. That all changed back at this year's CES when Klipsch outed the KMC 3 as part of its Music Center lineup, which we're now finding out will be priced at $400 (or $399.99, to be precise) when it hits store shelves this coming June. In return for your hard-earned cash, Klipsch's first Bluetooth-equipped soundbox (apt-X and AAC) will give you a 2.1 assortment that's loaded with 2-inch, full-range drivers, a zippy 5.25-inch subwoofer and a battery capable of running up to 26 hours -- this, according to the company, makes for a system "perfectly designed for powerful, accurate sound reproductions." Don't mind the hefty price tag? Then make the source link below your next stop if you're interested in snagging one of these.
Filed under: Misc, Portable Audio/Video
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Source: Klipsch
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Sony lifting development license fee on PlayStation Vita and Mobile starting ... yesterday
Sony's already got a low barrier to entry for developers on its PlayStation Mobile platform, which encompasses the PlayStation Vita handheld game console and a variety of smartphones -- just $99 for a license enables publishing across all PlayStation Mobile devices. Apparently that fee is too much for some folks, so Sony's waiving it altogether. Starting right now (as of yesterday, actually), Sony's "removing any existing barriers" between developers and the PS Mobile platform by dropping the publishing fee, thusly making it all the easier for devs to push their games to the Vita and various smartphones. There are already some great indie games featured on Sony's PS Mobile store, including Vlambeer's Super Crate Box and Super Icon Ltd.'s Life of Pixel, and this paves the way for even more.
Of course, Apple's iOS publishing fee is $99 per year and the App Store is certainly more flush with content than Sony's Mobile store, which tells us it isn't the license fee that's stopping people from pushing their games to PS Mobile.
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Software, HD, Sony
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Source: US PlayStation Blog, EU PlayStation Blog
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OUYA console gets torn down, found to be highly repairable
Now that OUYA consoles are shipping out to the masses, the folks at iFixit were able to grab a box and immediately undo all of the precious packaging work accomplished at the factory. In its usual style, the site gently dissected the world's best-known Android game console, commenting on "a very clean and simple layout." Overall, the splaying seemed to happen with little to no fuss, with the fan being the only modular (and moving) component in the entire thing. All told, the OUYA notched a 9 out of 10 on the all-important Repairability Meter, aided by the fact that only standard-head screws were used, and that no abstract glues or other black magic was used while piecing it all together. You'll definitely want to give the source link a look if you're yearning for more eye candy.
Filed under: Gaming
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Source: iFixit
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