Google+ now says when photos get the Auto Awesome treatment
The Auto Awesome enhancements in Google+ are great for livening up burst photos and animations, but it's not always clear when the service creates. That's no longer an issue in the wake of an update: Google+ now sends notifications whenever it creates Auto Awesome animations, filmstrips and panoramas. The alerts are rolling out today on Android, iOS and the web, so you won't be left wondering about your photo collection again.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
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Source: Virgil Dobjanschi (Google+)
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Engadget HD Podcast 364 - 08.27.13
The season for televised football is just days away, and Richard and Ben couldn't be more elated. Tune in as they keep their excitement in check while discussing all the latest HD news.
Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler
Producer: Joe Pollicino
Hear the podcast
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Gmail for iOS nets improved Drive and Google+ integration
Sure, Gmail on iOS was completely redesigned in June, but Mountain View's just pushed out a fresh update with a few features to polish things off. Version 2.4 of the email app bakes in improved integration with Drive and Google+, making links to the platforms open in their respective apps. Of course, if you'd rather continue following links to the web, the application's settings can be tweaked accordingly. Rounding out the release is a spruced up attachment system with larger image thumbnails that can be opened up in a full screen mode. To grab the refreshed app, head to the neighboring source link.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google
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Via: iMore
Source: iTunes
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Kobo's Arc 7 tablet shows up in NYC, we kind of go hands-on
So we've already spent some hands-on time with Kobo's Aura e-reader and the Arc 10HD. That leaves two more devices, right? Well, here's the thing -- as much as the 10-inch tablet wasn't ready in time for tonight's event, the company at least managed to trot it out. As for the seven-inchers, well, the Arc 7HD didn't show, and while the Arc 7 was here, the slate was running a constant demo, meaning we couldn't take it through its paces. As for the hardware? On the face of it, the tablet looks a fair bit like the original Kindle Fire and a number of other seven-inch rectangular tablets. On the top is the standard red Kobo power button, on the right side of the device is a volume rocker and on the left are the headphone jack, micro-HDMI and microUSB ports.
Like its bigger brother, the soft touch rear of the device has borrowed some of the angular design language from the Aura HD around the corners. On the bottom, you'll find a single speaker grille. All three of Kobo's new tablets are set to launch on October 16th -- we're sure we'll be able to spend a bit more time with this guy before then. When it does land, it'll run you $150, with its HD sibling starting at $200.%Gallery-slideshow73876%
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Parallels Access for iPad offers a truly touch-native remote desktop (hands-on)
Many attempts at tablet-friendly remote desktop still present a traditional desktop to the user; they deliver a lot of control, but they're unwieldy on touch-only devices. Parallels' just-unveiled Access client for the iPad could provide a simpler, more consistent experience. Rather than recreate the full desktop of a host Mac or Windows PC, Parallels Access provides a streamlined app launcher with controls that are largely iOS-native. Text selection, gestures and even multitasking behave much like they normally would on Apple's tablets. The approach sounds intuitive, but is it worth Parallels' $80 yearly subscription fee? Read our hands-on after the break to find out. %Gallery-slideshow73454%
Filed under: Tablets, Software
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Source: Parallels
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Kobo goes for the top of the line with 10-inch Arc 10HD tablet, we go hands-on (video)
Love the Kobo ecosystem, but hoping for a tablet that's a little... higher end than what the Arc line currently offers? Boy have we got some news for you. The company introduced a grand total of three new tablets at today's event in New York City, and here's the crown jewel, the 10-inch Arc 10HD. Compared to the offerings we've seen from other e-reader makers, this thing really is a beast. It's also a pretty nice piece of hardware with a solid build. The front of the slate is all screen, plus a glossy, flush bezel that also houses the device's one webcam, a 1.3-megapixel offering that can also shoot 720p.
On the top of the fairly thin and light device, you'll find Kobo's standard red power button. On the right side is a volume rocker and along the left is a headphone jack, micro-HDMI and micro USB ports. On the back are two speaker grills, which didn't put out enough power to be heard over the event's music. There's also some subtle angular design language borrowed from the Aura HD on the sides of the otherwise flat soft touch back.
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Nexus 4 price drops by $100 to $199 for 8GB, $249 for 16GB (update)
The cheapest unlocked stock Android phone you could buy just got even cheaper: Google has dropped the price of the Nexus 4 8GB to $199 (£159) from $299 (£239), and the 16GB model to $249 (£199) from $349 (£279). It's fast approaching the anniversary date of the latest Google phone, so the timing is about right for the discount. However, we do wonder if this means a replacement is nigh. After all, Google has yet to introduce the next Nexus successor, and we certainly don't think the Moto X is all the Mountain View company has to offer. Until then, the Nexus 4 is pretty much the best smartphone deal for stock Android lovers who hate carrier contracts. So if you feel like snatching one up, you had best hit the store link below before it sells out yet again.
Update: The Google Play Twitter account just sent out a tweet stating that the 25 percent discount applies not only in the US, but also Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Korea and the UK. We've embedded the tweet after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, LG
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Source: Google Play Store, Google Play (Twitter)
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Kobo shows off its Aura e-reader, we go hands-on (video)
Remember that new e-reader from Kobo we told you about, not all that many minutes ago? Say hello to the Aura. The successor to the Glo owes more than just its name to the recently introduced Aura HD -- the device has also brought over the high-end specs and a bit of the device language from that Cadillac of e-readers. When the company handed off the reader, the first thing we noticed was that best in class front lighting. Kobo mastered that back with the Glo and has naturally trotted it out on subsequent devices.
Also immediately apparent is the size of the thing. The Aura appears smaller than other six-inch readers. Hold it up against the Paperwhite and it's clear that there's considerably less bezel. Also, the bezel lays flush with the display -- Kobo's dumped the old infrared touch for a capacitive screen, so there's no need for a gap. The device is impressively thin and light compared to past Kobo readers -- and the rest of the market, for that matter. This really is an impressive piece of hardware, though even with that in mind, the $150 price tag may be tough for all but the most hardcore readers to swallow. Around the back, you'll notice that Kobo brought a bit of the crooked design from the HD, though it's a lot more subtle than on that reader. As an homage to past Kobo readers, the criss cross diamond design is back, though it's also far more subtle and smaller this time out.
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Daily Roundup: HTC 8XT for Sprint, Windows 8.1 heads to manufacturers, Galaxy Gear, and more!
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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Kobo adds magazines, kids store to its online offerings
Kobo's not quite done with the news tonight. In addition to an e-reader, three tablets and Pocket integration, the Canadian-turned-Japanese company has also got some announcements on the content side of things. First up is the addition of magazines to its store, bringing titles from Conde Nast, Hearst and a number of other publishers to its proprietary tablets and iOS / Android apps. Also on the docket is a brand new kids store that features safe-searching and nearly 100,000 offerings, including the likes of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Hunger Games titles. Magazines are coming to Kobo's mobile app in September and will be available for its new tablets when they launch the following month.
Filed under: Tablets, Software
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Kobo integrates Pocket into Reading Life, brings the app to its e-readers and tablets
We had some initial misgivings about the usefulness of Kobo's Reading Life ecosystem, but the company has certainly been working to expand the scope of its social / competitive reading offering. Now Kobo's partnering with Pocket (the app formerly known as Read it Later), a deal that integrates the app directly into Reading Life, letting you send articles to the company's new line of e-readers and tablets for offline reading. The app is accessible via Reading Life's new Articles from Pocket feature. You can read more in the press release below right now.
Filed under: Tablets, Software
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Source: Get Pocket
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Kobo unveils three reading-focused Arc tablets
I suspect that Kobo won't be too thrilled about my mentioning the Vox tablet in the introduction to its latest product announcement. All companies have their share of misfires, but that one left us seriously questioning whether the e-reader manufacturer really belonged in the tablet space in the first place. The company set things right with the Kobo Arc, scrapping the Vox line and starting anew. At the end end of the day, however, that seven-inch device left us wondering precisely what void the slate intended to fill in a market overrun with budget tablets. The company thinks it has the answer this time around, building a tablet aimed specifically at its user base of hardcore readers. In fact, the company is so confident in that potential space that it's created not one but three new devices to cater to that need.
It's certainly not something Amazon's Fire line has sought to address, with devices that are more interested in the broader multimedia experience. And while Barnes & Noble has put some effort into reading on its Nook Tablet line, the future of those devices are in question. Kobo would no doubt be among the first to admit that, for those truly hardcore readers out there, a tablet just can't match the experience of a devoted E Ink device, but the company has taken some great pains here to offer the best possible experience on this class of device. For starters, that means limiting distractions -- a refreshing move in a world of infinite displays, we'll admit. CEO Michael Serbinis suggested that (aside from the fact that tablets are less forgiving on the eye than e-readers), the reason people aren't reading as much on the devices is due in part to the many other things (movies, music, web browsing, et cetera) we can be doing on them.
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Kobo unveils the Aura, a mid-size luxury e-reader
It was around this time year that Amazon showed off the Paperwhite at an event in a Santa Monica airplane hangar, debuting a front-lit display technology that would blow the months-old Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight out of the water. A few weeks later, Kobo introduced the Glo, which featured illumination that put both of the aforementioned readers to shame. Back in April, the company added another member to the family, a -- get this -- luxury e-reader. Kobo made it very clear that the nearly 7-inch device was a limited time only deal -- that is, unless the thing actually sold. Four months later, the Aura HD comprises nearly a quarter of the company's global e-reader sales. So, naturally, the product is sticking around. It's also serving as the inspiration for the Glo's successor (the Glo, too, will stick around -- though there's no word on price cuts to that device just yet).
The Kobo Aura is, as its name implies, a smaller sibling to the Aura HD, with a standard-sized 6-inch E Ink display. And as ever, the company's also including that best-in-class front light technology here. CEO Michael Serbinis tells us that his company has also worked directly with E Ink this time out to greatly reduce those full-page refreshes that we've been accustom to seeing once every six pages or so amongst the last few generations of readers. The Aura is also the thinnest and lightest 6-incher Kobo's offered, at 0.32 inch thick and 6.1 ounces (compare that to the Glo's 0.39 inches and 6.5 ounces) -- a qualifier the company no doubt added to acknowledge the existence of the five-inch Mini.
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DNS hack takes The New York Times offline (update: Twitter images were affected too)
For the second time this month, The New York Times has gone offline. This time around, the Syrian Electronic Army is likely to blame, with a Domain Name System (DNS) hack crippling the news org's online operation. The NYT's web servers are still online, however, so the publication has begun tweeting out direct IP links to recent articles. Meanwhile, Twitter itself may be vulnerable. Hackers have managed to modify some of the registration data, including the contact email address, suggesting an attack on the social site may be imminent.
Update: According to a tweet from the paper's official account, it's temporarily publishing updates at news.nytco.com.
Update 2: Twitter has confirmed the twimg.com domain used for images and photos was among those affected. According to the post, the original domain record has been restored and no user information was affected.
Filed under: Internet
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Via: TechCrunch
Source: NYT (Twitter)
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Researchers link brains, control each other's actions via the internet (video)
Human brain-to-brain interfacing seems like the stuff of fiction (Pacific Rim, anyone?), but researchers at the University of Washington have made it a reality. A team led by faculty members Rajesh Rao and Andrea Stocco claim to have pioneered the world's first human-to-human experiment of the sort. Rao and Stocco were placed in different buildings and hooked up to two devices to record, interpret and send their brain signals via the internet. The sender (Rao) wore an EEG machine while the receiver (Stocco) was connected to a transcranial magnetic stimulation coil. The experiment was performed with a simple arcade-style video game, the objective of which was to shoot baddies out of the sky. Rao watched the screen and visualized lifting his hand to press the space bar to fire, but Stocco was the trigger man. Clear across campus, Stocco's finger tapped the space bar at the appropriate time, eliminating the target, despite being unable to hear or see the game's display. To learn more, check out the video after the break or the source link below.
Filed under: Science, Alt
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Via: GeekWire
Source: University of Washington
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Microsoft boosts base SkyDrive Pro storage to 25GB, lets administrators add more
Microsoft's SkyDrive Pro is helpful for cloud-savvy businesses, but its 7GB of storage per person now seems restrictive next to improved offerings from rivals like Box. The company won't let itself be outdone, however: it just bumped SkyDrive Pro's base storage to 25GB per user, and administrators can raise that limit to 100GB if they're willing to pay. There's some incentives to take advantage of that extra space, too. Microsoft now offers a larger 2GB file cap, automatic versioning for new users and a client view that displays all shared documents. If your employer depends on Microsoft for online collaboration, you should notice the additional storage today.
Filed under: Storage, Internet, Microsoft
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Via: TechCrunch
Source: Office 365 Technology
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Telltale Games bringing 'The Walking Dead' to the OUYA this winter
It's safe to say The Walking Dead game has had a pretty successful term on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 -- still, there's always a chance to grow beyond the more traditional consoles. With that in mind, Telltale Games announced today its plans to bring the zombie-heavy gaming series to the OUYA later this year. The game studio behind the title doesn't go beyond saying it'll be "coming this winter." However, it did say the release will include The Walking Dead: Season One along with the 400 Days DLC. The second season, meanwhile, is said to be in the works and due to follow at some point in the future. Owners of the tiny, Android-based box will be able to play the first episode at no cost, which should help decide if they want to carry on with the rest of the story or, you know, keep playing You Don't know Jack.
Filed under: Gaming
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Via: The Verge
Source: Telltale Games
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Madden NFL 25 for iOS available now as a free download
EA's kicking off its free-to-play mobile strategy with an iOS version of the much-anticipated Madden NFL 25. Available now via the App Store, the popular gaming franchise arrives on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad as a gratis download, though there are (naturally) a slew of in-app purchases that Electronic Arts is hoping you'll splurge on. For example, there's an All Madden Bundle priced at $100. As far as gameplay goes, the publisher says this year's Madden on iOS has been improved with much better touch controls, which should go hand-in-hand with stuff like Ultimate Team and its trademark official licenses for all 32 squads. Speaking of which, we're really wondering who's listed as the starting QB for the New York Jets...
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablets, Apple
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Source: App Store
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Evernote comes to Windows Phone 8 with multi-shot camera, speech to text support
Evernote has let its Windows Phone app languish at times, but the company is making amends with a new version of its note-taking client that supports Windows Phone 8. The update primarily improves navigation and speed for modern hardware, although there are a few platform-independent additions. Users can now snap multiple photos without leaving the camera mode; the refresh also introduces photo slideshows, speech-to-text transcription and an automatic title generator. Evernote's big upgrade is available in the Windows Phone Store today, and there's promises of "lots more" coming to Microsoft's mobile platform in the near future.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
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Via: Evernote Blog
Source: Windows Phone Store
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Verizon to launch waterproof Kyocera Hydro Elite on August 29 for $100 (video)
Kyocera
handsets in the US typically debut on Sprint or smaller carriers like
Boost or Cricket, but that doesn't mean Verizon can't have a go at
devices from the Japanese company. First spied a few months ago, the Kyocera Hydro Elite is one such handheld headed for Big Red, and looks to be a waterproof model much like its Hydro predecessor.
Indeed, the Hydro Elite can supposedly be immersed in up to 3.28 feet
(1 meter) of water for almost half an hour before calling it quits. Like
the Torque, the Hydro Elite also boasts a Smart Sonic Receiver technology that promises outstanding audio quality even in the noisiest environments.
The
Hydro Elite is not exactly tiny, measuring 4.82 x 2.38 x 0.43 inches
and weighing in at 4.51 ounces. Other notable features include -- let's
take a deep breath here -- a 4.3-inch HD display, 4G LTE, an 8-megapixel
HD cam, a front-facing 1.3-megapixel shooter, Qi wireless charging,
NFC, MHL support, DLNA support, a microSD card slot and a 2,100 mAH
battery. Phew. If that list of specs sounds scintillating enough
to you, you may pick one up at your local Verizon store this Thursday
for only $100 after a rebate and a two-year service agreement. For those
who need a little more convincing, you can check out a
Kyocera-commissioned video after the break starring none other than Man vs. Wild survivalist Bear Grylls.
Filed under: Mobile, VerizonComments
Source: Kyocera
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HTC 8XT for Sprint: what's different?
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, HTC, Sprint
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Nissan to sell multiple affordable self-driving cars by 2020
Google's not the only one trying to build self-driving cars, despite the fact that it gets a ton of attention for all those autonomous autos roaming Bay Area streets. Many manufacturers are interested in taking human error out of the driving equation, and now Nissan aims to do so by 2020. That's right, folks, Nissan Executive VP Andy Palmer stated today that the plan is to sell multiple affordable models of fully autonomous cars by 2020. And, to meet that goal, the company is constructing a facility to test self-driving systems that'll be up and running in 2014. Nissan's development timetable falls right in line with some of its competitors, but talk is cheap -- time will tell if Nissan can deliver on both its autonomous and affordability promises.
Filed under: Transportation
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Via: Wall Street Journal
Source: Nissan
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Imo adds video call over WiFi and cellular to Android and iOS apps
Imo users, brush your hair and powder your nose, as you might be in for some face-to-face conversation -- now that the IM aggregator has added video calls to its repertoire. It was initially released to a small group of beta testers, but the feature, which is the app's biggest update since launching free voice calls, is available both on Google's platform and on iOS starting today. After you've updated the app, you'll see a camera icon next to a contact's name that you can use to initiate a video chat. It'll work over WiFi and cellular (3G / 4G) regardless of the messenger service, so long as the person you're calling is also logged into Imo. If you'd like to give the new feature a shot despite being married to another video chat app (or two -- as you likely are), hit the source links below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
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Source: Imo (Android), (iPhone), (iPad)
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Facebook posts first Global Government Requests Report
Facebook already gave us insight into the volume of US government data requests that it receives; it's broadening that scope today by posting its first-ever Global Government Requests Report. The chart reveals that agencies worldwide made at least 25,607 data requests in the first six months of 2013, targeting a minimum of 37,954 users. Nearly half of the demands (11,000 to 12,000) were from the US; as before, Facebook can't be more specific unless it's allowed greater transparency. While the report doesn't address concerns regarding NSA surveillance, it does show that Facebook isn't simply rubber-stamping government activity. The company has denied many or all of the requests from some countries, supporting the social network's claims that it limits the scope of data probes when possible.
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
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Via: Bloomberg
Source: Facebook
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HTC to show its soft side with Hello Kitty edition Butterfly s
The number of times Hello Kitty's popped up on Engadget over the years is quite astonishing, and thanks to HTC, the cat leaves yet another paw print here. Earlier today, our Taiwanese brethren received an invitation (embedded after the break) for next Monday's launch of the Butterfly s Hello Kitty limited edition. Interestingly and perhaps unsurprisingly, the cartoon character is seen wearing a uniform similar to that of EVA Air, a local airline that now operates five Hello Kitty edition planes.
Later on, a Mobile01 forum user followed up with what appears to be a spy shot of said phone's printed ad, as shown above. Here you can see the feline's head -- with her butterfly hair clip highlighted for obvious reasons -- dominating the white back of the 5-inch phone. And with that cute wallpaper, we assume there will be other Hello Kitty features on the software side as well. All will be revealed next week, of course. Meanwhile, we're secretly hoping HTC's also planning on a One Max with a glowing arc reactor stuck on the back.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
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Source: Mobile01 (Chinese)
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