Bowers & Wilkins launches the P7, its first pair of over-ear headphones
We've seen on-ear and in-ear headphones come out of Bowers & Wilkins' labs for quite some time, but now the company has announced its first over-ear pair. The new P7s boast the style's natural advantages, of course -- ear-covering cushions that mold to the wearer's head, improving noise isolation. B&W crafted new audio drivers for the cans too, which it claims are designed more like "traditional audiophile speaker" than a pair of premium headphones. The device's leather and metal finish looks sleek, but it doesn't come cheap -- a pair will set you back $400 when it comes out this September. Too rich for your blood? Well, you can always opt for one of B&W's relatively more affordable options.
Filed under: Peripherals
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GTA 5 companion apps offer custom rides, virtual pooches, interactive maps
Need something to pass the time tonight while waiting for Grand Theft Auto 5? Developer Rockstar Games has you covered with a pair of free companion apps for its latest crime sim. The iFruit mobile app features two distinct portions with direct ties to your virtual criminal career, allowing you to customize your ride and train retired thief Franklin's rottweiler. Los Santos Customs lets you get crazy under the hood and in the body shop, tinkering with your ride until it's just right for either GTA5 or GTA: Online. Treat Franklin's dog Chop well enough in the pet trainer Chop the Dog, and he'll find hidden in-game loot for you. The iFruit app is iOS-only for now, but flavors for Android, Windows Phone and even PlayStation Vita are en route.
There's also an e-version of the game's manual, because Rockstar apparently couldn't squeeze the full 100 page-plus tome into print for the retail box. What's more, it features an interactive map, and is available now on the App Store and as a desktop app -- an Android version is "coming soon." Midnight doesn't seem so far away now, does it?
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Mobile
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Via: Joystiq
Source: Rockstar Newswire, iTunes (1), (2), Rockstar Games (direct download)
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Another wooden Tokyoflash timepiece emerges, the Maru (video)
Tony Stark's favorite timepiece is going natural with Tokyflash's wood Maru. From the looks of them though, the only change between the maple and red sandalwood variants and last year's metal model is they no longer resemble something we'd see on our favorite genius / billionaire / playboy / philanthropist. The inner facing-hand still points to the hour, the outward pointing-hand remains associated with minutes and the Maru continues to use a standard battery for power. It may have a wooden band and case, but we're almost positive you'll still have to take it off at airport security. If you want to test our theory, this Maru is $99 for the next 48 hours and $129 after that.
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Filed under: Wearables
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Source: Tokyoflash
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YouTube testing Chromecast support for embedded videos
Anyone wanting to stream YouTube videos through a Chromecast currently has to visit YouTube's website or run one of its mobile apps. Viewers may soon have more options, though, as Google has confirmed to GigaOM that it's publicly testing Chromecast support for embedded YouTube clips on third-party web pages. Right now, access is random at best -- the "send to" button only appears some of the time, and might not be available to everyone. The company says it's monitoring feedback from these experiments, however, and it could offer embedded video support to more Chromecast owners if all goes well.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Internet, HD, Google
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Source: GigaOM
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Nokia Lumia 1520 launch reportedly delayed in wake of Microsoft deal
If you believe the rumors, Nokia was supposed to launch the supersized Lumia 1520 (aka Bandit) as soon as next week. However, this unannounced Windows Phone may have hit an unofficial snag: Reuters claims that Nokia has delayed the unveiling by "several weeks" in the wake of Microsoft's plans to buy the company's device business. There's no word on an adjusted release date, although the historically accurate @evleaks has heard that the 1520 might appear in late October. Not surprisingly, Nokia isn't commenting on delays for a product that doesn't officially exist -- but don't be shocked if there's a new flagship Lumia later in the fall.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
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Source: Reuters
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Internet.org targets efficiency and cost reduction to connect the next 5 billion
If Internet.org ever hopes to be successful with its goal of bringing affordable internet to the next 5 billion people, the cost of delivery will need to be much cheaper than it is today. Today, members of the coalition -- which includes Facebook, Qualcomm, Ericsson and others -- released a substantial 70-page white paper that outlines some of the initial steps that are on the drawing board. According to the group's estimates, data delivery is currently 100 times too expensive to execute the vision of Internet.org, but all of that could change within the next decade.
To accomplish this, Internet.org is seeking ways to bring a tenfold improvement to the cost of delivering data, along with apps that are 10 times more efficient. For Facebook's part, it highlights technologies such as HipHop for PHP and the HipHop virtual machine, which allows its existing servers to accommodate 500 percent more traffic than before, and its Air Traffic Control system, which allows it to simulate different mobile networks and congestion systems around the world. Similarly, Facebook is looking to compression technologies such as WebP -- currently in use on its Android app -- to replace image formats such as PNG and JPEG, which alone could reduce network traffic by 20%.
Another challenge is looming, however, as Qualcomm estimates that the demand for data will double each year over the next 10 years, ultimately increasing 1000 fold over where it is today. To meet that demand, it's lobbying for a substantial spectrum reallocation, along with technologies such as carrier aggregation, LTE-Broadcast and LTE Direct. Combine this with more unconventional approaches that it'll reveal at a later date, and you begin to appreciate the massive undertaking that lies ahead for the partners of Internet.org.
Filed under: Internet, Mobile, Facebook
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Source: Facebook, Internet.org (PDF)
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Must See HDTV (September 16th - 22nd)
After an all too long wait, GTA 5 has arrived -- check out Joystiq's review here. For a different source of violent content, you might also want to check out the series finale of Showtime's Dexter this weekend or World War Z on Blu-ray. Breaking Bad's penultimate episode is also on Sunday night, while other shows including Under the Dome and Million Second Quiz are packing it in for the fall. New arrivals this week include Fox's controversial Dads, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, while Bones, New Girl, The Mindy Project and Key & Peele are all brand new. Look after the break for our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and gaming.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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Daily Roundup: Motorola Droid Maxx review, Google buys Bump, 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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Iran seemingly lifts restrictions on Facebook and Twitter access
It hasn't been outrightly confirmed by the government of Iran, but at least some within the nation's borders are now able to access both Twitter and Facebook. For those keeping score, public access to the networks has been banned since 2009, shortly after the reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, seems fairly convinced that Iran itself should not be restricting its citizens to information available via social channels, and a number of trusted accounts -- including Rouhani himself along with The New York Times' Thomas Erdbrink -- have tweeted in recent hours without the use of a proxy. It's unclear whether the lift is intentional, or if it's scheduled to remain permanently, but we're obviously hoping it's a sign of meaningful change.
Filed under: Internet
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Via: Quartz
Source: Hassan Rouhani (Twitter), Thomas Erdbrink (Twitter)
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Uber embraces impatience with ETA feature for iOS and Android
Uber's latest update tackles that age old question: are we there yet? The company's offering up an ETA feature that'll let you share your estimated arrival time with friends and family via text message. Enable the feature in the app, enter your destination and once your driver starts his or her trip, you can text your real-time ETA along with map link to concerned parties. The latest version of the app is available now for iOS and Android. No word on how time traveling DeLorean rides are expected to impact the app's estimates.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Software, Mobile
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Via: The Verge
Source: Uber
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Pew survey: 21 percent of US cellphone owners get online mostly through their phones
There have been signs that Americans are leaning more and more on the smartphone as a primary internet device, and nowhere is that clearer than the latest edition of Pew's Cell Internet Use survey. The research group found that 21 percent of American cellphone owners now get online chiefly through their handset, up from 17 percent last year. Offline users, meanwhile, have been reduced to a minority -- 63 percent of US cell owners have hopped on the internet from their phones at some point. The PC isn't going away anytime soon, but it's clear that the traditional computer is just one internet client among many.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
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Source: Pew Internet
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First grid-scale compressed air battery now operational
Compressed air batteries have long promised truly clean energy storage, but they haven't scaled large enough in recent years to be viable companions to renewable power sources. That changes now that SustainX has switched on the first modern air battery large enough to join an electrical grid. The company's new ICAES (Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage) system in Seabrook, New Hampshire can hold 1.5 megawatts of power versus the kilowatt-level capacities of its rivals. Despite its size, ICAES is sustainable; it doesn't require 'dirty' energy for either compression or releasing air to its generator, and the supply won't degrade like that of a chemical battery. The New Hampshire system is just a demonstrator to attract interest, but SustainX expects to have its first commercial battery running in China next year. If ICAES (and technology like it) proves successful, we could see more solar and wind farms that keep delivering electricity when they're otherwise idle.
Filed under: Misc, Alt
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Via: GigaOM
Source: SustainX
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Study finds that anger spreads further than joy on social networks
Want to get your message heard on a social network? Try raging about it. China's Beihang University has published a study of Sina Weibo users which suggests that anger-fueled online posts have more of an influence than those reflecting other emotions. During the research period, a typical bitter comment would affect posts three degrees removed from the original; joy had a muted impact, while disgust and sadness hardly got any traction. Don't be too quick to lament the human condition, though. As researchers note, many of the angry posts were triggered by politics in Weibo's native China. There's a chance that internet denizens on other social networks have a rosier outlook on life.
[Image credit: Wayne Marshall, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet, Alt
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Via: MIT Technology Review
Source: Cornell University Library
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gdgt's best deals for September 16th: HTC One, HP LaserJet Pro and a 32-inch LG HDTV
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our friends at sister site gdgt track price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long.
Today's hottest deals are the much-adored HTC One at its lowest price yet, and a sizzling bargain on an HP LaserJet Pro all-in-one. Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
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Amazon vinyl sales up 745 percent since 2008, 8-track mulling comeback
This surely marks a faint glimmer of hope for all the beaten-down and forgotten formats out there. Granted, the vinyl record has been out of fashion recently but still, a 745 percent increase in Amazon sales marks some pretty impressive growth. So, why the bump? A retro explosion? A new-found appreciation for fidelity in this world of streaming compression? The answer's likely a little bit of both. Also, don't underestimate the power of Amazon's AutoRip feature. See, vinyl's not only the fastest growing music medium on Amazon, it's also the most popular format for AutoRip, which entitles buyers to MP3 versions of physical albums they buy. Obviously, though, it's a bit tougher for most music lovers to rip vinyl than, say, a CD.
So, which records are selling best? As of the weekend, the top vinyl titles include albums by the Death Grips, Amy Winehouse and Arcade Fire. Daft Punk, Nirvana and Paul McCartney managed to make their way into the top ten, as well. Those who prefer their information served up in a handy graphical format should click through to the source link below.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Amazon
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Source: Amazon
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Google buys Bump data-sharing application, standalone app will stick around 'for now'
Data sharing / smartphone colliding app Bump is now a part of Google's happy family, according to a post written earlier today by CEO David Lieb. Not a ton of info on the acquisition is available at the moment, including just how much money changed hands and what devices needed to come in contact for such a transfer to take place. Lieb did add, however, that, "Bump and [Bump-owned photo app] Flock will continue to work as they always have for now." What, precisely, "for now" means, and how the deal will affect Bump usage on non-Android platforms, however, is hard to say.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
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Source: Bump
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IRL: Testing the Nokia Lumia 1020's optional camera grip / battery case
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.
If you're going to buy the Lumia 1020 for its 41-megapixel camera (and if not that, what the heck did you buy it for?) you may as well spring for the $59 camera grip too. That's what Philip told himself, anyway, after picking up the phone on AT&T.
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AT&T will start taking Galaxy Gear pre-orders tomorrow
You can stop wondering when AT&T will let you plunk down cash for a Galaxy Gear: the carrier has just announced that it will start taking pre-orders for Samsung's smartwatch at 12:01AM ET tomorrow, September 17th. AT&T hasn't detailed pricing or a final release date, although Samsung has previously suggested that the Galaxy Gear should reach the US by October for $299. Given the pre-order timing, we wouldn't be surprised if the Gear arrives shortly after the Galaxy Note 3.
Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables, Mobile, Samsung, AT&T
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Via: AT&T (Twitter)
Source: AT&T
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Belgium looks into claims of foreign spying against its biggest telecom
Europeans are already jittery about possible foreign surveillance of their communications; today, those worries have reached a fever pitch. Belgian government investigators now suspect that a recently discovered virus in the internal systems of Belgacom, the country's telecom giant, was planted as part of state-backed cyber espionage. The malware's sophistication, scale and strategic focus suggest an attacker with "significant financial and logistic means," according to prosecutors. Neither side has officially named a culprit. Local newspaper De Standaard isn't quite so reticent, however -- it alleges that the NSA has been spying on Belgacom's voice traffic for at least two years, and that the discovery was prompted by Edward Snowden's leaks. Whether or not the NSA is involved, the damage may be limited. Belgacom scrubbed its systems clean this weekend, and it doesn't believe that the attack compromised customer data.
[Thanks, Joachim / image credit: Diluvienne, Flickr]
Dan Cooper contributed to this report.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet
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Via: Reuters
Source: De Standaard (translated), Belgacom
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Box Notes takes on Google Docs with collaborative editing, available in beta now (video)
Box users who have been using other services to compose notes and collaborate on documents can now do so from inside the app, thanks to a Box Notes. The Google Docs-esque feature set allows for real-time, collaborative document editing, with the ability to embed images and video clips. Through a simple (even sparse) UI, team members can edit a file simultaneously while adding notes to specific items, as well as comments via a side pane (similar to Word and Docs). Additionally, Box says these new features will make their way to mobile devices. Unfortunately, though, The Next Web reports that Box Notes won't see a full release until sometime in 2014, and there's no word on pricing yet either. Still, those looking to jump on the beta can sign up via the source link below.
Filed under: Internet, Software
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Via: Box Blog
Source: Box Notes
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Grand Theft Auto V arrives tomorrow, read Joystiq's review right now!
Despite some early leaks, the vast majority of humans can't pick up Grand Theft Auto V until tomorrow, September 17th. Fortunately for our friends at Joystiq, though, they got to do a dive deep on the latest Rockstar Games flagship in an early review. In traditional GTA fashion, "You can run the streets of a fully-realized world, steal cars, cause chaos and attempt to flee from an extraordinarily irritable police force," Joystiq's Xav de Matos writes. New to the series this time around is heist missions, which task the game's three main characters (all playable) with, well, heisting valuables from a target (think: banks, jewelry stores, et cetera).
Though De Matos generally found the game worth his time, it sounds like the narrative beats are once again hampered by poor pacing and underdeveloped, over-the-top characters. "Since GTA V features three main characters with vastly different personalities, your time is split, and the narrative isn't given enough room to resonate," he says. There is of course much, much more to discuss, which you'll find in the Joystiq review, right here. We've also dropped five minutes of gameplay video after the break, should your fires not be stoked enough already.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD
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Source: Joystiq
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Motorola Droid Maxx review
Motorola's Droid phones tend to arrive in packs. The original Droid RAZR was released just a couple months before the Droid RAZR Maxx -- essentially, the RAZR with a larger battery. The next year, the company followed up with the Droid RAZR HD, the RAZR M and the RAZR Maxx HD, the latter of which promised longer battery life. Then, after a long silence, the OEM finally broke its silence this past July. At a press event co-headlined by Verizon, Motorola announced its first products since being acquired by Google, once again choosing to launch three devices. We've already taken a look at the Droid Ultra, and in this review we'll focus on the largest of the trio, appropriately called the Droid Maxx.
Despite the fact that all three offer roughly the same mid-range specs, the Maxx stands out from the rest of its siblings thanks to its build, wireless-charging capability and -- surprise! -- its larger battery. But are these three factors important enough to justify paying $300 on-contract, when the Moto X, Droid Ultra and other flagships all cost $100 less? Let's find out.%Gallery-slideshow83998%
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google, Verizon
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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 goes up for pre-order September 18th on T-Mobile
Get your giant hands ready, T-Mobile subscribers. The Un-Carrier announced this morning that the latest version of Samsung's phamed phablet will be going up for pre-order September 18th. Pick it up through the Simple Choice Plan, and the 5.7-inch handset'll run you $199 down plus $21 a month for 24 months. As noted earlier, the Note 3 will be hitting T-Mob's stores and site on October 2nd, along with the $299 Galaxy Gear Smartwatch.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, T-Mobile
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Source: T-Mobile
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Grand Theft Auto V pre-orders ship early, Amazon UK learns crime doesn't pay
Amazon could find itself struck off Rockstar Games' Christmas card list after it delivered Grand Theft Auto V preorders to customers in the UK in advance of its September 17th release. Some customers reported receiving shipping notifications over the weekend, with additional reports suggesting the game had made it to some doorsteps as early as Saturday. Games Industry says that the company is already investigating these early sales, although we wouldn't put it past some silent, rogue type like Claude from GTA 3. Microsoft is reportedly banning Xbox Live accounts belonging to those that shared early footage of the game, so if you did receive an early copy, make sure to refrain from sharing your impressive bank heists on social media and video sites until release day.
Filed under: Gaming
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Via: VG247
Source: Games Industry
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Barclays Pingit now lets UK shoppers pay for web purchases using their smartphone
Barclays Pingit is a neat multi-platform app for paying the odd bill or shooting over your share of Friday's curry to a friend, regardless of which bank you use. Today, Barclays announced new ways businesses can use the payment platform: a "Pay with Barclays Pingit" button can now be added to websites and apps, which should shorten the time between impulse and transaction -- anyone that regularly uses PayPal for online purchases will get the general idea. Also, if an advertisement should take someone's fancy, the "buy it" feature allows that person to scan a QR code, check out product info, and complete the purchase then and there. It's up to retailers to add these new options, of course, so don't expect to find them everywhere from today. QR codes just won't die, will they?
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile
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Via: TheNextWeb
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