Panasonic leaks 65-inch 4K LCD, HDMI 2.0 prior to IFA announcement
Panasonic is one of the few electronics companies that's not pushing a 4K TV right now, but that is apparently about to change. An AV Forums reader spotted a few webpages cached prior to the company's launch event that show off not only its upcoming 4K res WT600 television, but also details of the HDMI 2.0 spec. The current HDMI 1.4 connectors can only handle 4K content at 30fps, and the page mentions HDMI 2.0 will support at least 60fps, but any further capabilities are unknown. The Panasonic WT600 details shown include that it will support DisplayPort 1.2 as well as 4K specific features like a web browser, media player, rendering engine and THX certification. The only disappointing part, as the post points out, is that there's no sign yet of Panasonic's sweet 4K OLED prototype which combines both of this year's high-priced HDTV buzzwords in one lovely display. The HDMI licensing group has a press conference scheduled for IFA on Friday while Panasonic's is Wednesday, so it shouldn't be long before we hear more about both pieces of this puzzle, and how other manufacturers plan to react.
Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD
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Source: AV Forums
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Hisense picks up Hillcrest Labs' gesture and motion control tech for TVs
Following LG and TCL, Hisense is now the latest TV manufacturer to adopt Hillcrest Labs' Freespace technology. According to the agreement, Hisense, the world's fifth largest smart TV brand (as of Q1 2013, according to NPD DisplaySearch), will be able to add in-air pointing, gesture control and motion control -- all via a remote control -- to its future smart TVs and set-top boxes. This also means TCL now faces a fellow Chinese competitor with the same set of Freespace features. While there's no time frame just yet, we've been told that Hisense will eventually sell these next-gen devices in the US and China later this year, so stay tuned.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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ASUS briefly posts Fonepad 7 ad that reveals dual front speakers (video)
ASUS can't stop tweaking the Fonepad, it seems. Just a few months after boosting the specs of its phone-and-tablet hybrid, the company has inadvertently posted (and retracted) a video ad for yet another refresh, the Fonepad 7. You'll be disappointed if you were expecting a more substantial update this time around, though. As Android Community notes, the biggest change to the Atom-powered slate is the addition of dual front-facing speakers. After that, the visible upgrades are limited to a 5-megapixel rear camera (up from 3.2MP) and an integrated contact interface for calls and text messaging. There aren't any clues in the promo as to when the Fonepad 7 will launch, although the timing hints that we could learn more at IFA.
Filed under: Tablets, ASUS
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Source: Android Community
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Google Glass app store will debut in 2014
Back in July, a Google Glass software update inadvertently spilled the beans on a forthcoming app store optimized for the device, and now it looks like it's official. According to The New York Times, a Glass-optimized app marketplace is set to debut sometime in 2014, and a Google rep confirmed as much with Marketing Land earlier today. The store was labeled as "Boutique" in the aforementioned update, but whether or not that name will stick remains to be seen. Google's looking to introduce its headgear to the public next year, and the company will certainly need a secure marketplace for applications when it does. Details are sparse at the moment, but we'll keep you posted as we learn more.
Filed under: Wearables, Software, Google
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Via: Marketing Land
Source: The New York Times
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Xbox One swings into full production for November release, gets a CPU boost
No amount of news about the Xbox One can compete with holding the console in your hands -- thankfully, production is now in full swing for the planned November release. This was announced by Xbox Chief Marketing Officer Yusef Mehdi at the Citi Global Technology Conference, where he also revealed that the final product will have a slightly faster CPU than expected. Instead of the 1.6GHz processor we thought the console would have, it will be equipped with a 1.75GHz CPU. We can add that to the list of things we've found out about the console these past two months, including its GPU clock speed boost, lack of external storage support at launch and ability to recognize up to eight controllers at once. While Sony already has a specific target date for the PS4 launch, Microsoft has yet to conjure up one for its newest console, although that could change at the Tokyo Game Show.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft
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Source: GeekWire
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Nokiasoft comes full circle: Microsoft's play for ultimate control will redefine the Windows ecosystem
The "soft" in Microsoft isn't what it used to be. A score ago, the company was certain the software-licensing business was the one it wanted to be in -- Apple decided to hold its cards a lot closer to the chest, and it cost the company dearly for years. Meanwhile, Microsoft made a lot of cash with Windows, and it still does. But the tide is turning. Two of the last three Windows operating systems haven't generated the kind of crazed mindshare that a company needs to remain relevant over the long haul, and at some point, one has to wonder if Microsoft will be able to inject a bit of life into its stodgy, outmoded self by grabbing the reins on the hardware side.
In fact, that's exactly what Microsoft wondered, as it casually announced a plan in June of 2012 to affront scores of OEM partners with its Surface initiative. In an instant, Microsoft dove headfirst into the hardware game, and regardless of how it wanted the public to perceive the move, the truth was impossible to hide: this was Microsoft telling Acer, ASUS, Dell, Lenovo and the rest that it could no longer trust their design chops to keep its revenue on the up and up.
In February of 2011, well before it transformed the Surface from a big-ass table into a slate that almost no one wants to buy (Microsoft's words, not mine), the company managed to procure a huge ally on the mobile front. The Nokia / Microsoft alliance was monumental. This was Nokia's formidable hardware being exclusively used to push Microsoft's fledgling Windows Phone OS. At once, Nokia loyalists found hope, and those praying for a coalition with Android were dismayed. Little did we know: that partnership marked the end of the original Microsoft, the end of the original Nokia and, in my estimation, a complete rerouting of the Windows roadmap. This week's acquisition simply makes it all the more official.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
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TechShop to relocate its Menlo Park workspace, wants your help funding the move
Do you appreciate TechShop's community-driven hackerspaces? If so, the company would like your help in keeping one of those facilities alive. TechShop has to relocate its original Menlo Park workspace before October 31st, and it just launched a $250,000 crowdfunding campaign to help cover the moving costs. Should the fundraiser prove successful, TechShop will reward contributors with both prizes and passes to a Halloween benefit party; it will also hand out gift memberships to military veterans. Those who want to give the Menlo Park workshop a second chance can make a pledge at the source link.
Filed under: Misc
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Source: Indiegogo
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Daily Roundup: Apple confirms September 10th event, Google teases Android 'KitKat,' Nintendo 2DS hands-on, 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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Google's KitKat statue unveiling may have leaked a new Nexus phone (update: video removed)
We always enjoy Google's new statues for each version of Android, however the one posted just now for KitKat / 4.4 may have a bonus treat. The Googler in the green shirt is holding a device that reads Nexus on the back, however compared to the woman conveniently holding a Nexus 4 just inches away, it's clearly not the same. The word Nexus is spelled out in a different direction, the camera seems different, and it looks bigger than the Nexus 4, but it appears to have an LG logo on the bottom. The video
Update: Well, you could have seen it in the video but Google has suddenly yanked it from YouTube, adding even more intrigue to the situation. We've contacted the company for a statement and will let you know if we hear anything.
Update 2: One of our commenters linked
[Thanks, Mike and everyone else who sent this in]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, LG
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Source: YouTube
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JetBlue scores FAA approval for Fly-Fi, may launch satellite WiFi next month
JetBlue's next-generation WiFi service, powered by ViaSat's super-speedy Ka-band satellite, is officially on track to launch this October. The FAA just issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the airline's Airbus A320, enabling a fleet-wide installation that's set to begin immediately. In a statement, Chief Commercial Officer Robin Hayes said that several aircraft will be wired by the end of this year, with many A320s scheduled to come online throughout 2014. The rollout will then continue with JetBlue's smaller Embraer 190, currently used on select regional routes.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Filed under: Transportation, Wireless
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What's new in the new Kindle Paperwhite? Better lighting, a faster chip and one big Amazon logo
The most striking difference you'll notice in the just
Filed under: Amazon
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Must See HDTV (September 3rd - 8th)
This week, viewers can take their pick of big events coming to TV screens: the NFL is back, Futurama is going away for good, The League and Always Sunny are launching on a new cable network, Diablo III is arriving on consoles and Ace Ventura is out on Blu-ray. There's also the Blu-ray release of Sharknado and Luther's entire third series is airing on BBC America this week. Fans of Matt Groening's animated series will want to check out the Comedy Central website for a half hour before and after Futurama airs Wednesday to chat with the people who made it all possible. Need help finding out where FXX is on your cable or satellite TV lineup? This is the place to go, and check after the break for our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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Nintendo 2DS: dropping one dimension, adding one more choice (hands-on)
Nintendo caught us all by surprise when it announced its -- all too literally named -- 2DS handheld last week. But are we really surprised? For a company that found its last success with the "family" experience, and loves to create products in families of their own, it's perhaps surprising that it didn't create a more affordable, more accessible handheld sooner. Either way, it's here now, and will be reaching shelves by October 12th -- just in time to make those Christmas lists. Our list is getting pretty full already though, so we spent a little time with it to see if it could make the cut.%Gallery-slideshow79312%
Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo
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Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:15PM ET
It's not Monday, but it still time for another Engadget HD Podcast. We hope you will join us live when the Engadget HD podcast starts recording at 5:15PM. 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.
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Nymi bracelet uses biometric heart data to unlock digital and physical doors (video)
Unlike faces and fingerprints, a heart's electrical activity is difficult to fake -- it's a unique and potentially ideal security tool. Bionym is taking advantage of this trustworthiness in its upcoming Nymi bracelet. The wristwear authenticates users through a combination of electrocardiograms and Bluetooth proximity detection; if Nymi recognizes your heart rhythm, it automatically logs you into nearby devices. The bracelet also recognizes gesture commands, and a future developer kit should extend the gadget's usefulness beyond basic security for PCs and smartphones. It could unlock doors or make retail payments, for example. Nymi won't ship until early 2014, but it's already available for pre-order at a $79 early bird price.
Filed under: Wearables
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Via: The Verge
Source: Bionym
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We're liveblogging Samsung's 'Unpacked Episode 2' tomorrow at 1PM ET!
For the last few years, IFA has become synonymous with Samsung's Galaxy Note. The Korean company isn't being especially mysterious about its announcements at this year's show, either; "note," if you will that the action goes down tomorrow at 7PM local time (1PM EST). Will the confirmed Galaxy Note III and Galaxy Gear bring any big surprises? Does Samsung have any other devices up its sleeve? Can we expect another magician-infused press conference? We'll be bringing you all the news tomorrow, so point your browser here.
Filed under: Cellphones, Samsung
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Kodak exits bankruptcy with new focus on business imaging
After a year and a half of trials and tribulations, Kodak is finally in the clear -- it just exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Now that the company has finished offloading its document and personal imaging groups, it's free to pursue a recently court-approved reorganization plan that focuses solely on business products like movie film and packaging. The resulting firm is a far cry from the camera giant that we once knew, but we may hear about its work in the future. Kodak promises more details of "what's next," and it tells the AP that it's working on technology like printable touchscreen layers and smart packaging.
Filed under: Cameras
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Via: Wall Street Journal
Source: Kodak
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We'll be liveblogging Sony's IFA press conference tomorrow at 10AM ET
We're here in Berlin, and we're ready to kick things off right. Sony's leading tomorrow's press conference charge with an event starting at 10AM ET tomorrow, and this being a Sony event, we're expecting big things -- and lots of them. For starters, there's the Homani handset we've been hearing about and a number of cameras, like the Alpha A4000 and NEX-5T. And then there are the Vaios and even a few gadgets you can wear on your person. So join us right here for all the action.
September 4, 2013 10:00:00 AM EDT
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Expand and World Maker Faire: Two great events at one smart price!
What's better than getting to attend a hands-on technology event with thousands of like-minded enthusiasts? How about attending two such shows for one low price?!
We've teamed up with our good friends at MAKE Magazine to make that a reality: now for $50 you can pick up a bundle ticket that gets you into both World Maker Faire in New York City on September 21st and 22nd (choose your day pass when purchasing the bundle), plus our own Expand NY on November 9th and 10th. That's two amazing opportunities to see and interact with some of the most interesting projects and people in technology, from the next great inventors to the biggest names in consumer electronics.
Don't miss it...
Filed under: Announcements, Meta
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Creative launches a trio of audiophile-grade headphones for Europe
We like strapping things to our heads that replace the bad sounds with good ones, so we're very excited about Creative's new headsets. The company is launching a pair of audiophile-quality cans, as well as one for the audiophile on a limited budget. First up, there's the Aurvana Platinum and Gold, which come with active noise cancellation, NFC and HD Voice. Then there's the ShareMe technology, which lets two users wirelessly listen to one audio source, which'd be ideal for watching a movie on a long train journey. The Platinum will retail for £250 and the Gold for £180, while the more modest Live! 2 -- which packs leatherette ear pads and 40mm Neodymium drivers -- will set you back £110, with all three launching in October.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
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Nook Newstand now offering access to college papers
While Jeff Bezos is busy investing in a new 'golden era' for the Washington Post, Barnes & Noble's Nook division is beefing up digital access to the newspaper industry's farm league: the college paper. Through a licensing deal with UWIRE announced today, Nook users (yes, that includes the free app) will now be able to peruse, sample and subscribe to digital editions of the hundreds of college and university papers included (e.g., Harvard Crimson, The Columbia Spectator, etc.). Depending on the school paper, issues will either be served up as standalone purchases, monthly subscriptions or both, with most subscriptions hitting a $0.99 price point. There's also a 14-day trial period, so you can test out the collegiate goods before you go whole hog on that subscription for your alma mater.
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Source: Barnes & Noble
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Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite officially announced, ships September 30th
In case you needed official confirmation, Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite is indeed real and on the way. While we still don't have much in the way of specifics, according to the public listing, we do know that the refreshed Paperwhite should arrive with a 25-percent faster processor, improved display with higher contrast and longer lasting battery (supposedly rated for up to two months). Amazon's also bundled in some new features: social integration by way of Goodreads so users can get book recommendations from other like-minded readers, Kindle Page Flip which lets users skip ahead without losing their place and Vocabulary Builder which creates flashcards based on past word searches. Pricing remains the same as we reported earlier with the WiFi-only models set to ship out on the 30th of this month and retailing for $119 (with ads) and $139. Users keen on the $189 3G version will have a bit longer to wait as that device is slated for a November 5th release. Pre-orders are available now, so quit reading and get to one-clicking.
Filed under: Amazon
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Source: Amazon.com
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8GB Nexus 4 is sold out at Google Play and it won't be coming back, new Nexus handset on the way?
If you were still holding out before committing funds for a Nexus 4, seems like you missed your chance at the 8GB version. The $200 handset has sold out at Google Play in the US and the folks in Mountain View tell The Verge that it's not coming back. Those still eyeing the device can splurge for the 16GB option, while 8GB phones remain available in other global locales until the current stock is depleted. This certainly begs the question: is a new Nexus device on the way? With the Nexus 4 quickly approaching the year-old mark in October and a new version of Android on the horizon, this could be a signal that the new Nexus is just around the bend. We've reached out to Google on the matter and we'll update here as soon as we hear back.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
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Via: The Verge, Droid Life
Source: Google Play
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Google teases Android 4.4 as 'KitKat,' passes one billion Android activations (video)
After "a whirlwind trip to Asia" visiting Android partners, Google's SVP Sundar Pichai has just confirmed -- by way of the above photo -- that the next version of his mobile OS is called KitKat aka Android 4.4. The exec shared this geeky nugget on both Google+ and Twitter, while his company has updated the Android developer site with a page chronicling Android's milestones so far. Details are light at the moment, and Google teases its upcoming release with just the following line:
"It's our goal with Android KitKat to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody."
Pichai also announced that there are now over one billion Android device activations, surpassing the 900 million mark back in May this year. This is well ahead of the end-of-year target that Chairman Eric Schmidt predicted back in April. Just to recap, here are all the previous dessert-based names that contributed to these figures: Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6), Eclair (2.0), Froyo (2.2), Gingerbread (2.3), Honeycomb (3.0), Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), and Jelly Bean (4.1-4.3). Naturally, it's "K" after "J" now. More after the break (pun intended).
Update: We've added Nestle's wacky promo video as well.
Update 2: Go ahead and grab the kids, because you'll now find a short clip of the KitKat statue's unveiling. So... is anyone gonna break off a piece of that, or what?
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
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Source: Google+, @SundarPichai (Twitter), Google, BBC
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Ballmer promises shorter names for Nokia phones: goodbye Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 1020
What will Microsoft's thunderous multi-billion dollar purchase of Nokia's mobile phone business mean for little ol' you and me? Time will tell, of course, but in the short term Steve Ballmer is promising something concrete: shorter brand names. Speaking on a conference call today, the Microsoft CEO seized on the Nokia's latest flagship phone as an example of the need for simpler, more unified marketing:
"We can probably do better for a consumer name than the "Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 1020," and yet, because of where both companies are, and the independent nature of the businesses, we haven't been able to shorten that name."
Now, "Surface Phone" certainly has a ring to it (and it'd be better than Windows Phone Pro Home Edition, in any case), so let's just hope Microsoft doesn't try to over-think things.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
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