Canadian carriers launch centralized database of stolen phones
In the latest installment of Grand Theft Mobile (TM): Canadian phone thieves face a major hurdle now that several carriers in the country have launched a centralized blacklist of stolen devices. Canada's Protect Your Data initiative combines collections of pilfered gadgets' IMEIs -- a unique identifier that most phones have -- not only from each participating carrier in the country, but also from the US carriers' unified database. The joint effort will allow the companies to cross-check against everyone's rosters and refuse to activate any GSM, HSPA, HSPA+ or LTE device that appears in them. While only phones reported stolen or lost starting September 30th will automatically be listed, carriers have the option to add devices lost before that. While only phones reported stolen starting September 30th will automatically be listed, carriers have the option to add anything lost before that. It might not bring people's phones home, but at least those no-good snatchers will wish they'd stolen something simpler instead, like wallets, or cars.
[Thanks, Mackenzie]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
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Source: CBCNews, Protect Your Data
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Toshiba's TransferJet adapter does high-speed video transfer from micro-USB, smartphone chip coming next year
Toshiba's TransferJet has kept relatively quiet since we got the full explanation (spoilers: high-speed data transfer over very short distances) on stage at CES 2013. Finally, several Toshiba products are now ready for launch. Alongside a compatible SDHC card, there's also has a new micro-USB adapter that plugs into your (Android-only, although Toshiba are in discussions with Apple) smartphone, enabling those much-faster-than-Bluetooth data speeds over a distance of a few centimeters. It worked without a hitch on the show floor here at CEATEC, and the TransferJet duo is set to go on sale this December.
Toshiba's spokesperson added that pricing for the pair of adapters will come in at around 10,000 yen (around $100), although it was the tiny chip sat next to it that really piqued our interest. Toshiba is planning to get its TransferJet tech embedded within smartphones and other products in the future, which could make a far more convincing argument for the file transfer technique. One module chip has been given a December production date, although the company wouldn't spill the beans on exactly which devices we'll see it in.
Darren Murph contributed to this report. %Gallery-slideshow99600%
Filed under: Cellphones, HD, Mobile
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Dropbox update adds automatic screenshot saving, iPhoto imports
It's not a huge update, but today Dropbox gains the ability to automatically save your computer screenshots. Next time you immortalize that Gchat, your screen-cap will be saved to your Dropbox account and copied to your clipboard as a link for sharing. (You'll have the ability to opt out of this new feature, should you feel so inclined.) In a nod to Mac users, the cloud storage service is also adding automatic iPhoto imports. Dropbox has supported automatic photo uploads on Mac and Windows machines for some time now, but today's new feature lets Mac users copy over all locally stored images -- no SD card required. Check out the source link for more info.
Filed under: Internet, Apple
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Via: TechCrunch
Source: The Dropbox Blog
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Google Docs gets a subtle facelift, shifts the focus to content
You can't say that the Google Drive crew isn't looking out for you. Following the transition of QuickOffice for Android and iOS into a freebie, the team is now blessing Google Docs with a slightly more attractive interface. First and foremost, you'll now find a familiar, colorful product icon in the upper left part of the web app, which links back to Drive. This refinement applies to Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms and Apps Script, and it could very well help users of another office suite feel more at home. Additionally, the headers within each of the editors are now more compressed, which Google hopes will allow users to focus more easily on their content. Naturally, these aren't the most dramatic visual changes, but then again, do you really want a card-based UI for your document editor?
Filed under: Internet, Google
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Source: Google Drive Blog
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NTT DoCoMo's vision of '5G' wireless: 100x faster than LTE, but not until 2020
We knew good and well that Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo would be divulging details about its 5G wireless plans at CEATEC, but the claims that we've stumbled upon here in Chiba are nothing short of bananas. Granted, the operator is making clear that its vision isn't intended to reach implementation until 2020, and it confesses that a 5G standard has yet to be ratified. That said, it's dreaming of a world where its network offers "1000 times the capacity and 100 times the speed as the current network."
Representatives for the company told us that the challenge is going to be dealing with range limitations in higher frequency spectrum, but it plans to employ "high-frequency bandwidth by transmitting with a large number of antenna elements." The goal for looking so far forward? It's already seeing an insane appetite for video on networks that can barely maintain poise under the load, and the notion of transferring 4K content to the masses is going to require a substantial upgrade. CEATEC's known as a place that allows companies to dream big and aim for the fences, but we'll be honest -- we'd really, really prefer that 2020 arrived sooner rather than later.
Mat Smith contributed to this report. %Gallery-slideshow99596%
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
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LG Gate to tackle enterprise smartphone security with encryption, VPNs and more
Samsung chose to name part of its enterprise smartphone security suite after an Army post, but LG's going for something entirely more generic: Gate. The company's solution appears to work much like JK Shin and Co.'s, safeguarding both private and business data as they coexist on a phone, allowing outfits to use a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) setup. By wielding Gate, users can encrypt their hardware's data, use a VPN and make the lives of IT departments easier thanks to mobile device management features. It's not clear the software will be offered gratis, but it sounds like it'll be available just in time for the G2's trip stateside.
Filed under: Mobile, LG
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Source: LG Korea Social (translated)
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Japanese carrier DoCoMo demos 'Intelligent Glass' wearable at CEATEC 2013 (hands-on)
Wearables are coming and DoCoMo wants to be involved from the start. Here at CEATEC, the carrier has dedicated a quadrant of its booth to prototype wearables (at least some of it was Vuzix hardware), with several different demo sessions offering glimpses into how it all might work. First, however, the wearable itself. We saw several different models and many had Vuzix written somewhere on them. It appears that NTT DoCoMo has been working more closely on the software interfaces and real world applications, and so it didn't really push (or even mention) technical specifications.
On the "Space Interface" demo, however, the headset paired a camera with an infrared sensor, both in the middle of the device, to gauge where your hands are. You could then interact with characters on screen, poke, push and pick them up and move 'em around. These are very early concepts, but DoCoMO's already working to make these virtual objects shareable, allowing multiple people to manipulate the same thing. Darren embarrasses himself while playing with a virtual bear after the break. Oh, and we've got more on the wearable too. %Gallery-slideshow99595%
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile
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Source: NTT DoCoMo
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YouTube Music Awards hit NYC Nov. 3, blend mainstream artists and internet stars (video)
The alternate reality of Youtube -- where locally unknown but internet famous entertainers with millions of subscribers grab a spot next to widely recognizable mainstream artists -- meets the real world November 3rd with the first ever YouTube Music Awards. Lady Gaga, Eminem, and Arcade Fire are some of the names you'll recognize from TV and radio that will be there, along with YouTube channel favorites like CDZA and Lindsey Stirling. Spike Jonze is penciled in to serve as creative director and actor Jason Schwartzman will host, while VICE and Sunset Entertainment drop in as executive producers. Since YouTube is where many people go to check out music and find the newest artists (MTV is for scripted shows and reality TV of... varying quality), that it would launch its own live event seems almost inevitable.
The show itself comes to you from NYC, but musical collaborations will be beamed in from locales around the globe including Seoul (so, that means Psy is going to show up), Moscow, London and Rio. Nominations for the awards open October 17th, and the site is calling on viewers to judge contributions from the past year to determine who will be the winner.
Filed under: Internet, Google
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Source: YouTube Blog
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GoPro reveals Hero3+: smaller, sharper, faster and available now
If you were thinking it's about that time of year that we might see a new GoPro, then you'd be right. The king of the action cams has just announced the GoPro Hero3+. The flagship Black edition is now 20 percent smaller -- no mean feat if you've seen the existing model. There are also improvements to the optics, which GoPro claims gives a 33 percent increase in image sharpness, while reducing artifacts by a factor of two. Feature-wise there's a new 1080 "SuperView" mode which takes footage from 4:3 aspect ratio, and presents it in an immersive 16:9 view. Other improvements include a new auto-low light mode that will adjust the frame rate on the fly, revised audio internals, four times faster WiFi and wireless camera updates via your phone. Despite all of these additions, and the smaller form, it's claimed that your new GoPro will potentially offer up to 30 percent extra battery life, too. The Silver edition gets some love, also, with 1080p now possible at 60fps, and 720 at 120 fps. So, all that's left is for you to get 30 percent better at your daredevil activity of choice for 30 percent longer, and we're all even. The Hero3+ will be available starting this week, with prices starting at $299 for the Silver addition, and $399 for the black. The previous flagships now retail for $329 and $249 respectively.
Filed under: Cameras
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Source: GoPro
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Omate TrueSmart smartwatch is also a phone, incorporates Fleksy keyboard (hands-on)
While most smartwatches like the Pebble and the Galaxy Gear can't live up to their true potential without the assistance of a smartphone, the Omate TrueSmart is a full-fledged calling and texting machine right out of the box. We've seen a couple of other such smartwatches of course, but the TrueSmart sets itself apart with a design that's both water- and scratch-resistant, a unique UI that runs full-on Android 4.2 and most intriguing to us, a partnership with Syntellia's Fleksy keyboard so that you can actually type coherently on such a tiny screen.
We had a brief hands-on with the TrueSmart at the Glazed conference in San Francisco, and we'll admit to a bit of skepticism that we'd be able to do much with a 1.54-inch screen. However, we did manage to flip through the four-icon menu without too much trouble. The icons were large enough for us to tap, and we simply had to slide our finger to the left to go to the previous screen. It refused to recognize our swipes on occasion, but hopefully that's just due to it being a pre-production unit.%Gallery-slideshow99594%
Filed under: Wearables
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Source: Omate
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Dragon Quest Metal Slime smartphone revealed by DoCoMo, looks more metal than slime
Atop a pile of gold coins, in a treasure chest. This is how you present a Dragon Quest collaboration smartphone to the Japanese public. %Gallery-slideshow99593%
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
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Wii U update 4.0 brings Wii games to the GamePad's screen
Nintendo's pushing out version 4.0 of its Wii U system software, and it's bringing a few unexpected -- yet welcome -- changes. Ironically, tweaks to how the hardware handles titles from The Big N's last home console headline the update. Folks taking Wii games for a spin will now be able to do so using just the GamePad's screen, and enjoy Dolby Pro Logic II surround output -- though you'll still need a Wii remote to play. Iwata and Co. have also rolled in an image sharing tool that mirrors the one on the 3DS, which lets gamers share screenshots on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. With the fresh code in tow, demos from Nintendo can be downloaded automatically and a variety of USB keyboards are supported, to boot. The box's internet browser also got some attention, as it's been bolstered with the ability to open PDF files and remember user login details for web sites. Check your Wii U for the update or click the source link for the full changelog.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Nintendo
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Source: Nintendo Japan (translated)
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BitTorrent teases decentralized chat client in the wake of security breaches
Today, BitTorrent announced it's building a private instant messaging client for our post-PRISM world. The firm told CNET that BitTorrent Chat should function like the company's other peer-to-peer services, using a form of torrenting's decentralized technology-approach that's been adapted for real-time communications. And while compatibility with other IM protocols is expected in the future, for now it's exclusive to BitTorrent account holders. You can even apply for an invite into the pre-alpha at the BitTorrent Labs site -- if you're so inclined, that is.
Filed under: Internet
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Via: CNET
Source: BitTorrent Blog
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Verizon accepts device upgrades made during glitch, lucky customers can keep unlimited data
We have bad news: Verizon didn't mean to let website visitors buy devices at upgrade prices while preserving unlimited data. The option was a momentary "software issue," the carrier says. However, we also have good news -- the company said (in the statement after the break) that it'll honor orders approved under these terms. Subscribers should be safe as long as the provider hasn't already cancelled their purchases. While many would no doubt prefer that Verizon made its glitch a permanent feature, it's good to know that at least some customers will get to take advantage of the network's accidental deal.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Verizon
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Via: Droid Life
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Daily Roundup: Galaxy Note 3 review, Kindle Paperwhite review, McAfee's NSA-proofing Decentral device 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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Must See HDTV (September 30th - October 6th)
As we begin to experience the post-Breaking Bad era, there are a few other options to check out on TV this week, including the start of Major League Baseball playoff games. That said, the series finale was good enough that we wouldn't argue if you just kept replaying it every night this week. It's fall premiere season, so new shows continue to arrive including CBS' We Are Men and The Millers as well as NBC's Ironside, Welcome to the Family and Sean Saves the World. Low Winter Sun wraps up its premiere season, along with finales for Hell on Wheels and The Bridge. Blu-ray and videogame highlights include NBA 2K14 for current-gen systems, The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Edition and This Is the End. The biggest name that's not on our list? GTA V's online features, which will debut tomorrow. 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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Visualized: a hydrogen bond seen for the first time
Chalk one up for atomic force microscopy. As detailed in a paper published recently in the journal Science, researchers in China have used the imaging technique (as opposed to scanning tunnelling microscopy) to capture an image of a hydrogen bond for the very first time. As io9 explains, hydrogen bonding is common in nature -- responsible for the properties of water and the link between the two strands of DNA's double helix -- and it's something that chemists have long been able to visualize, albeit only on a theoretical level. According to Chemistry World, while there remains much to learn about the nature of hydrogen bonds, the researchers hope that this latest development will help lead to atomic force microscopy (or AFM) being used as a routine tool to examine molecules and offer a clearer picture of them.
Filed under: Science, Alt
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Via: io9, The Verge
Source: Science
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VorpX turns BioShock Infinite, Mirror's Edge (and more) into Oculus Rift-ready games
Irrational Games' blockbuster BioShock Infinite and EA DICE's Mirror's Edge weren't built with the Oculus Rift in mind, but both are part of a huge list of games supported by a new piece of software available today: VorpX. The still-in-beta, $40 application promises to convert a variety of games from monitor-exclusive experiences to Oculus Rift-ready VR games, including the aforementioned two and a lengthy list of others.
As none of the supported games are meant to work with the Rift, a variety of workarounds are implemented by VorpX. Clicking in and holding down your mouse wheel, for instance, allows you to "edge peek," which allows users to look freely at the edges of their field-of-view instead of it moving with the headset's movement. Additionally, since rendering two distinct views of high-def, modern games is taxing, VorpX uses a workaround called "Z-buffer," which is apparently "the highest performing" of the two available options, but not as pretty. You can also choose "Geometry 3D," which does render two distinct feeds and, well, we're jealous of whatever system you've got that's running that smoothly. Not every game supports both modes, but a fair number do (there's a list right here comparing both). Head below for a handful of video demonstrations of VorpX in action, as well as the full list of supported games.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Wearables, Software, HD
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Source: VorpX
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gdgt's best deals for September 30th: Fujiilm FinePix JX650, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX80 Cameras
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 top deals include a pair of well-regarded cameras that help casual photographers get professional-looking pictures with ease. The Fujifilm FinePix JX650 is a bargain-basement option, while those looking to spend (and receive) a bit more can opt for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX80. Hoping to grab one or the other? 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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3Doodler 3D printing pen starts shipping to Kickstarter backers, retail models arriving in early 2014
It's not news every time a Kickstarter product starts shipping to backers, but in the case of 3Doodler, it's worth a mention. At last count, the startup had raised $2.3 million to fund its 3D printing pen, and with a cost of $99 per device, well, you do the math: that's a lot of people waiting for their new toy to arrive. And we mean it when we say "toy" -- while you won't be creating anything useful like a gun or a Van Gogh knockoff, there's really nothing more addictive than "drawing" in the air with melted plastic, and watching it solidify. For those of you who ordered early, you already know what you're in for. As for the rest of you, your next chance to get one will be in early 2014, though you can place a pre-order today if you like. Really, though, we suggest you revisit our hands-on video, embedded below; we're descriptive writers, but nothing we say can do justice to a pen with molten plastic flowing out of it.
Filed under: Misc, Peripherals
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Sharp's Aquos Phone Xx is almost all screen, gives 80.5 percent good face
"Too much bezel" -- how often have you seen that complaint in the comment section of new phone announces? Well, you can throw this Sharp Aquos Phone Xx (and its mini companion) in the face of that haterade brigade because 80.5 percent of its 5.2-inch front is all screen. At 70 x 132 x 9.9mm, the Xx is more compact than Sony's rival 5-inch phablet, the Xperia Z1, but its collection of top shelf specs gives it a fatter profile. The Android device, which joins Softbank's 4G LTE lineup this December, crams a 1080p display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 running Jelly Bean 4.2, 2,600mAh battery and a 16.3-megapixel rear camera (with an f/1.9 lens) into that squat, water-resistant frame. It also features pre-loaded translation software to make sense out of captured English text -- handy if you're, you know, Japanese. We realize this is an unfair mobile tease for those of you green-eyed monsters living in the Western world; you'll likely never see the Xx make that transcontinental trek. But it's always nice to dream.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
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Source: Sharp, Softbank (Translated)
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NYC plans free public WiFi expansion in all five boroughs by December 2013
A handful of neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx will have high-speed WiFi access
available for businesses and residents by the end of this year. NYC
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced an expansion today that'll roll out
over the next few months, lighting up parts of downtown Brooklyn, lower
Manhattan, Harlem and other areas by December 2013. Companies have
invested $3.4 million in the new infrastructure, and the city has
contributed $900,000 to get the job done. We're still a long way from
having a city blanketed in completely free
high-speed wireless internet, but with widespread availability in key
areas, thousands of residents and smaller businesses should be able to
drop their current internet providers before the ball drops to welcome
2014.
[Image source: AP/Frank Franklin II]
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Source: Michael Bloomberg
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Microsoft officially pulls the plug on MSN TV
The time has come: As announced earlier this summer, Microsoft is shuttering MSN TV, a service it's operated since 1997. Originally known as WebTV, the box (naturally) brought the internet to many a living-room set -- it was something of a pioneer back in the day, really. Nostalgic types can still turn to the Xbox 360 and the PS3 for their browser-on-the-big-screen needs, of course, and MSN TV holdouts will want to switch their email addresses to Outlook and copy saved content to SkyDrive, stat. For more details, hit up the ultra-comprehensive FAQ page via the link below.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
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Via: GigaOm
Source: MSN TV
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Windows Phone crossing double digit market share in parts of Europe
Kantar's numbers have always been relatively kind to Windows Phone. Well, at least as kind as any numbers can be, we suppose. That trend continues with the recent report that Microsoft's smartphone platform has crossed the double digit mark in market share in parts of Europe. Specifically, it has hit 10.8 percent in France and 12 percent in Great Britain. Things are not quite as rosy across the rest of the continent, but Windows Phone does own a cumulative 9.2 percent of the field in the "big five European markets": Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Of course, that's still a distant third to iOS and Android, the latter of which owns a staggering 70.1 percent of the market, according to Kantar. BlackBerry, on the other hand, is continuing its stunning free fall, dropping to just 2.4 percent in those same five markets, just ahead of the nebulous "other."
There haven't been too many other exciting changes in the smartphone and carrier landscape over the last three months. But, if you want to take a gander at some more numbers, you'll find them at the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft
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Source: Kantar (docx)
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Facebook expands Graph Search to include status updates and posts
Today, Facebook is giving Graph Search something of a power-up by adding status updates and posts to the list of content it can access. Previously, the revamped search engine could only scan four types of information -- people, photos, places and interests -- when presented with queries like "who are my friends in New York City?" Now, if someone types in "posts about bacon from the last month," your recent public complaint about the wilted lettuce in your B.L.T. will pop up. Also included in the expansion are check-ins, comments and photo captions. As it has at every step of the Graph Search rollout, Facebook is quick to assure its users that the feature respects your privacy settings, so only content that's been shared with you or is otherwise publicly accessible will show up in search results. For more information, head on over to the source link below.
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
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Source: Facebook
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