Xbox One controller cost over $100 million to develop, smell-o-vision and built-in projector were considered
While Sony was content to toy with radical designs for the PlayStation 4's controller, it turns out Microsoft took a more conservative approach when building the Xbox One's gamepad. GamesBeat scored a look at the controller creation process and discovered that Redmond was reluctant to tweak the Xbox 360 controller at all since it considers the hardware "best-in-class." After some pressure from Zulfi Alam, Xbox's general manager for accessories, Ballmer and Co. decided to explore what changes could be made, and invested over $100 million throughout the course of the effort.
Despite the firm's aversion to rocking the proverbial boat, it still wound up with more than a few unconventional prototypes -- some of which packed built-in displays and cameras. One of the strangest versions included a cartridge for emitting smells, and another featured a built-in projector that could throw out visuals reminiscent of illumiroom. Ultimately, the wackier iterations gave way to the traditional kit that's heading to stores, as the adventurous features drained battery life too quickly or the company's "core base didn't appreciate them," according to Alam. While we wouldn't have expected the Xbox One to usher in the age of smell-o-vision, we can't help but wonder what that future would have
Filed under: HD, Microsoft
Comments
Source: GamesBeat
Read More ...
Valve's showing its own VR prototype in January, working on a VR Steam overlay
Back in March, Valve's Joe Ludwig mentioned how important the company believes virtual reality tech is but ultimately left us hanging, unable to be more detailed without a firm plan on what it might eventually ship. Next year the blanks will be filled in, as Valve has scheduled two very relevant sessions during its Developer Days conference: What VR Could, Should, and Almost Certainly Will Be within Two Years, and Virtual Reality and Steam. Better yet, the descriptions reveal that it will have a prototype of what stunning experience it thinks "affordable" VR hardware will be capable of soon, and the software it's working on including "the Steam Overlay in VR, Steam store changes for VR, and our VR plan for Steamworks."
The Oculus Rift has already done a lot to spark our imaginations and given a platform for developers to test out their VR ideas, but putting the power of Steam behind this tech could push it where next-gen consoles haven't. After the departure of the castAR team, we're very interested to see what Valve will do, and its developer days seem like our first opportunity to find out. The two day conference happens January 15th and 16th but it's only open to developers -- if you pop open the registration page anyway we won't blame you.
Filed under: Gaming, HD
Comments
Source: Steam
Read More ...
Kisai's Rorschach watch is a test in telling time
"So it's extremely difficult to read the time, but how do you feel about that?" That's the question Kisai is posing with its new Rorschach watch, which puts one of the company's trademark inscrutable watchfaces into the shape of the famous psychiatrist's inkblots. You can choose between three levels from "readable but still not easily" to "please just tell me what the hell time it is!" (Actually, once you get the hang of it, the hours are read at the top right, and the minutes from the bottom left.) The watch uses an e-paper display, giving it high contrast and a battery life of 2-3 years while letting you switch between black on white or vice-versa. You can grab one in white, brown or black with a leather strap, or black and silver with a metal bracelet at $179 for the next two days -- though you may have to line up behind Watchmen fans.
Filed under: Wearables
Comments
Read More ...
Facebook data harnessed to deliver real-time sports trends to broadcasters
Now that most of us take to social media to rant about our favorite sports teams, it was only a matter of time before our ramblings are collated and packaged as "trends" for the talking heads on television. SportStream, a company that specializes in collecting such data, has recently partnered with Facebook to deliver exactly that. Utilizing the social network's Keyword Insights and Public Feed APIs, SportStream came up with a new analytics tool that content producers and broadcasters can use to find out what's hot in the world of sports along with relevant audience info like location, gender and age. This way, interested parties can seek answers to questions such as "Whose fans are talking more about Game 2 of the World Series?" or "Are males under 30 interested in the Winter Olympics?" and that data will be presented in colorful charts as in the above graphic. While we're not sure if this data has any real value to TV audiences, you could at least use it to impress your buddies... if they're stats nerds anyway.
Filed under: Facebook
Comments
Via: TechCrunch
Source: SportStream
Read More ...
Must See HDTV (November 18th - 24th)
Last week it was the PS4's turn, and this week the Xbox One ships for eager gamers, bringing along its own slew of titles including exclusives like Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, Ryse and Killer Instinct. We'll have our review of Microsoft's new box tomorrow, but another major highlight this weekend is a Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special. The Day of the Doctor will air at 2:50PM ET on BBC America, simultaneous with other broadcasts around the world. Also key for Whovians is the Adventure in Space & Time film that will air Friday night, looking back at the beginning of the phenomenon, and The Night of The Doctor mini-episode -- the film's trailer and the entire mini-ep can be found after the break.
Amazon will premiere the first three episodes of its second original series, Betas, on Friday morning, and on Blu-ray we're looking forward to Star Trek:TNG season five, Aubrey Plaza in The To Do List and Lilyhammer season one arriving ahead of its season two Netflix debut. Race fans should also keep an eye out, as the Formula 1 series wraps up its season in Brazil Sunday morning. 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
Comments
Read More ...
Daily Roundup: Nokia 1520 review, Xbox One vs. the PlayStation 4, RAW support for Android 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.
Filed under: Misc
Comments
Read More ...
Google app for Windows Phone now lets you sign in, instantly shows what you speak
Google may not always be kind to Windows Phone users, but it's showing them some love today with an update to its self-titled search app for the platform. The new release lets users sign into their Google accounts, preserving their search history as they hop from device to device. It also shows voice commands as they're spoken. While the app still doesn't include Google Now or many other perks from the equivalent Android and iOS clients, the improvement is large enough that searchers will want to swing by the Windows Phone Store for an upgrade.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
Comments
WMPoweruser
Source: Windows Phone
Read More ...
Firefox previews near-final Australis interface with curved tabs, streamlined controls
Firefox has been talking up Australis, its next-gen browser interface, for quite some time now, and that celestial-sounding update has just landed on Firefox Nightly. Yes, finally curious users can test it out and evaluate the experience as Firefox gets closer to the final version.
Per a video preview on the Mozilla blog, one of the most immediately obvious changes with Australis is a new, curvier tab shape (like a rounded take on Chrome's style). Firefox also designed the forward button to only appear when you hover over it, and the tool bar has been streamlined, with the bulk of browser settings accessible via a menu on the right-hand side. Firefox says Australis will offer "consistency and unification" across different devices, which likely means a similar look and feel along with the requisite saved tabs. Finally, enhanced customization settings should make it easier to tweak the browser to your liking. We're definitely digging the softer, more minimalist look -- check it out for yourself via the source links below.
Filed under: Internet
Comments
Source: Mozilla Future Releases, Mozilla UX, Firefox Nightly
Read More ...
If you're reading this, you're an early adopter
When Engadget launched, almost 10 years ago, we had a pretty simple mission: We followed tech news obsessively for readers who took technology as seriously as we did. Engadget was the site for tech enthusiasts, early adopters and unabashed gadget fans.
Over the past 10 years, a lot has changed. But as we get ready to embark on our second decade, we still have a pretty simple mission: We're here to serve the early adopter -- the early adopter in all of us.
Filed under: Announcements
Comments
Read More ...
Engadget is getting a whole lot bigger: profiles, forums, product database, and so much more!
A few days ago we launched the best designed version of Engadget ever, and today we're about to get bigger. A lot bigger.
Back in 2008 when Peter Rojas and I departed Engadget to found gdgt, we had a hunch that the future would be driven by the intersection of social, interest, and product graphs. Today we're bringing it all home, integrating the best of gdgt into Engadget.
This means Engadget readers will have access to user profiles, forums + Q&A, and a massive, highly organized product database (among many other things). Finally.
Not only is this by far our biggest launch ever, it also marks a major turning point in our history, redefining the Engadget of today and laying the foundation for the Engadget of tomorrow.
I can't wait to tell you everything about all the new stuff Engadget can do for you, read on!
Filed under: Announcements
Comments
Read More ...
Google to pay $17 million as a penalty for unauthorized web tracking in Safari
Last year, Google ponied up $22.5 million to the FTC as a penalty for bypassing cookie settings in the Safari browser to track users. While Mountain View no doubt wishes this episode were far behind it already, the company will pay a pretty sum once again as the result of a settlement today: $17 million in a suit brought by 37 states and the District of Columbia over that very same practice of tracking users in Safari.
From 2011 to 2012, Google used a loophole in Apple's browser that allowed for placing tracking cookies on users' machines without them knowing. The search giant's suffered more than a slap on the wrist, but it's still not admitting wrongdoing; in a statement, a spokeswoman said that the company "has taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers."
Filed under: Internet, Apple, Google
Comments
Via: The Wall Street Journal
Source: New York State Attorney General
Read More ...
Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet reaches Verizon on November 21st for $500 contract-free
Verizon isn't going to let AT&T hog all the Lumia 2520 buyers this weekend -- it just announced that it will start selling Nokia's Windows RT tablet on November 21st, one day before the device is available at AT&T. Pricing will remain the same at $500 contract-free or $400 on a two-year term, but Verizon is sweetening its deal by offering a carrier-appropriate red model to online shoppers; retail customers will have to be content with black. There's no word on 2520 variants for other carriers, but it's good to know that Americans will have at least some choice in networks when picking up Nokia's LTE-equipped slate.
Filed under: Tablets, Nokia, Verizon
Comments
Via: Windows Phone Central
Source: Verizon
Read More ...
Goodreads on Kindle Fire OS (hands-on)
Someone on the Kindle team was undoubtedly a bit broken-hearted when Goodreads integration failed to roll out in time for both the new Paperwhite and Kindle HDX launches. The acquisition certainly made a good deal of sense when it was announced back in March. After all, the service is well-positioned to bring recommendations and a sense of community currently lacking in the Kindle ecosystem. For users, it means more engagement and better tailored recommendations. For Amazon, it means the potential to sell more content - which, let's face it, is kind of the whole bottom line for the company here. The feature finally arrived today for HD and HDX users, as part of a larger upgrade to Fire OS, which also brings along the Second Screen video feature and added enterprise support. It'll be coming over-the-air soon enough, but if you want to jump the line, you can download it from Amazon right now.
To get started (once you're all finished downloading, dragging and dropping Fire OS 3.1), you'll need to open up the Goodreads app. We were a bit surprised Amazon didn't make integration feel more baked into the experience, given the time it took to roll out the product. Instead, the offering feels a bit siloed, not unlike the FreeTime parental monitoring available on the tablet at launch. Once fired up, you'll be asked to create a Goodreads account or login with a current one, tying it to your Amazon account. I had one already, which has long since been dormant, but the official integration with the Kindle ecosystem seems as good an excuse as any to blow a little bit of dust off the old virtual bookshelves.
Filed under: Tablets, Software, Amazon
Comments
Read More ...
Honda starts testing Walking Assist device in large-scale US trials
Honda's Walking Assist is finally getting a large-scale test run in the US. The company has started clinical trials of the leg-boosting device at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, where it will (hopefully) help stroke victims regain their mobility. While Honda hasn't said how long the study will last, it could have a significant impact if it proves successful. Up to 80 percent of US stroke survivors have trouble walking quickly or smoothly, and Walking Assist's combination of hip sensors and motors could get some patients back to a normal stride.
Filed under: Peripherals, Transportation
Comments
SlashGear
Source: Honda
Read More ...
MLB and NFL endorse legal battle against Aereo, threaten to limit sports broadcasts
It's not just major broadcasters who are willing to take their fight against Aereo to the Supreme Court. The MLB and the NFL have jointly filed an amicus brief supporting the existing court case, arguing that the streaming TV service jeopardizes their licensing deals. Aereo's ability to offer sports programming at no extra cost undermines the point of exclusive (and very lucrative) broadcasting arrangements, according to the brief. The leagues are prepared to back up their words with deeds -- they claim that they'll have to move their games to cable and satellite channels if Aereo wins. There's no guarantee that the Supreme Court will sympathize with this supposed plight, but it's clearer than ever that Aereo faces stiff opposition from the broadcasting industry's status quo.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Comments
Via: GigaOM
Source: Variety
Read More ...
Office Remote for Windows Phone steers presentations from across the room
Microsoft has long championed Windows Phone's Office integration, but there has been a missing piece in that puzzle: an official way to control Office from a Windows Phone. The company is filling that gap today by launching its Office Remote app. The Windows Phone 8 client lets users navigate Excel, PowerPoint and Word on a Bluetooth-equipped Windows 7 or 8 PC, offering slide notes and other cues you'll need for a big presentation. We can't promise that managers will be impressed when you steer a quarterly results briefing from your Lumia 1520, but it won't hurt to grab Office Remote today from the Windows Phone Store.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Comments
Via: The Next Web
Source: Windows Phone Store
Read More ...
Recon reworks its heads-up display tech with the Snow2
We still have to wait and see what wearable fruit Intel's investment in Recon will bear -- and by "fruit," we mean Google Glass competitor. In the meantime, Recon's got a new HUD display for fans of snow on mountains and hurtling down said mountains. Just don't call the Snow2 a refresh or an update. According to Recon, it's a revision of its last HUD tech for skiers and snowboarders, although just like last time out, this improved HUD's made to work with Oakley, Uvex, Alpina, Scott and other ski wear makers. The device's internals have been beefed up with a dual-core CPU, support for WiFi a/b/g/n, better battery (about 35 percent longer-lasting) and a dedicated GPU for improved graphics visibility. The real beauty of Recon's new HUD, which is available sans goggles for $400, is the data it beams straight to your face. Everything from stats on your downhill performance to slope navigation and even the location of friends can be viewed on the display. The Snow2's made to work with both Android and iOS, but its "Made for iPhone" certification means you're better off shredding the gnar with an iDevice in pocket.
Filed under: Wearables
Comments
Read More ...
Major League Gaming launches MLG.TV online network to stream e-sports in high definition
Major League Gaming's been tinkering with better ways to show and monetize its Call of Duty and Starcraft battles for years, occasionally showing up on ESPN and utilizing myriad online streaming solutions to get its premium content to the people. However, MLG decided that YouTube and its ilk aren't enough, and so has launched its very own online network, MLG.TV, to better cater to e-sports fans (and pull in bigger ad dollars, of course). TechCrunch reports that this new platform, aside from streaming up to 1080p video, will also have social sharing capabilities and Twitter-based chat. While exclusively an online portal, MLG.TV is borrowing some ideas from broadcast television. It'll have weekly shows (like the recently debuted SportsCenter-esqe eSports Report) at specific times, and the plan is to build out a TV-like programming schedule as new shows are created.
Filed under: Gaming, HD
Comments
Via: TechCrunch
Source: MLG.TV
Read More ...
Sprint and Best Buy offer students a year of free cellphone service, with a catch
Many students have trouble scrounging up money for loan payments, let alone cellular service. Thankfully, Sprint and Best Buy have teamed up on a promotional cellphone plan built for these non-existent budgets. The My Way promo adds a line with a year of free phone service to a parent's existing account; customers just need to sign up at Best Buy and prove that Junior is going to school, whether it's elementary or college. As you'd expect, though, there's a big catch. While the plan includes unlimited calls and messaging, data is capped at 1GB per month unless you pay an extra $10 per month for unfettered internet access. Even so, it's a potentially huge bargain for students who get in before the deal ends January 1st -- they may finally have cash to spend on the finer things in life.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint
Comments
Via: Android Headlines
Source: Sprint
Read More ...
World's first 128GB phone now available from Meizu, but only works in China
You may recall that a little while back we checked out China's Meizu MX3, and in addition to its unique 15:9 1,800 x 1,080 display, one of its other selling points is the 128GB storage option. Well, this version is finally available as of today, except it's only offered to the TD-SCDMA variant of the phone, meaning you can only use it on China Mobile's network or, if you're desperate, any GSM 2G network. If that's no problem and you have an address in China, then you can head over to online store JD.com and hand over CN¥3,999 (about US$660) for the 5.1-inch, Exynos 5 Octa-powered device off contract.
As for the rest of us, it's probably just a matter of time before the WCDMA-flavored MX3 gets the same treatment, so stay tuned. Alternatively, the upcoming Vivo Xplay 3S is rumored to have a 128GB option as well, and given that it'll support both TD-LTE and FD-LTE, it might be a better buy for us speed freaks outside China.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Comments
Via: Engadget Chinese
Source: JD
Read More ...
IRL: Another look at the LG G2
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.
It's been just about 10 months since an LG device has showed up in "IRL." That was back in January, when our Canadian editor Jon Fingas took the Optimus G for a spin on Rogers. Now he's back to test the G2, though he's still waxing a bit sentimental about the ol' G. So how does it stack up? Let's see.
Comments
Read More ...
Looxcie 3 gets a new, square design so you can stream video from your kid's chest
Action cams typically go hand-in-hand with the dudebros risking life and limb for adrenaline, and are named to match. Looxcie's target demo's a bit different. Beyond embracing the pun (and creative spelling) at its utmost, the company's new Looxcie 3 aims to get even more wearable with a squarish design that weighs just 1.3 ounces. And if the Looxcie 3's promo shots are any indication, the company's hoping you'll strap this video streamer to your kid's chest and share that whimsy over WiFi (in 480p) live to Facebook. Or record and edit captured 720p video and stills from your smartphone (Android and iOS are both supported). The $100 compact cam supports microSD expansion up to 64GB so you should have plenty of space to keep the cherished memories (or banal moments) stored. You can order the Looxcie 3 now at the link below, but just FYI, the kid leashes are sold separately.
Filed under: Wearables
Comments
Via: TechCrunch
Read More ...
Sling overhauls its TV-streaming app for iOS, adds Roku channel; Windows 8.1 app planned for December
Sling only refreshes its TV-streaming set-top boxes once every few years, and indeed, the current models only came out 13 months ago. So, it's a bit early for new hardware, but the company has at least been busy making over its family of apps. Today, Sling released an overhauled version of its iOS app (SlingPlayer 3.0), along with a brand new Sling channel for Roku players. Additionally, the company says it's coming out with a Windows 8.1 app, but that won't arrive until December.
Starting with SlingPlayer 3.0, it ushers in a redesigned, split-screen UI, with various filters for finding the shows you want. There's also a bigger emphasis on sports this time out. For starters, it should be easier to figure out what channel a game in on; once you do, you can pull up stats, real-time scores and other factoids you might find interesting as you're following along. You'll also notice some deeper social media integration throughout the app, allowing you to post to Twitter and Facebook as they're watching TV. (Where was this feature when the finale of Breaking Bad aired?) Also, though you could watch shows on your iPad's display, you can also fling it to a TV and use your device as a remote control instead. %Gallery-slideshow122017%
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD
Comments
Source: Sling
Read More ...
Marissa Mayer: Yahoo will encrypt all user data by early 2014
Yahoo recently announced that it will encrypt webmail by default, and today Marissa Mayer shared that the security measure will be applied across all Yahoo products "by the end of Q1 2014." In a post on the company Tumblr, CEO Mayer outlined three specific measures to protect user data:
- Encrypt all information that moves between our data centers by the end of Q1 2014;
- Offer users an option to encrypt all data flow to/from Yahoo by the end of Q1 2014;
- Work closely with our international Mail partners to ensure that Yahoo co-branded Mail accounts are https-enabled.
This news is no doubt a response to persisting questions -- and court cases -- about the scope of the NSA's information-tapping policies as they relate to internet giants such as Facebook, Google and Yahoo. As the company has previously asserted, Mayer emphasized that Yahoo has "never given access to... data centers to the NSA or to any other government agency. Ever."
Filed under: Internet
Comments
Yahoo
Read More ...
Sony mulled an all-touch PS4 controller before settling on the DualShock 4
The PlayStation 4's DualShock 4 controller may seem like the logical evolution of Sony's gamepad design, but we now know that it wasn't always destined to be that way. Product manager Toshimasa Aoki tells VentureBeat that the company threw out all the rules during the early design phase, and had tested both all-touchscreen gamepads as well as one where a touchpad could move to different locations. The PlayStation team had also considered abandoning its signature bottom-mounted analog sticks in favor of moving them up top, much like Nintendo's Wii U Pro Controller. However, feedback pushed Sony to a more conservative layout -- many early PS4 game developers were worried that a new control scheme would break their software design. While it's unfortunate that Sony had to restrain its creative impulses, we suspect that many gamers are happy with the end result.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Sony
Comments
Source: VentureBeat
Read More ...
Available Tags:Xbox , Steam , Facebook , Nokia , Android , Windows Phone , Google , Windows , Firefox , Engadget , tablet , Kindle , Windows Phone , Gaming , LG , Windows 8 , Yahoo , Sony , PS4 ,
No comments:
Post a Comment