Friday, January 21, 2011

IT News HeadLines (Engadget) 20/01/2011




US Air Force enlists super blimp for Blue Devil surveillance initiative
Way back in September 2009, we reported on an omnipotent war blimp from Lockheed Martin, now it looks like a similar dirigible could be hovering 20,000 feet above Afghanistan by this fall. (It's not clear whether or not the two blimps are one in the same, but Lockheed's craft was slated for an Afghan debut in 2011.) As part of the $211 million Blue Devil initiative, the US Air Force plans to pack the bloated beast -- which sports seven times the carrying capacity of the Goodyear blimp -- with up to a dozen interchangeable sensors and a supercomputer for processing data. It will then hover for stints as long as a week, collecting, assessing, and relaying important surveillance data to ground troops in a matter of seconds. It's a tall order, but Air Force officials hope that an on-board wide-area airborne surveillance system (WAAS), which uses 96 cameras to generate nearly 275TB of data every hour, and a supercomputer hosting the equivalent of 2,000 single-core servers will fit the bill. The aircraft isn't complete quite yet, but barring unforeseen obstacles, like a run-in with a giant needle, it should be up in the air starting October 15th. For more on Blue Devil check out our links below.
US Air Force enlists super blimp for Blue Devil surveillance initiative originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ZMP RoboCar MEV seats only one but can drive even when alone (video)
ZMP RoboCar MEV seats only one but can drive even when alone (video)
Watch the video below and you'll see that this thing is clearly not going to win any land speed records, and with nary a door it's hardly all-weather compliant. But, the RoboCar MEV from ZMP is more of a research vehicle, a self-driving car that's built on an electric microcar platform. It uses GPS and a plethora of front and rear sensors to know where it's going, an evolution of the Linux-powered 1/10 scale model we saw back in 2009. Just, you know, bigger. And pricier. Way pricier. Yes, you can buy one, but you're looking at about $35,000 for the simplest version, the Type A, which only has automatic speed control. The Type B has steering control as well and costs about $59,000, while Type C is a whopping $84,000 and adds automatic braking control along with a full suite of imaging and intertial sensors. Order now for delivery in about two months -- in Japan, naturally.Continue reading ZMP RoboCar MEV seats only one but can drive even when alone (video)
ZMP RoboCar MEV seats only one but can drive even when alone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink All Cars Electric  |  sourceZMP  | Email this | Comments
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BMW gets Nokia C7 remote control, James Bond can eat his heart out (video)
BMW gets Nokia C7 remote control, James Bond can eat his heart out (video)
At CES and the NAIAS in Detroit this year we saw ever more powerful smartphone integration, but nothing like this. Nokia Asia teamed up with two Chinese coders, An Jiaxuan and an unnamed friend, to whip up a C7 app that controls a BMW 1 Series. They said it took them only 20 days to get things ready but we're thinking adding the remote controls to the car itself must have added some further time to that. The result is in the video below, a short test drive that Nokia promises "isn't special effects." See for yourself and let us know if you spot a meatbag driver hiding in there somewhere.Continue reading BMW gets Nokia C7 remote control, James Bond can eat his heart out (video)
BMW gets Nokia C7 remote control, James Bond can eat his heart out (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Slashgear  |  sourceSymbian World  | Email this | Comments
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T-Mobile confirms Galaxy S with 4G, Android-based Sidekick 4G are coming
Whoa, this is kind of out of the blue: on top of the Vibrant 4G that we've already had leaked ad nauseam (though he refers to it as a "Galaxy S 4G"), T-Mobile USA CEO Phiipp Humm mentioned at an event this morning that the company is preparing an HSPA+ Sidekick -- yes, a Sidekick -- albeit with Android slotted in place of the defunct Danger Hiptop operating system. For the record, T-Mobile hasn't had any Sidekicks in its lineup since the middle of last year, though it does own the Sidekick brand -- not Danger / Microsoft -- and would undoubtedly love to bring it back to relevance. Coincidentally, Mister Android himself, Andy Rubin, came from Danger -- so the Sidekick's starting to follow him around. Kind of like... you know, a sidekick. Both products are said to be "coming soon."
T-Mobile confirms Galaxy S with 4G, Android-based Sidekick 4G are coming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Phone Scoop  |  sourcePC Magazine  | Email this | Comments
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iOS 4.3 beta multitasking gestures demonstrated on iPhone, look like a handful (video)
iOS 4.3 beta mulitasking gestures demonstrated on iPhone, look like a handful (video)
If you came along for our most recent podcast you heard us discussing some of the new features uncovered in the iOS 4.3 beta, including multitouch gestures for multitasking like four-finger swipes to go between apps. They seem hugely useful on an iPad but, on an iPhone, sounded like a bit of a handful. Now we have some video evidence, with Antoni Nygaard managing to get them working on his iPhone, along with the lock/mute switch toggle as well. Given these multitouch gestures aren't coming to the iPad (yet) we're guessing it won't be hitting the iPhone either, but we can always hope.

[Thanks, Crazyyen]Continue reading iOS 4.3 beta multitasking gestures demonstrated on iPhone, look like a handful (video)
Permalink   |  sourceantoninygaard (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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EU's Galileo sat-nav system's budget overruns continue, European Commission asks for an extra €1.9 billion
The European Commission has just completed its mid-term review of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system and -- surprise, surprise -- they found that they need an additional €1.9 billion ($2.56 billion) to finish the system. This latest budget recommendation ups the cost an extra €200 million ($269 million) since the Commission's last report, and cites larger development and more expensive launch vehicles for the increase. The EU remains optimistic that Galileo will provide a financial windfall when completed -- but given its estimated €800 million ($1 billion) per year operating costs, constant delays, and competition from Russia, China, and good old-fashioned GPS, we're not so sure we agree.
Permalink BBC News  |  sourceEuropean Commission (PDF)  | Email this | Comments
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Asahi Glass introduces Dragontrail for consumer electronics, puts the Gorilla on notice (video)
Asahi Glass introduces Dragontrail for consumer electronics, puts the Gorilla on notice (video)
Corning, your scratch-free monopoly is coming to an end. No longer will you hold us hostage with your insanely durable and cunningly marketed Gorilla Glass. Asahi Glass is getting in on the game, introducing Dragontrail -- a name that doesn't quite give us the same connotations of incredible strength but, if you watch the video, you'll see it manages many of the same tricks as Corning's offering. Poking and prodding? Pass. Huge flexes? Bring it. Whacked with a hammer? Easy. The company indicates it's been working on the product for years now and expects sales next year to surpass 30 billion yen -- that's $365 million. For glass.Continue reading Asahi Glass introduces Dragontrail for consumer electronics, puts the Gorilla on notice (video)
Permalink   |  sourceYahoo! News  | Email this | Comments
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iDOS strikes back, returns to the App Store
iDOS strikes back, returns to the App Store
If you've been cheekily holding on to the old version of iDOS, the one that got yanked from the App Store in record time, we're sorry to say that you've got a decision to make. It's now back and available for download, and if you want to keep your old one you're going to have to update all your other apps around it. This free version has been simplified somewhat and graced with a suite of formerly freeware apps that we haven't seen since we lost our giant box of floppies back in 1999, including Wolfenstein 3D and the original Duke Nukem -- back when he was kicking butt in 2D. These are the only proggies that you can easily access from within the emulator, but we're told you can still move others into the /Apps/iDos/documents folder and run them from there. Now if only we could find our TIE Fighter floppies...

[Thanks, Adam]
iDOS strikes back, returns to the App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jawbone Era sticks an accelerometer in your noise-canceling headset, we go hands-on
With a fantastic Bluetooth headset on the market and a pumpin' portable speaker to blast out jams, how could Jawbone improve their product lineup? Well, we still think a stereo headset might be swell... but that's not what the company delivered today. No, this is the Jawbone Era, the world's first Bluetooth earpiece with a built-in accelerometer for motion-sensing apps, and plenty more improvements where that came from. There's a new version of the company's NoiseAssassin noise-canceling algorithms that adjusts inbound volume and equalization to let you hear better, an extra-large 10mm cone speaker with a larger range of frequencies, two processors, more memory, and an hour of extra battery life compared to the Jawbone Icon, to be specific. With only two motions currently recognized -- a double-tap to begin / end / switch calls and a rapid shake to pair -- the accelerometer's a bit of a gimmick for now, but Jawbone suggests more gestures are probably on the way. In the meanwhile, the other advancements might make the Era worth the price of entry -- which is $130, by the by.

We've spent about five hours with the headset already, listening to music and taking calls, and while the accelerometer seems almost wasted at present, there's no discounting that new 10mm driver and the audio it can pump out. While no substitute for a set of quality dedicated earbuds, it sounded worlds better than the Jawbone Icon's tiny, tinny drum, and playing Pandora tracks we no longer felt an overpowering desire to take it out of our ear -- making a cyborg existence all the more bearable, we suppose. We'll bring you a full review soon, but if you're already sold, you'll find four different Era designs on sale at Jawbone's online store... oh, right about now. PR after the break.
Gallery: Jawbone Era unboxing and hands-on
Continue reading Jawbone Era sticks an accelerometer in your noise-canceling headset, we go hands-on
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Nokia N9 to bust loose with MeeGo on Intel Atom power?
Nokia has to do something big if it wants to crack the US smartphone market. We can agree on that, right? And believe us, Nokia wants this -- nothing will make the mighty Finns (and the company's global investors) prouder than to gain some traction in the home of Apple pie and Google desserts. So how will the company do it? With Symbian? Oh, hell no. By introducing another MeToo handset? Nope, with MeeGo on a rockin' platform like the rumored N9 slider pictured above.

Nokia announced its hardware plans for Maemo 6 a long time ago. At that time, the company was clear that it would continue using TI OMAP processors. Much has changed since then, however. In addition to several key leadership changes including a new Canadian-born CEO who spent much of his time working in the US, Nokia has joined Intel to roll up Maemo 6 and Moblin into MeeGo with Nokia's first Maemo 6 MeeGo/Harmattan handset pushed into 2011. Simultaneously, Intel has also been doing its best to show its new Moorestown platform as a powerful ARM alternative, even showing off MeeGo handsets exploiting a Lincroft SoC and Atom processor core. And Intel has said that Medfield-based smartphones (Moorestown's successor) would arrive in the middle of 2011.

So why the build-up? Well, we've just been tipped to a claim by Prosessori, a respected Finnish technology magazine, that the Nokia N9 will launch with a 1.2GHz Atom processor. Better yet, it could be unveiled as soon as Mobile World Congress in February, presumably during Stephen Elop's keynote. Do we believe it? Not entirely, but it is possible given the chain of events that have taken place. And you can bet that the first commercially available Intel smartphone with a brand new Nokia user experience would certainly grab headlines in the US and around the world. Something that should translate into high-end market share (and profits) if it's as "exciting" as Elop claims.

[Thanks, Janne]
Nokia N9 to bust loose with MeeGo on Intel Atom power? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Chrysler announces battery-free hydraulic hybrid tech, compresses gas to make power
Chrysler announces battery-free hybrid technology, compresses gas to make power
Think of a traditional hybrid and you probably think of a Toyota Prius. Then, after you've woken from your nap, you probably envision some complex system of batteries and electric motors and gears to capture power when braking and spit it back out when accelerating. Chrysler is now looking to deploy a different way, a seemingly much simpler way that's all based on hydraulics. The vehicle is outfitted with a low-pressure reservoir of hydraulic fluid and a high-pressure chamber filled with nitrogen gas. When braking, pumps move the fluid into the nitrogen chamber to compress it and then, when accelerating, that compressed gas is used to push the fluid and drive the wheels. It's a setup that was actually developed by the EPA and is currently in use by some commercial vehicles, most notably UPS trucks, but a hybrid Town & Country minivan could bring it to consumers -- though not until 2012 at the earliest. Now, there's a good chance the idea of a hybrid minivan is threatening to put you back to sleep, so we wish you pleasant dreams.Continue reading Chrysler announces battery-free hydraulic hybrid tech, compresses gas to make power
Permalink CNN Money  |   | Email this | Comments
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When it comes to forecasting Apple's earnings, amateurs are better than the pros
The Challenge: predict seven key metrics of Apple's fiscal success over the past quarter -- such as sales numbers, profit margins, and gross revenue -- with the highest accuracy. The Competitors: In the blue corner, a bunch of amateur finance bloggers, and in the red corner, a cabal of professional analysts making mad dough at banks and trading houses. The Conclusion: whatever you're paying for your "expert" advice on the future financial wellbeing of Apple, or any other tech stock for that matter, stop. Just... stop.
When it comes to forecasting Apple's earnings, amateurs are better than the pros originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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University of Washington students hack Kinect to aid in robotic surgery
We're sure that a time will come when we're slightly less amazed by Kinect hacks but, right now, we're still just seeing one more impressive than the last -- and we're certainly OK with that. This latest comes to us from a group of students at the University of Washington, who had the bright idea to pair Microsoft's device with some of the robotic surgery projects currently being developed by the university's BioRobotics Lab. That combo isn't quite the sentient, Kinect-enhanced robo-surgeon you may have feared, though. The students are actually using Kinect to provide force-feedback to the actual, human surgeons controlling the robotic equipment -- something that would have been a $50,000 proposition without Kinect. As you might expect, however, the Kinect-based system isn't quite ready to be used for actual surgery as it is -- while it gets the job done as a proof of concept, the students note that the sensors will need to be scaled down, and the resolution improved in order to be deemed suitable for surgical use.
University of Washington students hack Kinect to aid in robotic surgery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Kotaku  |  sourceUniversity of Washington  | Email this | Comments
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Cisco unveils Linksys E4200 dual-band router capable of speeds up to 450Mbps
Cisco has continued its push to make home entertainment wire-free with its latest E-Series wireless router, the Linksys E4200. Cisco's new dual-band 802.11n rig enters a high-end market segment currently occupied by the TRENDnet TEW-692GR. Both routers utilize a 3x3 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) configuration for a max throughput of 450Mbps on the 5GHz band, and while the E4200 only reaches speeds of 300Mbps at 2.4 GHz (as compared to the TEW-692GRs 450Mbps) it should still be quite the video streaming powerhouse. As we've seen in previous Cisco offerings, the company's latest has USB connectivity and UPnP media server capabilities to add network storage and share all of your movies and music. Additionally, the E4200 packs technology similar to that seen in other routers, which allows users to prioritize bandwidth for movies, voice, or music. To keep everyone connected, it has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, six antennas, and several internal and external signal amplifiers to provide coverage for even the most palatial of estates. For those itching to pair a performance router with their new internet capable TV, the E4200 is priced at $179.99 and is currently available at Best Buy.Continue reading Cisco unveils Linksys E4200 dual-band router capable of speeds up to 450Mbps
Cisco unveils Linksys E4200 dual-band router capable of speeds up to 450Mbps originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Boeing 787 Dreamliner delayed again, expectations still sky high
That's right, the 787 Dreamliner, which has airlines all aflutter over promises of increased fuel efficiency, has been delayed yet again. Boeing announced yesterday that customers can expect to see the plane in the third quarter of 2011: one in a long line of setbacks that have put it three years behind schedule. However, despite delays, it seems customer confidence hasn't waned. In fact, the New York Times reported that 787 buyers still find a summer release perfectly practical, leading to a three percent rise in Boeing stock. Trouble for the 787 started back in 2008, with the FAA warning of hacker vulnerability, followed by a 2009 discovery of structural weakness, and an on-board fire last November. Even with delays, and cancellation of at least 60 orders, the 787 still has about 850 pre-orders: more than any other mid-size commercial liner in history. So what's keeping the 787 Dreamliner afloat? Well, mostly promises of a 20 percent increase in fuel efficiency, thanks to a design that's 50 percent composite materials. Clearly, testing the 787 hasn't been a dream, but it seems nothing can keep this plane grounded for good.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner delayed again, expectations still sky high originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Businessweek  |  sourceBoeing  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung's HDTV-based app store passes two million downloads
Reaching two million downloads in a year may seem paltry considering Apple's app store delivered 1.5 billion downloads in its first year, and the Mac app store passed one million downloads on opening day. Still, it's the largest number we've seen from a TV maker, and when you factor in that Samsung's store just passed one million downloads back in November, it seems the Korean tech giant has a good thing going. Naturally, we knew the company was serious about apps when it announced the Free the TV contest late last summer to lure developers to the platform, and today the app store is available in over 120 countries and features roughly 380 applications, 259 of which are free. It also doesn't hurt that the brand has already sold boatloads of Smart TVs and plans to ship 12 million more in 2011. The question is, when the store hits the 10 million mark, can Samsung possibly pull off a new interpretive dance that tops its 2011 CES keynote? We certainly hope so. For the full announcement, check out the press release after the break.
Continue reading Samsung's HDTV-based app store passes two million downloads
Samsung's HDTV-based app store passes two million downloads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPad camera apps discovered in iOS 4.3 beta, nobody surprised
Oh look, even more evidence that the next generation iPad will be equipped with cameras. The image above showing the three new iPad apps was discovered in the iOS 4.3 beta 2 by MacRumors. To be effective, the iPad's Camera and FaceTime apps would require both back- and front-facing cameras just like the iPhone 4. The Photo Booth app is new to iOS but already ships on Macs running OS X -- it could, presumably, use either camera to record snapshots (with filters) and video. And really, at this point, with such overwhelming evidence the only surprise would be for Apple to announce a new iPad without a camera.
iPad camera apps discovered in iOS 4.3 beta, nobody surprised originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Amazon agrees to buy UK movie streaming and rental service Lovefilm
Amazon has just announced it has agreed terms to buy up all the remaining shares of Lovefilm it didn't already own. The British outfit operates a subscription-based movie rental and streaming service in its home market along with Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and should give Amazon a very solid base from which to build its presumably Netflix-besting ambitions. Lovefilm has been just about the closest thing Europe has had to the ridiculously successful North American movie distributor and Amazon is arguably getting in just in time, given Netflix's overtures toward expanding into the UK. Customary closing conditions will need to be met before the final stamp of approval is applied, but the acquisition is expected to complete by the end of Q1 of this year. Amazon's wading into yet more content distribution, who'd have thunk it?Continue reading Amazon agrees to buy UK movie streaming and rental service Lovefilm
Amazon agrees to buy UK movie streaming and rental service Lovefilm originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony Ericsson ships 9 million Xperia Android phones, but latest earnings disappoint
Sony Ericsson has just made its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2010 official and the highlight, at least for milestone lovers like us, is the figure of nine million Android-based Xperia handsets shipped since the family's launch. Now, the language used here is important, as Sony loves to report shipments to retailers instead of actual sales, but it's still a pretty grand number of Xperia X10, X10 Mini, X10 Mini Pro, and X8 handsets out and about in our big wide world. Hell, it's even more impressive when you consider that those phones have spent most of their lives riding the ancient Android 1.6 as their operating system. In terms of actual currency figures, however, SE has fallen short of expectations, reporting a moderate €35 million pre-tax profit for Q4, which the company is turning into a positive by noting that it marks its fourth consecutive quarter of being in the black. If the new crop of Xperia Androids are anything to go by, we can probably expect this habit to continue for a good long while.
Permalink   |  sourceSony Ericsson Q4 2010 earnings report (PDF)  | Email this | Comments
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HTC 7 Pro and Gratia get anglicized, heading to the UK in February
Oh, there's no need to act like you're surprised, fellow Brits. As promised, HTC's going to dish out its latest budget Froyo Android and flagship WP7 slider to the UK next month. Just a quick recap: the "pearl white" Gratia -- which is the international version of the Aria -- sports a humble 600MHz processor, along with a 3.2-inch 480 x 320 LCD and a 5 megapixel camera with VGA camcorder. As for the 7 Pro, it packs the bog standard WP7 specs (1GHz Snapdragon, 8GB storage, and 5 megapixel camera with 720p recording), as well as a slide-and-tilt 3.6-inch 800 x 480 display that reveals a landscape QWERTY keyboard underneath -- the tilting part still a first for WP7. Sadly, it doesn't look like any carriers have picked up either handset yet, nor has HTC shed light on their standalone costs, but hey, patience is priceless.Continue reading HTC 7 Pro and Gratia get anglicized, heading to the UK in February
HTC 7 Pro and Gratia get anglicized, heading to the UK in February originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Android turns average man into El Vendor! (video)
You might not know Greg Bell by name but you've certainly been affected by his work. The man who directed Logitech's amusingly creepy Lonely TV viral ads has returned with a series of videos meant to promote Android. The premise is, of course, absurd: middle manager, trapped beneath a fallen vending machine, continues to work because his Android powered smartphone allows him to be productive even without the full use of his hands. In a bit of video magic, the handset with a 32-day battery is the Nexus S running Gingerbread... but only when shot from the front. Otherwise it's a Nexus One when shot from the back, presumably because this was filmed before the S' launch. Regardless, the result is a series of clever videos encapsulating an everyman's transformation into nerd superhero, El Vendor -- we dare you to not click all five.Continue reading Android turns average man into El Vendor! (video)
Android turns average man into El Vendor! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 03:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink @timbray  |  sourcegbell3000 (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments
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Sony Ericsson MT15i / Vivaz 2 ensnared by Eldar Murtazin, given glowing preview
The choice of Android Gingerbread handsets just grew by one, courtesy of the Sony Ericsson MT15i and Russia's premier mobile reviewer, Eldar Murtazin, who has put it through his rigorous preview cycle. The typically curmudgeonly gent was pleasantly surprised by SE's latest (and entirely unofficial) handset, claiming that the company "has developed and is about to launch truly cutting edge devices and ... has almost nothing to fear in the hardware department as well." He has praise for the above-average front-facing cam, the endurance offered by the 1500mAh battery, and the 854 x 480 res on the Reality Display -- though he does warn that Sony's Bravia Engine is only used when consuming multimedia and therefore has limited impact on improving output quality.

Internally, you're looking at 512MB of RAM and a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7630 with Adreno 205 graphics, all of which resulted in perfectly smooth, lag-free operation. In spite of its many pluses, Eldar describes the MT15i as a phone targeting the mid-range, which invites all sorts of delicious pricing speculation, though we're not entirely sure we agree with his postulation that this handset will be called the Vivaz 2. The Xperia branding up front and the replacement of Symbian with Android would collectively suggest it'll bear an altogether new name when it's unveiled -- which we'll go ahead and presume is going to happen at MWC next month.
Sony Ericsson MT15i / Vivaz 2 ensnared by Eldar Murtazin, given glowing preview originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 02:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink BestBoyZ  |  sourcemobile-review  | Email this | Comments
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HTC Flyer tablet tipped for US landing in March, to be followed by two more slates in June
Given current trends, it's reasonable to believe that the foremost question regarding an HTC tablet is no longer if the Taiwanese company will produce one, but when. So, who could we possibly turn to for help but those ever-loquacious upstream component manufacturers that DigiTimes knows and loves so well? Their latest info points to an Android tablet dubbed the Flyer arriving in the US in March (just early enough to potentially beat the Xoom and PlayBook to market), which will roll out across the world in the second quarter of 2011 and be joined by two more slate devices (Scribe?) in June. Further details are a little murky, including the dubious suggestion that the Flyer will come with Android 2.3 on board and be upgradeable to Honeycomb (3.0), but we're inclined to consider the overall roadmap credible. In spite of its Thunderbolt launch at CES, HTC was relatively quiet in the big January event, so we suspect it'll bring the big(ger than a smartphone) guns to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month.
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Triple-display Flip phone powers our dreams with Android (video)
Triple-display Flip phone concept powers our dreams with Android (video)
This one's only a concept so don't get your hopes up, but we're loving the design here, called the Flip from designer Kristian Ulrich Larsen. It's a triple-display handset running stock Android that pops out like a tent, collapses into a standard (if curved) slate, and even folds out like a little book. Each screen is said to be Super AMOLED hiding behind Gorilla Glass, with steel mesh acting as hinges -- and there's a full QWERTY keyboard somewhere in there too. Is it magic? No, it's just a render, but we're hoping that something like this becomes rather more physical in the not too distant future. Until then, enjoy the dreamy video after the break.
Gallery: Flip concept phone
Continue reading Triple-display Flip phone powers our dreams with Android (video)
Triple-display Flip phone powers our dreams with Android (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Motorola Droid X gets 1.2GHz software overclock for China, we feel slighted too
Motorola Droid X gets 1.2GHz software overclock for China, we feel slighted too
For years foreign nations have received better and faster cars than America but, finally, we thought we'd at least received smartphone parity. Not for Motorola, who is bringing its 4.3-inch Droid X slab to China with one major tweak: a processor running at 1.2GHz. That's a 20 percent boost over its cycles in domestic form despite having the same TI ticker humming away in there. Now, that's not to say there aren't ways to unofficially overclock your X to 1.2GHz -- and beyond -- but those of us who prefer staying stock are left to wonder why, and to hope for an equivalent update on these shores. Futile hopes, these.
Motorola Droid X gets 1.2GHz software overclock for China, we feel slighted too originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Droid Life, electronista  |  sourceMotorola China  | Email this | Comments
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Sony A580 reviewed: 16.2 megapixels of mid-range DSLR goodness
Sony A580 reviewed, 16.2 megapixels of mid-range DSLR goodness
Like the Sony A560 DSLR but need a few million more pixels at your disposal? That's basically what you get with the A580, a successor to the A550 and doing basically everything the A560 does -- but with a 16.2 megapixel sensor. So it sports 1080i recording, a 3-inch tilting LCD, and 7fps burst shooting, but can't match the continuous autofocus of the funky A55 and its mystical, magical, translucent mirror and overheating sensor. Overall performance and image quality are said to be good, with minimal noise up to ISO 1600 and fancy modes like HDR built in. All yours for about $899.
Sony A580 reviewed: 16.2 megapixels of mid-range DSLR goodness originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kongregate app pulled from Android Marketplace, CEO hopes it's just a misunderstanding
We've heard of apps getting 187'd from the iTunes App Store ad nauseum, but Google's Android Marketplace? That's pretty novel. In what is probably the most high profile bait-and-switch since the mobile platform's launch, Kongregate found its eponymous software pulled on the very same day it came out. As CEO Jim Greer tells Joystiq, the app was pulled due to the "claim you can't use their app store to distribute another app store." Which is all well and good until you realize that what Kongregate the app does is simply serve as a portal for Kongregrate the mobile site -- Greer says it's the same experience as visiting m.kongregate.com to play its free Flash games -- with the option for offline mode. "It's all essentially cached content delivered in a browser," he said, "which to me is just bizarre that that would be considered an 'app store,'" he said.

The Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement says, "you may not use the Market to distribute or make available any Product whose primary purpose is to facilitate the distribution of Products outside of the Market," with Product defined broadly as "Software, content and digital materials created for Devices in accordance with the Android SDK and distributed via the Market." When we talked to Google, the company pointed out the same clause and said, "Applications in violation of our policies (like Kongregate) are removed from Android Market."

Greer adds that a number of people in Google had seen it previously and liked the app (not the ones who ultimately pulled it), and he hopes this is all some grand misunderstanding. We'll see, but in the meantime, the app is still available for side loading care of Kongregate's website. Nothing like a backup plan, eh?
Permalink   |  sourceJoystiq, Kongregate  | Email this | Comments
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Next-gen iPad may come with proximity sensor, iOS 4.3 beta reveals
Some careful digging in the iOS 4.3 beta has revealed an intriguing new string intended for the iPad's Settings menu. As you can see above, users will be able to toggle a new auto-unlocking feature on their iPad, which would respond to closing and opening of the slate's cover (or case, or sleeve, or whatever). Though the iPad already has an ambient light sensor, the one true way to make this functionality work is by employing a good old proximity sensor, so we can probably pencil that into our ever-expanding list of iPad 2 attributes. Who'd have thought there were so many ways to improve on a magical revolution, eh?

[Thanks, Mike]
Next-gen iPad may come with proximity sensor, iOS 4.3 beta reveals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink MacStories  |  sourceblog do iPhone  | Email this | Comments
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Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number (update: option disappears)
We'd be lying if we said we hadn't been waiting on this feature since the service's debut. As one reader just notified us (and verified by a number of staffers), Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number into its system -- as in, that 10-digit hometown relic you've been holding onto as long as you've carried a handset can now live in the cloud and grant you freedom to start afresh / forward to your many on-hand devices. Check under phone setting to see if "change / port" is now an option. The cost of porting is $20 and, as you may guess, it'll terminate your current service plan and probably prompt the carrier in question to charge applicable early termination fees, but that's pittance for saving your old line for the indefinite future. You know, just in case your seventh grade crush gets the nerve to call and say, "sorry." Of course he / she will, just give it time.

Update: Google just pinged us to note this feature is still being tested and may not be available to everyone. "We're continually testing new features to enhance the user experience. For a limited amount of time, we're making the Google Voice number porting process available to users. We don't have any additional details to share at this time, but plan to offer this feature to all users in the near future."

Update 2: Ninja vanish! Looks like the option to port is gone -- for now, at least. Just keep an eye on your settings pane, it's bound to resurface sooner or later.
Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number (update: option disappears) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink @QQforU (Twitter)  |  sourceGoogle Voice  | Email this | Comments
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iPhone rumor two-pack: multitasking gestures and MobileMe Photo Streams? (Update: those pics are real)
Looks like the iPad might not have an exclusive on those new "multitasking" gestures unearthed in the latest iOS 4.3 beta, because BGR's got some shots up of an purported internal build that seem to indicate Cupertino intends to push them down to the iPhone line as well. Now, there are a couple of obvious red flags here -- using "four or five fingers" sounds pretty unreasonable for a 3.5-inch display, though it'd certainly tie in with recent rumors that Apple's turning sour on the physical Home button and might indicate that the complete redesign we're hearing about could include a slightly larger display. Of course, it could also indicate that this is really early software with the wrong (read: iPad) wording -- but at any rate, we could definitely see the benefit of, say, a two-finger gesture to swipe between apps.

Now, on to part two: 9to5 Mac seems to have unearthed traces in the iOS 4.3 beta of a new feature called "Photo Streams" that seems to be -- you guessed it -- a way to share continuous streams of photos with friends you approve, presumably through MobileMe (which would fit in nicely with the Find my Friends stuff). Alone, that's not worth $99 a year -- plenty of other services offer similar functionality -- but we wouldn't be surprised if this were bundled in with a bunch of MobileMe refreshes this year.

Update: We just received an interesting tidbit of information on the above pic (and others that BGR has its hands on). According to sources, after the iPhone 4 barroom debacle, Apple made significant changes to how it keeps track of -- and identifies to third parties -- its devices. Namely, the company began adding clauses to screens on the phones which read "Confidential and Proprietary, if found, please contact..." followed by a 408 number (that's Cupertino, of course). This prevents any misunderstanding from parties who may come across these devices. So what does it all mean? Well, not much, save that it seems these photos we're viewing are in fact the real deal... which means gestures may be headed to your iPhone. Intrigue!
Permalink   |  source9to5 Mac, BGR  | Email this | Comments
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Samsung buys Liquavista, dives headfirst into electrowetting displays
Liquavista displays get flexible, 'unbreakable,' still rather theoretical (video)
Samsung's got a reputation for building crazy awesome display technologies, and it just added another one to the stack -- with the buyout of Philips-spinoff Liquavista this December, it's gained quite the foothold in electrowetting. In case you're not familiar, electrowetting has been repeatedly pitched to us as pretty much the Holy Grail of displays: flexible, colorful, unbreakable, outdoor-readable e-paper screens with high refresh rates and low-power consumption that can be manufactured on existing assembly lines. We'll have to see if the theories equate to meaningful products, but we imagine ownership by Samsung can't hurt one bit, especially as the company says it will "expand its leadership in next generation display technologies by pioneering the application of electrowetting in e-Paper and transparent displays." Sounds like a commitment to us. PR after the break.

Update: Seems that The Digital Reader actually figured out about the deal yesterday -- read the original scoop at our more coverage link!Continue reading Samsung buys Liquavista, dives headfirst into electrowetting displays
Samsung buys Liquavista, dives headfirst into electrowetting displays originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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WSJ: Nokia X7 canceled for AT&T, but at Espoo's behest
Our subsidized Symbian superphone dreams remain squashed, but it looks like we might have a different party to blame -- the Wall Street Journal's anonymous sources say it was Nokia itself who decided to pull plans to launch the X7 exclusively on AT&T. Originally, the phone would have waved the white globe banner at Mobile World Congress next month, but Nokia reportedly decided that AT&T didn't have its back, and wouldn't provide sufficient marketing support -- and cheap enough subsidized prices -- to make it worth the company's while. If you simply must have the handset and live in the US, though, we're sure you'll still find a way. It's only a matter of time before Nokia launches in countries more willing to play ball... and unlocked models appear on eBay.
WSJ: Nokia X7 canceled for AT&T, but at Espoo's behest originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink All Things D  |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments
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Xbox 360 mandatory update restores boot to disc, detains Call of Duty pirates for a tad
The story of the Trojan Horse must be a favorite among video game console manufacturers, because software updates these days often come with more than bargained for -- today, Microsoft issued a mandatory Xbox 360 update, reportedly for a single bugfix, but which seems to have coincidentally halted scores of pirates and hackers from playing Call of Duty: Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2 on the console. Members of the Xbox-Scene forums noted the update was taking suspiciously long to download, discovered that backup copies of these games ceased to work, and presently believe that Microsoft included a patch for these two games to enable an anti-piracy feature that specifically targets burned copies. What does the mandatory update do for you if you're not part of the hacking scene? It merely enables the console to automatically boot a pre-inserted game when you power it on, a feature that was accidentally disabled in November.

[Thanks, Brian]
Permalink WinRumors, NeoGaf  |  sourceMajor Nelson, Xbox-Scene  | Email this | Comments
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Northwestern University's curvilinear 'eyeball camera' is squishy, just like yours
Northwestern University's curvilinear 'eyeball camera' is squishy, just like yoursWe've seen gooey lenses before, the Varioptic variety already having found a home in an honest to gosh retail product. But, this is a little different. It's called the "eyeball camera," a curvilinear lens and sensor system developed by a team at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It uses a similar sort of flexible design, this one actuated by varying the pressure of fluids in the device -- higher pressure for convex, lower pressure for concave. Interestingly here the camera sensor itself flexes right along with the lens, and while the maximum zoom is currently a measly 3.5x, higher power is said to be possible -- eventually. No word was given on when we might see these coming to market, so don't pull a Batou and get rid of your fleshy ones just yet.
Northwestern University's curvilinear 'eyeball camera' is squishy, just like yours originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourcePhysOrg  | Email this | Comments
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Lunchtime Clock mod offers false promises to beleaguered office workers
We've seen a lot of DIY clock mods in the past, but the Lunchtime Clock has to be the most useless. It's great in theory: the thing speeds up 20 percent starting at 11AM and slows down twenty percent at 11:48AM. So, at 11:48AM the clock reads noon, and by 1:00PM it's back in sync, giving you an extra 12 minutes to digest that chili dog you so hastily sucked down before returning to work. Here's the catch: watches, cellphones, and computers also tell time, and if you work in an office where you've got to fake it to get an extra 12 minutes with your chili dog, you can bet your boss isn't trusting ye olde wall clock. So, before you go tinkering with your office timepiece, thank the heavens you've been blessed with an hour long lunch break to begin with. We hear the guy at the chili dog stand only gets 15 minutes.
Lunchtime Clock mod offers false promises to beleaguered office workers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink CoolestGadgets  |  sourceInstructables  | Email this | Comments
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Second-gen CherryPad rumored to feature better specs for a bigger price tag
After seeing Android tablets galore at CES, it seems strangely fitting that a device bearing the CherryPad moniker could top off this month's tablet news dog pile. Specifically, Mobile Magazine is sharing "unconfirmed details" about a new 7-inch Cherry-branded tablet that's said to run Android 2.2 "at a minimum" and feature a 1024x600 capacitive multi-touch display, front and rear three megapixel cameras, a 1GHz Cortex A8 cpu, and either 8 or 16GB of flash memory. Other goodies on the sequel's spec list include an integrated HDMI output, accelerometer, microSD slot and even an unlocked GSM antenna. Unfortunately, these enhancements won't be available at the old CherryPad's $200 price point -- which was pretty much the only thing the original had going for it. Instead, the new device is rumored to cost $300 to $400. The same source also reports that an official announcement is expected in just a few weeks, so in the meantime, we'll pass the hours debating whether it makes more sense to name tablets after fruits or rocks.
Second-gen CherryPad rumored to feature better specs for a bigger price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceMobile Magazine  | Email this | Comments
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Microsoft tracks down 'phantom data' bug in Windows Phone 7, points finger at unnamed third party
Tired of your Windows Phone 7 device sending and receiving random bouts of data? Well, Microsoft is, too -- and they've started to reach some conclusions from that investigation opened a few days ago. Apparently, there's a "third party" that's responsible for the misbehavior, and Redmond's already reached out to help 'em make the necessary fixes; the story isn't necessarily over, though, because they're still "investigating additional potential root causes," which we presume could involve the operating system itself. As for the third party, it seems a "small" number of customers are affected, which probably explains why it's taken this long for the complaints to come to a rolling boil. Here's the full statement:
"We have determined that a third-party solution commonly accessed from Windows Phones is configured in a manner that potentially causes larger than expected data downloads. We are in contact with the third party to assist them in making the necessary fixes, and are also pursuing potential workarounds to address the configuration issue in case those are needed. At this point in our investigation, we believe this is responsible for most of the reported incidents.

We are investigating additional potential root causes for the remainder of the reports.

A small (low single-digit) percentage of Windows Phone customers have reported being affected.

We are continuing to investigate this issue and will update with additional information and guidance as it becomes available."
Permalink   |  sourceSeattle Post-Intelligencer  | Email this | Comments
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IBM forms new partnership with ARM in hopes of developing ludicrously small chip processing technology
We've seen IBM and ARM team up before, but this week both companies announced a new joint initiative to develop 14nm chip processing technology. That's significantly smaller than the 20nm SoC technology ARM hopes to create in partnership with TSMC, and makes the company's previous work with IBM on 32nm semiconductors look like a cake walk. The potential benefits, though, are faster processors that require less power, and feature lower per unit manufacturing costs Who knows if or when we'll see tangible results from the tag team, but if IBM's Watson can beat Jeopardy champions, further reducing the average size of a feature that can be created on a chip should be elementary, right? To read over the full announcement check out the press release after the break.Continue reading IBM forms new partnership with ARM in hopes of developing ludicrously small chip processing technology
Permalink The Inquirer  |  sourceIBM  | Email this | Comments
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LG G-Slate to have an 8.9-inch 3D display? Rumor mill says 'maybe'
If 3D and tablets are the two unstoppable forces of modern consumer electronics, doesn't it make sense to meld them into one, fearsome, trendsetting device? LG's T-Mobile-bound G-Slate might be doing exactly that, we're hearing, as a pair of different sites are reporting it'll come with a 3D-capable display. The guys at GPS And Co have apparently heard directly from LG's French arm, who told them the G-Slate would have a glasses-free 3D display and 3D camera, though the validity of that information is diluted somewhat by TmoNews' source finding 3D glasses listed as future accessories for this rather mysterious tablet. Yes, it's contradictory information, but then Pocket-lint has also heard directly from LG and received a promise of "an actual working 3D device," which should be expected shortly. That could be the 4.3-inch autostereoscopic panel we scoped out at CES or it could be another hint that the G-Slate's been camera-shy for a very particularly, three-dimensional reason.
LG G-Slate to have an 8.9-inch 3D display? Rumor mill says 'maybe' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Unwired View  |  sourceGPS And Co, TmoNews  | Email this | Comments
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iOS 4.3 beta 2 released, iPad multitasking gestures just a developer preview
Apple just dropped iOS 4.3 beta 2 on world, and with it a big sad bomb: those nifty iPad multitasking gestures we discovered in beta 1 won't be enabled when 4.3 ships to customers. Instead, Cupertino says it's "providing this preview to gather input on how these gestures work with your apps," Oh well -- there's always 4.4, or even iOS 5, we suppose. We're on the lookout for other new features, but for now let us know what else you spot in comments, okay?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
iOS 4.3 beta 2 released, iPad multitasking gestures just a developer preview originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink   |  sourceApple  | Email this | Comments
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