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Engadget News |
- SuONOIO synth takes soundgeeks from zero to tweaking in fewer than 60 cycles (video)
- Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Netbooks and laptops
- iOS 4.2 available today, brings the iPad into the multitasking era (update: it's live)
- Apple rolling out Apple TV 4.1 alongside iOS 4.2 today for perfect AirPlay harmony
- Verizon bringing 150/35Mbps internet to FiOS customers, enraging customers of all other ISPs
- Bolle BP-10 printer dock for iPhone does one thing, and one thing only
- Nintendo rolls out orange and green DSi bundles especially for Black Friday stampedes
- Nexus S still leaking on public photostreams, showing exciting new angles
- Houston will be home to America's largest car charging network, identity crisis
- Vudu's 1080p movie streaming to hit Panasonic's Viera Cast Blu-ray players
- Verizon launching LTE network in December 2010 (video)
- Apple's Find My iPhone / iPad service now free, doesn't require MobileMe
- Netflix formally launches $7.99 streaming-only plan, bumps unlimited DVD plans by a buck or more
- iOS 4.2 review (for iPad)
- TiVo Premiere UI gets a shot in the arm with iPad remote control
- Orange and T-Mobile set to offer 3G iPad on contract in UK, £200 price rumored
- Kingston unveils HyperX Max 3.0, a SuperSpeed SSD for your pocket, we tear it down (video)
- Apple reportedly abandons supposed push for integrated SIMs in theoretical European iPhones
- Viacom drops the ban hammer on Google TV devices, blocks streaming episodes
- GameStop breaks out the bundles for Black Friday, but not the cream of the crop
- Russian president not fond of Galaxy Tab camera, <3s emoticons
- The Daily: Murdoch's iPad newspaper is like 'The New York Post Goes to College'
- Verizon gives Droid 2 Global a Facebook shout-out
- Pandigital's 9-inch Novel now on sale... as a QVC exclusive
- LG E-Note H1000B 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet arrives one year late
- Autonomous Audi TTS scales Pikes Peak in 27-minute climb
- Dell Inspiron Duo and speaker dock up for pre-order at Microsoft Store now, no clue when they'll ship out
- Inhabitat's Week in Green: slim skyscrapers, electric vehicles and the machine that lays brick roads
- Palm webOS 'Enyo' framework paves the way for tablets and larger phones (video)
- Switched On: Getting from Kno to yes, part 2
- Lenovo IdeaPad U260 hands-on
| SuONOIO synth takes soundgeeks from zero to tweaking in fewer than 60 cycles (video) Posted: 22 Nov 2010 10:01 AM PST  SuONOIO is the band of former Nine Inch Nails keyboardist Alessandro Cortini, and SuONOIO is a pint-sized slab of silicon that comes bundled with a digital copy of the band's latest album. Delivered bubble-wrapped in a hand-stamped cardboard box -- if you've ever had the pleasure of unboxing an Arduino kit, you'll know the feeling -- it's pre-loaded with two banks of samples that were used to create the album. Although it's a sample-based instrument, it's the user's job to create new noise using an array of jumper-activated effects and mixing techniques. It's not quite as expansive as an MPC, but as any good experimentalist knows, there's a lot to be gleaned from limitations and new interface paradigms. Read on for our impressions of the noisebox and a tour of its inner workings! At the core of the SuONOIO experience are the two identical sample banks -- 16 knob-selectable loops ranging from triangle waves to watery bloops to percussive backbeats. A "mix" knob crossfades between the two banks and frequency knobs control the playback speeds of each. As is usually the case in synthland, the real fun begins once you start exploring the effects section. There are no buttons to be had onboard -- parameters are activated by attaching jumpers to terminals in four different areas, a nice pseudo-hackery touch that makes you feel like you're creating your own monster as you go along. Distortions and a series of adjustable delays and rhythm effects can be controlled by an onboard LFO. There's also a random on / off value generator that can be connected to nearly any other terminal on the board via adorable tiny patch cables, just to keep things interesting. Easier heard than read, actually, so look at this: The whole kit is powered by a 9V battery or an external power supply (neither are included in the package), and the output can be routed through an onboard 1" speaker or standard 1/4" jack. The onboard speaker is fun and convenient, but obviously won't give you much in the way of fidelity -- it's definitely best to plug in to your Marshall stack, or whatever other Rock Amplification Device you have laying around. So: what kind of sounds can you pull from this thing? The tone is definitively rich and crunchy, with a Speak n' Spell vibe coming from the onboard chips. The crossfader-based interface encourages you to create loop derivatives independently and combine them with each other in unexpected ways. Syncing between the two channels is difficult, if not impossible, so it's natural to have one channel become the beat, and the other channel morph into the more plastic melodic element. Mr. Cortini and his hardware partner The Harvestmanplans to integrate a keyboard and inter-device syncing in the future, which is a nice idea -- but for now, you're planted firmly into the realm of of controlled chaos. At $160, owning a SuONOIO isn't going to catapult you into Brian Eno territory. It might catapult you into Neon Indian territory, but that's a different story altogether. Either way, that's not the point: it will add a sharp little tool to your existing studio toolbox -- we can definitely see it being a loop kit to build off of or draw inspiration from. And we know our prepubescent selves would have been ecstatic to unbox one of these during our preferred annual religious or agnostic celebration events. During the time it's spent hanging around our house, it's also been a great conversation piece, temporarily transforming even our parents into knob-twiddling fiends. Like all of our favorite toys, this little guy more than compensates for its lack of ability with a big helping of the most important ingredient of all: heart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Netbooks and laptops Posted: 22 Nov 2010 09:30 AM PST Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.  Stocking stuffers: Netbooks
Stocking stuffers: Laptops
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We'll admit it: we have a real crush on the Envy 14. Beyond its beautiful anodized aluminum chassis, backlit chiclet keyboard, and high resolution display, its Core i3 processor, 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5650 graphics, and 500GB 7,200rpm hard drive provide a seriously solid performance and gaming experience. And yes, you get all that for just a grand. Seriously, wrap it up and they'll love you forever. |
 We know this one doesn't have as much power as the rest, but it doesn't get much more portable than its .68-inch / 2.3-pound body. It may not be your primary system, but thanks to its 64GB SSD it can be ready whenever. Oh, and if they'll want a built-in SD card slot, spend a few hundred more and pick up the 13-inch. |  A 3.2-pound, Core i3-powered PC under $800? Oh yes, it exists. Toshiba's Portege R705 has pretty much everything your giftee could ever want in a thin and light package, including a DVD drive, 4GB of RAM, Intel's Wireless Display, and a 500GB hard drive. | ||
 If you're seeking raw power under $900 there's no beating Dell's new XPS line. The 15.4-inch system boasts a Core i5-460M processor, 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 420M GPU, a 500GB hard drive, and incredible JBL speakers. 'Nuff said. |  A Bamboo chassis? Core i5? NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics? Intel WiDi? And a USB 3.0 port? Oh yes, the 14-inch ASUS U43JC's list could go on... No really, they'll think you had to take out a second mortgage for this one. | ||
We can't afford the rent now, can we?
 |
Oh sure, there are 13-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros, but the 15-inch screen size is just right. The machine still has the aluminum unibody construction you've come to know and love, but the new series packs Core i5 or i7 processors as well as intelligent NVIDIA graphics, which doesn't require you to lift a finger to turn the GPU on or off. We know, the Apple tax is strong for the specs, but there's no beating those Geniuses if anything goes awry. |
 An aluminum and carbon fiber clad 13.3-inch / 3.4-pound laptop with a Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GT 330 graphics? Oh yeah, that's the VAIO Z and there's really nothing else like it out there. You will not be disappointed with this PC, though it'll probably take a few months to pay it off. |  There have been plenty three-dee laptops lately, but HP's Envy 17 seems to be one of the most quality machines with its AMD 3D tech, integrated transmitter, and Blu-ray drive. On top of that it's got Core i5 / i7 CPU options and that same anodized aluminum chassis as the Envy 14. Yes, of course, the active shutter glasses are included! | ||
 We wouldn't forget about the gamers! The M15x has just been updated with NVIDIA 460M GTX GPU and a Core i7 940XM quad-core processor. Configure it with an 1920x1080p-resolution 15.6-inch display, 8GB of memory, and SSD and you've pretty much got the world's most powerful laptop. | |||
iOS 4.2 available today, brings the iPad into the multitasking era (update: it's live)
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 09:05 AM PST
Update: Plug in your iPhones and iPads, the 624.3MB update should be rolling out now. Looks like it's starting in Europe, given the joyous cackles from our editors across the pond. Screenshot after the break.
Update 2: Now available within US borders as well.
Apple's iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch
Major Software Update Brings Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay & AirPrint to iPad
CUPERTINO, California-November 22, 2010-Apple® today announced that iOS 4.2, the latest version of the world's most advanced mobile operating system, is available today for download for iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad including Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint.
"iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit."
iPad users can now run their favorite apps and switch between them instantly, while preserving iPad's legendary battery life. Users can organize their apps with drag-and-drop simplicity using Folders, and Mail now features a Unified Inbox, fast inbox switching and a threaded message view.
Game Center allows iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users to challenge and play friends or be matched automatically with new opponents, showcase their scores and achievements, and discover new games their friends are playing.
AirPlay is a new feature for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly from iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to Apple TV®, transforming Apple TV into a great accessory for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. iOS users also will be able to use AirPort Express® and AirPlay to stream wirelessly to any stereo or powered speakers, or directly to AirPlay-enabled speakers coming to market in the months ahead.
AirPrint is a next-generation Wi-Fi print architecture that dramatically simplifies printing by completely eliminating printer drivers. A selection of AirPrint enabled printers including the HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet will be the first to support printing direct from iOS devices. iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can simply tap to print their documents or photos wirelessly to any printer that supports AirPrint.
The Find My iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch) feature is now free to use without a MobileMeâ„ subscription and helps you locate your missing device.* The Find My iPhone app is a free download on the App Storeâ„ and lets users easily locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can even remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy.
Other new features that iOS 4.2 brings to the iPad include: the ability to rent TV episodes directly to iPad using the iTunes® App with a 30 day viewing window and a 48 hour session window once playback is started; the ability to easily find and highlight specific words and phrases on web pages in Safari®; enhanced enterprise support so businesses can take advantage of stronger security features, new device management capabilities and improved enterprise integration; industry-leading accessibility enhancements; and support for 25 additional languages, including Korean, Portuguese and Traditional Chinese.
The revolutionary iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. You can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, using the innovative Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad weighs just 1.5 pounds, making it easy to carry and use anywhere.
Today, customers have downloaded more than seven billion apps from the groundbreaking App Store and more than 300,000 apps are available to consumers in 90 countries, with more than 40,000 native iPad apps. Over 125 million iOS users around the world can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.
Availability
The iOS 4.2 update is available today to download to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by syncing the device with iTunes 10.1. iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) and new iPod touch. Some features may not be available on all products. For example, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) or later.
*The free Find My iPhone feature is available for iPhone 4, iPad or new iPod touch (4th generation).
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.
Apple rolling out Apple TV 4.1 alongside iOS 4.2 today for perfect AirPlay harmony
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 09:01 AM PST
Verizon bringing 150/35Mbps internet to FiOS customers, enraging customers of all other ISPs
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 08:17 AM PST
You know, we're pretty stoked for the folks who just so happen to reside within Verizon's relatively minuscule FiOS service footprint, but rather than hooking up those who've already been adequately hooked, why not spread that fiber cheer over to a few extra states? Alas, it looks as if the FiOS rollout is on an indefinite hold, but those lucky enough to have access will soon have the ability to upgrade their existing internet service to this: a 150/35Mbps option. That's 150Mbps down and 35Mbps up, and as far as consumer-grade services in America go, it's pretty much as good as it gets. Verizon is claiming that it'll be available to order by consumers at the end of this year, with small businesses seeing the option shortly thereafter. 'Course, no pricing details are mentioned, but it's not like it matters -- you'll cash in whatever Yuletide gifts you have to in order to get this, right?Update, Verizon pinged us with a few points -- for starters new speed is available today to the majority of our FiOS customers in 12 states and the District of Columbia, with more and more to get it in due time. As for pricing? The 150/35 Mbps residential offer will be available to the majority of FiOS-eligible households, and sold as a stand-alone service starting at $194.99 a month when purchased with a one-year service agreement and Verizon wireline voice service. Not exactly a "bargain," but like we said, you're still finding a way to make this happen.
New Verizon FiOS Internet 150/35 Mbps Offer Launches Consumers Into Broadband's Fastest Lane
Powerful Speed Tier Becomes Nation's Fastest Mass-Market Internet Service
NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is launching 150/35 megabits per second (Mbps) Internet service – the fastest mass-market broadband service in the nation – over the company's all-fiber-optic FiOS network. The company has begun to roll out the ultra-high-speed service to the majority of the more than 12.5 million homes that the FiOS network passes, and will make the service available to Verizon FiOS small-business customers by the end of the year.
Verizon's new Internet service surpasses competitors' offers by pumping three times the downstream speed previously available to FiOS customers.
(NOTE: To view a video about the fastest Internet speeds available to residential broadband customers by a major ISP to date, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQjIsaf3S2A.)
"By offering the fastest mass-market Internet service in the nation, we're supporting the immediate and future speed needs of bandwidth-hungry consumers," said Eric Bruno, Verizon vice president of product management. "The new 150/35 Mbps FiOS Internet offer establishes a new benchmark for high-speed Internet in America, and paves the way for a flurry of emerging bandwidth-intensive applications to reach mainstream status."
The Difference for Customers
With a downstream speed of 150 Mbps, consumers can download a two-hour, standard-definition movie (1.5 gigabytes) in less than 80 seconds, and a two-hour HD movie (5 GB) in less than four and a half minutes.
Downloading 20 high-resolution photographs (100 megabytes) would take less than five and a half seconds using the 150/35 Mbps service. With the 35 Mbps upstream speed, consumers can upload those same 20 high-resolution photos in less than 23 seconds.*
The 150/35 Mbps residential offer will be available to the majority of FiOS-eligible households, and sold as a stand-alone service starting at $194.99 a month when purchased with a one-year service agreement and Verizon wireline voice service.
Verizon will continue to offer on a stand-alone basis its next-fastest FiOS Internet speed of 50/20 Mbps, as well as its 25/25 and 15/5 speed tiers. FiOS Internet speeds of 35/35 Mbps, 25/25 Mbps and 15/5 Mbps will continue to be available in double-, triple- and quadruple-play bundles matched with FiOS TV, FiOS Digital Voice and Verizon Wireless service.
Bruno said the 150/35 Mbps tier takes advantage of Verizon's robust all-digital, all-fiber-optic network, which extends directly to consumers' homes and will ultimately serve 18 million households. The new speed tier will provide immediate value to consumers already using applications that require high downstream and upstream bandwidth.
"Our new 150/35 Mbps offer will also support burgeoning bandwidth-intensive applications such as Internet video to TV and PC, 3D TV and movie downloads, high-definition and real-time video conferencing, and online data backup," said Bruno.
Amy Lind, broadband research manager for the global technology market intelligence firm IDC, said: "This is about more than Verizon zooming to the top of the broadband speed chart. It's a reflection of Verizon's vision. Verizon understands that this kind of bandwidth will fuel new product and service development down the road and is poised to allow its customers to reap the benefits of those innovations in the future."
Introduction of the new 150/35 Mbps FiOS Internet service follows recent Verizon field trials that achieved connection speeds of nearly 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), both downstream and upstream. When a more advanced XG-PON2 technology was connected to the network several weeks later, connection speeds of 10 Gbps were reached on Verizon's fiber-optic network.
Once service is connected, Verizon FiOS Internet customers have access to the Verizon In-Home Agent, a free application that gives them valuable tools to set up services. In-Home Agent will help customers configure Wi-Fi links, set up and manage voice mail, auto-fix video problems, and trouble-shoot and correct Internet issues – all with the simple click of a mouse.
* Upload and download time estimates based on maximum connection speeds. Actual throughput speeds will vary.
Bolle BP-10 printer dock for iPhone does one thing, and one thing only
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 07:54 AM PST
Nintendo rolls out orange and green DSi bundles especially for Black Friday stampedes
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 07:31 AM PST
November 22, 2010 08:00 AM Eastern Time
Nintendo News: Nintendo Adds Color to Black Friday with Orange, Green Nintendo DSi Bundles
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nintendo is giving Black Friday a splash of color with two new bundles for its hot-selling Nintendo DSi™ system. For the first time, shoppers can choose an orange or green system, which will be bundled with the Mario Party™ DS game. The new colors go on sale on Nov. 26 and will be available while supplies last at a suggested retail price of $149.99.
These new colors join Nintendo's other great value bundles for the holidays that are being released in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros.™ game on the NES™. These include the limited-edition red Nintendo DSi XL™ bundle, which features a red Nintendo DSi XL system with three iconic Super Mario Bros.-themed graphics, the Mario Kart™ DS game, and preloaded software titles including Brain Age™ Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock at a suggested retail price of $179.99. In addition to those preloaded titles, each Nintendo DSi system comes preloaded with Flipnote Studio™, which lets users create, upload and share their own fun animations.
Nintendo is also offering the limited-edition red Wii™ hardware that includes a new red Wii Remote™ Plus controller, a red Nunchuk™ controller, and games New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii and Wii Sports™ at a suggested retail price of $199.99.
Through the end of October, Nintendo has sold more than 43 million systems in the Nintendo DS™ family in the United States alone, according to the independent NPD Group.
For more information about Nintendo DSi, visit http://www.nintendodsi.com.
Nintendo News: Nintendo Adds Color to Black Friday with Orange, Green Nintendo DSi Bundles
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nintendo is giving Black Friday a splash of color with two new bundles for its hot-selling Nintendo DSi™ system. For the first time, shoppers can choose an orange or green system, which will be bundled with the Mario Party™ DS game. The new colors go on sale on Nov. 26 and will be available while supplies last at a suggested retail price of $149.99.
These new colors join Nintendo's other great value bundles for the holidays that are being released in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros.™ game on the NES™. These include the limited-edition red Nintendo DSi XL™ bundle, which features a red Nintendo DSi XL system with three iconic Super Mario Bros.-themed graphics, the Mario Kart™ DS game, and preloaded software titles including Brain Age™ Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock at a suggested retail price of $179.99. In addition to those preloaded titles, each Nintendo DSi system comes preloaded with Flipnote Studio™, which lets users create, upload and share their own fun animations.
Nintendo is also offering the limited-edition red Wii™ hardware that includes a new red Wii Remote™ Plus controller, a red Nunchuk™ controller, and games New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii and Wii Sports™ at a suggested retail price of $199.99.
Through the end of October, Nintendo has sold more than 43 million systems in the Nintendo DS™ family in the United States alone, according to the independent NPD Group.
For more information about Nintendo DSi, visit http://www.nintendodsi.com.
Nexus S still leaking on public photostreams, showing exciting new angles
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 07:07 AM PST
[Thanks, John]
Houston will be home to America's largest car charging network, identity crisis
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 06:24 AM PST
Vudu's 1080p movie streaming to hit Panasonic's Viera Cast Blu-ray players
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 06:00 AM PST
VUDU GOES LIVE ON PANASONIC'S 2010 VIERA CAST-ENABLED BLU-RAY DISC™ PLAYERS
Consumers Gain Instant Streaming Access to VUDU's Extensive Library of Full HD 1080p Movies Instantly for Rental or Purchase
SECAUCUS, NJ (November 22, 2010) - Panasonic, a leader in Full HD 3D technology and built-in TV web entertainment and movie streaming service, VUDUTM announced that Panasonic's 2010 line of VIERA CAST™-enabled Blu-ray Disc™ Players1 will offer instant streaming of VUDU's huge high definition movie library, including more than 4,000 Full HD (1080p) movies, beginning on November 24.
VUDU is a video-on-demand service offering instant streaming (no download time) of movies and TV programs through IPTV-enabled HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc Players with no computer or cable/satellite TV service required, and no subscription or monthly membership fees. VUDU boasts the world's most extensive library of HD movies from all Hollywood studios and leading independent distributors, and an unmatched new release collection with titles available the same day as the DVD release. The VUDU service also offers a great value to movie renters, with an enormous collection of titles available for only $2 for a two-night rental.
"Connected TV will continue to become an increasingly important feature for consumers and Panasonic is working tirelessly to build upon the already robust entertainment and connectivity experiences our VIERA CAST customers can enjoy," said Panasonic Corporation of North America Vice President, Merwan Mereby. "The addition of VUDU to our 2010 VIERA CAST offerings gives consumers access to a virtually endless library of TV and High Definition movie content when they want it and instantly streamed into their TV without ever having to leave the couch."
VUDU is the latest entertainment feature to be added to VIERA CAST, Panasonic's IPTV functionality. Earlier this year, Panasonic added Netflix, Skype™ voice and video calling2, Twitter3 and Pandora to an already robust list of popular entertainment and information options, including Amazon Video-on-Demand™, You Tube™, Google's Picasa™ Web Album, FOX Sports4, Bloomberg News and a weather service. Panasonic's line of VIERA CASTTM-enabled Blu-ray Disc Players allows consumers to turn any flat panel HDTV into an IPTV or connected TV via VIERA CAST. VIERA CAST requires no external box or PC5 and is accessed via a single button on the Blu-ray Disc Player remote control. There is no fee to use the VIERA CAST functionality (some VIERA CAST services such as VUDU, Netflix and Amazon VOD have a separate fee structure). New VUDU customers on VIERA CAST™ will receive a $5.99 credit, enabling them to watch their first HD movie on the service for free.
"Our core mission is to deliver the best selection of movies, at the highest quality possible, directly to the customer's living room," said Edward Lichty, General Manager of VUDU. "We are proud to partner with Panasonic to offer owners of VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray Disc Players access to the industry's best-in-class streaming movie experience, with immediate access to thousands of titles, including the hottest new releases, all with no subscription required."
2010 Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Players Featuring VIERA CAST:
· DMP-BDT350 (Full HD 3D)
· DMP-BDT300 (Full HD 3D)
· DMP-BDT100 (Full HD 3D)
· DMP-BD85
· DMP-BD65
· DMP-B500 (Portable Blu-ray Disc Player)
Verizon launching LTE network in December 2010 (video)
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 05:44 AM PST
Apple's Find My iPhone / iPad service now free, doesn't require MobileMe
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 04:54 AM PST
Netflix formally launches $7.99 streaming-only plan, bumps unlimited DVD plans by a buck or more
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 04:44 AM PST
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 04:31 AM PST
When the update was originally announced, we took you on a walkthrough of the early developer beta. Though 4.2 will roll out to the iPhone and iPod touch, we wanted to focus on the iPad version, as it represents a major change for the platform. We've had a chance to spend time with the final version of the OS (which is actually 4.2.1 now), and put it through its paces. We've updated our original guide and given the finished product a critical once over, so read on for our full review!
Overall look and feel
Multitasking
As we said above, the iPad does an excellent job of handling multiple apps despite the fact that it's dealing with less RAM than its phone counterpart. We had no trouble running our favorite apps and switching between tasks with no break in the action. In particular, app freezing (as seen in titles like Real Racing HD), and backgrounding (which we use extensively in our favorite IRC app, Colloquy) worked without a hitch. We'll give Apple extra points for allowing us to run video or music to our Apple TV (even 720p HD content) and leave enough horsepower for gaming at the same time. We're not sure when that's really going to come in handy, but the fact that it can be done is pretty excellent.
AirPlay / AirPrint
Aside from that complaint, we had a really solid experience with the feature. Though there is some lag between controlling your video and seeing the reaction onscreen, AirPlay handled most of our content perfectly. One nice feature that Apple added is the ability to sleep or dock your iPad (or iPhone) and let the content keep streaming. You can also run applications (including games, as we said) while watching your content. One weird behavior we noticed is that if you begin watching video and then single tap your home button to go back to your homescreen, your content will stop playing, but if you use multitasking to switch out to another application and then go back home, you'll be fine. It's not clear if this is intentional or not, but it was a little jarring off the bat.
Update: Shared printing was working when we initially set up, but now we're having issues using our networked printer. We're looking into it -- there has been some hemming and hawing in the new OS over shared printing.
Other additions
Folders - You can now add more than 12 items to a folder. Up to 20 -- a big relief for those of us with a lot of apps hanging around our iPad Springboard. Obviously this is a no-brainer of an inclusion, but it's nice to finally have.
On This Page - "Find in page" as you know everywhere else is now active in the browser. The option is all but hidden in the Google search menu within Safari, but it operates just about like you'd expect it to. We'd like to see a less buried place for this function, but it works well and the ability to move through the searched words or terms is relatively clean and useful.
In general, we like the idea of this quick access to settings -- it's almost like Apple is taking a page from the jailbreak favorite SBSettings, which lets you access a whole mess of controls from one simple place. Of course, Apple isn't giving us nearly the kind of toggles we'd like. Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G anyone?
Game Center - The app is present here, and looks pretty good on the big screen. There aren't a whole mess of differences between Game Center for the iPhone and the iPad version, but we went head-to-head on a handful of games and it worked as expected.
Everything else - As we said up above, there have been lots of little tweaks to the OS that make it just a little bit nicer to use. One of the standout changes is the option to select a font other than Marker Felt in the Notes application -- we know it's minor, but boy do we hate Marker Felt. Apple has also altered the animations used to switch applications to something that's a little better suited to the iPad's screen real estate. You can see that lots of care went into this update, and from the general stability we saw, it's clear that it isn't simply cosmetic.
Wrap-up
TiVo Premiere UI gets a shot in the arm with iPad remote control
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 04:30 AM PST
TiVo Announces Companion App for iPad
App Combined with iPad Creates the World's Ultimate Remote Control
ALVISO, CA, November 22, 2010 – TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in advanced television services, including digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced a powerful new TiVo app for the iPad. The app will be available for free from the Apple iTunes App store in the coming weeks. The TiVo® Premiere App enables you to search, browse, explore and share your favorite entertainment all without interrupting whatever is playing on your TV. Since the app works in tandem with what you are watching, iPad is now the ultimate remote control and companion device for TiVo Premiere users.
By bringing its best in class high-definition user interface to iPad, TiVo has created a true two-screen TV experience. TiVo Premiere users will get access to a full set of TiVo capabilities on iPad, providing a richer TV viewing experience for both live TV and Internet video while kicking back on the sofa. Plus, users will also be able to schedule and manage their DVR recordings while on-the-go.
The TiVo Premiere App for iPad includes:
·Gesture based control - Take complete control of all recordings, even dragging forward and back through a show with a simple tap or swipe
·Start watching what you want - Launch a recorded show, live TV or streaming video with the swipe of a finger
·Program guide - Browse your full-screen TV program guide without interrupting TV viewing
·Schedule - Schedule one-time recordings and Season Pass recordings from the device at home or on-the-go
·Get more from your shows and movies - Explore cast and crew and other recommendations of your favorite shows without interrupting the big screen
·Search - Search for all of your favorite TV shows, movies, actors or directors across both broadcast and broadband from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and more
·Share comments with your friends - From within the TiVo Premiere App, comment and share your thoughts to Facebook or Twitter about the show you are currently watching
"We're bringing TiVo's innovative user interface from the TV directly to your fingertips, taking your TV viewing experience to a whole new level," said Jim Denney, vice president and general manager of product marketing for TiVo. "The new TiVo Premiere App takes our best in class user-interface and brings it to iPad's stunning, high-resolution display and innovative Multi Touch interface. There's no better example of TiVo's passion for innovation and focus on ease-of-use than the TiVo Premiere App for iPad, and no better reason to give the gift of TiVo this year."
The TiVo Premiere App will be available for free from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. Users must have a TiVo Premiere or TiVo Premiere XL box and an existing account with TiVo.
To learn more about the app visit www.tivo.com/ipad
The Perfect Holiday Gift
Holiday pricing for TiVo Premiere and TiVo Premiere XL boxes makes it even easier to give the one gift that will keep on giving the best of TV, movies, Web and music all year long. For a limited time, TiVo Premiere is available for $99.99 with a one-year commitment of $19.99 per month – a $200 upfront savings.* TiVo Premiere XL is available for $299.99 with a one-year commitment at $19.99 per month.**
*Compared to TiVo Premiere $299 MSRP.
**Promotional offers for TiVo Premiere and Premiere XL expire December 31, 2010. See www.tivo.com for offer details, terms and conditions.
Orange and T-Mobile set to offer 3G iPad on contract in UK, £200 price rumored
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 04:27 AM PST
Update: Sure enough, T-Mobile is now also listing the iPad as "coming soon." Thanks, Dilwar!
Orange UK to offer new iPad purchase options
22nd November 2010: Orange UK today announced it will offer new purchase options for iPad users, including more affordable prices when purchased with a data service plan, for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G models in the coming months. iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad's revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. For more information about iPad please visit www.apple.com/ipad/.
Kingston unveils HyperX Max 3.0, a SuperSpeed SSD for your pocket, we tear it down (video)
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 04:02 AM PST
Apple reportedly abandons supposed push for integrated SIMs in theoretical European iPhones
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 03:34 AM PST
This one was all rather rumory to begin with, but play along if you don't mind a pile of unconfirmed reports to start the day. A few weeks back it was said that Apple was working with Gemalto to create a non-removable, software-reconfigurable SIM that would be built right into European iPhones, saving a number of headaches for users and, more importantly, for Apple. This decidedly unconfirmed report was supposedly enough to get European carriers all worked up in a tizzy, angry that, among other things, customers would never need to actually interact with those carriers themselves -- all actions, including activation, could be handled right through the App Store. Now, for the final layer of unconfirmed reporting in this delectably speculative layer cake, we have word from The Daily Telegraph that Apple has apparently given up on this plan and will continue to ship hardware to Europe with honest to gosh SIM cards, just like it always has. In other words: carry on, nothing to see here.Viacom drops the ban hammer on Google TV devices, blocks streaming episodes
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 02:56 AM PST
GameStop breaks out the bundles for Black Friday, but not the cream of the crop
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 02:39 AM PST
Russian president not fond of Galaxy Tab camera, <3s emoticons
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 01:57 AM PST
[Thanks, Oleg]
The Daily: Murdoch's iPad newspaper is like 'The New York Post Goes to College'
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 12:40 AM PST
Verizon gives Droid 2 Global a Facebook shout-out
Posted: 22 Nov 2010 12:07 AM PST
Pandigital's 9-inch Novel now on sale... as a QVC exclusive
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 11:02 PM PST
LG E-Note H1000B 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet arrives one year late
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 09:56 PM PST
Autonomous Audi TTS scales Pikes Peak in 27-minute climb
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 07:39 PM PST
Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak Achieves This Year's Goal, Ascends Entire Mountain Course Without a Driver
-- The autonomous Audi research car completed a non-stop ascent up the legendary 12.42-mile rally race route in September tests
-- Results certified by organizers of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
-- Motivation for the research is to develop technologies that could help motorists steer their way out of severe danger
HERNDON, Va., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak research car achieved its initial goal of completing the 12.42-mile course of the world-famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race in Colorado without stopping and without a driver behind the wheel.
The research car – jointly developed by Audi, Stanford University, the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto, Calif., and Oracle – conquered the challenging route up the mountain, which serves as the venue for one of the world's most thrilling rally races each June.
During September testing, the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak drove to the 14,110-foot summit in Colorado without stopping. Organizers of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the second-oldest race in America, certified that the Autonomous Audi TTS completed the twisting course. On the last remaining dirt section, which offered the sternest test of autonomous high-speed handling, the car reached speeds of 45 mph. Five other times during the weeklong testing the car ran the complete course, only pausing briefly on its own to confirm its reading of route data.
Overall, the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak completed the mountain course in 27 minutes, as verified by Pikes Peak International Hill Climb officials. No human rally driver has completed the course in fewer than 10 minutes, despite driving cars that produced more than 900 hp. The Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak generates 265 hp. Race officials told researchers they would expect an expert race driver on the course to finish in around 17 minutes in a car similar to the TTS.
The successful result proved that autonomous technology can handle difficult driving courses and conditions, engineers on the project said.
"By partnering with leading institutions in Silicon Valley we seek to bring innovative technologies into our vehicles and redefine what is possible," said Dr. Burkhard Huhnke, director of the Electronic Research Lab in Palo Alto, Calif., which co-developed the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak. "The goal is to improve driver safety and save lives by creating extremely robust electronics."
ERL and Stanford have been at the forefront of autonomous driving research for several years, including involvement in past DARPA Challenges sponsored by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak reflects the ERL-Stanford strategy of conducting research in tiers that thoroughly investigate technologies needed to perform different autonomous driving tasks ranging from low-speed maneuvering in urban environments to high-speed handling on varied road surfaces on a challenging course like Pikes Peak.
When research began on the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak research project just over a year ago, the direction was clear: employ emerging software, algorithms and electronics to help everyday drivers stay in control, and safely on the road, even during extreme driving conditions.
The aim of the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak research was to develop a technology that would enhance a driver's abilities, much as computerized systems of passenger jetliners assist skilled pilots.
"We are not trying to replace the driver," said Professor Chris Gerdes of Stanford University, "Instead we want to learn how the best drivers control the car so we can develop systems that assist our robotic driver and, eventually, you and me."
Working together, Audi, Stanford University, the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Lab and Oracle developed a distinct engineering achievement. The Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak integrates advanced algorithms, the Oracle Java real-Time System (Java RTS), Oracle Solaris and GPS with safety and navigation systems found in stock Audi TTS models to maintain control at a physical performance extreme.
Java and Oracle Solaris provide a significant advancement over traditional execution models in terms of reliability, transparency, debugging capability, programming model, predictable response-time characteristics, and cost. Using the standard Java programming model and memory management functionality, developers were able to program the Autonomous Audi TTS to easily differentiate processes based on their importance and precisely determine when time-critical functions should be executed.
"Oracle Java RTS is the first enterprise-class solution to formally address the issues of latency and unpredictable response times for Java applications and we're thrilled to be part of this research project," said Greg Bollella, chief architect, Embedded Java, Oracle. "For the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak, Java was used to acquire GPS position coordinates and distribute those coordinates to all of the other components in the system. It also served as the safety controller for the vehicle, responsible for gracefully bringing the car to a stop if any of the traditional systems malfunctioned."
Deciding on a location to prove the technology was an easy choice as the Pikes Peak route offered steep inclines, switchbacks and varied road surfaces for the autonomous Audi TTS to navigate. Pikes Peak is also the place where Audi technology became legendary in the rally racing world a generation ago thanks in large part to the distinctive quattro® technology, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary as a technological all-wheel-drive breakthrough exclusively on Audi vehicles.
The Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak achieved this year's goal on the mountain. The next stage of the research project will involve autonomous high-speed handling on paved surfaces. The research team is evaluating race tracks where they can conduct the next phase of this research.
In keeping with all trials of the technology, the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak research team worked with local authorities to conduct the mountain testing during closed-course runs that emphasized public safety.
To celebrate its accomplishment, Audi is featuring the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak at its inaugural display at the SEMA Show, which begins today in Las Vegas.
To view a video of the September run up Pikes Peak by the Autonomous Audi TTS research car, please go to audiusanews.com or search Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak on YouTube.com.
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 05:03 PM PST
[Thanks, Joe]
Inhabitat's Week in Green: slim skyscrapers, electric vehicles and the machine that lays brick roads
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 04:30 PM PST
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
It's been a monumental week for green transportation as team Inhabitat hit the Los Angeles Auto Show to scope out the hottest up-and-coming eco vehicles - including the winner of the 2011 Green Car of the Year award, the Chevy Volt! We were also blown away the UK's first all-electric supercar while Honda announced plans to produce an all-electric version of its city-friendly Fit. Of course, clean green vehicles require a steady source of renewable fuel - which is where we were excited to see Washington DC install its first public EV charger while London announced plans to install 1,300 charging stations and Singapore fired up the world's largest biodiesel plant.
This week we also looked at several amazing upgrades to our built environment, starting with the Tiger-Stone - an automatic brick laying machine that rolls out roads like carpet. Meanwhile researchers revealed a new way to repair our crumbling concrete infrastructure using genetically modified bacteria, and Taiwan unveiled plans for several futuristic skyscrapers that are wrapped in greenery and powered by the sun.
Finally, this week we also brought you coverage of the latest and greatest green building technologies from one of the year's biggest green design shows - Greenbuild 2010. Speaking of high-tech green design, check out this handy solar charger shaped like a beetle and don't miss out on a chance to win a brand new Windows Phone 7!
This week we also looked at several amazing upgrades to our built environment, starting with the Tiger-Stone - an automatic brick laying machine that rolls out roads like carpet. Meanwhile researchers revealed a new way to repair our crumbling concrete infrastructure using genetically modified bacteria, and Taiwan unveiled plans for several futuristic skyscrapers that are wrapped in greenery and powered by the sun.
Finally, this week we also brought you coverage of the latest and greatest green building technologies from one of the year's biggest green design shows - Greenbuild 2010. Speaking of high-tech green design, check out this handy solar charger shaped like a beetle and don't miss out on a chance to win a brand new Windows Phone 7!
Palm webOS 'Enyo' framework paves the way for tablets and larger phones (video)
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 03:01 PM PST
Switched On: Getting from Kno to yes, part 2
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 01:30 PM PST
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
The last Switched On introduced the opportunity of the Kno tablet, which is in transition from having a large hardware footprint to having a large customer footprint. Without question, the Kno hardware is an outlier, but could be simply a first salvo in a battle for digital textbooks that will take years to play out.
Look at the ironic development of e-readers. Today's LCD-based Nook Color would not exist if Sony and Amazon had not opened (and soothed) consumers' eyes with e-paper-based readers that were themselves an answer to an early generation of LCD-based products like the Rocket e-Book. The outlier shows the potential.
But much as Amazon.com knows that the Kindle bookstore is ultimately more important to its business than the Kindle devices, Kno understands that software is a less painful path to prevalence. The company can easily justify its decision to create its own device as a proof of concept given the lack of any high-volume large-screen touch-screen slate options. As display technology and embedded operating systems evolve, the notion of a capable large, thin, and perhaps even foldable screen inches closer to the mainstream.
In some ways, Kno reminds one of another startup that is finding success in the college market with a combination of software and hardware that is a bulky version of an analog staple. That company is Livescribe, which tackled note-taking and has since slimmed down its pen. It is now actively courting developers to make the once troubled notion of the digital pen a platform. Both Kno and Livescribe compete to some extent with the PC, and while the Livescribe system costs less than even the cheaper Kno tablet, the digital writing instrument is far more expensive than its respective ink-and-pulp-based competitor.
Kno has thrown out estimates about how one of its tablets pays for itself after three semesters, and says its device is virtually a rounding error in the soaring costs of a college education. Skeptics want to see what Kno's textbook pricing will look like, particularly when compared to used college textbooks. Long-term, though, purchasing a digital learning device is not about return on investment any more than the potential savings of cherry-picking singles off the iTunes store drove the success of the iPod.
Continuing what we have seen on the Web for the last 15 years, whether for leisure or learning, digitization will raise text from its bound birthplace to become a productive part of a multimedia and interactive world. Indeed, while the Kno experience is shaping up to be both intuitive and targeted, there is a long roadmap of things the company could do within its environment to facilitate collaboration and expand -- as Livescribe is seeking to do -- beyond a core student market. That includes those who place a high value on research, learning, storyboarding and project planning. It may not be a market interesting enough to Microsoft to keep the hinged Courier alive, but it could certainly sustain Kno.
Ross Rubin is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
Look at the ironic development of e-readers. Today's LCD-based Nook Color would not exist if Sony and Amazon had not opened (and soothed) consumers' eyes with e-paper-based readers that were themselves an answer to an early generation of LCD-based products like the Rocket e-Book. The outlier shows the potential.
But much as Amazon.com knows that the Kindle bookstore is ultimately more important to its business than the Kindle devices, Kno understands that software is a less painful path to prevalence. The company can easily justify its decision to create its own device as a proof of concept given the lack of any high-volume large-screen touch-screen slate options. As display technology and embedded operating systems evolve, the notion of a capable large, thin, and perhaps even foldable screen inches closer to the mainstream.
In some ways, Kno reminds one of another startup that is finding success in the college market with a combination of software and hardware that is a bulky version of an analog staple. That company is Livescribe, which tackled note-taking and has since slimmed down its pen. It is now actively courting developers to make the once troubled notion of the digital pen a platform. Both Kno and Livescribe compete to some extent with the PC, and while the Livescribe system costs less than even the cheaper Kno tablet, the digital writing instrument is far more expensive than its respective ink-and-pulp-based competitor.
Kno can easily justify its decision to create its own device as a proof of concept given the lack of any high-volume large-screen touch-screen slate options. |
Kno has thrown out estimates about how one of its tablets pays for itself after three semesters, and says its device is virtually a rounding error in the soaring costs of a college education. Skeptics want to see what Kno's textbook pricing will look like, particularly when compared to used college textbooks. Long-term, though, purchasing a digital learning device is not about return on investment any more than the potential savings of cherry-picking singles off the iTunes store drove the success of the iPod.
Continuing what we have seen on the Web for the last 15 years, whether for leisure or learning, digitization will raise text from its bound birthplace to become a productive part of a multimedia and interactive world. Indeed, while the Kno experience is shaping up to be both intuitive and targeted, there is a long roadmap of things the company could do within its environment to facilitate collaboration and expand -- as Livescribe is seeking to do -- beyond a core student market. That includes those who place a high value on research, learning, storyboarding and project planning. It may not be a market interesting enough to Microsoft to keep the hinged Courier alive, but it could certainly sustain Kno.
Ross Rubin is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
Posted: 21 Nov 2010 12:04 PM PST
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