DLNA certification, you're quite the talker. Following in the famed traditions of FCC and Bluetooth SIG leaks, it now looks like we've got a bit of information on the Samsung Stealth V. In addition to DLNA over 802.11b/g/n (of course), the 4.3-inch AMOLED with WVGA resolution sports Android 2.2 and an 8 megapixel camera. Sound familiar? Swap Froyo with Gingerbread and all these pieces line up pretty well with the mysterious flagship phone we discovered two weeks ago. And that leads us to speculation based on naming conventions: this entry bears the SCH-i510 model number, which is just ten up on the Fascinate, Verizon's Galaxy S variant. Flagship sequel? That'd sound about right then, as would a CDMA chipset inside. Few more certifications and we should have a much better feel for the future of this one.
Originally announced at CES in January, Silicon Dust's entrance into the encrypted cable TV tuner market just reached an important milestone on its way to market: CableLabs Certification -- anytime CableLabs is involved things take longer than anyone expects. The price of the three tuner HDHomeRun Prime is still set at $249, but the hope of being released by the "holidays" seems lost (Thanksgiving counts as one of those days right?). Said product is expected to start production in the next few weeks, after which you'll be able to pre-order the elusive tuner from major retailers. The big question of course is with the Ceton InfiniTV 4 still on a three month backorder, and selling on eBay for over twice its retail price, which should you order? We suggest you pre-order both just to be safe; worst case you end up on the good side of a crazy eBay auction.
Now that you've got your Windows Phone 7 device splayed open for USB mass storage use, why not make it friendly to non-Marketplace apps, too? Microsoft's been insistent so far about keeping sideloaded apps out of the equation unless you're a developer, but a new tool called ChevronWP7 -- compatible with Windows XP SP2 and up -- will "unlock" your little beast so that you can install whatever you like without going through the store. Presumably, this'll come in handy for installing stuff Microsoft would never dream of approving -- and it's a whole lot less hacky than an iPhone jailbreak from the looks of it. Have fun and stay safe out there, folks.
Look, it's not embarrassing. We too are waltzing around the dinner table, iPad Syte Shirt on, with a slideshow of pilgrims and Tofurkys to really "showcase our spirit." But what about the jubilant among us that aren't about to part ways with their hard-earned clams in order to pick up an iPad? Enter the Smartphone Syte Shirt. Like the original, this all-black shirt is handmade in San Diego, but very much unlike the original, this one's designed to hold your iPhone, Droid Incredible or whatever handset you so happen to own. Better still, there's a zippered pouch at the top to prevent theft, and both landscape and portrait orientations are duly supported. The screen protector still accepts finger touches, and it's both dust and water resistant -- you know, in case your jealous bandmates decide to douse you when you refuse to remove it before heading out on stage. Hit the source link to order yours for $39.95. Seriously, do it. No one's watching.
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Syte Gear Releases Two New Syte Shirts and Improves Original Design
Express Yourself
San Diego, CA - November 23, 2010: Syte Gear, makers of Syte Shirts interactive clothing, announced the release of two new Syte Shirts along with an update to the iPad Landscape shirt today. The iPad Portrait and Landscape Syte Shirts turn an ordinary shirt into a large digital display. The iPad Syte Shirts have been redesigned to reduce the size of the frame while improving fit and finish. The new Smartphone Syte Shirt holds your iPhone and Android smartphone in multiple orientations for plenty of creative ideas. All Syte Shirts use a unique zipper pocket to display your gadget's screen. A touch-through screen protector provides full touch capabilities while shielding gadgets from dirty hands and debris. A hidden pocket gives access to headphones and wires. All Syte Shirts are available for order now at sytegear.com.
"We were overwhelmed by the response to the original iPad Landscape Syte Shirt from the media and customers" says Syte Gear founder, Joseph A Young. "After launching, we listened to our customers and came back with a better design and new products. The feedback from early users has been very positive." "I like the shirt very much." says Ralf H. Porankiewicz, CEO of ASC Direct Inc. "We will use the shirts again on our next show in Boston." Syte Shirts are a great way to get your audience's attention and demo your great product. Using the Syte Shirt keeps your hands free and prevents your iPad or smartphone from being misplaced.
Some of the many ways to use your Syte Shirt: ● Demonstrate your app or website to multiple customers at once ● Promote your favorite artwork, music, and videos anywhere ● Use it as a prop for a skit, presentation, or costume ● Advertise your business and special promotions ● Use it in the classroom for an interactive and engaging lesson ● Take it to a trade show and catch the audience's attention ● Lifecast easily without holding the camera
"We can't wait to see what our customers do with the new Syte Shirts. I'm confident they'll come up with new and exciting uses we never thought of!"
Syte Shirt Features: ● Displays your iPad (and similar sizes tablets devices) in landscape or portrait mode (iPad version) ● "T-Pocket" holds your iPhone, Android, or smartphone in both landscape and portrait orientations (Smartphone version) ● Touch-through screen protector allows for full touchscreen functionality ● Zipper pocket provides secure retention, convenient access, and is water and dust-resistant ● Hidden port pockets for headphones, charger, and other wires ● Internal frame distributes gadget weight across the body for comfort ● Full mobility whether you are sitting down or standing ● Simple care instructions ● Unisex ● Color: black ● Sizes: S – XXL
The iPad Syte Shirts are available for $49.95 (S/M/L/XL) and $54.95 (XXL). The Smartphone Syte Shirt is available for $39.95 (S/M/L/XL) and $44.95 (XXL). All clothing is available at www.sytegear.com, and international shipping is available. Please email jyoung@sytegear.com for comments and questions.
About Syte Gear Syte Gear crafts useful and stylish clothing for gadget lovers. Design and manufacturing are all done in San Diego, California. The Syte Shirt team consists of Joseph A Young, founder and designer, JoAn Craig, fashion designer, and various friends lending their time towards the project. Joseph received his M.B.A. from the Rady School of Management at UCSD. JoAn is an experienced fashion designer and seamstress who sells her own designs at www.zeroismyhero.com. For more information about Syte Shirt, visit www.sytegear.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.
It's staggering to think how much things have changed in the cellphone industry over the last few years. Where vendors once measured success largely in terms of units shifted, future success is now measured by the number of apps, games, and devs attracted to each opposing platform in a burgeoning smartphone marketplace. Just last week, Nokia announced that it had lured in some 400,000 new developers over the last year. Now Microsoft is touting a rather meager (by comparison) 15,000 Windows Phone developers "signaling their intent to bring exciting content to Windows Phone." Enough implied manpower to push well beyond the 3,000 apps and games expected to be populating the Windows Marketplace by the end of this week. Of course, objectively measuring a developers intent to develop on a platform is difficult. And really, platform potential is not the primary thing driving the purchasing decision of most consumers -- not with so many viable handsets available today. Still, it's good to see such optimism coupled with the fact that the vast majority of people around the world -- gasp! -- still don't use smartphones.
No, we can't say we've ever heard of Woow Digital before either, but we've just received some very legit-looking imagery of the company's forthcoming tablet, modestly titled The One. Google's impending Android Gingerbread release is promised as the OS, while the internal equipment includes an NVIDIA Tegra 2 core, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of flash storage. Up front you'll find a 10-inch display spanning a 1024 x 600 resolution, while wireless connectivity is taken care of with Bluetooth, WiFi and WCDMA 3G radios built in. Woow tells us it plans to launch The One in Japan before Christmas at a price of ¥42,000 ($504), which will be followed up by availability in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Europe. Well, it had better hope that release schedule doesn't shift, because come CES 2011, we should be up to our ears in Tegra 2 tablets and phones.
Just like last year and the year before, Apple's kicking off its Black Friday sale in the land of Oz first. Australian Mac lovers can now buy the iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air for A$121 less than their usual price, while the iPad and iPod touch dip down by A$51 apiece and the iPod nano is now A$25 cheaper. It's all for today only, but should also be followed by similar discounts in the US and Europe.
Not so keen on plopping down a Benjamin for Movea's Air Mouse? A full two years after the introduction of that very product, there's now an acceptable, bargain-bin alternative: the Air Mouse. Er, the Air Mouse app for iPod touch / iPhone. This here nugget of code, which is selling for just $1.99 in the App Store, taps into your iDevice's inbuilt gyroscopes as well as the company's own MotionSense technology in order to convert your handheld into a mouse. No need to fish for a surface, though -- simply wave your iPhone around in order to take advantage of in-air cursor control and gesture recognition. It's a dream come true for HTPC owners (Macs and PCs are supported), though critics are suggesting that Mobile Mouse may actually be superior. If you've already parted ways with your buck-ninety-nine, let us know how things are panning out in comments below.
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MOVEA UNVEILS AIR MOUSETM APP FOR iPHONE4
air mouse app turns iphone4 into in-air motion controllerfor PC-CONNECTED HOME THEATER and BUSINESS presentations
MILPITAS, Calif., November 23, 2010 – Movea, the pioneer in motion-sensing and motion-control technologies for business communications, home entertainment and computer peripherals, has announced its Air Mouse application for the iPhone4 is now available for $1.99 in the App Store. The new Air Mouse app empowers iPhone4 users to transform their phone into an in-air motion controller for home media and presentation uses.
Utilizing the iPhone4's gyroscope and Wi-Fi connectivity, Movea's Air Mouse application enables users to kick back and relax while watching high quality, web-based entertainment from the comfort of their couch and is the perfect navigation tool for online and home media center digital entertainment. With the new Air Mouse app, the user's natural hand movements can drive more powerful presentation delivery, more interactive classroom lectures, and more immersive motion gaming. With Movea's Air Mouse app and the iPhone4's Wi-Fi range of over 100 feet, presenters have the freedom to move around the room to captivate and engage their audiences.
"We are excited to enable iPhone4 users to transform their phones into a powerful, motion-sensing peripheral to create poetry in motion for more effective communications and more immersive entertainment experiences," said Bryan Hoadley, Executive Vice President of worldwide sales and General Manager of Movea, Inc.
Accompanying the iPhone4 app is Movea's powerful MotionTools software, available for Mac or PC. MotionTools gives users a suite of effects and tools that allow them to customize, activate and control desktop applications with the flick of their wrist. MotionTools includes a wide range of tools for web browsers, media players, and presentations:
§ Dynamic display scroll, pan, and zoom § Pen drawing, image stamps, and highlighter § Cut, paste, and other menu keystroke shortcuts § Internet, and other application hotkeys § Media player and volume controls § Presentation tools
MotionTools and the Air Mouse app enable a presenter to turn their computer's cursor into a highlighter, laser pointer or pen. MotionTools also has built in gesture recognition that allows users to gently swipe their phone in the air to launch applications, skip through songs in a playlist, activate presentation effects, navigate the web, and much, much more. For more information about the Air Mouse app and other Movea products, visit www.movea.com.
About Movea
Movea is a leading provider of motion processing chips, software, firmware, and IP for the Consumer Electronics industry. Movea's unique motion processing capabilities enable customers and partners to quickly add motion intelligence to their products, meaning reduced risk, cost, and Time-to-Market for delivering compelling new motion-based features that create more end-user value. Movea has a global reach with headquarters in Grenoble, France, a U.S. subsidiary in Silicon Valley, California, as well as technology partners, manufacturing partners and distributors around the world. Movea also owns the Gyration brand of consumer electronics products; makers of the original Air Mouse. Further information about Movea can be found at www.movea.com.
Content providers might be banning Google TV left, right, and center, but hardware partners don't seem to be losing any enthusiasm. After Samsung openly admitted to contemplating a HDTV with Google TV hardware and software built right in, Toshiba and Vizio are now said to have firm plans to introduce such new products at January's CES 2011. While neither manufacturer would be drawn into confirming this latest bit of insider info, Toshiba's American GM, Jeff Barney, is quoted as saying, "Google certainly is a key partner for us on the PC side and will likely be key for us on the TV side as well." How else could Google function as a key TV partner than with its web-connected TV experience?
Sir Howard Stringer is a busy man. Currently holding the Chairman, CEO and President titles at Sony, the man's in charge of one of the vastest empires in the history of vastness, which is probably why the company's now said to be looking for someone to succeed him at one of those posts. Bloomberg's reporting that Sony is having internal discussions about appointing a new President, with Kaz Hirai and Hiroshi Yoshioka identified as the names at the top of the pile. The pair are currently responsible for handling one half each of Sony's broad consumer electronics portfolio and it's notable that the Japanese giant seems to be looking for its next great leader from the hardware side of the business. If this speculation does bear fruit, expect the next President to deputize Stringer in the short-term and to eventually succeed him as top banana when the current ruler decides to hang up his cornflower-blue tie.
Hacking the Xbox 360 Kinect is all about baby steps on the way to what could ultimately amount to some pretty useful homebrew. Here's a good example cooked up by some kids at the MIT Media Lab Fluid Interfaces Group attempting to redefine the human-machine interactive experience. DepthJS is a system that makes Javascript talk to Microsoft's Kinect in order to navigate web pages, among other things. Remember, it's not that making wild, arm-waving gestures is the best way to navigate a web site, it's just a demonstration that you can. Let's hope that the hacking communinity picks up the work and evolves it into a multitouch remote control plugin for our home theater PCs. Boxee, maybe you can lend a hand?
Update: If you're willing to step outside of the developer-friendly borders of open-source software then you'll want to check out Evoluce's gesture solution based on the company's Multitouch Input Management (MIM) driver for Kinect. The most impressive part is its support for simultaneous multitouch and multiuser control of applications (including those using Flash and Java) running on a Windows 7 PC. Evoluce promises to release sofware "soon" to bridge Kinect and Windows 7. Until then be sure to check both of the impressive videos after the break.
Have you been riding the OnLive bangwagon from the start? If so, you'll want to heed this little Thanksgiving note from the company, which is offering a free MicroConsole to its early cloud gaming service users -- whom it dubs Founding Members -- provided they've bought licenses for at least two games in their time. The diminutive TV adapter typically costs $99, but qualifying Members will be able to get it for free if they pre-order it now, though they will have to spring for covering delivery costs. As to the more timid among you who only ever bought the one PlayPass, OnLive will let you have a free Full PlayPass (equivalent to a free game) in the place of the hardware. So, whichever way you slice it, it's good to be first.
Scientists have been experimenting with muscles and technology to solve both human and robotic mobility issues for years. Now it looks as though researchers from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council have made a significant leap forward for paraplegics, thanks to a revolutionary microchip the team has dubbed "Active Book." What's notable about the chip is that it stimulates more muscle groups than existing technology without the need for external connections. This was accomplished via micro-packing and precision laser processing, which allowed tiny electrodes to be cut from platinum foil and rolled into a 3D book shape. These platinum foil "pages" close in around nerve roots, and are micro-welded to a hermetically sealed silicon chip. Once embedded into areas within the spinal canal, the chip can work to stimulate paralyzed muscles, implying patients could even "perform enough movement to carry out controlled exercise such as cycling or rowing." A press release from the Council says the Active Book will begin trials sometime next year -- we can't wait to see the results.
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22/11/2010 Press release: Engineers have developed a new type of microchip muscle stimulator implant that will enable people with paraplegia to exercise their paralysed leg muscles.
Engineers have developed a new type of microchip muscle stimulator implant that will enable people with paraplegia to exercise their paralysed leg muscles.
It is the first time that researchers have developed a device of this kind that is small enough to be implanted into the spinal canal and incorporates the electrodes and muscle stimulator in one unit. The implant is the size of a child"s fingernail.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) project is being led by Professor Andreas Demosthenous from University College London. It includes engineers from Freiburg University and the Tyndall Institute in Cork.
"The work has the potential to stimulate more muscle groups than is currently possible with existing technology because a number of these devices can be implanted into the spinal canal", said Professor Andreas Demosthenous. "Stimulation of more muscle groups means users can perform enough movement to carry out controlled exercise such as cycling or rowing."
The devices could also be used for a wide range of restorative functions such as stimulating bladder muscles to help overcome incontinence and stimulating nerves to improve bowel capacity and suppress spasms.
Diagram of the Active Book
The research team has overcome previous limitations by micro-packaging everything into one tiny unit. Latest laser processing technology has been used to cut tiny electrodes from platinum foil. These are then folded into a 3D shape (which looks like the pages of a book, earning the device the name of the Active Book). The pages close in around the nerve roots. They are micro-welded to a silicon chip which is hermetically sealed to protect against water penetration, which can lead to corrosion of the electronics.
The exciting innovation has been welcomed by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, who said: Diagram of implantation site
The implant site on the spinal canal
"The Active Book is a good example of how UK scientists and engineers are translating research into innovations that deliver real benefits for society. This tiny implant has the potential to make a real difference to the lives and long-term health of people with paraplegia in the UK and around the world."
The Active Book will be made available for pilot studies sometime next year. Notes for Editors
The project is co-led by Professor Nick Donaldson of University College London.
Although electrical stimulation of leg muscles has been used for some time, it is usually done by attaching electrodes to the outside of the legs and then connecting the electrodes to an external stimulator. This is too time consuming to be used every day so few people with spinal cord injury continue with this method despite the clear health benefits.
At the moment electrical stimulation of nerve roots in the spinal canal can be carried out using implanted electrodes and an implanted stimulator connected by a cable. This latest research is the first to combine the electrodes and muscle stimulator in one unit so that more nerves can be stimulated and better function achieved. About the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing more than £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects – from mathematics to materials science, and from information technology to structural engineering. About UCL (University College London)
Founded in 1826, UCL was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to admit students regardless of race, class, religion or gender, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. UCL is among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. Alumni include Marie Stopes, Jonathan Dimbleby, Lord Woolf, Alexander Graham Bell, and members of the band Coldplay. UCL currently has over 13,000 undergraduate and 9,000 postgraduate students. Its annual income is over £700 million.
That fine bastion of cellular modding prowess known as XDA-developers received some particularly savory snaps this fine Thanksgiving morn -- spy shots of Samsung's elusive Nexus S running an operating system that looks uncannily like Gingerbread, which it calls "Android version 2.3," and sporting a new back cover that would look perfectly normal on the original Samsung Galaxy S, if not for the extra curves. XDA's source also claims it has a 720p video camera, though other specs are still a little shaky. To be clear, this is most definitely the phone that Eric Schmidt showed us at the Web 2.0 Summit, though the rear cover looks much further along -- assuming Samsung hasn't scrapped it for a dual-core version, we wouldn't be surprised if we saw it again in person quite soon. Hit up our source link for some shots of a green-and-black operating system running on that AMOLED screen.
Creative hasn't gone public with a US release window for its Ziio tablets, but it's probably only a matter of time -- the 7-inch model arrived at the FCC this week, complete with user manual and lovely snapshots of its innards all laid out. There's no mistaking that ZiiLABS ZMS-08 system-on-a-chip front and center, flanked by four slabs of NAND flash from Hynix Semiconductor, and in the upper left-hand corner you can even see the AzureWave chip responsible for its 802.11 b/g WiFi connectivity and Bluetooth functions. None of this simple beauty can make up for the fact that a resistive touchscreen is calling all the shots, but battery life should be relatively long -- FCC documentation describes a chunky 5,000mAh lithium-ion cell, images of which are below. Also pictured: the FCC squishing the poor device into copious amounts of styrofoam.
The Portal gun. If you've been alive over the past year and change, you know exactly what we're talking about. We can safely say our lives were changed after spending a few good minutes with Harrison Krix's handmade replica in 2009, and soon you'll have the golden opportunity to know exactly what we mean. Krix has constructed a new Portal gun, one that's arguably more bodacious than ever, and there's only one way to get it: outbid the Bro Montana next to you on December 7th. A Child's Play Charity event auction will be held on that fateful day in Seattle, and it'll be the one and only opportunity to have the pink slip transferred to you. Of course, monies received from the auction will benefit Child's Play (a gaming industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in a network of over 60 hospitals worldwide), and the bragging rights afforded to the winner will be fairly epic in scope. Head on past the break for a video of what's up for grabs.
Talk about timely. We've been waiting for months (with bated breath, might we add) for Pleco 2.2 to finally hit Apple's App Store, and after dealing with a few launch day bugs last week, we can finally say it's out and ready to dominate any Chinese homework you've been hastily procrastinating on. The Pleco Chinese Dictionary is now available in the app store at version 2.2.1, supporting both fullscreen handwriting input and live camera-based character recognition. Have a peek at the video past the break if you're still curious as to what this app can do for you, and feel free to toss your experiences with it down in comments below. Here's hoping this is only the first of many languages Pleco decides to tackle -- not that we're much on tossing out subtle hints.
Ready to have your mind blown? XM and Sirius never merged in Canada. Even after the two companies joined forces in the United States, they continued to operate as separate entities north of the border, with XM Canada wholly owned by Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings, while Sirius Canada operated through a partnership of CBC Radio, Slaight Communications, and Sirius XM in the US. That's now finally set to change, however, with the two companies today announcing plans to merge in an all-stock deal valued at $520 million (including $120 million in long-term debt). Assuming the deal is approved by the CRTC, the combined company would boast a total user base of 1.7 million, and Canadian Satellite Radio chairman John Bitove promises that the new entity will deliver an "exceptional value to subscribers."
You know all that gas spitting out the exhaust of your car? Not only is it full of carbon monoxide and other things you shouldn't breathe, it's also full of heat. Heat is wasted energy, and students at Purdue University, led by mechanical engineering professor Xianfan Xu, are working to capture it. With some funding from General Motors the team is working to create better thermoelectric generators, or TEGs, that work at much higher temperatures than those we've seen before. A current Purdue prototype works at 700C, or 1,300F, which could be found behind a car's catalytic converter and generate enough electricity to reduce fuel consumption by around five percent. Future versions would work at higher temperatures and offer better results. Last year BMW indicated it is working on similar tech with deployments coming as early as 2014, and so now the race begins, though the culmination of their efforts will surely look something like this.
Wait, put the cork back in the champagne, Nintendo isn't making its triumphant return to CES after all. The Consumer Electronics Association has just blasted out a new press release, presumably with a face red with embarrassment, to correct its erroneous note that Nintendo will be an exhibitor at the 2011 tech showcase. As it turns out, Satoru Iwata's crew have booked some meeting rooms during the show -- to discuss what, we don't know -- which somewhere along the line was misinterpreted to mean that the company will be exhibiting its wares. It won't. We'll be there anyway, this just means we'll have to be a little craftier about extracting our information.
[Thanks, Curtis]
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CEA Issues Statement Regarding Nintendo at the 2011 International CES
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In regard to its press release dated November 22, 2010, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) issued the following statement:
"CEA erroneously included Nintendo of America (Nintendo) on a list of companies exhibiting on the show floor at the 2011 International CES. Nintendo has contracted for meeting room space at the 2011 CES, but will not be exhibiting on the show floor. CEA regrets the error."
For news about the 2011 International CES, please visit www.cesweb.org.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.
Been feeling blue this holiday season? Finding all the special offer WP7 phones a little too little? Fear not, T-Mobile and Microsoft are ready to give you a pair of HD7s for the price of one next time you drop into one of the Magenta stores asking about Windows Phone 7 devices. You'll need to commit to the usual two-year contract and whatnot, but it's a straight up BOGO on what's probably the most desirable handset sporting Microsoft's new OS on the American market. Then again, even with this discount, you still might be able to find the HD7 cheaper at online retailers, so as per usual on Black Fridays, we'd advise doing your due diligence before letting your dead presidents out for a walk. And please, try not to think of how sweet a day this could have been if Dell's Venue Pro had actually been released on schedule.
Mandatory content ratings were added to Apple's App Store back in iPhone OS 3.0, and now it's Google's turn on news that they'll become obligatory for Android developers "in a few weeks" (at least, those that want their content in the Market). The company teases the fact that they'll be showing the ratings for all apps along with other "Android Market upgrades in the coming weeks" -- presumably timed to coincide with the release of Gingerbread -- and that any dev that fails to specify a rating level for their existing apps will have their content automatically listed as "Mature" (that is, the most restrictive level) until they take care of the problem. In addition to Mature, available ratings will include Pre-teen, Teen, and naturally, an "All" option for apps guaranteed not to offend even the most sensitive of young minds. Definitely good news for parents whose young'uns are demanding Android phones this holiday season, though it's still basically on the honor system for devs to correctly tag their content... and an All-rated app is probably going to sell better than a Mature one for the same reason R-rated movies outsell NC-17 ones. At any rate, sounds like Google intends to evolve the Market pretty rapidly with the next release or two, so we'll have to see how this shakes out.
We said you needed to be on the lookout for a giveaway back when we reviewed Phosphor's latest E Ink wristwatch last month... and, well, here we go! These lovely fashion accessories, which you'll find in today's edition of our Holiday Gift Guide, feature a curved E Ink display capable of showing two time zones of your choice simultaneously -- perfect for the geeky globetrotter. Though we can't guarantee it, we're fairly confident the winners will also receive the admiration of passers-by that happen to observe the watch on their wrists, so this is really a two-for-one sort of prize. Let's do this!
The rules:
Leave a comment below. Any comment will do.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winners will be chosen randomly. Four winners will receive one Phosphor World Time E Ink watch.
If you win, we choose which style you receive. Unfortunately, we're unable to take requests. Sorry!
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Monday, November 29, 2010, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Sweet, sweet Game Gripper. You make smartphone gaming a rather less cramping experience, and now you're spreading joy to the fourth generation. Owners of Sprint Epic 4G can now get their Gripper on, and can do so with a lovely new Genesis-inspired layout that offers two rows of three buttons plus a D-pad -- and then another four buttons for good measure. It's rather excitedly demonstrated after the break and, like the earlier models, will set you back $14.99. Now, if only we could get handset makers to start adding shoulder buttons on their cellies.
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.
Accessories. One word, two Cs, three Ss, endless possibilities. Thankfully, we're here to bring order to the chaos, and recommend a few products that are best when paired with something other than themselves -- be it your computer, your car, your phone, or yourself. Head on past the break for our complete guide.
Batteries are one gift that's guaranteed to be used by anyone you give them to and, as we found in our recent tests, you can't do much better than Sanyo's Eneloops. Get a charger and a pair of AAs for as little as $10, or go nuts with a stocking full to keep every portable gadget charged year 'round.
A solar-powered keyboard may not seem like the most sensible of ideas at first glance, but Logitech's K750 keyboard isn't exactly your regular type of solar-powered gadget. It's actually powered by ambient light, which Logitech says will keep it powered at all times even it never sees the actual light of day. As an added bonus, it's actually a pretty good keyboard too.
Its "magicalness" may be a bit questionable, but Apple's Magic Trackpad does do a respectable job of replicating the experience of a multitouch laptop trackpad on your desktop, and it may be just the perfect gift for that Mac user in your life that has (almost) everything.
We don't ask for much in a Bluetooth headset: good sound quality, comfort, not-goofy-looking. Motorola's Oasis headset comes through on all three of those counts, and it goes beyond most in the comfort department -- our own mobile editor, Chris Ziegler, describes it as "ridiculously comfortable."
Portable speakers are bound to come with a few trade-offs, but you'll get far fewer than usual with Jawbone's new Jambox Bluetooth speaker, which truly packs some big sound in a small package. As with other Jawbone products, it also boasts a distinct style, and it's available in your choice of four different colors / designs.
A watch is a classic gift for any occasion, but those looking for something a bit more gadgety without going crazy with a watch phone or vintage Casio Databank can't do much better than an E Ink watch, and Phospher's new World Time models are among the best we've seen to date. At under $200, they also won't completely break the bank.
Most folks may be able to get by without a standalone webcam, but integrated options can be a bit lacking for those that find themselves video conferencing as often as they're on the phone. We tested quite a few webcams this past year, and Microsoft's LifeCam Studio easily ranks among the best -- it's far from the cheapest option, but you'll get HD video and great image quality even in dim lighting conditions.
Another of those less than exciting necessities -- a portable hard drive is great for that person you know doesn't back up their data, and Iomega's latest eGo drives should be good for the long haul both when it comes to durability and connectivity (they're ready for USB 3.0 even if the computer of the person receiving it isn't). A 500GB model is also available, but at these prices we'd go for the full 1TB.
A GPS device may be a bit of an obvious gift choice, but Garmin's nuvi 295W should surprise even those that are expecting a nav unit. While it's a GPS first and foremost, Garmin's nuvi 295W also packs a built-in 3 megapixel camera and built-in WiFi that will let you check email and upload geotagged photos. Think of it as a Garminfone without the phone.
A pair of goggles with a built-in heads-up display and GPS? Suffice it to say, if you know someone into gadgets and winter sports you pretty much can't go wrong here.
Garmin's other not-your-ordinary-GPS unit, the nuvi 3790T, doesn't pack the built-in camera or WiFi of its 295W counterpart, but it is unquestionably the sleekest standalone nav unit around, and it thankfully doesn't skimp when it comes to the all-important core GPS features. The 4.3-inch, WVGA multitouch capacitive display is also a considerable step up over your average GPS screen.
Alright, so a $500 set of headphone isn't exactly your average gift, but we'd be hard pressed to find anyone disappointed with a set of Shure SE535s. When it comes to headphones, the phrase "you get what you pay for" really is true more often than not, and the SE535s are no exception.
Storage may not be exciting, but the Drobo FS does its best to change that. Not your ordinary NAS, the Drobo FS accommodates five hot-swappable drives that can be mixed and matched in capacities, it boasts native Time Machine support and, well, it's a robot (of sorts).
Content providers might be banning Google TV left, right, and center, but hardware partners don't seem to be losing any enthusiasm. After Samsung openly admitted to contemplating a HDTV with Google TV hardware and software built right in, Toshiba and Vizio are now said to have firm plans to introduce such new products at January's CES 2011. While neither manufacturer would be drawn into confirming this latest bit of insider info, Toshiba's American GM, Jeff Barney, is quoted as saying, "Google certainly is a key partner for us on the PC side and will likely be key for us on the TV side as well." How else could Google function as a key TV partner than with its web-connected TV experience?
Have you been riding the OnLive bangwagon from the start? If so, you'll want to heed this little Thanksgiving note from the company, which is offering a free MicroConsole to its early cloud gaming service users -- whom it dubs Founding Members -- provided they've bought licenses for at least two games in their time. The diminutive TV adapter typically costs $99, but qualifying Members will be able to get it for free if they pre-order it now, though they will have to spring for covering delivery costs. As to the more timid among you who only ever bought the one PlayPass, OnLive will let you have a free Full PlayPass (equivalent to a free game) in the place of the hardware. So, whichever way you slice it, it's good to be first.
You know all that gas spitting out the exhaust of your car? Not only is it full of carbon monoxide and other things you shouldn't breathe, it's also full of heat. Heat is wasted energy, and students at Purdue University, led by mechanical engineering professor Xianfan Xu, are working to capture it. With some funding from General Motors the team is working to create better thermoelectric generators, or TEGs, that work at much higher temperatures than those we've seen before. A current Purdue prototype works at 700C, or 1,300F, which could be found behind a car's catalytic converter and generate enough electricity to reduce fuel consumption by around five percent. Future versions would work at higher temperatures and offer better results. Last year BMW indicated it is working on similar tech with deployments coming as early as 2014, and so now the race begins, though the culmination of their efforts will surely look something like this.
Mandatory content ratings were added to Apple's App Store back in iPhone OS 3.0, and now it's Google's turn on news that they'll become obligatory for Android developers "in a few weeks" (at least, those that want their content in the Market). The company teases the fact that they'll be showing the ratings for all apps along with other "Android Market upgrades in the coming weeks" -- presumably timed to coincide with the release of Gingerbread -- and that any dev that fails to specify a rating level for their existing apps will have their content automatically listed as "Mature" (that is, the most restrictive level) until they take care of the problem. In addition to Mature, available ratings will include Pre-teen, Teen, and naturally, an "All" option for apps guaranteed not to offend even the most sensitive of young minds. Definitely good news for parents whose young'uns are demanding Android phones this holiday season, though it's still basically on the honor system for devs to correctly tag their content... and an All-rated app is probably going to sell better than a Mature one for the same reason R-rated movies outsell NC-17 ones. At any rate, sounds like Google intends to evolve the Market pretty rapidly with the next release or two, so we'll have to see how this shakes out.
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