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Friday, December 17, 2010

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Dropbox celebrates version 1.0, throws selective sync into the mix

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 10:01 AM PST

If you're like us, you've probably come to rely on Dropbox quite a bit in your day-to-day activities. Hell, our crowd-sourced fan sequel to The Social Network about that "Tom from MySpace" guy would never have got off the ground without it! Well, if you're as enthusiastic about cloud storage solutions as we are, you'll be more than excited to know that Dropbox 1.0 has just been announced. Among the new features that we're most looking forward to putting to the test are Selective Sync (choose which folders get downloaded to which computers) and Extended Attribute Sync (improved support for Mac apps like Quicken and Quark whose resource forks bedevil most sync applications and corrupt data in the process). But that ain't all! Hit the source link to get started.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread's source code now available

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 09:26 AM PST

Want to dig through 2.3 and see what all the fuss is about for yourself? Well, you're in luck, because Gingerbread has just hit the Android Open Source Project's repository, which means you can set up your machine to download the code. It's great news for hardware companies that don't care to get Google's certification to include Android Market access -- but it's also great news for casual and serious hackers alike who are looking to craft some seriously wild, wacky custom ROMs. So, what are you waiting for? Get to it, folks.

[Thanks, Mike]

Update: Eager coders are being asked to "wait a few hours or a few days" before downloading to balance out the server load -- and while you're probably not interested in doing that, it's probably in your best interest to heed the advice.

Fanatec Porsche 911 GT2 racing wheel steers its way into online availability

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 09:02 AM PST

For some of you, it wouldn't be Gran Turismo 5 unless there's a force-feedback steering wheel at the helm, but which one to choose? If history's any judge, that depends on how just how badly you want to feel like you're driving a Porsche. $250 buys you the Fanatec Porsche 911 GT2, another officially-licensed Xbox 360 wireless wheel, which features fourteen hidden buttons, a 900° steering angle, and the exact same soft Alacantra leather you'll find on the real deal. (R.I.P, Khan.) Like its oh-so-similar predecessors, the controller also plays nice with PS3 and PC via USB cable, and an extra $250 for the Clubsport Edition gets you a stick shift, carbon fiber paddle shifters, and some seriously high-end adjustable aluminum pedals. Read up on all the details at our source link. You'll want to be prepared for that heart-to-heart with your wallet.

Dungeon Defenders: First Wave brings Unreal Engine to Android this month

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 08:37 AM PST

Along with Rage HD, Infinity Blade has been one of the titles to really solidify iOS' position as the leader in mobile gaming right now, but that's not to say Android isn't in hot pursuit: besides this Zeus we have on the horizon, Gingerbread improves gaming support on the API level -- and now we're seeing our first Unreal Engine 3-based title make the leap. Dungeon Defenders: First Wave, which just launched on iOS, is coming to Android 2.1 and above on December 23rd bringing with it an online, multiplayer tower defense gaming experience. Of course, one problem these guys have now is that Android hardware is all over the map, so they actually need to publish a long list of minimum requirements -- just like PC titles -- and in this case you need 512MB of RAM, an 800MHz or better SOC with support for OpenGL ES 2.0, and at least 400MB of free storage. Apart from the myTouch 4G (which has some occasional "stability issues"), most recent mid- to high-end handsets seem to be ready to roll, including "all Tegra 2 based devices" like the Optimus 2X that was just announced. Follow the break for some video action and the full press release.


Show full PR text
Dungeon Defenders: First Wave ushers Unreal Engine Tech onto Android Shores

Tower Defense Action RPG brings Unreal Engine 3 Technology to the Android Platform on December 23, 2010 Device Requirements & Compatibility List Below

Gainesville, FL – 17 December 2010 – Trendy Entertainment will release their highly anticipated title Dungeon Defenders: First Wave for Android systems on December 23, 2010, just one week after its release on the iOS App Store. This title will be the first to bring the Unreal Engine technology, which powers the best-selling Infinity Blade, to the Android platform.

Gamers can purchase this tower defense online action-RPG on the Android Marketplace for $2.99. It includes an epic on and off-line campaign, challenge missions, leaderboards, and robust 4 player co-op play via GameSpy.

The game is available in multiple languages - English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. It carries an ESRB rating of "Everyone: 10+" and a PEGI Rating of 12+. It runs best on Nvidia Tegra, but device requirements are as follows:

Basic Requirements:
512 MB RAM
GPU capable of OpenGL ES 2.0
Android 2.1 Eclair
800 Mhz CPU or greater recommended
SD card with at least 400 MB free storage

Specifically Tested Compatibility List
All Tegra 2 Based Devices: Fully Compatible (DD:FW runs best on these devices)
Nexus S: Fully Compatible
Samsung Galaxy Tab: Fully Compatible
Samsung Galaxy based Cell Phones: Fully Compatible on all with 100 MB RAM free
Droid 2: Fully Compatible
Droid X: Fully Compatible
HTC Evo 4G: Fully Compatible
HTC Incredible: Fully Compatible
myTouch 4G: Mostly compatible, have some occasional stability issue
T-Mobile G2: Fully compatible
Dell Streak: Fully compatible
HTC Desire: Fully compatible
Nexus One: Fully compatible

"The game runs by far best on Tegra 2 out of any mobile device we've put the title onto. It's nearly a portable PC level of graphics capability. So while the game doesn't require Tegra 2, we do prefer to play it that way here, which provides an HD resolution, the highest quality textures, and a set of levels that simply could not be rendered on the lower-spec devices." - Jeremy Stieglitz, Development Director

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Tablets

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 08:16 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.
You didn't think we'd let the holiday season go by without an official Engadget Tablet Gift Guide did you? Hey, give us more credit -- we know it's not 2009 anymore! The past year has seen an explosion in the tablet category, and while the iPad may still be the market leader, there's no shortage of Android and Windows 7 alternatives out there that let you surf the web, read books, and watch videos with just a flick of a finger. Sure, more are on the way, and all signs point to Apple updating the iPad in early 2011, but if you've got to have a touchscreen slab before the end of the year, we're here to lend a helping hand. Hit the break for a rundown of the best choices by price category.

Stocking stuffers... sort of


Archos 70 and 101

Let's be honest: There are loads of Android tablets out there for under $300, but the majority of them are just utter crap. Archos, however, has elevated itself above the others, and has mastered the art of creating cheap tablets with decent specs. The 7-inch 70 and 10.1-inch 101 both boast capacitive touchscreens, Android 2.2, 8GB of storage, and front-facing VGA cameras. Okay, so you don't get the Market or any of Google's Apps preloaded, but you can always peruse the AppsLib store or sideload the Market apk for your giftee. Oh, and did we mention both of them are only .4-inches thick?

Key specs: 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU, WiFi b/g/n, mini-HDMI

Price: $299.99 / $299.99


Steam TV Elocity A7 - $356.97

Steam TV came out of nowhere with its Android 2.2, Tegra 2-powered Elocity A7, and we're certainly not complaining with its under $400 pricetag. The 7-inch tablet is thicker than the Archos 70 and only has 4GB of storage, but this one can handle 1080p video, and thanks to its mini-HDMI port, output it to the big screen.


Viewsonic G Tablet - $379.99

When you consider that the Viewsonic G Tablet has an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, Android 2.2, and a 10.1-inch capacitive touch display, you'd assume it's the bee's knees. However, like most other Android tablets these days, it doesn't have access to the Android Market or have those preloaded Google apps -- if you can live with that, it's worth a look.


Oh, you shouldn't have


Apple iPad (16GB, WiFi)

We highly doubt you need an introduction to the iPad -- Apple's 9.7-inch tablet basically transformed the gadget world in the last year. But, while the hardware itself is stunning, the appeal really comes in its snappy operating system and plethora of apps. With thousands of iPad apps now in the App Store (including our very own!) and iOS 4.2 bringing multitasking to the platform, there's no arguing that it's the best tablet on the market. The WiFi / 16GB version may be the lowest end model, but there's really nothing low end about it.

Key specs: 1GHz Apple A4 CPU, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1

Price: $499.00

Samsung Galaxy Tab - $600
(VZW, Sprint, T-Mob, AT&T)

Hands down, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is the best Android tablet around. The 7-inch Gorilla Glass screen makes it the perfect size for holding with one hand, and the TouchWiz Android 2.2 layer has been spruced up to take advantage of the larger screen. You also get, not one, but two cams! Unfortunately, there's no WiFi-only version yet, but you do have your pick of 3G models from an assortment of carriers.


Dell Streak - $550


We're still not sure what to call the Streak -- a megaphone? A phonelet? But if you're looking for a mini-tablet for surfing the web, reading, and watching videos, the Streak's 5-inch display and Snapdragon processor can absolutely get the job done. We've loved the design and size ever since we laid eyes on it, but the recent Android 2.2 update has made it even more enticing. Oh, did we mention it can also make phone calls?

We can't afford the rent now, can we?


Apple iPad (32GB, WiFi + 3G)

Sure, there are more affordable WiFi versions of the iPad, but nothing says "I really care" like some more storage and 3G. Whether you spring for the iPad and a MiFi or go for the integrated AT&T 3G version, you can give the gift of ubiquitous web connectivity in a beautiful aluminum tablet form factor. Believe us, they'll never forget this one... especially when they have to pay the monthly data charges.

Key specs: 1GHz Apple A4 CPU, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 3G (data only)

Price: $729.00


If you're shopping for someone in search of a tablet with Windows 7, the HP Slate is your best bet at the moment. The 8.9-inch capacitive display has an active digitizer, which means you can use a finger to navigate but also take notes with the included stylus. It also boasts a VGA front-facing camera and a 3 megapixel one on the back. HP is not promising that orders will ship in time for the holidays, so be prepared to deliver an IOU.

We can't say we're completely sold on any of the 10-inch or 11.6-inch Windows 7 tablets we've seen -- mostly because of the weak Atom performance and battery life -- but the Tega v2 has a very solid aluminum build, 32GB of flash storage, 2GB of RAM, and dual boots Android 1.6 and Windows 7 Home Premium. The software layer is a bit slow, but pick up a a Bluetooth keyboard and stand, and it could be a decent netbook alternative.

Mi Casa Verde Vera review: Home automation, simplified

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 07:49 AM PST

Home automation and jetpacks are surprisingly similar in that both of these space-age technologies have, for decades, been over promised and under delivered. Who here wouldn't love to tap a single button when exiting the house to activate the alarm, shut off the lights in the kids' rooms, lower the thermostat, and lock all the doors? That's the convenience, the promise left unfilled as we say goodbye to 2010. We live on a planet that still requires humans to manually close the blinds at the end of the day and flip on a light switch some 90 years since the commercial introduction of the incandescent light bulb. How primitive. And it's downright criminal in ecological and financial terms that we still can't easily monitor and control the power usage in our homes let alone the trickle of wattage vampired off the individual electrical sockets feeding our greedy horde of household electronics.

How is this possible given all the advances we've seen? Wireless and sensor technology has advanced far beyond what's required to automate a home. Just look at smartphones, for example, that now ship standard with 3G (and even 4G) data, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS radios in addition to sensors for motion, temperature, moisture, proximity, and even direction. We don't have the answer to home automation's dilema -- to dig into that topic we'd require a few thousand more words, at least. All we know for sure is that the biggie consumer electronics companies are reluctant to sort it out. As such, dozens of small companies are left to deal with a mess created by an industry incapable of coalescing around a set of interoperable home automation standards.

One such company is Mi Casa Verde. A tiny startup that launched its linux-based Vera home automation server back in 2008 with a renewed promise to make home automation setup and control as easy for novices as it is robust for techies and enthusiasts. We've been using a recently launched second generation Vera 2 for a few weeks now. Sure, we haven't quite reached one-button nirvana, but as home automation newbies we're proud to say that we've automated a few helpful in-home lighting situations while skirting the clutches of the Dark Angel sequestered within our fuse box. Better yet, we can control it all from an iPhone -- including the Christmas tree. Click through to see how we did it.
Mi Casa Verde Vera Review


Hardware
The Mi Casa Verde experience is built around Vera, an unassuming linux-based WiFi router built upon OpenWRT with some custom and commercially licensed third-party software. In other words, it's a dream platform for home automation enthusiasts and tinkerers possessed with enough coding knowledge to exploit the platform's open APIs. The second generation Vera is also great for first time home automators. It features a built-in Sigma Designs Z-Wave module which does away with the sometimes flakey USB Z-Wave dongle required by the first generation Vera. Fortunately, Mi Casa Verde bundles an external battery pack in the box so that you can move Vera into range of fixed Z-Wave devices like built-in wall switches wired into your home's circuitry to create the required association (like pairing, for Bluetooth). The Broadcom BCM5354-based box features a few USB ports for expansion and plugs into your home network via a single Ethernet port. It can be also used in a standalone mode to a manage all your devices.

Of course, Z-Wave isn't the only home automation "standard." Far from it. X-10 has been around forever while relatively new options like ZigBee and Insteon prove yet again that the best part about standards is that there are so many to choose from. Vera really shines in its ability to handle a wide swath of home automation protocols. So in addition to Z-Wave, Vera supports Insteon and X10 devices. Vera also works with TED, AEON, and RCS energy meters giving you a real-time view of your energy consumption. As if that wasn't enough, Vera supports control of any UPnP device and many serial devices like infrared controllers. As first time home automators, we wanted to keep things simple so we only tested Vera with a handful of Z-Wave devices including two light dimmers that wire into the home wiring like conventional wall switches, a battery-powered three-in-one sensor (motion, temperature, and illumination), and two plug-in socket switches allowing you to automate the power delivery to any household device with a plug.

How It Works
By now you might be wondering what Z-Wave is, exactly. Simply put, Z-Wave is a low-power RF mesh networking protocol designed for the purposes of home automation. As such, it communicates between nodes wirelessly (not over the power lines like your father's X-10 home automation gear) with each Z-Wave device capable of acting as a repeater to carry commands beyond the 100 foot maximum line-of-site transmission range. Z-Wave is optimized for low-bandwidth commands like on / off and raise / lower as well as light duty environmental monitoring for temperature, light, and motion, for example. All these attributes combined make it ideal for embedding inside of household devices like light switches, blind controllers, power sockets, thermostats, alarm systems, door locks and even some home theater remote controls and entertainment systems.

The Z-Wave Alliance, established in 2005, claims more than 160 manufacturing partners -- most of whom you've never heard of -- creating a variety of "interoperable" devices built around Zensys (owned by Sigma Designs) chipsets. Unfortunately, Z-Wave devices operate on different frequencies depending upon the region sold. So for example, European Z-Wave devices operate at 868.42MHz making them incompatible with their US equivalents operating at 908.42MHz -- a very real pitfall that can easily trip you up when shopping for the best deal on Z-Wave devices on-line. Even then, it's best to choose tried and true combinations of Z-Wave devices to ensure interoperability. It's also worth noting that you won't find any powerhouse consumer names selling iSwitches or Nexus Sensors at your local big box retail centers. Home automation is still in the hands of specialty manufacturers and on-line shops unless you're willing to throw around some serious cash for a propriety, professionally installed solution.

Each device has to be "paired" or "included" in the Z-Wave network before it can be controlled. Adding devices to Mi Casa Verde's Vera 2 is pretty straight forward. A browser-based wizard can be used to add portable Z-Wave devices like battery-powered remote controls, sensor and switches -- devices that you can hold within three feet of the Vera 2 for low-power inclusion. Things get a bit more complicated when adding fixed Z-Wave modules like built-in wall dimmers and switches wired into your home's circuitry. Fortunately, Mi Casa Verde includes a small rechargeable battery pack that allows you to power the Vera 2 long enough to add modules in different rooms of the house. In this mode, you must tap the Z-Wave button on the back of the Vera to put it into "include" mode causing the Z-Wave light to flash slowly on the front panel. You can then add each Z-Wave module by triple-tapping (usually, this can vary by device) the appropriate button on the device. Tap Vera's Z-Wave button again when done to save the devices added. You can then reconnect Vera's power and Ethernet cables and begin configuring the newly discovered devices.
Mi Casa Verde Vera dashboard

Now to the real magic: "scenes." Scenes are a collection of commands and settings for one or more devices that can be triggered by an "event" (a motion sensor is tripped) or "timer" (it's 8:00am on Friday). Again, Vera has you covered here through its useful setup wizard that walks you right into scene creation after you add new devices to your network. Of course, you can also create more advanced scenes on the fly in Vera's dashboard just as soon as you feel comfortable with the concept. As an added bonus, Vera knows about the current weather conditions (after installing the Google Weather developer plugin) and exactly when the sun rises and sets for your location -- that means you can trigger scenes (turn on the porch light 30 minutes before sunset or whenever it's raining) based on these dynamic variables.

Our setup
In addition to the $249 Vera 2 controller running version 1.1.1047 (UI4) of the MiOS firmware, our Z-Wave test network consists of the following devices scattered throughout the house in the master suite, kitchen, and hallway:
  • 2x Interact wall dimmer inserts (€61 each)
  • 2x Interact Plugin Switches (€49.50 each)
  • 1x EZMotion 3-in-1 multisensor (€100)
In our testing, things would get weird when we started moving Z-Wave modules like the plug-in switches (that act as repeaters) from room to room. At times, moving the plug-in switches caused other modules to simply disappear from the network or to stop working as configured. To be clear, this has more to do with the Z-Wave discovery protocol than it does Vera. Nevertheless, Vera offers two ways to help you deal with it. First, Vera can "heal" the Z-Wave network, going back through and mapping the wireless associations between each device on the mesh network. This only takes ten minutes or so on our small Z-Wave network but can take hours for particularly complex setups with many devices scattered over a large area. If the heal doesn't work, you can also reset a Z-Wave module back to its virgin state when things get really bad... like dealing with our 3-in-1 sensor.

The 3-in-1 EZMotion sensor we've been testing epitomizes the current state of home automation. When it works it's fantastic, but getting it to work is an exercise of extreme patience and sufferance. Note that this isn't criticism of Mi Casa Verde as a company or of Vera as a product -- it's a critique of Z-Wave and the fragmented state of home automation. We nearly went mad trying to get the sensor included and then functioning on our Z-Wave network. After much searching, we finally found a website that explained the adjustable parameters of the sensor. Unfortunately, it didn't explain how to change these on Vera. A forum search on the Mi Casa Verde site eventually unearthed a few threads describing the high-level steps required to include the sensor on Vera and to trigger a Z-Wave light switch when the sensor detected motion. Another thread pointed to a wiki entry that described how to specifically adjust the sensor's default "on time" to 5 minutes instead of the 20 minute default. Yet another forum post described how it was best to configure separate events for on and off in order for the "scene" to operate correctly. As complete Z-Wave newbies, this took us hours to finally get right. But now that it's working, we have to smile everytime the sensor detects our approach and then automatically switches on the hall lights (and then switches them off again after 5 minutes of inactivity). We're living the dream, folks.

The rest of our network functions on timers controlled by Vera. The very first scene we created causes the kitchen lights to turn on every Monday through Friday as the family rises and then off again 10 minutes after the kids are shuffled out of the door for school. An additional software timer is setup to turn on the outside Christmas lights every day at dusk and then off again at exactly 11:00pm. Even our Christmas tree is configured to turn on and off at specific times throughout the day in order to maximize holiday cheer. Better yet, the entire setup can be controlled via an iPhone app or any phone with a browser.


One thing that makes Vera so compelling to home automators is the free web service that gives you full, "secure" access to Vera from any internet connected device with a browser. It'll even send you email notifications when something happens, like, say, a door is unlocked or a motion sensor is tripped -- it just depends how you configure it. iPhone and iPod touch owners can download a free version of the iVera app to control two lights and two scenes. A whopping $29.99 update gives you full control over all of your devices. There's also the more comprehensive (and complex) SQ Remote app that expands control beyond Vera to any MiOS device (we're told that more are coming from OEMs) and to home entertainment systems via an IR blaster (sold separately). Again, it starts with a limited free version that can be expanded and highly customized for a $29.99 in app purchase. Otherwise, you can always access the Flash-free Vera dashboard from most any smartphone browser or install the custom-built WAP or Smartphone Web Interface Vera plugins from the integrated MiOS Marketplace -- a small app store of sorts. There you'll find interfaces for both generic and Panasonic IP surveillance cameras and Somfy blind controllers and alarm panels. There's even a Squeezebox plugin that gives you the ability to control and monitor your music as long as you're willing to live with the beta classification. But we digress. After testing all of the iPhone access methods we decided to bite the bullet and purchase the $29.99 iVera option as it was the easiest option to setup and use.
iVera home automation app

Finally, after automating only a very small portion of our home it's clear that an IT background is only half the battle when it comes to automating it. It also helps to have some plumbing, HVAC, and electrical wiring skills in order to stay safe and not destroy the house or the humanity contained within. We've all but given up on attempting to replace a pair of switches wired into a three-way and we're not about to tackle a soldering job just to fit a modern Danfoss RA plus Z-Wave thermostat to an old bathroom radiator. Some jobs are best left to the pros, assuming you can even find one locally experienced with these niche home automation devices.

Wrap up
We've been intermittently tinkering with two generations of Vera servers and Z-Wave home automation devices for about a year now. To say it's been frustrating would be an understatement. In our opinion, Mi Casa Verde was a bit too ambitious with its first generation product. Instead of starting simple, the company shot from the gate with an overly complex product that was just too intimidating to this first time home automator. But the introduction of the Vera 2 hardware with its fourth generation user interface and second generation scripting engine allows us to whole heartedly recommend Vera to home automation noobs like ourselves. Is it perfect? No. But Mi Casa Verde delivers a solid product that does well to hold back the advanced features until the user feels ready. Miraculously, it also brings some sense of order to the chaotic state of DIY home automation. And honestly, we've only scratched the surface of what Vera and the MiOS engine are capable of.

We also think that Mi Casa Verde's small, yet enthusiastic user community deserves recognition for the value it adds to the Vera experience. The forums are full of active users that include Mi Casa Verde's own employees and affiliates who are more than happy to offer advice or even lend a hand with some advanced scripting for those who are ready for it. And it won't be too long before you shed those tentative ways with Vera 2. True, those first steps will be frustrating and retrofitting the entire house with Z-Wave devices will be costly. So pick a few small projects and build over time. Just don't give up. Seeing the delight in your child's eyes the first time you switch on the christmas tree lights from your cellphone will make it all worthwhile. And safely switching them off again while out of the house will go a long way towards justifying the cost to a reticent spouse. Besides, this hobby is way cheaper than a jetpack.

Special thanks to zwave4u.com for the Z-Wave test gear.

Self-sterilizing door handle looks perfect for hypochondriacs, is as real as their ailments

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 07:27 AM PST

The world of concepts is quite the wonderful place to behold, it's filled with electric supercars, cameras that only ever need one lens, beautiful BlackBerrys, and now... a self-cleaning door handle. The product of one Choi Bomi's hyperactive imagination, this gatekeeper continuously sterilizes itself with a UV light, only taking a break when you actually use it. A clandestine switch in the handle's frame is what toggles the sanitizing illumination on and off, a spark of cleverness that's earned the design a Red Dot award. That's great, now who hands out the awards for making economically viable, mass producible devices?

Verizon's Palm Pre 2 shown briefly in pulled eBay auction?

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 07:06 AM PST

Still in disbelief that Big Red will one day be home to Palm's Pre 2? Can't say we blame you, but the evidence is certainly building. Just three months after taking a peek at inside information hinting at the smartphone's arrival on Verizon, along comes an eBay auction for a nondescript P102EWW -- known amongst the FCC hounds as a CDMA Palm Pre 2. After the folks at Pre Central started questioning the seller, the auction was mysteriously yanked, possibly due to worry from the sudden stroke of enlightenment. It's obviously impossible to know if the phone up for sale was indeed an early build meant for America's largest carrier, but the photos capped before the auction was pulled sure are hard to discredit. So, can we just get this out in the open now, or what?

Keepin' it real fake: iPhone 5 provides foresight to a falsified future (video)

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 06:43 AM PST

Of course you knew this was coming, you probably just didn't expect it so soon. If Apple keeps up with its usual schedule, we don't expect an iPhone 4 successor to rear its head until summer 2011, but already some KIRF scientists are making forward-looking projections and produced what it thinks might be the KIRF iPhone to go tête-à-tête with the presumed iPhone 5. Resolution's apparently low, but it does its best to make up for it with dual SIM capabilities, WiFi, Bluetooth, a microSD slot, built-in camera with flash, an all-too familiar UI -- all at a price guaranteed to assuage regret: about 700 yuan (US $106). The future is now, why wait? Video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]


Minimal Studios iPod nano watch kits raise a million dollars on Kickstarter, yes, a million dollars

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 06:20 AM PST

Minimal Studios iPod nano watch kits raise a million dollars on Kickstarter, yes, a million dollarsWell that didn't take long. Less than a month after we reported on the TikTok and LunaTik concept iPod nano watches hitting Kickstarter the company behind them, Minimal Studios, has met its goal -- and then some. Way then some. The project has clocked in nearly $1,000,000 in funding, helped in large part by a $25 pledge getting you first in line for a $35 MSRP TikTok watch kit, while $50 scored you the metallic LunaTik, which will go for $70. If you missed your chance to pile on the money you can now pre-order officially, with an expected shipment date in January. Again we're not particularly keen on the whole nano as a watch thing, but obviously ya'll have your own ideas, and we say more power to you -- and to Minimal Studios founder Scott Wilson.

Researchers find weak point in lithium-ion batteries, suggest better nanowires could be the answer

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:57 AM PST

We've seen countless attempts to build a better lithium-ion battery, but there's been far fewer research efforts devoted solely to figuring out why lithium-ion batteries don't last longer. A team of scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have been doing just that, however, and they're now sharing some of their findings. The main culprit, they say, are the nano-sized wires made of bulk tin oxide used in the batteries, which can expand and deform considerably over time, eventually rendering the battery useless. What's more, while the research was focused primarily on examining the cause of battery aging, the researchers do naturally have a few suggestions on how to improve them -- namely, to replace those wires made of bulk tin oxide with finer tin oxide nanowires. As lead scientist Chongmin Wang explains, that would effectively amount to winding together "thinner wires rather than making one thick rope," which is of course easier said than done. Head on past the break for the complete press release.
Show full PR text
Charging makes nano-sized electrodes swell, elongate and spiral

December 09, 2010

High-resolution video shows how batteries wear out over time

RICHLAND, Wash. – New high resolution images of electrode wires made from materials used in rechargeable lithium ion batteries shows them contorting as they become charged with electricity. The thin, nano-sized wires writhe and fatten as lithium ions flow in during charging, according to a paper in this week's issue of the journal Science. The work suggests how rechargeable batteries eventually give out and might offer insights for building better batteries.

Battery developers know that recharging and using lithium batteries over and over damages the electrode materials, but these images at nanometer scale offer a real-life glimpse into how. Thin wires of tin oxide, which serve as the negative electrode, fatten by a third and stretch twice as long due to lithium ions coursing in. In addition, the lithium ions change the tin oxide from a neatly arranged crystal to an amorphous glassy material.

"Nanowires of tin oxide were able to withstand the deformations associated with electrical flow better than bulk tin oxide, which is a brittle ceramic," said Chongmin Wang, a materials scientist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. "It reminds me of making a rope from steel - you wind together thinner wires rather than making one thick rope."

In one of the videos, shown here, the nanowire appears like a straw, while the lithium ions seem like a beverage being sucked up through it. Repeated shape changes could damage the electrode materials by introducing tiny defects that accumulate over time.

Chasing Electrons

In previous work at DOE's Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory on the PNNL campus, Wang, PNNL chemist Wu Xu and other colleagues succeeded in taking a snapshot of a larger nanowire of about one micrometer - or one-hundredth the width of a human hair - that had been partially charged. But the experimental set-up didn't show charging in action.

To view the dynamics of an electrode being charged, Wang and Xu teamed up with Jianyu Huang at DOE's Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico and others. The team used a specially outfitted transmission electron microscope to set up a miniature battery. This instrument allowed them to image smaller wires of about 200 nanometers in diameter (about a fifth the width of the previous nanowires) while charging it.

Rechargeable lithium ion batteries work because lithium ions love electrons. Positively charged lithium ions normally hang out in the positive electrode, where a metal oxide shares its electrons with lithium. But charging a battery pumps free electrons into the negative electrode, which sits across a lake of electrolytes through which lithium ions can swim but electrons can't. The lithium desires the electrons on the negative side of the lake more than the electrons it shares with the metal oxide on the positive side. So lithium ions flow from the positive to the negative electrode, pairing up with free electrons there.

But electrons are fickle. Using a battery in a device allows the electrons to slip out of the negative electrode, leaving the lithium ions behind. So without free electron companions, the lithium ions return to the positive electrode and the metal oxide's embrace.

Wang's miniature battery included a positive electrode of lithium cobalt oxide and a negative electrode made from thin nanowires of tin oxide. Between the two electrodes, an electrolyte provided a conduit for lithium ions and a barrier for electrons. The electrolyte was specially designed to withstand the conditions in the microscope.

When the team charged the miniature battery at a constant voltage, lithium ions wicked up through the tin oxide wire, drawn by the electrons at the negative electrode. The wire fattened and lengthened by about 250 percent in total volume, and twisted like a snake.

In addition, the microscopy showed that the wire started out in a crystalline form. But the lithium ions changed the tin oxide to a glassy material, in which atoms are arranged more randomly than in a crystal. The researchers concluded the amount of deformation occurring during charging and use might wear down battery materials after a while. Even so, the tin oxide appeared to fare better as a nanowire than in its larger, bulk form.

"We think this work will stimulate new thinking for energy storage in general," said Wang. "This is just the beginning, and we hope with continued work it will show us how to design a better battery."

Future work will include imaging what happens when such a miniature battery is repeatedly charged and discharged. When a battery gets used, the lithium ions must run back through the tin oxide wire and across the electrolyte to the positive electrode. How much structural damage the receding lithium leaves in its wake will help researchers understand why rechargeable batteries stop working after being recharged so many times.

The researchers would also like to develop a fully functioning nano-sized rechargeable battery.

Reference: Jian Yu Huang, Li Zhong, Chong Min Wang, John P. Sullivan, Wu Xu, Li Qiang Zhang, Scott X. Mao, Nicholas S. Hudak, Xiao Hua Liu, Arunkumar Subramanian, Hong You Fan, Liang Qi, Akihiro Kushima, Ju Li, In situ observation of the electrochemical lithiation of a single SnO2 nanowire electrode, Dec. 10, 2010, Science, DOI 10.1126/science.1195628.

This work was supported by EMSL and the Department of Energy Office of Science.

Tags: Energy, Fundamental Science, EMSL, Batteries

EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, is a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research program that is located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. EMSL offers an open, collaborative environment for scientific discovery to researchers around the world. EMSL's technical experts and suite of custom and advanced instruments are unmatched. Its integrated computational and experimental capabilities enable researchers to realize fundamental scientific insights and create new technologies. Follow EMSL on Facebook.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory where interdisciplinary teams advance science and technology and deliver solutions to America's most intractable problems in energy, the environment and national security. PNNL employs 4,900 staff, has an annual budget of nearly $1.1 billion, and has been managed by Ohio-based Battelle since the lab's inception in 1965. Follow PNNL on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

LaCie Float concept combines external HDD with trackpad, ingenuity with fantasy

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:36 AM PST

How do you freshen up the typically unexciting external storage unit? You slap a multitouch trackpad on the top of it, of course. And since you're dreaming up wild concepts, make that top out of carbon fiber, provide a base made out of glass and insert some LEDs next to it to provide ambient illumination -- with an integrated light sensor adjusting their brightness on the fly, obviously. Yes, André Silva's LaCie Float is indeed out of touch with things like "feasibility" and "economics," but don't tell us you wouldn't love that slice of converged awesomeness sidling up next to your laptop. USB 3.0 comes standard and an SSD option is also available, if you wish for it hard enough.

Yahoo! Messenger and ooVoo Mobile do video chat on Android, but only for a lucky few

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:14 AM PST

Yahoo! Messenger and ooVoo Mobile do video chat on Android, but only for a lucky few
Two video chats enter the ring, only one comes out. In this corner it's ooVoo Mobile, a portable version of the (somewhat) popular desktop video chat application that will let up to six users simultaneously swap bitrate over 3G, 4G, or WiFi -- but only if you have an HTC Evo or Samsung Epic. In the other corner it's Yahoo! Messenger, with version 1.3 adding video calls and similarly limited device support, though this time it's the myTouch 4G and the Evo getting the nod. So, Android owners, which of these is going to reign supreme? Or, are you going to tap out and stay cozy with Qik? Hit the Android Market now and place your bets.

Update: We're told that Paltalk has also recently released an Android app to the Marketplace, giving you yet another way to say "hey."


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OOVOO LAUNCHES THE FIRST 4G MOBILE VIDEO CHAT SERVICE

THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY CONNECTS SMARTPHONE, PC AND MAC USERS

Users can now experience high quality mobile video chat by downloading the
ooVoo Mobile application for their WiFi or 4G-enabled smartphones

New York, NY (December 15, 2010) – Today ooVoo announced the launch of ooVoo Mobile, a mobile video chat service on the Android marketplace. With 20 million people worldwide already using ooVoo on their PCs or Macs, ooVoo breaks new ground in mobile video chat by allowing up to six users to simultaneously participate on a video call without compromising the high quality video experience.

People want mobile video chat, and ooVoo is actively connecting best-in-class technology with a cool user experience. ooVoo Mobile users download and get started in seconds making calls to friends, family and colleagues on PCs, Macs, tablets and other mobile phones. And it works over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G networks so service is sure to be covered wherever they are.

As well as 6-way video chat and proven quality standard, ooVoo Mobile also features free ooVoo-to-ooVoo voice calls, text chat, contact list integration and video calls to any person not on ooVoo via a web browser. Available immediately on the Android Market for the HTC Evo and Samsung Epic, ooVoo plans to support new devices every day as well as Apple iPhone, iTouch and iPad devices in early 2011.

"Not only is ooVoo bringing essential features to the mobile video chat marketplace that have been missing until now, but we've also expanded our already famous high quality video to the world of mobile communication," said Philippe Schwartz, CEO of ooVoo. "The existing video chat apps do not support mobile, or they support inferior quality. We believe that ooVoo over the emerging Verizon LTE or the Sprint Wimax networks will surpass all competition and will even provide better quality than sitting at your desktop."

Twenty million people rely on ooVoo to stay close to friends and family on the other side of the city or the other side of the world. With our new platform-independent mobile service, ooVoo is committed to making sure users enjoy superior voice and video quality on their PCs and Macs and now on mobile devices across any platform, any network, anywhere.

http://homepage.mac.com/akidess/filechute/ooVoo_UB_v3_High.mov

About ooVoo

Based in New York, ooVoo is the number two video calling service behind Skype. We're committed to be the best at the video experience, and have grown to 20 million users worldwide. We think video communications is cool. We also know that our quality and video experience is at the forefront of this new communications medium. We use ooVoo daily no matter where we are – on the playground, in a conference room, or in the air. Which is why we are connected and engaged to create a community people want to be a part of. We ARE VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS. Download ooVoo at www.ooVoo.com

Sharp investing $1.2b in expanding smartphone LCD production, Apple fingered as the major client

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:51 AM PST

Apple's practicing its self-imposed rule of supplier polygamy this week and Japan's Nikkei is telling us all about it. It started off on Monday, when we learned that Toshiba's throwing down some cash to build a new smartphone display production plant, with Apple as the key investor and subsequent consumer, and today we're hearing pretty much the same story, only with Sharp playing the role of Japanese producer to Apple's hardware whims. A "large portion" of the $1.2 billion cost -- identical to what Toshiba's said to be spending -- of expanding Sharp's Kameyama factory is expected to be shouldered by Jobs' cash-rich crew, a postulation also confirmed by Reuters, who's managed to dig up a pair of sources agreeing with the Nikkei. Our Japanese team reports that Sharp has made its expansion plans official, but obviously there's nary a peep about any Apple connection, while DigiTimes says Toshiba has outright denied any involvement with Cupertino. Guess we'll just have to wait for the iPhone 7 teardowns to find out.

Flipboard updated, finally does Google Reader and Flickr right

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:28 AM PST

Flipboard updated, finally goes Google Reader and Flickr right
When we spent some quality time with Flipboard over the summer, when the iPad was still a new and exciting thing, we liked the idea but not so much the implementation -- there just wasn't enough stuff filling the pages of our pretend magazines. Since then Flipboard of course went on to win Apple's US iTunes iPad app of the year award and is now celebrating with a major update: Google Reader support. This quite naturally means a huge boost in available content and turns this into a serious way to get your news, with much nicer presentation than your average RSS aggregator. That presentation has also been boosted by Flickr integration, meaning a treasure trove of pretty pictures to go along with that dire news about US politics you can't help but subscribe to.

Pleo RB robosaur now on sale for $469, Christmas now cleared to take place

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:01 AM PST

Worried that your holiday celebrations just wouldn't be able to take place without an autonomous robotic dinosaur roaming the halls and frightening the grandparents? Fret no more. With under a fortnight to go, Innvo Labs has managed to put the revitalized Pleo RB (Pleo Reborn, if you must know) on sale, with a stiff $469 getting you a newborn dinosaur with a Li-Polymer battery, a charging cradle and a training leaf. Yeah, a training leaf. Unfortunately, the MSRP here is a fair bit higher than the $350 that Ugobe charged for the original, but at least the price premium does include a tougher hide, a newfangled RFID sensing system and a stronger, longer-lasting battery. And really, who could say no to a smile like that?

See more video at our hub!

Sega Toylets lets you game with your boy bits (video)

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:28 AM PST

Sega, the once proud innovator of console design, is back in the gaming hardware business! Only not in the fashion you might think. The company has just rolled out a trial of its Toylets system, which embeds a pressure sensor into otherwise innocuous urinals and gives life to every bad piece of joystick-related innuendo you ever heard. Four games are available right now, to be enjoyed through a display mounted at eye level, including one where the intensity of your delivery helps blow a girl's skirt up and another that offers (asynchronous!) multiplayer competition. The latter game matches you against the previous dude to have used the porcelain repository, thereby finally providing Japanese men with a measurable way to settle pissing contests. It's official: we're moving to Japan.

Xbox 360 gets a limited edition orange Tron controller, because wired gamers need love too

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:08 AM PST

In most circumstances, we'd argue a self-illuminating controller crisscrossed by bright bands of orange is a couple of notches over the top, but when it's Tron you're talking about, it all makes sense. This latest peripheral for the 360 is up for pre-order now at $39.99 and comes prepackaged with the smugness of knowing that each one sold will be part of a very limited 250-unit production run. It's officially licensed by Microsoft and arriving at snowy doorsteps some time later this month. A less exclusive blue brother should be joining it soon as well, in case the current hue's not quite to your liking.

Creative's 7-inch ZiiO Android 2.1 tablet now on sale for $250

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 02:39 AM PST

C'mon now, don't act all surprised. This one followed the picture perfect path to shipping: announcement, hands-on, a stop by the FCC's database and now, a formal portal in Creative's webstore. If the Galaxy Tab, eLocity A7, G Tablet and Advent Vega haven't exactly tickled your fancy, there's hardly a chance the 7-inch ZiiO will have what it takes. That said, it's now up for grabs at $249.99, with that sum getting you 8GB of storage ($20 more doubles it to 16GB), an 800x400 resolution display, Android 2.1, a ZiiLABS ZMS-08 HD processor, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a front-facing VGA camera. Unfortunately, this thing has a zero percent chance of revolutionizing your life in the way that the ZiiEagle already has, but perhaps it'll bring you joy in some smaller, less meaningful way.

[Thanks, Terrence]

Kindle for Android updated with periodicals and integrated web store, can be installed on SD card

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 02:04 AM PST

Version 2.0 of Amazon's Kindle for Android software has snuck out tonight, bringing with it access to the company's library of newspapers and magazines, the ability to purchase content in-app, and the freedom to choose where you want to store the app itself, which is now happy to reside on your microSD card. Other additions include social networking updates of your reading progress, the appearance of chapter titles in the reader status bar, zoom for images and graphics, and the volume keys doubling up as your page turners should you wish them to do so. The updated app's available in the Market now -- you know what to do with that QR code, right?

Razer Scarab has regular mousepad looks, precision gaming DNA

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 01:48 AM PST

If a product doesn't change for two years, it's got to be doing something right, and such was the tale about Razer's Destructor gaming surface. Alas, all good things must come to an end-of-life, if only to encourage people to buy the new hotness, which in this case is the shiny new Scarab. It's a hard gaming mousepad doused in Razer's Fractal 2.0 coating, ensuring uniform responsiveness and the right balance between speed and control. It includes a carrying case -- because, as all serious gamers know, you've got to look good to play good -- and that ever-elusive "feeling of awesomeness during usage." The price is one of those hilarious, currency-agnostic ones, as the Scarab will cost you $39.99 in the US or €39.99 in Europe. We're sure Euro gamers are laughing it up right now. You'll find the PR after the break and the Scarab in stores later this month.
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RAZER™ RELEASES THE RAZER SCARAB – SEQUEL TO THE REVOLUTIONARY RAZER DESTRUCTOR

The All-New Hard Mouse Mat for High DPI Gaming will be available in December

Carlsbad, Calif. – December 16, 2010 – Most of the time, sequels to great movies suck. Normally, sequels to great books suck. Sometimes, sequels to great games suck. But what doesn't ever suck are sequels to Razer products. They just keep getting better.

Razer, the world's leading high-end precision gaming brand, wants you to know that your gaming doesn't have to suck anymore thanks to the release of the Razer Scarab; the next generation hard gaming mouse mat. Featuring a Razer Fractal 2.0 surface coated in light grey, the long-awaited sequel to the Razer Destructor takes superior tracking to an explosive new level.

"With this sequel, we focused on enhancing the Fractal surface coating so that gamers will improve their game even further. It's all you need to win in life," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, president of Razer USA, "And in PC games of course. The Razer Scarab is for gamers who prefer hard surfaces, high performance areas, effortless swipes and absolute tracking."

Alexey "Cypher" Yanusheuski of Team Serious Gaming, world champion in Quake Live said of the Scarab, "A mat like this makes keeping up with the high intensity of Quake easy. I look forward to further improving my rocket jump technique and upping my frag count."

Olga "Pachella" Pak, Counter-strike 1.6 world champion with Team Mousesports said, "Razer paid special attention to the needs of FPS gamers when developing this; improving accuracy and now the Scarab is an indispensable accessory to complement my high-dpi gaming mouse."

About the Razer Scarab
What makes the Scarab the awesome mat it is comes down to Razer's Fractal 2.0 surface coating. It establishes a highly responsive and uniform tracking system perfect for optical and laser mice sensors. It's been finely-tuned to balance between speed and control to help acquire targets more accurately.

Razer even included a lightweight carrying case that not only protects the Scarab, but is a sweet folio to store documents for your job as a tax accountant by day, l33t gamer by night. It even looks great, guaranteed to turn heads at the next LAN party you destroy.

So go on, get a Razer Scarab and make your high-dpi gaming mouse (it better also be a Razer) happy.

Price: US $39.99; EU €39.99

Availability:
Razerzone Asia Pacific – December 19th, 2010
Razerzone North and South America – December 24th, 2010
Razerzone Europe – December 25th, 2010
Worldwide – December, 2010

Product Features
Fractal 2.0™ surface coating for high performance
Optimal performance for both laser and optical mice
Hard mouse mat providing precise tracking
Improved rubber base for greater stability
Large size suited for most gaming environments: 350(L) x 250(W) x 3(H)mm
Reinforced carrying case for optimal stowing
A feeling of awesomeness during usage

For more information about the Razer Scarab, please visit www.razerzone.com/scarab.

Chip implanted in spinal cord could help sufferers of chronic pain (video)

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 01:19 AM PST

Researchers at Sydney's National ICT Australia (NICTA) have spent the past two years developing an incredibly futuristic invention which could bring relief to those who suffer from chronic pain. What it amounts to is a series of 'smart' chips inserted into biocompatible devices and strung together. These are then sewn into a very small (1.22mm wide) lead made of a polymer yarn and wires, which are then inserted into the spine. The device is them connected to a battery and computer which can measure and gather information about the pain-carrying nerves signalling the brain. The device can also respond by sending 10 volt electrical pulses to block the signals' path to the brain, tricking the brain into thinking there is no pain. There are devices such as this one already in existence, but they are much larger than this new device, and its smaller size increases accuracy as it can be implanted closer to the spine than previous models. The NICTA's device is set to go into human trials next year. Video after the break.

RepRap prints transistors, but fabs have little to fear

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:54 AM PST

Budding hobbyists almost have it too easy these days, what with all the ready-made components, Mindstorms and Arduino boards, but there's still a couple of folks out there kicking it old-school... and printing transistors at home. Yes, that's a RepRap 3D printer you see there, with a MakerBot Unicorn pen head, depositing tiny dots of silver ink to form intricate rows of tiny electrodes. Sadly, the printer doesn't currently automate the entire process, as you'll also need to separately apply a dielectric material and a host of chemicals to get a working field effect transistor from scratch, but once the basic process is perfected the possibilities, as they say, are endless. Now if you'll excuse us, we've got a hot date with some vacuum tubes. Find the basic formula for DIY transistors at our source link.

Iriver teases out U100, P100, and D2000 portable media players

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:24 AM PST

Looks like there are more colorful PMPs on the way from Iriver. All we have right now from the company is a teaser video (in Korean, no less) and a few model names: U100, P100, and D2000, to be exact. Hopefully this will tide you over until next year when the things are ready to hit the street. Hit the source link to feel the love (as well as some very moving piano music).

Volkswagen's London Taxi Concept: smaller, prettier, more electric than the real thing

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 11:56 PM PST

London would do well to dispense with the Concept label right now and just turn these into its next fleet of people carriers. Volkswagen has unveiled the latest in a series of World Taxis it's doing, prettying up London's admittedly iconic black cabs with a sheen of new paint, an all-electric drive, and an infusion of tablet-based infotainment. Based on the Up! city car, the London Taxi Concept has an estimated range of 186 miles and takes an hour to go from zero to an 80 percent charge. It also has a grayscale version of the Union Jack emblazoned on its roof, guess that's just how VW rolls. Sadly, we doubt anyone will be in a hurry to heed our sage advice and start using this concept any time soon, particularly since it doesn't pass London's taxi regulations at present, but it's a harbinger of a future we'd like to see become real.
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INNOVATIVE VOLKSWAGEN TAXI CONCEPT MAKES ITS DEBUT IN LONDON

14/12/10

A conceptual twist on a British institution has been unveiled in the form of the Volkswagen Taxi Concept – the latest evolution in a series of 'World Taxis' based on the underpinnings of the forthcoming UP! city car.

The man behind the project, Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design at Volkswagen, was present in Central London earlier today to unveil the car.

Designed to meet the challenges faced by vehicles in modern cities, with ever tighter restrictions on space and emissions, the Volkswagen Taxi Concept is powered by an electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries. With a capacity of 45 kW/h the batteries allow the electric motor to generate a maximum power output of 115 PS, translating to a theoretical top speed of 74 mph.

The range of the Volkswagen Taxi Concept is estimated at 186 miles between charges with an 80 per cent charge taking around one hour to complete.

The Concept, which measures 3,730 mm in length, 1,680 mm in width and 1,600 mm in height, is shorter than the current smallest Volkswagen, the Fox. However its long wheelbase and minimal front and rear overhangs allow it to have a spacious cabin with room for two adults to be seated in comfort plus an allocated area for luggage. At the front, the driving environment is similarly spacious, an impression emphasised by the large glass area.

The theme running throughout the vehicle is simplicity, with an elegant, clutter-free look to the interior. The major functions of the vehicle including climate, entertainment and fare information are all grouped onto one touchscreen display mounted next to the driver. In the back a similar screen relays information to the passengers on their route and their immediate environment. Despite its modest size, the Volkswagen Taxi Concept feels luxurious, with use of cream leather and individual, as opposed to bench, seats.

The styling draws on that of the UP!, Space UP! and Space UP! Blue concept cars and features deliberately tongue-in-cheek details such as the silver Union Jack on the roof and the City of London's coat of arms resplendent on either side of the vehicle as well as on the dashboard.

Elegant daytime running lights mounted within the headlight units are joined by a distinctive 'Taxi' light on the roof. This has two settings – it glows green, indicating when it's free and red when it's not.

At the rear the light units are integrated into the 60:40 split tailgate, behind which are a pair of cubbies to house the belongings of the driver.

While the concept doesn't adhere to current legal requirements regulating taxis in London it does offer an insight into the possibility of a future small, efficient taxi that offers an alternative to conventional fuels.

BlockBuster Express to distribute Warner Bros DVD rentals 28 days after release

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 11:33 PM PST

It was only a couple of weeks ago that BlockBuster Express and Warner Bros were trialling the release of DVD titles into the former company's rental kiosks on their day of commercial release, but it seems like that's a future we're not going to see any more of. The pair have now announced a partnership whereby NCR's Blockbuster Express will offer WB's new DVD titles for rent 28 days after launch, matching Redbox and Netflix who are also subject to a four-week delay. This follows similar deals being concluded by NCR with Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox, with the major benefits being lower acquisition costs and a direct relationship with the studio.

Update: We initially conflated Blockbuster with Blockbuster Express-branded DVD kiosks operated by NCR. The post has now been updated to rectify this unforgivable misguidance.

Show full PR text
NCR and Warner Home Video reach new distribution agreement for DVD rental availability at BLOCKBUSTER Express kiosks

December 16, 2010

BLOCKBUSTER Express® to offer Warner Home Video Theatrical new release titles after 28-day window

DULUTH, Georgia – Warner Home Video and NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today announced a new distribution agreement that will make Warner Home Video theatrical new release titles available in NCR's BLOCKBUSTER Express®-branded DVD rental kiosks after a 28-day window. The new arrangement provides NCR with lower acquisition costs, a direct relationship with the Studio, and access to ample quantities of theatrical new release product four weeks after the street date. The agreement also provides Warner Bros. with the opportunity to maximize the sales of new release titles as well as video-on-demand and other forms of digital distribution in the critical first four weeks.

"We are pleased to establish a direct relationship with NCR regarding the availability of new release product," said Mark Horak, president, the Americas, Warner Home Video. "The new agreement allows NCR to continue providing quality DVD rental titles at an affordable price, while providing Warner Bros. with more revenue opportunities when titles are first released."

The new agreement begins with titles scheduled to hit retail stores in January 2011.

"NCR's BLOCKBUSTER Express-branded kiosks continue to offer convenience, affordability and the best in entertainment to consumers, letting us make every night a movie night," said Justin Hotard, vice president and general manager of NCR Entertainment. "Our DVD-rental kiosks are now in more locations than ever before and this new agreement with Warner Home Video ensures that we can continue to provide our customers with the DVD titles they want at the price they want."

NCR – the worldwide leader in self-service consumer experiences – launched its BLOCKBUSTER Express DVD kiosk program in 2009 in thousands of convenient locations and is the only DVD kiosk operator also delivering movies digitally to consumers through its digital download kiosks – such as those being installed at InMotion Entertainment stores.

For a full list of titles available at BLOCKBUSTER Express® kiosks, visit www.blockbusterexpress.com. Consumers can also rent a DVD online from BLOCKBUSTERExpress.com.

BlackBerry Desktop Software 2.0 for Mac OS brings WiFi music sync, broader iPhoto / iTunes support

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 11:05 PM PST

About time, eh? Wintel users have been enjoying the spoils of WiFi music sync on their BlackBerry handsets for the past few months now, but if you're still stickin' with RIM (through the thick and thin), and you just so happen to roll primarily on OS X, there's a new piece of software that you should consider. BlackBerry Desktop Software 2.0 for Mac OS has just been let loose, and it's a pretty substantial update. Aside from supporting WiFi music sync in official fashion, there's also a new device switch wizard and the ability to import and sync photos and videos with iPhoto and iTunes. She's waiting for you there in the source link -- all 39.713 megabytes. You know what to do.

GenosTV sets a date with CES, plans to demo Cyclops universal remote

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 10:40 PM PST

Well, one thing's for sure: it ain't a Harmony. GenosTV, a small subsidiary of the ShambroWest Corporation, is fixing to make somewhat of a splash at CES next year, primarily by showcasing working prototypes of a remote that has been in circulation since June. The monstrosity you're inevitably peering at above is described as the Cyclops Multifunction Universal Controller, and while we aren't told if uses IR or Bluetooth (or both), we are expecting to get a little hands-on time with it in a matter of weeks. The company will also be using its time in Vegas to schmooze with connected HDTV makers, presumably in an effort to strike up a bundle deal with the Sonys, Samsungs and Vizios of the world. Needless to say, our interest is decidedly piqued.
Show full PR text
GenosTV to Demo Working Prototypes of Cyclops™ Universal Controller at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show

Company Integrating Control Codes with Major Television Manufacturer

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 14, 2010 -- GenosTV, the first IPTV operator to utilize existing consumer broadband connections to deliver established television programming services to Internet-connected televisions and other consumer electronics devices, today announced that the company will be previewing working prototypes of its Cyclops Multifunction Universal Controller at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 7 – 11.

GenosTV also announced that the Cyclops development team has been working with a major international television manufacturer to integrate their requirements and control codes into the Cyclops firmware. GenosTV will also be meeting with other leading television manufacturers at CES to expand the universal control capability.

"We are seeing escalating interest in our Cyclops Controller from entertainment electronics manufacturers, as well as a flood of excitement from consumers, due to its unique design and multifunction capability –universal remote control, keyboard and mouse functionality," said GenosTV co-founder Mike West. "We are looking forward to getting Cyclops front and center with the other leading electronics manufacturers with Cyclops at CES. Cyclops is the perfect complement to the next generation of Internet-connected consumer electronic devices."

In addition, GenosTV CEO and co-founder Rob Shambro will be delivering a keynote address at the inaugural 'Content in the Cloud' Conference within CES on January 7, 2011. Mr. Shambro's presentation, entitled, "Benefits of Cloud-Delivered Content for Consumers: Ubiquity, Cost, Portability Improvements," will take place at 2:00 pm in room N260 of the Las Vegas Convention Center's North Hall.

The presentation will include the first public exhibition of GenosTV's flagship service, launching in early 2011 and exclusively offering consumers low-cost access to traditional broadcast and cable/satellite television programming over their current home broadband Internet connections, delivering greater choice, convenience, and value than current pay television offerings. GenosTV is the first television service designed to integrate directly into the next generation of Internet-connected televisions and consumer electronics devices.

About GenosTV

GenosTV is a subsidiary of the ShambroWest Corporation, with offices in Las Vegas and Amsterdam. Founded by Rob Shambro, co-founder of SAVVIS Communications, Inc., StreamSearch.com and Infinium Labs, Kevin Bachus, co-creator of the XBOX and Mike West, subject matter expert in consumer electronics and a former technical leader at IBM, GenosTV provides a cost-effective way to access premium linear television programming using existing broadband Internet connections directly on connected televisions and related devices. For more information visit www.genos.tv

Hitachi's 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 10:16 PM PST

If you can't beat SSDs (and you can't, we've checked), you might as well try and dress like them by squeezing into the unreasonably low profile of just 7mm. Such must be the reasoning behind Hitachi's svelte 7mm-thick HDD series, which today gets augmented with a new top-of-the-line drive boasting 500GB of storage room. This single-platter archivist measure 2.5 inches diagonally, but as its Z5K500 product name suggests, it only spins at the tame rate of 5400RPM. The less generously proportioned Z7K320 offers 7200RPM if you're after more oomph, but it's most likely that your first real contact with either of these drives will be when you see them built into whatever larger device you're buying. Like, say, an ultrathin netbook or a PMP that's eager to swallow your music collection whole.
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Hitachi GST Ships Industry's First, One-Disk, 7mm 500GB Hard Drive

Hitting the Industry Sweet Spot in the 2.5-inch Hard Drive Market, New Thin and Rugged Travelstar™ Z5K500 Drive Enables Innovative Designs for Ultra-portable CE Devices, Laptops and Netbooks, and Compact Industrial Systems;

G-Technology™ G-DRIVE Slim™ Ships with the New Travelstar Z5K500 drive, Making it the Thinnest 500GB, 2.5-inch External Hard Drive in the World

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today announced its new 500GB, 5,400 RPM Travelstar Z5K500 drive – the industry's highest capacity, one-disk, 7 millimeter (mm) z-height hard disk drive (HDD).

According to IDC¹, 500GB, mobile 2.5-inch drives represent 22 percent of the market today, with this capacity growing 42 percent annually from 2010 to 2013. Offered in a complete family of 500GB, 320GB and 250GB, which satisfies more than 77 percent of today's capacity needs in the portable PC market¹, these drives are the industry's only second-generation family of 5,400 RPM, 7mm z-height drives, which are designed as a direct replacement for standard 2.5-inch, 9.5mm drives in everything from external drives to laptops, netbooks and blade servers. All this combined puts the new Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 drive family in the industry sweet spot of opportunity in the mobile 2.5-inch market.

With its slim profile and high capacities, the Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 drive family delivers the best cost per gigabyte and gigabyte per cubic millimeter (GB/mm3) when compared to solid state drives (SSD), and 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch 9.5mm HDDs, offering a compelling value proposition for OEMs and system integrators. With the broadest line of 7,200 and 5,400 RPM 7mm drives now at their fingertips, Hitachi customers can differentiate product lines by utilizing space savings to produce thinner devices, add battery capacity, increase shock robustness, or improve internal airflow – all better uses of the volume in a system than shipping a partially "empty" 9.5mm 2.5-inch hard drive with only one disk.

Delivering the right balance of power and acoustics, the drives feature 1.8 watts (W) read/write power and 0.55W low power idle, and deliver a nearly silent operation at 1.9 idle / 2.1 seek bels, which is quieter than most ambient noise in a household. All Travelstar Z5K500 drives feature an 8MB cache and a Serial ATA 3Gb per second interface. They are also Hitachi's second generation Advanced Format drive, which increases the physical sector size on HDDs from 512 bytes to 4,096 (4K) bytes, thereby improving drive capacity and error correction capabilities.

All Hitachi Z-series 7mm drives feature common connectors and mounting points for standard integration into existing systems, and enable greater design flexibility to differentiate and meet market demands for new thinner, lighter and more robust devices.

Security, Reliability, Availability

Travelstar Z-series family features optional bulk data encryption (BDE) for hard drive level data security. When employing BDE, data is scrambled using a key as it is being written to the disk and then descrambled with the key as it is retrieved. The Travelstar Z5K500 drive family will also be offered in Enhanced Availability (EA) models in capacities of 320GB and 500GB, which are designed and fine-tuned for applications needing "always-on" protection in 24x7, low transaction environments including blade servers, network routers, video surveillance and compact RAID systems.

The Travelstar Z5K500 family will be shipping to select distributors in December.

New 500GB Travelstar Z5K500 Enables Sleek, Elegant G-Technology G-DRIVE slim

The G-Technology G-DRIVE slim leverages the new rugged, 7mm Travelstar Z5K500 drive, making it the thinnest 500GB, 2.5-inch external hard drive in the world. With its ultra thin profile and sleek design that complements the Apple® MacBook®, MacBook™ Pro or MacBook Air™, users now have increased capacity in a stylish footprint to help them move, work and play with their digital content. Now at 500GB, the drive has enough room to store up to 125 hours of high-definition video, 500 hours of standard video, 178 movies, 125,000 4-minute songs or 250 games². Formatted for Macs with simple plug n' play connectivity, the G-DRIVE slim is Time Machine® ready for added backup protection. It is USB-powered, so there is no need to carry around an extra power cord.

The 500GB G-Technology G-DRIVE slim will be shipping to retailers in early Q1 2011. Pricing has not been set.

"Ultra thin and light devices are, without argument, a growing trend. In order for these innovative designs to live up to their true potential, they need rugged, reliable high-capacity hard drives that can withstand the rigors of a portable environment and satisfy the storage demands of their end users, and Hitachi continues to deliver," said Brendan Collins, vice president of product marketing at Hitachi GST. "As the industry's only 500GB one disk product and the only second generation 7mm product family, Hitachi continues to push the bar higher, and is leading the shift from 9.5mm 2.5-inch drives to 7mm 2.5-inch drives across a broad range of market segments."

Paramount rolls out Silverlight-enhanced movies for Windows Phone 7

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 10:02 PM PST

Why simply download a movie when you can download a movie app? That's the thinking at Paramount, at least, which launched it's first Silverlight-enhanced movie app, School of Rock, for Windows Phone 7 devices this week. That's one of an initial batch of ten movies that will be released before the end of the year, which will also include Zoolander, GI JOE: The Rise of Cobra and Waiting for Superman, among other yet-to-be-announced titles. In addition to the movie itself, each of those will come packed with a range of extras including trailers, DVD-style special features, a Scene It? pop-up trivia mode, and the ability to create custom movie clips. As for how much they'll cost, School of Rock currently runs $10, although it's not clear if that will be the standard pricing for all releases.
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Paramount Digital Entertainment to Release Paramount Silverlight Enhanced Movies for Windows® Phone 7

Movie Apps Bring Robust Film Experience to Handset

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Digital Entertainment announced today that it will be releasing ten enhanced movie apps of Paramount Pictures' films exclusively for Windows® Phone 7. Paramount Digital Entertainment is launching SCHOOL OF ROCK today in the U.S. and Canadian Windows Phone Marketplace with additional titles to be released in the U.S. and international markets before the end of the year.

The movie apps have been built using Microsoft Silverlight technology and offer the full movie plus menus, bonus features and unique experiences not available on other platforms to deliver a rich connected consumer experience to Windows Phone 7. Other titles coming to Paramount Silverlight Enhanced Movies for Windows Phone include ZOOLANDER, WAITING FOR SUPERMAN and GI JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, with more to be announced.

"Through our relationship with Microsoft, we're able to provide consumers new, enhanced ways to enjoy movies from anywhere on Windows Phone 7," said Geremie Camara, Vice President Product Development for Paramount Digital Entertainment. "Using Silverlight technology and adding interactive and social networking features, our enhanced movie apps transform the movie viewing experience into a true entertainment experience."

Other features in the enhanced movie apps include the ability to create custom clips, view the movie with pop-up trivia powered by 'Scene It?', and a Movie Info feature offering users the ability to identify actors, objects, music, and places in the movie, while providing rich, contextual information, such as bios, descriptions, and even maps to the locations.

"Windows Phone 7 is backed by a rich developer ecosystem that is creating a variety of quality apps and games, like Paramount Entertainment's movie apps, that take advantage of the phone's unique features and design," said Todd Brix, senior director, Windows Phone Marketplace, Microsoft Corp. "We're proud to have these Paramount titles that offer unique experiences for consumers exclusively available on Windows Phone 7 this holiday season," he continued.

Paramount Digital Entertainment developed the movie apps in collaboration with Digitalsmiths, Hypershow and Trailer Park.

The School of Rock movie app is available from the Marketplace hub on all Windows Phone 7 devices, or on the desktop via the free Zune PC software at http://social.zune.net/redirect?type=phoneApp&id=61dc3fe3-56f8-df11-9264-00237de2db9e

About Paramount Digital Entertainment

Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. PDE develops and distributes filmed entertainment across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices, videogames, and emerging technologies.

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Worldwide Television Distribution.

SOURCE Paramount Digital Entertainment

GammaTech stuffs Core i5 into rugged, rigid D12C convertible laptop

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 09:29 PM PST

She ain't pretty -- far from it, actually -- but she'll definitely get the job done in uncertain conditions. GammaTech's latest convertible laptop has just been revealed, with the D12C bringing along a 12.1-inch LED-backlit WXGA touchscreen, a Core i5-540UM processor, up to 8GB of memory, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi, optional Bluetooth / smart card reader and an integrated carry handle. The actual exterior is built much like a tank, meeting stringent MIL-STD-810G requirements surrounding drop and shock resistance. There's also a spill resistant design that sheds water around the keyboard, touchpad, speakers and wireless and power switches, and every last port is fully dust resistant. You'll also find a 2.5-inch slot suitable for your choice of HDD or SSD, and unless you specify otherwise, you'll be getting a fresh copy of Windows 7. Mum's the word on pricing, but as these things tend to go, we're guessing you'll be paying a stiff premium for the rigidity.
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GammaTech Introduces Its Newest Mobile Rugged, Convertible Notebook Computer

Designed Specifically for People on the Go, Unit Includes 12.1"Touch Screen Display, Web Cam, HD Stereo Audio and Up to 8GB of Memory

Fremont, CA – December 15, 2010 - GammaTech Computer Corp., a major international manufacturer and supplier of innovative notebook and tablet computers, has introduced the newest member to its line of cost-effective, high-performance rugged convertible notebook computers, the D12C. Lightweight for easy mobility, the unit is ideal for on-the-go salespersons, students, and travelers, among others. GammaTech will feature the unit at the upcoming 2011 CES.

"The D12C is designed so it can be easily used virtually anywhere," stated Steven Gau, GammaTech President. "There is no reason why on-the-go individuals should not have access to fully featured, convertible notebook computers that are rugged enough to stand up to the daily grind. The GammaTech D12C is exactly that."

For ultimate flexibility and functionality, the GammaTech D12C is a rugged notebook computer that transforms quickly and easily to a Tablet PC. It is drop and shock resistant and tested to stringent MIL-STD-810G requirements. Its unique spill resistant design protects it from accidental spills, as its spill resistant C-face includes the area around the keyboard, touchpad, speakers and wireless and power switches. All input/output ports are fully dust resistant.

The D12C comes with an Intel® i5-540UM processor and Intel® HM55 chipset. It has up to 8GB of memory capacity. Features include a 12.1" convertible TFT, LED backlit touch screen display, high-definition stereo audio, 1.3 mega-pixel Web camera, and WLAN and WiFi compatibility with optional Bluetooth capability. Contents are kept safe with security features such as BIOS administrator password/Boot password, fingerprint scanner and TPM 1.2 technology. A smart card reader is optional. The built-in handle makes moving the unit from location to location hassle free.

Availability
As with the rest of the GammaTech notebook product line, the D12C is available through authorized resellers nationwide and at http://www.GammaTechUSA.com/java-jsp/gov_index.jsp. Every GammaTech product may be customized to customer specifications.

About GammaTech Computer Corporation
For over two decades, GammaTech Computer Corporation is a leader in the design, manufacturing and sales of rugged and hardened notebook and tablet computers throughout North America. GammaTech promotes its award winning, built-to-order durable mobile computers to businesses, government, healthcare, fire, law enforcement and public safety entities. GammaTech is headquartered in Fremont, California, which provides the final assembly, inventory, service and technical support.

For more information, please visit GammaTech at www.GammaTechUSA.com

Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 09:01 PM PST

Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance
If you're not down with this whole "careless computing" craze you still need somewhere to stuff your files, and Synology has introduced a new high-performance and (relatively) low-cost option. It's the DS211+, a dual-bay, hot-swappable NAS with an integrated card reader and software providing easy security administration, remote access, and even surveillance storage duties. It's priced at "around $400" and, according to an early review at KitGuru, it's well worth the cost, delivering "stunning levels of bandwidth" and leading to various other hyperbolic conclusions that make us think you might want to wait for a second, less euphemistic opinion before clicking the buy button.
Synology DiskStation DS211+


Show full PR text
Synology Launches Budget-Friendly, Business-Grade NAS DiskStation DS211+

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Synology America Corp. today launched the DiskStation DS211+, a high-performance and full-featured 2-bay NAS server for office and enthusiast users to share files, centralize backup, and protect data. The latest addition to the professional class of DiskStations comes with Synology's distinctive DiskStation Manager (DSM) 3.0 software to provide an intuitive interface for managing the server.

As part of the revamped design, the DS211+ offers hot-swap drive bays, which will help businesses to minimize downtime in the event of a drive failure. Priced around $400, this is the first DiskStation to offer this feature at this price point. For photographers, it also offers an integrated SD card reader, making for easier transfers to the NAS.

"When you factor in the benefits of the newer hardware on productivity, this is just a great answer to the needs of small businesses," said Jason Bonoan, Product Marketing Manager at Synology America. "With support for 3TB drives, that allows for volumes up to 6TB, plenty of space for many small businesses. This new model just represents a value unmatched by DAS so-called 'solutions.'" In addition to the expected NAS duties, such as file sharing and remote access and management, Surveillance Station 5 allows the DiskStation to become an NVR solution. As a surveillance solution, it supports up to 12 IP channels at once, chosen from a list of over 700 camera models.

With DSM 3.0, it offers business users such features as: ADS integration (with support for domains up to 100,000 users and groups) Enhanced iSCSI support (including persistent reservations) Hardware encryption engine with 256 bit AES share-level encryption Using the intuitive DSM 3.0 interface, it is simple to manage all aspects of the server. Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) allows users to easily create a redundant volume, protecting their data against disk failure without requiring expertise with RAID technology. In addition, the DS211+ is backed by a competitive 2-year warranty and in-house technical support with no extra charge.

Visit http://www.synology.com/us/products/DS211+/index.php for more product information.

About Synology Founded in April of 2000, Synology Inc. is a leader in next-generation Network Attached Storage (NAS) servers for the home and small to medium sized business markets. Specializing in both hardware and software for network attached storage devices; Synology products are feature-rich, easy-to-use, energy-efficient, reliable and affordable. All Synology product investments are enhanced with product warranties, free software upgrades and 24/7 online support. Visit http://www.synology.com for more information Synology has a global presence with regional offices in the US (Redmond, Washington) and the UK (London, England) and Taiwan (Taipei).

Press Contact Doug Self marketing.us@synology.com Synology America Corp.

Word Lens augmented reality app instantly translates whatever you point it at

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 08:09 PM PST


Augmented reality and optical character recognition have just come into their own, beautifully intertwined into an instant translation app for the iPhone. Download Word Lens, pay $4.99 for a language pack, then point it at a sign and watch as it replaces every word with one in your native tongue. It's a little bit like Pleco, but without the whole language learning stuff. We just gave it a spin, and while it's not quite as accurate as this video claims, it's still breathtaking to behold -- especially as it doesn't require an internet connection to do any lookup. Sadly, it only translates to and from English and Spanish for now. Still, Babelfish, eat your heart out.

Update: Looks like it only works on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and the latest iPod touch for now.

BlackBerry PlayBook will ship in March, assuming inertial momentum

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 07:32 PM PST

RIM dropped an intriguing hint about a likely release date for the BlackBerry PlayBook during its Q3 earnings call this week -- namely, that the company expects the first revenue from the dual-core tablet to arrive in the first quarter of the company's fiscal year. "There are no PlayBook revenues included in our Q4 guidance, and we expect the first revenue impact from PlayBook will be in RIM's first quarter," a RIM spokeswoman said, adding that the PlayBook is still slated to ship in the first quarter of the calendar year. If that still sounds like financial gibberish, let us clarify a tad -- RIM's first fiscal quarter doesn't start till March, which happens to be when the first calendar quarter ends. Oh, RIM can certainly revise its guidance to shareholders and launch the BlackBerry PlayBook earlier or later if that's what execs deem fit, but if both of RIM's statements remain true, then March is when the PlayBook will ship. Isn't logic wonderful?

HTC Aria gets Android 2.2 update... but not on AT&T yet

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 07:05 PM PST

We know this isn't exactly the news you wanted to hear, AT&T customers, but it's comforting to know that the diminutive Aria has been upgraded to Froyo somewhere, isn't it? HTC's support page for Southeast Asia now reports availability of an over-the-air update to build 2.37.708.5 for the phone, which brings it up to Android 2.2 -- topped off with Sense, of course -- presumably along with all the normal benefits of Froyo like tethering, improved enterprise support, and some serious performance boosts. It's unclear when this update will take a flight across the Pacific to AT&T's version -- but if nothing else, it's good to know that HTC's officially gotten the Aria working with something newer than Eclair. Remember, the glass is half full.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Ask Engadget: best latex-free mouse and keyboard solution?

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 06:39 PM PST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Cris, who can't seem to find a latex-free mouse that he needs to prevent allergic reactions. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I work in an office environment for ten hours a day in front of a computer where my right hand spends most of it's time on my wireless Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 2.0. It's a mouse I've loved, but there's an issue. I have discovered that I'm allergic to the rubber latex used in the mouse. Although I have not had a tough time finding posts online from people complaining of the same problem, I have had a very difficult time finding a solution. I need a latex-free mouse, preferably with similar features to the Intellimouse I love so much. It's easy to find many things in a latex-free variety; obviously mice aren't in that group. Thanks!"
So, any suggestions for Cris? Quite a few folks are allergic to latex rubber, and it's borderline impossible to believe that no latex-free mouse lives in a world chock full of options. If you've managed to uncover a gem that fits the bill (or a particular keyboard, while we're on the subject), drop a hint in comments below.

Dell Venue Pro gets FCC certification -- with AT&T 3G

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 06:06 PM PST

If we had a dollar for every time we heard someone lament, "if only the Venue Pro worked on AT&T," we'd have... like, 30 dollars. At least! It's on that note that we bring news to you this evening of a new Venue Pro variant in the FCC's archives sporting WCDMA Band II and V support, which is exactly what you'd need to get fancy on the 3G networks of AT&T, Rogers, Bell, or Telus. Now, we do want to caution everyone that Dell has a track record of getting FCC approval for devices that never hit the market -- take the AWS-capable Streak, for instance -- but this is an interesting development to say the least. 'Course, at this point, we'll be happy getting even one kind of Venue Pro shipped in volume, much less two -- but it's something to keep an eye out for.

Apple looking to patent sharable apps, considers calling them 'seeds'

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:46 PM PST

You know that killer new app you just got for your iPhone? Could you beam us a copy to try? Of course you can't -- it doesn't work that way -- but someday soon it might. The fine folks at Patently Apple recently unearthed an Apple patent app that describes a way to transfer apps over peer-to-peer Bluetooth or shiny, star-filled WiFi. The idea goes that if a company wants to spread a program by word of mouth, it might as well make it shareable too, and so the owner of an app could transfer an "application seed" to friends and associates with a similar device. You'd pick from a menu of apps to beam over, where only those greenlit by their developer would be available to send, and your recipient would receive a trial version -- or somewhat less excitingly, a link to the App Store -- over the air. The patent app suggests that recipients could even share the demo in turn, generating generation after generation of word-of-mouth sales, and that companies might even reward particularly influential sharers in some way. What's that rumbling we hear? Just the gears turning in the minds of men plotting the next great pyramid scheme.

Thanko's monitor hub takes all your desk clutter and hangs it from your LCD

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:23 PM PST

Thanko's monitor hub takes all your desk clutter and hangs it on your LCD
Your desk is a mess. Didn't your mother teach you anything? I mean, really, wouldn't that pen be better off in a drawer or something instead of tossed haphazardly behind your keyboard? And how long are you going to keep those empty soda bottles there? Maybe you should organize yourself a little, and maybe Thanko can help with its LCD monitor hub. It attaches to the sides and bottom of your LCD, giving you a four-port USB replicator below to help reduce cable-clutter and a series of tilt-out drawers on either side of your display where you can stuff the pens, pencils, cables, candies, thumb drives, screwdrivers, utility knives, digital cameras, toy cars, Gorillapods, memory cards, stickers, scissors, headphones, Wiimote wrists straps, and everything else that might not otherwise have a home. Or maybe that's our desks and we're just projecting.

Tron: Legacy gets its very own interactive halfpipe (video)

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:58 PM PST

Look, y'all know that Tron: Legacy comes out in just a few painful hours.You've probably seen those Daft Punk headphones, a blue-glowy Razer mouse, and the obligatory armchair, among other insane promotional items. But those earthly objects definitely weren't enough to fulfill the geeky capacity of the branding opportunities that such a cinematic event -- nay, spectacle -- creates. Melbourne-based interactive design company Eness went ahead and built an interactive projection-mapped skate ramp to commemorate the premiere. The Aussies who got to shred in this thing created and destroyed light trails, exploded through galaxies of color and shapes piped straight from the Grid, and had their airtime measured in real time and projected onto the ramp. It's not quite a real-life light cycle battle, but we'll take it. Must-see video after the jump.

at 11:36 AM

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