| The winners of the 2010 Engadget Awards -- Editors' Choice Posted: 25 Feb 2011 10:02 AM PST The results are in, and well over 100,000 of you voted in the 2010 Engadget Awards. The Readers' Choice picks were just the tip of the iceberg, friends, That's right, the editors of Engadget have opinions, too, and here they are. Join us after the break for the year that was 2010 in gadgets.  Gadget of the Year The iPad won this one going away -- there's just no denying the influence Apple's tablet had on the industry this year. But we think the Evo 4G will be remembered as the first of an entirely new breed of smartphones, and that's pretty amazing too. Runner-up: HTC Evo  Worst Gadget of the Year Though it might not be the single worst product we saw in 2010, the sheer magnitude of the Kin's failure -- measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars -- takes it to the top of our list. Runner-up: Fusion Garage JooJoo  Most Anticipated Gadget iOS may be leading next phase of the mobile gaming revolution, but the NGP oozes raw power that's light years ahead of any other gaming handheld ever announced. We like power. Runner-up: HP TouchPad  Phone of the Year We went endlessly back and forth on this one, but in the end the iPhone 4 won out -- it's simply a more polished device than the Evo, and it set a dramatic new quality standard for mobile displays. Runner-up: HTC Evo  Desktop of the Year Let's face it: Desktops are on their way out. Primo parts are preponderant, but the best machine you can buy today is the one you build yourself. We'll continue to write about towers on Engadget, if innovative ones appear, but unless there's substantive change, we're retiring Desktop of the Year.  Laptop of the Year Sure, HP unleashed its Envy line last year, but the Envy 14 corrected all of the original wrongs. Its aluminum chassis, Core i5 power, and Radiance display, truly make it the best PC on the market. That said, there's no denying the significance of the MacBook Air's new solid-state storage and speedy resume times. Runner-up: Apple MacBook Air  Netbook of the Year The ASUS Eee PC 1215N is the netbook evolved. Thanks to the 12.1-inch laptop's NVIDIA Ion graphics and dual-core Atom processor, it can handle gaming and full HD. Google's Cr-48 may stand in stark contrast to that, but it's got one beautifully minamilstic chassis and is the first laptop to come with Chrome OS. Runner-up: Google Cr-48  Digital Camera of the Year 1080p video at both 24 and 30fps for well under $1,000. Need we say more? The T2i set a new bar for mass-market DSLR video performance, and 18.7 megapixel stills at ISO 6400 are nothing to sneeze at, either. Runner-up: Sony NEX  E-reader of the Year The Kindle 3 isn't necessarily the most exciting e-reading product we saw last year, but its ubiquity and price point have legitimized the market in a way nobody else has. The fact that it's almost impossibly small and light doesn't hurt, either. Runner-up: Nook Color  Display of the Year Though it was invented decades ago, Corning's Gorilla Glass finally found its calling in 2010 with a plethora of manufacturer agreements for phones and tablets, and it's helped to take some of the worry out of throwing your gadget in a bag or pocket unprotected. Runner-up: Apple Retina Display  Game Console of the Year How many new game consoles came out this year? Not many, but the one that kept us playing longest was our shiny black Xbox. The Xbox 360 S made an already-great system more reliable, and the Kinect is poised to do amazing things. Honorable mention: OnLive, for making cloud-based gaming real. Runner-up: OnLive Game System  Game Accessory of the Year What's the best thing you can buy for your game console, other than another disc? We'd recommend a motion controller, like the Kinect or PlayStation Move. Unfortunately, neither shipped with a killer app, but we'd give Kinect the edge -- hacks demonstrate the potential for fabulous game experiences. Runner-up: PlayStation Move  GPS Device of the Year Standalone GPS devices may be on their way out, but Garmin's still showing folks how it's done with its nuvi 3790t -- a sleek, feature-packed unit that almost makes us wish it were a phone. If you're not the standalone sort, however, the latest version of Google Maps for Android is tough to beat. Runner-up: Google Maps v5  HDTV of the Year 3D features may be the headliners for our winner and runner up, but amazing 2D image quality propelled Panasonic's VT25 to the top of the wanted lists and Sony's slick monolith style plus local dimming LEDs were a close second. Runner-up: Sony Bravia HX909  Home Entertainment Device Netflix's Watch Instantly was unquestioned in its status as a must-have app for media devices this year (want to know why Boxee didn't win for 2010?) while the iPad found a surprisingly cozy place as remote control / second screen for your TV watching pleasure. Runner-up: Apple iPad Peripheral of the Year Microsoft's Kinect 3D depth camera was originally designed for the Xbox 360, but it proved to be the year's most fantastic hackable toy when interfaced with a PC. Our runner-up: the first mass-market quadrocopter, the AR.Drone, a veritable flying platform for hacks of its own. Runner-up: Parrot A.R. Drone  Portable Media Device Now in its fourth generation, the iPod touch is more dominant than ever, and with good reason. It's caught up to the iPhone 4 in terms of most key specs, and the App Store remains a huge advantage over the rest of the non-phone competition. If storage and sound quality is key, though, the Cowon X7 is tops. Runner-up: Cowon X7  Robot of the Year Shuttle delays pushed its trip to space into 2011, but Robonaut 2's been ready to go for months, and has offered us all a hope that humans and robots can work together in harmony. GRASP Labs' quadrocopters, on the other hand, are terrifying autonomous bots that can move in packs and fly through hoops. Runner-up: GRASP Labs quadrocopters Tablet PC of the Year Love it or hate it, it's hard to argue that the iPad didn't set off this year's tablet mania encompassing dozens of manufacturers and virtually every major mobile platform -- and its influence will likely be felt in the industry for years to come. Oh, and it's a pretty solid device in its own right, too. Runner-up: Galaxy Tab  Wearable Device of the Year Jawbone has emerged as one of the premier Bluetooth headset manufacturers, thanks largely to its NoiseAssassin technology that it's been refining over the past several years. The Icon is no exception -- and its support for software updates is a nice bonus. Runner-up: iPod Nano  Wireless Device or Tech Though it was beaten to the US market by MetroPCS, Verizon's deployment of LTE marks the beginning of a sea change in the American wireless industry -- a change that'll bring us much faster data. Runner-up: AirPlay |
| World's first robot marathon gets off to a slow start, will likely stay that way Posted: 25 Feb 2011 09:36 AM PST It might take them a good 92 hours longer than the fastest human runners, but a group of five pint-sized humanoids have officially embarked on the world's first full-length robot marathon. The Robo Mara Full, put on by Japanese robotics company Vstone, kicked off today in Osaka, Japan, and will see the mechanized competitors through a 42 kilometer (26 mile) race, estimated to last at least four days. During the marathon, entrants will circle a 100-meter indoor track a total of 422 times with little help from their human coaches -- contact is only permitted during battery and servo replacement. Vstone's Robovie-PC led the pack at the outset, but with three days left to go, it's still any robot's game. You can check out a live feed of all the, uh, slow and furious action at the coverage link below, and get a full overview of the race, complete with embarrassing translation, by following the source link. |
| Google makes rich richer, poor poorer in search results Posted: 25 Feb 2011 09:06 AM PST If you've been paying attention to the state of search as of late, you'll know that Google's between a proverbial rock and hard place right now. Some individuals and companies claim Mountain View's beloved search engine is losing to the spammers, squatters, scrapers and content farms by failing to weed them from the system -- though you can now do that on your own -- while others say it's squashing the little guy by unfairly downranking competitors in search results. We're not sure if either is truly the case, the company's made a mildly controversial move this week: it's tweaked the search algorithms to "reduce rankings for low-quality sites," and "provide better rankings for high-quality" ones. As ever, Mountain View's not talking about what that change mathematically entails, though it says about 11.8 percent of queries will be affected as a result. In short: some will be happy, some sad, some angry, and many won't notice at all. |
| Motorola Xoom and Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Pro get torn down Posted: 25 Feb 2011 08:34 AM PST The Xoom's big attraction may be the ethereal Honeycomb that oozes within it, but it's still a gadget made of metal, silicon and plastic, so we're as keen as anyone to see what its insides look like. iFixit has dutifully performed the task of tearing one down to its constituent components and found an Atmel touchscreen controller capable of picking up 15 inputs at a time, a Qualcomm MDM6600 chip capable of 14.4Mbps HSPA+ speeds, some Toshiba NAND flash memory, and of course, NVIDIA's beloved Tegra 2 dual-core SOC. The conclusion reached was that the Xoom is relatively easy to repair, though you should be aware there are no less than 57 screws holding the thing together, so free up a nice long afternoon if you intend to disassemble one yourself. Aside from Moto's flagship tablet, iFixit has also gotten to grips with Apple's latest MacBook Pro, the one that can do Thunderbolt-fast transfers with as yet nonexistent peripherals, though discoveries there were predictably few and far between. The wireless card now has four antennas instead of three and there are some changes made to the cooling systems, but the real reason you'll want to see this is the quad-core Sandy Bridge CPU lurking within -- it's as big and imposing as the performance it promises to deliver. |
| Sony PSP dips down to $130, wants to be your cheap thrill until the NGP gets here Posted: 25 Feb 2011 07:48 AM PST Sony is treating its portable gaming fans well these days by giving them the one-two punch of having both a world-beating device to look forward to in the future and an affordable one to pass the time with until then. Starting this Sunday, the venerable PSP-3000 will be yours to own for just $130, taking it dangerously close to impulse buy territory, while Sony is also adding a few more titles to its $20 PSP Greatest Hits collection, including Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and LittleBigPlanet PSP. Skip past the break for the full press release and the new ad video to promote the cheaper portable. Show full PR text PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) System Now Offers Unrivaled Entertainment Value for $129.99
Featuring a Robust Entertainment Offering, Expansive Software Library and Accessibility to PlayStation®Network, the PSP system Continues to Deliver Great Value to Consumers
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announced the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system will be available for $129.99 (MSRP) starting February 27, 2011. Since launching in 2005, the PSP system has sold more than 23 million* units in North America and 67.8 million worldwide, offering more than 590 engaging titles in North America as well as access to a vast selection of downloadable content from PlayStation®Network. In addition to the new price point, 13 new games will be added to the PSP "Greatest Hits" and $9.99 "Favorites" software collections, further delivering upon the PSP system's incredible entertainment value.
"The PSP system set the standard for complete portable entertainment and continues to be the premiere destination for gamers on-the-go," said Tim Bender, Senior Vice President, Sales, SCEA. "Nearly six years after its initial launch, demand for the PSP remains strong. This new price point enables us to broaden the PSP platform to a larger group of consumers who are looking for best-in-class handheld entertainment."
As part of the PSP system's extensive software catalogue are its "Greatest Hits" and "Favorites" collections. Available for $19.99 (MSRP), Greatest Hits titles have surpassed an impressive sales threshold and represent the highest caliber of quality software available on the PSP system. With nearly 70 titles to date, two of the latest additions include Assassin's Creed® Bloodlines™ (Ubisoft), DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY® (Square Enix, Inc.), LittleBigPlanet (PSP®), METAL GEAR SOLID®: PEACE WALKER (Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.), Ratchet & Clank®: Size Matters, Resistance: Retribution™, and Toy Story 3: The Video Game (Disney Interactive).
Favorites titles, valued at $9.99 (MSRP), offer some of the PSP system's most popular games at an incredible price. New PSP Favorites titles include CRISIS CORE® -FINAL FANTASY® VII- (Square Enix, Inc. ), Daxter®, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite™ (Capcom), Killzone®: Liberation, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fire Team Bravo, and Tomb Raider® Anniversary (Square Enix, Inc.).
Acclaimed for being the first truly integrated handheld entertainment system, the PSP system continues to deliver unparalleled gaming experiences only possible on the PSP platform while offering a wide variety of affordable entertainment options to consumers. |
| HTC Merge official, coming to 'multiple' US carriers this spring Posted: 25 Feb 2011 07:25 AM PST Boy, we've had so many leaked materials relating to the HTC Merge that we kind of assumed the handset was official by now. Never mind, HTC is taking care of that little oversight now, admittedly much later than we expected the phone to show up, by announcing that the Merge will arrive on multiple US carriers in the spring. It brings Android 2.2, skinned with HTC's Sense UI, a 3.8-in touchscreen plus that slide-out keyboard, and a 5 megaixel autofocus camera with 720p video recording. Not bad, now let's see how those carriers decide to price this mid-range contender. Show full PR text HTC Introduces the Powerful, Feature-Rich HTC Merge
The HTC Merge™ Smartphone Brings Android™ and HTC Sense™ to HTC's First CDMA Android World Phone
Download image
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HTC Corp., a global designer of smartphones, today announced that the new HTC Merge smartphone will be made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011. The HTC Merge smartphone combines a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard with the power of Android 2.2, the HTC Sense experience, a large 3.8-inch touch-screen display and a 5 megapixel camera to create a complete mobile experience for those looking for a truly complete smartphone. The HTC Merge is also HTC's first Android-based CDMA world phone.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110225/SF54676)
"HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment," said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Americas. "Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it's at home or travelling around the world."
Customers will appreciate seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, enjoy quick and easy access to Flickr® for sharing and viewing pictures, and find new ways to customize their experience with the Android Market™ with more than 100,000 applications. With a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, customers will be able to keep in touch with friends and family no matter where they are, as well as stay in the loop with Flickr, Facebook® and Twitter™ updates through HTC FriendStream™.
In addition, the HTC Merge smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash that captures outstanding images, while 3G connectivity makes sharing those special moments with friends and family quick and easy. The HTC Merge smartphone also comes with integrated GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity and even the ability to capture high-definition 720p video.
Availability
HTC Merge is slated to be available from multiple North American operators beginning in spring 2011. |
| Verizon's dropped 911 calls leave one woman trapped in burning house (video) Posted: 25 Feb 2011 07:07 AM PST We're just hearing of a story that makes that 10,000 or so emergency calls that didn't go through over Verizon's network on January 26 look a little more serious. A house in Silver Spring, Maryland caught fire that evening during the snowstorm that knocked out power and landlines. A neighbor, noticing the house was ablaze, tried calling 911 on his cellphone but couldn't get through. Thankfully he was able to save the 94 year old woman who was trapped inside, but it would be about 30 minutes of repeated dialing before finally being connected to emergency services. Thank goodness for heroes, but maybe Verizon Guy has some work to do himself. |
| Firefox 4 beta 5 for mobile released, available on Android, N900, your computer Posted: 25 Feb 2011 06:09 AM PST Tired of using the default browser on your smart phone to browse Engadget? Got a thing for Firefox? Great, 'cause Mozilla just pushed out the fifth beta of Firefox 4 for mobile. You might be familiar with the on-the-go version of Mozilla's creation, but if not, here's your chance to grab the latest (and probably) the most stable build to date. In addition to the Android and Maemo version, the company has released a Fennec build for use on Windows, OS X and Linux. We tinkered with the OS X build of the browser on our Macbook Pro and although pages appear to render quickly, we can't quite figure out how to navigate backwards. You can pinch-to-zoom with the trackpad and scroll with the d-pad, but once you've loaded a page, it seems you need to be on a mobile device do any further navigation. Of course, as you'll see in the gallery below, the beta comes packed with the usual -- preferences, downloads, add-ons, bookmarks and Firefox Sync. If you want to give the software a whirl, hit the source link to grab the build of your choice. |
| Barnes & Noble updates Nook Android app, promises a Honeycomb version this spring Posted: 25 Feb 2011 04:11 AM PST On the heels of the announcement that it's grabbed 25 percent of the US e-reader market, Barnes & Noble has decided to give the world a heap of details on its Android developments. First up, we've got an updated Android app, and while it's not exactly a drastic upgrade, version 2.5 has been refreshed with a new library grid view (apparently optimized for 7-inch tablets), a book download progress bar, and a wish list feature. We told you they were rather minor updates, but our guess is that the Nook Honeycomb app that's being promised for some time this spring will be far more exciting. Yep, it's a lot of B&N Android, but while we're on the topic, we've got to admit we're wondering about the whereabouts of that Nook Color app store, which was announced back in October. Look not everyone has taken to rooting, okay? Alright, we've totally digressed -- hit the gallery below for some screens of the new app or the source link to try it out on your own. |
| GM shows off Terrain SUV with noise cancellation, says silence equals fuel efficiency Posted: 25 Feb 2011 02:06 AM PST GM claims its new Terrain has other SUVs beat when it comes to fuel efficiency, and they're citing active noise cancellation -- a concept near and dear to audiophiles everywhere -- as one of the driving factors that puts it 4MPG above the competition. Basically, the Terrain's enlisted a new one-touch "Eco mode" that allows its four-cylinder engine to run at a lower torque, decreasing engine speeds, and thus saving gas. The thing is, this increased fuel efficiency comes with a "low-end frequency boom," which is where the noise cancellation sets in: two microphones built in to the car's headliner detect the boom, prompting a frequency generator to pump counteracting sound waves through Terrain's speakers. Simply put, GM's just getting rid of an unpleasant hum. So a quieter car isn't necessarily a greener car, but we'll take a more fuel efficient SUV any day. If you're picking up what GM's laying down, check out the full PR after the jump. Show full PR text High-End Audio Technology Helps Terrain Get Top MPGs
Noise Cancellation System Also Helps Give GMC Crossover One of the Quietest Interiors
DETROIT – The technology that makes high-end noise-cancelling headphones coveted by frequent flyers and iPod audiophiles is helping GMC Terrain owners save gas.
Active noise cancellation does double duty on Terrain. The technology enables the crossover to deliver a segment-leading EPA-rated 32 mpg in highway driving while ensconcing the driver in one of the quietest interiors in its segment. On the highway, Terrain easily tops the 28-mpg rating of Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.
"The use of active noise cancellation for fuel economy benefit on Terrain is among the first at GM," said Paul Beaker, program engineering manager for GMC Terrain. "It has strong potential for implementation on other four-cylinder vehicle programs."
When GM engineers set out to deliver segment-leading fuel economy on Terrain they chose to lower the 6-speed transmission's gear shift points to enable the Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine to run at lower rpm torque. In this "Eco" mode, which the driver can activate with a click of a button on the console, the torque converter clutch engages at lower engine speeds to help save gas. While the engineering action improved fuel efficiency by up to one mpg, it also created an objectionable low-end frequency boom. To counteract that boom the engineers turned to active noise cancellation technology.
Terrain's noise cancellation system relies on two microphones embedded in the headliner to detect the hum and prompt an onboard frequency generator to create counteracting sound waves through the audio system's speakers and sub-woofer. The system also reduces higher rpm engine noise at highway cruising speeds to help keep the vehicle interior quiet.
"Terrain measured quieter than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in our on-road interior noise tests," said Jim Vallance, noise, vibration and harshness development engineer. "At 70 miles per hour, Terrain's interior is quiet enough to allow conversation in normal tones of voice."
The use of direct injection and variable valve timing also help maximize Terrain's fuel efficiency. In a direct injection engine, fuel is fed straight to the engine's combustion chamber, allowing it to burn more evenly and thoroughly. For the driver, that can translate to better mileage and greater power to the wheels. Variable valve timing eliminates the compromise inherent in conventional fixed valve timing and allows a previously unattainable mix of low-rpm torque – even torque delivery over a broad range of engine speeds – and free-breathing, high-rpm horsepower.
"Terrain doesn't trade efficiency for performance; its direct-injected engine delivers power on demand for a confident driving experience," Beaker said. "And variable valve timing allows the engine to take advantage of late intake valve closing for greater efficiency."
In addition, Terrain uses electric power steering, which does not require engine power to operate like traditional hydraulic power steering and draws electric power only as needed, which improves efficiency and extends component life. Electric power steering systems are relatively compact, help lower vehicle weight, and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 3.5 percent.
GM engineers also worked closely with tire suppliers to develop low-rolling resistance tires, which typically require less effort to roll forward and minimize wasted energy. Terrain's tires – unlike some low drag tires – was designed to provide good grip on snow and wet pavement while improving fuel economy by more than 1 mpg.
Program engineers improved Terrain's highway fuel economy up to one mpg by reducing aerodynamic drag through the refinement of the front air dam, rocker panel, roof line, outside rear view mirrors and front bumper. By working on clay models in GM's state-of-the-art wind tunnel, the engineers were able to reduce its wind noise to ensure quiet driving.
"Aerodynamic refinement happens by the millimeter. There is a tremendous amount of science behind it and we have decades of knowledge to draw upon," said Justin D'Souza, GM aerodynamic performance engineer. "You can take an outside rear view mirror that worked well on one vehicle, put it on a different vehicle and get a completely different result. The end result has to work well aerodynamically and be true to the vehicle design."
Engineers also minimized the Terrain's curb weight by using lightweight aluminum chassis components and noise reduction materials that weigh less than traditional materials.
"Whether we're lowering gear shift points, reducing wind drag or eliminating engine-driven power steering pumps, it takes laser-like focus on every detail to deliver segment leading fuel economy to our customers," said Dave Poniatowski, product marketing manager for Terrain, which recently earned "Best Buy" recommendations from both Consumer Guide and Consumer Digest. |
| Microsoft Research teases Windows Phones controlling Surfaces and crazy desktop UIs Posted: 25 Feb 2011 12:04 AM PST Hey, look, at this point, we just want ourselves some good, old-fashioned copy and paste -- but we'll give Microsoft some credit for looking a year (or two, or ten) beyond that watermark at what could be coming down the pike for human-machine interaction -- and specifically, how phones could play a role. In a presentation and promotional video pulled together this week, Microsoft Research boss Craig Mundie shows how you could tilt your smartphone to control a bubbly, colorful look into your personal life on your desktop machine and how you could snap a photo and then drop the handset onto a Surface for instant transfer (perhaps a bit like HP's Touch to Share), among other gems. Of course, this is all pure research at this point -- it's any guess whether these comments could make the jump to production, and if so, when -- but it's fun to watch. Follow the break for video. [Thanks, Jake]
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| Motorola Xoom rooted in two hours flat, sinister transforming exoskeleton jetpack returns in Verizon ad Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:02 PM PST What's the first thing you're going to do with your Motorola Xoom? If you're Koush, the answer's clear -- install your very own ClockworkMod recovery image and ROM Manager, and grant the latter superuser permissions. That's right, on the very day of release, the Motorola Xoom's all but ready for custom builds of Android and all the joy they bring. Meanwhile, Verizon's decided to bring us the latter half of the abruptly cut Xoom TV ad, which actually differs significantly depending on whether or not Spanish is your primary language. Either way, it's a fairly sordid affair, with no Iron Man feats of stratospheric skill to be found, merely a quick demonstration of gaming with the accelerometer and a few quick swipes through Honeycomb. You'll still watch it if we tell you it's after the break though, won't you?
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| Ask Engadget: best (non-ugly) noise-cancelling Bluetooth headset for drowning out office noise? Posted: 24 Feb 2011 07:59 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 Simon, who seems to be not-so-secretly hoping to drown out his entire office. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I need a headset which can block out the background from a busy office. I'm talking repetitive noises such as drilling, background chatter, keyboard clattering, computer fan whirring and the endless static from our building's air conditioner. I would love if this headset had a fair to good quality of sound for MP3s, and it would of course have to have a good microphone for IP phone telephony and Skype. If it didn't look like something from Radio Shack that would be a bonus, and if the microphone was a bit discreet for street and airplane use that would be an added benefit. Lastly the connection to a workstation could be both USB and Bluetooth, with a preference for wireless. Thanks!" Bluetooth headsets have evolved quite a bit since the last time we had this discussion, so we're curious what you're currently using to make work a wee bit more bearable? No need in keeping secrets, right? Speak out in comments below! |
| HTC Incredible S shipping this week in UK, will come with Froyo to start Posted: 24 Feb 2011 06:33 PM PST Though it'd originally been pegged for the second quarter, it seems HTC's bumping that up a smidge with the launch of its new flagship -- the Incredible S -- in the UK this week. Pre-orders are going on as we speak with shipments promised for tomorrow, but there's a catch: rather than shipping with Gingerbread, the phones will come with Froyo to start with an upgrade to Gingerbread promised for the near future. Buyers, we've got a little homework for you: if you're feeling adventurous and in a warranty-voiding mood, try to figure out what's going on with those auto-rotating capacitive buttons, alright? |
| Sources: iPad 2 lands in thinner body with spec bump and cameras, SD slot and higher resolution display are out Posted: 24 Feb 2011 05:11 PM PST The Apple rumors game can be a volatile thing. Just as we'd heard about last minute alterations to the Apple TV before it hit the market, we've gotten word from sources that the iPad 2 slated to be announced next Wednesday will be sans a few of the features we'd previously reported. Notably, that SD card slot and higher resolution display won't make it into the new model (the latter we'd been hearing rumblings about for a little while). What's the cause of the switch? Well our sources weren't crystal clear on the exact reasons, but the gist of what was explained to us centered around vague "engineering issues" which may have forced some changes at the eleventh hour. It's worth noting once again that these sources have been dead right on specific Apple plans and specifications for unannounced products in the past, and we have no reason to believe these changes are due to anything more than legitimate engineering decisions made close to launch. So what will we see on March 2nd? We're hearing it's most likely a thinner, spec-bumped variation of the original iPad with a screen size and resolution identical to the current model. More RAM (512MB) and a more powerful CPU (the A5) are expected as well. It's also a pretty safe bet the tablet will be sporting at least one camera up front -- though if some of those case mockups we've seen tell us anything, expect a shooter around back too. It's also almost guaranteed that we'll see the next version of iOS (number 5 in all likelihood, along with its SDK for devs), and an expansion of Apple's cloud services (that part is a little... foggy right now). Of course, that will perfectly set up Apple's announcement of the iPhone 5 in June, which is when iPad owners can likely expect to be using the new software. Regardless, we'll have the goods come next week, so stay tuned! |
| Xtreamer Prodigy features AirPlay support, USB 3, and a GUI that will delight fans of Flash (and fans of GUIs) Posted: 24 Feb 2011 04:19 PM PST Looks like the folks at Xtreamer have a few tricks up their sleeves! Following hot on the heels of the company's Ultra HTPC comes Xtreamer Prodigy, a Realtek 1185-based media player and streamer that sports USB 3.0 connectivity, 256MB RAM, 512MB NAND flash, HDMI, an integral IR remote control, a multi-card reader and a 3.5-inch HDD bay. But the real fun here (or so we've heard) is the Adobe Flash GUI, as well as support for such services as Apple AirPlay, Mediafly, Google Talk, Last FM, Pandora, Facebook, and more. The rumored price is €119, which will have to suffice until we find something more concrete (which should be about five days from now). Get a closer look below. |
| Screen Grabs: Dr. Dre video for 'I Need a Doctor' features HP Touchpad, Pre 3, weird Dr. Dre floating in a glass tube Posted: 24 Feb 2011 03:21 PM PST If you have pleasant memories from your youth of a Dr. Dre in happier times, chilling with Snoop somewhere in LBC doing things we can't discuss on a family-friendly site such as this... well, you're in for a bit of a shock to the system with this latest video. The clip for I Need a Doctor -- which is really more of a short film -- features a brutally mangled Ferrari 360 Modena, Skylar Grey, and an angry Eminem (is there any other kind of Eminem?) yelling at Dr. Dre while suspended in some sort of creepy life-supporting fluid. Oh, but let us fast forward to the technology angle: Dre's already hooked up with HP for Beats, and the trend continues here with the appearance of a Touchpad and Pre 3 doing a little Touch to Share action around the 4:20 mark. Follow the break for video. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| ESPN 3D adds the NBA Finals to its broadcast schedule Posted: 24 Feb 2011 02:51 PM PST Take that Mark Cuban. Everyone's favorite HD network owning billionaire called 3D sports DOA after deciding there weren't many people asking about a 3D Super Bowl, but now ESPN's 3D network has queued up its second championship of the year, adding the NBA Finals to its previously scheduled slate of regular season and playoff broadcasts. ESPN 3D has been broadcasting around the clock for a few days now (unless you're watching DirecTV) but while repeats make for easy demo material, if 3D is going to go from an interesting sideshow to an in-demand feature it will take more high profile events like these. If the Mavericks manage to slide past the Lakers or Spurs for a deep playoff run, we'll check back with our friend Mark to see how he'd watch the game if he didn't already have a few seats permanently staked out in the arena. Show full PR text ESPN 3D to Televise the 2011 NBA Finals
NBA Finals Televised for First Time in 3D
ESPN 3D, in its first year of distribution, will expand its NBA offerings to include The Finals – the pinnacle of the NBA season – this June, marking the first time the championship-crowning event will be presented in 3D. ESPN 3D televised the first NBA game in 3D when the Miami Heat visited the New York Knicks on December 17, 2010. Since December, ESPN 3D has shown six NBA games in addition to other programming.
ESPN 3D's upcoming NBA schedule (schedule subject to change):
Date Time (ET) Game
Fri, Feb 25 8 p.m. Oklahoma City at Orlando
Fri, Mar 4 7 p.m. Chicago at Orlando
Wed, Mar 16 8 p.m. Oklahoma City at Miami
Fri, Apr 1 8 p.m. Boston at Atlanta
TBD TBD NBA Playoffs (First Round) – Game 1
TBD TBD NBA Playoffs (First Round) – Game 4
TBD TBD NBA Playoffs (Conference Semifinals) – Game 2
TBD TBD Western Conference Finals – Game 1
TBD TBD Western Conference Finals – Game 2
TBD TBD Western Conference Finals – Game 4
Thurs, Jun 2 9 p.m. Finals (Game 1)
Sun, Jun 5 8 p.m. Finals (Game 2)
Tues, Jun 7 9 p.m. Finals (Game 3)
Thurs, Jun 9 9 p.m. Finals (Game 4)
Sun, Jun 12 8 p.m. Finals (Game 5)
Tues, Jun 14 9 p.m. Finals (Game 6)
Thurs, Jun 16 9 p.m. Finals (Game 7)
Beginning Monday, Feb. 14, ESPN 3D began showing 3D content 24-hours a day. In its first year, ESPN 3D will telecast more than 100 live events.
About ESPN 3D
ESPN was the first to announce in the United States an exclusive 3D network in January 2010 which was the culmination of more than three years of testing 3D television. ESPN produced many 3D domestic telecasts in 2010, including: college football and basketball, the State Farm Home Run Derby, the Masters, the Harlem Globetrotters and NBA games. ESPN 3D first produced the USC vs. Ohio State college football game in September 2009 which became the starting point for the network. ESPN has developed best practices for utilizing and producing 3D technology in live game applications. In addition, ESPN utilizes cutting-edge technology located at the ESPN Innovation Lab in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World to continue to develop innovative production enhancements. ESPN 3D is available in the United States to approximately 62.5 million households and has carriage agreements with AT&T U-Verse, Comcast, DIRECTV and Time Warner Cable. It will launch in 2011 on Verizon FiOS TV. Sony was named the first official sponsor of the network in January 2010.
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| Android Market adds e-books; movies and music soon to come? Posted: 24 Feb 2011 02:33 PM PST The Android world's been a-buzz this last week over a few new Android Market URLS, including http://market.android.com/music/ and http://market.android.com/movies/. In case you thought there was nothing to this tip, guess again: the third member of this trifecta ( http://market.android.com/books/) has gone live. That's right, visitors to the Android Market can pick up Glenn Beck's mile-a-minute thrill ride The Overton Window for a mere $9. We hope that takes some of the sting out of the fact that a Google Music launch wasn't part of this month's Honeycomb event -- although if we had to wager a guess, we'd say that the company will have Music and Movie offerings soon enough. |
| Intel refutes Apple exclusivity for Thunderbolt I/O, LaCie and Promise detail first Thunderbolt peripherals Posted: 24 Feb 2011 01:55 PM PST We can think of a pretty good reason why Apple might have a head-start when it comes to Thunderbolt-capable machines, but Apple doesn't actually have a timed exclusive on the technology, at least according to Intel PR. The company told us that while it's currently targeting an early 2012 launch for Thunderbolt with other OEMs -- whereas the new MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt right now -- there's nothing stopping other manufacturers from launching machines with the 10Gbps interconnect a good bit earlier if they so desire. In related news, the first Thunderbolt peripherals have just been formally announced -- the Promise Pegasus RAID array we saw spitting out 800MB / sec video streams, and the LaCie Little Big Disk. The former will come in four-bay and six-bay variants, topping out at 12TB of magnetic storage when it arrives in Q2, and the latter will boast a pair of Intel 510 Series SSDs -- which, by the way, have yet to be formally announced -- in RAID 0 for 500GB of storage in total. PR after the break. Show full PR text LaCie Introduces Little Big Disk, Featuring High-Speed Thunderbolt Technology
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LaCie today announced the LaCie Little Big Disk featuring the all-new Thunderbolt™ technology, developed by Intel® and brought to market with collaboration from Apple®. Designed to store large audio and video files, the LaCie Little Big Disk will bring a new level of performance to creative workflows with ultra-fast data transfer, complete system backup in minutes, and faster content editing than ever before.
"Thunderbolt technology is a breakthrough in I/O technology and represents the future of mobile computing. Soon you will be able to carry workstation-class power and functionality in compact devices"
"Thunderbolt technology is a breakthrough in I/O technology and represents the future of mobile computing. Soon you will be able to carry workstation-class power and functionality in compact devices," said Philippe Spruch, Chairman and General Manager, LaCie. "LaCie is excited to be one of the first to deliver Thunderbolt technology with the LaCie Little Big Disk."
"Intel believes Thunderbolt technology in combination with LaCie's unique portfolio of storage products and displays will drive new levels of performance and simplicity for consumers," said Jason Ziller, Director, Thunderbolt Planning and Marketing, Intel Corporation.
Thunderbolt technology delivers incredible bandwidth at 10Gbps and runs two protocols (PCI Express and DisplayPort) simultaneously over a single cable for connectivity to high performance peripherals like LaCie Little Disk and high-resolution displays. Created with mobile and media professionals in mind, Thunderbolt technology moves content with blazing speed and facilitates complete system backups in minutes. Using a single Thunderbolt cable, users can connect their notebooks to high resolution displays, cameras and storage - all at the same time - for a fast, simple, and portable computing environment.
The LaCie Little Big Disk can deliver multiple streams of HD video and offload hours of content in minutes without compromising bandwidth and performance. With the LaCie Little Big Disk, speeds that previously were only available from rack mounted storage arrays are now possible with a portable computer - including Apple's MacBook® Pro, the first notebook to feature Thunderbolt technology. Users will be able to edit on-set during a day of filming, and then transfer all of the assets for the edit suite within seconds. The LaCie Little Big Disk can even be daisy chained for storage expansion or connecting other peripherals.
AVAILABILITY
The LaCie Little Big Disk will be the first in a range of storage and peripherals solutions from LaCie that feature Thunderbolt technology. The Little Big Disk will be available by summer 2011 from the LaCie Online Store (www.lacie.com), the Apple Store (www.apple.com) and authorized resellers. For more information please visit www.lacie.com.
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PROMISE Technology Announces Pegasus Storage Line With All-New Thunderbolt Technology
2/24/2011
MILPITAS, Calif. – February 24, 2011 – PROMISE Technology today announced Pegasus, the industry's first-high performance hardware RAID solution designed to unleash the raw speed of the all-new Thunderbolt™ technology. Designed from the ground up for media and entertainment customers, Pegasus offers superior speed and throughput in a form factor small enough for a desktop, and is available in 4-bay and 6-bay aluminum enclosures with up to 12TB of raw storage.
"Intel is excited about the superior performance and simplicity Thunderbolt technology and PROMISE's Pegasus family of products will bring to consumers and media professionals trying to keep up with the explosion of digital media," said Jason Ziller, Director, Thunderbolt Planning and Marketing, Intel Corporation.
Utilizing Thunderbolt technology high-speed I/O, Pegasus can deliver a blistering 800 MB/s of sustained throughput, roughly 12x faster than Firewire 800 and 20x faster than USB 2.0. Pegasus is ideal for creative professionals, power users and consumers who desire high capacity external storage with advanced performance and enterprise level data protection.
"PROMISE is thrilled to deliver one of the first peripherals to feature the blazing speed of Thunderbolt technology," said James Lee, CEO, PROMISE Technology. "Pegasus brings groundbreaking RAID performance to creative professionals in the studio, on location and in the home. Pegasus is the ultimate complement to PROMISE's extensive storage offerings ranging from the Apple qualified VTrak subsystems to DS4600 – Direct Attached Storage for home, SOHO and AV professionals."
Pegasus gives Final Cut Studio creative professionals the ability to edit and playback multiple streams of uncompressed 8-bit and 10-bit high-definition video on the new MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt technology. Pegasus can also provide massive storage space for other popular Apple applications such as Aperture, Garageband, iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie and is fully compatible with Time Machine.
Thunderbolt technology offers amazing flexibility for connectivity to high-performance peripherals like Pegasus and high-resolution displays. Thunderbolt technology is capable of delivering a mind boggling two channels of 10 Gb/s per port of bandwidth, achieving a level of performance previously reserved for workstation-class peripherals and RAID enclosures. Connect multiple Pegasus enclosures to one another for additional storage up to 72 TB, or connect a high-resolution display to Pegasus for the ultimate in convenience.
Pegasus is offered as a 4-bay or 6-bay RAID enclosure supporting seven RAID modes including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60. Pegasus features two Thunderbolt technology ports, a new sleek and stylish aluminum enclosure and a smart fan for reduced system noise.
Pricing and Availability
PROMISE Technology's Pegasus hardware RAID solution will be available for order from the Apple Store (www.apple.com) and authorized resellers in Q2. Pricing will be announced at a later date. |
| Toshiba AC100 smartbook gets Android 2.2 upgrade Posted: 24 Feb 2011 01:43 PM PST Smartbooks may not have exactly caught on as the next big platform, but one of the more notable examples out there is now at least a bit more of an interesting option than it was before. That would be Toshiba's Android-based AC100, which has finally gotten the Froyo upgrade that was promised last fall. According to Carrypad, that upgrade brings with it a "noticeable performance boost," not to mention Flash support, and access to Toshiba's own application store, the Toshiba Market Place. What's more, the site also notes that the smartbook has recently received a fairly significant price drop, with the WiFi-only version now available for around €200 (or about $275, 3G will cost you an extra $50 or so). Head on past the break for a video of the update process and results.
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| Official Android 2.3.3 updates for Nexus One and Nexus S unearthed, available to the impatient Posted: 24 Feb 2011 01:16 PM PST Waiting sucks, doesn't it? Yes, yes it does -- which is why we're delighted to see that direct links to the official, final updates to Android 2.3.3 for the Nexus One and Nexus S have both been turned loose. This is especially exciting news for Nexus One owners who've stayed on the straight and narrow and haven't moved to a cooked Gingerbread ROM already, since they're still on Froyo -- but it's also good news for developers working on NFC apps with the Nexus S and Android's freshly-baked NFC API, since it means they'll have real-world devices to start playing with. So go on, get to it -- we know you're not going to wait for the over-the-air notification anyway. [Thanks, Will] |
| Apple removes MobileMe from online store, discontinues retail boxes Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:49 PM PST Need a bit more evidence that there's some big changes coming to MobileMe? Then you don't need to look much further than Apple's own stores, both online and off. The company has apparently now discontinued the boxed version of the software it sells at retail, and it seems that all traces of MobileMe have also been removed from Apple's online store, though you are still able to sign up for a free trial through the MobileMe website. Apple Insider further reports that both single user and family packs of MobileMe have been declared "end of life" by Apple, and that the service will undergo some scheduled maintenance tonight that may leave its web-based applications inaccessible for half an hour. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| Sprint pulls Epic 4G Froyo update, cites data connectivity and SD card issues Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:20 PM PST Well, we're not quite sure what the trouble is with firmware updates for Samsung phones this week, but another one's just been pulled days after it was rolled out. This one affects the Epic 4G, which has now seen its recently released Froyo update pulled by Sprint, which says it's received reports of SD card issues and data connectivity problems from customers who've already installed the update. Still no word as to when a new update might be rolling out, but Sprint says that those who have already taken the plunge should be able to fix any problems with a hard reset -- after they backup all their data, of course. |
| Intel Thunderbolt: a closer look (updated with video) Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:19 PM PST So what's this Thunderbolt stuff, and why is it in your new MacBook Pro? Intel just broke it down for us, and now we'll do the same for you. Simply put, Thunderbolt's a familiar-looking port, a brand-new chip, and a cord, which allows devices to pipe two data streams simultaneously -- in both directions -- over a single cable at up to 10 gigabits per second to start, primarily using PCI Express x4 for data and DisplayPort for video. The Thunderbolt controller chip -- required for the system, but Intel says it's hardware-agnostic and doesn't require an Intel processor or chipset to use -- acts as a miniature router of sorts that rapidly switches between the two bidirectional channels of data. Sounds great, but why would you want to buy into yet another copper cord? Intel defends that Thunderbolt will be backwards and forwards-compatible depending on the cable used. Representatives explained that the basic system can work with any other PCI Express 2.0-compatible I/O system with, say, a FireWire or eSATA adapter doing the dirty work --Intel wouldn't specifically comment on USB 3.0 -- and that the port you'll find in new MacBook Pros and storage devices can actually take an optical cable when those are cost-effective enough to roll out, because Intel will eventually bake the optical transceivers into the cables themselves. In the meanwhile, you can get up to three meters of range out of a basic cable, plus a fairly generous 10 watts of power over the bus, and since Thunderbolt devices are designed to be daisy-chained, you may be able to get another three meters for each device you add on that sports a pair of the ports. Though Intel wasn't talking about likely prices for the chips or cables in even the most general terms, Promise and LaCie had prototype devices on hand headed to the market soon -- get a peek at them and a closer look at the cable in our gallery below, and we'll have video up in a little while too. Update: Looks like LaCie's product now has a name and vague release date: it's the LaCie Little Big Disk, coming this summer, with a pair of solid state drives inside. Update 2: Video after the break -- get a load of Thunderbolt streaming four 1080p clips from a MacBook Pro and attached Promise NAS simultaneously! |
| Intel promises native USB 3.0 support someday Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:53 AM PST So, now that Intel's fully revealed its proprietary high-speed interface technology and shoehorned it into Apple's new MacBook Pro, wither the fate of barely-incumbent USB 3.0? Intel says the two ports will co-exist in the market, and not just because third parties will obviously continue to roll SuperSpeed devices out -- Chipzilla's actually pursuing a native solution itself. "Intel fully supports USB 3 and plans to integrate it in the future," said the company's Jason Ziller, which sounds like a fairly potent promise to us. Still, considering how long Intel's been dragging its heels, we have to wonder if eventual support will be more than a token move -- Intel could wait until Thunderbolt not only has a foothold, but also a dozen pitons and a nice big rope securing it to a mountain of peripherals. |
| Space Shuttle Discovery launches at 4:50PM ET today with Robonaut 2 on board Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:39 AM PST We doubt many of you need a reminder but, just in case, we're here to let you know that Space Shuttle Discovery is set for lift off today, at 4:50PM ET. While all shuttle launches are certainly worth watching, this one's particularly notable for a number of reasons -- it's the last mission for Discovery and the third-to-last mission for the entire Space Shuttle program, and it's the first mission to carry a humanoid robot into space: our friend Robonaut 2. Head on past the break to watch Spaceflight Now's live coverage of the launch. [Image: NASA / Flickr] Update: Liftoff! Humanoid robots in spaaaaaace. |
| HTC Thunderbolt delayed until March 4th, says a Best Buy store with a Twitter account (update: or maybe March 10th?) Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:23 AM PST Wondering why the Thunderbolt isn't in stores yet? Hard to say -- apart from the reeling HTC and Verizon employees might be doing in light of the Apple / Intel news -- but a Best Buy in California spilled the bad news on Twitter last night that it's now expecting Big Red's first LTE phone on March 4th. As Android Police points out, the store appears to have confused the day March 4th falls on (it's a Friday, not a Thursday), but we're figuring it's far more likely the date is right, not the day of the week. And if Best Buy has a launch exclusive on this thing, that means it could be another week or two beyond that before the phone shows up in Verizon retail locations and elsewhere. Bummer, eh? Update: We just got an image (you can see it for yourself after the break) that seems to set the ThunderBolt's Best Buy arrival date even later than March 4th. According to the Best Buy Mobile document, it will be on sale on March 10th. We're assuming the timing keeps being adjusted, but we think it's pretty fair to say things keep getting pushed back. |
| Engadget's next reader meetup is tomorrow, February 25th in San Francisco! Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:00 AM PST That's right human beings -- it's happening again! The Engadget crew is getting together their best party outfits and shipping out west for another installment of our fabulous reader meetups. Our last event in NYC drew loads of people and was an all around blast, and the San Francisco installment is sure to be just as explosive (or maybe more? c'mon... show us what you've got). This time around we're partnering with Sprint, as well as Sony PlayStation, Motorola, HP, Roku, Samsung, VUDU, RIM, Sling, Sonos, HTC, Corning, Sphero, OnLive, Plantronics, Snapstick, and more to bring you a night of gadget geeking, giveaways, delicious foodstuffs, and some awesome music (provided by none other than our podcast producer, Trent Wolbe). Also, a whole mess of the Engadget editors will be on hand to entertain and inform, so if you have any pressing questions -- jot them down! The all ages shindig will take place tomorrow, February 25 at City View at The Metreon, which is located conveniently in downtown SF. If you're a nerd in the city, you most likely already know what we're talking about. The doors will open at 6:30PM, and capacity is limited to 1200 people -- so if you want to get inside, get there early! |
| 2011's new HDTVs from Samsung, Panasonic, LG start to arrive in stores, pricing leaks out Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:18 AM PST After they strut their stuff on the CES runway the only thing left for 2011's latest & greatest HDTVs to do is take their act on the road and that's exactly what's happening. CNET's David Katzmaier has tweeted about finding a few Samsung and Panasonic models at various retailers already, though as usual it's the lower end models that are coming in first -- if you want a top of the line Panasonic VT30 instead of a 720p 3D Samsung D490 plasma (51-inch, $969), you'll have to wait. Still, it's good to ballpark what you'll have to budget and while HDGuru has followed up on previous Panasonic pricing leaks with MAP and specs for most of Samsung's line, cj1319 on AVSForum has early details on minimum advertised prices on LG's Nano LED lit LCDs & plasmas. Check the source links below for all the details,but don't expect any help from us while you're scraping together 10 g's for the 72-inch 72LZ9700 LG LCD pictured above. |
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