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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Engadget News

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Engadget News

WiFi-only Xoom headed to Staples for March 27th release?

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 11:19 AM PDT

If you're still holding out for a Motorola Xoom, here's some good news. The folks at Droid Life snagged a picture of a Staples ad depicting March 27th as the targeted release date for the slate. In addition, the tablet appears to be retailing for 600 bucks -- one the cheapest models money can buy. A Xoom, TI-Nspire and a new pack of pens, all from one place? Man, that really was easy.

[Thanks, Hector N]

Google ships last Cr-48 laptop 'for now,' partner Chrome OS devices still on track for summer

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 09:56 AM PDT

The very same gentleman that introduced us to Google's Cr-48 laptop, Product Management VP Sundar Pichai, has disclosed the unfortunate news that Google has shipped the last of them, at least "for now." The next opportunity to catch a ticket to ride the Chrome OS bandwagon will come in the middle of this year, as promised, with devices from Acer and Samsung coming to market. Rumor had it that Google received about 60,000 Cr-48s from ODM Inventec back in December, though whatever the number of manufactured units was, the fact is that it's now been fully depleted. We'd urge Google's partners not to stray too far away from the Cr-48 template in the summer -- we're huge fans of its minimalist good looks, even if the OS itself could do with a few more layers of spit, polish and features.

Samsung Galaxy S II hits the FCC, potentially ready for AT&T 3G

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 08:21 AM PDT

Surely you remember the Samsung GT-i9100, colloquially known as the Galaxy S II? Sammy's been tight-lipped about which US cellular carriers might offer it, but the Federal Communications Commission might have an idea. You see, the Exynos 4210-toting Super AMOLED Plus smartphone just made its way to the FCC authorization database, 850MHz and 1900MHz GSM frequencies in tow -- which just so happen to be the ones required to get a gig at AT&T. Mind you, the handset could also be moonlighting in Canada with those particular bands, but the odds are decent we'll see it stateside sooner than that. By the by, this particular Galaxy S II is also sporting 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, meaning it'll almost certainly come with dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi.

The Galaxy S II wasn't the only Samsung to hit the FCC this week, though, as the SGH-i708 also dropped on by -- it appears to be a worldphone with 850 / 1900MHz GSM frequencies alongside CDMA, EV-DO, and the standard Bluetooth and 2.4GHz WiFi.

iPad 2 installed in Ford F-150 truck, does FaceTime while you roll over stuff (video)

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 06:39 AM PDT

SoundMan Car Audio's done it again, and this time on day one -- they've stuffed an iPad 2 into the dashboard of an unsuspecting vehicle, in this case a 2010 Ford F-150 pickup. While that doesn't sound like the most exciting hack in the world, we have to give credit where it's due -- Doug and company now have a truck that can make FaceTime video calls, browse to world-class technology websites (we're blushing) and play Pandora too. See the SoundMan crew show off the fruits of their labors in a video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Researchers claim discovery of lost city of Atlantis, conveniently located in southern Spain

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 04:40 AM PDT

We had to do a double take when we read this headline from Reuters, but sure enough, it's not April1st yet and its writers don't seem to be joking: the location of the lost city of Atlantis has finally been discovered. Such is the bold claim from an international team of researchers, dreamers and intrepid adventurers. With the use of ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography, they've unearthed evidence to suggest that a spot on the southern coast of Spain, just north of Cadiz, played host to what may have been human society's first metropolis. One of the reasons why it's taken archaeologists so long to pinpoint its whereabouts may be the fact that it lies 60 miles inland, where you wouldn't really expect it to be susceptible to the effects of tidal waves (which is what Plato's account of the ancient city identified as its demise). A National Geographic documentary on the subject will be broadcast this evening where we may learn more about what was discovered, the methods for doing so, and the gorgeous tans those scientists built up in sunny Spain.

American Prius V to get old-school batteries, Japanese version to get fancy Li-ion ones

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 03:06 AM PDT

American Prius V to get old-school batteries, Japanese version to get fancy Li-ion ones
We'd rather see a more interesting Prius before we see a bigger one, but it's the bigger one that comes first. The taller Prius V that was unveiled in Detroit is said to begin hitting Japanese showrooms next month, priced at ¥3 million (about $37,000) and packing an all-new Li-ion battery in the floor. This is different than the nickel metal hydride pack found in the current Prius, a smaller and lighter design that leaves room for a third row of seats. When the car hits the US, though, we'll get a bigger set of cells like the one in the current Prius, meaning the American version won't have those seats in the back. Irritating? A little, but the version we'll be getting will also be available in Japan, where it will sell for almost $10,000 less than the Li-ion version. For ten grand in savings we'd probably skip the rear seats too.

Northwestern University researchers route photon qubit, make quantum internet possible

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 11:03 PM PST

Big brains across the globe continue to unlock the secrets of the qubit and harness it for myriad uses -- quantum hard drives, quantum computers, and even quantum refrigerators. The internet may be next in line to get quantum-ized now that researchers from Northwestern University found a way to route a photon qubit through an optical cable without losing any of its physical characteristics. A newly developed optical switch does the deed, which allows fiber-optic cables to share multiple users' quantum info at once -- making superfast all-optical quantum communication networks possible -- and gets us closer to having our tweets and status updates whizzing to and fro at the speed of light.

Adobe Flash Player leaks for Motorola Xoom, we go hands-on (update: more video!)

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 07:59 PM PST


March 18th may seem like an eternity if you expected your Motorola Xoom to come with Adobe Flash on day one. But you know what? If you put your trust in a mysterious file floating about the internet, there's no need to wait that long. MyDroidWorld obtained possession of a leaked build of Adobe Flash Player for the Xoom, which doesn't need root or even a preliminary update to install -- you just need to check the "Unknown sources" box under Settings > Applications, sideload the file or download it from the Xoom's browser and you're good to go. The best part? Based on our preliminary testing, Flash performs exceedingly well on the Xoom's dual-core Tegra 2 processor.

While this early build of Flash was pretty choppy during HD playback, low-res video content rendered at perfectly viewable speeds, and we were able to play games (like Nanaca Crash and Canabalt) so long as they didn't require anything more than single-button control schemes. By contrast, Hulu was a no-go (it's still blocked), and this build has some kinks to work out when it comes to multitasking -- while any single Flash site ran well and we could quickly tab between, the more Flash-heavy tabs we had open, the slower each one ran individually -- which is why the video above starts out so choppy. Adobe's UI also seemed to have some difficulty detecting when we wanted to make a Flash item full-screen. Typically, you double-tap an item to enlarge it, but sometimes that didn't work... but with some Flash content, we found we could long-press on a Flash window to bring up a UI bar that would let us focus on it individually. Before you judge the merits of Flash on tablet, remember that this is a leaked version of a beta release, and if it's this good out of the gate, we're pretty excited about how well it might perform after a few tweaks. Don't miss our video above, and find the file you need to install Flash yourself at our source link.

Update: We managed to get Flash to drop one of those context-sensitive buttons during a session of Canabalt and make the window full screen, which not only enlarged the window but also seriously sped up our little runner -- probably by redirecting the tablet's resources to our game. Photographic proof after the break!

Update 2: We'll be shooting a second video later in the day to show how the Xoom handles Flash one site at a time.

Update 3: There's a brand-new video after the break! As it turns out, you can make certain Flash windows full-screen by long-pressing on them, and we've updated the article to reflect that.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

YikeBike extender battery backpack keeps you riding in, um, style for six more miles

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 07:57 PM PST

Okay, so you'll probably still look like a circus bear on a penny-farthing when you hop on the YikeBike, but with the introduction of the new extender battery backpack, you won't have to stop every six miles to juice up. You heard right, this otherwise inconspicuous knapsack is actually packing a second YikeBike battery, which can be hooked up directly to the collapsible bicycle to keep you riding for another six miles -- and if you like riding high on a tiny bike for long distances, it's got room for more than one. So go crazy, pack this thing full of batteries and hit the road, but if your keister starts smartin', don't say we didn't warn you. You can get your YikeBike juice on for $229 at the source link below.

Hulu for Android coming soon, destined for 'select' phones with Android 2.2?

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 06:10 PM PST

Since the dawn of Flash on Android -- yes, that was just ten months ago -- Google smartphone users been largely unable to access their favorite Hulu programs on the go. At CES 2011, we heard that Hulu would indeed come to Android, but not when or where. Today, we're a step closer to the answer. An eagle-eyed Engadget reader spotted this image at the company's website, depicting a most unusual combo: an image of a Samsung Nexus S (which comes with Android 2.3) and a suggestion that Hulu Plus will soon be available on a subset of devices running Android 2.2. We can't say which devices quite yet, but we've heard this tune before, and suspect Hulu will only run on phones that have DRM baked into their hardware. Now how about that Google TV?

[Thanks, Raymond D.]

Sprint's Dan Hesse differentiates between unlimited and 'unlimited' in latest TV spot

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 05:05 PM PST


We're not the biggest fans of new tiered data plans that are slowly but surely becoming the norm, and if the latest ad from Sprint is any indication -- that particular carrier isn't either. CEO Dan Hesse takes the offensive, reminding viewers that the word 'unlimited' shouldn't include things like metering or throttling, while touting the company's "Simply Everything" plan that actually does include, uh, everything. With customer gains on the upswing, the move is probably a good one -- though that whole 'premium data' thing is a little iffy. Full PR after the break.
Show full PR text
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse defines "unlimited" in new TV ad

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 12, 2011 - Sprint (NYSE: S) aims to set the record straight on what "unlimited" means in a new TV ad that once again features CEO Dan Hesse.

Building on previous successful campaigns featuring Hesse, the Sprint CEO appears for the 10th time in a TV spot that reinforces simplicity, value and Sprint's commitment to the customer experience. The new advertisement highlights that Sprint customers on Simply Everything® data plans don't have to worry about surprises on their monthly bills due to data overage charges on phones like they might with AT&T's tiered data plans. Nor do they have to limit their data usage on phones to avoid throttling, like they might with Verizon's new policy of slowing down speeds for heavy users or T-Mobile's policy of limiting speeds once customers reach 5 GB of data usage.

In the ad Hesse says: "The other day, I looked up the word unlimited in the dictionary. Nowhere in the definition did I see words like metering, overage, or throttling, which is code for slowing you down. Only Sprint gives you true unlimited calling, texting, surfing, TV and navigation on all phones."

He concludes with the question: "Why limit yourself?"

"Some of our competitors continually attempt to create confusion in the mind of the consumer by talking about 'unlimited' plans that are not truly unlimited on their networks," said Bill Morgan, Sprint senior vice president-Corporate Marketing. "If you have to worry about additional charges appearing on your bill based on usage, that's not an unlimited plan. We chose to use Mr. Hesse to deliver that message because he's become a trusted voice."

Sprint's Simply Everything Plan offers more value and simplicity than other wireless carriers, and is the only plan from a national carrier to offer true unlimited service while on the Sprint network for every phone without the worry of throttling or overage. The Simply Everything Plan delivers unlimited calling, text and Web, including email, social networking, GPS navigation, TV and radio while on the Sprint 3G and 4G networks for $99.99 per month, plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones.

iPad 2 specs discerned, 900MHz dual-core ARM CPU and PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU blow away graphical benchmarks

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 04:01 PM PST

iFixit may have physically uncovered Apple's latest silicon, but it's the processor gurus that have discovered what's truly inside -- using software benchmarks, they've unearthed the speeds and feeds of the Apple A5. As you'll no doubt be aware having read our headline above, there actually isn't a 1GHz CPU at the helm, as AnandTech and IOSnoops report the dual-core ARM chip is dynamically clocked around 900MHz, likely in search of reduced power consumption. Perhaps more interestingly for all you gamers in the audience, the iPad 2 reports that it has a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU on the die as originally foretold -- and, spoiler alert -- it mops the floor with both the original iPad and the Motorola Xoom. Though the new chip didn't quite demonstrate 9X the graphical prowess of its predecessor, it rendered 57.6 frames per second in a GLBenchmark test where the (admittedly higher-res) Tegra 2 tablet managed only 26.7fps, and last year's iPad pulled only 17.6fps. That's some serious Tai Chi. Hit up our source links to see the difference it can make in games like Infinity Blade.

Update: Though it sure sounds like there's a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 in there, that's not yet a proven fact -- we only know that it's a dual-core ARM v7 chip which performs relatively similarly in non-graphical tests. [Thanks, Jim]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Hello, I must be going

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 02:07 PM PST

It's hard to believe that I'm currently writing the words I seem to be writing, though a casual stock-taking of my senses dictates that it must be true. Here I am, at my computer, typing letters one by one into a plain text document, rolling along through one of the strangest posts I've ever penned for this site. Okay, probably the strangest ever.

After nearly four years at Engadget, it's time to make my exit. There are things I'm after and challenges I want to take on that just don't fit with my day-to-day schedule here, so off I go.

I didn't make this decision lightly. The time I've spent here has been -- without question -- the most amazing, rewarding, and just insanely fun period of my life. And I like to think I've had some pretty good times. The Engadget staff is easily the greatest collection of human beings I've ever encountered, and they've made waking up and freaking out over tech news for 12 to 18 hours a day into basically a party. I've never worked so hard or had so much fun doing it. I don't use religious terms very often, but if there's such a thing as being blessed, I would say the opportunity I had to work with these people certainly made me feel that way.

And it's not just the core team at Engadget; all the groups at Weblogs (and its director Brad Hill), have been tremendous friends, partners, and peers.

Then there's you guys -- the readers. The hive mind. The Engadget fan-boys and -girls. It's hard to sum up my experiences with the readership of Engadget in one paragraph. It would probably be hard in a hundred. But I can say that you're simply the most informed, passionate, and excited group of people anywhere on the planet. Sure, you can get a little crazy sometimes -- but what an astounding group of super-geniuses you are as well. Writing and working for the throngs of people who visit this site every day has been a huge challenge, a learning experience, and just kind of awe-inspiring.

But as I said, it's time for me to step away. I'm not leaving the industry or the news game -- in fact, I've got a few fantasy projects in mind that hopefully you'll be hearing about soon.

Don't worry though, Engadget is going to keep doing what it does best: being awesome. We have an amazing staff of senior editors and writers that will keep the machine chugging along (and growing!) for years to come. My friend and our editorial director Josh Fruhlinger will be taking on a bigger role in our day-to-day during the transition, and I won't be completely disappearing from the site -- I'll stay on as editor-at-large, to advise and direct when necessary. I'll also be sticking around to host more episodes of the Engadget Show, so you can continue to get your fix (if you're into nerdy video shows about gadgets and technology, that is).

And with that, I'm shuffling over towards the door, just underneath that dim exit sign that keeps blinking on and off, its fluorescent bulbs cracking with some syncopated rhythm all their own. It's just started to rain a little bit outside, but I've got my coat and umbrella. I'll be fine, and so will you.

Till we meet again...

(You can follow me on Twitter right here (@joshuatopolsky), or just check my personal blog too if you're feeling lonely)

HTC Droid Incredible 2 smiles pretty for the camera, shows off its fresh VZW tat

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 01:36 PM PST

HTC Droid Incredible 2 smiles pretty for the camera with Verizon branding
It hit Verizon's system a few weeks ago and now it's hitting a white corner for some pictures, showing VZW branding no less. It's the US-spec version of the Incredible S, said to be running Android 2.2 but word is that Gingerbread will be on-tap before it ships. The rest of the specs on this four-inch slab line up with what we've learned before, meaning the only question now is the all-important when.

New phase-change memory gets boost from carbon nanotubes, puts PRAM claims to shame

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 11:22 AM PST

We've been hearing about the potential flash killer for years, and now a team of University of Illinois engineers is claiming that its new phase-change technology could make the PRAM of our dreams look quaint by comparison. Like so many groundbreaking discoveries of late, carbon nanotubes are at the heart of the this new mode of memory, which uses 100x less power than its phase-change predecessors. So, how does it work? Basically, the team replaced metal wires with carbon nanotubes to pump electricity through phase-change bits, reducing the size of the conductor and the amount of energy consumed. Still too much technobabble? How 'bout this -- they're using tiny tubes to give your cellphone juice for days. Get it? Good.

[Thanks, Jeff]
at 12:39 PM

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