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Monday, March 14, 2011

Engadget News

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Apple patent woos with tales of ultra-slim audio connectors for lusciously thin devices

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:51 AM PDT

Apple patent woos with tales of ultra-slim audio connectors for ultra-slim devices
We're still a long way from reaching the point where our gadgets can't get any thinner and, while the 8.7mm iPod Shuffle is just about king of the hill for the moment, Apple is already envisioning a future where where the humble 3.5mm audio jack is too thick. A recently revealed patent application called "Low Profile Plug Receptacle" describes a number of different ways to create audio ports that are thinner than current models but yet won't take us back to the sinister miniUSB adapter days of yore. One of the potential solutions has a "semi-flexible" housing that expands willingly to receive your headphones' clumsy attentions, while another is recessed beneath a pair of doors that flip open to make room when the plug is inserted. As always with these applications there's no reason to believe they'll be ever appearing in a consumer device, but that doesn't mean we can't dream of a future where the gold-plated jack on your buds is thicker than the bulkiest part of your phone.

Android and Marvell to join forces in the Nixeus Fusion XS media streamer

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:02 AM PDT

Android and Marvell to join the media streamer game in the Nixeus Fusion XS
Android's has already hit the set top box world with the Google TV, but that isn't true Android. This is, packing Android 2.2. Or, at least, it will be when it ships sometime toward the middle of the year. It's the Nixeus Fusion XS, a Marvell 88DE3010-powered media streamer with 2GB of flash memory and 512MB of RAM, and unfortunately a little processor fan that hopefully doesn't make too much noise. That's the same Armada processor that drives the OnLive MicroConsole and hopefully it'll give enough oomph for FroYo to serve up HD video content, including BD-ISO support and whatever else the little, ebony thing can pull down over USB or Ethernet, spitting it back over composite and optical audio output or on one string of HDMI. It's looking rather less powerful than the similarly Android-powered Xtreamer PVR, but its anticipated cost of $170 should be a good bit lower. Oh, and we can't wait to see what the hackers do with it either.

Car2go test drive: RFID, GPS, and mobile apps make for a smarter Smart

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 09:24 AM PDT

As you read this (assuming you're reading this sometime before March 20th) zillions of music, movie, and tech mavens and moguls have descended on Austin, Texas for SXSW. We made a run through the city just before festivities kicked off, stopping by to check out the Car2Go carsharing service that launched last summer and that, as of March 19th, will expand its coverage area to include 52 square miles worth of the heart of Texas. We took one of the company's customized Smart Fortwos for a ride and also test drove the new iPad app that makes finding cars as easy as pie. Pie, as it turns out, is also quite easy to find in Austin.
Car2go Smart fortwo and iPad app

Car2Go is, basically, a Zipcar competitor. Like Zipcar you get an RFID card that provides access. Just walk up, tap it on the windshield, and the car unlocks. Right now you find the keys hiding in the glove box and, after punching in a PIN and accepting a few terms and conditions on the car's center-mounted touchscreen, you're ready to roll. But, there are some differences between the services, like no annual fee with Car2go, offset by a higher one-time registration, $35 vs. $25 for Zip, and a potentially higher hourly fee as well, at $12.99 maximum per hour vs. $8.50 (though Zip's fee does go up to $13.25 on weekends).

But those fees are potentially much lower, too. Car2go actually charges by the minute, $.35 each, and interestingly the average user keeps a car for just 30 to 40 minute at a shot. 150 miles are included, plenty to get in and around the 52 square mile coverage area, but if you feel like roaming you can go well outside of that area too. You will, however, need to return the car back inside of it if you want the clock to stop running on your rental.

And that leads to one of the big changes with Car2go versus the others: you can park anywhere you like. Well, anywhere that's legal, anyway. Car location is updated via GPS and monitored centrally, along with information like fuel level and plenty of other metrics, all uploaded over an integrated data connection. It's T-Mobile. Using that connection you can also request that the car get a cleaning before it's rented again, and even call their support center -- hands-free, of course.

Location info is available through the company's apps, which sadly at this point are only available for iOS devices -- though there is a simple XML-based API if you feel like rolling your own. From here you can see where any of the 210 Fortwos are scattered about, or at least any of the available ones. The app is layered over Google Maps and so you can get walking directions if you don't know your way around. You can also place a reservation up to 24 hours in advance, though that may have a slight negative impact on your reputation as someone bound by neither rules nor schedules. Also, those who are sticklers about spelling mistakes should not use the iPad version, nor look too closely at the above screen shot.

In practice the process is easy enough, though it's the cars that may leave some wishing for a bit more. If you've never been in a Fourtwo they are perhaps a bit more comfortable than you might have expected, but they're certainly no larger than you'd hoped. There's plenty of storage in the back for a messenger bag and a jacket but not much more. You could certainly stuff a couple loads of laundry in there if you don't care about how wrinkled they'd get on the way home, but making a run to Ikea to pick up a new and exotically named home entertainment center is definitely not in the cards.


Still, it's a great little car for short inter-city missions, and the service is structured to match that. The biggest problem is, of course, availability, and 210 cars in one American city (there are two more in Germany) are hardly going to revolutionize modern transportation. The company promises us that "a couple" of new cities are coming "within the next year" and, while that's too vague for our tastes, it's certainly a lot better than "nowhere" and "never."

Update: A couple commenters noted that there's an Android app called Find2Car that works well in Germany, but as of now is not available for booking cars based in Austin.

MIT's Junkyard Jumbotron turns your motley collection of devices into one large display (video)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:56 AM PDT

Got a handful of mobile devices layin' 'round when what you actually need is one large display? The kids at the MIT Center for Future Civic Media got you covered! The Junkyard Jumbotron, designed by Rick Borovoy, Ph.D. and Brian Knep, is an ingenious project that makes stretching an image across damn near any collection of displays with web browsers. When you assemble the displays (such as in the picture above), the Junkyard Jumbotron website will ask you to point them all to the same URL. This will cause each device to load the same QR code, which -- once you snap a digital pic and email it to the project -- will allow it to calibrate and stretch a JPEG across your assemblage. It certainly does look like something scrounged up at a junkyard, doesn't it? Well, sometimes that's part of the fun. Hit the source link to try it for yourself. Video after the break.

Angry Birds Rio will be exclusive to Amazon Appstore on Android launch

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:19 AM PDT

Think you'll be heading to the Android Market to get your next fix of Rovio Mobile's insanely popular Angry Birds? Think again. The next installment in the aviary vengeance saga, Angry Birds Rio, will launch exclusively on Amazon's upcoming Appstore for Android. That does sound like it will eventually achieve universal distribution via the Market, but in the interim Amazon has scored a pretty big scoop in its efforts to attract users to its own app repository. We're also promised the Appstore is launching "very soon" and Amazon has just inaugurated an @amazonappstore account on Twitter to keep us abreast of when precisely that will happen.
Show full PR text
Angry Birds Rio for Android to Debut Exclusively in the Amazon Appstore

AUSTIN, Texas/ ESPOO, Finland – March 14, 2011 – Rovio today announced that the highly anticipated game Angry Birds Rio will be introduced for the Android platform exclusively in the Amazon Appstore. Developed in conjunction with Twentieth Century Fox, Angry Birds Rio features the animated stars of the studio's upcoming motion picture, RIO. Additionally, for the first time ever on the Android platform, fans of Angry Birds games will have the opportunity to purchase and download ad-free versions of Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons. Both will debut only in the Amazon Appstore.

"The Android platform has seen phenomenal growth, and it's great that new avenues for app distribution are opening up," said Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio. "The openness of the Android platform works for the benefit of consumers and developers alike. It has been delightful to team up with Amazon to bring the Angry Birds franchise to this great new application marketplace."

"Amazon is thrilled to work with a leading developer like Rovio in offering our customers Angry Birds Rio for Android exclusively in the Amazon Appstore," said Aaron Rubenson, category leader for Amazon Appstore. "We think Angry Birds Rio is sure to be an instant customer favorite."

"Angry Birds Rio is a fun and interactive way to introduce millions of fans to the exciting world of 'RIO,' and we are proud to work with both Rovio and Amazon to make this experience available to users on the Android platform," said Peter Levinsohn, president of new media and digital distribution for Twentieth Century Fox. "The Amazon Appstore will be a great new way for consumers to download all their favorite Android apps, and we're excited to offer Angry Birds Rio as one of the first pieces of content to be made available to consumers through this new store."

In Angry Birds Rio, the original Angry Birds are kidnapped and taken to the magical city of Rio, where they eventually escape their captors and set out to save their friends, Blu and Jewel – two rare macaws and the stars of the upcoming Fox motion picture, RIO. From the creators of Fox's blockbuster ICE AGE motion picture franchise, RIO debuts in theaters worldwide on April 15, 2011. Angry Birds Rio will launch with 60 dedicated levels, with more content to follow via app updates.

Angry Birds Rio will be available for download on Android phones and tablets at amazon.com/angrybirds.

Apple's iPhone / iPod touch daylight saving time woes continue

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:50 AM PDT

If a broken clock is right twice a day, Apple's is off twice a year these days -- once each time Daylight Savings Time needs to be calculated in territories that depend on it. iPhone and iPod touch users are reporting on Twitter and the official Apple forums that the Clock app is been demonstrating all kinds of erratic behavior -- regardless of phone model or AT&T / Verizon pedigree -- with some alarms going off early, others late, and plenty of others working perfectly. Amusingly, still others report that DST adjustments occurred in places that don't recognize DST at all: "My iPhone 4 had the wrong time this morning - in Phoenix," reports user M Gnu, "We don't do DST, but iPhone apparently thinks otherwise."

Since DST went into effect on Sunday in the US, many didn't notice issues until this morning, but even eagle-eyed iPhone owners could have a nasty surprise as one Engadget reader reports: "My iPhone 3GS changed time correctly yesterday, but for some reason over night it reverted back an hour, thus leaving me an hour late for work." There doesn't seem to be a single easy fix, but affected users report a variety of ideas might work -- restarting the device, changing the Time and Date setting away from Automatic, calling the iPhone with another phone, or turning on and off Airplane Mode.

How's your iDevice hanging? Let us know below.

Is your iOS device displaying the proper time?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Berkeley Lab scientists create nanocrystal hydrogen storage matrix, could make for H2 batteries

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:33 AM PDT

Berkeley Lab scientists create nanocrystal hydrogen storage matrix, could make for H2 batteries
If you could run your celly on hydrogen you'd have power for days and days -- but, you'd also need to lug around a high-pressure tank to store the stuff. That's no fun, and that's why we're still using Li-ion batteries and the like. But, scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory look to have found a way to possibly ditch the tank, creating a gas-barrier polymer matrix out of polymethyl methacrylate, allowing the H2 gas in but keeping oxygen and everything else out. That matrix contains magnesium nanocrystals that react with the hydrogen to form MgH2, enabling safe, (relatively) low-pressure storage. The H2 can then be released again and the magnesium nanocrystals are freed to bond with another batch of H2 when refilled. It sounds a little like the Cella Energy hydrogen storage solution, but a bit more promising if we're honest. Now for the long, painful wait for this to come to production.

Google VP lays down mobile stats, boasts 150 million Maps users

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:05 AM PDT

Care for a cup of Google data, anyone? At SXSW, the vice president of location services, Marissa Mayer, stated some interesting facts about the state of all things mobile at the Goog. Most notably, the company provides its map service to 150 million users. Just to give you an idea of how many peeps that is -- it's about half the number of individuals in America. Crazy, we know. What's more, Mayer claimed that Google Maps guided users 12 billion miles per year and that its latest build of the app saves people an average of two days worth of travel time each year. Another bit worth noting is how the company feels about Google Maps for iPhone. "We like being the default provider, but we'd like to get some of these updates out to a broader audience. That's still a debate / question we're considering." Updates? An actual Google Maps application that works as a GPS on an iPhone? Wake us up when iOS 5 is previewed, or we can just keep dreaming.

Japanese quake will likely affect the global supply of gadgets

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT

Devastating. There are no words to effectively convey the human catastrophe suffered in Japan. Engadget would like to express our sincere condolences to those readers personally affected by recent events.

As a tech publication, we're obviously focused on the impact recent events will have on Japan's vast consumer electronics industry -- an industry that has responded with millions of dollars in cash, equipment and services to help with the relief effort. Thus far, Canon, Panasonic, and Sony have each pledged ¥300 million ($3.67 million) in donations. Sony is also matching employee contributions as will Mitsubishi who's donating a whopping ¥500 million ($6.1 million) in aid. On the equipment side, Sony is donating some 30,000 radios to relief efforts while Panasonic is providing 10,000 radios, 10,000 flashlights, and 500,000 batteries. NEC, Kyocera, and Epson are each donating ¥100 million in funds, computers, and telecoms and IT equipment.

While it's still too early to quantify the exact impact the earthquake, tsunami, and ongoing nuclear troubles will have on the global tech industry, the scope of the issues is becoming clearer now that the initial chaos has passed. Click through to see how everything from laptop batteries to iPads are at risk.

Already, we're seeing reports predicting shortages of components that could ultimately create delays and / or increase the prices of our favorite gadgets. 32-gigabit NAND pricing has already jumped 18 percent according to DRAMeXchange on news that Toshiba had suspended operations at a chip plant in the Iwate Prefecture. Remember, Japan manufactures over 40 percent of the worldwide NAND flash, much of that coming from Toshiba -- the very supplier found lurking inside of the iPad 2. While Tosh says that the plant doesn't seem to have suffered any significant damage, it's still assessing the situation against a series of aftershocks (likely to continue for one or two months) and doesn't know when it will be able to resume production.

Of course, the integrity of facilities is just one piece to the manufacturing puzzle. Plants still require raw materials that necessitate a working transportation system of rails, roads, and harbors, all of which presupposes the ready availability of fuel and electricity. Regarding the latter, Tokyo Electric has lost 27 percent of its electricity generation capacity leaving it 10 million kilowatts short of demand. As a result, Tokyo, where many of Japan's consumer electronics companies are headquartered, and eight other prefectures will begin rationing electricity until the end of April -- possibly longer as power demand spikes with summer air conditioner demands. The rolling outages will last anywhere between three and six hours. Toshiba and Sony (and likely others) have already announced their compliance with the government's request to shutdown all non-essential electricity-consuming facilities and operations unrelated to social and economic activities.

In addition to the impact on flash memory supplies, we're starting to see a more detailed view of other components impacted by recent events. Sony has stopped or limited production at eight manufacturing plants as it ascertains damage and waits for power to be restored. The disruption affects Sony-built magnetic tape, optical films, laser diodes, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs. Panasonic, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Canon have all shut down factories in the affected regions related to the production of digital cameras and lenses. Canon estimates that some of its facilities, including those that produce interchangeable lenses and inkjet cartridges for its printers, will be offline for up to a few weeks, possibly shifting production to alternative sites if its systems don't come online over the next month.

Obviously, much of this remains in flux so we'll continue to provide updates when appropriate to our coverage of consumer electronics.

[Image credit: Google]

GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:57 AM PDT

Last week, GE kicked off its EV Experience Tour in San Francisco, to "bring GE experts together with local businesses, industry leaders, and public sector stakeholders for educational workshops, test drives, and dialogue on the business case for EV ecosystems." The Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation EV charger was on display at the event in both mock-up and ice sculpture form. We spent some time chatting with Luis Ramirez, CEO of GE Energy Industrial Solutions, and Clarence Nunn, President and CEO of GE Capital Fleet Services about the future of EV charging. We discussed efforts like PlugShare and the recent addition to EV charging stations to Google Maps, concepts like smart parking spots with embedded inductive charging, as well as ways to accommodate folks without garages who park their vehicles on city streets. They both assured us that GE is committed to providing an EV charging infrastructure for all, starting with the installation of a bunch of WattStations in San Francisco soon -- though they wouldn't say exactly when "soon" is. In the meantime, remember that EV charging is always just an outlet away. Take a look at our gallery below and jump past the break for the press release.
Show full PR text
GE ANNOUNCES NATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE EXPERIENCE TOUR TO ENGAGE KEY STAKEHOLDERS ON EV DEPLOYMENT STRATEGIES

Plainville, CT – March 3, 2011 –GE (NYSE: GE) announced today it will host an electric vehicle experience tour in seven U.S. cities that will bring GE experts together with local businesses, industry leaders, and public sector stakeholders for educational workshops, test drives, and dialogue on the business case for EV ecosystems.

GE has already committed to purchase 25,000 EVs by 2015 for its own fleet and for fleet customers. It owns one of the world's largest vehicle fleets, operates a leading global fleet management business, and offers a portfolio of product solutions including charging stations, circuit protection equipment and transformers that touch every part of electric vehicle infrastructure development. The company is hosting the EV Experience Tour to help other businesses and key stakeholders understand technical and business approaches for deploying pure electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Each day-long stop in cities along the tour will include presentations by GE and community leaders, workshops to help stakeholders with EV planning, deployment, and integration strategies, and test drives.

Scheduled Tour dates are:
  • San Francisco, March 10
  • Seattle, March 15
  • Los Angeles, March 17
  • San Diego, March 22
Additional EV Experience Tour dates will be announced in Austin, New York City, and Washington, D.C. for Spring 2011.

"GE is playing a leadership role in the transformation to smarter transportation solutions and a smarter electrical grid," said Luis Ramirez, CEO, GE Energy Industrial Solutions. "Our EV Experience Tour is an important way for us to engage communities across the United States in the discussion about the economic and environmental advantages of EV deployment."

GE is working with GM, Ford, Toyota, Navistar, Smith Electric Vehicles, Mitsubishi, Coda, Smart, THINK and other organizations on the tour.

"We're committed to helping our customers learn what electric vehicles can do for their organizations," said Clarence Nunn, President and CEO of GE Capital Fleet Services. "Each of our tour stops will give participants first-hand exposure to the technical and business considerations for EV deployment and put them on a path toward adoption."

GE's EV Experience Tour and electric vehicle program are part of its ecomagination business strategy to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technology though innovation and R&D investment. In support of the tour, an electric vehicle readiness toolkit is available on ecomagination.com to help municipalities, customers, and individuals prepare for wide-scale electric vehicle deployment.

About GE Energy
Helping to lead the future of electrification around the globe, GE Energy's Industrial Solutions division (www.geindustrial.com) seeks to forge strong relationships with its customers, identifies challenges then solves them, and invests in innovative technologies that help create a cleaner, smarter and more efficient electrical infrastructure. Operating in more than 60 countries, our dedicated teams manufacture and service electrical distribution, control systems and motor products for industrial facilities. Recent innovations include EntelliGuard® circuit breakers, Pegasus® induction motors, the Arc VaultTM protection system, and WattStationTM electric vehicle charging stations.

About GE Capital Fleet Services
GE Capital Fleet Services is a global fleet management company with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Visit the Web site at www.gefleet.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GEFleetSvcs).

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital). GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

How to enable multitasking gestures in iOS 4.3

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:35 AM PDT

Unfortunately we knew that iOS 4.3 wouldn't end up shipping with those nifty four- and five-finger gestures, but what we didn't know was how easy it'd be to enable them. That's right, getting even more touchy-feely with your brand new iPad 2 is just a few clicks and a 4.5GB download away -- if you've got $5 for Xcode of course. Sound intriguing? Click past the break for the info.

Installing Xcode is an uneventful affair... Pop open the Mac App Store and give a search for 'Xcode' (alternatively, just click here). Once you've downloaded the app, follow the familiar dialogs and you'll eventually land at the Xcode homescreen. There's a lot of stuff going on, but don't worry, we're just here for one button.
Once you've plugged your iPad in, you'll see a big "Use for Development" button. Hint: click that. You should get a popup indicating your iPad's been recognized, but if not it'll be under "Devices" listed along the left-hand column. Select your iPad, and you'll see the screen above.
Xcode will prompt you for a developer account and password, but unless you've paid the $99 entry fee, just click cancel. That's all there is to it; unplug your iPad and enable the option in the Settings app, and away you go. Apple's hatred of buttons continues, and this almost fully obviates the need of the lone one up front altogether. Could a future iPad ditch buttons altogether? It's not like Apple hasn't done that before. Check out the video we put together back in January when the new gestures were released in beta -- action starts at 30 seconds.

Update: Some readers have let us know that the free version of Xcode 3 available from Apple's Developer site or on the OS X install disc that ships with all Macs works as well, so it's possible to get the features for free. You'll probably need to sign up for a free developer account should you choose that route though.

Artega SE electric sports car lines up to challenge Tesla Roadster

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:59 AM PDT

The Tesla Roadster may not have many competitors that you can actually buy at the moment, but it looks like it can count on a bit of a challenge from German automaker Artega. It debuted its new Artega SE (short for Sport Electric) at the Geneva Motor Show recently, and it says it plans to produce 500 of them a year starting in 2012 at a cost of €150,000 apiece, or just over $200,000. In addition to some good looks, that will buy you a pair of rear-mounted electric motors that combine for 375 horsepower and a top speed "well over" 155MPH, along with a 37 kW lithium polymer battery that promises to let you "comfortably achieve" 124 miles under normal driving conditions. Of particular note, Artega says that the battery can be fully recharged in just 90 minutes using a commercial charging station, although it can of course also be charged at a slower rate at home. Still no word on availability outside of Europe, although if you're dropping two hundred grand on a car we're guessing the import costs won't pose too much of a problem.

First fine for libel via Twitter issued against politician by British court

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:18 AM PDT

British politician and former Mayor of Caerphilly, Wales, Colin Elsbury, has been ordered to pay a fine for the charge of libel against an opponent. The lawsuit was filed by Eddie Talbot, an independent challenging Elsbury, after Talbot claimed that Elsbury had Tweeted that Talbot had been forcibly removed from a polling place by police. Well, Elsbury definitely Tweeted that, but, unfortunately for him, the person was not Eddie Talbot. Although Elsbury quickly and publicly corrected himself, Talbot took him to court, and in Cardiff on Friday that Elsbury will have to pay a £3,000 fine plus costs of around £50,000. A cursory glance over Elsbury's recent Tweets indicates that he still may not have the hand of the medium, but we'll keep our eyes on his stream for any new instances of #twibel.

AT&T makes calling Japan free until the end of March

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:40 AM PDT

We imagine that many of you, like us, have been making frantic calls to friends and family in Japan over the last few days without regard to the costs. Now, in the face of otherwise devastating news, we have some good news to share courtesy of AT&T. Ma Bell is offering wired and wireless billing relief for calls made on AT&T between March 11th and March 31st. Under the plan, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for international long distance or text messages to Japan from the US and Puerto Rico. Likewise, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dialing to Japan. Sure it's a shameless publicity grab but this one seems genuinely helpful.
Show full PR text
AT&T Offers Wireless, Wireline Billing Relief for Consumers Calling and Texting Family, Friends in Japan

DALLAS, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced it has implemented international calling and texting support efforts for U.S. residential wireless and wireline consumers trying to connect with loved ones in Japan, following last week's tragic earthquake and tsunami.

Effective beginning last week, March 11, and continuing through March 31, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for:
  • International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan
  • Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. wireless number
In addition, and also effective March 11 through March 31, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dial calling to Japan:
  • Upon receiving their wireline bill, customers may call AT&T to receive adjusted calling for up to 60 minutes. In other words, no charges for up to 60 minutes of call time from the United States to Japan between March 11 and March 31.
For any of the above activity, customers will either see no charges reflected on their monthly statement, or they will see a full credit applied to their statement for activity between March 11 and March 31.

"We want to help our customers connect with loved ones in Japan in anyway we can," said Mark Collins, senior vice president, Voice and Data Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Connecting with family and friends is most important at times like this- we want to make it as easy and worry free as possible for our customers."

Still available, AT&T wireless customers can text "redcross" to 90999 to give a $10 donation to help the Red Cross with disaster support efforts in the area. No text message fees apply.

And, TV Japan – the 24 hour Japanese news channel – is available for free through March 17 to all U-verse® TV subscribers, allowing viewers to follow the news and recovery efforts. TV Japan can be found on channel 3680.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

RED EPIC-M stars in gorgeous vid, RED ONE jealously shoots the footage (video)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:09 AM PDT

By now you're probably familiar with the $58,000 RED EPIC-M and what it can do, but it's hard to properly admire its hand-machined beauty from a distance. We can't ship you a unit, of course, but we've got the next best thing: close-up footage of the compact 5K beast shot with another RED camera -- the original 4K RED ONE M-X. Lousiana post-production company Digital FX lovingly fondled EPIC-M #98 on camera, not to mention goodies like the Bomb EVF and 5-inch touchscreen LCD, and you can watch, drool and share your oh-so-envious thoughts with us right after the break.

UK charity opens gaming visitor center / handicapped gaming gadget incubator

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:27 AM PDT

Handicapped gamers currently form a small, but growing portion of the gaming community, and the folks from the UK's SpecialEffect video games charity are seeking to get a lot more disabled folks gaming. SpecialEffect -- with an assist from UK Prime Minister David Cameron -- just opened a Video Games Visitor Centre to give those with disabilities a place to experience cutting-edge gaming tech designed for the handicapped, like eye-controllers, in its GamesRoom. The Centre also has a GamesLab where "games and hardware are tested for accessibility" so game devs can adjust their wares to get even more people dishing out pwnage than ever before -- bring it on!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 showcased on video, doesn't look all that inadequate to us

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 01:43 AM PDT

We have no small amount of respect for Samsung for coming out and admitting that its Galaxy Tab 10.1 slate won't necessarily be the best thing since sliced Apples, but we wouldn't go so far as to describe it as "inadequate," which is what company VP Lee Don-Joo recently called it. It's a handsome, svelte and undeniably powerful device, a set of qualities that is in full show during AndroidHD's 11-minute long video of a day spent in the company of a Tab 10.1. Now, this isn't a hands-on video so much as a commercial made by someone other than Samsung. You can tell Sammy didn't author it because nobody tries to fit this Galaxy Tab inside a pocket. Jump after the break for the ocular feast.

[Thanks, Taylor]

iPhone 5 won't have NFC, say insiders at UK carriers

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 12:36 AM PDT

The Independent is starting our week off on a sour note with the information that Apple's next iPhone won't have NFC hardware built in. Near Field Communication has found itself coming to the fore this year, thanks in large part to the Nexus S touting it as a major feature, however sources at "several" of the UK's major carriers have told the newspaper that Apple intends to skip on it for this year. That intel is reportedly coming directly from meetings with the Cupertino brain trust, which is said to be dissatisfied with the current lack of a clear, universal NFC standard. It's generally been Apple's wont to omit or delay features it doesn't feel it can implement well, and NFC looks fated to be another one on that list.

HTC's Thunderbolt coming March 17th: survey says... yes!

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 12:02 AM PDT

After being jilted on Valentine's Day, you'd think we would learn. But having tasted the goods, we couldn't help but get suckered in by every HTC Thunderbolt launch date rumor -- only to have our hopes dashed each time its release was inexorably pushed further and further back. Now, a leaked email and an HTC regional sales manager's tweet (whose account has subsequently been deleted) claim our lust for Verizon's first 4G handset will finally be quenched on March 17th. HTC posted on Facebook that the official launch date will be announced "soon, " and four days from now would certainly qualify. We just hope Best Buy and Big Red realize they face a legion of disappointed (and drunken) St. Patty's Day revelers should they delay Thunderbolt delivery day yet again. Let's hope the luck of the Irish finally gets us our LTE.

ASUS U30S appears overseas with Sandy Bridge and NVIDIA GT520M graphics

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 10:01 PM PDT

You know who has been relatively quiet on the Sandy Bridge front? ASUS. Sure, it's released some new gaming rigs with fresh Core i7 CPUs, but we haven't really heard a peep out of the company when it comes to its mainstream U or UL series laptops. Well, that should all be changing soon as the guys over at NetbookLive got their hands on a U30S, which packs a Sandy Bridge Core i5-2410M processor, 8GB of RAM, NVIDIA's 520M graphics with Optimus, and a eight-cell 84Wh battery. Yep, it's one nicely spec'd machine, and according to the benchmarks it not only runs quite fast but it also lasts over five hours on a charge. The only thing the reviewer seems to take issue with is the size and weight of the 1.3-inch / 4.2-pound machine, and we really don't blame him -- it looks identical to the U30Jc we reviewed exactly a year ago. All that said, we're betting this thing has a sweet price tag attached to it when it finally gets an official unveil -- until then, hit the source link for a glimpse at what's coming.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: Brain-shaped bulbs, houses that fly, and hydrogen bolts from the sky

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 08:30 PM PDT

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

This week Inhabitat showcased several hot new eco vehicles including the world's fastest plug-in hybrid and an insane screwdriver-powered tricycle that sends you flying through the streets headfirst. The field of alternative fuels also advanced by leaps and bounds as the U.S. Department of Energy announced a new breed of cost-effective biofuel and a team of researchers discovered a way to efficiently produce hydrogen from urine.

From flying houses held up by balloons to skyscrapers that harvest energy from bolts of lightning, this week we also showcased some of the world's most incredible buildings. We were wowed by the futuristic finalists of the eVolo skyscraper competition, which included underwater spires made from plastic debris and massive megaprojects that contain entire cities.

This week we also spotted several exciting new examples of green consumer tech - from a clever brain-shaped CFL bulb to ASUS' new line of cardboard computers to a wearable mix tape you can pin on your sleeve. We also celebrated the launch of Apple's latest tablet by rounding up 14 of the best eco-friendly iPad cases, sleeves and bags. Finally, we kicked off a contest where you can win a beautiful recycled leather iPad case from Dewdrop Designs, and we shared 11 chic travel essentials for jet-setters on the go.

Switched On: A screen too far

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 07:00 PM PDT

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

This January, Vizio became the second major TV manufacturer to announce its support for Google TV at CES 2011. Samsung and LG also rallied behind the idea of "smart TV," with the former announcing results of a "Free the TV" competition designed to encourage television app development. After years of serving mostly as a display for other development platforms such as video game consoles and TiVo, it seems the TV is ready to serve as a connected platform of its own, not wholly unlike the PC and smartphone.

However, there are two things standing in the way of the television as a platform to lead interactivity in the home -- a lack of access to the core video assets, and the separation of user interface from display.

Faced with varying definitions, let's borrow a broadly accepted if oft-maligned convention from the handset market to define smart TV -- a connected TV can access Internet video services, but a smart TV must offer access to third-party applications via a freely available software development kit. Regarding connectivity, let's argue that a TV should have the ability to directly access streaming Internet services such as Netflix, YouTube and Hulu Plus. Indeed, Netflix recently disclosed that, despite all the attention lavished on the hot-selling iPad, Apple TV was already delivering more movies than Apple's tablet.

While broadband provides the opportunity of nearly unlimited choice and the challenge of navigating it (both addressed if not yet mastered by Google TV), broadband video services simply replicate and expand a passive video experience with the exception that nearly all of it is delivered on-demand. To encourage an active stance, TV manufacturers need to build in basic codec support for playing personal videos off flash cards and external drives as well as videos accessed over a home network via DLNA.

But for some time to come,

Without control over core video assets, TV apps become constrained and far less interesting.
these will be supplements to the cable and cable-like services subscribed to by most Americans. A decade of failure has dogged even partial attempts such as CableCARD and Tru2Way for wresting control over this video. Without this level of control, TV apps (beyond those offering access to broadband "channels" such as YouTube or Amazon on Demand) become constrained and far less interesting. In contrast, even the restricted environment of the iPhone offers developers a wealth of access to the core phone capabilities.

However, one of the crucial phenomenon that launched the smartphone to such heights is missing in the realm of the TV -- the upgrade cycle that keeps consumers buying new handsets every couple of years. While a hot new codec seems to pop up every couple of years and some require more advanced hardware, TV manufacturers can typically cover the average consumer's needs over much of the life of the television. In contrast, PCs are adaptable products that can be partially upgraded in most cases, and carrier subsidization and discount programs provide a de facto upgrade option for smartphones in the US, thereby continually providing a richer platform for development.

Related to that, the most interesting gap that smart TVs fail to close is a physical one – the experience-defining 10 feet of distance between the device itself and the viewer bridged by the remote control. But smartphones and tablets can do much more than just control a TV, they can be intelligent AV devices themselves that will -- as per the point above -- continue to have much shorter upgrade cycles than the home AV products they emulate. And in the case of smartphones, one is increasingly likely to be already nearby.

As we start to see the introduction of more technologies such as AirPlay, WiDi, WHDI, and WirelessHD incorporated into handsets, they will be able to take the riches of their platform to the big screen with increasing ease. This will clearly open up a new battlefront in the war with the cable companies to keep Internet-delivered broadcast and cable content off the big screen and widen the app gap with smart TV.

Ross Rubin is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.

iPad 2 jailbroken, no ETA on public release

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 05:45 PM PDT

You knew this was coming -- it was only a matter of time -- and here it is, Apple's latest creation sans the iOS 4.3 chains. The development community credits @comex with installing Cydia on this white iPad 2, and he's apparently already hard at work on a public jailbreak. According to his Twitter feed, the hack required a brand new exploit, as previous bugs were squashed in iOS 4.3. We'll keep you posted on when the hack's ready for you to use, too.

[Thanks, Henrique and Vassilis]

Google adds EV charging stations to Google Maps, but you still have to drive to them yourself

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 04:43 PM PDT

If electric cars are ever going to replace their gas-guzzling ancestors, we'll inevitably need a few more places to plug in and charge up. Cue Google, who's just added a database of EV -- that's electric vehicle for you non-green folk -- charging stations to Google Maps, enabling drivers to locate places to get their juice on while on longer trips or when out of town (though without the social flare of PlugShare). We've gotta say, a future of self-driving cars that can automatically charge themselves doesn't sound too bad to us -- and spending less on gas only makes the deal even sweeter.

AT&T will cap DSL and U-Verse internet, impose overage fees (update)

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 04:05 PM PDT

Ladies and gentlemen, the days of unlimited broadband may be numbered in the United States, and we're not talking wireless this time -- AT&T says it will implement a 150GB monthly cap on landline DSL customers and a 250GB cap on subscribers to U-Verse high speed internet starting on May 2nd. AT&T will also charge overage fees of $10 for every additional 50GB of data, with two grace periods to start out -- in other words, the third month you go over the cap is when you'll get charged. DSLReports says it has confirmation from AT&T that these rates are legitimate, and that letters will go out to customers starting March 18th.

How does AT&T defend the move? The company explains it will only impact two percent of consumers who use "a disproportionate amount of bandwidth," and poses the caps as an alternative to throttling transfer speeds or disconnecting excessive users from the service completely. Customers will be able to check their usage with an online tool, and get notifications when they reach 65 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of their monthly rates.

We just spoke with AT&T representative Seth Bloom and confirmed the whole thing -- rates are exactly as described above, and the company will actually begin notifying customers this week. He also told us that those customers who don't yet have access to the bandwidth usage tool won't get charged until they do, and that AT&T U-Verse TV service won't count towards the GB cap.

Update: What prompted this change to begin with? That's what we just asked AT&T. Read the company's statement after the break.
We are committed to providing a great experience for all of our Internet customers. Less than 2 percent of our Internet customers could be impacted by this approach - those who are using a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. We will communicate early and often with these customers so they are well aware of their options before they incur any additional usage charges.

The top 2 percent of residential subscribers uses about 20 percent of the bandwidth on our network. Just one of these high-traffic users can utilize the same amount of data capacity as 19 typical households. Lopsided usage patterns can cause congestion at certain points in the network, which can slow Internet speeds and interfere with other customers' access to and use of the network. Our new plan addresses another concern: customers strongly believe that only those who use the most bandwidth should pay more than those who don't use as much. That's exactly what this does – and again, 98% of our customers will not be impacted by this.

Apple's Phil Schiller confirms: white iPhone to be available 'this spring'

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 03:24 PM PDT

Whoa, Nelly. Ready for another round? The elusive white iPhone -- spotted only in the hands of Woz and occasionally in those of our own Richard Lai -- may ship after all. After hearing from Apple that it was being delayed twice in 2010, we've heard an extended radio silence ever since. Sure, we've seen hints here and there from third parties that this here unicorn was still making its way through the production line, but there's nothing quite like a direct tweet from Cupertino's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing to really rekindle some interest. In response to a question on how to obtain a white iPhone, Philip Schiller fired back: "The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)." That's about as clear-cut as it gets for now, but we've still got a few inquiries we'd love answered. Is he talking about the iPhone 4, or the next one in the pipeline? And does he have any intention of building us up, only to let us down (let us down) once more? We shall see, won't we?

[Thanks, Stefan]

Katamari Hack rolls across your favorite websites, leaving swath of HTML5 destruction in its wake

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:46 PM PDT

Google Chrome may have come out of Pwn2Own unscathed, but you can rip through any website it (or another HTML5-compliant browser) displays -- just pull out your handy Katamari Damacy ball and wreak havok on the page. Na NAaaa, na na na na na na na, na na na na na naaaa...

Alternatively, paste the following Javascript into a bookmark, and then click it when you're tiring of a page.
javascript:var i,s,ss=['http://kathack.com/js/kh.js','http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.5.1/jquery.min.js'];
for(i=0;i!=ss.length;i++){s=document.createElement('script');s.src=ss[i];document.body.appendChild(s);}void(0);

iPad 2 shipping estimates now three to four weeks, retail availability hit and miss

Posted: 13 Mar 2011 12:33 PM PDT

Already get your iPad 2? Then consider yourself lucky, as anyone trying to get one now will likely require quite a bit of patience. As you may have noticed, Apple's shipping times for online orders have now slipped yet again from the previous two to three week estimate to a lengthy three to four weeks, although things may not be quite that straightforward. Some folks are reporting that they're already receiving shipping notices even though their estimated delivery date was weeks away, so Apple might just be being overly cautious with its estimates. On the other hand, there's also been some reports of Apple canceling orders for being "over the limit" -- even from folks that have just ordered one iPad -- although those seem to be few and far between at the moment.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the situation is even more confusing at retail stores (Apple or otherwise). There are numerous reports of stores being sold out completely, and yet more of stores that have only received certain models (something we've also seen first hand). What's more, it seems that retail stores have largely been unable to give folks a clear indication as to when new stock will arrive, which prompted some folks to line up each morning just to see if a new shipment has come in (as pictured above). Of course, as far as problems go, this is probably one that Apple doesn't mind having, although it does certainly seem like there's some room for improvement before the inevitable iPad 3 launch.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
at 11:39 AM

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