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Monday, June 6, 2011

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Apple brings deep Twitter integration to iOS

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:58 AM PDT

Apple's just announced that it's bringing deep Twitter integration to all of its iOS-based devices, and to many of its own apps, including Camera, Photos, Safari and Maps. That integration also, of course, extends to Contacts, where you'll be able to link contacts to their Twitter handle and update their information accordingly, much like Android.

Developing... stay tuned to our liveblog for the latest.
iOS 5 Twitter integration

Notification Center for iOS 5 announced

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:48 AM PDT

It looks like iOS 5 has a new approach to notifications -- and we like what we see so far. Notification Center aggregates your various app alerts and eschews the pop-ups for a decidedly Android-esque list that appears at the top of our your screen when you you get a Facebook message, or a tweet, or when you miss a call. Swiping down brings you to the list, and swiping across any instance takes you to the corresponding app. Feast your eyes on the gallery below for a closer look.
iOS 5 Notification Center

Apple's iOS 5: all the details

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:43 AM PDT

Scott Forstall has just taken the WWDC 2011 stage and details about the changes and improvements in iOS 5 are flowing thick and fast. Keep one tab in your browser locked to this post as we update it with all the new features, and throw another one open for our liveblog where you'll get to see and read the very latest as it happens.

- Firstly, stats. Scott notes that Apple has so far sold 200 million iOS devices, with more than 25 million of those being iPads. There have been 14 billion downloads from the App Store, tallying over $2.5 billion paid out in revenue to app developers. The iTunes Store isn't doing badly, either, with 15 billion songs sold.
- And the first new feature: an overhaul of notifications. At last! A new Notification Center aggregates all your, well, notifications into one and is accessible by swiping down a menu from the top of the screen. Yes, just like Android. Small X buttons alongside each note allow you to dismiss it, though there's no "clear all" option for the more decisive among us. Notifications are also making their way onto the lockscreen, where swiping across a text message takes you right into it. A little something like Samsung's TouchWiz implementation.
- Newsstand is a new place to house all your magazine and newspaper subscriptions.
- Twitter integration is also coming to iOS 5, with a single sign-in allowing a multitude of apps to make use of your Twitter credentials. That includes the Camera and Photos programs, finally letting you tweet images out directly from your galleries.
- Safari Reader is a new browser feature that will strip out distractions and present the text of a webpage with no other excess content. Accessible via a button next to the address bar. Also added to the iOS browser is a Reading List, which does what the name suggests by accumulating a list of pages you want to read later. Accessible on multiple devices. Tabbed browsing is making a debut in v5.0 as well, which is sure to be a boon for iPad users.
- Reminders is another self-descriptive feature. This one's intelligent enough to remind you to do things based on your location. It'll sync across devices and with your calendar.
- Yay, there's now a camera button right on your lockscreen! The volume-up button is also doubling up as a physical shutter button when in the camera app. Pinch-to-zoom is said to be available right in the app, while holding your finger down on a particular area will lock down exposure to optimize the shot for its particular lighting.
iOS 5 Notification Center

iOS 5 Newsstand

iOS 5 Twitter integration

iOS 5 Reminders

OS X Lion launching in July for $29.99: all the details

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:38 AM PDT

Apple has been talking about OS X Lion for some time already, of course, but it's now filled in most if not all of the remaining key details at WWDC. Dubbed a "major release" with over 250 new features, the OS adds things like a slew of new multi-touch gestures and full-screen apps (including iPhoto, iMovie, Safari, etc.), plus the all new Mission Control, which unifies Expose and Spaces, and the iOS-esque Launchpad application launcher. It also includes a new system-wide Resume feature that lets you pick up exactly where you left off, a new auto-save feature that automatically saves different versions of documents, the new AirDrop peer-to-peer file-sharing system, and a brand new version of Mail that finally includes a conversation view.

The OS will also now only be available in the Mac App Store as a 4GB download -- which installs in place, no reboots -- and it will run you just $29.99 for all of your authorized Macs. The latest developer preview is also available today.

Developing... stay tuned to our liveblog for the latest.
Mac OS X Lion at WWDC 2011

Microsoft integrates live TV streaming from Sky TV, Foxtel and Canal on Xbox 360

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:07 AM PDT

Microsoft confirmed the recent rumors and announced a new streaming TV implementation for the Xbox 360 today at its pre-E3 2011 keynote. The Kinect and Bing-powered voice search that can pull in content from online sources like Hulu, Netflix and Xbox Live Marketplace, will also work with live TV from IPTV partners. So far that list only includes Sky in the UK, Foxtel in Australia and Canal+ in France, but users there will be able to search across all the services and view them directly through the console itself. There's no word on any US-based partners but if we had to guess AT&T's U-verse will probably be first in line again. One thing you will be able to watch in the US -- PPV UFC fights, streamed directly to the Xbox 360.
Microsoft unveils live TV streaming for XBox 360

Microsoft's Kinect-based UI for XBL has Bing voice search across Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and live TV

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:05 AM PDT

Quick refreshing of Microsoft's E3 landing page has apparently revealed some of the things it will be announcing within a couple of hours at its E3 press conference, including new features for Xbox Live like Voice Search and new look for the service. With the explosive popularity of the Kinect add-on, it looks like the system is being refashioned with support built in from the ground up as opposed to the current menu system that's more of an afterthought. Also mentioned on the page are Dance Central 2, Kinect Sports Season 2 and most importantly, two new Halo games. One is Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary which appears to be the HD (& possibly 3D) remake leaked by Joystiq previously, while the other is Halo 4 -- no explanation needed. We'll surely find out everything when the press conference kicks off live at 12:30 p.m. Eastern and of course we'll be covering all of the news live right here.

Update: Microsoft's just confirmed some of the leaked information onstage at its E3 keynote, with demonstrations of a deeply integrated voice command setup powered by Kinect. YouTube has been announced as an Xbox Live partner, while Bing is coming to the console to let users search across Netflix, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Hulu all at once.That universal search also extends to new live TV partnerships with Sky, Canal+ and Foxtel.
XBL gets universal, Bing-powered search and YouTube integration


[Thanks, q & Pradeep]

Kinect support explodes, EA Sports, Mass Effect 3, and more hop on board

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:03 AM PDT

EA Sports with Kinect
Kinect is almost as popular for its hacks as it is for actually playing games, but Microsoft and its third party developers are making a hard push for motion and voice-controlled games on the Xbox 360. Popular EA Sports franchises Madden NFL, FIFA World Cup, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour will all join the motion-gaming parade. No longer will you have to punch obscure sequences of buttons to pick plays, you'll actually be able to call out running patterns to your offensive line. Plenty of others are also getting in on the shouting and arm-flailing action, including Mass Effect 3, Forza Motorsport 4, Fable: The Journey, and Ghost Recon -- in fact, we were told, "all future titles in the Tom Clancy franchise will leverage Kinect." Crytek also offered a sneak peak at Ryse, a Roman-era brawler that will have you headbutting the air to take out baddies. Looks like you'll have to start stretching before firing up your console from now on.

The following games will also be coming to Xbox 360 with Kinect Support:
  • Minecraft
  • Disneyland Adventures
  • Kinect Star Wars
  • Sesame Street Once Upon a Monster
  • Kinect Fun Labs
  • Kinect Sports: Season 2
  • Dance Central 2
Kinect support explodes: Mass Effect 3, Forza Motorsport 4, Ghost Recon, various EA sports titles, and more

Kinect Fun Labs

WWDC 2011 liveblog: Steve Jobs talks iOS 5, OS X Lion, iCloud and more!

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 09:55 AM PDT


2:06PM Tap a word, tap "Define" in the popup, and you're in a dictionary. Scott didn't know what a lychee fruit is, apparently. Doesn't know what he's missing out on.



2:05PM There's also a built-in dictionary that's a service across the OS. "All apps from the App Store can use it."


2:04PM And S/MIME is being added as well, for the security mavens.







2:03PM Rich-text formatting, indentation control, draggable addresses (from To: to Cc: or Bcc:), flagging so you can mark them as unread, and now you can search the entire contents of messages.

2:03PM Next up: Mail.



2:02PM And they can now be edited directly on the device. You can crop, rotate, reduce red-eye, and you can do a one click enhance -- if you're feeling lucky.



2:02PM You can pinch-to-zoom right in the app, and if you hold a tap on a part of the photo it'll set the exposure settings to optimize that portion of the image.


2:01PM Or, you can use the shutter button to turn your volume up, if you want to look at it that way.


2:01PM And you can use the volume up button to take pictures now. Huge applause on that one.

2:01PM If you have a passcode set, you can take a new photo without entering it. But, your existing photos are protected.



2:00PM Tap on the camera icon and you're right in the Camera app, ready to take a photo.


2:00PM There's now a Camera button on the lock screen.

2:00PM Looking at Flickr popularity, with the iPhone 4 the most popular phone on a camera, and soon the most popular ever.



1:59PM Next feature: Camera updates.



1:59PM It'll sync across devices, and with Cal.



1:59PM Big applause for that, lots of people who need to call home when they leave here.

1:59PM "I can set a location to remind me to call my wife when I leave the convention today. It'll set up a geofence."

1:58PM You can store lists of things, assign a reminder to any dates, and you can even assign a location.

1:58PM That one got an "oooh," from the crowd. Lots of folks apparently ignoring their honey-do lists to be here today.


1:57PM Next feature: Reminders.



1:57PM And there's naturally Twitter integration. Tap on "Tweet" and you get what they're calling the "Tweet Sheet" which is a common control across the Twitter-friendly apps.

1:56PM He's looking at a 20 page review of the EOS 60D on dpreview.com. He switches to Reader view and all the content is presented in one view.


1:56PM "It is lightning fast to switch between windows now." Just tap on one of the tabs and there you are, on that other tab.



1:55PM Tabbed browsing is added as well! Demo time.

1:55PM You can access those you've tagged for later on multiple devices.

1:55PM Reading List is next, "a simple way to read it later." Which is, you know, kind of like Read It Later.





1:54PM You can e-mail the contents of the story too, not just the link. Cautious applause from the webmasters in the room...



1:54PM All the distractions are gone, all the junk, just text in a single, scrolling story. "It's really convenient."

1:54PM Safari Reader is a new button when you're reading a story on a website. It's up in the address bar.



1:53PM "Safari is the best mobile web browser out there. It's also the most popular." Nearly 2 / 3 of all mobile web browsing is done through Safari.

1:53PM Next up: Safari.

1:53PM You can also use Twitter to automatically update contacts if they have Twitter handles. Again, taking a cue from Android.



1:52PM You can also send articles from Safari and locations from Maps.

1:52PM It really is, Scott.


1:52PM Integrated with many apps, including Camera and Photos. Just tap the action button, hit "Tweet" and it's attached. "It's that simple."



1:51PM Single sign-on. Jump into Settings, add in your deets, and you're configured for Twitter. Those credentials are then saved and can be (optionally) shared with any app that requests them.


1:51PM "We want to make it even easier for all our customers to use Twitter on all their iOS products."



1:50PM Feature number 3: Twitter.


1:50PM New issues are now automatically downloaded in the background, available offline.




1:50PM "When you purchase them they're automatically downloaded and placed on the Newsstand. It's integrated with the home screen, looks like, well, a newspaper stand.

1:49PM And papers: New York Times, SF Chronicle, Daily Telegraph...




1:49PM You know, lots of magazines.

1:49PM Vanity Fair, Popular Science, Esquire, GQ, Oprah...


1:49PM We're going through a suite of publications that support this, like Nat Geo and Spin.

1:48PM "Recently we added subscriptions, which makes it easier to get all the new issues without missing anything."


1:48PM Okay, next iOS 5 feature: Newsstand.

1:48PM We're not seeing an Android-style clear button, but hopefully there's away to dismiss them all en masse.

1:48PM To clear a notification, just tap on the little X to the right and it disappears.



1:47PM Swipe across the text message and you're right into conversation view.



1:47PM Demo time! We're seeing a few missed calls, a Facebook notification, and a text message.


1:47PM It's on the lock screen as well, and you can if you slide across any of them you'll go straight to that app.

1:46PM It's unobtrusive and goes away after a moment, but of course you can get back to it whenever you like.


1:46PM If you're playing a game, you get an animation up top that swivels down.



1:46PM Stocks and weather appear up top.

1:46PM Swipe down and you get a big list -- yeah, it looks like Android.


1:45PM Notification Center aggregates all the notifications. It's accessed by swiping down from the top.


1:45PM The modal alerts are annoying when you're playing a game, or watching a video -- maybe you're really into the latest 30 Rock episode.


1:45PM "We have built something that solves some of the current problems."



1:44PM We're looking at the current notifications, the annoying pop-ups that have been "massively popular." More than 100 billion have been pushed so far!


1:44PM First new feature: Notifications.

1:44PM Over 1,500 new APIs! Got a few cat-calls from the saucier coders in the room.

1:43PM "iOS 5 is a major release. This is incredible for our developers and our customers."


1:43PM "Let's talk about the future of iOS, and that is iOS 5."

1:43PM More than 225 million accounts "all with credit cards and one-click purchasing."


1:43PM Looking at some examples, Tiny Wings, HBO Go, even an FDA approved app for looking at CT scans.




1:42PM And Apple has paid out more than $2.5 billion to developers -- big check signed by Steve Jobs on the screen.


1:41PM More than 14 billion (yeah, with a B) apps downloaded from the App Store, total.

1:41PM "The size and momentum in the App Store is hard to fathom." 90,000 apps specifically for the iPad. "We'd like to thank our developers for these great apps.


1:41PM The iBookstore has moved 130 million book downloads.



1:40PM More than 15 billion songs have been sold through the iTunes Music Store, making it the #1 retailer of music in the world.



1:40PM More than 25 million iPads sold since the original launch 14 months ago. "We've created a whole new category of device with the iPad."


1:39PM He's talking up the iPad 2. "It is an amazing product, and our customers just couldn't wait to get their hands on it... actually they did have to wait."

1:39PM These are Comscore's April numbers, showing Android in #2.


1:39PM "That makes iOS the number one mobile operating system, with more than 44% of the market."



1:39PM "To date we have sold over 200 million iOS devices."

1:39PM "As you know iOS powers the iPhone, the iPad, and the iPod touch."


1:38PM Okay, Scott Forstall is up to talk about iOS 5.


1:38PM Available soon, in July.




1:37PM In the past, upgrades have been $129. This one? $29.99!

1:37PM "What would you charge for this?"

1:37PM You're looking at a 4GB download, no reboots, and you can use it on all of your personally authorized Macs. You won't have to buy multiple copies!


1:37PM Go into the App Store, click "buy," it downloads locally and starts the upgrade.

1:36PM Wow, no more discs. Lion will be available only in the App Store. Making it the "Easiest upgrade ever."


1:36PM There are 3,000 new APIs as well, which got a few tired claps from the serious coders in the room.

1:36PM Other things: there's a Windows Migration assistant, FileVault 2, FaceTime is built in, Lion Server add-on (apps you can purchase to run on top of Lion)...



1:35PM Phil's back "So those are the top 10 features of Lion, but there's so much more for you to learn about on Lion."


1:35PM Looking at conversation view, which hides all the redundant FWD and RE junk that starts to overwhelm a lengthy e-mail chain. Or you can display it... if you're into that kind of thing.




1:34PM You can search by date too, naturally, and you can combine all three, saying a sender, a subject, and a date, without diving into a clunky search dialog box.


1:33PM Showing off searches and suggestions. You can search for people, or if you type in something more general you can select whether to search in the body, the subject. It'll even suggest e-mail subjects to search for.




1:33PM Or a tap, presumably, if you're using a touchpad.

1:33PM Showing off the favorites bar -- just click to get to whatever folder you're most often in. But of course you can get back to the top with just a click.


1:32PM Okay, Mail demo time.

1:32PM More wild applause. People apparently like conversations, too.


1:32PM Also adding a new conversation view. Shows all the messages all inline.



1:31PM Wild applause. People are really into searching for things.

1:31PM "With searching now we have new search suggestions. Mail recognizes whether that's a person or a subject... select one it becomes a search token." You can then create rules based on these searches.





1:30PM Two or three-column view, snippets on the left, and a favorites bar to get to your hottest folders.


1:30PM "A completely new version of Mail in Lion. It's beautiful."


1:30PM Okay, we're up to feature number 10: Mail.


1:30PM "There's nothing to set-up. It's auto-discover, auto-set-up."

1:30PM Go into AirDrop and you'll see all the other users who are running AirDrop. To share a file, just drop a file onto the user in question. They then receive a notification and, hey presto, file exchanged.


1:29PM Phil says this is a replacement for Sneakernet: i.e. using a thumb drive and running it over to a friend. Peer-to-peer sharing.



1:28PM Next feature: AirDrop.

1:28PM He's selected an old version and brought them both up, grabbing an image that was deleted many versions ago and dragging it right back into the current version.



1:27PM He's also looking at all the versions of the document, an easy view into the history of the doc. Any thesis-writers out there? This feature is for you.


1:27PM Changes made, exiting without saves. Launched Pages again and everything was exactly as it was. Bam.

1:26PM We're working in Pages, building a document now. Moving some guitars around on the page. Pretty rockin'.





1:25PM Well, the wings didn't flap, but you'll have to use your imagination for that.

1:25PM Looking at launch pad, installing an app from the store. Twitter's being installed, it actually flew onto the grid.



1:24PM Demo time again...

1:24PM You can switch between them, copy / paste from one to the other, and basically time travel like a madman.

1:23PM They're created automatically as the files are auto saved, and only the deltas are saved, meaning you don't have a zillion copies of your files floating around.

1:23PM This opens the door to versioning...

1:22PM You can easily duplicate too, creating a second one just like that.



1:22PM Up on the menu bar, the document name is now a control you can click on. You can select that, and prevent auto-saves from happening, or revert to how it was when you opened it.



1:21PM Lion will automatically save the document for you without you having to do anything.

1:21PM "The one time you might forget to save what you're doing, something goes wrong... Why can't the computer help you? That's what Lion does."



1:21PM Next: Auto Save


1:21PM It works system-wide, including window placement, Spaces, everything.

1:21PM Windows, selections, tools, even highlighted text are just the way you left them.

1:20PM "Now when you launch an application in Lion it brings you right back to where you left off."




1:20PM Phil's talking about exiting an application and having to start over again when you re-load it.


1:20PM Next: Resume.

1:20PM If you make a pinch gesture and all your apps appear, multiple pages in a big grid -- kind of like iOS actually...


1:19PM Now talking Launchpad.

1:19PM They're adding delta updates too, which should make patching easier and more quickly.



1:19PM The App Store is now built-in to Lion, and they're adding in-app purchases, push notifications, and there's a built-in sandboxing mode to boost security.

1:18PM The Mac App Store is now the #1 channel for buying PC software. It's ahead of Best Buy, Walmart, and Office Depot.



1:17PM "You can get your software right from the comfort of your home on your Mac."


1:17PM "It is the best place to purchase and discover new Mac desktop applications."


1:17PM Phil's back. Now it's time to talk about the Mac App Store.



1:17PM To delete a Space, just click the X in the upper-left and the windows all fly right back to the main view.

1:16PM If you're drowning in windows, this is your life saver.

1:16PM Hover over to the upper-right and you can create a new Space. Then, just click and drag any window you want into it.



1:16PM Quick, and easy, and if you hit spacebar while hovering over any it'll give you a zoomed-in preview.



1:15PM Pick any app in this view and it comes to the fore, including full-screen apps.

1:15PM Now it's Mission Control, three-finger swipe upward.


1:15PM "That's great stuff."


1:14PM Birds flying around his head now. 3D birds. So sweet.

1:14PM Now Photo Booth, running full, showing off a suite of face detection options.


1:14PM Again, to exit full-screen there's a control on the upper-right.


1:14PM It's almost like task-switching in WebOS or QNX on the BlackBerry PlayBook, if you're familiar with those.


1:13PM You can get back to your desktop easily and swipe back and forth from one app to the other.

1:13PM Now looking at iPhoto in full screen. Really nice animation when you maximize it -- the desktop fades off to the left.


1:13PM You can take two fingers to swipe forward or backward, which actually knocks the page right off the side, as if you're going through a deck of cards.

1:12PM You can zoom in and out, or double-tap to smart zoom in or out.


1:12PM He's talking about momentum scrolling "The page feels alive beneath your fingers."


1:12PM Starting with gestures, in Safari, and we're looking at BBC -- which has a big story on a sex scandal up top. Oops.

1:11PM Craig is on-stage to give us a demo of all this. "Let's take a look at Lion in action."



1:11PM Shows you all your apps and all the documents you're working on. Plus, you can get to all your spaces up top. Multiple views of apps, and you can get to all your widgets on the upper-left.



1:10PM Phil's talking about Expose and Spaces, but Lion unifies all that with Mission Control.

1:10PM Next feature: Mission Control

1:10PM iCal works, Preview showing PDF full-screen. A "beautiful experience"

1:10PM We're looking at Safari, iMovie, and dozens of other standard apps.




1:09PM "We've worked on a number of our applications to bring them into the new full-screen mode in Lion."

1:09PM There's a new control in the upper-right to go full, and with a swipe you can go between them.

1:09PM With Lion, developers will be easier able to make their apps run in full-screen.




1:08PM Next up: full screen applications.

1:08PM Scrollbars? Who needs 'em? They're gone if you're using gestures, appearing only when you scroll.


1:08PM Showing multi-touch tap-to-zoom, pinching, two-finger swiping, "all with an incredible, physical realism that's never been possible in a PC operating system before."



1:07PM "We now build multi-touch trackpads into all of our notebooks... Lion can count on multi-touch."

1:07PM First up: multi-touch gestures.



1:07PM Boo, only have time for 10.

1:07PM "Next up in OS X is Lion, a major release with over 250 new features. If you'd like we can go over every one of them today."



1:07PM And, of course, it's going to be evolving even more today...

1:06PM Talking up OS X's solid UNIX foundation, launched 10 years ago. Showing what it looked like then. It's evolved quite a bit since then.

1:06PM "They're great not just because of the hardware, but because of the software they run."


1:06PM Mac sales are almost 3/4 notebooks at this point, far outpacing desktop sales.


1:05PM Year-over-year, the PC has shrunk 1%, while the Mac has grown 28%, and out-grown the industry every quarter for the last five years.

1:05PM "We now have over 54 million Mac users around the world and growing." That is a lot of Macs.


1:04PM Phil: "This product is all about the Mac, and the Mac is doing incredibly well."




1:04PM Phil Schiller is going to give us some Lion demos, and he's up on stage.


1:03PM "We've got some great stuff to talk about: OS X Lion, iOS 5, and some kind of interesting new cloud stuff."

1:03PM "If the hardware is the brain and the sinew of the product, the software in the middle is the soul."

1:03PM Over 120 sessions, over 100 hands-on labs, and over 1,000 Apple engineers here to help.


1:02PM "We wish we could sell more tickets, but we don't know where to have it if we do."

1:02PM Over 5,200 attendees, sold out in two hours.

1:02PM Steve: "We've got an awesome morning together, this morning. Thank you for coming so much."


1:02PM "We love you." -- shades of last year.


1:01PM Huge applause, standing ovation. This crowd is pumped.

1:01PM Steve Jobs is on the stage!

1:01PM Lights coming down, crowd is amped. Here we go!



1:00PM "I Feel Good!" We do too!

12:59PM Hah, got silent for a moment, crowd got hushed, then James Brown woke everyone up again.

12:57PM We're seeing a few MacBooks up on stage. Demo units, for sure.


12:56PM You can silence yours too if you want to get that "I'm totally there" experience.

12:56PM "Ladies and gentlemen, our presentation will begin shortly." We're being asked to silence our phones.

12:55PM "Hold on, I'm Coming" is blasting now. Neither Jake nor Elwood have been spotted yet, but we're keeping our eyes open.


12:52PM Apple is really pushing the soul music as they're pushing people in the aisles. Pandemonium -- funky, funky pandemonium.

12:50PM ...and it feels like we're shoulder-to-shoulder with all of 'em.


12:50PM Crowd's filling in -- feels like four million people in here. Maybe five. Maybe more.


12:48PM Just to be extremely, super clear: Apple will not allow *anyone* to livestream the actual keynote. We'll be livestreaming a post-show afterwards -- you'll find the liveblog here.




12:43PM A teaser for some data recovery software to come? Probably not.

12:42PM And we're in our seats! "Rescue Me" is playing over the speakers. A little Aretha to get the crowd warmed up.

12:17PM So, any guesses as to what's on deck? New iOS notification system? iCloud integrated into the core of Lion? A unicorn-embossed iPod nano (with camera)?


12:04PM We're just about to be ushered into the photo pit... we'll drop a few more updates once we're settled. Just as a reminder, we aren't expecting any actual news to drop prior to 10AM PT.


12:03PM Oh, and just so you know: Tim Stevens will be providing textual updates today, with Darren Murph shooting the stills. Here's a glimpse of the line wrapping around outside... four hours prior to showtime.


12:02PM Oh, and if you couldn't guess, the topics of conversation involve Lion (Gestures, etc.), iOS 5, and whatever "iCloud" is. Something about "files" in the "cloud."


12:01PM And we're in! Still an hour to go, but the line's already getting pretty insane. Typical Apple event, we guess.
You're in the right place! Bookmark this page and return on Monday at the times listed below to see Steve Jobs take the stage at Moscone West. WWDC 2011 promises a peek at iOS 5, OS X Lion, the iCloud music storage offering and who knows what else. The iPhone 5? Don't count on it, but also, don't count it out. Your town not listed? Shout your time in comments below!

07:00AM - Hawaii
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02:00AM - Tokyo (June 7th)

Live from Microsoft's E3 2011 keynote!

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT


1:59PM And that's a wrap. Looking forward to controlling everything on Xbox with your voices this year?



1:58PM Holiday 2012.


1:58PM Halo 4.

1:57PM It's Master Chief!

1:57PM No, that stellar particle just turned into a beating heart.


1:57PM Space... the final frontier?

1:57PM "The dawn of a new trilogy for Xbox 360."

1:57PM We're wrapping up... one last reveal.



1:56PM Call of Duty downloadable content will hit Xbox 360 first, he says.



1:55PM Don Mattrick's back out -- he says Xbox Live will "change living room entertainment forever."








1:54PM It'll also bring simultaneous multiplayer dancing -- before, it was a dance-off where you had to swap out.


1:53PM "All songs from Dance Central 1 can be imported into Dance Central 2."


1:53PM Remember Dance Central? It's back! Dance Central 2, with voice control.



1:52PM The action starts when you say "Hike." The rest of what these guys are saying sounds like it's just friendly banter though.



1:51PM Time for some co-op football. You pick your play with your voice as well.




1:50PM It uses Kinect Voice too. "Change club," she says.

1:50PM She's swinging... and she's onto the fairway. Nice drive.




1:49PM Kinect Sports: Season Two. Football, Tennis, Skiing, Golf, Baseball...



1:48PM We're not sure how you'd submit your own Kinect apps, but hopefully that'll be self-evident when it hits the dashboard.


1:48PM Kinect Fun Labs goes live *today* for all Xbox LIVE members.


1:47PM In goes a stuffed animal with a gigantic tongue, and out comes a digital stuffed animal with a gigantic tongue. Can you use this created content in a game, though?


1:46PM Kinect Googly Eyes -- it's an object scanner.



1:46PM To be fair, he's only using one finger, but it looks like a neat diversion.


1:45PM He's drawing on a stereoscopic 3D picture, creating lines of light... just like a sparkler.


1:45PM Kinect Sparkler -- it does finger tracking! Did Microsoft figure out the sensor resolution issue?


1:44PM First up: Kinect Me -- you take a couple of pictures in different poses, and it captures your hair, facial features and clothing for a personalized avatar. Neat stuff!




1:43PM It's a Kinect community portal that'll be a "permanent addition to the Xbox Live dash," showing off fun Kinect hacks from both Microsoft and hackers like you.



1:42PM Kudo Tsunoda is up -- with Kinect Fun Labs.


1:42PM Tim is very happy he can make a game for his daughter. Microsoft is very happy that he's happy, because that game looks like a surefire winner for the 6-and-under (and their parents) crowd.




1:40PM In order to help the poor monster get a bit more light and feel better, they're grabbing glowbugs using the Kinect to control a pair of virtual hands.



1:39PM They have to act like the "scary monster," stomping and creeping about in order to make friends.

1:39PM There's a father-son pair of demonstrators using Kinect -- they're playing Cookie Monster and Elmo respectively.




1:38PM "Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster."

1:37PM It's a "living storybook full of monsters and friends."

1:37PM Tim Schafer from Double Fine, showing off Sesame Street.


1:37PM And... cut, right before a confrontation with a pair of Sith Lords.


1:37PM Hard to tell if we're looking at 1:1 saber swipes here, but the sword definitely comes down at the same side he swings.


1:36PM These Destroyer Droids are shielded, but he makes quick work. He ducks to zoom forward, jumps, dodges side to side, and waves his arms to slash back and forth with the saber.




1:35PM Two hands outstretched, our young demonstrator lifts a Droid Federation Tank with the power of Kinect. Err.. the force, we mean,



1:34PM We're about to get a live demo... two Jedi are being flown to a skyscraper platform covered with hapless battle droids.


1:34PM There's some space combat, too.



1:33PM Looks like it's actually a game now. Speeder bikes, Imperial walkers, Cloud City... and plenty of classic John Williams music.

1:32PM Kinect Star Wars! We've been wondering what happened to that game since Microsoft teased it last year.


1:32PM Costume characters are confirmed.


1:32PM "Available this holiday."



1:31PM Rather than a recreation of the Peter Pan ride, it's a Kinect Adventure kind of experience here, collecting golden Mickey coins by directing the avatar to fly through certain paths. Same for the Alice in Wonderland ride.


1:30PM Will Disney California Adventure be included? We have to know.


1:29PM It's a virtual tour of Disneyland -- the entire park.


1:29PM Kinect Disneyland Adventures, through a partnership with Disney.


1:28PM Microsoft says it's exclusive to Xbox 360. Guess they haven't read the news.


1:28PM Looks like Minecraft isn't an Xperia Play exclusive after all -- it's headed to Xbox 360 this winter with Kinect support!



1:27PM He summons a thunderbolt, raises his arm like Zeus, and throws it at a hapless goblin. Applause.

1:27PM He has a pair of target reticles, one for each ahdn, and can mix them together to cast more potent spells.


1:26PM Kinect at work! Our player is controlling the wagon in first person, holding the reins, casting spells with the wave of a hand.



1:25PM The gypsy, pursued by evil smoke monsters, asks the lad for a lift. Yep, I'd say so.

1:25PM A tiny CG insect escapes an owl... only to be squashed by a young lad riding a wagon. Is he our new hero?



1:24PM Peter Molyneux is up on stage, with "Fable: The Journey."


1:23PM October 11th.


1:23PM 16 player online multiplayer, 80 auto manufacturers signed up.

1:22PM Kinect Voice and headtracking confirmed.


1:22PM We're getting some in-game footage, according to the teaser.



1:21PM That is one sexy digital automobile.

1:21PM Forza 4.


1:21PM Halo: Combat Anniversary, coming out November 15th.


1:20PM It's a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, with brand new graphics and new maps for Xbox LIVE.


1:20PM Halo! But not Halo 4.

1:19PM The title is Ryse, and according to that CG video, it looks like you'll be able to use Kinect for first-person melee combat.


1:19PM "This is Rome," says the exceptionally serious narrator.



1:17PM Next up: Crytek.


1:16PM Talk about mobile cover -- one of Marcus's teammates has a small battlemech with vulcan cannons on board, and Marcus can hide behind it.

1:16PM Even though we're looking at co-op, it's not split-screen.



1:15PM Near as we can tell, we're looking at the same game engine here as the last two titles -- there's plenty of action here, but graphics haven't really improved.

1:14PM Badass space marines are defending a structure from a giant creature ripping apart the walls.




1:13PM IceT in the house -- sounds like we might see some co-op gameplay.


1:12PM Epic Games's CliffyB is up on stage -- he says we're going to get a look at some of the campaign!



1:11PM First up... Gears of War 3.

1:11PM Phil Spencer says every single game we see from here on out is an Xbox 360 exclusive.


1:10PM Microsoft Studios is on stage... perhaps some first-party Kinect titles?


1:10PM We're watching people beat one another up, and you'll be able to do the same on Xbox LIVE!



1:08PM They're moving right on to the next segment -- a UFC announcement.


1:08PM How much will this cost? Microsoft hasn't said yet.

1:07PM Obligatory sizzle vid for the new service.


1:06PM Launching this fall.

1:06PM Looks like there'll be a TV listings interface and DVR settings!


1:06PM "I'm excited to announce that this is the year live television comes to Xbox 360."

1:06PM "Xbox: Live TV."

1:06PM So we're looking at a universal multimedia search here... nothing about the web yet.


1:05PM "Xbox: Bing Xmen" Games and movies come up in the same interface.

1:05PM "Xbox: Bing Lego." Up comes a slate of Lego based Xbox 360 games.



1:04PM "We're excited to announce that Bing is coming to Xbox. You say it, Xbox finds it."

1:04PM "How will you find the entertainment when you want it? Is there a better way?" Here's hoping!


1:04PM YouTube on Xbox LIVE.

1:03PM And yes, that does look just like a Metro UI-based menu.

1:03PM "Xbox: Music." "Xbox: Video." She says it, and the Xbox switches categories.


1:03PM The new Xbox experience... completely revamped for Kinect voice.


1:02PM "It begins by giving TV a new voice: yours."

1:02PM Microsoft's back out, talking up TV...



1:01PM "All future titles in the Tom Clancy franchise will leverage Kinect."


1:00PM It's like Iron Man -- he just says "Optimize for range" and the gun reconfigures itself, like that.


1:00PM Gunsmith is also voice controlled. Speaking "randomize" produced a random configuration.



12:59PM Showing off "Gunsmith" allowing players to customize weapons, down to the inner-parts. Neat!




5:57PM There'll be "even more" from Mass Effect 3 throughout the week. Now we're watching a new Tom Clancy game filling the screen with fancy visuals.




5:55PM "Liara, move up! Garris, move up!" Tactical team controls will also be available by voice, sweet.


5:54PM You can choose dialog options by saying them yourself.

5:54PM Mass Effect 3 will support Kinect voice controls.









12:50PM Madden, FIFA, Tiger Woods PGA Tour

12:50PM "Four EA Sports titles will have Kinect support in 2012."


12:49PM Peter Moore of EA Sports is on stage. No, we don't think he'll have a new tattoo.


12:49PM Tomb Raider's coming this fall.

12:49PM Quick time sequences abound, showing off scripted sequences where she has to claw her way up, avoiding captors. The graphics are pretty, but lower-res than you might expect. Jagged edges all around.


12:48PM The whole cavern is collapsing, stones and rubble falling all around, the walls closing in... she runs for dear life.

12:47PM Another puzzle of some sort. She's burning boxes that float down the stream just to show she can, then navigates a series of hanging platforms formed from scrap metal, and pushes a cart down a ramp to clear a path.


12:46PM Neck deep in a flooded cavern, the flames of her torch illuminate the ceiling.


12:45PM Now she's navigating a cavern with a torch she found. Gorgeous patterns of light and water play across the stone walls.


12:45PM Oooh, that's gotta hurt. She threw her swinging self bodily into a fire to burn her bindings, fell to the ground, and got partially impaled on a spike.



12:43PM Lara's looking mighty muddy, beaten and bruised... and she's hanging upside down. However will she escape? It's a puzzle sequence, that's how.


12:43PM Crystal Dynamics is out, with a new installment in the Tomb Raider franchise.



12:42PM New Kinect experiences, "more Xbox Live entertainment choices," and a new way to "enjoy television." (!)

12:42PM "This morning, we'll show you what's next on Xbox."



12:42PM "This is an incredible time for everyone who loves games and entertainment."


12:41PM Don Mattrick's out!


12:41PM November 8th.

12:41PM "It's truly humbling to be part of this game," says Glen of Sledgehammer.



12:40PM Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games are out. They're honored to work together, as you'd expect.


12:40PM And as the chopper lifts away, missiles fly towards the city.


5:39PM Woah, a pretty gorgeous set piece with speeding boats and explosions in every direction.


5:38PM The mission continues. Buttons are being pressed. Men are sounding really serious when they say "roger!"









12:33PM And they're out of the tunnel, navigating a naval battlefield from deep underwater. A dead body floats by.

12:32PM "Please reconnect controller" says the Xbox as we get bumped out to a menu. Funny.


12:31PM We've got a deep see diver burning through a grate... some covert ops going on here.


12:31PM Call of Duty time.


12:31PM The lights just dimmed... here we go!
With a Guinness World Record-selling peripheral in its pocket and a pretty popular console, too, we're not sure what to expect from Microsoft at E3 2011. That doesn't mean the company won't have some killer surprises, however, and that's why we're reporting live from the show. Will we see IPTV integration? Kinect finger-tracking? Support for Windows Phone 7 games? The handheld Xbox 360 you've been longing for? There's only one way to find out -- follow our live coverage right here at the times below.

06:30AM - Hawaii
09:30AM - Pacific
10:30AM - Mountain
11:30AM - Central
12:30PM - Eastern
05:30PM - London
06:30PM - Paris
08:30PM - Moscow
01:30AM - Tokyo (June 7th)

Panasonic GF3 spied by Micro Four Thirds enthusiasts in YouTube vid?

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:44 AM PDT

Panasonic GF3?
The folks at 4/3 Rumors believe they've spotted Panasonic's successor to the compact Micro Four Thirds GF2 -- the aptly named GF3. The site's eagle-eyed camera fiends noticed an unfamiliar digicam in a promo video (since removed from YouTube) that sports an interchangeable lens and is smaller than a DSLR. The design of the camera is somewhat similar to the GF2, though it sports a more pronounced hump and a more modern look. Rumors have suggested that the GF3 would lose the hot shoe, which this glossy-white mystery device clearly lacks, and borrow the 16-megapixel image sensor from the G3. While you wait for Panasonic to announce its tiny new hobbyist shooter, which is expected to happen on June 13th, enjoy another pair of pics after the break.

Panasonic GF3?
Panasonic GF3?

AT&T's Ralph de la Vega: Windows Phones 'not selling as well' as hoped

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:25 AM PDT

We don't envy AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega's job one bit, nor the amount of time he spends on the hotseat. We do, however, admire his willingness to open his mouth and reveal interesting tidbits. Interviewed after his D9 appearance, de la Vega fielded questions about Windows Phone, confirming what we have suspected for quite some time: the platform hasn't been selling as well as AT&T or Microsoft would've liked. He didn't divulge numbers or get any more specific, but he did sound optimistic looking to the future. When asked if WP7 is a hard sell, de la Vega noted that it's a brand new OS, and the growth both companies are hoping for will come once the Mango update is readily available; consumers are looking for a bigger app store, more functionality, and a larger number of features. So adding more functionality will make phones more appealing to consumers? Crazy thought. If you're interested in seeing what else Ralph had to say in his one-on-one, head to the source link.

Engadget, broadcasting live from WWDC!

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 07:29 AM PDT

That's right, for the first time we're bringing you a live video feed straight from San Francisco, the heart of Apple's big summer event. What will Apple unveil, when will it ship, and what does it all mean? Tim and Darren will help you figure it all out. Just make sure you click "Play" to start the video.

Update: And we're done. Sorry for breaking UStream -- we'll have a saved version of the video up shortly. In the meantime, why not bookmark our liveblog of today's event? To be clear, we're NOT liveblogging the keynote itself. Apple won't let anybody!

Update 2: We've got the video after the break!

Google's search for future profit targets the Sun, not just the cloud

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:58 AM PDT


These humble-looking contraptions were revealed in a Google patent application for a "heliostat control system" that automatically adjusts solar thermal mirrors to their optimal energy-harvesting angle. A camera and computer are housed in the central tower that receives heat from the mirrors, and together they detect when a heliostat is misaligned and then correct it using actuators. Sound like a strange distraction for an Internet company? Google thinks not. It's already invested $168 million in the world's largest solar tower in the Mojave Desert as part of its effort to both reduce its own massive electricity bill and diversify its business. It's also currently hiring three new technical staff to make this happen. Interested?

Fisker Karma delayed again, but only by a tiny little bit

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:36 AM PDT

Yes, that's a Fisker Karma at the Monaco Grand Prix starting line, but no, it won't be taking off just yet, at least not this month. Last we heard from Roger Ormisher, Fisker Automotive's Communications chief, the electric supercar was set to debut in the US during the June / July timeframe, but that's now been nudged that extra bit later, with "the first" dealer demonstration vehicles and customer orders landing firmly in July. So, you'll have to keep stashing that $95,900 under your mattress for a little while longer, but look on the bright side: Fisker's delays are getting shorter all the time!

T-Mobile might launch Samsung Exhibit 4G and Gravity Smart June 22nd?

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:14 AM PDT

Millions of schoolchildren may be getting ready for three months of lazy summer days, but T-Mob's just starting to get its hustle on. Samsung's Gingerbread-equipped Exhibit 4G and Froyo-laden Gravity Smart have been officially confirmed for sometime in the month of June, but all is quiet about the exact date. If this leaked screenshot above comes to fruition, though, it means we'll be seeing these two phones hit the shelves on June 22. The Exhibit 4G will tempt us with access to T-Mobile's 21 Mbps HSPA+ network, while the Gravity Smart looks to be a splendid entry-level QWERTY slider. The pricing for either phone is still anybody's guess, but at least the possibilities have been narrowed to $100 or less -- a good idea, since it wouldn't take any sales away from the Sensation 4G if it were any higher.

Utechzone Spring eye-tracking system hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:52 AM PDT

In the midst of fiddling with tablets and laptops at Computex, we haven't been thinking much of eye-tracking technologies until we saw Utechzone's booth. What we have here is the Spring, a TW$240,000 (US$8,380) eye-tracking rig that was launched in March 2010 and is aimed at users with limited mobility. The package consists of an LCD monitor, a computer, and an external sensor that utilizes infrared to track our pupils. Also included is an eye-friendly software suite that lets users play games, browse the web and media files, send emails, communicate with caretakers, and read PDF or TXT files.

We had a go on the Spring and quickly learned how to control it with our eyes: much like the Xbox Kinect, in order to make a click we had to hover the cursor over (or fix our eyes on) a desired button until the former completes a spin. The tracking was surprisingly accurate, except we had to take off our glasses for it to work; that said, the other glasses didn't exhibit the same issue, so the culprit could be just some coating on our lenses. Another problem we found was that it only took a quick jiggle with our eyes to cancel the spinning countdown, so full concentration is required to use the Spring. This shouldn't be a problem outside a noisy event like Computex, anyway, and if you need more convincing, we were told that a disabled Taiwanese professor managed to hit 100,000 Chinese characters within three months using phonetic input on the the same rig -- he's planning on releasing a new book soon. Have a look at our eyes-on video after the break for a better idea on how the Spring works.
Utechzone Spring eye-tracking system hands-on

France bans Twitter, Facebook mentions on TV, in the name of market competition

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:28 AM PDT

The words "Facebook" and "Twitter" are now verboten on French TV, because France thought it'd be a good idea to follow its own laws. Last week, the country's Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) ruled that TV networks and radio stations will no longer be able to explicitly mention Facebook or Twitter during on-air broadcasts, except when discussing a story in which either company is directly involved. The move comes in response to a 1992 governmental decree that prohibits media organizations from promoting brands during newscasts, for fear of diluting competition. Instead of inviting viewers to follow their programs or stories on Twitter, then, broadcast journalists will have to couch their promotions in slightly more generic terms -- e.g. "Follow us on your social network of choice." CSA spokeswoman Christine Kelly explains:

"Why give preference to Facebook, which is worth billions of dollars, when there are many other social networks that are struggling for recognition? This would be a distortion of competition. If we allow Facebook and Twitter to be cited on air, it's opening a Pandora's Box - other social networks will complain to us saying, 'why not us?'"

It didn't take long for the US media to jump all over the story, with many outlets citing no less objective a source than Matthew Fraser -- a Canadian expat blogger who claims, in ostensible sincerity, that the ruling is symptomatic of a "deeply rooted animosity in the French psyche toward Anglo-Saxon cultural domination." Calling the ruling "ludicrous," Fraser went on to flamboyantly point out the obvious, stating that such regulatory nonsense would never be tolerated by corporations in the US. But then again, neither would smelly cheese or universal healthcare. Apple, meet orange. Fueling competition via aggressive regulation may strike some free-marketeers as economically depraved, but it certainly won't kill social media-based commerce. Facebook and Twitter have already become more or less synonymous with "social networks" anyway, so it's hard to envision such a minor linguistic tweak having any major effect on online engagement. That's not to say that the new regulation will suddenly create a level playing field -- it won't. But it probably won't put America's social media titans at a serious disadvantage, as some would have you believe. Rather, these knee-jerk arguments from Fraser and others seem more rooted in capitalist symbolism and cross-cultural hyperbole than anything else -- reality, included.

Engadget is live from E3: get your Microsoft and Sony keynote liveblogs right here!

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:00 AM PDT

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming industry's biggest annual get-together, kicks off in earnest on Tuesday, June 7th. Microsoft and Sony, however, will be getting the party started on Monday with keynotes scheduled for 12.30PM ET and 8PM ET, respectively. You can check out our liveblog posts (linked below) for the particular times in your local region -- oh yes, we're going to be liveblogging the hell out of these keynotes. Considering this year's E3 will be the place where Nintendo previews the next Wii, the other two console gaming leaders pretty much have to give us something juicy to talk about.

Steve Wozniak calls us all dogs, in a nice way

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 04:40 AM PDT

You can stop worrying about the robot apocalypse now. Steve Wozniak has weighed in on the matter, and it turns out we've pretty much lost. The Apple co-founder / dancing star discussed the subject with an Australian business crowd, mapping out a future in which artificial intelligence equals our own, and mankind's own input is meaningless. In other words, "We're going to become the pets, the dogs of the house." Woz added that his take on the whole war thing was, in part, a joke -- it's the part that wasn't that we're worried about. Though if our own dogs' existences are any indication, things could be a lot worse.

[Thanks, Shaun]

HTC EVO 3D launches on June 24th for $200, joined by EVO View 4G tablet at $400

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 04:11 AM PDT

The HTC bonanza that Sprint has been cooking up for a while now has its official launch date: June 24th. That will be the day when the 4.3-inch EVO 3D and its tablet buddy, the 7-inch EVO View 4G, launch on the Now Network, both equipped with WiMAX radios and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) as their OS. The 1.2GHz dual-core EVO 3D costs $200 on contract, with pre-orders available right now provided you buy a $50 Sprint gift card, whereas the 1.5GHz single-core EVO View 4G will set you back double that, at $400, while still requiring a two-year contract. Skip past the break for the full press release details.

Oh, we've also just noticed that Sprint Premier customers will be able to buy the EVO 3D online on June 21st -- a three-day headstart on the competition to say thank you for being so damn premier.
Show full PR text
06 June 2011

Two Newest Members of the Award-Winning HTC EVO Family, HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G, Make Debut Exclusively from Sprint on June 24

HTC EVO 3D, with America's first 4.3-inch, qHD 3D display and a powerful 1.2GHz dual-core processor, available for $199.99; HTC EVO View 4G brings the powerful HTC EVO experience to a 4G tablet for $399.99

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), June 06, 2011 - Two of the "must-have" gadgets of 2011 are getting ready to make their debut. Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the June 24 availability of HTC EVO™ 3D and HTC EVO View 4G™ on America's Favorite 4G Network1. America's first 'glasses-free' 3D 4G device will be available for $199.99, and HTC EVO View 4G, the first 4G tablet in market, will be available for $399.99. Both prices exclude applicable taxes, and the devices require a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade.

Customers can pre-order HTC EVO 3D or HTC EVO View 4G at any participating Sprint Store with the purchase of a $50 Sprint gift card (per device). On June 24, Sprint Stores nationwide will open doors at 8 a.m. local time for customers to get a jump-start on purchasing these hot new devices.

Additionally, Sprint Premier customers will have the opportunity to purchase HTC EVO 3D online three days before the national launch, while supplies last. Qualifying customers will receive an email on June 21, or they can log on to their account at www.sprint.com on June 21, click "show me my rewards" and then "Sprint Premier Community" for more information.

"Sprint takes device innovation to a whole new level with the two newest members of the EVO family, HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G," said Fared Adib, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. "HTC EVO 3D provides our customers the ability to capture and view content in 3D and share at 4G speeds; HTC EVO View 4G expands on the capabilities of tablets by introducing the digital pen, and allows our consumers to do more than they ever imagined was possible."

Glasses-Free 3D plus Sprint 4G

HTC EVO 3D takes the mobile multimedia experience to a new level, providing the ability to capture and view in 3D and share at 4G speeds, offering consumers the ultimate glasses-free 3D experience. Built with the Android 2.3 operating system (Gingerbread), HTC EVO 3D features America's first 4.3-inch, qHD 3D display and a powerful 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5-megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.

Respected device critics agree Sprint has done it again with HTC EVO 3D. Here are a few of the accolades that poured in when it was announced in March:

LAPTOP Magazine honored HTC EVO 3D with its Best Smart Phone Award and the coveted Best in Show honor at CTIA this spring.
PC World added, "The design is gorgeous, and the combination of dual-core Snapdragon processors with 4G can't be beat. Suffice to say, I can't wait to get my hands on this phone this summer."
Phonearena.com named HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G as "Best of CTIA 2011."
Boy Genius Report said, "The HTC EVO 3D and the HTC EVO View 4G tablet were among our favorite new gadgets shown off at CTIA."

HTC EVO 3D requires activation on one of Sprint's Everything Data plans plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint's Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $39.99 per month vs. Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and web.2 The Mobile Hot Spot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges) supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously.

An Unparalleled Tablet Experience

HTC EVO View 4G brings the best of the EVO experience to a tablet design with a 7-inch touchscreen, 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor and latest version of HTC Sense. It will launch with an Android 2.3 operating system (Gingerbread) and will be updated to Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) when it is available for a 7-inch tablet. As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a premium entertainment experience with HD-like quality video and a rich web-browsing experience with the ability to browse the web on Flash-enabled sites.

Rate plans for the HTC EVO View start as low as $34.993 per month for 3GB of 3G data and unlimited 4G data usage while on the Sprint network. Unlimited text, picture and video messaging are included at no charge. Additional plans, including 3G-only plans, are available to meet customers' needs.

Additionally, for a limited time, any customer who purchases HTC EVO View 4G will receive the HTC Scribe™ digital pen (otherwise sold separately) at no charge with a two-year service agreement – providing an additional savings of $79.99 on their purchase.

Optional add-on services include GPS Navigation for $2.99 per day or $10 per month and the Mobile Hot Spot option for $29.99 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges) supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously.

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint also ranks as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, during the last three years4. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

MSI's Afterburner Android app makes GPU overclocking as easy as Facebooking

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:37 AM PDT

Back in our day, overclocking one's PC was akin to a fine art. It took skill. Precision. Effort. Cajones. These days, it's just about as simple as blinking. Or winking. Or winking while blinking. MSI's made the simplification of PC overclocking quite the priority over the past few years, with OC Genie and an updated Wind BIOS from last decade putting all sorts of power into the hands of mere mortals. At Computex this week, the outfit took things one step further with the Afterburner Android app. Purportedly, the GPU tool enables users to monitor the temperature, voltage and fan speed of their graphics card via a WiFi connection, and if you're feeling froggy, you can overclock and overvolt to your heart's content. Details beyond that are few and far betwixt, but we're hearing that it'll soon work with GPUs from other vendors, and that an iOS variant is en route.
Show full PR text
MSI displays Afterburner App for Android, the World's First Android-based Overclocking Utility for Graphics Cards: Monitor, Overclock, and Overvoltage Graphics Cards Wirelessly with Android Phones and Tablets!

[Taipei – Taiwan] The leading graphics card and mainboard manufacturer, MSI, today display the Android version of its popular Afterburner overclocking utility for graphics cards at Computex 2011. The pioneering Android overclocking utility was co-developed by MSI and well-known software programmer "Nick Connors". The new Afterburner utility allows the Android-based smartphones and tablets to adjust or monitor Afterburner settings on PC over a Wi-Fi connection. In addition to monitoring the temperature, voltage and fan speed, the utility can also be used for overclocking and overvoltaging! This year MSI is demonstrating how to use the Android-based cellphone to overclock the graphics card with the Afterburner app from booth L607 in the Nangang Exhibition Hall; giving enthusiasts a chance to experience for themselves the hottest overclocking technology app for tablets and phones.

The Afterburner app enables Android phones and tablets to monitor or overclock a graphics card by connecting to the Afterburner utility* installed on a PC over a Wi-Fi connection. For enthusiasts who like to monitor the operation of their graphics cards, they can now do so through their mobile phone or tablet, even while playing the FPS games, without having to use a separate display. For extreme overclocking enthusiasts, they can use their mobile phone to monitor frequency, temperature and voltage parameters in real time while their computer is running full-screen testing software. Key parameters can even be adjusted on the fly for specific testing scenarios to make breaking world records in performance even easier. You can even connect to your home computer and check how the graphics card is running when you are away, a particularly convenient feature when running scientific computing programs that utilize the GPU such as Folding@Home.

MSI will be demonstrating the Afterburner app of Android version at booth L607 in the Nangang Exhibition Hall at Computex 2011. Enthusiasts are welcome to visit the booth to experience for themselves the convenient, powerful, and complete monitoring functionality you have when overclocking with Afterburner using an Android phone or tablet PC.

*Wi-Fi connection and Afterburner remote server must be available on the desktop PC to utilize Afterburner features.

Ten One Design's iPad joysticks set to have a mini Fling with your smartphone

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 02:58 AM PDT

Need more stuff to attach to your smartphone? Good news: Ten One Design managed to shrink down those stick-on iPad joysticks we played with back at CES, bringing the Fling's screen-cluttering gaming action to the iPhone, iPod touch, and Android devices. The new Fling Mini monopolizes a good deal of its designated phone's display real estate -- and then some -- pushing its way well into the bezel of many handsets. You can pre-order the suction cup controllers now at $24.95 for a pack of two -- five bucks less than their older siblings. They're set to start shipping next month and will no doubt get some good, slightly-obscured face time at E3.
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Ten One Design Reveals Fling mini Game Controller at E3 Expo

Montclair, NJ (June 3, 2011) – Ten One Design, creators of the first capacitive touch-screen stylus for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, has announced the "mini" version of its revolutionary tactile game controller – Fling mini.

Expanding on the success of the Fling for iPad announced at this year's CES, the mini controller adheres to any smartphone on top of the directional pad of any applicable game to deliver ultimate control and superb response for full gaming immersion.

Fling mini's unique spiral design creates actual physical resistance so gamers are assured of greater directional control. It works with any iPhone or iPod touch game with a directional pad, or virtual joystick, including Meteor Blitz, Aralon: Sword and Shadow, Super Mega Worm, Robokill, Blade of Betrayal and Dink Smallwood, to name a few.

Similar to Fling for iPad, to use Fling mini, launch the game of your choice and secure Fling mini's center control over the game's directional pad. Then simply place your thumb on the center control to navigate easily through the game.

The translucent and flexible design provides an unrestricted view of all on-screen action. Plus, the suction cups allow simple attachment and detachment for spontaneous gaming sessions.

The included microfiber bag is ideal for on-the-go storage and doubles as the perfect screen cleaning cloth to eliminate unwanted smudges and fingerprints.

Available in Ninja, the 2-pack Fling mini is available for pre-order now for just $24.95 at www.tenonedesign.com.

Evolve III prices triple-booting Maestro S and swiveling Maestro C tablets, unveils cordless NGen desktop (video)

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 02:10 AM PDT

We knew Evolve III had some major plans in store for this year and now, we've found out a little more about the company's latest creations. First up is the Maestro S -- a triple-booting slate that, as promised, can now support Android, Windows 7 and Meego. Rocking a 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, the Maestro is powered by an Intel Z670 Oak Trail processor clocking in at 1.5GHz and runs on a battery that can last for up to ten hours per charge when running on Windows 7, or up to 18 hours when in Meego mode. The Maestro C will give you all of this, plus that swiveling kickstand we heard about last month. Designed with frequent flyers in mind, the convertible tablet also comes with a wireless keyboard that can serve as a protective, hardshell case.

Rounding out the troika is the NGen -- a next-generation, "all-in-one" PC, powered by an Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPU. The WiDi-enabled desktop boasts a 21.5-inch, 1920 x 1080 LED, supports Intel HD graphics and packs a 2.0-megapixel, front-facing camera. Weighing in at a little under 13-pounds, the cordless NGen can be folded up for quick transport, or mounted on a wall. Content can also be synced across all three devices, with a Wormhole connecting cord. As far as pricing goes, the Maestro S and C are running for 800 AUD (about $860) and 825 AUD (around $886), respectively, while the NGen, according to an Evolve III representative, will retail for about $1,500 of the green stuff. Unfortunately, this lineup won't be available Stateside until later this year, but you can find out more in the video that awaits you, after the break.

[Thanks, Nicholas]

ComScore: Android grows larger than ever among US subscribers, Apple belittles RIM

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 01:29 AM PDT

The latest ComScore results from the last quarter are in, and the US mobile device wars were hotter than ever as 13% more people reported owning a smartphone. Google conquered most users' territory with Android climbing just over five percent (now totaling 36.4%) and still claiming first for mobile software platforms. Apple's iOS destroyer took second place (at 26%) partially due to RIM's S.S. BlackBerry OS sinking about five percent (now 25.7%) to claim third, while Microsoft and HP / Palm rounded out the bunch struggling to stay in the fight with even lower single-digit scores. In the OEM region Samsung claimed first yet again (although slightly dropping to 24.5%), with LG and Motorola landing in second and third respectively, each keeping its place from the prior quarter. In the last two slots, Apple again bested RIM whose devices barely dropped half of a percent, but enough to let the slight growth of iDevices snatch up 4th. The source link below is waiting to be clicked if you want the full battle statistics.

Sony files for 'PS Vita' trademark in Europe, intends to do something Next Generation with it

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 12:42 AM PDT

The words "PS Vita" and "PlayStation Vita" have just made their way through the EU Trademarks and Designs Registration Office, courtesy of a set of new applications from none other than Sony Computer Entertainment. The name PS Vita showed up in some source code on an official Sony site late last week, though it's still not certain that it'll be the official branding for the company's Next Generation Portable. "Vita" means "life" in Italian, so a literal translation would be PlayStation Life. For now, all we know is that the NGP will be large and in charge at E3, and the best way to find out how this Vita moniker relates to it will be to tune in to our Sony keynote liveblog later today, which can be found right over here.

ASUS UX21 to be priced at less than $1,000, says Commercial Times

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 12:22 AM PDT

The ASUS UX21, that 11.6-inch cake slicer that doubles up as an ultrathin laptop, is coming in September with a price tag of less than $1,000. That's according to the Commercial Times, which cites supplier sources in identifying ASUS' aggressive pricing strategy. Word is that the Taiwanese company is aiming to price the UX21 at 80 to 90 percent of the cost of Apple's competing products, namely the MacBook Air family. Of course, with a second-gen Intel Core i5 (or i7) CPU inside it, ASUS' new laptop has a significant spec advantage over Apple's similarly aluminum-encased laptops, so we'd argue simply matching the MBA's price will ensure the UX21 flies off store shelves. ASUS has a fine recent history of breaking through price barriers, as shown by the $200 Eee PC X101 that was announced alongside the UX21 at Computex, so if anyone was going to give us a 17mm-thick slab of up-to-date gorgeousness for less than $1,000, it probably had to be Jonney Shih's crew.

The Sony Ericsson Urushi leaks again: ST18i exposed

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 11:27 PM PDT

Sony Ericsson Urushi ST18i
Remember that Sony Ericsson that leaked awhile back, the ST18i? Well, here's the Urushi again, all fired up and ready for a few holes of Lets Golf 2. Inside is a 1GHz ARM processor with an Adreno 205 GPU which, if you're on top of your SOCs you'd know, means there's a single-core Snapdragon under the hood. It appears Sony put a meager 335MB of RAM on board -- enough for basic use, but it'll probably get bogged down under heavy multitasking. We can also confirm that this little guy is pushing Gingerbread, with the expected load of customizations, to its 854 x 480, 3.2-inch screen. Hit up the source link for a healthy dose of picage.

[Thanks, Jesper]

Google Translate API gets reprieve, servers will accept cash for interpreter duties

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 10:29 PM PDT

Last month, Google said it intended to pull the plug on a variety of APIs, including one rather curious pick -- Google Translate, which had actually been getting so much use that it was allegedly causing an "economic burden" for the company. Well, it seems Google got in touch with its capitalistic roots, because the Translate API won't be depreciated after all. Following a public outcry, Mountain View's announced that it'll create a paid version as soon as possible. Hear it from the horse's Google API Product Manager's mouth at our source link.

McDonald's interactive Pong billboard brings big-screen elation, tomorrow's lunch

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 08:58 PM PDT

You could enjoy that Big Mac in the peace and artery-clogging quiet of your local McDonald's, or you could just catch the next flight to Stockholm, where Ronald apparently serves his meals with a side of interactive, outdoor gaming. It's all part of something called Pick n' Play -- a new (and pretty ingenious) ad campaign that invites pedestrians to play a game of Pong on a giant Mickey D's billboard, using only their smartphones. All you have to do is stand in front of the display, log on to Pick n' Play's site from your handheld, and wait for your phone to verify your location. From there, you'll have to manipulate an onscreen paddle using your device's touchscreen, while doing battle with a game that gets increasingly more difficult. Last thirty seconds, though, and you'll get a free, lipid-drenched treat of your choice, courtesy of the Golden Arches. Best of all, you won't even have to download an app to get your Pong on -- putting you one step closer to that coronary you've always wanted. Trot past the break to see it for yourself.

How would you change Fujifilm's FinePix X100?

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 08:00 PM PDT

Photokina 2010 was the launching pad for a relatively new class of point-and-shoot, and Fujifilm's FinePix X100 was just one of the many high-end, zoomless compacts designed to put DSLR-level image quality into your right (or left, for southpaws) rear pocket. Of course, the compromise is the inability to swap lenses and the omission of an optical zoom, but evidently the market research has shown that there's a market for this thing, yet. The X100 oozes beauty, but it most definitely comes at a cost -- over $1,000 at last check. For those with plenty of disposable income and a hankering for anything new, we're as curious as can be to hear how your experience with this guy has been. Have you been overly impressed with the design? Would you have tweaked the lens at all? Thrown together a less rigid chassis for the sake of weight / cost? Added an option for an interchangeable lens mount? Go on and get creative in comments below -- you've earned it.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: hybrid hydrogen hovercraft, amphibious ice cream, and the transparent solar touchscreen laptop of our dreams

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 07:00 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.


Solar energy supercharged our power grid and gadgets this week as Inhabitat showcased a hot solar laptop set within a transparent case that allows sunlight to shine straight through it. We also saw a team of Japanese engineers' shoot for the moon with plans for a lunar photovoltaic plant, while back on earth Seoul officially launched the world's first solar-powered floating island. Scientists also used sunlight to create the perfect cup of joe with the Helios 4 solar coffee roaster, and now that the weather is finally heating up we couldn't help but share this sexy solar bikini -- which just hit the market!

In other news, green transportation set sail this week as Volkswagen unveiled a hybrid hydrogen-electric hovercraft and the world's first amphibious ice cream truck cast anchor in the Thames. Meanwhile, a new mini electric Humvee was spotted just a few streets away in London, students at the University of Adelaide unveiled a crazy electric di-wheel car, and a group of scientists unveiled plans to harvest Helium-3 from Uranus to help propel interstellar travel. Enerkam also took a big step towards transforming municipal waste into fuel by securing a $60 million investment, and we took you for a ride on 14 of the world's most amazing subways.

Last but not least, this week we officially unveiled 40 stunning finalists in our Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition - from a gorgeous geometric chandelier made from cut and folded Tetra Paks to a living LED light that doubles as a terrarium and a brilliant lamp made from a broken blender. We were also shocked to hear the World Health Organization declare that cell phones may cause cancer, so we rounded up 5 ways to protect yourself from cellphone radiation. Finally, we showcased a steampunk R2-D2 made from recycled materials, and if you're stepping up your exercise routine to hit the beach this summer you won't want to miss the S770 Pinnacle Trainer -- an energy-generating exercise machine that produces watts while you work out!

Adobe's CEO trains to become The Most Interesting Man in the World (video)

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 06:11 PM PDT

Could Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen seriously go toe to toe with the Dos Equis guy? Don't laugh... well, until you watch his training video just after the break. Something tells us he's got quite a few lessons to go before getting the Ari Gold seal of approval.

Kno brings textbooks to iPad, millions of children now dread getting Apple tablet for Christmas

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 05:02 PM PDT

You know the old saying, right? If you can't beat them, license your designs to third-party manufacturers and develop an app for your competitor's hardware. Kno's dual-screen tablet had a pretty tough road since its debut last summer. The educational device was plagued by shipping delays and low pre-order numbers, and by February of this year, the company effectively threw in the hardware towel. A few months later, Intel plunked down a bunch of money, so that Kno's dreams might live on in the designs of other manufacturers. The company's software plans are becoming a reality now, as well, with the release of Textbooks, which brings some 70,000 discounted educational titles to the iPad. The free app lets students read and organize texts, affix annotations, and communicate with study partners, offering creative new ways to pass notes in class. Press release after the break.
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KNO UNVEILS BETA TEXTBOOK APP FOR iPAD WITH WORLD'S LARGEST eTEXTBOOK CATALOG
App's Unique Features Make Learning More Engaging, Efficient and Social

Santa Clara, CA – June 6, 2011 –Today Kno, Inc., an education software company, unveiled a beta version of Textbooks, an innovative learning application that marries the world's largest catalog of digital textbooks with an industry leading set of features for Apple's iPad.
Kno is pushing the boundaries of how a student interacts with textbooks and learning materials. The app combines the best textbook and PDF reader technology with a Course Manager that allows students to organize documents by class and term. The beta application also integrates academic social features by allowing students to ask questions, post comments, or share their location with a study buddy. Additionally, students can annotate by using one touch highlighting and sticky notes or use the search feature to easily find topics, terms or subjects within a textbook.
"The first version of the Kno app ensures that we maintain the consistency and integrity of today's textbook, while making it more engaging, efficient and social," said Osman Rashid, CEO and Co-Founder, Kno. Inc. "This enhanced digital version gives both students and professors the confidence of knowing that the page numbers, chapters, diagrams and photographs will be exactly the same as the physical textbook, yet a lot more interactive."
Kno has partnered with the leading textbook publishers to offer the world's largest catalog of over 70,000 eTextbooks, at a 30-50% discount off the list price. All books purchased from the Kno website are backed by a 15-day Money Back Guarantee policy. The app is available for free to download at www.kno.com.
"The Kno app allows us to offer a huge catalog to meet the needs of many students today, while we continue to further develop better ways to interact with educational content," said Babur Habib, CTO and Co-Founder, Kno, Inc. "The beta version of Textbooks puts us on that path."
To kick off the app's launch, Kno is offering a free textbook for the first 200 students that participate in the Kno Early Bird Beta Program. U.S. college students participating will provide regular product feedback sessions in exchange for a full refund on a purchased textbook at the end of program. For more details go to www.facebook.com/goodtokno.

Visualized: Acer's Iconia Tab A500 is 'a better choice' than the iPad (update: video!)

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 03:52 PM PDT

We were making our way through Taipei's sublime metro system this week and what did we see on the side of the stairway? Why, it was a collection of iPad images, but rather than an Apple-funded advert, this was an Acer-instigated bit of spec sheet trash talk. The captions beneath the images read, in order: "no open operating system, no high resolution display, no Dolby Surround Sound, no Flash, no microSD, no USB port. Why do you want to choose this type of tablet?" Gracing the opposite wall was the tablet that ticked the "yes" boxes to all those items, Acer's own Iconia Tab A500. Perhaps once Acer figures out the answer to its own question, it can stop overhauling itself and get back to the job of chopping the iPad's market share down to size. Check out the full ad in the gallery below.

Update: Looks like there's a video ad to go along with the print campaign! Check it out after the break.
Visualized: Acer asks why do you want to pick the iPad

Switched On: As Windows loses its windows

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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

You say you want a revolution? Well, you know... . you might get one if you're a patient Windows user. With Windows' eighth major release (at least according to Microsoft's math), its name is becoming metaphorical. Taking on a default look that is rooted in Windows Phone 7 -- the first "Windows" to eschew windows -- with a smattering of Media Center, the next major version of Windows marks an overhaul of the initial user interface. Indeed, it is even a more radical departure than Apple made between Mac OS X and iOS, which preserved a scaled-down dock and icons, or between Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.

Apple's and Microsoft's approaches are similar in at least one way -- each has one operating system for PCs and another for phones. Clearly, though, the longtime operating system rivals have taken different tacks with tablets. Apple has approached them as big handsets whereas Microsoft is treating them as somewhat smaller touchscreen PCs. Microsoft will challenge Apple's assertion that bold touch interfaces are not the province of the PC. But while Apple decided to break with tradition on the iPad's platform, Microsoft could not escape its personal computing legacy. To leave the existing base of Windows apps behind would be tantamount to shooting the OS in the head.

This isn't to say that Microsoft didn't have alternatives. One might have been to have different Windows "personalities" depending on the form factor -- a traditional windowed interface for desktops and laptops, a Metro-like UI for tablets, and a Media Center UI for home theater PCs. In fact, with the blurring and adaptability of form factors these could all easily exist in a "schizophrenic" convertible tablet that might look something like the Eee Pad Transformer. It would present a traditional Windows interface with the keyboard attached, the Metro-like UI with the keyboard detached and a Media Center UI when connected to a TV via HDMI or presenting video witlessly.

It's going to be an ugly transition to Windows 8, and not just figuratively.
Such a scenario might provide better user interface consistency, but it would ask a lot of developers. What Microsoft is now calling Windows 8 is no mere skin. The company is enabling app developers to take on a similar appearance and UI conventions to that of the new "desktop." This means that, in the short term, at least, most developers will need to choose between a mouse-centric and touch-centric approach. And because of this, for the foreseeable future, Windows 8 could present a fractured user experience (although of course it will be up to the user to decide whether to use, say, an app with a desktop UI for their tablet PC.). It's going to be an ugly transition, and not just figuratively.

Over the course of Windows 8's run, though, Microsoft will have challenged developers of all kinds to meld the full power and depth of a PC app with the simplicity and discoverability of a finger-friendly tablet UI. The Windows team has laid down the gauntlet at the feet of the Office team, for example -- a contrast to 2007, when the release of Windows Vista arrived in lockstep with a new version of Microsoft's popular productivity suite.

How will Office, Photoshop, AutoCAD, and other advanced applications adapt? Will it be possible to have any kind of common UI between an optimized Windows 8 experience and Macs? If Microsoft can bring Windows developers along as it shifts the fundamental principles of Windows' UI in Windows 8, the new windows the operating system opens may provide a glimpse of a future user interface.

Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) 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.

MasterImage touts 4.3-, 7- and 10-inch glasses-free 3D displays, interest from 'first tier' device makers

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 02:17 PM PDT

MasterImage and its parallax barrier 3D technology have been around for a while. Though nothing major -- excepting the Hitachi H001 in Japan -- has ever come of this company's efforts, it's back at Computex this year with a trio of reference display, showing off glasses-free 3D at 4.3-inch, 7-inch and 10-inch form factors. Resolution on both the 7- and 4.3-inch panels is 800 x 480 at the moment, but there's a 1280 x 800 7-incher in the works that could be ready for production by the end of this year. The parallax barrier allowing for the autostereoscopic effect to happen adds only 1mm to the screen's thickness, though it does halve vertical resolution -- meaning an 800 x 480 screen will only show a 400 x 480 image when flipped to 3D mode. MasterImage builds the LCDs and controllers in these 3D imagers and is currently in discussions with what we're told are "first tier" manufacturers of both smartphones and tablets. You can see the 7-inch display on video after the break -- we found it able to match the 3D effect produced by displays requiring glasses, which is a good thing in relative terms, but as you see above, the two frames can and do get split up if you're not perfectly positioned to soak up the third dimension.
MasterImage 7-inch glasses-free 3D display eyes-on at Computex 2011

Engadget will be broadcasting live from WWDC!

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT

Yes, of course we'll be bringing you the full liveblog action from WWDC, and as ever you'll be able to read along as the biggest Apple news of the summer is unveiled. But this year we're bringing you more: two live broadcasts to give you some extra analysis. At around 10:30am ET (that's 7:30am on the best coast), before Apple kicks off the show, Tim and Darren will go over the expected big announcements for the day, talking iCloud, iOS 5, and Mac OS X Lion. Then, once the dust settles, join us again for a second live broadcast to dive deep into the day's announcements and any other surprises Mr. Jobs has in store for us. Hopefully we'll all survive.

Where can you watch them? Set your bookmarks right here.

InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner prices are dropping, down to $256 shipped from $399 previously

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 01:14 PM PDT

Whether it's due to pressure from SiliconDust's HDHomeRun Prime or as a result of simplified hardware is unclear, but Ceton's InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner is now available for as little as $256 shipped. Forum posters at Missing Remote noticed a $282 fire sale for the HTPC cable TV adapters going on eBay Friday, before prices dropped precipitously at Buy.com ($264), and an Amazon third party ($265). Lesser known Erwin Computers currently claims the lowest price, while Ceton's official Amazon listing and those of other resellers like Cannon PC and Fluid Digital remain at the $399 MSRP -- for now. The choice is yours -- wait for official word and to see if prices drop any lower or click the buy button now and get some (network sharable) cable TV reception for your computer in time for the second episode of Teen Wolf on MTV.

Champtron's 65-incher can recognize two-finger touch, make for a decently spacious second screen (video)

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 12:19 PM PDT

If you can never have enough screen real estate while working, you might want to give Champtron's 65-inch behemoth a look. It's a 1080p Sharp panel imbued with the ability to recognize two touch inputs at a time -- which can be fingers or "any" other sort of stylus -- which should prove pretty damn useful when you're trying to Photoshop a little extra sheen atop Steve Ballmer's glorious dome. As an added bonus, the dimensions of this screen make the Windows 7 UI extremely finger-friendly. Hell, it borders on being fist-friendly when exploded to a 65-inch size. See video of this champ after the break.
Champtron's 65-inch multitouch display at Computex 2011

Sony VAIO Z21 Series mentioned on various European sites, isn't actually for sale yet

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 11:14 AM PDT

Here in the states, Sony's 13-inch VAIO Z series has been missing from the company's online store for months, but in Europe, at least, it lives on -- a quartet of Z21 series laptops have surfaced on various e-tailers as the possible successor to last year's Z11. So far, we're seeing a pair of configurations with a Core i5-2410M processor and 128GB of solid-state storage and two more with a Core i7-2620M CPU and 256GB in storage. Judging by this sample, at least, 1600 x 900 resolution is standard, as is a backlit keyboard, 3G SIM card slot, fingerprint reader, 3D output, and an HD webcam with Sony's Exmor imaging technology. Alas, the available specs suggest Thunderbolt's a no-show, though rumor has it Sony's implementation of Intel's Light Peak technology will use USB connectors, of which this has three. Here's to wishful thinking, right?

The peculiar thing is, you can't actually buy it yet. F2F lists staggering prices ranging from €1,809 ($2,642) to €2,839 ($4,146), though it's not, in fact, available. Meanwhile, search results turn up mentions on staticICE UK and Belgium's Execute, but they've been scrubbed from the actual pages. So, it looks like it's up to Sony to announce this already -- and dish up some pictures while it's at it.

[Thanks, Ihor]
at 11:50 AM

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