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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Engadget News

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Engadget News

Nokia N9 to ship in Sweden on September 23rd, saith awkwardly translated release

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:23 AM PDT

Nokia N9 to ship in Sweden on September 23rd
As much as we love Google Translate, we're pretty sure the Nokia N9 won't be packing a side of gorilla flavored desert when it ships later this year -- but that Swedish release date? Sure, we'll take a salty look. According to an official press release from European carrier 3 Group, Nokia's flagship handset should be landing in Sweden on September 23, 2011. The PR goes on to tout the N9's buttonless interface, trio of home screens, and (when properly translated) Gorilla Glass AMOLED screen. Hit the source link to see the PR, in all it's auto-translated glory, for yourself.

MightyText pushes messages and incoming call alerts to your computer (hands-on)

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Have you ever missed an extremely important phone call or text because you were too busy finishing those TPS reports on your personal computing machine? There's a Chrome add-on for that. We went hands-on with a new extension (and accompanying Android app) called MightyText, a free notification service launched today that syncs your phone's texts and calls to your computer in real-time. The idea is crazy simple, yet adds unyielding convenience: incoming SMS messages appear on your screen as a pop-up, giving you the option to read and reply to them without touching or even looking at the phone. The full extension will show each conversation thread in its entirety, as well as call logs.

When sent from the computer, texts are still patched through from your phone number, so your colleagues will still see your messages coming through with your name on them. To make the service even more appealing, pop-ups alert you to incoming calls, so you can either hurry to find your phone or just send the caller a canned auto-text reply. It sounds like a great concept, but does it do the job? Head on past the break to learn our first impressions of the program.


We found the MightyText experience to be painless, and the service itself was incredibly convenient. It was much faster and easier to type SMS replies to friends and family, rather than using the keyboard on our Android phone. We also enjoyed having all of our text conversations and call logs recorded on our computer, which can be a huge lifesaver for anyone that has gone through the frustration of restoring or replacing their device. All in all, this particular Chrome extension was a rather useful method of managing texts and calls.

That's not to say it was perfect, as the program's still in beta and getting a regular dose of updates, but it still ran very smooth. While the pre-release version admittedly had a few bugs, such as the occasional delay in receiving and sending texts, the development team informed us that these are in the process of getting ironed out. All of the call logs are combined with messages in the same window, which we found to be somewhat frustrating as well. One final downside is that this type of program can only be used under the care of Google's API codes, so you must have Chrome and a handset with Android 2.2 or higher (and a full data plan) to make it work.

Since MightyText is still running under beta, it asks you to fill out a signup sheet (find More Coverage below) and you'll typically get accepted within a few days; by using the invite code "ENGADGET," however, your invitation will be expedited. When you receive the much-anticipated email saying you've been added to the program, instructions on how to download the necessary add-ons and apps will be included.

Games at Google revealed in job posting, takes a stab at social gaming

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:40 AM PDT

Games at Google
Well, one of the few remaining sectors that Google has yet to conquer, gaming, will be Big G free no longer. The tech giant is looking for a product manager to man a new property called Games at Google. Obviously, with just a job posting to work with, details are scant, but we can tell you that the gaming platform will boast some social features -- an area where the Goog has struggled mightily. What don't we know? Just about anything else. Will it be a Game Center-like feature for Android phones? Or, perhaps, a web-gaming outlet for Chrome built with help from the folks at Zynga, who Google quietly partnered with back in the summer of oh-ten. Regardless, we're waiting with bated breath to find out when and where we'll be able to order hits in Mafia Wars next.

NetSecure Kudos Payments announced for Canada, is the half-circle to Square

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:23 AM PDT

Canada may be moving to polymer-based currency, but mobile payment services like Square -- which cater to classic plastic -- haven't yet taken time to trek to the Great White North. NetSecure is looking to offer similar convenience to the region with its new Kudos Payments service, which just so happens to ship with a shockingly curvy swiping dongle. Similar to Square, it creates a secure 'point of sale' without a hard-wired transaction terminal, and charges a slightly higher 2.9-percent fee to users' accounts for each exchange. Kudos has iOS, Android, and Blackberry apps to tap into the functionality and, even a version for Mac and PC -- in other words, you and yours should be suitably covered. Any roving entrepreneurs who are interested in the service will be able to snag the $49.99 kit free of charge from the company's website for a "limited time," which may or may not expire before Google decides to open its own Wallet a few miles kilometers north.
Show full PR text
June 21, 2011 02:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NetSecure Technologies Introduces Kudos Credit Card Acceptance Solution in Canada

Kudos Provides a Turnkey "Point of Sale in a Box" Solution for the First Time Ever in Canada, Giving Micro-Businesses a Flexible, Affordable and Secure Way to Accept Credit Card Payments Through a Smartphone, Desktop or Laptop

REGINA, Saskatchewan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NetSecure Technologies, leading developer of products and security solutions for the eCommerce industry, launched the first mobile payment solution of its kind in Canada – Kudos – a service allowing small business owners to start accepting credit card payments on-the-spot via swipe terminals compatible with desktops, laptops and smartphones (iOS, Android and RIM platforms).

"Smaller businesses that do not offer a credit card payment option are at a competitive disadvantage. NetSecure designed Kudos to take the pain out of payment acceptance for the Canadian business owner and their customers."

Cash-strapped small businesses typically cannot afford payment processing services designed for larger merchants. Canada has approximately 2.5 million micro-businesses that do not accept credit/debit card payments. Costly capital outlays upfront, monthly fees, hidden fees and complex contracts all serve as deterrents.

"Terminals and merchant accounts are expensive," said Daniel McCann, president and founder of NetSecure Technologies. "The whole process is intimidating to small merchants. Is the musician selling his CD's after the show really expected to shell out hundreds of dollars for a terminal? We have an opportunity to allow small businesses to accept credit cards using what they already have today – their phones and laptops."

Mobile payments have proven extremely successful in the United States, dominated by a startup called Square that provides a free service for credit card acceptance, charging users a flat rate for all transactions. This service has already been adopted by hundreds of thousands of small merchants. Unfortunately for Canadians, Square is only available in the United States, leaving a vacuum for credit card acceptance for small businesses in Canada.

"Up until now, the Canadian market's mobile payment arena has been virtually non-existent," says McCann. "Through the introduction of Kudos, NetSecure is bringing Square-style payments to Canada for the very first time, making it affordable and convenient for small business owners to start accepting card payments and growing their business."

The Kudos credit card acceptance kit serves as a complete 'point of sale in a box' solution for small business owners. Equipped with a swipe terminal, POS software and a merchant account, users can begin accepting credit card payments through their smartphones or laptops for a flat rate of 2.9 percent per transaction, with no monthly or ongoing fees.

Kudos' key advantages include no limitations on the amount of transactions and the added benefit of compatibility with RIM platforms, such as Blackberry. Kudos also implements full end-to-end encryption, ensuring security for sensitive data.

"The merchant never needs to see their customers' credit card numbers, so PCI compliance becomes much easier," says McCann.

By eliminating lost payments, bounced checks and unnecessary trips to the bank, Kudos helps to improve accounts receivables for small business owners, thereby increasing sales and expanding their customer base.

Kudos is an ideal solution for small business owners and independent professionals, including contractors, consultants, day care providers, repair services, massage therapists, personal trainers, photographers, service employees, tradeshows and events, landscapers, plumbers and more.

"Over half of all transactions today are plastic, and customers are demanding greater flexibility from their vendors," said McCann. "Smaller businesses that do not offer a credit card payment option are at a competitive disadvantage. NetSecure designed Kudos to take the pain out of payment acceptance for the Canadian business owner and their customers."

Kudos, available for $49.99 at www.KudosPayments.com, is currently available for free as part of a limited time offer, while supplies last.

About NetSecure

Founded in 2005, NetSecure Technologies Ltd. is a technology company focused on developing breakthrough security solutions for online transactions. The company's products, SmartSwipe and Kudos, are designed to prevent interception of information at the most vulnerable point in the transaction: the point of origin. Integrated with NetSecure's security patents, the company's products are unique in the industry, taking the pain out of payment acceptance for businesses of all sizes.

Philips Fidelio Speakers with AirPlay hands-on (video)

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:52 AM PDT


Traditional speaker docks are so 2010. This year, AirPlay is in, and Philips was on hand to demo five new wireless speaker models at the CEA LineShows in NYC, set to roll out beginning later this month through the holiday season. Its flagship Fidelio SoundSphere DS9800W will ship in June with a price tag of about $800, but didn't appear willing to pair with the iPhone Philips had on hand at the show. We did go ears-on with the more affordable DS8800W, however, which filled the small demo room with deep, rich Fire and Rain, sans-wires -- and can do the same in your own home when it ships for $400 beginning next month. That model isn't nearly as sleek as the non-functional SoundSphere, or its smaller DS6800W counterpart, which will hit stores in time for the holidays with a $500 MSRP. Philips also showed off its 360-degree DS3881W and compact AD7000W -- both of which also include AirPlay support, and will ship for $330 and $230, respectively, by the holiday season. Jump past the break for a look at all five models.
Philips AirPlay speakers hands-on


Show full PR text
Philips consumer electronics enhance everyday entertainment at home and on the go

New York, NY– Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) unveils its most innovative consumer electronics technologies today at CE Week 2011. Recognized by the Consumer Electronics Association as an "Innovation Award" winner at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Philips continues to draw on years of heritage in sound technology to introduce a brand new range of Audio Docking Speakers with AirPlayTM and Headphones that are as durable as they are comfortable to wear. Philips will also debut a range of wireless connect devices for the home.

"Philips looks beyond the chip set to create consumer electronics that are lifestyle driven," said Jacopo D'Alessandris, Head of Marketing for Philips Consumer Lifestyle. "Advanced technology is a given. Design, functionality, ease of use – these qualities enable our products to enhance people's entertainment experiences at home and on the go."

Enjoy more content on your HDTV without the hassle of wires

Philips brings a whole new world of HD entertainment to the living room with its new wireless connectivity solutions. Philips Wireless HD Net Connect allows you to wirelessly stream videos, Internet TV, games, and more from HDMI equipped laptop/PC to your television in Full 1080p/60 resolution. Simple plug-and-play technology lets you enjoy and share content on the big screen without the hassle of wires or complicated software. Available late 2011/early 2012 for $299.99.

Exceptional Sound at Home and On-the-Go

Experience music just as the artist intended with complete clarity and a full range of emotion. The new Philips Fidelio SoundSphere Speakers with AirPlayTM allow you to wirelessly stream music so you can enjoy rich, clear, authentic sound throughout your entire home. Engineered with Philips' FullSoundTM technology, Fidelio speakers restore quality MP3 music for a natural, deeper and wider sound impression. Compatible with iPod®, iPhone® or iPad®, Philips Fidelio Speakers with AirPlay come in a range of styles and are available for $229.99 - $799.99.

The Philips GoGear Connect delivers a world of apps and games at your fingertips, plus exceptional audio performance for a truly engaging entertainment experience. It operates on the Android platform via high speed WiFi, instantly connecting you to over 150,000 games and apps on the Android Market. Available this fall for $179.99.

Music to Your Ears

For the love of music everywhere you go, Philips headphones seamlessly fit your lifestyle. The Philips O'Neill line is designed to withstand the rigors of an active lifestyle. Made with ultra durable and temperature-resistant material that retains flexibility and strength, Philips O'Neill offers a whole new level in headphone resilience. Available in a variety of styles for $24.99 - $99.99.

For comfort that lets you listen to your favorite tracks as long as the music moves you, Philips offers a range of styles from long-wearing sport headphones, to noise-isolating ear buds, to a versatile, flat-folding headband with 40mm speakers and floating cushions that allow for multidirectional adjustment.

Verizon's next big LTE push coming July 21st

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:33 AM PDT

You can't stop Verizon's nationwide LTE push -- and even hoping to contain it seems like a bit much to ask these days. The company made its last major 4G service rollout just under a week ago, and now it's looking to do the same next month, adding a slew of new markets to its coverage umbrella and expanding in a few existing locales on July 21st. New markets include Portland, OR, Toledo, OH, Winston-Salem and Raleigh-Durham, NC, Maui, HI, Wichita, KS, and Knoxville, TN, to name a few. Coverage will be expanded in Seattle, Louisville, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. The full list of high-speed recipients can be found in the link below.

Editorial: Dear Nokia, you cannot be serious!

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT

At first blush, the Nokia N9 is everything I'd ever wanted from the company: a smartphone with a competitive spec sheet, exquisite industrial design, and a touch-centric UI that looks to push things forward with the introduction of its own idiosyncratic ideas. Slick in terms of both responsiveness and appearance, the Harmattan interface is Nokia's thunderous riposte to all those (myself included) that challenged the company to get with the touchscreen OS program and cast off the shackles of its Symbian legacy. The only traces of Symbian in the MeeGo 1.2-equipped N9 can be found in the iconography, which maintains the rounded look of its forebear, and support for Qt -- in all other respects, this is a whole new software proposition (distinct even from its Maemo 5 roots), which has so far elicited a range of emotions in me, including delight, desire, and... despair. You must be wondering why, aside from alliterative convenience, I'd be feeling downcast having enjoyed my brief time with the N9 so much. To learn the answer, read on.

The date is February 9th, 2011, a Wednesday just like today, and I'm penning my part in a four-way Engadget editorial about what we expect Nokia will be announcing on February 11th. Having, over the previous eighteen months, been fed a steady diet of unfulfilled promises about the transformation of Symbian and the introduction of Maemo 6 / MeeGo, I was convinced that Nokia had lost its direction and needed the stability of an external and up-to-date OS to steady its course into the future. The newly appointed CEO Stephen Elop seemed emphatically in agreement with this viewpoint and made the announcement later on that week that Nokia would be abandoning all heretofore espoused strategies and aligning its future fortunes with those of the good ship Windows Phone.

That made sense to me then, all the sense in the world, but it doesn't any longer. What I wrote at the time was that MeeGo should either show up and blow us all away or be filed away as a project that never quite made it to fruition. The cause of my current disappointment lies in the fact that MeeGo has now indeed been shown to be a thoroughly compelling OS, but Microsoft Nokia decided to treat it like the failed experiment it seemed to be back then. Of course, I'm writing with the benefit of hindsight and after using the N9 for only a few hours, but on the other hand, Stephen Elop was able to see exactly where MeeGo was a few months ago whereas the rest of us didn't. So why did he move away from it?

Going back further in time, I recall getting to grips with the first functional prototypes of Nokia's N8 almost exactly a year ago. The Symbian software on board was laggy, buggy, and a few light years away from catching up to the fineries on show from iOS and Android. Telling the world that that OS is a dead end is unproblematic, but convincing us that the faultless, buttery smooth operation of the N9's MeeGo installation doesn't have a future is far less so. In its Harmattan implementation, Nokia has reduced the smartphone user experience to three central pillars -- notifications, apps, and multitasking -- and turned out a UI that's functional, quick, and right up to date with the very best alternatives. If even a small proportion of this vision was available to Elop when he decided to leap into Steve Ballmer's open arms, could he not have kept his nerve and stood by it? The N9's basic foundations are beautifully arranged and executed, and anything it may lack in extended functionality could've come over time -- which offers almost a mirror image of the pre-Mango Windows Phone OS that he signed up for in February.

The question, therefore, persists: why did Nokia abandon such a promising platform? As much as we'd like the answer to contain some wild conspiracy about trojan horses and unethical practices, the likeliest justification comes from a Bloomberg article that came out earlier this month. It detailed a January meeting between Stephen Elop and Nokia's Chief Development Officer Kai Oistämö, which would set off a sequence of events that included an in-depth look at Nokia's MeeGo roadmap, interviews with senior engineers on the team, and a few expletives sprinkled along the way to the realization that the company's desire to stick with the OS it'd been nurturing for so long wasn't financially viable. The emperor, as Oistämö put it, "had no clothes."

The triumphant arrival of the N9 inevitably undermines that rationale today, but let's remember that it hasn't started shipping or selling yet. So the idea that MeeGo wouldn't be ready in time to keep the company competitive remains credible for now, though it disregards a more subtle point about what this new smartphone represents. The N9's big appeal is about the overall user experience, which is far less time-sensitive than a spec-centric device like the latest Android superphone. Even if it ships a few months from now, the N9 won't feel out of date (its OMAP3630 processor is already dated, showing just how refined and frugal the software on board is) and is still likely to offer an experience that's unique to Nokia. That, along with the expected ability to run Android apps via Myriad's Alien Dalvik software, will be happening even without Nokia committing all its resources to MeeGo, however the subsequent and nowadays requisite third-party developer support (in other words, the creation of a functionality-extending ecosystem) likely won't. If Nokia isn't fully invested in MeeGo and Qt, why should you be?

And that, dear friends, is why the delights of the N9 lead me to despondency. It's a terrific phone that's got me legitimately excited to use it, but its future is clouded by a parent that's investing its time and money into building up a whole other OS. MeeGo, and in particular its Harmattan variety, looks set to become the unfortunate victim of the cutthroat economics that dominate competition in the smartphone realm today. Which would be a damn shame considering the wonderful concepts it espouses.

Did Nokia jump ship too early? After spending some quality time with the N9, I'd say so.

Samsung denied preview of iPad 3, iPhone 5 in ongoing Apple infringement suit

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:37 AM PDT

A US district judge this week handed Apple a victory in its ongoing legal battle with Samsung, denying the latter its reciprocal discovery request for a peek at prototypes of the upcoming versions of the iPhone and iPad. The request followed a similar one filed by Apple, in order to view Samsung products, including the Galaxy S II, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Infuse 4G, and Droid Charge. Samsung, for its part, argued that taking an early look at the Apple's upcoming phone and tablet would be relevant to the legal ruling, seeing as how any changes made in those upcoming products would affect the trade dress ("total product image") of the line, and thereby potentially alter the possibility of consumer confusion, an important factor in determining infringement with certain unregistered trademarks with the product.

The court denied Samsung's motion on a number of grounds. For one thing, Apple's initial complaint pertained to infringement of existing products, parameters deemed legit by the court. Also, the court took into account the fact that Apple tends to be far more tight-lipped about its product releases, whereas Samsung made a point of offering up information about forthcoming products into the public domain, including the release of 5,000 Galaxy Tab 10.1 units as samples to the public. That said, the judge was careful to note that Apple's suggestion that court protection of its trade secrets was insufficient "is not well taken." More details after the break.

Samsung's request was based partially on the assumption that Apple would be releasing the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 this calendar year -- an assumption in turn based on internet reporting to that effect. The court acknowledged that there is likely some validity to the iPhone speculation, given Apple's past release history of a yearly iPhone release, but given the fact that the iPad 2 just hit in March, the release of a successor before the end of the year seems unlikely. Either way, upcoming products don't fall in the scope of the Apple claims that got the ball rolling on these motions.

That said, the court is still leaving open the possibility for Samsung to argue that its existing products will be sold alongside future iPhone and iPad models, and that the reduction of price of existing Apple models due to the introduction of newer versions will put the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 in "a different class" than existing products. All of which is to to say that, as expected, this back and forth is not likely to go away anytime soon.

Marvell Kinoma Play Android app hands-on preview (video)

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:13 AM PDT

First unveiled back in February, Kinoma is Marvell's take on a "new open app platform" targeted at everything from mobile devices to desktops to embedded handhelds. Here in New York, the company is finally showing off a live version of the software in the form of Kinoma Play, an implementation of the platform that runs atop Android 2.2 Froyo -- for the moment at least. The folks from Marvell also had a massive touchscreen loaded up with a desktop version of the software running in a simulator atop OS X for eager onlookers to fool around with. Head past the break for a quick rundown of the offering and plans to do with it, along with some juicy video footage of the stuff in action.
Kinoma Play hands-on


Since being acquired by Marvell in January, Kinoma has shifted away from its Sony E-reader days towards an open, mobile app platform. In a nutshell, Kinoma Play is an Android app itself that serves as a launcher for other apps written specifically for the Kinoma environment. Essentially, these apps are written in Javascript -- which means that any web developer can get up and running on the engine quickly, without knowledge of native Android or iOS development platforms. Developers simply focus on the meat of the app itself, while Kinoma handles all the interactions, transitions, and the like. The platform's Facebook app was written in just a few lines of code, we're told, and most of the apps have <100KB footprints.

In its current form, Kinoma Play acts as an app unto itself, only springing to action when launched from the homescreen of an Android device it's installed on. It resembles the familiar Android and iOS homescreens, consisting of a grid of apps that can be rearranged and moved by tapping and holding. Interestingly, there's an "Android Apps" app which allows shortcuts to native Android apps to be added directly onto the Kinoma Play homescreen. There are also familiar API calls for developers to hook into the Kinoma mechanism for things like sharing, which leads to a user experience very reminiscent of the native Android sharing pane. Finally, the Kinoma Play app boasts its very own app store -- from which you can download even other app stores that offer native Android apps. How's that for meta, huh?

One other feature we really liked was the dashboard, which aggregates content and updates from other apps in real time. This screen can be toggled right from the homescreen, and is chock full of interesting information. There are actually four different dashboards, including a "search dashboard" that allows you to enter a search string that will then trigger a search across all applicable apps like Flickr, YouTube, and Bing. Once you've chosen a topic to search, it will subsequently display all results as thumbnails simultaneously, and clicking any of them opens that result up in its Kinoma app. It's definitely an interesting feature that sort of reminds us of Palm's "Just Type," albeit in a completely souped up fashion.

When it comes to use cases, Marvell is really stressing the openness and cross-platform nature of its offering here with Kinoma. The company is excited about the simplicity of bringing apps to multiple platforms and form factors simultaneously, and we have to admit we're interested in the possibilities. When we questioned about whether there'd be a dedicated tablet version of Kinoma Play, we couldn't get anything concrete beyond the fact that it's "likely" we'll see features that allow apps to take advantage of the larger screen real estate and varying features of different devices.

We also asked about iOS, and were told that there's currently no build of Kinoma for it just yet. However, with Apple's current stance on app stores within apps, we wouldn't be surprised if this was one platform that probably won't ever get Kinoma love. We did get to see a demo of the app running on a touchscreen-free Symbian device, but that implementation seemed far less impressive than the full touchscreen Android offering. Finally, we're told that it's theoretically possible for phones to boot directly to Kinoma, and that Softbank in Japan actually has one such device currently on the market.

In all, we came away pretty impressed with Marvell's first public showing of Kinoma, but the question we still have to ask ourselves is "why?" When you think about it, we were basically using an app downloaded from an app store, that has an app store within it that you can use to download other apps -- all full of apps. We're intrigued by the ease of development and the fact that these apps can (supposedly) run on pretty much anything, but so far developers haven't really shied away from native apps and they don't seem to be doing so currently. We still don't have a hard date for when you developers and tinkerers will get to mess around with this bit of software yet, but you know we'll let you know as soon as we do. Stay tuned.

Vizio extends its LCD HDTV sales lead; new 3D, VIA Plus and ultrawidescreen TVs are on the way

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:52 AM PDT

We already took a fresh look at the Vizio Tablet due this summer, but the company's main business is HDTVs and there it's on top of US LCD sales again, with more than 20 percent of the market in Q1. Of the top five selling TVs in Q1, four are Vizios priced at $698 or less, while the other is a $1,699 MSRP Samsung LCD. Vizio launched its lower end E3D line earlier this year, the next series on the way are edge-lit M3D models due in August and September that up the refresh rate to 240Hz, come with four pairs of passive 3D glasses instead of two and have a Bluetooth remote. Up next, the 21:9 ultrawidescreen sets we saw at CES are real and will ship in October as the Cinemawide series in 2560x1080 58- and 50-inch models. Finally, the top of of the line XVT 6 series will feature the new VIA Plus Google TV platform and are going to be available in 47- and 55-inch sizes, but won't ship until December There's still no prices for any of these yet, but we're going to guess they'll go low as they usually do. Check the press release for all the details after the break including a glancing mention of the Vizio Phone.
Show full PR text
VIZIO Brings Theater 3D™ Technology to All with a Full Lineup of Bright, Flicker-Free 3D HDTVs Including Three 21:9 Cinemawide HDTV Models

- VIZIO announces Theater 3D HDTVs in all three product groups -- E Series, M Series, XVT Series and the new 21:9 Cinemawide models, with screen sizes ranging from 32" to 65"

IRVINE, Calif., and NEW YORK, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (CEA Line Shows) -- VIZIO, America's #1 LCD HDTV Company*, revealed today their full line up of Theater 3D™ LCD HDTVs, including the ultra-sleek M Series models. All of VIZIO's new 3D HDTV models use Theater 3D passive 3D technology to achieve superior performance with a bright, crystal clear, virtually flicker-free 3D picture. Available in each of VIZIO's product series, E, M and XVT, in screen sizes ranging from 32 to 65 inches, Theater 3D technology will be available in 11 models at a wide range of performance and price levels, making the entertainment freedom of VIZIO's 3D technology available for all.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110622/LA24270)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090204/LA66605LOGO)

"We are highly encouraged by the positive response our circular polarized 3D technology has received from industry experts, the press, and Hollywood leaders like James Cameron," said Randy Waynick, VIZIO's Chief Sales Officer. "VIZIO's early commitment to this direction, with its superior viewer experience, has enabled us to develop the industry's most comprehensive range of 3D HDTVs, ranging from introductory price levels to the most advanced cinematic displays available today."

VIZIO Theater 3D HDTVs use a revolutionary new technology to deliver crystal-clear, flicker-free 3D that's up to 2 times brighter than current active shutter LCD TVs, with significantly less crosstalk, a wider horizontal viewing angle, and much less blurring with fast motion. Theater 3D eyewear produces far less eyestrain and headaches than active glasses, and is battery-free, lightweight and comfortable. Up to four pairs of Theater 3D glasses are provided with each set, and they are also available in a rapidly growing range of styles and colors from brand name designers. They even work in most 3D movie theaters!

"Passive polarized 3D TVs will appeal to many consumers for a variety of reasons, and products at a variety of price points are possible too," noted Insight Media President, Chris Chinnock. "By 2014, sales of passive sets will outpace shutter glasses sets, according to our forecast."

VIZIO's passive Theater 3D technology utilizes circular polarization, producing superior performance that results in a better viewing experience. This technology uses Polarizer Filters built into the TV, enabling viewers to use lighter and more stylish glasses instead of the bulky, heavy and uncomfortable active shutter glasses used for other 3D TVs. VIZIO's technology team was an early champion of this approach for 3D TV, which has led to VIZIO taking a market-leading position in the adaptation of Passive 3D technology for the home.

"DisplaySearch is forecasting that North America 3D TV shipments will increase by more than 300% in 2011 to 7M units**, driven by a range of new 3D TV types, including circular polarizer filter systems like VIZIO's Theater 3D," stated Paul Gagnon, Director of North America TV Market Research, DisplaySearch.

Each Theater 3D™ model supports the widest range of 3D encoding formats, ensuring compatibility with Blu-ray, broadcast, cable, satellite, and gaming sources. These formats include Frame Packing, Side-by-Side, Top and Bottom, as well as those with SENSIO® HiFi 3D and by RealD.

VIZIO Smart Dimming for Leading Picture Performance

VIZIO's Edge-Lit Razor LED™ technology with Smart Dimming™ is featured on the M Series models and the Cinemawide 50" and 58" HDTVs. VIZIO Smart Dimming™ intelligently controls each set's array of LEDs, which is organized in zones. Working frame by frame, based on the content being displayed, Smart Dimming adjusts brightness in precise steps down to pure black (where the LED is completely off). This cutting-edge technology minimizes light leakage and enables a Dynamic Contrast Ratio of 5 Million to 1, for blacker blacks and whiter whites.

The XVT Series models at 47" and 55" will utilize VIZIO's Full Array TruLED™ backlighting with Smart Dimming™ technology. With over 160 zones across the entire display, TruLED backlighting is able to control specific areas of the image to a much finer degree than edge-lit sets, resulting in even better blacks and higher contrast with life-like images that "pop" off the screen.

VIZIO Internet Apps Deliver More Entertainment Freedom

All of VIZIO's new Theater 3D models feature the VIZIO Internet Apps® (V.I.A.) Connected HDTV platform. VIZIO Internet Apps deliver unprecedented choice and control of web-based content directly to VIZIO televisions or Blu-ray players without the need for a PC or set-top box.

VIZIO's new XVT Series models will include the next generation VIZIO V.I.A. Plus platform, which delivers a unified and intuitive user experience across multiple devices, including HDTVs, Blu-ray players, tablets and more.

Navigating VIZIO Internet Apps is simple, using the QWERTY keypad built into the included remote control (most models). State of the art wireless Internet access is available through built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi (many models with Dual Band Wi-Fi), allowing viewers to enjoy the convenience of on-demand movies, TV shows, social networking, music, photos and more with just the push of a button.

Audio for a Home Theater Experience

The stunning 3D video of the Theater 3D™ sets is matched by the latest high performance audio technologies from SRS Labs. SRS technologies help deliver an immersive, virtual, high definition surround sound through StudioSound™ HD -- the ultimate all-in-one audio suite designed specifically for flat panel TVs. Years of excellence in audio, practical experience, and patented technologies allow StudioSound HD to deliver the most immersive and natural surround sound ever using built-in TV speakers. The suite also delivers remarkably crisp and clear dialog, rich bass, an elevated soundstage and consistent, spike-free volume levels. StudioSound HD features optimized audio presets for movies, news, sports and music while also providing a built-in EQ toolset for peak audio performance.

Experience M Series Theater 3D™ at Home

VIZIO's newest Theater 3D™ set to hit the shelves this summer is the sleek and stunning M Series. At only 1.2" thin*** (42" and 47" models. 55" model is just 1.6" thin***), this HDTV makes the most incredible technology on the market available at the best value. Not only will you have beautiful LED 2D picture quality at 42", 46" and 55" sizes, but the latest addition of VIZIO's Theater 3D technology to this series will make this the perfect centerpiece to any family room. Pair that with four pairs of stylish Theater 3D™ glasses and built in VIZIO Internet Apps, and make your family room the number one summer destination.

Cinemawide HDTV Ultra-Widescreen

VIZIO's Cinemawide HDTV™, 21:9 aspect ratio TVs are the ultimate display for cinema enthusiasts. Its unique ability to display films created in the CinemaScope 2.35:1 aspect ratio on its full screen, without any black bars, means viewers will see each frame of the movie as the director intended, providing an immersive movie experience at home. On traditional HDTV models, prime screen real estate is taken up by these black bars, forcing home theater enthusiasts to stretch and zoom in. Now instead of a stretched and distorted picture, VIZIO's Cinemawide sets ensure movie buffs will never have to miss an inch of the action.

Most HDTVs have an aspect ratio of 16:9 (sometimes called 1.78:1), with a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 (Full HD). This aspect ratio was selected as the ATSC HDTV standard as a compromise between television's original aspect ratio (4:3 or 1.33:1) and the wider 1.85:1 aspect ratio selected for the many Hollywood movies. Big-budget Hollywood blockbusters, though, are usually filmed in the much wider 2.35:1 or 2.39:1 aspect ratios. VIZIO's new Cinemawide HDTVs accommodate these "CinemaScope" or "anamorphic" aspect ratios well with a 2.37:1 (21:9) aspect ratio. So you'll be able to watch classics and today's best movies in the film's original aspect ratio and without black bars.

Cinemawide HDTV also takes VIZIO Internet Apps to the next level, making its use more seamless than ever. While watching a pixel-perfect 16:9 full HD image, full size and in the correct aspect ratio on the right side of the screen, users can simultaneously browse and use VIZIO Internet Apps on the left side of the screen -- with both images presented with no compromise in resolution or size.

"Connected TVs are expected to account for 20% of Global TV Shipments in 2011, rising to 122 million units globally by 2014**, representing one of the most exciting areas of growth in the TV industry and ultra-wide aspect ratio TVs, such as 21:9, and will enable consumers to view their TV content and Internet content simultaneously without overlap," stated Gagnon.

Here are details on VIZIO's exciting Theater 3D Series of HDTVs, with scheduled release dates and pricing.


*Sources: Q3 2010 iSuppli and DisplaySearch Reports

**Report source: DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Design and Feature Report

***Depth without stand


VIZIO's First Tablet Launches the VIZIO Internet Apps Plus Ecosystem, Maximizing Your Entertainment Experience with Great Picture and Sound for the Ultimate in Gaming, Video, Chat, and Value

- VIZIO Internet Apps® Plus ("V.I.A. Plus") ecosystem delivers a unified and intuitive user experience across multiple devices, including HDTVs, Blu-ray players, tablets and more

IRVINE, Calif. and NEW YORK, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (CEA Line Shows) -- VIZIO, America's #1 LCD HDTV Company*, announced today the upcoming release of its VIZIO Tablet, the first in the VIZIO Internet Apps® Plus ("V.I.A. Plus") ecosystem. This next generation of VIZIO Internet Apps brings a unified, sophisticated and intuitive user experience across a wide range of CE devices that will include VIZIO HDTVs, Blu-ray players, tablets, smartphones and more. The first product to ship will be the VIZIO VTAB1008 VIZIO 8" Tablet with WiFi, arriving this summer to retail stores nationwide. Each VIZIO V.I.A. Plus product features a VIZIO-designed user interface that is not only intuitive but also consistent across screens, for superior ease-of-use for the casual, non-technical user. Built on the Android™ platform, users have the ability to access more than 400,000+ apps in the Android Market™.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110622/LA24274)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090204/LA66605LOGO)

Other VIZIO V.I.A. Plus products will include the XVT 6 series 47" XVT3D476SV and 55" XVT3D556SV Theater 3D HDTV's, which deliver exceptional 3D picture quality thanks to VIZIO Theater 3D and Full Array TruLED™ technology, as well as Blu-ray players and the VIZIO Phone, its first smartphone.

The VIZIO V.I.A. Plus ecosystem represents the evolution of VIZIO Internet Apps®. This world-class connected ecosystem combines the latest technologies with a unified user interface to provide the very best HD entertainment experience – anywhere.

VIZIO V.I.A. Plus HDTVs and Blu-ray players will come with a premium Bluetooth touchpad universal remote with keyboard for full web browsing and search capabilities. With built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, connecting the TV or Blu-ray player to the Internet is a snap. On the VIZIO Tablet, users can also take full control of their home theater with the Tablet's universal remote control app and built-in IR blaster, which has codes for up to 95% of the remote controllable CE devices in the U.S.

"With the introduction of the VIZIO V.I.A. Plus ecosystem, VIZIO is bringing a new level of cohesiveness to the HD entertainment experience, beyond what conventional CE devices have been able to deliver in the past," said Matthew McRae, VIZIO Chief Technology Officer. "Understanding that today's user touches multiple devices in the course of their daily routines, we feel it's important that the next generation of CE devices office a seamless user experience across all screens, from the living room to their handhelds. VIZIO V.I.A. Plus combines that common interface with today's best innovative technologies for a connected experience that delivers on our promise of Entertainment Freedom for All."

Just in time for summer fun, the VIZIO VTAB1008 8" Tablet with WiFi features a 1 GHz processor, an 8" high-resolution 1024x768 capacitive touch screen, built-in GPS and both 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The extended battery lasts up to 10 hours depending on usage. Its 2 GB of onboard storage can be easily extended with the addition of a microSD card, up to a maximum of 32 GB, for flexible storage at a fraction of the cost of other popular tablets. HD video playback is also available through its micro HDMI output, and its front-facing camera is ideal for video chats.

A Sound Approach for a Complete Entertainment Experience

A unique three-speaker design ensures users enjoy stereo audio in both portrait and landscape modes. Includes SRS TruMedia™ technology, which optimizes the audio experience on mobile devices, for enhanced audio playback and rich, natural voice communication.

VIZIO 3D Smart TVs with Full Array TruLED Picture Quality

VIZIO Internet Apps Plus also makes its entry in the emerging smart TV category with the new XVT3D476 and XVT3D556 Theater 3D HDTVs, VIZIO's most advanced connected HDTVs yet. Their universal IR/Bluetooth remote with touchpad allow for easy web browsing, and also includes an integrated QWERTY keypad. With access to Android Market, users can find their favorite app from more than 400,000 apps currently available, and integrated Wi-Fi makes getting connected to the Internet quick and seamless.

VIZIO's revolutionary Theater 3D technology delivers a crystal-clear, flicker-free 3D that's up to two times brighter than current active-shutter 3DTVs, with significantly less crosstalk, a wider horizontal viewing angle and much less blurring with fast motion. Each set comes with 4 free pairs of lightweight, battery-free 3D glasses.

With VIZIO's most advanced display technologies, these sets feature exceptional picture quality that exceeds that of the highly acclaimed XVT3SV series of HDTVs. These technologies include a TruLED display with Full Array LED backlighting and Smart Dimming, as well as 240Hz SPS™ (scenes per second) refresh rate. VIZIO Smart Dimming controls the LED levels in 160 zones, including the ability to completely turn them off to achieve a full 100% black level for an extraordinary contrast ratio. Smooth Motion technology provides sharp, blur free images with less judder, even in fast action scenes.

These new XVT3D 6 series sets will ship later this year.

*Source: IHS iSuppli Corporation Research Q2 2011 Market Tracker Report of Q1 2011 U.S. and North American LCD Market Share Shipments.


VIZIO Tops U.S. LCD HDTV Sales for Two Consecutive Quarters, Shipping Nearly 30% More LCD HDTVs Than the Closest Competitor

- VIZIO's 20.9% market share in Q1'11 is the highest any brand has posted in U.S. LCD shipments since 2008*

IRVINE, Calif., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- VIZIO, America's #1 LCD HDTV Company*, announced today that it outperformed the industry as the number one shipper of LCD HDTVs in Q1 2011 for both North America and the U.S. with a market share of more than 20%*. Since bringing home several awards at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, the brand has seen an increased demand for its newest technology, including Theater 3D™ , VIZIO Internet Apps® (V.I.A.) and Beyond TV wireless connected devices.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110622/LA24280)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090204/LA66605LOGO)

VIZIO saw significant sales increases in Theater 3D™ capable sets, which took home awards at this year's CES including CNET's "Best of CES" award for the television category and Popular Mechanics "Editor's Choice" award. With new Theater 3D models arriving in Q2 and Q3 of this year, this feature is expected to become one of the most demanded among new HDTV buyers. VIZIO also saw incredible sales in their award-winning XVT lineup with VIZIO Internet Apps® as well as Blu-ray players with wireless Internet apps and the nation's best-selling Sound Bar.

"Meeting VIZIO's brand promise of providing 'Entertainment Freedom For All' is the driving force behind all of our sales successes. The spread of our Theater 3D models now goes well beyond early adopters and has made 3D a feature that friends and family can finally enjoy watching together," stated Randy Waynick, Chief Sales Officer, VIZIO. "And it's not only Theater 3D TVs that are flying off the shelves, it's our connected TVs with VIZIO Internet Apps and our lineup of Sound Bars and Blu-ray players. Consumers want connectivity, energy efficiency, value, and the best technology -- VIZIO delivers on every single one of these."

VIZIO remains the leader in Sound Bar sales** with the best-selling VHT210 and VHT510 leading the way with 367% Y/Y growth. They also shipped more than 25,000 of their Dual Band HD Wireless Internet Routers in Q1***, signaling that America's demand for improved high-speed streaming and playback is strong.

"VIZIO is leading the way in bringing new technology to America. Their 120Hz TVs grew 64.3% Y/Y while the industry only grew 12.5%," stated Paul Gagnon, Director of North American TV Research at DisplaySearch.


"With consumers looking for the latest technologies such as LED and Internet connected HDTV, VIZIO models top our best sellers. VIZIO continues to offer the latest features at prices that allow buyers to step up to the next generation of entertainment without paying more," stated Tamaryn Pratt, Analyst at Quixel Research.

*Source: IHS iSuppli Corporation Research Q2 2011 Market Tracker Report of Q1 2011.

** Source: CEA's MarketMetrics data

** Source: VIZIO, Inc.

**** Source: DisplaySearch Quarterly Advanced Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report

Augmented reality app concept conjures movie scenes shot in your location (video)

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:26 AM PDT

AR technology has been getting seriously powerful recently, but we still need smart little ideas like this to keep us interested. "Augmented Reality Cinema" is a concept which would spot when you're in a famous movie location and then trigger playback of the relevant scene. Although we can't be sure the app actually works yet, the video after the break does at least show off the idea with some memorable London clips, including the classic post-infestation Westminster Bridge scene from 28 Days Later. If the designers ever need movie fans to go around tagging cinematic locations, then obviously we're keen to register our interest.

Cloud Engines updates Pogoplug's software-only version with OneView, enhanced iOS support

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:01 AM PDT

The smoke from Cloud Engines' Pogoplug Video recall (Pogo-un-plugged?) may still be settling, but on a better note, today the company has announced the first major update to its software-based version. To refresh your memory, it essentially turns any network-connected computer into a Pogoplug, allowing it to be accessed like a NAS drive (think iCloud, but with your drives). The new version's main advantage is OneView, which can display every connected computer's drives separately or compiled together sans duplicates -- iOS devices are also supported in this feature. You'll be pleased to know that the service is free, excluding video and off-LAN music streaming. Those features can be enabled by purchasing the premium version for a one-time fee of 29 bones, and unlike before, a single purchase will take care of your entire stable of devices. You'll find some screenshots of the software below, as well as a PR crash course in 'personal cloud management' just after the break.
Pogoplug OneView software update
Show full PR text
Software-only Pogoplug™ Available For Download

Software streams photo, music and video libraries from any PC or Mac to other computers, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.

San Francisco, Calif. – June 22, 2011 – Cloud Engines, Inc., creators of the Pogoplug multi-media streaming device, released a new, software-only version of their cloud- based streaming service. The new software turns any PC or Mac into a "Personal Cloud," no additional hardware required. This new version allows users to stream their entire photo, music, and video libraries and makes that content accessible anywhere in the world. Files stored across multiple computers and hard drives can be connected to a single account to provide users one easy interface for streaming all of their files – called OneView™.

"Our software-only product is a very natural expansion of the Pogoplug streaming service that started with our hardware," said Daniel Putterman, CEO of Cloud Engines, Inc. "By offering solutions that can stream files from your PC, Mac, or external hard drives, we are creating a single access point for anyone who wants to be able to watch their movies, show off their pictures, and listen to their entire music library no matter where they are and no matter where those files are stored. There are no storage limits, no long upload times, and your files are secure at your home, office, or wherever you keep them – not stored with a 3rd party. No one else offers this kind of unified cloud streaming solution."

The software update includes a number of key features, including three new web apps under the banner of Pogoplug OneView™: • Jukebox: Sit back and listen to all of your music aggregated from all of your Pogoplug-enabled devices into a single, duplicate-free library
• Cinema: Stream movies for easy remote viewing on the web or your mobile device
• Gallery: See all your pictures in a unified timeline, organized using the files' original, rich metadata
• My Devices shows all of your Pogoplug devices and Pogoplug PCs and Macs, making it easy to find and share individual files
• Pogoplug software is available for free, allowing users to share and access files remotely and stream all of their photos to any mobile device, PC or Mac.
o Streaming music outside the home network or streaming movies anywhere requires Premium. $29 one-time fee, install on multiple computers.

The Pogoplug software maintains all of the great sharing and data access solutions provided by the original Pogoplug hardware. Users can still access and share files of any size or type from anywhere in the world, to anyone in the world. Pogoplug also released an update to their iPhone and iPad software to take advantage of the new OneView™ apps. With these updated apps, users never have to worry about syncing or storage limits and will always be able to listen to music, look at photos, and watch movies from their entire multimedia library right on their mobile device.

Pricing and Availability
The new Pogoplug software can be downloaded immediately for FREE at http:// free.pogoplug.com. The updated iOS apps are also free and available via the iTunes App Store.

USEFUL LINKS
• Pogoplug software page and free download: http://free.pogoplug.com
• Pogoplug corporate site: www.pogoplug.com
• Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/pogoplug
• Pogoplug online community: www.pogoplugged.com

ABOUT POGOPLUG
Pogoplug offers software and hardware solutions that are designed to let users easily stream and access all of their media and files from a single location without storing their data with a 3rd party service. Users can securely stream their media (photos, music, and videos) and access and share all of their important files from any Web browser, web- enabled mobile device, or iPhone/iPad (via Pogoplug iOS app) with no monthly fees or storage limits.

ABOUT CLOUD ENGINES, INC.
Cloud Engines™, Inc. was founded in 2007 with a mission to change the way personal content is stored and distributed over the Internet. In 2009, Cloud Engines introduced the concept of the "personal cloud" with the launch of its award-winning Pogoplug® device. Pogoplug software and hardware provide secure storage of digital media from the privacy of your home or office, enabling you to stream, share and access your content from any connected device.

Cloud Engines is led by experienced entrepreneurs from the digital media and security space and backed by Foundry Group, Softbank and Morgan Stanley. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with a satellite office in Tel Aviv. For more information, please visit
http://www.cloudengines.com.

Lytro's light field camera captures 'unprecedented' images, lets you choose focus later

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 06:36 AM PDT

A Silicon Valley start-up called Lytro claims it's working on a consumer camera that uses light field technology to radically change the way we take, edit and experience photographs. Whereas a normal digital camera captures a snapshot of light hitting a sensor, a light field camera first separates rays of light in order to individually record their color, intensity and direction. This extra information opens up a world of possibilities, including the ability to focus on any depth of field within a taken photo, observe a 3D-type effect even without specs, and boost images taken in extremely low light. Although light field cameras have been around for some time, they haven't been commercially viable. Now though, Lytro has secured backing worth $50million to bring a "competitively priced" camera to market "later this year" -- we'll see if they can beat similar plenoptic technology from Adobe to market. Can't wait that long? Check out the interactive photo (click on Elvis to re-focus) after the break, plus a video that also shows off the 3D effect. Both are the definition of mind-blowing.



Free concert in LA this weekend, bring your Apple II

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 06:10 AM PDT

Following the only logical path one can take after building a working 15x scale Atari joystick, Jason Torchinsky is pulling together all the Apple IIs that can be had for a quick concert. Those not already entranced by chiptunes will want to give LA neighborhood art space Machine Project a wide berth on Saturday, where participants will use a 16 step sequencer to get something like music out of the system's timer circuit. Those interested in checking it out can check the source link for details, but if you actually have an Apple II laying around (and aren't in the middle of a game of Oregon Trail, that's serious business) you'll want to show up around 6 p.m. to get things arranged.

Archos unveils bare-bones Arnova 7 Android tablet, priced at $99

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 05:47 AM PDT

We caught a brief glimpse of Archos' new Arnova 7 tablet when it hit the FCC last week and now, we have a few more details on the company's affordable Android-based slate. Though there's no information on its RAM or processing capacity, the latest addition to the Arnova clan boasts a seven-inch, resistive touchscreen LCD with 800x480 resolution, supports 720p HD playback, and offers 4GB of flash memory. Running on Froyo, this WiFi-enabled slab will give you access to the AppsLib store, rather than the Android Market, and won't come with any of the front- or rear-facing cameras you'd expect from higher-end products. But, then again, it's pretty hard to argue with any tablet priced at just $99. No word yet on when the Arnova 7 will start shipping, but we'll let you know as soon as we find out.

HP seeks NFC engineer for 'smartphone and tablet products'

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 05:22 AM PDT

HP's mystery-wrapped Touch-to-share functionality already does something very similar to Near Field Communication, but it looks like the company's not satisfied with its own tech and will be jumping into the rapidly growing field of companies embracing NFC. A new job listing that has popped up online this week invites applications for the position of NFC Design Engineer on HP's tablet and smartphone team. Responsibilities include the design, testing, and debugging of NFC antennae and systems, but also expand to "support of product in field," indicating that HP is working on an aggressive roadmap here. Don't take our word for it, though, the job advert also advises prospective applicants that they'd have to work in a "high paced, schedule driven environment." Only question we have is this: since when are webOS devices being produced at a high pace?

G-Technology's G-Connect offers 500GB of wireless storage, portable WiFi network to smartphone, tablet users

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 05:00 AM PDT

Hitachi's G-Technology unit has already showered us with a slew of external hard drives, but it's taking a slightly more hybridized approach with the G-Connect -- a device that offers both wireless storage and portable WiFi access to smartphone and tablet users. Designed with nomadic content-hoarders in mind, this little rascal boasts 500GB of mobile storage, can simultaneously support more than five different devices on its 802.11n wireless network, and, when connected via Ethernet, serves as a WiFi access point. It's also robust enough to stream up to five standard-definition movies at one time (or up to three HD flicks), and, at about 9.7 ounces, it won't add too much weight to your quiver of gadgets, either. If you're worried about security, you can surround the network with a password-protected fortress, or store some of your less mentionable content in your very own private folder. iOS users can further enhance their G-experience by downloading the accompanying app, which will allow them to view and access all of their G-stored documents and media from the comfort of their iDevices (an equivalent app for the Android crowd will launch this fall). If you're interested, you can pre-order the G-Connect from G-Technology's website for $200, or wait until it hits retailers next month. Full PR after the break.
G-Technology G-Connect
Show full PR text
G-TECHNOLOGY™ DELIVERS G-CONNECT™ WIRELESS STORAGE FOR APPLE® iPAD® WITH INTERNET ACCESS

New G-CONNECT Supports Five+ Devices, Wirelessly Streams up to Five Movies at Once, While Providing Shared WiFi Internet Access for a Hotel Room, Conference Room, Dorm, Office or Home. Now You Truly Can Take All Your Content with You and Access it from Multiple Devices!

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 22, 2011 – Known for delivering premium external storage solutions engineered to meet the needs of the Apple Mac® community, G-Technology by Hitachi today introduced its G-CONNECT™ wireless storage solution, the first in a family of products providing instant, wireless storage and 802.11n WiFi Internet access for your Apple iPad, iPhone® and many other mobile devices. The G-CONNECT solution provides on-the-go wireless access¹ to content that's not already loaded on your iOS devices, including your favorite movies, music, books, photos and documents. No Internet connection is required. G-CONNECT provides access to five+ simultaneous devices, depending on the workload, and supports up to five SD or three HD video streams at once².

When connected via Ethernet to a network, the G-CONNECT drive becomes your own personal cloud or WiFi Internet access point, allowing you to surf and stream content, wirelessly, at the same time. Access and view content on the G-CONNECT solution with a mobile iOS app, which will be available in the App Store®, or through your browser. Android® devices are also supported with access through a web browser, with native apps available this fall.

Fitting easily in your laptop bag, backpack or purse, G-CONNECT is the must have iPad and iPhone storage companion. Power it up in a dorm room, conference room or hotel room via its AC adapter or take it on the road using Apple iPad-compatible USB power cables, car power adapters, or external batteries3 for hours of entertainment wherever you go.

G-CONNECT Highlights:

· Simple wireless storage for your iPad/iPhone so you can take more with you everywhere

· Easily access and stream content to your iPad and iPhone

· WiFi Internet access for multiple devices when connected via Ethernet

· Supports five devices or more, depending on the workload

· Wirelessly streams up to five SD or three HD movies simultaneously

· Surf and stream at the same time, i.e. listen to music, while surfing the Internet

· All content is automatically discovered and organized into Photos, Videos, Music, and Documents categories

· Flexible access via iPad/iPhone mobile apps, multiple browsers, PC, Mac, DLNA-certified connected TVs and Apple TV® with AirPlay®

· iPad/iPhone apps make G-CONNECT simple and easy to use; Android apps coming this Fall

· Password protection to keep your content safe

· A personal "private" folder allows you to share only what you want to

"With the unprecedented growth in tablets and smartphones, our goal is to deliver solutions that better fit the increasing mobile lifestyle of consumers," said Mike Williams, vice president and general manager, Hitachi GST Branded Business. "The mobile devices on which we listen to, work on and view our digital content on are proliferating, giving us new freedoms while at the same time creating practical realities – you just can't take all of your content with you, and you're left with constantly reorganizing your stuff to make more room. With G-CONNECT, now you truly can take it all with you! Providing more wireless storage for your iPad or iPhone, with WiFi Internet access, G-CONNECT users can easily access all of their content across multiple devices and from the cloud with the simplicity of a light switch."

Celebrating the launch of the G-CONNECT wireless storage solution, G-Technology and Fool's Gold Records® is bringing you "Tight Space"-- a brand new streaming web series featuring exclusive DJ performances by Fool's Gold artists, broadcast live from their store in Brooklyn. 'Like' the G-Technology Facebook page (Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GTechnology) to get front row access!

Pricing and Availability

The G-Technology G-CONNECT wireless storage solution for iPads comes in a sleek white design for $199.99 MSRP (500GB). It will be available in the U.S in July through Hitachi's authorized retail and distribution channels, or preorder now on www.G-Technology.com.

FL Studio Mobile lands on iOS, more indie rap albums to be produced while commuting

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 04:21 AM PDT

FL Studio Mobile HD
Dream no longer friends, FL Studio Mobile is here for your iOS device of choice. The iPhone and iPod touch version is being offered for $15, while the more expansive HD edition for the iPad is fetching $20 -- but both will see their price climb another $5 after the introductory sale is over. As mentioned you'll be able to pass project files back and forth between the desktop and mobile apps, though the iDevices lack support (and the muscle power) for VST instruments. It also appears the scope of the sequencer had to be scaled back from 128 tracks to 99, but that should be more than enough to keep you tapping out beats like 9th Wonder while riding the train. Hit up the source links to download the portable production suite and check out the gallery below.
FL Studio Mobile and FL Studio Mobile HD

Compromised account leads to massive Bitcoin sell off, EFF reconsiders use of currency

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:56 AM PDT

Bitcoin, for those not aware, is a completely digital currency -- one where exchanges between individuals are largely anonymous and secured through cryptography, and one that has seen its hype-meter go off the charts in recent months. That, inevitably, has had some people waiting for a fall, and it took a big one this week. While things have since bounced back, the value of the currency on the so-called Mt. Gox exchange dropped from around $17.50 to just one cent in a matter of moments during the early hours of June 20th -- a drop that's since been attributed to a compromised account. Thanks to a daily withdrawal limit, however, that apparently only resulted in $1,000 actually being stolen, and a claims process has now been set up for those affected.

While not directly related to the sell off, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (or EFF) also dealt a bit of a blow to the upstart currency this week, when it announced that it would no longer be accepting Bitcoin donations. According to the organization, that's both because it doesn't "fully understand the complex legal issues involved with creating a new currency system," and because it doesn't want its acceptance of Bitcoins misconstrued as an endorsement of Bitcoin. Head on past the break for an account of the aforementioned plunge as it happened.

[Thanks, Zigmar; image: Wikipedia]


Motorola Xoom gets Android 3.1 update that activates microSD card support outside the US

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:21 AM PDT

You know that microSD card slot that's been laying dormant in your Motorola Xoom? Provided you don't reside in the US, that'll be getting activated soon as part of the tablet's Android 3.1 update, which is starting to roll out now and should have all of Europe covered within the next few weeks. Motorola explicitly identifies this as a firmware update for "non-US" Xooms, so Canadians would be well advised to check their software update utility, though the big question is why didn't the American 3.1 update include microSD support as well? What tangled web of intrigue lies behind this selective activation?

[Thanks, Alan]

Samsung reveals 'premium accessory suite' for Galaxy Tab 10.1, includes premium prices

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:17 AM PDT

Loving your Galaxy Tab 10.1 but just itching for some accessories? Samsung knows you are, and today helpfully unveiled a "premium accessory suite" to soothe your jones for both add-ons and premium prices. The collection (parts of which appeared earlier on Sammy's German site) includes a full-size keyboard dock ($70) and a multimedia dock ($35) enabling HDMI pass-through – you can have Tab video on your TV, as long as you buy the separate HDTV adapter ($30). You have your choice of cases, as well: a book cover model ($60) you can leave on while using the tablet, or a leather pouch edition ($30) that is, you guessed it, a leather pouch. A few miscellaneous items round out the collection, including various chargers, a conductive stylus and the already-released USB adapter. The company also promises a Bluetooth keyboard and SD card adapter to come "mid-summer," just in time to ease your next bout of premium-accessory fever.

[Update: Replaced keyboard image. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.]
Show full PR text
Samsung Mobile Unveils Premium Accessory Suite for Galaxy Tab™ 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the world's thinnest mobile tablet, now supported by exclusive accessory portfolio offering convenient, portable solutions in docking, charging and convertibility; Available online at Samsung.com
June 21, 2011 11:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time

DALLAS--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, today announced a line of premium accessories designed exclusively for the Android™ 3.1 Honeycomb-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1. The new set of accessories includes an array of docking, charging and convertibility options to provide users with an enhanced mobile experience for the latest in Android tablet computing.

GALAXY TAB 10.1 KEY ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE NOW

Docking Solutions

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 accessory portfolio includes several docking solutions for consumers to easily view their favorite movies, listen to music, or quickly empty their inbox on their Galaxy Tab. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Multi-Media Dock provides desktop docking in landscape view, allowing users to charge their Galaxy Tab 10.1 while checking email, listening to music via the 3.5 mm stereo line-out port, or viewing their favorite photos in digital picture frame mode. With easy data sync to PC, pictures, videos, music, contacts, and calendar appointments sync smoothly from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to a home computer. The Multi-Media Dock also includes HDMI pass through, allowing users to connect their docked Galaxy Tab 10.1 to Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 HDMI Adapter (sold separately) to seamlessly transfer multimedia content to a home entertainment center.

With comfortable, soft-touch Android Hotkeys, convenient charging and audio line-out capabilities, the full-size Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Keyboard Dock maximizes the Tab's features while keeping it securely stationed in the weighted, integrated charging and media dock. Meanwhile, the Android Hotkeys give you one touch access to key features like Internet, e-mail, music and video controls.

Protective Casing Options

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 line of accessories also provides users multiple protective casing options, with two available now and a third option – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Bluetooth Keyboard Case – available later this summer. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Book Cover Case protects all corners and sides of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 against bumps and scratches while also converting into an easel stand with non-slip feet on the edges. When propped as an easel stand, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Book Cover Case holds the Tab higher to easily view multimedia content while standing up, or props it lower as a keyboard stand for owners to use the Galaxy Tab 10.1 touch-screen keyboard without removing the Tab from its case. Made from premium material, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Book Cover Case is durable, stylish and always maintains its shape.

Also available now is the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Leather Pouch for the perfect mix of portability and convenience. Made from soft leather, this black protective pouch snugly holds the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and fits easily in luggage or a briefcase, offering users a stylish protective carrying solution with no added weight or bulk.

Adapters for Multimedia Solutions

Samsung's popular movie and TV content service, known as Media Hub, has been redesigned with a new user interface for even faster content downloads and will be available on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 through a future software upgrade. The new version of Media Hub also includes an HD Extender, allowing users to play back Media Hub content on their television via Samsung's new HDMI Cable Adapter. This adapter also charges the Galaxy Tab and provides 1080p Video playback.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 supports USB On-The-Go (OTG), a hardware solution that allows for several USB enhancements that go beyond data sync and charging. In addition to the ability to upload and share multimedia content between the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and other devices, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 USB Adapter utilizes the Tab's USB OTG support and allows seamless connectivity between the Tab 10.1 and USB accessory devices such as keyboards, mice, memory sticks, and other peripherals. After simply plugging the USB Adapter into the Galaxy Tab accessory port, owners are now able to use a keyboard, mouse, or memory stick directly with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 without having to load drivers.

Additional Galaxy Tab 10.1 Accessories Available Now

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 accessories lineup also includes a collection of charging and enhancement solutions universal to the entire Galaxy Tab portfolio. Whether at home or abroad, the USB 2A Travel Charger and USB 2A Car Charger allow users to stay powered up while on the go. Each includes a USB to 30 Pin Data Cable that can also be purchased separately.

Additionally, seamlessly interact with your Tab while leaving messy finger prints behind with the Galaxy Tab Conductive Stylus. Finished in attractive chrome and black and styled similar to a premium writing instrument, the Conductive Stylus simulates a finger touch, tap or swipe to provide a full touch screen environment without fingerprints or smudging. The Conductive Stylus is designed with a shirt pocket clip for convenient storage and portability.

GALAXY TAB 10.1 KEY ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE MID-SUMMER

Available later this summer, Galaxy Tab 10.1 users can enhance their accessory portfolio with additional solutions for content sharing and protection. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Bluetooth Keyboard gives users a full-sized wireless keyboard in a super-thin design. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Bluetooth Keyboard comes in a sleek black leather case that allows for easy tying at an adjustable angle, while the comfortable Android Hotkeys provide shortcuts to users' favorite Tab 10.1 features.

Also later this summer, users can transfer photos and videos directly from their digital camera to their Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with the Samsung SD Card Adapter and USB connection kit. Put the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in digital picture frame mode, and users can easily view slideshows of their favorite photos on the Tab's brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution, delivering vibrant colors, crisp clarity, and smooth transitions.

For more information on retail availability and a complete list of accessories for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, visit www.samsung.com.

1Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S. claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of seven independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Contacts

MWW Group for Samsung Mobile
Lesli Benefield, 214-414-3324
lbenefield@mww.com

Nokia claims N9 is 'the fastest image-capturing phone' yet

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 02:51 AM PDT

We've already established that the N9 is a delight of a phone, both inside and out, but our hands-on time with Nokia's new flagship gave us only a brief look at its camera performance. Now the company is graciously filling that gap in our knowledge with some further disclosure about its new 8 megapixel imager, including the lofty claim that the N9 is the fastest phone yet when it comes to capturing an image -- ousting the likes of the iPhone 4, the Galaxy S II, and even the Canon S95, perhaps the best pocket camera around at the moment. Measuring the time taken from activating the camera app to the completion of the first shot, the N9 clocks in at 2.6 seconds, whereas Apple's latest does it in 3 seconds and Samsung's takes a split second more. Aside from its speed, the N9 has Carl Zeiss optics, a wide F2.2 max aperture, dual-LED flash, continuous autofocus, and a 720/30p video mode to boast about, but the benefits of those items will need to be experienced first hand. So Nokia, when are you shipping this thing?

Pininfarina's stunning tree-shaped Antares EV charging station should be more than a prototype

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 02:24 AM PDT

Despite being first showcased in May, Pininfarina's Antares has just slipped across our desks -- and frankly, it's a concept too gorgeous for us not to share. The beautiful tree-like structure -- comprised of steel and aluminum -- supports 20 photovoltaic cells, which the Italians reckon can produce up to 4.6 kilowatts, or just about enough juice to top up two fifty-mile range EVs. That's the plan anyway; we'll supposedly know more later this year, but given Pininfarina's past EV efforts, maybe not. Either way, consider this our formal pre-order request for two -- they'd look perfect right outside Engadget HQ.

Lenovo Ideapad Tablet K1 priced at $500 by Office Depot, inches closer to release

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:54 AM PDT

The Ideapad Tablet K1 is about as well known an unannounced product as there is right now, having been pictured and listed by a couple of online retailers and passed the requisite tests over at the FCC. What we weren't quite so sure about was its price, which a tipster now informs us is $499.99, and its launch date, which looks to be fast approaching. The Office Depot placard we've been forwarded promises 32GB of storage, Android 3.0 (with a "custom-built" interface on top), 1280 x 800 resolution on a 10.1-inch multitouch screen, a pair of cameras, up to 10 hours of battery life, a weight of 1.6lb (725g), and a thickness of just over half an inch (13.2mm). Not exactly an unorthodox list of specs, but more choice is rarely a bad thing.

[Thanks, GorillazKing]

Google working on video chat for Chrome, Skype cowers in fear

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:33 AM PDT

Watch out Skype, Google Chrome is comin' for ya. Not long after releasing WebRTC audio and video chat software as open-source, Google has started to integrate these capabilities into its prized browser. Looking to move past the played out features of Gmail and Google Voice, the company is planning for WebRTC to be a frontrunner for video conferencing and online chatting. The software was introduced as royalty-free, too, even promising to work with other browsers devs (namely Mozilla and Opera) to flesh out the project. This means that anyone building a site can make use of the new tech, and in theory, construct their own personal Skype battering ram. With the company being pro-web apps on all fronts, this is another step forward in its quest to bring the aforementioned technology up to par with native apps. Is this one of many dominoes to fall in the web-based app takeover, at least in terms of Chrome OS? It very well could be, especially if companies would rather see the traffic in-browser vs. within a native app. Now, if only Instagram could make use of that dusty webcam...

i.MX 6 quad-core reference board flexes processing muscle at Freescale Technology Forum

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:06 AM PDT

i.MX 6 quad-core reference board flexes processing muscle at Freescale Technology ForumFreescale answered our power prayers with the introduction of its i.MX 6 processor suite at CES earlier this year, but left us longing for a demo. Well, the outfit's just given us all our first glimpse at the healthiest processing muscle in the bunch, the quad-core i.MX 6. Sporting four ARM Cortex A9 cores and a 64-bit memory bus, the reference design board can be seen running a 1080p video demo and Quake simultaneously -- and it didn't even break a sweat. Freescale says it's currently working with Google on making the processor Honeycomb-compatible, but don't get too excited; i.MX 6 won't make it into real-deal machines until 2012. If you've got an extra 20 minutes to spare, hop on past the break for a rather lengthy video of the processor at work.

California's zero-emissions rebate program ironically runs out of green

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 12:20 AM PDT

Californians will have to look elsewhere to start receiving cash back for buying eco-friendly vehicles, as the California Air Resources Board has just announced that its ever popular rebate program is no more for the time being. CARB, as the board also goes by, launched its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) in March of 2010 with initial funding of over $11 million to go around -- but we knew it wouldn't last. According to the CVRP website, the program has issued a little over $7 million worth of rebates thus far, with the rest pending or reserved for the already existing EV-owners.

The board hopes to bring the program back within the next fiscal year by charging it up with $17 million worth of rebates. It'll create more opportunities to get some of these rebates, while simultaneously extending the duration of the CVRP by decreasing the maximum amount to $2,500 (about half of the previous maximum). If you're doing your math correctly, that equates to more than 6,000 total rebates that'll be up for grabs -- opposed to the 1,400 first-rounders who were awarded the rebates already. With luck and some economical upturns, Californian volt-heads can cruise into 2012 with their non-petrol-deficient wallets a little bit fuller.

Nokia and Accenture seal Symbian handover deal

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:55 PM PDT

The Is have been dotted, the Ts have been crossed with a flourish, and pretty soon Nokia will have very little indeed to do with its formerly beloved Symbian OS. Oh sure, the company promises to keep it going with such standout devices as the Oro, but responsibility for developing and supporting Symbian is being wholly handed over to Accenture, along with 2,800 employees. When announced back in April, the deal called for 3,000 Nokia worker bees to make the jump over, so we suspect a few more (hopefully voluntary) redundancies are making up the difference with the new number. Now that everything's been finalized, you can expect the switchover to take place in "the early part of October." Accenture promises to care for its ailing patient through 2016, after which point even the most die-hard of fans will have to make the switch to a mobile OS from the 21st century. Full PR after the break.
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Nokia and Accenture finalize Symbian software development and support services outsourcing agreement

Nokia Corporation
Stock exchange release
June 22, 2011 at 09:00 (CET +1)

Espoo, Finland - Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) have finalized an agreement for Nokia to outsource Symbian software development and support activities to Accenture. Plans of the agreement were first announced on April 27, 2011.

Under the agreement, Accenture will provide Symbian based software development and support services to Nokia through 2016. Approximately 2,800 Nokia employees located in China, Finland, India, United Kingdom and the United States, are expected to transfer to Accenture at closing, which is expected to take place in the early part of October, 2011.

"We look forward to partnering with Nokia as they continue to support Symbian and transition to the Windows Phone ecosystem," said Marty Cole, chief executive, Accenture Communications and High Tech group. "The highly skilled group of technologists and engineers transferring to Accenture will complement our current mobility skills and enhance the breadth, depth and scale of our capabilities, allowing us to meet the growing global demand for mobility services across many industries."

The agreement calls for Accenture to support and further develop Nokia's Symbian platform and to become the preferred supplier to Nokia on their transition to Windows Phone. Accenture will seek opportunities to leverage transferring employee skills and capabilities to provide mobility software, business and operational services around the Windows Phone platform to Nokia and other ecosystem participants. Accenture will also seek to retrain and redeploy transferred employees.

"Our collaboration with Accenture allows us to meet our ongoing commitment to support our Symbian smartphone customers and continue to leverage the talent that has the deepest experience on the platform," said Jo Harlow, executive vice president for Smart Devices, Nokia. "As we move our primary smartphone platform to Windows Phone, we will look to explore potential opportunities to tap this talent pool as they develop and expand their knowledge and capabilities beyond Symbian."

Accenture will also work with Avanade, a technology service company that is majority-owned by Accenture and focuses on Microsoft technologies, to provide further services to Nokia.

The definitive agreement includes customary closing conditions.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 215,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of USD21.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2010. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

Accenture is focused on enabling its clients to achieve breakthrough growth throughout the rapidly changing mobile ecosystem. The Accenture Mobility Services group offers five mobility services including consulting, software services--applications, software services--devices and platforms, managed services, and business integration services. These are designed to help organizations embrace business to employee (B2E), business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B) and machine to machine (M2M) business opportunities. Accenture offers mobility and embedded software services across a wide range of industries and platforms, including Symbian, WinMo (Microsoft Windows® Mobile), Windows Phone, Android(TM), Blackberry®, iPhone®, Java(TM), Linux, Meego(TM).

SoftStep KeyWorx controls your PC with your feet, turns browsing into DDR (video)

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:39 PM PDT

KeyWorx SoftStep
The SoftStep KeyWorx is primarily being sold by music shops and, while the PC pedal board certainly has a number of uses when it comes to music production, Keith McMillen Instruments has grander visions -- like aiding amputees and RSI sufferers. The 10 pressure-sensitive buttons and directional pad can be used to control almost any function on a computer, and it can store up to 100 customized commands for everything from launching apps, to strafing opponents while getting your deathmatch on. The foot control peripheral is available now for $290 and you'll find both a demo video and some PR after the break. Now, someone get Rick Allen one so we can challenge him to a round of Call of Duty.

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KMI INTRODUCES WORLD'S FIRST FOOT-OPERATED COMPUTER
– SOFTSTEP KEYWORX

Advanced Keyboard and Mouse Control for your Feet -- Multi-Tasks & Speeds Up Computer
for Gamers, Programmers, Video Editors, & Data Entry Professionals

Relieves Repetitive Stress Syndrome – Brings Computers to the Disabled

June 21, 2011, Berkeley, CA -- Keith McMillen Instruments (KMI) announced today the SoftStep KeyWorx multi-touch foot controller, the world's first foot controlled digital interface, providing a new and faster way to operate a computer. Available for Mac and Windows, SoftStep KeyWorx is a valuable new tool for everyone using a computer, from gamers, video editors, programmers, data entry professionals, disabled people, repetitive stress syndrome sufferers, and anyone who wants a faster way to use their computer.

Remembers up to 100 Sets of Commands

Pressure and location sensitive, SoftStep is USB powered with ten fully customizable keys that remember up to 100 sets of commands for repetitive tasks. The cursor/click control allows the user to keep their hands comfortably on the keyboard at all times and the blue backlight makes it visible everywhere, even under a darkened desk. Made with advanced elastomeric and graphite composites for a super rugged yet lightweight design, SoftStep is light-weight and portable, weighing just one pound, small enough to fit in a briefcase or backpack.

For the first time, those who could benefit from having foot control of their computer to speed up their system can use SoftStep, performing such tasks as:

Access Internet.
Open and close software apps.
Enter text.
Change toolsets within applications.
Bring a browser forward.
Launch email programs.
Zoom in and out.
Control volume.
Scroll through folders.
Output key commands.
Control the cursor, mouse clicks and OS functions.
Fully customizable - remembers up to 100 sets of commands.

A Computing Breakthrough for the Disabled, Veterans & RSI Sufferers

Initially utilized by musicians and recording studios, SoftStep works with any computer program to speed up access, making the computer as easy to use as a car's gas and break pedals. The assistive SoftStep technology is a computing breakthrough for people with Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), carpal tunnel, loss of use of upper body/paralysis, limited dexterity, hand/arm strength, or wrist pain, including veterans and the disabled. SoftStep is ultra-light, small, durable and amazingly flexible, affordably priced at $289.95.

"SoftStep KeyWorx is a revolutionary new access tool for people with disabilities. Its amazing breadth of customizability makes it useful for people with a wide range of computing needs, from simple Internet access to complex engineering design," said Jane Berliss-Vincent of the Center for Accessible Technology on the Ed Roberts Campus, the world's foremost disability center.

"Human beings will invest the time to learn a new interface device, if the payback is substantial enough. It is not that different from operating a car. A driver must work the gas and brake without looking down at their feet," said Bill Buxton one of the pioneers in human–computer interface and principal researcher at Microsoft.

Priced at $289.95, SoftStep KeyWorx is available immediately from leading online retailers, including Amazon.com (www.amazon.com), Enablemart (www.enablemart.com), and Disabled Online (www.disabledonline.com). For more information on SoftStep KeyWorx, see: http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/keyworx/ or the website at: www.keithmcmillen.com.

About KMI

Keith McMillen Instruments (KMI) is a private company based in Berkeley, California that develops innovative hardware and software technology that connects and controls computer applications in the music, gaming, video, ergonomic and assistive technology industries. Visit KMI on the web at www.keithmcmillen.com.

Thin film coating makes everlasting energy a piezoelectric possibility

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:16 PM PDT

Let's be honest, it's no big secret that we're running out of dead dinosaurs to fuel our lives. And with recent natural catastrophes proving atomic energy isn't what you'd call 'safe,' it's a good thing the researchers down at the RMIT University in Melbourne have been hard at work figuring out how to turn you into a self-sustained energy source. Marrying piezoelectrics with a thin film microchip coating, those scientists Down Under have for the first time identified just how much energy your pressure can generate. This is certainly not the first time the tech has been put to use -- Orange UK's been doing something similar, albeit bulkier, for the Glastonbury fest each year. What are some practical uses, you ask? Imagine a gym powered by a sea of workout-hamsters, each producing significant energy from the soles of their feet. Curious for more? Try a pacemaker that runs solely on blood pressure, or a laptop charged by banging out Facebook updates. Who knows, maybe even RIM can put this to use in its next Storm. Just sayin'.

[Image courtesy Alberto Villarreal]

Amazon tablet with TI processor shipping as early as August?

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:48 PM PDT

For months now, DigiTimes has been fueling rumors of Amazon's first foray into the LCD tablet market. Today it ratchets up the specificity with sometimes contradictory claims that Quanta Computer will be responsible for assembling the tablet with a supposed TI (not NVIDIA) processor and Wintek (not EIH) touch panel among its components. According to DigiTimes, Amazon hopes to move some four million units in 2011 alone with plans to launch the new tablet as soon as August. Possible? Sure, likely even. But we'll wait for Bezos to sing before updating our holiday shopping lists.

Best Buy puts your music in the cloud, goes where others have gone before

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Google, Amazon, and Apple have been hogging the headlines when it comes to storing your tunes in the internet ether. That doesn't mean there isn't room for another musically inclined cloud contender -- or at least, that's how Best Buy sees things. The big blue box has rolled out its aptly (if uncreatively) named Music Cloud service that lets you upload your audio to its servers and stream it wherever you go. You can also save songs locally, plus there are apps for Androids, Blackberrys, and iPhones to manage and play your music. There are two flavors of Music Cloud, Lite and Premium. The former is free, while the latter costs $3.99 a month, though Best Buy hasn't said what the difference is (other than price) between the two. The catch? It's currently only capable of grabbing songs from iTunes, so no uploading from file folders. Let's hope that's only a temporary problem.

Zipcar Android app sheds the beta, late-night driverless honking to increase

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:43 PM PDT

It may have happened to you before -- you're walking down the street somewhere on a balmy summer night when, out of nowhere, the empty car next to you honks its horn and you spit your skeleton right outta that purty mouth. Yeah, you have Zipcar to blame for that. Ever since the introduction of its iOS app back in 2009, users have been able to reserve a car on-the-go, and freak out unwitting pedestrians. Now Android users get to join the party -- officially. While the apps' market availability is nothing new, the recent shucking of its beta tag and some UI enhancements make this coming out party noteworthy. There's a good reason Time Magazine named it one of the "50 best iPhone Apps in 2011." Also, wireless honking -- in case you forgot.
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Zipcar Officially Launches Android™ App v1.0

App Delivers Powerful User Experience and Expands Member Accessibility to Zipcar

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIP), the world's leading car sharing network, today announced the official launch of its Android mobile application with the removal of the public beta tag. The beta test, launched May 5, 2011, allowed Zipcar members to test the application and provide feedback to Zipcar to ensure the product would be capable of offering a powerful, seamless mobile experience. The official Zipcar Android App v1.0, which runs on the OS 2.1 or higher Android platform, is now faster and more efficient than the version introduced during the beta test, and offers enhancements to the user interface and improvements to user features.


With the introduction of its Android app, Zipcar is adding to its collection of mobile applications and services that work with members through all stages of the reservation process using a variety of mobile devices. The app allows members to search for and reserve Zipcars by time, location and vehicle type. Members can use the application to view available Zipcars on a map, get directions to the vehicle location and extend or cancel a reservation.

The application can also be used to honk the horn to locate a Zipcar as well as lock and unlock the vehicle after scanning the Zipcard into the reservation. Non-members can download the app to search for vehicles and vehicle locations, learn more about Zipcar and initiate the membership application process.


"Our members are rapidly transitioning from traditional to mobile devices. With this official release of our Android App, we're responding to the needs of our members. This launch also reflects a cornerstone of the Zipcar brand -- our unrelenting commitment to providing the best member experience," said Scott Griffith, Zipcar Chairman and CEO. "The feedback from our members during the beta test was instrumental in making this first version powerful, easy and fun."

The Android App is part of a suite of integrated mobile applications that includes Zipcar's iPhone® application -- recognized by Time Magazine as one of the "50 Best iPhone Apps in 2011" -- as well as a mobile website, which can be used on BlackBerry® devices and smartphones to make, extend or change reservations; and two-way SMS texting, allowing the vehicle to proactively reach out to members during their reservation via their mobile device to manage their reservation, including instant reservation extension.

For members without a smartphone, Zipcar offers an interactive, automated call line which recognizes members and their reservation status, and dynamically changes the options (i.e. extends a reservation) based on where members are in their reservation experience.

The app is available for download at www.zipcar.com/android or can be downloaded directly on an Android-powered device by searching for "Zipcar" in the Android Market. Members can visit www.zipcar.com/android/faqs with any questions regarding Zipcar for Android, and can also send feedback directly through the application. For more information on Zipcar, visit www.zipcar.com.

DisplayPort 1.2 adds active cable support: brings longer cords, more logos

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:00 PM PDT

DisplayPort Active Cable Logo
It's been a while since we've heard anything from the VESA folks, so it was a pleasant surprise when the organization hit our inbox with a bit of PR announcing an update to the DisplayPort 1.2 standard. New active cables being introduced will allow video connections to stretch up 100 feet -- five times that of the old-school, passive variety -- and use thinner gauge wire for more flexible cords. The one kink is that the cables are directional, though, a new logo (above) should help minimize confusion over which end gets jacked into the source and which feeds your TV. Not that we're complaining about longer, thinner cables but, it sure would be nice if we could cover those 33 meters without making our apartment look like a data center - how's that wireless DisplayPort coming along?
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VESA Expands DisplayPort Standard to Support Active Cables

Organization Sets New industry Benchmark for Design Flexibility of Video Installations

Newark, Calif., June 22, 2011 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced an extension of its DisplayPort version 1.2 specification to support DisplayPort active cables. DisplayPort active cables can be as much as 5x in length compared to passive cables, providing video systems integrators and home users the ultimate flexibility for designing next-generation home theaters, digital signage and high-definition display configurations. Design specifications are immediately available from VESA for organizations seeking to develop DisplayPort active cables.

Active cables boost and equalize the attenuated DisplayPort signal, allowing cables to reach unprecedented lengths and enabling the use of thinner wire gauges when compared to normal passive cables. The configurations of home theaters and digital signage installations have historically been limited by the display cables connecting the devices. For high-definition display placement, the limits imposed by passive cables meant that short distances were needed to avoid compromised image quality. With the addition of active cables to the DisplayPort specification, cables lengths of more than 100 feet (33 meters) are possible, greatly increasing configuration flexibility in cable routing and equipment placement.

To support organizations considering the development of DisplayPort active cables, VESA has provided guidance on the electrical characteristics needed to ensure interoperability with other DisplayPort products within the DisplayPort 1.2 specification. Additionally, the Association has outlined compliance requirements within VESA's PHY Compliance and Test Specification version 1.2, enabling DisplayPort active cables to be added to the VESA Certification and Logo programs.

Because active cables are directional and require each end to be connected to appropriate devices, VESA has developed a new DisplayPort active cable logo to assist cable users in identifying the source and sink ends of the cable. This new logo will appear on the active cable, as well as product packaging and promotional material, simplifying their use and identification for consumers and developers of all expertise levels.

"Active cables are an important connectivity option for DisplayPort users" said Gourgen Oganessyan, vice-chair of the VESA Marketing Task Group and staff product marketing engineer at Intersil Corporation. "Active cables are increasingly being used in market segments ranging from industrial display and digital signage, to the home office. Through detailed compliance and test specifications, as well as our logo programs, VESA will ensure robust and consistent quality of these interconnects in the marketplace, and interoperability with a wide variety of DisplayPort-enabled products."

For more information about DisplayPort, or the specification, please visit http://www.displayport.org. For more information about VESA, please visit http://www.vesa.org/ or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VESADisplayPort.

About VESA

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) is an international, non-profit standards organization, representing a global network of hardware, software, PC, display and component manufacturers committed to developing and promoting the electronics industry. VESA's established track record of creating and supporting simple, universal and cross-product solutions for today's video and electronics industry, such as DisplayPort, provides consumers with the confidence necessary to explore new technology standards such as multi-monitor streaming, direct drive capability and full HD 3D support without confusion or difficulty. For more information about VESA visit www.vesa.org.

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Itronix GD2000: a rugged handheld for your skydiving, bullet-dodging, building-scaling lifestyle

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:14 PM PDT

Taking a break from BASE jumping to shop for your next rugged computer? If you can't wait for Panasonic's Android Toughbook slate, consider the just-announced General Dynamics Itronix GD2000. The PR mavens promise this handheld performs like a full-sized notebook, thanks to an Intel Core Solo processor. Weighing in at 2.4 pounds, this beast can run for six hours on a lithium-ion battery; it also boasts a sun-friendly 5.6-inch, 1024 x 600 LED touchscreen. Fully integrated satellite GPS will help you reach your top secret rendezvous point, and WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity will keep your Twitter feed updated along the way. But how rugged is it really, you ask? The case is Ingress Protection (IP) 54 rated, the company answers, meaning your new purchase is protected from dust and splashing water. When you're ready to build your own – maybe upgrading the standard 64GB SATA drive and adding cellular networking – prices start at $4,900.
Show full PR text
New Fully Rugged, Pocket-sized GD2000 by General Dynamics Itronix Delivers Notebook-sized Computing Power


Where working conditions are harsh and space is limited, the handheld GD2000 delivers wireless, full-power computing standing still or on-the-move.

SUNRISE, Fla., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Itronix introduces the new, fully rugged, pocket-sized GD2000. About the size of two stacked paperback books, the GD2000 provides the ultra-mobility of a handheld computer with the powerful performance of a full-sized notebook. The ideal combination of size, weight and power, the GD2000 weighs just over two pounds and comes equipped with the Intel® Ultra Low Voltage Core™ Solo processor, highly sensitive GPS and a 5.6-inch daylight-viewable DynaVue® touch-screen display.

Mark Johnston, director of Strategic Computing Solutions for General Dynamics Itronix, said, "The GD2000 is designed for the most extreme work environments. For example, after jumping from a plane with the GD2000 strapped to their chests, military paratroopers can pinpoint or change their landing location as well as receive updated mission information while in flight and after they land."

For military, law enforcement, emergency first responders and field service personnel working in environments where conditions are harsh and space is limited, the fully rugged GD2000 delivers mission-critical wireless, full-power computing.

Key features of the GD2000 include:

* Battery-conserving, sunlight-viewable DynaVue touch screen display delivers crisp, clear images of maps and videos in full sunlight.
* New zoom-in/zoom-out keyboard button lets users quickly and accurately adjust map and image views.
* Integrated hard drive slot enables users to easily swap hard drives without tools.
* 'On the fly' lithium-ion battery changes improve user productivity.
* Updated Trusted Platform Module security chip and user authentication software protect the GD2000 from unauthorized access.


Additional features:

* Fully integrated, high-sensitivity SIRFstarIII GPS
* Wireless WiFi and Bluetooth® connectivity
* Ergonomic 77-key backlit keyboard
* Six-hour battery life and EnergyStar® rating
* MIL-STD 810G certification
* Ingress Protection (IP) 54 rated
* Three-year warranty


Specifications:

* Size: 1.8 inches x 6.6 inches x 4.8 inches
* Weight: 2.4 pounds
* Display: 5.6 inch, 1024 x 600 LED display


Available with a number of options, the General Dynamics Itronix GD2000 list price starts at $4,900.

The GD2000 data sheet, with a complete list of features, benefits and specifications is available online at www.gd-itronix.com/GD2000. For additional information or to order the GD2000 call 1-800-441-1309.

General Dynamics Itronix is a leading developer of wireless, rugged computing solutions for mobile workers, offering a full range of field computing systems, including full-sized laptops, ultra-mobile notebook PCs and tablet PCs. Additional information is available at www.gd-itronix.com.

The company is part of General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com.

Editors: Images of the GD2000 are available for download at www.gd-itronix.com/GD2000images.

DynaVue® is a registered trademark of General Dynamics Itronix. All other product and service marks are the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE General Dynamics Itronix
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Tilera's new 100-core CPU elbows its way to the cloud, face-melt still included

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:48 PM PDT

Hundred core chips might not be breaking news -- especially if the company announcing it is Tilera -- but what if that new multi-core CPU drew an insanely lower wattage and set its sights on powering a few cloud server farms? Well, that's exactly what chip maker Tilera has up its silicon sleeve. "Co-developed with the world's leading cloud computing companies" -- take a guess who that might include -- the new 64-bit TileGx-3100 clocks in at up to 1.5GHz while sucking down a lighter 48W. Line that up next to the current cloud favorite, Intel's Xeon, and your power consumption is slashed nearly in half. Of course, the barrier to entry is high for the nascent chip developer since most code written is for the x86 -- requiring a whole new set of instructions for data centers to play nice. Expect to see this face-melting monster sometime early 2012, by which time, you'll probably have your 50,000 strong music library synced to the cloud.

Japanese researchers develop 'swimming' endoscope, we suggest being nicer to your doctor

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:16 PM PDT


Sure, pills that survey the wild and nauseating gastric landscape have been done before -- but how about one that can "swim" to input from a doctor-controlled joystick? A team of Japanese researchers have successfully achieved just that, with a newer, smaller, creepier version of a device they call "Mermaid." Ariel jokes aside, the tadpole-shaped accessory has successfully self-propelled itself around different parts of its host's digestive tract, all while dutifully phoning home with what we presume are pictures only a licensed physician could stomach. Whether or not the entire shindig was in high definition wasn't specified, but let's pretend your brain didn't just wonder precisely that.

Hulu rumored to be considering a sale after receiving an offer from... Yahoo?

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:36 PM PDT

This afternoon rumors rapidly spread that an unnamed company had offered to purchase Hulu from its media giant owners, and now the LA Times Company Town blog has fingered that entity as Yahoo. According to the initial Wall Street Journal report, the offer received was not solicited, but it has caused the board to consider soliciting offers from other companies. The last time CEO Jason Kilar checked in he was looking forward to breaking one million Hulu Plus subscribers, now we're wondering which giant may be first in line to snap the streaming site up and add its content licenses to their warchest. Whatever happens, the newly formed NBCUniversal conglomerate won't have a say in it after forfeiting its board seats to get the merger approved. Drop in your wildly speculative commentary below -- rumors including YouTube, iTunes, Xbox, or some insane Spotify rumor you just made up, we're willing to listen to them all.

Russian eclipse enthusiasts launch floating globe to shoot the moon

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:16 PM PDT

Russian eclipse enthusiasts launch floating globe to shoot the moon
That globe, which launched June 15th, was attached to a weather balloon, and apparently carried with it a GPS / GSM tracker, two GoPro cameras, two Canon cameras, and one Buzz Lightyear figurine. The mission? Capture last week's lunar eclipse. Lucky for us, the mission was successful and both the cartoon astronaut and the accompanying film were successfully recovered. The resulting photographs are quite stunning, but you don't have to take our word for it. If you missed Google's live stream, you can catch up with Buzz and the team at the source link below.

Cue Acoustics PS1 wireless speakers do audio over DLNA, we go hands-on

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 05:45 PM PDT

Speaker wire is expensive if you buy it at retail, cheap if you just use a spool of electrical cable, but always, always an eyesore. Sure, you can pull it through the drywall, hide it behind some curtains -- or you can just go wireless. That's the option Cue Acoustics will enable with its PS1 bookshelf speakers, shipping this August. They're a high-end pair, each internally amplified and offering a 5-inch downward-firing woofer, 3.5-inch mid, and .75-inch tweeter, covering all the acoustic hotspots with fanfare. More important, though, is that each speaker can run with only one cable: power. Full details after the break.
Cue Acoustics PS1 hands-on
Cue Acoustics PS1 hands-on

To connect these to your wired setup you can run a digital optical or RCA analog signal into one, which will them pump that signal wirelessly to the other using what's called a "proprietary uncompressed digital audio" format. That's nice, but better is going with a completely wireless transmission setup, which can be achieved with either an (optional) external adapter or by simply connecting to them directly using DLNA. Yes, you can pump audio straight from your smartphone, though of course it'll be far from uncompressed in that case. Unfortunately we can't deliver any impressions of how they sound, the crowded GDGT event not making for a very good listening environment. But, what we could make out over the din didn't disappoint.

The PS1 speakers are set to ship in August and, while we couldn't get anyone at Cue to clue us in on a price, we're told they'll be comparable to other high-end bookshelf speakers. So, you know, pricey... and they probably won't play that old copy of Final Fantasy VII you couldn't bear to throw out, either.
at 11:58 AM

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