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Engadget News |
- Nokia to announce Symbian Belle update on Wednesday, crafts a countdown timer
- BlackBerry Bold 9930, Torch 9850 go on sale at Sprint for $200, $150
- Netduino and WP7 used to remotely control sprinkler system, show off Microsoft's DIY credentials
- HP's Compaq 8200 Elite all-in-one desktop coming to a cubicle near you
- Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program: now you can find out if you made the cut
- Engadget's back to school guide 2011: smartphones
- Iiyama introduces XB2472HD-B and X2775HDS-B VA-based desktop displays
- Ford partners with Toyota to share technology, create new hybrid system for trucks and SUVs
- HP TouchPad tops Amazon US sales, rumored for UK price drop
- Amazon grabs two more Kindle related domains, keeps gadget writers in work
- iOS 5 turns Japanese iPhones into earthquake alarms
- Fanatec's ClubSport racing wheel is definitely not for Sunday drivers (video)
- Gemini-Scout robot can scope out mining accidents, may save lives (video)
- Microsoft woos webOS developers with free phones, training
- Tacit sonar gauntlet gives the blind ultrasonic eyes (video)
- Comcast's Xfinity app debuts on Blackberry, updated on iOS
- Sony Ericsson unveils Live with Walkman handset for music-loving Android users
- Cedar Trail may be delayed, new Atoms gone 'til November
- Skype adds Groupme to social portfolio, sets sights on mobile market
- LG sheds light on the Optimus Sol, available mid-September in Europe
- AMD refreshes E and C-Series Fusion APUs, adds DDR3-1333 support, better battery life
- iOS 5 beta 6 gets a Sn0wbreeze jailbreak, iPad 2 still stuck behind bars
- How would you change Nikon's D5100?
- BlackBerry Torch 9810 available on AT&T today for $50
- Inhabitat's Week in Green: space pod hotel, Lego LED lamps and the world's largest solar-powered boat
- Samsung Conquer 4G now ready for your purchase on Sprint
- Poll: If you snagged a TouchPad on closeout, what are you using it for?
- Razer teaser reminds us that 'PC gaming is not dead,' neither are viral videos
- Switched On: The webOS triangle
- Apple eclipses Lenovo's sales in emerging Chinese market
- Refresh Roundup: week of August 15, 2011
| Nokia to announce Symbian Belle update on Wednesday, crafts a countdown timer Posted: 22 Aug 2011 11:27 AM PDT  Well, that must be embarrassing: Nokia gets a fancy countdown clock set up on its Facebook page as a teaser for something new on Symbian, and the file it set up still says "belle_fb_TeaserMain" in it. It doesn't anymore, but the cat's already out of the bag; on Wednesday morning Espoo will most likely unveil Belle, its forthcoming bump up from Symbian Anna. We're unsure of the exact details that'll be shared, though we've already seen enough of the new update to know what to expect: with a couple lengthy videos, multitudes of screenshots and a leaked version of Belle floating around somewhere, there isn't much of a mystery left to shed light on. That said, we're still hoping we'll see some device announcements as well as dates and device compatibility. Perhaps Mr. Elop just wants us to to think it's Belle, in which case this would be the best teaser of all. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BlackBerry Bold 9930, Torch 9850 go on sale at Sprint for $200, $150 Posted: 22 Aug 2011 11:02 AM PDT  As expected, the BlackBerry Torch 9850 and BlackBerry Bold 9930 went on sale at Sprint yesterday as part of its BlackBerry 7 lineup. Both phones feature 1.2GHz Snapdragon processors and five-megapixel cameras, but the 9850 has a 3.7-inch touch-only display compared to the Bold's 2.8-inch screen and keyboard combination. Purchased online with contracts and after rebates, the 9850 is selling for $150 while the 9930 is going for a cool $200 -- a departure from the originally announced Bold price tag of $249, with no mention of cash back. For Sprint users, a rebate is clearly better than no rebate -- even if it does require a stamp. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netduino and WP7 used to remotely control sprinkler system, show off Microsoft's DIY credentials Posted: 22 Aug 2011 10:34 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HP's Compaq 8200 Elite all-in-one desktop coming to a cubicle near you Posted: 22 Aug 2011 10:03 AM PDT  If you were in need of HP news that has nothing to do with the sold-out, overnight sensation that's become the TouchPad, then read on. The company's just announced a new all-in-one desktop solution for the enterprise set -- the Compaq 8200 Elite. Starting at a wallet-pleasing $1000, the 1920 x 1080 23-inch full HD monitor comes outfitted with your choice of Intel's Pentium or vPro line of chips, up to 8GB DDR3 SDRAM, HDD storage that ranges from 250GB to 1TB, six USB 2.0 ports, an optional Blu-ray drive, and a six-in-one media card reader. As you might expect, the machine also comes pre-loaded with MS' ever-handy Office 2010 starter pack and Norton Internet Security. Sound like the sort of refresh you so desperately need for your cubicle? Then check it out for yourself at the source below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program: now you can find out if you made the cut Posted: 22 Aug 2011 09:35 AM PDT  Remember the Nintendo "Ambassador Program" for 3DS owners with the price drop blues? Early adopters were offered 20 free games if they signed in to the Nintendo eShop before August 11th, but the software didn't confirm if they'd successfully joined or not. Now they can check for themselves by heading to Nintendo's support page via our easy-to-click source link, enter their 11 digit serial number and see if they're due some freebies courtesy of delicious corporate guilt. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget's back to school guide 2011: smartphones Posted: 22 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're tapping away on our smartphones -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!  Now more than ever, collegiate studies require a wide variety of devices to help you get that prized "A." The thirst for knowledge you so desperately seek can strike at any time, and you're not always going to have that desktop or laptop nearby to find the answer to a burning question. Perhaps you just need to hurl birds at pigs for a while to blow off your stress. Whatever the case, you'll need something to help you study, store (and edit) all of your important term papers, keep you in touch with classmates or family, and everything in-between. What better way to get all of that than with a smartphone? We've picked nine respectable candidates that can help you through your upcoming semester -- three for each budget level. Oh, and while you're looking, we're giving away $3,000 worth of essential back to school gear to 15 lucky readers, and you can be one of them by simply leaving a comment below! So, which phones are most likely to help you get smart? Head past the break to find out.  Prepaid / Budget
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 | The G2x may have started off on the wrong foot, but it's become one of T-Mobile's flagships for a reason. Also known worldwide as the LG Optimus 2X, it's a power-packed HSPA+ Android handset, and is one of the most reasonably priced dual-core phones you can find. Oh, and make sure you check out the Tegra Zone for cool games to play during a boring lecture. |
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 | Samsung Nexus S 4G With the recent drop in price, the Nexus S 4G is now the least expensive WiMAX-powered handset on Sprint's lineup. But don't let that fool you -- it's a high-quality phone despite the budget-conscious pricetag. Oh, and built-in NFC will make it easier to purchase decorations for your dorm room with Google Wallet. $.01 on Amazon |  | Samsung Focus Android may dominate our list, but we don't want to forget Microsoft's recent push into the market. Windows Phone 7 may still be an underdog behind Android and iOS, but it's still a solid choice for school -- and the Focus has the hardware to back it up. With this fall's Mango update forthcoming, the package is even more appealing. $.01 on Amazon |
Money's no object
 | Were you expecting to see an Apple device up here? We think it's a worthy contender, but with a pending (unannounced) refresh on its way, the iPhone 4 just didn't make the cut for back to school. This time, Samsung bested Apple as the class valedictorian with its Galaxy S II. It's currently available as an unlocked GSM device that will work -- and very well, we might add -- on any GSM network around the world. The GSII is one of the fastest (if not the fastest) devices we've played with to date, and fully embodies the term "superphone." The best news is that we can expect one on each major US carrier very soon. |
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 | Samsung Droid Charge The Droid Charge is a wonderful choice to harness Verizon's blazing-fast LTE speeds, with a gorgeous Super AMOLED Plus display, excellent performance, and the best battery life among its Verizon 4G brethren. A winning combination for looking up last week's lecture notes online. $70-170 on Amazon |  | T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide It's got all of the specs you need to capture memories of tonight's frat party and get work done tomorrow: a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and an 8MP camera with 1080p video record are just a couple reasons why we like the myTouch 4G Slide. Need one more? A stellar QWERTY keyboard for easy notetaking. $200 on Amazon |
Engadget's Back to School Giveaway
Official Rules
No Purchase Required to Enter or Win
Eligibility: Engadget's Back to School Giveaway (the "Giveaway") is open only to individuals who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years of age or older. Employees of Weblogs Inc. LLC, AOL Inc., their advertising or promotion agencies, those involved in the production, development, implementation or handling of Giveaways, any agents acting for, or on behalf of the above entities, their respective parent companies, officers, directors, subsidiaries, affiliates, licensees, service providers, prize suppliers any other person or entity associated with the Giveaways (collectively "Giveaway Entities") and/or the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members (whether related or not) of each such employee, are not eligible. All U.S., federal, state and local and Canadian federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void in Quebec, Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.
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Giveaway Period: The Giveaway begins at 12PM ET on August 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011 (the "Giveaway Period"). The Giveaway Period shall be divided into fifteen (15) separate Entry Periods:
Entry Period 1 begins at 12PM ET on August 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 2 begins at 12PM ET on August 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 3 begins at 12PM ET on August 3, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
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Entry Period 5 begins at 12PM ET on August 8, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
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Entry Period 7 begins at 12PM ET on August 12, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 8 begins at 12PM ET on August 15, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 9 begins at 12PM ET on August 17, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 10 begins at 12PM ET on August 19, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 11 begins at 12PM ET on August 22, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 12 begins at 12PM ET on August 24, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 13 begins at 12PM ET on August 26, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 14 begins at 12PM ET on August 31, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry Period 15 begins at 12PM ET on September 2, 2011 and ends at 12PM ET on September 9, 2011.
Entry: During the Giveaway Period, go to http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/engadgets-back-to-school-2011-sweepstakes-were-giving-away-3/ and add a comment to submit your entry. The use of any agencies or automated software to submit entries will void all entries submitted by that person.
Drawing: At the conclusion of the Giveaway Period, Sponsor will select the name of one (1) Grand Prize Winner from each of the fifteen (15) Entry Periods in a random drawing of all eligible entries received during each Entry Period. The odds of being selected as a potential winner depend on the number of eligible entries received during the applicable Entry Period. Potential Winners will be contacted via email and asked to provide their full name, age and mailing address within a specified time period. If a potential winner does not respond within the timeframe stated in the notification email, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from all entries received during the Entry Period. Non-winning entries from one Entry Period do not carry over into subsequent Entry Periods.
Requirements of the Potential Winners: Except where prohibited, the potential winners will be required to complete and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release (the "Affidavit/Release") and IRS W-9 form within seven (7) days of being notified. If a potential winner fails to sign and return the Affidavit/Release and W-9 form within the required time period, an alternate entrant may be selected in his/her place in a random drawing of all entries received. Acceptance of a prize constitutes consent to use winner's name and likeness for editorial, advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. In the event the potential winner of any prize is a Canadian resident, he/she will also be required to correctly answer a time-limited mathematical question to be administered by email, mail or phone to receive the prize. Limit one (1) prize per household.
Prizes: Fifteen (15) Grand Prize Winners will each receive a Back to School Prize Pack containing the following items: HP Pavilion dm1z laptop, Sony NEX-C3 digital camera, Samsung 7" Galaxy Tab, Motorola Photon 4G (Sprint) smartphone, Altec Lansing Octiv 650 speaker doc, Bowers & Wilkins C5 headphones, Nook E-reader, Timbuk2 Command Messenger bag, Elgato HDHomeRun TV tuner, Kingston Wi-Drive, 1-year Premium Spotify subscription, Scosche: goBAT II, iMainGo: X, G-Form 11" Extreme Sleeve, Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite, 1-year Premium Skype subscription, Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock, Red Swingline Stapler, Toddy Smart Cloth and Pogo Sketch. Approximate Retail Value of each Prize Pack is $3,151. Subscriptions are subject to issuer's terms and conditions. Activation fees and monthly service fees not included with any smartphone/digital devices. No cash or other substitution may be made, except by the Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute a prize or portion of a prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Winners are responsible for any taxes and fees associated with receipt or use of a prize.
General Conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Giveaway is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, or other technical problem, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) suspend the Giveaway to address the impairment and then resume the Giveaway in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) award the prizes at random from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Giveaway or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of the Giveaway may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. In case of a dispute as to the owner of an entry, entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the screen name from which the entry is made. The authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.
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Giveaway Results: To request the names of the winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Engadget Back to School Giveaway Winners, Zach Honig, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. Requests must be received by September 30, 2011.
Iiyama introduces XB2472HD-B and X2775HDS-B VA-based desktop displays
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 08:28 AM PDT
Ford partners with Toyota to share technology, create new hybrid system for trucks and SUVs
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 07:57 AM PDT
Ford, Toyota to Collaborate on Developing New Hybrid System for Light Trucks, SUVs;
Future Telematics Standards
· Ford and Toyota are collaborating as equal partners to accelerate consumer availability of aXYZnew advanced hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs
· New co-developed hybrid system ready for use later this decade on Ford and ToyotaXYZrear-wheel-drive light trucks and SUVs, delivering greater fuel efficiency while still providing
customers the capability they want and need
· Ford and Toyota also will collaborate on development of next-generation standards for in-carXYZtelematics and Internet-based services
Dearborn, Mich., Aug. 22, 2011 – Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation – the world's two leading manufacturers of hybrid vehicles – today announced they will equally collaborate on the development of an advanced new hybrid system for light truck and SUV customers.
Ford and Toyota have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the product development collaboration, with the formal agreement expected by next year.
Both companies have been working independently on their own future-generation rear-wheel drive hybrid systems. The two now have committed to collaborate as equal partners on a new hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs. This new hybrid powertrain will bring the full hybrid experience of greater fuel efficiency to a new group of truck and SUV customers without compromising the capability they require in their vehicles. Ford and Toyota believe that their collaboration will allow them to bring these hybrid technologies to customers sooner and more affordably than either company could have accomplished alone.
"This agreement brings together the capability of two global leaders in hybrid vehicles and hybrid technology to develop a better solution more quickly and affordably for our customers," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. "Ford achieved a breakthrough with the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and we intend to do this again for a new group of truck and SUV buyers – customers we know very well."
Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive vice president, Research & Development, said: "In 1997, we launched the first-generation Prius, the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid. Since then, we have sold about 3.3 million hybrid vehicles. We expect to create exciting technologies that benefit society with Ford – and we can do so through the experience the two companies have in hybrid technology."
The two companies also agreed to work together on enablers to complement each company's existing telematics platform standards, helping bring more Internet-based services and useful information to consumers globally.
Under the MOU agreement, the two companies will bring the best of their independently developed hybrid powertrain technology and knowledge to a new co-developed hybrid system, which will be used in rear-wheel-drive light trucks arriving later this decade. Specifically, Ford and Toyota will: Jointly develop as equal partners a new rear-wheel drive hybrid system and component technology for light trucks and SUVs.
Independently integrate the new hybrid system in their future vehicles separately For years, both Ford and Toyota have been working independently on similar new rear-wheel-drive hybrid systems aimed at delivering higher fuel economy in light trucks and SUVs. When the two companies began discussing this potential collaboration, they discovered how quickly they were able to find common ground.
"By working together, we will be able to serve our customers with the very best affordable, advanced powertrains, delivering even better fuel economy," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "This is the kind of collaborative effort that is required to address the big global challenges of energy independence and environmental sustainability."
Toyota President Akio Toyoda added: "Toyota is extremely proud to join Ford in developing a hybrid system for pickup trucks and SUVs. Not only is this tie-up clearly one aimed at making automobiles ever better, it should also become an important building block for future mobility in the U.S. By building a global, long-term relationship with Ford, our desire is to be able to continue to provide people in America automobiles that exceed their expectations."
This rear-wheel-drive hybrid system will be based on an all-new architecture to deliver the capability truck and SUV customers demand while providing greater fuel economy. While the rear-wheel-drive hybrid system will share significant common technology and components, Ford and Toyota will individually integrate the system into their own vehicles. Each company also will determine the calibration and performance dynamics characteristics of their respective light pickups and SUVs.
In addition, as telematics plays an increasingly more important role in the in-car experience, both companies have agreed to collaborate on standards and technologies needed to enable a safer, more secure and more convenient in-car experience for next-generation telematics systems. The telematics collaboration relates only to standards and technologies, and each company will continue to separately develop their own in-vehicle products and features.
"Ford has made tremendous progress in the area of telematics," Kuzak said. "We have unique and very good solutions today with SYNC and MyFordTouch. Working together on in-vehicle standards can only enhance our customers' experience with their vehicles."
Uchiyamada added: "Toyota has also invested heavily in telematics in various countries around the world, with services like the G-BOOK and G-Link. In the U.S., we have just introduced the accessible, easy-to-use Entune. By sharing our know-how and experience, we would like to offer even better telematics services in the future."
Future Telematics Standards
· Ford and Toyota are collaborating as equal partners to accelerate consumer availability of aXYZnew advanced hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs
· New co-developed hybrid system ready for use later this decade on Ford and ToyotaXYZrear-wheel-drive light trucks and SUVs, delivering greater fuel efficiency while still providing
customers the capability they want and need
· Ford and Toyota also will collaborate on development of next-generation standards for in-carXYZtelematics and Internet-based services
Dearborn, Mich., Aug. 22, 2011 – Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation – the world's two leading manufacturers of hybrid vehicles – today announced they will equally collaborate on the development of an advanced new hybrid system for light truck and SUV customers.
Ford and Toyota have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the product development collaboration, with the formal agreement expected by next year.
Both companies have been working independently on their own future-generation rear-wheel drive hybrid systems. The two now have committed to collaborate as equal partners on a new hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs. This new hybrid powertrain will bring the full hybrid experience of greater fuel efficiency to a new group of truck and SUV customers without compromising the capability they require in their vehicles. Ford and Toyota believe that their collaboration will allow them to bring these hybrid technologies to customers sooner and more affordably than either company could have accomplished alone.
"This agreement brings together the capability of two global leaders in hybrid vehicles and hybrid technology to develop a better solution more quickly and affordably for our customers," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. "Ford achieved a breakthrough with the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and we intend to do this again for a new group of truck and SUV buyers – customers we know very well."
Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive vice president, Research & Development, said: "In 1997, we launched the first-generation Prius, the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid. Since then, we have sold about 3.3 million hybrid vehicles. We expect to create exciting technologies that benefit society with Ford – and we can do so through the experience the two companies have in hybrid technology."
The two companies also agreed to work together on enablers to complement each company's existing telematics platform standards, helping bring more Internet-based services and useful information to consumers globally.
Under the MOU agreement, the two companies will bring the best of their independently developed hybrid powertrain technology and knowledge to a new co-developed hybrid system, which will be used in rear-wheel-drive light trucks arriving later this decade. Specifically, Ford and Toyota will: Jointly develop as equal partners a new rear-wheel drive hybrid system and component technology for light trucks and SUVs.
Independently integrate the new hybrid system in their future vehicles separately For years, both Ford and Toyota have been working independently on similar new rear-wheel-drive hybrid systems aimed at delivering higher fuel economy in light trucks and SUVs. When the two companies began discussing this potential collaboration, they discovered how quickly they were able to find common ground.
"By working together, we will be able to serve our customers with the very best affordable, advanced powertrains, delivering even better fuel economy," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "This is the kind of collaborative effort that is required to address the big global challenges of energy independence and environmental sustainability."
Toyota President Akio Toyoda added: "Toyota is extremely proud to join Ford in developing a hybrid system for pickup trucks and SUVs. Not only is this tie-up clearly one aimed at making automobiles ever better, it should also become an important building block for future mobility in the U.S. By building a global, long-term relationship with Ford, our desire is to be able to continue to provide people in America automobiles that exceed their expectations."
This rear-wheel-drive hybrid system will be based on an all-new architecture to deliver the capability truck and SUV customers demand while providing greater fuel economy. While the rear-wheel-drive hybrid system will share significant common technology and components, Ford and Toyota will individually integrate the system into their own vehicles. Each company also will determine the calibration and performance dynamics characteristics of their respective light pickups and SUVs.
In addition, as telematics plays an increasingly more important role in the in-car experience, both companies have agreed to collaborate on standards and technologies needed to enable a safer, more secure and more convenient in-car experience for next-generation telematics systems. The telematics collaboration relates only to standards and technologies, and each company will continue to separately develop their own in-vehicle products and features.
"Ford has made tremendous progress in the area of telematics," Kuzak said. "We have unique and very good solutions today with SYNC and MyFordTouch. Working together on in-vehicle standards can only enhance our customers' experience with their vehicles."
Uchiyamada added: "Toyota has also invested heavily in telematics in various countries around the world, with services like the G-BOOK and G-Link. In the U.S., we have just introduced the accessible, easy-to-use Entune. By sharing our know-how and experience, we would like to offer even better telematics services in the future."
HP TouchPad tops Amazon US sales, rumored for UK price drop
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 07:25 AM PDT
Update: Looks like the above pricing has been confirmed for UK retailer, Dixons.
Amazon grabs two more Kindle related domains, keeps gadget writers in work
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 06:58 AM PDT
Amazon is sending book-loving gadget fans into a frenzy with another round of domain name buys. It registered KindleScribe and KindleScribes.com to go along with the KindleAir and KindleSocialNetwork addresses it picked up earlier this month. All that's left to do is speculate wildly on what they could represent (Thin and light e-reader? Tablet-style touchscreen? Kindle that comes pre-loaded with the Social Network?) and hope the new devices come packing Jeff's newly patented mobile airbags.
iOS 5 turns Japanese iPhones into earthquake alarms
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 06:28 AM PDT
Following the devastation wrought by the recent Japanese earthquake, Apple has hooked the country's early warning system into iOS 5. The tectonically-volatile nation has the most sophisticated alarm in the world, delivering life-saving warnings seconds or minutes before disaster strikes. iOS users already had access to this functionality via apps like Yurekuru, but iOS 5 will bring it directly into the operating system. The service can be activated in the Notification Center settings pane, accompanied by a warning that the constant connection will deplete your battery faster -- a fair exchange if it saves your life.
Fanatec's ClubSport racing wheel is definitely not for Sunday drivers (video)
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 05:59 AM PDT
Gemini-Scout robot can scope out mining accidents, may save lives (video)
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 05:29 AM PDT
We've seen robots capable of entering hazardous nuclear plants and dangerous buildings, but engineers at Sandia Labs have now unveiled a new rescue bot that's explicitly designed to enter and investigate collapsed mines, as well. Measuring just two feet tall and less than four feet in length, the Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot packs a set of gas sensors, a thermal camera and a two-way radio, allowing it to detect dangerous underground materials and relay critical information to above-ground rescue workers. Its can also navigate across rocky terrain, tight quarters, or flooded tunnels, and is sturdy enough to carry food and other supplies to trapped miners. Operators, meanwhile, can manipulate the Gemini-Scout using only an Xbox 360 controller, which was incorporated into the system on the strength of its intuitive design and UI. Sandia's engineers demoed their bot last week in DC and are hoping to begin licensing it to rescue agencies by the end of next year. Crawl past the break for a video of their creation, along with a full press release.
Sandia Labs' Gemini-Scout robot likely to reach trapped miners ahead of rescuers
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In the first moments after a mining accident, first responders work against the clock to assess the situation and save the miners. But countless dangers lurk: poisonous gases, flooded tunnels, explosive vapors and unstable walls and roofs. Such potentially deadly conditions and unknown obstacles can slow rescue efforts to a frustrating pace.
To speed rescue efforts, engineers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a robot that would eliminate some of the unknowns of mine rescue operations and arm first responders with the most valuable tool: information.
Sandia robotics engineers have designed the Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot, which finds dangers and can provide relief to trapped miners. It's able to navigate through 18 inches of water, crawl over boulders and rubble piles, and move in ahead of rescuers to evaluate precarious environments and help plan operations.
"We have designed this robot to go in ahead of its handlers, to assess the situation and potential hazards and allow operations to move more quickly," said Jon Salton, Sandia engineer and project manager. "The robot is guided by remote control and is equipped with gas sensors, a thermal camera to locate survivors and another pan-and-tilt camera mounted several feet up to see the obstacles we're facing."
Less than four feet long and two feet tall, Gemini-Scout is nimble enough to navigate around tight corners and over safety hatches a foot high. In addition to giving rescuers an idea of what they're headed into, the robotic scout can haul food, air packs and medicine to those trapped underground. It is equipped with two-way radios and can be configured to drag survivors to safety.
Designers built the Gemini-Scout to negotiate nearly every known mine hazard. Methane and other gases can ignite if exposed to sparks, so the electronics are housed in casings designed to withstand an explosion. "Such measures would prevent a spark from causing further destruction. While it might harm the robot, it wouldn't create another dangerous situation for the miners or rescuers," Salton said.
To ensure functionality in flooded tunnels, Gemini-Scout's controls and equipment needed to be waterproof. "When we were designing a robot that could provide this level of assistance, we had to be aware of the pressures and gases that are often found in that environment," said Sandia engineer Clint Hobart, who was responsible for the mechanical design and system integration. "So we had to make sure the strength of materials matched what our goals were, and we had to keep everything lightweight enough so it could navigate easily."
In addition, engineers had to build something intuitive for new operators who need to learn the system quickly. To overcome that challenge, they used an Xbox 360 game controller to direct Gemini-Scout. "We focused a lot on usability and copied a lot of gamer interfaces so that users can pick it up pretty quickly," said Sandia engineer Justin Garretson, the lead software developer.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provided funding for the efforts, which have been underway for the last three years. If all goes well, the Gemini-Scout could be ready to head underground by the end of next year. The team is in the final stages of licensing Gemini-Scout to a commercial robotics company, but for now, the Mine Safety and Health Administration will be the primary customer.
"We anticipate that this technology is broad enough to be appealing to other first responders, such as police, firefighters and medical personnel," Salton said. "Gemini-Scout could easily be fitted to handle earthquake and fire scenarios, and we think this could provide real relief in currently inaccessible situations."
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In the first moments after a mining accident, first responders work against the clock to assess the situation and save the miners. But countless dangers lurk: poisonous gases, flooded tunnels, explosive vapors and unstable walls and roofs. Such potentially deadly conditions and unknown obstacles can slow rescue efforts to a frustrating pace.
To speed rescue efforts, engineers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a robot that would eliminate some of the unknowns of mine rescue operations and arm first responders with the most valuable tool: information.
Sandia robotics engineers have designed the Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot, which finds dangers and can provide relief to trapped miners. It's able to navigate through 18 inches of water, crawl over boulders and rubble piles, and move in ahead of rescuers to evaluate precarious environments and help plan operations.
"We have designed this robot to go in ahead of its handlers, to assess the situation and potential hazards and allow operations to move more quickly," said Jon Salton, Sandia engineer and project manager. "The robot is guided by remote control and is equipped with gas sensors, a thermal camera to locate survivors and another pan-and-tilt camera mounted several feet up to see the obstacles we're facing."
Less than four feet long and two feet tall, Gemini-Scout is nimble enough to navigate around tight corners and over safety hatches a foot high. In addition to giving rescuers an idea of what they're headed into, the robotic scout can haul food, air packs and medicine to those trapped underground. It is equipped with two-way radios and can be configured to drag survivors to safety.
Designers built the Gemini-Scout to negotiate nearly every known mine hazard. Methane and other gases can ignite if exposed to sparks, so the electronics are housed in casings designed to withstand an explosion. "Such measures would prevent a spark from causing further destruction. While it might harm the robot, it wouldn't create another dangerous situation for the miners or rescuers," Salton said.
To ensure functionality in flooded tunnels, Gemini-Scout's controls and equipment needed to be waterproof. "When we were designing a robot that could provide this level of assistance, we had to be aware of the pressures and gases that are often found in that environment," said Sandia engineer Clint Hobart, who was responsible for the mechanical design and system integration. "So we had to make sure the strength of materials matched what our goals were, and we had to keep everything lightweight enough so it could navigate easily."
In addition, engineers had to build something intuitive for new operators who need to learn the system quickly. To overcome that challenge, they used an Xbox 360 game controller to direct Gemini-Scout. "We focused a lot on usability and copied a lot of gamer interfaces so that users can pick it up pretty quickly," said Sandia engineer Justin Garretson, the lead software developer.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provided funding for the efforts, which have been underway for the last three years. If all goes well, the Gemini-Scout could be ready to head underground by the end of next year. The team is in the final stages of licensing Gemini-Scout to a commercial robotics company, but for now, the Mine Safety and Health Administration will be the primary customer.
"We anticipate that this technology is broad enough to be appealing to other first responders, such as police, firefighters and medical personnel," Salton said. "Gemini-Scout could easily be fitted to handle earthquake and fire scenarios, and we think this could provide real relief in currently inaccessible situations."
Microsoft woos webOS developers with free phones, training
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 05:03 AM PDT
Tacit sonar gauntlet gives the blind ultrasonic eyes (video)
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 04:15 AM PDT
Comcast's Xfinity app debuts on Blackberry, updated on iOS
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 03:30 AM PDT
Sony Ericsson unveils Live with Walkman handset for music-loving Android users
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 02:21 AM PDT
Four months after unveiling the relatively bare bones W8, Sony Ericsson has now taken the wraps off yet another Walkman phone, known as the Live with Walkman. Powered by a 1GHz processor, this Android handset features a 3.2 inch, capacitive touchscreen (with somewhat disappointing HVGA resolution), a five megapixel AF shooter with 8x digital zoom, and a front-facing VGA camera capable of capturing HD video in 720p. The petite, Gingerbread-equipped device also packs a lackluster 320MB of RAM, provides up to 32GB of microSD storage, and offers either tri-band 3G support (HSPA+) at 850, 1900 and 2100MHZ, or dual-band 3G at 900 and 2100MHz, depending on the model. And, as you'd expect, Sony Ericsson has placed a special emphasis on the music phone's media capabilities, beefing it up with enhanced audio and Qriocity integration. The specs may not sound earth shattering, but we'll wait until we get pricing information before casting judgment. The Live with Walkman is slated to hit "selected markets" by Q4 of this year, but you can find more information in the full PR, after the break.
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ delivers unique social music experience for smartphones
22 August 2011
Smartphone with Walkman™ on the latest Android platform (Gingerbread 2.3)
Unique Facebook™ integration enables instant music and media sharing
Content services from Sony provide access to the latest music and video titles
22 August 2011, London, UK – Sony Ericsson today announced Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™, an Android smartphone that delivers a unique social music experience. A dedicated Walkman™ hardware button provides instant access to the music player and consumers can also like, share and discover content through a deep Facebook™ integration. The infinite button lets the consumer explore even more and the *Qriocity service from Sony provides music and video content for the consumer to enjoy.
With attractive curved design, a glossy finish and a mineral glass display, the phone has a 3.2" screen and a powerful 1Ghz processor. A front facing camera is enabled for Skype video calling, while a 5MP AF camera can capture 720p HD video recording. *Sony's xLOUD™ enhances audio output, while the latest Android platform for smartphones (Gingerbread 2.3) provides access to over 250,000 applications on the Android Market™.
Nikolaus Scheurer, Head of Product Marketing, Sony Ericsson said: "Consumers want smartphones to deliver a rich and social entertainment experience. Rather than a one dimensional music experience, they want instant and seamless access to new content, combined with the ability to share and connect with their friends. The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ provides exactly this, in a powerful package with great style."
A perfect combination of social networking and music entertainment:
Deep Facebook™ integration: Allows users to instantly access Facebook through the most used areas of the phone such as the picture gallery, music player, phonebook and calendar.
Media Discovery Application: A dynamic application placing the world of music and videos at consumer's fingertips including Facebook™ recommendations from their friends.
Infinite button: Tapping it within the media player enables consumers to have instant access to new content about their favourite artist, such as music videos, artist information and lyrics search.
Qriocity music and video content services from Sony: Consumers can access millions of songs from all major labels and watch thousands of movies from all major studios. Only Sony Ericsson Android smartphones provide consumers with unique access to the entertainment services from *Sony.
*Sony's xLOUD™ technology: Enhances audio output of the inbuilt speakers at high levels.
TrackID™: Identifies the music track you are listening to within the FM radio and music player. The track can then instantly be shared or downloaded.
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ will be available globally in selected markets from Q4 2011.
For full details all products news, please visit the press room and the product blog:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/press/pressreleases/latestnews
http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ at a glance.
*Please note that all services mentioned may not be available in every market.
Colours
Black and White
Facts
Size: 56.5 x 106 x 14.2 mm
Weight: 115 g
Camera
5 megapixel camera
8x digital zoom
Auto focus
Face detection
Flash/Photo light
Flash/Photo flash
Flash/LED
Front-facing camera (VGA)
Geo tagging
HD video recording (720p)
Image stabiliser
Red-eye reduction
Scene detection
Self-timer
Send to web
Smile detection
Touch capture
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording
Music
Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow™ service
Stereo speakers
TrackID™ music recognition
Walkman™ player
xLOUD™
Internet
Android Market™
Bookmarks
Google™ search
Google Voice™ Search
NeoReader™ barcode scanner
Pan & zoom
Web browser (WebKit)
Communication
Call list
Conference calls
Facebook™ application
Google Talk™
Polyphonic ringtones
Skype
Sony Ericsson Timescape™
Speakerphone
Twitter™ (Timescape™ integration)
Vibrating alert
Video chat ready
Messaging
Conversations
Email
Google Mail™
Handwriting recognition
Instant messaging
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)
Type & Send widget
Design
Auto rotation
Four-corner Home screen
Keyboard (on-screen, 12-key)
Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
Live wallpaper
Picture wallpaper
Touch screen
Entertainment
3D games
Media browser
Radio (FM radio with RDS)
Video streaming
Video viewing
YouTube™
Organiser
Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Document readers
Emanual
Flight mode
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D™
Infinite button
Phonebook
Setup guide
Event
Timer
Widget manager
Connectivity
3.5 mm audio jack
aGPS
Bluetooth™ technology
DLNA Certified™
Google Latitude™
Google Maps™ for Mobile
Google Maps™ with Street View
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB support
Modem
Native USB tethering
Synchronisation via Facebook™
Synchronisation via Google™ Sync
Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
Synchronisation with computer
Synchronisation via Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®
Synchronisation: Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® via Moxier client
USB mass storage
USB High speed 2.0 support
USB support
Wi-Fi™
Wi-Fi™ Hotspot functionality
Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation
Display
3.2 inches
16,777,216 colour TFT
480 x 320 pixels
Capacitive touchscreen (multi-touch)
Scratch-resistant
Memory
Phone memory (user-free): Up to 320MB
Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32GB
Battery life
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 14 hrs 15 min*
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 600 hrs*
Talk time UMTS: Up to 6 hrs 42 min*
Standby time UMTS: Up to 850 hrs*
Music listening time: Up to 17 hrs 30 min
Video listening time: Up to 6 hrs 30 min
*According to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage.
Networks
UMTS HSPA 850 (Band V), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band I)
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
UMTS HSPA 900 (Band VIII), 2100 (Band I)
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
In the kit
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™
1200 mAh battery
stereo headset
2GB microSD™ memory card
Charger
micro USB cable for charging
synchronisation and file transfer
user documentation
22 August 2011
Smartphone with Walkman™ on the latest Android platform (Gingerbread 2.3)
Unique Facebook™ integration enables instant music and media sharing
Content services from Sony provide access to the latest music and video titles
22 August 2011, London, UK – Sony Ericsson today announced Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™, an Android smartphone that delivers a unique social music experience. A dedicated Walkman™ hardware button provides instant access to the music player and consumers can also like, share and discover content through a deep Facebook™ integration. The infinite button lets the consumer explore even more and the *Qriocity service from Sony provides music and video content for the consumer to enjoy.
With attractive curved design, a glossy finish and a mineral glass display, the phone has a 3.2" screen and a powerful 1Ghz processor. A front facing camera is enabled for Skype video calling, while a 5MP AF camera can capture 720p HD video recording. *Sony's xLOUD™ enhances audio output, while the latest Android platform for smartphones (Gingerbread 2.3) provides access to over 250,000 applications on the Android Market™.
Nikolaus Scheurer, Head of Product Marketing, Sony Ericsson said: "Consumers want smartphones to deliver a rich and social entertainment experience. Rather than a one dimensional music experience, they want instant and seamless access to new content, combined with the ability to share and connect with their friends. The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ provides exactly this, in a powerful package with great style."
A perfect combination of social networking and music entertainment:
Deep Facebook™ integration: Allows users to instantly access Facebook through the most used areas of the phone such as the picture gallery, music player, phonebook and calendar.
Media Discovery Application: A dynamic application placing the world of music and videos at consumer's fingertips including Facebook™ recommendations from their friends.
Infinite button: Tapping it within the media player enables consumers to have instant access to new content about their favourite artist, such as music videos, artist information and lyrics search.
Qriocity music and video content services from Sony: Consumers can access millions of songs from all major labels and watch thousands of movies from all major studios. Only Sony Ericsson Android smartphones provide consumers with unique access to the entertainment services from *Sony.
*Sony's xLOUD™ technology: Enhances audio output of the inbuilt speakers at high levels.
TrackID™: Identifies the music track you are listening to within the FM radio and music player. The track can then instantly be shared or downloaded.
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ will be available globally in selected markets from Q4 2011.
For full details all products news, please visit the press room and the product blog:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/press/pressreleases/latestnews
http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™ at a glance.
*Please note that all services mentioned may not be available in every market.
Colours
Black and White
Facts
Size: 56.5 x 106 x 14.2 mm
Weight: 115 g
Camera
5 megapixel camera
8x digital zoom
Auto focus
Face detection
Flash/Photo light
Flash/Photo flash
Flash/LED
Front-facing camera (VGA)
Geo tagging
HD video recording (720p)
Image stabiliser
Red-eye reduction
Scene detection
Self-timer
Send to web
Smile detection
Touch capture
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording
Music
Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow™ service
Stereo speakers
TrackID™ music recognition
Walkman™ player
xLOUD™
Internet
Android Market™
Bookmarks
Google™ search
Google Voice™ Search
NeoReader™ barcode scanner
Pan & zoom
Web browser (WebKit)
Communication
Call list
Conference calls
Facebook™ application
Google Talk™
Polyphonic ringtones
Skype
Sony Ericsson Timescape™
Speakerphone
Twitter™ (Timescape™ integration)
Vibrating alert
Video chat ready
Messaging
Conversations
Google Mail™
Handwriting recognition
Instant messaging
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)
Type & Send widget
Design
Auto rotation
Four-corner Home screen
Keyboard (on-screen, 12-key)
Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
Live wallpaper
Picture wallpaper
Touch screen
Entertainment
3D games
Media browser
Radio (FM radio with RDS)
Video streaming
Video viewing
YouTube™
Organiser
Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Document readers
Emanual
Flight mode
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D™
Infinite button
Phonebook
Setup guide
Event
Timer
Widget manager
Connectivity
3.5 mm audio jack
aGPS
Bluetooth™ technology
DLNA Certified™
Google Latitude™
Google Maps™ for Mobile
Google Maps™ with Street View
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB support
Modem
Native USB tethering
Synchronisation via Facebook™
Synchronisation via Google™ Sync
Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
Synchronisation with computer
Synchronisation via Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®
Synchronisation: Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® via Moxier client
USB mass storage
USB High speed 2.0 support
USB support
Wi-Fi™
Wi-Fi™ Hotspot functionality
Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation
Display
3.2 inches
16,777,216 colour TFT
480 x 320 pixels
Capacitive touchscreen (multi-touch)
Scratch-resistant
Memory
Phone memory (user-free): Up to 320MB
Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32GB
Battery life
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 14 hrs 15 min*
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 600 hrs*
Talk time UMTS: Up to 6 hrs 42 min*
Standby time UMTS: Up to 850 hrs*
Music listening time: Up to 17 hrs 30 min
Video listening time: Up to 6 hrs 30 min
*According to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage.
Networks
UMTS HSPA 850 (Band V), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band I)
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
UMTS HSPA 900 (Band VIII), 2100 (Band I)
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
In the kit
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman™
1200 mAh battery
stereo headset
2GB microSD™ memory card
Charger
micro USB cable for charging
synchronisation and file transfer
user documentation
Cedar Trail may be delayed, new Atoms gone 'til November
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 12:42 AM PDT
If you've been waiting to catch a whiff of some Cedar Trail freshness, looks like you're just gonna hold your breath a little bit longer. DigiTimes is reporting that the next-gen Atom chip has been pushed back from its anticipated September launch to November. Apparently Chipzilla is having issues with the graphics drivers and has been unable to pass Windows 7 certification. The new low-power CPUs should still be ready in time for the holiday season though, and will likely find their way into plenty of netbooks that almost nobody will buy.Skype adds Groupme to social portfolio, sets sights on mobile market
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 10:58 PM PDT
Sure, we're still waiting for that Microsoft-Skype deal to close, but it looks like Redmond's about to get more than it initially bargained for. Skype announced today that it has reached an agreement to snatch up Groupme, the mobile group messaging service that made a splash at Google I/O. Outfit head honcho Tony Bates told TechCrunch that Skype needs to invade the mobile space if it hopes to reach its goal of scoring one billion users, and cites Groupme's "sticky group messaging experience" as the ideal mobile addition to the Skype family. But don't take our word for it, hit the break and dig the PR for yourself. Skype Acquires GroupMe
LUXEMBOURG, 21 August 2011 -- Skype today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GroupMe, a provider of mobile group messaging services that helps users stay in touch and make decisions. GroupMe was founded in 2010 at the Techcrunch Disrupt Hackathon and is headquartered in New York, New York. Terms of the acquisition will not be disclosed.
Through the acquisition of GroupMe, Skype continues its drive to provide a global multi-modal and multi-platform communications experience. The acquisition of GroupMe complements Skype's leadership in voice and video communications by providing best in class text-based communications and innovative features that enable users to connect, share locations and photos and make plans with their closest ties. This, coupled with the acquisition of mobile video provider Qik, which Skype announced earlier this year, augments Skype's role as an innovator in driving unique mobile user experiences.
"Skype and GroupMe have a shared vision of creating applications and experiences that are the daily communications choice for a billion people. We will continue to seek the top talent and technology to make that vision a reality," said Tony Bates, Skype's Chief Executive Officer. "The GroupMe team has created an incredibly sticky group messaging experience that works across mobile devices and platforms, making this a perfect addition to the voice, video and text products in the Skype family," added Bates.
"There is a natural affinity between Skype and GroupMe and our goal is to continue developing tools that make it easier for people to communicate, share, and stay in touch with their close and important ties," said Jared Hecht, GroupMe's Co-Founder. "Integrating GroupMe into the Skype experience is an amazing opportunity for us and accelerates the execution of our vision tenfold," added Steve Martocci, GroupMe's Co-Founder.
LUXEMBOURG, 21 August 2011 -- Skype today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GroupMe, a provider of mobile group messaging services that helps users stay in touch and make decisions. GroupMe was founded in 2010 at the Techcrunch Disrupt Hackathon and is headquartered in New York, New York. Terms of the acquisition will not be disclosed.
Through the acquisition of GroupMe, Skype continues its drive to provide a global multi-modal and multi-platform communications experience. The acquisition of GroupMe complements Skype's leadership in voice and video communications by providing best in class text-based communications and innovative features that enable users to connect, share locations and photos and make plans with their closest ties. This, coupled with the acquisition of mobile video provider Qik, which Skype announced earlier this year, augments Skype's role as an innovator in driving unique mobile user experiences.
"Skype and GroupMe have a shared vision of creating applications and experiences that are the daily communications choice for a billion people. We will continue to seek the top talent and technology to make that vision a reality," said Tony Bates, Skype's Chief Executive Officer. "The GroupMe team has created an incredibly sticky group messaging experience that works across mobile devices and platforms, making this a perfect addition to the voice, video and text products in the Skype family," added Bates.
"There is a natural affinity between Skype and GroupMe and our goal is to continue developing tools that make it easier for people to communicate, share, and stay in touch with their close and important ties," said Jared Hecht, GroupMe's Co-Founder. "Integrating GroupMe into the Skype experience is an amazing opportunity for us and accelerates the execution of our vision tenfold," added Steve Martocci, GroupMe's Co-Founder.
LG sheds light on the Optimus Sol, available mid-September in Europe
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 09:10 PM PDT
The LG Optimus Sol (aka the E730) received the full hands-on treatment a few days ago, and it didn't take long for the mystery device to be officially recognized by LG. Named after the Spanish word for "sun," the phone gained the title for a distinct reason: it's using a 3.8-inch WVGA "Ultra AMOLED" display, which is supposed to make the screen easier to read in direct sunlight and also offers less image quality degradation. It's powered by a 1GHz CPU, runs on Gingerbread, features a 5MP camera, and measures out at a thickness of 9.8mm. LG also uses the Sol to introduce a new power management technique it's referring to as "Dark UI" -- by utilizing less white light as the phone is idle, the company hopes to extend battery life by 20 to 30 percent. If you're interested in picking up what LG is putting down here, you'll be able to do so in parts of Europe around mid-September, followed by a release to Central and South America afterward. It'll also be available in black, titan and white color options. Want to know more? Take a look at the full press release after the break.
LG DIVERSIFIES SMARTPHONE LINE-UP WITH USER-FRIENDLY OPTIMUS SOL
New Phone Boasts Elegant Design, First-Class Display, Great Multimedia
Connectivity
SEOUL, Aug. 22, 2011 – LG Electronics (LG) today announced the latest
addition to the LG Optimus smartphone series: the LG Optimus Sol
(LG-E730). Running on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform, the LG
Optimus Sol offers 9.8mm slimness with a brilliant 3.8-inch "Ultra
AMOLED" display. Sol is aptly named for its high clarity display which
makes content easy to see even in bright and sunny conditions.
"The Optimus Sol stands out from its competitors as the most affordable
1 GHz Android smartphone with an AMOLED display," said Dr. Jong-seok
Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.
"By introducing a no-nonsense phone that boasts one of the best displays
on the market, we think we have a real winner for consumers looking for
a subtle but visually stunning phone."
With a depth of only 9.8mm, the LG Optimus Sol boasts a sophisticated
design, solid feel and enhanced user experience. Users can enjoy a great
web browsing performance thanks to the 1GHz CPU, as well as enhanced
Flash 10.1. on a 3.8-inch WVGA Ultra AMOLED display with a superior
color gamut. The new and improved Ultra AMOLED display has a two-fold
advanced reflection rate compared to standard AMOLED displays, and
reduces image quality degradation.
The device uses an enhanced idle-based power management system that
boosts battery life by 20 to 30 percent. With the Dark UI selected, the
Optimus Sol utilizes less white light in order to extend the battery
life performance. The phone includes a 5.0MP camera for fast
auto-shuttering, auto-focusing and shot-to-shot. Users can also take
full advantage of multimedia connectivity via onscreen links to DLNA and
Wi-Fi Direct.
This new handset will be introduced in Europe beginning mid-September,
followed by roll-outs in Central and South America. The Optimus Sol will
be available in black, titan and white, availability depending on the
region.
New Phone Boasts Elegant Design, First-Class Display, Great Multimedia
Connectivity
SEOUL, Aug. 22, 2011 – LG Electronics (LG) today announced the latest
addition to the LG Optimus smartphone series: the LG Optimus Sol
(LG-E730). Running on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform, the LG
Optimus Sol offers 9.8mm slimness with a brilliant 3.8-inch "Ultra
AMOLED" display. Sol is aptly named for its high clarity display which
makes content easy to see even in bright and sunny conditions.
"The Optimus Sol stands out from its competitors as the most affordable
1 GHz Android smartphone with an AMOLED display," said Dr. Jong-seok
Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.
"By introducing a no-nonsense phone that boasts one of the best displays
on the market, we think we have a real winner for consumers looking for
a subtle but visually stunning phone."
With a depth of only 9.8mm, the LG Optimus Sol boasts a sophisticated
design, solid feel and enhanced user experience. Users can enjoy a great
web browsing performance thanks to the 1GHz CPU, as well as enhanced
Flash 10.1. on a 3.8-inch WVGA Ultra AMOLED display with a superior
color gamut. The new and improved Ultra AMOLED display has a two-fold
advanced reflection rate compared to standard AMOLED displays, and
reduces image quality degradation.
The device uses an enhanced idle-based power management system that
boosts battery life by 20 to 30 percent. With the Dark UI selected, the
Optimus Sol utilizes less white light in order to extend the battery
life performance. The phone includes a 5.0MP camera for fast
auto-shuttering, auto-focusing and shot-to-shot. Users can also take
full advantage of multimedia connectivity via onscreen links to DLNA and
Wi-Fi Direct.
This new handset will be introduced in Europe beginning mid-September,
followed by roll-outs in Central and South America. The Optimus Sol will
be available in black, titan and white, availability depending on the
region.
AMD refreshes E and C-Series Fusion APUs, adds DDR3-1333 support, better battery life
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 09:01 PM PDT
AMD Boosts Its AMD Fusion APUs for Notebooks, Ultrathins, All-in-Ones
and Desktops
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Aug. 22, 2011 - Today, AMD (NYSE: AMD) updated its award- winning C- and E-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) for ultrathin and value notebooks, netbooks, all-in-ones and desktop PCs with top of the line features. The updated APUs deliver:
For mobile users, the new AMD Fusion C-Series and E-Series APUs deliver even longer battery life than before - with up to 10.5 hours of resting battery life on the E-Series and 12 hours on the C-Series - enabling users to work or play longer without searching for an outlet.
Products from leading PC manufacturers based on these new APUs are available starting today and can be identified by the VISION Technology from AMD or HD Internet stickers.
and Desktops
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Aug. 22, 2011 - Today, AMD (NYSE: AMD) updated its award- winning C- and E-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) for ultrathin and value notebooks, netbooks, all-in-ones and desktop PCs with top of the line features. The updated APUs deliver:
- Enhanced HD graphics capabilities
- Performance boosts with enhanced memory
- DisplayPort ++ for connecting to any HDMI or DisplayPort-enabled monitor or TV
- 12 hours of resting battery life on a single charge for the mobile platform – a nearly four hour increase over previous platforms
Notebooks, netbooks, small form factor and all-in-one desktops based on these new APUs are available from leading manufacturers starting today.
"Today's PC users want stunning HD graphics and accelerated performance with all-day battery life and that's what AMD Fusion APUs deliver," said Chris Cloran, vice president and general manager, Client Division, AMD. "With these new APUs, we're bringing premium features to entry-level products that let users get a richer computing experience."
AMD has shipped more than 12 million APUs, and sold more than five million of the popular C- and E-Series APUs in Q2 2011 alone. The updated AMD C- and E-Series APUs meet the needs of consumers who want fast and Brilliant HD streaming video, sharp photos, life-like gaming through powerful DirectX®11-capable discrete-level graphics and a parallel processing engine, as well as all-day battery life. Additionally, the updated E-Series APUs feature:
"Today's PC users want stunning HD graphics and accelerated performance with all-day battery life and that's what AMD Fusion APUs deliver," said Chris Cloran, vice president and general manager, Client Division, AMD. "With these new APUs, we're bringing premium features to entry-level products that let users get a richer computing experience."
AMD has shipped more than 12 million APUs, and sold more than five million of the popular C- and E-Series APUs in Q2 2011 alone. The updated AMD C- and E-Series APUs meet the needs of consumers who want fast and Brilliant HD streaming video, sharp photos, life-like gaming through powerful DirectX®11-capable discrete-level graphics and a parallel processing engine, as well as all-day battery life. Additionally, the updated E-Series APUs feature:
- DDR3 1333 support for enhanced memory bandwidth and faster performance and video playback.
- HDMI 1.4a connections allow for viewing 3D pictures and home video on 3D- enabled TVs and displays.
For mobile users, the new AMD Fusion C-Series and E-Series APUs deliver even longer battery life than before - with up to 10.5 hours of resting battery life on the E-Series and 12 hours on the C-Series - enabling users to work or play longer without searching for an outlet.
Products from leading PC manufacturers based on these new APUs are available starting today and can be identified by the VISION Technology from AMD or HD Internet stickers.
iOS 5 beta 6 gets a Sn0wbreeze jailbreak, iPad 2 still stuck behind bars
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 08:57 PM PDT
How would you change Nikon's D5100?
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 07:45 PM PDT
BlackBerry Torch 9810 available on AT&T today for $50
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 06:32 PM PDT
The wait is over for BlackBerry fans from coast to coast who happen to use Ma Bell, as the BlackBerry Torch 9810 -- the first of three devices in RIM's fall lineup -- is now available at AT&T stores. All it'll set you back is a respectable $50 (with a two-year commitment, of course), and you'll then be ready to get your OS 7 on along with Liquid Graphics, a full QWERTY keyboard, a 1.2GHz CPU, and more than plenty of the usual RIM features you've come to love or hate. If this phone's flame burns within you, it may be time to head to the source link below.
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 05:37 PM PDT
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
Incredible green architecture projects lifted off to the stars and charted the seas this week as Inhabitat showcased a solar-powered space pod hotel that could launch in 2016 and PayPal founder Peter Thiel invested $1.25 million to create a chain of floating micro-countries. Meanwhile, Apple unveiled new images of its spaceship-shaped headquarters and its Grand Central Terminal store, and OPEN Architecture floated plans to transform a Zeppelin hangar into a green-roofed extreme sports center. Living green building projects also got a boost as Mexico unveiled plans to develop the world's largest urban park and an incredible crop of grass-covered cubicles sprung up in downtown Denver.
It was also an epic week for electric vehicles as Germany's "Schluckspecht" car set a world record for driving over 1,000 miles on a single charge, Lightning Motorcycles broke the 200 MPH electric bike speed record, and Stanford unveiled what could very well be the fastest solar car ever built. We also watched the world's largest solar-powered boat arrive in Hong Kong as it continues its trip around the world, while Google Street View began mapping the Amazon using cameras set on canoes and trikes. Solar Roadways also received a $750,000 grant to develop a large-scale installation and Zero2Infinity proposed a cheaper way to travel to space via an immense helium-filled balloon.
In other news, the past week was charged with renewable energy developments as a 13-year-old kid harnessed the Fibonacci sequence to make a solar power breakthrough and researchers developed an energy-harvesting LCD screen that could one day power our gadgets. We also learned that deep-sea mussels can convert hydrogen into energy, we were shocked to see another shiny slick of oil turn up near a BP well in the Gulf of Mexico, and we saw Australia outfit its soldiers with photovoltaic systems. Finally, on the home front we brought you a set of fun LEGO LED lamps perfect for illuminating any room, and we shared five tips for greening your finances.
It was also an epic week for electric vehicles as Germany's "Schluckspecht" car set a world record for driving over 1,000 miles on a single charge, Lightning Motorcycles broke the 200 MPH electric bike speed record, and Stanford unveiled what could very well be the fastest solar car ever built. We also watched the world's largest solar-powered boat arrive in Hong Kong as it continues its trip around the world, while Google Street View began mapping the Amazon using cameras set on canoes and trikes. Solar Roadways also received a $750,000 grant to develop a large-scale installation and Zero2Infinity proposed a cheaper way to travel to space via an immense helium-filled balloon.
In other news, the past week was charged with renewable energy developments as a 13-year-old kid harnessed the Fibonacci sequence to make a solar power breakthrough and researchers developed an energy-harvesting LCD screen that could one day power our gadgets. We also learned that deep-sea mussels can convert hydrogen into energy, we were shocked to see another shiny slick of oil turn up near a BP well in the Gulf of Mexico, and we saw Australia outfit its soldiers with photovoltaic systems. Finally, on the home front we brought you a set of fun LEGO LED lamps perfect for illuminating any room, and we shared five tips for greening your finances.
Samsung Conquer 4G now ready for your purchase on Sprint
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 04:11 PM PDT
Poll: If you snagged a TouchPad on closeout, what are you using it for?
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 03:35 PM PDT
Razer teaser reminds us that 'PC gaming is not dead,' neither are viral videos
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 03:16 PM PDT
Switched On: The webOS triangle
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 02:52 PM PDT
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
HP's decision to discontinue production of webOS devices has been widely seen as the final nail in the promising operating system's coffin. Statements from HP on the future of webOS app development sound absurd in the current context. How can, for example, HP continue to promote the webOS app catalog as it has pledged to do when there are no ongoing devices on which those apps can run? How would developers even test apps?
The answer may lie in a complex ongoing reorientation of the webOS triangle consisting of the HP corporate entity, PSG (Personal Systems Group, HP's PC business) and webOS. HP hasn't said exactly what it is doing with webOS. However, the combination of publicly expressing commitment to the operating system while dismantling its own devices points strongly to licensing. In fact, it's highly consistent with it; if HP simply wanted to wage war with (or sell) Palm's patent pool, it wouldn't need webOS developers any more. HP made no secret of its interest in licensing webOS while it was still producing devices based on that operating system. As Switched On discussed last month, though, there is a long, bleak history chronicling the difficulty in building devices based on an OS that a company is licensing. In other words, pursuing both of the contrasting business models of Apple and Microsoft results in inherent conflict.
But as Switched On indicated in the following column on potential webOS licensees (all still valid save for Motorola) that counted out HP's PC competitors, it is not enough for HP to stop producing only the TouchPad and phones. If HP is truly committed to licensing webOS in this age of ecosystems encompassing multiple kinds of devices, PSG cannot stay as HP's PC business competes with many potential webOS licensees. (Dell, though, would probably still be counted out as it competes with HP on enterprise services).
Barring restructuring HP may have wanted to otherwise make, it is cataclysmic upheaval in the pursuit of a risky revenue stream that would put the PC-free HP in direct mobile OS competition with high-flying Google and tenacious Microsoft. But it would be one way that HP could assert influence in client devices -- perhaps even a broader variety of them -- without being directly in the low-margin licensee business as it is with PCs.
If this is, indeed, the master plan, though, it's hard to imagine how it could have been implemented in a way to inspire less confidence in any three of the key pieces of HP, PSG and webOS. Imagine if, for example, Nokia had announced that it was sidelining Symbian and MeeGo without saying that it was adopting Windows Phone 7? Regardless of whether you agree with Nokia's new course, you can't well argue that it wasn't communicated authoritatively and extensively.
Ideally, this is the order in how things should have gone down at HP:
As it is, while HP's webOS device exit clears pathways for licensing, those paths have now been cast in the dim light of developer uncertainty, a light that grows dimmer with each day that webOS -- the soul of a device -- saunters in search of a new host.
Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
The answer may lie in a complex ongoing reorientation of the webOS triangle consisting of the HP corporate entity, PSG (Personal Systems Group, HP's PC business) and webOS. HP hasn't said exactly what it is doing with webOS. However, the combination of publicly expressing commitment to the operating system while dismantling its own devices points strongly to licensing. In fact, it's highly consistent with it; if HP simply wanted to wage war with (or sell) Palm's patent pool, it wouldn't need webOS developers any more. HP made no secret of its interest in licensing webOS while it was still producing devices based on that operating system. As Switched On discussed last month, though, there is a long, bleak history chronicling the difficulty in building devices based on an OS that a company is licensing. In other words, pursuing both of the contrasting business models of Apple and Microsoft results in inherent conflict.
But as Switched On indicated in the following column on potential webOS licensees (all still valid save for Motorola) that counted out HP's PC competitors, it is not enough for HP to stop producing only the TouchPad and phones. If HP is truly committed to licensing webOS in this age of ecosystems encompassing multiple kinds of devices, PSG cannot stay as HP's PC business competes with many potential webOS licensees. (Dell, though, would probably still be counted out as it competes with HP on enterprise services).
Barring restructuring HP may have wanted to otherwise make, it is cataclysmic upheaval in the pursuit of a risky revenue stream that would put the PC-free HP in direct mobile OS competition with high-flying Google and tenacious Microsoft. But it would be one way that HP could assert influence in client devices -- perhaps even a broader variety of them -- without being directly in the low-margin licensee business as it is with PCs.
If this is, indeed, the master plan, though, it's hard to imagine how it could have been implemented in a way to inspire less confidence in any three of the key pieces of HP, PSG and webOS. Imagine if, for example, Nokia had announced that it was sidelining Symbian and MeeGo without saying that it was adopting Windows Phone 7? Regardless of whether you agree with Nokia's new course, you can't well argue that it wasn't communicated authoritatively and extensively.
Ideally, this is the order in how things should have gone down at HP:
- HP continues to sell webOS devices while telling potential licensees privately that it is exiting the consumer hardware business. "By the way, how would you like to buy a really successful PC business?"
- HP finds a buyer for PSG or spins it out. HP announces this after the decision is finalized, maintaining clarity on the direction and ownership of PSG.
- HP announces that PSG as a new company – or the company that buys PSG -- will be among the new licensees for HP webOS. If an HP-liberated PSG really did not want webOS because it chose to, say, focus on Windows 8 tablets or was bought by a company committed to another mobile operating system, then HP could still move forward with announcements of other licensees and the continuum of supported webOS devices would not be broken as it is now.
As it is, while HP's webOS device exit clears pathways for licensing, those paths have now been cast in the dim light of developer uncertainty, a light that grows dimmer with each day that webOS -- the soul of a device -- saunters in search of a new host.
Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
Apple eclipses Lenovo's sales in emerging Chinese market
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 02:18 PM PDT
Refresh Roundup: week of August 15, 2011
Posted: 21 Aug 2011 12:29 PM PDT
Official Android updates
- The HTC EVO 3D is now ready for a maintenance fix called 2.08.651.2, which offers some nice improvements like allowing more Sprint bloatware to be uninstallable by the user, contact transfer via bluetooth, fixes for the lock screen occasionally freezing, and GPS enhancements. This update is available through a manual install. [via SprintFeed]
- Speaking of the HTC EVO 3D, the bootloader unlock tool is now ready for your enjoyment on the company's fancy new dev site.
- Android 2.3.4 is finally rolling out on T-Mobile's HTC Sensation 4G, and all users should receive the OTA update by the end of September at the latest. Aside from the standard 2.3.4 enhancements, Sensation 4G owners can also expect better battery life, additional software stability, extra touchscreen responsiveness, and improved "device reboots." Curiously, the refresh also promises better screen and photo resolution. All in all, this is the kind of firmware boost we love to see. (Thanks, Anonymous) [via TmoNews]
- If you're using a Samsung Fascinate 3G on Telus, you'll be interested to know that you may now have Gingerbread bestowed upon your device. It'll involve a manual install using Samsung Kies, so go to the website to get all the instructions. [via MobileSyrup]
- The five people enjoying their Motorola Flipside can finally be treated to Android 2.2. Yes, that's Froyo. Go here to get the update manually. [via AndroidCentral]
- Some Motorola Droid X users complained about bugs after its bump up to Gingerbread, which should be resolved by installing version 4.5.602. It's a simple maintenance fix that throws in a couple additional enhancements at the same time. [via AndroidCentral]
- HTC Droid Incredible is inching closer to getting upgraded to Android 2.3.4, according to the support page Verizon recently set up on its site. [via Droid-Life]
- In time for today's launch, Samsung has released the source code for the Conquer 4G. Devs, head here to download it -- you'll know what to do after that. [via Android Police]
- For everyone who chooses to get the Conquer 4G, it's supposedly set to receive a device security enhancement today as well, according to some leaked screenshots. [via SprintFeed]
- This was fast -- the same bug fix update for the Droid X that we mentioned above has already been rooted. Go to the via for the full details on how to get it. As always, diving into these types of processes are more advanced, and you should follow the instructions to the letter. [via Droid-Life]
- The MIUI custom ROM is starting to gain a lot of momentum in the Android community, and if you're interested in checking it out on your device without going through the hassle of installing the full version (let alone rooting your phone or buying a MIUI-supported phone), an XDA developer has created a clone of the MIUI launcher and has made an APK available for your downloading pleasure. The via has a large screenshot gallery to check out. [via AddictiveTips]
- We've seen a lot of leaked Gingerbread ROMs surface for the HTC Thunderbolt, but this time an "official" update has made its ways to the Android dev world. It's been told that this is not yet the final build, so it's bound to get even better with time. Still, the impatient users may want to get this as soon as possible. [via RootzWiki and AndroidCentral]
- Another build of Gingerbread, EH06, has leaked for the Samsung Epic 4G. [via AndroidCentral]
- The HTC EVO 4G update to Android 2.3 can now be rooted, courtesy of Revolutionary. [via AndroidCentral]
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