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- Google finally pulls the plug on Buzz amid 'fall sweep'
- IEE brings glasses-free 3D to the battlefield
- Teamlab's hangers use RFID to take shopping into the 21st century (video)
- Panoramic ball camera gives a full 360-view of you nervously throwing it in the air (video)
- Boxee Box adds music streaming from Spotify, just press play
- Google to launch MP3 store in coming weeks?
- Developer does the math: only 3.4 million Honeycomb tablets in the wild?
- Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook review
- Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites 'national security concerns'
- Motorola Xoom Family Edition includes kid-friendly apps, will hit Best Buy Sunday for $379
- FCC Fridays: October 14, 2011
- Engadget Podcast 260 - 10.14.2011
- Dutch court turns down Samung's request to block Apple products
- Velocity Micro Cruz T408 review
- Plextor outs limited edition M2P SSD in weirdest press release ever
- Engadget Distro Issue 7 is ready for download!
- Samsung Galaxy Y available now from Vodafone UK
- Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)
- Verizon wants to know where you go, what you look at, that's all
- Robert Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, dies at age 89
- EV manufacturers get harmonized, agree to build a universal charging system
- Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift 'entire portfolio' to smartphones in 2012
- SimLab SQ1: Korea's adorably unstable robot dog (video)
- Asus to launch 5 new routers, moving data never looked so good
- Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video)
- Panasonic's 7- and 10-inch BizPads port the Honeycomb drizzle to Japan's enterprise set
- GM puts Spark EV all-electric vehicle into production, begins development of next-gen EN-V concept
- t-JAYS Four let you listen to your iOS device, look cool while doing it
- Box rides on iCloud's coattails, offers 50GB of free cloud storage to iOS users
- Sony's Tablet S and P get 3G in Japan, NTT DoCoMo preps for October 28th release
- A look inside Verizon's test car: we go heads-in at CTIA E&A 2011
- Google Translate for Android gets v2.2 update, adds more language support for speech-to-speech
- Hulu owners 'terminate sale process', won't sell to anyone
- Visualized: Google opens @Android Twitter, raises Ice Cream Sandwich effigy (video)
- Sprint explains iPhone 4S unlocking policy: phones will be unlocked, then locked, then unlocked again
- Chinese researchers create ping-pong playing robots, trash talk still needs work
- Engadget Mobile Podcast 108 - 10.13.2011
- Jawbone's Up wristband warms up at AT&T store, wants you faster, stronger
- The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!
- Google announces Q3 earnings: $9.72 billion in revenue, $2.73 billion net income, 40 million Google+ users
| Google finally pulls the plug on Buzz amid 'fall sweep' Posted: 14 Oct 2011 11:45 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IEE brings glasses-free 3D to the battlefield Posted: 14 Oct 2011 11:31 AM PDT  In a war zone, having the right data is as important as the right bomb sniffing laser. IEE has melded its 4.8-inch 800 x 400 military data display with 3Ms autostereoscopic film so soldiers can see mission-critical data in three dimensions. The Preliminary Advanced Information device is designed to show accurate terrain maps, relay the picture from a drone camera or bring up the occasional blast of Monday Night Football. New 3D Handheld Display from IEE Integrates 3M's Autostereoscopic Technology High-resolution display reduces off-axis image reversal, color distortions AUSA Annual Meeting, Washington, DC - October 2011 – IEE, Inc., specializing in the design, test support and fielding of human system interface (HSI) display technologies in a wide range of military/aerospace, industrial and retail applications, has integrated 3M's revolutionary 3D film, which requires no 3D glasses, into its field-proven, military-qualified handheld 4.8" control display unit (CDU). A close cooperation between IEE and 3M is facilitating the development of the 3D display for custom applications. Initially developed for use in terrain mapping, remote robotics control and enhanced video feeds, the new 3D display is making its way in virtually all rugged, military display applications from remote observation to training environments. In addition to the 3D functionality, key design elements are the unit's small size and LED backlight technology that provides a low power, portable device with a higher resolution than other displays using 3D technology. The new 4.8" display decreases off-axis image reversals and color distortions, a common concern in the use of 3D technologies, and can easily be switched to 2D with imagery comparable to modern day smart phones. The display features a resolution of 800 x 480 x RGB with a typical brightness of 200 cd/m2in both 2D and 3D modes with an optimum viewing distance of 16". External dimension are 3.45" x 5.98" x 1.22". A system integration development (SID) kit that allows developers to work with the 3D display technologies and related software will be available for government agencies and prime contractors in first quarter 2012. Technology demonstrations are available now, with units scheduled to ship in second quarter 2012. For more information call 800-422-0867,visit http://www.ieeinc.com/handheld-devices or e-mail mail@ieeinc.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teamlab's hangers use RFID to take shopping into the 21st century (video) Posted: 14 Oct 2011 11:09 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panoramic ball camera gives a full 360-view of you nervously throwing it in the air (video) Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:47 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxee Box adds music streaming from Spotify, just press play Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:26 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google to launch MP3 store in coming weeks? Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:04 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developer does the math: only 3.4 million Honeycomb tablets in the wild? Posted: 14 Oct 2011 09:42 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook review Posted: 14 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT  Acer's Aspire S3 was the first to hit the market here in the States, and with an entry price of $899, it's currently the least expensive. That it's skinny (just 13mm thick, to be exact), should be a given, but it also claims to wake from sleep in two seconds flat and reconnect to known networks in two and a half. But, as the least pricey Ultrabook on the shelf, it also forgoes some specs you might have liked to see -- namely, all-flash storage and USB 3.0. But does that matter much when you're potentially saving hundreds of dollars? Let's find out. Look and feel The S3 has something of a split personality: understated elegance on the outside, something more pedestrian when you lift the lid. At first glance, it's refined (but never ostentatious) thanks to a cool-to-the-touch brushed aluminum lid that doesn't seem to pick up fingerprints. Make no mistake: this thing makes a strong impression. Its slender frame doesn't hurt, either. At three pounds flat (1.4kg) and half an inch thick, it's on par with the 13-inch MacBook Air (2.96 pounds / 1.35kg) and the 2.9-pound (1.32kg) ASUS Zenbook UX31. If you've handled a MacBook Air before, its skinny silhouette might not impress you but if (like yours truly) you're used to schlepping a six-pound 15-incher, the difference will feel refreshing, and the ounces separating it from the competition will seem irrelevant. While we're on the subject of comparisons, by the way, we're digging the S3's rounded edges and corners. One thing we dislike about the MacBook Air (or any Mac, really) is that although those sharp edges make for a bold design, resting your wrists on them or pressing your palms into them can make for a none-too-comfortable ergonomic experience. The S3 is softer in this regard, and it works. The S3 also has a softer aesthetic under the lid, and that's where the design starts to seem a bit cobbled-together. For one, the display has a habit of wobbling even when you set the machine down, which chipped away at our confidence in the build quality. Also, because the keys, deck, palm rest and bottom side are made of plastic, they seem mismatched against that striking metal lid. We'll spend two paragraphs on the keyboard in just a moment, but for now, suffice to say the problem isn't that plastic keys are uncomfortable to type on; it's just that an all-metal keyboard (à la the ASUS UX21 / UX31) would have gone a long way in pulling together what's otherwise a slick design.  Above the keyboard, a black, rubbery strip interrupts the beige deck. There, you'll find a pair of LED lights along with a metal power button that peeks out even when the lid is closed. Like other Acer laptops, this one features Dolby sound, along with two prominently placed logos to match: Dolby's Home Theater branding on one side of the keyboard, and and its "Professionally Tuned" slogan. The bottom of the machine, meanwhile, is studded with four rubber feet -- a homely sight, but not something you'll notice when you're using the machine. Taking a tour of all the ports and openings, you'll find that the front edge is completely blank, as are the left and right sides, save for a headphone / mic socket and SD slot, respectively. There's also your requisite 1.3 megapixel webcam tucked in the bezel. Really, though, most of the action's to be found on the back edge, where the vent, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI-out and the AC socket sit in a row. For comparison's sake, the Air has two USB 2.0 ports and a Thunderbolt socket, whereas the UX31 has two USB 2.0 ports and one of the 3.0 persuasion. Meanwhile, Toshiba's forthcoming Portege Z830 will have USB 3.0, HDMI and an Ethernet jack, while the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s will also have USB 3.0 and HDMI. Even the UX31, which has mini-HDMI and mini-VGA ports, at least comes bundled with USB-to-Ethernet and mini-VGA-to-VGA adapters. Keyboard and trackpad You might think that if you've seen one chiclet keyboard you've seen 'em all, but the S3's reminds us that some are more (or, in this case, less) tactile than others. Starting with some kind words, the keys have a pleasant, ever-so slightly textured finish, and the panel is rigid enough that it stood firm even as we pounded out stories on deadline. The problem is, there's not much travel here, which left us craning our hands over the keys, typing deliberately to make sure our presses registered. As we said when we reviewed the current VAIO Z, typing on shallow keys is not unlike trekking around in flip-flip flops: you know how your toes roll into a claw, pressing into the rubber in an attempt to compensate for the fact that your feet aren't well supported? Well, in the case of the S3, we found ourselves digging into the keys with concerted effort since there's otherwise not much to latch onto. All told, the MacBook Air's keyboard is the cushier of the two. (Then again, if we're talking ergonomics, the Air is no ThinkPad either.) For what it's worth, though, we were able to type the brunt of this review on the S3 with only the occasional spelling error -- and that's despite the fact that all of the major keys (Enter, Tab, Caps Lock, Backspace and right and left Shift) are shrunken. The arrow keys are especially miniature here, so if you're like us and regularly use them to highlight text, you'll find yourself pining for a keyboard that's a little less crowded. What's more, the brightness and volume controls are located on those arrow keys, which means even if you don't use them for anything else, they're still unavoidable.  Even when we first saw the S3 back in August, one of the first things to make an impression was that spacious trackpad. Even after spending more time with it, the integrated button still feels stiff -- a flaw we were willing to chalk up to pre-production kinks when we got hands-on at IFA. Similar to the keys, the touchpad has a slightly textured finish, and while it sometimes made for a frictionless experience, it more often slowed us down, even as we tried to do something rudimentary like drag the cursor across the desktop. We also noticed that this giant clickable pad sometimes mistook our left clicks for right ones -- a quirk we've noticed in other laptops whose trackpads have integrated buttons. At least this is something that can be remedied with a software update. Despite all this, two-fingered scrolling generally works as promised -- a pleasant surprise considering the grief multi-touch trackpads can cause when executed poorly. It's not perfect, though: although pinch-to-zoom works reliably, you'll have to concentrate a bit (and apply some pressure) to make text resize to the exact scale. Display and sound The S3's 13.3-inch display has 1366 x 768 resolution, which is common for laptops this size. In fact, the Portege Z830 and IdeaPad U300s will tap out with the same pixel count. Still, the 13-inch Air sports a 1400 x 900 panel, while the UX31 steps up to 1600 x 900 resolution. When we were using just one program at full screen, the S3's low-res panel was more than adequate for reading documents and scrolling through web pages, but we felt the squeeze keenly when we used Windows 7's Snap feature to view two pages side by side. For what it's worth, high-def videos looked plenty crisp on that display, and we enjoyed decent viewing angles from the sides once we dimmed the lights. We didn't have as much luck head-on, though; even when we dipped the display forward slightly, the picture appeared washed out. Not good news when the person sitting in front of you on the plane decides to lean all the way back. And how's the sound, you ask? Not bad -- depending on the sort of music you're into. Pop songs, such as Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory" sounded more or less as we'd expect them to, though the system's limitations became obvious when rap tracks like "Hypnotize" took on a distinctly metallic quality. Performance and graphicsRight now, there's one configuration of the S3 available in the States, and it has an ultra low voltage 1.6GHz Core i5-2467M CPU, 4GB of RAM and a hybrid drive that combines a 320GB HDD for accessing files and a 20GB SSD for storing the operating system. If you can wait until year's end to pull the trigger, Acer will release additional models with Core i3 and i7 processors and expanded storage capacity. So how does the performance stack up? Well, that depends on what metric you use. If we go by benchmark scores, it falls short, frankly. Particularly when it comes to overall power, the current MacBook Air trounces it, thanks to all-solid-state storage, equal RAM and a similar 1.7GHz Core i5 processor. In PCMark Vantage, the most general of the performance tests we run, it notched 5,367, while the Air managed 9,484 in Bootcamp. In 3DMark06, we expected the two systems' graphics performance to be similar, as both machines rely on an integrated Intel graphics card. Indeed, the gulf was smaller, but still significant: the S3 scored 3,221; the Air, 4,223. Right now, our ability to judge by the numbers is limited: the S3 is the first Ultrabook to hit the market, and so we don't yet have scores from the ASUS UX21 / UX31, the IdeaPad U300s or the Portege Z830. We'll flesh out our performance chart in due time, but for now, the only fair comparison is with the MacBook Air, not just because it's arguably the inspiration behind the S3 and others, but because it's the only other machine you can buy that's comparably priced with a pinch-thin design and ultra-low voltage innards.
Instant-on and real-world performanceStill, as far as real-world performance goes, the S3 deserves more credit than that. Say what you will about its benchmark scores, but we freely went about our everyday business, jumping between at least half a dozen tabs in Chrome, checking email and Facebook, chatting over Google Talk, loading YouTube videos and downloading and installing apps. It also boots up in a more-than-respectable time of 45 seconds. Through it all, that vent 'round back did a fine job of expelling heat -- the laptop always felt cool to the touch. We did notice the occasional hang, though -- for instance, while we were installing a program, the machine took its sweet time opening Windows' advanced power settings. This also might be a good time to tackle the S3's two key claims: that it automatically connects to stored WiFi networks in 2.5 seconds, and that it resumes from sleep in two seconds -- provided the machine hasn't been asleep for more than half an hour. After all, these are things that can immeasurably improve your daily grind with the thing, and that won't be reflected in pat, four-digit benchmark scores. Indeed, without fail, the machine consistently resumed from sleep in two seconds (less, actually, according to our stopwatch). That's a faster showing than we saw when the S3 debuted at IFA, and it's perfectly conceivable the company has ironed out a few kinks since then with final software.  As for connectivity, we tested Acer's 2.5-second claim by turning off WiFi and then timing how long the computer took to reconnect once we flipped the radio back on. Indeed, two Mississippis passed, though the scenario we created is, admittedly, an unrealistic one. After all, how often do you really disable WiFi? We were also curious to see how long the computer took to latch onto our home network at start-up, and found that time was more in the neighborhood of 35 seconds. No different from our experience with other notebooks; just don't expect that Acer's technology will let you bypass that routine delay. Battery lifeThe S3's three-cell, 3,280mAh battery is rated for six hours of active use, or 50 days of standby time. In our standard rundown test, which involves looping the same movie with WiFi on and the brightness fixed at 65 percent, it lasted four hours and eleven minutes. Now it's true, you can eke out more than that if you just bum around online and refrain from playing a movie off the hard drive, but let's not forget that in that same video playback test, the current MacBook Air lasted five hours and thirty-two minutes in its native OS X (in Bootcamp with Windows 7 installed, it managed just four hours and twelve minutes). Again, we'll be in a better position to grandstand about battery life once we've reviewed competing models by ASUS, Lenovo and Toshiba, but for now, that gap in runtime doesn't exactly bode well. SoftwareThe S3 comes with a fair share of pre-installed software, including your requisite security software (McAfee Internet Security), Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows Live Essentials. Less typical, though, are additions like the Times Reader, Skype 5.3, newsXpresso, Nook for PC and an eBay desktop shortcut. You'll also find a good deal of Acer-branded apps, including clear.fi for sharing files media over WiFi and utilities for tweaking power management and sleep settings. To be fair, even after we removed Bing Bar, Office, Norton Online Backup, Skype, newsXpresso, Nook for PC, Times Reader and that annoying eBay shortcut, our boot-up time held steady at about 45 seconds. Wrap-up We wanted to love the Acer Aspire S3, the same way we're rooting for all of these reasonably priced, impossibly skinny, long-lasting laptops that have the potential to give the MacBook Air a run for its money. Indeed, it's priced aggressively -- $200 less than the UX31 and $400 off the 13-inch Air. It performs well enough for everyday use, stays cool throughout and keeps its promise to resume from sleep in two seconds. You'll have a mostly enjoyable experience if you pounce, and we'd sympathize if you ended up going with the least expensive option. But now that we've spent some time with it, we're not sure it should be the poster child for Team Windows. What's more, something tells us the best Ultrabook is yet to come. Whether or not you agree that the S3 isn't quite the looker that the Air or ASUS Zenbook is, the fact remains that it relies on hybrid HDD-flash storage and, as a result, trails the MacBook Air in both battery life and all-around performance. Though we haven't tested them yet, we wouldn't be surprised if ASUS' Zenbooks have a similar advantage given that they, too, use all-flash storage. Stick around for more Ultrabooks and you'll also see multiple options with USB 3.0. If you absolutely must buy a laptop of this ilk right now, you'll get better performance and longer battery life from the MacBook Air and possibly one of the Zenbooks, but if you're more comfortable with Windows or are simply platform-agnostic, we highly suggest you sit tight and survey what's likely to be an ample field of contenders. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites 'national security concerns' Posted: 14 Oct 2011 08:42 AM PDT  The inability to win US government approval isn't exactly an unfamiliar issue for Huawei, which by now must be conditioned not to expect a nod from major US telecom companies. But now, The Daily Beast reports that the U.S. Commerce Department has made it very clear that the Chinese company won't have a role in building the country's new dedicated first responder wireless network. A spokesman wasn't shy about the reason, either, explaining that Huawei "will not be taking part in the building of America's interoperable wireless emergency network for first responders due to U.S. government national security concerns." And what about those national security concerns? Well, Huawei president Ren Zhengfei's former role as a People's Liberation Army technologist may have something to do with it, considering it wouldn't be unreasonable to suspect that he still has some fairly close ties to Chinese government officials. We haven't heard a peep from the feds regarding Huawei's invitation for US officials to investigate the company earlier this year, but it's safe to assume that the investigation either didn't go very well, or more likely that it hasn't happened at all. We imagine that whole corporate espionage debacle probably didn't help the company, either. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motorola Xoom Family Edition includes kid-friendly apps, will hit Best Buy Sunday for $379 Posted: 14 Oct 2011 08:21 AM PDT  Motorola Mobility and Best Buy Announce Motorola XOOM™ Family Edition - For Kids of All Ages Special edition tablet exclusively for Best Buy customers is built to last and loaded with fun to bring the family together again Oct. 14, 2011 LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. - Oct. 14, 2011 - Grab the popcorn, hit the lights and cuddle up on the couch with the new Motorola XOOM™ Family Edition, the HD tablet built for your entire family. Available exclusively through Best Buy starting October 16, the Android™ 3.1-powered Motorola XOOM Family Edition will entertain everyone in the house with TV shows, thousands of movies, and fun, educational games for kids of all ages. And with the award-winning Zoodles™ application, parents can rest easy knowing their kids are safe from inappropriate content. It's an affordable way to bring everyone together into the twenty-first century. "Nowadays, everyone from mom, dad to the youngest child use the same tablet device. We set out to design a device that's kid and family-friendly yet versatile enough to handle your business needs," said Jim Hamilton, corporate vice president, global retail & distribution, Motorola Mobility. "The Motorola XOOM Family Edition offers a world of games, shows and video tools and because it's from Motorola, you know it's durable and will last for years to come." "Tablets continue to generate excitement and we are thrilled to be able to offer the Motorola XOOM Family Edition to Best Buy customers," said Scott Wallace, senior director of tablet merchandising at Best Buy. "We think these devices are great for kids and families, and offer something for everyone. At Best Buy, we've long stood for choice and are delighted that the new XOOM Family Edition will be part of our selection." Motorola XOOM Family Edition comes pre-loaded with almost $40 worth of applications and also features the award-winning Kid Zone™ by Zoodles™ that locks the home button and allows your kids to only access the content you deem acceptable, like educational games and movies. It also sports MotoPack by Motorola, which makes it simple to find and download apps that help you do more-and have more fun-with your tablet. MotoPack by Motorola showcases a selection of high-quality, popular apps that have all been fully tested on Motorola tablets to ensure an exceptional experience. Simply select the apps you want and download them directly from Android Market™. New apps and special promotions will be featured in the MotoPack by Motorola on an ongoing basis, so be sure to check back regularly. And after the kids fall asleep, Motorola XOOM Family Edition lets you get back to work with email access, document editing capabilities with Quickoffice® Pro HD, and Web surfing that looks just like a PC, with tabbed browsing and Adobe® Flash® Player. Then access more than 250,000 other apps, as well as new cloud services from Google Mobile™ Services, Amazon and more. Featuring a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display and battery life that lasts through a day of road tripping or a marathon game night, everyone will get a kick out of the entertainment possibilities with the Motorola XOOM Family Edition. Watch videos on YouTube and access millions of books while you hunt down the perfect bedtime story through Android Market™. With 16GB of on-board storage, everyone in the family will have space to store their favorite songs, photos and movies - even Grandma. With a 5-megapixel rear camera and front-facing webcam, the entire family can video chat with aunts and uncles across the country. Remember the ancient days of camcorders and VHS tapes? Well those days are long-gone when you use Motorola XOOM Family Edition to record family videos and share them in a snap. Forget uploading to a PC-play your videos back on the tablet, view them on your flat-screen TV with HDMI® or post your masterpieces straight to YouTube™, Picasa™, Facebook® and more. Want the details? Here's a list of the facts: Runs on Android 3.1, built specifically for tablets 1GHz dual-core processor for lightning-fast responsiveness 10.1" HS IPS HD screen display with capacitive multi-touch 5MP back camera with flash, with 720p video webcam Preloaded with almost $40 worth of applications, plus Zoodles™, the award-winning Kid Mode application Preloaded with MotoPack by Motorola XOOM (App Downloader by Motorola) ·Preloaded with Quickoffice™ Pro HD for seamless productivity at work Preloaded with MotoPrint – the application that allows you to print straight from the Web browser Preloaded with fun games like Asphalt 6 from Gameloft and SIM City Deluxe 16GB built-in memory Battery lasts up to 10 hours for video playback and Web browsing Access to more than 250,000 apps in Android Market™ Availability and Pricing Motorola XOOM Family Edition will be available exclusively at all Best Buy stores nationwide and online at BestBuy.com for a limited time value price of $379 starting Oct. 16. Best Buy is advancing the growth of the tablet and e-reader category by combining an expansive selection with a shopping experience that allows customers to easily try and compare devices. The retailer is committed to delivering superior value and convenience by presenting a full line of accessories with each device, along with exclusive advantages such as tablet selection and connections support from specially trained Best Buy Blue Shirts, financing options, Reward Zone points, and tablet trade-in and Buy Back programs. For more information about these programs and tablets at Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com or www.bestbuy.com/tablets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT  We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend Phones Read - Fujitsu F06D Read - Huawei G6151 Read - LG P930 Read - Motorola EX225 Read - Nokia RM-781 Read - Sony Ericsson A3880133 Read - ZTE UV875M Read - ZTE UV960 (Skate) Tablets and Peripherals Read - Motorola TZ700 Car Kit Read - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 64GB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Podcast 260 - 10.14.2011 Posted: 14 Oct 2011 07:45 AM PDT  Hosts: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater Guest: Dante Cesa Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: I Can't Go For That 00:01:30 - Engadget Distro is ready for download! 00:03:45 - Photoshop contest: send us your best / most terrifying Frankengadget 00:05:00 - iOS 5 review 00:13:30 - iCloud opens to the masses, iOS 5 lurks near 00:23:45 - BlackBerry services offline for some in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Again. (update: RIM confirms India, South America, too) 00:25:13 - BlackBerry outage spreads to US and Canada, continues in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, South America (update: RIM confirms) 00:26:00 - Mike Lazaridis apologizes for BlackBerry outage: 'We've let many of you down' (video) (Update: full services restored) 00:38:40 - Motorola Atrix 2 hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video) 00:41:18 - Archos 80 G9 review 00:46:11 - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II review 00:52:15 - HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio review 00:56:51 - ASUS Zenbook UX21 and UX31 headed to the US October 12, starting at $999 00:59:02 - Samsung crashes iPhone 4S block party, lures Aussies with $2 Galaxy S IIs 00:59:29 - Dennis Ritchie, pioneer of C programming language and Unix, reported dead at age 70 01:00:12 - Listener questions Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens. Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Twitter: @bheater, @timstevens This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dutch court turns down Samung's request to block Apple products Posted: 14 Oct 2011 07:27 AM PDT  There's still no further word on Samsung's recent attempt to block sales of the iPhone 4S in France and Italy, but the company's now been dealt a blow in its similar efforts in the Netherlands. According to Reuters, a Dutch court has turned down Samsung's request for a ban on certain Apple products, and rejected claims that they infringe on Samsung's patents (it's also rejected Apple's counterclaims in the case). The particular patents in question here are not related to software or the design of the devices, as in other cases, but rather their 3G capabilities, which Samsung had claimed Apple was infringing on with the various iterations of the iPhone and iPad. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Velocity Micro Cruz T408 review Posted: 14 Oct 2011 07:00 AM PDT  It's no secret that the market for Android tablets is crowded – and getting more so every day. Just ask Samsung, Acer, HTC, Huawei, Lenovo, Pandigital and, oh yes, Verticool. We could keep going, but you get the point: it's a big market out there, one with wildly varying prices and features. And just recently a little company called Amazon made its move in a big way with the Kindle Fire, an Android-powered $199 portal to its corner of the cloud. The world's largest online retailer clearly thinks competing on price is a way to stand out from the pack. Velocity Micro, maker of the 8-inch Cruz T408, wholeheartedly agrees. It's coming to market with a $199 slate, hoping to capture some attention of its own. Can it succeed? Read on to find out.
Hardware Inside the box you'll find a handy mini-USB cable (though if you're like us, you have dozens of these laying around), a power cord and a short user guide. And then there's the actual tablet, measuring 8.5 x 6.5 inches, with a depth of just under half an inch. The touchscreen runs at 800 x 600, and feels exactly like what it is: plastic. If you're used to gliding your fingers over glass, the extra friction takes a little getting used to, but it feels solid to the touch, and the display doesn't warp or blemish. The case feels equally rigid, thanks to an aluminum chassis inside. The front is a glossy black that predictably highlights fingerprints, while the back has a matte, quasi-rubberized finish. On the whole, the T408 has the solid feel of a more premium tablet, not a cheap plastic thing that could go flying from your hands at any moment. The microSD, mini-USB and headphone connectors run along the top, while the power button and volume rockers are on the upper-right corner, adjacent to the front-facing VGA camera. The front-facing camera looks about as good as you'd expect for VGA. It's grainy and often underexposed, but adequate for Skype as long as you're in a well-lit room and don't need to convey complex emotions via facial expressions. That said, we'd be likely to turn off video during chats. As with many inexpensive Android tablets (such as the $299, 8-inch Archos G9), the T408 forgoes a rear-facing camera. If Velocity Micro's looking to further bring down the price, we'd suggest ditching the front one as well. Performance and battery life Under the hood lies a 1GHz Cortex A8 made by Samsung, alongside 512MB of RAM and 4GB of built-in storage. That's speedy enough to run the included copy of Angry Birds, and helped us surf the web fluidly. Flash-intensive sites posed no threat, partly thanks to a hardware-optimized, licensed version of Adobe's ubiquitous software. Even video streaming was generally smooth, though we did encounter occasional skips and slowdowns. Local videos played fine, including a 720 x 478 H264 file. MP3 playback was equally acceptable, though after three tracks of Hot Sauce Committee Part Two played through the small, predictably tinny speaker on the T408's back, we switched over to headphones.
Casual, on-and-off usage gave us about two days of battery life. With more rigorous testing (WiFi on, video looping, and screen brightness set to 50 percent) we got five hours and 10 minutes before shutdown. That's two hours less than we got with the $300 version of the Archos 80 G9, another 8-incher. Turning off wireless connectivity -- as you might if,say, trapped on a WiFi-unfriendly flight -- didn't greatly improve things: we still managed just over five hours.
Software Given the stiff competition and similar hardware among lower-end Android tablets, software seems a likely place for differentiation. We've seen that with smartphones (for better and worse) running MotoBlur and the Sense UI, and that Kindle Fire sports a significantly revamped interface. The Cruz T408 sticks to the stock Gingerbread look, which might feel comfortably familiar. Unfortunately, it just doesn't have the polish of Honeycomb, and next to similarly inexpensive models such as the Acer Iconia Tab A100 ($330) the 8GB Archos 80 G9 ($300) featuring Google's tablet-optimized OS, this feels like a bit of a letdown. Worse, the T408 includes no Google apps. That means no Gmail, no Maps and no officially sanctioned Android Market. That's a big sacrifice if your address ends in gmail.com; returning to Gingerbread's default mail client makes for a jarring step backward in functionality. (Maps isn't as big a loss, given the tablet's lack of GPS.) The missing Android Market is a bigger problem for which the T408 compensates with GetJar and the Amazon Appstore. For many users this may work, but it can be limiting. Netflix, for example, is available only through the Android Market -- installing it here required sideloading from another device. You're going to be disappointed the first time you have to scrounge up an APK in order to install an app. And the second, and the third... Wrap-up | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plextor outs limited edition M2P SSD in weirdest press release ever Posted: 14 Oct 2011 06:39 AM PDT  Plextor debuts superfast limited edition Solid State Drive M2P SSD with "True Speed" features industry's fastest Read and Write speeds Fremont, CA, October 5, 2011-Plextor, leading developer of high performance digital storage equipment, has announced the launch of the M2P Series Solid State Drive. This is a limited edition SSD featuring True Speed technology. The drive is capable of random read/write speeds of 70,000 / 65,000 IOPS and sequential read/write speeds up to 500 Mb/s and 440 Mb/s. This clearly makes the M2P the fastest SSD currently available. Speed is good but sustainable speed is even better. Plextor's True Speed delivers the highest level of sustained performance even after extensive use and long periods of operation. It's important to note that performance specs of most SSDs are generally based on FOB (Fresh Out of the Box) products. As a result most performance information is overstated and does not reflect drastic decreases in performance that many drives undergo with use. Plextor surpasses the industry norm by doing Enterprise Benchmark testing of consumer drives in a Dirty/Steady State to demonstrate sustained Read/Write performance. Enterprise Benchmark testing gives a more realistic perspective of everyday performance. As a result Plextor SSDs are among the most durable and reliable in the industry. The M2P is powered by the server grade Marvell 88SS9174 controller chip supporting a SATA III 6Gb/s interface and the highest-quality Japanese NAND flash by flash memory innovator Toshiba. Plextor's True Speed technology also features exclusive firmware with Instant Restore, Global Wear Leveling, and Bad Block Management. All of this adds up to stability and performance that sets a new gold standard. The M2P Series SSD is bound to create consumer excitement since SSDs are now the drive of choice for power users, serious gamers, system integrators, and other users who demand fault tolerant performance. And although no specific information is available, word has it that Plextor is serious about the limited edition status. Plextor will begin shipping the M2P in late-October and are available in 128GB (PX-128M2P, $239.99) and 256GB versions (PX-256M2P, $449.99). Plextor has delivered generations of best-in-class and award-winning products, including CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, & Blu-ray optical disk drives, digital video converters and multimedia products. Plextor's no-compromise customer policy includes a three-year ironclad warranty, impeccable manufacturing quality, and the best standards of support. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Distro Issue 7 is ready for download! Posted: 14 Oct 2011 06:15 AM PDT  Distro Issue 7 PDF Distro on the iTunes App Store Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Y available now from Vodafone UK Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:58 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video) Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:36 AM PDT  Looking for a hands-on 3D controller that won't require any five-fingered peripherals? Check out Maide Control -- a new app that allows users to manipulate 3D CAD data from the comfort of their iPad displays. Available for $4.99 on iTunes, this app will wirelessly sync an iPad with any compatible 3D program, thereby enabling modelers to mold and view their designs using an array of multitouch gestures. You can also use Maide Control to showcase models on larger displays (say, at a company presentation), or to connect multiple iPads to the same render, in case you're working on a more collaborative project. For now, the app only supports Google SketchUp and Rhino on Windows only, though the company plans to incorporate other 3D apps and Mac support in the near future. Wiggle past the break to see a pair of demo videos, or hit up the source link below to download the app directly from iTunes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verizon wants to know where you go, what you look at, that's all Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:14 AM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, dies at age 89 Posted: 14 Oct 2011 04:23 AM PDT  We're very sorry to report that Robert W. Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, died this week in Chicago at the age of 89. Over the course of his nearly three-decade tenure at the helm, Galvin oversaw Motorola's transformation from a mid-level radio and walkie talkie manufacturer into one of the world's leading electronics makers. In the process, he cemented his legacy as one of the industry's most forward-looking executives. The Marshfield, Wisconsin native first joined the company as a stockroom apprentice in 1940, and would go on to spend his entire career there (save for a tour of duty in World War II). He was named chairman and chief executive in 1959, following the death of his father and company founder Paul Galvin. Under the younger Galvin's stewardship, Motorola expanded the depth and breadth of its operations, moving into emerging markets and focusing much of its efforts on the burgeoning cellular industry. Galvin spearheaded this transition, which saw Motorola introduce the first commercial cellphone in 1973, and the first cellphone network in the early 1980s. When he first took control, Motorola's annual sales stood at around $290 million. By the time he retired as chairman in 1990, however, that figure had ballooned to $10.8 billion. Galvin went on to serve on the company's board of directors until 2001 and, though he may have departed, his impact certainly won't be forgotten anytime soon. "We will continue to honor Bob Galvin's legacy here at Motorola Mobility," said current chairman and CEO Sanjay Jha. "He was committed to innovation, and was responsible for guiding Motorola through the creation of the global cellular telephone industry." Robert "Bob" Galvin is survived by his wife of 67 years, four children, 13 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Motorola Mobility Issues Statement Regarding Passing of Former Chairman and CEO Robert W. Galvin Oct. 12, 2011 LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. - Oct. 12, 2011 - Motorola Mobility, Inc. today commented on the death of former chairman and CEO, Robert ("Bob") William Galvin. "We are greatly saddened by the loss of Bob Galvin. During his 29-year tenure at Motorola Inc., Bob oversaw remarkable growth and transformed Motorola into a global leader in technology, with $10.8 billion in sales in 1990, the year he stepped down as chairman. Bob was a visionary within the technology sector, leading the creation of the global cellular telephone industry from the introduction of the first portable cell phone prototype, the DynaTAC, to the first pocket-sized 'flip phone', the StarTAC, in 1996. Bob's commitment to innovation has remained a core value at Motorola Mobility and his contributions have left a lasting mark on both the Motorola Mobility portfolio and the entire cell phone industry. Today we honor Bob's many accomplishments and celebrate the technology he was so instrumental in building." Comment from Sanjay Jha, chairman and CEO, Motorola Mobility, " On October 11, we lost a transformative leader and visionary. We will continue to honor Bob Galvin's legacy here at Motorola Mobility. He was committed to innovation, and was responsible for guiding Motorola through the creation of the global cellular telephone industry. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EV manufacturers get harmonized, agree to build a universal charging system Posted: 14 Oct 2011 03:19 AM PDT  Seven Auto Manufacturers Collaborate on Harmonized Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Solution
The system is a combined charging approach integrating all charging scenarios into one vehicle inlet/charging connector and uses identical ways for the vehicle to communicate with the charging station. This allows electric vehicles from Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen can share the same fast charging stations. The seven auto manufacturers believe the development of a common charging approach is good for customers, the industry and charging infrastructure providers. Standardization will reduce build complexity for manufacturers, accelerate the installation of common systems internationally and most importantly, improve the ownership experience for EV drivers. The endorsement of the combined charging system was based on reviews and analysis of existing charging strategies, the ergonomics of the connector and the preferences of customers in both the United States and Europe. The harmonized approach – across both continents and all manufacturers - will provide a framework for future infrastructure planning as well as a communication protocol to assist in the integration of electric vehicles into the smart grids. The seven auto manufacturers also agreed to use HomePlug Green Phy as the communication protocol. This approach will also facilitate integration of the electric vehicle into future smart grid applications. Automakers point to the success of Level 1 and Level 2 (for 220V charging in the U.S.) as an example of how standardization will increase the adoption of electric vehicles and increase customer satisfaction. The harmonized electric vehicle charging solution is backward compatible with the J1772 connector standard in the U.S. Backward compatibility also has been achieved in Europe where the system is based on the IEC 62196 Type 2. The approval of the J1772 standard has given electric vehicle owners the comfort of knowing they can charge at all Level 2 charging stations. Prior to standardization an EV owner had no way of knowing if the charge port they were pulling up to was compatible with their vehicle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony Ericsson posts lower Q3 profits, will shift 'entire portfolio' to smartphones in 2012 Posted: 14 Oct 2011 02:15 AM PDT  It's been a rough couple of quarters for Sony Ericsson, but things are looking slightly rosier, according to its Q3 earnings report. Today, the company announced break even year-on-year results for the third quarter of 2011, blaming the outcome on lower profit margins and higher taxes, which rose from €12 million to €17 million over the course of a year. According to the report, net profits fell to zero this quarter after reaching €49 million ($67.26 million) during Q3 2010, while sales dropped to €1.59 billion ($2.18 billion) from €1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) last year. It's not exactly an encouraging trend, but it's certainly an improvement over the last quarter, when Sony Ericsson posted a net loss of €50 million. As far as its portfolio goes, the company says its Xperia smartphones now comprise 80 percent of all sales, with some 22 million handsets already shipped to consumers. President and CEO Bert Nordberg, meanwhile, confirmed that his company will focus on this market with even more intensity, next year: "We will continue to invest in the smartphone market, shifting the entire portfolio to smartphones during 2012." You can dig through the numbers for yourself, in the full PR after the break. Sony Ericsson reports third quarter 2011 results Highlights: Income before taxes was Euro 31 million 33 percent increase in sales quarter-on-quarter Smartphones account for more than 80 percent of total sales Bert Nordberg, President and CEO of Sony Ericsson commented, "We delivered a solid 73 million Euro improvement in income before taxes as we rebounded from the previous quarter with a 33 percent increase in sales. Android-based Xperia(TM) smartphone sales now account for more than 80 percent of sales and we have shipped 22 million Xperia smartphones to date. We will continue to invest in the smartphone market, shifting the entire portfolio to smartphones during 2012." Units shipped during the quarter were 9.5 million, a 9% decrease year-on-year due to a decline in feature phone shipments, partially offset by an increase in smartphone shipments. The 25% quarter-on-quarter increase was due to the higher volume of smartphones shipped. Average selling price (ASP) for the quarter was Euro 166, up 8% year-on-year and 6% sequentially. The year-on-year increase was due to the shift to smartphones and geographic mix despite a negative effect from foreign exchange rates. The sequential increase was due to product and geographic mix. Sales for the quarter were approximately Euro 1.6 billion and essentially flat year-on-year. The gross margin percentage for the quarter was 27%, a decrease of 3 percentage points year-on-year and 4 percentage points from the previous quarter. The year-on-year decrease in margin is attributed to product and geographic mix. The sequential decrease in margin was due to inventory-related adjustments and product and geographic mix. Income before taxes for the quarter was Euro 31 million, compared to income before taxes of Euro 62 million for the same quarter in the previous year. Loss before taxes for the previous quarter was Euro 42 million. The sequential improvement was reflective of higher sales and lower operating expenses, while the year-on-year decline was due to lower gross margin percentage offset by lower operating expenses. Net income during the quarter improved by Euro 50 million sequentially, while net income decreased by Euro 49 million year-on-year. Income taxes recorded during the quarter reflect the distribution of profits and losses between various jurisdictions and tax adjustments. Minority interest reflects higher net income at a majority-owned joint venture company. Cash flow from operating activities during the quarter was Euro 53 million. External borrowings of Euro 51 million were repaid during the quarter, resulting in total borrowings of Euro 718 million at the end of the quarter. Total cash balances at September 30, 2011 amounted to Euro 466 million. Sony Ericsson estimates that its share of the global Android-based smartphone market during the quarter was approximately 12% in volume and 11% in value. Sony Ericsson maintains its forecast for modest industry growth in total units in the global handset market for 2011. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SimLab SQ1: Korea's adorably unstable robot dog (video) Posted: 14 Oct 2011 01:35 AM PDT  After the recent score of creepy robots, it's great to see a mechanical creature that doesn't look like it would trample you to death if you insulted its parentage. This is the SimLab SQ1, built by the Korean software company as a testbed for a Government-funded giant version to rival the AlphaDog. After the break you'll find a little motion picture of the SQ1 comically tottering around. Have your laughs now: it won't nearly be so funny when it comes for you in the night. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asus to launch 5 new routers, moving data never looked so good Posted: 14 Oct 2011 12:26 AM PDT  It may just sit in the corner, silently feeding you internet, but why can't it look good while doing it? Asus is one step ahead of us with this one by extending its Black Diamond design to a new range of five more room enhancing products. The baby of the bunch, the RT-N10 LX, stylishly serves up bog standard 802.11n, while the undoubted prom queen is the RT-N66U which brings simultaneous dual band and gigabit speed L/WAN speeds to the packet shifting party. Two more equally svelte models -- the RT-N10 LX and RT-N15 -- cater for those networking inbetweeners, and finally, for those that accessorize, a dual band USB dongle squeezes in 2x2 MIMO as well as matching perfectly with those new shoes you bought. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video) Posted: 13 Oct 2011 11:34 PM PDT  Well, it's finally happened -- Microsoft's acquisition of Skype has just been finalized, a little more than five months after it was first announced. Under the $8.5 billion deal, Skype CEO Tony Bates will be named president of the new Skype Division of Microsoft, and will have to report directly to Steve Ballmer. Many Skype employees, meanwhile, will stay onboard at offices around the globe, including at outposts in Estonia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, the UK, Luxembourg, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the US. In a post on the Official Microsoft Blog today, Bates seemed unsurprisingly enthusiastic about the acquisition, describing it as a marriage of two "disruptive, innovative, software-oriented companies." The exec was less specific about the role his company would play within Redmond's new architecture, but assured that Skype would be at the forefront of future communications initiatives across a variety of platforms. "Microsoft is committed to the ubiquity of the Skype experience – communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus," Bates wrote. "And we've only scratched the surface." Head past the break for Microsoft's full PR, as well as the video address from Bates. Microsoft Officially Welcomes Skype Microsoft and Skype will empower people and businesses to connect in new ways. REDMOND, Wash., and LUXEMBOURG - Oct. 13, 2011 - Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") has closed its acquisition of Skype Global S.à r.l. Negotiations of the definitive agreement under which Microsoft would acquire Skype, an Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion were led by investor group Silver Lake and the transaction was originally announced on May 10, 2011. Boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype previously approved the acquisition. Microsoft and Skype will remain focused on their shared goal of connecting all people across all devices and accelerating both companies' efforts to transform real-time communications for consumers and enterprise customers. The completion of the acquisition also marks the official introduction of Skype as a new business division within Microsoft. "Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues - anytime, anywhere." Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Skype Division of Microsoft immediately, reporting directly to Ballmer. The Skype division will continue to offer its current products to millions of users globally. Longer term, Skype will also be integrated across an array of Microsoft products to broaden Skype's reach and accelerate its growth as a fundamental way people communicate online. Skype employees will continue to be located around the world in offices including Estonia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States. "By bringing together the best of Microsoft and the best of Skype, we are committed to empowering consumers and businesses around the globe to connect in new ways," Bates said. "Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype's goal to reach 1 billion users daily," Bates said. Founded in 2003, Skype was acquired by eBay in September 2005, and then acquired by an investment group led by Silver Lake in November 2009. Skype has made impressive progress, developing new products and revenue streams, strategic acquisitions, acquiring the intellectual property powering its peer-to-peer network, and recruiting an outstanding senior management team. Other members of the selling investor group led by Silver Lake include eBay International AG, CPP Investment Board, Joltid Ltd. in partnership with Europlay Capital Advisors; and Andreessen Horowitz. The acquisition remains under review in a few countries, and will be completed in those countries when such reviews are closed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panasonic's 7- and 10-inch BizPads port the Honeycomb drizzle to Japan's enterprise set Posted: 13 Oct 2011 10:38 PM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GM puts Spark EV all-electric vehicle into production, begins development of next-gen EN-V concept Posted: 13 Oct 2011 09:36 PM PDT  GM has already done a fair bit of talking about electric vehicles this year, but it's not done just yet. The company announced this week that it will be producing an all-electric version of its Spark mini-car -- to be dubbed the Spark EV -- into production, with the first vehicles set to roll out sometime in 2013 (including "limited quantities" in the US). Complete details on the vehicle are otherwise still a bit light, but GM says it will use nanophosphate lithium-ion battery provided by A123 Systems. What's more, while there's no word on it going into production, GM has also confirmed that it's begun development of its next-generation EN-V concept vehicle, and that it will sport a Chevrolet badge this time around. As you may recall from our test ride, the existing EN-V is already plenty futuristic, so it'll be interesting to see what the automaker comes up with next. Head on past the break for a video of the Spark. Chevrolet to Produce Spark EV All-Electric Vehicle Mini-car joins growing portfolio of electrified vehicles DETROIT – Chevrolet today announced it will produce an all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark mini-car – the Spark EV. It will be sold in limited quantities in select U.S. and global markets starting in 2013, including California. "The Spark EV offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option," said Jim Federico, global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles at Chevrolet. "It complements Chevrolet's growing range of electrified vehicles, including the Volt extended-range EV and the 2013 Malibu Eco with eAssist technology." Feedback from participants in Chevrolet's electric vehicle demonstration fleets in Shanghai (Sail EV), Korea (Cruze EV) and India (Beat EV) are being incorporated into the Spark EV. "Our global demo fleets continue to provide insight into the needs of electric vehicle customers living in urban environments," said Federico. "The Spark EV is another step in Chevrolet's plan to provide customers with a variety of electrification solutions to address the lifestyle and transportation needs of people around the world." A123 Systems will supply the advanced nanophosphate lithium-ion battery packs that will power the Spark EV. Details on specific markets, range, quantities and pricing will be announced later. About Chevrolet Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended gasoline range, according to EPA estimates. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| t-JAYS Four let you listen to your iOS device, look cool while doing it Posted: 13 Oct 2011 08:27 PM PDT  The latest headphones from Sweden's Jays don't stray too far from the design that defined their predecessors -- but hey, if it ain't broke... The slick earbuds were built to work with iPhones, iPads and iPods, offering up 10mm drivers, a 360 MEMS microphone and a three button controller. The t-JAYS Four are available, as always, in black, and will be begin shipping in November -- or, as the company puts it "when [they're] ready" -- for $129 a pop. Press information can be located just behind the break.
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| Box rides on iCloud's coattails, offers 50GB of free cloud storage to iOS users Posted: 13 Oct 2011 07:34 PM PDT  No, your eyes don't deceive you -- Box is offering 50GBs of free storage inside its cloud for iOS users -- just like it did for TouchPad owners back in June. Anyone who downloads the latest version of Box's app for iPad and iPhone will receive their massive lot for data storage after registering a personal account (existing accounts can join in on the fun as well). To make better use of that extra space, Box will also be bumping upload capacity from 25MB to 100MB per file and baking in AirPlay support. Look, Box is obviously skitching on iCloud's tail, but it sure seems like a crazy good deal considering that space is yours "forever." The promotion will last for 50 days, officially starting at 12AM on October 14th -- although, we're already seeing the update on our end. Full details in the source link. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony's Tablet S and P get 3G in Japan, NTT DoCoMo preps for October 28th release Posted: 13 Oct 2011 06:22 PM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A look inside Verizon's test car: we go heads-in at CTIA E&A 2011 Posted: 13 Oct 2011 05:31 PM PDT  You wouldn't recognize any of these unmarked cars if they drove past you on the street unless you were trained to look for the outside clues: on the roof lies a GPS module in concert with several black nubs, each one acting as its own phone antenna. If you look close enough at the back windows, you may be able to make out the multitudes of USB data sticks taped to them. All of these elements are crucial for Verizon in order to collect real-time data on how its network stacks up against the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint, not to mention regional carriers such as Cricket and MetroPCS. Thus, each test car is equipped with phones that work on almost every network and try each one out thousands of times a year. The company's goal? To ensure that it maintains a standard of excellence in its network performance for both its voice and data quality. So how does this all happen? Read on past the break to find out what's inside the car. First, let's list off a few essential statistics. Together, this nationwide fleet of 100 vehicles travel over a million miles per year. Vehicles in Southern California, specifically, drive 7400 miles and make 29,000 voice calls and 142,000 data calls per quarter -- that translates into 3.5 million voice call attempts and more than 19 million data tests across the country. No phone is left unturned, either -- each car uses a wide variety of handsets and data devices (using everything from 2G to 4G, including LTE) to perform these tests, each using a dedicated antenna on the top of the roof or on the window. When we asked how Verizon gets its competitors' devices, we learned that each one is purchased at full retail cost with an obligatory data plan. Naturally, the amount of data each smartphone and internet stick use is rather hefty; considering several carriers use tiered plans, we can only imagine the kind of bills that show up in Dan Mead's mailbox. There are typically anywhere between eight and twelve devices making calls simultaneously, each one set to last for a specific duration of time. Verizon measures both inbound and outbound calls, with every single piece of correspondence consisting of automated voices yapping back and forth at each other (sadly, "can you hear me now?" wasn't used at all). Each time, location is tracked, data speeds from every network and radio band imaginable are measured, and dropped calls are closely monitored using a series of laptops both within the car and on the other end of the line (a special landline also operated by Big Red that collects information). This data, once collected, gives the carrier a clear idea of which areas of their coverage need the most help, and where it should be focusing its investment and growth. We were only able to take a limited number of pictures of the operating equipment, as most of it is completely proprietary. We managed, however, to snap a few nice images -- found in the above gallery -- nonetheless that show off the array of items these test men (and women) use every day to keep a close eye on their network. A million miles per year guzzles a heckuva lot of gas, but there's at least 90 million people out there that reap the benefits. Zachary Lutz and Myriam Joire contributed to this hands-on. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google Translate for Android gets v2.2 update, adds more language support for speech-to-speech Posted: 13 Oct 2011 04:59 PM PDT  Let the voice recognition battle begin! Siri's already thrown the first punch in the soon-to-be dicey (albeit very consumer friendly) voice service wars, but don't count Google out just yet. The folks over at Mountain View are doing their best to strike back, adding extra functionality to the Google Translate app for Android. So, what's new in this version 2.2 upgrade? The company's expanded the app's previously limited speech-to-speech repertoire with support for an additional 12 languages, accessible via the alpha-tagged Conversation Mode. And to prevent you from any awkward (and potentially hilarious) moments of unintended translation, there's now a post-edit ability to keep those two-way foreign exchanges PG. Alright, so it's not quite the hands-free, HAL-like cyber assistant update we'd like it to be, but there's always Ice Cream Sandwich for that -- we hope. In the meantime, go ahead and hit up the source below to test out the experimental wares for yourself or check out a video demo of Conversation Mode after the break. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hulu owners 'terminate sale process', won't sell to anyone Posted: 13 Oct 2011 04:27 PM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visualized: Google opens @Android Twitter, raises Ice Cream Sandwich effigy (video) Posted: 13 Oct 2011 04:19 PM PDT  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Oct 2011 03:20 PM PDT  So, if we're reading that correctly, the iPhone you purchase and activate will be unlocked. Then, a SIM lock will be "pushed" to your device. But, if you've been a good, policy-abiding customer, your iPhone can then be unlocked manually by Sprint. Who knows what'll happen if you buy your phone and flee to a non-extradition country before Sprint comes knocking at the door, shackles in hand. Will you be left to live in peace with your newly-acquired international Micro SIM? Will you need to plead your case before a tribunal of mobile carrier overlords? Only time will tell, we suppose, or perhaps further clarification from Sprint. Jump past the break for the complete announcement. Sprint's policy is to have the iPhone 4S SIM locked to our network domestically and internationally. At launch, the International SIM will be unlocked. We do expect a SIM lock to be pushed to the devices shortly after launch. We will then allow existing customers in good standing to unlock the SIM for international use if needed in the future. Customers can sign up for one of our international rate plans and use this phone all over the world. When traveling internationally, there is a setting that must be turned on within the device to connect to GSM. The phone will work with a SIM that is provided within the device out of the box. International voice and data charges are on a pay-as-you-go basis and vary based on the country where the customer is using their phone; a list of rates is available at www.sprint.com/international. Sprint offers two international voice plans that customers can subscribe to for discounted voice rates: * The Canada Roaming add-on is $2.99 per month and all calls placed from Canada are only 20 cents per minute. Without this add-on, calls from Canada are 59 cents per minute. * The Sprint Worldwide Voice add-on is $4.99 per month and offers discounted rates in countries around the world. For example, calls from Italy are $1.69 per minute with this add-on or $1.99 per minute without the add-on; calls from Peru are $2.29 per minute with the add-on or $2.49 per minute without it. Sprint does supply notifications of data roaming charges to protect customers from high costs. Notifications are sent to the customer's preferred method, either text or email, and are sent once the device exceeds approximately $50, $250, $500 and $1,000. To protect the customer from additional charges, the device's international data roaming capability will be suspended after the customer exceeds approximately $1,000 of international data charges in a billing cycle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese researchers create ping-pong playing robots, trash talk still needs work Posted: 13 Oct 2011 02:45 PM PDT Wu and Kong are the latest additions to a pantheon of robot athletes. Sure, their eye-mounted motion-tracking cameras may not make for the most emotive games you'll ever see, but we can't help but be impressed by all those precision shots. The robot twins were developed at China's Zhejiang University and, we'll admit, compared to getting hustled at pool or being struck out by a baseball robot, there's something a bit friendlier about a game of table tennis with our future oppressors. You can marvel at the duo's bionic backspin in action after the break. We're massive Wu fans. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Mobile Podcast 108 - 10.13.2011 Posted: 13 Oct 2011 02:22 PM PDT  Host: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Daestro - Light Powered (Ghostly International) 00:01:43 - Engadget Distro is ready for download! 00:04:05 - iOS 5 review 00:07:39 - Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, has passed away at 56 00:10:55 - Samsung and Google postpone Ice Cream Sandwich and Galaxy Nexus 00:16:30 - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II review 00:28:14 - Sprint converts its network to LTE, plans 'aggressive rollout' to be completed by 2013 00:35:05 - HTC Radar review 00:37:38 - HTC announces the Sensation XL with Beats Audio, we go hands-on 00:40:14 - CITA 2011 00:43:09 - T-Mobile Springboard hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video) 00:45:20 - Motorola Atrix 2 hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video) 00:50:28 - AT&T starts CTIA off right by introducing five new smartphones to its Android lineup 00:59:23 - Pantech Pocket for AT&T hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video) 01:03:54 - Samsung Transfix on Cricket at CTIA E&A 2011 (hands-on video) 01:05:05 - LG Optimus Slider on Virgin Mobile at CTIA E&A 2011, we go hands-on (video) 01:07:00 - Motorola Spyder to be introduced on October 18, keeps its clothes on in video tease 01:10:22 - Mike Lazaridis apologizes for BlackBerry outage: 'We've let many of you down' (video) (Update: full services restored) Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com. Follow us on Twitter @tnkgrl @phonewisdom @engadgetmobile This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jawbone's Up wristband warms up at AT&T store, wants you faster, stronger Posted: 13 Oct 2011 01:56 PM PDT Jawbone's fitness-obsessed wristband appears to be closing in on the retail finish line. The Up pairs with what appears to be an iOS app, (no news on whether an Android version is in the pipeline), and will pile on the guilt about your disgustingly sedentary lifestyle. You can have the luxury of feeling like a weight loss reality show contestant by scheduling "get up and move" reminders when you've succumbed to watching back-to-back mediocre sitcoms with a Doritos family bag chaser. There's also a sleep tracker and a challenge tab to plot your amazing weight loss journey (or descent to an early demise) against friends and family. It'll monitor what you eat, and even tell you which foods "help you feel your best." (We think it's cake.) No word on price or arrival date just yet, so you'll just have to put up with Autom until we hear more.
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| The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET! Posted: 13 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT  Hey guys! The Engadget Podcast is back! For real! This time out Tim and Brian will be joined for the first time by contributing editor Dante Cesa. You can join us as well at 5PM, and get your chat on after the break.
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| Posted: 13 Oct 2011 01:03 PM PDT  Google's just announced its third quarter earnings and, as expected, the company's numbers are continuing on the upswing (even beating expectations). That includes $9.72 billion in revenue, which represents a 33 percent jump compared to the third quarter of 2010, along with $2.73 billion in net income, which is up from $2.17 billion a year ago. Somewhat notably, Google also choose to lead off its press release announcing the financial results (included after the break) with the news that Google+ has just passed the 40 million user mark -- the company further notes that "people are flocking into Google+ at an incredible rate." There's not a ton of surprises to be found in the results otherwise, although Larry Page and co. sure seem to be busy hiring new folks -- they've brought on 10 percent more employees in the span of three months (for a total of 31,353 full-time employees as of September 30th). Update: During the company's earnings call, CEO Larry Page confirmed that there's now 190 million Android phones activated around the world, and 200 million users of the Chrome web browser (although it's not clear how many of those are active users). Page also took a moment to post his remarks to Google+ during the call. Google Announces Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – October 13, 2011 - Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. "We had a great quarter," said Larry Page, CEO of Google. "Revenue was up 33% year on year and our quarterly revenue was just short of $10 billion. Google+ is now open to everyone and we just passed the 40 million user mark. People are flocking into Google+ at an incredible rate and we are just getting started!" Q3 Financial Summary Google reported revenues of $9.72 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, an increase of 33% compared to the third quarter of 2010. Google reports its revenues, consistent with GAAP, on a gross basis without deducting traffic acquisition costs (TAC). In the third quarter of 2011, TAC totaled $2.21 billion, or 24% of advertising revenues. Google reports operating income, operating margin, net income, and earnings per share (EPS) on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis. The non-GAAP measures, as well as free cash flow, an alternative non-GAAP measure of liquidity, are described below and are reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measures at the end of this release. GAAP operating income in the third quarter of 2011 was $3.06 billion, or 31% of revenues. This compares to GAAP operating income of $2.55 billion, or 35% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2010. Non-GAAP operating income in the third quarter of 2011 was $3.63 billion, or 37% of revenues. This compares to non-GAAP operating income of $2.93 billion, or 40% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2010. GAAP net income in the third quarter of 2011 was $2.73 billion, compared to $2.17 billion in the third quarter of 2010. Non-GAAP net income in the third quarter of 2011 was $3.18 billion, compared to $2.46 billion in the third quarter of 2010. GAAP EPS in the third quarter of 2011 was $8.33 on 327 million diluted shares outstanding, compared to $6.72 in the third quarter of 2010 on 322 million diluted shares outstanding. Non-GAAP EPS in the third quarter of 2011 was $9.72, compared to $7.64 in the third quarter of 2010. Non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin exclude the expenses related to stock-based compensation (SBC). Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS exclude the expenses related to SBC and the related tax benefits. In the third quarter of 2011, the charge related to SBC was $571 million, compared to $380 million in the third quarter of 2010. The tax benefit related to SBC was $116 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $85 million in the third quarter of 2010. Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to GAAP operating income, operating margin, net income, and EPS are included at the end of this release. Q3 Financial Highlights Revenues – Google reported revenues of $9.72 billion in the third quarter of 2011, representing a 33% increase over third quarter 2010 revenues of $7.29 billion. Google reports its revenues, consistent with GAAP, on a gross basis without deducting TAC. Google Sites Revenues - Google-owned sites generated revenues of $6.74 billion, or 69% of total revenues, in the third quarter of 2011. This represents a 39% increase over third quarter 2010 revenues of $4.83 billion. Google Network Revenues - Google's partner sites generated revenues, through AdSense programs, of $2.60 billion, or 27% of total revenues, in the third quarter of 2011. This represents a 18% increase from third quarter 2010 network revenues of $2.20 billion. International Revenues - Revenues from outside of the United States totaled $5.3 billion, representing 55% of total revenues in the third quarter of 2011, compared to 54% in the second quarter of 2011 and 52% in the third quarter of 2010. Excluding gains related to our foreign exchange risk management program, had foreign exchange rates remained constant from the second quarter of 2011 through the third quarter of 2011, our revenues in the third quarter of 2011 would have been $53 million lower. Excluding gains related to our foreign exchange risk management program, had foreign exchange rates remained constant from the third quarter of 2010 through the third quarter of 2011, our revenues in the third quarter of 2011 would have been $483 million lower. Revenues from the United Kingdom totaled $1.05 billion, representing 11% of revenues in the third quarter of 2011, compared to 12% in the third quarter of 2010. In the third quarter of 2011, we recognized a benefit of $1 million to revenues through our foreign exchange risk management program, compared to $89 million in the third quarter of 2010. A reconciliation of our non-GAAP international revenues excluding the impact of foreign exchange and hedging to GAAP international revenues is included at the end of this release. Paid Clicks – Aggregate paid clicks, which include clicks related to ads served on Google sites and the sites of our AdSense partners, increased approximately 28% over the third quarter of 2010 and increased approximately 13% over the second quarter of 2011. Cost-Per-Click – Average cost-per-click, which includes clicks related to ads served on Google sites and the sites of our AdSense partners, increased approximately 5% over the third quarter of 2010 and decreased approximately 5% over the second quarter of 2011. TAC - Traffic acquisition costs, the portion of revenues shared with Google's partners, increased to $2.21 billion in the third quarter of 2011, compared to TAC of $1.81 billion in the third quarter of 2010. TAC as a percentage of advertising revenues was 24% in the third quarter of 2011, compared to 26% in the third quarter of 2010. The majority of TAC is related to amounts ultimately paid to our AdSense partners, which totaled $1.83 billion in the third quarter of 2011. TAC also includes amounts ultimately paid to certain distribution partners and others who direct traffic to our website, which totaled $383 million in the third quarter of 2011. Other Cost of Revenues - Other cost of revenues, which is comprised primarily of data center operational expenses, amortization of intangible assets, content acquisition costs as well as credit card processing charges, increased to $1.17 billion, or 12% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $747 million, or 10% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2010. Operating Expenses - Operating expenses, other than cost of revenues, were $3.28 billion in the third quarter of 2011, or 34% of revenues, compared to $2.19 billion in the third quarter of 2010, or 30% of revenues. Stock-Based Compensation (SBC) – In the third quarter of 2011, the total charge related to SBC was $571 million, compared to $380 million in the third quarter of 2010. We currently estimate SBC charges for grants to employees prior to October 1, 2011 to be approximately $2.0 billion for 2011. This estimate does not include expenses to be recognized related to employee stock awards that are granted after September 30, 2011 or non-employee stock awards that have been or may be granted. Operating Income - GAAP operating income in the third quarter of 2011 was $3.06 billion, or 31% of revenues. This compares to GAAP operating income of $2.55 billion, or 35% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2010. Non-GAAP operating income in the third quarter of 2011 was $3.63 billion, or 37% of revenues. This compares to non-GAAP operating income of $2.93 billion, or 40% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2010. Interest and Other Income, Net – Interest and other income, net increased to $302 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $167 million in the third quarter of 2010. Income Taxes – Our effective tax rate was 19% for the third quarter of 2011. Net Income – GAAP net income in the third quarter of 2011 was $2.73 billion, compared to $2.17 billion in the third quarter of 2010. Non-GAAP net income was $3.18 billion in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $2.46 billion in the third quarter of 2010. GAAP EPS in the third quarter of 2011 was $8.33 on 327 million diluted shares outstanding, compared to $6.72 in the third quarter of 2010 on 322 million diluted shares outstanding. Non-GAAP EPS in the third quarter of 2011 was $9.72, compared to $7.64 in the third quarter of 2010. Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures – Net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter of 2011 totaled $3.95 billion, compared to $2.89 billion in the third quarter of 2010. In the third quarter of 2011, capital expenditures were $680 million, the majority of which was related to IT infrastructure investments, including data centers, servers, and networking equipment. Free cash flow, an alternative non-GAAP measure of liquidity, is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. In the third quarter of 2011, free cash flow was $3.27 billion. We expect to continue to make significant capital expenditures. A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the GAAP measure of liquidity, is included at the end of this release. Cash – As of September 30, 2011, cash, cash equivalents, and short-term marketable securities were $42.6 billion. Headcount – On a worldwide basis, Google employed 31,353 full-time employees as of September 30, 2011, up from 28,768 full-time employees as of June 30, 2011. WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION A live audio webcast of Google's third quarter 2011 earnings release call will be available at http://investor.google.com/webcast.html. The call begins today at 1:30 PM (PT) / 4:30 PM (ET). This press release, the financial tables, as well as other supplemental information including the reconciliations of certain non-GAAP measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures, are also available on that site. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include statements regarding our continued investments in our core areas of strategic focus, our expected SBC charges, and our plans to make significant capital expenditures. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted include, among others, unforeseen changes in our hiring patterns and our need to expend capital to accommodate the growth of the business, as well as those risks and uncertainties included under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is on file with the SEC and is available on our investor relations website at investor.google.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. All information provided in this release and in the attachments is as of October 13, 2011, and we undertake no duty to update this information unless required by law. ABOUT NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which statements are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP EPS, free cash flow, and non-GAAP international revenues. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures," "Reconciliation from net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow," and "Reconciliation from GAAP international revenues to non-GAAP international revenues" included at the end of this release. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance and liquidity by excluding certain expenses and expenditures that may not be indicative of our "recurring core business operating results," meaning our operating performance excluding not only non-cash charges, such as SBC, but also discrete cash charges that are infrequent in nature. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to our historical performance and liquidity as well as comparisons to our competitors' operating results. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-making and (2) they are used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the health of our business. Non-GAAP operating income and operating margin. We define non-GAAP operating income as operating income plus expenses related to SBC, and, as applicable, one-time events. Non-GAAP operating margin is defined as non-GAAP operating income divided by revenues. Google considers these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and investors because they exclude the effect of SBC and as applicable, one-time events so that Google's management and investors can compare Google's recurring core business operating results over multiple periods. Because of varying available valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types that companies can use under FASB ASC Topic 718, Google's management believes that providing a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes SBC allows investors to make meaningful comparisons between Google's recurring core business operating results and those of other companies, as well as providing Google's management with an important tool for financial and operational decision making and for evaluating Google's own recurring core business operating results over different periods of time. There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP operating income versus operating income calculated in accordance with GAAP. First, non-GAAP operating income excludes some costs, namely, SBC, that are recurring. SBC has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in Google's business. Second, SBC is an important part of our employees' compensation and impacts their performance. Third, the components of the costs that we exclude in our calculation of non-GAAP operating income may differ from the components that our peer companies exclude when they report their results of operations. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP operating income and evaluating non-GAAP operating income together with operating income calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP net income and EPS. We define non-GAAP net income as net income plus expenses related to SBC, and, as applicable, one-time events less the related tax effects. We define non-GAAP EPS as non-GAAP net income divided by the weighted average outstanding shares, on a fully-diluted basis. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be a useful metric for management and investors for the same reasons that Google uses non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin. However, in order to provide a complete picture of our recurring core business operating results, we exclude from non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS the tax effects associated with SBC. Without excluding these tax effects, investors would only see the gross effect that excluding these expenses had on our operating results. The same limitations described above regarding Google's use of non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin apply to our use of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS and evaluating non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS together with net income and EPS calculated in accordance with GAAP. Free cash flow. We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. We consider free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business that, after the acquisition of property and equipment, including information technology infrastructure and land and buildings, can be used for strategic opportunities, including investing in our business, making strategic acquisitions, and strengthening the balance sheet. Analysis of free cash flow also facilitates management's comparisons of our operating results to competitors' operating results. A limitation of using free cash flow versus the GAAP measure of net cash provided by operating activities as a means for evaluating Google is that free cash flow does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance from operations for the period because it excludes cash used for capital expenditures during the period. Our management compensates for this limitation by providing information about our capital expenditures on the face of the statement of cash flows and under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K. Google has computed free cash flow using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and year to year. Non-GAAP international revenues. We define non-GAAP international revenues as international revenues excluding the impact of foreign exchange and hedging. Non-GAAP international revenues are calculated by translating current quarter revenues using prior quarter and prior year exchange rates, as well as excluding any hedging gains realized in the current quarter. We consider non-GAAP international revenues as a useful metric as it facilitates management's internal comparison to our historical performance. The accompanying tables have more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliations between these financial measures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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