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Engadget News |
- Brand Table concept revolutionizes fast food, NFC still won't make it good for you (video)
- T-Mobile's Andrew Sherrard: 'the iPhone is not the only option'
- Mobile Miscellany: week of October 17, 2011
- Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound (still) bound for Verizon on November 10th, Droid RAZR bumped to October?
- Nokia N9 review
- Rear window LED hack minds bad drivers' manners, has nothing to do with Hitchcock (video)
- Mesa Robotics' mini-tank is perfectly happy on point (video)
- BBC's global iPlayer app adds AirPlay streaming, should just be on Apple TV
- U.S. Army urges vets to get outta their dreams and into the virtual world
- Scientists capture birth of new planet on camera, mother and child doing just fine
- BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta previewed, Android apps look right at home (video)
- Google Voice app returns to iTunes, iOS 5 crash bug fixed
- Verizon (finally) confirms it will have the Galaxy Nexus
- Kinect voice control reaches Australia, Harold Bishop and Donald Fisher will be pleased
- The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET!
- Biscotti TV dunked in the FCC's latte, still a bit hard
- ASUS Zenbook UX31 review
- The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET!
- Beeri: Siri's new best friend cracks open a cold one (video)
- Android Ice Cream Sandwich includes native stylus support
- DARPA's Dr. Frankenllite could plunder space graves, create orbital abominations (video)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi hitting the US November 13th for $400, available in 16GB for now
- Razer Synapse 2.0: take your fussy gaming setup wherever you go
| Brand Table concept revolutionizes fast food, NFC still won't make it good for you (video) Posted: 22 Oct 2011 10:50 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-Mobile's Andrew Sherrard: 'the iPhone is not the only option' Posted: 22 Oct 2011 08:45 AM PDT Remember when T-Mobile CMO Cole Brodman splashed a bucket of cold water on our hot iPhone 4S dreams? Yeah, well the carrier's back to clarify its glaring lack of the handset in its lineup, and it appears the choice wasn't the company's to make. In a statement released today, SVP of Marketing Andrew Sherrard expressed the operator's desire to play host to Apple's latest device, but claims Cupertino's omission of an AWS-friendly radio is the true culprit. In order for that phone to run competently on T-Mo's 4G network, those 1700MHz bands would need to be serviced. In its stead, the exec points to other more capable phones currently on offer -- namely, those bearing Android -- while referring to the 4S' apparent network issues. Fighting words or just a case of the sads? Follow past the break for the full quote straight from Magenta's mouth.
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| Mobile Miscellany: week of October 17, 2011 Posted: 22 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT 
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| Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound (still) bound for Verizon on November 10th, Droid RAZR bumped to October? Posted: 22 Oct 2011 07:09 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 22 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT  HardwareLove at first sight -- this is possibly the most beautiful phone ever made. It's not our first hardware love affair (we're looking at you, iPhone 4S), nor likely our last, but the N9 is in a class of its own in terms of design. You've never seen anything like it, and if you think it's attractive in pictures, wait until you see it in person -- it's completely and utterly irresistible. It manages to be elegant by virtue of its minimalism yet remains unmistakably Nokia. The impeccable proportions belie the handset's 12.1mm (0.48-inch) thickness thanks to tapered ends reminiscent of its more ornate predecessor, the N8.  It all starts with a colored-through polycarbonate monolith, which is machined (not cast) to form the N9's unibody. The finish looks matte and feels similar to anodized aluminum, but is significantly more durable. Our review unit came in black but cyan and magenta versions are also available. The back is slightly convex and features an oval chrome-finished (and scratch-prone) pod that's flush with the body and houses the slightly recessed eight megapixel autofocus camera. A dual-LED flash is offset to the left of the lens. The front is almost all screen with no buttons, and just a tiny slit for the earpiece on top. Curved Gorilla glass flows into the bezel like liquid spilling onto a flat surface. The 3.9-inch FWVGA (854x480) ClearBlack AMOLED display is phenomenal, rivaling Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus -- text and graphics just appear to float on the panel, further refining the experience. You'll find a silver Nokia logo along with proximity and ambient light sensors at the top edge of the screen, and a charge indicator LED and front-facing camera at opposite ends of the bottom portion of the glass. The sides of the handset are rounded, and the right edge incorporates both a chrome volume rocker and a power / lock key. A speaker and microphone are located along the bottom, and the top side hosts a silver-rimmed 3.5mm headphone jack plus a precisely machined door protecting the micro-USB connector and flanked by the micro SIM tray. The battery is sealed and there is no microSD card slot, but the N9 comes with either 16GB or 64GB of built-in flash storage. Fit and finish are top-notch, and the 135g (4.76oz) device feels solid and comfortable in hand, with almost the exact same footprint as the familiar iPhone 4.  Peek inside, and you'll be catapulted a year back to the glory days of TI's OMAP 3630 SoC (popularized by Motorola's once mighty Droid X), which combines a single-core 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU with a PowerVR SGX530 GPU. In the N9, this chipset is paired with 1GB of RAM, making it Nokia's highest specced phone to date, and promising to offer plenty of muscle without obliterating battery life, at least on paper (more on this later). Digging further, you'll find Nokia's signature pentaband UMTS / HSPA (14.4Mbps) 3G radio, a quadband GSM / EDGE 2G radio for legacy networks, NFC and the usual suspects -- WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, GPS / AGPS. Strangely, there's no FM receiver or transmitter on the menu, unlike many of Espoo's past offerings. The N9 also features a full array of sensors, including ambient light, proximity, orientation (accelerometer) and compass (magnetometer). Not surprisingly for a Nokia phone, reception was trouble-free and calls sounded clear in our tests. We used the N9 on both T-Mobile and AT&T's 3G networks here in San Francisco and HSPA performance matched our expectations, reaching a respectable 6Mbps down and 2Mbps up in some areas. Audio quality is excellent, but the output is quieter than most other handsets when driving some headphones (like our BeyerDynamic DT990 Pro) -- as for the mono speaker, it's merely adequate. Battery life is pretty decent considering the screen size, the amount of RAM and the somewhat average-sized 1,450mAh battery. The N9 ran for about 8+ hours in our rundown test, which involves playing a video in a loop. Our usage test, which simulates a light day's use, yielded an impressive 37+ hours. As such, most people will be able to enjoy this device for an entire day on a full charge. CameraEight megapixel sensor, Carl Zeiss F2.2 wide-angle autofocus lens, dual-LED flash and 720p HD video recording on a flagship Nokia phone? You know where this is going. While it's no match for the legendary N8, the N9 takes wonderful pictures. Color balance and exposure are spot-on, and shots always contain a huge amount of detail, thanks in great part to the superior optics. The sensor appears to be quite small, however, which somewhat affects dynamic range and low-light performance. Like the N8, the N9 tends to preserve detail at the expense of some noise, leaving a bit of headroom for post-processing. The flash doubles as an autofocus assist light, but we sometimes experienced problems focusing in low light, especially with distant subjects. We also noticed that the white balance is off when taking pictures with the flash -- it's not a deal-breaker since the handset includes a powerful image editor with an "auto-fix" option, but we hope this gets resolved with an update. Overall, the N9's camera interface is simple and intuitive. It provides continuous autofocus, touch-to-focus and automatic face detection, but lacks features that are quickly becoming standard on other handsets, such as panorama, burst and HDR modes. Oddly, there's no way to use the front-facing camera. We experienced some usability niggles, too -- like most Nokia phones, the camera app returns the scene and flash settings to default each time it's started, and there's no automatic macro (you'll have to remember to set it manually to snap closeups). While the volume rocker also doubles as a zoom control, there's no dedicated two-stage camera button. Instead, it's possible to hold the on-screen shutter key to lock focus and exposure, then release it to take the shot. Video is captured in HD at 720p / 30fps with stereo sound and continuous autofocus. The resulting videos are reasonably nice, but we noticed some dropped frames here and there, leaving room for improvement. SoftwareMeeGo 1.2 Harmattan is such a breath of fresh air it will leave you gasping -- that is, until you remember that you're dealing with a dead man walking. It's impossible to dismiss what's been achieved here -- a thoroughly modern, elegant, linux-based OS with inspired design that's simple and intuitive to use, all developed in house by Nokia. Sure, it's at least a year too late, and it lacks a strong ecosystem, but still, it gives Windows Phone a serious run for its money. For one, it ships out of the gate with copy / paste and card-based multitasking. Additionally, it integrates a plethora of on-line services right in the core of the OS.  Pull the N9 out of your pocket and you'll notice that the screen always faintly shows the time along with any notification icons (like @ for email) -- a screensaver-like feature inherited from other Nokia phones, which uses very little power thanks to the wonders of AMOLED (note that the position keeps changing to avoid display burn-in). From here, you either double-tap on the glass or push the power / lock key to see the lock screen with more detailed notifications, the date, as well as a status bar with battery and signal information. Slide your finger on a notification and you're taken directly to right place (the actual message for email). Alternatively, swipe from any edge across the lock screen to bring up the applications view -- a vertical grid of icons. Once in the applications view, tapping any icon launches the associated app (or bookmark), while holding any icon lets you move it to another position on the grid (or remove it by pressing a little red X, if present). If you swipe across the display from the right edge, you're taken to the open applications view -- a grid of cards representing running apps. Slide your finger to the left and you're dropped into the event view, which shows the date, current weather, a list of notifications and status updates from social networks. The open applications view operates a lot like the applications view -- tap to resume / maximize an app, hold to edit the grid (with that little red X again, to close apps this time). In the event view, pressing any item takes you to the right place (the calendar for the date, the Twitter or Facebook app for a status update, et cetera...) Swiping repeatedly left or right cycles through all three views, while tapping the status bar on top allows you to set profiles (silent, beep, or ringing), adjust the volume, select connections and change your online status. Once inside an app, sliding your finger from any edge across the screen brings you back to whichever of the three views you started from. There's a also a setting that lets you swipe down to close an app, but it's turned off by default. In-app navigation is generally achieved via a series of nested screen, back buttons and long-press menus. Speaking off apps, you'll find a whole bunch of them pre-loaded, including OVI Music, Facebook, Twitter, AccuWeather, AP Mobile, Skype, Track & Protect, Angry Birds Magic, Galaxy On Fire 2, Need For Speed Shift and Real Golf 2011. More apps are available from Nokia's bundled app store -- we installed a few helpful ones, including MeeRadio (internet radio streamer), a file manager, a voice recorder and a stopwatch / timer.  As we mentioned earlier, several major online services are seamlessly integrated into MeeGo. The first time you power up the N9, you're prompted to login with (or create) a Nokia account. From there, the accounts app supports Mail for Exchange, Skype, Google (for mail and chat), Facebook, Twitter, CalDAV, Flickr, IMAP / POP3, Picasa, SIP and YouTube. It's important to note that adding your Google account only gives you access to Gmail and Google talk -- you'll have to set up your Google account a second time via Mail for Exchange (and disable email sync) in order to see your contacts and calendar. But then, multiple calendars are only enabled via CalDAV -- yes, this normally simple exercise is now turning into a Kafkaesque nightmare. Sigh. At least you only have to do all this once, and the other services are easy to configure. The contacts app displays information (including online status) from your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Skype. Beyond mobile networks, the dialer lets you make phone calls directly over Skype. Google, Facebook and Skype chat are all nicely integrated in the messaging app, while the gallery seamlessly handles photo / video uploads to Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, and Youtube. Unfortunately, a few gaping holes remain. There's zero support for any of Twitter's imaging services, so we ended up using email to send our pictures to Twitpic, for example. Skype only handles audio calls and chat -- video is missing in action, and we're still not sure which app (if any) uses the front-facing camera. The SIP client, perhaps? Surfing the web on the N9 is a minimalistic affair. The HTML5-compliant, WebKit-based browser works pretty much like you'd expect, with the usual controls, including pinch-to-zoom. Each browser window appears as a separate card in the open applications view and bookmarks are stored icons in the applications view. There's no Flash support, and no browsing history beyond the ability to navigate up and down the current URL stack using the back and forward buttons. Instead, each time you open a new window you're presented with a tag cloud which contains keywords related to the sites you've already visited. Tap on a keyword, and you're taken to the appropriate site -- it's all very clever.  MeeGo's email client keeps things basic. It provides a unified inbox but lacks some critical features, such as server-based search and conversation threading. There's a system-wide search app which indexes the email stored on the phone, but that's only one week's worth of messages. On the plus side, the app's layout is clean and the text is highly legible thanks to Nokia's beautiful new font, Pure (which is used throughout the OS). The client also supports pinch-to-zoom, which is still missing from Android's own Gmail app. We'd be foolish not to mention the delightful virtual keyboard at this point -- it offers unobtrusive (and defeatable) audible and tactile feedback, plus automatic word completion, when enabled. The built-in Facebook and Twitter apps will be familiar to anyone who's used the official apps on other platforms. A pair of apps are available for maps and directions, both using Nokia's excellent in-house solution (powered by NAVTEQ). The first is similar to Maps on iOS, but adds a points-of-interest view and the ability to download maps ahead of time for offline use. Drive, the second app, reminds us of Google Navigation, with an interface optimized for in-vehicle use. Both apps work very well. As you'd expect from a modern handset, the N9 also ships with decent multimedia capabilities. The music player incorporates an OVI Music-based recommendation engine, and the video player supports a multitude of formats including MPEG4, H.264, ASP, WMV9, VC1 and Mkv (Matroska). In terms of performance, MeeGo generally feels quite snappy considering it's running on mid-range hardware. Memory management and multitasking appear to be solid, even with upwards of 20 cards in the open applications view. We've noticed random pauses when starting apps and when interacting rapidly with apps, possibly related to garbage collection. It's not a major issue, but it shows that there's plenty of room left for optimizations. As a point of reference, the retail build on our N9 is significantly faster than the developer build on our prototype N950. Of course, the real question is, will Nokia bother issuing updates for a deprecated product? Wrap-up Nokia's really made our lives difficult here. On the one hand, the N9 delivers a double punch with gorgeous hardware and brilliant software. It's arguably the first competitive flagship phone to come out of Espoo since the launch of the original iPhone -- a stunning feat when you consider how far behind the company was even just a year ago. This is the handset that puts any lingering doubts about Nokia's engineering chops to rest. We have dreams of MeeGo running on Galaxy Nexus-class superphones. Yet despite all that, it was killed before even getting a chance to prove its worth. At least the current hardware -- with its fantastic design, amazing screen and top-notch camera -- will likely be reborn as the Sea Ray (guess we'll find out at Nokia World next week). Still, it's a shame about the software, because given the choice, we'd pick MeeGo over Mango, despite its weaker ecosystem. Should you buy this device? It's difficult to recommend a platform with no future, but the N9 is everything Nokia's long time fans have been waiting for, and you could have it today. MeeGo is dead -- long live MeeGo. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rear window LED hack minds bad drivers' manners, has nothing to do with Hitchcock (video) Posted: 22 Oct 2011 04:01 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mesa Robotics' mini-tank is perfectly happy on point (video) Posted: 22 Oct 2011 01:57 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BBC's global iPlayer app adds AirPlay streaming, should just be on Apple TV Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:44 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Army urges vets to get outta their dreams and into the virtual world Posted: 21 Oct 2011 09:37 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientists capture birth of new planet on camera, mother and child doing just fine Posted: 21 Oct 2011 07:34 PM PDT  After all the pushing, squeezing and screaming, the universe has finally given birth to a new planet, in an eruption that two scientists managed to capture on film. The newborn pile of planetary pudge, named LkCa 15 b, was discovered by Drs. Michael Ireland and Adam Kraus, who, over the course of 12 months, successfully documented the event using Keck telescopes and a technique called aperture mask interferometry. Their findings, published in Astrophysical Journal describe a Jupiter-like gaseous planet that likely began forming some 50,000 to 100,000 years ago. Located about 450 light years from Earth, it's also the youngest planet ever observed, having dethroned the previous record-holder, which was about five times older. According to Ireland and Kraus, the LkCa 15 b is still being formed out of a circle of dust and gas (pictured above) surrounding a 2-million-year-old star. By observing a "young gas giant in the process of formation," the researchers hope to find answers to fundamental questions that have long eluded them. "These very basic questions of when and where are best answered when you can actually see the planet forming, as the process is happening right now," Kraus explained to the AP. Head past the break to see an artist's rendering of the newborn, and if you get the chance, be sure to send flowers.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta previewed, Android apps look right at home (video) Posted: 21 Oct 2011 05:17 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google Voice app returns to iTunes, iOS 5 crash bug fixed Posted: 21 Oct 2011 04:10 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verizon (finally) confirms it will have the Galaxy Nexus Posted: 21 Oct 2011 03:11 PM PDT  VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE GALAXY NEXUS BY SAMSUNG Features the Latest Version of Android and America's Fastest and Most Reliable 4G Network BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless today announced that the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung, the world's first smartphone running on Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to Verizon Wireless. The Galaxy Nexus will be available later this year in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. Ice Cream Sandwich brings a redesigned user interface with enhanced multitasking, notifications, full Web browsing experience and more. Customers will also be able to enjoy the innovative new features that Ice Cream Sandwich offers, such as Face Unlock which uses facial recognition to unlock the Galaxy Nexus. Customers can take advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network to access more than 300,000 apps and games from Android Market™ or rent movies and stream them instantly on the 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display. Additional features: · 4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas · Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich · First smartphone to feature a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display (1280 x 720) · 1.2 GHz dual-core processor with 1GB RAM · 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, zero shutter lag and 1080p full HD video capture · 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting · Near Field Communications (NFC) enabled · Android Beam allows customers to quickly share Web pages, apps and YouTube™ videos with friends by simply tapping compatible phones together · Support for Google™ mobile services – Android Market, Gmail™, Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps, Google Earth™, Movie Studio, YouTube™, syncing with Google Calendar™ and a redesigned Google＋ app Customers that purchase the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung smartphone will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. Android, Android Market, Google, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Earth, YouTube, and Google Calendar are all trademarks of Google, Inc. VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE GALAXY NEXUS BY SAMSUNG Features the Latest Version of Android and America's Fastest and Most Reliable 4G Network BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless today announced that the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung, the world's first smartphone running on Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to Verizon Wireless. The Galaxy Nexus will be available later this year in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. Ice Cream Sandwich brings a redesigned user interface with enhanced multitasking, notifications, full Web browsing experience and more. Customers will also be able to enjoy the innovative new features that Ice Cream Sandwich offers, such as Face Unlock which uses facial recognition to unlock the Galaxy Nexus. Customers can take advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network to access more than 300,000 apps and games from Android Market™ or rent movies and stream them instantly on the 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display. Additional features: · 4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas · Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich · First smartphone to feature a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display (1280 x 720) · 1.2 GHz dual-core processor with 1GB RAM · 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, zero shutter lag and 1080p full HD video capture · 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting · Near Field Communications (NFC) enabled · Android Beam allows customers to quickly share Web pages, apps and YouTube™ videos with friends by simply tapping compatible phones together · Support for Google™ mobile services – Android Market, Gmail™, Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps, Google Earth™, Movie Studio, YouTube™, syncing with Google Calendar™ and a redesigned Google＋ app Customers that purchase the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung smartphone will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. Android, Android Market, Google, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Earth, YouTube, and Google Calendar are all trademarks of Google, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kinect voice control reaches Australia, Harold Bishop and Donald Fisher will be pleased Posted: 21 Oct 2011 02:58 PM PDT  Holy dooley! (oh my!) Microsoft's being a big-note oneself (bragging) about getting Xbox 360 voice control working for the Aussies (Australians.) It's invited all the journos (journalists) to a rage (party) down under (in Australia) to show off the system that had difficulty understanding Australian English. Haven't a clue why. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET! Posted: 21 Oct 2011 02:25 PM PDT  Are you ready for this? We're back for a very special Halloween episode of The Engadget Show, live tonight at 6PM ET, and you can join us at this very URL -- so keep your browser locked to this spot. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.This time out, we've got a very special Halloween episode, including a walk through of a high-tech haunted house, a trip to New York Comic Con, an in-studio costume contest and the unveiling of the winners of our Frankengadget competition. We'll also be visiting with Intel's resident futurist, paying tribute to Steve Jobs and taking a look at the month's hottest gadgets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biscotti TV dunked in the FCC's latte, still a bit hard Posted: 21 Oct 2011 02:02 PM PDT  Webcams have certainly narrowed the distance between loved ones, but it's hard to argue that two people hovering over their laptop screens can rival an in-person conversation. Moving things over to the big screen could make the exchange much more comfortable for everyone involved -- you just need an HDTV, and a Biscotti. The small black box should be ready to turn the biggest screen in your home into a high definition video phone fairly soon, having just landed in the FCC's living room. Packed inside is a camera, microphone and 802.11b/g/n WiFi -- plug the contraption into your TV and you can instantly make calls to family and friends, with no monthly charges. A pair of HDMI ports let the device serve as a bridge between your television and cable box, so folks with limited connections don't have to choose between Dad and Mr. Mom. Biscotti will also interact with computers, tablets and smartphones via an as-yet unnamed "video player" to bring life-sized video chat to the masses. There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but if the FCC has finished nibbling at it, then it shouldn't be long before we get a taste ourselves.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:25 PM PDT  As it turns out, one showed up on our doorstep just a few days later. In many ways, the UX31 is everything the S3 is not: it has a gorgeous all-metal design and comes standard with an SSD and 1600 x 900 display (not to mention, a case and two bundled adapters). And with a starting price of $1,099, it undercuts the entry-level (and similarly configured) MacBook Air by two hundred bucks. So is this the Ultrabook we've all been waiting for? We suggest pouring yourself a large beverage, settling into a comfy chair and meeting us past the break. We've got a lot to say on the subject. Look and feel It's way too easy to dismiss Ultrabooks as MacBook Air wannabes. And yet, while the UX31 adds just enough pizazz so that you'd never mistake it for Apple's wafer-thin lappie, it is the most Air-inspired contender we've seen so far. Mostly, it's that all-metal build, spacious, buttonless trackpad and razor-thin silhouette that whittles down to some seriously sharp edges. In fact, if you have a gander at our comparison gallery down there, you'll see more of a similarity between the Air and UX31 than the S3, which tapers, but in a less pronounced way. Still, while they're both swaddled in aluminum, the 2.9-pound UX31 feels denser than the 2.96-pound Air. (The S3 weighs a smidge more, at three pounds, but we couldn't for the life of us tell the difference when we held that in one hand and the UX3 in the other.) Now that we've acknowledged that fruity 800-pound Gorilla in the room, we just have to say... the UX31 is stunning in person. Here at Engadget, we see more products in a week than we have time to review and in general, it behooves us to take a detached, almost clinical approach to handling gadgets, lest we get distracted by the toys piled high on our desks. With the UX31, though, we couldn't help but feel struck by the tremendous craftsmanship. It just feels like an exceptionally solid, well-made product. The dark gray, metal lid has a pattern of etched concentric circles that lends it a modern, industrial look, backed up by a brushed aluminum deck and smooth metal keys. Even the bezel feels tough, while the lid is markedly sturdier than the S3's. In addition to the design, though, ASUS packaged this thing with care. In the box, you'll find a brown fabric carrying case with a matching pouch that contains USB-to-Ethernet and USB-to-VGA adapters. As we were sifting through all this, another Engadget editor saw what we were doing and stopped to say this was a good-looking machine, and that those carrying cases weren't too shabby, either. Then again, back in 2008 ASUS bundled the leather-clad U2E with a Bluetooth mouse and carrying case, so we can't say we're too surprised the company gave us a generous helping of extras.  But -- and there is a but -- we wish ASUS didn't slap branding on it (and in a script font, no less!). Okay, so "UX31 Series Ultra Slim" isn't branding so much as the product name, but why does it have to be so prominent? And in such a frou-frou font? It's true, we're generally against gratuitous logos, but that font makes for an oddly frilly touch on what's otherwise a clean design. Secondly -- and this is a more serious gripe -- this is the only Windows-based Ultrabook we know of that doesn't have an HDMI port. Acer, Lenovo and Toshiba all put one on theirs, but this just has mini-HDMI and mini-VGA ports. Yeah, we'll take that VGA adapter and bet some folks in the PowerPoint crowd will appreciate it, but basically, anyone who wants to hook this thing up to their TV to stream Breaking Bad from Netflix is going to have to supply their own mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable (we're seeing them for less than three bucks on Amazon). Completing our tour around the edges, you'll find a USB 2.0 port on the left side, along with an SD / MMC card reader and a dual headphone / mic port. Over on the right you'll find those mini-HDMI and mini-VGA ports, along with a USB 3.0 socket that promises faster charging of USB-powered gadgets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
PCMark Vantage | 3DMark06 | Battery Life | |
| ASUS Zenbook UX31 (1.7 GHz Core i5-2557M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) | 10,508 | 4,209 | 5:41 |
| Acer Aspire Ultrabook S3 (1.6 GHz Core i5-2467M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) | 5,367 | 3,221 | 4:11 |
| 13-inch, 2011 MacBook Air (1.7 GHz Core i5-2557M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) | 9,484 | 4,223 | 5:32 (Mac OS X) / 4:12 (Windows) |
| Samsung Series 9 (1.7 GHz Core i5-2537M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) | 7,582 | 2,240 | 4:20 |
| Notes: the higher the score the better. For 3DMark06, the first number reflects score with GPU off, the second with it on. | |||
Battery life
Now this is more like it. After testing the S3, which lasted little more than four hours, we were sure another Ultrabook could do better. Happily, we were right: the UX31 held out five hours and 41 minutes in our standard battery rundown test, which entails looping the same movie off the hard drive with WiFi enabled and the brightness fixed at 65 percent. That's on par with the Air, which managed a similar five hours and 32 minutes out of the box in its native Mac OS X (in Windows, it lasted four hours and twelve minutes -- almost exactly the same runtime as the Aspire S3). That's also in line with ASUS' own expectations -- a rep confirmed that the company's engineers are seeing almost seven hours with light use, and a little less than six with video streaming (again, to be fair, we play our movie off of the internal drive).
Software
The UX31 comes with a raft of pre-installed software, but for the most part, these are ASUS' own apps that go unseen unless you actually need them. These run the gamut from Live Update to a power management utility to the software used for facial recognition. Again, a non-invasive bunch, with the one exception being the company's registration page, which pops up as soon as you boot up.
As far as third-party apps go, you'll see a trial version of Microsoft Office 2010 -- a staple on Windows laptops, really -- and Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security. In general, we're not opposed to OEMs putting some kind of starter security software on there so that people are protected out of the box, but we have to say that Trend Micro's suite, in particular, ran so discreetly we forgot it was there.
Configuration options and the competition
The UX31 is available in three configurations. We tested the $1,099 entry level model, which, again, has a Core i5-2557M processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SATA III drive. For $1,349, you can get it with the same processor and a larger 256GB drive. Lastly, the top-end $1,449 configuration combines a 256GB drive and a Core i7-2677M CPU. Across the board, you'll get 4GB of RAM.
For what it is, it's aggressively priced. Now it's true, we were all expecting Ultrabooks to ring in at less than $1,000 -- à la the Aspire S3 -- but considering the entry-level UX31 has better specs than the base MacBook Air and undercuts it by two hundred dollars, it's a pretty sweet deal. Allow us to explain: both laptops have a 1.7GHz Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of solid-state storage, though the UX31 packs a SATA III drive, in particular. The Air's 1440 x 900 display is lower-res, but then again, it's also indisputably gorgeous.
On the other hand, if you opt for an Air you'll be getting a comfier keyboard and a more precise trackpad. And in terms of ports, the two are well-matched: while the Air has a Thunderbolt port, the UX31 has mini-HDMI and mini-VGA. Either way, you'll forgo HDMI -- something Toshiba and Lenovo's Ultrabooks offer.
For what it's worth, the UX31 also includes a case and two adapters, though you'd be crazy if you let that decide your purchasing decision.
On the lower end, we already know that Acer's $899 S3 is the least expensive deal in town -- and that you'll be giving up design flair, long battery life and fast transfer rates. So while you'll be paying the lowest price for an Ultrabook, you won't be getting the best deal, per se.
Then there are the Ultrabooks we haven't tested yet. If you're hemming and hawing over the UX31, you might want to consider the Toshiba Portege Z830 and the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s -- both have 13-inch displays (albeit, with 1366 x 768 resolution), USB 3.0 and HDMI output. Naturally, we're curious to see how these stack up, but we can't in good faith say much now, other than that they, too, look promising.
Wrap-up
After the first Ultrabook left us feeling lukewarm, we grew hopeful that maybe, just maybe, ASUS' Zenbooks would get it right. While the S3 has little more to offer than a low price point, the UX31 has an arresting design and SATA III SSD that promises superior battery life and performance. And it still manages to undercut the Air by two hundred dollars, even though the two have similar specs.
So is the UX31 everything we thought it would be? For the most part, yes. With the exception of one nagging design quirk, it's as stunning in person as it is in the press shots. It's fast -- faster than the Air, arguably -- and its battery life is comparable. It offers the highest-res display we've seen in an Ultrabook and the sound quality is disarmingly good. We still highly recommend the MacBook Air -- not least because of its reliable trackpad and comfier (backlit!) keyboard. But if you can deal with the UX31's shallow keys and have faith that ASUS will find its way with the touchpad, we have a feeling you'll be very happy with this guy. It's true, we still need to take a closer look at what Lenovo and Toshiba have to offer, but for now this is indeed the Ultrabook they need to beat.
The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET!
Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:00 PM PDT
Beeri: Siri's new best friend cracks open a cold one (video)
Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:39 PM PDT
Android Ice Cream Sandwich includes native stylus support
Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:17 PM PDT
DARPA's Dr. Frankenllite could plunder space graves, create orbital abominations (video)
Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:53 AM PDT
INNOVATORS SOUGHT FOR DARPA SATELLITE SERVICING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
October 20, 2011
Phoenix seeks to repurpose 'retired' satellite components through GEO servicing
More than $300 billion worth of satellites are estimated to be in the geosynchronous orbit (GEO-22,000 miles above the earth). Many of these satellites have been retired due to normal end of useful life, obsolescence or failure; yet many still have valuable components, such as antennas, that could last much longer than the life of the satellite. When satellites in GEO "retire," they are put into a GEO disposal or "graveyard" orbit. That graveyard potentially holds tens to more than a hundred retired satellites that have components that could be repurposed – with the willing knowledge and sanction of the satellite's owner. Today, DoD deploys new, replacement satellites at high cost-one of the primary drivers of the high cost is the launch costs, which is dependent on the weight and volume of antennas. The repurposing of existing, retired antennas from the graveyard represents a potential for significant cost savings.
DARPA's Phoenix program seeks to develop technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in GEO and demonstrate the ability to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost. "If this program is successful, space debris becomes space resource," said DARPA Director, Regina E. Dugan.
This concept will require diverse expertise from the international and nontraditional space communities. For example, today's ground-based robotics systems allow surgeons to perform telesurgery on a patient thousands of miles away, and advanced remote imaging systems used for offshore drilling view the ocean floor thousands of feet underwater. These types of capabilities, if re-engineered for zero gravity, high-vacuum and harsh radiation, could be used in space to allow the repurposing of valuable antennas from retired GEO satellites.
"Satellites in GEO are not designed to be disassembled or repaired, so it's not a matter of simply removing some nuts and bolts," said David Barnhart, DARPA program manager. "This requires new remote imaging and robotics technology and special tools to grip, cut, and modify complex systems, since existing joints are usually molded or welded. Another challenge is developing new remote operating procedures to hold two parts together so a third robotic 'hand' can join them with a third part, such as a fastener, all in zero gravity. For a person operating such robotics, the complexity is similar to trying to assemble via remote control multiple Legos at the same time while looking through a telescope."
To optimally use those repurposed assets, the Phoenix program will develop low-cost, scalable electronics and structural modules that would allow localized control and communication with each other and a master satellite, ala DARPA's System F6, that together harnesses the repurposed antennas. Phoenix specifically seeks technologies for developing a new class of small "satlets," or nanosatellites, which can be sent more economically to the GEO region through existing ride-along services with commercial satellite launches and then robotically attached to the antenna of a nonfunctional cooperating satellite to essentially create a new space system. The nanosatellites may leverage the technologies, infrastructure, protocols and architecture developed within the ongoing System F6 program.
Technical expertise is sought to design a payload orbital delivery system, or PODS, to safely house the satlets when they are launched aboard a commercial satellite.
A separate on-orbit "tender," or satellite servicing station, is planned to be launched into GEO. Once the tender arrives on-orbit, the PODS would be released from its ride-along host and linked with the tender to become part of the satellite servicing station's "tool belt." The tender plans to be equipped with grasping mechanical arms and remote vision systems to remove components and satlets from the PODS using unique space tools to be developed in the program.
Critical to the success of the Phoenix program is active participation from both U.S. and international communities involved in vital technical areas such as:
Radiation tolerant microelectronics and memory storage
Distributed wireless mobile platform solutions for ad hoc connectivity and control
Industrial electronic control systems
Terrestrial microminiature guidance and control measurement units
Industrial robotics end effectors and tool changeout mechanisms and techniques
Computer-assisted medical robotics microsurgical telepresence, tools and imaging
Remote underwater imaging/vision technologies used in the offshore oil and gas drilling industry
Terrestrial manufacturing of high volume microelectronics and computer data storage
Terrestrial thermal management design technology of electronic devices and systems
Low-cost industrial manufacturing of high-volume sheet metal and other structural materials
Additive manufacturing on various structural materials
DARPA will host two upcoming industry days in November 2011 for interested performers.
October 20, 2011
Phoenix seeks to repurpose 'retired' satellite components through GEO servicing
More than $300 billion worth of satellites are estimated to be in the geosynchronous orbit (GEO-22,000 miles above the earth). Many of these satellites have been retired due to normal end of useful life, obsolescence or failure; yet many still have valuable components, such as antennas, that could last much longer than the life of the satellite. When satellites in GEO "retire," they are put into a GEO disposal or "graveyard" orbit. That graveyard potentially holds tens to more than a hundred retired satellites that have components that could be repurposed – with the willing knowledge and sanction of the satellite's owner. Today, DoD deploys new, replacement satellites at high cost-one of the primary drivers of the high cost is the launch costs, which is dependent on the weight and volume of antennas. The repurposing of existing, retired antennas from the graveyard represents a potential for significant cost savings.
DARPA's Phoenix program seeks to develop technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in GEO and demonstrate the ability to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost. "If this program is successful, space debris becomes space resource," said DARPA Director, Regina E. Dugan.
This concept will require diverse expertise from the international and nontraditional space communities. For example, today's ground-based robotics systems allow surgeons to perform telesurgery on a patient thousands of miles away, and advanced remote imaging systems used for offshore drilling view the ocean floor thousands of feet underwater. These types of capabilities, if re-engineered for zero gravity, high-vacuum and harsh radiation, could be used in space to allow the repurposing of valuable antennas from retired GEO satellites.
"Satellites in GEO are not designed to be disassembled or repaired, so it's not a matter of simply removing some nuts and bolts," said David Barnhart, DARPA program manager. "This requires new remote imaging and robotics technology and special tools to grip, cut, and modify complex systems, since existing joints are usually molded or welded. Another challenge is developing new remote operating procedures to hold two parts together so a third robotic 'hand' can join them with a third part, such as a fastener, all in zero gravity. For a person operating such robotics, the complexity is similar to trying to assemble via remote control multiple Legos at the same time while looking through a telescope."
To optimally use those repurposed assets, the Phoenix program will develop low-cost, scalable electronics and structural modules that would allow localized control and communication with each other and a master satellite, ala DARPA's System F6, that together harnesses the repurposed antennas. Phoenix specifically seeks technologies for developing a new class of small "satlets," or nanosatellites, which can be sent more economically to the GEO region through existing ride-along services with commercial satellite launches and then robotically attached to the antenna of a nonfunctional cooperating satellite to essentially create a new space system. The nanosatellites may leverage the technologies, infrastructure, protocols and architecture developed within the ongoing System F6 program.
Technical expertise is sought to design a payload orbital delivery system, or PODS, to safely house the satlets when they are launched aboard a commercial satellite.
A separate on-orbit "tender," or satellite servicing station, is planned to be launched into GEO. Once the tender arrives on-orbit, the PODS would be released from its ride-along host and linked with the tender to become part of the satellite servicing station's "tool belt." The tender plans to be equipped with grasping mechanical arms and remote vision systems to remove components and satlets from the PODS using unique space tools to be developed in the program.
Critical to the success of the Phoenix program is active participation from both U.S. and international communities involved in vital technical areas such as:
Radiation tolerant microelectronics and memory storage
Distributed wireless mobile platform solutions for ad hoc connectivity and control
Industrial electronic control systems
Terrestrial microminiature guidance and control measurement units
Industrial robotics end effectors and tool changeout mechanisms and techniques
Computer-assisted medical robotics microsurgical telepresence, tools and imaging
Remote underwater imaging/vision technologies used in the offshore oil and gas drilling industry
Terrestrial manufacturing of high volume microelectronics and computer data storage
Terrestrial thermal management design technology of electronic devices and systems
Low-cost industrial manufacturing of high-volume sheet metal and other structural materials
Additive manufacturing on various structural materials
DARPA will host two upcoming industry days in November 2011 for interested performers.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi hitting the US November 13th for $400, available in 16GB for now
Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:29 AM PDT
Nearly a month after its initial announcement, Samsung's ready to deliver the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to the good ol' US of A just in time for the winter gift-giving season. The WiFi-only device, which packs a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB of RAM, Android 3.2, 3MP camera with 720p HD video capture and a 7-inch LCD with 1024 x 600 resolution, will be begging for your credit card as of November 13th at Best Buy, Amazon and other retailers. Are you an early adopter? No prob -- you'll have the opportunity to pre-order yours at "select retailers" this coming Sunday, though no specific outlets were called out by name. The 16GB is the only version arriving so far, but Sammy told us to expect the 32GB flavor later this year or early 2012 (likely for $499, if yesterday's brief appearance on Amazon is any indicator). No word on partnerships with carriers yet, but we'll keep you posted on any updates. View the press release in all its glory below.
Samsung Expands U.S. Tablet Portfolio with Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Featuring Peel Smart Remote App Delivers Powerful "Discover, Tap and Watch" Home Entertainment Experience
DALLAS and SANTA CLARA, Calif.– October 21, 2011 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, and Samsung Electronics America today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.0 Plus featuring Peel Smart Remote TV application. Peel allows users to instantly find and watch their favorite TV shows and discover new shows based on their preferences, all with the tap of a screen.
Offering a portable, rich multimedia experience on a 7-inch display, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus packs power and productivity into a chic lightweight design, weighing just 345g and measuring 9.96mm thin. The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus runs Google AndroidTM Honeycomb platform, enabling an easy and intuitive user experience. In addition, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus delivers a smooth and intuitive user experience with powerful performance powered by a 1.2GHz dual core processor.
Featuring built-in infrared capabilities, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus can control the user's home theater/TV setup. The Peel integration on the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus goes beyond the Peel application available for download today by no longer requiring additional hardware or cables for TV control functionality. Peel allows users to control any home entertainment system regardless of manufacturer.
Peel displays personalized programming recommendations in an intuitive and content-driven graphical interface, completely eliminating the need to scroll through traditional channel-listing grids. The application's home screen displays colorful thumbnail images of "Top Picks," or favorite shows. Touch one of the thumbnails and the application displays what channel that show is on as well as a brief description of the episode that is playing. Simply tap "Watch On TV" and the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will automatically change the channel to the selected program.
"The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus optimized with the innovative Peel application will enable users to connect seamlessly to view their favorite TV shows," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. "Our partnership with Peel further builds on Samsung's convergence strategy to create enhanced user experiences."
Peel combined with the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus can control the entire home entertainment system, including the TV, set-top box, DVD, Blu-ray player and AV audio system. Peel will provide Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus users with a social aspect as well, connecting them directly to Facebook and Twitter to share what they are watching with their social networks.
"This partnership continues Peel's vision of eliminating the barriers between you and your favorite shows," said Greg Lindley, chief experience officer for Peel. "The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus – with its built in IR remote functionality – is a great platform for the Peel app and creates an ideal second screen experience for any TV lover."
The 16GB Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will be available nationwide through Best Buy, Amazon, Tiger Direct, Fry's and other fine retailers starting November 13th for $399.99. Pre-orders will begin October 23rd with select partners.
Samsung's relationship with Peel is part of Samsung's overall commitment to convergence and the companies are working to integrate the Peel Smart Remote Application into future Samsung mobile devices.
Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Featuring Peel Smart Remote App Delivers Powerful "Discover, Tap and Watch" Home Entertainment Experience
DALLAS and SANTA CLARA, Calif.– October 21, 2011 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, and Samsung Electronics America today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.0 Plus featuring Peel Smart Remote TV application. Peel allows users to instantly find and watch their favorite TV shows and discover new shows based on their preferences, all with the tap of a screen.
Offering a portable, rich multimedia experience on a 7-inch display, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus packs power and productivity into a chic lightweight design, weighing just 345g and measuring 9.96mm thin. The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus runs Google AndroidTM Honeycomb platform, enabling an easy and intuitive user experience. In addition, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus delivers a smooth and intuitive user experience with powerful performance powered by a 1.2GHz dual core processor.
Featuring built-in infrared capabilities, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus can control the user's home theater/TV setup. The Peel integration on the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus goes beyond the Peel application available for download today by no longer requiring additional hardware or cables for TV control functionality. Peel allows users to control any home entertainment system regardless of manufacturer.
Peel displays personalized programming recommendations in an intuitive and content-driven graphical interface, completely eliminating the need to scroll through traditional channel-listing grids. The application's home screen displays colorful thumbnail images of "Top Picks," or favorite shows. Touch one of the thumbnails and the application displays what channel that show is on as well as a brief description of the episode that is playing. Simply tap "Watch On TV" and the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will automatically change the channel to the selected program.
"The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus optimized with the innovative Peel application will enable users to connect seamlessly to view their favorite TV shows," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. "Our partnership with Peel further builds on Samsung's convergence strategy to create enhanced user experiences."
Peel combined with the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus can control the entire home entertainment system, including the TV, set-top box, DVD, Blu-ray player and AV audio system. Peel will provide Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus users with a social aspect as well, connecting them directly to Facebook and Twitter to share what they are watching with their social networks.
"This partnership continues Peel's vision of eliminating the barriers between you and your favorite shows," said Greg Lindley, chief experience officer for Peel. "The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus – with its built in IR remote functionality – is a great platform for the Peel app and creates an ideal second screen experience for any TV lover."
The 16GB Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will be available nationwide through Best Buy, Amazon, Tiger Direct, Fry's and other fine retailers starting November 13th for $399.99. Pre-orders will begin October 23rd with select partners.
Samsung's relationship with Peel is part of Samsung's overall commitment to convergence and the companies are working to integrate the Peel Smart Remote Application into future Samsung mobile devices.
Razer Synapse 2.0: take your fussy gaming setup wherever you go
Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:04 AM PDT
Ever go to a LAN party and find it's taking too long to get your gear set up the way you like? Probably not, especially if you own a Razer or other gaming mouse that stores your preferences on its internal memory. Still, it would be far easier if your tweaks were stored in the cloud and available everywhere -- which is the thinking behind Synapse 2.0. All of your button, axis and sensitivity adjustments will be available for you to pull down and use with the company's range of peripherals if you're at home, the LAN center or at work (after hours, of course.) The service is currently in internal beta but 500 lucky Razer Naga owners will get access to the second beta if they sign up at the source link below. There's also a press release -- scroll down at 5600dpi and click "Read More."
RAZER REVOLUTIONIZES GAMING PERIPHERALS WITH THE WORLD'S FIRST CLOUD- BASED STORAGE FOR PERSONALIZED GAMING SETTINGS
Carlsbad, Calif. – Oct 20th, 2011 – Razer, the technology leader in gaming user interfaces, brings you the next innovation in gaming peripherals by unveiling the all-new Razer Synapse 2.0, the world's first application for storing your personalized peripheral settings in the cloud, making your settings for gaming available anytime, anywhere.
In 2006, Razer invented Synapse, the world's first onboard memory feature for gaming peripherals, which allowed the user to store gaming macros, key binds, and profiles directly to their Razer devices, and enabled gamers to bring their personalized settings with them on the go. Onboard memory for gaming devices, pioneered by Razer, has quickly become an industry standard for gaming peripherals all over the world.
The new Razer Synapse 2.0 software revolutionizes this concept by harnessing next-gen, cloud-based technology to ensure that you have full access to all of your peripheral hardware settings, anytime, anywhere at tournaments, LAN centers, at home and at the office. With the advent of Synapse 2.0, onboard memory for devices is now obsolete.
With Razer Synapse 2.0, all of your Razer peripheral settings for any next generation Razer gaming device will be automatically stored in a cloud server which is accessible from any computer. You will be able to take your mouse to a LAN center and instantly sync your custom settings simply by logging into Razer Synapse 2.0. You can even access your custom settings while using Razer peripherals provided by a tournament host, enabling you to spend less time setting up controls and more time gaming. Razer Synapse 2.0 also automatically downloads drivers, game add-ons, and firmware updates as they become available, ensuring your Razer devices are always updated.
"Razer Synapse 2.0 is a testament to our drive to continually innovate for the benefit of the gamer and end-user," said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, President, Razer USA. "Razer Synapse 2.0 gives gamers a convenient, single cloud-based platform to access, maintain, and store settings for all of their Razer devices. On-board memory, with its limited storage for user profiles, becomes obsolete when Razer Synapse 2.0 offers essentially unlimited space for all of your hardware settings."
Razer Synapse 2.0 will be launched for all next generation Razer devices and the software is currently in an internal beta stage. The next stage of closed beta will be rolled out initially to selected users of the multi-award winning Razer Naga, where up to 500 Razer Naga users can get a first glimpse of Razer Synapse 2.0 by signing up at http://www.razerzone.com/synapse2.
Carlsbad, Calif. – Oct 20th, 2011 – Razer, the technology leader in gaming user interfaces, brings you the next innovation in gaming peripherals by unveiling the all-new Razer Synapse 2.0, the world's first application for storing your personalized peripheral settings in the cloud, making your settings for gaming available anytime, anywhere.
In 2006, Razer invented Synapse, the world's first onboard memory feature for gaming peripherals, which allowed the user to store gaming macros, key binds, and profiles directly to their Razer devices, and enabled gamers to bring their personalized settings with them on the go. Onboard memory for gaming devices, pioneered by Razer, has quickly become an industry standard for gaming peripherals all over the world.
The new Razer Synapse 2.0 software revolutionizes this concept by harnessing next-gen, cloud-based technology to ensure that you have full access to all of your peripheral hardware settings, anytime, anywhere at tournaments, LAN centers, at home and at the office. With the advent of Synapse 2.0, onboard memory for devices is now obsolete.
With Razer Synapse 2.0, all of your Razer peripheral settings for any next generation Razer gaming device will be automatically stored in a cloud server which is accessible from any computer. You will be able to take your mouse to a LAN center and instantly sync your custom settings simply by logging into Razer Synapse 2.0. You can even access your custom settings while using Razer peripherals provided by a tournament host, enabling you to spend less time setting up controls and more time gaming. Razer Synapse 2.0 also automatically downloads drivers, game add-ons, and firmware updates as they become available, ensuring your Razer devices are always updated.
"Razer Synapse 2.0 is a testament to our drive to continually innovate for the benefit of the gamer and end-user," said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, President, Razer USA. "Razer Synapse 2.0 gives gamers a convenient, single cloud-based platform to access, maintain, and store settings for all of their Razer devices. On-board memory, with its limited storage for user profiles, becomes obsolete when Razer Synapse 2.0 offers essentially unlimited space for all of your hardware settings."
Razer Synapse 2.0 will be launched for all next generation Razer devices and the software is currently in an internal beta stage. The next stage of closed beta will be rolled out initially to selected users of the multi-award winning Razer Naga, where up to 500 Razer Naga users can get a first glimpse of Razer Synapse 2.0 by signing up at http://www.razerzone.com/synapse2.
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