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- Motorola RAZR open for unlocked bootloader business, if the carrier says so
- Nokia shows off how it makes the N9, Americans watch with envy
- Symbian Anna update rolls out to compatible Nokia smartphones in the US
- Arduino-powered glove brings real sound effects to your make believe gun show (video)
- Square makes a larger mark on the brick-and-mortar scene, available in more outlets
- Linux kernel hits 3.1, adds support for NFC and Wiimotes
- HTC Radar 4G gets November 2nd launch date on T-Mobile with $100 price tag
- Mystery Moto tablet swings through the FCC, refuses to take any questions
- BMW presents car-to-x communication, wants vehicles to talk more (video)
- Samsung Transform Ultra does the QWERTY slide for Sprint
- Project Shellter: crowdsourcing 3D-printed homes for hermit crabs
- Siri ported to iPad, still getting silent treatment from Apple servers
- O2's Galaxy Nexus landing page confirms November availability, forgets to add price
- LG Optimus Eye: LTE smartphone renamed with a view to landing in Canada
- Dell XPS 14z review
- Amazon's new e-book format brings HTML5 support to your Kindle library
- Google launches Person Finder app following earthquake in Turkey
- Microsoft signs Compal deal, now takes money from half of all Android ODMs
- Nexus One takes a bite out of Ice Cream Sandwich, chews slowly
- Apple MacBook Pro (late 2011) line-up gets processor and graphics boost
- Ice Cream Sandwich supports USB game controllers and HDMI, turns your phone into full game console
- Google wants you to add writers on Google+, so do writers
- Netflix to expand to UK, Ireland in 'early 2012,' looks to challenge Lovefilm
- GoPro launches HD Hero2 helmet cam, announces video streaming Wi-Fi pack for winter
- Scientists build logic gates out of gut bacteria, then hopefully wash their hands
- WIREDoo search engine gets running man stamp of approval (video)
- How would you change Apple's OS X 10.7 (Lion)?
- Inhabitat's Week in Green: quantum levitation, Zombie-Powered Vertical Farm and Macquariums
- Dell Latitude ST promo video shows off stylus, docking station
- Chromebooks now available to enterprise and education customers with a pay-once option
- Switched On: Android's tablet traversal
- Engadget Mobile Podcast 109 - 10.23.2011
- Nikon D300s travels to the edge of space, survives to share the results
| Motorola RAZR open for unlocked bootloader business, if the carrier says so Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:09 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia shows off how it makes the N9, Americans watch with envy Posted: 24 Oct 2011 11:46 AM PDT We're not ashamed to say it, we love Nokia's MeeGo-running N9. We love its stillborn (but still awesome) OS, its liquid-looking display and gorgeous machined polycarbonate shell. Now, we can see how that glorious bit of Finnish hardware gets put together in the newly released video seen above. So sit back, relax and let the precision manufacturing wash over you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Symbian Anna update rolls out to compatible Nokia smartphones in the US Posted: 24 Oct 2011 11:26 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arduino-powered glove brings real sound effects to your make believe gun show (video) Posted: 24 Oct 2011 11:11 AM PDT  The days of air-punching invisible Daleks and making your own sound effects are over: a team from Carnegie Mellon's Human-Computer Interaction course have built a glove that does it all for you. The Augmented Hyper-Reality Glove can identify upper-cuts and karate chops using flex and tilt sensors and play the accompanying sound effect using an Arduino-powered Adafruit wave shield. We can see some potential downsides -- flirtatious finger-gun fusillades accompanied by the sound of cannon fire might just ruin your date. If you're undaunted by such social faux pas, see the toy your inner-child always wanted in action after the break. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Square makes a larger mark on the brick-and-mortar scene, available in more outlets Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:46 AM PDT  Best Buy, Target, Walmart, The Shack, Apple. All of the above are now proudly selling the Square credit card reader, according to a tweet sent out by CEO Jack Dorsey. It's great news for anyone willing to shell out a ten-spot in order to conduct business from their iOS device right away, rather than waiting between two and five days for a free one to show up in the mail. If you need one today, you'd best be calling up your local retail outlet to make sure they have some in stock. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Linux kernel hits 3.1, adds support for NFC and Wiimotes Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:19 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HTC Radar 4G gets November 2nd launch date on T-Mobile with $100 price tag Posted: 24 Oct 2011 09:49 AM PDT  "In time for the holidays" has now been clarified to mean November 2nd. Nearly a month after T-Mobile initially unveiled the US version of the Windows Phone 7.5-containing HTC Radar, its Facebook page trumpeted the date along with its accompanying $100 cost attached to a two-year contract and after $50 mail-in rebate. So if this little 3.8-inch darling with 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 5MP rear camera and 4G network compatibility is on your wish list, you don't have to wait much longer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mystery Moto tablet swings through the FCC, refuses to take any questions Posted: 24 Oct 2011 09:20 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BMW presents car-to-x communication, wants vehicles to talk more (video) Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:47 AM PDT  When cars talk to each other. 21.10.2011 The key to intelligent driving, which is synonymous with energy-efficient and safe driving, is forward thinking. To help drivers plan ahead, vehicles from the BMW Group are already fitted with a large number of sensors designed to improve safety, comfort and efficiency. Often, however, these sensors have only a limited predictive capability or "horizon". "Car-to-x" communication extends this horizon significantly, and will in future allow drivers to "see" long distances ahead, into areas currently hidden from view, and even around not just one but many corners. Car-to-x communication means electronic networking of vehicles and roadside infrastructure, with the aim of exchanging information directly both between road users and between road users and roadside infrastructure such as traffic lights. Car-to-x communication is a comprehensive communication network which any road user can take part in. Car-to-x communication usually operates via WLAN or mobile phone connections. For standard automotive application, car-to-x communication at present uses high-speed WLAN networking based on the high-frequency WLAN IEEE802.11p/ G5A standard, which is designed to allow real-time communication. The protocol allows large numbers of participants to communicate simultaneously without interference. At the same time the performance of mobile phone networks is improving steadily, with an increase in bandwidth and a reduction in data lag – the so-called latency times. Therefore, this type of medium, too, is becoming increasingly important for car-to-car communication, for example as a complement to direct communication via WLAN. Connectivity brings added value. Integrated and connected vehicle functions are nothing new within the BMW Group. Connectivity for infotainment applications already made its debut in the 1990s with BMW ConnectedDrive. For some years, the focus of development work in the BMW Group has been shifting increasingly towards integrated and connected comfort and, in particular, safety functions. Here, car-to-x communication opens up completely new potential. In the event of a hazard, extensive connectivity between vehicles allows oncoming and following traffic to be given advance warning of potential dangers, and therefore to react appropriately and in good time. But warnings are only one possible use of this communication platform. Since infrastructure data, too – for example about traffic light phases – can be integrated into this communication system, information is available which allows drivers to easily adapt their driving style for even greater efficiency, thereby significantly reducing vehicle emissions. This technology therefore offers new solutions not only for proactive safety and accident prevention but also for intelligent energy management. "The more information I have about the rest of my journey – for example, if I know in advance when traffic lights will change, or if I know that an accident has just happened further along the route – the more promptly I can react, which means I have less stress and can either avoid hazardous situations altogether or at least reduce the risk." (Karl-Ernst Steinberg, Head of Information and Communication Technologies at BMW Group Research and Technology). In combination with existing vehicle sensors, car-to-x communication provides a valuable starting point or enhancement for a wide range of BMW ConnectedDrive driver assistance and information systems of the future. These technologies, combined with the driver's own input, create an extremely high-performance macrosystem capable of ensuring a safe and efficient journey from start to finish. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Transform Ultra does the QWERTY slide for Sprint Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:20 AM PDT  Samsung Transform™ Ultra Highly-customizable Android experience Samsung Transform Ultra is a premium android powered device that delivers a truly customizable experience even faster than before and at an affordable price. Samsung Transform Ultra, powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, features access to Google Mobile™ services and more than 250,000 applications through Android Market. It has a powerful 1GHz processor, a 3MP rear-facing camera and VGA front-facing camera for video chat while on the go. Equipped with Sprint ID users can also completely customize their experience based on their needs and interests. Users can automatically get ringers, wallpapers, apps and widgets downloaded to your phone in one click. Productivity • 3.5" HVGA touch screen with full QWERTY keyboard • 1GHz processor • Android 2.3 with Sprint ID customizable user interface • Sprint 3G (EVDO Rev. A) network Entertainment and Personalization • Dual Cameras- 3 MP camera and VGA front facing camera • Sprint ID, a user-friendly means of customizing Android content on mobile phones. Allows users to instantly download ID packs that deliver a predefined experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all at once. • Android Market™ – browse and download thousands of free and paid apps from around the world • WiFi and GPS capable • MP3 Player with MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32GB) • Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless technology Specifications • Processor: 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 • Dimensions: 4.57 x 2.40 x 0.55 inches; 4.9 ounces • Display: HVGA 480 x 320 pixels • RAM/ROM: 512MB/2GB • 1500 mAh Li-ION inner cell battery with up to 7 hours1 continuous talk time | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Shellter: crowdsourcing 3D-printed homes for hermit crabs Posted: 24 Oct 2011 07:46 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Siri ported to iPad, still getting silent treatment from Apple servers Posted: 24 Oct 2011 07:20 AM PDT  Developers wasted no time bringing Siri to the iPhone 4, and nine days later, it's been brought to the iPad as well. This version, running on a first-generation jailbroken Apple tablet, suffers from a similar problem as past non-iPhone 4S ports: it's still not talking to Apple's data servers. This means that until devs manage to get voice commands recognized and initiated, the iPad's unofficial virtual assistant will remain effectively gagged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O2's Galaxy Nexus landing page confirms November availability, forgets to add price Posted: 24 Oct 2011 06:56 AM PDT  It's no secret that O2's set to release its Galaxy Nexus variant come this November, but a recently live landing page on the UK telecom's website is serving up some extras. As expected, its customers will be unwrapping the 21Mbps HSPA+ version of the device, but sadly, the question remains as to how much it'll cost. While a leaked Verizon document evidently has this Android 4.0 flagship pegged at $300 on-contract, O2's left nary a mention about pricing. With a handful of carriers now firmly under this 4.65-incher's belt, it's time for others to defrost their Ice Cream Sandwich release plans. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG Optimus Eye: LTE smartphone renamed with a view to landing in Canada Posted: 24 Oct 2011 06:28 AM PDT LG's biggest, fastest phone to date, previously known as the Optimus LTE, has made its first landing outside of Korea. In a not-so-thinly-veiled reference to the retina display-beating resolution density, it's now answering to the name, Optimus Eye. The smartphone's been leaked in a preview video from The Source, a Canadian retailer which is owned by Bell -- who'll evidently be making the phone available on their network. We also get to see LG's latest AH-IPS display technology in action, alongside a dual-core 1.5GHz processor and the increasingly standard eight megapixel shooter. No whisperings just yet on pricing or a launch date, but we'd expect these top-drawer specifications to be matched with an appropriately top-drawer price tag when it does arrive. You can eye it up for yourself after the break. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 24 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT  Like these other laptops, the 14z commands a premium over cheaper models, with beefier specs and a (supposedly) more luxurious design. With Core i5 and i7 processor options, discrete graphics, USB 3.0 and an optional solid-state drive, it offers a lot of the same specs as its peers, though it manages to stand out in a couple key ways. One, it sports an LG Shuriken display, which crams a 14-inch screen into a chassis normally reserved for 13-inch systems (translation: its bezels are super narrow). And with a starting weight of 4.36 pounds, it's lighter than a lot of the other laptops you're probably considering. But are these bullet points enough to make it a smart buy? Read on to find out. Look and feel With the exception of that Shuriken display, the XPS 14z is essentially the XPS 15z, cut down to size. Which is to say, it bears an imperfect resemblance to a MacBook Pro. Once again, you'll find smooth aluminum surfaces, clean lines and a backlit keyboard flanked by long speaker strips. As we pointed out last time around, it even borrows Apple's tiny arrow keys and rubberized feet. Thankfully, though, Dell seems to have heard some of our gripes about the 15z -- this time, the company stacked some of the ports on the back edge, whereas the 15z crams them all on the left side. Good riddance, we say -- it's an impractical enough design choice when Apple does it. Speaking of ports, Dell included HDMI, a Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, headphone and mic ports, a 7-in-1 memory card reader and two USB ports (one 2.0, the other 3.0). Truth be told, this isn't even the most shameless Mac impersonation we've seen (that might well be HP's Envy laptops). In addition to its magnesium alloy build and little black feet, the 14z adds design flourishes that would never fly in Cupertino. For one, it has discrete touch buttons and the kind of recessed hinge that's become Dell's signature over the past few years. Additionally, it sports the same chrome accents, ridged hinge and patterned speakers / vents adorning the 15z. In conversations with Dell, company reps told us the 14z is aimed at creative types who feel the need to express their personality through their notebooks. Specifically, that means people who like a few embellishments on their $1,000 laptop. The peculiar thing about the 14z is that it's one of the more ergonomically sound laptops we've tested recently, even though it doesn't feel like the high-end notebook it's supposed to be. On the one hand, that sunken hinge means that when you rest the laptop on your lap, the weight distribution between the chassis and display feels balanced. What's more, it does a marvelous job of expelling heat -- even after settling in for a few hours of work on the couch, our legs never felt the burn (we wish we could say the same about the MacBook Pro).  At 4.36 pounds (4.12 if you upgrade to an SSD), it feels reasonably lightweight, especially considering you get the benefit of a larger display than is typically used in a laptop with these dimensions. (The 13-inch MacBook Pro weighs 4.5 pounds, for instance.) Dell also says this is the thinnest "fully functional" 14-inch laptop, at 0.9 inches (23mm) thick, though if we're being honest, we wouldn't describe it as skinny, per se. (Plus, uber specific superlatives are kind of silly.) It does offer clean lines, though, particularly with that hinge that makes the lid lie flat. It's also worth pointing out that even though this thing packs an 8-cell battery, it's completely flush with the system, meaning you won't find any unsightly bulges here. Then again, that battery is non-removable, which may or may not be your cup of tea. But if one of Dell's goals was to build a premium laptop that celebrates attention to detail, it fell short. For all its aluminum and chrome trim, the 14z feels common. While you may or may not notice that it's made from multiple pieces of mag-alloy as opposed to a unibody frame, it's difficult to ignore the palm rest and deck, which are coated in a slick, warm-to-the-touch finish. In fact, it's easy to mistake the interior for plastic -- an irony, given that one of Dell's selling points here is that the entire laptop (even the bottom) is fashioned out of metal. Meanwhile, the lower-end Inspiron 14z ($599.99 and up) also measures a little less than an inch thick and sports a sunken hinge, 1366 x 768 display, optional backlit keyboard and a (mostly) metal chassis. It's true that the Inspiron 14z has a tray-loading optical drive and a bulge on the bottom where the battery sits, but we wish the XPS 14z made a more convincing case for why people should get this instead of the $600 model. Keyboard and trackpad Though not perfect, the 14z's keyboard is one of the better ones we've been treated to lately. Unlike lots of other chiclet-style 'boards we've tested, these keys actually have some depth to them. That extra travel means we didn't have to worry about mashing the buttons to make sure our presses registered. Depending on your tastes, though, one possible downside to that kind of tactility is that typing can get quite noisy. At least that low-pitched click is backed up by a sturdy, bend-free panel. The keys also have a slick finish that matches the palm rest, and while we thought that would be a problem, we banged out emails, web searches and this very review at blazing speeds, with only a handful of spelling errors slowing us down. If a reviewer's posture is any indication, picture us leaning back on a couch, legs propped up on the coffee table, with the 14z resting comfortably in our lap. A good sign, given that we've written many a laptop review hunched over the keyboard, cursing. And yes, to answer the question on many of your minds, this keyboard is backlit, and it is a standard feature. The white glow behind the keys is gorgeous, and goes further in making this look like a high-end machine than, say, that embellished hinge. Happily, it'll kick in regardless of whether you're working in a dark or well-lit room. It even glows when the laptop has been sitting idle for some time. And for those of you who think backlit keyboards are just a design flourish that helps justify its higher cost, you might be right -- if you're not the kind to work through an overnight flight or wake up at the crack of dawn to pound out a 4,000-word review in your dim living room (ahem).  Display and sound If you're looking for a high-res display to go with your backlit keyboard and magnesium alloy chassis, you'll be sorely disappointed. The 14z offers a 1366 x 768 panel, putting it in the same boat as the HP Envy 14 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro, whose 1280 x 800 pixel count is nothing to crow about either. Honestly, this is pretty standard fare for 13- and 14-inch laptops, though there are a few gems offering more pixels per inch. The ASUS Zenbook UX31 Ultrabook comes standard with a 1600 x 900 screen, as does the Sony VAIO SA, whose starting price recently dropped to $1,000, putting it on par with the 14z and Envy 14. But the pixel count doesn't tell the whole story. The extra screen real estate the Shuriken display provides is just glorious. Though it might seem like a trivial difference, having virtually no bezel meant we enjoyed a noticeably larger canvas than we're used to on typical 13-inch machines. You may still feel the squeeze if you use Windows 7's Snap feature to view two pages side by side, but we otherwise appreciated the broader workspace.  As you may have gathered, we wrote much of this review in a dimly lit room, and the 200-nit display was bright enough that we never felt the strain. The viewing angles are mixed. On the one hand, if you watch from off to the side you should be able to follow along, though as you approach an oblique 180-degree angle, the contrast predictably becomes too severe to follow along. We noticed less flexibility when viewing the screen head-on, though. Even if you dip the screen forward slightly, the picture turns pale and washed-out. Though the speakers are loud, the sound quality's pretty tinny. Not just tinny -- after all, most laptops are -- but also buzzy and distorted, especially at the max volume. Though the XPS 14z is marketed as a premium system, the audio is mediocre at best. Performance and graphicsOur $1,300 test laptop came armed with a 2.8GHz Core i7-2640M CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 750GB 7,200RPM drive and dual graphics cards, with Intel's HD 3000 on the integrated side and NVIDIA's GeForce GT520M with 1GB video memory on the discrete. Unsurprisingly, its benchmark scores generally fall below what you'd get with a system that has an SSD, but outrank machines running on Core i5 CPUs and HDDs. Still, the 14z doesn't exactly steamroll more modestly specced laptops either. For instance, a $1,400 configuration of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 logged an awfully similar PCMark Vantage score, even though it has a Core i5 processor, integrated graphics and half the RAM. The 14z also boots in 53 seconds, which is reasonable for a typical Windows 7 laptop, but slower, perhaps, than what we were expecting, given the stellar components powering this thing.
And if numbers are any indication, the 14's graphics performance isn't the cream of the crop. When we reviewed the current-generation HP Envy 14, we tested a less expensive $1,080 configuration that combined a Core i5 processor, 7,200RPM drive and dual graphics with AMD's 1GB Radeon HD 6630M on the discrete side. It costs two hundred dollars less than our XPS 14z unit and has a weaker processor to match, but managed to outperform the 14z in 3DMark06 by 1,800 points. Additionally, our 14z's 3DMark score is similar to what we got from a $1,000 Sony VAIO SB with a Core i5 CPU, 5,400RPM drive and a Radeon HD 6470M card with just 512MB of video memory. For a configuration that costs so much more, we would have expected it to have the most graphics oomph. All that said, the 14z can hold its own in multitasking, and ran without a hiccup while we juggled a dozen browser tabs, re-sized a group of pictures in BatchPhoto and installed a series of programs. Over a few days of using the 14z as our primary computer, we did notice it produces a fair amount of fan noise, even when left idle. It's a subtle enough sound that you won't hear it over music or a TV, but you might well if you're sitting at your desk with few other distractions in the background. Battery lifeWhat the 14z lacks in screaming benchmark scores, it makes up for in relatively long battery life. Under the best circumstances, Dell promises up to six hours and 42 minutes of juice. But that's for the US market, specifically. In China, Dell's promising six hours and 58 minutes of runtime. According to the footnotes in the guide that Dell sends to reviewers, it used our configuration with a Core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM to arrive at that estimate for the US market. Projected battery life for the Chinese market is based on tests with a machine that had a Core i5 CPU and 4GB of memory. Not that we expected to hit either of those ceilings. In our standard rundown test, which involves looping a movie off the local drive with WiFi on and the brightness fixed to 65 percent, it lasted four hours and 54 minutes. Not bad when you consider the HP Envy 14 crapped out an hour earlier. Meanwhile, the VAIO SB series, another machine with dual graphics, made it three and a half hours in so-called speed mode, and lasted five hours and 11 minutes in "stamina mode," putting it on par with the 14z. Software Oy. Dell's really not doing anything to combat its reputation for saddling its laptops with crapware. On board, you'll find Roxio Creator Starter, McAfee Security Center, Skype 4.2 with matching toolbars, Zinio Reader 4 and Nero SyncUp. The company also threw in a generous helping of its own software, including the Dell Stage launcher where you'll find shortcuts for music, photos, et cetera. Then there's Dell's DataSafe local and online backup, which affords you 2GB of storage, gratis. The worst part is that it's all so intrusive. As soon as you start up the machine, you'll be assaulted by pop-ups reminding you to back up your data, activate McAfee, update your security settings and accept Nero's EULA. We've seen PCs with minimal software loads, but it's because of systems like this that Windows machines have earned a bad rap for being stuffed with unwanted software. In any case, we're hoping this will machine will be available through the Microsoft Store, which sells PCs with much of the bloatware stripped out. Update: A Microsoft rep confirmed that the Microsoft Store will indeed sell a trialware-free version of the XPS 14z. Configuration optionsThough the configuration we tested rings in at $1,300, the XPS 14z starts at $1,000 with a 2.4GHz Core i5-2430M processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive and integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics. From there, you can swap in the 2.8GHz Core i7 processor we tested, up to 8GB of RAM and either a 750GB 7,200RPM drive or a 256GB SSD. On the graphics side, of course, you can get that GT520M card with 1GB of video memory, and you can also elect to add NVIDIA's Optimus graphics-switching technology. Regardless, you'll get an 8-cell battery and slot-loading DVD burner (Blu-ray isn't an option here). If you're curious, a tricked-out model with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, NVIDIA Optimus and a 256GB SSD will set you back $1,600. The competition The 14z isn't alone in that space of $1,000 laptops that command a premium for a striking design and nice performance boost. In HP's camp, there's the Envy 14, which, like the 14z, starts at $1,000 with a 2.4GHz Core i5-2430M processor, eight-cell battery and a 500GB 7,200RPM drive. However, it packs 6GB of RAM, not four, and the standard graphics card is an AMD Radeon HD 6630 with 1GB of video memory. We'd argue it's also a more striking machine, but it's also significantly heavier, at 5.7 pounds, and with a 14.5-inch (1366 x 768) display, you're not getting that much more screen real estate in return. Moving on to Sony, the company has two 13-inch laptops - the SB series ($800 and up) and the higher-end SA ($1,000 and up) -- that can compete with the XPS 14z. We won't dwell too much on the SB, since even the higher-end specs are fairly modest, but the SA -- now, that's a fierce match for the 14z. For the starting price of $1,000, you get the same 2.4GHz Core i5 processor that the 14z starts with, but the resolution is 1600 x 900 and the graphics card is an AMD Radeon HD 6630M with 1GB of video memory. (Then again, that model comes with a slower 5,400RPM drive.) Like the 14z, the SA is offered with the 2.8GHz Core i7 CPU we tested, though if you had the money and enthusiasm you could add a Blu-ray player and up to 1TB in solid-state storage (dual drives, mind you). With the 14z, the maximum capacity is 750GB, and that's with an HDD; with an SSD it's just 256GB. And what of that MacBook Pro? The 13-incher starts at a higher price -- $1,199 -- and comes with more modest specs, including a 2.3GHz Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, integrated Intel graphics, a 1280 x 800 display and a 320GB 5,400RPM hard drive. It's well-designed with great battery life, to be sure, but no one ever said it was a bang-for-your buck laptop. Wrap-up We cranked out a lot of work on this thing. We typed thousands upon thousands of words on this laptop, and barely noticed the keyboard and trackpad -- as good a sign as any that they've been designed with care. That expansive Shuriken display does indeed make a difference, while other key details like long battery life, a light build, sunken hinge and an effective heat management system make it one ergonomically sound laptop. We can think of more arresting laptops with beefier entry-level specs, such as the Envy 14 and VAIO SA, but the XPS 14z is nonetheless a sensible choice, even if it's not the fastest or prettiest.
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| Amazon's new e-book format brings HTML5 support to your Kindle library Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:38 AM PDT  "Great looking books." That's what Amazon is promising to deliver with Kindle Format 8 (KF8) -- a new, HTML5-based file format for Kindle books. According to the company, KF8 will allow publishers to produce picture books, comics and graphic novels with greater ease, thanks to the platform's rich formatting capabilities and design elements. In fact, this format brings more than 150 new formatting tools to the table, including fixed layouts, nested tables, sidebars and Scalable Vector Graphics, among others. It should be noted, however, that audio and video are not included on the list of supported HTML tags and CSS elements. At first, content creators will only be able to use KF8 for the Kindle Fire tablet, though Amazon says it'll gradually expand to its entire lineup of devices and apps "in the coming months." No word yet on when KF8 will become available as an update to Amazon's Kindle Publisher Tools suite, but you can find more details at the source link, below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google launches Person Finder app following earthquake in Turkey Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:16 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft signs Compal deal, now takes money from half of all Android ODMs Posted: 24 Oct 2011 04:49 AM PDT  [Thanks, Majed] Microsoft Corp. and Compal Electronics, Inc. have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for Compal's tablets, mobile phones, e-readers and other consumer devices running the Android or Chrome Platform. Although the contents of the agreement have not been disclosed, the parties indicate that Microsoft will receive royalties from Compal under the agreement. "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Compal, one of the leaders in the original design manufacturing, or ODM, industry. Together with the license agreements signed in the past few months with Wistron and Quanta Computer, today's agreement with Compal means more than half of the world's ODM industry for Android and Chrome devices is now under license to Microsoft's patent portfolio," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. "We are proud of the continued success of our licensing program in resolving IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome." Microsoft's Commitment to Licensing Intellectual Property The patent agreement is another example of the important role IP plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 700 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsoft's significant R&D investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio. More information about Microsoft's licensing programs is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing/. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nexus One takes a bite out of Ice Cream Sandwich, chews slowly Posted: 24 Oct 2011 04:01 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple MacBook Pro (late 2011) line-up gets processor and graphics boost Posted: 24 Oct 2011 03:32 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ice Cream Sandwich supports USB game controllers and HDMI, turns your phone into full game console Posted: 24 Oct 2011 03:08 AM PDT   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google wants you to add writers on Google+, so do writers Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:00 AM PDT  Find an interesting article, add its author. That's the very simple idea behind a very simple feature that Google has just begun testing. As TechCrunch recently noticed, Big G has started rolling out a new "add to Circles" button within some search results, allowing readers to more easily and instantaneously follow their favorite web authors on Google+. Writer profiles have already been integrated within search pages, but until now, users had to actually click on author pages before following them. This new circle button, on the other hand, cuts out that middle click and seems like a logical next step in Google's ongoing integration. It also seems like a great way to help writers feel better about themselves, which we always support. And if you're not seeing it, you're not going crazy -- Google's just rolling it out to only a few users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netflix to expand to UK, Ireland in 'early 2012,' looks to challenge Lovefilm Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:42 AM PDT  Netflix to Launch Service in the UK and Ireland for Streaming Movies and TV Shows in Early 2012 LOS GATOS, Calif., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the leading global Internet movie subscription service, today announced it will expand to the United Kingdom andIreland in early 2012, offering unlimited TV shows and movies streaming instantly over the Internet to TVs and computers for one low monthly subscription price. Upon launch, Netflix members from the UK and Ireland will be able to instantly watch a wide array of TV shows and movies right on their TVs via a range of consumer electronics devices capable of streaming from Netflix, as well as on PCs, Macs and mobile tablets and phones. Further details about the service, including pricing, content and supported devices, will be announced closer to launch. Netflix has been streaming to U.S. members since 2007, adding Canada in 2010 and 43 countries in Latin America and theCaribbean in September 2011. Netflix has revolutionized entertainment across the Americas by giving its members a huge selection of movies and TV shows to enjoy when and where they want. People interested in becoming members of Netflix in the UK or Ireland can go to www.netflix.com to sign up to receive an email alert letting them know when Netflix has launched in their country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GoPro launches HD Hero2 helmet cam, announces video streaming Wi-Fi pack for winter Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:01 AM PDT  The HD Hero2 comes in three $300 configurations: outdoor, motorsports, and surf editions, all of which are compatible with existing accessories. Too rich for your blood? Then you'll be happy to know that the previous models are getting price drops -- $200 for the original HD Hero and a paltry $150 for its "960" variant. Hit the break for the official PR and a full list of features. GoPro® Launches HD HERO2® Camera Announces Wi-Fi Remote Control and Video Streaming 2x More Powerful in Every Way, The HD HERO2 Democratizes Professional Image Capture and Broadcast with Support for Remote Control and Live Video Streaming from Virtually Anywhere to the Web HALF MOON BAY, CA (October 24, 2011) – GoPro today announced the release of its new HD HERO2® camera. Twice as powerful as GoPro's original HD HERO camera, the HD HERO2 enables consumers and professionals to capture and broadcast their lives most exciting moments in professional quality 1080p HD video and 11 megapixel photos. The new HD HERO2 is now available at GoPro.com, specialty retailers around the world, and at Best Buy for MSRP $299.99. Arguably the most versatile camera in the world thanks to its innovative mounting system, renowned durability and small form factor, the HD HERO2 surpasses its predecessor with several technology upgrades. The HD HERO2's new processor delivers twice the processing power, taking full advantage of a new high performance 11 megapixel sensor that delivers more than twice the image detail along with professional low light performance. A totally redesigned wide-angle lens was required to take full advantage of the HD HERO2's increased image processing, resulting in a lens thatʼs twice as sharp as the previous model. And with the arrival of GoPro's new Wi-Fi BacPac™ and Wi-Fi Remote products slated for release this winter, the HD HERO2 will enable video remote control via the Wi-Fi Remote, smartphones and devices, tablets and computers as well as enabling live GoPro video broadcast from anywhere there is Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot. Famous for its globally best-selling HD HERO line of wearable and gear mountable cameras, GoPro spared no expense developing the HD HERO2.GoPro created a new category of camera with the HD HERO back in 2009, and itʼs gone on to become one of the best selling video cameras in the world," says Nicholas Woodman, GoProʼs founder and CEO. "With these big shoes to fill, we invested massively in engineering the HD HERO2 to be one of the greatest, most versatile cameras of all time. We think weʼve achieved our goal and weʼre very excited to see the content our customers around the world capture and share with their powerful new GoPros." 2x as Powerful in Every Way: The HD HERO2 benefits from a complete redesign that results in dramatically enhanced image quality and ease-of-use: List of HD HERO2 Feature Enhancements: • Professional 11MP Sensor • 2x Faster Image Processor • 2X Sharper Glass Lens • Professional Low Light Performance • Full 170º, Medium 127º, Narrow 90º FOV in 1080p and 720p Video • 120 fps WVGA, 60 fps 720p, 48 fps 960p, 30 fps 1080p Video • Full 170º and Medium 127º FOV Photos • 10 11MP Photos Per Second Burst • 1 11MP Photo Every 0.5 Sec Timelapse Mode • 3.5mm External Stereo Microphone Input • Simple Language-based User Interface • Compatible with Wi-Fi BacPac™ and Wi-Fi Remote™ - Long Range Remote Control of up to 50 GoPro Cameras per Wifi Remote - Wi-Fi Video/Photo Preview, Playback and Control via GoPro App - Live Streaming Video and Photos to the Web Visit http://gopro.com/hd-hero2-cameras/ for more information on the HD HERO2, Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote products. Upgraded Professional Photo Quality and Features The HD HERO2ʼs photo capture performance has also been significantly upgraded. In addition to much improved low light performance, the HD HERO2 can capture up to ten 11 megapixel photos in a one second burst mode as well as automatic time-lapse photos with quick .5 second timing between photos. This dramatically increases the success-rate when attempting to capture magazine cover quality photos during fast action sports and activities. Simplified User Interface GoPro also placed a priority on redesigning the HD HERO2ʼs user interface for dead simple ease-of-use. The HD HERO2 features a totally new, straightforward language-based user interface that eliminates the need for instructions. "The HD HERO2 is much, much easier to use than the original HD HERO. If you know how to use a traditional camera, you can use the HD HERO2 straight out of the box without instructions. This makes the HD HERO2 very powerful as an every day, easy to use consumer camera while retaining all of the features, modes and performance that has made GoPro the best selling small form factor HD camera to Hollywood," said GoProʼs Director of Product Definition, Rudy Samuels. Specialized Right Down to the Packaging The HD HERO2 sells in three bundled-accessory configurations, each containing the necessary mounts for particular genres of use or activity. The HD HERO2 is backwards compatible with all existing GoPro mounts and accessories. HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition - $299.99 HD HERO2: Motorsports Edition - $299.99 HD HERO2: Surf Edition - $299.99 The original 1080p HD HERO camera is now available for MSRP $199.99 - $239.99 (USD) (pre- viously $259.99 - $299.99) through GoPro.com and GoProʼs worldwide authorized dealer network. The Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote are also compatible with the original HD HERO camera, but functionality is limited to remote control only. Video and photo streaming is not supported. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientists build logic gates out of gut bacteria, then hopefully wash their hands Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:42 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WIREDoo search engine gets running man stamp of approval (video) Posted: 23 Oct 2011 08:59 PM PDT  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How would you change Apple's OS X 10.7 (Lion)? Posted: 23 Oct 2011 07:40 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inhabitat's Week in Green: quantum levitation, Zombie-Powered Vertical Farm and Macquariums Posted: 23 Oct 2011 05:01 PM PDT  Renewable energy also rocketed towards a more sustainable tomorrow as Japan's team Tokai took first place in the World Solar Challenge and Apple filed a set of patents for next-generation solar technology. Meanwhile Facebook announced plans to launch a new energy efficiency app in 2012 and we launched a contest where you can win one of 25 $600 home energy audits. We also showcased a stunning set of satellite photos of the world's power lines, and since Halloween is on its way, we brought you a Zombie-Powered Vertical Farm designed to keep its inhabitants safe from the Living Dead. Speaking of Halloween, this week we shared instructions for making a DIY cardboard box robot costume, and we launched our 2011 Green Halloween Costume Contest for kids. We also brought you several developments from the realm of eco textiles -- a material that repairs its own rips and tears and a Japanese company that recycles old bras into power-generating fuel. Finally, we showcased several slick developments in aqueous technology: an oil skimmer that cleans up spills four times faster, an artificial muscle that could one day propel nanobots through the body, and a quirky set of 'Macquariums' made from Apple iMacs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dell Latitude ST promo video shows off stylus, docking station Posted: 23 Oct 2011 04:20 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chromebooks now available to enterprise and education customers with a pay-once option Posted: 23 Oct 2011 03:28 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Switched On: Android's tablet traversal Posted: 23 Oct 2011 01:37 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.  Still, Rubin conceded, it was a tally far behind that of the 30 million cumulative units of the iPad, which broke open the modern-day tablet category, extended its lead with the iPad 2, and will likely see another revision this coming spring. When Apple introduced its tablet device, it set a precedent for third-party developers by rewriting core applications to take advantage of the iPad's larger display with "HD" versions. And while there are still far fewer native iPad apps than iPhone apps, Apple is far ahead in the race for native tablet software. But not everyone wants to join that race. In contrast to Apple, Google has not differentiated between Android apps optimized for smaller screens on handsets and larger ones on tablets. While Honeycomb represented an operating system just for tablets, Google doesn't believe that apps should follow suit. As a result, while many Android apps run on Honeycomb, they exhibit a spartan, airy feel resulting from a stretched-out phone experience. Google -- via Android Market -- has done little to highlight which apps provide a superior tablet experience. During the Gingerbread / Honeycomb split, it was perhaps more understandable that Android developers would hold off on supporting tablet dimensions until the reunification of the platform that has occurred with Ice Cream Sandwich. Now, though, Google puts forth that a well-written Ice Cream Sandwich app should run well -- (does that imply scale?) -- on smartphones and tablets (as well as TVs). Android, infamous for its variation among multiple screen sizes, has in a small way turned the tables on Apple, which admits that the iPad and iPhone represent two separate iOS targets. This will come at a cost. Without any objective criteria for what constitutes an Android tablet app, the degree of "tablet-readiness" will likely vary significantly among apps. The iPad will likely continue to deliver a better overall tablet app experience because iPad apps are optimized for its screen size. The advantage thus falls to Apple, at least in the short-term. But looking a bit more deeply into the Android ecosystem shows why conceding a 9.7-inch optimization makes sense. Not only are we seeing Android tablets ship in two main screen sizes of 10.1-inch and 7-inch, but we are seeing many other variations such as the 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab 8.9, the 8-inch Archos 80, and the 5-inch Galaxy Player 5.0. While products such as the 12-inch JooJoo and 14-inch Kno textbook reader had brief or aborted marketplace entries, perhaps we'll even see Android tablets larger than 10-inches. Such expansive canvases would make it easier to read documents such as magazines, textbooks and sheet music. In the US smartphone market, Android's growth was driven largely by Verizon's promotion of Droid smartphones versus the iPhone. But it wasn't just a carrier push phenomenon. Consumers flocked to the devices, and now, even as Verizon has the iPhone, Android handsets serve as the exclusive smartphone on ramps for its LTE network, greatly incentivizing the carrier to favor those devices. With the tablet market being much less tied to cellular connections, the intermediaries behind Android are not as strong (Kindle Fire notwithstanding), and the iPad remains far ahead of Honeycomb tablets. Over time, though, lower average prices, more configuration options (such as tablets with integrated or detachable keyboards), and better (if not iPad-level) tablet app support, should set up Android tablets to narrow the gap. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director and principal analyst of the NPD Connected Intelligence service at The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Mobile Podcast 109 - 10.23.2011 Posted: 23 Oct 2011 01:00 PM PDT  Host: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Daestro - Light Powered (Ghostly International) 00:01:30 - Nokia N9 review 00:09:45 - Galaxy Nexus, Ice Cream Sandwich roundup: specs, details and insight, oh my! 00:18:20 - Samsung Galaxy Nexus camera and 1080p video samples 00:28:25 - Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official, includes revamped design, enhancements galore 00:33:24 - HTC: We're reviewing Ice Cream Sandwich and determining our plans 00:48:42 - Motorola Droid RAZR unveiled: LTE, 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, available November for $299 00:50:00 - Motorola RAZR to get updated to Ice Cream Sandwich in early 2012 01:00:30 - RIM announces PlayBook 2.0 Developer Beta and Runtime, marries Android to BlackBerry 01:04:45 - Research in Motion announces BBX, 'combines the best of BlackBerry and QNX' 01:07:05 - iPhone 4S review 01:08:30 - HTC Titan review 01:10:05 - HTC Amaze 4G review 01:14:15 - HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio review 01:19:10 - Is C-Spire getting the iPhone 4S? Its website says so (Update: confirmed) 01:22:34 - LG DoublePlay makes its official intro on T-Mobile, offers dual-screens and split keyboard 01:29:30 - Motorola Admiral to directly connect with Sprint on October 23rd for $100 01:31:03 - Sprint unleashes the HTC EVO Design 4G, available October 23rd for $100 01:34:25 - Microsoft doles out the dough to Nokia and Samsung, plans Mango marketing bonanza for year's end 01:35:15 - Microsoft's Andy Lees shows off Titan, Focus S, and Focus Flash 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nikon D300s travels to the edge of space, survives to share the results Posted: 23 Oct 2011 11:49 AM PDT  [Thanks, Udi] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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