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Engadget News

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• Nintendo patent posits Wiimote touchpad extension, looks like plumbing schematic
• Want a Nokia N9 in the US? Expansys has some, but it'll cost ya
• JTT Chobi Cam Pro is the Napoleon of cheap miniature cameras
• Google+ launches Pages for businesses and brands
• iHome goes retro futurist with new iP4 boombox speaker dock
• NYT: Disney, YouTube strike new content partnership, will launch kid-friendly channel
• Verizon to begin offering double the data for your buck tomorrow as a limited time promo
• Nook Tablet vs. Nook Color...Fight!
• NSK developing Kinect-laced robotic guide dog for the blind (video)
• Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet gets real, we go hands-on (video)
• ZTE Tania and LG Jil Sander Windows Phones hands-on
• Spotify app on Windows Phone hands-on (video)
• New Sony Bloggie Mobile HD Snap camera gets bowed design, FCC inspection
• Barnes & Noble launches in-store Nook stations
• Bell confirms arrival of LG Optimus LTE, hasn't settled on a name
• Barnes & Noble makes $199 Nook Color, $99 Nook Simple Touch official
• Nook Color goes multimedia with Hulu Plus, Pandora, Rhapsody, more
• Siri may pose 'competitive threat' to Google, Eric Schmidt tells Senate subcommittee
• Barnes & Noble launches Nook Tablet, lights a fire under Amazon
• Verizon confirms RAZR's launch date: November 11th at 11:11AM
• Motorola Droid RAZR review
• Best Buy to close UK operations, 1,100 jobs in jeopardy
• Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video)
• HP embraces this 3D thing, outs 2311gt monitor and second-gen Wireless TV Connect
• HP does the inevitable, announces the TouchSmart 620 with a 3D display and webcam (video)
• Belkin preps LiveAction camera remote for your iPhone
• John Opel, IBM CEO during onset of the PC era, dies at 86
• LG's thin and mighty P330 laptop surfaces at Korean retailer
• Tesla bucks industry standard with new charging system for Model S
• HTC announces specifics on Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades, includes Rezound
• Korg launches two new Monotrons, Duo and Delay: the clues are in the names (video)
• MyFord Touch Upgrade inbound, brings 'faster, simpler, easier' infotainment to your late-model whip
• Panasonic announces Lumix DMC-3D1: dual lenses, 12 megapixel sensors
• Panasonic launches Lumix DMC-GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera, we go hands-on
• How would you change Olympus' PEN E-PL3 and E-P3?
• Inhabitat's Week in Green: flexible OLEDs, wind-energy skyscrapers and 3D-printing spider robots
• HTC Vivid and Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket go on sale, lead AT&T's march on LTE
• Switched On: Motorola's manic modularity
• Blockbuster Express kiosks hike rental rates to keep offering new movies
• Dish Network letter to the FCC says its LTE plans can help bring broadband to every American

Nintendo patent posits Wiimote touchpad extension, looks like plumbing schematic Posted: 07 Nov 2011 10:26 AM PST This patent from Nintendo envisions how it could bring a touch interface to its Wiimotes through an (admittedly unwieldy-looking) controller extension. While the Wii U already looks set to bring touchscreen fun to all things big-screened and Nintendo-themed, this concept offers up touch functionality to existing Wiis through an infrared LED that picks up the location of your finger and transmits it periscope-style to the IR sensor on the Wiimote. If the screen remains untouched, the controller acts as normal -- or as normal as it can with that extra hardware heft.

Want a Nokia N9 in the US? Expansys has some, but it'll cost ya Posted: 07 Nov 2011 10:05 AM PST So you have a hankerin' for a new phone and seven Benjamins burning a hole in your pocket. What's a person to do? Even though Nokia won't be selling the N9 -- the company's one and only MeeGo device -- in the US through official channels, you can at least pick up one with relative ease courtesy of Expansys for a mere $690. From what we can tell, it only appears to be available in black for the moment. We'd love to see the myriad other colors come to the States as well, but when we do the math, one is still at least more than zero. Head to the source to see for yourself.

JTT Chobi Cam Pro is the Napoleon of cheap miniature cameras Posted: 07 Nov 2011 09:44 AM PST Unlike JTT's cutesy miniature DSLR, this new ¥6,000 ($76) Chobi Cam Pro could potentially be used for home monitoring or perhaps even wildlife photography. In addition to recording 12 megapixel stills and 720p motion JPEGs onto microSD, it also has a motion detector that can hold the camera in a state of readiness for up to two months. If nothing happens within that sort of timeframe, you probably failed to camouflage it properly.

Google+ launches Pages for businesses and brands Posted: 07 Nov 2011 09:22 AM PST It may have taken a while, but Google has now officially opened up Google+ to business and brands, not just individuals. It's calling it Google+ Pages, but there appears to be little difference between a Page and an individual account in practice -- you're able to add Pages to any of your regular Circles, and Page owners are able to post as usual and take part in Hangouts. Pages also naturally turn up in Google search results, and the company's introduced a new Direct Connect as well that lets you search specifically for Google+ Pages -- just type "+Google" or "+Angry Birds" in a Google search box and you'll be taken directly to the respective page. Both features are rolling out on a limited basis starting today, but Google's promising they'll be open to everyone soon.

iHome goes retro futurist with new iP4 boombox speaker dock Posted: 07 Nov 2011 09:13 AM PST We've seen a number of companies put a modern spin on the venerable boombox, but nothing quite like this new iP4 speaker dock from iHome. While it's unmistakingly a boombox, it looks more like a circa-1980s attempt to create a futuristic boombox than simply a modern boombox -- an unused prop from Back to the Future II, perhaps. It is decidedly modern when it comes to features, however, including a dock for your iPhone or iPod, an auxiliary input for your other devices, and a tiny remote. True to its boombox lineage, it can also be operated on six D cell batteries, and it even backs a five band graphic equalizer (updated slightly with an LCD display). Did we mention it's also available in pink? Look for this one to set you back $200.

NYT: Disney, YouTube strike new content partnership, will launch kid-friendly channel Posted: 07 Nov 2011 08:51 AM PST Disney is certainly no stranger to YouTube, but the company is looking to strengthen those ties today, with a new video partnership. According to the New York Times, Disney Interactive Media and YouTube have struck a deal that will bring original, kid-friendly content to a new co-branded online channel. Under the agreement, slated to be announced later today, the two parties will devote a combined $10 million to $15 million to video production, in the hopes of helping each other patch up some of their respective holes. From Disney's perspective, the deal could help attract more viewers, while funneling more users to its soon-to-be revamped website, which has seen a marked traffic decline in recent months. YouTube, meanwhile, could use the deal to help boost its reputation among parents, many of whom may have reservations about letting their youngsters loose on a site rife with unwholesome content. It may also signal a move toward those regularly scheduled channels we've been hearing so much about. We're still awaiting official confirmation on this, but we'll update this post as soon as we get it.

Verizon to begin offering double the data for your buck tomorrow as a limited time promo Posted: 07 Nov 2011 08:33 AM PST The blazing-fast speeds you get from LTE are absolutely wonderful, but the joyride you're relishing can be over rather quickly when you have a capped data plan. Verizon's reportedly offering new and existing 4G-wielding (read: 3G excluded) customers a nice holiday bonus beginning tomorrow: for the same monthly cost, Big Red will give you twice as much data. In other words, $30 will get you hooked up with 4GB, $50 delivers 10GB and $80 can land you a whopping 20GB of total LTE goodness; for everyone else, a 300MB plan should be available for $20. From the sound of it, the deal isn't going to be around for very long, you have to specifically request it via customer service or your online Verizon account and there's been no confirmation as to whether or not customers will be grandfathered into these plans as soon as they're gone. We're still awaiting word from Verizon on additional details, but the extra cap will go quite nicely with your brand-spankin' new RAZR or Galaxy Nexus, we'd say. VZW LTE FTW. Update: We just stumbled upon a leaked screenshot (shown below the break), courtesy of VZBuzz. If this is the real deal, it confirms that customers will be grandfathered into the promotional plans until they choose to move to a different feature.

Nook Tablet vs. Nook Color...Fight! Posted: 07 Nov 2011 08:13 AM PST So, we've already established that the Nook Tablet looks an awful lot like the Nook Color. Just how similar are they? Check out the above image of the devices side by side, and you tell us. Shades of the Kindle Fire, perhaps? More comparison shots in the gallery below. Nook Tablet, meet Nook Color

NSK developing Kinect-laced robotic guide dog for the blind (video) Posted: 07 Nov 2011 08:02 AM PST Have you ever looked at a robotic dog, scratched your head and thought, "Why?" Well, NSK has just responded with a pretty valid "Because." Turns out, the Japanese manufacturer is working on a new mechanized canine that could one day serve as a guide dog for the blind. The company's latest prototype builds on the work of the University of Electro-Communications (UEC), which unveiled its first model, the NR001, in 2005, followed by an updated version (NR002) in 2007. With this third iteration, unveiled late last month, NSK and UEC have added a Microsoft Kinect sensor, which allows it to more easily identify and navigate obstacles or stairs. The quadrupedal beast can also scamper up and down steps with more grace than its predecessors, which moved more like arthropods than actual dogs. The bot's paws have also been equipped with obstacle-avoiding bumper sensors, and researchers are working on incorporating voice commands, as well. NSK says its guide dog could eventually feature GPS capabilities to provide more accurate directions for the blind and visually impaired, though it'll probably be a while before it hits the pavement; the company hopes to commercialize the dogbot by 2020. Trot past the break to see the pup in action, in a pair of demo videos. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet gets real, we go hands-on (video) Posted: 07 Nov 2011 07:43 AM PST Sure, we can't say we didn't see this coming -- Barnes & Noble today launched its answer to the Kindle Fire. The new Nook Tablet certainly isn't all that new from an aesthetic standpoint, compared with the Nook Color. Walking into a store blind, it would be awfully tough to distinguish the devices -- though the Tablet is bit lighter, color wise. What separates Barnes & Noble's two higher end readers is largely internal. Unfortunately, the products being shown off at today's event weren't quite ready for prime time. We managed to see a bit of video demoed on the thing, and certainly the screen looked quite nice as it played back the trailer for J Edgar and flipped through the pages of a Spider-Man comic. Unfortunately, we're going to have to spend a bit more time with a final version of the product before we feel comfortable recommending the Tablet, given its $50 premium over both the Nook Color and the Kindle Fire. Check out a hands-on video with the device after the break. NookTablet hands-on This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

ZTE Tania and LG Jil Sander Windows Phones hands-on Posted: 07 Nov 2011 07:24 AM PST Wondering how they do Windows Phone in Asia? Take a peek at these two that have yet to find release on American shores -- and may never. The first is the ZTE Tania, which we've seen before, a 4.3-inch WVGA (naturally) device with a 1GHz processor and some... nondescript styling. Those looking for a bit more panache might think LG's offering would be more their speed. It's simply dubbed Jil Sander Phone. Jil Sander, if you don't know, is a bit of a player in the ready-to-wear market, but the phone bearing her name doesn't offer much in the way of visual drama. It has lots of hard-plastic ridges in clashing directions and a somewhat low rent feel. It sports a 3.8-inch display and a 1GHz processor, but is also pre-installed with the Jil Sander app to allow a "vivid interaction with the brand." We invite you to have your own vivid interaction with the two phones in the galleries below. Tania by ZTE eyes-on Jil Sander Windows Phone by LG hands-on

Spotify app on Windows Phone hands-on (video) Posted: 07 Nov 2011 07:13 AM PST We just got our first hands-on with Spotify on Windows Phone, running on a Jil Sander device from LG, of all things. This instantly gives Spotify users a new reason to step up and subscribe to the premium plan, and it gives Windows Phone users a new reason to get excited about, well, music. The interface is predictably slick, as you'd expect from a Mango app and, after signing on, we were easily able to browse our playlists, browse our friends' playlists and of course search for some tunes. We're working to get confirmation of just when you'll be able to download it yourself, and we have a video of it in action coming soon. But, until then, enjoy the gallery below! Spotify for Windows Phone hands-on Zach Honig contributed to this report. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

New Sony Bloggie Mobile HD Snap camera gets bowed design, FCC inspection Posted: 07 Nov 2011 07:10 AM PST Sony has already delivered its Bloggie cameras with 3D video and even dual screens, and now we've got the first hint at what's next. The MHS-TS55, going through its FCC testing as the Mobile HD Snap camera, carries its own 802.11n connection. We don't know exactly what Sony has in store for this curved mystery cam, but with WiFi on board, wireless sharing or even live video streams wouldn't be out of the question. Sony typically unveils its latest offerings at CES, and this filing chimes well with the chance of us getting the full skinny at January's annual tech binge -- that leaves just eight short weeks for the FCC to spill the beans on the rest of the Bloggie fam.

Barnes & Noble launches in-store Nook stations Posted: 07 Nov 2011 06:51 AM PST The e-reader competition is clearly *ahem* heating up this holiday season. Barnes & Noble today announced the launch of a brand new Nook Tablet and offered up some nice discounts on its existing Nook Simple Touch and Nook Color devices. So, what kind of competitive advantages can old B&N possibly give over a mega-online retailer like Amazon? Stores! Hundreds of them! The company is harnessing its brick and mortar locations to give users a place to get friendly with its new devices. Check out some shots of the Union Square shop in New York City below. Nook in-store displays

Bell confirms arrival of LG Optimus LTE, hasn't settled on a name Posted: 07 Nov 2011 06:45 AM PST It's official: LG's new LTE-capable superphone is coming to Canada. Bell is running a Twitter competition to celebrate, and the Ts and Cs suggest that Canucks might have to dig deep into those winter coat pockets for a total of CAD $629 off-contract. The Optimus LTE has already been given a detailed video tour courtesy of Bell's retail arm, albeit under the guise of the Optimus Eye, and is keen to show off its 4.5-inch HD AH-IPS display, eight megapixel camera and 1.5GHz dual-core processor. 4G fans can toss their name into the hat at the sign-up page below and spare a thought for their southerly neighbors -- we still have no sniff of a release in the US.

Barnes & Noble makes $199 Nook Color, $99 Nook Simple Touch official Posted: 07 Nov 2011 06:27 AM PST Not that it wasn't official the moment that Best Buy lopped $50 off of the thing, but those with any lingering doubts with regards to Barnes & Noble's intentions to make the now-dated Nook Color cost competitive with with the Kindle Fire can now consider themselves amongst the believers. The company pulled the trigger at today's Nook event in New York, pricing the color reader-turned-tablet at $199 -- a nice drop from its introductory price of $249. Also on the price cutting board is the touchscreen Nook -- now known officially as the Nook Simple Touch -- which is priced at $99, putting it more on-par with the likes of the latest Kindle. And best of all, says Barnes & Noble, "no annoying ads." Ouch. Show full PR text Barnes & Noble Introduces NOOK Tablet™, Its Fastest, Lightest Tablet with the Best in HD Entertainment Everything You Want in a Reading and Entertainment Tablet – a Great Value at $249 Popular Movies, TV Shows and Music from Top Services Including Netflix, Hulu Plus™, Pandora®; Plus Thousands of High-Quality Apps, Web Browsing and E-mail Largest Digital Catalog: Books, Newspapers, Interactive Magazines and Children's Picture Books, and Introducing NOOK Comics™ Under a Pound, Breakthrough Battery Life, Best-in-Class Display and Plenty of Memory Award-Winning NOOK Simple Touch™ and Highly Popular NOOK Color™: Greatly Enhanced and Now Offered at New Incredibly Low Prices New York, New York – November 7, 2011 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today expanded its portfolio of bestselling NOOK® devices with the introduction of NOOK Tablet, the company's fastest and lightest tablet with the best in HD entertainment. NOOK Tablet offers access to popular movies, TV shows, music and more through the top entertainment services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and others, plus a collection of high-quality apps, fast Web browsing and e-mail. NOOK Tablet features Barnes & Noble's award-winning color reading experience, with access to the world's largest digital bookstore via Wi-Fi®. Now available for pre-order at www.nook.com and at Barnes & Noble stores for just $249, NOOK Tablet will be in stores and in homes on or about November 17. Find NOOK Tablet in the newly announced NOOK Digital Shops™, which feature the full portfolio of NOOK digital devices and FREE NOOK Reading Apps™ at neighborhood Barnes & Noble stores. Barnes & Noble also announced enhancements and incredibly new low prices for NOOK Color, the first-ever Reader's Tablet™, and NOOK Simple Touch, the first breakthrough touch E Ink® device. The critically acclaimed NOOK Color will be even better next month, with more than 100 feature enhancements, access to top video and music services, popular apps, comics and more – and an even better value at today's new incredibly low price of $199. The new and improved NOOK Simple Touch features the world's fastest page turns and longest battery life, and an amazing new price of $99 – with no annoying ads. "In NOOK Tablet, we've created the best wireless media tablet in the portable 7-inch class. NOOK Tablet's VividView display has been designed to be the world's finest screen for readability and viewing content. We've utilized that breakthrough display technology to bring consumers the largest digital catalog of color and interactive books, magazines, children's books and high-quality apps through our NOOK Store. Additionally, we've seamlessly integrated today's top entertainment services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Pandora in a product that's powerful, easy-to-use, under a pound, and a tremendous value at only $249," said William Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble. "We're also excited to announce that we've lowered the price of our award-winning and recently improved NOOK Simple Touch to just $99, ad-free. Lastly, our incredibly popular NOOK Color has a new low price of only $199, giving customers the ability to enjoy its unparalleled reading experience, apps, Web and e-mail. These three products, at these super-low prices, represent the highest-quality portfolio of reading and entertainment products on the market at the best value. We welcome customers to learn more about our bestselling NOOK product line from our friendly and well-trained NOOKsellers at our new NOOK Digital Shops at their neighborhood Barnes & Noble." NOOK Tablet: Built for Speed... and Beauty NOOK Tablet was designed for customers who want to read and be entertained with a variety of apps and media. Barnes & Noble designed the device for power, speed and responsiveness using the latest and most advanced technology. With a highly tuned 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, there's plenty of memory to stream HD videos smoothly, browse the Web, and switch between books, magazines, videos and apps effortlessly. Barnes & Noble developed revolutionary battery life with NOOK Tablet, enabling 11.5 hours of reading time or nine hours of video viewing – the equivalent of five full-length movies. Everything looks stunning on NOOK Tablet, which features the world's most advanced VividView™ display for viewing content, with 16 million colors and a resolution purity that's simply gorgeous. Barnes & Noble invested in full IPS lamination to reduce reflection and glare and offer extra-wide viewing angles – perfect for sharing. Best in Entertainment NOOK Tablet gives customers the best names in entertainment so they can choose the TV shows and movies they love from leading services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, both pre-loaded on NOOK Tablet and offering free trials. Customers can instantly stream brilliant HD-quality videos. Also coming soon to NOOK Tablet: Flixster with UltraViolet™, for newly released movies and TV shows from Warner Bros. and other leading studios. NOOK Tablet owners can listen to millions of songs using the hottest music services, including Pandora, pre-loaded on NOOK Tablet, as well as Rhapsody®, Grooveshark and MOG, all available with a free 14-day trial. NOOK Tablet owners can also listen to their own songs wherever they go with the built-in music player. Your Reading and Entertainment Content – Anywhere A powerful HD entertainment machine designed for maximum portability, NOOK Tablet is well under a pound (14.1 oz.), making it one-third lighter than the leading tablet and 10 percent lighter than the award-winning NOOK Color. Sleek and thin with a soft touch back design, NOOK Tablet can be held comfortably for extended periods with just one hand and slips easily into a pocket or purse for reading and entertainment on-the-go. And with 16GB of storage – double the space of some other tablets – plus expandable memory, customers have ample space for their reading and entertainment content, regardless of Wi-Fi availability. Customers can also access their personal NOOK Library™ through the free, stable and secure NOOK Cloud™ service, which also powers the seamless integration and synchronization between devices, as well as NOOK's best-in-class shopping experience and social features. Thousands of Must-Have Apps, Web & E-mail Barnes & Noble offers NOOK Tablet customers a wide array of top-rated NOOK Apps™ to play, learn, organize and explore with must-haves like Angry Birds Rio and Seasons, SCRABBLE, Epicurious, My Cast Weather, Taptu, Style.com, Spanish for Dummies, Bejeweled® 2, Ms. Pac Man and more. There are hundreds of popular apps for kids, including Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat, Drawing Pad and Pop Up Peter Rabbit. All NOOK Apps are the best, highest-quality versions available, optimized for NOOK Tablet's beautiful and ultra-responsive 7-inch color touchscreen. By the holidays, Barnes & Noble will offer thousands of high-quality NOOK Apps from leading third-party developers and content providers that can be enjoyed on NOOK Tablet, as well as NOOK Color. NOOK Tablet also features lightning-fast Web browsing so customers can surf their favorite sites, from Facebook to YouTube, and stream brilliant HD videos. NOOK Tablet's built-in e-mail also makes it easy to stay connected with friends and family. Barnes & Noble's Award-Winning Reading Experience NOOK Tablet customers can shop the world's largest bookstore, featuring more than 2.5 million books, enhanced books, interactive magazines, newspapers, comic books and children's books. Content downloads lightning-fast, usually in less than 10 seconds over Wi-Fi. NOOK Newsstand™: Choose from more than 250 newspapers and full-color, interactive magazines, delivered like magic to NOOK Tablet's Active Shelf on the Home screen as soon as they become available. Barnes & Noble offers the largest digital collection of top 100 magazines, including PEOPLE, Food Network Magazine, Us Weekly, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, TIME, National Geographic and many others. Colorful interactive magazines offer Barnes & Noble's ArticleView™, new animated page turns and smooth pinch, zoom and panning. Many special edition NOOK Magazines™ feature videos, quizzes, image galleries and more. New NOOK Comics: Barnes & Noble is offering a vast new collection of full-color comics, graphic novels and kids' comics in high resolution that virtually make the action jump off the page. NOOK Comics will feature the world's greatest superheroes with the largest digital collection of Marvel's graphic novels available through a third party, as well as titles from other leading publishers, including Archie, IDW and Dynamite. NOOK Kids™: This holiday's largest collection of more than 1,000 interactive children's picture books and more than 12,000 chapter books just got even better. Bestselling books feature animation and engaging activities. With the new Read and Record™ feature, parents and grandparents can use NOOK Tablet's built-in microphone to record and save their reading of any NOOK Kids picture books so children can listen to their favorite storytellers anytime. More to read: Barnes & Noble continues to expand its NOOK Bookstore™ with the vast majority of books available for $9.99 or less. New PagePerfect™ NOOK Books™ feature cookbooks, craft and art books rendered with rich precision to retain all the beauty of their stunning print versions. Enhanced reading: Reading is even more dynamic with PDF thumbnail page views, and image pinch, zoom and pan in books and PDFs. Unparalleled recommendations: Learn what to read next from Barnes & Noble's knowledgeable booksellers, from must-read new releases to up-and-coming authors. Barnes & Noble's personalized recommendations are based on what customers already love. In any book a customer is reading, a simple tap on the new NOOK Discover™ icon offers instant recommendations. Get more social: NOOK Tablet now makes it easier than ever for customers to share their reading experience with friends. They can connect with Facebook friends and others through NOOK Friends™, and find out what they have to say about their books, magazines and newspapers. Customers can also share their thoughts about the books they're reading via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. Owners can share books, as well as browse and borrow books, from NOOK Friends using Barnes & Noble's exclusive LendMe® technology. Continuous reading: Read what you love, anywhere you like™ on NOOK devices and with FREE NOOK Reading Apps. NOOK Cloud automatically syncs a customer's library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across all of their devices, so a customer can start a book on NOOK Tablet, and dive back in on their computer or smartphone. NOOK Color: Even Better, Now $199 The highly acclaimed, bestselling NOOK Color will be even better starting in December with Barnes & Noble's largest software update ever and a new low price of just $199 starting today. The first ever Reader's Tablet, NOOK Color combines an award-winning reading experience with tablet essentials including apps, Web and e-mail. The millions of existing NOOK Color customers will automatically receive the update at no cost via Wi-Fi, beginning in early December. Highlights, also available on NOOK Tablet, include: More entertainment and apps: NOOK Color customers will be able to download Netflix to watch movies and TV shows. Hulu Plus will also be available for NOOK Color in the coming months. Customers will enjoy top music services and thousands of apps including games, children's apps and many others. Read your way: Customers requested the flexibility to read books in portrait or landscape and adjust the text with even more font sizes to choose from. The most user-friendly library: Customers will have faster, easier access to all of their content. NOOK Library is organized with tabs for books, magazines, newspapers and apps. The magazine display shows virtual stacks of covers with dates so customers can just tap on the issue they want and dive in. Enhanced shopping: NOOK's amazing new Shop experience makes it easier than ever for customers to find their next great book, kid's book, newsstand title or app. The NOOK Store™ is even easier to use, and more social and streamlined to show the breadth of content. Customers get suggestions based on their favorite authors, reviews and recommendations from their NOOK Friends plus top NOOK Newsstand picks, free trials and new NOOK Daily Finds. NOOK Simple Touch: Best Reader, Best Price The award-winning NOOK Simple Touch now has the most advanced E Ink display with lightning-fast page turns – 25 percent faster than any other E Ink product on the market. Best-Text™ from Barnes & Noble meticulously optimizes each letter so words are ultra-crisp and clear, even in bright sunlight. NOOK Simple Touch has an ergonomic, contoured design with a soft-touch back that makes it easy and comfortable to read, even with just one hand, and for extended periods of time. And Barnes & Noble has extended NOOK Simple Touch's best-in-class battery life even further for its customers who love to read for long stretches. On a single charge, customers can now read for up to 2 months for one hour a day. NOOK Simple Touch also puts the focus on reading with no annoying ads, and instead lets customers personalize their screensaver with their own photos. Now just $99, still with no ads, NOOK Simple Touch is the world's best reader at the world's best value and a must-have this holiday season for anyone who loves to read. Existing NOOK Simple Touch customers can also enjoy these new benefits through a free v1.1 software update available today for immediate download at www.nook.com/update. Customers can also receive the free update over the air when connected to Wi-Fi in the coming weeks. Give the Gift of Reading This holiday, Barnes & Noble will make it easier for customers to give the gift of reading. Whether shopping in a Barnes & Noble bookstore, or beginning next month, online at BN.com, customers can give any NOOK Book or NOOK App as gifts. NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color customers will also be able to apply their Barnes & Noble gift cards – physical or digital – while shopping on their devices. Availability NOOK Tablet can be pre-ordered for $249 today and is expected to be in stores and in homes late next week, in plenty of time for the holidays. Experience NOOK Tablet, NOOK Color and NOOK Simple Touch at www.nook.com or at the NOOK Digital Shops and displays in one of Barnes & Noble's more than 700 bookstores and other leading retailers. Barnes & Noble offers Always Free NOOK Support in all of its neighborhood bookstores, with more than 40,000 NOOKsellers across the country ready to assist customers with setting up their NOOK devices or choosing their next great read.

Nook Color goes multimedia with Hulu Plus, Pandora, Rhapsody, more Posted: 07 Nov 2011 06:25 AM PST Sure, today's Barnes & Noble event is all about the Nook Tablet, but don't think for one second that the lowly old Nook Color isn't getting any love. As expected, the color screen reader being hooked up with some upgrades of its own -- there will be 100 enhancements in all, according to Barnes & Noble. Central to the upgrade is content from top-tier content streaming sites like Hulu, Pandora, Grooveshark and MOG. Looks like it's not time to count the Nook Color out just yet.

Siri may pose 'competitive threat' to Google, Eric Schmidt tells Senate subcommittee Posted: 07 Nov 2011 06:23 AM PST Back in September, Google chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt sat down before a Senate antitrust subcommittee to discuss his company's competitive practices. As you would expect from anyone in his situation, Schmidt spent much of his time defending Mountain View's position atop the search industry, and cited several competitors as evidence of its fair play. The exec's list of "threats" featured some of the usual suspects, including Bing, Yahoo and Amazon, as well as Siri. "Even in the few weeks since the hearing, Apple has launched an entirely new approach to search technology with Siri, its voice-activated search and task-completion service built into the iPhone 4S," he wrote, pointing to a handful of publications that characterized Apple's voice assistant as a "Google Killer" and Cupertino's "entry point" into the search market. "Apple's Siri is a significant development -- a voice-activated means of accessing answers through iPhones that demonstrates the innovations in search," Schmidt explained. "Google has many strong competitors and we sometimes fail to anticipate the competitive threat posed by new methods of accessing information." Granted, it's not terribly surprising to hear Google talk up its competition -- especially before a panel of politicians devoted to rooting out anti-competitive practices. Yet Schmidt's comments do mark a noticeable shift from the stance he assumed last year, when he denied that Apple and Facebook posed a "competitive threat" to Google's search operations. As he admitted, "My statement was clearly wrong." Check out the full hearing at the source link below.

Barnes & Noble launches Nook Tablet, lights a fire under Amazon Posted: 07 Nov 2011 06:06 AM PST Yep, we had a feeling this one was coming. As expected, bookstore mega-chain Barnes & Noble has launched its answer to Amazon's Kindle Fire (and to a lesser extent, Kobo's multimedia Vox slate) -- also as expected, the thing looks an awful lot like its predecessor, the recently discounted Nook Color, right down to the metal bar on the bottom corner. Granted, B&N did already make the leap into the tablet space, when the Nook Color was upgraded earlier this year -- but the Nook Tablet brings more than just a new name, of course. Barnes & Noble makes $199 Nook Color, $99 Nook Simple Touch official Nook Color goes multimedia with Hulu Plus, Pandora, Rhapsody, more Barnes & Noble launches in-store Nook stations The tablet offers up a seven-inch IPS display with full lamination, videos up to 1080p and 11.5 hours of battery life. The Nook has 16GB of built-in memory, which is further expandable by way of a microSD slot. The tablet is all about multimedia content, naturally, offering up from Netflix and Hulu Plus pre-loaded on the device. It gives users access to 250 magazines and periodicals, as well as comics from publishers like Marvel. Barnes & Noble is clearly going directly after the Kindle Fire with this device. So, why pick the Nook over the Fire? Double the storage (which is further expandable), a better display, more RAM, free in-store device support and a lighter weight body at under a pound, says Barnes and Noble. The device runs Gingerbread, and unfortunately, like the Color before it, doesn't offer open access to the Android Market. As expected, the Tablet will cost you $249 ($50 more than the competition from Amazon). Pre-orders begin now, and the slate will start shipping next week. Nook Tablet unveiled Show full PR text Barnes & Noble Introduces NOOK Tablet™, Its Fastest, Lightest Tablet with the Best in HD Entertainment Everything You Want in a Reading and Entertainment Tablet – a Great Value at $249 Popular Movies, TV Shows and Music from Top Services Including Netflix, Hulu Plus™, Pandora®; Plus Thousands of High-Quality Apps, Web Browsing and E-mail Largest Digital Catalog: Books, Newspapers, Interactive Magazines and Children's Picture Books, and Introducing NOOK Comics™ Under a Pound, Breakthrough Battery Life, Best-in-Class Display and Plenty of Memory Award-Winning NOOK Simple Touch™ and Highly Popular NOOK Color™: Greatly Enhanced and Now Offered at New Incredibly Low Prices New York, New York – November 7, 2011 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today expanded its portfolio of bestselling NOOK® devices with the introduction of NOOK Tablet, the company's fastest and lightest tablet with the best in HD entertainment. NOOK Tablet offers access to popular movies, TV shows, music and more through the top entertainment services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and others, plus a collection of high-quality apps, fast Web browsing and e-mail. NOOK Tablet features Barnes & Noble's award-winning color reading experience, with access to the world's largest digital bookstore via Wi-Fi®. Now available for pre-order at www.nook.com and at Barnes & Noble stores for just $249, NOOK Tablet will be in stores and in homes on or about November 17. Find NOOK Tablet in the newly announced NOOK Digital Shops™, which feature the full portfolio of NOOK digital devices and FREE NOOK Reading Apps™ at neighborhood Barnes & Noble stores. Barnes & Noble also announced enhancements and incredibly new low prices for NOOK Color, the first-ever Reader's Tablet™, and NOOK Simple Touch, the first breakthrough touch E Ink® device. The critically acclaimed NOOK Color will be even better next month, with more than 100 feature enhancements, access to top video and music services, popular apps, comics and more – and an even better value at today's new incredibly low price of $199. The new and improved NOOK Simple Touch features the world's fastest page turns and longest battery life, and an amazing new price of $99 – with no annoying ads. "In NOOK Tablet, we've created the best wireless media tablet in the portable 7-inch class. NOOK Tablet's VividView display has been designed to be the world's finest screen for readability and viewing content. We've utilized that breakthrough display technology to bring consumers the largest digital catalog of color and interactive books, magazines, children's books and high-quality apps through our NOOK Store. Additionally, we've seamlessly integrated today's top entertainment services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Pandora in a product that's powerful, easy-to-use, under a pound, and a tremendous value at only $249," said William Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble. "We're also excited to announce that we've lowered the price of our award-winning and recently improved NOOK Simple Touch to just $99, ad-free. Lastly, our incredibly popular NOOK Color has a new low price of only $199, giving customers the ability to enjoy its unparalleled reading experience, apps, Web and e-mail. These three products, at these super-low prices, represent the highest-quality portfolio of reading and entertainment products on the market at the best value. We welcome customers to learn more about our bestselling NOOK product line from our friendly and well-trained NOOKsellers at our new NOOK Digital Shops at their neighborhood Barnes & Noble." NOOK Tablet: Built for Speed... and Beauty NOOK Tablet was designed for customers who want to read and be entertained with a variety of apps and media. Barnes & Noble designed the device for power, speed and responsiveness using the latest and most advanced technology. With a highly tuned 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, there's plenty of memory to stream HD videos smoothly, browse the Web, and switch between books, magazines, videos and apps effortlessly. Barnes & Noble developed revolutionary battery life with NOOK Tablet, enabling 11.5 hours of reading time or nine hours of video viewing – the equivalent of five full-length movies. Everything looks stunning on NOOK Tablet, which features the world's most advanced VividView™ display for viewing content, with 16 million colors and a resolution purity that's simply gorgeous. Barnes & Noble invested in full IPS lamination to reduce reflection and glare and offer extra-wide viewing angles – perfect for sharing. Best in Entertainment NOOK Tablet gives customers the best names in entertainment so they can choose the TV shows and movies they love from leading services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, both pre-loaded on NOOK Tablet and offering free trials. Customers can instantly stream brilliant HD-quality videos. Also coming soon to NOOK Tablet: Flixster with UltraViolet™, for newly released movies and TV shows from Warner Bros. and other leading studios. NOOK Tablet owners can listen to millions of songs using the hottest music services, including Pandora, pre-loaded on NOOK Tablet, as well as Rhapsody®, Grooveshark and MOG, all available with a free 14-day trial. NOOK Tablet owners can also listen to their own songs wherever they go with the built-in music player. Your Reading and Entertainment Content – Anywhere A powerful HD entertainment machine designed for maximum portability, NOOK Tablet is well under a pound (14.1 oz.), making it one-third lighter than the leading tablet and 10 percent lighter than the award-winning NOOK Color. Sleek and thin with a soft touch back design, NOOK Tablet can be held comfortably for extended periods with just one hand and slips easily into a pocket or purse for reading and entertainment on-the-go. And with 16GB of storage – double the space of some other tablets – plus expandable memory, customers have ample space for their reading and entertainment content, regardless of Wi-Fi availability. Customers can also access their personal NOOK Library™ through the free, stable and secure NOOK Cloud™ service, which also powers the seamless integration and synchronization between devices, as well as NOOK's best-in-class shopping experience and social features. Thousands of Must-Have Apps, Web & E-mail Barnes & Noble offers NOOK Tablet customers a wide array of top-rated NOOK Apps™ to play, learn, organize and explore with must-haves like Angry Birds Rio and Seasons, SCRABBLE, Epicurious, My Cast Weather, Taptu, Style.com, Spanish for Dummies, Bejeweled® 2, Ms. Pac Man and more. There are hundreds of popular apps for kids, including Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat, Drawing Pad and Pop Up Peter Rabbit. All NOOK Apps are the best, highest-quality versions available, optimized for NOOK Tablet's beautiful and ultra-responsive 7-inch color touchscreen. By the holidays, Barnes & Noble will offer thousands of high-quality NOOK Apps from leading third-party developers and content providers that can be enjoyed on NOOK Tablet, as well as NOOK Color. NOOK Tablet also features lightning-fast Web browsing so customers can surf their favorite sites, from Facebook to YouTube, and stream brilliant HD videos. NOOK Tablet's built-in e-mail also makes it easy to stay connected with friends and family. Barnes & Noble's Award-Winning Reading Experience NOOK Tablet customers can shop the world's largest bookstore, featuring more than 2.5 million books, enhanced books, interactive magazines, newspapers, comic books and children's books. Content downloads lightning-fast, usually in less than 10 seconds over Wi-Fi. NOOK Newsstand™: Choose from more than 250 newspapers and full-color, interactive magazines, delivered like magic to NOOK Tablet's Active Shelf on the Home screen as soon as they become available. Barnes & Noble offers the largest digital collection of top 100 magazines, including PEOPLE, Food Network Magazine, Us Weekly, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, TIME, National Geographic and many others. Colorful interactive magazines offer Barnes & Noble's ArticleView™, new animated page turns and smooth pinch, zoom and panning. Many special edition NOOK Magazines™ feature videos, quizzes, image galleries and more. New NOOK Comics: Barnes & Noble is offering a vast new collection of full-color comics, graphic novels and kids' comics in high resolution that virtually make the action jump off the page. NOOK Comics will feature the world's greatest superheroes with the largest digital collection of Marvel's graphic novels available through a third party, as well as titles from other leading publishers, including Archie, IDW and Dynamite. NOOK Kids™: This holiday's largest collection of more than 1,000 interactive children's picture books and more than 12,000 chapter books just got even better. Bestselling books feature animation and engaging activities. With the new Read and Record™ feature, parents and grandparents can use NOOK Tablet's built-in microphone to record and save their reading of any NOOK Kids picture books so children can listen to their favorite storytellers anytime. More to read: Barnes & Noble continues to expand its NOOK Bookstore™ with the vast majority of books available for $9.99 or less. New PagePerfect™ NOOK Books™ feature cookbooks, craft and art books rendered with rich precision to retain all the beauty of their stunning print versions. Enhanced reading: Reading is even more dynamic with PDF thumbnail page views, and image pinch, zoom and pan in books and PDFs. Unparalleled recommendations: Learn what to read next from Barnes & Noble's knowledgeable booksellers, from must-read new releases to up-and-coming authors. Barnes & Noble's personalized recommendations are based on what customers already love. In any book a customer is reading, a simple tap on the new NOOK Discover™ icon offers instant recommendations. Get more social: NOOK Tablet now makes it easier than ever for customers to share their reading experience with friends. They can connect with Facebook friends and others through NOOK Friends™, and find out what they have to say about their books, magazines and newspapers. Customers can also share their thoughts about the books they're reading via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. Owners can share books, as well as browse and borrow books, from NOOK Friends using Barnes & Noble's exclusive LendMe® technology. Continuous reading: Read what you love, anywhere you like™ on NOOK devices and with FREE NOOK Reading Apps. NOOK Cloud automatically syncs a customer's library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across all of their devices, so a customer can start a book on NOOK Tablet, and dive back in on their computer or smartphone. NOOK Color: Even Better, Now $199 The highly acclaimed, bestselling NOOK Color will be even better starting in December with Barnes & Noble's largest software update ever and a new low price of just $199 starting today. The first ever Reader's Tablet, NOOK Color combines an award-winning reading experience with tablet essentials including apps, Web and e-mail. The millions of existing NOOK Color customers will automatically receive the update at no cost via Wi-Fi, beginning in early December. Highlights, also available on NOOK Tablet, include: More entertainment and apps: NOOK Color customers will be able to download Netflix to watch movies and TV shows. Hulu Plus will also be available for NOOK Color in the coming months. Customers will enjoy top music services and thousands of apps including games, children's apps and many others. Read your way: Customers requested the flexibility to read books in portrait or landscape and adjust the text with even more font sizes to choose from. The most user-friendly library: Customers will have faster, easier access to all of their content. NOOK Library is organized with tabs for books, magazines, newspapers and apps. The magazine display shows virtual stacks of covers with dates so customers can just tap on the issue they want and dive in. Enhanced shopping: NOOK's amazing new Shop experience makes it easier than ever for customers to find their next great book, kid's book, newsstand title or app. The NOOK Store™ is even easier to use, and more social and streamlined to show the breadth of content. Customers get suggestions based on their favorite authors, reviews and recommendations from their NOOK Friends plus top NOOK Newsstand picks, free trials and new NOOK Daily Finds. NOOK Simple Touch: Best Reader, Best Price The award-winning NOOK Simple Touch now has the most advanced E Ink display with lightning-fast page turns – 25 percent faster than any other E Ink product on the market. Best-Text™ from Barnes & Noble meticulously optimizes each letter so words are ultra-crisp and clear, even in bright sunlight. NOOK Simple Touch has an ergonomic, contoured design with a soft-touch back that makes it easy and comfortable to read, even with just one hand, and for extended periods of time. And Barnes & Noble has extended NOOK Simple Touch's best-in-class battery life even further for its customers who love to read for long stretches. On a single charge, customers can now read for up to 2 months for one hour a day. NOOK Simple Touch also puts the focus on reading with no annoying ads, and instead lets customers personalize their screensaver with their own photos. Now just $99, still with no ads, NOOK Simple Touch is the world's best reader at the world's best value and a must-have this holiday season for anyone who loves to read. Existing NOOK Simple Touch customers can also enjoy these new benefits through a free v1.1 software update available today for immediate download at www.nook.com/update. Customers can also receive the free update over the air when connected to Wi-Fi in the coming weeks. Give the Gift of Reading This holiday, Barnes & Noble will make it easier for customers to give the gift of reading. Whether shopping in a Barnes & Noble bookstore, or beginning next month, online at BN.com, customers can give any NOOK Book or NOOK App as gifts. NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color customers will also be able to apply their Barnes & Noble gift cards – physical or digital – while shopping on their devices. Availability NOOK Tablet can be pre-ordered for $249 today and is expected to be in stores and in homes late next week, in plenty of time for the holidays. Experience NOOK Tablet, NOOK Color and NOOK Simple Touch at www.nook.com or at the NOOK Digital Shops and displays in one of Barnes & Noble's more than 700 bookstores and other leading retailers. Barnes & Noble offers Always Free NOOK Support in all of its neighborhood bookstores, with more than 40,000 NOOKsellers across the country ready to assist customers with setting up their NOOK devices or choosing their next great read.

Verizon confirms RAZR's launch date: November 11th at 11:11AM Posted: 07 Nov 2011 05:45 AM PST Ah, how clever. This Friday will witness a truly unique phenomenon as every number on your clock will be 11 for but a fleeting moment, and Verizon is taking advantage of it. Big Red's made it known that its much-anticipated launch of the Motorola Droid RAZR will take place on November 11th at 11:11AM. We've confirmed the information behind the scenes, but should receive an official statement from the carrier soon. This unfortunately is a day later than we were originally expecting, but the opportunity to take advantage of all these elevens only comes around once every hundred years, right?

Motorola Droid RAZR review Posted: 07 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST The RAZR brand has a long and storied history, starting in the halcyon days of 2004. Back then it was a premium line -- set apart from the crowd by its extremely thin profile and aluminum construction. Shortly after launching as an expensive status symbol, Motorola chopped the price and turned the V3 into one of the best selling handsets ever. In the years that followed there were countless revisions, colors and would-be successors that ultimately turned the once-hyped product line into a euphemism for obsolete technology. Motorola has certainly had success since, particularly with the iconic Droid and Droid X, but alas, the Droid stamp belongs to Verizon. To once again make the name Motorola synonymous with cutting-edge tech, the company has returned to the well and resurrected the RAZR name. Has Moto managed to reclaim the magic and mystique of the V3, which had many a gadget hound coughing up some serious dough upon its initial release? Or is the Droid RAZR a successor in title only, more akin to the ill-fated MOTORAZR maxx? Keep reading to find out. Motorola Droid RAZR review Hardware To say the Droid RAZR is thin doesn't do it justice. At only 7.1mm thick it's almost unbelievably svelte. Heck, the Galaxy S II, which impressed us with its sleek physique just a few months ago, measures a comparatively beefy 8.49mm. The RAZR does bulge out at the top to about 10.6mm around the 8 megapixel camera, but that's hardly enough to make the handset cumbersome. Besides, the hump is the only place with enough room to house the headphone, HDMI and micro-USB jacks. Along the right side you'll find all of the physical buttons. The textured power key sits roughly an inch above the rather flimsy volume rocker, which has almost no travel. The bottom of the handset is unadorned, but the left edge conceals the Micro SIM and microSD slots under a door that's more than just a little tough to pry open. The RAZR ships with a 16GB card pre-installed, a nice compliment to the 8GB of internal storage. The shell of the phone is a stunning mix of aluminum, Kevlar and Gorilla Glass. Handsets simply don't get much more premium-feeling than the Droid RAZR. It may be extraordinarily light, but there's just enough heft to reassure you it won't shatter into a few dozen pieces on the first drop (though, we make no guarantees about the second or third). Good thing, too, since the synthetic fabric backplate is very slick, which makes it quite easy to get in and out of even your tightest jeans, but could make for a few accidental spills. Our one and only complaint is the sizable bezel. The fortified glass panel alone is the size of a Droid X, and that extra millimeter or so of width is just enough to make reaching across the screen with your thumb uncomfortable. Towards the top of that slab of glass is a 1.3 megapixel camera for video chats, which stands out oddly thanks to the small square of transparent glass that interrupts the otherwise stark black bezel. Underneath the mirror-like sheet of Gorilla Glass is a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 qHD Super AMOLED Advanced panel. How exactly it differs from Super AMOLED Plus isn't clear, but we do know that it does away with the controversial PenTile matrix. (Update: There seems to be some confusion as to whether or not the screen sports a PenTile matrix, we're waiting on clarification from Motorola and will update when we hear back.) We didn't have any major complaints about the display, but it didn't quite live up to our expectations either. It was sharp, contrasty and bright enough to satisfy, but had a slight green hue that was very apparent at lower brightness settings. It also couldn't match the brightness produced by the old-school TFT LCD on the Droid X or the IPS panel on the iPhone 4, though, its contrast levels were noticeably better. The RAZR also has more accessories than you can shake a fine print-laden two-year contract at. We didn't get any in time for our review, but the two main attractions are the Laptopdock 500 and Lapdock 100. These laptop-style docking stations (14- and 10-inches, respectively) turn the RAZR into a portable (if underpowered) computer running Webtop. Performance and battery life The TI OMAP 4430 inside the Droid RAZR isn't the most cutting-edge mobile processor on the market, but its dual 1.2GHz cores should be enough to satisfy even the most demanding smartphone nerds. Gingerbread 2.3.5 and the extremely flashy don't-call-it-Blur hum along relatively smoothly. We encountered a few odd hiccups and stutters, primarily while placing and resizing widgets, but we'll chalk that up to Moto's liberal use of 3D animations. For the most part, though, transitions were smooth, navigation was speedy and apps were plenty responsive. Droid RAZR Galaxy S II Amaze 4G Quadrant 2,798 3,200 2,514 Linpack (single-thread) 50 55 51 Linpack (multi-thread) 95.66 81 77 Nenamark1 50.34 59.8 51.4 Nenamark2 27.54 49.1 31.5 Neocore 59.98 59.8 59 SunSpider 9.1 2,140 3,369 3,193 Benchmarks didn't turn up many surprises. The RAZR notched an average of 2,798 on Quadrant, which puts it a bit behind the Galaxy S II, but ahead of the 1.5GHz Snapdragon-powered Amaze 4G. Moto's sleek handset and the S II essentially traded victories, with the latest Droid beating Sammy's flagship on the multi-threaded Linpack test (but not the single-threaded) and eking out a triumph in Neocore with 59.98 fps to 59.8 fps. But it lost the Nenamark 1 battle, pulling off just 50.34 fps, while the S II managed 59.8 fps. The one shock the phone had in store for us was blowing through SunSpider in just 2,140ms, putting it well ahead of most of the Android pack and even besting the iPhone 4S, which averaged 2,200ms. And that's great news since you'll want your browser to chew through code as fast as possible to take advantage of the RAZR's blazing LTE radio. In our limited testing, we averaged just a hair shy of 19 Mbps down and 6.5 Mbps up. Motorola promises that the non-removable 1,780mAh battery will deliver up to 8.5 days of standby time and 12.5 hours of talk, but it survived just five hours and one minute in our battery rundown test. In our less scientific testing we managed a full day of moderate use. After an afternoon of browsing the web, syncing our data and placing a few phone calls, the RAZR was still going relatively strong, only dipping below the 15 percent mark as we approached midnight. Under light usage you may be able to squeeze two days out of it, but most likely you'll need to plug it in every night before you go to bed. If you're the type who really pushes their phone to the limits, we suggest you pack the charger -- without a removable battery you'll be stuck when the integrated power pack gives up the ghost. Camera The camera in the RAZR is quite similar to that found in the Bionic. Both are 8 megapixel shooters capable of capturing 1080p video with a single LED flash and they produced very similar results. Pictures taken outdoors in broad daylight were decent, though the colors were a little muted. While indoor shots under artificial lighting were acceptable, you could easily detect some noise in the images without the flash. The phone actually takes surprisingly good macro shots, allowing us to get up close and personal with our keyboard and a flower (before the winter chill snuffs them all out). It was quite easy to fire off shots in quick succession thanks to the very short shutter lag, but the autofocus couldn't keep up with our taps and often had trouble zeroing in on its target. Motorola Droid RAZR sample shots Video performance was certainly above average. The 30-second 1080p clip we captured was compressed down to a surprisingly miserly 59.3MB, but the video still looks relatively crisp. Color reproduction was good and it managed to capture a decent amount of detail in the shadows. The camera has an image stabilization feature which is far from perfect, but certainly makes video captured by some of our more shaky editors less nausea-inducing. The pair of mics can also be switched between several different configurations, the most useful of which is "wind reduction" -- for canceling out extraneous noise when you're narrating from behind the lens. Software Like most Android skins, Motorola's tweaks are a love-it-or-leave-it affair. It's not quite as intrusive-feeling as Sense, but if you're a fan of vanilla Gingerbread the customizations will leave you feeling cold. Sadly, where we found the Not-Blur shipping on the Photon 4G and X2 to be pleasantly restrained, the RAZR is more akin to the Bionic and loaded with gaudy animations that distract from -- rather than add to -- the Android experience. Linux users may spot a few similarities between Compiz and the wobbly widgets and zoomed out wall of home screens on the RAZR. Still, the OS is instantly recognizable as Android, and, outside of the overzealous use of superfluous eye-candy, it sticks to all the Gingerbread paradigms you're used to. There are, of course, some carrier and manufacturer apps loaded on the handset, many of which fall firmly in the crapware category. But, a few are welcome additions to the standard Android setup. Some of the pre-installed apps can easily be uninstalled, like Blockbuster and Let's Golf 2, but those specifically bearing the Verizon or Motorola brand cannot. Like many of its Moto siblings, the RAZR comes loaded with QuickOffice, Citrix and MOTOPRINT, but the real standout, and new kid on the block, is Smart Actions. Similar to Tasker, Smart Actions lets you choose a set of rules that trigger particular actions. Motorola is primarily pitching this as a way to extend battery life, but it's loaded with possibilities. It can do anything from turn off the ringer and data syncing at a certain time of night, to send out a text message whenever you're in a particular neighborhood (great for those friends and family members who complain you never visit). Wrap-up So has Motorola succeeded in reclaiming the prestige that once belonged to the RAZR brand? Unequivocally, yes -- the handset is just physically stunning. It's thinner than almost any phone on the market and makes no sacrifices to attain its slim physique. It's solidly constructed from premium materials like diamond-cut aluminum, Gorilla Glass and a sheet of super-slick Kevlar. Few phones out there can even be put in the same category when it comes to build quality. It's not the most ergonomically sound handset on the market, but for those who cherish form over function (the very targets of a so-called fashion device), that's a sacrifice worth making. Don't get us wrong -- the RAZR's beauty is not only skin deep. The LTE radio, 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM make sure this sleek number is ready to run with the big boys. It kept pace with, and in some cases clearly outclassed its high-end competition. Despite its deficiencies in the display department and underwhelming battery life, the RAZR looks to be a perfectly viable alternative when considering the similarly-pricey Rezound and Galaxy Nexus, but we'll have to wait for our full reviews of those devices to say for sure. And don't forget: this one will only get better when ICS comes to Moto's slim slab of sexy.

Best Buy to close UK operations, 1,100 jobs in jeopardy Posted: 07 Nov 2011 04:38 AM PST Best Buy Europe, the joint venture between Best Buy Inc. and Carphone Warehouse, has been shuttered after just 18 months in business. In that short amount of time, it lost £80 million ($127 million), largely due to consumer belt-tightening and increased competition from cheaper online retailers. Up to 1,100 jobs will be lost at the eleven UK stores currently open in Thurrock, Bristol and Wolverhampton, among other locations, bringing to an end the company's ambitious plan to open 200 stores across Europe. At the same time, the US giant declared it would buy out its European partner's stake in the Best Buy Mobile chain as it continues to pull out of unprofitable foreign operations. Update: We've got some more on what this deal means. Buying out Carphone Warehouse is gonna cost $1.3 billion plus $8 million annually for five years. The two aren't splitting up for good, since they're also starting another joint venture called Global Connect (good luck with that one, fellas). Separately, the company announced it was grabbing mindShift technology, a cloud service provider for small and medium-sized enterprises for a cool $167 million. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video) Posted: 07 Nov 2011 04:13 AM PST The esoteric art of telepresence is all about that sweetest of dreams: being somewhere you'd rather be. So far, though, it's hardly teleported much beyond our head movements and kisses. What we really need is a fully-fledged avatar that can also feed sensory information back to us -- and that's exactly what the Telesar V claims to be. The user dons a pair of VR goggles that control the robot's head and see through its eyes. A pair of gloves not only control the Telesar's hands, but also transmit force and temperature data back from its sensors. Drag yourself away from that violent BF3 simulator and check out the smoochiness after the break. (And yes, the inventor's surname is just about perfect.)

HP embraces this 3D thing, outs 2311gt monitor and second-gen Wireless TV Connect Posted: 07 Nov 2011 03:45 AM PST In case you haven't noticed, HP's really pushing this newfangled 3D thing right now. In addition to the TouchSmart 620, its first 3D desktop, the outfit just announced the 2311gt monitor, along with its second-generation Wireless TV Connect box, which now streams 3D content. Starting with the display, you've got a a 23-inch, 1080p panel that uses Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology to create 3D visuals by aligning every other row of pixels with the left or right eye. It's a passive technology and indeed, we came away from our brief eyes-on with the impression that the 3D rendering isn't as convincing as what you'll get on the TouchSmart 620 and its active shutter glasses. Still, HP says when it comes to viewing there's a sweet spot of 20 to 30 inches from the screen, and we have to admit we got the sharpest view from that vantage point. Also, HP threw in Cyberlink's PowerDVD software for 2D-to-3D conversion, which makes this a potentially tempting deal. Moving on, the Wireless TV Connect box now streams 1080p movies in 3D, and HP claims to have lowered its latency, especially compared to Intel Wireless Display. Look for it in December with a $180 price tag. As for you, gamers, that 2311gt monitor will ring in at a reasonable $299 and go up for grabs mañana. HP 2311gt

HP does the inevitable, announces the TouchSmart 620 with a 3D display and webcam (video) Posted: 07 Nov 2011 03:45 AM PST HP's pushed out a raft of all-in-ones this past year, but until today, there was one gimmicky stone it left unturned. Say hello to the TouchSmart 620, the company's first 3D all-in-one. Essentially, it's the 610 with ATI's 3D tech shoehorned inside. Otherwise, it looks the same, with a 23-inch, 1080p panel and that sliding display that reclines at a nearly flat 60-degree angle. In addition to the 3D screen (best viewed when positioned upright), it has a webcam that captures 3D stills and video. At the base level, you'll get a pair of active shutter glasses, TV tuner, a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 1.5TB HDD and an AMD Radeon HD 6650 card with 1GB of video memory. (For whatever reason, HP didn't add HDMI-in this go 'round.) That starting configuration technically costs $1,900, but HP's going to apply $300 in instant savings when it goes on sale November 15, so for all intents and purposes it starts at $1,600. Full PR after the break, and if you need a refresher on what this thing looks like, we suggest you revisit our review of the 610. HP TouchSmart 620 3D Edition This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Belkin preps LiveAction camera remote for your iPhone Posted: 07 Nov 2011 03:00 AM PST Look past the typical FCC dowdiness and you'll notice a Belkin-made remote shutter release for the iPhone. We have no notion of price or availability, but the regulatory paperwork does at least reveal how it works: the controller triggers still or video recording via Bluetooth and the accompanying LiveAction app, and it also houses a detachable stand for propping your phone up on a "variety of surfaces." Stop-motion shenanigans spring to mind, but the more obvious use is for group photos -- and you might consider pairing it with one of these to avoid cropping heads.

John Opel, IBM CEO during onset of the PC era, dies at 86 Posted: 07 Nov 2011 02:25 AM PST John Roberts Opel, the former IBM CEO who helped usher in the PC era, died last week at the age of 86. A native of Kansas City, MO, Opel received his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1949, after fighting in the Philippines and Okinawa during World War II. Upon graduating, he was presented with two job offers -- he could either re-write economics textbooks, or assume control of his father's hardware business in Missouri. Not particularly enthralled with either opportunity, Opel decided to think things over during a fishing trip with his father and a family friend. As fate would have it, that friend turned out to be Harry Strait, an IBM sales manager. Strait offered Opel a sales position at the company, fortuitously setting the young grad on a career path that would span 36 years. Opel's career, in fact, began and peaked at two inflection points that would come to define not only IBM, but the computing industry as a whole. When he came aboard, IBM was still producing typewriters and other accounting devices; but that would soon change, with the dawn of the computing era. In 1959, he became assistant to then-chief executive Thomas J. Watson Jr. Just five years later, he oversaw the introduction of IBM's System 360 mainframe computer. He was appointed vice president in 1966, president in 1974 and, on January 1st, 1981, took over as IBM's fifth CEO, replacing Frank T. Cary. During his four-year tenure, Opel led IBM's push into the burgeoning PC market, overseeing the launch of IBM's first PC, the 5150, just seven months after taking the reins. He was also at the helm in 1982, when the Department of Justice dropped its 13-year antitrust suit against IBM, allowing the firm to expand its operations. Opel took full advantage. Under his stewardship, IBM's revenue nearly doubled and its corporate stature grew accordingly. In 1983, Opel made the cover of Time magazine, under a headline that read, "The Colossus That Works." He stepped down as CEO in 1985, served as chairman until 1986 and would remain on IBM's board until 1993. On Thursday, he passed away in Ft. Myers, FL, due to undisclosed causes. John Roberts Opel is survived by his wife of 56 years, five children, 15 grandchildren and a legacy that extends far beyond these 400 words.

LG's thin and mighty P330 laptop surfaces at Korean retailer Posted: 07 Nov 2011 01:05 AM PST Remember that LG 13.3-incher we covered back when it was warm? The one that had everything going for it except precise release info? Well, it's finally dragged itself out of the factory and onto the shelves of a Korean retailer. Unfortunately, the Core i7 processor has been replaced by an i5-2435M running at 2.4GHz, but that's hardly a deal breaker -- and it's possible a higher specced variant will eventually see daylight too. The other key credentials are all intact: an NVIDIA GeForce GT555M taking care of the visuals, a 40GB / 640GB SSD and HDD combo for snappier performance, and an IPS display built into an all-metal 1.7kg (3.6-pound) chassis. The price is listed as ₩1,364,000, which converts to a hefty $1,220 -- but we wouldn't be surprised if LG takes that down to below the MBP threshold when the product comes stateside.

Tesla bucks industry standard with new charging system for Model S Posted: 07 Nov 2011 12:17 AM PST At a time when most EV manufacturers are converging toward charging station conformity, Tesla is still marching to the beat of its own drum. Late last month, the company unveiled a new plug and charger that looks notably different from the J1772 connector -- the SAE International standard you'll find on most electric cars, including the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. The new system, which will be available for the upcoming Model S, consists of a lightweight plug and wall-mounted unit that can supply 240 volts at up to 80 amps. It also features a comparatively thin cable that promises to deliver fast charging at 480 volts, which, according to the company, should give the Model S an extra boost. When connected to a 240 volt outlet, the car will be able to re-juice at a rate of 62 miles of travel per hour of charging. And while its streamlined aesthetics may signal a shift away from the J1772, Tesla's new charger does feature standard connectors for 120 volt and 240 volt outlets, and will ship with an adapter for industry standard plugs. So why did the manufacturer choose to ignore the J1772? CEO Elon Musk certainly has his reasons. Speaking to the New York Times, Musk poetically described the standard connector as "absolutely terrible, extremely ugly and low power." Tesla's system, by contrast, is more like "a beautiful advanced alien artifact that arrived in the middle of the night." He then went on to say how he really feels. Read more, at the source link below.

HTC announces specifics on Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades, includes Rezound Posted: 06 Nov 2011 11:00 PM PST It's been a little over two weeks since Google unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich along with its first ambassador, the Galaxy Nexus. Since then, a few manufacturers have shared their intent to bring Android 4.0 to specific devices. HTC was initially rather vague about its upgrade plans -- no doubt faced with the daunting task of keeping Sense relevant in light of ICS' vast design improvements -- but tonight the Taiwanese giant issued an official statement on Facebook outlining specifics on its Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades. Basically, it looks like most (if not all) of HTC's high-end phones since the introduction of the Sensation will be getting a taste of Google's latest tasty treat early next year, including the recently announced Rezound. Here's the full statement: HTC knows how excited our fans are to get their hands on Google's latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, so we're thrilled today to announce the first wave of HTC phones that will receive upgrades: We can confirm the brand new HTC Vivid is upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich. In addition, Ice Cream Sandwich is coming in early 2012 to a variety of devices including the HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation XL and HTC Sensation XE, as well as the HTC Rezound, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G and HTC Amaze 4G through close integration with our carrier partners. We're continuing to assess our product portfolio, so stay tuned for more updates on device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Ice Cream Sandwich.

Korg launches two new Monotrons, Duo and Delay: the clues are in the names (video) Posted: 06 Nov 2011 10:13 PM PST Remember when Korg dropped a bomb with its pocket-sized-pocket-money Monotribe synth last spring? Well it's done it again, and this time with two analog boxes of badness to salivate over - the Duo and the Delay. Those aren't just cute names, either; both feature the same ribbon based sonic goodness as before, but the Delay packs a dub-tastic space delay, and the Duo rocks a second oscillator, for those juicy thick timbres. No word on price or availability just yet, but we're guessing they'll pop up for around the same as the original -- around $60 -- which is almost as pleasing to the ears as the Monotron's themselves. Check the videos after the jump to see / hear both in action.

MyFord Touch Upgrade inbound, brings 'faster, simpler, easier' infotainment to your late-model whip Posted: 06 Nov 2011 08:01 PM PST For better or worse, Ford owners have been basking in the overzealous infotainment ways of MyFord Touch for over a year now. Since then, the service's been updated with amenities such as integrated Nuance voice recognition for SYNC, but now the Dearborn-based automobile monolith is taking things a few steps forward. Penned for release "early next year," the MyFord Touch Upgrade will usher in a massive revamp across every nook and cranny of the system as a whole. Starting with the 2013 model year Flex, Taurus and Escape, drivers will be greeted by over 1,000 revised screens implementing an "improved look," with an up to 40 percent increase in font sizes, a simpler -- and more cohesive -- GUI focused displaying only important info (for less clutter) and notably, doubly fast response times for touch and voice-based inputs. And oh yes, it gets even better. Those with tablets will be pleased to know that multimedia playback will be supported via USB, while mobile phones will benefit from quicker automatic Bluetooth pairing and better echo and noise-cancellation. Ford has also baked-in voice support for sports buffs with Sirius Game Finder, as well as bibliophiles with Audible.com integration (which can also be touch controlled, should you desire it). Best of all, you'll no longer need to recite any parenthetical or bracketed album info your music tracks may have, or the direction of street names when inputting addresses for directions. Speaking of, the TeleNav-enabled nav system will have further map detail courtesy of Navteq, with enhancements like more 3D imaging, "photorealistic" signage and better route planning thanks to "a database of historical traffic patterns." If you've already got some miles on an existing MyFord Touch-enabled ride, no worries -- Ford will give your system the upgrade pro bono when it's available, taking all but a (hopefully) quick visit to your local dealer. Potential and current Ford owners will find more visuals in the gallery below and full details in the press release past break. Update: Ford has let us know that existing owners will not be required to visit their dealer for the upgrade, and will be receiving a USB drive allowing for a self-install in the mail. That said, you can still drop by your dealer after getting it to have the install done there. Ford MyTouch Upgrade press shots Show full PR text Faster, Simpler, Easier to Use: MyFord Touch Upgrade Provides Customers with Enhanced Driving Experience Ford will launch performance upgrades and new features for MyFord Touch® beginning with 2013 models – no-charge upgrade will be available to existing owners Simpler graphics, faster touch-screen response and easier-to-use controls are among the many enhancements to the voice-activated in-car connectivity system DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 7, 2011 – Ford customers said MyFord Touch® could be faster and feature simpler graphics that are easier to use and that's exactly what Ford plans to deliver with a broad set of performance upgrades to the system – launching first on the new 2013 Ford Escape, Flex, and Taurus. Available early next year – and also offered at no charge to existing MyFord Touch owners – the software upgrade enhances the ownership experience as it was developed by listening and responding to customer feedback. "SYNC® has clearly been a game-changing technology, and now we're changing the game again, showing how quickly we can deliver more of what customers really want," said Graydon Reitz, director, Ford Global Electronics and Electrical Systems Engineering. "Our strategy to create the SYNC software platform and add the customizable screens of MyFord Touch gives us a level of flexibility and speed to respond to customer input like never before seen in the auto industry." The new touch-screen interface features new simpler graphics and controls that are easier to use. Customers will also experience significantly faster touch-screen response times, one of the top requests from owners. New features include support for tablet devices and Audible.com audiobooks, improved navigation maps and enhanced voice recognition interaction. Listening to customers Since MyFord launched last fall, Ford has held four customer clinics in which owners talked directly to Ford engineers about their experiences with the new technology. Owner feedback was clear and consistent, revealing that MyFord Touch was a key purchase reason. A survey of 2011 Ford Edge owners shows that four of the top seven purchase reasons were elements of the MyFord Touch system: the touch-screen, steering wheel controls, voice recognition and interior styling. While owners reported that they love the system, there were distinct areas where they wanted improvements. Earlier this year, Ford started delivering on their requests, beginning with more instructions and information on how to best utilize the capabilities of the system. Ford launched two programs modeled after what consumers experience when purchasing a new electronic device. First, the company added a new MyFord Touch owner support website featuring how-to videos at HYPERLINK "http://www.syncmyride.com" www.syncmyride.com. Second, free "SYNC My Ride" personalized training sessions for new owners are now offered through Ford dealers – scheduled at customers' convenience. "The keys to continuous improvement are simple: Listen, learn and respond. That's how we're going to keep our customers happy," said Gary Jablonski, manager, SYNC Platform Development. "Evolving the software with meaningful enhanced features was part of our plan from the very beginning. It's no different than the experience with our smartphones and laptop computers – except now, it's your car that gets better." New look The visual enhancements to MyFord Touch are based on simplifying the graphics with larger, bolder fonts, removing low-priority visual content, and designing screens based on a consistent pattern. More than 1,000 screens in total have been updated with the improved look. "Our goal when designing the upgrade was to simplify the screens and give customers a fast and easy way to get information at any given moment," said Jennifer Brace, user interface Design engineer for Ford. "That meant removing buttons, relocating high-use controls closer to the driver's reach, simplifying tasks and improving font size." The new fonts are as much as 40 percent larger on some redesigned screens. The fonts also are wider and bolder to provide easier legibility, particularly among the rapidly increasing number of drivers age 60 and older. New features Ford also took the opportunity to update the performance of the system and add new features for customers to help them keep pace with the fast-moving consumer electronics market. Faster touch-screen response time, for example, was a key request from owners. Initial testing shows that touch and voice response is at least two times faster than the current system. Also, the software upgrade includes the following enhancements: Improved voice recognition experience powered by Nuance Quicker voice recognition upon startup and faster command prompt when the voice button is pushed Voice commands used in conjunction with navigation are simplified through elimination of the need to provide street direction, e.g., "Main Street" instead of "North Main Street" Music requests are simpler by removing the need to include the additional song, album or artist information often found at the end of a name in (parenthesis) or [brackets] Customers can find their favorite sports team in action via new Sirius Game Finder simply by saying a command such as "Tune to Detroit Lions game" Tablet device compatibility Music and other media content from most popular tablet computers like the Apple iPad can now be accessed through a simple USB connection Audible.com audiobook support Listen to Audible.com content using voice commands or the easy-to-use touch-screen controls Connected navigation powered by TeleNav features new map data by NAVTEQ Updated map views are richer and feature more 3D landmarks Views of freeway junctions and signs are enhanced through photorealistic screen images Smart routing options are provided based on a database of historical traffic patterns Phone compatibility Automatic Bluetooth® connection upon vehicle entry has been improved Noise and echo cancellation during phone calls has been improved to enhance call quality Gracenote® album cover art database Inclusion of the latest music metadata available enhancing the music playback experience Improved voice recognition for music search allowing drivers to pinpoint artists with hard-to-pronounce names or nicknames

Panasonic announces Lumix DMC-3D1: dual lenses, 12 megapixel sensors Posted: 06 Nov 2011 08:00 PM PST Do you shoot 3D photos? Nope, neither do we, but Panasonic certainly seems to hope that'll change -- perhaps even as soon as next month, when its Lumix 3D1 hits store shelves... for $500. And how much camera does half a grand buy you? Well, for starters you get not one, but a pair of 25-100mm optical zoom lenses (30-120mm in 3D mode), pumping images to dual 12.1 megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensors. Two lenses and two sensors make this pocket wonder a natural at stereoscopic 3D video, but it can also pull some pretty clever tricks with still photos. Sure, you can shoot full-res stills and 1080i video simultaneously, but those dual zoom lenses can operate independently as well, letting you snap pics and/or video at multiple focal lengths -- capture a wide-angle shot with one lens and a close-up with the other, for example. Panasonic wasn't able to demo this functionality during our briefing, so we can't speak to the interface, but it certainly sounds like a nifty concept. Beyond that, expect up to 8 fps burst at full resolution, a 3.5-inch touchscreen and "dramatically clear" low-light images, even at high-ISOs (according to Panasonic). Ready to hear more from the camera maker? Jump past the break for the full PR. Panasonic Lumix 3D1 Show full PR text PANASONIC ANNOUNCES COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA CAPABLE OF SHOOTING 3D PHOTOS AND VIDEOS New LUMIX 3D1 Digital Camera Features Twin-Lens Design for 3D Images, or to Shoot Video and Still Photos Simultaneously SECAUCUS, NJ (November 7, 2011) – Panasonic today announced the LUMIX DMC-3D1, a cutting-edge digital camera that employs two newly-developed lens units with folded optics design in a stunningly compact body that can capture crisp and clear 3D and 2D photos and videos. The LUMIX 3D1, with a twin-lens design, features 25mm ultra-wide angle lenses with 4x optical zoom that offer the outstanding capability to record high resolution 8-megapixel 3D photo and 1920x1080 60i high quality 3D HD video using side-by-side method. The LUMIX 3D1's optics give users a wider range of composition possibilities with approximately 169% larger viewing space compared to that of 35mm cameras. Featuring a unique shooting option, the new twin-lens system allows the LUMIX 3D1 to capture 2D images and video simultaneously. The LUMIX 3D1 can shoot 12-megapixel 2D photos and record 1920x1080i full HD 2D videos. In conventional standard digital compact cameras, users must shoot in either photo or video mode and when photo mode is selected, video recording is interrupted. The twin-lens design of the LUMIX 3D1 breaks through these conventional barriers with two separate mechanisms for image capturing, allowing for dual shooting capabilities. Additionally, the two-lens design allows users to record photo or video in different angles of view simultaneously. For example, users can record an entire party scene with one lens while zooming in on and capturing the photo of a specific person with another lens. Users can easily switch between 2D and 3D mode with the dedicated 2D/3D switch conveniently located on the back of the camera. "Panasonic continues to lead the industry in 3D entertainment, giving consumers the opportunity to create their own content and then view it within their homes, and the new LUMIX 3D1 is an innovative digital camera that excels with its 3D imaging technologies, but also offers outstanding 2D photo capture options," said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "With its twin-lens design, the LUMIX 3D1 can even shoot HD video through one lens and 2D photos from the other – thus getting still and moving content simultaneously, a unique shooting feature which Panasonic provides so users can stretch their creativity." The 12-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor and the Venus Engine allow the LUMIX 3D1 to achieve high-quality images and easily process image sensitivity and speed. Multi-process Noise Reduction applies optimal noise reduction according to the brightness of different areas of an image, thus creating crisp and beautiful photos and videos. Both high frequency noise that occurs in the dark area, and low frequency noise in the light are of a photo are suppressed even though occurring simultaneously in a photo. As a result, images recorded in low-light situations are dramatically clear, even when recorded at a high ISO setting. The LUMIX 3D1 boasts extremely fast consecutive shots at 8 fps (without auto focusing) and 4 fps (with auto focusing) in full resolution. Utilizing quad-CPUs the Venus Engine processes large amounts of 1920x1080i Full-HD data at high speeds in either AVCHD or MP4 formats. Although using two sets of lens units and sensors, energy consumption of Venus Engine stays minimized to maintain the camera's battery life for as long as that of a single lens compact digital camera. Though the LUMIX 3D1 utilizes advanced functions to shoot exciting 3D and 2D content, it is easy enough for anyone to shoot beautiful 2D photo and videos using iA (Intelligent Auto) mode. iA mode combines a suite of functions to help users achieve the perfect shots, including: MEGA O.I.S, AF Tracking, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Recognition and Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Handheld Nightshot, which generates beautiful night scenery with illumination by layering multiple images shot consecutively, allowing bright, glamorous night scenery to be recorded without using a tripod. The LUMIX 3D1 features a large 3.5-inch Smart Touch screen on the camera's back which allows users to easily move through camera functions and recorded photos and videos. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-3D1 will be available in December 2011 for a suggested retail price of $499.99. For more information, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

Panasonic launches Lumix DMC-GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera, we go hands-on Posted: 06 Nov 2011 08:00 PM PST Remember the Lumix GF1? It was one of Panasonic's first Micro Four Thirds cameras, setting the bar quite high for models to come. But the GF1's successors -- the GF2 and GF3 -- did not live up to expectations, with the company gradually shifting the series towards transitioning point-and-shoot users, and away from early adopters who grew accustomed to the performance and build quality offered by that beloved early mirrorless cam. Now that familiar look and feel is back, in the form of the Lumix DMC-GX1. The 16 megapixel ILC includes a Live MOS sensor and Venus engine, with a maximum ISO of 12,800. Like other Panasonic G-series cameras, the GX1 uses a Micro Four Thirds mount, and is compatible with both Panasonic and Olympus lenses, including the standard 14-42mm zoom that ships with the $800 kit, or the Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm retractable lens that comes packaged for $950. Existing lens owners can pick up just the body for $700. What we really missed was the solid feel of the GF1 -- everything from the housing to the controls felt well-made, while the design of later GF models, was... underwhelming. Picking up the GX1 helped to restore our confidence in the series -- it was a pleasure to hold. There's quite a bit of power under the hood, too. We weren't able to test the GX1, which is expected to hit stores in mid-December, but Panasonic promises autofocus speeds of 0.9 second -- you can focus simply by touching your subject on the 3-inch, 460,000-dot touchscreen. There's also an external EVF option, which attaches to the camera's hot shoe and offers a 1.44 million-dot display with 100-percent field of view. Movie buffs can capture 1080/60i HD video, with either MP4 or AVCHD compression. It goes without saying that the GX1 can shoot in RAW, and offers the complete gamut of advanced shooting modes. Of course the features don't stop there, so jump past the break for the full PR from Panasonic. Panasonic Lumix GX1 hands-on Panasonic Lumix GX1 press shots Show full PR text PANASONIC ANNOUNCES NEWEST COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA, LUMIX GX1 EXCELS IN SPEED, IMAGE QUALITY AND SIZE The LUMIX GX1 Finds the Perfect Balance of Size and Performance – Making it the Ideal 'Everyday' Digital Camera for Professionals and Photo Enthusiasts Alike SECAUCUS, NJ (November 7, 2011) – Panasonic today announces its latest Compact System Camera (CSC), the LUMIX DMC-GX1, which joins Panasonic's award-winning LUMIX G Series of digital cameras, which are acclaimed for their high image quality with small and compact body and lenses. The new LUMIX GX1 features a 16.01-megapixel Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine, helping to ensure real-to-life images through excellent resolution, image rendering and color reproduction. Even in low-light situations and at maximum 12800 high ISO sensitivity, the LUMIX GX1 can produce stunning photos and videos, and because of its compact size it can be easily carried for daily use. "Panasonic expects the LUMIX GX1 to please a lot of photo enthusiasts who have been eager for a technology upgrade comparable to the LUMIX DMC-GF1, which continues to be a very popular digital camera with dedicated followers who appreciate the compact size, yet high quality of photos and video," said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "The LUMIX GX1 is an extremely flexible and capable digital camera with fast AF speeds and outstanding image quality. Plus with a built-in flash and a hot shoe allowing for accessories like an external view finder, the GX1 is a powerful compact system camera that is small enough to be a photographer's everyday camera choice." The LUMIX GX1, like all the models in Panasonic's LUMIX G Series of CSC, adopts Contrast AF for its focus system, so focusing is controlled by the image sensor. When compared with the Phase difference system AF, Contrast AF achieves higher accuracy especially when shooting with a bright lens with small F value. For instance, the accuracy of Contrast AF is approximately 90% while Phase difference AF is approximately 60% at F1.4. Additionally, with the precise Contrast AF system, the LUMIX GX1 achieves high resolution through an optimal balance of resolution and noise reduction, thus producing lifelike image rendering and highly precise Auto Exposure and white balance. To further advance the Contrast AF, the LUMIX GX1　incorporates full-area focusing, making it possible to set focus on any point in the field of view. With the LUMIX GX1's 3.0-inch touch LCD screen, frame composition is intuitive and easy. The LUMIX GX1 features an ultra high-speed Light Speed AF*, which means it can Auto Focus in approximately 0.09 second. This is achieved by reducing the detection time for focusing by the synchronizing the lens and sensor at 120 fps. Plus, the newly-added focus mode AFF (AF Flexible) locks on the focus when the shutter button is half-pressed, however, if the subject moves, the focusing is reset to get the best results. Combined with the Touch AF control, setting and focusing on the subject is incredibly easy and quick. The touch-control system of the LUMIX GX1 lets users set the focus on the subject by simply touching it on the large, 460,000-dot wide-viewing angle LCD. Users can even release the shutter by touching the screen. Once locked on the subject with a touch, the LUMIX GX1 tracks the subject, even when it moves, using the AF tracking function. With a touch on the screen, users can select the part and the size of the AF area, choosing from 1-area AF, Multi-area AF with 23 AF areas and Pinpoint AF, which allows extremely precise focus setting. Despite its compact size, the LUMIX GX1 is extremely intuitive to operate, with an optimized layout of control buttons, a mode dial and dedicated function buttons. Users can customize the two external buttons and two menus tabs to settings they most frequently use so they are easily accessible. In addition, a total of four custom setting patterns can be stored to the camera's model dial – one on 'C1' and three on 'C2.' Furthermore, the LUMIX GX1 was designed to enhance its ergonomics, with a grip that fits naturally and comfortably in the hand, despite its flat profile and compact design. Plus, the LUMIX GX1 has a more tactile texture and the mode dial is easy to turn and features print that is easy to read and won't easily wear. The LUMIX GX1 can record 1920 x 1080 at 60i, with sensor output of 30p, full-High Definition videos in the AVCHD format which excels in both compression efficiency and compatibility with AV equipment for playback. In addition to the practical full-time AF, the Touch AF in video recording also lets users enjoy professional-like rack focusing. Just by pointing at the subject, the focus is shifted so it stands out. With a dedicated video record button on the top, users can instantly start recording videos while shooting photos without any having to make any extra setting adjustments. Along with the full-HD video capabilities, the LUMIX GX1 also features high-quality sound, recorded with Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator. Videos can also be recorded in MP4 format for playback on a PC or other portable electronic devices without having to convert the files. Other features of the new Panasonic LUMIX GX1 compact system camera include: • A new Level Gauge, which lets the camera detect the horizontal/vertical angle of view with its internal level working with the sensor. In addition, photos shot in portrait aspect will be automatically displayed vertically, regardless of which lens is used. • One Push AE adjusts exposure with a single press of the "Fn" (Function) button when it is over/under exposed, which is especially useful when shooting outdoors with open aperture or indoors with fast shutter speed.　 • Dust Reduction System helps to eliminate dust or foreign matter getting inside the LUMIX GX1 when lenses are being changed. By placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor that vibrates vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles effectively. • Zoom operation can be controlled with touch control when either of Panasonic's new LUMIX X Power Zoom lenses are attached. And the zoom speed can also be adjusted in two steps for more precise control. • Popular iA and iA Plus modes for beginners looking for automatic shooting in both still and video modes. • Increased energy consumption and an approximately 11%** longer battery life when compared to the LUMIX DMC-G3, which also uses the same battery pack DMW-BLD10. The LUMIX G Series is a robust system of bodies and lenses, featuring a total of 14 Micro Four Thirds lenses including the new power zoom X lens – standard zoom lens, telephoto zoom lens, single focal length lens, wide-angle lens, fish-eye lens, macro lens, and even a 3D lens – to fit a variety of shooting scenarios and occasions. The Micro Four Thirds System products are joining today's Four Thirds System products to provide customers with even higher levels of performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera. In addition to LUMIX G lenses, the LUMIX DMC-GX1 can use any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds System standard via an optional mount adapter for the unlimited number of lens properties. The LUMIX GX1 system camera offers a wide variety of options to choose from to match every shooting situation and shooting style, including: external flashes, PL filters, ND filters, MC protectors, remote shutter, zoom level, battery packs, AC adaptor, DC coupler, straps, cases, bags and more. Plus, with the LUMIX GX1's hot shoe on the top, users can attach the optional tilt-shift Live View Finder (DMW-LVF2), with approximately 1.4x and 1,440,000-dot equivalent, 100% field of view. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX1 will be available in black and silver bodies in mid-December and in the following kit options: DMC-GX1-X with the LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S (H-PS14042) lens will have a suggested retail price (SRP) of $949.99; the DMC-GX1-K with the 14-42 standard zoom for an SRP of $799.99; and the DMC-GX1, body only for an SRP of $699.99.

How would you change Olympus' PEN E-PL3 and E-P3? Posted: 06 Nov 2011 06:36 PM PST Canon's been focused solely on the top-end of things here recently, but it's obvious that the mirrorless and Micro Four Thirds markets are booming. Cute sells, right? And if you've taken the plunge on either of Olympus' newest PENs (that'd be the E-PL3 or E-P3), we're interested in knowing how you really feel about 'em. Would you have preferred a slightly larger casing? Still want it smaller? Cool with the kit lens? Any quibbles with the exterior? The UI? The company's made quite clear that the PEN line ain't going anywhere anytime soon, so speak up in comments below, won't you?

Inhabitat's Week in Green: flexible OLEDs, wind-energy skyscrapers and 3D-printing spider robots Posted: 06 Nov 2011 04:26 PM PST Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. Exciting energy projects lit up the newswires this week as Inhabitat reported that Desertec will begin building the world's largest solar project in the Sahara Desert next year. We also saw a West Virginia wind farm use batteries to improve its performance, and we showcased the brand new Eco Whisper wind turbine, which is quieter and more efficient than three-bladed models. Meanwhile, Apple announced plans to build a major solar-powered iCloud data center in North Carolina, architects unveiled plans for a towering wind-energy generating skyscraper in Taiwan, and we shared ten tips for cutting down your electricity bill this winter. In other news, green transportation took off for the skies as the world's first manned electric multicopter launched its first flight. We also brought you six sexy electric cars that will be hitting the streets in 2012, plus one awesome compact camper that is a miniature house on wheels. Across the pond, Foster + Partners unveiled a massive Thames Hub plan to update Britain's energy and transportation infrastructure, and IKEA just announced plans to build a massive 26-acre suburb in East London. Researchers also brought to light several stunning new forms of energy-efficient illumination as they unveiled the world's most efficient flexible OLED, Samsung announced plans to launch a bendable OLED cell phone in 2012, and we showcased a luminous netted vest for nighttime cyclists. We also spotted several fresh life-saving gadgets -- a spindly 3D printed spider robot that can analyze hazardous sites, and a series of designer gas masks that question our psychological reliance on luxury labels. Finally, you won't want to miss the awesome tot-sized Dalek costume that is currently tearing up our Green Halloween Costume Contest for kids, and this rock-solid carbonite Han Solo costume from our Halloween contest for adults.

HTC Vivid and Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket go on sale, lead AT&T's march on LTE Posted: 06 Nov 2011 02:56 PM PST You didn't expect Ma Bell to open its first LTE markets without tossing in a few 4G friendly toys, did you? Of course not, we told you as much last week -- but today things get official: The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid (formerly known as the Holiday) are ready to take Ma Bell's new LTE nodes for a spin. Not much has changed since the last time we saw these phones -- the Skyrocket still knocks the Galaxy S II's screen size and processor speed up a notch (a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus Display and 1.5GHz CPU, for those of you keeping track), and the Vivid still has a 4.5-inch qHD display, 1080p HD video recording via an 8MP rear camera and a 1.2GHz CPU. What's new? AT&T is currently selling both handsets with an online discount, offering the Galaxy S II Skyrocket for $150 with a two-year commitment, and the Vivid for a paltry $99. If you're lucky enough to live in one of AT&T's emerging LTE markets, skip on over to the outfit's webstore and have a look. [Thanks, Reggie]

Switched On: Motorola's manic modularity Posted: 06 Nov 2011 01:40 PM PST Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. When newly independent Motorola Mobility introduced its Atrix handset on AT&T at CES, the smartphone was generally well-received. But what drew more attention was the range of accessories that the company has continued to support through other high-end launches such as those of the Photon on Sprint and the Droid Bionic on Verizon. These products now include a car dock for navigation, HDMI dock for entertainment, and lapdock for enhanced productivity. Motorola wasn't the first company to introduce an HDMI dock, and Asus' Padfone embeds a handset more directly into another device than do Motorola's products. Taken together, though, the Motorola dock derby best positions the handset as the heart of a mobile lifestyle -- one that can be easily transplanted so that it can overcome the limitations of its native form factor. It is a fitting push for one of the few smartphone companies not vested in other traditional electronic devices such as PCs or televisions. With the release of the Droid RAZR, Motorola hearkens back to the thinness and structural integrity of its once wildly popular featurephone. Of course, the new smartphone is generations ahead of its namesake flip phone in terms of software sophistication. But a new generation of Motorola accessories make the case that even smartphones have their limits. At the Droid RAZR launch, the company also announced MOTOACTV, a wearable screen that not only competes with a sudden slew of fitness activity monitors but also acts as a remote user interface for notifications and music control, similar to Sony Ericsson's LiveView. MOTOACTV isn't the only trick that Motorola has at the end of its sleeve, though. The square-screened device also communicates via Bluetooth to one of two headphone sets that not only play music from the phone, but include sensors to measure your heartbeat. (The headphones can also represent your heartbeat audibly without the MOTOACTV.) With the triad of a smartphone, Bluetooth headphones and the MOTOACTV, Motorola is marketing the first genuine personal area network aimed at consumers. The company that began the year treating the smartphone as a molecular building block now seems to be breaking it into atoms strewn about your person. But both the larger and smaller accessories (and the accessories' accessories, which include a MOTOACTV wrist strap, armband and bike mount) both simply expand what defines the modern smartphone. In the case of a lapdock or HDMI dock, it's the display. In the case of heartbeat-monitoring headphones or an external screen like the MOTOACTV, it's the size and sensors. At the launch of the MOTOACTV, Motorola wouldn't commit as to whether it would open up the device to third-party development, but there's already a number of companies -- at least some of which are also using Android -- intent on creating watch-sized devices with a wide range of brands. That quest has been a long one, but what Motorola's modularity demonstrates is that the smartphone software is becoming so entwined in our lives that they are seeping out from the confines of a single device. 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.

Blockbuster Express kiosks hike rental rates to keep offering new movies Posted: 06 Nov 2011 01:01 PM PST In a continuation of the worst fad ever, it appears NCR's Blockbuster Express kiosk biz is the latest to come down with a case of price hike-itis, following competitors Redbox and Netflix. Of course the cause behind this is the studios, who are pushing for higher rates on new release movies or delayed windows. The 3-2-1 pricing structure it has been testing kicks in on "Hot Movies" in the first month they're available (sound familiar?), renting for $3 the first night (additional nights are still just $1 each, Blu-ray discs still cost $1 extra the first night), dropping to $2 after a month and then to $1 after 90 days. Expect the squeeze to be continually and evenly applied to your video rental options as long as Hollywood believes it increases sales.

Dish Network letter to the FCC says its LTE plans can help bring broadband to every American Posted: 06 Nov 2011 12:06 PM PST High speed data connections available from Fairbanks to Miami? We can get with that, and Dish Network hopes the idea will appeal to the FCC as well so it can deploy its hybrid satellite/LTE network. Despite the hurdles faced by LightSquared's similar technology, DailyWireless reports Dish claims its network will have no such issues. Other wireless companies are asking for more details before the feds let Dish use the technology it has put together from its purchases of DBSD and Terrestar. We'll keep an eye out for the FCC's response, for now if you need more info on the playing field you can check the source link, or dive directly into Dish's 67-page letter.

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