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Saturday, November 12, 2011

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Amazon bringing 400 magazines, newspapers, flame retardants to Kindle Fire

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 09:11 AM PST

It's been a busy week for the Kindle Fire. First came news that Amazon would be bringing Facebook, Hulu and "several thousand" other apps to its forthcoming tablet, and now, we've got confirmation that hundreds of magazines and newspapers are on their way, as well. Yesterday, the company announced that more than 400 "full-color" titles will be available on the Kindle Fire Newsstand, including Us Weekly, The New Yorker and Reader's Digest, among others. Users who subscriber before March 1st, meanwhile, will be able to access a full 17 Condé Nast titles for free, as part of a three-month offer. Amazon is also promising plenty of interactive editions with built-in video and audio, which you'll be able to check out for yourself next week, when the Fire begins shipping. For more details, check out the full press release after the break.
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Kindle Fire Newsstand to Offer Over 400 Full-Color Magazines and Newspapers

Condé Nast will give all Kindle Fire owners an exclusive free three-month trial of 17 top magazines including Vanity Fair, GQ and Glamour

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 2011-- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that the Kindle Fire Newsstand will offer over 400 full-color magazines and newspapers. Kindle Fire customers who subscribe before March 1, 2012 will also receive an exclusive free three-month trial of 17 Condé Nast magazines, including Vanity Fair, GQ, WIRED and Glamour. Kindle Fire, which ships next week, is a new class of Kindle that brings the same ease-of-use and deep integration of content that helped Kindle re-invent reading to magazines, movies, TV shows, music, apps, games, books and more. Magazines and newspapers look beautiful on Kindle Fire's 7" vibrant multi-touch color touch-screen that delivers 1024 X 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi and 16 million colors in high resolution. Kindle Fire Newsstand customers will be able to enjoy their favorite magazines in rich, glossy, full-color from publishers such as Condé Nast, Meredith, and Hearst. Interactive editions with built-in video and audio are also available for many magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens, Allure and Self. To learn more about the Kindle Fire Newsstand, visit http://www.amazon.com/kindlefirenewsstand.

"We think Kindle Fire customers will love the beautiful, intuitive reading experience we've built for their favorite magazines such as Us Weekly, The New Yorker, and Reader's Digest," said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President, Kindle Content. "The response from publishers has been overwhelmingly positive and they are excited to make their magazines and newspapers available on Kindle Fire, and we're adding new titles all the time."

"We're excited to work with Amazon to give Kindle Fire owners access to our magazines digitally," said John Loughlin, EVP/GM, Hearst Magazines. "Kindle Fire's beautiful touch-screen creates a great experience for readers, who will be able to enjoy magazines like Cosmopolitan and Esquire in a full-color, glossy format."

"We are very pleased to be working with Amazon and getting our content to an even wider audience," said Monica Ray, Executive Vice President, Consumer Marketing, Condé Nast. "Their Newsstand will provide the kind of access and ease-of-use consumers value and demand."

"Meredith has worked with Amazon to create Kindle Fire optimized interactive apps, so readers can enjoy videos, how-to diagrams and more while reading magazines like Better Homes & Gardens and Parents," said Liz Schimel, Chief Digital Officer, Meredith. "We think readers will love the experience of discovering our magazines in this new way on Kindle Fire's beautiful full-color touch-screen."

Kindle Fire offers more than 18 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, magazines, apps and games, as well as free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync for books and movies, a 14.6 ounce design that's easy to hold with one hand, vibrant color touch screen, a powerful dual-core processor and Amazon Silk – Amazon's new revolutionary web browser that accelerates the power of the mobile device by using the computing speed and power of the Amazon Web Services Cloud – all for only $199. Customers also enjoy a free month of Amazon Prime giving them access to Prime Instant Video with 13,000 movies and TV shows available for unlimited streaming and the new Kindle Owners' Lending Library where Kindle owners can now choose from thousands of books to borrow for free including more than 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers – as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates.

Customers in the U.S. can pre-order Kindle Fire at http://www.amazon.com/kindlefire and it ships November 15. For high resolution images and video of the all-new Kindle Fire, visit http://www.amazon.com/pr/kindle.

LG might show off Google TV hardware at CES

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 07:55 AM PST

Turns out the Apple TV isn't the only one to see rehashed rumors making the rounds, as Bloomberg has dredged up "people with knowledge of the project" to say LG could show off hardware featuring Google TV at CES 2012. Of course, slow-to-materialize new software apparently put a stop to LG, Sharp, and Toshiba's plans at last year's show, leaving Samsung and Vizio alone to bear the flag. Making the timing of this rumor conspicuous however, is news of Logitech sitting out the next round of Google TV, the aforementioned Cupertino project, and Sony's promise of a "different kind of TV" floating around recently. Now that the Honeycomb update and Android Market access actually exist, Google's next big task is securing more partnerships for content and hardware -- we'll find out how successful it's been in January.

3DS to beat out original DS' first year sales, land killing blow during holiday season

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 07:06 AM PST

First 3DS sales were great, then not so much, and now things seem to be evening out somewhere around "normal." According to numbers released by Nintendo, the fledgling handheld is poised to break the original DS' first year sales numbers -- closing out its 8th month with 1.65 million units sold, or roughly 69 percent of its predecessor's 2.37 million first year sales. Noting that half of the old DS' year one sales were made during the holiday season, Nintendo is confident the 3DS will surpass its predecessor's numbers before hitting the one year mark. We'll let you make your own predictions -- Nintendo's press release is after the break, if you want to compare notes.
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NINTENDO 3DS POISED TO SURPASS FIRST-YEAR SALES OF NINTENDO DS

In its eighth month on the market, the Nintendo 3DS™ system crossed 1.65 million units sold in the U.S., according to the NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. This milestone puts the platform on track to surpass the first-year total of Nintendo DS™, the best-selling game platform in U.S. history.

The Nintendo DS system sold 2.37 million units in its first 12 months (November 2004-October 2005), with approximately 50 percent of those sales occurring in the holiday time frame. With its first holiday season and the launches of the Super Mario 3D Land™ and Mario Kart™ 7 games on the horizon, Nintendo 3DS is poised to eclipse that number and establish a new benchmark for hand-held gaming launches in the United States.

"With a massive lineup of software on the way and the first-year sales record of Nintendo DS in its sights, Nintendo 3DS enters its first holiday season with a full head of steam," said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.

Other Nintendo news from the month includes:
• Nintendo sold more than 675,000 combined hardware units in October. This includes more than 250,000 units of Nintendo 3DS, nearly 250,000 Wii™ systems and nearly 180,000 units of the Nintendo DS family of systems.

• For the year, Nintendo has sold a combined 7 million hardware units and more than 55 million units of software have been sold for Nintendo platforms. Both of these numbers should increase with the Nov. 20 launch of The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword for Wii.

• Both Wii, up 8 percent year over year, and Nintendo DS, up 23 percent over the previous month, demonstrated strong momentum heading into their respective sixth and eighth holiday seasons. In total, the two platforms have sold more than 87 million combined hardware units and more than 540 million combined units of software in the United States.

Mobile Miscellany: week of November 7, 2011

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PST

This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of November 7, 2011:
  • Motorola's finding itself in the hot seat with the Advertising Standards Authority for its TV ads regarding the Defy (shown above). The ASA banned the ads, stating that Moto's claims of the Defy being an indestructable phone are misleading, as evidenced by several people who've cracked or severely damaged their Defy due to drops or kicks. [The Register]
  • The Huawei Blaze is now being sold at Phones4U for £79.95 on a PAYG plan. [Unwired View]
  • How nice would it be to have a live tile on your Windows Phone that displays your current battery charge by exact percentage, instead of guessing what that small meter at the top of the screen means? If you have an unlocked WP7.5 device, head over to XDA to find out how to get one for your Start Menu. [WMPowerUser]
  • Who wants some more white BlackBerry news? Bell's likely getting ready to sell the Bold 9900 on November 24th for $170 with a three-year commitment, and Rogers is getting the aforementioned device alongside the Bold 9790 and Curve 9360 -- since these were based off of leaked internal device lists, no dates or pricing were specified. [MobileSyrup 1, 2]
  • More Canadian release tidbits: MobileSyrup reports that the Samsung Galaxy W will be hitting Bell shelves sometime this quarter, and Rogers should offer the Samsung Galaxy S Glide sometime soon for $150 with a three-year contract. [MobileSyrup 1, 2]
  • Orange UK's website shows the HTC Sensation XE as "coming soon." [CoolSmartphone]

One Millionth Tower documentary elevates the art of HTML5

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 04:33 AM PST

Impressive demos of HTML5-based wizardry may be more common than ever now, but that doesn't mean there isn't still room to be impressed. One of latest to raise the bar is the One Millionth Tower documentary from the National Film Board of Canada's Highrise project. The main feature itself runs just over six minutes if you choose to simply sit back and watch, but things get quite a bit more interesting if you dive in and explore the highrise neighborhood that's the focus of the documentary, which is realized in WebGL-based 3D environment. Naturally, there's also a behind-the-scenes look at how the documentary was made, and the NFB has even made the source code available for those that want to dig deeper. Head on past the break for the trailer, and hit the source link below to check out the full thing for yourself -- we'd recommend switching your browser to full screen mode for the best experience.

[Thanks, Kat]


Logitech Alert Video Security System gets Dropbox support, lets you park 100GB of footage in the cloud

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 02:47 AM PST

We liked Logitech's Alert Video Security System when we took it for a week-long spin last year, which at that point allowed remote access to live HD camera footage, and video stored on your PC. But a new partnership with Dropbox adds cloud storage to the equation, letting you boot video directly to the web to supplement the PC- and microSD-based options already in place. Packages are available today, and come with 2GB of storage for free, 50GB for $10 per month or 100GB for $20 per month -- Logitech isn't exactly giving away the service, but when you consider that a bare-bones Alert system costs $300, those virtual add-ons sound a bit more reasonable. Jump past the break for the full rundown from Logitech, and get ready to beef up those passwords -- having your email account hacked is one thing, but you certainly don't want anyone watching you at home, in real-time or the past.
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Logitech Alert Adds Dropbox Storage

Over a year ago we introduced our Logitech Alert™ HD digital video security system that helps you watch over the people and places you care about the most. Today, I am happy to announce that you can now opt to have secure remote storage for your Logitech Alert videos.

With Dropbox – in addition to existing Logitech Alert on-camera video storage and PC video backup – you now have an additional storage option that gives you even more piece of mind. Whether at home or on the road, Dropbox's automatic backup and password protection helps ensure that the Logitech Alert HD videos backed up to your PC are automatically and safely uploaded to the cloud. Dropbox uses the same security methods as banks for data transfer and storage – adding that additional layer of data protection – so you can be confident saved videos will remain protected and private.

Starting today, Logitech Alert users can access a bevy of Dropbox storage packages – ranging from an initial free service for up to 2 GBs, to an upgraded 50 GB service for $9.99 per month and 100 GBs for $19.99 per month. Once you sign up for an account and download Dropbox, simply configure your storage settings within Logitech Alert Commander and the Dropbox software. As long as both Dropbox and Logitech Alert Commander are running, Logitech Alert footage will automatically sync with your Dropbox account transferring and storing security video files.

Orange's San Francisco II makes a surprise debut, continues midrange reign with Gingerbread

Posted: 12 Nov 2011 01:08 AM PST

Got a taste for mid-range handsets with the swank appeal of jet set monikers? Good, then you have a seat firmly secured at Orange's table. Last year, the UK carrier delighted pay-as-you-go subs with its Eclair-infused San Francisco and now it's looking to serve up a second course. Leaked out by the operator's own Help & Support page, the San Francisco II ups the ante with an 800MHz ARM11 processor, 3.5-inch WVGA TFT display, a 5 megapixel rear camera and 512MB of onboard memory. The ZTE-built black slab gets the upgrade to Android 2.3 Gingerbread and also appears to come pre-loaded with both Ovi and BlackBerry Maps for your navigating needs. You can catch a sneak peek of all this unofficial goodness at the source below.

Facebook SlingPlayer revealed, proves you can't escape social networking (video)

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 11:34 PM PST

Add another future platform for SlingPlayer to the pile, as the company recently showed off this quick demo of streaming video through Facebook. While the old Sling.com streaming still works just fine, this one adds some new social features to the mix. That will let viewers share the shows and what they enjoy watching easily while not-so-coincidentally making sure their friends know they're watching TV via Slingbox. There's no word on when this will actually hit the OpenGraph'd streets, but so far it's already in line behind players we've seen demonstrated but not yet released for Boxee and Google TV. Press play to check out the video and think back to a world where no one knew you were watching Law & Order for the eighth time today.

[Thanks for the video, Dave Zatz]

Apple is replacing first gen iPod nanos due to faulty batteries

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 08:53 PM PST

After offering to swap out a few faulty first gen iPod nanos in Korea back in 2009, it appears Apple has finally seen fit to get them out of owner's pockets here in the US (update: worldwide) too. An email just sent to registered owners (included after the break) and notice posted on its replacement program site inform users the affected units were sold between September 2005 and December 2006. If you have one (seriously, yours still works?), stop using it right now and fill out the form at the link below to order a free replacement unit. The main inconvenience -- other than finding out you've been walking around with the possibility of a "rare case" of overheating taking place in your skinny jeans -- is an anticipated six-week lag between Apple receiving the old unit and shipping you out a replacement.

The reason given for waiting so long to replace them is that when it comes to this issue "the likelihood increases as the battery ages"; that, and it's finally too late for you to run out and get a Zune. No word yet on which models will be sent out as replacements, but if yours is personalized, then sorry -- no inscriptions available.

[Thanks, Paul & Jordan]
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Dear iPod nano owner,

Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.

This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages.

Apple recommends that you stop using your iPod nano (1st gen) and follow the process noted below to order a replacement unit, free of charge.

Note: This battery issue is specific to the iPod nano (1st gen) and does not affect any other iPod.

Replacement Process

You may order a replacement unit via the web. Click here to begin.

Your iPod nano serial number will be checked to verify that it is eligible for this program. You will receive a replacement unit approximately 6 weeks after we receive your current iPod nano (1st gen).

If you have a personalized iPod nano, you will receive a non-personalized replacement. Make sure to use iTunes to back up any data on your current iPod nano before sending it in for a replacement unit.

Additional Information

Identifying an iPod nano (1st gen):

•
It has a black or white plastic front and a silver metal back - later iPod nano models have a metal front and back.

If you need assistance with placing an order, please visit an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) and bring your iPod nano with you for serial number validation.

Your replacement iPod product is warranted to be free from defects for 90 days from the date of service.

Thank you for participating in this program.

Sincerely,

Apple

Related URL: http://www.apple.com/support/ipodnano_replacement/?cid=CDM-US-DM-P0010121-CON&cp=em--&sr=em

Apple iPhone 4S now available for $99... in Puerto Rico

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 07:11 PM PST

Sure, you can now purchase an unlocked iPhone 4S within the US officially, but folks in the outlying territory of Puerto Rico have some tempting options if they'll go the long-term contractual route. The region's division of carrier, Claro, is now selling the Siri-packed device starting at the low, low price of $99 for the 16GB model on-contract -- those scared of commitment can also snag it unlocked, albeit for a slightly pricey $670 (which as 9to5Mac points out, is up $20 from Apple). The carrier also lists the 32 and 64GB variants as "expected soon," marked to sell at $199 / $299 with a two-year commitment and $770 / $870 unlocked. Notably, you'll have a choice of four monthly plans featuring unlimited talk and text ranging from about 65 to 85 bucks, with data allotments starting at 250MB and peaking at "unlimited." Apparently, Claro isn't offering the 4S for purchase online, but it does list a number of retail locations you can grab one from if you're interested. You'll find more details at the source link below.

Scientists make magic auto-origami using ink and light (video)

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 05:53 PM PST

We've seen nano-origami and robo-origami, but nothing quite as rapid and simple as this. Researchers at North Carolina State University have figured out how to neatly fold plastic using infrared light and an inkjet printer. Deep black lines are printed onto the plastic sheets, which then absorb the light and cause the material to fold without anyone having to touch it. The wider the line, the greater the angle of each fold, so it's possible to set, say, a 90-degree bend for a cube or 120 degrees for a pyramid. What's more, by giving the lines different patterns, folds can be made to work in specific directions, potentially producing the most perfect, most hygienic bento box that's ever contained your lunch. Click past the break to watch the folding unfold.

Ford promises more AppLink love at CES, Evos on the show floor

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 05:12 PM PST

At CES last year, Ford's big news was twofold: the company unveiled its first EV in decades, the Focus Electric, and it spent plenty of time talking up AppLink, which brought a new degree of smartphone integration to Sync. We recently made a little stop by the company's Detroit R&D center where we were told not only to expect an announcement at the 2012 CES regarding a suite of new apps in AppLink, but to also get ready to see a hot concept car. Sadly, though, it's a car we've already seen: the cloud-connected Evos will be making its North American debut. But, maybe we'll get lucky and Ford will find room to unveil a second new car at the show. Its booth should certainly be large enough.

Adobe product manager fingers Apple for death of Flash Player for mobile

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 04:14 PM PST

Adobe's battles with Apple haven't exactly been a secret over the past couple of years, but the death of Flash Player for mobile has once again brought that drama to the fore. Mike Chambers, a lead product manager for Flash, took to his personal site today to shed some light on Adobe's rapid descent, pointing the finger squarely at Apple's refusal to adopt the player in its mobile OS. He had this to say:

This one should be pretty apparent, but given the fragmentation of the mobile market, and the fact that one of the leading mobile platforms (Apple's iOS) was not going to allow the Flash Player in the browser, the Flash Player was not on track to reach anywhere near the ubiquity of the Flash Player on desktops... Just to be very clear on this. No matter what we did, the Flash Player was not going to be available on Apple's iOS anytime in the foreseeable future.

That combined with the "strong support for HTML5 across modern devices," was apparently enough to drive the final nail into Flash's coffin. Among other things, Chambers cited the use of apps instead of browsers for media consumption and the complexity of the mobile market as further reasons for Adobe's decision. He went on to say that Adobe has a "long term commitment to the Flash Player on desktops," but concluded by encouraging Flash developers to diversify their skill sets. For the very lengthy full-form version of Chambers' explanation, hit the source link below, but we'd suggest grabbing a drink before you do so.

Amazon adds Hulu Plus, ESPN ScoreCenter to Kindle's Android apps, Nook Tablet loses its edge

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 03:04 PM PST

Not sufficiently amped up for the impending release of Amazon's first tablet? That could very well change as the Seattle-based company's just made its thousands-strong app pot a little sweeter. After reminding the product-buying populace a few days ago that the newly birthed Kindle Fire is, indeed, a tablet with access to a boatload of Android apps, Bezos and co. are now upping the slate's ante by announcing the availability of Hulu Plus and ESPN ScoreCenter. It's an obvious swat at the Nook Tablet's two greatest lures and could sway indecisive customers back from the brink of Barnes & Noble's beguiling clutches.
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Hulu Plus and ESPN ScoreCenter are joining our selection of several thousands of apps that will be available on Kindle Fire beginning next week.

With Hulu Plus, Amazon Kindle Fire users can instantly watch thousands of TV episodes – including the entire current season of popular shows like Modern Family, Glee, Saturday Night Live, The Office, House, and Grey's Anatomy – from top networks including ABC, Comedy Central, The CW, FOX, NBC, MTV, VH-1, and hundreds more. Hulu Plus also offers entertainment fans access to classic TV favorites like Lost, Ally McBeal, and Battlestar Galactica and hundreds of popular and award-winning movies for $7.99/month with limited advertising. ESPN ScoreCenter brings Kindle Fire customers scores, news, and standings from hundreds of sports leagues around the world. Never miss another goal, pitch, basket, try, touchdown or wicket. Whether you follow the NFL or the Premier League, the Ashes or MLB, MMA or Formula One, ScoreCenter offers the most comprehensive global sports coverage available.

Nokia GEM concept dazzles with excessive customization options, full-phone display (video)

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 02:01 PM PST

Nokia appears to have dislodged some huge creative blockage, beginning with its decision to back a new smartphone horse. Today we get yet another concept handset, revealed at Nokia Conversations. The GEM offers up an utterly customizable appearance that doubles as the interface. Following its naming convention, the user "polishes" the appearance of the phone, constantly tweaking it to suit their needs. The full-body touchscreen could offer up advertising on the back of the phone during calls, subsidizing costs, or media sharing done with some physical gesturing. See these glittering features shine in the ethereal design video right after the break.

J-2X rocket passes second test, proves NASA can still have a blast (video)

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 01:09 PM PST

NASA's next generation rocket engine has passed its second wave of experiments, blasting through a 500-second test burst. The new rocket is primed to power the agency's forthcoming Space Launch System, currently pegged for launch in 2017. The Orion spacecraft will be able to piggyback on the SLS, expanding the range of space travel, and bringing that final frontier just a little bit closer. Check out the thrust needed to launch up to 130 metric tons into space in the test video right after the break.

The Air Force will give you $150,000 to blast its weeds with a laser

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 12:36 PM PST

With the holiday season just around the corner, the Air Force has been busy compiling its yuletide wish list, and it's got some pretty strange requests. Included on its latest call for small business innovations is a curious proposal for a project called "Floral Disruptor – Directed Energy Weed Abatement and Prevention Tool." According to Air Force documents, this project calls for "a device that uses directed energy technology to prevent and abate unwanted plants (weeds) in areas that require control or defoliation." Translation: a ray gun to blast weeds. Turns out, the Air Force spends a handsome chunk of cash each year on weed control -- so much so, in fact, that it's willing to pay $150,000 in grant money to anyone whose device can "deter, disrupt, deny, or degrade the desired objective." Private companies have already begun testing devices that annihilate weeds with lasers, microwave radiation and even sound, which is why the Air Force feels confident that the approach can bear fruit. But before you start entertaining fantasies of mass botanical killings, keep in mind that the government will only accept solutions that don't "target personnel or wildlife." As a Force rep explained to Wired, the idea is to develop an eagle-eyed contraption that lessens its dependence upon costly chemicals and pesticides. Besides, have you seen the Army's front lawn? It's immaculate.

Oregon Scientific trots out Gaiam Touch button-free heart rate monitors

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 11:56 AM PST

They're being hailed as the first button-free, touch screen heart rate monitors, with Oregon Scientific and Gaiam teaming up to produce the wearable SE338M and SE336. According to the companies, these things are a scant two millimeters thinner than any competing product on the market, and they've even captured an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Award in the Health & Wellness category. Looking more like a watch than a fitness / health tool, the Touch line supports both wrist and chest-worn options, utilizing ECG technology that requires but a single touch of the finger on the monitor's sensor for an accurate heart rate reading. For those eying the strap model, that one operates in digital and analog modes and tracks fat burned, though the strap-free model will also track calories burned and heart rate data. Predictably, you'll also find a stopwatch, zone alarm, clock and calendar, and those itching to find a stocking stuffer this early can plop down $99.99 to $109.99 right now at the Oregon Scientific Online Store, Target, Sports Authority, Academy Sports, MC Sports and Athleta.
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Oregon Scientific Launches Industry's Only Button Free, Touch-Screen

Heart Rate Monitors for Hassle-Free Exercise

Gaiam Touch Heart Rate Monitors Take Workouts to a New Level

Tualatin, OR – Oregon Scientific, a leading designer and worldwide marketer of personal electronics, and Gaiam, Inc., the leading distributor of lifestyle media, have teamed up to launch the only line of button free, touch screen heart rate monitors. The Gaiam Touch, a recent recipient of the prestigious International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Award in the Health & Wellness category, features fashion-forward colors and a comfortable, slim design – 2 millimeters thinner than any other heart rate monitor on the market. Building on consumer research to create a more intuitive user experience, the directional touch-screen allows for easy navigation between heart rate, calories burned and workout time with just the touch of a finger – no more fumbling with cumbersome buttons during workouts. The Gaiam Touch line is available nationwide at the Oregon Scientific Online Store, Target, Sports Authority, Academy Sports, MC Sports and Athleta.

The Gaiam Touch is available with a chest strap, which allows for continuous heart rate monitoring, or as a strap-free model for on-demand heart rate monitoring. The strap-free Gaiam Touch utilizes ECG technology, requiring only a touch of a finger on the monitor's sensor for an accurate heart rate reading. The strap model operates in digital and analog modes and tracks fat burned. Both strap and strap-free models easily track calories burned and heart rate data. Stopwatch, zone alarm, clock and calendar functions are all rolled into a slim design with a soft, silicon strap for a more comfortable workout experience.

Heart rate monitors are considered the most accurate way to measure both heart rate and exercise intensity, ideal for those looking to take their workouts to the next level whether training for a marathon or as an occasional gym-goer. Weight loss goals are best achieved when exercising in the "fat burning zone," or maintaining a heart rate at 60-70 percent of the maximum rate. Both Gaiam Touch models offer alert function signals when heart rate is below or above optimal levels to keep you on pace to achieve your fitness goals in style. User profiles can be entered in setup mode for a more customized workout experience.

The Gaiam Touch Heart Rate Monitor (with chest belt) is available in light blue and black colors and has a suggested retail price of $109.99. The Gaiam Touch Strapless Heart Rate Monitor is available in pink or navy blue and has a suggested retail price of $99.99. Both models are available nationwide at the Oregon Scientific Online Store and at Target, Sports Authority, Academy Sports, MC Sports and Athleta.

The Engadget Mobile Podcast, +1 and live at 5PM ET!

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 11:45 AM PST

And then there were three. You may have heard Joseph Volpe's voice in such Engadget Mobile podcasts as last week's episode 111, and who can forget the wild shenanigans that happened in episode 104? We sure can't. But now he'll be joining us every week as a regular on the show -- unless he misbehaves, that is. And this crazy addition to the show is only the beginning; we've got a lot of great things planned for our precious weekly podcast, and we want you to be a part of it. So join our fresh trio of vocal cords -- Myriam Joire, Brad Molen and Joseph Volpe -- as they explore the wilderness of wireless, today at 5PM ET (2PM ET, 9PM GMT)!

Also, if you have anything you'd like us to talk about on the show, let us know on Twitter! You can find us @engadgetmobile.

AirGo Outdoor Speaker adopts AirPort Express, shrugs off rain

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 11:32 AM PST

Sure, you could buy an outdoor speaker with native AirPlay support, or you could stuff that spare AirPort Express you have laying around into the AirGo Outdoor Sound Station. This weather resistant speaker forgoes the usual baked in BridgeCo silicone for an integrated AirPort Express dock. Of course, this kind of ad hoc integration isn't cheap -- the AirGo will set you back almost $400, and that's without an Apple AirPort Express. The AirGo's AC cord (that's right, no batteries) ensures that you won't get too far into the great outdoors with this rig, but Russound's CEO is confident that weather won't be a problem. Rain? "Break out the Slip 'N Slide," he says "and continue to rock on." Sounds good to us. Slide on past the break for the official press release.
Show full PR text
Russound Introduces AirGo Outdoor Sound Station

AirGo is the First Amplified Speaker with an Integrated AirPort Express Dock

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Russound, a leader in the multiroom audio market, today introduced the AirGo Outdoor Sound Station. AirGo is the first portable, weather-resistant, amplified speaker dock for use with Apple AirPort Express.

AirGo can be placed outside on a deck, on a lawn, in the driveway or anywhere a listener wants to hear great sounding music. With the AirPort Express and AirPlay, the music from an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or PC fills the air with full range sound quality. In addition, users can stream music from iTunes, Pandora or any other music service.
Russound's AirGo Outdoor is weather resistant. Comments Russound CEO Charlie Porritt: "If you're dancing in the yard and the rain begins to fall, break out the Slip-'N-Slide® and continue to rock on."

Installation and setup is simple. Users only need to configure the AirPort express and install it into the AirGo Outdoor's protective pocket before plugging it into an outlet and enjoying great sounding music.

The internal stereo speaker and specially designed power amplifier deliver a wide, detailed soundstage that will impress in any setting - from patios and decks to dorm rooms and offices.
In addition to providing high performance audio outdoors, AirGo offers the added advantage of serving as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, thanks to the Apple AirPort Express and its ability to serve as a Wi-Fi repeater.

"The concept of portable, streaming audio takes a quantum leap forward with AirGo," adds Porritt.
The AirGo Outdoor Sound Station measures 12.6" (H) x 12.9" (W) x 10.2" (D), and weighs 16.25 lbs. Power is supplied by the AC cord, conveniently stored for easy access onboard the AirGo. The AirGo Outdoor Sound Station is UL Certified for use in outdoor environments.
The AirGo Outdoor Sound Station is now shipping with a suggested retail price of $399. It is available through Amazon, Best Buy.com, and Crutchfield, as well as Russound's traditional custom installation specialists. To learn more about AirGo Outdoor Sound Station, please visit AirGo.russound.com.
at 11:27 AM

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