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• Fanatec Forza Motorsport CSR Wheel and Elite Pedals review
• Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ review
• Insert Coin: Twine connects your whole world to the internet
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• Galaxy Nexus LTE casts slightly larger silhouette
• Fujifilm's XS-1 bridge camera: 26x zoom, EXR sensor, £699 in the UK (video)
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• Growing up Geek: Chris Pirillo
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Fanatec Forza Motorsport CSR Wheel and Elite Pedals review Posted: 24 Nov 2011 10:00 AM PST Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Xbox 360 review Fanatec Porsche GT2 wheel and Clubsport pedals review Forza Motorsport CSR and CSR Elite wheel and pedals hands-on It's amazing to realize that about two years ago Fanatec's first Xbox 360 racing wheel, the Forza 3 Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel, hit the scene. Although it turned out to be a mixed bag, Fanatec pleasantly surprised us with its Porsche GT2 and Clubsport Pedals in January of this year -- despite a roaring fan and shaky shifter mounts. Now, we're saying hello to a new trio of racing sim-related goods from the company intended for Forza Motorsport 4 on Xbox 360: the $249.95 Forza Motorsport CSR Wheel, $59.95 shifter set, and $149.95 CSR Elite Pedals. If you'll recall, it was back in March that we checked some of this kit out, and now with Forza 4 here, we hooked this mashup of gear up with our Playseat Evolution for a massive amount of virtual spins. So, did this combination help speed past the checkerboard with a respectable feel? Shift past the break find out in our full review. Fanatec Forza Motorsport CSR Wheel and Elite Pedals review Hardware Admittedly, you may find yourself procuring only a portion of the items featured here -- after all, Fanatec is stranger to catering to folks who love piecemeal. But for what's at hand, all together it weighs it weighs in at over 30 pounds -- we'd like to apologize to the UPS worker tasked with carrying it all to our door. Inside of each box we found a variety of cables, screws and each unit itself, but needed to supply our own hex wrenches (and a drill) for installation. Essentially, you should anticipate having at least a semi-permanent setup for this rig. From the rear, the CSR wheel appears strikingly similar to Fanatec's GT2, and that's because they're more or less built from the same foundation. The CSR wheel is said to have "updated internals," but like its older brother, it's packing a belt-driven Mabuchi 550 force feedback motor along with two other motors that handle vibration. What has definitely changed, however, is the overall theme -- namely, all of the Forza inspired tweaks like its red and black color scheme. Along the right side, you'll find a duo of PS/2 ports for connecting the shifter pedals, as well as a power jack and an on / off button. Meanwhile, on the left, there's an Xbox Live headset jack, a USB standard-B port (for PC / PS3 hookup) and another shifter connector if you'd prefer it there or want to hookup a handbrake. Notably, you'll be able to connect many of Fanatec's other shifters / pedals, and with an optional adapter, even Logitech's G25 / 27 gear. Lastly, positioned on the wheel's dash is the familiar Xbox guide button. The wheel's inner rim is fashioned from a slab of brushed-aluminum and features the Forza logo dead center with Xbox buttons are laid out in a cluster on the right, a three-number presets LCD planted top-center (more on this later), four red buttons around it and a new 5-way d-pad on the left. All of the buttons are easily within thumbs' reach, and best of all, on back you'll find sizeable metal paddle shifters that move with the wheel. The most obvious change, though, is the racing-styled wheel grip. At the CSR's nine and three o'clock positions are comfortable contours fashioned with smooth rubber and Alcantara for extra tack, ensuring our sweaty hands never slipped or cramped. The rest of the wheel however (excluding the bit of rubber on its underside), is made of slick and glossy black plastic. Although we normally positioned our hands on two of the three aforementioned sections, full rotations had us yearning for an all around soft-touch feel. (Not to mention that the GT2 spoiled us with its full Alcantara covering.) If you're not fond of paddles, that's where the optional shifter set comes in -- and just like the GT2, you'll get a rail-mountable sequential, and 6-1 H-pattern shifter. Both have a similar base with the same glossy plastic as the wheel, while the hand-grips are fashioned completely from metal. They're noticeably larger than than those made for the GT2, and feel superb in palm. Oddly, though, the PS/2 port for hookup is loaded on the bottom of each unit, which caused them to sometimes become loose from hitting our knees. Completing this trio are the CSR Elite pedals, which are a step up from the plasticky entry-level CSR pedals, but still a slightly cheaper answer to last to Fanatec's Clubsports Like their CSR counterpart, the pedals come pre-assembled on a huge plastic and metal base with adjustable and removable aluminum pedals. This Elite version, however, opts for less plastic, using width- adjustable metal rails for each pedal assembly, pedals (with adjustable plates) and tension-adjustable pedal posts. The whole system is certainly an option for custom setups, and once more, a pedal inversion kit is available for extra realism. Notably, the Elite Pedals feature an adjustable load cell (pressure sensitive) brake like the Clubsports, but forgo any built-in ABS vibration (good riddance), instead leaving it to the CSR wheel. The clutch and gas are also like the Clubsports, packing distance-sensing potentiometers. Installation and setup As you'd expect with a serious gear like this there are mounting options aplenty, and it's laid out exactly like the GT2. For those not familiar, the underside of the CSR wheel is loaded with a removeable desk clamp, and smathering of rubber pads and screw-holes on its base for permanent placement. To be blunt, the desk clamp is rather mediocre. We annoyingly needed a surface that was about an inch thick to start, and after twisting its hand screw to a secure fit we were still getting slight wheel wobble. While it's not uncommon for many wheels -- and mostly adequate for quick setup and teardown -- we can't help to note that our $150 Logitech Driving Force GT mounts better to a variety of surfaces. It's not something of concern during races, but we're surprised Fanatec hasn't reworked this fitting. With that said, it'll ideally be screwed into a racing rig like Fanatec's $150 Rennsport wheel stand -- as we've noted in the past, these racing setups can thin-wallets with a single card swipe depending on your wants. Although the stand was sent to aid our testing, we opted to hook up to our Playseat Evolution sim-racing cockpit. As w mentioned in a recent IRL piece, this is an extremely solid offering that allows for a permanent yet movable setup, and a proper racing seat feel. To start, we used a downloadable drill template to create two new holes on our Playseat's wheel bracket, and then bolted the CSR wheel in with its included hex screws. Interestingly, the wheel has a few more sections for screws, but just the two gave us a tight fit that was free of any give. Next up, was mounting the shifter rails. They slide in through the side of the wheel's base, and then get locked by twisting using two coin screws. Past that, any of the two shifters can be hooked into place -- it does take a bit of force, however, and it's hard to gauge when the screws are twisted tight. The trickiest part of setup was figuring out how to secure the CSR Elite pedals' wide base onto the Playseat's smaller pedal plate. The base (like the wheel) can also be bolted down, but for our needs a combination of Velcro loops and locking zip-ties kept it free from budging loose (sometimes, you gotta do, what you gotta do). It's worth noting that its nearly 10-pound weight and size keeps it from shifting on hard floors. The last step was wiring it all it all together... the shifter plugs into the wheel, which connects with the pedals and its power adapter. That's it. Overall, the initial setup does take quite of bit time, but it's no worse than what we've experienced with similar kits. The CSR is technically "wireless" like an Xbox controller, and getting it to sync with our Xbox was just as simple. Oddly though, it doesn't function correctly unless the console is turned on first -- at best it's a minor announce. Upon powering up, the CSR wheel's fans kick in, followed by the wheel itself doing some quick calibration spins. Notably, the wheel works for PS3 and PC as well, requiring all but a USB connection. We can't believe we're saying this again, but its fan is annoyingly whizzy, similar to our experience with the GT2. Amazingly, it managed to worsen once synced with the Xbox, as a shrill eeeEeeeEeee sound got added in fray. Now, before you say, "but surely some moderate volume eases that pain away" -- not a chance, even with a gaming headset on. Fanatec thankfully offers some consolation for the problem this time around with a button combo that'll have the fans remain off until the wheel determines it needs cooling. Still, the high pitched whine always remains as an ever-present reminder that you're behind the wheel of a virtual sports car. In use So, was the somewhat arduous setup process worth it? In couple of words: oh yes. The CSR wheel provides an impressive amount of force feedback, which let us clearly feel whether we were slipping or gripping the asphalt. Steering movements are fluid and responsive, being swift to react in turns with nary a bit of lag when spinning through its 900 degrees of rotation. The internal motor is also extremely smooth and not too noisy, even when fighting for control after taking a corner to tight. With certain games like Forza, you'll also get the added benefit of shock vibration, letting you feel bumps, scrapes and even engine revs, but just like Foraz 3 911 wheel, it's much too tame for our taste -- even when cranked up. While it certainly makes the game feel more immersive, you'll still need to rely on your on-screen RPMs for those perfect shifts. One of the major highlights of this wheel is how customizable it is. Remember that LCD display we mentioned? It's your own personal tuneup shop within the wheel itself and can be accessed by simply hitting small button to the right of the display. The LCD lights up, letting you save up to five custom presets including adjustments for: Sensitivity (from 90 to 900 degrees of total spin), Force Feedback, Shock Vibration, five Drift Modes (which actually uses the motor to help you turn the wheel faster), ABS Vibration (how soon the wheel vibrates to simulate brake lockup), Linearity (how much actual wheel spin is required for it to translate to 900 degrees of rotation) and its center Dead Zone. (Console users also benefit from Spring and Damper settings.) All of these options allowed us to quickly create a variety of helpful tunings, but it should be noted that it can also make the wheel act in a less than realistic manner -- like how we set the drift mode to allow for super-human speed while turning through chicanes. Even so, with the right tweaks the CSR wheel has the potential to feel extremely personalized, offering a better feel for how your virtual car is reacting to your inputs. Of course, any decent steering rig will offer an advantage over your average controller, but having an array of constantly tweakable parameters on a smoothly performing wheel is really something of a joy. Speaking of shifting, all three options (paddles, sequential and H-pattern sticks), for the most part, worked admirably. The paddles were easy to press with a finger and met with a reassuring click, while the sequential shifter offered the same in an arcade-style stick layout. Our weapon of choice, however, was the six-speed H-pattern unit. Each gear slot is tightly lined and the stick itself has an awesome amount of tension to it. Every shift feels very mechanical, save for the slight click you get in each position. Despite their plastic foundations, both sticks and the paddles held their own even if we chose to be heavy-handed when quickly downshifting. Our only real gripe is that, again like the GT2, we couldn't manage to get the rails totally secure and it allowed the shifters to sway a bit more than we'd have preferred while in use. We were also pleased by the performance of the pedals. For our use, we adjusted the spring tension for a slightly looser brake (setting the dial to 7 for compensation) and a tighter throttle so we could attain a more selective grip through its range. Notably, we needed our own hex screw to do so, but the process took no more than a few minutes. The clutch also acted as we expected with a long and smooth throw that functioned precisely in tune with our shifts. There is one bothersome issue we came across, though. Despite the various tweaks that can be made to the peds, disappointingly, the rake attack of each one is fixed -- essentially, cockpit users will need their own tiltable pedal plate if they'd prefer a custom angle. Pulling off the plastic screw spacers between the posts and the pedals gave us a bit of extra rearward tilt, but it was still far from ideal given the permanent angle of our Playseat. Overall, it's exciting to have this level of foot control in something slightly less wallet-thinning than the Clubsports. Wrap-up So, let's break it all down. For better or worse, the CSR wheel and shifter set function very much like a racing-styled rebadge of the Porsche GT2, offering a familiar interface and basically the same performance we enjoyed last time around, albeit with a new set of grips and re-aligned buttons. That being the case, it's hard to be okay with finding similar issues we brought up with past wheels cropping up again -- like the noisy fan and finicky shifter rails, for instance. The CSR wheel itself isn't a terribly exciting addition to Fanatec's lineup aside from looks, but that doesn't make it any less excellent of a Forza 4 companion. If you weren't sold on the GT2's looks or shape, but wanted the functionality it offered, then the CSR wheel may be for you. Of course, Fanatec will release its extra-serious $500 dollar CSR Elite in December, so those who'd consider themselves among the most serious Forza drivers may want to hold off until then. We also can neglect to mention that this is an Xbox 360 wheel at its core, and while it will work with PS3s and PCs, the experience is a bit less streamlined. When it comes to the CSR Elite pedals, we'd easily recommend them at their $150 price point. You're getting highly adjustable, fluid feeling pedals and an extra realistic movement on the brake itself -- not to mention the build quality is top notch. Overall, we'd have no qualms using them in place of the slightly spendier Clubsports, whose built-in vibration was passble at best. It is worth noting that Fanatec does offer a non-Elite version of the pedals with less features priced at $80, if Elites are a bit to rich. As a package, the CSR wheel, Elite pedals and shifter set are an amazing complement to Forza 4 and any titles that can benefit from what it has to offer. Furthermore, while the pieces are modular within Fanatec's (and some of Logitech's) other racing gear, it always leaves the option for changing out parts down the line or upgrading a section of your current setup. At $460 dollars combined, this setup is certainly reserved for only those ready to throw countless hours playing time in, but a certainley isn't a compelling upgrade if you're already rocking a GT2 with Clubsports. Overall, if you're ready to pay the premium, Fanatec's latest creations will do an admirable job of helping you out on the virtual track.

Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ review Posted: 24 Nov 2011 08:40 AM PST Each year, several dozen smartphones land on our collective desks. They come in different shapes and sizes, boast different features and sell at different price points. We take each of them for a spin and review most of them, but only a handful really stand out. This is especially true with Android handsets, where incremental updates appear to be the modus operandi. Every now and then a device comes along that we really look forward to getting our hands on. Google's line of Nexus smartphones falls into this category, setting the new standard for Android each year. In early 2010, the Nexus One became the yardstick for all future Android handsets and, later that year, the launch vehicle for FroYo. A year ago, the Nexus S introduced us to Gingerbread on the popular Galaxy S platform. Now, a few weeks after being unveiled with much fanfare, we're finally able to sink our teeth into Ice Cream Sandwich with the Galaxy Nexus, arguably the latest addition to Samsung's critically acclaimed Galaxy S II family. So, does this highly anticipated device live up to our expectations? Is the Galaxy Nexus the smartphone to beat? Most importantly, is Ice Cream Sandwich ready to take Android to the next level? In a word, yes. Read on for our full review. Galaxy Nexus review Hardware There's absolutely no doubt that the Galaxy Nexus is a big phone. Sure, it's not Galaxy Note large, but it's a smidgen taller (and narrower) than the HTC Titan. As such it dwarfs its predecessor, the Nexus S. While this could be an issue for some folks, we didn't have any trouble fitting the handset in our pockets. Despite its size, the Galaxy Nexus manages to be quite thin (8.94mm / 0.35in) and light (135g / 4.76oz). As a result, it feels wonderful in hand. Design-wise, the Galaxy Nexus looks like what we imagine would happen if we stacked a Nexus S and a Galaxy S II and flattened them with a rolling pin. Last year's shiny black lacquer gives way to a satiny gunmetal gray finish that manages to be at once more refined and more understated. Build quality is typical Samsung -- the plastic construction is durable but looks and feels cheap for such a flagship device. In front, the Galaxy Nexus is almost identical to the Nexus S, with a sheet of "reinforced" curved glass hiding sensors and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera to the right of the earpiece. Notably absent are the familiar capacitive buttons, which have been replaced with three softkeys in Ice Cream Sandwich. There's also a notification light just below the display, something we'd like to see on all phones. The back blends the curves from the Nexus S with a textured battery cover and oval camera pod reminiscent of the Epic 4G Touch. While the battery door uses the same snap-on design as most Galaxy S II variants, we found it harder to snap shut. The camera pod is home to a five megapixel autofocus shooter and single LED flash. A microphone is cleverly hidden in the seam of the battery cover, above and to the right of the camera pod, and the speaker is located on the signature chin at the bottom of the device. Google and Samsung's logos are stenciled on the battery door. All the controls and ports follow the exact same layout as on the Nexus S. You'll find the headphone jack, micro-USB connector and main microphone along the bottom edge of the handset, the volume rocker on the left side, the power / lock key up along the right side and nothing on the top edge. There's a series of three gold contacts below the power / lock button, presumably for an optional charging dock -- something that Nexus One owners will be familiar with. Under the battery cover, this unlocked HSPA+ version is home to a 1,750mAh NFC-enabled battery and a standard SIM slot nestled to the right of the camera pod. Sadly, there's no removable storage on the Galaxy Nexus. With its clean and rather plain design, the Galaxy Nexus doesn't exactly stand out in a crowd (except, perhaps, for its size), but this all changes the instant you see the screen. The 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280 x 720 pixels) is simply beyond par. Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe this screen -- try amazing, jaw-dropping, mind-boggling. As we mentioned in our first impressions, fonts are crisp, colors are vibrant, blacks are deep and viewing angles are exceptional. Yes, the panel is similar to that of the Galaxy Note, which means it's PenTile, and yes, the HTC Rezound features a beautiful 4.3-inch 720p TFT display with a proper RGB matrix, but the writing's on the wall: Super AMOLED is brilliant, and it's only getting better. Considering most Galaxy S II variants are powered by Samsung's in-house Exynos SoC, with some models using Qualcomm's Snapdragon S3 and NVIDIA's Tegra 2, we were surprised to discover that the Galaxy Nexus eschew all of these in favor of TI's OMAP 4460, a dual-core 1.2GHz Cortex A9 CPU with a PowerVR SGX540 GPU, paired here with 1GB of RAM. Our unlocked HSPA+ review unit boasts 16GB of built-in storage (the LTE version comes with 32GB). Unfortunately -- and unlike Gingerbread -- Ice Cream Sandwich only supports USB Mass Storage on removable media, leaving MTP and PTP as the only options to transfer content to / from the phone via USB. In terms of radios, you'll find WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS / AGPS and NFC. Moreover, the Galaxy Nexus is the first Android device with a pentaband 21Mbps HSPA+ radio (that's 2100, 1700 / AWS, 1900, 900, and 850MHz bands), meaning it's compatible with both T-Mobile and AT&T's 3G / "4G" networks in the US. A quadband EDGE radio provides legacy support. Rounding up the spec list is the usual bevy of sensors -- accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, light and proximity -- along with a new kid of the block, known as a barometer. Speaking of sensors, we experienced problems with the auto-brightness setting, which would dim the screen too much in low light, while behaving normally in daylight. Hopefully, this will be fixed in a future software update. Performance and battery life The Galaxy Nexus is definitely one of the fastest Android handsets we've ever played with. Everything feels snappy, everything looks fluid -- Ice Cream Sandwich isn't just a new version of Google's mobile OS, it's what happens when Android hits the gym and becomes lean and mean. That being said, the Galaxy Note, with its dual-core 1.4GHz Exynos processor and optimized build of Samsung's TouchWiz 4.0 UI, still wins in terms of perceived speed. Getting the most performance from Android 4.0 requires a few tweaks. Not all the live wallpapers are fully optimized (for example, Phase Beam is, but Water isn't). Developers have to add a single line of code to their apps to take advantage of 2D hardware acceleration -- you're able to enable this as the default for all apps by checking "Force GPU rendering" in the Developer Options. Looking at our benchmark results, it's clear the Galaxy Nexus is no slouch. We're not going to read too much into the Quadrant score, since we're not even sure the app works properly in Ice Cream Sandwich, but it's close to what we observed on the HTC Rezound. The results for most of the other tests match those from the Motorola Droid RAZR (similarly powered by TI's OMAP 4430 chip), except for Neocore, which would crash each time we tried running it. Most impressive is the Sunspider score, which is the lowest we've ever recorded on any phone. In fact, the entire web browser is blazingly fast -- gone is the signature lag that's familiar to anyone who's ever browsed the web on Android. Samsung Galaxy Nexus Samsung Galaxy Note Motorola Droid RAZR HTC Rezound Quadrant 2,032 3,998 2,798 2,347 Linpack Single-thread (MFLOPS) 42.85 64.30 50.0 52.0 Linpack Multi-thread (MFLOPS) 69.37 95.66 95.66 60.3 Nenamark 1 (fps) 53.03 56.67 50.34 53.5 Nenamark 2 (fps) 24.26 N/A 27.54 35.8 Neocore (fps) Would not run 51.77 59.98 59.8 SunSpider 9.1 (ms) 1,985 2,902 2,140 2,961 We didn't experience any issues with network performance. Calls sounded loud and clear on both ends (thanks in part, no doubt, to the dual microphone setup), and data speeds on T-Mobile and AT&T matched our expectations for this type of radio, with results as high as 8Mbps down and 1.7Mbps up. Some European owners have documented erratic volume problems when connected to 900MHz GSM networks -- something we were unable to reproduce here in the US for lack of compatible bands. Audio quality is fine when listening to music. The Galaxy Nexus is able to drive a variety of headphones and earbuds without trouble, and the speaker is surprisingly decent. Battery life is excellent. While we only managed to squeeze about five hours and 15 minutes from our battery rundown test (where we play a looped video starting from a full charge), it matches what we saw with the Droid RAZR, which features a similar battery and processor. Note that we switched video players since our usual app misbehaves in Ice Cream Sandwich. The 1,750mAh battery fared significantly better in our battery usage test (where we use the device normally until it shuts down), lasting an impressive 28 hours. Other than watching videos, it's unlikely most people will have to worry about running out of juice with the Galaxy Nexus. Camera We're just going to come right out and say it. The five megapixel autofocus camera on the Galaxy Nexus is underwhelming, and to be clear, we're not referring to the specs, but to the actual pictures. In the year since the introduction of the Nexus S, we've witnessed significant improvements in camera performance, first with Samsung's Galaxy S II, then with HTC's myTouch 4G Slide, and more recently, with Apple's iPhone 4S. Each of these handsets combines an eight megapixel backside-illuminated sensor with a fast wide-angle autofocus lens, and takes wonderful shots. It's not clear why Google passed on using Samsung's flagship camera module, but it's a real shame. While the Galaxy Nexus shooter is extremely fast and introduces plenty of new features, it provides little (if any) improvement in picture quality over the Nexus S. Galaxy Nexus sample shots The new camera app is incredibly quick and borrows a lot of functionality from existing third-party Android shooters, such as touch-to-focus, continuous autofocus, face tracking, zero shutter lag and panorama. It's easy to take several shots per second by repeatedly tapping the on-screen shutter key. Google clearly put a lot of effort into revamping the camera app. It's simple and intuitive, with three primary modes of operation -- video, stills, and panorama. Video recording now supports 1080p capture (720p using the front-facing sensor), real-time effects (think Photo Booth with face tracking) and time lapse (a feature we're particularly fond of). While there's no dedicated two-stage camera button, holding the on-screen shutter key locks focus and exposure, and releasing it snaps the picture. Sadly, the volume rocker doesn't double as a zoom control, but there's an on-screen slider. Most of the time, it's possible to coax the Galaxy Nexus camera into taking reasonably nice shots. Color balance is quite good, but exposure is sometimes off due to the sensor's narrow dynamic range. We also noticed that bright images exhibit some haze. Pictures snapped in low light suffer from significant noise and loss of detail. The Galaxy Nexus captures 1080p video with mono audio (despite the dual microphone setup). While the frame rate maxes out at 24fps, the camera supports continuous autofocus. Ice Cream Sandwich features a comprehensive photo editor within the Gallery app (complete with Instagram-like filters) and a dedicated video editor called Movie Studio. Software Sure, the Galaxy Nexus is a beautiful and powerful piece of hardware, but that's only part of the story. More significantly, it's the launch device for Google's highly anticipated new version of Android -- Ice Cream Sandwich -- the company's most significant mobile OS update yet, with a laundry list of improvements. As such, we approached the new software with lofty expectations, and while we weren't disappointed, we were surprised by the extent of the changes, to the point where we found ourselves having to undo years of old Android habits. There's a definite learning curve to Ice Cream Sandwich that's ultimately rewarded with a more attractive design and a more coherent user experience. Gingerbread's lime green-on-black color scheme gives way to a more subtle light blue-on-gray motif, and for the first time, we're getting a better sense for where Android is headed -- a clearer identity, which is fantastic news. That being said, we're not convinced that Android 4.0 will be more intuitive for first-time users -- it still feels geared towards people like us: the nerdy, tech-savvy, geeky and power-hungry set. Let's dive into the details. Galaxy Nexus screenshots After turning the Nexus on for the first time, you're greeted with the familiar Android setup process. New accounts are invited to join Google+ and Google Wallet. There's also a slick tutorial that's sure to lower the learning curve for first-time users and seasoned aficionados alike -- something we initially skipped, but would have eased our transition to Ice Cream Sandwich. We were also pleased to see our settings restored and all of our apps downloaded and installed after logging into our Google account, something that never appears to work properly on the myriad Android devices we regularly get our hands on. The first change you're likely to notice is the new lock screen, which shows the time and date using Android's lovely new font, Roboto, and displays album art and audio controls during music playback. Slide the padlock icon to the right and it unlocks the handset, slide it to the left and you're dropped into the camera app (a clear nod to HTC's Sense 3.0 UI). It's now possible to access notifications directly from the lock screen by pulling down the notification tray. Another interesting -- if perhaps somewhat gimmicky -- new feature is face unlock, which unlocks the Galaxy Nexus upon recognizing your face (or a picture of your face, as it turns out). Convenience and novelty are the name of the game here, not security. More differences come to light when looking at the five home screens. As we already mentioned, the Nexus lacks hardware buttons, which have been replaced with three softkeys at the bottom of the screen -- back, home and recent apps. The latter lists recently accessed apps using thumbnails containing a snapshot of each app. Tapping on an app's thumbnail switches to it, and flicking apps to the side removes them from the list. Unlike a real task manager, there's no proper way of closing apps. Just like in Honeycomb, a virtual menu button (represented here by three vertically stacked dots) appears to the right of the main row of softkeys when running legacy apps. While this usually works, Facebook fails to display this virtual menu button for some reason, forcing us to live with the annoying default notification settings. Ice Cream Sandwich includes additional persistent items across all five home screens -- the favorites tray just above the softkeys and the search bar just below the notification area. You're able to customize the favorites tray with four apps of your liking, two on either side of the app tray button -- something that's likely familiar to anyone who's used a third party launcher before. For better or for worse, the search bar now takes up a tiny sliver of real estate at the top of each home screen. Strangely, the search bar also lives on as an optional widget. Speaking of which, the app tray now includes two tabs -- one for apps, and one for widgets, along with a button to access the Android Market. Gone is the ability to add widgets and shortcuts by long-pressing anywhere on the home screens, but just like in Honeycomb, many of the stock widgets are now resizable. The app tray no longer scrolls vertically, but consists of multiple pages that are accessed by swiping left or right -- complete with a nifty animation. A welcome feature is the ability to drag an app from the app tray on top of an existing app in the home screens to create app folders. While there's no way to create app folders within the app tray itself, it's now possible to uninstall apps without leaving the app tray. The notification tray is more polished in Ice Cream Sandwich. It enables quick access to the settings menu (since there's no more hardware menu button) and allows the user to dismiss individual notifications by flicking them to the side. Audio controls have also been added to the notification tray, and only appear while listening to music. The settings menu also benefits from a welcome overhaul, with the controls grouped in three sections -- the oft-used wireless settings at the top, the device settings in the middle and the system settings at the bottom. Screenshots are now finally an integral part of Android -- just press the power / lock key and the volume down button simultaneously and observe the magic. We're happy to report that Android 4.0 provides much improved text input and a consistent, system-wide clipboard. The keyboard is now significantly more accurate, with better word prediction and a spell checker that underlines mistyped words in red -- just touch any mistyped word to see a list of suggestions. Continuous voice input is now supported in any input field and displays spoken text in near-real-time. Long-pressing any text selects the current word, and brings up the selection carets along with a clipboard bar with buttons for select all, cut, copy and paste. Google also fitted Ice Cream Sandwich with a comprehensive and intuitive set of tools to manage data usage. You're able to monitor total data usage and per-app data usage with separate counters for mobile networks and for WiFi. Better yet, it's possible to set a warning threshold as well as a hard limit beyond which the phone will stop using data over mobile networks altogether -- something sure to come in handy for anyone with one of those pesky tiered data plans. There's also a way to turn off background data for individual apps, forcing them to use WiFi instead. Look for a full-blown review of every intricate ICS detail in the days ahead. Wrap-up Let's not beat around the bush. The Galaxy Nexus is definitely the best Android phone available today -- it's possibly even the best phone available today, period. Sure, it's not perfect -- we're disappointed that the camera doesn't deliver the same wow factor as the rest of the handset. It's an alright shooter, but it's just no match for the state-of-the-art. There's also room for improvement in terms of build and materials quality. Still, there's no denying the satisfying look and feel, the stunning display, the impressive performance, the excellent battery life -- the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. Ice Cream Sandwich is phenomenal -- it represents a giant leap forward for Android and brings a whole new level of style and substance to Google's mobile OS. Still, while the design is more refined and the user experience more polished, we're not sure it's intuitive enough for first-time users. At the core, it's clear that Android remains targeted squarely at tech-savvy, power-hungry folks like us. No matter -- the Galaxy Nexus is proof that we can have our Ice Cream Sandwich and eat it too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Insert Coin: Twine connects your whole world to the internet Posted: 24 Nov 2011 08:18 AM PST In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Wouldn't it be great if your laundry emailed you when it had finished? You got a tweet every time the room got too cold, or your basement sent you a text if it began to flood? "Easy," says the Arduino expert in the peanut gallery, but what about those with neither the time nor inclination to solder and program it from scratch? Fortunately, the gentlemen who founded Supermechanical feel our pain and have just the tonic for our maladies -- head on past the break to find out more. Twine is a 2.5-inch square box with a WiFi module, thermometer and accelerometer -- stick in two AAA batteries and it should last for "months." To get started after taking one home, introduce it to your network and fire up Spool, the web app that controls the units. Spool is a rules-based interface that's completely customizable: if, for example, Twine is set to sense the vibration of my fists banging on my desk, it could send an SMS to the nearest intern telling them to bring me a coffee. It's not just vibrations and temperature that the device can monitor -- the company already has working prototypes of magnetic switches and moisture sensors and it'll play nice with any button that connects via mini USB. For those who want to demonstrate their programming skills, there's an attachable breakout board and Spool can create HTTP requests, so all of your friends will know how hardcore you are. Currently the project has $15,000 of its $35,000 goal, which if reached, will enable Supermechanical to buy tooling and materials to begin mass production. A pledge of $100 will earn you a Twine box when it ships early next year whilst paying $25 extra will get you either a magnetic switch or moisture sensor (oh, and free batteries, isn't that sweet?) If you're not convinced, check out the video below and when it's talked you round, head on down to the source link to donate your cash. Previous project update: Ultra-cheap 3D printing startup SeeMeCNC H-1 has raised an amazing $7,945 and considering it only needed $2,500 to begin with, it seems clear you guys really do love your 3D printers. [Thanks, Tom]

Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: accessories Posted: 24 Nov 2011 08:00 AM PST Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. As any technophile will tell you, accessories make the getup when it comes to complementing your favorite gadgets. Whether you're decking out a smartphone, computer, tablet, gaming system or just looking for some good old-fashioned holiday kicks, we're here to help you pick from our favorite accessories of 2011. Jump past the break to find out which ones made the "Nice" list. Stocking stuffers that aren't coal Logitech Tablet Speaker for iPad The holidays are all about festivity, which is why it's key to have some speakers on hand in case a roaring singalong rendition of Deck the Halls ensues. Enter the Logitech Tablet Speaker for iPad, a portable set of speakers that clips onto the slate, enabling the ultimate dance party in stereo sound. With an eight-hour rechargeable battery, the tunes will be flowing (much like the champagne) all the way into the new year and hopefully... beyond. Price: $40 on Amazon You might also like... EX3D glasses For those who wouldn't be caught dead in standard-issue 3D glasses – even in the dark-- there's EX3D's line of fashionable eyewear to be worn in pitch black. Perfect for date night at the movies or at home with your 3D TV, these babies will certainly help you stand out from the crowd -- when the lights are on, at least. Price: $35 on EX3D appBlaster IR gun Ready to take Alien Attack for iOS to the next level? Toss your iPhone into the appBlaster. Once your iPhone or iPod Touch is secured in the AR shooter, all it takes is a touch of the capacitive pads or a pull of the trigger to cause some serious space destruction. Price: £18.59 (or $27) on Amazon Mid-range gifties Aviiq Portable Charging Station On days when you're forced to leave the comfort of your Snuggie and venture into the outside world, it's important to keep your gadgets juiced at all times, and the Aviiq Portable Charging Station should do the trick. The tablet-sized travel case features three USB power ports, capable of charging devices ranging from a smartphone to a music player or even an iPad from a single outlet, so you can rest assured you'll never be left powerless in public again -- as long as an outlet is near. Price: $80 on Amazon You might also like... Zotac DisplayPort It may not look too glamorous, but when functionality is key there's the Zotac DisplayPort, which turns any DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort into a dual-HDMI hookup. With support for two 1920 x 1080 displays, you can watch Rudolph on two screens at the same time. Price: $50 at NewEgg BookBook iPhone 4 case For the Ron Burgundy types who prefer to fill their living rooms with rich mahogany and many leather bound books, there's Twelve South's BookBook iPhone 4 cases. Protecting your smartphone and doubling as a wallet, the vintage fixture gives the illusion that you're reading a book, even if you're really playing Angry Birds. Price: $60 on Amazon Mo' money mo' problems Burton Mix Master gloves There's nothing worse than exposing your digits to frosty temperatures while switching between jams on the slopes, which is why Burton's hooking you up with its Mix Master gloves. By embedding a wireless remote within, skiers or snowboarders can control their iOS devices wirelessly without being forced to face the elements. Although the price tag may seem a bit steep, Burton gloves do have a stellar reputation, and of course, life is always better with a playlist. Price: $160 from SkiBum You might also like... Hori PS3 Tactical Assault Commander 3 When you're just plain sick of all that holiday glitter, perhaps it's time to invest in something a little more hard, like the Hori PS3 Tactical Assault Commander 3 gaming keyboard and mouse. Designed specifically for the PS3, this combo will enhance your gaming chops with adjustable mouse sensitivity and a re-mappable keyboard that remembers your choice settings every time you sit down to play. Price: $100 on Amazon Maxell Maxsound Soundbar Tabletop Speaker The Maxwell Soundbar Tabletop Speaker not only looks cool as a cucumber, but also promises to amplify your favorite carols with a stereo kick thanks to a built-in woofer and two dynamic speakers. Strong enough to hold 55 lbs. of flat-panel TV goodness, the speakers will hold up to something as big as the old tube and as small as a smartphone, tablet or any other musical device. Price: $107 from Amazon

Nokia promises software updates to fix Lumia 800 battery woes Posted: 24 Nov 2011 06:45 AM PST We experienced occasional battery and charging problems when reviewing the Lumia 800, and it looks like others have had issues too. In fact, it's become a sufficiently (un)popular topic on Nokia's support forums to encourage the company to post up a reply, confirming that two software fixes are in the works. The first will target power efficiency and arrive in early December, while the second will follow in January and hopefully improve charging. Only a minority of users are affected, we're told, so it's lucky for them that they're vocal.

Meizu MX resurfaces, home button gets a nip-and-tuck, turns into optical trackpad? Posted: 24 Nov 2011 06:06 AM PST It's been a while since we've seen the Meizu MX, but these latest shots from Mr. Blurrycam reveal that the phone could see a substantial tweak to its main home button. These photos are likely to be of a work-in-progress handset, with plenty of bizarre cutaways presumably obscuring details of the mole. In the leaked drawings, Meizu's upcoming smartphone looked an awful lot like its M9 predecessor, albeit with a bigger screen, running on a superior A9 Cortex processor. The main button apparently doubles as an optical trackpad, with the two flanking capacitive buttons rotating depending on orientation. While it still remains uncertain whether this nub will replace the squarish button found on the MX mock-up earlier this year, hopefully CEO Jack Wong will still manage to meet the December launch date -- if only for the sake of all those loyal Mei-yo. Fans of severely obscured photography can catch another glimpse after the break.

Cisco, Telia to activate 'world's fastest internet connection' at 120Gbps, sounds pretty Swede Posted: 24 Nov 2011 05:07 AM PST If the Swedes can dry a load of laundry on a 40Gbps internet connection, just imagine what they could do with 120Gbps. Melt polar caps? Solve the debt crisis? Dry three loads of laundry? The possibilities may be limitless, but we'll all find out soon enough, because Cisco and Telia are aiming to break the 120Gbps barrier by the end of this weekend. It's all part of this week's DreamHack, a Swedish digital festival that the Guinness Book recognizes as the "world's largest LAN party." This year, the two companies will attempt to set up a 300 kilometer-long connection from Jönköping to Stockholm, designed to serve (in theory, anyway) up to 750,000 people at blazing speeds -- of course, only 20,000 or so will be at DreamHack. The project has been in the works since last summer, with Telia constructing the fiber network, and Cisco handling hardware duties with a pair of power-packed CRS-3 routers. The companies say that the connection, if successful, would set a record for network "capacity utilization," allowing all 750K users to stream music simultaneously and to download an entire movie in just .047 seconds. It'll take us a lot longer to pick up our jaws from the ground.

Intel decides Pentiums are good enough for servers too, at least the low-end ones Posted: 24 Nov 2011 04:02 AM PST Ah, the venerable Pentium CPU. Few chips are as recognizable but, these days, the brand is relegated to the low-end of the desktop and laptop market. Now Intel is looking to broaden its appeal, by pushing the classic line into servers, though, again targeting the bottom of the spectrum. The Pentium 350 is a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 3MB of cache and no integrated GPU, which most servers have no need for -- especially in low-power machines dedicated to file sharing or low-traffic web hosting. While the 15W part is already shipping, we couldn't find any pricing information. Then again, Intel has no intention of selling these to consumers and they're likely only available to OEMs in bulk. Check out the more coverage link for the full specs.

HTC 're-evaluates' S3 Graphics deal following patent defeat by Apple Posted: 24 Nov 2011 03:22 AM PST Just four months have passed since HTC announced its amorous intentions towards S3 Graphics and already the romance seems to be going sour. S3 lost its battle against Apple at the ITC a couple of days ago, devaluing its patent portfolio and subsequently forcing HTC into a "holistic re-evaluation" of its $300 million acquisition of the company. S3 can still appeal the ITC's ruling, however, so this fling might be far from finished.

Galaxy Nexus LTE casts slightly larger silhouette Posted: 24 Nov 2011 02:23 AM PST Getting giddy of the thought of an LTE-powered Galaxy Nexus? Well, Google, has just unveiled a full 360-degree view of the Verizon-bound smartphone, and it's packing a bigger caboose. Around 0.6mm thicker than the HSPA+ version available now in the UK, the 4G-stuffed version loses, at least visually, some of its curved charm and the chin's become more prominent too. Fortunately, as the tech specs confirm, the slightly bigger body does cram in an extra 100mAh of battery juice, presumably to feed that LTE radio. Will it feel any different in the hand? It looks like we'll have to wait until Verizon decides to furnish us with one -- whenever that is.

Fujifilm's XS-1 bridge camera: 26x zoom, EXR sensor, £699 in the UK (video) Posted: 24 Nov 2011 01:40 AM PST Fujifilm claims it's 'reinvented' the bridge camera with the latest in its X line of premium snappers. The XS-1 is affixed to a Fujinon lens that opens up to f/2.8 and stretches all the way from 24mm to 624mm (in 35mm parlance) in an effort "cater perfectly for every photographic need" and prevent you from ever longing for the flexibility of a DSLR. It even sports a Super Macro Mode for focusing down to a rather intimate single centimeter. Behind the lens sits the same 12-megapixel EXR CMOS found in the X10, which means you get an undersized 2/3-inch sensor instead of the superior APS-C format found in the X100 and many DSLRs. Read on for more specs in the press release plus a short promo clip, and expect to see this hit British shelves in February for £699 ($1090). Show full PR text Fujifilm X-S1: The bridge camera, reinvented 24th November 2011 - The Fujifilm X series of premium cameras has a third model, the X-S1, due for UK launch in February 2012. The XS-1 represents a new breed of bridge camera. Featuring a Fujinon 26x optical zoom lens through to the EXR sensor technology found in the X10, the X-S1 puts the photographer in control. The X-S1 is the ideal camera for the safari and travel photographer – offering superb image quality, extensive zoom range and superior handling. Maximum optical versatility The centrepiece of the X-S1 is the superb Fujinon 26x optical zoom lens. Offering a range of 24-624mm (35mm equivalent) it caters perfectly for every photographic need and features a bright f/2.8 maximum aperture at the wide-angle setting. This optical range is boosted further by Fujifilm's Intelligent Digital Zoom capability, which effectively doubles the focal range without the drop in picture quality traditionally seen on older digital models As a result, the X-S1 offers users an incredible 52x zoom range of 24-1248mm (35mm equivalent). Optically, the Fujinon lens comprises 17 glass elements, which includes four aspherical elements and two ED lenses, to deliver images with superb edge-to-edge sharpness and amazing clarity. The lens' construction is also of the highest standard, featuring metal cams for smooth zoom control and fast, precise framing. The X-S1 is also ideally suited to capturing subjects close up. In standard mode, the zoom focuses down to 30cm, but by selecting Super Macro Mode, users can focus down to just 1cm for frame-filling close-up images. Furthermore, the lens' aperture is made up of nine blades for excellent bokeh effect photography. Great results in every picture-taking scenario The X-S1 features the same 2/3-inch 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor as the X10 which guarantees high quality images regardless of the lighting conditions. The unique EXR CMOS technology pioneered by Fujifilm allows the user to switch between three modes – High Resolution, Wide Dynamic Range and High Sensitivity/Low Noise - depending on the lighting conditions – or leave the camera to make its own choice in the Auto EXR mode. Coupled to the EXR CMOS sensor is a Fujifilm high speed EXR processor, which offers a minimal shutter lag of just 0.01sec and a high speed continuous shooting capability The X-S1 also takes high-quality movies. It captures Full High Definition (1920 x 1080 pixels) video with stereo sound at 30 frames-per-second. Easy composition and image review The X-S1 offers a powerful combination of high quality electronic viewfinder and rear LCD, with the 0.47-inch electronic viewfinder (EVF) featuring 1.44 million pixels for superb image clarity with a wide viewing area of 26 degrees to reduce eye strain. The rear mounted high quality, tiltable three-inch LCD screen features 460,000 pixels to make it easier for users to scroll through menus, assess exposure accuracy and view images. The LCD also offers a useful Daylight mode that overcomes the problem of viewing the screen in bright conditions. Full user control and picture taking versatility The X-S1 offers a superb level of functionality whether users want to make picture taking as simple as using a compact or as involved as a fully-manual digital SLR. For simplicity, the X-S1 will assess the subject and then select the relevant scene mode for the perfect result, automatically switching the EXR CMOS sensor accordingly. The XS-1 can also calculate whether an image contains a person, features backlighting or has any subject movement. ISO settings are taken care of too by the Auto ISO mode. Photographers after full control are well catered for with the X-S1. The camera offers a full range of conventional shooting functions (program/aperture-priority/shutter-priority/manual), plus users can also fine tune levels of colour, image sharpness and tone. Additionally, the X-S1 provides four auto bracketing options, eight Film Simulation and white balance functions and a Raw file format. Due to be launched in February 2012 in the UK, the X-S1 will have an estimated selling price of £699. Fujifilm X-S1 key features • High quality Fujinon 26x optical zoom covering 24-624mm (35mm equivalent) with Intelligent Digital Zoom boosting range up to 1248mm • Superb build quality and finish with rubberised coating and metal dials • 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor • Up to 10 frames-per-second shooting • Large EVF with 1.44 million pixels and 26 degree viewing angle • Tiltable three-inch rear LCD with Sunny Day mode • Full HD video • PASM modes • Raw file format • Film simulation modes • Macro focusing down to 1cm • Lithium battery providing up to 500 shots per charge • Optical image stabilisation • 360° Motion Panorama mode

AT&T, Deutsche Telekom withdraw FCC application for T-Mobile merger, look toward DoJ Posted: 24 Nov 2011 12:27 AM PST Now that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has called for an administrative hearing on AT&T's proposed buyout of T-Mobile, the two parties have decided to formally withdraw their application to the Commission. The confirmation came today, with an announcement from AT&T and Deutsche Telekom, which owns T-Mobile USA. In a statement, the two companies reiterated their commitment to the deal, adding that they're looking to receive final approval from the DoJ: "This formal step today is being undertaken by both companies to consolidate their strength and to focus their continuing efforts on obtaining antitrust clearance for the transaction from the Department of Justice." AT&T also reaffirmed that it would incur a $4 billion hit should the deal fall through, and that it expects to take out a pretax charge for that amount during the fourth quarter of this year. Of course, Genachowski's decision must still obtain approval from the full Commission, but it certainly looks like both parties are gearing up for a courtroom battle.

LG, Prada officially renew phone partnership, confirm v3.0 for early 2012 Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:09 PM PST Five years after first linking up for a "new iconic phone" (the first one may be best remembered for slightly predating the iPhone's large touchscreen / few buttons look) LG and Prada have announced the renewal of their exclusive phone partnership, as well as the planned arrival of the third phone in the series early next year. The teaser image (above) shows a design that resembles the Prada K2 / P940 phone we've seen in leaked pictures and passing through the FCC recently, and will supposedly feature Android 2.3, a 4.3-inch display, and 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds in a 9mm thin frame. Check out the press release after the break and try to remember where you left your old Prada Link watch. Show full PR text PRADA AND LG SIGN EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT CEMENTING PARTNERSHIP PRADA Phone by LG 3.0 to be launched in 2012; the collaboration has resulted in mobile phones with a strong identity SEOUL, Nov. 24, 2011 –- PRADA and LG Electronics (LG) today renewed their exclusive mobile phone partnership at a signing ceremony in Seoul, Korea. Building on this partnership's previous success, the two companies will develop the PRADA phone by LG 3.0, for launch in early 2012. Under this partnership, LG will be PRADA's exclusive mobile phone partner. The collaboration, which began in 2006 and resulted in two premium mobile phones being introduced in 2007 and 2008, focuses on key elements within the smartphone, including software and user interface down to its design and packaging. "The partnership between Prada and LG has always been characterised by an innovative approach and uncompromised quality of style, design and breakthrough technology," said Mr. Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of PRADA Group. "These values are common to both our brands, which have always anticipated, and often set, the trends in many fields. We were therefore delighted to cooperate again with LG in the development of the latest creation of the mobile communication industry." "Our working relationship with PRADA is unique in its longevity and success, something no other phone company and luxury brand have been able to replicate," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "Having successfully launched two PRADA phones by LG, we look forward to collaborating further to develop premium handsets with a strong identity and the most sophisticated style." The PRADA phone by LG 1.0, a pioneer in the mobile phone space, was an unqualified success, selling over one million units. This premium handset combined high-end technology with a design embodying superior style. As evidence of its place in design history, the PRADA phone by LG 1.0 is part of the permanent collection in New York City's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Shanghai. The PRADA phones by LG were avant-garde in the technology they offered to users. The PRADA phone by LG 1.0 was the world's first touchscreen mobile phone, and the 2.0 provided an innovative mobile experience through its unique watch with Link technology, which allowed for easy access to caller ID, SMS text messages, call history, call block and two-way alarm notification. # # #

HTC G1 gets a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich (video) Posted: 23 Nov 2011 08:53 PM PST Even though Ice Cream Sandwich is popping up everywhere since its source code was released to the public, we've got to give a shout out now that its been squeezed onto the original Google phone, HTC's G1. The G1 was last seen sporting an unofficial Honeycomb port, and now jcarrz1 from XDA-Developers is showing off his device running Android 4.0 in this video. So far the touchscreen is (slowly) working, along with all apps and "ICS goodies", though WiFi, Bluetooth and rotation are still out. That's a nice effort for a device that some said wouldn't see any versions past 1.5, so press play and witness the unholy fusion of Android's past and present working all at once, or hit the source link below to grab the alpha release for yourself.

Modular USB flash drive concept offers a new way to sort your data Posted: 23 Nov 2011 05:49 PM PST USB drives may come in all shapes and sizes these days, but they all basically give you one of two choices: you can buy one big drive to store as much of your data as possible, or juggle a bunch of drives if you want to keep things separate. Designer Hyunsoo Song has proposed an alternative with this so-called Amoeba modular USB flash drive, however, which let you sort your data on individual drives that can be used both on their own or together as one large drive. The idea there being that you can keep the drives together most of the time, and just detach the appropriate section if you want to share only your photos or videos with someone. Of course, the keyword here is "concept," but it's not exactly as far beyond the realm of possibility as some others we've seen.

Engadget's Black Friday 2011 roundup Posted: 23 Nov 2011 03:00 PM PST Black Friday is just around the bend -- in less than 36 hours, many a deal hunter will be camping outside their prospective Wally Worlds searching for prey. Thankfully, we've eagled-up in advance and thrown together a few deals in the meantime that should cause a sparkle in at least a few eyes. (Just to be safe, we've also included links to each store's full line-up of deals.) So, join us after the break, read along and see if anything strikes your interest. What's to lose, really? A chance to miss out on a good deal, of course! Feel free to thank us later or let us know about anything else you spot in the comments below. Deals and deals and deals Flipping through Best Buy's ad booklet, it seems that the store has a some great finds for gamers out there looking to snag a new console (and willing to wait in line two hours prior to 12am). Those vying for team Redmond can pick up a 250GB Xbox 360 Holiday bundle complete with a three month Live Gold card, headset, controller, Fable 3 and Halo Reach for a mere 200 bucks "after savings." Better yet, you can also grab a Kinect for $100 while you're at it. (P.S. If you're not so keen on leaving your house, that Holiday bundle will also be offered over at Newegg.) Update 12:00PM ET (11/24): this deal is already live on Best Buy's website. More into the DualShock 3-controlled side of things? How does a 160GB PS3 with the latest Ratchet & Clank, Little Big Planet 2 and 30 days of PlayStation Plus for 200 bucks sound? Pretty awesome, duh. You'll find this particular deal over at Best Buy and Walmart. Like your gaming to be more of the casual variety? Well then, if you casually head on over your local Walmart at 10pm on Thanksgiving night, you'll be able to snag yourself a Limited Edition Blue Wii complete with a matching Wiimote Motion Plus and Nunchuck -- all for just a single Benjamin. Update 12:00PM ET (11/24): forget waiting in line, this deal is now live on Wally World's website. ...and more deals Hungering for a tasty Android Honeycomb tablet? ASUS's Transformer Prime may have just gone up for pre-order in North America, but the ol' 10.1-inch Transformer 16GB WiFi model will be on sale at Best Buy for a tempting $250, with its keyboard dock priced at $100. Moving right along, both Staples and Sprint (whose sale notably extends through the 27th) will offer the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook 16GB variant for a Kindle Fire-matching $200. Surely that's enough to quell the sting of its still-missing native email app. Apple is also getting on the discounted-fun with iPad 2's starting at just $458. In total, you'll be saving between $41-$61 dollars depending on which model you choose. On the e-reader side of things, Staples will add in a $15 gift card alongside the purchase of a Kindle with Offers at its regular $79 price, while Barnes and Noble will be happy to sell you its Nook Touch for the same. ...and even more deals! Alright, how about this scenario: you're a deal seeker, seeking a new smartphone. Simple right? Well, if you're okay with two-year contracts, you'll be pleased to know that there are loads of deals to be had on and around Friday. Walmart will be happy to give you a $100 gift card with any device you select, AT&T will offer all of its Windows Phone 7 wares for a single penny on Saturday the 26th and Amazon is already throwing a similar one-cent deal on a bevy of smartphones (from a variety of carriers), which lasts until Cyber Monday. It doesn't stop there, though. Sam's Club members can choose a Photon 4G, Droid Charge or AT&T's Galaxy S II for just 96 cents, while T-mobile will offer a variety of rebates and a "buy two get one free" deal on accessories until the 27th. Verizon will also sport some decent rebated discounts, but most notably, a special red HTC Droid Incredible 2 for free after a $50 mail-in rebate. The deals train keeps on chugging... Black Friday deals from 2010 Black Friday deals from 2009 Of course, there are many more deals to be had than we've currently listed for this coming Black Friday weekend -- not to mention that we'll also have another roundup in store to cover Cyber Monday. Surely enough, though, as they quickly approach us, you can be sure that we'll be updating this roundup with even more opportunities to save as we sort through them. So, stay tuned and don't forget to check back a few times before and after you've had your share of Turkey Day fixins' tomorrow. Happy hunting!

Feds deny hacking caused Illinois water pump failure Posted: 23 Nov 2011 01:51 PM PST Did a hacker or group of hackers, possibly in Russia, manage to physically destroy a water pump in Springfield, Illinois? That was the word last week, when reports spread that hackers had managed to take control of the water plant's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (or SCADA), which gave them the ability to repeatedly turn the pump on and off and eventually burn it out. Now, however, both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security say that their investigations have found no evidence of hacking or malicious activity, and that earlier reports were based on "raw, unconfirmed data." As you might expect, that explanation isn't quite being accepted by everyone, including Joe Weiss, the security researcher who first reported the incident. You can find his comments on Wired's Threat Level blog linked below.

NVIDIA's Tesla GPU powers Tsubame 2.0 to green supercomputer supremacy Posted: 23 Nov 2011 01:20 PM PST The Green500 might not be quite as well known as the Top500, but it's no less of an honor to be counted among the world's most energy efficient supercomputers. NVIDIA is tooting its own horn for making it on to the list for the second year in a row as part of the "greenest" petaflop machine. The Tsubame 2.0 at the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Global Scientific Information Center is powered by Intel's Xeon CPUs, but NVIDIA's Tesla general purpose GPUs do a vast majority of the number crunching, allowing it to deliver 1.19 petaflops of performance while consuming only 1.2 megawatts. That's roughly 958 megaflops per watt, a huge increase over the most efficient CPU-only super computer, the Cielo Cray, which gets only 278 megaflops per watt. The Tsubame 2.0 isn't the greenest machine on the planet though, that honor belongs to IBM's BlueGene which takes the top five spots on the Green500. Still, number ten ain't bad... right? Check out the PR after the break. Show full PR text NVIDIA Tesla GPUs Again Power World's Greenest Petaflop Supercomputer Tokyo Institute of Technology's "Tsubame 2.0" System Is Three Times More Energy-Efficient Than Comparable CPU-Only Supercomputers SANTA CLARA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/23/2011 -- NVIDIA today announced that, for the second year in a row, the world's most energy efficient petaflop-class supercomputer is powered by NVIDIA® Tesla™ GPUs. The Tsubame 2.0 system at the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Global Scientific Information Center (GSIC) ranks as the greenest petaflop-class supercomputer on the recently released Green500 list. Published twice annually, the Green500 list, rates the 500 most energy efficient supercomputers based on performance achieved relative to power consumed. Tsubame 2.0 is a heterogeneous supercomputer (combining both CPUs and GPUs) used to accelerate a range of scientific and industrial research in Japan. With sustained performance of 1.19 petaflops per second while consuming 1.2 megawatts, Tsubame 2.0 delivers 958 megaflops of processing power per watt of energy. It is 3.4-times more energy efficient than the next-closest x86 CPU-only petaflop system, the Cielo Cray supercomputer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which delivers 278 megaflops per watt. In the race to exascale computing, power efficiency has become the defining element of computing performance. Heterogeneous GPU-accelerated systems are inherently more energy efficient than CPU-only systems because applications can take advantage of the different processors for executing different jobs. The sequential parts of the application runs on CPUs, and the data- and compute-intensive parts are accelerated by the massively parallel GPU processor. Tsubame 2.0 is comprised of HP ProLiant SL390 servers with Intel Xeon CPUs accelerated by NVIDIA Tesla GPUs. The Tesla GPUs provide more than 80 percent of its performance, enabling Tsubame 2.0 to achieve high levels of performance with very low power usage. This year, two of the five finalists for the prestigious Gordon Bell Prize ran on Tsubame 2.0, including the winner for Special Achievement in Scalability and Time-to Solution. The latest Green500 list underscores the energy efficiency of heterogeneous computer design. Five of the world's 10 most efficient systems, and 22 of the top 30 most efficient systems, combine GPUs with CPUs. Tesla GPUs are massively parallel accelerators based on the CUDA® parallel computing architecture. Application developers can accelerate their applications either by using CUDA C, CUDA C++, CUDA Fortran or using the simple, easy-to-use directive-based compilers. For more information about Tsubame 2.0, visit the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Global Scientific Information and Computing Center web site. To learn more about Tesla GPUs, visit the Tesla web site. To learn more about CUDA, visit the CUDA web site. About NVIDIA NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) awakened the world to computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Today, its processors power a broad range of products from smart phones to supercomputers. NVIDIA's mobile processors are used in cell phones, tablets and auto infotainment systems. PC gamers rely on GPUs to enjoy spectacularly immersive worlds. Professionals use them to create visual effects in movies and design everything from golf clubs to jumbo jets. And researchers utilize GPUs to advance the frontiers of science with high-performance computing. The company holds more than 2,100 patents worldwide, including ones covering ideas essential to modern computing. For more information, see www.nvidia.com. Tags / Keywords: NVIDIA, CUDA, Tesla, SC11, Gordon Bell, Green500, Tsubame, Top500, GPU, GPU computing, supercomputing, parallel computing, GPGPU, high performance computing, HPC, programmer, directives, complier, developers, research, scientific computing Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to statements as to: the benefits of Tesla GPUs and their impact on Tsubame 2.0; and the effects of the company's patents on modern computing are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including its Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended October 30, 2011. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company's website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. © 2011 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo CUDA, and Tesla are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Growing up Geek: Chris Pirillo Posted: 23 Nov 2011 12:30 PM PST Welcome to Growing Up Geek, an ongoing feature where we take a look back at our youth and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. Today, we have a special guest: internet entrepreneur, tech support blogger, media personality and geek, Chris Pirillo Before I begin, let me just say: I'm not a slave to your mental delusions of who you think I am. I have to get that out of the way largely because I've been "doing things" publicly for so long that some people have already formed opinions about me and what they believe I stand for. That's their problem, not mine. I don't know if there was ever a specific moment I found myself attracted to electronic objects? I certainly recall playing with my cousin's Merlin and watching with wonder as my brother fiddled with his Alphie. I was certainly mesmerized by calculators, but that didn't lead me to develop advanced math skills. Our family had an Atari 2600 (I uploaded the unboxing of both it and my first LEGO set to our YouTube channel). I think that's what started me down the path of being a casual gamer? It wasn't until my grandfather picked up a Commodore Vic 20 and connected it to a black and white television set that I started to explore computing. Granted, there wasn't much you could do with it back then. I honed my curiosity when "Santa" delivered a Commodore 64 -- the sights, the sounds! I fiddled with BASIC programming for a while, but really no more than the average child might have done in the day. I loved the home computer for what it enabled me to do - software, as crafted by other hands, drove an addiction. The Atari 2600 took a back seat to the original NES. Though, a few years later, I wasn't as interested in gaming as much as I was writing. After having learned to type on a real typewriter, having word processing software at my fingertips was an immense accelerant. I suppose this interest in somewhat-creative writing is why I eventually fell back on a pursuing a degree in English? Gaming sucked, if only because the options were expensive and hopelessly buggy. It wasn't until a few years later, as a sophomore in college, that I would get connected to the Internet for the first time - and that's when I'd say my life really changed. From the first email I sent to a guy sitting across from me in a computer lab, I was hooked. It couldn't be THIS easy. It couldn't be THIS incredible. Mind you, the terminal was a PC running some earlier form of DOS -- no graphics, no World Wide Web. My eyes were open. It was fun to explore what the Internet had to offer -- limited as it was. I used the Internet to connect with other people, primarily - that's what drew me in day after day. I couldn't easily connect with people I knew, however (we certainly didn't have Facebook, and it was a hurdle to get an account at the university to begin with). To me, the Internet still is nothing without people. I fueled most conversations via ISCA, the world's leading BBS at the time. We had both PCs and Macs on campus - though it might be difficult to imagine (or remember) just how different they were from one another. I lived largely in DOS, though I didn't have a computer of my own. My junior year roomie had an amazing Mac Classic - which I used to explore fonts and design dynamic HyperCard experiences. Still, my first computer was a PC running Windows 3.11 - and long before MP3s were available, I'd fill my 420MB hard drive with amazing freeware I'd find through newsgroups. I became a true software addict. It was this passion for exploration and love for sharing my discoveries with others that created the "Chris Pirillo" I am today. In 1996, I would parlay an old high school nickname (and online handle) "Locker Gnome" into a brand for delivering information to other curious people. That's when social media started for me. Within a few years' time, I would be sending LockerGnome.com email newsletters regularly to 100,000+ people from around the world. I've been doing that ever since (and then some). My passion has lead to several amazing projects over the years. That's how it started - not at TechTV, as some believe. I had made a name for myself with peers long before that network was named (and I've certainly outlived it with a greater degree of success). It wasn't until after I had authored a book on email publishing that I would even float onto the radar of open-minded network show producers. They were looking for another person to fill some insanely large shoes - and that experience would become both a boon and a bane. I've never aimed to be anybody but myself. Some people have a problem with that, and they're not afraid to share their less-than-constructive opinions with the world. The real irony? I get bullied more by other "geeks" now than I ever did by jockasses in high school. That's not funny. The enemy used to be THEM - and now it seems to be US. I was drawn to the Internet with a sense of wonder, a feeling of true connectedness - and now it seems I'm becoming increasingly overwhelmed by a sense of rampant entitlement. I know that some geeks / nerds are happy to engage in anti-social, destructive behaviors, but this should never be brandished as a badge of honor - it's a tremendous shortcoming in a day and age when everybody is connected to this global stream of consciousness with free-flowing content and approaching-unlimited connectivity. I continue to publish my own perspectives and discoveries online - everywhere. Seriously, where am I not sharing today? I'm sure I'll continue to craft geek-centric content for myself and others until the day I shuffle off this mortal coil. My goal? To continue to thrive in a career of being myself. That, and to be acquired by Aol. Chris Pirillo can be found on his live video stream, Twitter (@ChrisPirillo), Google+, LockerGnome and chris.pirillo.com

Spotify hits 2.5 million paying subscribers, Yacht Rock playlists reach an all-time high Posted: 23 Nov 2011 11:59 AM PST It may not yet take into account users from certain countries that may be adjacent to certain other countries, but Spotify announced today that it now counts 2.5 million paying subscribers for its music service. Of course, that's just a part of the total number of registered users (paying or otherwise), which now stands at around 10 million according to the most recent information from the company. What's next for the service? Spotify is promising to tell us that next week.

Galaxy Nexus shipping now in America: unlocked for $750 through Expansys Posted: 23 Nov 2011 11:36 AM PST Pre-order, pre-schmorder. Americans more anxious to blow $750 on the planet's first Ice Cream Sandwich handset than anything on Black Friday can do so right now, as Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is shipping from the warehouses at Expansys. We've received independent confirmation that orders placed today are shipping out, with the aforesaid tally nabbing you an unlocked 16GB GSM (HSPA+) build that plays nice with T-Mobile and AT&T's 3G bands. What it won't nab you, however, is a pack of nabs. Can't win 'em all, right? [Thanks, Dan]

TiVo Q4 results bring first sub growth in years, DirecTiVo is imminent Posted: 23 Nov 2011 11:14 AM PST While many consumers are still waiting for something new from TiVo -- finally enabling the second processor core on Premieres this weekend is a nice step, but how about more HD menus? -- said company has found growth for the first time in four years by turning to a more traditional way to sell set-top boxes in the US. Yes, the growth is mostly thanks to six months of success with Virgin Media and other provider deals like the one with RCN. TiVo netted an additional 117,000 this quarter, bringing the total to just over 2 million and even more growth is expect in the coming months -- despite the continuous drop in retail subscribers -- thanks to the expected limited release of the DirecTiVo in December, with a more widespread release next year. This helped TiVo realize a 25 percent year-over-year growth in revenues, but still wasn't enough to hold off a net loss, which came in at a cool 24.5 million for the quarter. You have to stop going down before you can go up, but more TiVos in more homes is a good thing for just about everyone involved. Show full PR text TiVo Reports Results for the Third Quarter Ended October 31, 2011 -- Total net subscription additions of approximately 117,000, accelerating significantly compared to net subscription losses of 33,000 in the prior quarter; First increase in total subscriptions in four years ALVISO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/22/2011 -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in advanced television services, including digital video recorders (DVRs), for consumers, television service providers, and consumer electronics manufacturers, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended October 31, 2011. Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo, said, "This was a great quarter and represented a significant step in our growth strategy. Our efforts to get TiVo in more homes globally continues to accelerate as we drove approximately 117,000 net subscription additions and returned to total positive net subscription growth for the first time in four years. We also exceeded our quarterly guidance on service and technology revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and net income. In the U.K., Virgin Media has now deployed its TiVo offering to more than 220,000 subscribers as of the end of October, and RCN recently expanded its TiVo product offering through the deployment of a whole-home solution. Both ONO and Grande deployments are now live, and we expect Charter Communications to begin initial deployments shortly. Additionally, DirecTV intends to launch its TiVo offering in select markets in December with a nationwide rollout to follow early next year. All of this is a testament to our leadership in advanced television and our ability to drive meaningful solutions to market." For the third quarter, service and technology revenues were $51.8 million, growing 25% year-over-year. This compared to our guidance of $49 million to $51 million, $41.3 million for the same quarter last year and $49.6 million in the prior quarter. TiVo reported a net loss of ($24.5) million, compared to guidance of a net loss of ($27) million to ($29) million and a net loss of ($20.6) million in the same quarter last year. Net loss per share this quarter on a basic share basis was ($0.21). Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of ($13.9) million, compared to Adjusted EBITDA guidance of a loss of ($17) million to ($19) million, and to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of ($12.2) million in the same quarter last year. TiVo ended the quarter with 2.04M total subscriptions, up 117,000. Rogers continued, "Our mass deployment efforts are proving successful and gaining momentum with Pay-TV operators worldwide. These operators recognize the need to retain their position as the key providers of a video experience for consumers. They are increasingly turning to TiVo because of TiVo's proven advanced television solution that enables them to extract more value out of the television experience by joining traditional linear TV channels with broadband delivered content while vastly upgrading the user interface. "Demand for Virgin Media's TiVo offering is quickly growing throughout the U.K. Just six months after launch, Virgin Media said that it had more than 220,000 TiVo subscribers live, up from the 50,000 just three months prior. Even more impressive is that 40% of these TiVo subscribers are new to Virgin Media. Virgin Media has also seen a significant increase in its customer satisfaction metrics, and CEO Neil Burkett best summed up what TiVo has done for Virgin Media when he said on the company's most recent earnings call, 'So how are our customers finding it? Well, firstly, they love it. Our net promoter score or customer satisfactions is much higher for TiVo than our legacy TV product. In fact, TiVo customers are twice as likely to recommend Virgin Media to their friends, telling their friends and their family about the game-changing technology, about the content discovery, and about their control. TiVo is facilitating a personalization that customers want. It's liberating them and putting them in control of their own viewing. 80% said that TiVo gives them more freedom to watch TV when they want it. 50% are watching more catch-up TV." Rogers continued, "Moving to RCN in the United States, in a short period of time we've had an excellent reception for TiVo Premiere from RCN, and RCN has been a key contributor to our turnaround in subscription growth. More importantly, RCN has experienced higher customer satisfaction, lower churn and increased Video On Demand (VOD) usage in homes with TiVo. To that end, we are pleased that RCN is now expanding its suite of TiVo offerings to become the first Pay-TV operator to deploy what cable operators have been seeking for a long time, which is a way to get the TiVo user interface distributed more broadly in the form of a non-DVR set-top box. This is an indication of how operators want to use TiVo as an interface for an entire whole-home experience. "We believe the success we've seen with these two operators along with our on-going deployment with Suddenlink, our recent launches with Grande and ONO and our planned upcoming launch with Charter puts us in a solid position to continue our upward trajectory as these operators represent more than 10 million homes that we now have the ability to reach as an exclusive or primary product offering. Additionally, DirecTV has informed us that they intend to initiate the launch of the TiVo-DIRECTV product in select markets in December with a nationwide rollout to follow early next year. Finally, we believe the tangible success current Pay-TV partners are seeing with our product will lead to further distribution opportunities both domestically and abroad. "We believe that penetration within our current distribution deals and potential new deployment deals along with stabilizing our TiVo-Owned business, where churn has slowed and new subscriptions have come in at much higher subscription fees, is setting the foundation for the long-term growth of TiVo. Further, we believe our upcoming integration of Comcast VOD with our retail product, which is now currently in field trial, will be the first retail set-top box to combine traditional cable and cable video on demand with all of the great services the Tivo Premier DVR enables, will be an opportunity to drive incremental TiVo-Owned subscriptions. "Turning to our advertising and audience research and measurement business, TiVo's advertising solutions continue to be an important offering for brands, advertisers and networks looking to grab the attention of the timeshifting viewer in a nonintrusive way. During this year, we have delivered 1.95 billion interactive ad impressions thus far for our advertising clients which compares very favorably to many large cable operators' interactive advertising offerings. This number is derived from just our current base while we continue to focus on creating opportunities for advertising growth off of our operator deployments. "Finally, we continue to believe there is tremendous value in defending our innovation and intellectual property. We are pleased with how our case against AT&T and Microsoft in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas is progressing after receiving what we believe is a positive claim construction and with trial currently scheduled to begin in January." Rogers concluded, "This is an exciting time for TiVo as we head down a path toward sustained growth, marked this quarter by returning our total subscription base to positive growth and exceeding guidance in our financial results. Looking out at the fourth quarter and into our next fiscal year, we are focused on improving Adjusted EBITDA and achieving success in four key areas: executing on current distribution deals we have in place; signing new distribution deals; reducing R&D and litigation spend over time; and protecting our intellectual property. As these four key areas play out, TiVo is well positioned to create shareholder value." Management Provides Financial Guidance For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, TiVo anticipates service and technology revenues in the range of $48 million to $50 million. TiVo anticipates net loss to be in the range of ($31) million to ($33) million, and an Adjusted EBITDA loss to be in the range of ($21) million to ($23) million. Included in the fourth guidance is higher expected litigation expense relating to AT&T/Microsoft cases where significant activity is scheduled in December and January and the expected impact of flooding in Thailand on our hard drive costs which we believe will be less than $1 million in the fourth quarter. Further, we anticipate litigation expense to be lower in both the first quarter and the full-year fiscal 2013. This financial guidance is based on information available to management as of November 22, 2011. TiVo expressly disclaims any duty to update this guidance. Management's guidance includes Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure as defined in Regulation G. TiVo has provided a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) in the attached schedules solely for the purpose of complying with Regulation G and not as an indication that EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA is a substitute measure for net income (loss).

Personal Audio strikes again, has the Kindle Fire in its patent trolling sights Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:45 AM PST 'Tis the season for reflecting upon our many gifts in life and giving thanks for them. If you're Personal Audio, however, once you've thanked your lucky stars that you own a patent on musical playlists, you then file an infringement suit against Amazon. That's right folks, Personal Audio is up to its old tricks again in the Eastern District of Texas, but instead of alleging iPods are infringing its IP, the Kindle Fire is squarely in the company's sites. The patents in question are number 6,199,076 that generally claims an audio player, and number 7,509,178 which claims the aforementioned downloadable playlists. Who knows if Amazon will settle out like Apple did, but as the web retail giant will move a ton tablets (among other things) this holiday season, it should have no shortage of cash do so.

Disney films begin storming YouTube's magic video kingdom Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:23 AM PST Looking for something fun to do with the family over the holiday weekend? Why not huddle up in front of the old laptop with some Pirates of the Caribbean? Or perhaps Alice in Wonderland and Pixar's Cars are more your speed? The Google-owned video streaming site announced today that movies from Walt Disney Studios have begun creeping their way into its rental selection. The selection of films is the first of hundreds from Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks.

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