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Saturday, November 26, 2011

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Fnatic pro gaming team gets limited edition headset and mouse from SteelSeries

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST

As you may well be aware, professional gamers have been getting more and more pro over the years, even including the sort of product endorsements you'd expect from professional athletes. Case in point: this new limited edition headset and mouse pair from SteelSeries, which each sport the colors and logo of Team Fnatic. They are being released to coincide with the Dreamhack Winter LAN party / digital festival, and they're otherwise identical to SteelSeries' existing 7H headset and Sensei gaming mouse. Those interested will be able to pick up both the mouse and headset (pictured after the break) at Dreamhack or online for $100 and $140, respectively.

Show full PR text
SteelSeries Introduces Limited Edition Fnatic Headset and Mouse

Leading Manufacturer of Competitive Gaming Peripherals and Celebrated, International eSports Team, Bring Players and Fans New Co-Branded Peripherals
Dreamhack Winter 2011

JONKOPING, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, as Dreamhack Winter, the world's largest digital festival and LAN party kicks off, SteelSeries and one of the most recognized and accomplish gaming teams, Team Fnatic, introduce the SteelSeries 7H Fnatic Limited Edition headset and SteelSeries Sensei Fnatic Limited Edition mouse. Available now on SteelSeries Web Shop, the Limited Edition 7H headset features 50mm dynamic driver units with new, sound isolating SNDBlock ear cushions; while the Limited Edition Sensei features award-winning technology like its 32 bit ARM processor that powers SteelSeries' ExactTech settings and customization abilities, all of which are housed in an ambidextrous, black, orange and white Fnatic color design and illuminated Fnatic team logo.

"We sponsor and work with a number of incredibly talented professional players and are proud to say that the Fnatic team is part of that family," said Kim Rom, SteelSeries CMO. "We have been supporters and collaborators with, as well as fans of, the talent that makes up the Fnatic squad for a long time now. We felt that it was the perfect time to introduce co-branded peripherals – that their players helped us design, regularly use and win with – to their immense and passionate fan following."

"Our players have tough competition; they need everything to work to become champions, from their raw aim or APM right up to the equipment. Because of this, we work closely with SteelSeries to collaborate on the design and functionality of SteelSeries' professional gaming peripherals. We are so proud of what has been accomplished that we thought it was about time to put our mark -visibly - on those products" said Sam Mathews, Fnatic's owner. "Enter the Fnatic Limited Edition peripherals, on the best headphones and mouse we've ever used, 7H and Sensei - now with more style."

Limited Edition Fnatic 7H

The SteelSeries 7H Fnatic Limited Edition headset features 50 mm dynamic driver units that deliver an exceptionally rich and detailed soundscape, from mood setting music to critical 3D positional sounds and alerts. The closed-type headset reduces ambient noise, while the unique, SNDBlock, hybrid ear cushions made of both cloth and leather, provide sound isolation from an inner leather layer and comfort from the outer cloth layer. The headset can also be dismantled into 4 separate pieces, which allows for compact and easy transportation. The Limited Edition Fnatic headset is $139.99 / €114.99 MSRP.

Limited Edition Fnatic Sensei

The most customizable mouse to ever hit the competitive gaming industry, the SteelSeries Sensei, is now available in a Limited Edition Fnatic design transforming to an orange, black, and white ambidextrous force to be reckoned with and three zones of 16.8 million color illumination options, including on the Fnatic logo. Its 32 bit ARM processor powers sophisticated calculations that can be done directly on the mouse – without the need for software drivers and without having to rely on the user's computer. Sensitivity settings can be changed in increments of one from 1 to 5,700 CPI, and an "overclocked" Double CPI feature that allows the user to go all the way up to 11,400 DCPI. The Limited Edition Fnatic mouse is $99.99 / €99.99 MSRP.

Check out more information about Fnatic branded peripherals and their eSports domination on http://steelseries.com and http://fnatic.com. Fans can follow SteelSeries' Dreamhack coverage throughout the weekend on http://facebook.com/steelseries.

About Team Fnatic

Recognized as one of the most talented teams in eSports, the Fnatic team is an ambitious and highly successful electronic sports organization, which supports some of the world's most skilled gamers. After being crowned as Electronic Sports Team of the Year in 2006 and 2009, Fnatic has achieved more than 60 victories in major international tournaments and are acknowledged worldwide for their famous and charismatic Swedish Counter-Strike 1.6 team, hugely successful COD4, and their up and coming StarCraft®II team.

About SteelSeries

SteelSeries is a leading manufacturer of gaming peripherals, including headsets, keyboards, mice, software and gaming surfaces. For the past decade, SteelSeries has been on the forefront of competitive gaming gear thanks to continued innovation and product development in cooperation with leading professional gaming teams. SteelSeries also helps to support the growth of competitive gaming tournaments and electronic sports leagues through professional team sponsorships, partnerships, and community support all over the world. For more information, please visit http://steelseries.com.

NASA's Curiosity rover is on its way to Mars (video)

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 08:46 AM PST

It's been described by the scientist in charge as "the most complex mission that has ever been undertaken to the surface of another planet," and NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is now well on its way to Mars. An Atlas V rocket carrying the Curiosity rover launched from Cape Canaveral this morning, and a successful separation of the craft occurred in space shortly thereafter, kicking off a journey to Mars that's expected to end with a rocket-powered descent to the planet in August of next year. Video of both events are after the break, and additional details can be found at the links below




Mazda's i-ELOOP does regenerative braking with capacitors instead of batteries

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 07:53 AM PST

i-ELOOP
Mazda has decided there's simply no reason why hybrid cars and EVs should have all of the regenerative braking fun. Its new system, called i-ELOOP, is aimed at traditional internal combustion vehicles. But, rather than rely on batteries, the company turned to capacitors which can be charged and discharged in just seconds. The electricity generated is then fed to the car's various electronic components after being passed through a converter to step down the voltage to 12v. By alleviating some of the burden to generate power from the engine Mazda claims it can increase fuel efficiency by up to ten percent. You won't have to wait long to see this tech make it into your next ride either, the world's first capacitor-based regenerative braking system should be making its retail debut sometime in 2012. Check out the PR after the break.
Show full PR text
Mazda Motor Corp. : Mazda 'i-ELOOP' World's First Capacitor-Based Regenerative Braking System for Passenger Vehicles

HIROSHIMA, Japan-Mazda Motor Corporation has developed the world's first passenger vehicle regenerative braking system that uses a capacitor. The groundbreaking system, which Mazda calls 'i-ELOOP', will begin to appear in Mazda's vehicles in 2012. In real-world driving conditions with frequent acceleration and braking, 'i-ELOOP' improves fuel economy by approximately 10 percent.

Mazda's regenerative braking system is unique because it uses a capacitor, which is an electrical component that temporarily stores large volumes of electricity. Compared to batteries, capacitors can be charged and discharged rapidly and are resistant to deterioration through prolonged use. 'i-ELOOP' efficiently converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into electricity as it decelerates, and uses the electricity to power the climate control, audio system and numerous other electrical components.

Regenerative braking systems are growing in popularity as a fuel saving technology. They use an electric motor or alternator to generate electricity as the vehicle decelerates, thereby recovering a portion of the vehicle's kinetic energy. Regenerative braking systems in hybrid vehicles generally use a large electric motor and dedicated battery.

Mazda examined automobile accelerating and decelerating mechanisms, and developed a highly efficient regenerative braking system that rapidly recovers a large amount of electricity every time the vehicle decelerates. Unlike hybrids, Mazda's system also avoids the need for a dedicated electric motor and battery.

'i-ELOOP' features a new 12-25V variable voltage alternator, a low-resistance electric double layer capacitor and a DC/DC converter. 'i-ELOOP' starts to recover kinetic energy the moment the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal and the vehicle begins to decelerate. The variable voltage alternator generates electricity at up to 25V for maximum efficiency before sending it to the Electric Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC) for storage. The capacitor, which has been specially developed for use in a vehicle, can be fully charged in seconds. The DC/DC converter steps down the electricity from 25V to 12V before it is distributed directly to the vehicle's electrical components. The system also charges the vehicle battery as necessary. 'i-ELOOP' operates whenever the vehicle decelerates, reducing the need for the engine to burn extra fuel to generate electricity. As a result, in "stop-and-go" driving conditions, fuel economy improves by approximately 10 percent.

The name 'i-ELOOP' is an adaptation of "Intelligent Energy Loop" and represents Mazda's intention to efficiently cycle energy in an intelligent way.

'i-ELOOP' also works in conjunction with Mazda's unique 'i-stop' idling stop technology to extend the period that the engine can be shut off.

Mazda is working to maximize the efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles with its groundbreaking SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. By combining this with i-stop, i-ELOOP and other electric devices that enhance fuel economy by eliminating unnecessary fuel consumption, Mazda is striving to deliver vehicles with excellent environmental performance as well as a Zoom-Zoom ride to all its customers.

Mobile Miscellany: week of November 21, 2011

Posted: 26 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 21, 2011:
  • Bell Canada is getting a couple new LG devices: the entry-level LG Eclypse, coming December 2nd, is a QWERTY device with Gingerbread [PocketNow], and the high-end LG Optimus LTE, which offers a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, HD display, 1,830mAh battery, 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front-facing cam, is available now. The Optimus LTE is available for $150 with a three-year commitment. [AndroidCentral]
  • MetroPCS announced the availability of the HTC Wildfire S sometime this week. You'll be able to grab one for $180 with no contract attached. [Unwired View]
  • T-Mobile is getting its Galaxy S II in white, so why not the Skyrocket on AT&T? A few press images of the device's new hue have leaked out. [PocketNow]
  • Verizon's message app just got a refresh which now offers support for SMS / MMS syncing between your phone and tablet. Both devices have to be attached to the same WiFi network, however. [AndroidCentral]
  • Verizon's rolling out LTE to another selection of cities on December 15. [PhoneScoop]
  • User Agent Profiles outed the Sony Ericsson Arc HD (previously known as the Nozomi), amongst other unknown devices. [Android Community]
  • It appears that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 may be coming to T-Mobile, according to leaked marketing materials. [PocketNow]
  • Cincinnati Bell just launched the BlackBerry Torch 9810 for $200 with a two-year commitment and after $50 mail-in rebate. [BusinessWire]

CompuLab Fit-PC3 comes in many flavors of AMD, starting at $328

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 04:12 AM PST

The march of the mini PCs continues, this time with a pumped-up little number from CompuLab. We've already reported on the Fit-PC3, which forgoes the Atom and Tegra 2 of previous models in favor of AMD's APUs, but it's only now that full pricing has been divulged. You're looking at $328 for the cheapest barebones nettop, which includes the fan-less case, motherboard and a 1GHz single-core processor with integrated Radeon HD 6290 graphics. Sure, some rivals might be cheaper, but the Fit-PC3 has above-average connectivity, including USB 3.0 and eSATA ports, HDMI, DisplayPort and digital audio out, as well as gigabit Ethernet and mini-serial. If you want a more powerful APU, or if you're too busy to go rummaging for your screwdriver, then there are plenty of dual-core and pre-built options up to $700 at the source link. Be advised though, only the pilot batch is currently available and end-users are being advised to wait a little longer.

Samsung Galaxy S II LTE arrives in Japan, NTT DoCoMo offers up its first course of 4G phones

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 02:04 AM PST

Japan has got its first taste of an LTE smartphone, and this one's Galaxy-flavored. Oh yes, Samsung's Galaxy S II LTE has made an appearance on NTT DoCoMo, running on the Japanese carrier's next-generation Xi network and promising top download speeds of around 37.5Mbps. The latest member to the carrier's top-drawer Next series will set you back around $260 (¥20,000) on a two-year contract. DoCoMo is aiming to reach the hands of 30 million customers by 2015, with another as-yet unnamed several more 4G devices already penned for release before the end of the year. Perhaps the pair of data-loving handsets will help to fill that iPhone-shaped hole in the carrier's phone catalog.

Update: Contrary to the Asahi Shimbun report, it looks like both the Fujitsu Arrows X LTE F-05D and the LG Optimus LTE will cosy up on the new high-speed network before the end of the year.

Mouse Computer's LuvBook S heals emotional scars, one Hello Kitty at a time

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 11:50 PM PST

What the world needs now is just one thing, and that thing is a bejeweled Hello Kitty laptop. Fortunately, Japan's Mouse Computer is well aware of this, which is why it's unleashed the LuvBook S, pictured above. Designed in collaboration with Sanrio and Swarovski, this masterpiece is powered by a 2.2 GHz Intel Core i3-2330M processor and boasts an 11.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 display. It also packs a 500GB HDD and a 1.3 megapixel camera, but all that really matters is the swaggy centerpiece -- a heart-ensconced Hello Kitty mug made out of about 1,100 Swarovski stones and untold buckets of cuddles. The LuvBook is available now for ¥69,930 (about $900), at the source link below.

RIM's giving away PlayBooks to enterprise customers, might start begging soon

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 10:11 PM PST

It slashed prices, promised the moon on a stick for next year's OS upgrade and now Research in Motion has resorted to just giving the beleaguered BlackBerry PlayBook away. Purchase a copy of BlackBerry Enterprise Server v5 between now and the end of the year and you'll bag a free 16GB tablet. The offer is open to everyone in the United States and Canada -- except Quebec -- who want the only tablet that's packing the full BlackBerry experience (sans email, messaging, calendar...).

Screen Grabs: Covert Affairs exposes secret Rogers service in Washington DC

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 08:48 PM PST

Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.

Fans of USA's Covert Affairs know that Annie Walker's stomping ground is Washington DC, where she pretends to be a buyer for the Smithsonian. So, there are only two plausible explanations for her iPhone 4 being able to connect to Rogers Wireless Canadian network: Either she's got a nuclear powered antenna on that thing, or the company is running a south-of-the-border service for Government agencies. Some might point out that the show is filmed in Toronto for cost purposes and the art directors aren't too hot at spotting continuity errors, but we'd dismiss that as paranoid fantasy.

[Thanks, Mike G]

PSA: Nokia reiterates Drive isn't coming to Windows Phone Marketplace

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 07:14 PM PST

There seems to be a bit of confusion about Nokia Drive's future in the Windows Phone Marketplace. News of its impending arrival -- for a price -- was originally tweeted by a third-party and then re-tweeted by Nokia India. Sadly, we're told this was all just a mistake. We originally reached out to Espoo's finest to confirm the story, and well, we met a giant brick wall in the process. According to the company's media relations department, "Nokia Drive comes pre-installed on our Nokia Lumia range and there are currently no plans to make it available for Windows Phone based devices from other OEMs." It's a heartbreaker, indeed, but the crew at Navigon can certainly breathe a sigh of relief -- for the time being.

Arduino hacker conjures NES and Etch-a-sketch wonderment (video)

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:01 PM PST

You never know when that creative spark will ignite in your brain and compel you to sketch out some ideas. But when that genius moment finally arrives, you might consider grabbing your original Nintendo controller, quickly wiring it up to an Arduino board, connecting that to some motors and then using those to drive the dials on an Etch-a-Sketch. Modder Alpinedelta32 tries it in the video after the break and it turns out to be a breeze -- and so much more tactile than other idea-capturing devices.

Cambridge researchers translate graphene into printable circuitry material, bring basic 'Skynet' factory to you

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 04:52 PM PST


Yes, graphene is amazing and possesses many useful / otherworldly properties. The ability to use graphene itself to print flexible, transparent thin-film transistors via an inkjet printer is just another one of them. Over at the University of Cambridge, researchers have discovered that it's possible to print standard CMOS transistors using a graphene component. Provided the graphene is chipped off a block of graphite using a chemical solvent and the larger (potentially print-head blocking) chips are removed, it can be turned into a polymer ink which can then run through a conventional inkjet printer. The potential result of this is flexible, transparent and wearable computer circuitry coming from ordinary printers as opposed to several multi-million-dollar machines in a factory, which has long been the historical standard. Besides, who wouldn't want to print their own circuitry on a PhotoSmart MFP rather than whatever report might be due the next day?

Visualized: Steve Jobs and his patents, as showcased by the USPTO

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 03:48 PM PST

The United States Patent and Trademark Office put together something special this month for a new exhibit honoring Steve Jobs and the influence he's had. The row of iPhone-like monoliths you see above is now in the atrium of the agency's offices in Alexandria, Virginia (also home to the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum), and they're being used to display the more than 300 patents that have Steve Jobs' name on them -- something the USPTO's David Kappos says provides a "striking example of the importance intellectual property plays in the global marketplace." Those interested in checking it out first hand can do so anytime between now and January 15th, free of charge.

[Image courtesy MacRumors]

Cricket unveils ZTE Chorus, its third Muve Music smartphone

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:51 PM PST

We're not saying much, but a little bird told us about this travesty months and months ago. Now, it seems that Cricket is ready to act on its plans, and well, here's the ZTE Chorus. It's certainly a handsome device, but sadly, there's not a whole lot going on underneath the hood. It combines a 3.2-inch 400 x 240 (WQVGA) resistive touch display with a 600MHz CPU, a 2 megapixel camera and a 1000mAh battery. Seeking redemption, the Chorus is the third smartphone in Cricket's stable to offer Muve Music access, and its $40 price tag (after some hefty rebates) is nothing to sneeze at, but really, even without contract, don't saddle yourselves down with this one, folks. The Samsung Vitality is a much better device, costs only two Jacksons more, and is free of all that self-loathing buyer's remorse. Yes, we hear the chorus, but why not travel to the beat of a different drum? If you haven't been fully dissuaded, you'll find the complete PR after the break.
Show full PR text
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 23, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless services and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP), and ZTE, a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced availability of the ZTE Chorus™ featuring Cricket's Muve Music service.

The ZTE Chorus is ideal for value-conscious consumers looking for a single device to simultaneously manage their mobile and music needs. The bar-style feature phone delivers high functionality with 3G web browsing capabilities and 600 megahertz of processing power while serving as an ideal platform for Cricket's innovative and unlimited Muve Music service. The ZTE Chorus incorporates SRS WOW HD technology for advanced audio playback quality and a dynamic 3D entertainment experience with a deep, rich bass and high-frequency clarity. Users can customize their sound preferences with SRS sound settings that complement popular music styles including acoustic, blues, hip hop, pop and rock.

The ZTE Chorus provides a robust multimedia experience with its vibrant 3.2-inch WQVGA TFT display with resistive touch screen, 2.0MP camera/camcorder, music and video players, stereo Bluetooth™, and speech recognition capabilities. XT9 Trace technology and a virtual keypad provide a convenient messaging experience with fast and easy text entry. In addition to Muve Music, the ZTE Chorus comes preloaded with Mobile Web, MyBackup, MyAccount, Cricket Storefront and three customizable idlescreens.

"We are excited to bring the ZTE Chorus to our line-up of Muve Music enabled phones," said Matt Stoiber, senior vice president, devices for Cricket. "With the enhanced audio features, it's like having your music library with you wherever you go. The quality music experience of Muve Music and the great value the ZTE Chorus offers offer an unbeatable combination for our customers."

"ZTE is again pleased to work with Cricket to bring consumers an affordable device with unique features that enhance the mobile experience," said Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA and President, North America Region, ZTE. "The ZTE Chorus was designed to enrich users' interaction with their music without sacrificing the functionality of a well-built phone."

The ZTE Chorus, with an MSRP of $119.99, is available for as low as $39.99 for a limited time at www.mycricket.com, Cricket branded retail stores and dealers.

With the $55 per month Muve Music plan for the ZTE Chorus, Cricket Wireless customers will enjoy unlimited song downloads, ringtones, and ringback tones, as well as unlimited text, picture, and video messaging, 3G mobile data, mobile video, data back-up, and 411 assistance.

Muve Music is the first unlimited music service to be included as part of a wireless rate plan and now has more than 270,000 customers. By applying its philosophy of unlimited services and value innovation, Cricket and Muve Music have given their customers a new music experience that ranks high in customer satisfaction.

For more information about Muve Music, visit www.muvemusic.com, and for Cricket's dynamic device lineup, visit www.mycricket.com. For the latest Cricket news and updates online, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Crapgadget: BFF Gemz dilute the notion of a best friend (video)

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:01 PM PST

If you want a charm that hangs 'round your neck and glows whenever your friend Missy tells you she loves Justin Bieber, then eMotion Inc has the gadget for you. The BFF Gemz sends pre-written coded messages to pals up to 450 feet away, which they can access the next time they're at a computer. You can add up to eight best friends (the BFF currency devalued to Weimar proportions) and four more if you buy some GPA: Girl Power Average points. It's not entirely private: Mom and Pop will get a weekly email, listing who you're messaging, so if you swap notes with that gal from the wrong end of town you'd better stick to paper airplanes. Those curious to see what the kids might be clamoring for instead of a new cellphone, check out the video after the break.

RIM, Telefonica announce NFC trial, aim to launch mobile wallet next year

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:13 PM PST

RIM's NFC campaign is about to roll into Iberia, now that the BlackBerry manufacturer has announced a new partnership with Madrid-based Telefonica. This week, the two companies unveiled plans to begin testing a mobile payment and ID card system across the Spanish capital, in the hopes of launching commercial services next year. The so-called Telefonica Wallet for BlackBerry trial will involve some 350 Telefonica employees and a select group of testers within Madrid, each of whom will be able to make payments, access offices and check bank statements from their BlackBerry handsets. Telefonica's Matthew Key told Reuters that his company chose RIM to participate in the trial primarily because of the security of its BlackBerry platform, stressing the importance of earning enough consumer trust to handle sensitive personal data. No specifics yet on when or where the carrier will launch a full payment system, though Key said that Telefonica's aiming to bring it to a handful of markets in 2012.

IPCom to enforce injunction against HTC, ban sales of its 3G devices in Germany

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 12:35 PM PST

HTC's had a rough go of it in the legal arena this year, and the company just got hit with another judicial setback in Germany. Patent holding firm (read: patent troll) IPCom was granted an injunction in 2009 against HTC based upon HTC's devices alleged infringement of an IPCom patent on UMTS 3G technology. HTC appealed that injunction in 2009 to suspend its enforcement, and today the German court upheld the previous decision. With the injunction back in full effect, IPCom plans to seek sanctions against the Taiwanese firm and ban the sale of its devices in Deutschland. So, that means HTC will have to pony up the cash to license the IP in question or leave lots of Beats fanatics disappointed come Christmas morning.

Engadget Mobile Podcast 114 - 11.25.2011

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 11:50 AM PST

This week on the Engadget Mobile Podcast: domination. All kinds, really: world, universe, marketplace. Come find peace inner peace in megalomania with your regular hosts and their bud Phil Nickinson from androidcentral.com. What else were you gonna do, go shopping?

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen, Joseph Volpe
Guest: Phil Nickinson
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)

00:02:41 - Galaxy Nexus volume fix in the works, Google confirms
00:53:15 - LG holding 'exclusive launch event' on December 1st, Nitro HD the likely suspect
01:06:55 - FCC finds AT&T merger not in public interest, Genachowski issues order to hold trial
01:13:05 - Fujitsu Arrows Kiss F-03D ladyphone tells you sit up straight, eat your greens
01:16:10 - Fujitsu Arrows F-07D nabs 'thinnest smartphone' title, Droid Razr retorts: 'real phones have (some) curves'

01:18:45 - Galaxy Nexus coming to Bell and Virgin Mobile Canada December 8th, pre-orders begin today
01:20:02 - Nokia's latest EDoF camera demonstrates improvement with macro shots
01:25:05 - T-Mobile to bleach Samsung Galaxy S II in white, arriving 'in time for the holidays'
01:26:26 - Samsung Illusion dispenses with the mystique, available on Verizon November 23rd for $79
01:28:25 - Sprint rides the Express to Budget Town, available now for $20













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Route 66 Maps + Navigation now available for Android users, augmented realists

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 11:35 AM PST

It's been a long and winding road, but Route 66 Maps + Navigation has finally arrived on the Android Market, no less than eight months after launching for iOS. Available on handsets and tablets running Android 2.0 or above, this app brings Route 66's "Follow Me" augmented reality navigation to your windshield, superimposing upon your surroundings an animated lead car to act as your guide. It's available on a free, 30-day trial at the source link below -- after that, you'll have to shell out $65 for a lifetime worldwide license, or $40 for a US license. Steer past the break for more information, in the full press release.
Show full PR text
ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation Now Available in Android Market

With Unique 'Follow Me' Augmented Reality Navigation
• A feature packed mapping and navigation app for Android smartphones and tablets.
• Unique Follow Me™ augmented reality navigation revolutionizes mobile navigation.
• Unlimited access to maps for over 100 countries, on-board and off-board.
• Free download via Android Market, now with a 30-day free Worldwide Navigation license.

Zurich - Switzerland, 24 November 2011 - ROUTE 66, a pioneer in mobile mapping and navigation solutions for smartphones and tablets, today announces the release of ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation in Android Market, offering Android users worldwide a feature-packed new mapping and navigation app utilizing the latest maps with 3D enhanced location content and Follow Me Augmented Reality Navigation. "ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation provides the future of navigation, today," said Paul Warmer, ROUTE 66 Vice President Marketing. "Follow Me is a breakthrough navigation solution that goes far beyond anything else available today on smartphones and tablets. Add to this free access to on-board and off-board maps for over 100 countries and it becomes clear that ROUTE 66 is about to change the worldwide mobile mapping and navigation market forever." ROUTE 66 provides users with a highly innovative and competitive app that stands out in today's crowded market place in various ways.

• Follow Me augmented reality navigation provides an innovative, smart, and fun way to reach your destination. With just one tap on the screen during navigation users can switch on Follow Me which shows the real road ahead and adds a realistic virtual car driving in front of you and guiding you to your destination. This is augmented reality navigation at its best, where GPS, live video from the camera, detailed maps, and crisp, clear spoken directions all come together to make finding your way more intuitive than ever.

• Detailed Maps with stunning 3D Graphics. ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation provides free lifetime access to 104 different crystal-clear maps utilizing lush 3D graphics and packed with links to useful information such as Wikipedia and weather. Users can explore maps in any direction with multi-touch gestures for zooming, moving, tilting, and rotating the view, features available even during turn-by-turn navigation.

• On-board and off-board maps. With ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation users can access map data in various ways. The app automatically downloads map data segments from our high-speed servers to the phone or tablet as you go, providing access to the very latest and most accurate maps whenever it is needed. Users can also choose to store complete maps on their smartphone or tablet using Wi-Fi before they go on the road, avoiding data roaming charges while abroad and ensuring instant access with guaranteed performance, whatever the local network reception might be.

• And there's much more: Intuitive ROUTE 66 partial keyword search helps to find locations with less effort. Locations can be turned into destinations with a single tap and reached with accurate turn-by-turn navigation in 57 languages and dialects, clear on-screen guidance, and advanced lane information. Real time traffic information and the latest speed camera warnings are available as premium services.

Availability and Pricing

ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation is available as free download via Android Market to Android users running Android OS 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 - 2.3.7 (Eclair, Froyo, and Gingerbread) and offers free access to maps.

Until 31 December 2011 ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation comes with a free 30-day Worldwide Trial license that includes Navigation (including Follow Me) and free access to premium services like Traffic information and Speed cameras*.

The lifetime Worldwide Navigation license is available via in-app purchase for USD 64.99 and offers turn-by-turn navigation in over 80 countries*. In addition a lifetime USA Navigation license is available for USD 39.99*.

Motorola XT615 makes official FCC cameo

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 11:05 AM PST

Yes, Motorola's latest slinky slim smartphone has just cleared the FCC, but before you get too excited, nothing about it has changed. From all appearances, the XT615 remains targeted solely at international markets with dual-band 2100 / 900MHz WCDMA. Of course, it's certainly usable here in the States (in a pinch), thanks to quad-band GSM support, but if you demand a svelte handset and blazing fast LTE, you're most certainly better off with its more powerful sibling. Aw, shucks.

Chrome to gain plug and play gamepad support and WebRTC video chat in 2012

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 10:39 AM PST

Seems like Big G updates its browser of choice with fresh features every time we turn around, and one of Google's own, dev advocate Paul Kinlan, revealed that another spate of upgrades are arriving for Chrome early next year. The headliner is plug-and-play support for gamepads, but native support for cameras, microphones and open-source video chat framework WebRTC are on the docket too -- features that give Chrome some considerable gaming chops when combined with its existing WebGL and HTML 5 prowess and, he says, could bring OnLive to the web without plugins. If you thought Angry Birds on a browser was a great, we can't wait to see what's in store when a proper controller and integrated video chat are involved.
at 11:47 AM

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