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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Engadget News

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Verizon's ZTE Jetpack hands-on

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 11:03 AM PST

Verizon launched two new mobile hotspots at CES, both called Jetpack. We found the ZTE entry -- the Verizon device has all the branding -- and gave it a quick once over. The device itself is quite big for a mobile hotspot, measuring 88mm x 88mm x 18mm, though finish and materials are slick. The menu system is easy to use, buttons responsive, and as seen in the pic above lets you get at settings, SMS messages, and a quick heads up as to how many of the 10 supported clients are currently connected. Power on and off is controlled by a sliding switch, rather than an on off button, which we think is a great idea. Have a gander at the gallery for some more shots.







Verizon's ZTE Jetpack hands-on

Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Nintendo

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 11:00 AM PST

After a long week of CES craziness, we're ready to get our game face on for some serious talk about the business of fun as we meet up with Cindy Gordon, VP of corporate affairs for Nintendo of America. Join us at 3:30PM ET.

*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.

Hanvon C-18 Mirasol e-reader hands-on (video)

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:52 AM PST

Qualcomm unveiled its new C-18 Mirasol e-reader yesterday, and today, we managed to get our hands on it here at CES. Manufactured by Hanvon, this device is officially labeled as an e-reader, though to be honest, it felt more like a tablet to us. Unlike the lightweight Kindle, the C-18 felt a tad heavy in our hands, with backlighting more typical of a slate than reader. It also runs its own Android skin, which raises some interesting questions of how many Android apps it would support. The color Mirasol display certainly piqued our interests, though we'll have to wait a little bit longer before we get a closer look at it, as the C-18 won't hit the Chinese market until February, with no set date for a US launch yet (price remains equally opaque). For more details, check out our gallery below, along with the hands-on video, after the break.
Hanvon C-18 Mirasol e-reader hands-on



Mat Smith contributed to this report.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

webOS gets OTA update, delivers performance improvements and bug fixes

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:48 AM PST

webos
With so many of us performing funeral dirges in honor of webOS it's easy to forget that the tablet and smartphone platform is still officially supported HP. In fact, just today, the company issued yet another incremental update -- pushing TouchPads to version 3.0.5, while Pre 2 and Pre 3 handsets are moving on up to 2.2.4. Both form factors will be getting improvements in calendar and messaging, while the Pre2 gets better Skype support and MAP for Bluetooth. TouchPads are also adding support for HTTP live streaming and bringing the time-saving "double space equals period" typing shortcut to the table. For a complete change log and to download the SDK check out the source link.

ZTE T98 ICS tablet hands-on (video)

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:45 AM PST

We'll admit: in addition to playing with tons of cool gadgets, one of the elements that makes CES fun is the challenge of actually finding these gems in the first place. Such was the case with the ZTE T98, a 7-inch Tegra 3-powered tablet running stock Android 4.0 that was lurking in a booth without any marketing material to establish its identity. Branded as a China Mobile device, the T98 offers a 1,280 x 800 WXGA display, NVIDIA's quad-core CPU underclocked at 1.3GHz, 1GB of RAM, a 5MP rear camera with no LED flash and 1080p HD video capture, a 1.3MP front-facing cam and 4,000mAh battery. Ultimately it has the same fingerprint-loving chrome edges and rubberized back, and appears to have changed very little in overall looks. There's no word on availability or pricing yet. For some extra angles and a full video, head on down.
ZTE T98 tablet hands-on



Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Facebook launches 'listen with friends' feature, lets others shame you for poor taste

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:38 AM PST

While Facebook's Open Graph might have exposed you as a Belieber way back in September, you couldn't chat and stream that questionable musical taste to your friends, Turntable.fm style, until now. Listening to tunes on music services that integrate with Facebook's API -- like Spotify and presumably Rdio, amongst others -- populates the ticker adjacent to the news feed and the chat overlay with clickable "Listen with" buttons (as seen above). Upon clicking those, you're slung into a group chat window whereupon you can listen and discuss those beats with your friends. Don't fret if you can't see it just yet, as it'll roll out in the following weeks, but while you wait a link explaining all awaits at the source.

Sony Music Unlimited bringing its own streaming flair to iOS soon

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:34 AM PST

We heard back in December that Sony's fledgling Music Unlimited service would eventually be spreading its wings to cover even more operating systems, and here at CES 2012, we've learned that it's Apple's own iOS on the docket. Tim Schaaff, head of Sony Entertainment Network noted this week that the company will offer a gratis iPhone and iPad app for Music Unlimited "at some point this quarter." It's bruited that the iOS edition will offer offline caching for subscribers to its service (at least the premium ones), enabling 'em to save playlists for listening even when away from a network connection. Naturally, Sony's got some stiff competition in the world of iOS tunage, but it's hoping that at least a few million of those iOS users grow its Music Unlimited user base from a million to... well, more than a million. We're assuming that the pricing will remain the same, with $4 per month grabbing you a basic subscription and $10 per month netting you a premo level of service. So, you downloading on day one, or what?

Amazon's Send to Kindle lets you send stuff to your Kindle

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:14 AM PST

Do you like Amazon Kindles? Do you like PCs? Do you like documents? Would you like to send documents from your Kindle to your PC? Fantastic, because that's totally what you can do with Amazon's new Send to Kindle software. You might wanna take this opportunity to grab a notepad, because it's sort of complicated: download the program for free, fire up Windows Explorer, find a document, right-click it, and choose Send to Kindle. You can also save documents to download at a later date and synchronize your bookmarks, notes and highlights across all (non-PDF) documents, which is pretty wild, if you think about it. Windows users can dramatically change their lives at the source link below. Mac users will have to wait a little longer.

Cricket's ZTE Chorus hands-on

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:03 AM PST

Cricket's latest Muve music service device -- which by the way just became the 2nd most popular music service in the US -- the ZTE Chorus made an appearance at CES so we decided to give it a once over. First off, the OS kinda looks like Android, though, of course isn't. The housing, and display quality are rather low end, and while we can look past the housing quality being cheap, we can't ignore the fact that the display and touch sensitivity on this phone is very poor. On the upside it does have Muve and for folks looking to get in on that ecosystem, the $50 Chorus might just be the ticket for those only concerned with music. Quick gallery is just below.
ZTE Chorus hands-on

Hands-on with Dyle Mobile TV, broadcasting live to a handset near you (video)

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 10:02 AM PST

Dyle couldn't have found a better showcase than CES to exhibit its next gem. It's only been a few days since we first heard that the joint venture between MetroPCS and the Mobile Content Venture would bear fruit in 2012, and, well, we're in Las Vegas and we've seen it take its first steps. Although live TV broadcasting to mobile devices couldn't exactly be considered cutting-edge, judging by our time with the handset, this is one of the greater implementations of the concept. The company tells us that the app is set to hit its beta stage within the next few months at no cost, but that might change depending on partners and networks. Speaking of partners, Samsung alongside the Metro carrier will be the first to have the chipset-embedded smartphones on the market -- yes, that means you won't actually see the circa 1990's antenna. Dyle's also partnered up with Belkin to bring the service past phones and onto tablets, however, unlike the Sammy-branded phone that's expected to use the chip, the tablets will be able to pick up the airwaves by doubling the headphones as a receiver. Jump past the break to see the mobile telecast in action.
Hands-on with Dyle Mobile TV, broadcasting live to a handset near you

Qualcomm Halo wireless charging concept eyes-on

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 09:52 AM PST

Let's run through the fundamentals of wireless charging: floor-mounted electromagnets pump out EM waves to your EV's engine to absorb. This means ripping up the floor to install and precisely driving your whip over the exact spot. There's no efficiency loss between wireless and wired charging, in case you were wondering. We got to speak to Qualcomm's Joe Barrett as he walked us through the chip foundry's innovative approach to the technology that it picked up from the University of Auckland. The Halo is a 28mm plate that can reportedly push 3.3kW/h to your vehicle without requiring it to park it precisely over the unit. The company's not talking about vertical range, but did insist that it would charge an SUV, so we can assume it'll travel at least a foot off the ground. The company is planning to foster an open standard for the technology through licensing and has joined the three-year design cycle that modern cars undergo -- with an expectation that we'll see the first commercial models of the technology surfacing in 2014, which you can just lay on the floor of your garage. A 50 unit trial led by Chargemaster and Polar is currently underway under the names of your favorite tier-one automaker.
Qualcomm Halo wireless charging eyes-on

Sean Buckley contributed to this report.

Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with MIPS Technologies

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST

MIPS has been pretty busy as of late, hookin' up a little Android ICS action onto the Ainovo NOVO7 tablet, for the budget-minded slate seekers out there. Amit Rohatgi of MIPS Technologies joins us on stage to talk about affordable tablets and more. Don't miss it, live at 2:00PM ET.

*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.

Gobandit Live with WiFi offers thrill-seekers quicker sharing, speedier self-indulgence

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 09:28 AM PST

Two years ago, the Gobandit GPS HD brought an action camcorder to the masses that actively tracked location, speed and altitude. In the same tradition, the Gobandit Live brings an expanded set of features geared toward adrenaline junkies, which include a gyroscopic sensor, 1080p capture at 30fps, a 170-degree f/2.8 wide angle lens and -- oh yeah, WiFi. While this last feature certainly won't be usable on the mountain or along the trail, it allows clips to be uploaded instantly once the camera is back within range. For those who'd rather do without WiFi, the Gobandit Race provides an otherwise similar feature set at a lower price. Both will be available in the US and Canada beginning March 1st, and will retail for $419 and $319, respectively. The full PR is just beyond the break, though if you want to learn more, check the company's website instead.
Show full PR text
EXPERIENCE RELOADED – gobandit LAUNCHES THE WORLD'S FIRST ACTION CAM WITH INTEGRATED Wi-Fi™ AT CES

New gobandit LIVE Allows Adrenaline Junkies Share Experiences Even Faster


Las Vegas, NV – gobandit, a power player and innovative manufacturer of high definition action video devices, announced a technical innovation today at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, gobandit LIVE. The first action cam in the world to integrate wireless connectivity, gobandit LIVE allows adrenaline junkies to view, edit and share their videos with their smartphone instantly. With gobandit LIVE, athletes can now share their experiences on the fly.

Like the first gobandit action cam, gobandit LIVE allows users to integrate performance data, such as speed, altitude and position to name a few, into their videos. Journalists and sports-minded people can explore these and other technical features of the innovative HD cam at CES, in booth 3419 in the North Hall. The brand new gobandit LIVE action cam produces more than just video clips – it records experiences as authentic and detailed as possible, and allows people to share them instantly on the gobandit community or on social networks such as Facebook and YouTube.

gobandit LIVE's integrated GPS and acceleration sensors record with maximum accuracy the speed and altitude where a stunt was performed. A 170-degree wide-angle lens provides the perfect focus to record the experience. Full HD-resolution ensures the highest quality playback of experiences. For sharp, slow-motion action playback the frame rate can be enhanced up to 60 frames per second. The gobandit LIVE 3-axis gyro sensor accurately records the camera's position in space and, leveraging the integrated wireless connection, athletes can even incorporate their heartbeat into the video* to capture every pulse-spiking second. Complementing LIVE is gobandit studio, the innovative app that allows users to individualize their videos by adding skins and performance data. Athletes can relive their performance and share it on social networks.

"Our new high-definition gobandit LIVE and studio has all of the technology needed to record, edit and share adrenalin-pumping experiences with your friends and online communities," said Aleks Ristic, CEO and co-founder, gobandit GmbH. "It's the perfect video solution for any thrill-packed adventure. Gobandit excels where others fall short. Every shot counts and with the gobandit LIVE and studio, you are armed and ready to share the action!"

Also launched today is gobandit RACE. Like gobandit LIVE, RACE records GPS information in 170-degree, full HD-quality videos. Providing all of the capabilities or LIVE without wireless connectivity, gobandit RACE is for adventures who like to disconnect.

Both Gobandit LIVE and RACE weigh less than one-third-of-a-pound (0.31 pounds), measure 4.1 by 2.4 by 1.3-inches (H x W x D) in size,( 105 x 62 x 34 mm) and are the perfect companion for extreme sports. With a wide variety of different mounting solutions available, gobandit cams can join almost every adventure.


Pricing and Availability:
The gobandit LIVE and RACE are priced at US $419.00 and $319.00, respectively, and will be available for purchase from authorized gobandit retailers throughout the United States and Canada beginning March 1, 2012. For more information on the gobandit LIVE and RACE action cams, gobandit or its entire line of action accessories, please visit www.gobandit.com .

Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Atmel

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST

Smartphones, tablets and other touchscreen gadgets have been at the center of our tech lives, and things are just starting to get interesting. We welcome Atmel's product marketing manager Sherif Hanna to talk tablets and touchscreen tech. Join us at 1:30PM ET.

*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.

Livio Internet-Radio App available for Pioneer's App Radio, woo

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 08:53 AM PST

In "bolting the stable door two days after the CES horse has bolted news," in-car radio company Livio just officially announced that you'll be able to get the app on Pioneer's AppRadio 2 car stereo (announced Monday). Since one of our gripes with the initial AppRadio was its lack of additional apps, we'll happily take everything more we can get on the $500 in-car-entertainment system of choice. The shortest PR we've seen this week is available after the break, too.
Show full PR text
Livio Car Internet Radio App Now Available for Pioneer AppRadio™

Livio Radio Turns up the Volume on Automotive Integrations for 2012

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Livio Radio today announces the Livio Car Internet Radio app is now available for in-dash streaming via the AppRadio™ car stereo from Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., which was announced Monday at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show.

Pioneer's revolutionary AppRadio is the first in-vehicle product designed to utilize the processing power, storage capacity, network connectivity and apps of the iPhone 4 and 4S as the primary source, allowing users to control compatible apps from the convenience of its multi-touch, capacitive touchscreen display.

"We're all about getting apps into cars with more music and less work," said Livio Radio founder and CEO, Jake Sigal. "Getting the Livio Car Internet Radio App in Pioneer's AppRadio™ is a great example of that and we're proud to show it off at CES."

Demonstrations of the Livio Car Internet Radio App on the Pioneer AppRadio are being held in the North Hall of the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show at the Livio Radio booth #2806 and the Pioneer booth #1101.

Sprint LG Viper gets full specification leak, doesn't want to hurt Mother Earth

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 08:40 AM PST

While our early hands-on with the LG Viper revealed a four-inch Nova display and an able 1.2GHz dual-core processor, the full breakdown has made its way to SprintFeed's inbox. Some interesting features include a mention of eco-friendliness (no further details here, but expect recycled plastics), NFC capabilities and a substantial-sounding 1700mAh battery. We're sulking about the inclusion of Gingerbread, at a time when every major manufacturer (including LG) has readied upgrade programs to ICS and the five-megapixel camera's a drop down from LG's other dual-core handsets. Hopefully, these stepped-down specs will translate to lower prices when it finally swings by your local Sprint outlet.

WiFi certification fuels speculation of Samsung Galaxy Note successor (updated)

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 08:19 AM PST

The Samsung Galaxy Note is just now working its way to the States, but a recent certification by the WiFi Alliance is already stoking the flames of its replacement. Known only as the GT-N8000, it's thought this device may be the eventual replacement for the GT-N7000. Of course, this isn't the only plausible explanation, as the new model number may hint at yet another new family of devices. There's credence to this flow of logic, too, as the Galaxy S II (i9100) was the spiritual decedent of the original Galaxy S (i9000). Whether your preferred method of divination involves tea leaves, crystal balls or Cleverbot, one thing is certain about this new Sammy -- it's gonna be 1,000 more, y'all.

Update: Apologies for the crossed wires, as we reported last night, the Samsung GT-N8013 also recently hit the FCC, and is presumably a variation of the GT-N8000.

Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with NVIDIA (update: video embedded)

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 08:07 AM PST

Matt Wuebbling from NVIDIA will be kicking off Wednesday on the Engadget Stage at CES by demoing some of the chipmaker's latest technology. Join us at 12PM ET after the break to follow along.

Update: Interview video is now live.

Samsung's Smart TV and Blu-ray players will be first to get FiOS TV App

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST

Although not the first to announce, Samsung and Verizon have officially announced that Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players "will be the first consumer electronics manufacturer" to get live HD and video on-demand including Flex View from Verizon FiOS TV. The embedded release after the break doesn't include a time frame, but the previously announced timeframe was the first half of 2012, so this would have to be released before that in order to, technically, be first -- and everything in a press release is always true. At this point we'd be shocked if the Verizon FiOS TV App wasn't on every app platform imaginable, other than TiVo and Google TV, by the end of 2012.
Show full PR text
Samsung to Offer Verizon FiOS TV App on Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray Players in 2012

App Will Allow FiOS TV Customers to View Live Multichannel HD TV and
Verizon Flex View On-Demand Content on Connected Samsung Devices


LAS VEGAS – Verizon and Samsung Electronics America Inc. announced on Thursday (Jan. 12) that Samsung will be the first consumer electronics manufacturer to commercially introduce the Verizon FiOS TV App to its line of Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray Players in 2012.
The app will allow Verizon FiOS TV subscribers to instantly access 26 live TV channels, including HD channels, directly through the subscribers' connected Samsung Smart TV or Smart Blu-ray Player. No additional hardware is required. Users will also have access to more than 10,000 video-on-demand titles available through Verizon Flex View – the company's anytime, anywhere on-demand entertainment service for TVs, PCs, tablets and smartphones.

"Our companies are squarely focused on two objectives: adding tangible value and excitement to our customers' entertainment experience," said Eric Anderson, vice president of content and product solutions, Samsung Electronics America. "By combining our respective capabilities and technologies, we are advancing our goals to transform entertainment throughout the home."

Eric Bruno, vice president of consumer product management for Verizon, said: "This collaboration with Samsung is the latest example of Verizon's commitment to creating innovative solutions to simplify and enrich our customers' everyday lives. Working with industry leaders like Samsung, we are putting the power of technology in our customers' hands to enable the borderless lifestyle – to make everything our customers want or need to do simpler, easier and more convenient."

Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with HTC's Drew Bamford

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST

Supercharged specs are key, but give us a slick, smooth and satisfying UI to really seal the deal. We chew the fat with Drew Bamford, HTC's director of user experience to delve into the depths of the mobile experience. Join us live on stage at 12:30PM ET.

*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.

Crapgadget CES, round four: iBallz is the ultimate, intimate gadget protector

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 07:39 AM PST

Grab your iPad by the iBallz. It's safer that way. Trust us.

Verizon's Droid 4 priced up: $249 on a two-year contract

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 07:21 AM PST

This slider was still lacking its most important spec when we went hands-on, but a carrier document outed over at Droid-life fills in the blank: it lists a "minimum advertised price" of $249 on 24-month bond to VZW. Of course, we're still waiting on the second most important spec -- the release date, which hopefully won't be as futuristic as the handset's appearance.

Leaked screenshots reveal new details on Nokia N9 MeeGo update

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 06:56 AM PST

New details on the forthcoming MeeGo update for Nokia N9 users have just emerged this morning, courtesy of a batch of leaked screenshots and firmware information. Originally posted by a user on talk.maemo.org, the shots point to many upcoming functions with which Android and iOS users are already familiar, including copy-paste browser support and a notably iOS-like folder layout. Also included in the screenshots are support for video calls and tweaks to the OS' camera and gallery apps, though details remain unclear. Equally unclear is the release date for PR1.2, though the screenshots cite a build date of January 30th, so it may very well be nearing.

PSA: T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 710 hits stores, $50 on contract

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 06:50 AM PST

It's been a pretty busy week for Nokia. We now know that AT&T will be getting its own slice of the Lumia pie, and now its T-Mobile branded Lumia 710 has finally touched down on US soil. The middleweight Windows Phone is priced up at fifty bucks (after a mail-in rebate of the same amount) on a typical two-year contract, which should explain any queues forming outside your nearest T-Mob outlet. Or not.

FCC chairman implores Congress to speed up spectrum auctions, does it with a Galaxy Tab 8.9

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 06:36 AM PST

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski renewed his pleas for more broadband spectrum yesterday, and he chose a rather peculiar platform upon which to do it. In an address here at CES yesterday, Genachowski called upon Congress to hurry up and open auctions for spectrum, and to allow his commission to reserve some space for itself. "It would be a very serious mistake to pass incentive legislation and prohibit the FCC from using some spectrum for unlicensed (uses)," Genachowski explained, adding that these unlicensed appropriations would help spur innovation. "We may see innovations there that lead to more efficient use. To me, it's a no-brainer." It's an argument that he's been making for a while now, but as All Things D noticed, Wednesday's address was unique for an entirely different reason. For the first time yesterday, he displayed his comments on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, rather than his standard iPad. His thoughts on the slate? "It was all good," Genachowski said. "It was a seamless experience." He then proceeded, however, to send an e-mail with his iPad.

Cut the Rope gets ported to HTML5, gets chronicled on the way

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 06:25 AM PST

Outlined during Microsoft's CES keynote earlier this week, gaming app Cut The Rope has had its journey to the world of HTML5 published for the masses. Tying together features like CSS3 styling and canvas-rendered graphics, the blog post details in cheery technical detail how creators ZeptoLab and Pixel Lab (not related) transferred the game from Objective-C to Javascript. Check the game for yourself down at the source and expect to see some extra levels designed especially for the browser platform. We'd love to play through those new levels, but we're all a little busy here...

Archos G9 tablets getting Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade next month

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 06:16 AM PST

Sure we haven't heard a lot from Archos at CES thus far, but the company subtly dropped some good news for customers. According to Android Police, the company narrowed its estimates, letting it be known that its G9 tablet will be receiving a hearty helping of Ice Cream Sandwich, come the first week of February. The Android update will start rolling out to devices around that time, with preloaded ICS units hitting shelves in the following weeks.

Plextor's PlexEasy backs up your photos, phone and tablet without a computer

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 05:34 AM PST

Plextor PlexEasy
It was first announced in Europe just about a month ago, but Pextor's PlexEasy stand-alone DVD burner is finally hitting the market. The drive backs up data to CDs and DVDs directly from a variety of sources -- including SD cards, cameras, smartphones or tablets over USB. While it's made to be used without a PC it can be connected to one and draw it's power from your computer's USB ports. Despite Plextor touting its release here at CES we couldn't actually track down any info about pricing, but we'll make sure to update this post as soon as we do. Check out the complete PR after the break.
Show full PR text
2012 CES NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT: PLEXTOR'S PLEXEASY DVD/CD BURNER PROVIDES PC-FREE BACKUP

New DVD/CD Burner Backs Up Smartphones, Tablets, Cameras-No Computer Required

Fremont, CA, January 11, 2012– Plextor (www.goplextor.com), a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media and storage equipment, announces the release of their new PlexEasy External DVD/CD Burner at 2012 CES in Las Vegas. The PlexEasy is a versatile stand-alone optical storage device with a host of special features.

PlexEasy is a compact 8X DVD/CD Writer with a built-in SD/MMC card reader and a USB connector. It has the ability to connect directly to a wide variety of devices including both mass storage devices and Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) devices such cameras, smartphones, tablets, and camcorders. And no computer is required.

Now for the first time, users can burn photos directly from a camera (point-and-shoot or DSLR) or smartphone (iOS, Android, Blackberry, etc.) without going near a computer or learning a complicated software package. It's now a three-step process: 1) connect the device, 2) insert a disc, and 3) press a button to burn a backup.

PlexEasy's compatibility with mass storage devices enables the connection of MP3 players, flash drives, and external hard disks. Users can transfer videos, music, or other data from a device to a DVD/CD disc or from an SD card to an external storage device. By navigating the unit's intuitive menu, users can also duplicate data quickly and easily.

Incorporating Plextor's prestigious optical drive technology, the device can be connected to a PC if that's the preferred option. It then offers the full functionality of a high-end external DVD burner with support for all types of CDs and DVDs.

PlexEasy is slim and lightweight resulting in ultimate portability. PlexEasy is an ideal solution for both professionals and casual users. It's about saving time, working efficiently, and carrying less hardware to get the job done.

For additional product information, please visit:

Website: www.goplextor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PlextorAmericas
Twitter: www.twitter.com/plextorusa

About Plextor

Plextor LLC is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment for professionals, consumers and enterprises. In 1990, Plextor established a U.S. operation in the Silicon Valley with a dedicated sales force for serving North and South America. Since then, the Plextor brand has been continually recognized as producing high-quality products and has received numerous awards for its optical drives. Plextor will continue to deliver generations of award-winning products, including CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, and Blu-ray optical disk drives, solid state drives, digital video converters and multimedia products. The Plextor brand of storage and multimedia products is owned by Shinano Kenshi in Japan.

Microsoft signs patent agreement with LG, now covers 70 percent of US Android smartphone market

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 05:26 AM PST

Microsoft's patent-licensing ways continue, going after manufacturers of Android devices with wild abandon and, more often than not, wrangling them into (surely expensive) agreements. Latest to take the bait is LG and, interestingly, this one covers both Android and Google's little laptop operating system: Chrome OS. With this agreement Microsoft now covers 70 percent of all Android smartphones sold in the US, which is a quite startling figure. And, of course, one could interpolate from this that LG must have designs on making a Chromebook at some point in the not too distant future.

Show full PR text
Microsoft and LG Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android and Chrome OS Based Devices

REDMOND, Wash. - Jan. 12, 2012- Microsoft Corp. and LG Electronics have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for LG's tablets, mobile phones and other consumer devices running the Android or Chrome OS Platform. The contents of the agreement have not been disclosed.

"We are pleased to have built upon our longstanding relationship with LG to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Together with our 10 previous agreements with Android and Chrome OS device manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and Acer, this agreement with LG means that more than 70 percent of all Android smartphones sold in the U.S. are now receiving coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. "We are proud of the continued success of our program in resolving the IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome OS."

Microsoft's Commitment to Licensing Intellectual Property

The agreement with LG expands upon a pre-existing agreement, and it is another example of the important role IP plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 1,100 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsoft's significant R&D investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio.

More information about Microsoft's licensing programs is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing/?typ=64.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

SpareOne cellphone claims 15-year battery life, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 05:20 AM PST

Xpal Power (owners of Energizer and PowerSkin) has leveraged its battery-tech know-how into the SpareOne, a cellphone that can maintain its charge for up to 15 years on just a single AA battery. It's designed to be used for sponsorship, hotel use and (most importantly) emergencies, to throw into your trunk and forget about until you need to contact roadside assistance. Now at CES we've had a chance to get our mitts on the device to see what it's like in the flesh plastic. If you're just a little bit curious, why not join us for a short trip?
PowerSkin SpareOne Unboxing

We took this device back to the Engadget trailer at CES and every single member of staff played with it, fascinated by the concept. It looks like your average cheap cellphone, except where the screen would sit is a transparent plastic void where a prominently branded battery sits instead. It's surprisingly solid and well put-together, opening the battery compartment reveals a sizable capacitor -- which is what we think is the real hero behind its purportedly long life. Because of the stripped down nature of the phone, we weren't able to understand why it wasn't initially making calls. The two flashing LEDs indicate battery life and signal strength, but that's all the phone's gonna let you know.


Call quality was basic and loud (like a phone from a decade ago), which sounds harsh to our ears, which have been cosseted by years of noise-canceling microphones. The only thing we weren't able to judge was its USP: the length of its battery life is something we'll have to address in a few year's time, assuming the world hasn't ended before then. But here's the kicker -- judging the phone on its merits today, would you buy one of these over a cheaper Nokia C1 (or the admittedly rare Motofone F3?). We'd be a little more confident about the phone if the warranty of the device was longer than a year, you know? Still, we'd feel reasonably comfortable keeping one of these in the first aid kit for when the Robopocalypse hits, hoping that we'd never really need to use it. It'll be available at some point this quarter, will take any GSM SIM or microSIM (it has an adapter) and cost $50.

Verizon to enable global roaming for LG Spectrum and Droid 4

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 04:59 AM PST

VZW's latest LTE handsets don't make the best travel companions right now. Aside from getting stressed in airports and talking too much on coach trips, they also lack support for global GSM roaming. However, Big Red says it's "working on a few network enhancements" that will let the LG Spectrum and Droid 4 (shown above) work outside CDMA areas -- probably by the first half of this year. It's a nice gesture, but it also reminds us that what we're going to need in future -- full-on data roaming at LTE speeds -- will be a lot trickier to achieve.

Red Epic-X gets disassembled, photographed by FCC

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 04:41 AM PST

What do you find when you tear open (read: carefully disassemble) a Red Epic-X? Well, a whole lot of red, as it seems. Wireless Goodness has posted a hearty collection of teardown shots that it acquired from the FCC, revealing the camera's Mysterium-X sensor and Red 1242 processor. Sure, the Epic-X has been on the market for quite a few months now, but as you might imagine, those lucky enough to actually get their hands on the somewhat-elusive $34,500 rig probably don't list a warranty-crushing teardown at the top of their to-do lists. Ready to take a peek inside? Hit up the source link for 57 gloriously detailed shots from the other side.

Comcast network upgrade blocks DNS blocking, could make SOPA self-incompatible

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 04:19 AM PST

Now here's a quirky twist in the ongoing SOPA opera. Comcast has just deployed DNSSEC technology across its entire internet service, which adds an extra layer of security to websites by checking that they have a special DNS signature to prove their identity. All well and good, except that in the process Comcast has been forced to admit that DNSSEC is "technically incompatible" with DNS redirect tools -- which happen to be precisely the tools that the Stop Online Piracy Act would use to block websites accused of copyright violation. The irony only deepens when you realize that Comcast is a major proponent of SOPA and, if anything, ought to be able to comply with its future edicts.

Tobii Gaze UI eyes-on (video)

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 04:00 AM PST

We know what you're thinking: another CES post about Tobii's eye-tracking Gaze UI? Why yes, yes it is, because this time we were actually the ones behind the driver's seat. We tracked down the company's booth and got some personal one-on-one time with the laptop. As the first matter of business, we first needed to calibrate our eye movements with the sensor, a process that took a couple minutes to push through before we were ready to have at it. The prototype laptop is running an early build of Windows 8, so we navigated around the Metro interface, played a couple games, switched back and forth between tabs, zoomed in and out of screens and plenty more.

Eye-tracking technology hasn't been around for incredibly long, and it still has a ways to go. There were a few occasions -- seen in the video below the break -- in which we tried to hit a smaller button several times before finally finding success. Bugs aside, we got the hang of the interface pretty fast after a few minutes of getting accustomed to the concept of using our eyes as the cursor. That doesn't mean we were completely used to it by the time we left the booth, but we could see how eye-tracking can come in handy at times.

But it wasn't all Mission: Impossible as we'd secretly hoped. Contrary to our original expectations, we discovered that using the trackpad was still an integral and necessary part of the full experience; it wasn't a "blink twice to click" type of interface. Tobii tells us that by still using the trackpad to click on the screen (minus dragging your finger around as the cursor), you still have a natural user experience, since you're quickly able to use your fingers to scroll or click and override the movement of your eyes if absolutely necessary. We found it easy to switch back and forth between tabs and zoom in and out of pictures -- heck, we even were able to play games on the laptop by using our eyes, though admittedly we performed rather lousy and lost every time since many games require a certain amount of precision. That's obviously a situation that would call for the ability to override the eye-tracker and switch to manual mode, of course. All in all, we were very impressed to see how far the technology has come so far, and as Tobii is still in the early stages of implementing eye-tracking into the latest laptops -- CES is the company's first time showing it off in public, after all -- we're incredibly excited to see how it looks once it's all polished up. We've got plenty of pictures and a video to show off, so continue below to take a look. See what we did there?
Tobii Gaze eyes-on at CES 2012


Joseph Volpe contributed to this post.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

France ISP Free builds its own cellular network, offers free service to subscribers

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 03:52 AM PST

The fact that French ISP Free just began offering its own cellular service is pretty nice, but the realization that it did so by building its very own prepaid network -- rather than simply hopping on a dedicated cellular provider's towers -- is a noteworthy feat. Even more impressive, Free is offering the service, appropriately called Free Mobile, to subscribers at a price that matches the name of the company. Sure, you're not getting a ton of minutes with the basic free plan (60 minutes and 60 SMS / MMS messages), but you can get a load more (unlimited calls and texts, 3GB of data and unlimited access to the ISP's WiFi hotspots) for €15.99. If you're not a subscriber, fear not: you can grab the basic plan for €2 / month or the advanced option for €20. Free Mobile is still in the process of building out the network, which means that customers may find themselves occasionally roaming on Orange for a while. But hey, you can't go wrong with free, eh? Check out the source to see the selection of phones available for purchase.

[Thanks, Mohamed]

Tamaggo 360-imager concept hands-on

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 03:11 AM PST

Why settle for a boring 62-degree view (the field of view of a 35mm lens) when you could be taking in the full 360? Well, we suppose iPhone attachments are needlessly bulky, and throwable camera orbs can easily concuss bad catchers -- but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have options. The Tamaggo 360-imager, for instance, might be a pretty good option. This egg shaped (Tamaggo / Tamago, get it Japanese students?) camera natively snaps 360-degree images -- at least we trust it does, the non-functional unit we saw on the CES show floor mostly just fit our hand well.

Snapping 360-degree images seemed like an easy enough task -- a large silver button sits comfortably on the device's top, representing the shutter. On the eggs bottom we found a spot reserved for a 2-inch touchscreen, specifically designed to be viewed while holding the device aloft. The images can be viewed on the PC using an included application, offering you a Google street-view like look at your latest vacation pics. All in all, the Tamaggo seems like a very comfortable camera to use, and promises a fun gimmick -- we're just sad we didn't get to actually use it. Either way, we'll take a crack at the panoramic egg once its ready for prime time.
Tamaggo 360-imager concept hands-on


Daniel Cooper contributed to this post.

Crapgadget CES, round three: EZ Gas Check draws you into danger

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 02:48 AM PST

Remember kids -- when you're hovering over copious amounts of leaking gas, that yellow icon means you're basically safe. Maybe.

Cyborg cockroaches inch closer to reality, blame science

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 01:37 AM PST

Few things on this planet are more indestructible than the lowly cockroach -- except, of course, a cyborg cockroach. That's what researchers at Case Western Reserve University are looking to create, and they're a lot closer than you may think. In fact, chemistry professor Daniel Scherson has found a way to harvest energy from the chemicals swimming within these insidious insects, meaning that they may soon be able to create robot cockroaches with a more reliable power source. To do this, Scherson and his team incorporated enzymes capable of converting a cockroach's food intake into electrons, which can then be funneled through a fuel cell to generate electricity. Unlike similar developments, Scherson's technique doesn't rely on an external source like light, movement or batteries. All you need is a cockroach and a steady food supply -- basically, a college dorm room.

[Image courtesy of The Life Files]

Ice Cream Sandwich to hit Eee Pad Transformer in February, says Asus

Posted: 12 Jan 2012 12:23 AM PST

Eagerly awaiting that sweet Ice Cream Sandwich update for your original Eee Pad Transformer? Keep waiting. Asus recently told Android Police that the classic Transforming tablet wouldn't be getting its ICS update until early February. The statement came shortly after a mix up on Asus' Singapore Facebook page that mistakenly claimed the update was arriving this week. Bummer? For sure, but at least you'll get to practice the gadget lover's most valued virtue: patience.

Lenovo announces brainier Classmate+ PC, heads to top of the class

Posted: 11 Jan 2012 11:28 PM PST

Kids have been honing their computer smarts on Intel-based Classmate PCs for a few years now, and Lenovo's just sewn its name inside the collar of its second generation of student-friendly lappies. Based on the chip maker's "Learning Series," Lenovo's new boy comes in clamshell and convertible flavors, and brings an Atom N2600 processor, a max of 2GB DDR3 memory and up to a 320GB -- or 32GB solid state -- storage along to class. It'll launch in uniform grey (like the first generation pictured), but orders that meet the minimum requirement can choose to splash a little color on top. As before, these things are designed to handle the daily rigors dished out by a nine-year-old, hence a new rotating hinge on the convertible, strengthened and designed to last "tens of thousands of cycles." Should be enough to see you into adulthood then. It's available to institutions as of this month, but if you want to know more, hit the PR after the break.
Show full PR text
Lenovo Adds Smarter Classmate+ Laptop & Convertible to Education Roster

New PCs Offer More Ruggedness, Affordability, Battery Life & Usability

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lenovo (HKSE: 0992) (PINK SHEETS: LNVGY) announced today its second generation Classmate+ laptops - in both traditional clamshell and convertible laptop form factors - based on the Intel Learning Series. These new laptops offer students, teachers and IT administrators more ruggedness with new durability features like greater spill resistance, affordability, battery life up to 10 hours and enhanced usability with Intel Learning Series software suite for using the e-reader, web camera and digital writing features.

"The latest Classmate laptops equipped with Intel Atom processor technology up the level of computing power and performance for students without sacrificing long battery life"

"As the world's #1 PC maker in education, we're committed to enhancing learning via our platform of PC solutions designed for students," said Michael Schmedlen, director, worldwide education, Lenovo. "By joining with Intel to create the new Lenovo Classmate+ Clamshell and Classmate+ Convertible laptops, we're demonstrating how mobile computing fits into any learning environment, no matter the location or budget."

Head of the Class

Designed to handle the rough treatment students on-the-go can inflict upon technology, the laptops are even more rugged than the previous Lenovo Classmate+ laptop. They feature a keyboard with enhanced water resistance, a tougher corner design, reinforced steel hinge and strengthened DC jack. They come with a 10.1-inch anti-glare screen with touch capability on the convertible as well as optional high-brightness or high-definition on both or a capacitive touch screen with a pen on the convertible.

The laptops are equipped with the tools students need to do basic work and learning - an Intel Atom N2600 processor, up to 2 GB DDR3 memory and up to 320 GB hard drive or up to 32 GB solid state drive storage. With a 6-cell battery, students can use the laptops all day - up to 10 hours. The laptops feature three USB ports, VGA and an optional HDMI port for transferring data and displaying standard and high definition video to a monitor or TV. They also come with a web camera in resolutions up to 2 megapixels. While the Classmate+ laptops come in a standard Grey color, customs colors are available with a minimum quantity order.

"The latest Classmate laptops equipped with Intel Atom processor technology up the level of computing power and performance for students without sacrificing long battery life," said Dr. Wayne Grant, EMPG's Director of Research and Planning at Intel Corporation. "We are thrilled that Lenovo will be expanding their presence in our Intel Learning Series Alliance and that schools around the world can take advantage of this purpose-built technology for 1:1 e-learning."

Additionally, the Lenovo Classmate+ Convertible has an exclusive rotating hinge strengthened and designed to last tens of thousands of cycles. It also has a built-in hardware button to make scrolling through ebooks simple and an optional Trusted Platform Module to protect data like passwords and digital certificates from external software attacks and physical theft.

As part of the Intel® Learning Series the Classmate PCs offer an enhanced student experience, increased ruggedness and up to 10 hours of battery life. Intel's Intel Learning Series thus far has had more than 6 million Intel-powered classmate PCs shipped globally since its launch in 2007. More than 500 members in 70 countries are developing applications, peripherals and services optimized for the Learning Series.

Pricing and Availability1

The Lenovo Classmate+ laptop and Convertible laptop will be available starting in January to qualified education and government customers through Lenovo sales representatives and business partners. The price of the Lenovo Classmate+ laptop and Convertible laptop will vary in each market based on regional taxes, tariffs and configuration options.
at 12:17 PM

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