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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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Verizon to sell $200 Droid RAZR, 16GB microSD card not included this time

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 02:15 PM PST


The question of the day: is a 16GB microSD card worth $100? Verizon Wireless said it will sell the Droid RAZR for $200 with a two-year contract -- a $100 discount off the original price, but one that forces you to give up that complimentary 16GB microSD card. Otherwise, you'll find the same 'ol spes, including a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, 16GB of internal storage, a 4.3-inch AMOLED display and LTE connectivity. The microSD slot itself will be perfectly operational and accept up to 32GB in storage, provided you bring your own card. Expect this price to go into effect next week on January 23rd. Or, you know, spend $300 after all, but on that other RAZR with 32GB of storage and 21 hours of talk time.

Screen Grabs: Serena's magically got herself an HP Envy 14 on Gossip Girl

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 01:50 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.

We'd be lying if we said we were frenemies with Gossip Girl's goings-on (one of them's in the Pretty Reckless, right?). Fom the picture above, it looks like Serena van der Woodsen's shipping magnate father must have lifted this HP Envy 14 Spectre off the back of one of his shipments, given that the glass-built Ultrabook doesn't arrive in stores until February 8th. It wouldn't be the first time the show's squeezed in some unrealistic product placement: there was the time Serena had a SIM-card packing Verizon Droid X, or when someone had actually bought a Kin.

[Thanks, Ross]

Headphone-wearing pedestrian injuries triple as audiophiles stop noticing onrushing trains

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 01:34 PM PST

The number of pedestrians injured or killed while wearing headphones has tripled in the last six years: 16 oblivious PMP users were offed in 2004, the number rising to 47 for last year. The research, carried out by Dr Richard Lichenstein at the University of Maryland found that headphone wearers became "inattentionally blind" to dangers such as passing cars and on-rushing trains. That's not us being flip either: 55 percent of the incidents involved locomotives. The majority of victims were male (68 percent) and under the age of 30 (67 percent): which puts your average Engadget reader in the center of the danger zone -- take it from us guys: sometimes it's better to press pause, "Baby, baby" will still be there when you've crossed the railway.

Yahoo's Jerry Yang quits the company he co-founded, walks away from Alibaba as well

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 01:08 PM PST

The long, drawn-out, oftentimes melodramatic saga revolving around Yahoo itself and co-founder Jerry Yang is well-documented. Perhaps too well. Thankfully for us all, that ends today. As of January 17th, he has resigned from Yahoo's Board of Directors and all other positions with the company, and moreover, has resigned from the Boards of Yahoo Japan Corporation and Alibaba Group Holding Limited. We most recently heard from Yang during his interview at AsiaD, where he sounded none too pleased about the going-ons there. We aren't about to draw links of Yang's exit to the hiring of Scott Thompson as CEO (in fact, Yang praises him in his exit blurb), but we are drawing links to his sudden purchase of a yacht, a new sauna and a round-the-round journey courtesy of Abercrombie & Kent. Kidding. In all seriousness, it's no surprise to see Yahoo's stock rallying, as many felt that Yang was the major roadblock holding up an outright sale or other significant shake-up within its ranks. As for Jerry? He's off to "pursue other interests" -- but we didn't need to tell you that, now did we?
Show full PR text
Yahoo! Announces Resignation of Jerry Yang

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), the premier digital media company, today announced that Jerry Yang has resigned from its Board of Directors and all other positions with the company, effective today. In addition, Yang resigned from the Boards of Yahoo Japan Corporation and Alibaba Group Holding Limited, effective today.

In a letter to the Yahoo! Board Chairman Roy Bostock, Yang wrote:

"My time at Yahoo!, from its founding to the present, has encompassed some of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life. However, the time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo! As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as Chief Executive Officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo! leadership team, to guide Yahoo! into an exciting and successful future."

Yang co-founded Yahoo! Inc. in 1995 with David Filo and served as a member of the Board of Directors since March 1995 and as Chief Executive Officer from June 2007 to January 2009. The Company went public in 1996.

"Jerry Yang is a visionary and a pioneer, who has contributed enormously to Yahoo! during his many years of service," said Roy Bostock, Chairman of the Yahoo! Board. "It has been a pleasure to work with Jerry. His unique strategic insights have been invaluable. He has always remained focused on the best interests of Yahoo!'s stakeholders, including shareholders, employees and more than 700 million users. And while I and the entire Board respect his decision, we will miss his remarkable perspective, vision and wise counsel. On behalf of the Board, we thank Jerry and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors."

Bostock concluded, "We appreciate Jerry's comments and share his enthusiasm for the company's prospects. With Scott Thompson leading an outstanding team of Yahoos to deliver innovative products and an engaging customer experience, Yahoo!'s future is bright."

"I am grateful for the warm welcome and support Jerry provided me during my early days here," said Scott Thompson, Yahoo!'s Chief Executive Officer. "Jerry leaves behind a legacy of innovation and customer focus for this iconic brand, having shaped our culture by fostering a spirit of innovation that began 17 years ago and continues to grow even stronger today. Jerry has great confidence in the future of Yahoo!, and I share his confidence in the enormous potential of Yahoo! in the days ahead."

HP appoints Bill Veghte as chief strategy officer, will lead 'cloud and webOS open source initiatives'

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 12:48 PM PST

Bill Veghte was already having his checks cut by HP (after cutting ties with Microsoft), but now he'll be filling a slightly different corner office. The company today announced that he has been appointed chief strategy officer, but somehow, he'll also have enough time to hold onto his current role as executive vice president of HP Software. We're told that he'll be working with HP's senior business and technology brass in order to innovate in ways that perhaps it hasn't lately, with newly-appointed CEO Meg Whitman saying the following: "Every 10 to 15 years, fundamental shifts occur in the IT industry that redefine how technology is delivered. From mainframes to client/server to the internet, companies that identified the opportunity first and developed the right strategy came out on top. As we move forward, HP intends to stay on top, and I believe Bill has the knowledge and vision to keep us there." Strangely, the release (embedded in full after the break) mentions that Bill will be leading HP's "cloud and webOS open source initiatives," but it fails to elaborate on what exactly those "initiatives" may be.
Show full PR text
HP today announced that Bill Veghte has been appointed chief strategy officer

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 17, 2012

HP today announced that Bill Veghte has been appointed chief strategy officer.

In addition to his new responsibilities, Veghte will continue in his current role as executive vice president of HP Software.

As chief strategy officer, Veghte will be responsible for keeping HP on the cutting edge of innovation. He will work with HP's senior business and technology leaders to help define the IT industry's future and make certain HP continues to lead the way. Veghte's new role reaffirms HP's commitment to providing customers with the latest platforms, products and services needed for success in a rapidly changing world.

"Every 10 to 15 years, fundamental shifts occur in the IT industry that redefine how technology is delivered," said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. "From mainframes to client/server to the internet, companies that identified the opportunity first and developed the right strategy came out on top. As we move forward, HP intends to stay on top, and I believe Bill has the knowledge and vision to keep us there."

In addition to helping drive strategy for the company as a whole, Veghte will lead HP's cloud and webOS open source initiatives.

Veghte joined HP in 2010. In the most recent fiscal year, he grew HP's software business by 18 percent. Prior to HP, he spent two decades at Microsoft in a variety of senior leadership positions. Most recently, he managed the company's $15 billion global Windows® business and was instrumental in the delivery and launch of Windows 7.

Lamar Smith: SOPA markup to resume in February

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 12:47 PM PST

Thought the White House was able to put enough of smackdown on SOPA to kill the bill entirely? You thought wrong. We'd heard that the extremely controversial legislation would be delayed until a few concerns were ironed out, and according to House Judiciary Committee Chair Lamar Smith -- the author of the bill -- markup is expected to continue next month, as soon as both parties return from their retreats. Let's just hope that the "consensus" between Congress and the White House makes the bill look different than what we saw prior to the holiday break. Check out the full press release after the break.

[Thanks, Brianna]
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Stop Online Piracy Act Markup to Resume in February

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today said that he expects the Committee to continue its markup of the Stop Online Piracy Act in February.

Chairman Smith: "To enact legislation that protects consumers, businesses and jobs from foreign thieves who steal America's intellectual property, we will continue to bring together industry representatives and Members to find ways to combat online piracy.

"Due to the Republican and Democratic retreats taking place over the next two weeks, markup of the Stop Online Piracy Act is expected to resume in February.

"I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to send a bipartisan bill to the White House that saves American jobs and protects intellectual property."

Apple patents clothes that track how you wear them, tell you when it's time to update your wardrobe

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 12:34 PM PST

There's a huge problem with working out that has yet to be solved: when, precisely, do our workout clothes become too worn to wear anymore? Apple knows we can't be wasting endless minutes looking for holes and tears in our shirts and pants, so it's just obtained a method patent to let you know when your gear is past its prime. The patent claims sensor-equipped garments that can track how you use them, report that info back to a central database and alert you when the clothing has reached "its expected useful lifetime." (Read: it's time to buy some new, undoubtedly more expensive gym clothes.) This latest bit of IP doesn't just cover clothing either, Cupertino's claiming the same method for running shoes, too. The footwear bit also provides real-time feedback that compares your current running style to an established profile to keep your workouts consistent -- useful feature, that, though we can't imagine such iShoes would make the folks in Niketown too happy. We're not sure how Apple aims to make the needed wearables equipped with embedded electronics, but we can offer you plenty of typically broad patent legalese explaining the system that'll get you buying them at the source below.

Motorola planning 24-hour Droid RAZR Maxx longevity event for February 6th?

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:50 AM PST

Motorola's own website has pointed to a January 26th launch for the long-awaited Droid RAZR Maxx, but it looks like February 6th is the date to really pay attention to. With battery life becoming an even more serious concern due to the proliferation of life-sucking 4G networks, it's become obvious that companies are finally placing those longevity statistics atop their priority list. Samsung itself has already promised to significantly improve battery life in its phones during 2012, and we're now hearing from a trusted source that Moto will be streaming a pretty unorthodox event in order to put its own RAZR Maxx to the test. We're told to expect a 24-hour marathon event, streamed out to the gaping masses, where the aforesaid handset will be powered on and presumably used for a full day -- it's like a David Blaine trick, but for phones. Might as well pencil in 2/6 if you're eager to see if this might actually meet your long-term demands.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Pink Samsung Galaxy S II makes UK bow on cupid's bow, is the new Godiva

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:39 AM PST

Pretty in pink, isn't it?! Sammy's already slapped a bit of rouge on the casing of its über-popular Galaxy S II for denizens of South Korea, making that special edition available for coloristas last November. But in an effort to share the "love," synchronize with a certain money-milking, greeting card holiday and maximize profits, the company's releasing this precious-hued wünderphone to our cousins across the pond on Phones4u and Very. Arriving just in time for you Brits to tell that special someone in your life, "I spent a few hundred pounds on this silly phone and I'm made of money, so let's seal this deal," the GS II packs the same boatload of specs that made it the undisputed smartphone king of 2011. So, come Valentine's Day, you can either give the gift of roses and chocolates or a blush-colored mobile. Or, you can stay at home, drink a bottle of red, watch Love, Actually on repeat, buy one for yourself and pretend you didn't. Go ahead, we won't tell.

The Engadget Show returns Friday, January 20th!

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:13 AM PST

Sleep? Ha! We may have spent the past 10 days or so rocking the Las Vegas Convention Center, but that doesn't mean it's time to rest on our over overtired laurels. Nope, we're back this Friday with the first Engadget Show of 2012, and it's going to be a fun one -- we'll be taking a look at the biggest gadgets, interviews and stories to come out of this year's CES and offering up all sorts of surprises.

Best of all, if you're in New York City, you can be a part of the live show -- just fire off an email to engadgetshow [at] engadget.com.

Here are the deets:
• The event is all ages.
• We'll open doors and begin seating at 5:15pm on January 20th, and the taping begins at 6:00PM. We'll be closing the doors at 5:50PM.
• Winners must confirm and print tickets 24 hours before taping begins or risk forfeiting their seat.
• Please bring a photo ID with you to the taping.
• The show length is around an hour.

If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.

Google launches PSA-style 'Good to Know' ad campaign, wants to keep us safe

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:49 AM PST

Google's no stranger to privacy-related controversy, which may explain the motivation behind its latest ad campaign. On Tuesday, the company will launch a series of ads across major newspapers, magazines and billboards, as part of its new "Good to Know" initiative, designed to make the internet "a safer, more comfortable place." According to Google, these ads will offer tips and advice on how to secure your personal information online, including details on how to protect your passwords from web predators. The entire campaign has a distinctly PSA flavor to it, though there's also a different subtext at work here, since Google is effectively branding itself as "the one you can trust." There are certainly some who would dispute that, but at a time when most privacy concerns are focused squarely on the government, it may be a good time for Google to crank up its PR machine. Find out more at the links below.

Microsoft introducing ReFS file system with Windows server 8

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:27 AM PST

Hungry for a shiny new file system? Windows 8's got your back, or at least, Windows server 8 will. In his latest Building Windows 8 post, Steven Sinofsky introduces the Resilient File System, or ReFS, as a "next generation file system" built on the foundations of the NTFS. By reusing NTFS' API / semantics engine, ReFS hopes to retain a high level of compatibility with NTFS features. Underneath the existing semantics engine, the new file system introduces a new storage engine that hopes to protect against latent disk errors, resist data corruption, uphold metadata integrity, grant large volume, file and directory size -- and well, just build a better storage system in general. It's all quite complicated, but if you feel up to the technical snuff, click through the source link below.

Tango Networks offers cloud-based Google Voice integration to carriers

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:04 AM PST

Tango Networks is aiming to assuage the pain of US mobile users attempting to manage two phone numbers using a single device. Dubbed the Abrazo Multi-line Service, the cloud-based product aims to bring Google Voice integration to "all mobile phones" and allow wireless users to manage multiple numbers without the hassle of additional software -- meaning your RAZR 2 can join the fun. Calls placed to handsets utilizing Abrazo will ring all phones in your Google Voice roster and users can choose which caller ID number to display for outgoing calls. The service will also offer a single Message Waiting Indicator light and leverage GV's low-cost international calling rates. Abrazo Multi-line Service is currently in the trial phase with North American mobile operators. The full press release from Tango is after the break.
Show full PR text
Google Voice Second Line is available to cellphone users in participating mobile carrier networks via Tango Networks Abrazo Multi-Line service.

FRISCO, Texas, Jan. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Tango Networks™, a leader in Mobile Network integration is announcing the integration with Google Voice as part of the Abrazo™ Multi-line Service enabling any mobile phone to support more than one phone number.
With Google Voice integration, the Multi-line service enables mobile consumers to "Bring their own Google Voice Number" to a participating mobile carrier. As a cloud-based service, the solution works with all mobile phones with no additional device software required.

With Abrazo Multi-Line service, subscribers can make or receive calls using either their mobile number or their Google Voice number.

Outgoing calls from the mobile phone can display the Caller ID of either the mobile number or the Google Voice number and can be switched at anytime by the user. Incoming calls to their mobile number or Google Voice number ring all devices in the subscriber's Google Voice list. Subscribers benefit from a single voicemail for both phone lines with true Message Waiting Indicator (MWI), and Google Voice discounted international long distance calling rates.

Mobile carriers can easily offer second line mobile service that works with all mobile phones and without the need to manage the second number series. Instead customers bring their own Google Voice number and can provision it themselves.

"The Tango Networks Multi-line service now with Google Voice integration opens the doors for mobile carriers to offer Google Voice as a premium service on all their mobile phones.", stated Alastair Westgarth, President and CEO of Tango Networks. "Adding sticky services such as Multi-line with Google Voice integration attract and retain customers thereby reducing mobile churn."

Abrazo Multi-line service with Google Voice integration is entering trials with North American mobile operators.

Microsoft's Windows 8 hardware requirements: some good, some not-so-good

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 09:41 AM PST

First, an apology: Microsoft released details of Windows 8's tablet hardware requirements back in December, but we were too preoccupied with Christmas and CES to notice. Now that the only thing we're suffering from is jet-lag, let's take a quick tour of some notable extracts from the documentation and what it'll mean for users when the operating system arrives towards the back end of the year.
  • Controversially, ARM-based tablet users won't be able to deactivate secure booting and (therefore) install another operating system. Clearly that's not gone down well with people -- and a straw poll of our editors agreed
  • Ctrl + Alt + Del for tablets without physical keyboards will be supplanted by Windows Key + Power.
  • There's a mandatory five points of touch -- which we already knew thanks to our hands on with Synaptics at CES.
  • If your gear has NFC, physical "touch marks" will be visible on the hardware so people know where to plonk their devices.
  • All tablets must have Power, Rotation Lock, Windows Key, Volume Up and Volume Down buttons.
  • After all operating system updates, there must be 10GB free space, all machines must run UFEI Firmware.
  • All hardware must include one USB 2.0 port, a magnetometer, speakers, Bluetooth 4.0, WLAN, gyroscope and accelerometer.
  • Any camera must have a minimum resolution of 720p.
  • The minimum display for any tablet is 1366 x 768.
  • You'll be able to update your graphics drivers without rebooting.
There you have it, many of the new changes are welcome and demonstrate Redmond's commitment to avoid fragmentation between PCs, Laptops and Slates. However, ensuring ease for the general consumer might come at too high a price if it alienates those who value the freedom of a PC. Still, we won't be betting against the hacking community: which has probably already started taking a run up at the limitation -- just as soon as it's made sure Doom runs smoothly on it.

Steve Wozniak loves iOS, except when he doesn't

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 09:19 AM PST

We've heard this one before, only to have it debunked. Steve Wozniak sits down with foreign press, talks tech and has his words misconstrued; hair pulling and epic fanboy wars ensue. While we were able to deflate that troll bait rather quickly, this time it appears the Woz is guilty of an OS crush. According to The Daily Beast, the Apple co-founder (and connoisseur of Segways) goes on record as preferring many aspects of Android's fussier-but-deeper UI to iOS' one size fits all, simplified approach. Citing improvements in voice command software (sorry Siri, but he's looking at you), navigation and consistent performance, this other Steve seems to believe his company has a lot to learn from Google's dessert-themed mobile platform. Does word of Woz's wandering thumbs spell doom for Apple's all but gilded OS? We don't think so. As Kathy Griffin's former, fake boyfriend put it best, the iPhone 4S is for "users scared of computers." Which is to say, everyone and your mother.

Samsung commits to improve smartphone battery life in 2012

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 08:57 AM PST


Sure, we all love having the latest and greatest smartphone from the likes of Samsung, but the power consumption driven by larger displays, LTE, and more use is making it increasingly harder to get through the day. Samsung's vice president of product innovation, Kevin Packingham, said in an interview with CNET that Korea's darling has set the lofty goal that smartphones coming out this year last an entire day under average to moderately heavy use. Samsung's plans include beefing up batteries, but it also intends to look at improving energy efficiency by tweaking the various radios -- LTE, WiFi -- to make them a little less greedy. Motorola has already seemingly caught this wave with the RAZR MAXX -- a slightly chubbier Motorola RAZR -- which is essentially the same set as the RAZR but with enough juice so you can use it instead of spending your day looking for an outlet to charge it. Unfortunately, things could get sticky as the definition of "moderately heavy use" is a pretty tough thing to pin down. Would you put up with a huskier phone to get you through the day or is a slim set more important? Feel free to chime in with your comments below.

VantagePoint delivers 132 inches of multitouch to HP's business customers

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 08:33 AM PST

There are those out there that laugh at the idea of a 10-inch multitouch screen, and even some chuckle the thought of settling for a mere 40 inches. For those with such demanding requirements (primarily retailers and businesses), there's HP's VantagePoint. The main point of interaction with the video wall is six 47-inch Ultra-Micro Bezel displays that combine to offer 132 inches of diagonal real estate with a 4098 x 1536 resolution. That rather generous pile of pixels is pushed to the Gorilla Glass-fronted panels by a Z800 workstation, while a separate desktop is dedicated to audio and color processing. As you might expect, the set up doesn't come cheap -- businesses will have to cough up around $125,000 for the pleasure of such a beastly interactive installation. Check out the PR and data sheet at the source and some videos of it in action at the more coverage link.

iTunes Match launches in 19 more countries, shows Latin America some love from the cloud

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 08:02 AM PST

iTunes MatchOnce Apple let the iTunes Match genie out of the bottle it has actually been pretty quick to spread the love to our international friends. Australia, Canada, the UK and a host of other European nations came online last month, now a sizable chunk of Latin America (along with a few EU stragglers) are joining the party. In total, 19 new countries were added to the list this week, headlined by Central and South American nations like Argentina, Guatemala, Venezuela and Nicaragua. With a few Eastern Block countries, including Lithuania and Latvia, also being added to the list, Apple has increased the total number states where iTunes Match is available to 37. Now Apple just has to start getting a few of the Asian and African areas where the iPhone is available on board and it can officially call Match a global service. To see if your country is invited hit up the more coverage link.

Shuttle rolls out bantam XH61 barebones PC, dares you to throw a Sandy Bridge at it

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 07:41 AM PST

It's been a hot minute since we've seen anything compelling from the folks at Shuttle, but there's nothing like a Sandy Bridge-enabled, three-liter PC to get us back on the bandwagon. The XH61 is barely seven centimeters high, and supports second-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors for the LGA1155 socket. You'll get a pair of memory banks (up to 16GB of DDR3 can be thrown in), a foursome of SATA 3Gbps slots, six USB 2.0 ports, HDMI / VGA ports and room for a laptop-sized 2.5-inch HDD / SSD. The 90-watt power supply provides all the juice this little guy needs, and the €146 ($184) price tag actually includes little more than that; being a barebones system and all, it's on you to pick out the particulars.
Show full PR text
3-litre PC for second-generation Intel Core processors

(openPR) - 7 cm thin barebone for self-build Slim-PC

Elmshorn, Germany, 2012-01-12 Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH, the European subsidiary of Shuttle Inc., one of the leading developers and manufacturers of compact PC solutions such as the world-renowned XPC Mini-PC Barebones, has announced the launch of the XH61, a new 3-litre PC for Intel's Sandy Bridge processors.

Barely 7 cm high, this Slim-PC barebone extends the product range and introduces a modern 32 nm-architecture CPU platform. The Intel H61 Express chipset selected for this new product supports second-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors for the LGA1155 socket with a TDP of max. 65 W. The two memory banks on the pre-installed motherboard can take DDR3 modules up to a total capacity of 16 GB.



The XH61 is provided with UEFI and has 4x SATA 3 Gbit/s, 6x USB 2.0, 7.1 Sound, Gigabit-LAN and Kensington Lock. An HDMI and D-Sub port in combination with the graphics function integrated in the second-generation Intel Core processors enable dual monitoring and smooth HD playback.

The compact case (24.2 x 20 x 7.3 cm DWH) still provides space for an optical Slimline drive and 2.5" hard disk or SSD. An external 90 W power unit provides a noiseless energy supply. The optionally available PS01 pedestal accessory enables vertical operation. Alternatively, the optional PV02 VESA monitor mount allows the user to fit the XH61 to a range of screens and surfaces.

"With the XH61, we can now fit second-generation Intel Core processors in our smallest and fastest PCs", states Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. "The practical format of the XH61 and its predecessor, the XG41, has proven its worth and will continue to be developed in future. 3-litre PCs represent a good compromise between space requirements and computing performance."

The recommended price for the Shuttle Barebone XH61 is EUR 146.00 (ex VAT).

Product page:
www.shuttle.eu/products/slim/xh61/overview/

As one of the most experienced developers and manufacturers of Mini-PCs and portable devices, Shuttle ensures the highest production standards, consistent use of the latest platforms and a huge spectrum of application areas for its products. Established in 1983 in Taiwan, Shuttle Inc. specialises in the development and production of innovative Mini-PC solutions. The stock market listed company is represented globally through subsidiaries in Germany, the USA, Japan and China. Since 2001 the attractive cuboid PCs designed for virtually every application area have been the main focus of business for the head office operating out of Taipei. Confirmed by customers and the trade press alike, Shuttle stands out due to its effective management and its longstanding experience as a manufacturer of high-quality motherboards. Shuttle Mini-PC Barebones and Complete Systems have for years been the first choice for many system integrators, VARs, OEMs and ODMs. With its new, mobile PC solutions Shuttle also meets the constantly changing demands of consumers.

Sony's Micro Vault MACH thumbdrives move fast, look good doing it

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 07:19 AM PST

120 MB/s reads and 90 MB/s writes are far from the fastest in the thumbdrive game, but they're nothing to sneeze at either. While Sony's Micro Vault MACH may not lead the pack in raw speed, it holds its own and looks damnably good doing it. The USB 3.0 stick is cased in a brushed aluminum shell and sports a red indicator LED that, if it moved, might make it look like you had a Cylon attached to your PC. The drives should be available later this month in 16, 32 and 64GB varieties, though, pricing is still a mystery. Check out the gallery below and PR after the break.
Sony Micro Vault MACH
Show full PR text
Sony goes faster with Super Speed USB 3.0 Flash Drive
17 January 2012

New Micro Vault MACH accelerates file saving and sharing

First USB 3.0 flash memory drive from Sony
Available in 8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB capacities
Ultra-fast transfers up to 120 MB/s read / 90 MB/s write*
Sleek aluminium body with retractable USB connector and LED indicator

USB MACH 3.0 - open

Get ready for even faster saving, sharing and uploads of your personal media files. Brand-new Micro Vault MACH is the first family of flash memory drives from Sony with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology for blazing performance that won't slow you down.

Micro Vault MACH is ideal for consumers and business users who need the convenience and reliability of ultra-fast on-the-go data transfers. Available in capacities from 8GB up to 64GB, Micro Vault MACH offers data speeds up to 120 MB/s (read) and 90 MB/s (write)*. You'll enjoy faster sharing and uploads of music, photos, HD video and media-rich documents – and less time spent waiting for your files to copy.

Micro Vault MACH is backward-compatible with USB 2.0, so you can use it seamlessly with current PCs and other devices that don't support the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard.

Micro Vault MACH is encased in sleek, solid aluminium body that's built to withstand day-to-day knocks. The retractable USB connector's click mechanism offers extra protection while shrinking the drive's size for even greater portability. There's a handy LED indicator to give visual confirmation of data transfers when the drive is in use. For extra peace for mind, all drives come with a standard five-year warranty.

Downloadable software for Micro Vault MACH series includes File Rescue and x – Pict Story™. File rescue enables users to recover any important data that might have been deleted by mistake, making retrieving lost data such as images, movies and music files a breeze. The x – Pict Story™ software allows the creation of an automated photo presentation using the files stored on the Micro Vault.

The new Micro Vault MACH series of USB 3.0 SuperSpeed flash memory drives by Sony is available from January 2012.

* Based on Sony internal tests with USM64GQ as of November 2011. Transfer speed may vary depend on host devices, software and usage. Not guaranteed. Design and specifications are subject to change without notice

HTC EVO 3D: poof, no more Carrier IQ software

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 07:07 AM PST

It's been exactly a month since we received word that Sprint was disabling Carrier IQ software installed on its carrier-branded devices, and this week we witnessed a firmware update on the HTC EVO 3D that quietly removes all traces of the tracking software completely. Neither company was forthcoming about this particular feature disappearing -- we have a hunch they're trying to keep the public from being reminded that CIQ ever happened -- but Android Central discovered that both the HTC IQAgent and IQRD were completely gone after the update. So add this to the list of the build's other performance enhancements, and here's to hoping that we'll start seeing a plethora of other devices getting similar releases.

New BBC iPlayer stats chart the rise of 'connected' TV viewing

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 06:57 AM PST

Thanks to widespread adoption and excellent cross-platform availability, the BBC's ubiquitous iPlayer is the perfect gauge of online viewing habits. New usage figures for December throw up little in the way of surprises, but still make impressive reading. The good old computer remains tops-of-the-client-pops for Brits, but smart TVs are taking a bigger slice of the (187 million) total requests, 7 million in fact -- a 1,000% year-on-year increase. More mobile telly-addicts saw smartphone and tablet views rise to thirteen million and ten million respectively, a growth of 163 and 596 percent. With 2012 offering ever more top gear and phones to chose from, we're expecting this trend to continue for some time yet. Square-eye stat-fans can hit up the source for the full breakdown. Hint: lots of Eastenders.

AMD's Ultrabook competitor to focus on price, undercut Intel

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 06:33 AM PST

When AMD showed off its upcoming Trinity APUs at CES the company was pretty light on the details. We're still stuck holding our breath for specs, but DigiTimes is reporting some alleged info on pricing. According to the report, AMD's "Ultrathin" laptops will hit shelves priced between $100 and $200 less than comparably-equipped Intel machines. Of course, the folks from Sunnyvale have traditionally hit Chipzilla on pricing rather than performance (except during a brief period in the aughts when Intel got lost in the Netburst woods), so dirt-cheap AMD "Ultrabooks" wouldn't come as much of a surprise. Then again, pressure on both the laptop and tablet front could cause the Santa Clara crew to reevaluate its pricing strategy leaving its competition to either further cut profit margins or find a new angle of attack.

Pantech next to sign Android patent deal with Microsoft

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 06:11 AM PST

Microsoft may have already signed patent licensing agreements with 70 percent of the US Android manufacturers, including some of the biggest names in the market, but that doesn't mean Redmond's about ready to hit the brakes anytime soon. Next up on the block is Pantech, according to a company spokesperson talking with Yonhap News. No specific details have been decided yet, so we'll have to wait for the official word and see what happens.

Photorito disguises your supersized lens as the world's most delicious thing

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 05:45 AM PST

After the recent rash of burrito robberies that has been plaguing our nation, we're not really sure why anyone would opt to pick up a case that disguised their camera lens as the popular Mexican dish. If you're so inclined, however, you can nab the Photorito, a lens wrap made from Tyvek and neoprene, which promises to protect lenses from 24mm to 200mm from water, dust and bumps. The Photorito ships with a band that will keep it in place -- it'll run you $15 if ordered directly from Photojojo, just don't come crawling to us when you get some guac in your sensor.

Update: Photojojo has written to inform us that the price of the Photorito has been bumped up to $20 -- but really, can you put a price of making your camera lens look like Mexican food?

Ideum's MT65 Presenter: a $17,500, 65-inch, multi-touch display for your own museum

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 05:23 AM PST

Ideum's 65-inch MT65 Presenter is a multi-touch 3D display designed for public spaces, so large that Surface 2.0's looking a bit sheepish right now. The aforementioned tempered-glass mega-screen has a sensor that'll identify 32 individual points of touch (to think: we thought five-and-ten finger touch was impressive) and a PC with a 2.2GHz Core i7 CPU, 256GB SSD and GeForce GTX 460 nestled inside the four-inch "vandal proof" aluminum frame. There's also a Carl Zeiss-lensed HD webcam with a stereo microphone for those moments when you want to see your beloved's face in eye-popping detail. Today's release of the unit is running Windows 7, but the company has announced that in March you'll also be able to get Linux editions of this and its MT55 Platform unit too. The $17,500 you'll spend also gets you access to the GestureWorks SDK for rolling-your-own tactile apps: museum curators with some budget to blow should head on past the break to read the PR before working out how to justify having one in your office to your boss.
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Ideum Releases New Professional Level Integrated Multitouch Wall Display

CORRALES, New Mexico (Jan 17, 2012) Ideum has announced the release of its new MT65 Presenter multitouch wall display. The MT65 Presenter is a huge 65" interactive display with a 3D LCD, robust multitouch sensor, ultra‐clear tempered glass, a powerful integrated computer, built‐in audio, and webcam housed inside a hardened aluminum case.

The MT65 Presenter features a 65" 3D LCD display with full 1920x1080 HD resolution and flicker‐free FPR 3D imaging that uses an LED backlight rated for 50,000 hours. The integrated touch sensor supports up to 32 simultaneous touch points. The 4" thin Presenter is protected by hardened 3mm tempered glass and a vandal‐proof metal housing.

The integrated computer system is powerful and efficient. The CPU is a HyperthreadedTM Quad Core Intel® CoreTM i7 2720QM (6M cache, 2.2Ghz) with 8GB of RAM, 256GB SATA Solid State Hard Drive, and a discrete GeForce GTX 460 GPU.

The MT65 Presenter includes built‐in WIFI, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connectivity. It also features stereo speakers, an external HD webcam with Carl Zeiss® optics and a stereo microphone. The Presenter has HDMI input/output that allows you to easily mirror the device's display, or it can receive input from another device.

An optional locking plate secures the Presenter's Ethernet, HDMI, 3.5mm Audio in/out, and USB 2.0 ports against unwanted access. Similar to Ideum's MT55 Series of multitouch tables, the Presenter features single‐button operation. Just plug it in and turn it on.

"We design integrated systems that are easy to install and maintain, and that are practically indestructible, even in busy public environments," says Jim Spadaccini, CEO of Ideum. "The MT65 Presenter is perfect for public spaces, it has a huge LCD display that's over 2.5 times larger than Microsoft's Surface 2.0. It is also more than three times faster than the Surface and can work in just about any lighting environment."

The MT65 Presenter ships with a lifetime license for GestureWorks 3 SDK, and several demo applications. GestureWorks 3 for ActionScript provides streamlined authoring for multitouch tables, walls, kiosks, desktops, tablets, and embedded devices.

The Presenter is multitouch‐enabled from start up and runs Windows 7 Professional 64‐bit. A new Linux version, coming March 2012, will provide developers with new authoring and deployment options. Ideum's current line of multitouch tables, the MT55 Platform and Pro, will also be available with Linux support in March.

More information, high‐resolution photographs, pricing, and specifications for the MT65 Presenter can be found at:
http://www.ideum.com/touchwall

Apple files German lawsuit against Samsung, targets Galaxy S II, nine other smartphones

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 04:41 AM PST

With patent infringement accusations going every which way in recent months, we're certainly familiar with Apple/Samsung banter in the international arena. Now Apple has thrown yet another punch at the Korean smartphone maker, targeting its Galaxy S II, Galaxy S Plus and eight other handsets, claiming -- yes, you've got it -- patent infringement. The suit was filed in Dusseldorf Regional Court -- the same venue that the company used to target the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, which was created specifically to sidestep a September injunction, also in Germany. It's becoming rather difficult to keep track of all the IP hubbub across the pond, but we'll surely be back with more as soon as the German court has a ruling to share.

Motorola Mobility brings RAZR to Land of the Rising Sun

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 04:28 AM PST

Motorola Mobility has announced its intentions to bring the super-thin RAZR smartphone to the shores of Japan. The handset will look very similar to the device released here in the states -- 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GB of RAM, an eight megapixel shooter with 1080p video capture and 32GB of storage -- only minus the LTE radio and Droid branding. The handset will be available in "shadow black" or "glacier white" and land on KDDI's network at an undisclosed date for an undisclosed price. The full press release awaits your scrutiny after the break.
Show full PR text
Motorola Mobility Reveals Motorola RAZR™ in Japan: Impossibly Thin Meets Head-turning Innovation

Slick design and features with wow factor

TOKYO – Jan. 16, 2012 – Today, Motorola Mobility Japan, Inc, announced the Japan launch of the incredibly thin and lightweight Motorola RAZR™ smartphone. This smartphone is loaded with sexy curves. Its sculpted glass face, diamond-cut aluminum accents and hyper-vibrant 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display reflect museum-worthy industrial design, while its KEVLAR® fiber, splash-guard coating, and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass screen make this work of art a force to be reckoned with.

While they're still dazzled by the outside, hit them with what's on the inside. A cool 1GB of RAM hooks up with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and Android™ 2.3.6 to get you a lightning-fast user interface and the power to multi-task like never before. Rock your playlists while you check your email, breeze through photos – all at the same time, without delay. Watch movies on a screen that sports a wider range of colors than most LCD HDTVs. And when you're tired of watching (as if), use the cinematic-quality front-facing 720p HD video camera and 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with even sharper 1080p HD video capture to create your own movies – all with image-stabilization technology to turn your life into art without breaking a sweat.

Work Smart, Not Hard

Government-grade encryption protects your email, contacts and calendar so you are business ready. Even your strict IT manager will be impressed. Work smart with Smart Actions – a preloaded app on Motorola RAZR that lets you automate everyday tasks and enable better battery life. Smart Actions can turn down the ringer when you step into work, change the Bluetooth and GPS settings when you get home to save battery, or send a text to someone if you miss their call – letting you focus more on what's actually important.

And Motorola RAZR's no slouch with damage-resistance, either. It's armed with scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass and a splash-guard coating, even on the electrical boards inside. Because a museum-quality device demands museum-quality protection.

Accessories
Motorola RAZR is powerful on its own but when combined with Motorola's accessories, you unleash a world of possibilities. Use the Motorola HD Dock or HD Station to let loose Motorola's revolutionary webtop application, giving you the power to edit documents, browse the Web with a full Firefox browser, and connect to an HDTV or monitor, speakers and other peripherals for large-screen entertainment.

Motorola RAZR Key Features*

· Powered by Android 2.3.6, Gingerbread

· Dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB RAM for a fast user interface and multi-tasking

· 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture and image stabilization technology for crisp and clear videos

· Front-facing HD camera for video chat over 3G or Wi-Fi

· KEVLAR® fiber for strength and Corning® Gorilla® Glass for scratch resistance

· Water repellent coating protects the phone, and even the inside components, against everyday spills

· Comes in Shadow Black or Glacier white

· Preloaded with the Motorola MotoCast™ app gives you the power to stream or download content from your PC straight to
your device so your personal content is always within reach1

· Remote wipe, pin lock and government-grade encryption for email, calendar and contacts as well as voice and video chat conferencing

· Use Quickoffice® to view, create and edit Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your mobile device from anywhere at anytime

· Bluetooth® 4.0 low energy

· 32 GB memory: 16 GB on board and 16 GB microSD™ card pre-installed (actual formatted capacity is less)

· Powerful 1780 mAh battery

Availability

For availability information contact KDDI or visit their website at www.au.kddi.com.

Over 500 million Chinese citizens now connected to the web

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 04:01 AM PST

The number of internet-connected Chinese citizens jumped 4 percent in 2012, pushing the country's total number of users over the 500 million mark. A report issued by the state-owned China Internet Network Information Center (CINIC) reveals that over 37% (513 million people) living in The Middle Kingdom are now traversing the information superhighway. Unsurprisingly, the majority of these internet connections (close to 70%) can be attributed to mobile phones; as we've seen over the past few days, this mobile-centric user-base has generated very high demand for certain cellular products. Those scrutinizing the CINIC's report note that the statistics quoted by the Chinese government could be a wee bit on the high side. The report considers a user "internet connected" if they are over the age of six and have been online in the past half year. Hit the source link for more surfing stats from the Far East.

Russian space probe crashes in Pacific Ocean, fish reportedly startled

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 03:33 AM PST

On the plus side, the fish needed additional space probe parts. On Sunday night, fragments of Russia's Phobos-Grunt probe landed in the Pacific Ocean 1,250 kilometers to the west of Wellington Island in southern Chile around 17:45 GMT. The probe, which experienced a failure with its launch rocket machinery on November 8, had become marooned in Earth's orbit, destined to crash back home. The cause of the incident remains unknown and stands as the latest in a series of gaffes by the Russian space program, including an impact in Siberia by a supply ship bound for the International Space Station and the loss of three navigation satellites in the past year. It's unknown whether the probe was carrying any radioactive alien materials, but stay tuned to Engadget for your up-to-the-second guide on how to fight the Cloverfield monster in the year to come.

California demands manufacturers ditch inefficient vampire chargers

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 02:56 AM PST

LeechYou've probably had it drilled into your head that your gadgets are doing terrible, terrible things to the environment -- and not just 'cause they end up as toxic landfill in poorer countries. Many of your chargers and electronics continue to draw power even when they're off or your device is disconnected. We've seen some ingenious solutions to the problem but, perhaps it would be best to avoid the issue all together. Starting next year California will require manufacturers to ship efficient chargers with their products, potentially saving $306 million in energy costs and cutting power usage by up to 13 percent in the state. The new rules are set to go into effect on February 1st, 2013, but we wouldn't be surprised if the law faced some road blocks before then.

Motorola's UK Defy+ gets rugged JCB-treatment, still useless for excavating

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 02:25 AM PST

Everyone loves diggers: Motorola's let that natural fascination get the better of it by teaming up with digger-maker JCB to produce a ruggedized version of its Defy+ "life proof" phone. The limited-edition handset comes pre-loaded with branded-applications for the construction site including a spirit-level, theodolite, decibel meter and a DIY store locator: although we're more interested in seeing if you can use the tough device to hammer in nails. The Gingerbread-with-Motoblur operating cellular telephone has a 1GHz processor, 2GB internal storage / 2GB microSD card (up to the usual 32GB) and a 3.7-inch Gorilla Glass display. There's also a five megapixel camera for snapping pictures of diggers and digger-related items -- best of all, you can use the handset as a walkie-talkie with group call functionality. It'll be available in the UK (sorry, America) for £260, meanwhile you can pneumatically drill-down into the PR we've got after the break.
Show full PR text
Motorola Mobility and JCB Announce Limited Edition Motorola DEFY™+ - Life Proof just became Work Proof

Jan. 17, 2012

BASINGTOKE, UK – January 17, 2012 – Motorola Mobility today launches a limited edition Motorola DEFY™+ handset which transforms the UK's favourite life proof handset into a 'work proof' model.

The exclusive Motorola DEFY+ JCB Edition features exceptional work-orientated protection for anyone operating the demanding construction and engineering sectors, or who work in the rugged outdoors and in extremely demanding conditions thanks to its patented visco-elastic protective sleeve from JCB with re-entrant geometry.

Taking 'work proof' functionality one step further, the Motorola DEFY+ JCB Edition handset also offers construction site users and outdoor enthusiasts who routinely work with core technical and measuring materials a range of built-in options. It comes pre-loaded with bespoke JCB applications including: a spirit level, theodolite, decibel meter and recorder, torch, unit converter, calculator and DIY store locator. This saves the user time and effort of lugging around a boot load of individual work components, and also serves to speed up their productivity and output at the touch of a button.

For those users who will also need to communicate remotely, between multiple venues, or even on-the-go with a range of associates the handset will feature Push To Talk functionality which will allow them to operate the device as a walkie-talkie (via the cellular network) with group call and messaging functionality.

Victoria McManus, UK marketing director, Motorola Mobility said: "We're thrilled to be working with JCB on this bespoke Motorola DEFY+ device. The unique protective sleeve will pull on JCB's years of expertise in the construction industry to help us reach a new audience who we know are in need of a life and work proof handset."

Motorola Mobility launched the standard Motorola DEFY+ handset in September 2011. The limited edition JCB version will also feature existing Motorola DEFY+ handset functionality such as a 1GHz processor that runs 25 percent faster. Users can make the Motorola DEFY+ JCB edition meet their own personal needs by organising and personalising their Application trays for easy and quick access to their most used tools, games and content.

It also features the Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) which delivers a more intuitive user interface and improvements on the features users choose most – including enhanced calendar and email features, home screen options and better battery life.

Jason Kemp, Marketing Director at Data Select, said: "The Motorola DEFY+ JCB Edition is the perfect extension of an already robust handset. Smartphone use is on the rise amongst construction audiences and this handset perfectly addresses their workday needs."

The Motorola DEFY+ JCB Edition also includes a car charger with an extra long curly cable. It is available to purchase in all good UK retail stockists from RRP £259.99.

Motorola DEFY+

Key features and specifications of Motorola DEFY+ include:

Powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and features more than 300,000 apps from Android Market™
1 GHz processor that runs 25 percent faster for efficient Web browsing and multitasking
Water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof to withstand all that life throws users way
Features scratch resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass
3.7-inch high-resolution touch screen display
MOTOBLUR™ lets users stay in touch with friends, providing quick access to social media accounts and live widgets directly from the homescreen
Motorola Media Link allows users to sync their media content from their desktops at home or work
Loaded with the ability to create group emails and communication
Adobe® Flash® Player 10 for uncompromised viewing of applications, content and videos
5MP camera with auto focus, flash and digital zoom
2GB internal; 2GB microSD card in box, expandable up to 32GB1
Access to Google Mobile™ Services (Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Talk™, browsing)
1700 mAH battery for 7.1 hours of talk time and 16 days in standby2

About JCB

JCB is the world's third largest manufacturer of construction equipment with 22 factories around the world including 11 in the UK, six in India and others in Brazil, the USA, China and Germany. The company employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and is privately owned by the Bamford family. In 2010 JCB's earnings on an EBITDA basis were £235 million (2009 - £95 million) on sales of £2 billion.

Das Keyboard Model S mechanical keyboard heads to the Mac this April

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 01:19 AM PST

We just got a look at one new mechanical keyboard designed for Macs at CES last week (Matias' Tactile One), and now we have word of another option for those who take their typing seriously. Das Keyboard confirmed today that a Mac version of its Model S Professional keyboard will be available on April 15th, and that you can pre-order it now for $113 (a 15% discount off its list price). It brings with it the same gold-plated mechanical key switches found on the existing Model S, but with the additional of all the keys you'd expect on a Mac-specific keyboard -- plus some other bonuses like a two-port USB hub and an instant sleep function. Unfortunately, Mac users looking to go truly minimalist with an Ultimate edition will either have to wait and hope that one's coming or break out some black paint.
Show full PR text
Das Keyboard Takes Its Click Clack to the Mac

Company's High-Performance Model S Mechanical Keyboard Now Available with Mac®-Specific Features

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Das Keyboard, widely known for its clicky mechanical keyboard that has a cult-like following, today introduced a new version of its award-winning Model S keyboard designed to appeal to a fan base also known for its extreme loyalty - the Mac crowd.

"Essentially, we've introduced the most advanced mechanical keyboard on the market designed specifically for Mac users."

The company's new Das Keyboard Model S Professional for Mac is now available online for pre-ordering, and will be shipping by April 15. Available in the U.S. and Canada, the Model S Professional for Mac retails for $133. A 15% discount is currently available on all pre-orders for the newest member of the Das Keyboard family.

"Mac fans will appreciate the high-quality and sharp design of our Model S keyboard, especially now that it provides the features and functions that Mac loyalists are used to and expect from their peripheral devices," said Daniel Guermeur, creator of the Das Keyboard and CEO of Metadot Corporation. "Essentially, we've introduced the most advanced mechanical keyboard on the market designed specifically for Mac users."

Typing Euphoria

Das Keyboard's Model S provides users with a satisfying, even euphoric, typing experience. The keyboard's gold-plated mechanical key switches produce a distinct "click" with each keystroke, providing unique tactile and audible feedback while making the typing experience more comfortable, precise and fast.

Features in the Das Keyboard Model S Professional for Mac include:

Gold-plated mechanical key switches designed to withstand 50 million strokes.
Enhanced 104-key layout with special keys for quick access to common media player and computer functions.
Command and Option keys, helping Mac users to feel right at home.
Instant sleep function, enabling users to easily put their Mac to sleep and save energy during even the shortest of breaks.
6-key rollover, enabling users to enter - and the keyboard to recognize - 6 keys pressed simultaneously.
Two-port, high-speed USB 2.0 hub for syncing and charging iPhone®, iPod®, iPad® and other USB devices.
USB hub connected devices charge up to 5 times faster than with other keyboards.
Extra-long USB cable (2m, 6.6 ft) that goes through desk grommets to keep workspaces neat and tidy.
KVM switch compatible, so users can control more than one computer (Mac or PC) from their Das Keyboard.

"Das Keyboard has always had a devout fan base, and we're eager to introduce ourselves to another loyal audience of tech enthusiasts," added Guermeur. "The Das Keyboard Model S provides a superior and joyful typing experience Mac fans have been longing for."

About Das Keyboard

Das Keyboard is a division of Metadot Corporation, a privately held technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas dedicated to delivering innovative technology products to increase productivity. Developed in 2005, Das Keyboard has been praised by major media outlets, techie magazines, geeks and regular people who use and rely on keyboards to be productive throughout the workday. For more information, please visit www.daskeyboard.com.

Oregon Scientific unveils ATC Beats WiFi sports cam and ATC Chaméléon dual-lens camera

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 01:01 AM PST

Joining Oregon Scientific's range of waterproof sports cameras later this year are these two new models: the ATC Beats on the left and the ATC Chaméléon on the right. The Beats, arriving in November for $399, features 1080p 60fps video capture with a 130-degree field of view and a 270-degree rotatable lens, along with built-in GPS, accelerometer and heart rate monitor (via wireless chest belt) for those keen on recording some extra data. Most importantly, though, is its WiFi connectivity with any iPhone or Android device: not only can you do wireless file transfer with it, but much like the way ContourGPS Connect View app works, you can also use your phone as a wireless viewfinder. Pretty handy for when the camera's stuck on a helmet, of course.

The Chaméléon, on the other hand, is slated for a September launch at $199 only. While it doesn't have all those fancy wireless features, it boasts two 180-degree rotatable lenses (with a 110-degree field of view) at each end of the long body: one moves horizontally, and the other moves vertically; hence the name. The idea is that the camera can simultaneously capture 720p 30fps footage from both lenses (there's only one camera controller inside), and then output a synchronized horizontal or vertical split-screen video clip. We can already picture the Chaméléon being used on a surfing board or in a racing car, so there's certainly great potential here. Anyhow, enjoy our hands-on photos while you imagine the adrenaline rush.
Oregon Scientific unveils ATC Beats WiFi sportscam and ATC Chaméléon dual-lens camera

NYC opening its first public high school dedicated to software engineering

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 12:44 AM PST

NYC Department of Education
There are plenty of specialized public high schools in New York City and in September of 2012 that roster of educational institutions will grow by one more when the Academy for Software Engineering opens its doors. The school will greet its first class of incoming freshman at the beginning of the next school year and become the first NYC public school dedicated to pumping out programers. Beyond filling our desperate need for more engineers the school will be special in several respects. For one, it will be a "limited, unscreened" institution, which means grades and attendance records are not considered for admission -- only interest. Secondly, this isn't a vocational school that simply teaches kids to live and breathe in C++ and JavaScript. While the focus will be on software engineering, it will be accompanied by traditional college preparation academic classes. Check out the source and more coverage links for a few more details.

Oregon Scientific Time & Wireless Charging Stations hands-on

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 12:08 AM PST

Buried within the pile of gadgets at Oregon Scientific's CES booth were these two Time & Wireless Charging Stations. On the left we have the entry-level clock that's already out in the market, whereas the bigger "plus" model on the right made its debut at the show, boasting the extra clock projection and weather forecast feature. Also shown along side were the customized iPhone 4 Qi sleeves that Oregon Scientific will be offering online, and they actually had pretty high quality finish, too, especially with the texture coating on top of them. Do take a closer look in our hands-on photos below.
Oregon Scientific Time & Wireless Charging Stations hands-on

Google demos QR code Gmail access, claims something better in store

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 11:26 PM PST

What's the big G up to here, then? It seems the Gmail team has been tinkering with a new secure method of accessing your precious email. Type your credentials into your phone, then scan a QR code in the browser to log in. It's ideal for public machines where typing your password might gift your credentials to any key-logging software. Sadly though, it seems the venture was just an experiment, with Google employee Dirk Balfanz confirming so on his Plus account. So, we might not be accessing our Gmail sans keyboard anytime soon, but with said staffer also teasing that his team are working on something "even better" who knows how we'll be logging on in the near future -- let's just hope it's not this.

Sony teases Dot Switch: Multi-display future coming in February (video)

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 11:18 PM PST

There's only so much Sony could show off at the world's biggest consumer electronics show. According to the video embedded below, the company's looking to tie together all of your (presumably Sony-branded) screens with a single "Dot Switch". On the concept demo, a pair of ethereal arms are able to control music, TV, lights and a confetti shower through what appears to be an Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. The company's keeping pretty vague on the technicalities of it all at this point, but it looks like it would forgo the typical infra-red communication seen on other devices. Expect to hear more on this in just over a month away. Until then, let the delicate chiploops of this teaser ameliorate that post-CES come-down.

Judge attacks Oracle's 'stratospheric' damages claim against Google, postpones trial

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 10:27 PM PST

Everything we've heard about Judge William Alsup tells us he's a guy you don't mess with -- and yet Oracle seems bent on doing precisely that. When the company initially demanded $6.1 billion from Google in recompense for alleged violations of its Java patents, Alsup laughed that figure out of court and suggested $100 million might be closer to the mark. Ellison's crew then came back with a revised claim of $2 billion, which we just knew would lead to another smackdown. Well, here it is: the judge has now cancelled the latest trial date (which had been scheduled for March) and refused to set a new one until the claimant stops using "improper methodologies" for assessing damages, which are "obviously calculated to reach stratospheric numbers." Perhaps Oracle should try something more tropospheric?

RedPad brings Chinese patriotism to Android, costs each comrade just $1,590

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 09:50 PM PST

Well, it was only a matter of time. Hongpaiyihao (literally meaning "red group number one"), a Beijing-based pro-government new media company, has launched a 9.7-inch Tegra 2 tablet that's "tailor-made for government officials" and patriotic consumers. Well, we're not sure whether the government's even aware of this Android 3.2 device's existence, but it's certainly preloaded with a bunch of pro-China apps (including one for the state-approved microblogging service), electronic subscription to a handful of newspapers (state-controlled, of course) and "exclusive" access to daily updates on some government strategic decisions. The damage? 9,999 yuan ($1,590) per unit, or 7,100 yuan ($1,120) each if you buy in bulk. As pointed out by Penn Olson, this RedPad is about two to three times as expensive as the iPad in China.

To be honest, having dug around Hongpaiyihao's unbelievably shoddy product pages, this reeks of a desperate company trying to squeeze money out of overly patriotic folks in China. Even the screen resolution and battery capacity are inconsistent across the site: it's either 1,024 x 768 and 8,000mAh, or 1,280 x 800 and 7,600mAh, respectively. Judging by the render, the former combination is more likely the real deal; yet the screenshots in the owner manual suggest the latter. Oh, and just so you know, there's no sign of the above interface in the manual at all. If you still care, other features include a five megapixel main camera, a two megapixel front-facing camera, 3G connectivity, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. We'll stick to our diet of regular Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich, thank you very much -- they'll keep our wallets healthier.
at 4:12 PM

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