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- Microsoft details Windows for ARM at length: desktop applications confirmed, first devices expected with Windows 8 release
- IRL: Logic3 PowerSleeve, HP Folio 13 and a trio of Nintendo handhelds
- Nokia Astound owners face a Belle-less future, no update coming
- Sigma DP1, DP2 get 46-megapixel makeover
- HTC's first ICS update rolls out in late March, Sensation and Sensation XE call first dibs
- Dell Voice offers VoIP, but only to Canadians
- Telus flipping switch on LTE, network goes live February 10th
- Lytro Light Field Camera's guts get spilled on the FCC's dancefloor
- Super Bowl internet debut breaks records, disappoints some viewers
- Intel teaches Haswell the core values of teamwork, optimism
- Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 ISO 204,800 shooting hands-on (video)
- Kodak to shutter digital camera production this year
- Hacker spites Symantec, puts pcAnywhere's source code out in the open
- Apple announcing iPad 3 first week of March? Anonymous sources think so
- DirecTiVo now available nationwide, please try to contain your excitement
- German court upholds ruling against Apple, clears Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N for sale
- BMW i8 production prototype goes dancing in a winter wonderland (video)
- DoubleTwist update brings podcast support to auditory Android users
- PSA: Google Wallet vulnerable to 'brute-force' PIN attacks (update: affects rooted devices)
- Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar
- Google Chrome update brings speedier browsing, enhanced security, joy
- Sony's 3D Library lets Aussies borrow products free of charge
- Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video)
- Olympus black E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera and internals eyes-on
- Sony promises eight more NEX E-mount lenses by the end of 2013, doesn't elaborate
- Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera doesn't feel as cheap as it looks, we go hands-on (video)
- The Engadget Interview: Words With Friends creator, Paul Bettner
- Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video)
- We're live from CP+ 2012 in Yokohama, Japan!
- Japan to reduce rare earth consumption in response to China's export controls
- San Francisco gearing up for electric bike sharing program
- AT&T and Verizon lobby for less FCC spectrum control, Sprint and other carriers respond
- Paul McCartney: 'You can keep free streaming for the birds and bees, now give me money'
- Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video)
- Disney considering 28-day rental window, because 'On Stranger Tides' was that good
- NVIDIA and Rambus settle, sign patent deal, kiss and make up
- Path apologizes, deletes user contact data and updates app
- Google Screenwise panel will pay you to track your every move online
- AlphaDog robo pack-mule begins outdoor trials, noisily hikes into your nightmares
- Tweetbot hits 2.0, heads to iPad with new features and UI in tow
| Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:35 AM PST  What's more, Sinofsky also notes that PC manufacturers are now working devices specifically for WOA (or Windows on ARM), and that their "collective goal" is for them to ship at the same time as PCs designed for the x86 edition of Windows 8. While details on those devices remain light, Sinofksy did offer a new peek at one of the devices they used during the initial development of Windows for ARM when ARM-based tablets were hard to come by: an early Windows Phone. You can see it running the full desktop environment after the break (along with a video overview), but Sinofsky emphasizes that it is "not a product plan or even a hint at a product." Plenty more details can also be found at the source link below, though you may want to prepare a cup of coffee before diving in.  |
| IRL: Logic3 PowerSleeve, HP Folio 13 and a trio of Nintendo handhelds Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.  This week's IRL is a bit of a mixed bag, with tales of gadgets well-used and those deployed for pure pseudo-science. In two paragraphs, Mat Smith sums up his experience with three generations of Nintendo DS handhelds, while Dan Cooper attempts to explain why he's still using a gadget he obviously hates. And Dana, our resident laptop reviewer, tries leaving the 'ole six-pounder in the office and going home to an Ultrabook instead. Logic3 PowerSleeve My comfort with the iPhone 4 and Cupertino's refusal to expand the body by a millimeter for a more substantial battery has forced me to extreme measures. I blunted the elegant beauty of my fondlephone with a battery sleeve that promised an additional twelve hours of use. Sadly, Logic3's PowerSleeve for iPhone 4 is a necessary evil I have grown to deeply resent. Its matte paintwork began chipping off as soon as I opened the packaging, and the rubber backing collects scratches as if it were a vocation. A micro-USB port was added seemingly as an afterthought, jutting out of the rounded corner, whereas if it were a few millimeters higher it would have a much cleaner line. The aperture the port sits in does little but mercilessly attract all of my pocket lint; it requires cleaning before I can recharge it.I'd forgive all of this if I weren't terrified the device is one day going to spontaneously combust in my trouser pocket. During a call, it picks up GSM Feedback, and in quiet moments you can clearly see -- and hear! -- fizzing electricity sparking between the 30-pin dock connector and the handset proper. It's made me reticent to use it to recharge my iPhone, since both get so outrageously hot you can't keep it on your person as it works. Worst of all, it's a terrible case (particularly compared to the Apple bumper), since the upper half of the phone is exposed and there's no lip to separate the screen and any surface, which was the cause of the one scratch gracing the front of the glass. If you don't hear from me again, I'd say the Logic3 must have gotten to me while I was sleeping. -- Dan Cooper Nintendo DS, DS Lite and DSi I've now managed to work my way through three different iterations of the Nintendo DS. I was there for the silvery clunky original, with a paint job that could only be described as Depressing Grey. But it lasted me through Mario Kart and far too many Advance Wars play-throughs. When the blanc wafer-thin DS Lite arrived, I had (at least in my mind) already invested enough in Nintendo's dual-screen back catalog to warrant the upgrade. At the same time, I had transplanted myself to Japan, where the likes of Yodabashi Camera often shoehorn in attractive freebies alongside internet sign-ups. Beyond the typical Nintendo gaming joys, the company was pinging out all sorts of educational titles in its motherland, making it an ideal tool for an overzealous Japanese learner. Kanji stroke orders make a lot more sense when you're able to replicate them with the DS's stylus, and there were plenty of games aimed at middle school kids looking to ace their tests. Add in the availability of Japanese language games (region-free) and the likes of Final Fantasy remakes where I know the story ahead of the game, and you've got a damn pervasive learning tool.Unfortunately, my DSi (yes, I upgraded again) met an untimely end last year, and since I've returned from working in Japan, learning the intricacies of yet more kanji dropped down the list of priorities. I played a fair bit with a review model of the 3DS and came away thoroughly unimpressed with the miserly battery life. Until that Nintendo fixes that in its next hardware refresh, I'm still in the market for another DSi. -- Mat Smith HP Folio 13 About those laptops I review: I send them all back. Mostly for ethical reasons, but also desk-cleaning purposes. (Having a studio apartment piled with notebooks really isn't awesome.) And I'll return the HP Folio 13 too, though admittedly I've held onto it longer than most. I wanted to do an experiment, you see. Through benchmarks alone, we've already established that Ultrabooks are generally powerful enough to use as primary machines. The question is: would you want to? After all, most models have crappy, lower-res displays, and many suffer from some combination of a shallow keyboard and / or flaky trackpad. The Folio is no exception, even if it is one of my favorite Ultrabooks.Ultimately, I love coming home to the Folio, but with the understanding that it's a secondary machine, a foil to the 15-inch beast parked in my office. I can't tell you what a relief it is to leave Engadget HQ and not have a five-and-a-half-pound laptop hanging from my shoulder. I love having a fast, featherweight PC that I can use to work from my couch, or take to meetings and tradeshows. (My latissimus dorsi would have thanked me if I thought of that before CES.) For weeks, I've been using the Folio to edit Office documents, write stories and chat with colleagues in Pidgin. The little guy keeps up, and I haven't once suffered a hiccup or hang. The keyboard remains a delight to type on; you know it's good because it doesn't call attention to itself. If I use this for just a couple hours after I get home, I only end up charging it once every two or three days. I do wish the resume time was closer to two seconds, not five, but now I'm just scraping the bottom of the barrel. Still, I would never want something like this as my main PC. Its stiff clickpad gets tiresome; though it's fine for brief use, I wouldn't want to haggle with it for 50-plus hours a week. And, I've grown accustomed to a larger, richer, higher-res screen for watching movies. Perhaps this step down wouldn't bother me if I owned a connected TV or a set-top box with Netflix access, but I don't, and as you'd imagine, I don't enjoy streaming all three seasons of Arrested Development on a dim, reflective display. Truth be told, the new 15-inch Series 9 and its SuperBright Plus panel would likely be the perfect work-play laptop for me -- if I could afford it. But no matter. If we're talking about PCs fast, light, longevous and ergonomically sound enough to tote around when you need a break from your main squeeze, the Folio 13 is going to make a lot of people happy. -- Dana Wollman |
| Nokia Astound owners face a Belle-less future, no update coming Posted: 09 Feb 2012 09:41 AM PST  So this is where the road ends for the Nokia Astound. After getting a hearty helping of Symbian Anna in November, owners of T-Mobile's first (and only) Symbian^3 device became hopeful that -- despite the fate of the OS being sealed -- the US counterpart to the C7 would remain relevant throughout the course of their contract. Sadly, it was not to be: the phone maker tweeted that the Astound won't receive an update to |
| Sigma DP1, DP2 get 46-megapixel makeover Posted: 09 Feb 2012 09:19 AM PST  Sigma Corporation Announces Next-Generation Compact Cameras Named in Honor of Foveon Innovator DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill now incorporate 46-megapixel, full-color image sensor RONKONKOMA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sigma Corporation of America (www.sigmaphoto.com), a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider for some of the world's most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, today announced the new Merrill series of digital cameras with the introduction of the DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill. The Merrill series is named in honor of Richard "Dick" Merrill, the co-creator of the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor technology that powers Sigma's unique lineup of cameras. "As an expression of Sigma's passion for photography and in honor of Dick Merrill's genius, we have named the latest generation of the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor the Foveon Merrill." These upgraded, high resolution, fixed lens compact digital cameras now incorporate the same APS-C sized 46-megapixel X3 image sensor found in the company's flagship SD1 SLR, now also known as the Sigma SD1 Merrill. This name change not only pays homage to Merrill, but it also reflects new production efficiencies that will result in a substantial reduction in the camera's market price starting next month. Merrill (1949-2008) was a brilliant engineer, talented photographer and Foveon co-founder. He tapped into his passion for electronics to build an innovative pixel structure that uniquely demonstrated the ability to capture RGB information in each pixel location. This revolutionary discovery led the Foveon team to the development of the X3 Direct Image Sensor and, ultimately, to the creation of some of the most vibrantly colored and detailed imagery the photography industry has ever seen. Sigma acquired Foveon in late 2008. "This revolutionary image capture system reflects both the artistic and technological sides of Merrill's personality," said Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma Corporation. "As an expression of Sigma's passion for photography and in honor of Dick Merrill's genius, we have named the latest generation of the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor the Foveon Merrill." The Sigma DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill each boast exclusively-designed, high-performance telecentric fixed lenses. The DP1 Merrill features a wide, 19mm F2.8 lens, which is the equivalent to a 28mm lens on a 35mm SLR camera. The DP2 Merrill, however, offers a 30mm F2.8 lens, which is the equivalent to a 45mm lens on a 35mm camera. Both cameras are compact and lightweight, and feature Sigma's own "F" Low Dispersion (FLD) glass, which performs like fluorite glass and significantly improves lens performance, as well as Super Multi Layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting. With the 46-megapixel, full-color Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor, the new DP cameras capture all primary RGB colors at each pixel location with three layers, which results in incredibly detailed images with a three-dimensional feel. The Sigma DP Merrill cameras also include the following features: A dual, three-layer responsive ultimate (TRUE II) engine now incorporates two TRUE II processors to improve the processing speed and overall quality of the final image. Sigma's unique image-processing algorithm also provides high-resolution power and reproduces high-definition images with richly graduated tones that offer a three-dimensional feel. RAW and JPEG format recording retains the full image detail of the utmost quality captured through the direct image sensor, as well as a JPEG recording format for convenience. The RAW data format provides pure data for high-resolution images, and uses lossless compression for more compact, yet uncompromised, data files. The RAW data format of the DP Merrill series keep brightness and color data in a 1:1 ratio without relying on interpolation. When the image is processed in Sigma Photo Pro, it will preserve the balance of the natural data for the best photos with the best image quality. Sigma Photo Pro processing software converts RAW data quickly and easily. It incorporates functions such as a loupe, exposure picker, print, JPEG conversion, and batch white balance settings. Manual focus is available for use when autofocus or focus-lock is not desired. An advanced user interface is complete with a custom Quick Set (QS) menu and the metallic command dial to improve usability. The diaphragm, shutter speed and menu can be changed quickly using the command dial. The QS menu consists of the most commonly used functions and can be easily displayed by pressing the QS button, allowing photographers to change the menu content and the order depending on preferences. A large, highly visible three-inch TFT color LCD monitor ensures great visibility even outdoors in the daytime. This approximately 920,000 pixel resolution LCD monitor benefits from a wide viewing angle, making it easy to capture details and check focusing and composition. A hot shoe allows the use of the dedicated external flashgun EF-140 DG (optional) as well as Sigma electronic flashguns for SD series such as EF-610 DG Super (optional) and EF-610 DG ST (optional). Movie mode enables movie recording with VGA (640×480) size, with 30 shooting frames per second. Pricing and availability of the Sigma DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill are pending. |
| HTC's first ICS update rolls out in late March, Sensation and Sensation XE call first dibs Posted: 09 Feb 2012 08:58 AM PST  Ice Cream Sandwich is slowly trickling out to the masses, but we're still waiting on the major phone vendors to come out with their own tweaks of the latest Android dessert. We've known that HTC's busy plugging away at its Sense-ified version of Android 4.0, but the company's finally ready to start discussing specifics. According to the outfit's UK Facebook page, the update will begin rolling out to the HTC Sensation and Sensation XE by the end of March, with the Sensation XL following suit. Additionally, owners of the EVO 3D, Incredible S, Desire S and Desire HD still haven't been forgotten, but their long-awaited upgrades to Ice Cream Sandwich will come sometime "later this year." That sure narrows down the timeframe. Hopefully we won't have to wait until the end of March to officially cast our eyes on the new Sense, as we're keeping our fingers crossed that we'll see some ICS love in new devices at Mobile World Congress later this month. Update: HTC's US Facebook page also announced the update, and added the Rezound, Vivid, Amaze 4G and EVO Design 4G to the list of devices that should receive ICS later this year. [Thanks, Willy] |
| Dell Voice offers VoIP, but only to Canadians Posted: 09 Feb 2012 08:25 AM PST  [Thanks, Steven] TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Today Dell Canada and Fongo announced the launch of their new mobile app, Dell Voice - a free to download full feature VoIP phone alternative that may help Canadians save money on their mobile phone bills. Users of Android and iOS devices can now avoid costly long-distance charges and daytime calling restrictions from their wireless carrier by receiving and placing calls to landline and mobile phones using Dell Voice.1 Dell Voice is loaded with free features that Canadians typically pay for as part of their carrier's plan. Features included with Dell Voice are free local and long-distance calls to most of Canada2, free unlimited incoming calls1, free Voicemail, free Caller ID, and free Call Waiting to name a few. Dell Voice uses Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to receive and place calls with users existing data connection1 (i.e. 3G, 4G or WiFi) on the Fibernetics network. Fongo enjoys privileged access to Fibernetics, a Canadian CLEC that owns and operates its own coast-to-coast network in Canada. By using the Fibernetics network, users can choose a local Canadian phone number for their Dell Voice line, as well as place emergency VoIP 911 calls 3. "Dell and Fongo want to tilt the competitive playing field by offering smartphone users everything we believe they need in a mobile phone service - for free," says John Stix, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Fongo. "Dell Voice aims to help Canadians reduce the cost or even eliminate the need for a voice plan. I believe Dell Voice is a game changer that has the potential to transform the telecommunications industry, while helping to put money back into the pockets of Canadian consumers and business owners." Dell Voice can help small business operators save money on their mobile phone bill, which is good news for small business owners like Conor Gordon, a student painting franchisee who racked up a monthly mobile phone bill of more than $1,500 in August, despite having negotiated with his wireless carrier the 'best' package to suit his business needs. "Dell Voice will make a huge difference to a small business like mine that is totally reliant on mobile phones for communication. I'll have all the features I need in a phone, without the huge bills. It's a no-brainer to download the app and use my extra data as long-distance and daytime voice minutes," Gordon said. David Gair, marketing director for Small & Medium Business, Dell Canada, added, "Dell has been a pioneer in providing clients, whether individual consumers or businesses, with the most advanced, yet cost-effective solutions to meet their communication and computing needs. Dell Voice is part of this commitment and complements our spectrum of technology offerings that help Canadian consumers and businesses to stay connected without breaking the bank." For more information on Dell Voice visit www.dellvoice.ca Dell Voice can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and the Android Market. Dell Voice for BlackBerry is expected to launch March 2012. 1 Dell Voice utilizes users existing WiFi or data connection (3G/4G) to make and receive calls. Data charges may apply. 2 For the complete list of free calling cities visit www.dellvoice.ca/cityListing 3 Limitations on VoIP 911 service can be found at www.dellvoice.ca/911 |
| Telus flipping switch on LTE, network goes live February 10th Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:57 AM PST  After the competition got a head start, Telus has finally announced it's ready to flip the switch on its fresh LTE network tomorrow. Though it's certainly taken the longer road, its 4G waves are hitting several more markets on launch day in comparison to Rogers' solo-city debut. Among the selected 14 markets for the rollout are major cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Waterloo, Ottawa and Montreal. In the process, the carrier's also managed to stamp a release date on that LTE Note, which will arrive just in time for Valentine's Day. That said, it won't be the only Samsung Galaxy device on Telus' 4G lineup, the carrier's also bringing along the Tab 8.9, as well as the LG Optimus -- all of which will be up for grabs on on February 10th. Those of you in Maple Leaf Land can hit up the PR below to find out if your city made the first cut. TELUS 4G LTE wireless service goes live in 14 metropolitan areas across Canada Canadians can access some of the fastest wireless speeds in the world Vancouver, B.C. – TELUS today announced that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless service will be available on Friday, February 10. Initial launch metropolitan areas include Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, Kitchener, Waterloo, Hamilton, Guelph, Belleville, Ottawa, Montreal, Québec City, Halifax and Yellowknife. TELUS plans to continue rolling out its 4G LTE coverage to more regions across Canada to reach more than 25 million Canadians by the end of 2012. TELUS customers can experience the full capabilities of TELUS' 4G LTE network with the highly popular Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE tablet, the LG Optimus LTE smartphone or the Novatel Ovation MC679 4G LTE Mobile Internet Key, available in TELUS stores and online on February 10. The 4G LTE-capable Samsung Galaxy Note will also be available on February 14. The launch of TELUS' 4G LTE network also complements an innovative new service, Optik on the go, which allows TELUS Optik TV customers in B.C. and Alberta to view a selection of commercial free TV On Demand shows and movies on their mobile devices, tablets and laptops – at home, in coffee shops, airports, and on the move. This application allows users to start, pause, rewind and fast forward their shows just like they do at home. Optik on the go offers TV On Demand shows and movies from Super Channel, Hollywood Suite, Family Channel, Disney XD, Disney Jr, and Baby TV in English, French and Mandarin. The content library will continue to grow throughout 2012 and beyond as new shows and movies will be added constantly. TELUS 4G LTE network supports manufacturers' rated peak download speeds of up to 75 megabits per second (Mbps), with an expected average of 12 to 25 Mbps. TELUS customers will experience dramatically faster downloads when surfing the web, reading emails, getting the latest chart topping music, or watching TELUS Optik on the go when using TELUS' 4G LTE services. Downloading a 600 megabyte album of songs with a 4G LTE-capable device will take just 3.5 to 7 minutes. Importantly, if TELUS customers travel outside of 4G LTE network coverage areas, they will move seamlessly from 4G LTE to 4G, with no disruption of service. "Our commitment is to offer the best customer experience and we have followed through by launching a 4G LTE network with broad coverage in many communities across Canada. We also offer a solid and growing selection of LTE capable devices to ensure our customers can enjoy all the benefits of this advanced wireless technology," said Eros Spadotto, TELUS executive vice-president of Technology Strategy and Operations. "We're listening to our customers and working hard to give them clear and simple service terms with no surprises. Consistent with this approach, our current rate plans will apply to our 4G LTE customers. We are not introducing a new rate plan or charging a premium to enjoy our new network." Over the past few years, TELUS has introduced: rate plans without system access and 911 carrier fees, a device unlocking service, free SMS data notifications so customers know how much data they have used, and flexible data rate plans to avoid bill shock when customers go over their regular usage. TELUS also reduced international roaming rates by up to 60 per cent. LTE is the latest evolution in TELUS' wireless network technology rollover plan made possible by the 2009 launch of Canada's fastest* coast-to-coast 4G wireless network. Today this network reaches more than 97 per cent of Canadians. Since 2000, TELUS has invested more than $30 billion to bring Canadians some of the most advanced wireless and wireline broadband networks in the world. Starting February 10, please visit telusmobility.com/4GLTE for more information on TELUS 4G LTE and to sign up for network coverage updates. |
| Lytro Light Field Camera's guts get spilled on the FCC's dancefloor Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:35 AM PST  There's a scene in Robocop 2, where our eponymous hero is set-to with an angle grinder and dumped in pieces outside the Detroit Police station. Now replace the cybernetic Alex Murphy with the Lytro Light Field camera and you'll know what was found on the sidewalk opposite from the FCC's concrete bunker this morning. Interesting tidbits revealed in the government-sponsored autopsy included a questionably small Zoran imaging chip and Marvell Avastar W8787 wireless SoC -- but the company's already swiftly denied it'll have WiFi capability. Still, the infinite-focus device is certainly on for that early 2012 launch date if it's passed through the FCC without derision. We like to treat you right, dear readers, so below you'll find a cornucopia of galleries to hunt through before these units arrive in your hands. What do you think? Should we equip all our staffers with Lytro cameras for our future hands-ons? |
| Super Bowl internet debut breaks records, disappoints some viewers Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:11 AM PST  |
| Intel teaches Haswell the core values of teamwork, optimism Posted: 09 Feb 2012 06:43 AM PST  |
| Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 ISO 204,800 shooting hands-on (video) Posted: 09 Feb 2012 06:10 AM PST  Both Canon and Nikon have yet to allow us to take away samples shot with the 1D X or D4 -- the companies even taped CF card slots shut to prevent show attendees from slipping their own card in -- but we were still able to get a fairly good idea of high-ISO performance from reviewing images on the built-in LCDs. At the cameras' top sensitivity of ISO 204,800, noise was visible even during a full image preview. Zooming into the image revealed significant noise, as expected. However, within each camera's native range of ISO 100 to 25,600, noise was barely an issue at all. Both cameras are still pre-production samples at this point, so we'll need to wait for production models to make their way out before we can capture our own samples, but based on what we saw when reviewing ISO 204,800 images on the built-in LCDs, that incredible top-ISO setting may actually be usable. Scroll on through the gallery below to preview some top sensitivity shots on the Canon EOS-1D X (camera poster) and the Nikon D4 (Japanese model), and join us past the break for an even closer look in our video hands-on. |
| Kodak to shutter digital camera production this year Posted: 09 Feb 2012 05:48 AM PST  This year has not been a kind one for Kodak. Last month, the photography pioneer announced that it was filing for bankruptcy (and suing Samsung, incidentally), and now the company has let it be known that it will be dropping out of the digital camera business -- and then some -- marking an end to its line of digital point-and-shoots, pocket camcorders and digital photo frames. Production will end the first half of this year. The future for the company will hold printers, brand licensing, enterprise services and photo labs. Kodak will, however, continue to honor warranties on existing products. |
| Hacker spites Symantec, puts pcAnywhere's source code out in the open Posted: 09 Feb 2012 05:24 AM PST  |
| Apple announcing iPad 3 first week of March? Anonymous sources think so Posted: 09 Feb 2012 05:05 AM PST  Is the long, treacherous wait for the iPad 3 nearly at an end? That's what anonymous sources tell All Things D. The site caught wind that an Apple event next month will host the announcement of the company's latest tablet. The event is said to be slated for the first week of March at that popular Apple haunt, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco -- and seeing as how last year's event was held on March 2nd, that timing doesn't seem all that crazy to us. As for an actual release date, said sources are a bit less chatty. |
| DirecTiVo now available nationwide, please try to contain your excitement Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:30 AM PST  TiVo® HD DVR Available Nationwide from DIRECTV TiVo and DIRECTV Back Together Again ALVISO, Calif. (February 9, 2012) – TiVo Inc., the creator of and a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs), announced today the nationwide availability of the TiVo® HD DVR from DIRECTV, which enables DIRECTV customers to once again enjoy the world-famous TiVo service seamlessly integrated with their DIRECTV service. "DIRECTV customers nationwide can now experience the TiVo HD DVR from DIRECTV, which combines TiVo's award-winning user interface with DIRECTV's great lineup of HD programming," said David Sandford, Vice President, General Manager of TiVo's service provider business. "With the introduction of this product, DIRECTV customers can again experience TiVo's gold-standard interface, easy-to-use peanut remote and Swivel™ Search feature, which allow users to effortlessly find their favorite shows in HD across television and on DIRECTV CINEMA." With the TiVo® HD DVR from DIRECTV, users can: · Easily set a Season Pass Recordings that will automatically record all of a user's favorite shows each week so they'll never miss an episode · Create WishList® Searches, which allow users to set up automatic recordings for TV shows and movies based on keywords – such as their favorite actor's name, sports team or personal interest · Take advantage of the TiVo Suggestions feature which intuitively discovers users favorite shows and automatically, records similar shows · Effortlessly find their favorite shows in HD across television and on DIRECTV Cinema · Record up to 100 hours of HD programming or 400 hours of SD shows · Record two shows at once · Access more than 7,000 on-demand movies and shows at no extra charge "We are pleased to answer the call of TiVo fans by making the new TiVo HD DVR from DIRECTV available nationwide," said Tony Goncalves, senior vice president, Product Management, DIRECTV. "DIRECTV has a long-standing reputation for offering our customers the best in advanced programming and services and they now have even more DVR options with this new TiVo-enabled platform." This nationwide announcement follows TiVo and DIRECTV's initial ten-market deployment this past December. Customers can learn more about the TiVo HD DVR from DIRECTV or order now by visiting www.directv.com/tivo. DIRECTV is the latest entertainment service provider to deploy TiVo offerings to their customers. Other deployment partnerships in the U.S. include Charter, RCN, Suddenlink and Grande Communications, and European operators include Virgin Media, the largest cable operator in the UK, and ONO, the largest cable operator in Spain. About TiVo Inc. Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO - News) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo's intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry www.tivo.com TiVo, TiVo Logo, and Trick Play are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. ©2011 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. About DIRECTV DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services delivering a premium video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to more than 30.8 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.7 million customers access to more than 170 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality sound, access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET™, Emmy-award winning technology and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for 11 years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to more than 11.1 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 60 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit www.directv.com. |
| German court upholds ruling against Apple, clears Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N for sale Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:01 AM PST  Apple's legal team has been dealt another blow in Germany, where a court today shot down the company's requests for a preliminary injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N. In a statement issued this morning, the Dusseldorf Regional Court said it found "clear differences" between the 10.1N and Apple's iPad, affirming a preliminary ruling handed down in December, and a similar decision announced in Munich this month. It's certainly not the news that Cupertino wanted to wake up to, but we're also a long way from this drama being over. |
| BMW i8 production prototype goes dancing in a winter wonderland (video) Posted: 09 Feb 2012 03:07 AM PST |
| DoubleTwist update brings podcast support to auditory Android users Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:11 AM PST  A fresh version of the DoubleTwist media player hit the Android Market this week, offering a whole new world of podcast possibilities -- for a price. With the in-app upgrade, users can search for and subscribe to a variety of podcasts from the comfort of their own handsets. It's pretty simple. The app will automatically download the latest episodes, too, though there's an option to restrict all downloads to WiFi, in case you're worried about eating into your data plan. You can also choose to either stream or download each file, and manage all your feeds straight from your device. It's available now as an update to the DoubleTwist Pro package, though it'll cost you $4.99 to make the jump. If that seems worth it, you can upgrade at the coverage link below. |
| PSA: Google Wallet vulnerable to 'brute-force' PIN attacks (update: affects rooted devices) Posted: 09 Feb 2012 01:07 AM PST  Google has been receptive to these findings, but its attempts at a fix have so far been hampered by the need to coordinate with the banks, since changing the way the PIN is stored could also change which agency is responsible for its security. In the meantime, zvelo advises that there are some measures users can take themselves, aside from putting a protective hand over their pockets: refrain from rooting your phone, enable your lock screen, disable USB debugging, enable Full Disk Encryption and keep your handset up-to-date. Update: Google has responded by emphasizing that it's only users of rooted devices who are at risk. In a statement to TNW it said: "We strongly encourage people to not install Google Wallet on rooted devices and to always set up a screen lock as an additional layer of security for their phone." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in.] |
| Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar Posted: 09 Feb 2012 12:18 AM PST  Lenovo turned in another stellar earnings report yesterday, following up on a huge Q2 with an encouraging Q3. For the fiscal quarter ended December 31st, the PC maker saw its net profits reach $153 million, marking a 54 percent increase over last year's $99.7 million. Revenue also rose 44 percent last quarter to a record $8.4 billion, thanks in large part to a surge in PC sales. In mature markets, Lenovo saw revenues increase by a whopping 81 percent to $3.6 billion, while emerging market sales reached $1.3 billion, marking a 13 percent rise over the previous year and accounting for about 15 percent of the company's global revenue. The manufacturer saw particularly strong growth in China, where it now enjoys a market share of 35.3 percent, its highest ever. Lenovo attributed much of this to strong smartphone and tablet sales in China, while confirming plans to release a Smart TV within the country, as well (according to CEO Yang Yuanqing, it should hit the market in April). Laptops, however, remain the company's bread and butter, comprising 53 percent of its total revenue last quarter, with sales reaching $4.5 billion -- 30 percent higher than last year. For more numbers, check out the full press release, after the break. Lenovo Reports Third Quarter 2011/2012 Results Record quarterly sales of US$8.4 billion Record pre-tax income of US$192 million Profit attributable to equity holders of US$153 million Highest-ever worldwide market share of 14.0 percent Highest-ever market share in China of 35.3 percent Basic EPS of 1.50 US cents, or 11.67 HK cents Net cash reserves of US$3.9 billion (as of December 31, 2011). HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lenovo Group today reported results for its third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011, highlighted by record highs in quarterly sales, pre-tax income and market share, and the 11th quarter in a row that Lenovo has grown faster than the industry as a whole. For the ninth quarter in a row, the Company grew faster than any of the top four PC manufacturers, a result of Lenovo's continued focus on balanced growth across all geographies, customer segments and product lines. During the third quarter, Lenovo recorded its highest-ever worldwide market share of 14.0* percent, and its highest-ever market share in China of 35.3 percent, an increase of 3.7 and 3.1 share points year-over-year respectively. During the third fiscal quarter Lenovo's pre-tax income increased 59 percent year-over-year, to a record high of US$192 million. The Company's gross profit for the third quarter grew 47 percent year-over-year, to US$954 million, with gross margin at 11.4 percent. Operating profit for the third quarter was US$193 million, while profit attributable to equity holders grew 54 percent year-over-year to US$153 million. Based upon the Company's strong execution of its "Protect and Attack" strategy, Lenovo achieved record sales of US$8.4 billion during the third fiscal quarter, an increase of 44 percent year-over-year. While the worldwide PC industry as a whole struggled to remain flat year-over-year, Lenovo's PC shipments increased an impressive 37 percent, outpacing the industry growth/decline in China, Emerging Markets and Mature Markets alike. Basic earnings per share for the third fiscal quarter was 1.50 US cents, or 11.67 HK cents. Net cash reserves as of December 31, 2011, totaled US$3.9 billion. Last month Lenovo participated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, ignited by a press conference where the Company introduced for the first time to a worldwide audience such innovative new products as the IdeaPad Yoga, a tablet/ultrabook hybrid; the IdeaCentre A720, the world's slimmest 27-inch, all-in-one PC; the K91 smart TV, and the Company's vision for the Personal Cloud. Lenovo's product showcase was busy day and night with media, business partners and customers, and the Company took home a total of 23 industry awards. "Despite the worldwide hard drive shortage in the past quarter, Lenovo continued to achieve strong growth with record results in market share and revenue, as well as record high in PTI (pre-tax income) of US$192 million. For the first time, Lenovo became the number one vendor globally in commercial PCs and in consumer desktop," said Yang Yuanqing, Lenovo Chairman and CEO. "We saw strong progress in our Mobile Internet business. During the quarter, Lenovo sold more than 6.5 million phones, and almost half were smartphones. Lenovo's smartphone market share in China reached double-digit market share in December. We also see strong momentum in our tablet business. All these successes demonstrate that Lenovo has built a strong foundation for the next steps beyond traditional PCs." GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW Lenovo China's market share rose 3.1 percentage points during the third fiscal quarter, to an all-time high market share for Lenovo in China of 35.3 percent. In the largest PC market in the world, Lenovo widened the share gap between itself and the Company's main competitors, and continued to outperform the China market, particularly in emerging cities and amongst rural customers. Lenovo posted US$3.5 billion in consolidated sales in China in the third quarter, an increase of 30 percent year-over-year, and accounting for 42 percent of the Company's worldwide sales. Lenovo's PC shipments in China increased 28 percent year-over-year, almost double the overall industry increase of PC shipments in China of 17 percent. In Emerging Markets** Lenovo's consolidated sales totaled US$1.3 billion for the third fiscal quarter, an increase of 13 percent year-over-year, and 15 percent of the Company's worldwide sales. Lenovo's PC shipments across the region increased 23 percent year-over-year in the third quarter, more than five times the overall industry increase in the region of just four percent. Lenovo grew market share by 1.2 percentage points year-over-year across the region to 7.8 percent. Lenovo's business in India continued to be strong, with PC shipments up 28 percent during the third quarter, and record market share of 13.7 percent. The Company's growth in Latin America continued to impress, with PC shipments across the region increasing 54 percent. In Russia, Lenovo increased PC shipments 23 percent year-over-year. Mature Markets*** accounted for US$3.6 billion in consolidated sales, an increase of 81 percent year-over-year, attributed primarily to the hard-earned success in Japan and Germany of the Company's joint venture with NEC and acquisition of Medion respectively. As a result, Mature Markets accounted for 43 percent of the Company's worldwide sales during the third fiscal quarter. Increased demand in commercial PC opportunities across Western Europe and North America resulted in an eye-opening year-over-year 67 percent increase in Lenovo's PC shipments in mature markets during the third quarter, compared to an overall industry decline in mature markets of 8 percent. Significantly, Lenovo gained 4.2 market share points in the third quarter and posted an all-time high 9.4 percent market share in the region, and fast closing in on double-digits. In North America, Lenovo PC shipments increased 40 percent, in a market that was down seven percent. PRODUCT OVERVIEW Consolidated sales for Lenovo's laptop PC business worldwide in the third fiscal quarter totaled US$4.5 billion, an increase of 30 percent year-over-year. Lenovo's laptop computers continued to be the largest contributor to the Company's sales worldwide, generating 53 percent of Lenovo's total sales revenue. The Company's laptop shipments worldwide in the third quarter were up 41 percent year-over-year, compared to an industry increase of just three percent. Lenovo's desktop shipments for the third fiscal quarter increased 32 percent year-over-year, compared to an industry decline of three percent. Lenovo is now the number one provider of consumer desktop PCs in the world, and the third largest provider of commercial desktop PCs. Consolidated sales of Lenovo desktop PCs worldwide in the third quarter totaled US$2.8 billion, an increase of 39 percent year-over-year, and 33 percent of Lenovo's total sales revenue. Lenovo MIDH (Mobile Internet/Digital Home) recorded US$565 million in consolidated sales during the third fiscal quarter. Led by the successful launch of the A60 and P70 smartphones, Lenovo's smartphone shipments in China increased 20 times year-over-year for the quarter. Lenovo's feature phone shipments increased 26.2 percent, compared to an overall market decrease of 12 percent. Tablet shipments continued to show good momentum with unit shipment results more than double quarter-to-quarter. Lenovo is the number two tablet vendor in China according to the latest industry estimate. During the last quarter, Lenovo made several announcements rounding out the Company's MIDH product portfolio including the S2 smartphone, IdeaTab S2 tablet, the K91 smart TV and its vision for the Personal Cloud. |
| Google Chrome update brings speedier browsing, enhanced security, joy Posted: 08 Feb 2012 11:22 PM PST  The week isn't quite over yet, but it's already shaping up to be a busy one for Google Chrome. After finally bringing its browser to Android on Tuesday, Google yesterday announced an update for the original desktop version, promising faster browsing and enhanced security. More specifically, this new Stable release features a revamped omnibox that will now pre-render pages as a user types in a URL or search query, allowing for faster load times. Google has also tweaked its Safe Browsing feature, which will now automatically scan downloaded files for malware, with an especially sharp focus on any ".exe." or ".msi" files. To determine the safety of a given file, the browser will compare it against a list of publishers and files known to be safe. If it doesn't show up there, Chrome will then consult Google for more information. If the file proves suspicious, it'll warn the user and recommend deleting it. Google added that it's working on an update for its Chrome OS, as well, promising a new image editor and Verizon 3G activation portal, though there's no word yet on when that might roll out. For more details, see the source link below. |
| Sony's 3D Library lets Aussies borrow products free of charge Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:33 PM PST  Sony's push for three dimensional entertainment has inspired it to launch a series of product-loaning machines in the land of Oz. These "3D Library" kiosks, as the manufacturer is simply dubbing 'em, will let Aussies checkout a variety of Sony's 3D-capable products at no cost and for up to three days. Folks itching to create some 3D content for free can choose from the Handycam HDR-TD10, NEX C3 and Bloggie cameras. And, as if hardware wasn't enough, you'll be surprised to hear the company's also throwing in its own flicks and PlayStation games as part of its loaner campaign. The program is underway now, so all you Australians willing to take Sony up on its offer can hit up the PR below to find the nearest freeloading location. Sony opens 3D Library in Sony Centre stores across Australia Experience and trial Sony 3D cameras and content, free of charge From today, Australian 3D TV owners can loan 3D digital imaging products, 3D movies and 3D games from a Sony 3D Library in any Sony Centre store in Australia. The chance to experience different types of 3D content at home on any brand of 3D TV, the Sony 3D Library offers products for a three-day loan period free of charge. The first program of its kind, the creation of the Sony 3D Library comes off the back of Sony research, which demonstrates an Australian appetite for 3D technology with more than one third keen to create personal 3D content. In addition, more than 70% of current 3D TV owners admit that creating their own 3D films and images is "extremely appealing". "Sony is leading the industry in its support of 3D technology - from creating 3D cameras and TVs to the establishment of the 3D Technology Centre in Hollywood. We're still only discovering what's going to be possible with 3D now and in the future, including the ability for people to make their own home movies in 3D. "The Sony 3D Library is there to help people make the most of their 3D TV by offering any 3D TV owner the opportunity to create 3D memories they can touch and the chance to trial a 3D product before buying it. Personal footage is the latest content that can be experienced in 3D, as well as 3D movies and 3D games," said Neil Stow, Retail Marketing Manager, Sony Centre. The loan program will launch in 12 national Sony Centres from 8 February and will provide a range of Sony 3D products, set to expand over time, which currently includes: 3D Handycam HDR-TD10 camcorder Alpha NEX C3 camera, with 3D Sweep Panorama function Cyber-shot WX7S still camera, with 3D Sweep Panorama function 3D Bloggie camera 3D Sony Pictures films 3D PlayStation games Alongside the Sony 3D Library, Sony has produced a 3D short film project, called 24:3D. Directed by Tom Gleeson and Glenn Fraser, the film explores life in Australia over a 24 hour period and crowd sourced talent to showcase real life events. Designed to inspire Australians about what they can capture for themselves in 3D, 24:3D has been filmed using a 3D Handycam camcorder from Sony. The film will be available to view in store at Sony Centre. To find the nearest Sony 3D Library at Sony Centre, visit www.sonycentres.com.au |
| Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video) Posted: 08 Feb 2012 09:41 PM PST  Sadly, there aren't any plans to sell this iteration outside of Japan, and Sony's mum on pricing and availability. The camera transferred images and charged without issue during our demo (the Charge indicator lit up, at least -- we didn't stick around to watch it charge the camera). We went hands-on with the TX300V and its charging dock at CP+ in Yokohama, and you can check the camera kit out in all its glossy black glory just past the break. |
| Olympus black E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera and internals eyes-on Posted: 08 Feb 2012 08:48 PM PST  |
| Sony promises eight more NEX E-mount lenses by the end of 2013, doesn't elaborate Posted: 08 Feb 2012 08:11 PM PST  |
| Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera doesn't feel as cheap as it looks, we go hands-on (video) Posted: 08 Feb 2012 07:53 PM PST  The K-01 is a bit hefty for a mirrorless camera -- it dwarfs the near-pocketable Pentax Q -- and has a weight to match its rather large footprint. The cam actually feels quite durable, though we're definitely not sold on its "fun" Michael-Graves-meets-Fisher-Price design (think smooth corners and bright colors). There's a built-in pop-up flash, along with a hot shoe positioned just over the lens. There's also -- much to our surprise -- a microphone input. We can't imagine pairing this thing with a pricey external mic rig, but if you're not too embarrassed using this for professional applications, the included audio input may come in handy. Jump past the break for a quick video walkthrough from Japan, and keep an eye out for the camera closer to home -- the $750 (body only) K-01 is expected to hit stores next month. |
| The Engadget Interview: Words With Friends creator, Paul Bettner Posted: 08 Feb 2012 07:00 PM PST  You may have missed it amongst all the big budget ads, half-time obscenities and, you know, football playing, but Words With Friends co-creators Paul Bettner and David Bettner managed to snag a seconds-long cameo during that geek-packed Best Buy spot. The ad was the latest in a recent string of high-profile mentions for their popular word game, including a name-check during a self-effacing Alec Baldwin sketch on Saturday Night Live. We sat down with Bettner to discuss his move from Halo and other Microsoft franchises to mobile gaming, and where the industry stands in 2012. You did the Super Bowl ad cameo. How glamorous is the life of an app developer at this point? It's funny, I've been making games for 15 years now, and I've worked on some of the biggest games like Halo and Age of Empires, when I was with Microsoft Game Studios. I used to think, "Oh, this is so great. All my friends want this job. It's the most fun thing, and I wake up every morning and like coming into work." But this is a whole other level. There's Alec Baldwin doing a skit about your game on Saturday Night Live. And now, with this, the Super Bowl. An article came out about the Giants playing [Words With Friends] in the locker room. Some told me, "If the Giants win are you going to get credit for that?" Sure, I'll share a little bit of credit for that, if I helped them sharpen their wits for the game, and then they said, "What if they lose?" Well, I guess I'd probably have to take credit for that too because maybe I ended up distracting them. Do you feel you're having a broader impact now than you did working on games like Halo? Oh yeah, by far. It's just incredible. Like most game developers, entrepreneurs and tech folks, we all have t-shirts. We love our t-shirts. Every product I've ever worked on has multiple t-shirts associated with it. I wear those t-shirts out in public. I'd wear the Halo t-shirts and shirts from various other games I worked on, and never once would anybody say anything about them. Maybe, if I was lucky, one of my geek friends would be like, "Oh man, that's a cool shirt, can I get that shirt?" If I wear a Words With Friends shirt now and I go to JC Penny or walk through the security scanner at the airport -- for some reason, airport security, I don't know, they must just have a lot of time on their hands -- but every time, if I'm wearing the shirt and I go through I get stopped by multiple people. They say things like, "I talk to my son-in-law with the game. I would never talk to him, but now we play every day." It's just this thing that is such a part of their lives and I've never experienced that in my career before, even in huge franchises. Everybody is a gamer now in one way or another. Yeah, but none of those people would call themselves gamers. If you ask my mother-in-law, who plays the game multiple times a day, "Are you a gamer?" she'd say, "No way." How did you make that jump from console and PC gaming to casual gaming? It was a little bit scary. The thing that made it easy was, when the iPhone first came out and I saw it and I got my hands on it, I realized it was the future and that I had to make a game for it. That certainly made it easy. It was so cool to work on, but at that point I had no idea that the thing that would be the most appealing about it would be the fact that I get to make games for everybody. I never even knew that was something that I cared about or wanted. Now I'm totally hooked on it, and that's all I want to do. Nintendo has made a pretty big point of dragging its feet when it comes to truly casual gaming. Is there going to continue to be a place for console gaming or is everybody moving in that direction? I'm a huge fan of console games. Games like Mass Effect 3 and Skyrim, these games are works of art. As a player and a consumer, I don't think those games are going anywhere, but the interesting thing that's happening is we're teaching people, these sort of new audiences, to engage with the games. I've been playing games my whole life and there's so many wonderful game mechanics and design moments that we haven't even begun to bring over to the mass market. I don't think it's going anywhere but I also think that the social market is going to continue to innovate and take the best of that and make it broadly appealing. In light of the recent Facebook IPO announcement and opportunities like this Super Bowl ad, do you feel you're doing the same job as you always have done? How much has the industry shifted as of late? It's really interesting because the Facebook market is a little more matured there now, in terms of marketing strategies that work. What you're seeing happening now on Facebook is that it's a lot more about innovation with new types of games. Mobile is still the wild west of monetization. We have a ton of ideas for things that we want to try, and the thing that I always tell the teams when we're working on it is, I just want to put as much effort into being creative and thoughtful and sort of trying to create this joyful experience when it comes to monetization as we do when it comes to what makes a game fun. Some of the best games that monetize are the ones that do it so that, when I pay for something in the game, I don't feel annoyed that the game blocked me so I have to pay my way past it. Instead, it's like "Hey, I'm having all this fun," and I see something that I can pay for where I can even have more fun. Does it still feel as hands-on as it did when the company was a one or two person operation? No, it's absolutely still like that, and I kind of worry about when the other shoe is gonna drop. I've been in the industry long enough to have gone through those kind of cycles, where you start off in a particular genre with a small team and four or five people can do something amazing and even change the world, which is kind of what happened with Words With Friends, and I've seen that evolve like in the console market now. There are still indie efforts [on the console side], but on mobile it's still absolutely that way, and our studio here in Texas as a kind of remote studio of Zynga. It's still the same shop that it was two years ago, where we're taking small teams of about five people and we're putting them on big, bold new ideas, and we're saying "Let's crank out a product in four or five months and see what we can do." It's totally a blast. I don't know if that's going to change. I kinda feel that, like what you see happening on mobile, is that the products that are really popular are still as simple as they were two years ago. The complexity hasn't gone up a lot, maybe because the screens are small, because they have to stay simple so you can just touch it with your fingers and play with it, so I hope that that continues because that's a fun kind of industry to work in. In a lot of ways, the video game industry operates like the rest of the entertainment industry, in that you find a successful franchise or formula and work with that for as long as it's popular. You've got this incredibly popular game and there have been different versions of it, but are you interested in creating as many different gameplay opportunities as possible? I've seen and been through those moments, and I actually think you can see that an industry's growth starts to go down when that starts happening. It almost killed the film industry when they got into that model early. They said, "Oh, we've got a formula and we've got these big studios and we're just going to crank these things out," and all of a sudden people said, "Hey wait, where'd the money go? What's happening here?" And they had to reinvent themselves. That's maybe happening a little bit in the console industry as well, although I do think there are really cool things going on there. But as far as on mobile, it's just not there at all yet. The company that comes to mind is Rovio. There are something like 800 Angry Birds games. Obviously, the franchise is doing well, but are they hammering it into the ground? I definitely see them taking that approach, and I'm not sure what I would do if I were them, because they have this huge brand. They haven't created something new after that but, man, the bar is really high, so if they release something that isn't Angry Birds, and it doesn't do well, that would be devastating. But from my standpoint, there's so much more interesting stuff for us to explore. Words With Friends wasn't supposed to be the end-all and be-all; it was really supposed to be just another game on our platform. We set out to create a board game for the digital age and from that standpoint there's hundreds of more games I want to create and hundreds of new social mechanics that we haven't even begun to tap into. Words With Friends is a one-versus-one game, asynchronous, turn-based. There's so many different ways to do that, not just with new games but with new sorts of social mechanics and ways to connect. |
| Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video) Posted: 08 Feb 2012 06:42 PM PST  |
| We're live from CP+ 2012 in Yokohama, Japan! Posted: 08 Feb 2012 06:15 PM PST  |
| Japan to reduce rare earth consumption in response to China's export controls Posted: 08 Feb 2012 05:41 PM PST  Japan took another step toward lessening its rare earths dependence today, announcing plans to drastically reduce consumption levels in response to China's continued market dominance. Of particular concern to the Japanese government is dysprosium -- a rare earth used in the production of high-powered magnets. China, which accounts for about 95 percent of the world's rare earth supply, has been tightening export controls on the metal in recent months, sending global prices skyward. With its domestic supplies dwindling, Japan has now committed to reducing its dysprosium consumption by 30 percent over the next few years, as part of a $65 million initiative. Much of that money will presumably go toward helping manufacturers develop alternative production and recycling methods, as some already have. Toyota, for instance, has found a way to produce hybrid and electric vehicles without using dysprosium, while Mitsubishi, Panasonic and TDK are currently looking at ways to extract the metal from old air conditioners. If effective, the government's program would reduce domestic consumption by between 200 and 400 tonnes per year. |
| San Francisco gearing up for electric bike sharing program Posted: 08 Feb 2012 05:19 PM PST  |
| AT&T and Verizon lobby for less FCC spectrum control, Sprint and other carriers respond Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:26 PM PST  While the majority of the bill deals with making additional spectrum available, Section 4105 of Title V -- the controversial bit in question -- is ostensibly the work of lobbying efforts on behalf of AT&T and Verizon. Are the nation's top two carriers legitimately concerned that the FCC will limit their ability to participate in future auctions? Sprint contends that the current law has worked rather well for both top dogs, which together control approximately 73 percent of the spectrum under 1GHz. There's no doubt that spectrum is the bread and butter of the wireless industry, but as a public resource, it deserves to be allocated in a way that promotes competition and best serves the citizens. Regardless of your gut reaction, it seems that the topic deserves some legitimate debate. If the proposed bill hits the Congressional floor and is mired down amongst discussions of unemployment benefits and flood insurance reform, just how much of this important discussion will fall on deaf ears? [Tower photo via Shutterstock] |
| Paul McCartney: 'You can keep free streaming for the birds and bees, now give me money' Posted: 08 Feb 2012 03:57 PM PST  A wise man once told Engadget that streaming and bought music services could live side-by-side like a piano keyboard. It looks like impoverished multi-millionaire Sir Paul McCartney didn't hear that particular song, as he's withdrawn all of his music from streaming service Rhapsody, after doing the same to Spotify some time ago. He's the latest in a long line of impecunious artists including Adele, Coldplay and Tom Waits, who have done the same as they feel they're not getting fair compensation for their labors. It would be cynical to point out that McCartney's move comes just ahead of a live performance that's exclusively streamed on the iTunes music store and Apple TV, so we won't. |
| Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video) Posted: 08 Feb 2012 03:18 PM PST  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Disney considering 28-day rental window, because 'On Stranger Tides' was that good Posted: 08 Feb 2012 02:46 PM PST  |
| NVIDIA and Rambus settle, sign patent deal, kiss and make up Posted: 08 Feb 2012 02:23 PM PST  |
| Path apologizes, deletes user contact data and updates app Posted: 08 Feb 2012 02:01 PM PST  |
| Google Screenwise panel will pay you to track your every move online Posted: 08 Feb 2012 01:39 PM PST  Don't mind letting Google watch your every click while browsing the web? Awesome, because the folks in Mountain View want to pay you for letting them do just that. The company is recruiting panelists for a project it's calling Screenwise, a program that will give the internet behemoth more insight into how the general public uses the interwebs day in and day out. Once you opt in, you'll receive a $5 gift card code to Amazon and for up to a year, you'll get additional spending money every three months. But how will The Goog track your mouse clicks? Just before getting paid, you'll have to download a browser extension that will keep an eye on things and send your data back to the mothership. If you're looking to make a little more dough, Ars Technica reports that you'll be able to opt for a more lucrative hardware monitoring option. Here, you'll have to install the Screenwise Data Collector (pictured above) on your home network; however, the pay out is an initial Benjamin and $20 for every month you participate. Sound like something you'd want in on? Hit the source link below to be notified when registration opens.Update: Google has passed along the following statement on the Screenwise project with a reminder that participation in the panel is 100% voluntary.
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| AlphaDog robo pack-mule begins outdoor trials, noisily hikes into your nightmares Posted: 08 Feb 2012 01:17 PM PST  Boston Dynamics' LS3, better known 'round these parts as AlphaDog, has already wowed us with a display of its stability, power and mobility. Thing is, that little clip we caught back in October took place entirely within the safe and purposefully laid out confines of a laboratory. So, the question is, what happens when you take the rather noisy quadruped outside and strap a bunch of weight to it? Well, pretty much the same thing that happened while it was nice and cozy inside -- the beast powered through the reasonably rugged terrain with nary a hitch. By the end of the tests DARPA hopes to have a mighty robotic porter capable of carrying 400 pounds of gear up to 20 miles without refueling. Though, the trek is expected to be slow and arduous as a full 24 hours is target time frame for such a journey. For full PR and to see the bot in action head on after the break. DARPA'S LEGGED SQUAD SUPPORT SYSTEM (LS3) TO LIGHTEN TROOPS' LOAD February 07, 2012 Prototype robotic "pack mule" stands up, lies down and follows leader carrying 400 lbs. of squad's gear Today's dismounted warfighter can be saddled with more than 100 pounds of gear, resulting in physical strain, fatigue and degraded performance. Reducing the load on dismounted warfighters has become a major point of emphasis for defense research and development, because the increasing weight of individual equipment has a negative impact on warfighter readiness. The Army has identified physical overburden as one of its top five science and technology challenges. To help alleviate physical weight on troops, DARPA is developing a highly mobile, semi-autonomous legged robot, the Legged Squad Support System (LS3), to integrate with a squad of Marines or Soldiers. Recently the LS3 prototype underwent its first outdoor exercise, demonstrating the ability to follow a person using its "eyes"-sensors that allow the robot to distinguish between trees, rocks, terrain obstacles and people. Over the course of the next 18 months, DARPA plans to complete development of and refine key capabilities to ensure LS3 is able to support dismounted squads of warfighters. Features to be tested and validated include the ability to carry 400lbs on a 20-mile trek in 24-hours without being refueled, and refinement of LS3's vision sensors to track a specific individual or object, observe obstacles in its path and to autonomously make course corrections as needed. Also planned is the addition of "hearing" technology, enabling squad members to speak commands to LS3 such as "stop," "sit" or "come here." The robot also serves as a mobile auxiliary power source- troops may recharge batteries for radios and handheld devices while on patrol. DARPA seeks to demonstrate that an LS3 can carry a considerable load from dismounted squad members, follow them through rugged terrain and interact with them in a natural way, similar to the way a trained animal and its handler interact. "If successful, this could provide real value to a squad while addressing the military's concern for unburdening troops," said Army Lt. Col. Joe Hitt, DARPA program manager. "LS3 seeks to have the responsiveness of a trained animal and the carrying capacity of a mule." The 18-month platform-refinement test cycle, with Marine and Army involvement, kicks off this summer. The tests culminate in a planned capstone exercise where LS3 will embed with Marines conducting field exercises. |
| Tweetbot hits 2.0, heads to iPad with new features and UI in tow Posted: 08 Feb 2012 12:54 PM PST  The dev folk over at Tapbots have just unleashed a major overhaul to their famed Twitter client. Tweetbot 2.0 not only sees the addition of a few new traits and a design refresh, but it's also on the receiving end of some welcomed iPad compatibility (iOS 5 only). Though, it's worth mentioning the app isn't universal -- so you'll have to cough up three bucks for the slate variant, even if you've already got the iPhone edition. Amongst the new goodies is a renovated timeline view with pic thumbnails, an optional New Tweets bar, auto-refresh, and a one-tap system for links. If you're still rockin' the official birdie app, but are looking for something a bit different, then hit up the source link below to scan through the rest of the features and see if it's enough to make you fly the coop. |
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