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Sunday, February 12, 2012

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Microsoft Store hacked in India, passwords stored in plain text

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 10:19 AM PST

Frequenters of India's online Microsoft Store were briefly greeted with the suspicious visage of a Guy Fawkes mask this morning, following a hack that compromised the site's user database. According to WPSauce, Microsoft Store India's landing page was briefly taken over by a hacker group called Evil Shadow Team, who, in addition to putting a new face on Windows products, revealed that user passwords were saved in plain text. The group's motivations are unknown, though the hacked page warned that an "unsafe system will be baptized." The store is now offline, suggesting that Microsoft may have regained control. Read on for a look at the compromised password database.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

NERF Lazer Tag hands-on

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 09:27 AM PST

We just came from Hasbro's off-site Toy Fair show room and, needless to say, we made them take us straight to the NERF Lazer Tag installation. The guns are still clearly in the early prototype stages and hand made -- with plenty of hot glue and header pins serving as evidence. Still, they felt solid and the app appears to be coming along nicely. We weren't allowed to take photos or video of the HUD, which is a shame since that's what sets Hasbro's product apart from similar toys, but we can tell you about some of the features.

In the top left of the screen is your life meter, which decreases every time you're shot. You'll know when you've been hit because the display will flash red. The app also beeps letting you know when an opponent has been detected -- alerting you to an opportunity to strike or of approaching danger. In the bottom right hand corner is you weapon selection and ammo remaining. You can reload by pressing in the lever on the front of the weapon. Holding it down opens the weapon selection, which you'll be able to upgrade through achievements and in-app purchases. There's also a pair of triggers in the well. The front engages your shield, which prevents you from being hit, but also stop you from firing on opponents, while the primary trigger fires blasts (complete with laser beam animation and explosions) at your opponents. Check out the gallery below for a few more impressions.
NERF Lazer Tag hands-on


Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

Nokia Public Transport for Symbian shows you the way, can't guarantee a seat

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 08:28 AM PST

Nokia's free turn-by turn navigation is great when you're lost, but what if you need to negotiate an unfamiliar train or bus system? Perhaps Espoo's new Public Transport app with its journey planning information for nearly 80 cities and urban areas (including London, Helsinki, Austin and Toronto) will see you right. What's more, you can even save your favorite destinations to the app's home screen to save a bit more tapping and typing. The app's only available for those freshly updated Symbian Belle phones right now, but it's free, and there's a Lumia-friendly version in the works. Sound like this might take the headache out of your daily commute? Then tap the source link below for more info.

AT&T prepares internal systems for shared data, launch date still TBD

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 06:12 AM PST

We've known AT&T's had shared data plans in the works for a healthy amount of time, as the GSM carrier let the cat out of the bag many seasons ago. And while Ralph de la Vega hasn't hid his company's aspirations from view, the network hasn't exactly been forthcoming about when the party is going to get started. If the above and below screenshots are any indication, however, AT&T has already added support for group data into Telegence, the internal system employees use to manage customer accounts.

According to the memo seen above, Telegence has been tweaked to include a new group-level data feature node "in preparation for the launch of Shared Data." This verbiage seems to suggest the new plans are coming in the very near future, but the communication is quick to point out that the launch date has yet to be determined. Unfortunately, since the new adjustments aren't functional just yet, it could simply mean the company's beginning the first wave of crucial internal testing. Regardless, its presence in AT&T's systems is a great step forward, and a welcome one that's been a long time coming. The question is, will the new plans arrive before Verizon can push its version out to the masses?

[Thanks, anonymous]

Acer Aspire One D270 netbook up for pre-order

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 03:36 AM PST

Still not convinced by the whole Ultrabook thing? Well neither's Acer it seems, as it refuses to pull the tubes from its netbook division. The latest such offering for your pre-order delight? The Aspire One D270. Sure, there's no HSPA+ like the recently revamped Aspire One 722 -- a fact reflected in the rather friendly $279 price tag -- but you do get 1.6GHz of Cedar Trail, a 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 display, HDMI, 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard disk drive. If this sounds like just the trick for you, point and click at the source links below for the goodness.

Spark pre-orders delayed, but here's a video instead (video)

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 12:27 AM PST


We had hoped that the Linux-based open-source Spark tablet would be up for pre-order already, but the logistics gods have decreed it not to be. Order registrations are now simply said to go online "ASAP". In the meantime, the developers hope to whet your appetite with this video of the 7-inch budget-slab in action. So it looks a little bit laggy right now, but the team behind it says there's plenty of performance to be squeezed out of it yet. Likewise the UI you see above is optimized for a larger screen, meaning thumbnails and margins should be sharper once those kinks have been ironed out. Hit the source below to get the full update on the pre-order setbacks.

Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 leaked, says it'll arrive later this month

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 09:46 PM PST

Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 leaked, says it'll arrive later this month

Whoa there, another phone leak? It could only be the run-up to Mobile World Congress. This time, it's Samsung that's let slip, and the not-particularly high-end Galaxy Mini 2. Mini in size, minor in specifications, it will purportedly arrive with a 3.3-inch display at 480 x 320 resolution, running Gingerbread on an 800MHz processor. Unfortunately, at that speed, don't expect to get any Adobe Flash action on this presumably entry-level phone. It'll be capable of HSDPA data speeds up to 7.2Mbps; add in a three-megapixel camera, 3GB of built-in storage and it's all starting to sound a bit 2008. GSM Arena's mole pegs it for a February release, so that could mean it sprints out ahead of MWC, but it'll find it hard to avoid the bright lights of Barcelona.

Ask Engadget: Best tablets for students?

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 07:15 PM PST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from a pair of guys called Joe on opposite sides of the planet that both need a tablet-based solution for their higher education woes. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

Joe from New Zealand writes:

I'm a second-year university student with a health issue that means I can't carry round heavy textbooks. I've been looking at tablets that I can use as a replacement for textbooks and paper notes. I think I need a tablet, pen and software combo that'll let me read, edit and annotate ebooks, PDFs and PowerPoints, have a day-long battery life, display A4 sheets and a camera that can take pictures of textbook pages -- but I've only got a budget of $600. Thanks!

Joe from America writes:

I'm enrolled in a class where my professor won't post his power points and talks too fast to handwrite notes. I'd type on a laptop, but I don't wanna be that guy. Is there a physical keyboard that's silent, or an on-screen keyboard that'll work as well as a real one?

Our thoughts skipped to the solid if underwhelming ThinkPad Tablet, which has a stylus input, decent camera and eight hour battery life. If you could get it to play nicely with Thanko's Silent EX keyboard, then both Joes would be happy -- but what do we know? They asked us so we could ask you guys, share your wisdom in the comments below.

Engadget Mobile Podcast 125 - 02.11.2012

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 05:48 PM PST


This week, we're judging all the books by their covers: flashy coatings, sporty colors, spring-like demeanor, even if it is a couple months early. Come, get superficial with us, and delve slightly more than skin-deep, as we chat about fashion, ROMs, and releases on the Engadget Mobile Podcast.

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen
Guests: Sean Cooper
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)

00:01:07 - White Nokia N9 hands-on: behold the last unicorn (video)


Hear the podcast


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

Provisioning for prepaid Google Wallet cards on hold while PIN-related security hole gets fixed

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 03:34 PM PST

Remember that Google Wallet exploit from a few days ago? The one that would allow 'brute-force' PIN attacks, but only on rooted Android devices? Well, another PIN-related security hole was discovered soon after, putting even non-rooted Androids at risk. As Android Central points out, should your phone make its way into the wrong hands, your Google Wallet PIN number could be reassigned, allowing access to the prepaid account attached to the phone itself -- yikes. As such, the folks at Mountain View have taken action, shuttering provisions to prepaid cards until it finds a permanent fix for the problem. Despite the troubles, Google is sticking by its original tune, stating that Google Wallet offers multiples levels of protection (when used on official builds of Android) that go beyond traditional plastic cards, including your phone's lock screen. There's no estimate on when things will be back to normal, but you'll find Google's assessments and assurances about this situation at the source link below.

Oregon Scientific announces MEEP! Android tablet for Kids, Wile E's ears prick up

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 01:30 PM PST

While this might not be the first kid-centric tablet we've seen, it's certainly got the coolest name. All we know about the MEEP! kiddie-slate right now is that it's made by Oregon Scientific, has a 7-inch Neonode zForce touchscreen display, WiFi, an SD card slot, a "G-sensor" for screen rotation -- and runs on an as yet unspecified version of Android. The makers claim it's suitable for ages six and up, and parents can monitor and limit web access via an online control panel. We're told that accessories will soon be on their way, including every parent's favorite: musical instruments. The full unveiling will be at the TIA toy fair this weekend. Road-run over the break for the full press release. MEEP! MEEP!
Show full PR text
Android-Based MEEP! Tablet to Feature Music, Movies, e-books, Parental Controls and more OREGON SCIENTIFIC MEEP!

Oregon Scientific Unveils MEEP!, a new Android-based tablet for kids! (PRNewsFoto/Oregon Scientific) NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Oregon Scientific, a leading designer and worldwide marketer of personal electronics, today announced its entry into a hot new category: kid's tablets. Leaving cartridge-based devices behind in the dust, the new Wi-Fi enabled MEEP! tablet runs on the Android operating system and offers music, movies, e-books, and apps from leading developers - all on a large, 7-inch color touch screen! The MEEP! tablet will be unveiled for the first time at the Toy Industry Association's (TIA) 109th American International Toy Fair this weekend.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120210/NE51475 )

Sharing a mobile device is a tough feat, especially for parents, when there is a risk it could be dropped, broken, scratched or rendered useless. The MEEP! tablet is an affordable fix for a tech –hungry generation of kids, featuring a tough design and an enhanced rubber silicon sleeve for added protection. Geared for children age 6 and up, the MEEP! tablet is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing access to a sea of web content that can be downloaded to its internal memory or SD card and viewed from any angle courtesy of the tablet's internal G-Sensor. All websites and content can be monitored through intuitive parental controls that are adjusted remotely on any computer or mobile device with a browser and an Internet connection.

The MEEP! tablet from Oregon Scientific will feature a variety of accessories sold separately, including musical instruments.

Mobile Miscellany: week of February 6th, 2012

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 11:06 AM PST

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This week, we've learned that T-Mobile is offering some of its best phones free after rebate (today only), and we've also spotted a new power management feature that seems destined for BlackBerry 7.1 OS. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride. Let's explore the "best of the rest" for this week of February 6th, 2012.

Today only: T-Mobile offers free phones, tablets and hotspots free after rebate


The Magenta-clad carrier is looking to spread a bit of love this weekend and is currently offering some of its best devices free after rebate, but for one day only. Today, customers may score a gratis Galaxy S II, Amaze 4G, G2x, Bold 9900, Lumia 710 or Radar 4G, along with a SpringBoard tablet or a plethora of other devices with a new two-year commitment. The deal is valid both in stores and online, but if you hope to take advantage of the promotion, you'd better act quickly. [TmoNews]

US Cellular intros new voicemail service powered by Nuance

Those on the Belief Network are eligible for one more add-on this week, as US Cellular has announced a new voicemail-to-text transcription service that's powered by Nuance's Dragon Voicemail-to-Text platform. The service is free to try for 30 days, after which customers will need to pay $2.99 each month. In return, the service offers unlimited transcription of all voicemails, which is then delivered to a user's phone via either text or email. So, next time your friend leaves a message that says, "Hey, call me," just chalk it up to a minute saved. [Nuance]

Orientation Lock app disables automatic screen rotation for Windows Phone


Jaxbot has released a convenient new hack for Windows Phone that disables automatic screen rotation. Known as Orientation Lock, it works by temporarily turning off the accelerometer, and is simply a matter of flipping a toggle depending on your preference. Orientation Lock is said to work on most devices, but requires that your handset be developer unlocked. The app is still rather young in development, so your success may vary. [Windows Phone Hacker]

Leaked BlackBerry 7.1 OS hints at forthcoming battery saving mode


Version 7.1.0.247 of the BlackBerry OS recently leaked for the Bold 9790, and after a bit of sleuth work, a previously unknown feature labeled Battery Saving Mode was discovered. The software allows users to set a battery level threshold, and once the charge falls below that level, the phone will automatically enter a low-power mode to conserve battery life. [N4BB]

Verizon Wireless brings data restriction to Usage Controls subscription service

You may have never heard of it, but Verizon offers a horribly overpriced service known as Usage Controls that allows parents to determine exactly what their kids' phones can be used for, who they can talk to and when the device can be used. The service was expanded this week, which now allows content purchases to be restricted and data consumption caps to be imposed. While the service undoubtedly has its place, Verizon charges $4.99 per month, per line for its use. [MobileBurn]

ComScore report finds drastic shift from web-based to mobile email among younger users in past year

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 09:12 AM PST

ComScore released its annual US Digital Future in Focus report this week, offering a year-end wrap of many of the trends its tracked throughout the past year and a look towards the next. One of the more telling stats concerns email use among those in their teens and twenties. According to the report, web-based email use among 12-17 year olds dropped 31 percent in the past year, while use among those 18 to 24 saw an even bigger drop of 34 percent. Some of that can no doubt be attributed to Facebook and other email alternatives, but a big factor is the growth of email use on mobile devices; both of those age groups saw double-digit growth in that respect, with mobile email use jumping 32 percent among 18 to 24 year olds.

In terms of sheer growth in the past couple of years, though, there's not much that matches the trajectory of tablets (obviously aided by one in particular). ComScore notes that that US tablet sales over the past two years have topped 40 million, a figure that it took smartphones as a category a full seven years to reach. Another area that saw some considerable growth in 2011 is digital downloads and subscriptions (including e-books), which jumped 26 percent compared to the previous year, leading all other areas of e-commerce. The full report and some videos of the highlights can be found at the source link below.
Show full PR text
comScore Releases the "2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus" Report
Report Offers Insights on Key Trends from 2011 and What They Mean for the Coming Year

RESTON, Va., Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- comScore, Inc. SCOR +2.09% , a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus report. This annual report examines how the prevailing trends in social media, search, online video, digital advertising, mobile and e-commerce are defining the current marketplace and what these trends mean for the year ahead.

"2012 promises to be an exciting year for the digital media industry as the explosion of available content and proliferation of web-enabled devices drive the evolution of the digital consumer, creating new opportunities and challenges for the entire digital ecosystem," said Linda Abraham, comScore CMO and EVP of Global Product Development. "In order to be successful in this new paradigm, digital marketers must understand the key trends shaping the current marketplace and what that means for the future of their businesses."

To download a complimentary copy of 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus report, please visit: http://www.comscore.com/2012USDigitalFutureinFocus

Key insights from the 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus include:

Facebook-Led Social Media Market is Redefining Communication in the Digital and Physical Worlds

Social Networking accounted for 16.6 percent of all online minutes at the end of 2011 and is on track to surpass Portals as the most engaging online activity in 2012. Facebook continues to lead as the driving force behind this shift in consumer behavior, accounting for the largest share of online minutes across the entire web in 2011.

Bing Gains Ground in Search

Although Google maintains a strong lead in the U.S. search market, one of the most notable stories in search in 2011 was Bing's positive growth trajectory. Bing closed out the year by surpassing Yahoo! for the #2 position among core search engines for the first time in its history, bolstered in part by its social search partnership with Facebook implemented in early 2011.

Online Video Boom Signals Sea Change in Video Ecosystem

Online video viewing witnessed impressive gains across a variety of measures in 2011, signaling a behavioral shift in how Americans are consuming video content. More than 100 million Americans watched online video content on an average day to close out 2011, representing a 43-percent increase versus year ago.

Digital Advertising Enters Era of Increased Accountability as Brand Dollars Continue to Shift Online

A staggering 4.8 trillion display ad impressions were delivered across the U.S. web in 2011 as brand advertisers continued to shift dollars to the digital medium. This shift in ad dollars has magnified the need for greater transparency and accountability in ad delivery across the digital advertising ecosystem.

Smartphone and Tablets Fuel the Rise of the Digital Omnivore

The rise of smartphones and tablets has drastically altered consumers' digital media consumption. In 2011, the majority of all mobile phone owners consumed mobile media on their device, marking an important milestone in the evolution of mobile from primarily a communication device to also a content consumption tool. At the end of the year, more than 8 percent of all digital traffic was consumed beyond the 'classic web' via devices such as smartphones and tablets.

E-Commerce is Back and Better Than Ever

Despite the backdrop of continued economic uncertainty, 2011 was a strong year for retail e-commerce. Throughout the year, growth rates versus the prior year remained in double-digits to significantly outpace growth at brick-and-mortar retail. Total U.S. retail and travel-related e-commerce reached $256 billion in 2011, up 12 percent from 2010.

Webinar - 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus: Trends Every Marketer Needs to KnowJoin Jeff Hackett, executive vice president of comScore Media Metrix, and Eli Goodman, comScore Media Evangelist, on Wednesday February 22nd at 2 PM EST, as they share key insights from the 2012 U.S. Digital Future in Focus report and discuss what these trends mean for today's marketers.For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.comscore.com/2012_Future_in_Focus_Webinar

About comScore comScore, Inc. SCOR +2.09% is a global leader in measuring the digital world and preferred source of digital business analytics. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo .

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/comScorehttp ://twitter.com/gfulgoni

SOURCE comScore, Inc.

Game changers: Egyptians and their gadgets in 2012

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 07:05 AM PST

Is there such a thing as revolutionary technology? Many Egyptians believe there is. A year ago, they used mobile phones, social networking and banned TV channels to spread word of the protests in Tahrir Square. Hearing the news, thousands of young people risked their lives to join in and overthrow the dictator Hosni Mubarak. To mark the revolution's anniversary, Engadget caught up with five Caireans of different ages and backgrounds to find out about the gadgets they use to keep in touch with their world. For the love of freedom, democracy and at least one bar of mobile reception, please read on.


Egypt is a complex country in a complicated situation. Mubarak is gone, but now the army runs the show. Traveling around Cairo, it's clear that the revolution hasn't yet become history. In many ways, it's still going on. Hundreds of thousands of people returned to Tahrir Square on the anniversary of the first big protest, January 25th, but they weren't interested in remembrance so much as pushing for faster democratic change.

Amid this ongoing upheaval, the Egyptians I met were also trying to carry on with their careers and personal lives. In this respect, they're just like people anywhere. When I told them I was a tech blogger and wanted to talk about gadgets, it became clear that their use of mobile phones and computers is pretty ordinary too -- except for one crucial difference. Mobile phones and the internet went dead across the entire country during the early days of the protests, as the increasingly desperate regime tried to stop the revolt spreading. As you're about to see, that blackout is still hot on people's minds and they no longer take their gadgets for granted.

Rahma lives right at the edge of Cairo, where her balcony overlooks the desert and sand regularly blows in through her windows. Being so far out means she and her husband can afford a nice apartment, but it also means that commuting around this sprawling city for medical appointments has become a large and time-consuming part of her life. Google Maps is one of the main reasons she upgraded to a smartphone, after the battered old Nokia she had during the revolution succumbed to her one-year-old son.

The Galaxy Ace didn't come cheap: 2,100LE ($350) for a prepaid handset is more than most Egyptians can earn in a month, but to Rahma it was worth it. In addition to navigation, she uses it to check her work emails, look up medical research and -- in her free time -- connect with her friends on Facebook, which is the only extra app she's installed so far. "During the revolution we used Facebook to push each other to get involved," she says. "Now it's become like a virtual life in this country. Perhaps it's not healthy, but I'm addicted."

When asked what network she's on, Rahma beams and says "Vodafone! I love it." This is perhaps a surprising response, considering that Vodafone was widely criticized for sending out SMS messages to all its Egyptian customers during the protests, telling them to obey Mubarak's government. "I received those texts," she says, "and I hated them. But I just deleted them straight away. You can't only blame Vodafone, because all the networks did it. It was a condition of their license to operate in Egypt."


Amr can't afford mobile internet, because he needs to keep his monthly top-up expenditure below 25LE ($4) per month. He's not crazy about phones anyway, whether it's the Nokia he had during the revolution, or the Sony Ericsson he uses now. He talks about maybe upgrading to a smartphone, but it's just one of many fleeting ambitions -- a bit like his younger cousins' fascination with expensive Power Balance wristbands, which are still all the rage here thanks to celebrity endorsements and a lack of consumer protection.

Amr's technological fixations become more concrete when he talks about PCs. He has a decent laptop that was given to him by the Ministry of Education after he won a robotics competition. To get online, he travels 40 minutes by bus to his cousin's flat, which has 2Mb/s ADSL. All the boys get together there to play Medal of Honor and sometimes they cross the road to play Counterstrike and CoD in their local cyber cafe -- although the "noise, insects and broken headphones" mean they only do that a few times a month, when they're "desperate."

Amr is more politically aware than your average teenager and his laptop plays a big part in that. When we met him a few days before the anniversary, he was scouring Facebook for news and gossip about the likelihood of renewed violence -- whether due to clashes between the authorities and protesters who are frustrated with the pace of change, or simply due to criminals who might exploit any chaos in the streets. "I read that lots of people have got guns from Libya. Too many people have weapons now and it's very scary."

One of the proudest mementos on Amr's Facebook wall is a photo of him standing beside an Egyptian soldier in Tahrir Square on the day that Mubarak finally stepped down. There's another one of him and his cousins looking both victorious and afraid next to the huge tracks of an APC. "If the revolution hadn't happened, I'd probably still think of the Internet as a silly thing. But when they shut it down, it was like they hit us directly. It was a wake up call."


While millions of tourists pass effortlessly through this country's border controls each year, most native Egyptians have very little freedom of movement. Many obstacles are put in the way of travel, but some people have managed to maintain links to other countries. Nadine is among that generally wealthier minority. She speaks fluent English with a slight American tinge, travels regularly to the UK, and can afford to pay Western prices for things -- like the iPhone 4 she picked up in London and the MacBook she bought from an Apple dealer in Cairo. The MacBook alone cost 9000LE, which is roughly what a family of six might need to spend on groceries in an entire year.

"Apple products aren't so common here," Nadine acknowledges. "There was a government drive some time ago to make [Windows] PCs more affordable, and these days you can pick one up very cheaply, but Mac prices weren't affected." On the other hand, she says that iPhones are no long as elite as they used to be. "My driver has a 3GS, which he got second-hand." She adds that it's possible to find iPhones and other smartphones at knockdown prices in Abdel Aziz Street, which is notorious for hawkers of used and stolen goods. "There are definitely more people wanting smartphones since the revolution," she says. "When the government shut everything down, people were panicking, so now they've realized these things are important."


Mahmoud is a wiry man who spends much of his time dangling from balconies eleven floors above oblivion. He runs his own small business and has a young family to feed, but he charges just 60LE ($10) on a standard satellite installation or repair job -- even if the job lasts half a day. With that level of income, he's not going to blow 200LE per month on ADSL -- and yet he says that getting online with his laptop is extremely important to him.

People in Mahmoud's situation have to be resourceful. A common trick is to split the cost of a cable subscription by sharing a single connection throughout an apartment building. Mahmoud even claims it's possible to get web access totally free of charge using a satellite signal -- although he refuses to elaborate beyond admitting "it's slow."


Mohammed paid the 60LE necessary to have his own dish installed. He could have avoided even this modest cost if he'd accepted the central service supplied to his building, but he says it carries channels that "aren't suitable for the grandkids, or even for old men." By having his own dish and receivers, he has more control.

Satellite TV was especially important to Mohammed during the revolution. Like many of his age, he didn't go to Tahrir Square, but he was desperate to know what was happening. "I watched the protests for about eight hours a day," he says. His favorite channel was and still is an Al Jazeera off-shoot called Mubasher Misr, which broadcasts rolling live news specifically focused on Egypt. Its plain-speaking content would never be permitted on terrestrial TV channels, which are wholly owned and operated by the government. In fact, the authorities would love nothing more than to shut Mubasher Misr down, but they can't quite manage it. "They recently closed the channel's offices here, so now the signal has to be routed from Qatar," Mohammed says. "Because of that, many people have trouble receiving it -- but I know how to receive it and I can show people."


There's no way that the five individuals above can be regarded as a representative sample of a country of 85 million, or even of Cairo. But speaking to them about their gadgets did provide me with a genuine glimpse inside their lives, and -- perhaps more importantly -- it was a good ice-breaker. Although I'm culturally British and there's a lot I don't understand about Egypt, I found that I was able to talk with Egyptians all day long about the relative virtues of a Samsung GSII or the best way to get more power out of an Intel Celeron-powered laptop. None of the people I spoke to were geeks, but when it came to the technology of communication and its importance to personal freedoms, they all were.

Arris brings Moxi HD DVR sales to an end, plans to cut off guide data after 2013... maybe

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 05:33 AM PST

While Moxi may live on in spirit as a white label multiroom HD DVR for cable companies, parent company Arris announced on its website this week the retail boxes and extenders are no longer being sold. Initially, a note on the company's home page indicated tech support and guide data would come to an end at the end of 2013 as noted by Zatz Not Funny, but references to that have since been removed. Potentially abandoned users on AVS Forum have already started looking for alternative ways to keep the guide data flowing and possibly get help from Arris in prying open the code to do so. We've contacted Arris for more information but haven't received a response yet -- we'll update you when / if we do. In the meantime Digeo's baby is still operational, so owners can enjoy however much time they have left, we'd recommend studying up on the stages of grief so you'll understand how to handle them over the next several months.

[Thanks, Alfred]

Spray-on antenna revealed: best thing to come in a can since Easy Cheese (video)

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 03:04 AM PST

Ever found yourself without a signal and wished you could just spray one on like magic? Well, maybe soon, you'll be able to do just that. Chamtech Enterprises has developed a spray-on antenna it says is more lightweight and energy-efficient than current technology. Revealed at Google's inaugural Solve for X shindig, the antenna can be "painted" onto almost anything, including trees, walls and fabrics. Chamtech's already talking with government-based customers, and as such can't spill too much detail on how it works, but said it uses organic elements to tinker with magnetic and radio-frequency fields. The start-up's CTO, Rhett Spencer, claims the antenna could increase mobile energy efficiency by 10 percent. It was also found to work particularly well under water, and being organic, we presume, would make it ideal for sub-aquatic telecom infrastructure, and of course, rainy days.

aTV Flash update adds automatic backups, new playback options to jailbroken Apple TVs

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 01:25 AM PST

The FireCore team has been busy updating its pay-to-play ($30) aTV Flash software package for jailbroken Apple TVs and just rolled out the latest bundle of updates in version 1.3. Now it can automatically perform backups, speaks more languages, supports more remote commands, reads more subtitles and the list goes on. You can check after the break for the full changelog, or just hit the Maintenance section if you're already running it to download the update. Take a peek at what it can do and let us know if this is a worthwhile alternative to XBMC, or any of the other media streaming platforms out there.

Spotify iOS app update brings 320kbps music to mobiles

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 10:10 PM PST

Enjoying your Spotify tracks on the go just got a little better, at least on iOS, where an app update to v0.4.23 gifts users "very high quality" 320kbps music streaming (for Premium subscribers) and syncing, up from the previous max of 160kbps. Enabling the higher quality streams -- though heavy listeners may want to mind those bandwidth quotas -- is as simple as ticking the "Extreme" box in the settings, as shown above by The Next Web to join in a quality that was previously only available via the desktop app or in the living room. If you're just signing up or setting up the app again the one-tap Facebook log-in should also be a convenient addition (or not, if you don't use Facebook and insist on telling everyone you don't at every opportunity -- we heard you the first ten times). There's no word on updates for the other mobile platforms yet, but we'll keep an eye out.

[Thanks, Pete]

Foursquare adds NFC support for Android 4.0, wants to touch base

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 08:20 PM PST

We knew the folk at Foursquare had been trying NFC out for a while, and Symbian's had it since November, but now tap check-ins are available for Android 4.0. Okay, so that means it's pretty much limited to Galaxy Nexus owners at the minute, but the chosen few can now share their Venue, Lists, Me pages, initiate friend requests and, of course, check-in at the touch of a phone. Foursquare claims it'll save vital seconds when checking in, but we're just glad there's another way to use Andoid Beam.The update's available now, so if you're snacking on an Ice Cream Sandwich, head on down to the source link and get your download on.

Motorola Droid 4 advertises 16GB internal storage, only reports 8GB -- here's why

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 07:04 PM PST

After the numerous leaks that preceded the Droid 4's launch, you'd think we'd have a handle on every detail (read the review here) but some day one buyers have one more question. While the spec sheets indicate 16GB of internal storage, a few readers noticed their units only report 8GB. So why the variance in what's being reported and what the phones actually show? While Android vets may be used to this, not all are aware of how some phones are partitioned, and Motorola has opted to go with an 8GB for the user / 3GB for apps / 5GB for OS and updates split (just like the Razr). So the phones do have the 16GB you were promised, it's just how it's being used that may not be immediately evident -- and now you know.

[Thanks, Chaz]

HP Veer 4G, Pre 3 and TouchPad celebrate a melancholy birthday

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 05:40 PM PST

Just one year ago, HP officially introduced the TouchPad, Pre 3 and Veer to its lineup. Much has happened in the 365 days since that time, which marked the end of the Palm brand, the discontinuation of the company's webOS hardware development and the decision to open source the crown jewel, webOS. Today, we hope you'll join us after the break as we bow our heads, sing some praises and remember the final three members -- for now, anyway -- of HP's webOS lineup. We'll have fireworks at the end.

HP unveiled its latest webOS creations on February 9, 2011, but the devices didn't reach consumer hands until much later in the year. The Veer was first out of the gate, which arrived at AT&T on May 15th. Despite its adorable form factor, the lilliputian handset failed to address the cramped keyboard of the original Pre and was viewed as a niche device among most webOS fans -- whom by and large, waited patiently for the more capable Pre 3. It wasn't until July 1st that HP released the TouchPad tablet, and in perhaps the worst marketing campaign of all time, the company discontinued it -- and all development for webOS devices -- less than two months later. HP liquidated the majority of its TouchPads in an unceremonious fire sale, then announced a few days later that the Pre 3 wouldn't be sold in the US.

webOS


WebOS was undoubtedly a revolutionary operating system for its time. In many ways, it still is. It was created by Palm, Inc., as a replacement for its ancient Palm OS after the company flirted with skunkworks projects such as the Foleo. The original Pre, released in June of 2009, was initially lauded for its advanced software, but later heavily criticized for its poor build quality. The less impressive Palm Pixi did little to stir interest, and the Pre Plus and Pre 2 were little more than blips on the radar. Short on cash and in need of a lifeline, Palm Inc., sold itself to HP for $1.2 billion in April of 2010.

The Veer, TouchPad and Pre 3 were each announced in a climate where the patience for new webOS devices had already grown thin. The subsequent wait for their arrival only stirred unrest, and once they greeted the masses, we quickly realized the hardware wasn't up to par. While not a single member of the group will be remembered as revolutionary, each hold the notable distinction as the last devices to carry the torch of webOS -- in its closed-source era, anyway. Without further ado, we give you the final three.

Veer 4G


If the original Pre were a river stone that'd been finely crafted over time, the Veer 4G was but a mere pebble in comparison (though, still lovely just the same). During a time when smartphones began to take on additional girth, the Veer performed an about-face and offered itself as an alternative to the large-and-in-charge devices that we've learned to embrace. It was a capable HSPA+ handset that brought webOS 2.0 to the table, and while it wielded only an 800MHz CPU, it taunted the world with its snappy multitasking performance.
HP Veer 4G unboxing and hands-on

Pre 3


The Pre 3 will ultimately be remembered by most as the smartphone that never was. Although it went up for sale in Europe, those stateside never had the opportunity to snap one up through a carrier. HP undeniably stepped up its game with this one, and with a larger WVGA display and 1.4GHz CPU, it remains the best webOS smartphone to be had. Unfortunately, given the small selection to choose from, that's not saying much. Nostalgia seekers will certainly adore this handset for its obscurity alone, but even they will be forced to contend with the tiny, uncomfortable keyboard and the software's rough edges.
Palm Pre 3 for AT&T hands-on and unboxing

TouchPad


The TouchPad holds worthwhile distinctions as the sole webOS tablet in existence (unless you count the TouchPad Go), and the first of HP's products to include webOS 3.0. Those who happened to score one for $99 not only found a great deal, but are among the privileged number to own a cornerstone of webOS history. Sadly, the software lacked the amount of polish we'd hoped to see, and no amount of whole grains and leafy greens will shave the unwieldy bulk from this slate. Still, if we ever see you using one in the coffee shop, we're probably going to want to shake your hand.
HP TouchPad, unboxing and comparison

Wrap-up

All in all, the Veer, Pre 3 and TouchPad proved to be part of webOS's demise. While each device is lovable, capable and quirky, the combination wasn't enough to protect the venerable platform from the onslaught of Android and iOS. Despite their own individual failings, each holds the unique status as being among the last of HP's webOS devices, and for this reason alone, they'll be revered for years to come. It's our hope that the open source community is able to usher in a new era of webOS software and devices, but for the moment, this is where we must pause and honor the all too brief journey of webOS and its final three.

Motorola Droid 4 review

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 04:30 PM PST

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. For a phone that single-handedly resuscitated the business prospects of its parent company, gave a much-needed boost to Google's fledgling Android and finally added a compelling product to Verizon's lineup, the Droid can't get no respect. Initially billed as the anti-iPhone, the OG flagship embodied an aggressively tech for tech's sake design ethos, with its masculine, hard-edged build, geeky OS and Lucasfilm licensed moniker.

That was all once upon a time. Now, two years later and sucked of its disruptive significance, the only legacy remaining for the red-eyed Droid franchise is its brand equity and QWERTY slider appeal. Aside from BlackBerry addicts, most consumers appear none too chuffed to see those slide-out keypads become the stuff of mobile lore, and instead prefer those increasingly ubiquitous slabs (namely, of the 4.3-inch-and-up persuasion). So, where did it all go wrong? Why is the Droid 4, now imbued with LTE, getting the B-list treatment? Does a $200 price tag and a host of minor spec bumps (a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 1.3 megapixel front-facer and beefier 1,785mAh battery) merit another spin around the two-year contract pole? Head on past the break to see whether this former trailblazer can still do what it's namesake robot supposedly does.
Motorola Droid 4 review


Hardware


Remember the lip? Long live the lip because it's sadly been erased. That signature design quirk, which stuck out as evidence of the keypad tucked below, has been replaced by an uninterrupted face, and those odd corners Moto ushered in with the Droid RAZR. Love it or hate it, that fresh (albeit jarring) build is sweeping the manufacturer's device portfolio, so it's best you make peace with it now. And so, with the launch of the Droid 4, it's clear the company's making a clean break from the traditions of the past. This device lacks any of the cutting-edge specs and "thin is in" appeal used to lure consumers in droves. Seemingly constructed with the enterprise user in mind, the phone manages to be both shockingly large and surprisingly comfortable to hold. Need a bit of convincing? At 127 x 67.3 x 12.7mm (5.0 x 2.65 x 0.5 inches), the unit's about 1 - 2mm thicker than its predecessor, in addition to being taller and wider. It's also managed to pack on some additional heft, weighing nearly 0.5 ounces heavier as compared to the Droid 3.
So, about that full body lift. Gone are the rubberized backing and polished metal frame that made the Droid 3 so familiar to users. In their place, a texturized, all-plastic encasement. Moto's PR team claims the "Droid 4 is pretty," but we beg to differ. While we won't outright denounce its construction as appalling, it is easily dismissed; a case of form fitting function. It's not necessarily a minus, as this device feels reassuringly solid and weighty in hand, mitigating any concerns that it might accidentally slip from your grasp. Also conspicuously absent in this refresh is that hitherto mandatory "with Google" branding, though unfortunately Verizon's logos (4G LTE, as well) are still present. We're not exactly the betting type, but we'd wager that omission of Mountain View inside has a little something to do with a certain pending merger. As for what lies beneath, well, we regret to inform you that access to those internals requires a "key." Yes, rather than simply allow users to slide off the phone's backplate, a special (and easily lost) plastic piece is needed that, when combined with physical force, reveals a non-removable 1,785mAh battery, microSIM and an empty microSD slot. We should point out that with considerable manual effort, you will have success in prying it free sans included tool.

Considering this dual-core handset's being quietly targeted at the business set, the phone cuts a rather staid figure, with its grooved posterior broken up only by an 8-megapixel / 1080p camera up top, and a sliver of a speaker on the lower left. Moving around to the front face, the 1.3 megapixel camera is positioned to the right of the smallish ear piece, itself sitting just above Motorola's logo. Fans of unblemished frames won't find a neat collection of ports and buttons here. On the Droid 4, it seems, if there's empty space, it must be occupied. And so, each side plays host to a specific function, with the mic below the screen, micro-USB and HDMI sockets on the left and a volume rocker on the upper right, in addition to the 3.5mm headphone jack and flimsy power button on its head. There's no dedicated camera key to be found, but that's probably for the best, given the power button's tendency to get stuck in its slot.

Usually when companies lock certain specs in place, it's a testament to not fixing what isn't broken. On the other hand, when that hardware detail happens to be a 4-inch, 960 x 540 PenTile LCD display, we're tempted to call it laziness. If you're possessed of a keen eye and meticulous attention to detail, then the poor contrast and low pixel density offered by the Droid 4's screen should prove to be a major turn-off. Out in broad daylight, even with brightness set to the maximum, we found ourselves continually shielding the phone so as to render its contents readable. This became particularly bothersome where photo-taking is concerned, as we were never quite able to tell what was being framed by the camera's viewfinder. Tilt slightly away from the phone and immediately you'll notice an apparent wash out, although viewing angles didn't take as drastic a hit.

Keyboard

Of course, the shining and defining star of the Droid 4 is its QWERTY slider. It's here that we truly see an investment in improved user experience on Motorola's end. The slide-out pad is, quite simply, one of the best available on the market. Fans of the OG Droid's terribly flat and difficult-to-master setup have been treated to marginally better layouts with each successive iteration. But this newest entry takes the formula employed by last year's model and makes it much more intuitive. The same raised, slightly curved, well-spaced plastic buttons permeate the keyboard across five rows, with the uppermost reserved solely for numbers. While directional keys are present, shortcuts for Android navigation are absent. But we're guessing most users will naturally reach above to manipulate the capacitive buttons, anyway. A soft backlight, triggered by an ambient sensor, surrounds the base of each individual key, which should make texting or emailing in the dark a non-issue for power users.

Functioning much the way it always has, the slider mechanism is, as before, stiff and missing that comforting snap to lock. That said, it does give off the impression of durability, so we'll err on the side of Moto's design choice here. Once opened, the phone instantly resorts to landscape mode and a mere button press triggers Google's search app, listing whatever contacts or apps that match your entered text. Swype does come pre-installed, so if you happen to tire of physical buttons, you can always opt for that alternative touch option. Given the intrinsic QWERTY nature of the Droid line, however, we don't anticipate you'll make much use of that software.

Software

To call it MotoBlur would be a slap in the face to this less offensive Android UX. Though it's far from the stock Ice Cream Sandwich pastures we're confident the company will adopt post-Google merger (and hopefully port to this handset), it's still a software overlay, however benign. Moto's own PR team makes nary a mention of what was previously referred to as its Application Platform -- a fancier term for skin -- which does its best here to be as inobtrusive as possible, delivering a consistent experience that should be recognizable to fans of the company's latest phones. As you may have guessed, this 2012 device runs Gingerbread (version 2.3.6, to be exact), so if you're holding your breath for that planned ICS update, prepare to turn blue by summer's start.

You're still given access to the same five homescreens, but, sadly, there's no ability to reduce or add to that real estate as needed, although you can customize the dock. Even the app drawer's remained unchanged, displaying the entirety of the phone's app collection or sorting it by user preference. As you might expect, the Droid 4 ships with pre-installed bloat a plenty -- Verizon's contributions alone amount to 13 -- with the spread of third-party software ranging from the useful (Twitter, Netflix, Amazon Kindle) to unnecessary (Let's Golf 2, Slacker, Slingbox). Not one to be left out, Motorola's also crammed its own dedicated applications onto the device's 8GB of storage, the most helpful of which is Smart Actions, an intelligent system that learns users' habits and adjusts settings to optimize battery life. Enterprise customers will be happy to note that the Droid 4 comes loaded with Citrix Receiver for Android, a feature accessible only in webtop mode via an optional 10- or 14-inch lapdock.

Performance and battery life

Aided by its dual-core 1.2GHz processor and generous 1GB of RAM, the Droid 4 zips along without faltering. While transitions between screens, as well as in and out of apps can take a tick too long to complete for our liking, we're sure that has more to do with the UX's own animations than any real performance hiccup. Indeed, the 4-inch screen is incredibly responsive, evincing a careful balance of touch recognition that's neither overly sensitive nor stubborn. Call us creatures of habit, but we noticed our own tendency to unconsciously rely on the phone's superb touch controls, rather than its fine-tuned keypad. Could that be a sign of these mobile times? Well, yes and no. Not all smartphone screens are made equal and the Droid 4 just happens to benefit from this particular performance tweak.

When it comes to benchmark testing, our dear Droid 4 wasn't able to overtake its flashier RAZR-thin cousin, but did eke out a few victories nonetheless. Leaving the higher-clocked Galaxy S II's near-pervasive dominance out of this, Moto's bulky slider scored a tie, toppling its svelte stablemate in Linpack single-thread with a score of 52 and NenaMark 1 and 2 topping out at 53.3 fps and 27.9 fps. Results for Quadrant and SunSpider make it appear as if the Droid 4 is marginally less able, but the RAZR wins by an awfully miniscule margin.

Droid 4 Droid RAZR Galaxy S II (unlocked)
Quadrant 2,755 2,798 3,200
Linpack (single-thread) 52 50 55
Linpack (multi-thread) 81.8 95.6 81
Nenamark1 53.3 50.3 59.8
Nenamark2 27.9 27.5 49.1
Neocore 58.2 59.9 59.8
SunSpider 9.1 2,158 2,140 3,369

As much as we would've liked to see the Droid RAZR Maxx's profile-fattening 3,300mAh battery built-in to the Droid 4, we're perfectly at ease with the 1,785mAh provided. Notorious though LTE may be for chipping away at charges, the allotted amount of non-removable juice should serve to get you through a day, at most, with moderate to light usage. Call upon the powers of Big Red's 4G network too consistently and you're sure to see that longevity take a severe dip. For a more concrete indication of this phone's battery performance, we played a single video in a continuous loop with brightness set to 50 percent, Twitter syncing at 15 minute intervals and one push email account active. Much to our delight, the Droid 4 lasted seven hours and 15 minutes, a considerable leap over the Droid RAZR's unworkable five-hour threshold.

Verizon's LTE network is no longer the sparsely-visited spectrum it was back in the days of the Thunderbolt and, as such, is subject to heavier traffic demands in New York City. So, it's understandable that previously accessible speeds hovering around the high 20s and 30s aren't as prevalent. Still, Big Red's 4G is reasonably fast, reaching max speeds of 21Mbps up and 12Mbps and averaging 12Mbps to 19Mbps down and 8Mbps to 9Mbps down in our time testing the handset.

Camera

Of the Droid 4's dual cameras, only its front-facer has received a spec bump from VGA to a 720p-capable 1.3 megapixels. Where its rear shooter is concerned, that module retains its 8-megapixel ancestry, offering up a bevy of scene modes (portrait, landscape, etc.) and shooting options (panorama, multi and timer), in addition to effects filters. The camera performs admirably well when faced with optimal lighting conditions (read: bright sunlight), snapping photos with exceptional detail, depth of field and contrast. Attempt to take similar shots under fluorescent lights indoors or even in dim environments and a noticeable loss of quality will be evident in still shots. Users can hone in on an intended object simply by tapping on screen, however, we noticed the sensor would occasionally continue to readjust without cease. This became increasingly problematic when attempting to take macro shots, with the focus consistently skewing to the noise in the background.


Video captured in full 1080p HD was above average, though nowhere near as pristine as you'd hope, appearing slightly grainy in playback with a noticeable jitter and lacking the ability to continually autofocus on the moving scenery. Considering we were standing in the midst of a busy downtown New York City intersection, recorded audio came across crisply and clearly, with overall image reflecting the same vibrancy of color and depth as noted above.
Motorola Droid 4 sample shots


Wrap-up

Tailored less for trend-seeking consumers and more for power users (or prosumers), Moto's QWERTY flagship hits a handful of high marks, offering up one of the best physical keyboards on the market, access to Verizon's 4G LTE speeds, a responsive touchscreen and suitable battery life to accompany the demands of on-the-go productivity -- all for $200 on a two-year contract. Clearly, this is not the OG Droid of old -- just take a glance at that redesigned shell -- that led many first-timers into Android's fold, but it doesn't appear Moto wants it to be anymore. In fact, there's no longer a need for the vanilla Droid line to push Andy Rubin's baby forward. That heavy lifting has now been relegated to Google's suite of Nexus devices.

As it stands, the Droid 4 marries two concentrated markets: consumers clamoring for physical keyboards and the enterprise set. It may seem like only yesterday that IT departments across the globe depended solely upon RIM's server encryption and hardware for mobile enterprise solutions and portrait QWERTYs were all the rage. But the business times, they have undoubtedly changed, upending the tidy tea table established by BlackBerry for the newly pasteurized innards of Apple's iPhone and Google's vast array of Android handsets. Sparked by this "bring your own device" revolution, companies likes Motorola have adapted their strategies, repurposing existing product lines for more pragmatic, niche demos. Which is precisely how the formerly hallowed Droid brand came to this unassuming stage in its natural product evolution. Whether or not your own personal mobile savvy has outgrown it remains to be seen.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Amazon prepares Kindle Touch for April launch in Japan?

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 04:04 PM PST

Amazon readies Kindle offensive for Japan, teams up with NTT DoCoMo

According to one of Japan's big dailies, The Nikkei, Amazon will attempt to brave the tricky e-reader waters of Japan, aiming to launch its Kindle Touch as the flagship device in April. The newspaper reports that the device will land for less than 20,000 yen ($260), teaming up with Japanese mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo for 3G access to the Kindle's online store, gratis. Amazon hopes that the device's very competitive pricing, at least in comparison to existing 3G-friendly e-readers, will make in-roads to the notoriously frosty Japanese e-reader market. It will also bring Amazon's e-readers to the home turf of one of its biggest rivals; Rakuten.

FCC Fridays: February 10, 2012

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 03:45 PM PST

We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there individually, we've gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!

Phones
Tablets and peripherals

Engadget Podcast 280 - 02.10.2012

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 02:39 PM PST

You can pretend you care about cameras, tablets, and browsers all you want. But we'll still know you're here for the Lazer Tag news.

Host: Brian Heater, Dana Wollman, Terrence O'brien
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Orbital - Never

00:02:35 - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review (global edition)




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Mattel Apptivity hands-on (video)

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 02:10 PM PST

Mattel thinks it has the secret to succeeding where so many others have failed in bridging that divide between the virtual and the physical -- and it might be right. While plenty of other toy companies have tried pairing hunks of plastic with apps in the past, Mattel has gone the extra mile, incorporating its recognizable brands and partnering with top tier developers. Later this year the company will launch Apptivity, a line of toys made from conductive plastic that interact with iPad games -- some which you're already quite familiar with, like Cut the Rope, Fruit Ninja and, of course, Angry Birds. The games will get an update when the toys hit the market with new features and play modes specifically designed to utilize the physical pieces. Other brands, including WWE, Batman and Hot Wheels will also be part of the first batch of toys designed to be played with on your iPad screen.

None of the apps or the toys themselves were quite ready for prime time yet, but Hot Wheels, WWE, Fruit Ninja and Cut the Rope were all at least playable. The Apptivity mode in Cut the Rope and Fruit Ninja are pretty intuitive, but it took a bit of practice to get the hang of Hot Wheels. We had trouble finding the sweet spot on the screen that kept our car speeding along while leaving room to see upcoming obstacles. The line of toys will launch exclusively in Apple Stores in May with Hot Wheels (which will cost $20), followed by the rest in July. Check out the gallery below and the video after the break for a few more impressions.
Mattel Apptivity hands-on

Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

AT&T doubling its upgrade fee to $36 on February 12th (update: confirmed)

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 01:52 PM PST

What do you do after reporting "blow-out" earnings and instituting larger, pricier, data plans? If you're AT&T, why not go for the jugular by doubling upgrade fees? Per the above leaked memo, that's exactly what Ma Bell plans to do come February 12th, upping the existing $18 fee to a new high of $36. That might sound familiar, as it's much in the same vein as cross-town rival Sprint, who went through the same kerfuffle back in September. We've pinged AT&T about the price hike and will update when we hear back.

Update: AT&T sent us the following statement confirming the increase:

Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee. This fee isn't unique to AT&T and this is the first time we're changing it in nearly 10 years.



[Thanks, Anonymous]

Barbie gets a camera implant to snap photos in style, we go hands-on

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 01:28 PM PST

Speechless? We can't blame you and, although this fashionable shooter might not be up your alley, we're willing to bet your kids -- or any other young member of the fam -- would snatch her up in a heartbeat. Dubbed Barbie Photo Fashion, she might not be too computer savvy or a filmmaker, but this stylish doll's got traits of her own to flaunt. Photo Barbie's carrying a 5-megapixel camera between her shoulder blades and a thumb-size LCD in her synthetic guts. She's got 15 built-in effects to give your pics a little sweet spice too. Speaking of, the $50 Barbie holds up to 100 shots and is powered by a rechargeable battery that should give you enough juice to get through a few sessions. When it's time to charge up or unload your images, just jack into her tramp stamp mini USB port. Barbie was kind enough to join our photoshoot, so hit up the gallery below to check out the rest of the shots.
Barbie gets a camera implant to snap photos in style, we go hands-on

Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.

Hertz charges into EV Plugless Power pilot program, can't say it three times fast

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 12:58 PM PST

Hertz has been offering up electric vehicles amongst its fleet of rental cars, and now it's getting ready to pull the plug. The company is teaming with Evatran to test out the those cool little Plugless Power discs, installing some at its corporate headquarters this month. Hertz, along with a number of other companies will be logging "feedback on daily usage routines, user interfaces, and any additional functionality needed." No word on when such technology might see wider distribution.
Show full PR text
HERTZ FIRST TO TRIAL WIRELESS EV RECHARGING

The Hertz Corporation (NYSE:HTZ) and Hertz Global EV is implementing the first wireless charging system for electric vehicles (EVs) in the car rental industry. Hertz has the most diverse fleet of EVs for both rental and carshare.

"Hertz is committed to its Global EV program, introducing electric vehicles into our rental fleet on three continents – North America, Asia and Europe," commented Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We're excited to participate in Plugless Power's pilot program so that we can be on the ground floor of this new technology; learning key findings about EV wireless charging. As we move forward our goal is to have a variety of charging options for EV customer use, aligned with the charging equipment installed by EV manufacturers."

The trial, the first of its kind in the world, will help to establish the United States as the EV market leader. The trial will follow Hertz, and leaders from five other industry segments, as they trial Plugless Power systems on their own electric vehicles. Participants will provide feedback on daily usage routines, user interfaces, and any additional functionality needed. The Plugless Power system is supplied by Evatran based in Virginia.

Installation at Hertz's corporate headquarters will be completed in February 2012.

Hertz is the first car-rental company to deploy EVs and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric) on three continents -- in the U.S. (available to the public in New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco), the U.K. (available in London), and China (available in Shanghai). As the world's largest airport general-use car-rental brand, Hertz is introducing multiple groups of consumers – urban drivers, university students, travelers and corporations – to all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As a result, the company is forming partnerships with automakers, charging-station providers (e.g., GE), municipalities, non-governmental organizations, corporations and other stakeholders to make EVs easily accessible to consumers.

Hertz plans to increase its global EV presence by deploying vehicles in other countries in the coming months. Hertz Global EV will continue to leverage the company's rental and car sharing locations as bases for vehicles and charging stations, and tap into its technology – including sophisticated fleet management tools and consumer-facing GPS systems, including Hertz NeverLost in the U.S. – to help form an EV grid.

Plugless Power™, developed by Evatran™, is the first electric vehicle (EV) charging system on the market to offer customers a simple way to charge their EVs with the ease of hands-free technology. Utilizing inductive power transfer, which has been used in electrical transformers for more than 100 years, Plugless Power streamlines the charging of electric vehicles by eliminating the cord and the plug. In addition to aftermarket distribution, Evatran is currently working with automotive manufacturers to integrate the Plugless Power technology into mass-market EVs as a factory or dealership option. For more information, visit www.pluglesspower.com.

Apple sues Motorola over Qualcomm license, makes us dream of a world without lawyers

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 12:11 PM PST

There are literally no words (at least no family-friendly ones) to describe the insanity that is the ongoing legal war between practically every player in the mobile scene. You can't lay the blame entirely at Cupertino's stoop either -- Motorola, HTC and Samsung all deserve plenty of our ire as well. The tablet and smartphone industry appears to be trying to sue itself out of existence, and Apple's filing today against Motorola Mobility in the US District Court of Southern California is just latest in a long line of legal ploys likely to inspire you to slam your head against a wall. The purveyors of all things "i" has accused Moto of breaching a licensing contract with Qualcomm when Moto hit Apple with four patent claims in Germany. That license covers wireless technology Qualcomm uses in its MDM6610 chip, and also purportedly covers Qualcomm's customers who purchase and use said chips. Naturally, that bit of silicon is a component in the iPhone 4S, so Apple argues that it's safe under the terms of the contract. Furthermore, Cupertino claims Motorola is barred from suing under the doctrine of exhaustion -- which is a legal defense that once a patented item is sold (i.e. when Moto licensed its technology to Qualcomm), the patentee's control over that item is exhausted and it can't sue anyone else for infringement.

So, this new suit filed in San Diego seeks to prevent Motorola from enforcing its claims in Deutschland. It also aims to keep Motorola from suing Apple for its use of Qualcomm components incorporating licensed Moto technology anywhere else. Confused? We won't lie, we are a little bit too, but all is revealed in the complaint found at the source link below.

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Posted: 10 Feb 2012 11:50 AM PST

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February 10, 2012 5:00 PM EST

Eurocom Panther 4.0 is the mirror universe's version of an Ultrabook

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 11:27 AM PST

Eurocom, like its chassis-brethren Maingear and Clevo, just lives to jam over-sized Sandy Bridge E hardware into mumpsy laptops. Find yourself in front of the Panther 4.0 and you'll be staring into a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 display (you can choose between matte, glossy and 3D) as you work or game away on a choice of GeForce GTX 580M, Quadro 5010M or Radeon HD 6990M graphics kit. There's space for four terabytes of SATA 3.0 storage and 32GB of RAM. It's weighing in at 12.1lbs, so a quick warning to anyone whose muscles have atrophied with excessive Ultrabook usage: it's wise to do some reps down at the gym. When it arrives in March, it'll cost you $2649 for the base model -- from there, you can upgrade as far as your wallet / procurement budget will allow.
Eurocom Panther 4.0 Press Images
Eurocom Panther 4.0 Press Images
Show full PR text
Eurocom launches Panther 4.0: the world's most powerful Super-Notebook powered by Intel X79 Sandy Bridge-E Core Logic and Core i7 Extreme 3960X; RAID 0/1/5/10 and with SLI and CrossFireX support

Eurocom, a developer of long lifespan, fully upgradable Notebooks, high performance Mobile Workstations and Mobile Servers, introduced the EUROCOM Panther 4.0 Mobile Workstation, Mobile Server and Gaming Station powered by Intel's newest line of 6 core, 12 thread, 130W desktop Intel Core i7-3960X Processor Extreme edition based on the Intel X79 Express Chipset Sandy Bridge-E architecture.

EUROCOM PANTHER 4.0 provides workstation-calibre performance, powerful graphics capabilities and high performance storage with four physical storage drives, two being SATA 600, two being SATA 300 and RAID 0/1/5/10. Super powerful Intel Core i7, i7 Extreme and next generation Intel Xeon processors are supported for high-end computing wherever work takes place.

The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 is built with an ultra heavy duty design for unintentional abuse while on the go. It is a fully upgradeable system with support for the best in mobile technology. For security purposes the Panther 4.0 comes equipped with a Trusted Platform Module, Fingerprint reader and Kensington lock port. This assures the data on professionals Panther 4.0 is not compromised. The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 has a 17.3" full HD 1920x1080 display. Customers can choose between Matte, Glossy or 3D displays.

The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 comes with an illuminate backlit full size keyboard with numeric keypad. The backlit keyboard helps to increase usability in dim lighting conditions, to ensure operators can see the keyboard in nearly any environment.

Featuring modular VGA technology based on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M GPUs, or NVIDIA Quadro 5010M running in Single or Dual SLI (Scalable Link Interface) Video Technology mode or AMD Radeon HD 6990M running in single or Dual CrossFireX mode. The Panther 4.0 also features the largest storage capacity on the market today – a whopping 4TB with RAID 0/1/5/10 - making it the perfect laptop for users who demand extra-large capacity storage and reliability for true portable workstation-calibre or server experience.

At the core of the Panther 4.0, users can choose between multiple graphics cards: the NVIDIA GeForce 580M with 384 CUDA cores and 2 GB of GDDR5 VRAM for high-performance PC gaming, NVIDIA Quadro 5010M with 4GB of VRAM or the AMD Radeon HD 6990M with 2 GB VRAM for those looking for a high-performance workstation class performance. Users can additionally select a choice of a single graphics card or two in NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFireX mode for the ultimate in gaming performance and image quality. With the fastest NVIDIA GeForce notebook GPUs in NVIDIA SLI mode, NVIDIA Quadro GPU or AMD Radeon GPU this new graphics powerhouse is the ultimate mobile gaming and workstation machine.

For the hardcore PC user (gamer or engineer alike), this means the EUROCOM PANTHER 4.0 provides blistering fast response times that are sure to turn heads.

EUROCOM PANTHER 4.0 support all of the latest ISV workstation applications in a wide range of vertical segments, from Computer Aided Design (i.e AutoCad), Computer Aided Manufacturing (ie. Pro/Engineer), Computer Aided Engineering (i.e. SolidWorks) to Geographic Information Systems (i.e. ESRI ArcGIS) and Digital Content Creation (i.e. Discreet 3DS MAX).

Driving the system is Intel Core i7 3960X Processor Extreme Edition running at up to 3.9 GHz with 15MB of L3 cache, which delivers exceptional high-def multimedia, multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance. It also supports the newest line of Intel Core i7 processors and next generation Intel Xeon Processors. These high-performance CPUs allow users to simultaneously run multiple
applications at the same time -- all with increased performance. Up to 32GB of superfast DDR3-1600 SODIMM memory is also supported via four channels.

The Panther 4.0, which measures 16.76" x 11.44" x 2.31" and weights 12.1lbs, also supplies tremendous SATA-600 storage (up to 4TB using four storage drives), allowing users to save more of their favourite photos, music, games, and more, as well as headroom to install additional office and entertainment applications. Customers may also choose between RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 10 for the ultimate transfer rates and application load times or redundancy.

"It's a workstation-caliber PC complete with Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) in a notebook form factor," said Mark Bialic, President of Eurocom. "It may be large, but this is one extremely fast notebook that replaces desktop based workstation with over 1 hour of built-in UPS battery."
Additional features include: 2MP FHD webcam; Bluetooth and WLAN; built-in 10/100/1000Mb Base-TX Ethernet LAN (Intel 82579V); Backlit Keyboard, and THX TruStudio Pro audio system for a truly immersive experience.

Core Logic
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 supports the desktop Intel X79 Express Chipset. The Intel X79 chipset provides support for the 2nd Generation Intel Core i7 processor family in the LGA 2011 socket. Intel Rapid Storage Technology enterprise 3.0 (Intel® RSTe 3.0) enables the full Serial ATA (SATA) interface speed of up to 6 Gb/s to support next-generation Solid State Drives (SSDs) and traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). Offers up to 5 GT/s for fast access to peripheral devices and networking. Next-generation high-speed storage interface supporting up to 6 Gb/s transfer rates for optimal data access with up to 2 SATA ports.
• Desktop Intel X79 Express Chipset
• Texas Instruments TI XI02221ZAY Firewire-400 chipset - Firewire:IC TPM SLB9635TT
• Built-in 10/100/1000Mb Base-TX Ethernet LAN (Intel 82579V)
• USB 3.0:IC TI USB3.0 HOST CONTROLLER TUSB7340
• Audio:IC AUDIO POWER AMPLIFER TPA6017A2PWPR

Processor
The Eurocom Panther 4.0 supports complete line of Intel LGA2011 processors , consisting of Intel Core i7, Intel Core i7 Extreme and Xeon processors. The three types of processors offer customers various levels of computing capabilities. The Panther 4.0 is the world's first Sandy Bridge-E notebook with a full X79 chipset using the LGA2011 socket.

VGA Technologies
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 Super-Notebook supports an MXM 3.0b interface with the ability to support two 100W GPUs in CrossFireX and SLI. The newest and most powerful AMD Radeon, NVIDIA GeForce and NVIDIA Quadro graphics processors are supported to give Eurocom customers the ultimate flexibility to customize their Panther 4.0 into the ultimate Gaming System, Professional Mobile Workstation or CUDA development system. 3D is supported with NVIDIA GeForce GPUs on the Panther 4.0's display. Eurocom offers Quad buffered stereo support in quad buffered stereo applications with 3D stereoscopic glasses, 3D displays and NVIDIA Quadro high end solutions. The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 comes complete with a built in emitter. The 120Hz 3D signal is outputted to an external monitor via DVI-DL (DVI Dual Link) port.

Storage
Like its predecessor, the Panther 4.0 has support for four Solid State, Hard Disk or Hybrid storage drives and RAID 0/1/5/10 availability. With support for four 1TB hard drives, the Panther 4.0 is able to offer 4 terabytes of storage. RAID 0/1/5/10 gives users the ultimate in performance or redundancy. SSD drives in particular will benefit from the use of the SATA6Gbp/s standard available on 2 ports, eliminating bottlenecks for the fastest SSD drives. The Panther 4.0 will support larger capacity disks as they become available due to the features of the new UEFI BIOS.

Display
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 has three choices of 17.3" Full HD 16:9, 1920x1080 displays, with choices of Matte, Glossy and 120Hz 3D matte.

Memory
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 uses quad channel memory, and enables the Panther 4.0 to initially support up to 32GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM via four 8GB SODIMM 204 pin modules. With such massive amounts of RAM available, the Panther 4.0 becomes a great tool for virtualization and server class environments.

Security
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 is an enterprise class Mobile Workstation system for professionals creating, studying and manipulating sensitive data, because of this security is essential. Eurocom equipped the Panther 4.0 with a Trusted Platform Module 1.2 (TPM), finger print reader and Kensington lock port.

I/O Ports
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 comes standard with 16 ports for a plethora of connectivity options.
• 3 x USB 3.0 ports (1 x powered USB port)
• 2 x USB 2.0 ports
• 1 x eSATA port (powered USB3.0 (AC/DC) combo)
• 1 x Mini IEEE 1394b port
• 1 x Display port (Reversion depends on Video Controller)
• 1 x DVI-I output port (Single link)
• 1 x HDMI 1.4a output port (with HDCP)
• 1 x Headphone jack
• 1 x Microphone jack
• 1 x S/PDIF output jack
• 1 x Line-in jack
• 1 x RJ-45 LAN port
• 1 x DC-in jack

Expansion
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 supports ExpressCard 54/34 for external and extra I/O ports as well as Magma ExpressBox expansion. One MiniCard slot for WLAN Combo Half size Mini Card with PCIe and USB interface is also supported. A user can transform their Panther 4.0 simply by adding the right PCI express card to a Magma ExpressBox and then connecting it to a laptop through an Expresscard54/34 module and cable. Magma ExpressBox1 allows a user to move half-length, heat-generating, or power hungry PCI Express cards outside the computer by providing dedicated power and cooling in an external enclosure

Audio system
The EUROCOM Panther 4.0 is great for mobile audio and video reproduction. It is an ideal compliment to an entertainment system as THX Trustudio technology allows for complete control of an in home audio system. THX Trustudio allows Eurocom customers to enhance music and movies to make them sound livelier, enhance the sound quality and bass of any speaker system, and control the level of audio immersion in music, movies and games. External 7.1 channel audio output is supported by headphone, microphone, S/PDIF and Line-in jack. For on the go audio enjoyment the Panther 4.0 comes equipped with five speakers and one 3 watt subwoofer.

About Eurocom:
Eurocom is a leading developer of long lifespan, fully upgradable notebooks, high performance mobile workstations and mobile servers since 1989. The company has produced many firsts and continues to engineer computer systems and VGA solutions that inspire and enable individuals and companies to reach great possibilities. Eurocom has been a leading innovator in the mobile computer industry since 1989, is currently the only developer in the world offering a Mobile Server solution along with a full line of Mobile Workstation supporting RAID 0/1/5/10 with up to 4 hard drives. For more information on Eurocom please visit (www.eurocom.com).

Master Moves Mickey hands-on: challenges Bieber and TOSY to dance-off (video)

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 10:59 AM PST

Beethoven's Fifth or Michelangelo's Pietà it's not but, while Master Moves Mickey can't stand as a cornerstone of civilization, it can certainly throw down on the dance floor. The b-boy bot has a speaker hidden under its garb that kicks out the jams while this mechanical mouse break dances its little Disney trademarked heart out. He's got 15 different signature moves, carefully choreographed to eight different built-in tunes and loads of personality thanks to a collection of self-depreciating one-liners ready in case he loses his balance. And all this legendary performer needs to keep earning his urban cred is a six AA batteries, oh, and your money -- $70 of it to be specific. Master Moves Mickey should be hitting shelves in August. Check out the video after the break.

Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

at 11:54 AM

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