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- Onlive Desktop comes to Android tablets, brings Microsoft Office along for the ride
- EU: Google's new privacy policy breaches European law
- Hands-on demo with TI's OMAP5 platform at MWC (video)
- Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast MWC edition, live now!
- AT&T announces throttling changes, now kicks in at 3GB or 5GB for LTE
- Texas Instruments dual WiFi module lets your tablet connect to your TV and the web simultaneously (hands-on)
- Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle gets an ICS update, we swing by for a taste (video)
- HTC One X hits the FCC bound for AT&T
- Sprint's Kyocera DuraPlus coming March 11th for $70, hopes you like it tough
- More specs of the Acer CloudMobile revealed, we take a second look (video)
- Apple wins injunction against Motorola in Germany
- nSquared's seamless computing ties Windows, Surface and iPads (video)
- Roccat unveils Savu hybrid gaming mouse ready for CeBIT
- ZTE throws weight behind WiGig, because the real fun happens at 60GHz
- Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on
- Redbox deal with Universal keeps DVDs, Blu-rays on 28-day delay through 2014
- Hands-on with wireless, ultrasonic stylus and touchless gestures at MWC (video)
- Konka Falcon 3G hands-on
- Polaroid's Pro smartphone series hands-on
- The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection finally brings the entire set home in HD this fall
- Polaroid Spectrum tablet family hands-on
- Hands-on with Nokia Asha 202, 203 and 302 at MWC (video)
- Google Android booth at MWC 2012: smoothies, robots, slides, oh my! (video)
- Currys launches 'Knowhow Movies' VOD service / money-pit
- AMD absorbs server startup SeaMicro for $330 million, says it's no impulse buy
- Galaxy S II does work and personal phone duties at once with Telefonica's Dual Persona service
- Foursquare.com checks in with OpenStreetMap, checks out of Google Maps API
- Sprint and Code Factory team up to deliver free Android accessibility app
- Withings Baby Monitor makes its official, expensive US debut
- Eric Schmidt yaks it up at MWC, talks about the future like it's 1955
- Verizon lets loose its stance on locked bootloaders in letter to the FCC
- Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)
- Microsoft's Windows 8 Preview event videos now available
- Caption Contest: Mario stops by for a surprise visit
- iRobot reorganizes, forms new unit focused on Ava and other emerging technologies
- Lytro pre-orders start shipping, infinite focusing now within reach
- Mini quadrotors play Bond, James Bond (video)
- MLB at Bat 2012 app out for iDevices and Android, brings in-app monthly subscriptions to iOS
- SwiftKey launches SDK, phones and tablets get more predictable
- Paint3D app promises to let you sketch and print 3D models straight from Android
| Onlive Desktop comes to Android tablets, brings Microsoft Office along for the ride Posted: 01 Mar 2012 10:08 AM PST  Good news today for Android tablet owners with OnLive Desktop envy: the cloud-based service, which recently hit the iPad, is coming to select tablets running Gingerbread and higher. The app uses the company's remote gaming technology to bring a number of desktop apps to the tablet, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Reader. It comes in a number flavor, including free, Desktop Plus ($4.99), Dekstop Pro (starting at $9.99) and an enterprise version. OnLive Desktop'll work with Acer Iconia Tab A500, ASUS Eee TF101, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 and HTC Jetstream. More info after the jump.
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| EU: Google's new privacy policy breaches European law Posted: 01 Mar 2012 09:46 AM PST  |
| Hands-on demo with TI's OMAP5 platform at MWC (video) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 09:23 AM PST  It's TI's time to brag. We first met OMAP5 when the company's VP of the OMAP division, Remi El-Ouazzane, unveiled the developer's reference platform on our stage at CES. While there, he boasted OMAP5 as "the greatest platform on Earth right now," but we were given only a few insights into the platform's capabilities. Now, TI is back with a new wave of demos that better show the prowess of OMAP5 -- a system-on-chip design that houses a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU clocked at just 800MHz, two Cortex-M4 cores for low-power processes, along with a PowerVR SGX 544 GPU that handles 3D compositions, and a number of accelerators such as TI's IVA-HD, which supports both video encoding and decoding and plays 1080p video at a whopping 60fps. We were shown a demo of all these capabilities humming in unison on a 1080p display, along with a complex HTML5 mashup that adds credence to the company's latest benchmark report. Photography geeks should know the system supports up to 14 megapixel cameras, and is able to process ten shots per second at that setting. We're told to expect devices based on the OMAP5 platform by the end of the year, and if you're anything like us, it's going to be one hell of a wait. Hop the break for the demo. |
| Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast MWC edition, live now! Posted: 01 Mar 2012 09:01 AM PST  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| AT&T announces throttling changes, now kicks in at 3GB or 5GB for LTE Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:45 AM PST  |
| Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:21 AM PST  We took the tech for a spin using one of TI's development platform tablets and an external WiFi dongle (shipping versions will be integrated), and everything worked as described, though the video stream was noticeably choppy and compressed. TI reps explained that they dialed down the bitrate in order to maintain a connection at the MWC expo hall, which, as you might imagine, probably had a wireless signal density greater than any other room in the world. The tablet we saw was running a very slick context-aware UI that displays one of three home screens based on your current location -- there's one for work (that displays your calendar), one for home (media and home automation controls) and another for travel (restaurant reviews and weather). Pushing content from the tablet to the TV seemed to be seamless, and while both the UI and wireless functionality may appear to be ready to make their way into your home, TI isn't making any announcements about availability. There's no need to wait for a teaser, however, which you'll find just past the break. |
| Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle gets an ICS update, we swing by for a taste (video) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:50 AM PST  Always Innovating isn't feeling inspired enough to take the lead on manufacturing, instead licensing the technology to third parties, but with some agreements signed and others on the way, this ICS solution on a stick may be hitting stores just in time to become this holiday season's ultimate stocking stuffer. Pricing is of course up to the manufacturers, but TI reps suggested that we might see these things pop up later this year in the $50-99 range, finally making Google on every TV a much more reasonable proposition. Care to take a gander at this stick-based wunderkind? Jump past the break for our hands-on. |
| HTC One X hits the FCC bound for AT&T Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:27 AM PST  |
| Sprint's Kyocera DuraPlus coming March 11th for $70, hopes you like it tough Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:07 AM PST  Exactly one month after unveiling this Military 810G-approved ruggedized handset, Sprint's stamping an official release date and price on it. Those of you who don't appreciate delicate swiping-and-tapping will be able to grab Kyocera's new DuraPlus for a mere $70 -- after a $50 mail-in rebate and with the standard two-year signing -- on March 11th. The device is the newest addition to the rugged Dura family, joining the likes of the DuraMax and DuraCore. To give you a quick brain-refresh, the DuraPlus can take a dive down to three feet underwater and stay submerged for about half an hour. It can withstand dust, shock and "extreme temperatures" while also giving you access to those Now Network bits you're so fond of: Direct and Group Connect. Now, be sure to send us those drop test vids if you buy one -- we have all day for that stuff. Kyocera DuraPlus Available to Sprint Customers March 11 Kyocera DuraPlus will be available beginning Sunday, March 11 in all Sprint sales channels, including Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and Web sales (www.sprint.com), for just $69.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement, after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1. Kyocera DuraPlus is the third phone in Kyocera's Dura Series, joining DuraMax and DuraCore in Sprint's Direct Connect® lineup. The Dura Series is as tough as they come and is featured in a new video starring another tough customer, Steve Austin http://bit.ly/yCHFyI. As the newest Sprint® Direct Connect® device, Kyocera DuraPlus is the first Kyocera Dura Series device in a candy-bar form factor with a flat, stable bottom, ideal for convenient accessibility in vehicle mounts and freestanding operation. Kyocera Duraplus is certified to Military Standard 810G for resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity, blowing rain and water immersion (up to 30 minutes in up to 1 meter of water). The phone has a powerful embedded LED flashlight with a dedicated button, ideal for finding keys in the dark, navigating a circuit breaker in a power outage or changing a tire on a dark road. Also unique to Kyocera DuraPlus is a dedicated jack allowing you to use the phone with heavy-duty remote speaker microphones (sold separately). "Kyocera DuraPlus is the ideal device for use in the construction, public safety and utility industries that demand devices that stand up to the toughest work conditions while delivering industry-leading push-to-talk capabilities," said David Owens, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. "This device is a dynamite addition to our Sprint Direct Connect portfolio, and we know our customers will appreciate the benefits of instant communication on a device that can withstand tough environments." Sprint Direct Connect is a portfolio of push-to-talk services that allow individuals and groups to get more done – quickly and easily with just the push of a button. Among the initial Sprint Direct Connect services: Sprint Direct Connect – Instant, one-to-one push-to-talk calling nationwide on the Sprint network, with any other Direct Connect subscriber. Direct Connect is the core push-to-talk feature and is designed for interoperability across Sprint and Nextel network platforms. Guaranteed Talk Permit – The assurance that when you hear the push-to-talk "chirp," your call was successfully transmitted. Call Alert with Text – Send an audio alert with an optional text message to let another Direct Connect subscriber know you are trying to reach them and why. Group Connect® – Communicate with up to 20 other Sprint Direct Connect subscribers all at once – nationwide, at the push of one button. TeamDCSM – Communicate with up to 200 other Sprint Direct Connect subscribers at the same time nationwide. NextMail® – Send a recorded message to any email worldwide or mobile handset via text message by using the Direct Connect button. Availability Notification – Request the availability status of another push-to-talk member and, if they are busy, request a notification when they are free. One-Touch Direct Connect – Allows quick access to multiple direct connect options. |
| More specs of the Acer CloudMobile revealed, we take a second look (video) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 06:45 AM PST  First, the CloudMobile brings with it a 4.3-inch 1,280 x 720 HD display, which translates into 342ppi of non-PenTile wonderment. And it's exactly the way you'd expect it to be: simply gorgeous. We were allowed to play an HD video to get a true sense of its visual capacity, and there's no doubt that this display is among the best that we've seen on a smartphone so far. Acer tells us that a huge reason for this -- in addition to the resolution, of course -- is because the company uses a single glass on its display with a zero air gap between it and the digitizer, which helps reduce reflection on the screen. Oh, and don't let us forget about the 178-degree viewing angle; in our time with the phone we could easily validate the accuracy of Acer's claims, since we looked at it almost edge-on and were still able to clearly read text with no issue. If Acer's attempting to champion the high end of the market, the CloudMobile's greatest obstacle in reaching that goal is its 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, which as of this week is no longer the top-notch spec in the smartphone industry, thanks to the introduction of quad-core handsets. It will still be an impressive performer, it seems, but the device will be launching in Q3, which in this dynamic industry is just enough time for more powerful devices to hit the shelves. We can't really give negative points to Acer for this just yet -- power users will still likely enjoy dual-core processors and we'll let the benchmarks and performance reviews give it a thumbs-up or down when the time comes. But if the firm is hoping to jump to the top of the spec sheet, this will prevent it from getting completely there. Fortunately, however, the 1GB of included RAM is right on par. In our original hands-on, our impressions of the CloudMobile's design were hit and miss. We could tell it's of average thickness (9.9mm) and is lightweight (125g, or 4.4oz), and were concerned by its build quality. As it turns out, however, the phone's materials are better than the typical cheap plastic, being constructed with an aluminum chassis and a metal band around the tops and edges. The battery cover itself is actually made of plastic, but its soft-grip "3D Micro Perforation texture" -- the technical term for its grippy surface -- aids in preventing the phone from slipping. And after using it for a few minutes, we felt at ease with the device and believe it will be able to hold its own. It's still not the best around (especially with the HTC One S's ceramic build), but we are no longer worried about it becoming the phone's weak point. The sleek curves are quite elegant and help make this a more attractive handset. We haven't had the opportunity to test out its audio performance, but we're told it sports Dolby Mobile 3 with HDMI output and will offer HD voice complete with enhanced noise suppression during calls. This is nothing new, but it also uses a tech called VRHP which equalizes the volume level of your mic, making your voice sound the same no matter how you hold the phone. If this exists in other handsets, we rarely are told about the awesome feature. It sure walks the walk, and we hope it's going to talk the talk.  We also got a peek at the lock screen, which offers the four quick shortcuts that are now standard with Ice Cream Sandwich. Swiping to the side triggers a window blind animation to get into the home panel. Acer will have its own lightweight custom UI on top, and we've been told that its skin is focused on improving (read: tweaking) the status bar, phone dialer features, messenger (and its integration with contacts) and adding widgets with more social networking. It will also offer Android Beam and other NFC features, as well as free access to Acer Cloud, a cloud server that serves as a cache index which stores all of your phone's pictures and documents directly on your computer. This means that the only space limitation is the amount of storage you have on your laptop or desktop. The opportunity to spend more time with the CloudMobile -- not to mention getting the full inside scoop on its features and spec list -- was quite beneficial. We came away more impressed than we were on our first run-through, and we're hoping that it'll keep getting nicer each time we see it. The HD display was by far one of the best we've ever seen on a smartphone to date. The only item on the list we'd prefer to see improvements on is the dual-core CPU, especially given the fact that by the time it launches in Q3 it won't be close enough to the top of the line. Acer's new flagship is just another indication that several smaller mobile companies -- Huawei, ASUS and ZTE included -- are coming out of the woodwork in 2012 to show they can play the same game the big boys can. Excited? So are we. For more coverage of Mobile World Congress, check out our hub! |
| Apple wins injunction against Motorola in Germany Posted: 01 Mar 2012 06:33 AM PST  Update: We erroneously stated that it was the zoomed-out view that was found to be in violation of the patent, when in fact it was the zoomed-in one. Motorola successfully defended itself against claims the zoomed-out interface also infringed on Apple's patents. Motorola reached out to us with the following statement:
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| nSquared's seamless computing ties Windows, Surface and iPads (video) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 06:01 AM PST  Australian Surface developer nSquared is bringing its seamless computing ambitions to life with its new tool, Presenter 2.0. Using a Samsung SUR 40 as a hub, the software brings Windows, OS X and iOS users together to work in the same space without hiccup. The workspace can be controlled and contributed by all the users simultaneously across the spectrum of devices, as demonstrated in the video we've got for you after the break. Even better is that the software will shortly be available to order from the company's website so you and your colleagues can start making rude doodles on your spreadsheets from any device you've got to hand. |
| Roccat unveils Savu hybrid gaming mouse ready for CeBIT Posted: 01 Mar 2012 05:30 AM PST  In the increasingly complex world of gaming mice, we'd be happy with one that doesn't scrape the paint from the top of our desk. Still, if your ambitions are a little loftier, Roccat's unveiled the Savu gaming mouse in anticipation for its big day out at CeBIT. Named after an Indonesian province, its the first mouse to include a trophy system (nope, us neither) that rewards "gaming feats" when you reach the milestone of having clicked your right button a thousand times in an hour, or something. The 4,000 DPI optical sensor device has the company's usual clutch of features including Easy-Shift+ and customizable colors and it'll be available in May where you can customize it to your whimsy for an as-yet unspecified price. Fully loaded with the highest-quality components, the tough new Savu gaming tool is designed to dominate its class of optical gaming mice – and introduces an achievements display to the world of gaming peripherals Hamburg, 28 February 2012 – ROCCAT Studios today announced the upcoming availability of the Savu Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse – a competition device that "fusion welds" an ideal blend of performance and customizable features into a robust, perfectly-balanced, medium-size design. The Savu offers a combination of unprecedented, true 4000 dpi optical sensor power, world famous Easy-Shift[+] technology allowing for advanced button configuration, and a lighting system delivering 16.8 million colors. What's more, it's the world's first mouse to feature a stats and trophy system – called the ROCCAT Achievements Display, or R.A.D. - something previously known in similar form only in online gaming. Designed specifically for fans of mid-size gaming mice, the Savu also pampers the hands with an ergonomic right-hand thumb rest and soft-touch surface. Hamburg-based ROCCAT Studios says the Savu severely outperforms every gaming mouse in its class and is sure to set a new standard in the mid-size field. CeBIT 2012 visitors can catch the Savu debut at stands from Acer (Hall 22, Booth 24) and XMG by Schenker Notebooks (Hall 23, Booth A01-3.1). The Savu is expected to hit shelves internationally early May. "The Savu raises the bar for optical mid-size gaming mice significantly," says René Korte, ROCCAT Founder and CEO. "It really is a dream piece of machinery for gamers who love medium-size gear and a welcome addition to our powerful mouse line-up." With its advanced Pro Optic sensor, the Savu delivers true 400, 800, 1600 and 4000 dpi – placing it at the pinnacle of optical gaming mice. The latest R3 sensor also delivers lag-free gaming without any interpolation, and provides ultra-precise feedback during even the fastest movements – all so players can command with the utmost accuracy. The Savu comes standard with exclusive Easy-Shift[+]™ technology, which lets gamers set two functions for each mouse button and the scroll wheel, essentially transforming a seven-button mouse into a 12-button one without the clutter of unnecessary additional buttons. Easy-Shift[+]™ also lets gamers take advantage of Easy-Aim, which automatically reduces the dpi setting when in sniper mode – delivering pinpoint accuracy at the touch of a button. And thanks to advanced Omron switches, the Savu's two main buttons feature consistent and precise pressure points – as well as high durability for a long life. The Savu features a large, customizable rear light bar, which users can set in their choice of 16.8 million colors – to add to the atmosphere of gaming sessions. Players can also activate a color cycling feature, as well as a "breathing" function, which instructs the mouse to pulse in a choice of color. The Savu also marks the debut of the ROCCAT Achievements Display – or R.A.D. – a fun and useful application that tracks and rewards a wide range of gaming feats, such as mouse movement, button clicks, scroll steps, etc. The driver-based software compiles user data, provides a range of statistics for analysis, and hands out trophies when exceptional milestones have been reached. It's an entertaining way for gamers to keep track of their mouse skills – and it even lets players share their accomplishments with others via social network sites, like Facebook. See the Savu in action for the first time at CeBIT 2012 at the Acer Stand, Hall 22, Booth 24, and at the XMG by Schenker Notebooks Stand, Hall 23, Booth A01-3.1. |
| ZTE throws weight behind WiGig, because the real fun happens at 60GHz Posted: 01 Mar 2012 05:11 AM PST  [Burning Man photo via Shutterstock] WiGig Industry Support Grows as ZTE Joins as Contributor ZTE, one of China's flagship telecoms equipment and services suppliers to the world market, has joined the Wireless Gigabit (WiGig) Alliance as a contributor in a move that emphasises the significant industry momentum now backing the world's most important short-range wireless standard. WiGig technology development is paving the way for throughput up to 7 Gbits/sec, ten times faster than today's 802.11n devices. It will utilize the 60-GHz spectrum, a long way away from the crowded 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequencies used by the current generation of 802.11a/b/g/n devices. ZTE joins an impressive list of members representing the industry's top chipmakers and consumer electronics manufacturers from around the world. Other recent WiGig Alliance joiners include the latest BOD member Huawei, and Allegro, LGE and Silicon Image as the contributors. Sun Qingbo, General Manger, Standards and Preresearch Department of ZTE Corporation commented. "We are very pleased to join WiGig Alliance because we believe WiGig technology has a bright future that will provide a very promising short-range communication solution for the industry. ZTE has a very broad product range, from cell-phones and tablets, to conference terminal and set-top boxes. I think it will be fantastic if WiGig technology can be adopted on all these products. I am certain there are many companies that share the same vision as us." News of the increasing industry support comes hot on the heels of the WiGig Alliance's announcement in December that it has completed all necessary components to define the first ever multi-gigabit wireless docking specification. It has also recently hosted the first ever interoperability test event, and received ITU-R recognitions. "WiGig Alliance continues to gather additional industry momentum with product developments moving forward at great pace," said WiGig Alliance President and Chairman, Dr. Ali Sadri. "ZTE will complement our existing members list in advancing the WiGig technology to new usages in multi-gigabit communications. I am confident that WiGig will soon become the world's most important multi-gigabit wireless technology found in many products. We are going to see a real shake up for the industry." The WiGig Alliance is calling for even more developer involvement in the creation of the world's first unified specification for multi-gigabit wireless docking. Creation and publication of the specification is set to revolutionize wireless networking by enabling a broad range of advanced uses, including wireless docking and connection to displays between personal computers, consumer electronics and PC, CE, handheld devices. More plugfests are scheduled throughout this year with first release of certified WiGig products scheduled for early 2013. For further information follow @WiGigAlliance or visit http://wirelessgigabitalliance.org |
| Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on Posted: 01 Mar 2012 04:50 AM PST  HardwareA pretty piece of kit this is not. Though the lid and bottom cover are fashioned out of smooth metal, the interior is coated in glossy, fingerprint-prone plastic. And while the hardware is just about final, many of our first impressions remain unchanged. For starters, the hinge mechanism isn't nearly as smooth as this, and that 9.7-inch (1024 x 768) 4:3 display seems like an odd choice for a device that's as much a laptop as it is a tablet. (Do you really want that aspect ratio when you're using this as a clamshell laptop?) Still, at 1.3kg (2.87 pounds), it feels lightweight in the hand -- especially considering that touchscreen and elaborate hinge it's got in tow. At first blush, at least, the chiclet-style keyboard is comfortable, with a slightly textured finish that makes it easy to plant your fingers as you're typing. The touch buttons feel a bit stiff, but this is easily the most minor of our complaints. Take a tour around the sides and you'll find two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI socket, microSD reader, SIM card slot, headphone / mic ports and a 3-megapixel webcam nestled in the upper bezel. This also might be a good time to walk through the internals: on board you'll find a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom N2600 processor, Intel GMA 3600 IGP graphics, 2GB of RAM, Intel's Centrino Wireless-N 1000 WiFi radio, Bluetooth 2.1 plus EDR, and between 32GB and 128GB of solid-state storage, depending on the configuration. And that, friends, concludes the first summary of netbook specs yours truly has had to write in a long time. Dual operating systems To switch from Windows to Android, you'll need to double click a shortcut on the desktop. Right now, the transition takes about a minute, but the company hopes to shrink that load time to several seconds before it starts shipping this thing. Once the machine is finished booting up Android, you'll see the familiar Gingerbread lock screen, which you'll naturally need to swipe in order to reach the home screen. As you can see in our hands-on photos, there's a trio of familiar-looking, touch-sensitive Android controls lining the right bezel, allowing you to pull up menus, go to the home screen, et cetera. Unfortunately, though, these buttons weren't functional on the pre-production unit we handled, so we instead had to use hotkeys to find our way around. These include "Esc" to navigate backwards, as well as a menu button to the right of the Space bar. In its final form, you'll be able to do these things using either the bezel or the keyboard. Without a doubt, the Solana would be more of a steal at $799 if it ran Ice Cream Sandwich or even Honeycomb, but we think the even bigger problem right now is that there's no Android Market access (the app store GetJar comes pre-loaded instead). A company rep told us Novero is still negotiating possible Market access, and if that comes through we might not mind quite so much that it's saddled with Android 2.3.7. If nothing else, Novero's wisely decided not to add any custom skins, and the netbook is quick to launch apps and transition from one screen to another. From what we can tell, too, the touchscreen is precise -- it responded briskly to our various taps and swipes in both Android and Windows 7. Wrap-up All told, we'll reserve final judgment until we can get our hands on some final hardware -- hopefully with Android Market on board and some faster transitioning between operating systems. We'll be curious to revisit all of this when it ships sometime this spring, but for now, count this as the most interesting tablet (and, er, the only netbook) we've seen here in Barcelona. novero to launch Solana – a lightweight, laptop/tablet hybrid |
| Redbox deal with Universal keeps DVDs, Blu-rays on 28-day delay through 2014 Posted: 01 Mar 2012 04:42 AM PST  Redbox and Universal Studios Home Entertainment Sign Multi-Year Agreement Redbox Kiosks Nationwide Will Continue to Offer Consumers Universal Blu-ray and DVD Titles 28-Days After Retail Release UNIVERSAL CITY, CA and OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL--(Marketwire - Mar 1, 2012) - Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Redbox, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR), announced the signing of a multi-year agreement that will continue to make Universal Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD titles available for rental at Redbox® locations nationwide 28 days following their home entertainment release. The announcement was made today by Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and Galen Smith, Senior Vice President, Redbox. "The multi-year agreement between Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Redbox represents a win for consumers, Universal and Redbox," said Galen Smith, senior vice president, Redbox. "Redbox is committed to forging relationships that provide our consumers with affordable and timely access to new release content." The agreement extends the direct working relationship between Redbox and Universal Studios Home Entertainment through August 2014. About Universal Studios Home Entertainment Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake. About Redbox Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR), offers new-release DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and video game rentals through its network of conveniently located, self-service kiosks. Redbox has rented more than 1.5 billion discs and is available at more than 35,400 kiosks across over 29,000 locations nationwide, including select restaurants; leading grocery, drug and convenience stores; select Walmart locations and Walgreens locations in select markets. For more information, visit www.redbox.com. Certain statements in the foregoing paragraphs are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including phrases conveying expectation or intent and other expressions identifying future performance. The forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding Redbox's relationship with Universal relating to, among other things, a DVD rental revenue sharing arrangement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from the results expressed or implied in such statements. Differences may result from actions taken by Coinstar, Redbox or Universal, including those beyond Coinstar or Redbox's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the 28 day rental window, the early termination or the renegotiation on materially adverse terms of the agreement, and failure to abide by the terms and requirements of the agreement. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative, but by no means exhaustive. For more information on factors that may affect future performance, including our relationship with Universal, please review "Risk Factors" described in our most recent Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other filings. These forward-looking statements reflect Coinstar's expectations as of the date hereof. Coinstar undertakes no obligation to update the information provided herein. |
| Hands-on with wireless, ultrasonic stylus and touchless gestures at MWC (video) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 04:28 AM PST  |
| Posted: 01 Mar 2012 04:14 AM PST  Joseph Volpe contributed to this report. |
| Polaroid's Pro smartphone series hands-on Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:57 AM PST  |
| The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection finally brings the entire set home in HD this fall Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:55 AM PST  Feb 29, 2012 12:20 ET Only One Name Defines the Ultimate Hero ... Only One Format Delivers the Ultimate Experience ... Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection For The First Time Ever, The Complete Indiana Jones Film Collection Comes To Blu-ray! SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The man with the hat is back – and looking better than ever! The world's favorite globe-trotting archaeologist is, at long last, embarking on his greatest adventure – when The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Media Distribution. The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection will be excavated in the fall of 2012 and will include all four of Indy's thrilling adventures, using the highest possible high definition picture and audio presentation – along with a "best of" collection of documentaries, interviews, featurettes and a few new surprises. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120229/LA61727) About Paramount Home Media Distribution Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC's home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies. Lucasfilm, Indiana Jones™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners. SOURCE Paramount Home Media Distribution |
| Polaroid Spectrum tablet family hands-on Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:51 AM PST  Which brings us to a very curious spec given the company's mission statement: the rear camera on what we presume is its 10-inch flagship is capable of a measly VGA resolution, despite indicating 2 megapixels. It's a baffling hardware miss and could've been the one bright spot amongst the cheap plastic build and software experience saddling these tabs. On a minor upswing, the OS across the capacitive tabs is stock ICS, with Froyo relegated to the resistive ones. Performance is sluggish and uneven at best considering the array of processors and clock speeds employed: from a 1.5GHz CPU in the auto-stereoscopic 7-incher to an 800MHz processor for the lower-end units to a 1GHz ARM11 in the 9.7-inch, TouchPad-like slab. It's a wonder the outfit even bothered with category, as the entirety of this lineup smacks of a half-hearted stab. You can check out the full array of lackluster tabs in our gallery below. Mat Smith contributed to this report. |
| Hands-on with Nokia Asha 202, 203 and 302 at MWC (video) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:33 AM PST  Meanwhile, the Asha 302 is a non-touchscreen device that offers a physical keyboard, 1GHz processor, 2.4-inch QVGA display, 3.2 megapixel camera, quadband GSM and pentaband WCDMA support with 14.4Mbps HSPA connectivity. Even as feature phones, none of the offerings are terribly impressive. Still, Nokia hopes the internet capabilities of each handset will be instrumental to help connect the "next billion consumers" to the world at large. So join us as we delve into an extended video tour of the Asha 202 and 302, where we'll explore the features and functionality of each device. |
| Google Android booth at MWC 2012: smoothies, robots, slides, oh my! (video) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 02:53 AM PST  Want a taste of Mobile World Congress whimsy? You've come to the right place. Like every year, Google's Android booth is the closest you'll get to experiencing Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory in real life here at Fira, and we're gonna take you on a tour. Join us as we enjoy smoothies and ice cream sandwiches, robots and Swarovski crystals, plus a trip down the rabbit hole -- in our video after the break. [Special thanks to Erik Nieves at Yaskawa.] |
| Currys launches 'Knowhow Movies' VOD service / money-pit Posted: 01 Mar 2012 02:32 AM PST  Today, Dixons Retail plc (Currys, PC World) and Rovi launch a UK-based VOD service under the retail giant's Knowhow paid-support brand (think: Geek Squad with more overcharging). You'll be able to buy and download movies and TV to your Windows PC or stream them to a Mac using Rovi's DivX technology with adaptive streaming. The platform is promised to swell to include smart TVs, Blu-Ray players, tablets, consoles and smartphones through 2012. You'll be able to register up to five devices with the service and switch between them as you wish, as long as everything's connected to the internet. Selected movies are available to rent for around £3 ($5), or can be bought in SD/HD for £13 ($21) / £18 ($29). Just as an FYI for consumers planning on signing up: most of the titles are available to buy on DVD for around two-thirds of that price, if you can bear to wait a couple of days. |
| AMD absorbs server startup SeaMicro for $330 million, says it's no impulse buy Posted: 01 Mar 2012 01:36 AM PST  AMD to Acquire SeaMicro: Accelerates Disruptive Server Strategy SeaMicro Low-Power, High-Bandwidth Microserver Solutions Set the Stage for AMD's Disruptive Approach To Lead Fast-Growing Cloud Data Center Market SUNNYVALE, Calif. -2/29/2012 AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SeaMicro, a pioneer in energy-efficient, high-bandwidth microservers, for approximately $334 million, of which approximately $281 million will be paid in cash. Through the acquisition of SeaMicro, AMD will be accelerating its strategy to deliver disruptive server technology to its OEM customers serving cloud-centric data centers. With SeaMicro's fabric technology and system-level design capabilities, AMD will be uniquely positioned to offer industry-leading server building blocks tuned for the fastest-growing workloads such as dynamic web content, social networking, search and video. AMD's server technology combined with SeaMicro technology provides customers with a range of processor choices and platforms that can help significantly reduce data center complexity, cost and energy consumption while improving performance. AMD plans to offer the first AMD Opteron™ processor-based solutions that combine AMD and SeaMicro technology in the second half of 2012. The company remains firmly committed to its traditional server business, and will continue to focus and invest in this area. "By acquiring SeaMicro, we are accelerating AMD's transformation into an agile, disruptive innovator capable of staking a data center leadership position," said Rory Read, president and CEO, AMD. "SeaMicro is a pioneer in low-power server technology. The unmatched combination of AMD's processing capabilities, SeaMicro's system and fabric technology, and our ambidextrous technology approach uniquely positions AMD with a compelling, differentiated position to attack the fastest growing segment of the server market." SeaMicro technologies offer substantial advantages in large data center and cloud environments. Cloud data centers are projected to be the fastest growing segment of the server market through 2015, according to IDC1. Current systems featuring SeaMicro technology typically use one quarter the power and take one sixth the space of traditional servers with the same compute performance, yet deliver up to 12 times the bandwidth per core2. Foremost among SeaMicro's innovations is their supercompute fabric, which connects thousands of processor cores, memory, storage and input/output traffic. SeaMicro's fabric supports multiple processor instruction sets. SeaMicro solutions are currently deployed in multiple sites across the world. AMD will continue to support all current SeaMicro customers while accelerating plans to deliver new platforms that combine AMD and SeaMicro technology and enable AMD's OEM partners to bring differentiated solutions to market. "Cloud computing has brought a sea change to the data center--dramatically altering the economics of compute by changing the workload and optimal characteristics of a server," said Andrew Feldman, SeaMicro CEO, who will become general manager of AMD's newly created Data Center Server Solutions business. "SeaMicro was founded to dramatically reduce the power consumed by servers, while increasing compute density and bandwidth. By becoming a part of AMD, we will have access to new markets, resources, technology, and scale that will provide us with the opportunity to work tightly with our OEM partners as we fundamentally change the server market." The acquisition does not change AMD's 2012 financial guidance and the transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings after 2012. AMD will fund the cash portion of the acquisition with existing cash reserves. |
| Galaxy S II does work and personal phone duties at once with Telefonica's Dual Persona service Posted: 01 Mar 2012 12:46 AM PST  Show full PR text TELEFONICA TO LAUNCH DUAL PERSONA SERVICE FOR MOBILE DEVICES, POWERED BY VMWARE® February 28, 2012 • New Telefonica Dual Persona service, powered by VMware® Horizon Mobile™, will enable two phones-in-a-phone, one for private personal use and another for business use • VMware Horizon Mobile extends enterprise-grade security and management to employee owned mobile devices with Telefonica cloud-based management service • Samsung to deliver first Android devices to use Telefonica Dual Persona service BARCELONA – Feb. 28, 2012. Today at Mobile World Congress, Telefonica Digital and VMware®, Inc. announced the launch of the new Telefonica Dual Persona service. Powered by VMware Horizon Mobile™, the new service will provide a simple way for IT departments to securely provision, manage and de-provision a corporate mobile workspace (email, applications, data, etc.) to an employee's Android device over-the-air, while enabling the employee to better retain the privacy and control of their personal mobile environments. Telefonica Dual Persona service for Android devices will be available in the second quarter of this year. Additional information on pricing and countries where the services will launch will be made available in the coming months. Both companies are working to make the solution available for other operating systems and mobile platforms in the future. The companies also confirmed today that the Galaxy SII by Samsung will be the first handset to support the Telefonica Dual Persona service. Samsung is expected to offer service compatibility with all of its devices in the coming months. Smartphones: The New Corporate Mobile Workspace The increased computing power of modern mobile devices, coupled with the rise in the number of business ready mobile applications, has resulted in the growing need for companies to manage device lifecycles and the provisioning of mobile applications used by employees. Furthermore, the widespread popularity of smartphones in the consumer market has increased the number of personal devices used in the work environment. According to Forrester (Forrsights: Mobility Dominates Enterprise Telecom Trends In 2011, July 22, 2011), 60 percent of companies now allow their employees to use personal smartphones and tablets at work and this trend is increasing. The influx of personal devices makes the management of mobile phones and the lifecycle of mobile applications more complicated and creates security and manageability issues for corporate IT organizations. Meanwhile, employees are becoming progressively more concerned about personal data privacy and worry that management and control of their smartphones by IT administrators could be intrusive. Telefonica Dual Persona Service, Powered by VMware Powered by VMware Horizon Mobile, the Telefonica Dual Persona service will be offered as part of the Telefonica Cloud Computing service catalog. In addition to dual persona support for Android devices, the Telefonica Cloud Computing catalog helps companies more effectively manage their databases, virtual desktops (PCs) and applications by offering easy to consume cloud-based services. The Telefonica Dual Persona service will enable IT managers to provision and manage an employee's work profile and mobile applications via a cloud-based instance of VMware Horizon Mobile. Because of this separation, when an employee leaves the company or if a device is lost or stolen, business will be better able to safely and securely remove corporate information from mobile devices, while not having access to an individual personal profile. The user experience will be intuitive and similar to that of a conventional smartphone on both profiles. Users will be able to switch from one profile to another with a simple click of an app, and they will receive both work and personal notifications within both profiles. According to Moises Navarro, Director of Strategy and Cloud Services at Telefonica Digital, "The Dual Persona service brings benefits to both employees and companies – the employee can use just one device, for both personal and work use while still maintaining privacy – the company gains greater control and security over corporate information, increased efficiency and cost savings on mobile devices, less provisioning and incident management time and greater employee satisfaction. Importantly, this is all made available via a cloud-based, pay-per-use model". "Powered by VMware Horizon Mobile, Telefonica Dual Persona service will enable enterprises to securely customize and manage an employee's corporate mobile workspace in isolation from their personal smartphone environment," said Brian Byun, vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, Mobile for VMware. "We are excited to bring this technology to market with Telefonica and Samsung. Horizon Mobile embraces personal freedom and enhances employee productivity by delivering a preconfigured, device-independent corporate mobile workspace that is customized to an employee's responsibilities." Samsung is working closely with Telefonica and VMware to expand the availability of "VMware ready" devices this year. "With the "Bring Your Own Device" trend growing faster than ever in enterprise sector, Telefonica's Dual Persona service will undoubtedly be the compelling solution to propel this trend," said Eric Moon, Director of Enterprise Business Team, Mobile Communication Division at Samsung Electronics. "We are very confident that enterprise decision-makers will embrace Samsung mobile devices along with the Dual Persona service thanks to the flexibly provided to both employees and corporate IT. For employees they will have the ability to securely mix work and play on a single Samsung device." |
| Foursquare.com checks in with OpenStreetMap, checks out of Google Maps API Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:48 PM PST  |
| Sprint and Code Factory team up to deliver free Android accessibility app Posted: 29 Feb 2012 09:37 PM PST  Sprint Launches Code Factory Mobile Accessibility Application for Free to Android Users Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision Free app is now available, making Android smartphones more accessible for postpaid and no-contract Sprint customers SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint (NYSE: S) announced today at the 27th annual International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference, hosted by California State University Northridge (CSUN), that it has officially launched a free downloadable application providing easier access to an Android smartphone's functionality for customers who are blind or have low vision. "Having the ability to gain greater access to information on smartphones through the use of a free suite of applications is a very positive development in the blind community's quest for more affordable choices" Developed by Code Factory, the full suite of Mobile Accessibility features is being offered by Sprint under the name "Wireless Accessibility," at no charge through the Android Market to Sprint, Boost Mobile, and Virgin Mobile USA customers. Mobile Accessibility has been specifically designed by Code Factory for people who are blind or visually impaired and for elderly individuals or those who cannot read print on smartphones because of physical, perceptual, developmental, cognitive or learning disabilities. The application features a simplified user interface and textual information that is spoken aloud using voice synthesis to aid navigation of the device. This Code Factory application typically costs $99 on Android Market, but it is now available for free for postpaid Sprint customers with Android 2.1+ smartphones activated on a monthly service plan that includes data, such as the Everything Data plan starting at $79.99. The app also is free for no-contract customers with Android 2.1+ smartphones on Virgin Mobile USA's Beyond Talk or Boost Mobile's Monthly or Daily Unlimited plans. "Having the ability to gain greater access to information on smartphones through the use of a free suite of applications is a very positive development in the blind community's quest for more affordable choices," said Mitch Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). "The American Council of the Blind commends Sprint for its willingness to take another positive step toward full product accessibility." The application is available in both English and Spanish. As of today, customers on Sprint, Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile USA can download the app from Android Market under the name "Wireless Accessibility EN" for English and "Wireless Accessibility ES" for Spanish. "Sprint is proud to offer Wireless Accessibility free of charge to help our customers with disabilities take advantage of the full functionality of their smartphones," said Fared Adib, Sprint vice president-Product Development. "Sprint works hard to meet the needs of all its customers, and the Wireless Accessibility app will help people who are blind or have difficulty reading on smartphones get the most out of their device." "By subsidizing our product for their customers, Sprint is helping us provide accessibility features to a wider audience of smartphone users who need these tools," said Eduard Sanchez, Code Factory CEO. "Code Factory is proud to be working with Sprint to provide solutions for customers who are blind or visually impaired." Features of Wireless Accessibility: Touch navigation: Users can simply move their finger around the screen and the voice synthesis will read the text located under their finger. They can swipe up/down/right/left and tap on the screen to navigate through the interface, and they can enable sound and vibration feedback. Easy to input text: In or outside the Mobile Accessibility suite users can use the touch QWERTY keyboard or speech recognition to write text quickly and easily – making it possible to write an SMS or email using their voice only. Voice synthesis: Provides customers natural sounding voice read back. Wireless Accessibility functionality: Phone: Make calls, answer calls, hear the caller ID and manage their call log. Contacts: App tells user how many contacts they have and speaks the contact's name they selected. SMS: Virtual keyboard is larger and fills the entire screen. When the user clicks a letter on the keyboard, the app reads the letter to them. This makes it easier for them to compose emails or SMS messages. It also reads SMS messages to the user. Alarms: Set their alarms. Web: Full Web browser experience; also reads text from Web page to the user. Calendar: Create, edit and delete a calendar entry. View all events per day, week or month. Email: Full access to Gmail accounts; reads emails to the user. Where am I?: GPS application that gives the user an update about their current location. Access to basic phone functions, such as date and time or missed calls. User can click on the function and it speaks to them. About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint. About Code Factory Founded in 1998 with headquarters in Terrassa (Barcelona), Spain, Code Factory is the global leader committed to the development of products designed to eliminate barriers to the accessibility of mobile technology for the blind and visually impaired. Today, Code Factory is the leading provider of accessible mobile applications such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and Braille interfaces. Code Factory's products are compatible with the widest range of mainstream mobile devices running on Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry Smartphones, and Android. Among Code Factory's customers are well-known organizations for the blind such as ONCE in Spain, and carriers Sprint, AT&T, Bouygues Telecom, SFR, TIM and Vodafone. |
| Withings Baby Monitor makes its official, expensive US debut Posted: 29 Feb 2012 07:47 PM PST  Withings Announces the US Release of its Smart Baby Monitor Combining world-class technology and sophisticated design, Withings gives parents a way to monitor, interact and communicate with their baby from anywhere around the world Paris, France – February 29, 2012 – Today, French technology company Withings announces the US availability of its Smart Baby Monitor for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The Withings Smart Baby Monitor, including the accompanying application named WithBaby, is a modern take on traditional baby monitors and gives parents a new way to monitor and interact with their children. The award winning Smart Baby Monitor was developed with both technology and design in mind. Withings has produced a device that not only looks stunning, but also gives parents important information on their child's environment and allows them to interact with their child remotely and easily. The Smart Baby Monitor detects sound, movement, temperature and humidity levels. Parents can also interact with their baby by speaking through the phone to the monitor, turning on/off lullabies and nightlight. The design of the product is sleek, modern, simple and unobtrusive. The monitor's hinge design allows parent to open the camera to activate it or adapt it to the right vision angle. People simply flip the camera shut to turn it off and stop camera monitoring. Unlike traditional monitors, the Withings Smart Baby Monitor was made for iPhone users in mind. It does not consist of two physical objects (the camera and the receiver), however it's a smart sensor (camera) alone that communicates with the existing connected screen (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch). The Smart Baby Monitor features a high-resolution 3MP camera, extra wide view lens and night vision with infrared LEDs. The Smart Baby Monitor's camera also features a 4X zoom that allows users to zoom in on every detail of the baby's room and move around it. Night vision mode automatically switches on when dim lighting is detected. The Smart Baby Monitor is equipped with a two way microphone that allows parents to hear their child at all times and also interact and sooth their child even when they are not physically in the room. If the WithBaby application is closed, parents can still monitor and hear the child at all times while it runs in the background. Another feature allows parents to control the music (lullabies) that plays in the room through the monitor and can change songs right from the living room, the office or from anywhere in the world. Alarms may also be set to alert parents of baby sleep disruption based on parameters such as activity/movement, audio levels and temperature/humidity. These alarms are completely customizable by the user. Connectivity is made easy for users so the user never has to get anxious with configuring his/her product. The Withings Smart Baby Monitor can by connected via a Wi-Fi hotspot in your home or via Ethernet cable (with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch connected to the internet using WiFi or 3G connection). You can also use it via Bluetooth to your phone when you're not connected to the Internet. The Smart Baby Monitor is now available from Withings.com for $299. The free WithBaby application is available now from the Apple App Store. For more information, contact PR representatives below or visit www.withings.com. About Withings: Withings designs, develops, and industrializes connected objects. Withings is a French start-up established by two executives from technology and telecom industry. With a focus on innovation and design for everyday products, Withings introduced in September 2009 its first-of-its-kind WiFi Bodyscale in the world. Withings is an actor of the Internet of Things and strives to increase the capacities of an object by adding network resources. The object's interfaces are also ported to devices like mobile phones or computers, to benefit from their resources. Withings makes internet connected objects including the WiFi Body Scale, Smart Blood Pressure Monitor, the Smart Baby Monitor and coming soon the Smart Baby Scale. |
| Eric Schmidt yaks it up at MWC, talks about the future like it's 1955 Posted: 29 Feb 2012 06:49 PM PST If you've been looking for an excuse to start using Chrome, Eric Schmidt is here to remind you, "it's free." Well, free, fast, secure and of course, on Android. After a quick demo of new Android Chrome app, Schmidt took the stage at Mobile World Congress to dream up a future of holographic projectors, driverless cars and a (Android powered) smartphone in every pocket. In short, Google's head honcho has technological expectations that make Back to the Future part II look modest. See the optimistic spiel for yourself up top, or hit the source link below to watch it on YouTube. |
| Verizon lets loose its stance on locked bootloaders in letter to the FCC Posted: 29 Feb 2012 06:16 PM PST  |
| Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video) Posted: 29 Feb 2012 05:30 PM PST  Update: There was a problem with the embedded video -- sorry folks. It's working properly now, along with more gallery pics below. Update: Just got word on US pricing. $230, $350 and $470 for the touch sensitive models. $300 for the Medium without touch. Also coming to the US is a pen-only version of the Small tablet -- we're not sure how much that'll cost (and Wacom's site seems to be down right now), but it'll be the cheapest upgrade of the bunch. Wacom has kept a firm grip on backwards compatibility, keeping the same 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and allowing Intuos4 and Cintiq pens to work fine with the Intuos5. To make things simple, however, touch sensitivity is disabled when the pen comes close to the tablet, such that input is either by pen or by touch but never both at the same time.  When inputting with touch, the hardware is capable of registering 16 separate points, but Wacom's software currently only recognizes up to five-finger gestures. These gestures can be assigned to keyboard functions from the Intuos settings pane, which means you won't be dependent on Adobe or anyone else implementing multi-touch directly into their programs -- and indeed, we hear that multi-touch probably isn't coming to Photoshop any time soon. Nevertheless, when the big photo and graphics titles eventually find clever things to do with ten fingers and six toes, the Intuos5 will be good and ready.  It's not clear where the OLEDs have gone from the Intuos4, but hopefully it's somewhere nice. In their stead, Wacom has shifted almost every aspect of the tablet's ability to display information to an on-screen "HUD," which is designed to prevent you from ever having to look away from the screen, even for a split second, regardless of what that workspace safety adviser told you.   In addition to the HUD, there are four LEDs beside the wheel to indicate toggle functions, as well as four LEDs to mark out the working area of the tablet. This working area has been brought in further from the edges of the tablet, compared to the Intuos4, in an effort to stop pens snagging on the border of the panel in the midst of a stroke -- an issue that we're told cropped up during Wacom's feedback sessions.  The Intuos5 tablets are all compatible with Wacom's wireless adapter, priced at £35. This kit comes with a small RF transmitter that plugs into a slot in the tablet and a receiver which connects to your computer. There's also a lithium ion battery that goes into another slot on the underside of the tablet and provides 18, 11 and six hours of use on the Small, Medium and Large tablets.  One last major difference: the glossy finish of the Intuos4 has been replaced with a matte rubber coating that feels nicer to touch and also more hard-wearing -- but as to whether it lives up to that promise, it's too early to say. Dive into digital content creation with Wacom's redefined Intuos5 Multi-touch interaction, wireless connectivity and heads-up display now included for a truly immersive experience Wacom® today announces Intuos®5, the next generation lineup of tablets for professional photographers, designers and artists who wish to take their digital content creation to the next level. Superior new features include multi-touch gesture support for intuitive input, an Express View display to facilitate an efficient workflow and wireless capabilities for convenience and comfort. Combined with Wacom's renowned pen pressure and tilt sensitive pen, the state-of-the-art Intuos5 inspires creativity through an immersive experience. With its ergonomic, ambidextrous design and bold new look, the slim-profile Intuos5 allows creative professionals to work in complete comfort. The professional matte-black, soft-touch finish and illuminated accents reflect a modern and durable design. To meet the workflow and workspace needs of Wacom's diverse professional customer base, four Intuos5 models are being introduced. Three Intuos5 touch models, featuring both pen and multi-touch in sizes small, medium and large and one pen-only Intuos5 tablet in medium. The Human Touch The addition of multi-touch to the Intuos5 provides a complementary input method to the pen that is natural to use in the creative process. One of the distinct benefits of multi-touch is its support of gestures to zoom, scroll, pan and rotate digital content, all while remaining focused on the creative process. Not only is the Intuos5 able to recognise standard Windows and Mac gestures, but customisable gestures can be created in supporting applications to make navigational input easier and stress free. For example, a customised gesture could be created to open a commonly used feature within Adobe® Photoshop®. "The multi-touch interface in the Intuos5 is Wacom's most elegant implementation of gesture support to date," says Guido Möller, product manager professional brands of Wacom Europe. "Switching from pen to touch or to gesture based navigation is a liberating experience, allowing one to reduce repetitive motion and interact more naturally with the computer." Stay focused Wacom continues to build customisable non-dominant hand controls into its professional tablets to help users streamline their workflow and be more productive. On the Intuos5, these include customisable ExpressKeys (six on small size and eight on both medium and large sizes) and one Touch Ring, with four-function toggle. These features allow users to place commonly used shortcuts and modifiers right at their fingertips, decreasing dependency on the computer keyboard while increasing productivity. The ambidextrous design allows right-handed and left-handed users to simply rotate the tablet 180 degrees for easy access to the ExpressKeys and Touch Ring. To help users remember their application-specific ExpressKey settings without being distracted by the input device, Intuos5 comes equipped with Express View, a new Heads-Up Display (HUD) feature that displays the current settings on the computer screen. Lightly resting a finger on any of the keys reveals the settings on-screen and fades within a few seconds so as not to disrupt the creative process. "Express View modernises the user interface and is instrumental in helping improve workflow and boost productivity", said Möller. "It allows users to remain focused on their work and concentrate on the creative process while providing all the benefits of a faster workflow." The Intuos5 Grip Pen For creative professionals, the Intuos5 Grip Pen remains the heart and soul of the tablet experience. The Intuos5 pen registers 2048 levels of pen pressure and up to 60 degrees of pen tilt, allowing the pen to emulate the same feel, response and effects derived from working with traditional tools such as paint brushes, markers and pens. In addition, Intuos5 features Wacom's proprietary Tip Sensor technology, which means that pressure-sensitive effects can start with an incredibly light touch. The Wacom pen expands the creative effects that can be achieved within software applications that support pressure and/or tilt sensitivity such as Adobe® Photoshop®, Adobe® Illustrator®, Corel® Painter™, Autodesk® Sketchbook® Pro and many more. The Grip Pen also features a pressure-sensitive eraser and two side switches that can be customised for commands such as double-click and right-click. Optional Wireless Connectivity With the Intuos5, Wacom broadens its offering for wireless connectivity. Now, all sizes of Intuos5 can be converted to a wireless tablet by installing the Wireless Accessory kit, sold separately on Wacom's e-store. The kit includes a rechargeable battery that charges through USB, a RF module that plugs into the tablet and a receiver that plugs into a USB port on the computer. Pricing and availability The Intuos5, available today, comes in four models: Intuos5 touch Small (£199.99), Medium (£329.99), Large (£429.99) and Intuos5 pen-only Medium (£269.99). Each Intuos5 can be extended with the Wacom Wireless Accessory Kit priced at £34.99. All prices are including VAT. Wacom Creative Pros at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WacomCreativePros |
| Microsoft's Windows 8 Preview event videos now available Posted: 29 Feb 2012 05:00 PM PST |
| Caption Contest: Mario stops by for a surprise visit Posted: 29 Feb 2012 04:29 PM PST  Tim: "Honey, there's a plumber on the porch again." Michael: "Wrong castle, buddy. All the 'word-up' posturing in the world won't get me to bring out Princess Peach." Brian: "You called for a plumber?" Jon: "Imma da new mailman. Yeah, M is for mailman." Joe: "So, uh, you brought the mushrooms, right?" Dan: "Yeah, the name's Cooper. King Cooper. You wanna see my girl? You'll have to go through me, pal." Brad: "I'm sorry Mario, but your princess is in another condo." Dante: "What do you mean you were expecting Xzibit?" Terrence: "Hey Pauline, this guy says he knows you." Zach Lutz: "In a desperate attempt to return to the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario swallows his pride and asks for directions." James: "I told you before Mario, Princess doesn't want to see you, you have to stop calling like this." Richard Lai: "Which part of 'stay 100 yards away from her' do you not understand?" Sean Buckley: "I'm a bit short on change, mind if I bang my head on your wall for a little while?" David: "No, I don't have any 'powerups' today, come back tomorrow." Darren: "All I do is win, win, win no matter what." |
| iRobot reorganizes, forms new unit focused on Ava and other emerging technologies Posted: 29 Feb 2012 03:19 PM PST  iRobot Aligns for the Next Stage of Innovation and Growth Home Robots President, Jeffrey Beck Named Chief Operating Officer; Joseph Dyer Named Chief Strategy Officer BEDFORD, Mass., Feb. 28, 2012 – iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in developing robotic technology-based solutions, today announced a strategic realignment of the company into three newly formed business units focused on home robots, military robots and emerging technologies. Led by Jeffrey Beck as chief operating officer (COO), the three business units will advance iRobot's long-term growth strategy as a technology leader in remote presence and automated home maintenance solutions. Joe Dyer, who most recently held the position of COO, has been named chief strategy officer (CSO). As CSO, Dyer will lead strategic business development, mergers and acquisitions, research and advanced technology development. "We have come to a point where iRobot must align the company's organizational structure with our longer-term strategy as a technology leader focused on a core competency of creating robot-enabled solutions for a wide range of real-world problems," said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot. "The use of iRobot platforms and technologies outside of the home and military markets has grown to a point where developing new products in the existing business structure limited our potential for growth. The new structure allows us to build market-facing business units around new opportunities and energize rapid product development." Beck has served as president of the iRobot's Home Robots division for the last three years. Under his leadership, home robot revenue grew 75 percent and gross margins increased 13 percentage points, all while dramatically improving the division's profitability, brand recognition and geographic diversity. In 2011, the Home Robots division accomplished numerous notable milestones, including the launch of two new consumer robots, the Roomba® 700 series and the Scooba® 230 floor washing robot, and the introduction of the iRobot Ava™ mobile robotics platform. Prior to joining the company, Beck served as senior vice president and general manager of AMETEK Corporation's Aerospace & Defense Division and vice president and general manager of AMETEK's Power Systems and Instruments Division. "Jeff has made significant and meaningful contributions to iRobot, driving profitable growth strategies across the business, expanding new product distribution domestically and internationally and improving business processes," Angle continued. "As COO for the three newly formed business units and the consolidated engineering team, I am confident he will increase innovation and drive profitability across the business." As CSO, Joe Dyer will be responsible for keeping iRobot on the cutting edge of technology innovation, identifying new applications for iRobot technology. Dyer and Jeff Beck will report directly to Colin Angle. "The robotics industry is evolving rapidly. A new era of opportunity is emerging through the combination of mobile technology development, cloud computing and advances in robot navigation," Angle continued. "By leveraging these advancements, robotics will play an increasingly important role in multiple vertical industries." Following is additional detail about the three newly formed business units: · Home Robots Business Unit To date, iRobot has sold more than 7.5 million home robots worldwide, revolutionizing the way people clean both inside and outside the home. Marc Dinee has been named general manager of the Home Robots business unit. Dinee has been with iRobot for two years, most recently as vice president of sales and marketing for EMEA and APAC, regions where the company has experienced significant growth. · Military Robots Business Unit More than 4,500 combat-proven military robots have been delivered to military and civil defense forces worldwide, performing thousands of dangerous search, reconnaissance and bomb-disposal missions while protecting those in harm's way. Tim Trainer will serve as interim general manager of the Military Robots business unit. Trainer has been with iRobot for three years, serving most recently as vice president of operations for the Government and Industrial Robots division, where he was responsible for all manufacturing, contracting and program management. · Emerging Technologies Business Unit iRobot Ava is a breakthrough mobile robotics platform developed to help robot designers, application developers and market innovation specialists expedite the pursuit of practical, affordable mobile robotic solutions. New market opportunities for iRobot Ava in industries including healthcare, retail and security present unique opportunities. To this point, the company recently announced a $6 million investment and expanded partnership with InTouch Health, a leading remote presence telemedicine solution provider. Existing leadership will be responsible for these industry pursuits until a unit leader is appointed. About iRobot Corp. iRobot designs and builds robots that make a difference. The company's home robots help people find smarter ways to clean, and its government and industrial robots protect those in harm's way. iRobot's consumer and military robots feature iRobot Aware® robot intelligence systems, proprietary technology incorporating advanced concepts in navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com. For iRobot Investors Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, iRobot Corp.'s expectations concerning management's plans, objectives and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot Corp. undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot Corp., see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
| Lytro pre-orders start shipping, infinite focusing now within reach Posted: 29 Feb 2012 02:08 PM PST  [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]  |
| Mini quadrotors play Bond, James Bond (video) Posted: 29 Feb 2012 02:01 PM PST  This week's TED2012 conference isn't all talk -- sometimes the videos features speak for themselves. Check out this phenomenal one from the University of Pennsylvania starring a number of nano quadrotors playing the James Bond theme by banging percussion, hitting the piano and strumming a guitar. The room in the video has infrared lights and cameras and the 'copters are outfitted with reflectors, making it possible to plot their position. The result is technical wizardry worthy of Q himself. Check it out after the break. |
| MLB at Bat 2012 app out for iDevices and Android, brings in-app monthly subscriptions to iOS Posted: 29 Feb 2012 01:25 PM PST  |
| SwiftKey launches SDK, phones and tablets get more predictable Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:43 PM PST  SwiftKey is responsible for as many saved typing hours, as it is crushing affirmations of just how predictable we really are. A fact that can now be drilled home by infinitely more devices, thanks to a new SDK for OEMs. Developers for a variety of platforms and programming languages (including C++, iOS and JVM) can access SwiftKey's core language-engine technology for their own UI or on screen keyboard, and with support for over 40 languages, we can expect many more tablets, phones and even white goods to worryingly know what we were going to say. SwiftKey Launches SDK for Handset and Device Manufacturers OEMs Can Integrate SwiftKey's Powerful Language Technology Into Their Devices to Improve Core Typing Experience Barcelona, Spain -- February 27, 2012 – SwiftKey (http://www.swiftkey.net), the company behind the award-winning SwiftKey X keyboard for Android™ smartphones, is making the core language-engine technology that powers its app available to OEMs. The move will allow handset and device manufacturers to embed SwiftKey's smart language technology into their own devices through a Software Development Kit (SDK). SwiftKey X has already proven immensely popular as a stand-alone app. It has been downloaded more than five million times, making it one of the most popular paid for applications on the planet in its category. In addition, SwiftKey's technology has been shortlisted for the Most Innovative App in this year's GSMA Global Mobile Awards at Mobile World Congress. The SDK enables tablet and handset manufacturers to offer cutting edge prediction and correction technology in their products, powered by SwiftKey's Natural Language Processing language engine. OEMs can build SwiftKey's core technology into their own keyboard and UI, to improve the core user experience of their devices. The SDK introduces a range of new features in addition to those currently available on SwiftKey X, with support for over 40 languages, including Arabic, Korean and Spanish. Dr Ben Medlock, CTO of SwiftKey explains: "As we are interacting with more devices, technology that accurately understands what a user is trying to say or do with their devices is vital. It only takes a cursory look at user groups to realize that typing is one of the biggest frustrations that people have on tablets and smartphones. The launch of our SDK will give OEMs access to better typing experience, with their own look and feel." "The SDK will also enable other consumer technology devices, beyond the tablet and smartphone, to receive the benefits of our unique language engine. We have already seen interesting applications of our language engine in Smart TVs and assistive technology devices." SwiftKey SDK supports the following platforms and languages: Android C++ iOS JVM (Java, Scala) Linux Mac OS X .NET (C#, VB) QNX/BlackBerry 10 WebOS Windows |
| Paint3D app promises to let you sketch and print 3D models straight from Android Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:16 PM PST  3D printing may still have quite a ways to go before it becomes as ubiquitous as traditional printing, but there's plenty of developers out there working to make that happen. One such example comes out of the House 4 Hack group in Johannesburg, who have been working on an Android app called Paint3D that promises to let folks create 3D models and then print them out straight from their mobile device -- imagine saying that even just five years ago. Unfortunately, that's not available to the general public just yet, but you can get a closer look at the app and the results its able to produce at the source link below, and get an overview from one of the developers in the video after the break. |
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