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Monday, March 5, 2012

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Chrome adopted by US State Department as optional browser, IE8 prepped for mid-March release (video)

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 10:49 AM PST

State department workers frustrated with their dated web browsers will get some relief very soon. At the latest town hall meeting, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was questioned on the update roll-out of secure, state-certified browsers and -- prefacing with a chuckle -- she announced that Google's Chrome had started already begun its roll-out last month. For now, it's an optional web browser for those not enamored with Internet Explorer -- the only browser compatible with the full breadth of the Department of State's IT system. Governmental workers that are fans of that big blue 'e' also got some good news -- they'll be seeing the roll out of Internet Explorer 8 from March 20th, with the department planning to leap over version 9 and straight into the loving embrace of Internet Explorer 10. Judging by the whoops and applause during the announcement (included after the break), we wouldn't be shocked if those public servants hugged their updated PCs outright.


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

Isis partners with VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox, prepares to take over the world

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 10:24 AM PST

So, you've got the carriers on board, and the banks and even the handset makers. Problem is, without compatible registers and point of sale terminals, your mobile payment tech is worthless. Thankfully Isis, the NFC wallet system that aims to crush Google's buzzed-about platform, just scored a host of partners including VeriFone and Equinox that make a pretty large chunk of world's payment terminals. Those companies, along with Ingenico and ViVOtech have agreed to support Isis on future hardware and, in some cases, update the software on machines in the field to communicate with the app. For a few more details hit up the PR after the break and prepare for the Isis invasion to kick off sometime towards the middle of the year.
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VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox Announce Integration of Isis™ Mobile Commerce Application
Posted on March 5, 2012 by isisnews

Leading Payment System Suppliers License Isis Mobile Commerce Application; Consumers to Pay, Present Loyalty Cards and Redeem Offers All With a Tap of Their Phone

NEW YORK – March 5, 2012 – Isis™, the joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, announced today that VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox Payments will integrate and support the Isis Mobile Commerce Application in current and future product lines. The agreements with leading payment systems providers will help accelerate the wide scale introduction and adoption of mobile commerce.

"Payment systems suppliers provide critical infrastructure for the development of mobile commerce," said Scott Mulloy, chief technology officer, Isis. "Today's announcement is an important step in enabling NFC technology adoption throughout the mobile commerce industry. It also validates the open platform approach being offered by Isis across multiple business sectors."

"VeriFone retail customers are already embracing the convergence of online shopping and the physical point of sale with new mobile payment options, digital couponing, loyalty, location-based social media and value-added services," said Jennifer Miles, VeriFone executive vice president, North America. "NFC-enabled payments allow merchants to engage their shoppers in new and powerful conversations, and Isis' open platform and scale are helping make mobile commerce a reality."

Payment device suppliers will enable Isis mobile commerce across several of their product lines, offering merchants flexibility in how they upgrade to Isis-enabled payment terminals. Merchants will become Isis-enabled through a combination of new payment acceptance systems and NFC add-on devices, as well as remote software upgrades of certain devices already in the field.

"As a global payment terminal manufacturer, we welcome Isis' open approach of mobile commerce to engage with as many stakeholders of the payments ecosystem as possible. It is the most effective way to bring consumers and merchants the best in engineering innovation, convenience and security of payments," said Thierry Denis, president of Ingenico, North America. "For 30 years, merchants relied on our terminals as enablers of traditional and innovative payment methods. Today, together with Isis, we are ready to support the acceptance of NFC-enabled payments which are fully integrated in our new generation Telium series devices and, in turn, be the agents of mobile commerce."

"We're approaching a tipping point in the mass adoption of mobile commerce, as new smartphones arrive NFC-enabled," said Mick Mullagh, chief executive officer, ViVOtech. "Bringing the industry together behind a common set of technology standards and platforms is a crucial step toward igniting the mobile economy and we look forward to bringing ViVOtech's 10 year history of leadership in contactless NFC applications to bear on behalf of the Isis customer base."

"The importance of mobile payments cannot be overstated and Equinox is pleased to join Isis at the forefront of the development of these very important technologies," said Clint Jones, Equinox Payments president. "The Isis Mobile Commerce Application is an excellent complement to our next-generation NFC-enabled L5000 series of payment terminals. Collaborations such as this provide Equinox with even more opportunities to provide our customers with new ways to leverage the tremendous benefits that mobile commerce has to offer."

About Isis

The joint venture is between AT&T Mobility LLC, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless and is based in New York City. The venture is chartered with building Isis™, a national mobile commerce venture that will fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save. The Isis™ mobile commerce network will be available to all merchants, banks, payment networks and mobile carriers. ISIS is a trademark of JVL Ventures, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos, product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

www.paywithisis.com

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. The words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "may," "plan," "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those set forth in the discussions of factors that may affect future results contained in Securities and Exchange Commission filings of AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG (T-Mobile USA is the U.S. wireless arm of Deutsche Telekom AG), and Verizon Communications (of which Verizon Wireless is a subsidiary). AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon disclaim any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

Nokia pulls back the curtain on Carl Zeiss division, gives off that pro lens smell

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 10:02 AM PST

Still not sure how the 808 PureView can best other pro camera rigs? Then take a trip over to Nokia's Conversations blog for an inside look at the obsessive scientists behind the Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division. These are the men and women responsible for the module included in Espoo's 41-megapixel wonder and, of course, the Lumia line. So, what's the magic that makes these phones waft a "certain [professional] smell?" Why, that'd be their use of extremely aspherical, molded plastic lenses; a manufacturing process that creates sensors which lie closer to the surface and a dimple that allows for better refraction of light. The only downside to this high-end optical whizzery is the size required, so fans of anorexic handsets with exceptional imaging will just have to get used to those unsightly rear humps. Be sure to check out the source below for the full synesthetic quote and a more detailed glance at the world of mobile optics.

DARPA's robotic cheetah sets a land speed record racing into your nightmares (video)

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:41 AM PST


Sleep tight.
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DARPA's "Cheetah" Sets Land Speed Record for Legged Robots

March 05, 2012

The use of ground robots in military explosive-ordinance-disposal missions already saves many lives and prevents thousands of other casualties. If the current limitations on mobility and manipulation capabilities of robots can be overcome, robots could much more effectively assist warfighters across a greater range of missions. DARPA's Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) program seeks to create and demonstrate significant scientific and engineering advances in robot mobility and manipulation capabilities.

The M3 program pursues four parallel tracks of research and development: tool design, improvement of production methods and processes, improvement in control of robot mobility and manipulation, and prototype demonstration.

This video shows a demonstration of the "Cheetah" robot galloping at speeds of up to 18 miles per hour (mph), setting a new land speed record for legged robots. The previous record was 13.1 mph, set in 1989.

The robot's movements are patterned after those of fast-running animals in nature. The robot increases its stride and running speed by flexing and un-flexing its back on each step, much as an actual cheetah does.

The current version of the Cheetah robot runs on a laboratory treadmill where it is powered by an off-board hydraulic pump, and uses a boom-like device to keep it running in the center of the treadmill. Testing of a free-running prototype is planned for later this year.

While the M3 program conducts basic research and is not focused on specific military missions, the technology it aims to develop could have a wide range of potential military applications.

The DARPA M3 performer for Cheetah is Boston Dynamics of Waltham, Mass.

Globalfoundries buys out AMD to become fully independent chip maker

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:19 AM PST

Globalfoundries has celebrated its third anniversary by announcing that it's agreed terms with AMD to buy out its remaining stake in the company to go it alone. Whilst Sunnyvale will remain a key customer to the chip foundry, the nuts and bolts of ownership will be wholly in the hands of ATIC. The company now provides a big chunk of AMD's 32nm wafers and is now kicking off a $3 billion spending plan to kit out its facilities in Singapore, Germany and New York. It looks like the single life will allow it to spend equal time and effort refining those 20nm ARM chips promised for 2013 as well as its new partnership with IBM.
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GLOBALFOUNDRIES Marks Third Anniversary by Achieving Full Independence

Updated commercial agreement with AMD moves company to true pure-play semiconductor foundry

March 04, 2012 08:38 PM Eastern Time - MILPITAS, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced it has agreed to terms with AMD to acquire the remaining stake in GLOBALFOUNDRIES, fulfilling the company's long-term vision of becoming an independent foundry company.

The agreement, part of an amendment to the commercial Wafer Supply Agreement (WSA) with AMD, firmly positions GLOBALFOUNDRIES as a pure-play, leading semiconductor foundry company with AMD as one of its primary and strategic customers. GLOBALFOUNDRIES will now be wholly owned by the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC).

"Today marks the start of a new era for GLOBALFOUNDRIES as it becomes a truly independent foundry," said GLOBALFOUNDRIES CEO Ajit Manocha. "GLOBALFOUNDRIES has a clear vision to be the leading semiconductor foundry partner to AMD and one of the world's top technology companies. We continue to execute on our strategy to propel ATIC's long-term investment philosophy into true value creation for our shareholder and customers."

This acquisition of shares is the latest in a series of announcements marking significant milestones as GLOBALFOUNDRIES continues to gain strong momentum in the global semiconductor industry:

AMD's 32nm processor shipments increased by more than 80 percent from the third quarter to the fourth quarter and now represents a third of AMD's overall processor mix. In fact, GLOBALFOUNDRIES exited 2011 as the only foundry to have shipped in the hundreds of thousands of 32nm High K Metal Gate wafers.
In January, the company announced plans for more than $3 billion in capital spending in 2012 to fund expansion of its facilities in Singapore, Germany and New York.
Also in January, the company announced that its newest 300mm manufacturing facility, Fab 8 in New York, started running the first silicon as part of a new customer agreement to develop leading-edge chips for IBM.
The company achieved several significant milestones in its longstanding partnership with ARM, including the industry's first Cortex-A9 processor operating at more than 2.5GHz on 28nm high-performance technology, and the first 28nm ARM Cortex-A9 Processor Optimization Pack (POP) capable of up to 2GHz on a low-power process geared toward smartphones and other mobile application.

The acquisition of shares is part of a revised WSA for 2012 between GLOBALFOUNDRIES and AMD aimed at strengthening their strategic business partnership and commitment to delivering leading-edge technology solutions.

Dark Horse Comics graphic novels coming to Nook Tablet and Nook Color

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 08:57 AM PST

Dark Horse Comics has penciled a contract with Barnes & Noble (it'll be sent off to be inked and colored next week*) to get the former's content onto the latter's Tablet and Color e-readers. Available in the Nook Comic store, you'll be able to pick up a mix of the publisher's licensed titles like Mass Effect and Star Wars as well as home-grown fare like Hellboy and Sin City. The range will gently expand month-on-month and is available from today, with titles priced around $10 depending on what you want.

* This is a comic book joke.
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Dark Horse Graphic Novels Now Available on NOOK® by Barnes & Noble

MILWAUKIE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Just under a year after the launch of Dark Horse's digital initiative, it is announced today that the company has expanded the number of platforms on which comics fans can access their favorite Dark Horse titles! After an incredibly successful first year of Dark Horse's proprietary iOS app and digital storefront, Dark Horse is proud to partner with Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, to make a library of titles available on Barnes & Noble's award-winning NOOK Tablet™ and NOOK Color™.

Dark Horse digital graphic novels are now available for purchase in the NOOK Comics™ store, featuring over 100 of the company's top titles, like Mass Effect, Hellboy, Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity, Sin City and more!

"Making our content available on new platforms outside of the Apple iOS is an incredibly exciting proposition," said Matt Parkinson, Dark Horse Senior Director of Marketing. "As we move into new areas and new devices, we look forward to the opportunity to find new readers. I can't think of a better partner than Barnes & Noble the leading retailer of digital content and media and the folks behind the number one chain of bookstores in the country."

"Barnes & Noble is committed to offering customers a broad array of digital comics and graphic novels. We're excited to bring NOOK customers Dark Horse's fan favorite digital collection of graphic novels," said Theresa Horner, Vice President of Digital Content for Barnes & Noble. "The high resolution of our VividView™ color touchscreen makes the action virtually jump off the page, and takes these graphic novels to a whole new level of entertainment."

Starting today, the world's Dark Horse graphic novels arrive on NOOK! Experience NOOK at any Barnes & Noble bookstore or at www.nook.com. Look for more and more titles to be added every month!

Crapgadget: Spring Phling edition

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 08:32 AM PST

As winter recedes, the Crapgadgets emerge from their hibernation as they attempt to separate fools and their money. Today's selection includes a ridiculous workaround to a ridiculous accessory, an iPad case that has lips like Jagger and a hook for, er, spinning your iPhone around like a Wild West gunslinger.

Read - Our biggest regret in life is not being able to spin our $600 cellphone around on a $20 sticky coat hook.

Read - We're expecting the iPad 3 to be able to recreate the title sequence of the Rocky Horror Picture Show without the aid of this case.

Read - If you were into smartphones before they were cool and portable, you'll love the ability to carry around your over-sized retro handset on your jeans.

Read - Nothing evokes the grace, beauty and power of Enzo Ferrari's engineering than these decade-old-spec flip-phones that kinda resemble a Ferrari 966, if you squint from a distance.

Read - This "noiseless microphone" has two functions, and only one is to prevent your karaoke from annoying your neighbors.

Which crapgadget puts a spring in your step?

Tobii's IS-2 eye tracker is cheaper, 75 percent smaller than its predecessor

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 08:09 AM PST

Of all the things we saw at CES, Tobii's eye-tracking Gaze interface was one of the most memorable, even if the execution was a bit flawed. Now the company's back with a next-gen sensor that fits on a single board and is 75 percent smaller than the iteration we saw at CES -- a milestone that will presumably allow it to accommodate a wider range of devices. Tobii also says the IS-2S eye tracker consumes 40 percent less power than its predecessor and will be cheaper to implement, though the company doesn't specify how much it'll cost. It's also unclear which Windows PC and tablet makers will take a chance on the technology, though that won't necessarily stop us from getting an early demo at CeBIT this week.
Tobii IS-2 eye tracker


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Tobii Unveils Next-Generation Eye Tracker at CeBIT
CeBIT 2012

STOCKHOLM & HANNOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tobii Technology, the world leader in eye tracking and gaze interaction, today announced the introduction of its next-generation eye tracking integration component, the Tobii IS-2 Eye Tracker. It represents a major leap forward in the evolution of eye tracking that will further accelerate the development of new and exciting applications for professionals and consumers. The Tobii IS-2 Eye Tracker will be available to view at the Tobii Technology booth, No. A29, Hall 26, at CeBIT in Hannover, March 6-10.

"By introducing the smallest and most reliable eye-tracking system on the market, we are bringing the power of eye tracking and gaze interaction to a wide range of products and applications," said Henrik Eskilsson, CEO of Tobii Technology. "We are working intensely with dozens of partners that are realizing an array of exciting products based on our eye-tracking component. Imagination is truly the only limit of what you can do with eye tracking."

A major step in eye tracking evolution

The IS-2 Eye Tracker is a complete eye-tracking system that makes it possible to easily add eye-tracking capabilities to a wide variety of products.

"The Tobii IS-2 Eye Tracker represents a major technological step forward in eye-tracking evolution. Following the Tobii IS-1 Eye Tracker – the world's most widely implemented eye tracker – the Tobii IS-2 shows several advancements, including even further improved tracking robustness and range," said John Elvesjö, CTO of Tobii Technology. "It allows for accurate eye tracking of almost everyone within varying environments – a tremendous, but necessary, challenge in volume applications."

In addition, the Tobii IS-2 price point has been lowered, size has been reduced by 75 percent and it uses 40 less power. The entire OEM component is integrated on a single board with system-independent processing, which allows for a very small physical footprint and seamless integration into various products.

A wide range of interactive and analytical applications

Gaze interaction makes computer interaction more effective, more engaging and more exciting. With Tobii IS-2 Eye Tracker, eye and gaze tracking functions can easily be added to products such as:

- high-end computer monitors or peripherals
- computer-aided design (CAD)
- medical imaging
- air traffic control
- baggage scanning
- arcade games and slot machines
- infotainment systems in public places or hospitals
- eye position for 3D and other segments

Eye tracking also surpasses most methods in analytical applications to study what people are looking at or to understand what data they are processing. The Tobii IS-2 component will also fit into a variety of human-response-based products such as those involving:

- medical diagnostics and assessment
- lie detection
- attention monitoring
- training
- rehabilitation

"The Tobii IS-2 is arriving at a perfect time in computing history, when most computer manufacturers are implementing new modalities to enhance their products and develop more natural interfaces. But we also see a strong demand from many other industries and anticipate a strong trend in application development for the coming year," said Barbara Barclay, general manager of Tobii Technology Inc. in North America. "The smaller size and lower price point of the Tobii IS-2 platform opens up new opportunities to integrate the technology in various devices and applications."

Note to editors

For a live presentation at CeBIT March 6-10, please visit Tobii at Booth A29, Hall 26
Information about the Tobii IS-2 eye-tracker, www.tobii.com/IS-2
Images, http://bit.ly/fnTlKh
Video, http://youtu.be/A_hbpV0PCzs

China Mobile claims 15 million iPhone subscribers without selling Apple's handset

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 07:46 AM PST

China Mobile may be the world's largest telco with 655 million subscribers, but it's missing one major ingredient that any top tier carrier needs -- the iPhone. Apple's exclusivity deal with China Unicom is about to come to an end and China Telecom is going to start selling the 4S next week. Yet, China Mobile, the state owned behemoth, won't be joining the iOS fray officially until it starts shipping with an LTE radio (which we assume will happen next year). Still, according to the company, it has managed to rack up 15 million subscribers using unlocked iPhones on its 2G network. Perhaps most amazing, is that it was only in October that China Mobile announced it had 10 million subscribers using Apple's pride and joy. We can only imagine the pandemonium that will break out when the world's most popular phone comes to the planet's largest cellular carrier.

Naver's Skype competitor Line crosses 20 million mark

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 07:23 AM PST

In just eight months, Line has gone from a glimmer in Naver's eye to a 20 million member strong VoIP and messaging service. Perhaps most impressively, it's done so with only iPhone and Android apps available. The company is working on PC, Mac and tablet clients, but for now this is a mobile phone-only app. The speed at which its growing is significantly faster than both Facebook and Twitter, a fact the company is immensely proud of -- but, we wouldn't read to much into that.

Poll: Did you download the Windows 8 preview?

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 07:00 AM PST

Microsoft's finally unleashed its consumer preview of Windows 8 and while we're sure plenty of your questions were answered in our highly-detailed overview, nothing beats giving it a blast for yourself. So what are your thought so far? Is this the future destined for that Ultrabook you've had your eyes on? Let us know in our poll. And if you have even more thoughts, be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Did you download Windows 8 preview?

MSI GT780 GX rumored specs appear online

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 06:38 AM PST

There's no official word about this laptop, and if any of you are caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge. Still, you can't stop a good rumor, which is why details have emerged about a supercharged edition of MSI's GT780DX that dials the original hardware up to 11. The GTI 780GX has a 17.3-inch 1600 x 900 display (with the option to boost it to 1920 x 1080) and weighs a workout-worthy 3.85kg. Justifying that heft is a Core i7 Extreme Edition 2920XM CPU which'll hit 4.16GHz in Turbo mode, thanks to a "Cooler Boost" heat-sink that'll stop the laptop from singeing your flares. Paired up with such a meaty chip is 16GB of DDR3 RAM, a GeForce GTX570M (itself with 3GB of DDR5 inside) and space for two (two!) HDDs that each hold up to 750GB. You'll also get a Steelseries gaming keyboard, THX Sound and a 9-cell battery. Given that the laptop doesn't officially exist yet, there's no word on pricing or availability but we'll keep our eyes peeled.

Acer Allegro hands-on at MWC 2012

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 06:13 AM PST

We covered Acer's two Android devices at last week's show, but what in the world happened to its Windows Phone? It's easy to forget about the Acer Allegro because we haven't seen it show up beyond the reaches of Asia and France, but we hunted one down at Mobile World Congress and snapped a few shots for posterity. Intended to tempt bargain hunters, the device offers a 3.6-inch WVGA display, 1GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 CPU, 8GB internal storage, 5MP rear camera with LED flash and a 1,300mAh battery. It also features Fast Charge, which provides the Allegro with a full battery two and a half times faster than a standard Acer. On the unfortunate side, it's also 13mm thick and lacks a front-facing shooter, which may be enough for the hardcore Windows Phone fan to lose interest. But if you're still reading on, feel free to gaze upon our pics below.
Acer Allegro hands-on


Sean Cooper contributed to this hands-on.

For more coverage of MWC 2012, visit our event hub!

Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on (video)

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:46 AM PST

We still don't have detailed specs or even a model number, but we just had a chance to go hands-on with Fujitsu's new Lifebook Ultrabook at CeBIT. The 14-inch device will ship in red and silver, and is very thin -- 16mm, to be more precise -- including a frameless display that folds flat 180 degrees to lie flush. The nearly edge-to-edge LCD looks fantastic, at least powered off. There's a webcam up top, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, a proprietary Ethernet connector, SD card slot, an HDMI port, headphone jack and a Kensington Security Slot. There also appears to be a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader -- just one of the proposed security features for Fujitsu's yet-to-be-named enterprise Ultrabook. The magnesium body is very lightweight, at 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs), though the lid did feel a bit flimsy, at least on the sample we saw today. Pricing details have yet to be announced, though Fujitsu reps have confirmed that the Ultrabook will ship by early summer. Jump past the break for a closer look in our video hands-on.
Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on

Do we have the right to be 'forgotten' on Google? Spain asks ECJ to investigate

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:22 AM PST

Google has already tasted European hot water over its revised privacy policy, and soon the European Court of Justice (ECJ) may expand its remit to consider other related issues too. Spanish judges are asking the top court to consider complaints from 100 Spaniards who wish to have their names removed from news articles and websites. Among the complainants are a plastic surgeon who wants to delete archived references to a botched operation, and a man who appears on the Google News aggregator for alleged non-payment of social security. Google itself told Reuters that it supports the "right to be forgotten," but only if it's applied to search engines "in a way that protects both the right to privacy and the right to free expression." If only life was as simple as Pay N' Spray.

The best Kinect to come: Microsoft's Xbox 360 spring showcase

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:00 AM PST

Like the Nintendo Wii before it, Microsoft's Kinect has been braving the storm of new peripheral adolescence, awkwardly shuffling users through jump, wave, lean and jiggling gameplay, typically at a leisurely pace. Sure it's had its moments on the dance floor, but aside from being a good listener, the spatially aware sensor hasn't exactly redefined core gaming. Almost a year and half after its launch, however, the often hacked device is taking another crack at reaching the hardcore. We dropped in on Xbox's spring showcase this weekend to find out how that effort is going -- see what we found after the break.

Flipping through the Xbox's library of Kinect enabled games isn't a particularly thrilling experience for the action-obsessed gamer. Despite the hardware's knack for corralling quadrocopters, puppeteering primates and refining robotic surgery, the list of supported titles mostly offers up family friendly micro-experiences, few of which revise the Xbox's most popular genres with the Kinect's potential. Over the next few months, however, a trio of previously announced games will try to change that by applying the device's motion sensing and voice recognition chops to some very recognizable IPs.

Steel Battalion Heavy Armor


Gamers familiar with the Steel Battalion series will remember it as the title that shipped with its own massive, proprietary controller. This preposterous peripheral sold at a premium, kicking the game's price up to $200 with two full size joysticks covered in a mad array of brightly colored switches, buttons, a throttle, and hooked up to a trio of pedals. Immersion was the game and Steel Battalion and its controller played it well, putting the cockpit of the game's battle mechs in the player's living room. Steel Battalion Heavy Armor and Kinect hope to replicate that same immersive experience, but without the bulky hardware. The game uses the sensor to create a virtual cockpit around the player, requiring them to physically reach out to flip switches, pull levers and slug their insubordinate mech crew members in the face. The experience feels more natural than it sounds.

Heavy Armor is one of the first Kinect titles to meld the device's gesture control capabilities with the traditional Xbox 360 controller -- rather than replacing dual-stick controls with a clumsy motion experience, it augments it. Driving your mech, aiming your cannons and gunning down your enemies is a familiar, thumb dominated affair. Changing gears, pulling down your precision aim periscope or pressing the self destruct button, however, is just a surprisingly natural arm reach away. It's smooth, it's easy and, to be honest, it's a breath of fresh air. This is Kinect done right.

Fable: the Journey


As natural feeling as Steel Battalion's controls were, it still had a fairly in-depth tutorial attached to it, ensuring gamers knew exactly what its limits were. According to Peter Molyneux, Fable: The Journey, won't. Molyneux's latest addition to the popular Fable franchise is a Kinect controlled action game with lofty design aspirations -- that is, it hopes to introduce gesture controls so intuitive, the player will instinctively know how to play the game. The idea is to create a world that contextually tells a new user how to interact with it without spelling it out for them. Does it work? Sort of. In our brief time with the title, we had no trouble flinging spells at goblins or steering our digital horse carriage, but didn't get the chance to discover interactivity more complex then a few basic flick and lean motions. Fable's gameplay is relatively simple, but the idea of how it presents itself to the user is compelling -- a motion experience that's natural, easy to learn and downright instinctive isn't just more accessible than one with a lengthy tutorial, it's also more respectful of the user's intelligence. Regardless of the title itself, this design approach is somewhat admirable. If Molyneux can keep the tutorial out of Fable: The Journey's final cut (and deliver on the promise of intuitive gameplay), we'll happily give it a slow, respectful clap.

Mass Effect 3


Without a doubt, some of Kinect's most impressive work on the home console front has been in its voice recognition. From auto-configuring awesome firearms to navigating Netflix, barking orders at machines and having them actually obey you still remains one slick experience. Mass Effect 3 isn't the first title to put on Kinect's ears, but it may be the first one to wear them particularly well. This action RPG -- hitting store shelves this week, with a Kinect-enabled demo already available -- sees players filling the space boots of Commander Shepard, a galactic hero trying to save the galaxy from an overwhelming force hell-bent on the destruction of all life as we know it. Part of Shepard's journey is carrying on complicated, story-driving conversations with characters throughout the universe, traditionally requiring the player to pick dialogue options from a radial menu. That scheme is still available of course, but Kinect allows the user to simply respond using their own voice, drawing them more into playing the part of the hero than ever before -- you're talking directly to the characters in the game, and they're responding.

It works, and it works well. Similarly, the hero's powers and abilities can be activated by simply calling them out to the screen. This recognition isn't dissimilar to the voice control trick Ghost Recon: Future Soldier pulled with its gunsmith feature, but its deeper integration gives the game a "wow factor" that might leave PC gamers (or Xbox owners without a Kinect) wanting. We're still a bit perplexed as to why the Kinect's microphone is the only audio input device that will do, but a representative told us that the voice recognition algorithms were exclusively tied to the peripheral.


It's true, Kinect's coolest tricks can still be found on the PC, and now that Kinect for Windows has made the hardware just that much more accessible, Kinect fun labs probably won't be outdoing the wider development community any time soon. Still, Spring's software line-up shows that the console's mastery of the device is maturing -- delivering experiences that are easier to learn, that feel more natural and that draw us further into the game. Developers are finding a balance between the gimmick and the game, augmenting the traditional gaming experience instead of replacing it. No, Kinect isn't killing the controller, but it is growing up -- and maybe that's enough.

We're live from CeBIT 2012 in Hannover, Germany!

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:50 AM PST

Where is Hannover, you ask? Well it's definitely in Germany -- of that much we're sure. This town certainly isn't a tourist haven, save for a week in March when tech pros from every continent arrive and grow the city beyond its typical community of 500,000, but CeBIT is among the world's largest tech trade shows, and it's the sole purpose for our brief jaunt to Kansas City's sister metro. It's never crystal clear just what we'll see at CeBIT, though we've begun poking around one day shy of the show's official ribbon cutting, turning up a few surprises, such as this pink Galaxy Note. We'll of course be sharing whatever we happen to find between now and Thursday, so check back often for an inside look at Germany's flagship enterprise trade show.

Protip: Use our "CeBIT 2012" tag for all of our updates from the floor!
Live from CeBIT 2012

More 'iPad 3' prototype parts show up, we go hands-on

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:40 AM PST

In recent years, it's become a fashion for Apple prototype parts to pop up just weeks ahead of hardware launches; and it seems like there's no exception for the upcoming next-gen iPad, which is believed to feature a 2,048 x 1,536 IPS LCD within the same 9.7-inch footprint. While we're only two days away from seeing Tim Cook and co. unveiling said tablet, we couldn't help but take a look at its bits and bobs acquired by our good friends over at M.I.C. Gadget.

What we have here is allegedly the external essentials of the "iPad 3," which include a white glass cover (sans frame) with a home button already installed, along with a 3G-ready aluminum body plus cables for the dock connector and the volume rocker. With a quick glance you may easily mistake this as just the iPad 2 -- it's even compatible with the Smart Cover! But look close enough and you'll spot the larger lens on the prototype, which may suggest that Apple's finally giving its tablet a more capable back camera. There's also a more subtle difference between the two bodies: not only is this "iPad 3" marginally thicker, but the curvature from the flat bottom to the sides is ever so slightly more emphasized, thus providing a tad more internal space for the components -- most likely the battery for the sake of feeding the rumored LTE radio. Well, until Mr. Cook gives us the answers, you can keep yourselves busy by watching M.I.C. Gadget's funkadelic hands-on video after the break.
More 'iPad 3' prototype parts show up, we go hands-on






A special thanks to M.I.C. Gadget for the hands-on time!

Fujitsu teases new premium Lifebook Ultrabook at CeBIT, promises more details tomorrow

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:30 AM PST

We're here at the Fujitsu press conference at CeBIT, where the company just teased a yet-to-be-named premium Ultrabook. We don't have many details at this point, but we were able to confirm that it will include a 14-inch frameless display, a magnesium housing and a standard variety of connectivity options, including LTE, WLAN and Bluetooth. The notebook will weigh in at less than 1.5 kg and will measure 16mm thick. Fujitsu is marketing the Ultrabook as an enterprise device, with a full suit of security features, including a fingerprint scanner, TPM module, FDE and ATP. More details are promised for tomorrow, so you'll need to hang tight for a model number, pricing and a full spec rundown, though we're told to expect it to hit the market this summer.

Nokia Senior VP: PureView imaging technology coming to our Windows Phones

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:20 AM PST

We're sure many have fallen in love with Nokia's new cameraphone, but are perhaps not so willing to get back together with its Symbian OS. Fortunately, it looks like Nokia will be -- unsurprisingly -- gently placing its Pureview technology inside a future Windows Phone family member. Confirmed in Finnish broadsheet Aamulehti, Senior Vice President Jo Harlow said that although no date was penned in quite yet, it wouldn't be all that far away. The high-end camera credentials gifted to the Pureview 808 at MWC last week surprised plenty, given that Nokia proclaimed that its whole company had nailed its colors to the Windows Phone mast when it came to its flagship OS. Regardless, a polycarbonate PureView sounds pretty good to us.

Samsung Galaxy S II getting ICS upgrade March 15th, says Israeli Facebook page

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 03:55 AM PST

It may come slightly too late for Caesar, but a post has appeared on Samsung Mobile IL's Facebook page saying that the long-awaited Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update will reach GSII owners on March 15th. We're not fluent in Hebrew, and apparently neither is Google Translate, but it does suggest that the update will land on "tens of thousands of Galaxy SII devices" purchased in that country, either from "cellular companies in the country or directly from [Samsung]." Mazel tov and mabrouk. Let's just hope it signals the start of the global roll-out.

Update: Amir, one of our readers from Tel Aviv has offered us a direct translation of the post:

"We promised that we are working about that. You have waited patiently. And it's coming in March 15th: Android version 4, ICS, for tens of thousands of the Galaxy S2 owners that purchased it from the cellular company in Israel or directly from us. We are very excited in here towards the launch, hope that you too :)"

[Thanks, Amir]

AMD's 'sweet spot' Radeon HD 7870 and 7850 graphics cards get reviewed, recommended

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 03:29 AM PST

AMD's Radeon HD 7000-series onslaught continues, with still no 28nm retort from NVIDIA. The latest offerings are the 7870 priced at $349, and the 7850 priced at $249. Both are based on the Pitcairn GPU and hog the mainstream gamer spot below the Tahiti-based 79xx cards and far above the 77xx options. In terms of competition, these cards go head-to-head with the older NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 and GTX 560Ti, which currently retail for between $20 and $50 less. However, most reviewers found plenty of reasons to side with AMD despite the extra outlay, as you'll discover at the links below.

HotHardware -- hailed the performance, low power consumption, noise levels and features of both cards, but noted that they're "not much faster than previous gen counterparts." For example, 3DMark 11 benchmarks generally beat NVIDIA's rivals by around two or three percent, while the Radeon HD 7850 barely scored any higher than its predecessor, the 6850, in that test.

AnandTech -- found the 7870 to be "faster, cooler and quieter" than the GTX 570, with a roughly nine percent performance advantage that puts AMD "in the clear for the time being." As for the 7850, it was regarded as less of a steal, trailing the cheaper GTX 560Ti in some games -- including an eight percent lag in Battlefield 3.

TheTechReport -- reckoned both the 7870 and 7850 are "better options than comparable GeForces," because they deliver more FPS-per-dollar when Arkham City, Battlefield 3, Crysis 2 and Skyrim performances are averaged out.

PC Perspective -- concluded that the Radeon HD 7870 "more or less matches" the GTX 570 in the six games it compared, with two wins, two losses and two draws for the AMD card, but is still "pretty impressive" for the price. The HD 7850, meanwhile, "completely dominates the performance metrics" while using "56 fewer watts!"

TechSpot -- gave the Radeon HD 7850 slightly higher marks for being the "best mainstream card to buy at $250," while also praising the HD 7870 delivering "excellent performance and overclocking" and "almost reaching the level of the more expensive HD 7900 boards."
Show full PR text
AMD Radeon™ HD 7800 Series Graphics Sets Pace for Graphics Industry

Bringing to Market its Third Series of Graphics Cards Based on its New GCN Architecture

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -3/5/2012

AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the sleek new additions to its award-winning 28nm GPU line up, the AMD Radeon™ HD 7870 GHz Edition and AMD Radeon™ HD 7850 graphics cards. Featuring AMD's cutting-edge Graphics Core Next Architecture (GCN) for spectacular performance and efficiency, the AMD Radeon™ HD 7800 series comes equipped with PCI Express® 3.0 and the incredibly efficient AMD ZeroCore Power technology.1,3,4 Gamers can dive right in, crank up the settings and expand their gaming with AMD Eyefinity 2.0 technology thanks to the world's most advanced graphics.

The AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition and AMD Radeon HD 7850 GPUs comes equipped with 2GBs of GDDR5 memory and will be available worldwide from add-in-board partners like ASUS, Club 3D, Diamond, Gigabyte, HIS, MSI, Powercolor, Sapphire, VisionTek and XFX via retailers and e-tailers, with select models starting at USD$249 SEP.

"Engineered for supremacy, designed for efficiency and packed with incredible features, the AMD Radeon HD 7800 series offers more than the just world's most advanced graphics: it offers the incredible performance every gamer deserves," said Matt Skynner corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. "AMD continues to lead the industry in desktop graphics innovation with unrivalled computing and unequalled technologies like our game-changing GCN Architecture."

With continued demand for increased graphics horsepower to support more visually intensive games, the AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series is set to power the next generation of games and applications. And for those looking to upgrade to a next-generation graphics card, the AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series is the ideal choice.

"AMD has launched its full suite of next-generation graphics cards in very short order," said Robert E. Bellack, CEO, Newegg North America. "With the launch of the AMD Radeon HD 7800 series, we'll now be able to offer our customers AMD's full range of 28nm graphics cards, giving them the edge they need when gaming. We're proud to work with AMD on getting these cards to market."

The AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series raises the graphics bar by providing gamers an arsenal of tools like AMD PowerTune, AMD Eyefinity 2.0 and AMD CrossFire™ technologies, and 2GBs of GDDR5 memory that empowers them to enjoy the latest games and applications on the market.

"The AMD Radeon HD 7800 series is designed to perform for serious gamers," said Chance Lyon, Zombie Studios. "'Blacklight Retribution' is set to be one of the most visually impressive games of 2012 and AMD's commitment to pushing the boundaries of graphics technology with its Graphics Core Next Architecture means players will have an optimized 'Blacklight' gaming experience when they plug in an AMD Radeon HD 7800 graphics card."

Samsung confirms pink Galaxy Note coming soon, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 03:04 AM PST

Sure, you can personalize your Galaxy Note by sketching with the 5.3-inch phablet's S Pen, but there's no better way to express your mobile-obsessed self than by dressing your device in a flashy new color. Pink is the flavor of the month over at Samsung, which just gave us a sneak peek at its rosy Android hybrid at its CeBIT booth in beautiful Hannover, Germany. The sample on hand is of the shell-only variety, in that it doesn't include any internals, but looks pretty juicy even in its static state. The device is virtually identical to its blue and white counterparts, though its backplate is textured like that of the blue model, rather than the glossy rear you'll see on the white. There's not much more to say about pinky here, considering that the sample device won't even power on, but jump past the break for our hands-on video if you'd care to take a closer look. And keep an eye out for the pink Note in a store near you -- it's expected to land (in Germany, at least) within the next two months.
Pink Samsung Galaxy Note hands-on

China claims one billion mobile phone users, India shrugs

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 02:39 AM PST

China claimed 900 million mobile users last April, but back then it still seemed possible that India might reach the billion user milestone first. China was ahead in absolute terms, while India's user base was growing faster. According to the latest figures from its government, however, China is ready to stake its claim. It had 997 million phone owners by late February, with growth of around three million per week, which means it should have tipped the scales in the last few days. Of course, it's not really about who gets there first: The salient fact is that millions more humans can now ring each other up, just, you know, to chat.

C Spire drops iPhone 4S price to $150, asks you for two years of commitment

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 02:03 AM PST

If you've wanted to cozy up to Siri, only holding back in your search for a price break on Apple's current iPhone 4S, then your latest opportunity has arrived. C Spire Wireless is now offering the device at the starting price of $150 for the 16GB model in return for signing a two-year commitment. Naturally, $250 snags you 32GB of storage, while the 64GB variant will run you $350. All in all, these iDevices at about $50 dollars less than you'd normally find 'em for on carrier subsidies -- unless you happen to reside in Puerto Rico, that is. Best of all, it appears that this isn't merely a limited-time offer. Don't take our word for it, hit up the source link below for all the details.

Skype videoconferencing app and add-on camera come to Vizio Internet Apps HDTVs

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:31 AM PST

Vizio snuck mention of its $150 XCV100 Skype-enabled webcam into its CES 2012 accessories announcements, and now the two companies have announced its compatibility with "most" Vizio Internet App TVs. There's no list of which models specifically support it, and which can manage up to 720p streams, but owners can check the capabilities of their model on Vizio's website. The webcam itself features an HD camera and four built in mics, and clips directly on the top of Vizio's flatscreens. Assuming you're into videoconferencing from your living room, have one of the HDTVs and are ready to drop a benjamin and a half for the privilege, all that's left is to find one of the cameras, currently marked as sold out on Vizio and Amazon. Now, if we could just get an update on that $99 ARM-powered Google TV set-top box...

Galaxy Player 70 Plus: Samsung's first dual-core media player

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:50 AM PST

Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Plus is the world's first dual-core media player

Samsung's barely finished packing up from its recent stint in Barcelona, but that hasn't stopped another device surfacing on the Korean peninsula. The Galaxy Player 70 Plus appears to be a powered-up version of its 5-inch device from last year, side-stepping the design tweaks we saw last week on the Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 -- the other new (similarly long-winded) Android PMP from Samsung. Alongside a dual-core 1GHz processor, other hardware improvements include a (Korea-only) DMB TV tuner, 5-megapixel camera and a 2,500mAh battery to keep that expansive screen running for longer. The media player will arrive in both 16GB and 32GB capacities, priced up at 399,000 won ($356) and 469,000 won ($418) respectively, although there's no news just yet on whether the wider world will get to wrap their hands around that substantial 5-inch screen. Until there's more to go on, you can attempt to decipher the Google-translated press release -- it's right after the break.

Update: It seems Sony got there first on the dual-core PMP front. Better luck next time, Samsung.

Show full PR text
Equipped with dual-core 'plus 70 Galaxy players' release

◇ 5.0 inch large screen, 1GHz dual-core processors operating environment provides a comfortable applying
◇ education in the area Wi-Fi, messaging, games, etc. using various functions

Samsung Electronics launched in March last year, 'Galaxy player 70' smart player that improves the performance of the new 'Galaxy Player 70 Plus "will be released on the 5th.

'Galaxy player 70 plus "with a 1GHz dual-core performance, upgrade the AP mount, and you can use two kinds of frequency bands supporting a dual-band Wi-Fi wireless internet access more convenient can.

In addition, students applying 5.0-inch large screen when viewing Internet lectures to clearly see the words on the blackboard, and Megastudy, Gangnam-gu · EBS lectures are also supported a variety of educational services. Gibontapjaedoen 'diohdik dictionary' and Samsung apps available for download at off the 'Smart Edu' there is an advantage.

Wi-Fi in the region 'chaeton', 'kakaohtok', etc. You can enjoy messaging services, including the gyro sensor tapjaedwae racing game you can enjoy more fine-grained operation.

In addition to the large 2500mAh battery, 5.0 megapixel camera, terrestrial DMB, external memory slot and the various support functions, 16GB/32B product's selling price 399,000 won, respectively, is 469,000 won.

Samsung Electronics official said, "enhanced" 70 Plus Galaxy players' emphasis on learning and messaging services to consumers that 10 is expected to gain popularity, "he said.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Player 70 Plus Backpack giveaway to celebrate the launch, product marketing, will conduct a variety of cheheomdan is a popular idol group Infinite Spiral TV commercials as a model will be unveiled later this month.

BeetleCam's back with armor on board, and it brought a friend packing a Canon EOS 1Ds MK III

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 12:12 AM PST

Having braved the wilds of Tanzania and emerged with some brilliant photos, but a camera destroyed by a lion, the remote control BeetleCam is back at it. This time around, the buggy's got a Canon 550D, is sporting an armored shroud and it brought a buddy with some serious imaging chops to help it get up close and personal with a pride of lions in Kenya's Masai Mara. The new BeetleCam, dubbed the Mark II, has six wheels, two flashes, a Canon EOS 1Ds MK III for stunning stills and GoPro camera capable of streaming HD video. How did round two in Africa turn out? Pretty darn well, but as they say, the proof is in the pudding, so check out the amazing shots taken by the twin BeetleCams at the source below.

StatCounter: Android web browser claims biggest user share

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 11:17 PM PST

Android's native web browser can now lay claim to being the most popular mobile browser, according to StatCounter's latest survey. Mapping use over the past year, Google's mobile internet browser has grabbed around 23 percent of all users, up from just over 14 percent back in February 2011. The phone and tablet-based browser may have soaked up BlackBerry and Nokia users on its way to the top, with the two companies dropping browser share to six and 11 percent, respectively. Opera continues to hold its own, with a stable market share of around 21 percent throughout 2011, while the iPhone's Safari isn't far behind, notching up 20 percent by the end of last month. Conspicuous by its absence, Windows Phone's Internet Explorer hasn't made the table just yet and Google is surely hoping to see its mobile version of Chrome enter the table soon -- presumably once it's available on more than one device.

Random House drastically raises the price of e-books for libraries

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 10:02 PM PST

Oddly, Random House deciding to triple the price of its e-books for libraries is being considered a compromise. While others, like Penguin, are pulling their electronic tomes from the virtual shelves of our lending institutions, Random House is at least willing to still play ball -- even if it's making its wares prohibitively expensive. Now titles from the company start at $25, with many popular books going for more than $100, though, releases are available on day one and wont have an expiration date. Obviously, the fact that e-books can be pirated and never need to be replaced as their pages tear or bindings wear down is of concern to publishers that are losing out on a continuous stream of revenue. However, many of our libraries are underfunded and will likely balk at the new sky high prices. But, we suppose, a higher one-time cost is easier to swallow than an annual licensing fee.

Worlds collide as Super Mario Bros and Portal become Mari0 (video)

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 07:58 PM PST

Remember when the amalgamation of Super Mario Bros and a Portal gun seemed like the most amazing, yet impossibly lucid pipe dream? As it turns out, the cake named "Mari0" by developer-house Stabyourself actually wasn't a lie. But lest you thought this just a redo of Super Mario Bros with a skosh of Aperture science thrown in, you'd be oh-so-wrong. How's about four-player co-op, in addition to a level editor and a bevy of hilarious modes that'll put a new twist on an old favorite. And could it get any better than available for the sweet sweet price of free? If that's not a ringing endorsement, we don't know what is. If you're still reading this, we're unsure why you're still here -- get your game on at the source link below.

How would you change Amazon's Kindle Fire?

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 06:02 PM PST

The Kindle Fire is less a tablet and more a $200 window into Amazon's storefront. The 7-inch slate that shares its DNA with the BlackBerry PlayBook lacks any physical features bar a micro-USB port, headphone jack and speaker. Internally, that 1GHz CPU is paired up with 512MB of RAM and 8GB storage, with no option for increased size, Bluetooth, 5GHz WiFi or 3G. Performance was fine inside the company's carousel sandbox, but step outside and things became outrageously herky-jerky, especially in the Silk browser, which didn't live up to its name. We found that there was plenty we'd like to change to make it more of a useful tablet, but did we miss the point? You probably had one bought for you in the Holidays and it's had three or four months solid use since then, so what do you think? Is it a good companion on your daily commute, did it justify winning our E-Reader of the year prize and if Jeff Bezos was reading all of your comments in anticipation for version two, what would you demand he changes?

Refresh Roundup: week of February 27th, 2012

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 05:01 PM PST

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Official Android updates
  • HTC Sensation & Sensation XE: HTC is set to release Ice Cream Sandwich -- complete with Sense 4.0 -- for these two phones at the end of the month, but in the meantime, it's made previews available for download by way of its Elevate program. Those who don't care to take surveys will be glad to know the ROMs have also been leaked through less official channels. [Android Community, Pocketnow]
  • Motorola Droid 2: The QWERTY slider will soon undergo a soak test in anticipation of a future update. No word on what's to be fixed with this one, though Motorola specifically states that the soak test won't include the Droid 2 Global or the R2-D2 edition. [Android Central]
  • Toshiba Thrive: A minor update was released for Toshiba's 7-inch and 10-inch tablets this week. It's said to deliver newer versions of apps from Google, improve performance of the Toshiba File Manager and correct errors in the Calculator utility. [Android Central, Toshiba]
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
  • Motorola Droid X: Device hackers (and those with bricked phones) should take note that a system boot file (SBF) was recently made available for download that plays friendly with the latest .621 firmware from Motorola. [Droid Life]
Other platforms

Nokia Lumia 800: A Vodafone-branded firmware update, 1600.2487.8107.12070, was leaked to the forums of xda-developers. It's thought to deliver enhancements to the camera app, and users also report longer battery life. [My Nokia Blog]

Refreshes we covered this week

Switched On: Metro and the Mac

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

With the release of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, more consumers can more easily experience Metro, along with Metro-style apps. With this new approach, Microsoft is making the most radical shift in user interface it's ever attempted -- a change so drastic it will supplant the desktop as the default user experience.


The pipeline of desktop-style Windows-style apps may start to dry up over time.

Microsoft has not talked much about how long it plans to keep the classic Windows desktop around. It could well be another decade or more. But just as few new character-based applications are written for Windows today (despite the preservation of a command-line interface in the operating system), the pipeline of desktop-style Windows-style apps may start to dry up over time, particularly as Microsoft dangles the carrot of Windows app store inclusion before developers.

Microsoft has hinted, for example, that the next version of Office will represent the biggest transition in its history; it would not be surprising if Redmond created a Metro version optimized for Windows 8, and led the Windows developer community by example -- not unlike how Apple built iPad versions of iMovie, iWork and GarageBand. The future of Windows is Metro.


If Metro breaks the ability for developers to cost-effectively support both platforms, they may face some difficult decisions.

Last June, Switched On discussed what the dual user interfaces of Windows 8 might mean for the developers behind major Windows apps. But what does it mean for cross-party developers who wish to code for both Windows and the Mac? Since at least the release of Windows 95, the Mac and Windows user interfaces have been similar enough to support a core of application logic and user experience -- folders and icons, menus and pointers. With Lion, Apple brought some iPad conventions to the Mac, but the overall experience is still decidedly mouse-and-keyboard-driven. Apple has eased off the gas in Mountain Lion when it comes to iPadifying the Mac interface, choosing instead to bring iPad apps across and into a Mac context.

If Metro breaks the ability for developers to cost-effectively support both platforms, they may face some difficult decisions.

Saying no to Metro
Developers could find that the cost of converting their apps to Metro-centricity are not worth abandoning the desktop paradigm. Of course, for some time to come, developers will want to support the desktop metaphor anyway for the sake of compatibility with Windows 7 and perhaps earlier versions of the OS. Over time, though, the install base of Metro on Windows will exceed that of the Mac, and Microsoft is aiming for Windows users to spend increasingly more of their time in a Metro world.

Saying no to the Mac, but perhaps supporting the iPad
While the iPad's user interface is very different than Metro's, they both at least support multiitouch gestures and are designed for a finger-friendly, low control-density display. Today, of course, there are many apps that support both the iPhone and Windows Phone, and this would simply scale up that kind of cross-platform development.

While it might make supporting the Mac more expensive in the short-term and result in the loss of a few apps, Apple might welcome the end of the cross-platform app as it has long existed, a bane that long ago enabled third-party developers bring such Mac franchises as PageMaker and Photoshop over to Windows. Microsoft's move to break with the lowest-common-denominator past liberates Apple to do the same.

Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director and principal analyst of the NPD Connected Intelligence service at The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.

Mercedes slaps sheet of LEDs on the side of an F-Cell, turns car into a chameleon

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 03:12 PM PST

It's not often that folks want to hide the fact that they're driving a Mercedes, what with plenty of them being among of the finest motorcars on the road. However, as part of a marketing plan to call attention to its zero-emissions F-Cell model, the German marque swathed a side of one in LEDs to give it the ultimate in camouflage. You see, in addition to that makeshift display, a Canon 5D Mark II was mounted on the other side of the car so that video of its surroundings could be shown on the LED bodywork -- rendering the car all but invisible to onlookers, as long as they're staring at the left side, of course. Go ahead, head on down to see the magic of digital camo for yourself in the video after the break.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: i-oniq hybrid, spherical solar cell and an incredible LEGO printer

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 02:00 PM PST

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.
This week epic green transportation initiatives kicked off around the world as Inhabitat reported that Shenzhen, China launched the world's largest electric vehicle fleet and London's brand new Eco-Routemaster hybrid bus hit the streets for the first time. We also showcased an earthquake-proof Japanese building system capable of levitating an entire house, and we brought you sneak peeks at the hottest eco vehicles that will be unveiled at next week's Geneva Motor Show, including Hyundai's sexy i-oniq hybrid and Infiniti's Emerg-E plug-in. Audi also turned heads with its souped-up R18 E-Tron Quattro hybrid Le Mans racer, and Perave's 350 MPGe MonoTracer electric motorcycle hit the market.

It was also a bright week for renewable energy with a revolutionary spherical solar cell capable of capturing light from all directions, and Austria Solar sending out a "sun-powered" annual report that only appears when exposed to sunlight. Meanwhile, we said goodbye to the polluting energy technology of the past as Midwest utilities shuttered 10 fossil fuel-powered plants and the world's oldest nuclear reactor closed up shop in the UK. Brilliant designers also chased away dark winter days with a sunflower-shaped heliostat that can flood any house with natural light and a cheap, photovoltaic Little Sun lamp for the developing world.

Green tech also wired the world in exciting new ways as the Smithonian Institute announced plans to replicate and share its collection with the world using 3D printing tech and a 14-year-old boy invented an incredible LEGO printer. We also watched HP launch an all-in-one workstation that pops open for easy DIY upgrades and repairs, while Huawei unveiled a soaring Pegasus sculpture made from 3,500 smartphones. Last but not least we brought you a look at Google's new Terminator-style augmented vision goggles, and we shared a fun tutorial on geocaching with your children.

DirecTV adding TruTV HD ahead of March Madness again, will let it stick around this time

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 12:52 PM PST

Last year, DirecTV temporarily added TruTV HD to its lineup just during March Madness so its fans could catch all of the games, and it's bringing Turner-owned network back again this year. This time however, the satellite company has promised on Facebook (if a relationship is Facebook official, you know it's real) it's sticking around this time. This means not only can customers get all the college hoops this month, they can also later tune into all manner of reality TV programming. You're welcome (c) Kobe Bryant.

WSJ: Walmart to offer in-store disc to digital UltraViolet service

Posted: 04 Mar 2012 10:46 AM PST

Hollywood's latest digital ecosystem offers lots of promise, but in the five months since its release, it couldn't be further from delivering on it. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Walmart will finally make use of its membership to the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem by offering in-store disc to digital UltraViolet upgrade opportunities, for a small price of course. No doubt UltraViolet can use all the help it can get, but this is far from what we were hoping for when we learned Walmart would be in the mix -- we were hoping for the ability to buy and watch UltraViolet movies via Walmart's Vudu. Beyond our personal wishes, this no where near the big revelation that most consumers would actually find interesting: the release of the Common File Format which promises universal offline playback of our movie collection.
at 12:08 PM

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