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- New York's Chinatown Fair arcade presses start to continue
- Engadget Mobile Podcast 130 - 03.18.2012
- Panasonic Lumix GF5 accidentally leaked by Hong Kong spokesperson?
- HP sneaks out new dv4, dv6, dv7 and g4 Pavilion laptops, Ivy Bridge in tow (video)
- SQ Blaster Plus blasts some infra-red at the FCC
- Ask Engadget: Best Mac Mini carrying case?
- Pioneer launches its 2012 VSX AV receivers lineup, available now starting at $249
- Mobile Miscellany: week of March 12th, 2012
- Nokia confirms Lumia 710, 800 to be knighted with mobile hotspot 'soon'
- IRL: Rayovac Mobile Power Pack, a TomTom car charger and cleaning a DSLR sensor
- Windows 8 app keeps perps under virtual lock and key, frightens pedestrians (video)
| New York's Chinatown Fair arcade presses start to continue Posted: 18 Mar 2012 08:51 AM PDT  |
| Engadget Mobile Podcast 130 - 03.18.2012 Posted: 18 Mar 2012 07:45 AM PDT  Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) 00:02:30 - iPad review (2012) 00:17:33 - Galaxy Note LTE gains access to T-Mobile's HSPA+ network with custom radio Hear the podcast00:22:30 - Samsung Rugby Smart review 00:28:35 - HTC details micro arc oxidation, says your One S will be strong enough to forgo the case (video) 00:35:13 - HTC Sense 3.6 preview 00:42:09 - Samsung heralds European arrival of Ice Cream Sandwich for Galaxy S II (updated) 00:54:25 - Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video) 01:13:22 - Confirmed: ICS coming to the Nexus S in the next few weeks 01:16:10 - Sony outs Xperia sola: 3.7-inch LCD, 1GHz CPU, 'floating touch' navigation 01:35:00 - Listener questions Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com. Follow us on Twitter @tnkgrl @phonewisdom @engadgetmobile This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Panasonic Lumix GF5 accidentally leaked by Hong Kong spokesperson? Posted: 18 Mar 2012 06:33 AM PDT  You may be wondering: shouldn't this Micro Four Thirds camera be the GF4 after the current GF3? Well, much like Chinese superstition, Japan also prefers to steer clear of the number 4 as it sounds the same as "death" in Japanese. For instance: there was no Lumix LX4 before the LX5. As for specs, Chinese website Nphoto reported earlier this month that the GF5 will also feature a 12-megapixel sensor but with a better signal-to-noise ratio and topping at ISO 12800, while on the back it'll have a much sharper LCD with 920k dots (instead of just 460k on the GF3). Judging by the looks of things it shouldn't be long before we see Angelababy presenting this new camera for real -- let's just hope that she gets to keep her job. |
| HP sneaks out new dv4, dv6, dv7 and g4 Pavilion laptops, Ivy Bridge in tow (video) Posted: 18 Mar 2012 04:53 AM PDT  [Thanks Andrew] |
| SQ Blaster Plus blasts some infra-red at the FCC Posted: 17 Mar 2012 11:31 PM PDT  The SQ Blaster Plus strolled into town, but before it knew what had hit it, it was bundled into the back of a van and taken to the FCC's secret underground bunker in Washington. It was there that strange men in blue lab coats found out what lay beneath that black plastic box that's remarkably similar to last year's offering. Hidden inside is a 802.11 b/g WiFi module and an infrared blaster, capable of beaming out commands to your TV and similarly equipped appliances. It's also only packing the one side-mounted aerial, whereas the older generation had the choice of internal or external. Now that it's been passed fit and proper by the government, it can't be long until it reaches our |
| Ask Engadget: Best Mac Mini carrying case? Posted: 17 Mar 2012 07:30 PM PDT  We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from is from Kevin, who's decided to abandon laptops for his Mac Mini. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. Well, we're impressed by his commitment and his plan, but has anyone else made the leap and lived to tell the tale? We've never seen a mac at a LAN party, but that doesn't mean there isn't some exquisite accessories available for the purpose. One, two, you know what to do. (NB: If you don't know what to do, it's to give your helpful suggestions and personal experiences in the comments below) |
| Pioneer launches its 2012 VSX AV receivers lineup, available now starting at $249 Posted: 17 Mar 2012 05:34 PM PDT  We've seen Pioneer stuff its VSX line with 3D and Bluetooth goodness in the past; now, the Japanese outfit is unveiling its 2012 AV receivers portfolio in an attempt to widen its offerings. Starting with the lower-end models, the VSX-522 and VSX-822 are both packing 5.1 surround audio, while the main difference between the two is the lack of AirPlay and Bluetooth on the former. If you are, however, looking to go the premium route, you can snag the VSX-1022 or the top of the line Pioneer VSX-1122 , which will get you 7.1 sound, DLNA, as well as 1080p upscaling. All good for your ears? Ready up your wallet, as you'll have to drop anywhere from $249 to $599 if you want to add one of these to your setup. Pioneer Introduces Four New Audio Video Receivers LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today expanded its family of audio video receivers with four new Pioneer branded 5.1 and 7.1-channel audio video receivers. Pioneer's 2012 receivers offer the connections and operability options consumers are accustomed to with their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. According to a Nielsen Mobile Insights Report, 46 percent of U.S. consumers own smartphones¹ and by 2015 it is predicted that 65 percent of the total U.S. population will own a smartphone or tablet or both². Pioneer continues to embrace the growth of these popular devices by designing its home theater products to seamlessly integrate the music and entertainment capabilities of iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The new video receivers, the VSX-522 ($249), VSX-822 ($379), VSX-1022 ($449) and the VSX-1122 ($599), will hit the streets with a variety of powerful feature sets that include Apple's Airplay®, DLNA® 1.5, 3D HDMI connectivity, Internet radio, and more. "Portable devices like smartphones and tablets are now primary sources for audio and video entertainment so it's extremely important that consumers can easily incorporate them with our receivers," said Chris Walker, director AV marketing and product planning for the home entertainment division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "The new line of Pioneer receivers are the ideal home theater products for today's consumers." It's All About Being Connected Pioneer's 2012 receivers offer the connections and operability options consumers are accustomed to with their mobile devices, as well as access to high-quality audio regardless of source. Connection Options – All models are equipped with a front USB input. The VSX-822 and above models include a USB/video cable for easy, out-of-the-box connectivity, battery charging and quick access to music libraries in iTunes. AirPlay – Starting with the VSX-822, consumers can wirelessly bring their entire iTunes library into their home theater system using the receivers' built-in Apple AirPlay3 technology. The music from iTunes can be quickly accessed through a personal computer or an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, and the album art and audio metadata can be displayed on a connected monitor/TV4. DLNA Certified (1.5) – With the exception of the VSX-522, the new line of receivers are also DLNA Certified (1.5), enabling music content to be shared from a networked Mac or PC, iPad, iPhone or iPod touch via the consumers' home network, either through an Ethernet connection or optional wireless WiFi adapter for VSX-1122 owners. Internet Radio – Adding more music options to the lineup, the VSX-822, VSX-1022 and VSX-1122 include vTuner Internet radio for accessing thousands of web-based radio stations around the world as well as featuring other Internet radio based music services such as PANDORA®. The three models are able to play high bit-rate stations and can be controlled by Pioneer's control apps. Bluetooth® Audio Streaming – Starting with the VSX-822 and up, consumers can stream their music from their Bluetooth enabled devices (optional AS-BT200 Bluetooth adapter required). In addition, Pioneer's Air Jam app, available from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, lets users pair up to four devices via Bluetooth. Once connected, each user can cue songs from their music libraries to create a collective playlist to play back on their A/V Receiver. AVNavigator – For VSX-1122 consumers, Pioneer makes the installation process simple by providing an interactive owner's manual that uses a consumer's PC or iPad to communicate directly with the receiver, walking the user step-by-step through the home theater set-up procedure. High-Quality Audio and Video to Please Any Enthusiast Pioneer's newest receivers provide consumers with a variety of features that enable high quality audio and video from any source. High-Resolution Playback – The new receivers can reproduce high-resolution uncompressed WAV and FLAC files up to 192kHz 24-Bits from both the front USB and network on the top three high-end models. Auto Phase Control Plus – Available on the VSX-1122, Pioneer's proprietary Phase Control automatically adjusts for the time delay of the subwoofer output so consumers hear a more accurate, robust and fully balanced 7.1 and/or 7.2 multichannel set-ups. Direct Energy Amplifiers – To deliver the highest quality audio possible, Pioneer leverages its nearly 75 years in amplifier design. Direct Energy amplifiers are designed to minimize the signal route between signal inputs, amplification, and speaker outputs, reducing internal and external distortion to produce a cleaner sound with high dynamic range. Advanced HDMI Features – All new Pioneer receivers support the latest HDMI specification and offer more HDMI inputs than ever before, with the VSX-1122 offering seven inputs for a wide range of connectivity options. They also feature a new HDMI Standby Through mode that allows high definition audio and video to pass through the receivers while in the Standby mode. Pioneer receivers also include an Audio Return Channel feature to accept audio signals sent from a compatible TV's tuner back to the receiver via a single HDMI connection. ControlApp & iControlAV2012 App – Pioneer's new ControlApp and latest generation iControlAV20125 App give users even more control of their receivers and home theater settings from the convenience of their iPad, iPhone, iPod touch. With ControlApp, available for the VSX-822 and VSX-1022, users can turn the receiver on and off, adjust sound modes, change inputs and control Internet radio and DLNA streaming content. The new iControlAV2012 app featured on the VSX-1122 provides additional receiver control on the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch. With this app, consumers also have access to the receiver's advanced sound features such as Sound Explorer, which displays more than 18 of Pioneer's unique sound adjustment functions on one screen, and Virtual Speakers, which allows users to create their ideal sound field, even when real speakers are not set up. Both apps are available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone or iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.com. Video Processing – The VSX-1122 delivers a great picture from any source with Pioneer's Advanced Video Adjust suite of high definition video adjustments and 1080p/24fps video conversion as well as Pioneer's exclusive Stream Smoother feature that enhances low bit-rate video sources. The new models are designed with a new modern brushed finish to match any home theater and will be available at authorized Pioneer retailers in March 2012. It all began with a passion for music that Pioneer founder Nozomu Matsumoto hoped to share with the world. He started Pioneer in 1938 as a specialty speaker company, building products out of his garage. Today, Pioneer's Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group continues Matsumoto's enthusiasm, developing award-winning audio and video home theater products including A/V receivers, Blu-ray Disc® and DVD players, and speakers. Long-standing partnerships and collaborations with the creative community have provided Pioneer unique insight in its quest to capture the purity of a movie or musical artist's original vision into its broad range of home entertainment products. The company's brands include Pioneer® and Elite®. More details can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com. |
| Mobile Miscellany: week of March 12th, 2012 Posted: 17 Mar 2012 04:06 PM PDT  HTC One X Deluxe Edition in Taiwan includes Beats headphones  How do you make one of the most desirable smartphones on the planet even more drool worthy? Would slapping "Limited Edition" on the packaging and including Beats Solo headphones do the trick? If your covetous nature just shot up a tick, you should know the bundle will be available for preorder in Taiwan at 24,900 TWD -- which translates to approximately $844 in "real" money. [Android Community] T-Mobile expands 4G coverage in four states Good news for those who like faster data speeds -- T-Mobile has installed or upgraded its HSPA+ network in the following communities: Bakersfield, Calif.; Port St. Lucia, Fla.; Joplin and St. Joseph, Mo.; Abilene, Amarillo, Odessa, and Victoria, Texas; and Eau Claire, Wis. Of the towns listed, those in California, Florida and Texas will each be happy to know that you're now swimming in 42Mbps of Magenta's airwaves. [CNET] Nokia Maps for Android and iOS brings voice guidance to the web browser  Make no mistake, novelty and utility intersect in Espoo. Nokia has updated its online maps service to bring voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions to your mobile web browser for Android or iOS. Nokia states that it'll only work properly when you're on foot, but since it's a free service made available for competitor's handsets, it's not like there's much room to complain. [Nokia Conversations] T-Mobile petitions FCC for 700MHz LTE interoperability On March 21st, the FCC will hold an open meeting to discuss, among other topics, LTE device interoperability on the 700MHz spectrum. T-Mobile is concerned that much of the discussion will be limited to interference issues on blocks B and C alone. Instead, it's petitioned the FCC to broaden its focus and concentrate on how to best promote device interoperability across the entire 700MHz band. [Mobile Burn, FCC] HTC One V slips into two new colors  Up until now, you could have HTC's latest entry level smartphone in any color that you wanted -- so long as that was gray. Now, the One V has been spotted in both black and purple garb, and they seem to make a fine pair, don't you think? [Pocketnow] HTC One X for O2  Living in the UK and hoping to snag the HTC One X? Good news, because O2 has announced that it'll get the star of Mobile World Congress on April 5th. No word on its price, however, so stay tuned. [Coolsmartphone] Verizon acquires Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania Verizon Wireless snatched up some additional spectrum in Pennsylvania this week with its purchase of Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania -- yes, that's really the company's name. The license covers a population of roughly 114,000 throughout the northeast portion of the Quaker state. [The Verge] Visualized: Virgin Mobile's LTE coverage in Canada  Living in Canada and want a clear picture of Virgin Mobile's (and similarly, Bell Mobility's) current LTE deployment? If so, the crew at Mobile Syrup have put together a fantastic collection of maps that depict exactly where the carrier stands. [Mobile Syrup] Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus coming to UK on March 17th  Samsung's Galaxy Ace Plus will arrive in the UK on March 17th, but that's not to say it's a good thing -- our impressions of the device were downright miserable. So, unless you're into self-abuse, you should really avoid this one at all costs. Speaking of costs, its price has yet to be announced. [MobileBurn] |
| Nokia confirms Lumia 710, 800 to be knighted with mobile hotspot 'soon' Posted: 17 Mar 2012 03:01 PM PDT
If you've pored over the specs of Nokia's Lumia 710 and 800 handsets during the last few months, you've likely noticed the duo's lack of mobile hotspot functionally. Of course, the Finnish phone maker didn't completely abandoned the feature in Windows Phone, as the ability to turn your device into a portable access point will ship with its flagship Lumia 900 and the recently announced 610 at launch. Nokia admitted that the feature would be coming to the 800 months ago, and now Elop & Company have announced that the 710 is also on the shortlist. A recent Q&A post on its Connects blog explained that software updates will be "coming soon" -- by way of Zune update -- to remedy the discrepancy between the old and new. No word on what Nokia's definition of "soon" is, but you can find all the available details at the source link below. |
| IRL: Rayovac Mobile Power Pack, a TomTom car charger and cleaning a DSLR sensor Posted: 17 Mar 2012 01:30 PM PDT Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.  This week's edition of IRL is geekier than usual because really, only the nerdiest of you would be reading a tech site when you could be pretending to be Irish. On tap (har!) we have James and Andy talking about their favorite ways to charge gadgets on the go, while Darren, a man after serious photographers' hearts, tells what happened when he took his beloved D3S in to have the sensor cleaned. TomTom High-Speed Multi Charger Since I packed in the smokes a few years ago, the lighter socket in my car has remained largely vacant. Until semi-recently, that is. Like most folks around these parts I probably have more gadgets than I really need. That's typically not a problem, but sometimes -- like on long journeys -- feeding all those hungry devices becomes difficult.TomTom clearly feels my pain. Essentially, that contraption you see there is an in-car 12V charger with two USB ports. To be fair, it's really the USB ports that I'm after, as they allow me to juice up my GPS while topping up my phone, tablet or whatever else I happened to bring along without bothering to check the charge. It also lets you run something else off the 12V in-car socket -- perhaps some dedicated travel accessories, if you have them. If you're going to be on the road for any amount of time, the added security of being able to power up your tech or run the Sat Nav for hours while charging another is great, especially if you're relying on connected apps to find points of interest, read TripAdvisor or just augment reality -- as you do. -- James Trew Rayovac Mobile Power Pack I impulse-bought the Rayovac Mobile Power Pack not only because I'm a sucker for catchy rhymes, but because it was a mere 17 bucks. I'm not a worrier, but I do like being prepared -- Boy Scouts can do that sort of thing to you -- and keeping a charge on my iPhone 4S at all times is a must in my book. I'd been rummaging around for a decent battery pack for a while when this caught my eye at the edge of the Wal-Mart checkout line. Although I'm a hardcore Energizer Bunny fan, I thought I'd give Rayovac a shot.Before my serendipitous encounter, I had my eye on the Motorola 89442N Universal External Cell Phone Battery, a pack about the size of a phone with a bantam micro-USB arm. I hadn't purchased it because it ran a whopping $45 dollars brand new and I couldn't justify thirty more minutes of Trolls N' Towers per day for that price. The device contains a lithium battery pack that charges to the max in about three hours (my only complaint), giving your iPhone 4 another six hours of talk time. Having a single cable, it's enclosed with a micro-USB, mini-USB and Apple charging adapter that unfortunately doesn't support data transfers. So, it works with pretty much anything. I've charged my camera, iPad, iPhone 4S and Sony Bloggie with it many times, and I can't seem to notice any depletion in battery capacity. The Rayovak Mobile Power Pack is definitely full of mobile-charging-win in terms of versatility and budget. -- Andy Bowen Getting a DSLR sensor cleaned I struggled for well over a year with this. I knew that spots were creeping in on the sensor of my Nikon D3S, and each time my wife shot another beachfront wedding or we traveled to a place with gobs of salt in the air, I noticed it getting a wee bit worse. Hardly anyone outside of professionals would notice, but I noticed. And it bothered me. I read hundreds of horror stories from those trying to make things better -- people attempted to use liquid solutions without any guidance, and ruined their sensors.The debris on my sensor was so serious that no brush or air pump would fix it; I knew I needed liquid, and I knew I didn't trust myself to do it. I found a local Nikon repairman while in Honolulu, and figured I'd let him have a crack at it. Fifty dollars out of my pocket and a few hours later, the spots were completely gone. But not all was perfectly well. The liquid residue had left a few very minor smudges, which I had to go in myself and polish off with a sensor brush. All in all, it required a fair amount of work, but it's worth it. Not seeing any stray specs in a gorgeous landscape shot is delightful; my only regret was not getting it done sooner. If you're considering it, get a professional to do it -- the toughest part will be deciding on 24 to 48 hours in which you can actually afford to relinquish command of your rig. -- Darren Murph |
| Windows 8 app keeps perps under virtual lock and key, frightens pedestrians (video) Posted: 17 Mar 2012 11:50 AM PDT  |
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