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Sunday, April 8, 2012

Engadget News

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Android Open Kang Project brings hyper-customization to your nav bar (video)

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:26 AM PDT

Still dallying at the corner of Custom ROM Road? Then maybe the forthcoming update from Team Kang (AOKP Build 30, no less) will entice you onwards. The preview clip after the break reveals a new level of freedom for the ICS navigation bar, including the ability to add up to five buttons, assign them to apps or actions as you wish, modify their icons and add separate long-press functions. It also gives you the ability to incorporate Nova Launcher actions into the bar, effectively bringing a whole extra layer of customization. Reactions over at RootzWiki range from "I'm crying, this is a beautiful moment" to "I just broke my hand punching a wall," but the latter dude admitted he'd been drinking.

PSA: Nokia Lumia 900 available today

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 09:03 AM PDT

Did our thorough Lumia 900 review convince you that a mix of polycarbonate hardware and Metro UI is where your smartphone future lies? Well, it's time to head to your nearest AT&T vendor because Nokia's latest effort to break America is here. Just don't forget those 100 bucks.

Netflix explains its recommendation system, can't find a reason for Adam Sandler's last movie

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 08:06 AM PDT

In case you've been wondering why Netflix tends to recommend the movies it does, there's a post on the company's Tech Blog breaking down the various levels of its system. Remember the Netflix Prize contest? Teams of researchers produced competing algorithms capable of more accurately predicting how members would rate movies, but while some of the early winning efforts are still in use, the million dollar solution was never implemented because the potential gains were too small to justify the engineering effort needed. Additionally, while Netflix still hasn't implemented individual profiles for household members yet, the blog indicates it does try to recommend something for everyone, seeking both accuracy and diversity -- which may explain some of more out there picks in our personal "recommended for you" list. Where available (read: outside the US) Facebook integration plays a part too, as well as a variety of information used to find movies similar to those previously viewed. The proof of how all these parts come together is ultimately judged by the viewers, while we wait for part two with more data to pore over -- is Netflix managing to accurately pull any flicks you want to watch out of its catalog.

US Navy Fire Scouts will automatically spot pirates, give 30 seconds to comply

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 06:24 AM PDT

War. What is it good for? Well, if new use of technology by the US Navy has anything to do with it, finding Pirates for a start. By upgrading its existing Fire Scouts with new 3D laser imaging tech, it's hoped that the drones will be able to recognize the small ships used by these unscrupulous seafarers. The system, known as LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging, also known as LADAR) uses millions of laser pulses reflected off an object to create the three-dimensional image, which could then referenced against known pirate ships from a database. Ultimately, human operators will make the final call, to avoid any ED-209 style mis-understandings. That said, if you're taking the dingy out past the Californian breakwaters this summer, you might want to keep the stars and stripes in clear view, as that's where the Navy will be running its initial trials.

Everything old is new again: NVIDIA rebrands Fermi-based GT 520 and 510 into 600-series

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 03:43 AM PDT

NVIDIA may have trotted out a brand new beast, ripe with fresh Kepler architecture, but that doesn't mean it put Fermi to bed. Allow us to introduce you to the GT 520 and the GT 510, or as they now prefer to be called, the GeForce GT 620 and GeForce 605, respectively. These OEM GPUs have traded half of their memory and a few clock speed tweaks for OpenGL 4.2 support and a low-end position in the firm's new 600-series. Despite their very Kepler-esque numbering (and NVIDIA's website placing them in the same "product family" as the flagship GTX 680), Tom's Hardware says the firm's Bryan Del Rizzo confirmed the 605 and 620 are Fermi-based graphics cards. Then again, not all cousins share the same surname. File this under "extended family" and call it a day.

Max Payne to rampage on iOS April 12th, Android April 26th

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 12:04 AM PDT

Max Payne to rampage on iOS April 12th, Android April 26th

Are you a smartphone user with an itchy trigger finger? Listen up. Rockstar Games has announced that the one and only Max Payne will begin terrorizing your iOS and Android devices in the very near future. The wares will be available for Apple-branded gear (iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S, along with the iPod touch 4 and all iPad iterations) on April 12th, and Google's implements two weeks later on the 26th. Max Payne Mobile is promising to deliver HD graphics, high resolution textures and exclusive content via the company's Social Club service to your miniaturized screen. Rockstar did not elaborate on which Android sets would be supported, but promised to publish a full list "in the coming weeks." Limber up those thumbs, charge up that handset and get ready to lay waste to... pretty much anything that moves.

Origin PC EON15-S and EON17-S gaming laptops available now, priced from $1,525

Posted: 07 Apr 2012 09:01 PM PDT

In the market for a beastly portable gaming rig that won't break the bank? Origin PC today announced availability of its EON15-S and EON17-S gaming laptops, with pricing starting at $1,525 and $1,576, respectively. You'll of course still be able to hand over an arm and a leg depending on how you opt to build out your system, but considering that the base model is priced at nearly half the amount its predecessor was when it was announced this time last year, we imagine additions will wield a softer blow than they did in 2011. Both systems include Intel HM77 Ivy Bridge chipsets, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M, 670M or 675M graphics with Optimus power-conservation technology, and a 5.1 ONKYO surround sound system. Both cases offer unique designs, with black, red, silver or custom finishes, and a colorful backlit keyboard. What else could you possibly need? Perhaps a press release and a few more pictures -- and we've got both for you right here.
Origin PC EON17-S

Origin PC EON15-S
Show full PR text
ORIGIN PC's EON17-S and EON15-S get Upgraded with a Complete Technology Overhaul and Exclusive New Laptop Design

Award Winning Laptops Now Feature the Latest Technology from ORIGIN PC, Intel, and NVIDIA.

Miami, FL – April 8, 2012, 12:01AM Eastern – ORIGIN PC announced today the availability of their completely overhauled EON17-S and EON15-S high-performance laptops. Featuring the next generation Intel HM77 chipset, overclocked NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M graphics cards, and NVIDIA Optimus Technology. These amazing new EON laptops are ideal for gamers, artists, enthusiasts, and professionals. They debut with the exclusive ORIGIN PC design available in silver, matte black, matte red, or with custom paint jobs.

ORIGIN PC's EON17-S and EON15-S Laptops Feature:
• Exclusive ORIGIN PC Laptop Design: First shown at CES, the exclusive new ORIGIN PC laptop design will be available as a standard option in matte black, matte red, silver, or your choice of custom paint.
• Customizable Backlit Keyboard: With three lighting zones and seven color options, you can customize your laptop to match any style you want.
• Next Generation Intel HM77 Chipset: Stay up to date with the just released Intel HM77 chipset which is ready for today and upgradeable for tomorrow.
• Intel Rapid Start Technology: Experience lightning fast resume time with Intel Rapid Start Technology.
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M, 670M and 675M Graphics: NVIDIA's most powerful GTX mobile graphics cards ever created are able to display games and programs in beautiful, high resolution.
• NVIDIA Optimus Technology: Automatically switches between your graphics cards and onboard graphics to provide more efficient use of power, less fan noise, and up to 6.5 hours of battery life (2.5 times more than previous generation EON laptops).
• ORIGIN PC CPU + GPU Overclocking : Let our overclocking experts take your system to an even higher level of performance with our CPU (EON17-S only) and GPU overclocking backed by our industry leading service and support.
• THX TruStudio Pro with ONKYO Sound System: High quality ONKYO speakers in 5.1 surround sound with the ability to output to a 7.1 speaker system of your choice. THX TruStudio Pro gives you the ability to tweak your audio to perfection.
• Free Lifetime 24/7 Support: Every ORIGIN PC comes with industry leading Lifetime 24/7 Support based in the United States.

The EON15-S is Fully Customizable starting at $1525.00 and the EON17-S is Fully Customizable starting at $1576.00
"The type of complete technology overhaul that the EON17-S and EON15-S laptops have just undergone does not happen often. This is the best time to upgrade to an ORIGIN laptop," said Kevin Wasielewski ORIGIN PC CEO and co-founder. "With the latest technology from Intel and NVIDIA, the customizable backlit keyboard, and the exclusive ORIGIN laptop design the new EON-S laptops offer stunning performance and they look as good as they perform."

All ORIGIN PC systems come with free lifetime 24/7 phone and online service based in the United States. Each customer has a dedicated support team and free lifetime labor for upgrade needs. ORIGIN PC's Evolve Upgrade Program allows customers to purchase a custom PC now, and trade in their parts when they want to upgrade. Every ORIGIN PC features a 1 to 3 year free part replacement warranty combined with the best in class integration, quality testing and support.

Nokia takes over Times Square for Lumia 900 launch event (video)

Posted: 07 Apr 2012 08:36 PM PDT

We're still not exactly sure what Nicki Minaj has to do with Nokia's new Lumia 900, but the company put her at the center of its promotional efforts in a launch event Friday night that took over Times Square. Oh, you missed it? For just the visual effect of what went on, including CGI dancers on massive LED displays and coordinated effects on the tourist destination's many existing video boards (been there, done that) you can check out our gallery of pics from the event, or look below for the video. If you're all about the phones, Nokia is pushing its Windows Phone 7 flagship with new "the smartphone beta test is over" ads -- there's also one of those embedded after the break. So, is anyone concerned Nokia might not be doing enough to promote this new phone?
Nokia Lumia 900 in Times Square





Show full PR text

Apr 06, 2012 22:03 ET
Nokia and Nicki Minaj Illuminate Times Square

Nokia Lumia 900 handsets dominate the iconic New York skyline

NEW YORK, April 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nokia teamed up with international superstar Nicki Minaj to bring a building in Times Square alive and create one of the biggest LED displays ever seen to celebrate the launch of the Windows Phone-based Nokia Lumia 900.

Tens of thousands of people watched as Nicki performed a medley of her hits before some of the world's leading visual artists turned the prominent building into a living, breathing entity using cutting-edge CGI technology with 60ft waves appearing to cascade down the building.

Nine of Times Square's famous electronic screens showed the fantastic reaction of the crowd.

The unique visual event, to launch the Nokia Lumia 900 in North America, was choreographed to an exclusive Nokia Lumia remix of Nicki's hit 'Starships', performed live by DJ and producer Doorly.

The entire show was filmed as part of the singer's new music video for the 'Starships' remix.

Nicki said: "When Nokia came to me with the idea to make a building come alive and to perform in Times Square in front of my fans to celebrate the launch of the Nokia Lumia 900 there was only ever one answer.

"To see the idea on paper was amazing but to see it for real blew me away. It brought Times Square to a standstill. The absolute bonus for me is that my fans, who have been so loyal to me, are now part of the video for the Starships Nokia remix.

"Performing in my home town of NYC the same week as the release of my new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is amazing and it really is a dream come true."

To see more of the event go to www.facebook.com/nokiaus

The Nokia Lumia 900 will be available exclusively in North America from AT&T from April 8 for $99.99. With 4G LTE speeds and outstanding design, the Nokia Lumia 900 lets customers access their email, music and social media quickly.

Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another.

For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com/about-nokia

SOURCE Nokia

Ask Engadget: best NYC wireless carrier?

Posted: 07 Apr 2012 07:23 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 Is from MigFig who's relocating to the five boroughs and is worried about his cellphone service. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Hi guys, I'm moving to NYC next month and wanted to know if I should stick with Sprint or switch carriers. I'm aware Sprint's cheaper to AT&T and Verizon and I like unlimited plans. Thing is, coverage is spotty where I am right now, 3G is a joke (no 4G, either). Will this get better when I'm in the city or should I start shopping around for a new carrier? Thank you, Engadget!"

So, New York residing Engadgeteers, let's tear up the cellphone coverage maps and tell us which one you can really trust when you're wandering around mid-town. Chime in with your real-world experience down there in the comments section, where it's nice and warm.

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 2nd, 2012

Posted: 07 Apr 2012 04:17 PM PDT

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, CyanogenMod gained a new logo, Google acquired a mobile payments company and we learned that the HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint will include an embedded SIM card. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of April 2nd, 2012.

Lumia 900 and 610 available for pre-order in UK

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Whether you want a taste of Nokia's high end or simply need a new phone on the cheap, the UK retailer Clove has begun accepting pre-orders for both the Lumia 900 and 610. Both handsets are unlocked, but as you'd expect, there's quite a price disparity between the two. The Lumia 900 retails for £460.80, whereas the Lumia 610 is a mere £214.80 -- naturally, both of these prices include the value added tax, and you can reasonably expect these prices to fall once that shiny new luster begins to fade. Unfortunately, there's no word on when the devices will actually ship. [My Nokia Blog]

Verizon Wireless expanding LTE to greater Columbus area on April 19th

Live on the outskirts of The Discovery City and have a thirst for speed? Good news, because Verizon Wireless will extend its 4G LTE network to the areas of Newark/Heath, Granville, Hebron, Buckeye Lake and Circleville on April 19th. In the meantime, well, you can always go downtown. [Verizon Wireless PR]

HTC EVO 4G LTE features embedded SIM card

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Sprint impressed us all this week with its own derivative of the HTC One family. Known as the EVO 4G LTE, it features several nice enhancements such as a kickstand, a protected camera lens, a dedicated camera button and a 2,000mAh battery. With its status as an LTE device, many of you might've reasonably assumed that it'd feature a removable SIM card -- not so. Among many of Sprint's design quirks, it's embedded the SIM card into the phone's internals. Certainly not a deal-breaker, but we sure would've loved international support on this handset. [BriefMobile]

Wikipedia updates Android and iOS apps, adopts OpenStreetMap

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Wikipedia released an overhauled version of its iOS app this week, designed to bring it to parity with the Android version -- which also saw an update this week. Both versions feature new search functions and "Did you mean?" search results, and the Android version also sports a reworked interface for tablet users. Most curiously, however, the Wikimedia Foundation dropped Google Maps from both apps and replaced its functionality with OpenStreetMap -- a service that's said to be more in line with the beliefs and goals of the group. [Wikimedia Foundation]

Google acquires TxVia to bolster mobile payments

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Google Wallet hasn't exactly become a smash hit since it was first introduced in May of last year, but that's not to suggest the mobile payment service has been forgotten. Google announced this week its acquisition of TxVia, a New York-based payment processing company that specializes in prepaid and gift cards. Its said to boast over 100 million accounts and offer direct access to the major payment networks. [AllThingsD, Google Commerce blog]

Meet Cid, the new CyanogenMod mascot

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Wave hello to Cid, everyone. This character's about to become rather familiar around these parts as the new mascot for CyanogenMod. Cid will replace the project's current cheerleader, the skateboarding Bugdroid, which leaders felt was too similar to Google's creation. Rather, Cid -- which is short for CyanogenMod ID -- is intended to reflect the system's unique characteristics that can't be found in stock Android. [Talk Android]

Nokia TV announced, will arrive only in Finland

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Nokia has a new entertainment app on the horizon to supplement its Music and Reading efforts, but this one's only going to be available in its home country of Finland. Known as Nokia TV, the free service will allow users to catch up with some of their favorite television shows. Given Nokia's tendency to source content locally, it speaks to reason that we may see this app debut in other regions as the company builds a network of partners. [Nokia Conversations]

Universal Studios' films now available on iCloud, Fox still grounded

Posted: 07 Apr 2012 03:11 PM PDT

Back in early March, it became clear that content from Fox and Universal Studios would be held back from being available in the all-encompassing iCloud, presumably due to the HBO release window stranglehold impacting both libraries. Today, however, the tides of change are having an impact of their own. Mac Rumors is reporting that Universal titles no longer boast the unfortunate warning that they used to, allowing iTunes users to enjoy titles from iTunes in the Cloud. Regrettably, Fox titles still exhibit the hold back, but we're told that negotiations are ongoing to remedy that. So, movie plans back on for this evening?

Nokia's free color 710 covers are amazing every day, during April at least

Posted: 07 Apr 2012 01:37 PM PDT

Nokia no doubt won over a few undecided minds last month when it ran a promotion gifting new members to the Lumia 710 owners club with a colorful cover of their choice. We assume it was successful, because it's back. Yes, for the month of April, US-based adopters -- both new and old -- of the mid-level Nokia phone can claim a free chromatic cover. All you have to do is visit the source link below and punch in a few details, Nokia will then ship it out free of charge. We're not trying to influence you, of course, but the Engadget blue one looks pretty good.

Tweetbot for iOS updated with iCloud syncing of timelines and more across devices

Posted: 07 Apr 2012 11:52 AM PDT

Nearly a year after it debuted and caught our eye as an incredibly well structured Twitter client for the iPhone, Tweetbot's latest revision uses Apple's cloud servers to sync the experience instead of just content. Version 2.2's iCloud based syncing of account settings, timeline position, DMs and Mute filters lets those deep in the iLife go from iPhone to iPad or vice versa without missing a beat. The only possible fly in the ointment? The tablet and phone version are still separate apps that cost $2.99 each, but satisfied customers who have already ponied up can start enjoying their seamless transitions as soon as they've updated.
at 11:32 AM

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