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Engadget News |
- Google updates Chrome for Android with added language support, home screen bookmarks
- Windows Phone OS mod speeds up app load times, knows you'll play Monopoly on your break (video)
- Canon shows off prototype 30-inch 4K reference display, won't put a price tag on love
- Physicist uses math to get out of a traffic ticket, publishes findings
- Gmail down for many, Hotmail users feel free to gloat (update: back for some!)
- ARM announces new quad-core Cortex-A15 Hard Macro variant
- Apple eMate 300 prototype pops up on eBay, buy it now for $8,500
- Prince of Persia source code freed from floppies, posted online
- Ivy Bridge-packing HP EliteBook gets reviewed, scores well in early tests
- Space Shuttle Discovery salutes Washington on historic final flight
- Leaked benchmarks suggest Motorola is working on a Snapdragon S4 phone
- Brother AirScouter glasses bring augmented reality, unsightly add-ons to your face
- New Android users in India offered 1GB of free data, courtesy of Google and Reliance
- Read it Later becomes Pocket, drops its price to free
- Oakley cooking up its own smart glasses, hoping to trump Project Glass with improved style
- Livestream Broadcaster hands-on
- Canada's WIND Mobile lists Nokia Lumia 710, says it's coming soon
- Amazon Appstore shatters $20 ceiling for in-app purchases
- Philips' L Prize-winning light bulb goes on sale Sunday, priced between $20 and $60
- HP ships 27-inch Z1 all-in-one workstation, touts 'power without the tower'
- BlackBerry Curve 9320 shows up on T-Mobile's site, heading to the UK next month?
- European carriers take shots at Nokia's Lumia line without leaving cover
- IKEA puts away your TV cables, tech credentials
- Hauppauge Broadway scores DVR-like record and playback features
- Sony Japan blends the Torne PS3 TV tuner with 500GB of NAS, calls it Nasne
- Braven Six Series speakers offer Bluetooth audio, wired charging
- Visualized: Space Shuttle Discovery gets prepped for its final flight, gets Boeing piggyback
- HTC moves aside CFO who oversaw $300 million Beats Audio deal
- THX manages AV settings for pros and consumers with Cinespace HD and Media Director
- Microsoft updates Bing Translator for Windows Phone with offline features (video)
- Ford Focus Electric test drive and MyFord Mobile hands-on (video)
- Apple II turns 35, doesn't bother with midlife crisis
- Sprint tries the subsidized netbook thing again with WiMAX-infused IdeaPad S205s
- Boeing 787 set for first biofuel-powered flight tonight
- NASA deems SpaceX Dragon worthy of the ISS, locks in April 30th launch date
- WD's 1TB VelociRaptor HDD gets reviewed: substantial gains, moderate price
- DJI multi-rotor aircraft with Ruling live video feed controller hands-on (video)
- Microsoft outs three flavors of Windows 8: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT
- Must See HDTV (April 16th - 22nd)
- Ceton's Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound
| Google updates Chrome for Android with added language support, home screen bookmarks Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:28 AM PDT
It's still only available for Ice Cream Sandwich, but those not bound by an older OS can now download a fairly significant update to Google's Chrome for Android web browser. In addition to some added language support and broader availability, it brings with it the ability to select desktop versions of websites, save bookmarks to your home screen as a shortcut, download files to your device, and options to choose which apps handle certain links. As before, it remains a beta, and it's tailored to suit both Android smartphones and tablets. |
| Windows Phone OS mod speeds up app load times, knows you'll play Monopoly on your break (video) Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:12 AM PDT
Microsoft Research has revealed some of its latest work into mobile app optimization -- and it's called the contextual solution, Falcon. Fast App Launching with Context aims to improve "key OS services" including memory management, scheduling and security. It does this by using location and sci-fi-sounding "temporal access patterns" -- when you use the app -- to pre-load programs before you've even decided to use them, which dramatically reduces perceived loading delay. A learning algorithm baked into the Windows Phone OS mod also improves its behavior and predictive powers as you use it. In the project's own tests, users were apparently saving up to 35 seconds on a single app launch. There's no news on whether the developmental mod will find its way into future Windows Phone iterations, but if our phone just knew to pre-load Kinectimals each morning -- the only thing that gets us through those 7am commutes-- we'd be more than willing to give it a go. |
| Canon shows off prototype 30-inch 4K reference display, won't put a price tag on love Posted: 17 Apr 2012 10:51 AM PDT
With 4K cameras suddenly popping up everywhere we look at NAB 2012, it's little surprise that Canon is showing off this matching 30-inch prototype intended for the very professionals tasked with mastering video shot by its latest hardware. Like the retina display, it produces an effect where no matter how close you're standing it's still impossible to pick out the individual pixels, and easily matched what we'd seen from a prototype 20-inch 4K LCD from Panasonic at CES. The people we spoke to who handled some of the work on Canon's demo footage preferred it to their 2K projectors for the clarity and ability to get pixel accurate representations of the source material, plus it probably fits more easily into a production suite. The big question from all who see this in person is when will it be available and for how much, and while Canon says it's due to ship this year, we're on our own to speculate about the (surely astronomical) price. Canon To Exhibit Prototype of 30-Inch 4K Industrial Video Display Currently Under Development at NAB 2012 LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 12, 2012 – Canon Inc. today announced that the Company is developing a 30-inch, 4K resolution industrial video display*, a prototype of which will be exhibited from April 16 to 19 at the NAB Show 2012, the world's largest international digital event for audio, video, film, broadcast and communications, held in Las Vegas. The prototype to be displayed will provide support for cinema and other video editing processes while also responding to film production needs for consistency and reliability through proprietary Canon high image-quality technology. While detailed specifications and pricing have yet to be finalized, Canon aims to commercialize the display before the end of 2012. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With approximately $45.6 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents registered in 2011† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2012. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss. ### * This device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained. † Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners. Availability, prices, and specifications of all products are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary. |
| Physicist uses math to get out of a traffic ticket, publishes findings Posted: 17 Apr 2012 10:29 AM PDT
When most folks get ticketed for running a stop sign, most people wind up writing the court a check. UC San Diego physicist Dmitri Krioukov wrote a mathematical paper instead. Rather than throw his fallible human opinion on the mercy of the court, Krioukov uses a series of equations and graphs to prove that the accusing officer confused his car's real space-time trajectory "for a trajectory of a hypothetical object moving at approximately constant linear speed without stopping at the stop sign." In other words, the officer was wrong, but Krioukov stresses that it isn't the officer's fault. "This mistake is fully justified," he writes, pointing to the math. "As a result of this unfortunate coincidence, the O's perception of reality did not properly reflect reality." And to think, you probably never thought you'd use this kind of math in the real world. |
| Gmail down for many, Hotmail users feel free to gloat (update: back for some!) Posted: 17 Apr 2012 10:07 AM PDT
Having trouble accessing your Gmail? You're not alone. Far from it, as a matter of fact. Widespread reports of "Temporary Error 500" are sweeping the Twittersphere and, indeed, many fine members of Engadget are seeing the above when attempting to log in. We've seen numerous outages of Google's insanely popular email service in the past but this one seems to take the cake. Google reports that it is "investigating reports of an issue with Google Mail." You can check out the source link for more information -- or just keep on hitting F5. Update: Seems to be working again for some, and Google has posted an update: "Google Mail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change." |
| ARM announces new quad-core Cortex-A15 Hard Macro variant Posted: 17 Apr 2012 09:52 AM PDT
It's pretty much a year to the day that we reported the possibility of a quad-core Cortex-A15 from ARM, and look what just came across the wire! It's the Cortex-A15 Hard Macro -- the first design from ARM we're aware of that packs four A15 cores. The Hard Macro edition is of particular interest as it aims to help manufacturers bring products to market more quickly and at a lower cost. The chip variant runs at 2GHz, with performance of over 20,000 DMIPS if you were wondering. Notably, it operates with the same power usage of the A9 hard macro, which should mean it's got good efficiency credentials, and it's the first in the family to be based on 28nm process. There's no indication where we might see this turning up, but with the firm spilling the full details at the IEEE Symposium later this week, we're sure we'll find out soon enough. ARM Announces Cortex-A15 Quad-Core Hard Macro 17 April 2012 Power-optimized implementation of quad-core hard macro on leading 28nm process CAMBRIDGE, UK – April 17, 2012– ARM today announced the availability of a high performance, power-optimized quad-core hard macro implementation of its flagship ARM® Cortex™-A15 MPCore™ processor. The ARM Cortex-A15 MP4 hard macro is designed to run at 2GHz and delivers performance in excess of 20,000DMIPS, while maintaining the power efficiency of the Cortex-A9 hard macro. The Cortex-A15 hard macro development is the result of the unique synergy arising from the combination of ARM Cortex processor IP, Artisan® physical IP, CoreLink™ systems IP and ARM integration capabilities, and utilizes the TSMC 28HPM process. The low leakage implementation, featuring integrated NEON™ SIMD technology and floating point (VFP), delivers an extremely competitive balance of performance and power and is ideal for wide array of high-performance computing applications for such as notebooks through to power-efficient, extreme performance-orientated network and enterprise devices. The hard macro was developed using ARM Artisan 12-track libraries and the recently announced Processor Optimization Pack™ (POP) solution for the Cortex-A15 on TSMC 28nm HPM process. This follows the recent announcement of a broad suite of POPs for all Cortex-A series processors (see ARM Expands Processor Optimization Pack Solutions for TSMC 40nm and 28nm Process Variants, 16th April 2012) Full configuration and implementation details will be presented at the Cool Chips conference (18-20 April) in Yokohama, Japan. Further information is contained in an accompanying blog. "For SoC designers looking to make a trade-off between the flexibility offered by the traditional RTL-based SoC development strategy and a rapid time to market, with ensured, benchmarked power, performance and area, an ARM hard macro implementation is an ideal, cost-effective solution," said Jim Nicholas, vice president of Marketing, processor division, ARM. "This new Cortex-A15 hard macro is an important addition to our portfolio and will enable a wider array of partners to leverage the outstanding capabilities of the Cortex-A15 processor." |
| Apple eMate 300 prototype pops up on eBay, buy it now for $8,500 Posted: 17 Apr 2012 09:32 AM PDT
At this point we kind of just expect vintage Apple machines to surface on eBay: just last month we came across a WALT prototype, followed by a Macintosh 128k a few days ago. Now, the fresh face at eBay's auction party is Apple's eMate 300, which is said to be in "good working order" and showing no signs of wear. There's no bidding war going on at the moment, but there is a "Buy it now" option that's got the laptop priced at a whopping $8,500. Of course, you're likely to get your money's worth, with a 25 MHz ARM 710a RISC processor, a 480 x 320 display and an almighty stylus pen -- all while being powered by Cupertino's Newton OS. Think this is worth adding to your fancy collector's shelf? We'll let you chew on that while you pore over the sell-off page. |
| Prince of Persia source code freed from floppies, posted online Posted: 17 Apr 2012 09:09 AM PDT
You wouldn't think it would take more than two weeks to extract some source code from a pile of 3.5-inch floppies and post it online, but getting files from 1989 to play nice with a MacBook Air is no simple feat. That's why we're so appreciative of Jordan Mechner, who put the time and effort into freeing his creation, Prince of Persia, from its magnetic prison. If you want to try and build the platforming classic for your own system, hit up the source link. Or, just wait for someone else to do it for you -- we're sure it wont take long for some friendly binary formats to hit the web. |
| Ivy Bridge-packing HP EliteBook gets reviewed, scores well in early tests Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:46 AM PDT
Hear that? That, friends, is the sound of someone in Intel's PR department banging his head against a desk. Though we've read more than a few rumors about the company's forthcoming Ivy Bridge chips, Intel has steadfastly declined to share many official details, and has controlled the flow of information so tightly that laptop makers won't even use the words Ivy Bridge when talking about upcoming systems. (It's always "next-generation Intel Core processors," but we digress.) So it's a pleasant surprise, then, to see a review of an Ivy Bridge system before Intel even makes its official announcement. Laptop Reviews has apparently been testing a yet-to-be-announced HP EliteBook 8470p with an unspecified Core i7 processor, integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, 8GB of RAM and an Intel 320 solid-state drive. Though the testing team doesn't have much to say about battery life, the raw performance scores are quite impressive, surpassing those belonging to heavy hitters like the HP Envy 17 and Lenovo ThinkPad W520 workstation. Then again, Laptop Reviews is quick to admit that that SSD may have helped boost scores beyond what you'd see in an Ivy Bridge system with a good old-fashioned hard drive. On the graphics side, too, the spankin' new HD 4000 provides a nice (read: several-thousand-point) boost over systems running HD 3000, though we'll have to wait a little longer for real-world gaming tests, it seems. That's the abridged version, but we encourage you to hit up the source link for some more detailed remarks, along with comparisons to other systems. |
| Space Shuttle Discovery salutes Washington on historic final flight Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:23 AM PDT
As historic flights go, this has to be right up there with the best of 'em. Space Shuttle Discovery performed a final fly-by over the capital, and created a trail of excited spotters as it did so. Perched atop a Boeing 747, the iconic craft was flying at a relatively low 1,500 feet according to NASA. Pictures of the voyage have been popping up on social media and image sharing sites as it headed in from the west, before coming to its final resting place at a special off-shoot of the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport. Have you spotted Discovery? Be sure to add links in the comments if you do. [Image credit: NASA] |
| Leaked benchmarks suggest Motorola is working on a Snapdragon S4 phone Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:03 AM PDT
You slave away on your company's Next Big Thing, of course you want to see how it performs. And we're glad that you do decided to dabble, hypothetical engineer, because we can pore over those numbers for a glimpse at what's coming next. According to benchmarks discovered by Blog of Mobile, Motorola might be looking to move on from the Texas Instrument chipsets it's used in the past. In the purported system details included with the benchmark results, the Ice Cream Sandwich-decked phone houses a 1.5GHz MSM8960 chip -- that's Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4. Could these be more details on a possible RAZR HD -- even an Atrix 3? Unfortunately, more concrete information remains scant. The repeated mention of Qinara, however, tallies with Motorola's XT928, China Telecom's version of the Motorola RAZR released last year, codenamed Dinara. (So, would that be Q for Qualcomm?) If, according to the leak, the device does use a 720p display alongside the aforementioned dual-core processor, it would find itself up against HTC's One X, which packs the same Snapdragon S4 hardware in its AT&T guise. Hopefully, Motorola is making some similarly lofty efforts with its hardware design to ensure we've got yet another phone to get excited about. |
| Brother AirScouter glasses bring augmented reality, unsightly add-ons to your face Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:41 AM PDT
Head-mounted displays may be all the rage as of late, thanks to Sergey Brin's own recent fashion choices, but the space is hardly new. Brother, for one, has been in the game for a while now, with its AirScouter glasses, and before fellow printer-maker Epson steals all its glory, the company wants you to know that it's got some new wearable augmented reality on the way. The AirScouter WD-100G and WD-100A are being targeted toward business users, allowing workers to get all of the relevant information from their computer, without staring at a proper monitor -- of course, you're going to want to use the included USB cable to tether you to that PC. The glasses do SVGA images in full color over an eye, while the other eye remains unobstructed, keeping you relatively aware of your surroundings -- best of all, you can choose the eye. The new AirScouters will be available in Japan this summer for a pricey ¥199,800. But really, how can you put a price on looking like the business casual version of the Terminator? |
| New Android users in India offered 1GB of free data, courtesy of Google and Reliance Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:19 AM PDT
In an effort to stir the interest for Android smartphones in India -- and, to let new customers test drive its 3G network -- the carrier Reliance Communications has partnered with Google to provide 1GB of data usage for all new activations of CDMA Android handsets. The promotion is available to both pre-paid and postpaid customers, who may take advantage of the deal now through June 15th. Once aboard, subscribers will have 30 days to burn through their allotment and discover the joys of a smartphone. Additionally, the carrier will extend a similar offer for new GSM Android activations, which is set to begin on May 5th. Reliance plans to drive its promotion with an ad campaign that sports an Android bot in the carrier's colors -- though, we're still partial to green. Just sayin'. |
| Read it Later becomes Pocket, drops its price to free Posted: 17 Apr 2012 06:53 AM PDT  More Than Just Reading - Top App "Read It Later's" Newest Version Becomes the Now Free "Pocket" to Easily Save Web Articles, Videos and More to View Later New Pocket App Leads Content Shifting Category with a Beautiful New Design that Makes Viewing Later on Any Post-PC Device Easy SAN FRANCISCO, CA, APRIL 17, 2012 - Four years ago, Read it Later was created to allow users to save their web content to view later on their own schedule. One year ago, Read It Later had 2.5 million users; now it has 4.5 million. This growth made it the number one paid news app for Android and Kindle Fire and a top app for iPhone and iPad. Today, the company announced a new version of their flagship app -- now free across all devices -- and a new name, Pocket. Pocket is for when people discover an interesting article, video or web page, but don't have time to view it. Once saved to Pocket, the list of content is visible on any device -- phone, tablet or computer. It can be viewed while waiting in line, on the couch or during commutes or travel -- even offline. Pocket is available today for free in the App Store atgetpocket.com/ios, on Google Play (formerly the Android Marketplace) atgetpocket.com/android, and for Kindle Fire at getpocket.com/kindlefire. "Nearly five items every second are saved to Pocket from the web and popular news apps, including videos, articles, recipes and more," said Nate Weiner, founder of Read it Later and creator of Pocket. "Pocket is the perfect name for our latest version as it expresses how simple it is to take any content users discover with them, no matter where they go." Pocket is different than "bookmarking," apps, which organize links for long term storage. Instead, Pocket lets users save the content they discover on the web or inside any of over 300 leading apps--including Flipboard, Twitter, Pulse, and Zite--with a single tap and view it on any device. Since its launch in 2007, over 200 million items have been saved, giving the company deep insight into how and when consumers save and view their web content. Key findings include: • 33 percent of saved items come from 3rd party apps including Twitter, Zite, Flipboard and Pulse. • 50 percent of items saved via Pocket are viewed on mobile screens (up from 34 percent in January). • Web consumption peaks in the early morning and declines through the day, as consumers dig through their inboxes and find what they want to view later. iPad use peaks at night, as users view saved content in the pre-bedtime hours. Mobile consumption maps to commuting times, as users increasingly view content in transit. • 40 percent of items saved are not articles; popular content include videos, images, things to buy, travel tips and recipes. • YouTube is the apps' most popular source of content, as users increasingly are saving videos for later viewing. The new Pocket update is focused on making the most important parts of the user experience as easy and simple as possible. It enhances all the features users already loved in Read it Later in a beautiful new interface. • A Cleaner, Simpler UI. The new user interface of Pocket displays all of a user's content in a beautiful, easy-to-view layout adapted to take full advantage of high definition displays. • Video & Image Filters. Most people save sites with videos and images, in addition to articles and text. Pocket automatically filters all content so users can quickly switch between articles, videos and images with just a tap. • Enhanced Viewing Experience. Articles, videos and anything saved is displayed in a clean and simplified view with fewer toolbars and a redesigned full-screen mode. • Easier to Organize. New bulk editing, favoriting and tagging modes make organizing and browsing saved items easier. Users can find content by keywords, publications or create their own custom tags. • Favorites. Users can star favorite content so it is always available when they want to find it. • Pocket is Free on All Major Mobile Platforms. Pocket is now available, for free, on all major mobile platforms including Android phones and tablets, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Amazon Kindle Fire. About Read it Later Based in San Francisco, Read it Later was founded in 2007 by Nate Weiner to help users save what they find online and view it on any device at any time. The service currently has over 4.5 million registered users and is integrated into over 300 apps including Flipboard, Twitter and Zite. In April 2012 the Read it Later app became known as Pocket and focused on the most important parts of the content-shifting experience, making it easier and simpler than ever. Pocket is available for major devices and platforms including iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire, all Android-based tablets and smartphones, Google Chrome, and Firefox. |
| Oakley cooking up its own smart glasses, hoping to trump Project Glass with improved style Posted: 17 Apr 2012 06:39 AM PDT
Oakley's Thump glasses haven't exactly succeeded in fending off the competition when it comes to portable music playback, but that isn't stopping it from working feverishly to develop the next round of vaguely intelligent eyewear. CEO Colin Baden told Bloomberg that the company has been toying with ways to project information onto sunglasses since 1997, hoping to start by augmenting the world of sports before ultimately blending into more consumery pursuits with shades that could run solo or pair up with a smartphone. Functionality is only part of the puzzle, says Baden, as aesthetics play an important role. "People get very particular when they put stuff on their face." This, perhaps, explains the lack of sales of the aforementioned Thumps. |
| Livestream Broadcaster hands-on Posted: 17 Apr 2012 06:00 AM PDT
According to CEO Max Haot the logical next step for Livestream -- now well established as a reliable service for bringing live video feeds to the internet -- is just to get more people distributing live video by any means necessary. To that end, the company is jumping into the hardware business with this palm-sized Livestream Broadcaster unit that just went up for preorders a few days ago. With a subsidized price of $495, it connects to video cameras directly over HDMI then reencodes and uploads the video on the fly to the company's servers (unlimited streaming costs $45 per month, each encoder comes with three months free) via Ethernet, WiFi or a 3G / 4G USB dongle. Even on the wireless-internet challenged LVCC floor it was sending several streams and enabling user control via buttons on the unit itself, or remotely from a PC or iPhone / iPad. These boxes are still on target to ship at the end of May and and showed off everything those without the backing of a tech / media conglomerate (cough), like small businesses or independent bloggers, would need to make their productions available for viewing as they happen. |
| Canada's WIND Mobile lists Nokia Lumia 710, says it's coming soon Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:31 AM PDT
It's now been a few months since we first laid our eager palms on Nokia's Lumia 710, and although it isn't getting any younger, some carriers are still adding the device to their lineup. We'd previously seen Rogers land the entry-level 710 as an exclusive in Canada, but now it's looking like the deal's expiring and WIND Mobile's ready to give its users a taste of the Mango-flavored handset. So far, WIND's keeping deets to a minimum, with the site only listing the device as "coming soon." One thing we do know, however, is that specs-wise it's likely to be a clone of any other network's variant. Needless to say, WIND may have to match, if not best, Rogers' prices in order to attract a new breed of customers to its white and orange shop. While you wait for the rest of the info to spill, you can always give those free Nokia covers a gander and decide which one you'd like to snag if the promo ever hits the True North. |
| Amazon Appstore shatters $20 ceiling for in-app purchases Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:02 AM PDT
In a move that's likely to grab the attention of more than a few Android developers, Amazon has announced that its arbitrary $20 limit for in-app purchases via the Appstore is no more. The company announced this change in an email to developers, which follows a tweak to the Appstore's parental controls. In-app purchasing is rather new territory for the Amazon crew, which first unveiled the necessary APIs just last week. There's no word on what new monetary limit is now in place, but make sure to watch your spending, kids -- some of these apps are incredibly habit-forming. |
| Philips' L Prize-winning light bulb goes on sale Sunday, priced between $20 and $60 Posted: 17 Apr 2012 04:23 AM PDT
It's a little strange crowning a "winner" when only a single company enters the contest, but that's exactly what happened during the L Prize celebration in August of last year. Philips was the only outfit to take the US Department of Energy up on its offer, earning some $10 million to develop what might go down as the most radically designed, wildly expensive bulb your table lamp has ever seen. That said, the victorious bulb is a big fan of Ma Earth (and her of him), using just 10 watts of energy while outputting light similar to that of a 60 watt incandescent. It'll hit retailers like Home Depot this Sunday (Earth Day) for around $50 a pop, while some utility companies may subsidize 'em in an effort to hit the magical $20 price point. Hey, no one said saving energy would be remotely affordable, right? |
| HP ships 27-inch Z1 all-in-one workstation, touts 'power without the tower' Posted: 17 Apr 2012 03:40 AM PDT
We'll hand it to HP -- "power without the tower" is pretty fab. And so is that drop-dead gorgeous 27-inch IPS panel dominating the front of its Z1 workstation. Designed to handle stresses normally thrown exclusively at floor-sitting wind tunnels, the Z1 offers up Intel Core i3 or Xeon server-class CPUs, NVIDIA Quadro graphics, USB 3.0 sockets, a slot-loading Blu-ray writer, SSD / RAID options, support for over a billion colors and a seductive starting tag of just $1,899. Intrigued? Hit the source link to get your order in. HP Z1 Workstation Now Shipping Worldwide World's first 27-inch all-in-one workstation available through HP authorized resellers PALO ALTO, Calif. -- HP today announced that the HP Z1 Workstation is now available worldwide for a starting price of $1,899(1) through global resellers and retailers, including CDW, MelroseMAC and PC Mall. The world's first all-in-one workstation with a 27-inch diagonal display was unveiled in Las Vegas on Feb. 14 at the HP Global Partnership Conference. Built for computer-aided design, digital media and entertainment professionals, the HP Z1 provides blazingly fast rendering and performance. It offers a full range of workstation-class graphics cards and processors and is thoroughly tested and certified to work with today's leading industry applications. "We've been visiting customers around the globe, in industries from automotive to audio and video, and the response is overwhelmingly positive, with comments like 'it's insanely cool' and 'just the right size,'" said Jim Zafarana, vice president and general manager, Commercial Solutions Business Unit, HP. "Customers say they're impressed with the combination of accelerated performance and design that's not available on any other product in the market today." Designed like no other, the display of the new HP Z1 snaps open so users can easily swap out parts and make upgrades without any tools required.(2) The HP Z1 combines a sleek industrial design with accelerated performance, featuring Intel® Xeon® processors,(3)NVIDIA Quadro graphics, support for more than 1 billion colors(4) and HP's world-class reliability. Partner quotes "The HP Z1 is a combination of performance and form factor that would make a great addition to any workplace environment," said Scott DeTota, senior director, Product and Partner Management, CDW. "IT managers will love its unique serviceability feature that truly sets it apart from the competition." "When our customers see how easy it is to open an HP Z1, without any tools, to change the hard drive or upgrade the memory, they're hooked," said Sandy S. Nasseri, president, MelroseMAC. "This is exactly what they've been looking for in a space-saving workstation for production or post-production work. The HP Z1 with an NVIDIA Quadro GPU, Avid Media Composer 6.0 and Adobe's Creative Suite is the hottest thing to happen to digital media and entertainment in years." "Our customers range from small businesses and large enterprises to schools and government agencies; however, they all have one thing in common – a need for reliable technology," said Kristin Rogers, executive vice president, Sales and Marketing, PC Mall. "The HP Z1 has all of the benefits of a traditional all-in-one PC, but adds workstation-class performance and reliability and, most importantly, upgradability." Additional information is available at www.hp.com/z1. |
| BlackBerry Curve 9320 shows up on T-Mobile's site, heading to the UK next month? Posted: 17 Apr 2012 03:02 AM PDT
Last month we heard the Curve 9320 was readying itself for a discrete trip to India, and a recent "coming soon" page on T-Mo's site suggests the device could soon be heading to the UK. While the carrier's register sheet isn't revealing many details (save for the teasing photo above), The Inquirer claims the handset's warming up for an eventual launch in May. Of course, don't count on this OS 7.1-packing Curve to change much in comparison to the Indian flavor, as it's still expected to ship with identical lower-end specs, including the 3.2-megapixel rear camera, a 320 x 240 screen and 512MB of RAM. No word on pricing yet, but we're guessing it'll fall somewhere between "mildly tempting" and "almost free." |
| European carriers take shots at Nokia's Lumia line without leaving cover Posted: 17 Apr 2012 02:35 AM PDT
Reuters reports that four big European carriers are disappointed by Nokia's Lumia range and its ability to compete with the big hitters from Apple and Samsung. None of the naysayers have been named, but an executive from one of the companies has been quoted as saying that "no one comes into the store and asks for a Windows Phone" and that Lumia handsets would be "easier to sell" if they ran Android. Another said Nokia should "lower the price" in order to make the Lumia range a loss leader and "get it out of the door." Meanwhile, AT&T claims to be having a different experience in the U.S., having gone to unusual lengths to market the Lumia 900 (even if that recent Time Square fandango was all Nokia) and now seeing it sell out in "many stores." That proactive approach appears to contrast with the attitude taken by some of Reuters's European insiders, who insist that all they can do is "open our stores to [Nokia] and train our staff to sell the phones." |
| IKEA puts away your TV cables, tech credentials Posted: 17 Apr 2012 02:19 AM PDT
If your abode has ever been touched by the space-saving hand of IKEA, you'll be familiar with its clever, wallet-friendly wares. Now, the Swedish furniture giant is bringing its quirky ideas into the technology market. Frustrated with cable spaghetti ruining the otherwise sharp lines of its TV storage units, the Scandinavian firm has taken it one step further, and built the TV right in to the furniture. Yup, "Uppleva" is an all-in-one TV and stand with storage built in co-operation with China's TCL Multimedia. Not only that, it also incorporates a Blu-ray / DVD player and surround sound (with wireless sub woofer.) Details on the TV itself are sparse, but there's a brace of USB inputs and four HDMI ports (so you can re-add in some wires), plus FM radio and internet connectivity, but beyond that we're left guessing. More importantly -- for the casual IKEA customer we assume -- will be the array of colors and designs it will ship in. The delivery man will be kicking up Autumn leaves by the time you can get your hands on one, with prices starting at 6,500 Swedish crowns (around $960). In the meantime you can unpack a video after the break, which just like those shelves you bought, doesn't seem to contain everything.
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| Hauppauge Broadway scores DVR-like record and playback features Posted: 17 Apr 2012 01:45 AM PDT
Sure, we didn't have too many major qualms with the Broadway when we reviewed it in February, but it didn't exactly bowl us over either. Still, if it gets a steady diet of software updates like today's it could turn into quite an impressive device. The budget TV streamer now has the ability to act like a DVR if you attach a storage device to one of its empty USB ports. Of course, you can't just pull up the recorded programs on your set top box as you would with standard DVR, but it does allow you to stream them to your various devices without the need to be watching live. For a few more details check out the PR after the break. TV Recording Feature Added to Broadway, Hauppauge's TV Streamer Watch Local News, Sports and Live TV Programs Anywhere on an Apple iPad or iPhone; Record TV Programs onto a USB Thumb Drive or External Hard Drive Attached to Broadway LAS VEGAS, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hauppauge Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAUP), the world's leading developer of TV tuner products, has announced that Broadway, Hauppauge's live TV streamer for the iPad and iPhone, now has TV recording support. With this new feature, Broadway can record TV programs locally and then stream it to an iPad or iPhone at a later time. "Broadway" is a stand alone "box" which allows live TV to be watched on an Apple device in the home through a Wi-Fi connection, or anywhere in the world via an Internet connection. Broadway has a built-in over the air digital TV tuner (ATSC), plus supports clear QAM digital cable TV and connections to cable or satellite set top boxes. Once connected to a TV source, Broadway can tune to a TV program and then either stream the live TV program to an iPad or iPhone, or, with the new feature, record the TV program to a locally attached storage device and then stream the recording at a later time. Broadway can be used in the home, for example, to stream a football game or a news program over the home Wi-Fi network to an iPad. The iPad will display a list of Broadway's TV channels, and with two taps of a finger on the iPad, live TV will be displayed on the iPad screen. If you travel and have an Wi-Fi or Internet connection, you can watch live TV from your home anywhere in the world. Broadway connects to your home network router and transmits the TV signal through your network router over the Internet to your iPad or iPhone. Broadway was developed by Hauppauge's PCTV Systems division in Germany. One of the key technologies within Broadway is a high-quality, high definition H.264 video compressor, which can take TV programs from clear QAM digital cable TV or ATSC over-the-air TV and "shrink" these programs into a form which can be displayed on an Apple device. Broadway has a built-in multi-format TV receiver which can tune to digital cable TV channels and ATSC over-the-air broadcast TV channels, and then compress those TV channels and rebroadcast them over both Wi-Fi and the Internet so that the TV programs can be watched on an Apple device. In addition to HD TV, Broadway can also receive and convert analog video into a form which can be watched on Apple devices. Broadway is stand alone, and simply needs a TV source (a cable TV connection or a TV antenna) and a connection to a home network router in order to send live TV anywhere in the world where a Apple device has a connection to the Internet. The new record feature will be a free software upgrade to Broadway users. Broadway has a suggested retail price of $199 and is available from Amazon and other e-tail and retailers in North America. A picture of Broadway can be found here: http://www.hauppauge.com/site/press/pctv/pctv_presspictures/Broadway2T_unit-front.png About Hauppauge Hauppauge Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAUP) is a leading developer and manufacturer of digital TV and data broadcast receiver products. Through its Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc., PCTV Systems Sarl and Hauppauge Digital Europe subsidiaries, the company designs and develops digital video boards for TV-in-a-window, digital video editing and video conferencing. The Company is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, with R&D offices in New York, Braunschweig, Germany and Taipei, administrative offices in New York, Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland and Luxembourg, and sales offices in Germany, London, Paris, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Singapore and California. The Company's Internet web site can be found at http://www.hauppauge.com. Hauppauge and WinTV are registered trademarks of Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. Other product or service names herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. |
| Sony Japan blends the Torne PS3 TV tuner with 500GB of NAS, calls it Nasne Posted: 17 Apr 2012 01:15 AM PDT
While the PS3's media abilities in the US are limited to what it can access via discs or over the network, in Europe / Australia (PlayTV) and Japan (Torne) TV tuners stretch things further. Now, Sony Japan has followed those up with the Nasne headless media box shown above. A combination networked recorder and media storage device with a 500GB SATA HDD and tuners for both antenna and satellite TV built-in, it pulls in broadcasts and either records it or streams to up to two other Sony products (Vita, PS3 with Torne app, Vaio PC, Sony Tablet or Xperia phone) on the same home network at once. It will also support streaming of stored media via DLNA, once its software is updated to version 1.5. The capabilities of the Nasne vary depending on the hardware it's used with: PS3 users can connect up to four of the devices to one console, however it can also export video files formatted for offline viewing on the Vita or transfer recorded files to PCs for Blu-ray archival. Is this a promising example of the "One Sony" synergy Kaz so recently promised? We'll have to wait until the Nasne ships July 19th for 16,980 yen ($211) to find out for sure. Sadly, like the Torne (which will receive its own 4.0 software update this summer) and Blu-ray recorders that came before it's unlikely we'll ever this one in the US, but that won't stop us from dreaming. A press release with full specs follows after the break, check out Engadget Japan for a few more pictures. Apr 17, 2012 02:00 ET Sony Computer Entertainment to Launch "nasne,"a New Networked Recorder and Media Storage Device Available in Japan on July 19, 2012 for Recommended Retail Price of 16,980 Yen TOKYO, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that it will launch "nasne™," a new networked recorder and media storage device with built in 500GB hard disk drive (HDD) and digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast tuners. "nasne" will become available in Japan on July 19, 2012, for a recommended retail price of 16,980 yen (including tax). By connecting "nasne" to their home network, users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast through dedicated applications such as "torne" for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) and "VAIO TV with nasne" for VAIO. Users will also be able to access recorded content from PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita), "Sony Tablet" and Xperia™. In addition, "nasne" will be able to stream live or recorded television programs simultaneously onto two of these supported Sony products, allowing multiple users to view the same content within the same home network.(1) "nasne" will also link with "G GUIDE TV OUKOKU CHAN-TORU", a television guide web service for PC and smart phones provided by So-net Entertainment Corporation. Through "G GUIDE TV OUKOKU CHAN-TORU", users will be able to schedule recordings of television programs on the go from their PS Vita, PC, tablet PCs, and smart phones. In addition, "nasne" functions as a media storage device, allowing users to store their movies, photos and music on its 500GB built-in HDD, which can be enjoy on any DLNA compatible device connected to their home network. Users can also expand storage memory by connecting external HDD to "nasne." (2) "We are offering a seamless and unique Sony experience through 'nasne,' which serves as a home entertainment hub that connects to Sony's various network products," said Kazuo Hirai, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President and CEO of Sony Corporation and Chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "'nasne' will give users more freedom to enjoy television in new ways by enabling them to watch programs on various Sony products through dedicated applications. We will continue to offer attractive products and services that inspire customers around the world and spark their curiosity, by further enhancing collaboration within Sony groups." "nasne" will deliver the following features through its combination with Sony products. PlayStation®3 PS3 users will be able to watch and record (3) digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast through LAN cable by installing "torne" version 4.0, a dedicated application for PS3, which will come bundled with "nasne." By connecting a maximum of four "nasne" units to their PS3, users can simultaneously record up to four television programs. Those who already have a "torne" device connected to their PS3 will be able to connect a maximum of four "nasne" units to their PS3 and record up to five television programs.(4) Details of "torne" version 4.0 for PS3 will be announced separately. PlayStation®Vita PS Vita users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through "torne for PS Vita" (tentative name), a dedicated application for accessing "nasne" from anywhere within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection . "torne for PS Vita" will become available within this calendar year. By leveraging the ability of "nasne" to simultaneously create an export file while a television program is being recorded, users can quickly transfer recorded content through Wi-Fi connection and easily enjoy them on the go on their PS Vita's beautiful 5-inch OLED. Details of "torne for PS Vita" will be announced in due course. VAIO PC VAIO PC users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through "VAIO TV with nasne" (beta version)(5), a dedicated application for accessing "nasne" from anywhere within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection or LAN cable. "VAIO TV with nasne" (beta version) will become available concurrently with the release of "nasne." Key features of "VAIO TV with nasne": Recorded television programs on "nasne'" can be copied to Blu-ray Disc and DVD, or transferred to VAIO PC's HDD or State Solid Drive (SSD). Up to eight digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts can be simultaneously recorded by connecting a maximum of eight "nasne" hardware units to VAIO PC. Television programs can be searched by keywords. "VAIO TV with nasne" will become available for Windows 7 equipped VAIO PCs (6) through "VAIO Update," an automatic free update service for VAIO PC users. "Sony Tablet" / Xperia™ Sony Tablet(7) / Xperia(8) users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through dedicated applications for Sony Tablet / Xperia for accessing "nasne" from within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection. Users will be also able to schedule recordings of television programs through "G GUIDE TV OUKOKU CHAN-TORU." SCE will continue to aggressively expand the new world of entertainment through the combination of "nasne" and PlayStation platforms as well as other networked Sony products. Product Outline "nasne™" Product name nasne™ Product code CECH-ZNR1J Release date July 19, 2012 Recommended retail price (RRP) 16,980 yen (including tax) Product color Black External dimension Approx. 43 × 189 × 136 mm (width × length ×height) Weight Approx 460g RF tuners Terrestrial: ISTB-T × 1 Satellite: ISDB-S × 1 Channels Terrestrial: VHF 1-12ch, UHF 13-62ch, CATV C13-C63ch Satellite: BS/CS110°digital (1032-2071MHz) Internal HDD SATA 2.5 inch (Capacity:500GB) Inputs/Outputs LAN port (100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) ANTENNA IN connector ANTENNA OUT connector EXT HDD connector (USB 2.0, Type A) B-CAS card slot Buttons Power button IP RESET button Indicators Power indicator REC indicator IP status indicator HDD access indicator Power AC 100V, DC 12V.1.5A Power consumption Recording and streaming two videos: 9.5W ECO mode in stand-by: 1.5W Network Recorder features DTCP-IP support Live streaming / recorded content streaming of digital terrestrial / satellite television program (for home and mobile devices) 2 recording mode (DR and SLP) support Registration as remote PVR device to be accessed through the internet Trick play / scene search support Resume play Media Storage Device features Media server features - DLNA 1.5 support - Live tuner (terrestrial / satellite broadcasting) and DMS streaming of recorded programs - Support image / music / video formats and metadata as PS3® (will be supported by "nasne" system software version 1.50. Some formats not supported) - DMS streaming of image / music / video files on the media server (will be supported by "nasne" system software version 1.50) - Support multiple DLNA devices (up to 2 DTCP-IP content streaming or 1 live streaming) File server features - Shared directory configuration - Workgroup configuration Other features "nasne HOME" web browser application Support an external hard drive ECO mode (Stand-by after 10 minutes without an access) Support "nasne" system software update Included "nasne" × 1 AC adaptor × 1 Power cable × 1 LAN cable × 1 RF coaxial cable × 1 B-CAS card × 1 Digital terrestrial broadcasting watching/recorder application for PS3® (Blu-ray™ Disc) × 1 Quick start guide × 1 About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develop and markets the PlayStation®2 (PS2®) computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system and the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since they launched PlayStation in 1994. PS2® further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3® is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCEI also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Suite, a cross platform and cross device initiative. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC., and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division companies, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. "PlayStation" and "PS3" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "nasne" and "torne" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. VAIO and "Sony Tablet" are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation. "Xperia" is a registered trademark or a trademark of Sony Mobile Communications AB. Windows is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. "nasne" will stream two recorded television programs through DTCP/IP simultaneously. As media storage devices, "nasne" will be able to share stored content with up to 63 connecting devices. DLNA Functionality will become available by installing the system software update of "nasne" version 1.50. To enjoy satellite broadcasting, users will need to install a satellite broadcasting antenna or establish an equal environment. Up to four satellite broadcasting can be simultaneously recorded. VAIO TV with nasne" Beta version will become available at the release timing, and no support will be available. Details of supporting models will be announced in due course. For Sony Tablet, "RECOPLA" provided by Sony Corporation will need to be installed on the device. "RECOPLA" will become available through "Select App" icon on "Sony Table" or Google Play Store for free download. Sony Table system software as well as "Media players" supporting "RECOPLA" will need to be updated. Some models of "Xperia" will support "nasne" within this calendar year. Details will be announced on the Sony Mobile Communications AB web site in due course. SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. |
| Braven Six Series speakers offer Bluetooth audio, wired charging Posted: 17 Apr 2012 12:56 AM PDT
When is a wireless speaker not a wireless speaker? When you can also plug your phone into the speaker to charge it up in a pinch. That's the hook with Braven's new Six Series speakers, anyway, which come in three different varieties that each pack a USB port that lets you either charge your smartphone or daisy chain multiple speakers together. Ranging in price from $150 to $190, the three different models all also boast similar features across the board, but differ in construction, with the top-end 625s offering a rugged housing (not to mention a built-in LED flashlight), while the 600 and 650 each sport an all-aluminum design -- battery life also varies a bit by model. If the speakers look a little familiar, it's because Braven is the company formerly known as Spar, which offered some similar speakers under the Zephyr name. Hit the source link below for a closer look at each model. Braven Speakers Unite Sophisticated Style with Superior Sound and Unique Ability to Charge Mobile Devices New line of Bluetooth speakers with brilliant fidelity also offers daisy chaining multiple speakers, hands-free speakerphone and mobile charging Provo, UT - BRAVEN, formerly SPAR, today launches a new website and begins pre-orders for the world's first multi-tasking high-definition Bluetooth speakers with integrated smartphone charger and speakerphone. The three innovative speakers provide room-filling high-fidelity audio in a stunning, sleek design that delivers unprecedented battery life. The line includes a rugged speaker built for durability in sporting and outdoor settings, as well as two striking aircraft-grade aluminum models. Each device offers the unparalleled ability to charge USB devices and daisy chain multiple speakers together. The BRAVEN SIX Series speakers have two custom extended-range drivers and 3 watt speaker output providing high-fidelity stereo audio with left- and right-channel passive sub woofers. Along with extraordinary battery life ranging from 12 to 20 hours and device charging, the speakers allow continuous wireless play up to 33 feet away. The internal duplex microphone allows for hands-free speakerphone calls with most any Bluetooth cell phone as well as compatibility with FaceTime, iChat, Skype and other applications. The SIX Series also has the ability to connect with other speakers and devices through 3.5mm audio in and out jacks. BRAVEN 625s: Encased in a rugged, shock-absorbing exterior with aluminum grills that let listeners take this tough speaker on the go, the Stealth Black BRAVEN 625s is ideal for sport, travel, and outdoor experiences. Equipped with a waterproof bag, USB flashlight, and up to 16 hours of continuous play, this stylish, durable speaker is built to experience stunning audio and extreme adventure. BRAVEN 600: Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, the BRAVEN 600 is an ideal choice for an ultra portable, gorgeous audio solution. Delivering rich high fidelity sound, this sleek and stylish speaker is available in Ash Grey and Moab Red and has up to 14 hours of playtime. BRAVEN 650: Crafted to precision, the powerful BRAVEN 650 is equipped with industry leading aptX and AAC audio encoding for an amazingly clear, near lossless listening experience and up to 20-hour playtime. The 650 comes in a spectacularly designed aluminum body. "We're excited to bring our customers the world's most talented portable speakers," says CEO Warren Osborn. "Our speakers not only provide stunning high-fidelity audio on the go, but they also recharge your mobile devices when they're low on power. You can even take your calls hands free with the built-in speakerphone, making BRAVEN the perfect companion for your mobile phone or tablet. BRAVEN's ultra portable speakers truly are game changers." Availability The BRAVEN 600 will retail for $149.99, the 625s for $179.99, and the 650 for $189.99. The speakers are available for pre-order now at www.braven.com and begin shipping the end of June 2012. See the speakers in action on YouTube. About BRAVEN BRAVEN is a leading innovator in Bluetooth wireless audio and recharging products. BRAVEN is dedicated to delivering stunning audio and enhanced power solutions to today's mobile consumer. As the first company to produce a portable HD speaker/speakerphone that doubles as a mobile phone charger, Braven is an industry leader that combines first-class sound with unparalleled style. For more information, please visit www.braven.com or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bravenproducts and Twitter at twitter.com/bravenproducts. |
| Visualized: Space Shuttle Discovery gets prepped for its final flight, gets Boeing piggyback Posted: 17 Apr 2012 12:27 AM PDT |
| HTC moves aside CFO who oversaw $300 million Beats Audio deal Posted: 17 Apr 2012 12:02 AM PDT
HTC's CFO Winston Yung has been shunted into a 'corporate development' role after barely a year on the job. He orchestrated some pretty controversial deals during his tenure, including the $300 million purchase of the Beats Audio brand from Dr. Dre -- an acquisition that has so far shown little value except as a marketing device. Yung also occupied the hot seat while HTC's balance sheet suddenly flipped from brilliant to bad and then worse, and was outspoken in his views of what went wrong. HTC has provided no reason for the job shift, leaving analysts to guess at how the company's strategy will change to capitalize on its new One smartphones and battle against Sammy's imminent contender. The new CFO is Chia-Lin Chang, a former Goldman Sachs partner and Motorola engineer who hopefully knows how to handle pressure. |
| THX manages AV settings for pros and consumers with Cinespace HD and Media Director Posted: 16 Apr 2012 11:19 PM PDT
The Star Wars Blu-ray boxed set was the first movie to ship with THX's Media Director technology built-in, which works with compatible hardware to automatically configure AV settings for optimal quality on that title, so it's no surprise the Lucasfilm produced Red Tails is next up for the treatment. Of course, the key element there is compatible hardware, and unfortunately there's not much new to report there since we last checked in at CEDIA, although we're assured the team is working on expanding support for its metadata from embedded chip manufacturers. On the content creation side THX also has something to offer with its cineCube HD, a slimmed down edition of its cineSpace offering designed to control color management at every step of the production process for the way it will eventually appear on Blu-ray. There's more details on exactly what it does and how in the press releases, although the real proof will likely be seen in the movies and TV shows it's used on. THX MEDIA DIRECTOR™ BECOMES MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS WITH UPCOMING LUCASFILM AND TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TITLE, RED TAILS ON BLU-RAY™, DVD Additional Partnerships with Industry's Top Quality Assurance Facilities Broaden Accessibility of THX Media Director Titles for Artistically Accurate, Shockingly Simple, High-Quality Home Entertainment LAS VEGAS (NAB 2012 – Booth # SL14407) – April 16, 2012 – THX Ltd. today announced new additions to its THX Media Director™ ecosystem, including the upcoming Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment release of Red Tails on Blu-rayTM and DVD, and new quality assurance partners, The Testing Group and Testronic Labs. THX Media Director is a technology that transforms digital media into smart content, enabling CE devices (i.e., Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, AVRs, HD displays) to automatically select the audio and video settings that best represent the director's vision, vastly simplifying the home entertainment experience and preserving artistic intent. Slated for release on May 22, the Red Tails Blu-ray set is the second Lucasfilm and Fox title to feature THX Media Director; the first being Star Wars: The Complete Saga, released in September 2011. THX worked with both companies to capture the picture and sound characteristics specific to this movie and encode that information on the THX Media Director enabled Red Tails Blu-ray and DVD products, so fans will be able to sit back and enjoy the high-flying, action-adventure film as its creators intended. The promise of delivering a premium home entertainment experience to consumers around the world doesn't end there. THX recently partnered with The Testing Group and Testronic Labs, two of the world's top disc testing companies, to oversee the quality assurance of THX Media Director enabled content. In working with these types of facilities, THX enables content creators and artists to more easily preserve the ideal audio and video settings for movies, games, music and more – while taking the guesswork out for consumers. The Testing Group – As a fully operational state-of-the-art testing facility serving the digital content and commerce marketplace, the Testing Group has partnered with THX as a testing lab that can verify THX Media Director technology, helping to support a more heightened and seamless consumer experience. With more than 30 years of experience, owners Lauren Evers and James Richardson have brought invaluable innovations and standards that have helped pave the way for rapid critical mass acceptance of DVD, Blu-ray and other digital applications. Testronic Labs – The global leader in quality assurance services for film, television and a notable array of other industries, Testronic enjoys a close collaboration with major studios and premier content owners in safeguarding the consumer experience. An expert supplier of testing services for 18 certification programs, Testronic is uniquely positioned to ensure the highest quality consumer deliverables and now fully supports THX Media Director. In the last year and a half, THX has grown its list of THX Media Director partners and customers to encompass leading CE manufacturers, chip developers, content creators, authoring facilities, streaming media content and Blu-ray Discs. THX continues to deliver on its promise to bring its technology to consumers' living rooms and intends to introduce additional THX Media Director enabled titles and devices to simplify and enhance the home entertainment experience. THX At NAB 2012: THX will be showcasing THX Media Director through demos and new THX Media Director enabled partners at NAB booth # SL14407. In addition THX will be showcasing its new cineCube™ HD application and its full suite of THX cineSpace™ color management tools. THX ANNOUNCES NEW THX CINESPACE™ COLOR MANAGEMENT OFFERING More In: NAB 2012, THX cineSpace, THX cineSpace Software Share on Facebook Tweet This THX cineCube™ HD Provides Cost-Effective, Ideal Solution for Facilities Specializing in HD Video Applications LAS VEGAS (NAB 2012 – SL14407) – April 16, 2012 – THX Ltd. today announced a new component to its THX cineSpace™ Color Management Suite, the de facto standard in film and television post-production for achieving color accuracy and consistency through display calibration and profiling. THX cineCube™ HD is specifically designed to emulate the ITU-Rec. 709 (HD video color standard) color space for facilities specializing in television commercials, music videos, corporate videos and television programs. The THX cineSpace toolset is used by production companies, post facilities, animation studios, VFX companies, game developers, DI facilities and others to produce and render near-perfect representations of how images will appear in final form. It is a cost-effective way to implement precision color management at every stage of content production, post-production and delivery. With specific requirements from creative artists about the way color is displayed, color matching is a lengthy, iterative cycle in post-production. THX cineSpace cuts down on these cycles by removing the guesswork when dealing with film images and producing accurate image representations which can be viewed and manipulated on a digital workstation monitor or projector. The new THX cineSpace module, cineCube HD, offers all the functionality needed to calibrate and profile displays of any type – projectors, plasmas and LCDs so artists can color grade material confidently, knowing that what they see in the suite will be duplicated in the target viewing environment. cineCube HD licenses include the full version of cineProfiler™, a THX cineSpace component that optimizes and profiles output devices and creates accurate profiles for all viewing equipment including CRT, LCD screens, plasma displays, digital projectors and broadcast monitors. "THX cineSpace technology has brought a new level of confidence to monitoring at our facility with its high-precision color management toolset. Managing color with THX cineSpace across all of our finish and color suites provides quality assurance for our customers and increased workflow efficiency," said Mark Pruett, owner of Nashville's Storyville Post. "The introduction of an affordable, simplified solution that offers the same quality as THX cineSpace is exciting. cineCube HD makes THX cineSpace technology more cost-effective to boutique operations like ours – facilities that may have a narrower range of color management concerns, but still require the same precision and results that the original THX cineSpace software provides." THX At NAB 2012: THX will be showcasing its new cineCube HD application and the full suite of THX cineSpace color management solutions at NAB booth #SL14407. In addition, THX will be demonstrating THX Media DirectorTM and highlighting its latest partners. cineCube HD is available today through THX cineSpace resellers for $1,895 (one seat node). |
| Microsoft updates Bing Translator for Windows Phone with offline features (video) Posted: 16 Apr 2012 10:05 PM PDT
Never again will Windows Phone owners worry about ordering raw beef in Spain without first knowing what'll arrive on their plate. That's because the crew at Microsoft have updated the Bing Translator app, which is available for free in the Marketplace. It now allows users to point their cameras at otherwise unintelligible text and then view a proper translation as an overlay on the photograph. As another nifty trick, Bing Translate allows users to speak phrases into their phone, which will then be audibly translated into a foreign language of choice. Most impressive, however, is the app's new offline capabilities, which can be enabled with the simple download of a language pack. Bing Translator supports English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Chinese Simplified, and if you'd like a peek into its functionality, just hop the break for the video.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ford Focus Electric test drive and MyFord Mobile hands-on (video) Posted: 16 Apr 2012 09:01 PM PDT
This is the production version of Ford's Focus Electric for the US market, and we got the chance to take it for a proper test drive last week. Don't fret, though -- Engadget hasn't suddenly turned into a car site. While we'll be happy to share our driving impressions, we're mostly interested in how Ford interfaces the vehicle with our favorite mobile devices and social networks -- tech that we've covered before, known as MyFord Mobile. Hit the break for the details, including our hands-on video.
We enjoyed driving the 76-mile range Focus Electric -- our three-mile loop downtown San Francisco even included some of the city's famous hills. As you'd expect, the electric motor provides plenty of (computer-modulated) torque, even with four people on board. Behind the wheel, the car feels much less appliance-like than Toyota's Prius plug-in hybrid and a bit more refined and engaging than the Chevy Volt. The cockpit layout shuns the sci-fi approach for a more traditional, driver-centric environment. Steering and handling are the best we've experienced amongst mainstream EVs -- attributes that the Focus Electric likely inherits from its gasoline-engined twin. With some of the 23kWh battery pack's Li-ion cells under the trunk, weight distribution is supposedly close to 50/50, which is rare for a front-wheel-drive vehicle. As a result, Ford engineers have tuned the suspension to minimize oversteer during throttle lift-off. The dynamic character of the car doesn't detract from making it a comfortable ride, and the brakes get the job done without any regen weirdness.
As you'll recall, the Focus Electric features an embedded wireless data connection using AT&T's network which enables remote vehicle monitoring and control. The MyFord Mobile app lets you connect to the car from your iOS, Android and BlackBerry smartphone (or from a Web portal) to check the battery status and range, to initiate charging (if the EV's already plugged in) and to adjust the climate control (to set cabin temperature ahead of time, while still on the grid). It also allows you to plan trips by taking into account the location of charging stations and by knowing your vehicle's current position. In addition, the app also coaches you by providing feedback on your driving style (we managed to reclaim 74% of the energy we used during our test drive, despite our heavy foot). All this is complemented by a generous serving of social networking integration -- letting you share routes, driving scores and achievements with friends via Twitter, Facebook and email. The app also incorporates Microsoft-powered Value Charging which automatically refills your battery pack (in 3-4 hours at 240V) when the utility rates are the lowest each day. Watch our hands-on video above in which Bill Frykman demos the MyFord Mobile app right after we took the car for a spin. The Ford Focus Electric is available now for $39,200 plus a $795 destination charge. |
| Apple II turns 35, doesn't bother with midlife crisis Posted: 16 Apr 2012 08:06 PM PDT
It was 35 years ago today that two Steves and a handful of employees introduced the world to a game-changer: the Apple II. Easily recognizable today as one of history's first truly accessible personal computers, it's a bit odd to think that the iconic rig was almost overlooked at its debut at the 1977 West Coast Computer Faire. Even so, the beige box weaseled its way into our homes and schools. $1300 bought the most basic model of the machine that taught a generation of children the dangers of fording a river, rocking a paltry 4KB of RAM and a 1MHz processor. Despite its age, the old Apple II is doing its best to keep up with the times -- making music, going to concerts and even trying out those hip Bluetooth protocols its grand kids are always talking about. Feeling nostalgic? Check out Time's in-depth tribute to the Apple II's history, influence and legacy at the source link below. |
| Sprint tries the subsidized netbook thing again with WiMAX-infused IdeaPad S205s Posted: 16 Apr 2012 07:37 PM PDT
Affordable Lenovo IdeaPad S205s 3G/4G Mini Notebook Available from Sprint for $199.99 Posted by MarkJElliott on Apr 16, 2012 3:45:26 PM Ultra-portable mini notebook packs it in with Sprint 4G, a powerful Intel Pentium dual-core processor and Windows 7 Home Premium The affordably priced Lenovo IdeaPad® S205s is an ultra-portable mini notebook, featuring an Intel® Pentium® dual-core U5600 processor, Windows 7 Home Premium and 3G/4G (WiMAX) network capabilities from Sprint that lets the user purchase a single device for all their computing needs. Priced at just $199.99 (excluding taxes) with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement, after a $100 mail in rebate via reward card1, Lenovo IdeaPad S205s makes the perfect travel companion by bringing music, videos and user content alive. It is available in Sprint direct ship sales channels, including Sprint Stores, Business Sales, Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1 [Call: 1-800-SPRINT1] ) and Web Sales (www.sprint.com). Featuring a slim 18mm profile and lightweight 3.26-pound body with an 11.6-inch display, it combines a chic, ultraportable design and AccuType keyboard, making it the perfect Internet companion to take anywhere. Lenovo IdeaPad S205s offers a built-in webcam and VeriFace® facial recognition technology that allows users to log into their mini notebook with their face, instead of having to remember lengthy passwords. VeriFace can also be used to record video messages and conduct web calls, making the notebook the one device for connectivity, entertainment and extreme PC portability. Lenovo IdeaPad S205s will come preloaded with the Intel AppUpSM center that allows users to browse a centralized catalog of applications for purchase or download to their netbook or other personal computing device. It features thousands of apps for gaming, entertainment, finance, business and education from a variety of different categories, including social, education, entertainment, communications and more. Key features include: Intel® Pentium Dual Core U5600 Processor (1.33GHZ, 3MB cache) Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium – 32-bit 2GB DDR3 Memory 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 HD LED widescreen display 250GB Hard Drive AccuType keyboard with individually rounded, finger-friendly key shape and ergonomic spacebar Multi-touch touchpad for easy scrolling and zoom Lenovo's OneKey™ Rescue System can help recover user data or device settings Wi-Fi® 802.11a/b/g/n 0.3-megapixel Webcam with integrated microphone Ports: 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 eSATA, HDMI output port, VGA, 1 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 microphone jack 6 x1 card reader (SD/SD pro/MMC/MS/MS pro/xD) Stereo speakers 6 cell – 4400 mAh for an estimated 5 hour battery life (depending on usage) (WxDxH): 11.4 x 7.6 x 1.0-1.5 inches (290mm x 193mm x 26.3-37.6mm) 3.26 pounds (1478.7 grams) with the 6-cell battery To help users be more productive wherever they are, Lenovo IdeaPad S205s includes Energy Management for long battery life. Designed by Lenovo, Energy Management is a power management utility that fine-tunes the power consumption by coordinating the activity of the hardware and software. It offers four preset schemes, and the ability to modify any of those four to create a personalized energy management program. |
| Boeing 787 set for first biofuel-powered flight tonight Posted: 16 Apr 2012 06:43 PM PDT
Biofuel in planes is hardly a new idea, but when Boeing's latest and greatest aircraft gets in on the green game, we take notice. That's right, a ANA 787 Dreamliner is currently preparing to take off from Everett, Washington this evening and will make its way across the Pacific to Tokyo powered by biofuel. Well played, Boeing, we're all for celebrating Earth Day a little early, and it's always good to see someone giving Sir Richard Branson a run for his money. [Photo credit: Boeing, Flickr] |
| NASA deems SpaceX Dragon worthy of the ISS, locks in April 30th launch date Posted: 16 Apr 2012 06:06 PM PDT
A month ago to the day, SpaceX informed us all that it was aiming to launch its Dragon spacecraft skyward on April 30th, and rendezvous with the ISS a few days later. Now NASA's finally finished its flight readiness review and has given Elon Musk's capsule the green light to hit that launch window. The capsule will hitch a ride on one of the firm's Falcon 9 rockets and will launch from Cape Canaveral just after noon ET -- from there it'll perform a flyby of the station to check its sensors and flight systems before its inaugural docking with the ISS. Wanna watch the magic happen? Live video of the launch starts at 11AM on NASA TV, and night owls can watch the docking itself occur May 3rd at 2AM. |
| WD's 1TB VelociRaptor HDD gets reviewed: substantial gains, moderate price Posted: 16 Apr 2012 05:28 PM PDT
Western Digital has expanded its line of desktop-grade VelociRaptors to include a 1TB model that's available now for $320, but those kidding themselves with that whole "250GB is enough" thing can get in for as little as $160. Top-level specs include a 10,000RPM spindle rate and a SATA 6Gb/s interface housed within a 3.5-inch heat sink -- useful for lessening the burden of the drive's thermal output on the rest of the machine. Storage Review's tests reveal that sequential read and write transfer speeds top out around 206MB/s, thermal dissipation is excellent with low power consumption, and that random access has improved compared with it's 600GB predecessor. They consider the new HDD to be a "very appealing value proposition" and "a blend of high performance, storage, capacity, and low cost." Hot Hardware discovered virtually identical numbers with their tests, but wasn't quite as forgiving when it comes to the cost-per-GB versus 7200RPM hard drives. However, they call this VelociRaptor the "fastest HDD yet" at "nearly double the capacity of previous" model. You can find even more stats and impressions to chew on at the sources below. WD® VelociRaptor® Hard Drive Reaches New Performance Peak With 1 TB Model |
| DJI multi-rotor aircraft with Ruling live video feed controller hands-on (video) Posted: 16 Apr 2012 04:45 PM PDT
Well that's a mouthful. Shenzhen-based DJI Innovations was on hand at NAB today to demonstrate its new hex-rotor aircraft, designed to provide photographers (and videographers) with a low-cost tool for capturing aerial images. The vehicle we saw today, coined Spreading Wings S800 (its rotors retract for storage) is a fairly straightforward multi-rotor aircraft, save for a couple pretty slick enhancements. Even more impressive, however, was DJI's Ruling, a "ground control terminal" that enables you to adjust not only aircraft direction and elevation, but also the camera position, complete with a live video feed as captured by a Sony NEX-5N mounted on a multi-axis camera gimbal. The camera mount is designed to maintain a stable image regardless of the craft's position -- once it's fixed on a subject, it will adjust to retain the pre-selected angle. The Ruling controller is very much still a prototype, with a yet-unpolished military green plastic housing and a built-in LCD. There's also dual joysticks -- one on the left to adjust the camera platform, and a second on the right to control the aircraft itself, letting you climb, descend and turn in every which way with a flick. The duo was very responsive during a brief demonstration, making calculated movements with what looked to be precise accuracy. The video feed was interrupted slightly by the multitude of wireless connections littering the Las Vegas Convention Center airwaves, but reps were still able to verify framing and adjust position -- the aircraft itself never faltered, with a maximum range of 10 kilometers (5km for the video feed, in ideal conditions). The Spreading Wings S800 is available for pre-order now and is expected to ship next month for roughly $8,500. That clever live video controller will cost you another pretty penny, however, with an estimated $5,000 price tag and a TBD ship date. You'll want to take a closer look in the video after the break.
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| Microsoft outs three flavors of Windows 8: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT Posted: 16 Apr 2012 03:55 PM PDT
We've known for what feels like ages that Windows 8 would come in at least two flavors: one supporting x86 devices and one for ARM machines. Now Microsoft's ready to put a naming scheme on its much-anticipated menu for the operating system. According to a post on the Windows blog, ARM devices will get Windows RT, while x86 / 64 devices will run Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro (also for x86 devices) will offer the suit-and-tie set added features for "encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity." Windows Media Center will be packaged as an add-on for the folks who go Pro. For a full break down of what each version will hold hit the source link below and check out our hands-on impressions of the OS preview here. |
| Must See HDTV (April 16th - 22nd) Posted: 16 Apr 2012 03:39 PM PDT
Eureka Parks & Recreation Frozen Planet Blu-ray & Games
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| Ceton's Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound Posted: 16 Apr 2012 03:11 PM PDT
What's the Echo Extender for Media Center got that no other Extender for Media Center has? Support for DTS surround sound, that's what. The catch of course is that the Echo is still just on track for "later in 2012," but the press release after the break is a welcome reminder that the first new Extender for Media Center since 2008 is actually going to happen. Unfortunately, there's still no new updates on price, availability or really anything other than the fact that you'll be able to enjoy your favorite content in surround sound that is encoded with DTS -- hopefully that's enough for now.
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