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Engadget News |
- Pioneer touts world's first car GPS with augmented reality HUD (video)
- Afghan photographers eschew electronics for wooden camera portraits (video)
- BBC Sport app brings Olympics and more to Sony Bravia TVs, PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray players
- AT&T's Glenn Lurie sees the end of WiFi-only tablets
- Telefónica launches Tu Me app: brings free VoIP calling and messaging to the iPhone
- Wolfenstein 3D celebrates 20 years of machine guns and flag-obscured passages with free web version
- HP's most popular laptop screen sizes: 15-inch in the US, 14-inch in China
- Sprint confirms Direct Connect Now, will offer Push-to-Talk services via smartphone app
- Rovio marks one billion downloads, untold pig casualties across Angry Birds games
- AT&T's HTC One X gets rooted, catches up with the global gang
- Insert Coin: Playsurface open-source multitouch computing table
- Sprint Tri-Fi hotspot boasts LTE, WiMAX and 3G connectivity, set to ship on May 18th
- Pogoplug Team lets businesses tap into their own 'personal clouds' for $15 a year per user
- Lenovo recalls 188,000 ThinkCentres, perilous power packs to blame
- Gmail advert ruins AT&T's big surprise, Sony's Xperia Ion arrives stateside in June
- HP on laptop design similarities with Apple's: it's a struggle as we drive to simplicity
- Sprint confirms May 18th release date for HTC EVO 4G LTE
- Crapgadget: summer show-off edition
- Samsung and Visa pull the starting trigger on Olympic payment collaboration
- Evernote updates Mac and iOS apps, makes it harder to forget those chores
- Kingston Wi-Drive update opens access to web, Android aficionados
- RIM patents trapezoidal BlackBerry keyboards for slanty-thumbed texters
- Flipboard for Android 'liberated' from Galaxy S III demo unit, available for all
- National Geographic TOPO! maps find their way to Magellan eXplorist GPS devices
- Transforming robot effortlessly turns into a car, faces tougher maneuver into retail (video)
- The Engadget interview: Sprint product execs John Tudhope and David Owens at CTIA 2012 (video)
- Military deploys VR NeuroTracker game to train special ops forces (video)
- First signs of Google's new 'semantic search' spotted, put to good use
- ADATA ships its Premier and Premier Pro SSDs to US, gives your laptop a dose of energy
- Brookstone fuel cell USB charger to keep phones powered for two weeks, Engadget editors happy
- Logitech Alert 750n adds wide-angle night vision for improved indoor snooping, we go hands-on
- Aperion unveils the ARIS wireless speaker, invites Windows devices to the wireless shindig for $499
- Sony Xperia GX packs 13MP camera and 4.6-inch HD display, joined by Xperia SX to offer LTE in Japan
- Carl Icahn unloads his LightSquared debt, creditor talks trudge on
- Razer Naga MMO mouse gets some work done, fresh for 2012
- BlackBerry Curve 9320 now official: BB OS 7.1, 2.44-inch display, BBM button
- Sub-$1500 Kingmax 1TB SSD spotted in Japan
- Carrier IQ hires former Verizon privacy counsel Magnolia Mobley as Chief Privacy Officer
- New iPad to hit 30 more countries this weekend, work on its tan
- Microsoft puts a price on carbon, says its footprint will be neutral by July
| Pioneer touts world's first car GPS with augmented reality HUD (video) Posted: 09 May 2012 11:30 AM PDT
We've seen augmented reality, and GPS with augmented reality, but we haven't seen the two combined at the front of a car's windshield. A pair of Cyber Navi rigs from Pioneer promise to change all that, using an add-on, laser-projected heads-up display from MicroVision that shows driving directions just above the road itself, making sure that you focus on what's in front rather than squinting at the LCD off to the side. If you do need to look at that LCD, however, you'll get yet another augmented reality view if your car has a camera up front, more detail about the route and a new speed limit sign alert system. The usual rounds of DVD media, iPhone/iPod playback and 1Seg over-the-air TV tuning are also on tap. Buying either of the new HUD-equipped GPS units will require a deep wallet, some patience and an airplane trip to Japan, however -- the 2-DIN ZH99 and dual 1-DIN VH99 cost ¥300,000 and ¥320,000 ($3,770 and $4,021) respectively, and their late July release isn't known to include the US at this stage. |
| Afghan photographers eschew electronics for wooden camera portraits (video) Posted: 09 May 2012 11:16 AM PDT
If retro-style snaps are worth a billion dollars à la Instagram, what does that say about the value of real prints taken with pre-WWII gear? Reminding us that early cameras were photochemical and shutterless, Kabul is home to two lone holdouts who still practice the 75-year-old art of wooden camera photography. Due to a ban on picture-taking by the Taliban, and then an influx of cheap digital cameras, the number of practitioners of kamra-e-faoree has steadily dwindled. But thanks to the Afghan Box Camera Project, the legacy left by these artisans is being preserved -- not least in the video above. Discover how it all works and then leave the faux-vintage to the hipsters. |
| BBC Sport app brings Olympics and more to Sony Bravia TVs, PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray players Posted: 09 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT
While Sony was busy launching its HX8 TVs over in the UK, it let slip another nugget of televisual goodness. That extra BBC Sport coverage that's planned for summer, and available as a TiVo app, will also be coming to UK owners of Bravia TVs (2011 and onwards,) PS3s, and even some Blu-ray players (at a later date). Those 24 channels of HD Olympic action will be translated into live streams, and there will be the usual array of catch-up options too. It's not just the Olympics, either, with most of the Beeb's sports coverage set to be available through the app, along with much of the additional content that was previously dealt with by the Red Button. Sony claims it has worked with the BBC to develop the app, and should be the first to launch it direct on TVs just in time for Wimbledon. It will likely find its way to other Smart TVs too, but no details on which at this time. |
| AT&T's Glenn Lurie sees the end of WiFi-only tablets Posted: 09 May 2012 10:44 AM PDT
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| Telefónica launches Tu Me app: brings free VoIP calling and messaging to the iPhone Posted: 09 May 2012 10:24 AM PDT
We don't understand exactly what European big-hitter Telefónica is set to gain from its new app. Free VoIP calls and messaging doesn't sound like a massive money-spinner for a company that steers several of Europe's biggest mobile carriers, but that's what its new app is offering. Tu Me can connect through either WiFi or your own phone signal and throws in some location-sharing features for good measure. The app still will still find it tough to break through on the iPhone, which already has plenty of options, include VoIP champ Skype and the home-grown iMessage. According to The Verge, an Android version is already in the pipeline, but if you're driving an iPhone, you can grab the free download from the App Store now. |
| Wolfenstein 3D celebrates 20 years of machine guns and flag-obscured passages with free web version Posted: 09 May 2012 10:01 AM PDT
To commemorate the big two-oh years since its release, Bethesda has offered up the full Wolfenstein 3D experience to play for free in your web browser. Not only that, you'll also be able to play the id original on iOS devices gratis (at least for today) and creator John Carmack has decided to offer us a director's commentary on the game's development while shooting his way through a few levels. Watch, nod and reminisce right after the break, then hit up the source to play for yourself.
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| HP's most popular laptop screen sizes: 15-inch in the US, 14-inch in China Posted: 09 May 2012 09:44 AM PDT
Here's another interesting tidbit from today's HP event in Shanghai: according to Kevin Frost, Vice President and General Manager of Consumer Notebooks Business Unit, 15-inch is currently the most popular laptop screen size in the US, while the folks in China prefer 14-inch offerings. Oddly enough, Kevin wasn't keen on explaining this phenomenon, but he added that 17-inch laptops also do well in Europe and the US, but not in China. |
| Sprint confirms Direct Connect Now, will offer Push-to-Talk services via smartphone app Posted: 09 May 2012 09:22 AM PDT
Sprint's been rather quiet at this year's CTIA Wireless in New Orleans, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been sitting around without making any sort of noise. This morning, the Now Network let the cat out of the bag about Direct Connect Now, which is a service that will allow any regular smartphone user the opportunity to use the company's push-to-talk services in very similar fashion to devices that come with PTT already built into the hardware. How is this made possible? Simply put, there's an app for that -- or at least, there will be one coming to Google Play at an unspecified time in the not-too-distant future. This doesn't mean Sprint is giving up on hardware-based Direct Connect devices: new models will continue to be released going forward, but more smartphone users will at least have an opportunity to take advantage of the services in one way or another. More info as we receive it. |
| Rovio marks one billion downloads, untold pig casualties across Angry Birds games Posted: 09 May 2012 09:17 AM PDT
Yeah, yeah, we all knew that Rovio was doing gangbusters with Angry Birds series, but here's a little number to put it all into perspective: one billion. That's how many times the slingshotting birds have been downloaded, when you add up all of the titles and all of the platforms. Naturally, the company made a video to celebrate the accomplishment. You can find it after the break. [Image credit (McDonald's Sign): Alexis Bea / Flickr] |
| AT&T's HTC One X gets rooted, catches up with the global gang Posted: 09 May 2012 09:09 AM PDT
No sooner did the international variant of the One X reveal its source code, now the AT&T version has landed itself an unofficial root. Better still, the folks over at xda-developers have already squeezed the occasionally laborious process into a one-click install. For those not in the know, this doesn't mean an unlocked bootloader, which is still wrapped up in AT&T red tape. Root meddling types can hit up the source for the necessary files. Just, be careful -- that's some pricey polycarbonate and the Galaxy S III's still some weeks away. |
| Insert Coin: Playsurface open-source multitouch computing table Posted: 09 May 2012 08:42 AM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. A Microsoft Surface in every office? Yeah, fat chance. At $8,000, you may never see Samsung's SUR40 glow in the wild, but budget versions of the backlit HD table have begun popping up, such as the Merel Mtouch, which retails for half the price. Still, four grand is a lot to ask from casual users -- we need a bargain-basement option to help catapult the concept to success. The Playsurface could be one solution, with an open-source design and a much more affordable price tag. The multitouch computing table is the product of Templeman Automation, and its creators have begun promoting their concept on Kickstarter. In its current iteration, the Playsurface will ship in two flavors -- short, to double as a coffee table, and tall for stand-up applications -- with a $1,750 pledge netting backers a complete kit. Setting out to fulfill the goal of widespread adaptation, the creator is promising one Playsurface kit with a $1,750 pledge, including a Windows computer, a short-throw 1280 x 800-pixel DLP projector and a transparent touch surface, all housed within a self-assembled wood enclosure. There's also an infrared LED strip to aid with input recognition and something called a "Blob Board," which serves as a dedicated hardware processor tasked with touch detection and connects to the computer via USB. A $350 pledge gets you a Blob Board alone, while $650 is matched with a table (sans computer and projector) and $1,250 will net you a full kit, less the computer. There's just shy of four weeks left to go to get your Playsurface pledge in -- hit up the source link to make it happen.
Previous project update: Our last featured project, the HAND Stylus for touch devices, has more than doubled its funding goal of $25,000. There's still a month and change left to go, so head on over to Kickstarter to make a $25 pledge and save five bucks off the estimated retail price. |
| Sprint Tri-Fi hotspot boasts LTE, WiMAX and 3G connectivity, set to ship on May 18th Posted: 09 May 2012 08:17 AM PDT
If you've been on the hunt for Sprint LTE devices that won't yet function on the carrier's latest 4G network (that, ahem, isn't even scheduled to go live until this summer), May 18th seems to be the day to call in sick. The company's first LTE/WiMAX/3G hotspot will be making its way from the Sierra Wireless manufacturing line to your door for the princely sum of $99.99 (after a $50 rebate and a two-year service agreement) on that date. Data plans range in price from $35 for 3GB to $80 for 12 gigs, on whichever network happens to be available in your area. There's a 3,600 mAh battery on board, which will reportedly keep you online for up to eight hours, along with an Overdrive Pro-like info screen for displaying key stats, like remaining power and your wireless key. You'll find a hearty list of suggested usage scenarios in the press release just past the break, if for some reason you need a PR push to discover just how such a device will fit into your life. Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot, Nation's First to Support 4G LTE, 4G WiMAX and 3G, Available May 18 Exclusively from Sprint OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BUSINESS WIRE), May 09, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE: S) and Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) (TSX: SW) today announced the May 18 availability of the first-ever device to combine 4G connections over LTE and WiMAX networks, Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot for the Sprint network. Sierra Wireless Tri-Fi Hotspot provides the best combination of speed and coverage to Sprint customers as the upcoming 4G LTE network expands and allows families, small businesses and traveling co-workers to easily share high-speed connections. Beginning May 18, customers will be able to purchase a Sierra Wireless Tri-Fi Hotspot for $99.99 (excluding taxes) after a $50 mail-in-rebate with a two-year service agreement. Customers can purchase the device and sign up for 3G/4G plans at select Sprint retail stores, www.sprint.com, 1-800-SPRINT1 and through business sales. Sprint data plans for the device start at $34.99 for 3GB of combined 3G/4G data while on the Sprint network. Customers also can choose the $49.99 plan with 6GB of combined 3G/4G data or $79.99 for 12GB of 3G/4G data, which deliver 20 percent more data for the same price as AT&T and Verizon's similar plans. With this versatile device, customers can extend their Sprint 3G/4G experience beyond their laptops to up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as cameras, music players, personal media players and portable game consoles. In addition, its microSD™ slot allows teams to share files and presentations with network storage, and it can be used as a digital media server. It is simple to set up and connect with no software required. "Sprint and Sierra Wireless are once again giving customers the flexibility to enjoy 4G performance in any Sprint 4G WiMAX market along with our upcoming 4G LTE markets or Sprint's reliable 3G network when outside a 4G area," said David Owens, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. "Sierra Wireless Tri-Fi Hotspot combines simplicity with compact portability and security to make it ideal for both personal and business use in a variety of situations." Powered by a 3600mAh battery, Sierra Wireless Tri-Fi Hotspot offers up to eight hours of use and up to eight weeks on standby, helping to ensure it is always ready when needed, even for power users who work away from their desks all day. Similar to Sierra Wireless' Overdrive Pro™ 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, this device offers a highly informative display screen that provides all the information needed for daily use, including the hotspot name and access code, battery life, number of devices connected, and whether the current connection to the network is 3G or 4G. "We are excited to be part of Sprint's 4G LTE network deployment and launch," said Dan Schieler, senior vice president, Mobile Computing for Sierra Wireless. "The Tri-Fi Hotspot ensures Sprint customers can reliably make use of the best network connection available to them in a given location and continue to enjoy the freedom of mobile broadband virtually anywhere they go." With Sierra Wireless Tri-Fi Hotspot: Consumers and businesses can work remotely anywhere in a 4G coverage area (or virtually anywhere with 3G) and easily connect a laptop, smartphone, tablet or wireless phone through a single connection. Sierra Wireless and Sprint have enjoyed a long collaboration in leading-edge technology deployments, including in the launch of the Sprint 4G WiMAX network. To assist in Sprint's LTE network deployment, Sierra Wireless developed the world's first LTE Band 25 devices for use in network testing and then provided these devices to Sprint and its network infrastructure partners to facilitate the network deployment. The Sprint 4G LTE network is expected in mid-year 2012 in limited markets. For more information on Sprint 4G LTE, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. |
| Pogoplug Team lets businesses tap into their own 'personal clouds' for $15 a year per user Posted: 09 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT
Last we heard from Pogoplug, it had unleashed its Series 4 hardware (its current device for making any of your drives network accessible). Today, the company, known for its pursuit to make the cloud more "personal," has shifted its gears back to software, aiming directly at businesses with a new service dubbed Pogoplug Team. On basic level, Team is similar to the software-based version of Pogoplug, enhancing the experience with goodies like multiple accounts and full customization to match your businesses' look. Interestingly, Pogoplug isn't including storage options for Team's pricing scheme, but instead charging $15 a year for each user (minimum of three required) -- meaning your users dictate the amount of storage space needed with their own computers and drives, rather than utilizing remote servers as with other major services like Google Drive or SkyDrive. Better yet, current Pogoplug users can upgrade to Team if they're interested. Curious for all the details? There's a nifty press release just after the break. Pogoplug Team: Turn Any Office Computer Into Private, Multi-user Cloud Enable users to share and collaborate on their files with anyone inside or outside San Francisco, CA – May 9, 2011 – Pogoplug, creators of Personal Cloud "More than ever, concerns related to online privacy and security are leading Pogoplug Team costs $15 per user, per year. Because Pogoplug Team pricing is Pogoplug Team features include: o Install Pogoplug Team software on an office computer or file server. No • Access all files from any device, anywhere o Quick and secure access from any computer, Web browser, mobile • Share and collaborate on files with anyone inside or outside the company. o Send large files and folders instantly-no upload required.
Customizable, branded interface o Customize the Pogoplug Web interface and emails to match your o Files remain secure and private on-premise rather than using 3rd-party o Automatically back up files and folders from a PC or mobile device o Expand as your business grows-add as much storage as you need with o Yearly flat fee based on users, not storage. Pogoplug Team costs $15 Pogoplug Team is available for purchase now at www.pogoplug.com/team and USEFUL LINKS |
| Lenovo recalls 188,000 ThinkCentres, perilous power packs to blame Posted: 09 May 2012 07:47 AM PDT
Lenovo is recalling a further 188,000 of its ThinkCentre PCs due to a possible fire risk. The M70z and M90z all-in-ones come with a faulty component in its embedded power supply that has already seen two units self-immolate. The company recommends that you check the serial number (via our source link) stamped on the base of the housing, let Lenovo know, unplug the unit and wait for a replacement. |
| Gmail advert ruins AT&T's big surprise, Sony's Xperia Ion arrives stateside in June Posted: 09 May 2012 07:19 AM PDT
Someone at Google's advertising department has probably received the hairdryer treatment this morning after a Gmail advert prematurely revealed that Sony's Xperia Ion would arrive in June. The banner ad popped up atop Droidmatters' inbox and revealed that the Stateside version of the Xperia S will turn up just in time for Summer. |
| HP on laptop design similarities with Apple's: it's a struggle as we drive to simplicity Posted: 09 May 2012 06:57 AM PDT
HP's spent the afternoon here in Shanghai to share some details about its latest products and strategy, and to our delight, there was one session dedicated to "Style Meets Function," during which Vice President of Industrial Design Stacy Wolff talked about his design philosophy and design goals for the current market. Most notably, we learned that some of HP's latest laptop designs were based on the work of its research centers from 11 different cities, and the company isn't afraid of admitting that it used consultants for an outside perspective as well. Despite Stacy's upbeat presentation and interesting stats (apparently these days men have a boring color preference, from first to fourth favorite: black, gray, blue and white), the inevitable question popped up: One lady expressed her concern that the brand-spanking-new Envy Spectre XT reminded her of the MacBook Air a lot, so she wondered if HP's ever worried that Apple might sue. Stacy kept his initial reply pretty brief:
As always, we wanted more from the horse's mouth, so we grabbed hold of Stacy right after the session and had a little chat over this topic -- you can see the full and surprisingly candid interview after the break.
Going back to that question -- that lady asked you about the similarities with Apple. Surely when you guys think of a design, do these red flags not come up? I know they don't own these things but... The thing is that you have to design what's right, and that is that sometimes the wedge is the right solution, silver is the right solution. I see a lot of differences as much as the similarities. I think anybody that's close enough to the business sees that there are differences in the design. Ours is rubber-coated at the bottom. We use magnesium; they didn't do that -- they use CNC aluminum. We did a brush pattern on our product; they didn't. We did a different kind of keyboard execution. We did audio as a component; they didn't. So there are a lot of things I can list off that are differences; but if you want to look at a macro level, there are a lot of similarities to everything in the market that's an Ultrabook today. It is not because those guys did it first; it's just that's where the form factor is leading it.
As you deal with polymer batteries, the cooling, the processor and the board, all those fit into certain things. If I were to push that forward, I could be a reverse wedge but that wouldn't work, right? So you have to kind of deal with it. As you go to the back, the largest component now actually is your cooling, right? As you deal with your panel you have the hinges -- you do a drop hinge. Do they own drop hinge? No. I think the thing is that we can make a story out of it but it doesn't exist. The story really is how HP's taken the Ultrabook category and moved it forward. HP has now brought audio as a component for the Ultrabook. HP brought unique services to the table. I mean, we just bring a kind of a blood brother, different things to the market. And again, I think if you look at it from a surface level, it's probably the wrong way to look at it. So you guys don't run some designs through lawyers? I think everybody got wigged out with the whole legal action with the Samsung interface and all those pieces. I think the key thing is that they're a different company and they service a different audience, they have a different OS. We're a Windows ecosystem and we're building a product that is basically genuine to HP. I think that the struggle is as we, again, drive to that simplicity, the shape just becomes one. I don't think a lot of other companies are purposely designing to be copycats. I think a few might be. In China, maybe. Yeah. The problem is that when I squeeze the product down from the big guy to the littlest guy, all that emotion and form become flatter and flatter and flatter, and guess what? I'm tapering to the front, it becomes a wedge. It's the reality of the form. Form follows function. I think most people are looking at the black keyboard against the silver body... Yeah. You know, the funny thing is that we did that before they did, but no one gave us credit. It's one of those things. You go back a few years and you start to look at what we did during the Pavilion stages, a long time ago when we started to do that. Even the chiclet, right? In the mid-80s we did a chiclet keyboard, but did anybody give us credit? No. Nor to Sony, either. Well Sony was actually after us, but certainly, Sony made a huge hay in releasing that. But unfortunately, when you come to the table, it's one of those things that... there's a PR engine at play that's just wonderful. And fanboys.
Yeah, fanboys are wonderful, right? You guys gotta be my fanboys, come on. [Laughs] I think the big thing for me is that we're doing what's right for the customers, so one of the things is by going with the isolated island style of keyboard, there's only so many ways to do it, right? If I put it on a black surface you'd go, "Oh you didn't copy." If I put it on a silver surface, "Oh you're copying." How can that be? You know, it's a change of color, there's no intent to mimic or to follow. What you have is a common theme of island style keyboard, use of silver, wedge design. So if I measure things on a macro level, well, you know, maybe you can judge it that way. I don't. This is mainly because Apple has so few products and they're put into bigger spotlights than most other products. Yeah, you know, it's a struggle when you distill it down to just a few things. Again, like I said, with our TC1000 I didn't come over to the Cupertino office and say "Hey, this looks like our old tablet. Why did you guys do this?" [Stacy then addresses a quick question about a Windows 8 rumor before heading out for the shuttle bus.] OK, thank you very much, bye guys! |
| Sprint confirms May 18th release date for HTC EVO 4G LTE Posted: 09 May 2012 06:23 AM PDT
HTC's EVO 4G LTE went live for pre-orders just yesterday, and now we have confirmation of when you'll be able to expect Sprint's One X flavor to hit your front door. Friday May 18th appears to be the date in question, with the carrier peddling devices for a cool $199.99 with a two-year service agreement. Sadly, you won't be able to take advantage of those LTE speeds at launch -- Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio will be the first cities to light up when they come online later this year -- so if you have the need for speed right now, you'll need to hop on over to AT&T. There's a fluffy Sprint PR awaiting you just past the break. Sprint Debuts HTC EVO 4G LTE on May 18 for $199.99 HTC EVO 4G LTE is now available for pre-order at www.sprint.com/evo4glte OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), May 09, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE: S), the only national wireless carrier offering truly unlimited data for all phones while on the Sprint network1, and HTC, a global designer of smartphones, announce the Friday, May 18, availability of the next evolution of the award-winning HTC EVO™ family, HTC EVO™ 4G LTE. It will cost $199.99 with a new line of service or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (excludes taxes). Pre-order began May 7 at www.sprint.com/evo4glte. "HTC EVO 4G LTE sets the benchmark for Android devices this year with its incredible 4.7-inch screen, advanced camera features and future HD voice capabilities when combined with the speed of Sprint's upcoming 4G LTE network," said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. "Its cutting-edge technology pairs perfectly with Sprint's unlimited data plans to let our customers enjoy their wireless experience without worrying about overage charges or throttling." HTC EVO 4G LTE is built on Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, integrated with HTC Sense™ 4. It focuses on exceptional improvements in camera technology, audio and voice quality on both the network and device. HTC ImageSense™ brings improvements to every part of the amazing camera experience featuring a superfast autofocus to enable continuous shooting, the ability to capture still images while taking video, and increasing the quality of photos taken in adverse conditions such as low light, no light or with bright backlighting. HTC EVO 4G LTE is Sprint's first device with HTC's Authentic Sound experience integrating Beats Audio™. The technology enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Beats Audio is enabled across the entire phone experience, including playing music stored on the device, streaming from a favorite service, watching a movie or YouTube™ video, or playing the latest hot game. HTC EVO 4G LTE boasts brilliant features, including a vibrant 4.7-inch HD display, future HD voice capabilities2, 2000mAh embedded battery and 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras. It is powered by the Snapdragon™ S4 processor by Qualcomm, delivering best-in-class performance and a power efficient platform for exceptionally long battery life. HTC EVO 4G LTE brings back the fan-favorite kickstand built into the smartphone's refined, slim design. "With the HTC EVO 4G LTE, we're launching a true successor the original EVO, bringing a focus on innovation, design and industry-leading consumer experiences," said Martin Fichter, vice president, product management, HTC America. "The millions of current and new EVO fans will appreciate our amazing camera that's superfast, easy-to-use and takes video and photos at the same time as well as our enhanced audio experience that you need to hear to believe." Respected device critics are buzzing with excitement for HTC EVO 4G LTE. Here are a few of the praises that poured in when it was announced earlier this month: "The HTC EVO 4G LTE is a good looking phone and will make fans of Sprint's EVO line very, very happy. It packs every spec anyone could possibly ask for: dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 8-megapixel camera, 4.7-inch HD display, and the latest Android 4.0 operating system, enhanced by Sense 4.0. Oh, let's not forget the kickstand!" – Eric Zeman, Phonescoop "The original superphone has been reborn." – Mark Spoonauer, Laptop Magazine "As for first impressions, I was shocked when I finally got to hold an EVO 4G LTE. In the presentation videos the phone looked thick and bulky. In person, it's anything but. It is thin, deceptively lightweight and absolutely beautiful." – Gary Krakow, TheStreet.com "Yesterday Sprint and HTC made a joint announcement, unveiling the brand new EVO 4G LTE. It's an impressive device. Thin, light, fast, powerful, the whole package." – Steve Kovach, Business Insider HTC EVO 4G LTE customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint's Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $40 per month versus Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web, or $10 per month savings versus Verizon's 450-minute plan with unlimited text and 2GB Web (excludes taxes and surcharges). HTC EVO 4G LTE is one of the first devices available with Sprint Professional Grade, a new designation for select smartphones that deliver enhanced security, device management and Exchange Active Sync capabilities to business users. Click here to learn more about Sprint Professional Grade designation. As part of the HTC EVO 4G LTE launch, Sprint will be giving customers a chance to share their LOVE on Facebook. To learn how you could enter for the chance to win UNLIMITED LOVE, make sure to visit Sprint's Facebook page on May 18 for details. Sprint recently announced Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio are expected to have 4G LTE and enhanced 3G service in mid-year. The anticipated launch of these large metropolitan areas demonstrates the continued commitment by Sprint to invest in its network through Network Vision. Sprint customers in these areas will soon enjoy ultra-fast data speeds and improved 3G voice quality. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. |
| Crapgadget: summer show-off edition Posted: 09 May 2012 06:01 AM PDT
When summer starts to creep up, so does that dreadful jumble of terms like "swimsuit season," "beach body" and "crippling insecurity." But these crapgadgets would like you to stop being so dang selfish and think about your tech's appearance for a change. After all, what you lack in muscle you can always make up for in accessories that inspire, intrigue and lead others to speculate about your financial standing. Read - All that darting around corners and covert memo-recording just makes you look creepy, but it could make you look as cool as this man with a mission. Japanese retailer Strapya World would have you know that its radio transceiver for the iPhone is "made for the everyday awesome person." Read - Those Swarovski crystals decking out your smartphone? They might as well be lumps of coal. The discerning consumer knows that it's diamonds or nothing, and this $11 million diamond laptop sleeve -- complete with sable fur trim -- is certainly something. Read - Just as you wouldn't ride a bike without a helmet, you wouldn't be caught dead holding your phone without a ring to secure the device to your finger. Don't you care about safety at all? Read - Maybe you're one to buck all this flashy materialism, but still want to be recognized for the unique soul that you are. No one will accuse you of gadget snobbery if you stick to a soup can for all your telephony needs. |
| Samsung and Visa pull the starting trigger on Olympic payment collaboration Posted: 09 May 2012 05:52 AM PDT
Well, it's been no secret that Samsung was hoping to cash in on this summer's Olympic fever. In fact, we all but knew its latest and greatest smartphone was going to be the handset-maker's Olympic Games Phone. Today, however, the union has been made official via an announcement with Visa. Trialists and Athletes sponsored by the brands will have access to a special edition "showcase device" with Visa's payWave payment application onboard. The collaboration is, of course, a drive to push the penetration of contactless payments in both the UK and the world stage. Payments under £20 won't need a passcode, and users will also be able to check their balance and purchase history from the app. It's estimated there'll be about 140,000 contactless terminals in the country by the time the Olympic tanks roll in, so plenty of places to pick up that official merch for the family back home. Samsung and Visa Showcase Mobile Payments at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games NFC technology takes a leap forward in the form of the Samsung GALAXY S III with Visa mobile contactless payments LONDON & SEOUL & NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics and Visa today announced that the Samsung GALAXY S III, the latest in smartphone innovation, will be Samsung's Olympic Games Phone during the London 2012 Games. "The GALAXY S III with NFC technology is part of an evolution that will entirely change the way people shop, pay and get paid all over the world" A limited edition showcase device enabled with Visa's mobile payment application, Visa payWave, will be available for Samsung and Visa sponsored athletes and trialists, making it possible to buy merchandise with a wave of the device at thousands of retail locations throughout London. Samsung's Olympic Games phone for the London 2012 Games, comes equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) payment capability and is the next step in the partnership between the two global Olympic Games sponsors as they work together to drive the availability of commercial mobile payments around the world. "Mobile payment services enabled by NFC technology are gaining momentum around the world. The Samsung GALAXY S III has been created with our human needs and capabilities in mind and is the ideal device to showcase the ease and convenience of Visa's mobile payment application at the London 2012 Olympic Games," said DJ Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing team of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business. By the time of the Olympic Games there will be more than 140,000 contactless terminals around the UK. From the moment visitors land at Heathrow they will be immersed in a contactless payment experience with everything from taxis, to retail outlets, to the Olympic Park itself. Sandra Alzetta, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Visa Europe says: "Mobile technology has long been a revolutionary force in our lives and NFC-enabled devices such as the Galaxy S III will fundamentally change the way we pay. The future is mobile and cash usage will only continue to decline as people use their mobile devices to manage their money, shop and pay. This summer our partnership with Samsung will showcase all the advantages of the future of payments: security, convenience, speed and flexibility being forefront among them." "The GALAXY S III with NFC technology is part of an evolution that will entirely change the way people shop, pay and get paid all over the world," said Bill Gajda, Global Head of Mobile Products at Visa Inc. "This summer we will be demonstrating the future of payments in London – a future where most consumers will rely on mobile devices, tablets and PCs to manage their daily financial lives. Our relationship with Samsung gets us closer to that vision, with a stunning new device that is sure to turn heads at the London 2012 Games." The showcase device is supported and enabled by London 2012 Games partner Lloyds TSB in the UK. Mike Regnier, Personal Current Accounts & Credit Cards Director, Lloyds TSB, says: "Mobile payments are set to transform the payment process around the world, and will revolutionise the way people pay in the run up to, during, and beyond the London 2012 Games. We are delighted to be working with Visa to showcase the flexibility and convenience of this new technology at the world's biggest sporting event, and excited to see the Samsung Galaxy S III in action." Visa payWave for mobile allows users to simply select the Visa icon on their mobile device and hold the phone to a contactless payment terminal to pay. Purchases above £20 require a passcode. The application also allows customers to check their transaction history and view their account balance. |
| Evernote updates Mac and iOS apps, makes it harder to forget those chores Posted: 09 May 2012 05:34 AM PDT
Evernote provides many a forgetful soul with a much-needed digital crutch, and the less-forgetful minds behind it have just dished out a couple of updates. Mac users get a new "Card View," which replaces the thumbnail view (with cards, instead of thumbs obviously) and offers up more info at a glance, with some options to customize the view. For those that are a little more lengthy with their prose, the introduction of word- and character-count for each note may also be a welcome addition, as well as a few other minor functional tweaks. If your Apple is a little smaller, then you might notice a few updates also. The Note Editor in the iOS version has had a redesign, with easy access to attachment options and text styling. Again, there are other small improvements too, such as simplified checkboxes for when adding things like "click on the source link to get more info." |
| Kingston Wi-Drive update opens access to web, Android aficionados Posted: 09 May 2012 05:12 AM PDT
Those of us who've been eying the Kingston Wi-Drive but have been disappointed with the iOS-first emphasis can rejoice, as a new firmware update is expanding access in a big way. At a minimum, anyone with a web browser can now stream music, photos and videos to their heart's content once they're linked to the drive over WiFi. And if you'd rather use a native app, any Android 2.2 or later device is now an option instead of having to turn to one of Apple's gadgets or the Amazon Kindle Fire. Future Wi-Drives should have the firmware loaded from the get-go. The apps as always remain free, although you'll need to spend a minimum of $50 to join the club with a drive of your own. |
| RIM patents trapezoidal BlackBerry keyboards for slanty-thumbed texters Posted: 09 May 2012 04:46 AM PDT
RIM is utterly devoted to the physical keyboard, but how do you deal with sausage-fingered emailers who can't pick out individual keys? Thanks to this newly-granted 2009 patent, the company has the solution -- a trapezoidal keyboard designed to offer easier access of type-weary thumbs and wider keys for better accuracy. We hope that in a windowless office in Waterloo, some engineer will combine elements from all this patenting activity and come up with the next generation of mobile telephone. |
| Flipboard for Android 'liberated' from Galaxy S III demo unit, available for all Posted: 09 May 2012 04:12 AM PDT
For many, one of the biggest causes of jealousy after the Samsung Galaxy S III launch event wasn't that 4.8-inch screen, or the new Exynos innards, it was that beautiful looking Android version of Flipboard. Alas, the Korean mobile giant had enough cunning to secure the popular glossy social network and feed reader all for itself -- for the time being. That is, unless, you're a naughty little xda-developer visitor, perhaps called Valcho, who had the foresight / lack of restraint at the event to nab the .apk from one of the demo phones. He's made it available for all and sundry (well, those with Android phones at least). If you want to see how it looks on your phone, point it at the source link, or be a good spirit, and wait for the official outing. |
| National Geographic TOPO! maps find their way to Magellan eXplorist GPS devices Posted: 09 May 2012 04:10 AM PDT
If you're more about the mountainous views, than Mountain View, then you might be pleased to hear that Magellan is bringing National Geographic's TOPO! maps to its eXplorist range of outdoor GPS devices. More specifically the 310, 510, 610 and 710 models. If you like the sound of the full color USGS topographic maps, then they are available on a subscription basis for $30 a year. If you don't already own a Magellan device, however, then you might be more interested in one of the forthcoming TOPO! bundles, if you can find your way to a retailer that is. Magellan Adds Best-in-Class National Geographic Topographic Maps for its eXplorist GPS Devices SANTA CLARA, CA – May 8, 2012 – Magellan, a leader of innovative GPS devices for vehicles, outdoor and mobile navigation, today announced the availability of National Geographic's TOPO!, the most detailed outdoor recreation topographic maps of the U.S., for its Magellan® eXplorist® 310, 510, 610 and 710 GPS devices. The combination of Magellan's eXplorist handheld GPS devices and TOPO! provides consumers with a best-in-class navigation experience to enhance their favorite outdoor adventures. "By partnering with top-of-the-line content providers such as National Geographic, Magellan continues its commitment to give the outdoorsman a premier experience with a powerful combination of innovative GPS navigation devices and valuable content to enjoy their outdoor activities," said Warren Hewerdine , Sr. Director of Marketing for Magellan. "Magellan's rugged, waterproof eXplorist devices provide an ideal platform for outdoor users to take advantage of National Geographic's world-class TOPO! navigational content." Users who download TOPO! to their Magellan eXplorist GPS can quickly plan trips or browse through maps to locate interesting destinations and then easily visualize or 'map out' the best routes for their next hiking, hunting, and other adventures. National Geographic's TOPO! includes authentic, full-color USGS topographic maps, scanned at high resolution and seamlessly tiled together. This unique process creates the highest detail and best image quality possible, essential for top-quality navigation and outdoor safety. Adding TOPO! to Magellan's eXplorist GPS devices provides map detail levels including USGS 1:100,000-scale topographic, ideal for planning and visualizing long trips, and USGS 1:24,000-scale topographic for fine detailed terrain maps. These solutions are ideal for detailed wilderness navigation ranging by locating ridge lines and ravines as well as for finding national and state parks and other destinations in the U.S. Users can also view a unique collection of road and trail data that shows a complete network of back roads and trails on a national scale. Users of Magellan's eXplorist 310, 510, 610 and 710 handheld GPS devices can now download National Geographic's TOPO! outdoor recreation maps for the continental U.S. at www.MagellanGPS.com/maps for an annual subscription price of $29.99. A free preview of the TOPO! maps is available by using Magellan's VantagePoint software application that allows you to manage your Magellan outdoor GPS experience. Special bundles of TOPO! with specified Magellan eXplorist GPS models will also be available from retail locations. The Magellan eXplorist series of rugged, waterproof, handheld GPS receivers are the ideal companion for any outdoor adventure such as hiking, backpacking, geocaching, hunting, fishing, mountain biking and riding ATVs. Each model provides innovative features, easy-to-use menus, sunlight-readable screens and long-lasting battery life. Designed for any skill level, the eXplorist 110 and 310 models are best-suited for basic outdoor navigation, and the 510, 610, and 710 models for the more advanced outdoorsman. |
| Transforming robot effortlessly turns into a car, faces tougher maneuver into retail (video) Posted: 09 May 2012 03:33 AM PDT
Still bothered by the lack of automated transforming in the official Transformers toys? Then you'll likely want to head straight to the video below to see your dream realized. While details are a bit light, the robot on display was apparently built by Kenji Ishida and JS Robotics, and is just the latest in a series of transforming bots that Ishida has been working on (version eight, to be specific). About the only other detail revealed is that it makes use of 22 servo motors to turn from a car into a surprisingly mobile humanoid robot and, as you might expect, there's no word on any eventual commercial availability.
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| The Engadget interview: Sprint product execs John Tudhope and David Owens at CTIA 2012 (video) Posted: 09 May 2012 03:02 AM PDT
We managed to catch not one, but two of Sprint's execs yesterday at CTIA Wireless 2012: Director of Product Marketing John Tudhope and VP of Product David Owens. While our discussion was centered primarily around the company's announcements at the show -- Sprint Guardian, HTC's EVO V 4G for Virgin Mobile and HTC's EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile -- we were able to ask a few questions about the state of Sprint's LTE deployment and the associated value proposition. Want to find out more? Take a look at our video interview. |
| Military deploys VR NeuroTracker game to train special ops forces (video) Posted: 09 May 2012 02:42 AM PDT
We've seen virtual reality used to simulate the experience of being in space, to train engineers and even to help patients regain mobility, so it's no surprise that the military is recognizing VR's potential, too. The US Special Operations Command recently announced that it will employ NeuroTracker -- a system currently used to train athletes in the NFL and NHL -- to assess and improve commandos' response times and perceptive capabilities. The VR setup tasks commandos with following the movements of four different balls projected on a 3D screen, the catch being that four "decoy" objects are also bouncing around. NeuroTracker assesses how well an individual can keep track of the designated targets, and also helps determine how he or she would be able to predict trajectories in the field. Once a user has completed the first game, several variations come into play, including a version that speeds up the balls' movements and one that pits two players against each other. CogniSens, the company behind NeuroTracker, says the game develops perceptive abilities just like a workout develops muscles; there's even a high-intensity gameplay option that combines the mental challenge with physical conditioning exercises. |
| First signs of Google's new 'semantic search' spotted, put to good use Posted: 09 May 2012 02:17 AM PDT
So, Google wasn't merry-dancing when it promised to update its search engine with new "semantic" algorithms. One of our readers sent in the screen grab above, which shows what happens when they search for "Howard Carter." In addition to all the regular links, there's a box on the right that seems to be distinctly aware of who that poor fellow was (er, happy birthday old bean). We haven't been able to replicate these results, which probably means it's a limited roll-out at this time. Nevertheless, if we're right, then this archaeologist's name will have wormed its way through Mountain View's constantly updated knowledge database, which we're told can link facts together rather than just match keywords. Carter's cause of death? Hmm, clearly the system still as a few things to learn about mummies and curses. |
| ADATA ships its Premier and Premier Pro SSDs to US, gives your laptop a dose of energy Posted: 09 May 2012 02:06 AM PDT
If you remember those Premier SP800 and Premier Pro SP900 solid-state drives that ADATA teased us with in February, you'll be glad to know that they've crossed the Pacific to reach the US and Canada. The two SSDs are meant to give a swift kick to the performance of laptops with regular-sized, 2.5-inch drive bays. Both use SandForce controllers, but are focused on very different areas: the Premier's SATA II interface, 280MB/s reads and 260MB/s writes suit it most to newcomers looking to escape the land of spinning hard drives, while the tangibly faster SATA III, 550MB/s reads and 520MB/s writes of the Premier Pro cater more to the speed junkie set. Tracking down the Premier's 32GB and 64GB flavors might be a challenge, based on our early checks, but we've already found the Premier Pro's 64GB, 128GB and 256GB varieties lurking on Newegg at pre-discount prices between $100 and $300. ADATA Announces SP900 and SP800 Series SSD Availability in the US and Canada City of Industry, California - May 8, 2012, ADATA™ Technology today announces the launch of a complete lineup of expanded capacity solid state drives. The new SSD range includes the Premier Pro SP900 and Premier SP800, both which use new optimized firmware to utilize greater storage capacity of the NAND Flash components. Premier Pro SP900 Boasting impressive performance numbers, the Premier Pro SP900 also offers a competitive price advantage. Maximum sequential read and write speeds are 550/520 MB per second, with maximum random 4k write speeds of 85,000 IOPS. Capacities of 64, 128 and 256 GB make the SP900 an outstanding option for upgrading notebooks that are compatible with the SATA 6Gb per second specification. Premier SP800 The Premier SP800 is a SATA II compliant SSD that also makes efficient use of the Flash storage capacity, allowing for capacities of 32GB and 64GB. Max sequential read and write speeds are 280/260MB per second, and max random 4k write speeds are up to 44,000 IOPS. It enters the market as a high value entry-level solid state drive for those who are just now making the transition from mechanical drives. The Premier Pro Series features high-quality and high-performance products at a competitive price point. ADATA's high value products in the Premier Series are designed for those looking for a balance between price and performance. |
| Brookstone fuel cell USB charger to keep phones powered for two weeks, Engadget editors happy Posted: 09 May 2012 01:41 AM PDT
If there's a pain that Engadget writers know all too well, it's running out of battery life for a smartphone when we need it most. Say, at a major trade show. That's why we're enthused to hear of an upcoming fuel cell USB charger that Lilliputian Systems is developing for Brookstone. The lighter fluid-filled tank should provide up to 14 full charges for your phone before you need to spend a few dollars to top up, or two weeks if you power up daily -- we'd call that about two CES' worth in our lingo. Better still, using a solid oxide membrane on silicon not only makes a long fuel cell runtime possible, longer than we've seen for methanol, but makes the phone-sized pack safe to carry on the airliners we ride entirely too often. Pricing has yet to be sorted out, but with Brookstone stores likely to start carrying the fuel cell before the end of the year, it should be ready just in time for our next big trip to Las Vegas. |
| Logitech Alert 750n adds wide-angle night vision for improved indoor snooping, we go hands-on Posted: 09 May 2012 01:00 AM PDT
Unable to sleep soundly because of the lingering fear that someone's rummaging around your living room? Logitech's newest surveillance gizmo, the 750n Indoor Master System, should ease your worries, since it adds 130-degree night vision and illuminates whatever's lurking in the darkness at a distance of up to 50 feet. Like Logitech's older products, such as the Alert Master, the 750n records video at 960 x 720p, and it uses the same HomePlug adapter for installation. If you're already feeding your paranoia with a Logitech Alert Master, you can upgrade to the night-vision capabilities with the 700n Indoor Add-On Camera. The products cost $300 and $230, respectively, and will be available before the end of the month, but you can join us after the break for our impressions.
The setup here is much the same as it was before. For $300 you get yourself the kit with a single camera and a pair of HomePlug powerline Ethernet adapters, which enable you to position your camera anywhere that you have power. The camera takes power and sends data through one of the adapters, while the second adapter sends that data to your network router of choice. Internally the camera has a 2GB microSD card to which it records, but by running the included software you can suck that footage down and archive nighttime prowler antics for posterity. Apple users aren't totally left out, as there are mobile apps for Android and iOS that enable the streaming of live footage from your cameras, and you can stream on the web as well. Pay an extra $79.95 a year to join the Mobile Commander club and you'll gain DVR-like functionality from afar, too. Again, none of this is significantly different than what was available before, it's just the IR night vision that's new, and it is quite effective. We installed a camera in a crawlspace, the darkest spot we could find, and it delivered crystal clear black and white footage of the murky darkness with the IR system enabled, as you can see in the slightly creepy photo above. (Just for kicks, we also captured a photo of what things look like with the IR system disabled.) If you weren't sold on the Alert system before chances are the minor update here won't push you over the fence. But, the addition of night vision does make these indoor cameras rather more effective than they previously were. Filming your own version of Paranormal Activity just got that much easier. NEWARK, Calif. - May 9, 2012 - Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: For expanded security coverage, Logitech also introduced the Logitech® Thanks to HomePlug® networking, installation for both the system and The Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System and the Logitech Alert "By bringing our night vision capabilities to indoor cameras with the Additionally, the system and add-on camera have motion-triggered Pricing and Availability The Logitech Alert 750n Indoor Master System and Logitech Alert 700n |
| Aperion unveils the ARIS wireless speaker, invites Windows devices to the wireless shindig for $499 Posted: 09 May 2012 12:38 AM PDT
Jealous of your iOS-wielding mates and their fancy AirPlay docks? If so, Aperion Audio is looking provide some relief. The outfit has revealed the ARIS, a wireless speaker that makes use of the Play To feature that resides within the Windows OS. You can expect WiFi or Ethernet connectivity via your home network at the push of a button, enabling the 100W RMS speaker to blast your tunes from across the room without creating a cable obstacle course. The kit is housed in a brushed aluminum enclosure that rests atop an adjustable / removable steel base and features three sounds modes for your listening pleasure: natural, bass boost and enhanced stereo. There's also an ARIS app that allows you to select music from any device on the network for playback on the speaker -- transforming your smartphone into a remote control of sorts. Should the need arise for wired streaming (via non-Windows devices, we'd surmise), an auxiliary jack resides on the speaker's backside. If you're looking to snag one, it'll set you back $499. Still interested? Take a gander at the gallery below before hitting the source link to pre-order yours to ship next month. Aperion Audio Introduces Hi-Fi via Wi-Fi for Windows Aperion ARIS™ Wireless Speaker for Windows lets music enthusiasts listen anywhere in their homes Redmond, WA - (May 8, 2012) – Aperion Audio, a direct-to-consumer maker of award-winning home theater speaker systems, today gives Microsoft employees a sneak preview of its newest wireless speaker. The Aperion ARIS lets digital music lovers listen to their tunes from any room in their home. They simply place the speaker where they want it and connect via wireless or Ethernet to their home network using the Windows 7 and/or Windows 8 Consumer Preview operating systems. Most people today store their music on a variety of digital devices, including desktops, laptops, notebook PCs, network storage drives, tablets and smartphones. These devices are usually on the home network, but users can listen to music only on a device that is physically plugged into a powered speaker or stereo system. The ARIS wireless speaker eliminates the need to move music files between devices or plug and unplug cables to hear specific tracks. Using the Windows 7 "Play To" feature, music lovers can send music from any device on the network to an ARIS speaker located where they want to listen. "The ARIS Wireless Speaker combines our experience in making wireless speaker systems with the media capabilities of the Windows operating system," says Mike Hopkins, Product Development Manager at Aperion Audio. "The result is effortless listening from any room. Plus, with the new ARIS app, smartphone users can choose music from any device on their network and instantly send it to any connected ARIS speaker." ARIS connects to a home network at the push of a button using Wi-Fi Protected Setup. The all-in-one ARIS speaker system includes six internal drivers and four amplifiers "We're excited to see the launch of a product that combines Aperion's experience in building high-quality wireless audio with the built-in music streaming capabilities in Windows," says Aidan Marcuss, Sr. Director, Windows Core Marketing and Ecosystem, Microsoft Corp. " The Aris products have earned the Compatible with Windows 7 logo, ensuring a seamless install experience." Key Features of the Aperion ARIS Connected Speaker for Windows: Pricing, Availability and Warranty: |
| Sony Xperia GX packs 13MP camera and 4.6-inch HD display, joined by Xperia SX to offer LTE in Japan Posted: 09 May 2012 12:24 AM PDT
Sony's announced its first two LTE-capable phones for its Japanese customers -- and there's two of 'em. The Xperia GX is up first, with a 720p 4.6-inch display squeezed in alongside a new 13-megapixel camera -- a first for Sony's mobile family, and presumably its new CMOS sensor. A 1.5 GHz dual-core processor ensures it should all tick along nicely, while the hardware design follows the curves of last year's Xperia Arc, this time with a matte finish. The camera upgrade and huge screen makes a good case for this to be Sony's new flagship device -- mere months since the Xperia S debuted in Europe -- and before the Xperia Ion has even had chance to launch in the US. It's joined by the Xperia SX, which Sony claims is the world's lightest LTE capable handset, weighing in at just under 100g. It packs a smaller 3.7-inch screen with the same Mobile Bravia engine found on its bigger brother -- and the rest of Sony's recent handsets. It's joined by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (although there's no specifics on what type just yet), a more standard 8-megapixel camera and it wouldn't be a Japanese phone without infrared connectivity, mobile wallet and a mobile TV -- they're all built-in. Both phones will launch in black and white, and Android fans can rest easy, as they'll both arrive with Android 4.0 installed when they hit stores in Japan this summer. [Thanks Thorzten] |
| Carl Icahn unloads his LightSquared debt, creditor talks trudge on Posted: 09 May 2012 12:11 AM PDT
Carl Icahn is no stranger in this field -- he's been caught tussling with Motorola and bidding Yahoo's board adieu in recent years -- and most recently, he's managed to get caught up in one of the bigger wireless whirlwinds this planet has ever seen. Just months after Icahn swooped in to buy some $250 million in company debt at around 40 cents on the dollar, he has managed to offload that very chunk for 60 cents on the dollar. Not surprisingly, his cash coffers are growing in turn, despite LightSquared's position as a whole looking only marginally less bleak. According to a Reuters report, creditors have agreed to another week-long extension (until May 14th) in order to talk things over with head honcho Philip Falcone. As of now, the startup has around $1.6 billion in debt, and while talks may delay the pain, we're still not getting the impression that the FCC (or anyone else, really) is warming to its propositions. Then again, maybe Facebook can just buy it in an act of charity prior to its IPO. |
| Razer Naga MMO mouse gets some work done, fresh for 2012 Posted: 08 May 2012 11:50 PM PDT
It's fair to say we admire the Razer Naga MMO 'round these parts -- as much for its thumb-thrashing controls, as for its democratic diplomacy. Now the original is back, and updated for 2012. What's new? Well, there's a redesigned anti-slip, fingerprint-fighting finish, three interchangeable side panels and a re-optimized button placement. It's all designed to stop your fevered swipes from landing your mouse on the other side of the LAN, and help fend off a dreaded bout of "Warfare-wrist". Reckon you deserve an upgrade? US and EU gamers can get their $80 dollar-laden hand on it now, and the rest of the realm later in Q2. THE RAZER NAGA HAS JUST LEVELLED UP! The award-winning Razer Naga MMO gaming mouse receives an update to its ergonomics. CARLSBAD, Calif. – 8th May, 2012 – Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, today announced the return of the award-winning Razer Naga MMO gaming mouse. It has been updated for a new generation of win with an anti-slip, anti-fingerprint matte finish and three interchangeable side panels for a more ergonomic gaming experience. It still retains its most important feature, a 12-button thumb grid built to deliver cataclysmic destruction on all enemies when you bind spells, items, and macros to the buttons for quick access. "When we released the Razer Naga three years ago, we knew its twelve-button thumb grid was an amazing, revolutionary interface that was going to change the way gamers enjoy MMO action," said Robert 'RazerGuy' Krakoff, President, Razer USA. "Three years on and the number of gamers armed with the Razer Naga continues to grow. We want to keep updating the Razer Naga with the best features, and keep arming gamers with the best MMO gaming mouse in the world." The Razer Naga has been enhanced to provide a more comfortable and ergonomic gaming experience. Its anti-slip, anti-fingerprint matte finish ensures you have the best grip over your very special gaming weapon no matter how intensively you swipe. The buttons over the top of the gaming mouse have also been repositioned for much easier actuation. Three interchangeable side panels have been provided to let you personally customize the shape of the Razer Naga to fit your hand and play-style. Whether you're a claw- or palm-grip, the Razer Naga has got you covered and gaming just the way you want to. For more information on the new Razer Naga, please visit www.razerzone.com/getimba About the Razer Naga MMO gaming mouse The best-selling MMO gaming mouse of all-time, the Razer Naga, is evolving to take the MMO games of the next generation head-on. Engineered for improved comfort and control, the all-new Razer Naga has a redesigned anti-slip, anti-fingerprint matte finish, re-optimized button placement, and three interchangeable side grips to suit your personal grip style. Price: $79.99 Availability: RazerStore – Available Now US & EU – Available Now Worldwide – Q2 2012 Features 17 MMO-optimized buttons (including 12-button thumb grid)
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| BlackBerry Curve 9320 now official: BB OS 7.1, 2.44-inch display, BBM button Posted: 08 May 2012 11:12 PM PDT
The 9320 has visited more countries during its short gestation than some phones get to see in their whole lives, but it's finally arrived. The specs are pretty much what we guessed, with the socially-focused BB OS 7.1 onboard, a 3.2-megapixel camera and typical Curve features like a 2.44-inch 320 x 240 non-touch LCD display, 'super charged' 1450mAh battery, FM radio and a small, lightweight 103 gram QWERTY form factor. Same specs, different day, but then there's also microSD expandability beyond the 512MB of eMMC, which can't be taken for granted, plus a new feature in the form of a dedicated BBM key on the side. As for the 9320's cheaper sibling, the 9220 shown above, we've already been hands-on at BlackBerry World and spotted that one of its main sacrifices is the camera: it's only 2-megapixels and there's no flash. That's all 11,000 rupees ($210) and a police escort gets you. Update: There's a potential treat for FCC watchers after the break -- because we think the Curve 9320 may have just received its wireless green card. Update: UK carriers have just announced their intentions. Three will offer the device from PAYG for £140 ($225) from May 14th, while T-Mobile will also have a 24-month contract option at £15.50 per month. RIM introduces the BlackBerry Curve 9320 - A Stylish, New Smartphone for the Socially-Connected Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced a stylish new smartphone for socially-connected customers. The new BlackBerry® Curve™ 9320 smartphone features all the core BlackBerry messaging and social-centric features that keep people connected, and it offers global 3G connectivity backed by long battery life to allow users to make the most of their day. "The new BlackBerry Curve 9320 is designed to make it incredibly easy for users to stay socially-connected," said Carlo Chiarello, EVP, Smartphone Business at Research In Motion. "The new BlackBerry Curve 9320 will be especially popular with customers upgrading to a smartphone for the first time and existing Curve customers looking for a step up in speed and functionality." The BlackBerry Curve 9320 has everything a customer needs to stay in touch with the people and things that matter most to them. It features a dedicated BBM™ key, bringing the power of RIM's popular mobile social network up in an instant, as well as the best keyboard in its class for quick and easy typing. It includes a built-in FM radio, allowing users to tune into their favorite local stations, and listening to the FM radio does not require a data plan or use data services. Designed to allow both 3G connectivity and long battery life, customers can get up to 7 hours of talk time or up to 30 hours of FM radio listening or music playback with headphones. Customers can easily interact with their social network in real time, using preloaded apps for Facebook® and Twitter®. The new Social Feeds 2.0 app is also preloaded, allowing users to post updates to multiple social networks simultaneously and capture updates from news sources (RSS), social apps and instant messaging apps all in one consolidated view. The integrated camera includes a flash and supports video recording, and pictures can be tagged with their location thanks to the smartphone's built-in GPS. The BlackBerry Curve 9320 comes with the new BlackBerry® 7.1 OS, which supports features such as Mobile Hotspot and Wi-Fi® calling where available.* Parental Controls is a brand new, on-device feature that provides parents and guardians with simple options to help protect children by restricting access to specific functions, features and applications. Pricing and availability of the BlackBerry Curve 9320 will be announced in conjunction with RIM's distribution partners. For more information please visit: http://worldwide.blackberry.com/blackberrycurve/9220-9320 * Please check with your carrier for availability. |
| Sub-$1500 Kingmax 1TB SSD spotted in Japan Posted: 08 May 2012 10:51 PM PDT
Terabytes. We all want them -- especially if they're served solid-state. But if you're not quite ready to pony up for OCZ's Octane SSD 1TB model, you might want to take a trip to Japan. KingMax's SMU25 Client Pro 1TB SSD has been spotted for 119,000 yen (roughly $1,490), shaving a good chunk off the price of its OCZ rival, although there is a trade-off. The Kingmax drive doesn't quite catch up to the Octane performance-wise, with 250MB/s read speeds bested by 460MB/s on the pricier drive and 200 MB/s write speeds trumped by 330MB/s on OCZ's model. According to Bit-tech, there's no plans for the drive to leave the Land of the Rising Sun for US just yet, although the Taiwanese manufacturer is already doing business in other parts of Asia so you might just get lucky if you shop around. Its full spec list is housed at source below. |
| Carrier IQ hires former Verizon privacy counsel Magnolia Mobley as Chief Privacy Officer Posted: 08 May 2012 10:39 PM PDT
Carrier IQ Appoints Former Verizon Lead Privacy Counsel Magnolia Mobley |
| New iPad to hit 30 more countries this weekend, work on its tan Posted: 08 May 2012 10:26 PM PDT
The corners of the Earth that don't have a new iPad have been quickly shrinking, and Apple's tablet is about to get nigh-on inescapable as of this weekend. A round of 23 more countries is getting the 2012 refresh on May 11, most of it being South American countries such as Foxconn's new manufacturing hub, Brazil. Parts of Africa and southeast Asia will be served as well, such as the home of our favorite unofficial hands-on sessions, Vietnam. Seven Persian Gulf countries will get their Retina Display fix one day later. By the time the weekend is up, the iPad will be available in nearly 90 countries on this planet, which makes it highly likely that anyone reading this article can find the slate in a local retail store. |
| Microsoft puts a price on carbon, says its footprint will be neutral by July Posted: 08 May 2012 10:14 PM PDT
We've seen quite a few tech companies boast about their environmental efforts in recent years, and it looks like you can now also add Microsoft to the list of those attempting to be carbon neutral. As you might expect, while that includes some alternative energy efforts and energy-saving measures, it also makes use of a carbon offset program to make up the difference, which will see Microsoft put money into an internal fund for emissions it's not able to offset through other means. That means Microsoft will be able to declare itself carbon neutral fairly soon -- by the start of the 2013 fiscal year, to be specific, which actually begins this July. You can find additional details on the initiative in the company's blog post on the subject, and yet more in the white paper linked below. |
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