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Engadget News |
- $74 MK802 PC-on-a-stick beats Cotton Candy to market, has ICS on board
- Microsoft encourages students to buy a PC, gives them a free Xbox 360 in return
- The Engadget Show is live tonight!
- ZTE confirms the Score M has a backdoor, hopes to patch up soon
- Google patent application could give Project Glass one true ring controller to rule them all
- Engadget Podcast 294 - 05.18.2012
- Crystal White PS Vita landing in Hong Kong June 28th, overpriced import shops two days later
- Space X's Dragon launch... is go!
- HTC Desire C hands-on (video)
- Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent
- Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE
- K-Touch joins China Mobile with Marvell-powered T660, waves a $160 price tag
- Insert Coin: Chameleon adaptive home screen replacement for Android tablets
- Dolby ups TrueHD lossless audio on Blu-ray to 96k, says every upsampled bit is amazing (video)
- iRig Mix ships to iDevice-carrying DJs, Android app compatibility looks unlikely
- Thefuture.fm launches iPhone app for discovering DJ mixtapes, hopes to steal Spotify's thunder
- Toshiba strains metaphors, carries its laptop range over the Ivy Bridge
- LG LS970 'superphone' shows up again, flaunts its removable battery and NFC chip
- Midtronics GRX-5100 simplifies servicing hybrid and EV batteries
- Samsung pushes graphene one step closer to silicon supremecy
- Water-damaged Fujifilm X100 torn apart for fun and education (but mostly fun)
- Sony helps you 'personalize' your Xperia further, announces case maker partnerships
- Silicon Micro Display rolls out $799 ST1080 wearable display
- Callaway upro mx+ will show you a real view of the golf course, won't give you a mulligan
- Liquidware debuts Amber, a customizable Android development tablet
- MaKey, MaKey turns the whole world into a keyboard
- Sony opens up PSN to digital download pre-orders
- RIM and Motorola modify nano-SIM proposal, hope to meet Apple halfway
- Samsung's Galaxy S III reportedly notches nine million pre-orders worldwide
- Doodle 4 Google winner cashes in with 'Pirate Times' drawing, finds a Chromebook in the treasure chest
- Dell Precision R5500 lets four graphics pros work on one PC, we wish it did gaming
- Nike and Tom Sachs reach for the stars, create NikeCraft sportswear with space-grade materials
- LG Optimus 4X HD stops in at the FCC, flaunts AT&T bands, global support
- Acer outs Ivy Bridge-packing TravelMate P243 notebook series in the UK
- Intel wants to have conflict-free processors by the end of 2013
- Eight floppy drives recreate the theme from Game of Thrones, stake claim to the seven Kingdoms
- iHome iP76 LED color-changing speaker indulges your love for pretty colors
- VIA unveils fanless, Eden X2-packing AMOS-3002, promises tiny dual-core PC in your car
- RIM patent application shines a light on unseen filth, might make forensics mobile
- Best Buy expects EVO 4G LTE to land May 23rd, HTC remains cautious
| $74 MK802 PC-on-a-stick beats Cotton Candy to market, has ICS on board Posted: 18 May 2012 11:02 AM PDT
Unless you're lucky enough to live in Scandinavia, you'll have to wait till the end of summer to get your Cotton Candy fix. Aching to nab yourself a computer-on-a-stick before then? If you're willing to step down in specs, the Chinese-made MK802 could be the PC in your pocket. For $74 (versus $199 for the Cotton Candy), this 7-ounce device gives you a 1.5-GHz Allwinner A10 CPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and, like the Cotton Candy, Android 4.0. FXI's version, on the other hand, packs a dual-core 1.2-GHz Samsung Exynos processor, and while the MK802 offers an HDMI port, the Cotton Candy includes an HDMI connector. The MK802 is slightly bulkier than its sweetly named competitor (3.5 inches vs. 3.1), but that Android logo on the front does wonders for its design cred. AliExpress.com is currently selling the MK802 with free shipping to the US -- click the source link for a gander. |
| Microsoft encourages students to buy a PC, gives them a free Xbox 360 in return Posted: 18 May 2012 10:31 AM PDT
Students. PCs. Free Xbox 360. The Redmond team's at it yet again. Similar to last year's deal, Microsoft's hooking students up with a 4GB Xbox 360 if they drop some cash on one of its Windows machines. It's simple: shell out over $699 on a PC, or $599 if you're in Canada, and you'll be walking out with a shiny new console free of charge -- naturally, you'll have to do so at participating shops such as Best Buy, Fry's, Newegg, Staples, The Source and, of course, Microsoft's own stores. The promo is set to kick off here in the States on May 20th, while those living in the True North can take advantage of it starting today. And before you ask -- yes, you will need to show your scholar credentials to get in on the bargain. |
| The Engadget Show is live tonight! Posted: 18 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT
Hey, we're back! And boy howdy do we have a fun show for you this month. You guys like video games, right? Great, because we'll be speaking with the directors of the award winning documentary, Indie Game: The Movie. We've also paid a visit to the Smithsonian to check out the museum's Art of the Video Game exhibit and took a look the insanely awesome Fifth Avenue Frogger arcade machine hack. We've also got a look at the newly reborn Chinatown Fair arcade in Manhattan and the month's latest and greatest gadgets -- not to mention an in-studio performance by indie singer-songwriter Alex Winston. Want to join in on the fun? Of course you do. We'll be getting this streaming party started at 6PM ET, and you can watch us live at this here URL. See you tonight! |
| ZTE confirms the Score M has a backdoor, hopes to patch up soon Posted: 18 May 2012 09:29 AM PDT
Who knew that owning a ZTE Score M would mean living life on the edge? ZTE has confirmed that the MetroPCS phone has a backdoor vulnerability which could let a less-than-scrupulous hacker get root-level control over the Android 2.3 phone -- and because it's a unique app baked into the firmware, the login credentials won't change as long as the exploit survives. Other ZTE phones, like the Skate, supposedly face the same hole as well. The company says it should have a patch ready to push over the air in the "very near future," but it hasn't said why the app existed in the first place. Either way, if you currently pocket the Score M or one of ZTE's other recent Android devices, we'd keep watch for any suspicious goings-on until a fix is in place. |
| Google patent application could give Project Glass one true ring controller to rule them all Posted: 18 May 2012 09:03 AM PDT
Let's face it: right now, the head nods and other rudimentary controls of Google's Project Glass are mostly useful for looking good, sharing photos and not much else. A US patent application submitted last September and just now published, however, raises the possibility of more sophisticated control coming from your hands. A ring, a bracelet or a even a fake fingernail with an infrared-reflective layer would serve as a gesture control marker for a receiver on heads-up display glasses. Having this extra control would give the glasses-mounted computing room to grow by learning gestures, and it could even depend on multiple ornaments for more sophisticated commands -- at least, if you don't mind looking like a very nerdy Liberace. We can imagine the headaches a hand-based method might cause for very enthusiastic talkers, among other possible hiccups, so don't be surprised if Project Glass goes without any kind of ring input. That said, we suspect that Sauron would approve. |
| Engadget Podcast 294 - 05.18.2012 Posted: 18 May 2012 08:35 AM PDT  As much as you may Like overanalysis of the initial public offering of a Friendster ripoff valued higher than General Motors, other stuff happened this week. Tim and Brian share their Tech Timelines with you in this, The Engadget Podcast. Feel free to leave us a testimonial in the comments below. Above all, thanks for the add! Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater 09:30 - Facebook, Facebook, Facebook! 20:05 - HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE delayed at customs due to ITC exclusion order (updated) 25:00 - Google launches Knowledge Graph today, wants to understand real things (video) 30:00 - Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review 34:23 - MacBook Pro and iMac with next-gen Ivy Bridge processors crop up on benchmarks (update) 37:49 - WSJ: Apple moving towards larger iPhone screens 41:17 - Verizon CFO says grandfathered unlimited plans on the way out 48:55 - Kaspersky exec calls Mac OS 'really vulnerable' (update: clarification from Kaspersky) 57:00 - Listener questions Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace.
Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens. Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Twitter: @bheater, @tim_stevens This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Crystal White PS Vita landing in Hong Kong June 28th, overpriced import shops two days later Posted: 18 May 2012 08:07 AM PDT
It was bound to happen eventually, every other gadget does it. After debuting in a serious black sheen, the PS Vita is now getting a stylish white shell as well. Sadly, the shiny new pale version will only be available in Hong Kong at first, starting June 28th. There's no price premium for grabbing the lighter shade of handheld, though, if you want the matching white accessory pack, you'll have to pre-order. On the plus side, if you pledge now, they'll toss in the Trooper Pack, Armor Game case, 4GB memory card and (perhaps most importantly) a lint free cloth for free. Check out the PR after the break. Hong Kong, 18th May 2012 - Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong (SCEH) announced today that a new "Crystal White" colour will be available for the portable entertainment system PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) 3G/Wi-Fi model (PCH-1106ZA02) and Wi-Fi model (PCH-1106ZA02) at a suggested retail price of HK$2,780 and HK$2,280 respectively on 28th June, 2012. |
| Space X's Dragon launch... is go! Posted: 18 May 2012 07:39 AM PDT
We're crossing our fingers and toes so hard we can barely type and walk, since it looks like the oft-delayed Dragon launch will take place tomorrow. SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed that the company had passed final launch review with NASA and that everything was set for the Falcon 9 to lift off at 4:15AM ET on May 19th. The lift-off will be broadcast live from the official website and is on course to be the first private spaceflight to dock and deliver essential supplies to the International Space Station. For our part? We wish the craft (and the ground crew) all the best and hope it's a perfect flight -- we wanna stay in a space hotel sooner rather than later. |
| Posted: 18 May 2012 07:06 AM PDT
HTC gave us a quick session to play around with its latest handset, the Desire C. No, it's not part of the consolidated One series, nor is the company revealing precisely what that "C" stands for -- heaven forfend it's "cheap." While a humble 320 x 480 touchscreen and 600MHz processor might not set many smartphone obsessives' hearts a' racing, it still manages to eke out a HTC Sense-skinned Android 4.0 UI -- no mere feat, in our opinion. A 5-megapixel camera and expandable microSD slot are some other welcome specifications and it's all wrapped up in an attractive matte finish -- you can take your pick form black and white in the UK. Catch our quick video run-through of the sub-$300 handset right after the break.
(We mention in the video that the phone's running on a 6Mhz processor -- which is clearly madness. Just to reiterate, the Desire C runs on a 600MHz single-core processor. |
| Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent Posted: 18 May 2012 06:41 AM PDT
Out friends at Plex have shuttled out a new Local Media Agent that'll enable you to make your TV shows look great. The updated software lets you add show and season posters, banners, background art, theme music and individual episode thumbnails to your recorded shows to make each one really, really good-looking. It'll happily handle PNG and FLAC files for those lossless enthusiasts and it'll even overlook a messy file structure to get everything looking great. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to catalog our Community episodes with thumbnails of Dean Pelton's outfits. |
| Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE Posted: 18 May 2012 06:15 AM PDT
It's the most wonderful time of the week once again, pals. Like most seven-day periods, this one comes to a close with the latest issue of our e-magazine for your gadget reading pleasure. Front and center this time around, our own Darren Murph pays a visit to the South Carolina HQ of accessory maker Twelve South to chat about making a big splash while staying small. On the review side of things, we take a gander at the TiVo Premiere XL4 and the HTC EVO 4G LTE to see how they stack up and we go hands-on with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and Sounder's iOS app. Reaction Time makes an appearance too -- taking a long look at Max Payne 3 while listing this week's must-have game releases. The usual suspects fall in line as well, as you might expect. Switched On discusses RIM and Nokia, IRL sneaks a look in at our gear collections, former Doctor Who script editor Christopher H. Bidmead pauses for the Q&A and Dustin Harbin has the Last Word on what killed dinosaurs. Go ahead. Grab the device of your choice and hit the appropriate download link to grab a copy of this week's e-publication. Distro Issue 41 PDF This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| K-Touch joins China Mobile with Marvell-powered T660, waves a $160 price tag Posted: 18 May 2012 05:42 AM PDT
Last we heard, Chinese manufacturer K-Touch was quite busy showing off its Treasure V8 at this year's Mobile World Congress. Now, the company's taken the wraps off of its budget-friendly, TD-SCDMA T660 smartphone, marking its first intelligent handset on China Mobile. The device itself features a 4-inch, IPS display alongside a 5-megapixel rear shooter and a 1GHz, Marvell PXA920H CPU (the same one found on the ZTE U880E and Lenovo A668T). Specs aside, however, this is K-Touch's first crack at the TD-SCDMA market and it's doing so on the cheap, pricing the Gingerbread-loaded T660 at a mere 1,000 RMB (around $160) without any contracts attached. Not a bad way to kick things off, right? Marvell Powers China's Tier 1 Mobile OEM K-Touch's First Smartphone for China Mobile K-Touch's first TD-SCDMA smartphone, T660, is powered by Marvell's industry leading single-chip PXA920H SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell (Nasdaq: MRVL) today announced the entrance of China's Tier 1 mobile OEM, K-Touch, into the Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) smartphone market. The new K-Touch T660 is equipped with a large 4-inch screen that delivers superior performance at the 1,000 RMB price point. The T660, which features the Marvell® PXA920H single-chip communications processor, will be available on China Mobile, the country's largest carrier with more than 650 million subscribers. "I'm very excited to see a tier-1 OEM, such as K-Touch, join the growing family of global OEMs providing TD-SCDMA solutions in China. I believe this represents the transition of feature phones to smartphones for the mass market," said Weili Dai, Co-founder of Marvell. "The rapid growth of partners across the entire TD-SCDMA ecosystem provides a strong foundation for continued growth in the largest consumer market for years to come. We are proud of our work with K-Touch and are excited to continue our collaboration on next-generation smartphones for the China market." "Marvell was the natural choice for K-Touch when we decided to enter the TD smartphone market, as it has demonstrated unparalleled leadership in the industry," said Xiuli Rong, Chairwoman of K-Touch. "The breadth of Marvell technology portfolio provides all the necessary building blocks for us to transition from a leading feature phone OEM to providing low-cost smartphones for the mass market." The K-Touch T660, the first K-Touch device available to China Mobile subscribers, features Marvell's 1GHz PXA920H communication processor, a highly integrated 3G platform with TD-SCDMA and GSM/EDGE support, designed for multimedia-centric mobile devices. Product Highlights Marvell PXA920H 1GHz CPU communications platform About Marvell Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is a world leader in the development of storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions. Marvell's diverse product portfolio includes switching, transceiver, communications controller, wireless and storage solutions that power the entire communications infrastructure, including enterprise, metro, home and storage networking. As used in this release, the term "Marvell" refers to Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit Marvell.com. About K-Touch K-Touch has been continuously dedicating on advanced mobile technology and exploring the most up to date communication technology business model in the past ten years. We are committed to provide the best possible platform that helps people get connected and to improve user experience. The prospective thinking, advanced technologies, and innovative business strategy have become the most and only driving passion for K-Touch. With long-term accumulated experience in hardware integration, K-Touch has grown into an all-around company, which demonstrates strong competence in difference aspects, including OS development, main board design, industrial design, mechanical design, software/hardware design, and mobile device testing. We have more than 1000 top experts from around the world dedicated to R&D who devote their times and efforts in our state of the art lab facilities. Marvell and the M logo are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its affiliates. Avastar is a trademark of Marvell and/or its affiliates. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. |
| Insert Coin: Chameleon adaptive home screen replacement for Android tablets Posted: 18 May 2012 05:15 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. If you're an Android tablet owner, you're likely very familiar with the drill: after you unlock the device, you're presented with a static home screen full of apps and widgets, which may or may not be relevant to your current need. The creators of Chameleon, a home screen replacement for Android 3.2 / 4.0 tablets, would like to change all that with a dynamic environment that'll adapt to your current GPS location, WiFi network or the time of day. Users may design and customize their ideal layouts, which may include news and social feeds in the morning, a calendar and tasks for the work environment and an assortment of entertainment options for the evening at home. Switching between these layouts isn't a problem, either, as you'll be able to flick between home screens just as you would with the standard Android interface. Like a good rug, the interface is attractive and really pulls everything together. Chameleon is currently a Kickstarter project, and its creators intend to unleash the creation into the Google Play Store this September. Those who donate $5 or more can expect early delivery of the app, which is currently slated for August. It never hurts to be early in line, and Chameleon might just rekindle your love for Android tablets. For a quick peek of what's in store, check the video after the break.
Previous project update: It's only been a day since we revealed the Troller 1D to the world, which currently has seven backers and has raised $243. Fortunately, 29 days remain to help the project reach its $2,600 goal. |
| Dolby ups TrueHD lossless audio on Blu-ray to 96k, says every upsampled bit is amazing (video) Posted: 18 May 2012 04:51 AM PDT
Just because your home theater can handle lossless audio doesn't mean the sound is as good as it could be. Dolby is now giving Blu-ray producers using Dolby Media Producer Encoder v2 the choice of premastering TrueHD surround sound at an upsampled 96k. Along with just squeezing the most possible clarity and depth out of 48kHz audio, the encoding purportedly eliminates some of the harshness of digital sound through an apodizing (signal altering) filter. At least three projects have already been given the 96k treatment, and authoring firms like Technicolor have upgrades in place to give that noticeable boost to your next Blu-ray movie. Dolby Elevates the Quality of Lossless Audio on Blu-ray Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling integrated into Dolby Media Producer delivers enhanced studio-quality surround sound SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) today announced the ability for studios, authoring houses, and mastering facilities to unlock the full sonic potential of television, movie, and music content, further elevating playback performance of lossless audio on Blu-ray Disc™. Blu-ray Discs premastered using Dolby® TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling can now deliver to consumers a full-range high-definition surround sound experience ensuring optimum performance from today's advanced A/V receivers and Blu-ray Disc players. The new Dolby TrueHD coding solution enables facilities to integrate the benefits of 96 kHz playback quality audio into the final master while simultaneously reducing the incidence of digital artifacts introduced during the content-creation process. "Lossless audio is a key distinguishing feature of Blu-ray content. All things being equal, you cannot improve on the quality of lossless audio coding; however, you can improve on the quality of the source PCM content prior to lossless encoding, and this is precisely what we have achieved with our advanced 96k upsampling technology," said Craig Eggers, Director, Content Creation and Playback, Home Theater Ecosystem, Dolby Laboratories. "A significant amount of Hollywood content has been captured in native 48 kHz. Studios and authoring facilities that implement Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling can elevate the quality of PCM audio prior to lossless Dolby TrueHD encoding, ensuring that consumers get the very best audio performance possible from their Blu-ray playback systems." Besides enabling optimum 96k upsampling, this technology features a unique apodizing filter that "masks" the unwanted digital artifacts known as "preringing," which is introduced during the content-capture and content-creation process. These digital artifacts can introduce an unnatural edginess or harshness to the audio. Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling restores the natural tonality of the soundtrack. The effect can be subtle or dramatic, depending on the quality of the source material. Content mastered with Dolby TrueHD with advanced upsampling is fully playback compatible with all Dolby TrueHD enabled Blu-ray™ players and A/V receivers. Listeners are assured the highest-quality playback experiences possible through their systems. Respected authoring houses and mixing facilities worldwide have recently upgraded to Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling within the Dolby Media Producer Encoder v2 to provide customers with the highest-quality audio experience available on Blu-ray. These facilities include United States-based Deluxe Digital Studios, Giant Interactive, Mi Casa Multimedia, POP Sound, and Technicolor®; and leading Greater China-based companies Best & Original Production Limited, Hualu Publishing & Media Co., Ltd., and Media Asia Films. "Deluxe Digital Studios recently installed Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling after we conducted a blind test, and everyone agreed the upsampled stream was better than the original," said Roger Fiets, Technical Manager, DVD and Blu-ray Audio, Deluxe Digital Studios. "With the advanced 96k upsampling treatment, the sound was clearer and is especially advantageous for titles that have levels ranging close to 0dBFS, delivering less fatigue for the listener." "We were particularly impressed with the excellent results of Dolby's new Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling on one of our most recent projects, the San Francisco Symphony at 100 Blu-ray," said Luke Fazzary, Director of Operations, Giant Interactive. "We're very pleased to be able to share the benefits of this technology with our clients and plan to use it on future projects, whether concerts, live-action films, or episodic programming." "One of the best features in Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling is the apodizing filter, which makes remarkable improvement in the articulation in high-frequency attacks while simultaneously cleaning up midrange mush," said Brant Biles, President and Chief Engineer, Mi Casa Multimedia. "Upsampling with the apodizing filter on any program information, whether it is music, dialogue, or effects, delicately unveils the sound and adds an extra dimension of depth and clarity. Job well done, Dolby!" "I am very impressed with Dolby TrueHD advanced 96k upsampling as it definitely makes a difference with some of the transient elements of the audio mix," said Tim Hoogenakker, Senior Mixer, POP Sound. "For example, when I used the advanced 96k upsampling on a portion of a film that I mixed recently, I noticed the cannon shots had a sharp transient quality that blended well with the loud crack and thump of the cannon fire that provided much more depth at 96k." "As a pioneer on the premastering of Blu-ray Disc in Greater China, Best & Original constantly seeks for innovative technologies that help us better maintain the artistic intent of the content and bring the home theater viewing experience to a higher level," said Michael Lau, Production Director, Best & Original Production Limited. "Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling definitely is one of the best from this perspective, and we are delighted to be the one of the first production houses in the region to use this solution with the latest Chinese blockbuster Blu-ray release, The Flowers of War." "As one of the top studios in the region, Media Asia's mission is to offer the best possible entertainment experience for people in the cinema and at home. The capability of Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling delivers superior audio that fulfills our needs," said Ricky Tse, General Manager, Sales & Distribution, Media Asia Films. "We are planning to use Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling in the Blu-ray version of a series of movies set to be released in this calendar year." Dolby plays a critical role in ensuring that the artistic intent of the audio mix is maintained through the entertainment ecosystem, from the soundstage into the home theater. Dolby TrueHD delivers powerful sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the original studio master, unlocking the full entertainment value of Blu-ray Disc and other HD media. The advanced 96k upsampling raises the bar for playback of movies, television, and concert films mastered for Blu-ray Disc. Beyond the Greater China release of The Flowers of War, Blu-ray Disc titles including the Joe Satriani concert film, Satchurated: Live in Montreal, and San Francisco Symphony at 100 have been premastered using Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling. To learn more about the use of Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling used in the San Francisco Symphony at 100 Blu-ray Disc release, visit https://vimeo.com/42325868. Hear director and producer François Lamoureux and drummer Jeff Campitelli give insight into the making of the Joe Satriani concert film Satchurated: Live in Montreal now available in Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling, http://vimeo.com/42316824. Studio staff and others interested in learning more about Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k upsampling can read the following PDF white papers: Dolby TrueHD Encoder with Advanced 96k Upsampling and Elevating the Performance of Lossless Audio in the Home Theater: Dolby TrueHD with Advanced 96k Upsampling. |
| iRig Mix ships to iDevice-carrying DJs, Android app compatibility looks unlikely Posted: 18 May 2012 04:25 AM PDT
If virtual DJs aren't your thing, you might be pleased to hear that the iRig Mix mobile music mixer is now shipping. You can forgo hefty price tags and still mix your own tunes for $99.99 with up to two iDevices at a time, audio from guitars, MP3 players, CD players and the like. In addition to physical controls for volume, gain, treble and bass, the mixer is accompanied by a roster of free apps to help with production, performing and recording. For Android fans wondering where their own version of these apps are, IK Multimedia thinks the Android audio engine has too much latency (check the comments section) to handle its real-time processing, but consoles you with the fact that the hardware is compatible with most devices. Hit the jump for the press release. Wiki wiki, y'all. IK Multimedia iRig MIX Now Shipping May 2012 – IK Multimedia is proud to announce that iRig™ MIX, the first ultra-compact DJ and audio mixer for the iPad, iPhone, and the iPod touch is now shipping. When used with an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, IK's included* DJ Rig FREE app and other DJ apps, it is a complete, highly portable DJ system for practicing, rehearsing, performing and recording. With its unique miniaturized form factor and exclusive features, designed to be used with the entire range of portable iOS devices, iRig MIX brings a new meaning to the concept of mobile DJ-ing. A DJ Mixer This flexibility, combined with iRig MIX's portability gives aspiring and pro DJs a compact system that can be used everywhere... anytime. House parties or in the yard, after-parties, and impromptu dances are perfect environments for the iRig MIX. Planes, trains and automobiles used to mean that your DJ gear was inaccessible and unusable. Now, no matter where you are or where you are going, you can mix and rehearse sets. Plus - for the first time on any mixer - iRig MIX can be used for mixing any type of audio source (coming from mp3 players, CD players, etc.) with an iOS device using automatic tempo matching and beat syncing. This is accomplished with X-Sync, a feature that works in combination with the DJ Rig FREE app from IK Multimedia that is included* with iRig MIX. Maximum Portability Not just for DJs 4 included apps iRig MIX includes* 4 free apps: DJ Rig™, the new professional DJ mixing app from IK, AmpliTube, the most popular iOS guitar amp and effects app, VocaLive the processing app for singers and vocalists, and GrooveMaker®, the loop-based beat and groove making app. iRig MIX features Pricing and availability iRig MIX costs $99.99/€74.99 (excluding taxes) and is available from electronic and music retailers around the world. |
| Thefuture.fm launches iPhone app for discovering DJ mixtapes, hopes to steal Spotify's thunder Posted: 18 May 2012 03:54 AM PDT
Internet radio purveyors from Spotify to Rdio keep upping the ante with more playlist features and design overhauls, and the competition for your ears' attention is only getting fiercer. One of the newest players is Thefuture.fm (formerly known as Dubset), which launched last month with a focus on DJ-curated mixtapes. Today the service outed its iPhone app, which includes a "smart search" feature for finding mixes by song or artist and lets users sync their web accounts with saved playlists for listening on the go. Looking for a new online-listening destination? Head past the break for a look at the press. Thefuture.fm Brings Mixes from over 5,000 DJs to the iPhone with Launch of Mobile Application Patented MixSCAN technology automates the process of compensating rights holders allowing consumers to legally stream mixes from their iPhones New York, NY – May 17, 2012 – Thefuture.fm, the Internet radio platform that gives listeners mixed music curated by the world's top DJs, today launches their iOS mobile application, which brings full access of its unparalleled web experience to the iPhone. Thefuture.fm is the first service in the US market that offers a listening experience with real mixtapes in all genres. The platform's proprietary technology MixSCAN enables a legal and responsible way for listeners to consume mixtapes, while providing a platform that allows DJs, advertisers and brands to monetize the mixtape with automated rights flow and royalty distribution to copyright holders. Originally built as the platform Dubset, the company re-launched as Thefuture.fm on April 25, 2012 with a completely overhauled platform, enhanced functionality, social sharing tools, an embeddable player, proprietary search and recommendation algorithm, and more music from the world's most talented DJs. Thefuture.fm's mobile application is the newest feature of service, developed to make browsing, searching, discovering, and listening to exclusive content from the world's best DJs available on-the-go - whether they are well-versed in music and DJs, or prefer getting pointers from the experts. Unique Features of Thefuture.fm Mobile Application: · ACCESS to 5000+ of the world's top DJs mixes, curated, at listener's fingertips · DISCOVER with the SMART SEARCH engine. Discover mixes and radio stations curated by the worlds best DJs by typing any song title or artist name and SMART SEARCH will recommend mixes that feature those queries. · WEB ACCOUNT SYNC means listener's mobile apps are fully compatible and synced with their web account, allowing listeners to access their saved playlists and history on their mobile · BROWSE music by genre by selecting any of the 40+ genres or easily find the most loved mixes right now · SAVE, FAVORITE and FOLLOW favorite DJs with a custom radio channel called "My Radio" · CREATE playlists and keep track of mixes listened to · Listeners can FIND & BUY TRACKS within the mixes through iTunes · SEAMLESS LISTENING EXPERIENCE. Thefuture.fm is long-form in its true sense; every mix is at least 45 minutes, \ meaning less time spent picking songs or creating playlists. Once a mix is over, another one will play, automatically selected by our smart search engine to match the previous one Thefuture.fm's mobile application delivers to consumers an app that gives the ultimate freedom, and content that is 100 percent curated by the most prominent DJs in the music industry. Listeners can relive memorable DJ performances from music festivals, clubs or events – or experience those they've missed, anytime, anywhere. Fans can now easily find their favorite DJs music, save it, buy it, share it, and take it with them wherever they go with a simple click, and DJs have new venue to promote themselves and the brands they represent. The genres represented span music mixes by electronic dance music heavyweights such as Swedish House Mafia, Tiesto, Skrillex to Indie rock curated by artists like Cobra Starship, Pete Wentz, RAC, Dragonette to notables like Open-Format and hip hop celebrity DJs such as Oprah and Barack Obama's DJ Cassidy. To listen to music from the world's top DJs and learn more about Thefuture.fm, visit www.Thefuture.fm, and to download the new mobile application, visit http://bit.ly/JRAHHZ on ITunes. |
| Toshiba strains metaphors, carries its laptop range over the Ivy Bridge Posted: 18 May 2012 03:24 AM PDT
Toshiba is announcing a slate of new machines that all sport Intel's Ivy Bridge internals. The more austere Dynabook Qosmio T752 sheds the color-changing shell of its predecessor in favor of brushed aluminum. The AV-centric machine sports a TV Tuner and Blu-Ray drive in addition to its 15.6-inch LED-backlit 1366 x 768 display, a 1TB HDD and 8GB of RAM -- all playing second fiddle to that 2.3GHz Core i7 CPU. You can also pick up the glasses-free 3D Qosmio T852 with an autostereoscopic display and a Dynabook T552, with all of those fun features stripped out, but promising a slightly (five hour) more longevous battery life. At the same time, the company is outing a Regaza home-entertainment PC that comes hitched to a 23-inch 1920 x 1080 display, the same 2.3GHz Ivy Bridge chip and a pair of TV tuners, one analog and one digital. We'll see these arrive in stores in Japan starting May 25th, with pricing and availability over here currently in the wind. |
| LG LS970 'superphone' shows up again, flaunts its removable battery and NFC chip Posted: 18 May 2012 02:32 AM PDT
It's only been a few days since we first heard the rumors about an upcoming, Sprint-bound LG quad-core slab, and now that same LS970 "superphone" is back for more action. Thanks to yet another snap acquired by the folks over at BriefMobile, we can now spot a couple extra details on the device, including its previously unknown NFC capabilities. Contrary to earlier beliefs, the alleged LG Eclipse also seems to offer a removable battery, which is likely to make some power users very content. Something tells us this isn't the last we're going to see of this super handset, though, so we'll keep you in the loop if any more noteworthy findings appear. |
| Midtronics GRX-5100 simplifies servicing hybrid and EV batteries Posted: 18 May 2012 02:15 AM PDT
As we move away from traditional fossil fuel-burning automobiles towards hybrids and EVs, we're presented with new challenges -- namely servicing those vehicles and their high-voltage batteries. When it comes time for transport, in the event of an accident or when components need to be serviced individually, it's necessary to completely drain the cells on board, and that's where Midtronics' GRX-5100 comes in. The vehicle battery service and de-power tool is wrapping up field testing at GM and may soon find itself in "reclamation yards" (read: junk yards) as well as your local mechanic. With testing out of the way Midtronics plans to ramp up production before the end of the year, and its updateable firmware means it will be able to handle future vehicles with nothing more than an upgrade loaded on a USB key. For more info check out the PR after the break. Midtronics Develops New GRX-5100 Hybrid/EV Battery Service Tool WILLOWBROOK, Ill., May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Midtronics, Inc. today announced the completion of initial field testing for the GRX-5100 Hybrid/EV Battery Station, the first high-voltage Hybrid/EV vehicle battery service and de-power tool for various hybrid and electric vehicles. The GRX-5100 safely de-powers high-voltage batteries and also enables service for the battery system at the module level, reducing manufacturer warranty costs and repair time and expense for customers. Currently completing field testing at General Motors, the GRX-5100 was developed to perform full battery pack service, including balancing, charging in no-start situations, and full de-powering. The de-power capability enables packs in vehicles that have been involved in severe collisions to be de-powered to a safe level for storage, recycling or shipment. Beyond service providers, the GRX-5100 is also targeted for reclamation yards where it can be used to perform critical safety checks and de-powering with the battery pack either in or out of the vehicle. "We have been working in tandem with various vehicle manufacturers to develop this new solution to improve the serviceability of electric and hybrid vehicle battery systems, whether that be routine repair or complete de-power after a severe collision," said Midtronics Chief Technology Officer Kevin Bertness. "Field testing in cooperation with General Motors has been very successful and we plan to begin full-scale production and shipping of the GRX-5100 before the end of 2012." The GRX-5100 features a versatile electrical harness between vehicle batteries and communication systems via unique adapters for each vehicle model. Simple menu prompts guide verification that the battery and communication systems are properly connected and balancing or de-powering operations can safely begin. The station also utilizes USB-based memory, which will support system updates for future vehicle battery systems without a hardware upgrade. "The ability of the GRX-5100 to be updated to communicate with future vehicle battery systems ensures that our dealers and other OEMS will be able to perform service, de-power and balance functions as new makes/models are introduced," said Pablo Valencia, GM senior manager of global battery lifecycle management. The GRX-5100 is the latest in Midtronics innovative products for the hybrid/electric vehicle market. Previous product releases have included the HYB-1000 Hybrid Battery System Analyzer, designed for the aftermarket; and the GRX-5000 EV Battery Module Diagnostic Station; which performs both battery module balancing and diagnostics and was initially created in support of the Nissan LEAF program. About Midtronics Midtronics is a worldwide leader and provider of vehicle battery testing and management products and services. Founded in 1984, Midtronics remains singularly focused on battery management innovation. The company continues advancing the standard in its industry, supplying customers with custom battery management solutions that meet evolving needs, including those related to hybrid, electric and other new vehicle systems. Visit www.midtronics.com for more information. |
| Samsung pushes graphene one step closer to silicon supremecy Posted: 18 May 2012 01:47 AM PDT
Graphene has long-held notions of grandeur over its current silicon overlord, but a few practical issues have always kept its takeover bid grounded. Samsung, however, thinks it's cracked at least one of those -- graphene's inability to switch off current. Previous attempts to use graphene as a transistor have involved converting it to a semi-conductor, but this also reduces its electron mobility, negating much of the benefit. Samsung's Advanced Institute of Technology has created a graphene-silicon "Schottky barrier" that brings graphene this much-needed current-killing ability, without losing its electron-shuffling potential. The research also explored potential logic device applications based on the same technology. So, does this mean we'll finally get our flea-sized super computer implant? Maybe, not just yet, but the wheels have certainly been oiled. Samsung Electronics Presents a New Graphene Device Structure Reported online by the journal Science, 17th May |
| Water-damaged Fujifilm X100 torn apart for fun and education (but mostly fun) Posted: 18 May 2012 01:26 AM PDT
James Maher had the unfortunate luck of placing his bag and prized Fujifilm X100 in a "dry" container on a fishing trip that didn't keep its contents very dry. Maher survived his harrowing voyage on the SS Hit 'em Hard, but his camera did not. Thankfully, the photographer didn't let his shooter die in vain. He spent precious time dissecting it and disassembling it, piece by piece. Inside was a densely packed puzzle of 130 screws, 50 pieces of tape and over 152 individual parts. Best of all, Maher documented his adventure inside the X100 and posted it online for all of us to enjoy. It's not the first glimpse under the hood, but it's certainly the most thoroughly documented. So hit up the source link and take a peek at what the inside of a sophisticated digital camera looks like. |
| Sony helps you 'personalize' your Xperia further, announces case maker partnerships Posted: 18 May 2012 01:04 AM PDT
Despite there being so many smartphones nowadays, finding cases for certain handsets can be tricky -- unless you're toting the likes of an iPhone or the latest Android flagship device, that is. Keeping that in mind, Sony has good news for Xperia owners, as it's officially announced a partnership program to bring more case options for its phones to market. According to Sony, 10 companies are currently onboard, including the likes of Case-Mate and Incipio, and some will be announcing what'll be on offer before the month's out. There's no word regarding designs or prices just yet, but here's hoping that Case-Mate brings its cuddly Creature cases into the fray -- especially the Waddler. |
| Silicon Micro Display rolls out $799 ST1080 wearable display Posted: 18 May 2012 12:27 AM PDT
It may still be some time before you can take Google's ambitious wearable computing project for a spin, but there's certainly no shortage of head-mounted displays out there for those looking to blaze a trail of their own. You can now add Silicon Micro Display's new ST1080 glasses to that list, a full 1080p display that will handle both 2D and 3D content (in a variety of formats), and also allow you to see through the glasses for augmented reality applications (albeit with just 10 percent transparency). As with most such glasses, however, you won't get head-tracking capabilities, and you'll have a couple of tethers to contend with (HDMI for video and USB for power, including via an optional battery pack). Those not put off by those constraints or the whole visor look can place their order now for $799. |
| Callaway upro mx+ will show you a real view of the golf course, won't give you a mulligan Posted: 17 May 2012 11:48 PM PDT
While Callaway has been helping you navigate the golf course for awhile, all its imagery has been abstract; that's not much help if it turns out a patch marked "rough" on one hole is really shorthand for "crocodile-infested swamp." To that end, Callaway is launching the upro mx+, an upgraded version of its GPS tracker that uses real overhead photography to give a more realistic impression of the green, as well as to hint whether or not there's any chance you'll get your ball back if you mess up. Along with the static images, there's video flyovers to get a feel for the land at a perspective closer to your own. The updated touchscreen device also touts yardage calculation and an upgraded uexplore service for checking out scores and golf courses. The mx+ will carry a $249 price tag when it hits shops on May 30th, though the true-to-life graphics will freely emphasize just how much you're over par. |
| Liquidware debuts Amber, a customizable Android development tablet Posted: 17 May 2012 11:07 PM PDT
It's likely overkill for those interested only in some basic tablet modding, but the folks from Liquidware (no strangers to the DIY scene) have a new bit of kit that should please those looking to take on a more ambitious project. Dubbed simply Amber, the kit is described as "80 percent of the way to a tablet" -- you'll get a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, a 7-inch capacitive display and a customized version of Android 2.3, but no pesky casing to get in the way of any other additions you see fit to add. That convenience comes at a bit of a cost, though. The Amber will set you back anywhere from $983 to $1,674 depending on the kit you choose. Head on past the break for a quick look at it on video.
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| MaKey, MaKey turns the whole world into a keyboard Posted: 17 May 2012 10:14 PM PDT
The litany of exciting Maker Faire products continues with MaKey MaKey, a device that turns anything capable of conducting electricity into a controller. Developed by MIT Media Lab students Jay Silver and Eric Rosenbaum, you simply run an alligator clip from the board to an object and hold a connecting wire in your hand. Connecting over USB, it's entirely programming-free, but if you find your interest piqued, you can flip the board over to use the Arduino module baked into the hardware. It's already surpassed its original $25,000 Kickstarter goal and when the run begins, you'll be able to pick up everything you need for just $35 -- but if you can't wait that long, head on down to the Bay Area this weekend. |
| Sony opens up PSN to digital download pre-orders Posted: 17 May 2012 09:47 PM PDT
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| RIM and Motorola modify nano-SIM proposal, hope to meet Apple halfway Posted: 17 May 2012 09:13 PM PDT
It's been a battle of epic proportions over a microscopic piece of plastic, but the warring sides appear to be working together to find a compromise. We're referring to the fight between Apple and a coalition formed by RIM, Motorola and Nokia as each group attempts to make their own nano-SIM design the ETSI standard. Neither entity has seemed willing to extend an olive branch and come up with any compromise -- until recently. RIM and Motorola have updated their design proposal in an effort to reach middle ground with Cupertino, and it appears that they were more than accommodating in the chip's refreshed look (seen above). So how different can two nano-SIM designs be? Worlds apart, it turns out. For instance, RIM and Motorola have insisted from the beginning that a notch is necessary to allow for "push-push" mechanisms (push to lock the chip in place, push to pop it back out again); Apple, on the other hand, has been entirely anti-notch -- not a surprise, given the fact that the company uses SIM trays on the iPhone, therefore making the concept of a notch completely irrelevant. In its redesign, however, RIM and Motorola took elements from both sides of the fight and combined them. The new look retains Apple's simple rectangular style, but still makes room for a low-key notch on one side. It's difficult to say whether this move will be enough to gain the affection of Tim Cook's company and sway the vote -- Apple is still hard at work modding its own design, after all -- but it's nice to see both factions playing nice with each other prior to the next ETSI meeting on May 31st. Head to the source to see the difference between the original designs and the latest version. |
| Samsung's Galaxy S III reportedly notches nine million pre-orders worldwide Posted: 17 May 2012 08:27 PM PDT
Wondering how the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S III is going? According to the Korea Economic Daily, an unnamed Samsung executive revealed that the followup to its previous fastest selling phone has already racked up nine million pre-orders around the world. That would put it nearly halfway to the 20 million Galaxy S II's Samsung reported shipped back in February, and all without even officially moving a unit in the US yet. It's not that we're jealous of the rest of the world's abilities to lay their cash down for some quad-core Exynos action while we wait to hear about the likely (still awesome) dual-core LTE-equipped US carrier variants due this summer, but yes -- we're jealous the rest of the world already has the option of choosing Samsung's latest flagship phone. Once they do start shipping (assuming there's no delays in customs) there should be plenty to go around however, as Reuters' translation also indicates the company's factory is already cranking out five million units every month. |
| Posted: 17 May 2012 07:46 PM PDT
Avast ye! Google has announced the national winner of its fifth annual Doodle 4 Google competition, and we'd like to congratulate second grader Dylan Hoffman of Caledonia, Wisconsin for his fine work. As a response to this year's theme, "If I could travel in time, I'd visit...," Dylan created a pirate scene doodle that features a vibrant parrot, a rotund swashbuckler and a treasure chest full of loot to form the Google logo. According to Dylan, he'd ideally, "Sail a pirate ship looking for treasure, have a colorful pet parrot and enjoy beautiful sunsets from deserted islands." Sounds quite nice -- especially without the scurvy. For his creativity, Google has awarded Dylan with a $30,000 college scholarship, a Chromebook computer and a $50,000 technology grant to his school. Later this fall, Dylan's artwork will grace a special edition 64-count box of Crayola crayons. No doubt a fine plunder for an excellent work of art. |
| Dell Precision R5500 lets four graphics pros work on one PC, we wish it did gaming Posted: 17 May 2012 07:02 PM PDT
Workstations aren't normally our focus, but when Dell shows off a new Precision system that lets four media pros share its graphics hardware at once, you can be sure the company has our attention. If your IT chief springs for a Precision R5500 with four Quadro 2000 cards, each of those cards can take advantage of a graphics pass-through in Citrix's virtualization to render 3D models at speeds much more like what you'd get if the Quadro were sitting in your own PC. Before you have visions of four-player Modern Warfare parties after-hours at work, the inherent barriers of distance and the virtual machine itself will likely rule out any game sessions. We'd add that the Quadro, Xeon processor and the $2,742 minimum price make it an expensive proposition. That engineering simulation will finish a lot faster, though, giving you a bit more time to play back home. Dell Introduces the First Multi-User 2U Rack Workstation for Virtualized 3D Workloads Dell announced today it is expanding its client virtualization solutions with the introduction of the first virtualized 2U rack workstation enabling up to four concurrent professional graphics users to work from a single workstation from virtually anywhere. The Dell Precision R5500 rack workstation is the first four-GPU (graphics processing unit) configuration to be certified by Citrix with GPU pass-through on Citrix XenServer® 6 using Citrix XenDesktop® HDX™ 3D Pro, and brings additional security, IT resource optimization and end user flexibility to high performance workloads. This new usage model is designed for customers running 3D workloads in the engineering, medical, media and entertainment, scientific, software development and economic and finance market segments looking to support additional users on a single workstation. Additional benefits of a virtualized rack workstation include the ability to centralize, secure and manage data, leverage worldwide talent pool, share resources for improved cost effectiveness and run performance critical applications that require the host system and data to be in close proximity. Users can connect to the powerful, dependable and manageable Dell Precision R5500 via Dell and non-Dell computing devices including thin clients, laptops, desktops or other mobile devices that have a loaded Citrix Receiver™. "The Dell Precision R5500 offers the highest user density available on a XenServer certified platform for XenDesktop HDX 3D Pro, with four concurrent users per host," said Derek Thorslund, director of product management, HDX technology at Citrix. "This makes it a very attractive option for customers looking to deliver high-end 3D professional graphics while keeping their intellectual property safe in the data center." Citrix XenServer with HDX 3D Pro enables the virtualized workstation environment with a dedicated discrete graphics card per user or virtual machine. The dedicated graphics provides the user with full access to the graphics card in a virtualized environment. Users can configure their Dell Precision R5500 with up to four NVIDIA Quadro® 2000 mid-range graphics cards, with other high-end NVIDIA Quadro graphics cards available soon. Dell's 2U rack workstation offers industry standard bus slots with options of up to five full-height and full-length PCIe slots, and industry standard graphics and GPU compute cards including the newest NVIDIA Quadro and NVIDIA Tesla® solutions. "This new rack workstation configuration from Dell provides designers and engineers with a unique virtualized desktop performance option," said Jeff Brown, general manager, Professional Solutions Group, NVIDIA. "Dell's R5500 powered by NVIDIA Quadro GPUs gives these users an opportunity to experience the full power of high-end OpenGL, Direct X and CUDA applications in a small form-factor, virtualized desktop environment." In addition to high-end graphics support, the R5500 provides the full scalability and powerful performance of Dell's high-end tower workstations in a 2U form factor. It is purpose-engineered for professionals who run compute and graphics intensive workloads and require extreme performance with remote capability. It offers high-performance Intel Xeon processors with memory capacity of up to 192GB¹ and dual-wide GPU slots that scale up to 450 watts, up to six 2.5-inch SAS HDDs or five SATA HDDs. "We are working closely with Citrix and NVIDIA to enable new usage models to address the needs of our workstation customers," said Efrain Rovira, executive director of Dell Precision workstations. "This industry first four-GPU XenServer certification delivers increased productivity and flexibility to our customers, and it adds to the list of innovations we've introduced to the workstation industry." Availability Citrix XenServer with GPU pass-through is available worldwide through Citrix and Dell S&P. The starting price for the Dell Precision R5500 is $2,742 USD. Visit Dell at NVIDIA GPU Technology Conference in booth #17 and #18 this week to see the Dell Precision R5500 workstation and learn more about the new Citrix XenServer GPU pass-through certification. |
| Nike and Tom Sachs reach for the stars, create NikeCraft sportswear with space-grade materials Posted: 17 May 2012 06:17 PM PDT
Just because you're not an astronaut, it doesn't mean you can't dress yourself in clothes that are out of this world. Artist Tom Sachs recently teamed up with Nike to create a limited edition lineup of spacey sports clothing, dubbed NikeCraft, to coincide with his current Space Program project -- a rendition of a four week trip to Mars. The company highlights that the roster was made with "materials that have never been used in sportswear," some of which has already made its way onto NASA's equipment for space-travel. As ecouterre points out, among what's on offer, you'll find bags made from the Ortho fabric used on the outside of spacesuits to the Mars Yard shoe with Vectran fiber -- the same stuff from the airbags of the Mars Excursion Rover. There's nary a detail about pricing, but the goods will be available at various boutiques around the world and at Space Program: Mars while it's open until Jun 17th inside of New York City's Park Avenue Armory. Hit up the links below to gaze at all the details. Just because you're not an astronaut doesn't mean that you can't dress yourself in clothes that are out of this world. Artist Tom Sachs recently teamed up with Nike to create a limited edition lineup of of spacey sports clothing, dubbed NikeCraft, to coincide with his current Space Program project -- a rendition of a four week trip to Mars. As ecouterre notes, the highlight of the pieces is that they're all manufactured (partially, at least) with materials used by NASA in its own equipment. Among what's on offer, you'll find bags made from the Ortho fabric used on the outside of spacesuits to the Mars Yard shoes with Vectran fabric -- the same stuff from the airbags of the Mars Excursion Rover. There's nary a detail about pricing, but the goods will be available at various boutiques around the world and at Space Program: Mars while it's open until Jun 17th inside of New York City's Park Avenue Armory. You'll find more details |
| LG Optimus 4X HD stops in at the FCC, flaunts AT&T bands, global support Posted: 17 May 2012 05:39 PM PDT
LG's latest 4.7-inch wunderphone may not have received an official release this side of the Atlantic, but that doesn't mean the Feds aren't putting it through its paces. A global version of the LG Optimus 4X HD made its way through the FCC test labs recently, revealing a quad-band GSM / EDGE radio with 3G support over AT&T's 1900 / 850 bands. In other words, feel free to import an unlocked slab when they hit Europe next month. Check out the federal filings yourself at the source link below, or check out our own hands-on coverage right here. |
| Acer outs Ivy Bridge-packing TravelMate P243 notebook series in the UK Posted: 17 May 2012 05:14 PM PDT
Needless to say, Ivy Bridge is here to stay -- at least until Intel takes us on a different road. That being said, Acer just announced a business-oriented machine of its own with Intel's latest chips onboard. Part of the outfit's TravelMate lineup, this 14-inch (1366 x 768) P243 rocks some pretty standard features, including a Core i5, Ivy Bridge processor, an HD webcam for all those Skype calls and a USB 3.0 port. As expected, depending on configuration, you'll also be able to choose up to 8GB of RAM, as well as NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M graphics if you don't mind shelling out the extra cash. Speaking of, Acer's pricing the TravelMate P243 starting at £339 (about $536) once it hits UK shelves -- though, there's no word on when that'll be. In the meantime, you can check out some additional eye candy after the break. Acer TravelMate P243 series - Fast, efficient and reliable computing Designed to meet the needs of SMB and SOHO for multi-task processing performance, efficiency and reliability, the new Acer TravelMate P243 add to the mix a pleasant yet practical design. All details have been fine-tuned by Acer to offer the optimal user experience whether at home or on the go. The new TravelMate P243 series takes advantage of the third generation Intel® Core™ processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology ensuring smart performance that adapts to users' needs, giving a significantly faster performance to speed through demanding tasks and boost productivity, while saving energy. In addition, these processors provide built-in capabilities for enhanced multimedia creation and enjoyment. Business activities are increasingly reliant on graphics and multimedia. As a result, Acer engineered the new TravelMate models to deliver a superb visual performance for sharper images, richer colour and life-like images, enabling high-definition video and audio playback. According to the model, these notebooks are available with NVIDIA® GeForce GT 630M which provides the best graphics capability and balance of performance on demand, while supporting outstanding Microsoft® DirectX® 11 graphics maximize productivity and improve multitasking performance. Protecting users' assets is one of Acer main goals when developing a new professional notebook. This is why the TravelMate P243 features robust security solutions. It comes with Acer ProShield Security, a suite of security and manageability tools integrated in a unified user interface. Another layer of security is offered by Acer Backup/eRecovery Manager to backup your valuable data and media library and protect your assets. Recovery is on demand thanks to Acer eRecovery Manager. Wake-on-LAN allowing a computer to be turned on by a network message, provides remote management options. What's more, the TravelMate P243 comes with Acer Office Manager (AOM), a manageability solution which allows SMB to deploy security policies, monitor IT assets, and schedule maintenance tasks in one simple manageability package. All Acer professional notebooks are submitted to a series of reliability tests and are compliant with the most stringent criteria of the industry, thus ensuring the utmost reliability. On top of this they offer Energy Star® 5.0 compliancy together with EPEAT® Gold1 qualification, guaranteeing energy savings and longer battery life. |
| Intel wants to have conflict-free processors by the end of 2013 Posted: 17 May 2012 04:34 PM PDT
Intel had already promised that it would avoid using conflict minerals, and now it's giving itself a more concrete timetable for that to happen. It wants to have at least one processor that's proven completely conflict-free across four key minerals -- gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten -- by the end of 2013. Lest you think Intel's not taking swift enough action, it wants to reach the tantalum goal by the end of this year. The effort's part of a wider array of goals that should cut back on the energy use, power and water use by 2020. Sooner rather than later, though, you'll be buying a late-generation Haswell- or Broadwell-based PC knowing that the chip inside was made under nobler conditions. Intel Sets 2020 Environmental Goals Publishes 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report In its 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report, Intel sets new 2020 environmental goals to extend its path of innovation and environmental responsibility. Intel incorporated an integrated approach into this report, providing information on the connection between corporate responsibility performance and the creation of business value. Design all new buildings to a minimum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification between 2010 and 2020. Increase the energy efficiency of notebook computers and data center products 25 times by 2020 from 2010 levels. Achieve additional energy savings of 1.4 billion kWh from 2012 to 2015, and publish additional energy conservation targets for 2016–2020 in its 2012 report. Reduce water use on a per chip basis below 2010 levels by 2020. Achieve zero chemical waste to landfill by 2020. Intel was again recognized in the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 list for excellence in supply chain management, ranking 16th in 2011, up from 18th in 2010 and 25th in 2009. To address the issue of conflict minerals, through the end of 2011, Intel had identified 98 smelter sites and visited 48 of them in 16 countries to lay the groundwork for third-party audits. Intel's goal is to demonstrate that its microprocessors are validated as conflict-free for tantalum by the end of 2012, and to manufacture the world's first microprocessor fully validated as conflict-free across all four minerals (gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten) by the end of 2013. For the past 4 years, Intel has been recognized as the largest voluntary purchaser of green power in the United States, under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership program. Since 2009, Intel has collaborated with third parties to complete 15 solar electric installations across nine Intel campuses in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Israel and Vietnam - collectively generating more than 5 million kWh per year of clean energy. Since 2001, Intel has invested more than $58 million and completed over 1,563 energy conservation and energy efficiency projects, saving more than 825 million kWh of energy, or the approximate CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 70,933 average U.S. homes for 1 year. These investments also enabled Intel to reduce energy costs in 2011 by $10.9 million. Since 2008, Intel has linked a portion of its employees' variable compensation to environmental sustainability metrics. In 2011, as part of Intel's Environmental Excellence Awards, 62 employee teams from around the world were nominated for their work that helped Intel reduce its environmental impact. In fact, the estimated annual cost savings from the 2011 winning projects exceeded $70 million. In 2011, Intel provided $125,000 in funding for nine employee projects via its Sustainability in Action grant program - including the installation of a rainwater harvesting project at a school in Israel and the design of a zero-emissions heating and cooling control and supply system for a local community building in China. In 2011, 50 percent of Intel employees donated over 1.1million hours of service through the Intel Involved volunteer program - an average of 13 hours per employee - at 5,100 schools and nonprofit organizations in 45 countries. By the end of 2011, Intel had achieved LEED Silver Certification for a total of 18 buildings across five sites in Arizona, Costa Rica, China, Israel and Malaysia. In 2011, Intel reached its goal of providing professional development through the Intel Teach® program to over 10 million teachers in more than 70 countries, reaching over 300 million students. In addition, the program was introduced in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Gabon and Tanzania. |
| Eight floppy drives recreate the theme from Game of Thrones, stake claim to the seven Kingdoms Posted: 17 May 2012 04:08 PM PDT
Should the robots ever form an alliance and turn against us, all we need to do is call on people like Anand Jin to save us. Why? Because it's folk of his ilk that are the pied pipers of the machine world. We've seen disk drives coerced into recreating Daft Punk, and Bo-Rhap extorted from an Atari 800XL. Now, we can watch the aforementioned Anand eke the theme from Game of Thrones out of eight floppy drives. There's more info on his YouTube channel if you're curious to know the hows and whys. Much as we enjoy the performance, hearing the theme again just brings up bad memories of last week's ending.
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| iHome iP76 LED color-changing speaker indulges your love for pretty colors Posted: 17 May 2012 03:44 PM PDT
Music just isn't the same without a host of flashing colors to go with it, right? iHome, at least, seems to think so. Its first Glowtunes speaker tower, the new iP76, comes packed with LEDs in seven different hues that can fade, pulse or strobe as your playlist requires. The three-foot iP76 sports a dock for your iPhone or iPod and packs four speakers with Reson8 technology. There's also Bluetooth for streaming from other devices. The iP76 will go on sale for $200 in July. Already dreaming about all the sonic light shows you'll host? Jump past the break for some press info to tide you over. RAHWAY, N.J., May 17, 2012 – Adding a spectrum of colors to home audio systems, iHome today announced the iP76 LED Color Changing Speaker Tower with Bluetooth technology. Available in July 2012, the décor-enhancing showpiece is packed with 16 multi-color LED clusters to create exciting light effects; four high performance speakers in Reson8® speaker technology for towering sound, and the latest in Bluetooth technology for an untethered audio experience. |
| VIA unveils fanless, Eden X2-packing AMOS-3002, promises tiny dual-core PC in your car Posted: 17 May 2012 03:17 PM PDT
VIA is planning to get some serious mileage out of its Eden X2 processor -- in the most literal sense possible. It's now producing the AMOS-3002, a Pico-ITX-sized PC intended for in-car infotainment and other situations where an embedded PC needs to have a little more juice for media tasks. The Eden X2 in question comes in a dual-core 1GHz flavor that's completely fanless, but it's fast enough to show 1080p video (when your car is parked, we hope) and can handle more intensive work like dual gigabit Ethernet jacks, optional 3G and even a 2.5-inch hard drive. That breadbox-sized shell can also take a lot of abuse, surviving temperatures between -4F and 140F as well as 50 Gs' worth of shock. You'll have to wait until your favorite car designer or digital sign maker uses the AMOS-3002 to see it in action, but until then, you can get the full details after the break. VIA Announces Ultra Compact, Fanless VIA AMOS-3002 System Taipei, Taiwan, May 17, 2012 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient computing platforms, today announced the VIA AMOS-3002, an ultra compact, fanless system designed around the tiny VIA EPIA-P900 Pico-ITX board. The VIA AMOS-3002 provides embedded customers with a system that delivers all the latest features and digital media standards required for a diversified range of embedded applications including telematics, in-vehicle control, machine to machine controller (M2M), digital signage and kiosks. Leveraging the digital prowess of the combined 1.0GHz VIA EdenTM X2 dual core processor and the VIA VX900H media system processor (MSP) on the VIA EPIA-P900 board, the VIA AMOS-3002 offers a powerful, rugged and HD-ready industrial-class PC that combines all the benefits of high performance 64-bit computing in an ultra compact system. The highly integrated, all-in-one VIA VX900H boasts ruthless hardware acceleration of the most demanding codecs, including MPEG-2, WMV9 and H.264, in resolutions up to 1080p across the latest display connectivity standards, including native HDMI support, for next generation multimedia-intensive applications. "The VIA AMOS-3002 advances the ultra compact AMOS series systems, delivering fanless dual core computing and advanced multimedia capabilities," said Epan Wu, Head of the VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The superior versatility and reliable compact design of the VIA AMOS-3002 makes it ideal for a diversified range of embedded applications." VIA AMOS-3002 The VIA AMOS-3002 is specifically designed to support the VIA EPIA-P900 Pico-ITX board, which combines a 1.0GHz EdenTM X2 processor and the VIA VX900H MSP, to operate completely fanlessly within a robust chassis measuring 19.7cm x 10.4cm x 4.9cm (WxDxH). The VIA AMOS-3002 has a certified operating temperature of -20 to 60 degrees C, vibration tolerance of up to 5Grms and a shock tolerance of up to 50G. The VIA AMOS-3002 is also available with the VIA EPIA-P830 featuring a 1.0GHz Nano E-Series processor, offering an operating temperature of -20 to 70 degrees C. Storage is provided through a Cfast slot for a SATA interface Flash drive while an optional storage sub-system expansion chassis offers support for a standard 2.5" SATA drive. Comprehensive I/O functions on front and rear panels include two COM ports, six USB 2.0 ports, including two of which are lockable for increased ruggedization, line-in/out, one DIO port, one VGA and one HDMI port for display connectivity and two GLAN ports for dual Gigabit networking. Optional Wi-Fi and 3G networking are available through a MiniPCIe expansion slot. For more information about the VIA AMOS-3002, please visit: |
| RIM patent application shines a light on unseen filth, might make forensics mobile Posted: 17 May 2012 02:49 PM PDT
CSI: Waterloo? We're not sure how compelling that spin-off would be (inexplicable popularity of the David Caruso-headlined Miami version aside). So, you'll excuse us for scratching our collective tech head over this recently surfaced patent application filed by RIM in November of 2010. The claims of this bizarre USPTO doc describe an apparatus containing some form of a "display element" attached to a portable electronic device that would generate light on nearby objects, snap photographs and then display results indicating potential contamination. Sounds a lot like those UV wands forensics researchers use on crime scenes, non? Well, whatever it is Heins and co. may have brewing in their Canadian R&D labs, we just pray this isn't BB 10's killer feature. Hit up the source below to peruse the legalese for yourself. |
| Best Buy expects EVO 4G LTE to land May 23rd, HTC remains cautious Posted: 17 May 2012 02:32 PM PDT
We've received a boatload of tips that folks who have pre-ordered the EVO 4G LTE at Best Buy are now seeing a new release date of May 23rd. Does this mean Sprint's flagship handset is getting close to leaving those dreaded customs halls? Here's HTC's take on the matter:
While it's quite possible Best Buy knows something we don't, perhaps it's best to take this new release date with a grain of salt. Let us know what you think in the comments and hit the break for a screenshot of an updated pre-order. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
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