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- O2 UK offers Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Y in Olympics versions, S Javelin sadly missing
- Comcast's 'Project Dayview' project does PDA duty across TV, phone, PC and tablet
- Sony Music Unlimited comes to iPhone with streaming music app
- Motorola reinvents the TV interface with DreamGallery concept (video)
- Elgato announces Game Capture HD, shows off your deathmatch prowess in H.264
- Microsoft reveals more multi-monitor improvements in Windows 8 Release Preview (video)
- Qualcomm hires former AMD CTO, makes 'em pay for dropping mobile
- Verizon purportedly giving DROID 4, RAZR and Rezound 'global' designation via software update
- Kinect for Windows SDK reaches v1.5, now works when you're sitting down
- YouTube blows out seven candles, cuts birthday party short to log 72 hours of video per minute
- Engadget Giveaway: win an 11-inch MacBook Air pre-loaded with Parallels!
- Comcast officially launches next-gen X1 DVR platform and iPhone remote app
- Nokia Lumia 900 Camera Extension app previewed in Hong Kong (video)
- Report: Foxconn spending $210 million on Apple production line
- TiVo's Stream transcoding box and IP connected extender make their debut at Cable Show 2012
- EU competition head gives Google a 'matter of weeks' to offer an antitrust fix
- AMD launches R-Series chip for next-gen casinos, surveillance systems, distractions
- 'Bond 50' 22 movie Blu-ray collection details revealed, ships in September (video)
- More PlayStation Vita bundles coming to Europe, planning a visit to the Eiffel Tower
- Leap Motion reveals super-accurate motion control tech, $70 device to change the UI game
- Linux kernel 3.4 is out: supports Trinity, Southern Islands, Kepler, Medfield and more
- CableWiFi ties up 50,000 WiFi hotspots for cable subscribers to share
- Hands-on with the MakerBot robot petting zoo at Maker Faire (video)
- Unofficial S-Voice app gets gagged, Samsung waits for its flagship hero
- Raspberry Pi hands-on and Eben Upton interview at Maker Faire (video)
- iDrum lets you rock out like Animal on your iDevice for $70
- Arris reveals Moxi DVR release 2.0 with web browser, apps and iPad remote
- UK bookseller Waterstones to start selling Kindles
- Better Place takes its electric vehicle network in Israel for a silent spin
- Elaborate Nike YouTube video has hidden Sonic Game (video)
- ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity Series hits the FCC
- Hands-on with the Electric Imp at Maker Faire (video)
- Yahoo to sell back half of its Alibaba stake for $7.1 billion
- How would you change Native Instruments' Maschine Mikro?
- Inhabitat's Week in Green: NY Design Week, a hybrid Porsche and recycled sportswear
- Motorola skipping Ice Cream Sandwich for some devices, worries it'll make them fat
- Refresh Roundup: week of May 14th, 2012
- Switched On: Clash of the troubled titans
- Samsung's Focus 2 arrives at AT&T today, a slice of LTE-equipped Mango for $50
- Voyager Mobile shakes off network issues, launches a few days behind schedule
| O2 UK offers Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Y in Olympics versions, S Javelin sadly missing Posted: 21 May 2012 11:39 AM PDT
Are you so enthused with the 2012 Olympics that special tablets and non-stop TV coverage won't fully scratch the itch? O2 UK is letting you flaunt your British competitive pride every time you check Twitter by selling Olympic editions of Samsung's Galaxy Note and Galaxy Y. Either comes with a choice to drape your Android gear in a Union Jack or the Team Great Britain logo. If cosmetic patriotism isn't enough, O2 is making it meaningful by contributing £1 from every sale to future athlete training along with giving a chance to win two tickets to attend the London games, a special event and even the training camp. The bundles are ready to go now, although we're slightly bummed that there isn't an extra-long S Pen to commemorate the javelin toss or pole vault. |
| Comcast's 'Project Dayview' project does PDA duty across TV, phone, PC and tablet Posted: 21 May 2012 11:19 AM PDT
While we expected to see Comcast roll out its X1 DVR platform today at the Cable Show, more surprising is the new Project Dayview initiative. As seen above, it attempts to provide a single cross-platform home screen that combines info from its services and third party sources to give customers a quick look at what's important to them, on any screen. Potential sources include Comcast services (DVR schedule from your cable box, voicemails from the home phone, email, or home security / automation updates when you're away) as well as third party information like your current calendar software, social media and local news. While ambitious, it does reflect a futuristic ability to bring its users relevant information (based on the time of day, it could pull the traffic report before you leave for work or TV listings in the evening, for example) automatically. How well it all works remains to be seen once this is integrated with the new DVR software and apps later this year, but you can get an idea of what Comcast has up its sleeve for your four screens from the pictures in the gallery below. COMCAST REVEALS 'PROJECT DAYVIEW': A CROSS-PLATFORM USER INTERFACE About Comcast Cable # # #
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| Sony Music Unlimited comes to iPhone with streaming music app Posted: 21 May 2012 11:01 AM PDT
Android and PlayStation Vita owners have felt the Music Unlimited love on their respective devices for quite some time now, but the Spotify / MOG / Rdio competitor has finally made its way to the App Store, bringing with it yet another option for streaming music on iOS. The free app appears to be optimized for iPhone and iPod touch (though it's also compatible with iPad), and will enable on-the-go jammin' with a $4-per-month Basic subscription over 3G, 4G or WiFi connections. You can pull in tunes from the millions of tracks in Sony's collection, or access songs on your PC using the Music Sync service. The app is currently only available in the New Zealand App Store, but it's expected to hit other Music Unlimited countries soon. For now, you can hit up the source link for the Kiwi App Store preview, or head over to the Music Unlimited site to sign up. |
| Motorola reinvents the TV interface with DreamGallery concept (video) Posted: 21 May 2012 10:42 AM PDT
Motorola is demonstrating how it expects TVs of the future will work with its DreamGallery concept. Powered by the company's Medios cloud-service, the display is designed to let you browse content as if it was the internet -- with bookmarks, personalized recommendations and interactive search tools. Its designed to work across your TV, computer, tablet and smartphone, aggregating Cable, Internet TV and VOD under a single interface that sits behind pull-tabs around the picture. If you're curious to see if this is easier to use than TiVo, head on past the break to catch your first glimpse. Motorola Mobility Previews What Your TV Will Look Like in the Future New Interactive TV Experience on Display at The Cable Show (Booth #733) BOSTON – May 21, 2012 – Next-generation TV has arrived. At The Cable Show in Boston (May 21-23, Booth #733), Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) is showcasing the revolutionary entertainment discovery experience that will be launching in North American homes later this year. Say "goodbye" to the traditional grid. Welcome to DreamGallery™ by Motorola Medios-a new on-screen display that's as personalized, dynamic and rich as the Internet. Beautiful graphics, visual search tools and friendly menus help you find what you want, fast. DreamGallery lets you fly through hundreds of channels in seconds. No more searching, and searching... and searching. You can store all of your favorite content in one place for easy access. Simply select and bookmark your favorite content-just like you do on the Web. Discovering new content is also just as fast, easy and personalized. Recommendations are tailored to your preferences. Interactive search tools bring you previews and information on the latest videos. And, did we mention it's fast? Now you can spend your time watching what you want, not searching for it. Finally, all your favorite channels, live TV, and on-demand videos are all in one place: at your fingertips. "Consumers spoke. We listened. DreamGallery is to TV what search was to the Web," said John Burke, senior vice president and general manager, Converged Experiences at Motorola Mobility. "Consumers want to be able to find personalized and relevant content, fast. We set out to address this hunger by leveraging our expertise in media software and our leadership in content delivery. We ended up reinventing the entire interface for television. DreamGallery isn't just a better search and discovery experience. It's a better way to watch TV." |
| Elgato announces Game Capture HD, shows off your deathmatch prowess in H.264 Posted: 21 May 2012 10:24 AM PDT
Elgato is releasing the Game Capture HD, a device that lets game-casters and YouTube walkthrough mavens shed low-resolution, over-the-shoulder smartphone footage once and for all. The sleek black box sits between console and display, enabling gamers to record their speed runs and kill records for the world to see. Xbox 360 users can daisy-chain the gear into their HDMI set-up, while PS3 users will have to use the bundled AV cable to circumvent Sony's stronger copy protection. The footage will then be compressed with the company's H.264 know-how and pushed to your PC or Mac for uploading. When it arrives at the start of June, it'll set you back $200 -- just giving you enough time to get practicing your soothing and confident narration voice. Elgato Game Capture HD: Record and share your gameplay with ease Munich, May 21, 2012 - Elgato announces Game Capture HD, a simple and stylish solution for recording and sharing PlayStation or Xbox gameplay using a Mac or PC. With Elgato Game Capture HD, gameplay videos are easier to record, edit and share than ever before thanks to its innovative hardware design, powerful H.264 encoder, and software that is specifically tailored to gamers needs. Elgato Game Capture HD will be available from June 1st for $199.95. Advanced hardware Thanks to the most advanced H.264 hardware encoding technology, Elgato Game Capture HD records in breath-taking HD quality - all without burdening the hard disk with large files. At the same time, gameplay is passed through to the TV via HDMI - in pristine quality and without delay. Elgato Game Capture HD doesn't need a lot of cables or even a power supply - the hardware connects directly to the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 using a single cable. Tailored to gamers What's in the box & requirements Pricing, availability & VIP units |
| Microsoft reveals more multi-monitor improvements in Windows 8 Release Preview (video) Posted: 21 May 2012 10:06 AM PDT
If you're a multitasking extraordinaire who depends on Windows as your primary computing platform of choice, there's a good chance you utilize more than one monitor to get your work done -- unfortunately, the seventh iteration of Microsoft's OS didn't offer as much support in this arena as most display warriors would prefer. The Consumer Preview of Windows 8 offered a few functionality improvements, and with its upcoming Release Preview, Microsoft is focusing on further enhancing the experience. Mark Yalovsky, a lead program manager on the User Experience team, put together a lengthy piece on what kind of goodies we can expect. Among the highlighted changes is the ability to access the Start, app switching and charms menus from the corners on any monitor, rather than just having these options locked to only the primary display. The Release Preview also improves shared edges and corners so that the flow of cross-display navigation won't get interrupted by obnoxious corners popping up when you don't intend them to. Finally, the option of dragging and dropping Metro-style apps (as well as snapped apps) between monitors has also been included in the new build. These enhancements may seem small, but will go a long way toward appeasing those of us who can't live without more than one screen. For the full listing of feature changes, view Microsoft's video below and check out Mark's post at the source. |
| Qualcomm hires former AMD CTO, makes 'em pay for dropping mobile Posted: 21 May 2012 09:43 AM PDT
Qualcomm is hiring AMD's former CTO Eric Demers to help the company produce a blockbuster mobile graphics chip. It needs the silicon for its big push for smartphone dominance (and tablets running Windows RT) in the face of strong competition from Imagination Technologies' Series 6 PowerVR and NVIDIA's Tegra 3. Demers' first job will be to merge Qualcomm's in-house Adreno team with ATI's Imageon mobile graphics chip team, which AMD flogged off for $65 million back in 2009 -- a move Sunnyvale is probably regretting now that it too is trying to get its hardware into mobile devices, unless it included a do-over clause in the sales contract. |
| Verizon purportedly giving DROID 4, RAZR and Rezound 'global' designation via software update Posted: 21 May 2012 09:18 AM PDT
There's one major drawback that jet-setters and globetrotters utilizing one of Verizon's current LTE handsets must deal with, the lack of a GSM radio frequency. It's true, while CDMA and LTE have carved out a place for themselves here in the States, when the rubber literally meets the road (or tarmac), it's a GSM world we're living in. With that in mind, it appears as though Verizon is planning to make several of its current smartphones a bit more cosmopolitan by enabling the "global" capabilities already embedded within. Blog Droid-Life is reporting that new in-store collateral for the DROID 4, RAZR and Rezound contains the tagline, "Coming Soon: Use in an additional 185 countries." The new proficiency should be made available via a software update pushed out by Big Red, although some of you may have already taken matters into your own hands. No word on what the precise definition of "soon" is, but we've reached out to Verizon for comment and will update this post with any relevant information provided. |
| Kinect for Windows SDK reaches v1.5, now works when you're sitting down Posted: 21 May 2012 08:53 AM PDT
Microsoft is busting out version 1.5 of its Kinect for Windows runtime and SDK that includes a raft of new features for the Xbox-lacking hoi polli. The update includes 10-joint skeletal tracking that'll work even when seated, face following capabilities and joint orientation -- the latter enabling it to predict how your body will move for greater accuracy. It's also gaining four extra languages for speech recognition: French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, not to mention Kinect Studio, which will help developers record and play back your movements to fine-tune their applications. In addition, Redmond is offering language packs to ensure the sensor will play harmoniously with your local dialect, cobber. |
| YouTube blows out seven candles, cuts birthday party short to log 72 hours of video per minute Posted: 21 May 2012 08:28 AM PDT
Ah, YouTube. It wasn't long ago that that it was pumping out around 60 hours of content every 60 seconds, but nothing can stop the video juggernaut. Celebrating its seven years of existence with a video charting its rise, rise and rise, YouTube's official blog has also announced that it's now dealing with an eye-bleeding 72 hours of video every minute. We're still finding all this content as pervasive as ever though, with over 3 billion hours now watched every month. Catch the site blowing its own trumpet in the tribute vid right after the break -- which is all well and good, but where's the free game?
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| Engadget Giveaway: win an 11-inch MacBook Air pre-loaded with Parallels! Posted: 21 May 2012 08:01 AM PDT
This may just be the biggest single giveaway we've held on Engadget yet. We dare you to resist the tempting lure of an 11-inch MacBook Air with 4GB RAM and 128GB hard drive, capable of running Mac OS X and Windows 7! With graduation season upon us, our friends at Parallels are hooking you up with the best senior gift that you could possibly receive. So what's this software all about? Essentially, it allows you to run Windows and OS X apps side-by-side on your Mac without rebooting -- that way, you'll get the best of both worlds. The MacBook Air will come pre-loaded with Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac, Windows 7 home premium and Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 for Windows. It'll also come with Parallels Mobile app for iOS, which gives you the ability to access and run everything on your Mac via your iPhone or iPad. Not too shabby for the low, low price of one comment. So brush up on the rules, enter to win and good luck! The rules:
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| Comcast officially launches next-gen X1 DVR platform and iPhone remote app Posted: 21 May 2012 07:37 AM PDT
As expected, Comcast is kicking off the rollout of its new X1 (previously beta tested under the name Xcalibur) DVR platform. The announcement was made at the Cable Show in Boston, and that's where it will be available first, some time in "the coming weeks" with a few other major markets following soon after. We've had a few peeks at the new UI over the last year or so but now we have a full gallery of shots of both the DVR software and accompanying X1 remote app that will be available first on the iPhone. The new guide looks very similar to the existing Xfinity TV remote apps for phones and tablets, formatted for HD screens and with support for recommendations from your social network and support for apps like weather, TV, traffic, Facebook and Pandora to start. The new set-top boxes it runs on have built-in tru2way and internet support, as well as RF remotes instead of IR. Meanwhile, the X1 remote control app adds motion and gesture control to the current set of features, as well as more direct interaction with what's on screen, since it can be used to swipe through pages, type into menus and pause currently video with a shake. As far as pricing, Comcast says it will be available to new Triple Play customers with HD/DVR service at no additional cost -- no word yet on what that means for everyone else. Check the gallery below for a look at the new software, and check the press release after the break for more info. Comcast Begins National Launch of X1: Next-Generation Cloud Enabled Television Platform and Introduces the X1 Remote Control App X1 Video Platform Transforms Traditional TV into Integrated Entertainment Experience – Complete with Apps, Sleek Navigation, Personalization and Social Media Tools Available in the Coming Weeks in Boston; More Markets to Follow This Year PHILADELPHIA & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information, and communications products and services, announced today it will launch its next-generation television experience, Xfinity TV on the X1 Platform, and a new X1 remote control app in the coming weeks. This cloud-enabled platform, unlike any other video service existing today, delivers the world's largest collection of video and transforms the TV into an entirely new integrated entertainment experience. These new products will launch in Boston with several major markets planned to follow this year, and will be available to new Xfinity Triple Play with HD/DVR service customers at no additional cost. "X1 is a giant leap forward, essentially transforming our video product from a hardware experience to a software experience, allowing us to innovate faster and more aggressively." "The X1 platform makes the TV smarter, richer and more personalized – and that's only the beginning. Our goal is to leverage this platform to redefine the entertainment experience for our customers," said Marcien Jenckes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast Cable. "X1 is a giant leap forward, essentially transforming our video product from a hardware experience to a software experience, allowing us to innovate faster and more aggressively." The X1 platform incorporates IP technology, using cloud servers on Comcast's network that allow Comcast to integrate interactive, customized apps and social media features with its traditional video services to create an entirely new television experience. This is part of Comcast's ongoing and evolving effort to take advantage of IP technology to constantly bring new innovation and features to market. Showcased this week at NCTA's The Cable Show 2012 in Boston, highlights of X1 include: A main screen with a sleek new user interface that integrates a customer's video experiences and enables one-click access to a highly visual display of entertainment options X1 Remote Control App The new companion X1 remote control app enables customers to use motion and gesture control to drive their TV experience through the touch-screen of their handheld iPhone and iPod touch. For instance, customers can swipe their device to page through the interactive TV guides on their television screen; program personalized short-cuts and favorites ("Quick Links") on the TV, and even shake the device to pause On Demand content playing on the television. In addition, customers can use the devices' virtual keyboard to search among and play tens of thousands of video choices on their TVs faster than ever before – even faster than using the traditional remote control. The remote provides the ability to filter by genre and HD; control the DVR and interact with social media tools and apps. "The X1 remote app unites the TV screen with customers' mobile devices by creating an integrated experience between the customers' swipe controls on their device and the viewing experience on the TV – they truly mirror each other," said Sree Kotay, Senior Vice President and Chief Software Architect for Comcast Cable. "By building this new app, we've made the remote control smarter and more functional...and just plain fun." X1 (formerly Xcalibur) has been in customer trials in Augusta, Ga., since 2011. |
| Nokia Lumia 900 Camera Extension app previewed in Hong Kong (video) Posted: 21 May 2012 07:11 AM PDT
You're looking at Camera Extension: a new app for the Lumia 900 that, er, extends the phone's camera function by adding burst, timer and panorama modes plus, most notably, a smart group shot feature. The latter takes five pictures in five seconds, then cuts out the heads and lets you swap 'em out in the same way that BB 10's Timeline Lens (amongst others) works. Will the app bring you out in goofy smiles? Find out in the video after the break, where WeLoveWindowsPhone.hk gives it a go. |
| Report: Foxconn spending $210 million on Apple production line Posted: 21 May 2012 06:47 AM PDT
China Daily is claiming that Foxconn will pump $210 million into building a production line in China's Jiangsu province. Local authorities have stated that the plant in Huai'an city will produce components for Apple, no doubt heralding a raft of rampant speculation as to Cupertino's intentions. The building will occupy 40,000 square meters, produce $1.1 billion worth of gear per year and require 35,800 employees -- more than Nokia and Sony have fired in recent months, combined. |
| TiVo's Stream transcoding box and IP connected extender make their debut at Cable Show 2012 Posted: 21 May 2012 06:24 AM PDT
Now that TiVo has delivered updated software for its Premiere boxes its focus is turning to some new hardware accessories, including the TiVoToGo-style transcoder we saw at CES, now dubbed Stream (top), and the IP extender set-top box mentioned earlier this year (bottom). According to TiVo's press release, both boxes will be available at retail and via the various cable operators that are offering its DVRs to their customers, while avialability will be announced "in the coming months". The Stream transcoder reformats live and recorded video from a Premiere DVR for viewing on mobile devices or tablets (including sideloading for offline viewing away from the home), and TiVo says it's the first to stream or download shows simultaneously to multiple devices like iPads or iPhones without interrupting what's being watched. The IP box on the other hand is all about multiroom, designed to pull in either live or recorded video from a Premiere Q plus cable VOD and internet content, similar to the existing Preview but without the CableCARD tuner. A press release follows after the break, while Zatz Not Funny has a few pics of them on the floor at this week's 2012 NCTA Cable Show. TiVo Expands Whole-Home and Multi-Screen Offerings TiVo Introduces a Low-Cost IP Set-Top Box to Extend the Full TiVo Experience to Additional Televisions in the Home BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/21/2012 -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in advanced television services, including digital video recorders (DVRs), for consumers, content distributors and consumer electronics manufacturers, today announced two major enhancements to its whole-home viewing solution. Its IP set-top box, delivers the TiVo experience on secondary televisions throughout the home. TiVo Stream, provides transcoding to enable content viewing on mobile devices. Through these new products, operators working with TiVo can give their subscribers the content they want on any screen within the home, including secondary televisions, tablets and smart phones and all through the same easy-to-use TiVo interface. For example, the IP set-top box complements the home's primary TiVo DVR by extending the TiVo experience onto secondary TVs including live and recorded television viewing. TiVo Stream delivers content to a customer's tablet or mobile device, creating a cohesive viewing experience no matter how they choose to watch their programs. Both products are optimized for operator distribution, including automated provisioning and activation, and the low-capital costs that operators demand. Tom Rogers, President and CEO, TiVo Inc., said, "Consumers not only want an enjoyable TV experience, but now demand choice and the flexibility to watch content on multiple devices and screens within the home. TiVo has worked with our operator customers to create a suite of affordable companion devices that deliver a cohesive experience regardless of the screen the customer wants to use." The IP set-top box works with the TiVo Premiere Q, a home's primary gateway device, to give consumers access to live and recorded TV, operator VOD, plus broadband-delivered content on every TV in the house. This is delivered through the innovative TiVo experience consumers have come to know and love. It includes integrated MoCA to simplify home networking and multi-room applications. TiVo Stream seamlessly delivers the content available on a consumer's TiVo Premiere or Premiere Q DVR to alternative screens such as iPads and iPhones. Unlike similar offerings in the market, this is the first product to enable streaming or download of shows simultaneously to multiple portable devices without interrupting what's playing on the television. The power of TiVo Stream enables users to quickly transfer shows to their mobile device for viewing outside the home. TiVo will release both products at retail and through select cable operators. Additional details on availability for both the IP set-top box and TiVo Stream will be announced in the coming months. TiVo unveiled details about both products during the 2012 NCTA Cable Show in Boston. For more information visit the TiVo booth #1859 located in the main exhibit hall. |
| EU competition head gives Google a 'matter of weeks' to offer an antitrust fix Posted: 21 May 2012 06:07 AM PDT
The European Union has been taking a leisurely pace investigating Google over possible antitrust abuses, but it's now accelerating to a full-on sprint. European Commission competition head Joaquin Almunia has given Google just a "matter of weeks" to propose how it would patch things up and soften fears that it was unfairly pushing its own web services over others. If Google makes the Commission happy, Almunia says, the whole investigation might wrap up and avoid fines. Google hasn't responded yet, but we wouldn't guarantee that it makes a deal: its execs have usually argued that there's nothing keeping users from going to another search site, and the company has been eager to emphasize that competition still exists. That said, Google only has to see what happened to Microsoft to know how expensive an EU antitrust fight can be. |
| AMD launches R-Series chip for next-gen casinos, surveillance systems, distractions Posted: 21 May 2012 06:01 AM PDT
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform SUNNYVALE, Calif. -5/21/2012 AMD (NYSE: AMD) today launched the AMD Embedded R-Series accelerated processing unit (APU) platform. Designed for mid- to high-end graphics-intensive applications such as digital signage, casino gaming, point-of-sale systems and kiosks, as well as parallel-processing-intensive applications spanning medical imaging and security/surveillance, the AMD Embedded R-Series APU combines the new "Piledriver" CPU architecture, an evolution of the "Bulldozer" architecture, with discrete-class, DirectX® 11-capable AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 Series graphics in a heterogeneous multicore embedded processing platform. "AMD pioneered the embedded APU to offer our customers a high-performance, power-efficient, small form-factor embedded processor," said Buddy Broeker, director, AMD Embedded Solutions. "With the AMD Embedded R-Series, we are taking our APU technology to the next level. By leveraging its seamlessly integrated heterogeneous system architecture, developers can tap into a high-performance and efficient parallel processing engine to accelerate their graphics- and compute-intensive applications, all while using industry-standard libraries such as OpenCL™ and DirectCompute." The AMD Embedded R-Series APU integrates dedicated resources that enable exceptional performance with shared resources to help reduce power consumption and die space. Because of its scalability, the new APU provides developers with the flexibility to leverage the same board design and software stack for a variety of applications. And with its discrete-class graphics integrated into the processor, applications that previously required a separate graphics processor or card now can be delivered on a wide range of form factors. Developers working with the AMD Embedded R-Series APU can implement remote management, client virtualization and security capabilities to help reduce deployment costs and increase security and reliability of their AMD R-Series based platform through AMD DAS 1.0 featuring DASH 1.1, AMD Virtualization and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 support. "In VDC's opinion, the AMD Embedded R-Series APU capitalizes on a number of trends around hardware integration and software development. It combines a CPU and GPU in a heterogeneous multicore platform and provides software migration through tools like OpenCL™," said Jonathan Hastings, analyst with VDC Research Group. "This product provides a new platform for developers building graphics-intensive embedded applications that require HD video or realistic and interactive 3D effects, as well as compute-intensive applications that can benefit from high-performance parallel processing." Multimedia enhancements available for the AMD Embedded R-Series APU include: A video compression engine that provides a dedicated hardware encoder for video to quickly and efficiently encode video for applications like video conferencing or surveillance; For applications that benefit from multiple displays, such as casino gaming or video walls in digital signage, the AMD Embedded R-Series APU supports connection to four independent displays, which can be utilized to display four independent video feeds or a single video feed distributed across a four-panel display. By adding a discrete AMD Radeon™ Embedded graphics card to the system, the number of independent displays can increase up to 101. "AMD's embedded technologies are an important part of our strategy in developing a broad range of powerful solutions across a variety of industries including infotainment, medical imaging and more," said, Dirk Finstel, CTO of Kontron. "We are excited about taking full advantage of the more powerful AMD Embedded R-Series APUs in our designs." Edward Price, managing director of Advantech-Innocore said, "The AMD Embedded R-Series platform delivers a good combination of high-performance integrated 3D graphics, relatively low power consumption, and a full x16 PCIe graphics slot for high end, flexible graphics solutions along with the essential product lifecycle required for our industry sector. A good price/performance combination is key for us in order to offer leading edge technology to the casino gaming market. Advantech-Innocore is convinced that the graphics performance of the new AMD Embedded R-Series APU will provide an exciting solution for many of our customers." A variety of AMD customers are announcing market-ready products incorporating the AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform today including: Advantech-Innocore – System solution for high-performance casino gaming applications Supporting Resources Visit the AMD Embedded R-Series Platform site |
| 'Bond 50' 22 movie Blu-ray collection details revealed, ships in September (video) Posted: 21 May 2012 05:41 AM PDT
MGM and 20th Century Fox revealed during CES that all 22 of the James Bond movies would be released together for the first time in the Bond 50 Blu-ray disc collection this fall, and now ahead of the Cannes International Film Festival there's additional details to share. The Bond 50 set will include 23 discs -- one for each movie and its bonus content, plus an extra containing two Bond featurettes digging into the world of James Bond and the six actors who have played him, plus videoblogs from the upcoming flick Skyfall (there's an open slot in the specially designed case for it as well). The set ships September 24th in the UK and September 25th in the US with other countries getting it the same week. While no price is mentioned in the press release, Amazon currently is taking preorders for $199. That's a hefty price but if you absolutely must have all of Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan and Craig in one box this is it. The release with all the details follows after the break, plus the same trailer for the boxed set, a video reveal of the box itself, and the just revealed trailer for Skyfall, which is due to hit theaters October 26th in the UK and November 9th in the US.
CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF 007 WITH THE EXPLOSIVE "We have a whole program of exciting activities planned for our 50th anniversary year, beginning with today's announcement, by Fox, of the release of all 22 films on Blu-ray for the very first time,'' added Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, with Eon Productions. "We are also delighted that Fox has unveiled a specially designed anniversary poster which we hope the fans will love as much as we do. Our website, 007.com will be regularly updated with all the latest anniversary news and events." |
| More PlayStation Vita bundles coming to Europe, planning a visit to the Eiffel Tower Posted: 21 May 2012 05:31 AM PDT
Sony's delivering a pair of PlayStation Vita bundles to European customers to tempt cost-conscious consumers to splash out on the new handheld. You'll be able to snag a WiFi only console with a 4GB memory stick and Uncharted: Golden Abyss for €249 ($320) or a 3G-enabled unit with the 4GB storage and a download code for Motorstorm: RC for €299 ($380). There's no word on when the pair will arrive, but it's hoped that in the not-too-distant future, they'll climb on a long-haul and arrive Stateside, too. |
| Leap Motion reveals super-accurate motion control tech, $70 device to change the UI game Posted: 21 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT
In many respects, Microsoft has led the charge towards a future of gesture-based controls with its Kinect, and other tech giants like Samsung and Apple are getting in on the action, too. The move to motion controls isn't limited to the big boys, however. Leap Motion has created a new device, called the Leap, it claims is 200 times more accurate than existing technology and will take gesture controls to the next level. It's about the size of a pack of gum, and once connected to your computer via USB, it creates a four-cubic-foot virtual workspace. Within that area, it tracks all ten of your fingers simultaneously to within 1/100 of a millimeter -- that level of accuracy allows for rudimentary gestures like pinch-to-zoom and more complex actions like manipulating 3D-rendered objects. Naturally, the company isn't telling much about the black magic making it happen, but Leap Motion claims that its software can be embedded in almost anything with an onboard computer, from phones to refrigerators. Users can customize it to suit their needs with custom gestures and sensitivity settings, in addition to chaining multiple Leap devices together to create a larger workspace. Plus, Leap Motion has created an SDK for devs to create Leap-compatible applications and an app discovery platform to distribute them to others. That means the Leap can work in a variety of use cases, from simply navigating your desktop to gaming and computer-aided design. The best part? Leap brings you this next-gen UX for a mere $69.99, and a select few can pre-order them now, with the full roll-out coming this winter. Full details follow in the PR below, and you can see the Leap in action in the videos after the break.
Leap Motion Unveils World's Most Accurate 3-D Motion Control Technology for Computing Leap device, sensitive enough to track individual fingertips, available for limited pre-order at just $69.99 San Francisco – May 21, 2012 – Leap Motion, the motion-control software and hardware company changing the future of human/computer interaction, today announced the Leap, the world's most accurate 3-D motion control device. It will change the way people control their laptops and desktop computers. The Leap is 200 times more sensitive than existing technologies and will cost a fraction of the price, just $69.99. Open today for pre-orders, the Leap will ship to consumers this winter. Leap Motion also has begun accepting requests for free developer kits today. Thousands will be provided in the coming months to let developers create a wide array of Leap-based applications. The Leap creates a three-dimensional interaction space of 4 cubic feet to control a computer more precisely and quickly than a mouse or touchscreen, and as reliably as a keyboard. Leap Motion's patented software, the heart of the Leap, represents four years of research and a series of major mathematical breakthroughs by co-founder and CTO David Holz. The Leap is accurate to within 1/100 of a millimeter, a precision level required for touch-free natural gesture controls like pinch-to-zoom. The Leap addresses the shortcomings of all existing human/computer interaction tools by enabling a 3-D workspace that recognizes intuitive gestures. It is the first product in history to accurately sense the individual movements of all 10 of the user's fingers, and can also track objects like a pen. Traditional mouse-and-keyboard navigation turns actions that are intuitive in the real world, like drawing a picture or manipulating 3-D objects, into highly technical tasks. Existing motion-sensing technology is crude, inefficient and often frustrating, and even touchscreen technology is limited by a two-dimensional workspace and scale restraints. Computing tasks ranging from simple to complex can now be accomplished with natural hand and finger movements. Current uses of the Leap include: • Basic computing tasks like navigating an operating system or browsing through Web pages Future applications from developers could include medical imaging, robotics, unique art creations, computer-aided design, virtual-reality environments, training simulators for complex manual tasks and more. The Leap plugs directly into a USB port and calibrates in one step, allowing users to quickly begin controlling their computers with natural hand and finger movements. Users can fine-tune the Leap's sensitivity settings, create their own custom gestures and even network more than one Leap together to create a larger interaction space. "Breakthroughs in technology come in all sizes, but often the very biggest disruptors come in very small packages: the computer chip, the mouse, the smartphone and now the Leap. Roughly the size of your pinky finger, I believe the Leap is the future of how people will interact with their devices," said technology visionary Bill Warner, founder of Avid Technology and a Leap Motion investor. "What's previously been an expensive special effect in movies is now an affordable everyday reality, in full 3-D. With the Leap, you use both hands and all 10 fingers to work within your computer's virtual environment just as easily as you do in the real world." Developers who want to create Leap-compatible applications can request a Leap software development kit via Leap Motion's website at http://leapmotion.com/developer-application/. Leap Motion's app discovery platform will make it easy for developers to promote and monetize their own applications for the Leap. The Leap will be widely available this winter at a suggested retail price of $69.99. A limited number are available for pre-order at http://leapmotion.com/order. About Leap Motion Based in San Francisco, Leap Motion is a motion-control software and hardware company developing the world's most powerful and sensitive 3-D motion-control and motion-sensing technology. Leap Motion's first product, the Leap, will be available in early 2013. The Leap is 200 times more sensitive than existing motion-control technology, making it the first product to let users navigate and interact with computer applications using natural hand and finger movements. Founded in 2010 by Michael Buckwald and David Holz, the company has raised $14.55 million to date. |
| Linux kernel 3.4 is out: supports Trinity, Southern Islands, Kepler, Medfield and more Posted: 21 May 2012 04:41 AM PDT
Heavens, it's already time for another Linux kernel refresh. We're now looking at 3.4, which is available for download now. Whereas the last version was all about green robots, this update focuses on support for the latest processors and graphics cards, including AMD's Trinity and Radeon HD 7000-series, NVIDIA's Kepler stack, plus the graphical component inside Intel's Medfield mobile chip. As if that wasn't enough, there are plenty more changes at the source link, along with a serene missive from the man himself. |
| CableWiFi ties up 50,000 WiFi hotspots for cable subscribers to share Posted: 21 May 2012 04:26 AM PDT
When it comes to supergroups, The Traveling Wilbury's haven't got anything on these guys. Bright House, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox and Time Warner are teaming up to share around 50,000 metro WiFi hotspots for their customers, under the banner of "CableWiFi." New York City and the Tri-State area, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando and Philadelphia will be among the first to get the service, with growth to more cities pledged for the future. If nothing else, it should be a good way to stick it to the man when he snatches your unlimited data plan. Major U.S. Cable Companies Join Forces on WiFi BOSTON, May 21, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable today announce that they will enable each other's high-speed Internet customers to access their metro WiFi networks, totaling over 50,000 hotspots. To simplify access, a new network name, "CableWiFi", has been created for subscribers to use when accessing the WiFi hotspots outside their home market. The first implementation is already complete as Bright House Networks and Cablevision launched "CableWiFi" alongside their branded WiFi networks in the New York City area and central Florida earlier this month. Over the next few months, the "CableWiFi" network name will be added by each of the cable companies to their branded WiFi hotspots. "This effort adds great value to our high speed Internet customers by providing free wireless Internet access on all of their WiFi enabled devices in our markets and additional areas across the country," said Nomi Bergman, President of Bright House Networks. "We believe that WiFi is a superior approach to mobile data, and that cable providers are best positioned to build the highest-capacity national network offering customers fast and reliable Internet connections when away from their home or business broadband service," said Kristin Dolan, Cablevision's senior executive vice president of product management and marketing. "We've built an extensive WiFi network in our own service area, and see real value and potential in other leading providers joining with us to extend that connectivity to major markets across the country." Dave Watson, Chief Operating Officer of Comcast Cable added, "Mobility is an increasingly important part of our Xfinity services product roadmap. WiFi technology, coupled with our agreements with Verizon Wireless, are two significant ways we are executing on our strategy to deliver the best in- and out-of-home communications experience for our customers." "The way customers are using our service continues to evolve," said Jill Campbell, Cox Communications COO. "This is a new area of opportunity that we need to explore." "We have long been the leading providers of high-speed internet services in our customers' homes. Through our rollout of WiFi and the benefits of this collaboration we greatly increase the value and reach of our high-speed internet service, providing access to broadband outside the home and in cities across the country," said Rob Marcus, President and COO of Time Warner Cable. When traveling outside their home markets, high-speed Internet subscribers of the participating companies will look for the "CableWiFi" network and through a simple sign-on process connect using the same credentials as when accessing their providers' WiFi networks. In the coming months, users will be able to have their devices auto-connect to the Internet when located in any of the "Cable WiFi" hotspots. The participating cable operators currently offer more than 50,000 WiFi hotspots located in New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, and Philadelphia. The operators plan to continue to grow the number of WiFi hotspots and expand into several additional cities. The network has both indoor and outdoor WiFi hotspots located in popular, high traffic locations, such as shopping districts, cafes, malls, arenas, restaurants, parks and beaches. Subscribers will be able to find the nearest WiFi hotspots by visiting the WiFi homepage of their current cable provider or going to www.cablewifi.com . This is the largest and most inclusive WiFi sharing effort among cable operators to date. In early 2010, Cablevision, Comcast and Time Warner Cable entered into an agreement allowing their customers in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Connecticut to access WiFi hotspots offered by each operator in these areas. |
| Hands-on with the MakerBot robot petting zoo at Maker Faire (video) Posted: 21 May 2012 04:22 AM PDT
A robot petting zoo at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012? What could possibly go wrong? Nothing, actually. The kids loved it -- only the robots cowered in fear (of being sat on). MakerBot spent eight weeks building four different species of robots using its Replicator 3D printer -- wheelies (robot chickens), bubble bots, button bots and bumper bots. Judging by the crowds the event was a complete success. We caught up with Michael Curry of MakerBot who told us how the robot petting zoo came to be and walked us through some of the robot specifics -- designs that should appear on the company's Thingiverse website by the end of the week. Next stop: Maker Faire New York. Are you ready for an invasion of cute robots? Find out in our hands-on video after the break.
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| Unofficial S-Voice app gets gagged, Samsung waits for its flagship hero Posted: 21 May 2012 03:59 AM PDT
Did you get a chance to download Samsung's voice assistant APK over the weekend? Don't bother trying now, as Samsung (or Vlingo, which is behind the app) has locked down access for unauthorized devices -- namely anything that isn't a Galaxy S III. According to xda-developers, S-Voice's command requests are being rebuffed once Vlingo's servers detect any phone that's presumably not inspired by nature. There's just over a week to go, however, and soon you'll be able to shoot the breeze with your new smartphone love all you want. |
| Raspberry Pi hands-on and Eben Upton interview at Maker Faire (video) Posted: 21 May 2012 03:21 AM PDT
Unless you've been hiding under a rock lately, we're pretty sure you've heard about the Raspberry Pi by now -- a $25 credit-card sized PC that brings ARM/Linux to the Arduino form factor. As a refresher, the system features a 700MHz Broadcom BCM2835 SoC with an ARM11 CPU, a Videocore 4 GPU (which handles HD H.264 video and OpenGL ES 2.0) and 256MB RAM. The board includes an SD card slot, HDMI ouput, composite video jack, 3.5mm audio socket, micro-USB power connector and GPIO header. Model A ($25) comes with one USB port, while Model B ($35) provides two USB ports and a 100BaseT Ethernet socket. Debian is recommended, but Raspberry Pi can run most ARM-compatible 32-bit OSes. This past weekend at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012 we ran into Eben Upton, Executive Director of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and took the opportunity to spend some quality time with a production board and to discuss this incredible PC. We touched upon the origins of the system (inspired by the BBC Micro, one of the ARM founders' projects), Moore's law, the wonders of simple computers and upcoming products / ideas -- including Adafruit's Pi Plate and Raspberry Pi's prototype camera add-on. On the subject of availability, the company expects that "there will be approximately 200,000 units in the field by the end of June". Take a look at our hands-on gallery below and our video interview after the break.
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| iDrum lets you rock out like Animal on your iDevice for $70 Posted: 21 May 2012 02:55 AM PDT
If using almost any surface as an instrument to drop some beats is out of the question, Dream Cheeky's iDrum might be a decent second choice. The rechargeable, seven-piece drum kit connects to any iDevice running iOS 5 or higher via Bluetooth and rings up at $70. Despite a roughly 9.5- by 12-inch form factor that doesn't exactly look bomb-proof, Dream Cheeky assures us that it "can withstand a right good smashing." That hardware pairs with the free Sound System app so you can release your inner Timbaland by tapping along with pre-recorded songs or creating, recording and playing back your own jam sessions. And, if you need a break from working in your beat laboratory, the company plans to release Dream Cheeky Arcade apps so you can get your game on. If you're itching to break into a digital drum solo, you can pre-order now and expect to see it ship to your abode on May 31. In the meantime, a video of the iDrum in action awaits you after the break. |
| Arris reveals Moxi DVR release 2.0 with web browser, apps and iPad remote Posted: 21 May 2012 02:07 AM PDT
If your cable company is offering Arris' Moxi Whole Home DVR setup (we've seen it pop up on Shaw, BendBroadband and Wide Open West so far) you should have a few new features headed your way. This week at the NCTA Cable Show 2012 it's debuting Moxi software release 2.0 which adds in a WebKit-based browser, downloadable apps and an appstore the TV provider can customize itself, as well as APIs and SDKs aplenty to bring in third party developers. With the SDK, other companies can pair mobile devices and build in remotes or stream content, while Arris is also showing off its own iPad app (images after the break) for remote DVR scheduling. Unfortunately, we're told these upgrades won't trickle down to owners of Moxi's retail DVRs, but considering how close they came to total deactivation, we're not that surprised. ARRIS Introduces New Moxi® Software and Support for Advanced Web Services and Application Development SUWANEE, Ga., May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ARRIS Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARRS) announces new software for the ARRIS Whole Home Solution. The Moxi software release 2.0 contains an advanced HTML5 WebKit-based browser as well as support for MSO customizable application storefronts and downloadable applications. The release also features an advanced Web Services application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK) to facilitate rapid application development on the platform. These key new offerings exemplify the ARRIS commitment to open architectures and providing broadband network operators a flexible platform to accelerate innovation and feature delivery. Support for Rapid Web Application Development The Moxi Web Services API provides a full featured and RESTful command and control-interface enabling authorized partners to implement functions such as: Media Player remote control The Moxi SDK provides tools to create unique branding options within the Moxi User Interface including name, logo, and application placement within the application store. In combination, the Moxi SDK and Moxi Web Services API provide operators and third party developers a rich development environment to create value added applications driving further customization and service differentiation and ultimately stronger customer retention. ARRIS Features iPad® App at NCTA 2012 At the upcoming NCTA Cable Show, ARRIS will also showcase a mobile application for the iPad that utilizes the new Moxi SDK and Moxi Web Services API to enable new ways for consumers to interact with the ARRIS Whole Home Solution, including the ability to remotely access and schedule recordings. "We strive to deliver value to our customers and help them deliver an engaging and desirable consumer experience," said Ron Miller, ARRIS Vice President, Moxi Product Management. "Release 2.0 of Moxi, with its integrated browser, application store and toolsets open the platform to expand that experience and present powerful extensions for the solution." The capabilities of current Moxi software have found wide acceptance with early users of the ARRIS Whole Home Solution including Wow!, Shaw, Bend Broadband, and Buckeye Cable. Designed to satisfy the most demanding digital cable entertainment enthusiasts, the Whole Home System is a flexible, easy-to-use platform for consumers to experience a full range of digital entertainment services and to effortlessly discover, experience, and share HD and SD media. The ARRIS IP Video Architecture Solution includes: The ARRIS Whole Home Solution -- a converged voice, data, and video platform consisting of media and transport gateways, players, operating systems, middleware, and user interfaces, all developed and supported by ARRIS. Visit: www.arrisi.com/get/whs/index.asp for more information on the ARRIS Whole Home Solution. |
| UK bookseller Waterstones to start selling Kindles Posted: 21 May 2012 01:06 AM PDT
The UK's biggest bookstore chain has announced that it will start selling Kindles alongside other digital services from Amazon. Waterstones stores will let Kindle owners digitally browse books in-store and link up with special offers, tying into the chain's plans for substantial renovations that would also include dedicated digital book areas and free WiFi. The move |
| Better Place takes its electric vehicle network in Israel for a silent spin Posted: 21 May 2012 12:22 AM PDT
Better Place has been striving to make the world, just that, with its battery-swapping approach to electric vehicles since as far back as 2008. There's been a modicum of success, with outlets and swapping stations peppered as far and wide as Denmark, California, Australia and Japan. Now, the Associated Press reports that world's first nationwide electric car network -- this time in Israel -- has been given its first test. This only equates to four battery stations at the moment, with a further 40 to follow in the second half of the year. However, the firm maintains, that even with the current infrastructure, users could comfortably drive the entire length of the nation. Renault will sell a version of its Fluence EV customized to work with the battery stations for $32,000, with different mileage options on offer. Is this the future of electric motoring? We don't know, but anything that's this much quicker than overnight charging is fine by us. |
| Elaborate Nike YouTube video has hidden Sonic Game (video) Posted: 20 May 2012 10:42 PM PDT
When you've got a marketing budget the size of Nike's, a few international footballers and a glossy video aren't really enough. That's why its latest "My time is now" campaign is an all out interactive spend-fest, complete with a hidden Sega Sonic the Hedgehog mini-game. The standard YouTube version (as seen over the break) isn't interactive, but head over to Nike's official channel, and it's a whole different ball game. Clicking on players slow-mos the action, bringing up player details etc., and there are nine hidden "tunnels' to find -- one of which being the Sonic game. Can you find it? Hint: look for the pitch-side adverts with go faster boot on. Your time is now...
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| ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity Series hits the FCC Posted: 20 May 2012 09:45 PM PDT
Remember that high-resolution variant of the Transformer Prime ASUS trotted out at CES? The federal government just finished putting it through its paces. The WiFi version of the firm's upcoming Transformer Pad Infinity (formally numbered TF700T) sauntered its way through the FCC, revealing itself as the slate's Tegra 3 option, if only for its lack of having a cellular radio. The tablet's LTE equipped sibling, however, was nowhere to be found -- though we're sure the feds will put it through the official gauntlet soon enough. Hit the source link below to dive into the official report. |
| Hands-on with the Electric Imp at Maker Faire (video) Posted: 20 May 2012 09:20 PM PDT
Yesterday at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012 we visited the Electric Imp booth to chat with the startup's founders and get some hands-on time with the tiny wireless computer. What is the Electric Imp? It's a module containing an ARM Cortex M3 SoC with embedded WiFi that's built into an SD card form factor. While the device looks just like and SD card, it's not pin-compatible with the standard -- the idea is to leverage a reliable and affordable connector for the Electric Imp. The module is not very useful on its own -- it only comes to life when inserted into one of several boards, which provide the Electric Imp with power and access to the real world. In turn the device gives these boards a brain and an Internet connection. Eventually the company hopes that appliance manufacturers will incorporate Electric Imp slots into products to make them network aware. We talked with CEO Hugo Fiennes (formerly with Apple) about the past, present and future of the Electric Imp so hit the break to read more and to watch our hands-on video. What can you do with the Electric Imp? You can control almost anything wirelessly over the Internet -- better yet, you can access each module using a simple web-based interface which combines Planner, a graphical way to interconnect the devices and Squirrel, a Java / C-like scripting language to program each Electric Imp. When you insert a module into a board or appliance, it powers up, receives a unique ID, connects via WiFi to the startup's servers and downloads / runs the program that's assigned to that specific board or appliance -- as such any Electric Imp can be used. Since there's no physical interface on the device to configure WiFi, the company's developed Blinkup, a way to enter SSID and password information on any iOS and Android smartphone and beam it to the Electric Imp's light sensor by rapidly pulsing the handset's screen on and off. We saw a number of Electric Imp demos and appliance ideas at the booth including a simple hand-held "detonator" toggle switch with LED, seven-segment counter, water level sensor, servo-controlled gauge, RGB light, power socket, Christmas light, power monitor, toy washing machine, 16x16 LED display and receipt printer (the latter two being combined to show the avatars and tweets of anyone mentioning the Electric Imp) -- all Internet aware. The startup's servers provide simple access to web services like Twitter and even text messaging (via Twillo) -- letting developers focus on core appliance functionality rather than the intricacies of HTTP requests, WiFi APIs and network sockets. The Electric Imp will be shipping for $25 at the "end of next month" (late June) along with three developer boards:
A mailing list is available on the company's website with an ordering system coming soon.
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| Yahoo to sell back half of its Alibaba stake for $7.1 billion Posted: 20 May 2012 09:01 PM PDT
It's been a bit of a sour year for Yahoo -- it's seen the departure of one of its founding fathers, suffered through a patent dispute with Facebook and lost its new CEO in a sea of scandalous accusations. Yikes. At least former head honcho Scott Thompson's negotiations to sell the firm's stake in Alibaba seem to be going through -- the two firms just announced plans to redistribute about half of Yahoo's 40-percent stake in said Chinese tech giant. Under the current agreement, Alibaba will purchase 20-percent of its fully diluted shares back from the Silicon Valley company, netting Yahoo $7.1 billion in compensation. Yahoo will also be permitted to sell an additional 10-percent of its stake in a future IPO, or else require Alibaba to purchase it back at the IPO price. Despite Yahoo's stake changing hands, the companies will still be working together -- Yahoo has cleared Alibaba to continue to operate Yahoo! China (which was acquired by the latter back in October 2005) under the Yahoo! brand for up to four years -- in exchange for royalty payments, of course. Finally, Alibaba will license various patents to Yahoo moving forward. What's next? Well, Alibaba CEO Jack Ma did let it slip at AsiaD that he's considered buying Yahoo as a whole, and repurchasing the firm's assets in Asia could be a step in that direction. Read on for the official press release in all its financial glory. Yahoo! and Alibaba Reach Agreement on Comprehensive Plan for Alibaba Stake Agreement Realizes Significant Value, Immediate Liquidity and Path to Future Monetization Yahoo! Board Increases Share Repurchase Plan by US$5 Billion SUNNYVALE, Calif. & HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for a staged and comprehensive value realization plan for Yahoo!'s stake in Alibaba. "Today's agreement provides clarity for our shareholders on a substantial component of Yahoo!'s value and reaffirms the significance of our relationship with Alibaba" The agreement also establishes a framework for Yahoo! to monetize its remaining interest in Alibaba in stages. First, at the time of an initial public offering (IPO) of Alibaba in the future, Alibaba will be required either to repurchase one-quarter of Yahoo!'s current stake at the IPO price or allow Yahoo! to sell those shares in the IPO. Second, following such an IPO, Yahoo! has registration rights and rights to marketing support from Alibaba to enable Yahoo! to dispose of its remaining shares, at times of Yahoo!'s choosing following a customary lock-up period. This agreement is a result of extensive discussions between the two parties and a comprehensive review of both taxable and tax-efficient alternatives. Yahoo! and Alibaba believe this agreement to be the best path to align incentives and maximize value for shareholders of both companies and it paves the way for Alibaba to achieve future public market liquidity for all of Alibaba's shareholders. For Yahoo!, the agreement provides for a staged exit over time, balancing near-term liquidity and return of cash to shareholders with the opportunity to participate in future value appreciation of Alibaba. "Today's agreement provides clarity for our shareholders on a substantial component of Yahoo!'s value and reaffirms the significance of our relationship with Alibaba," said Ross Levinsohn, Interim CEO of Yahoo!. "We look forward to continued collaboration with the Alibaba team on business initiatives as we explore joint opportunities for growth and benefit from Alibaba's future. I want to thank Jack Ma, Joe Tsai and the Alibaba team, as well as Tim Morse, Michael Callahan and our Yahoo! team for their dedication in achieving this successful outcome." "This transaction opens a new chapter in our relationship with Yahoo!," said Jack Ma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. "I look forward to working with Ross Levinsohn and the Yahoo! team as Alibaba builds China's leading e-commerce company. Yahoo!'s global audience reach will provide attractive partnership opportunities for Alibaba to explore markets outside of China. The transaction will establish a balanced ownership structure that enables Alibaba to take our business to the next level as a public company in the future." "We look forward to delivering the proceeds of the near-term transaction to our shareholders, and to the further enhancement of value and the additional monetization in the future that this agreement enables," said Timothy R. Morse, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Yahoo!. In addition to the share repurchase, the companies have also agreed to amend their existing technology and intellectual property licensing agreement. Among other things, this amendment will result in Yahoo! granting Alibaba a transitional license to continue to operate Yahoo! China under the Yahoo! brand for up to four years, while restrictions on Yahoo!'s ability to make other investments in China will be terminated. Alibaba will make an upfront lump sum royalty payment of US$550 million to Yahoo! and continuing royalty payments for up to four years. In addition, Alibaba will license certain patents to Yahoo!. Upon closing of the repurchase transaction, the Alibaba shareholders' agreement will be amended so that the parties' respective rights will be commensurate with the parties' post-closing level of ownership in Alibaba. Yahoo! will continue to be represented on Alibaba's board of directors with the right to appoint one of four existing directors. Yahoo! intends to return substantially all of the after-tax cash proceeds to shareholders following the closing of the transaction. While the form of the return of capital to shareholders has not yet been finalized, Yahoo!'s board has increased Yahoo!'s share buyback authorization by US $5 billion concurrently with this transaction. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Alibaba will be required to close the repurchase with respect to at least one-quarter of Yahoo!'s current stake in Alibaba regardless of the amount of financing raised, and up to one-half of Yahoo!'s current stake if it obtains the requisite financing. Alibaba intends to finance the repurchase through a combination of its own cash resources, debt, equity and equity-linked financing. The transaction is expected to close within approximately six months. UBS Investment Bank acted as lead financial advisor to Yahoo! and Allen & Company LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. also served as financial advisors. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as lead legal counsel to Yahoo! and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP also acted as legal counsel. Munger, Tolles, & Olson LLP acted as legal counsel to the Yahoo! Board of Directors. Credit Suisse acted as lead financial advisor to Alibaba and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as lead legal counsel to Alibaba. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP acted as counsel to Alibaba on certain financing and Hong Kong legal matters and Fenwick & West LLP acted as counsel to Alibaba on intellectual property matters. |
| How would you change Native Instruments' Maschine Mikro? Posted: 20 May 2012 07:18 PM PDT
Native Instruments' gear is a must-have for those in the beat making world. We put the cheaper, dinkier Maschine Mikro through its paces and found that while we loved the portability, we weren't so hot on the lack of MIDI ports and absence of knobs for twiddlin'. That said, we weren't able to hate on the compromises that were made to bring it in under $600 and small enough to stow in a backpack, but how about you guys out there? When you've used this gear day in, day out, can you forgive its flaws in exchange for that extra cash in your hand, or do you wish you'd saved up a little more? If you were in NI's position, what would you have done differently? |
| Inhabitat's Week in Green: NY Design Week, a hybrid Porsche and recycled sportswear Posted: 20 May 2012 05:30 PM PDT Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. Want a sneak peek into the future of design? This week Inhabitat hit NY Design Week to uncover the best and the brightest in green interior and furniture design. At ICFF we spotted an ethereal series of 3D printed Hyphae lamps and we were wowed by the iTree -- a massive iPod sound system made out of an entire tree trunk! We also saw LED technology take on surprising new forms - like Light and Contrast's tiny flower-shaped lamps and Peteris Zilbers' quirky mood broom lamp (yes, it's shaped like a broom). We'll continue with the New York Design Week coverage throughout next week, so come back to Inhabitat in the coming days for more fresh new design finds, and read on beyond the break for more in the here and now. We've been thinking about green technology lately -- not only the local level, but also on the international and even interplanetary scale, beginning with a team of engineers from Glasgow that is currently testing solar satellites that would be able to tap the sun's energy around the clock, regardless of weather conditions. Meanwhile, back on Earth, we were pleased to hear that Saudi Arabia, a nation that is practically synonymous with oil production, promised to invest over $100 billion to develop 41 gigawatts of solar power by 2032. Closer to the home front, a proposal backed by Google for a wind power transmission line stretching from Virginia to New Jersey cleared a major regulatory hurdle when it was given the green light by the federal government this week. Speaking of promising news for renewable energy, a study led by researchers from Yale and Harvard shows that Americans are willing to pay slightly higher electricity bills for clean energy, meaning that Americans are ahead of Congress when it comes to clean energy policy (big surprise there). And if you've been sitting on the fence about wind energy because you think all wind turbines are ugly, feast your eyes on the Enessere Hercules wind generator, a vertical axis wind turbine with wood blades that produces energy regardless of which way the wind is blowing. This week was also a big one for LEGO builders from around the world. South Korea broke the world record for the tallest LEGO skyscraper with a physics-defying 104.65-foot-tall tower in Seoul. But perhaps equally impressive is Thomas Poulsom's beautiful and ingenious set of LEGO birds, which are highly detailed and built to be as close to their real size as possible. In a development that should appeal to the inner Trekkie in all of us, an engineer known simply as "BTE Dan" believes that (with technology currently available) it is possible to create a full-size replica of the USS Enterprise, but instead of dilithium crystals, it would be powered by nuclear power. And in an unrelated bit of space-based news, NYC artist Tom Sachs teamed up with Nike to produce a new line of sportswear using recycled Mars Rover airbags, mainsails for boats, and even NASA spacesuits. Far out, man. In green transportation news, we've been busy drooling over Porsche's upcoming 918 Spyder Hybrid, which is reported to get more than 770 horsepower and an estimated 78 mpg fuel economy rating. It's a shame we'll have to wait until the end of 2013 before it goes into production. Another hybrid release to keep an eye out for will be the 2013 Ford C-MAX compact utility vehicle, an efficient five-seater that's scheduled to hit dealerships this fall. And in one of the more interesting developments of the week, Siemens announced that it would test its "eHighway of the Future" - a system of electric lines that will be used to power hybrid trucks in California. We've also been keeping tabs on Honda's new UNI-CUB, an electric, self-balancing, weight-shift controlled device that will almost certainly compete with the Segway for the title of personal mobility device that makes able-bodied people look the weirdest. |
| Motorola skipping Ice Cream Sandwich for some devices, worries it'll make them fat Posted: 20 May 2012 04:25 PM PDT
Despite Motorola's Android 4.0 rollout schedule, not every one of the manufacturer's devices are ready for dessert -- some, the outfit says, will be put on a diet. "Obviously we want the new release to improve our devices," the company said in a recent blog post, "If we determine that can't be done, well, then we're not able to upgrade that particular device." Handsets that are bogged down by Ice Cream Sandwich simply won't get an update. Even so, Motorola affirms that it's working closely with Google to keep its hardware up to date. |
| Refresh Roundup: week of May 14th, 2012 Posted: 20 May 2012 03:51 PM PDT
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
Other platforms
Refreshes we covered this week
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| Switched On: Clash of the troubled titans Posted: 20 May 2012 03:19 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Fans of the Lincoln-Kennedy coincidences can appreciate similarly contrived dynamics in comparing Nokia and RIM (neither of which, contrary to the occasionally expressed opinion, has been murdered despite "Apple and Android" consisting of three words and 15 letters). Both companies are former smartphone market share leaders -- RIM in North America, Nokia globally. Both have had success in developing economies with efficient operating systems that they plan to support indefinitely. Both developed reputations for high build quality and good antenna design, and both were initially dismissive of the iPhone as they continue to see Android as the path to commoditization. And after precipitous market share declines, both hired new CEOs. Nokia, a European company, hired a CEO raised in Canada. RIM, a Canadian company, hired a CEO raised in Europe. These men now struggle with keeping their companies part of a viable alternative to the two dominant marketplace offerings. Since embarking on their new operating system strategies, though, there have been many contrasts. While Nokia hired an outsider as a CEO, RIM hired an insider. Nokia decided to adopt a licensed OS; RIM decided to build its own (based largely on acquisitions). And now that both the Mobile World Congress and BlackBerry World conferences have passed, there's an opportunity to assess their comeback progress. Speed (Advantage: Nokia)In justifying its decision to sideline MeeGo to lab rat status, Stephen Elop noted that the company was on track to deliver only three MeeGo-powered handsets by 2014 despite having already shipped the lame duck N9. Since switching teams, though, it has begun to roll out Windows Phone globally in four different chassis and has made the biggest U.S carrier push in at least the last five years. RIM, on the other hand, has offered only a peek of BackBerry 10 on prototype hardware. Even if the company were to ship it tomorrow, much less stick to its "later this year" time frame, RIM would be the last major smartphone vendor to respond to the 2007 debut of the iPhone with an operating system transplant. Ecosystem (Advantage: Nokia)In 2010, as the iPhone was beginning to surge past the BlackBerry, Steve Jobs offered prescient criticism to his competitor on an Apple earnings call, saying that RIM had to "look beyond their area of strength and comfort, into the unfamiliar territory of trying to become a software platform company." In contrast, while Windows Phone may be playing catch-up to Brand A and Brand Other A, Microsoft knows a thing or two about developer programs and ecosystems. While the company has eased up on its message of integrating with other Microsoft products and services (an uneven proposition depending on the franchise), its Xbox Live support is a nice perk for avid gamers on Microsoft's home consoles and its mobile OS should get a recognition boost from the overlay of the Metro mural across Windows 8 PCs set to begin later this year. While Nokia still has higher market share than its Waterloo-based rival globally, RIM still has higher share than Nokia in the U.S. While BlackBerry World saw a commitment from Gameloft to support BlackBerry 10, there weren't many other announcements of support from popular consumer app providers. Rather, RIM highlighted support from cross-platform development environments aimed at bringing what in some cases is shlockware over from other platforms. Differentiation (Incomplete)At the debut of Windows Phone, Microsoft emphasized that the Windows Mobile successor was different than the incumbents, but the quadrangles filling its home screen winked on the faces of devices that bore little distinction when compared to Android devices from the same companies. Early Nokia flagships such as the N800 and, to a lesser extent, the N900, have changed that equation somewhat. Ecosystem-loyal Nokia has done little to tweak the interface of Windows Phone despite its license to do so. It has decided instead to differentiate with apps and services, such as the well-implemented Nokia Drive. But while Nokia Drive may give its developer an advantage over other Windows Phones, its advantage is mitigated versus Android, where nearly all handsets ship with the serviceable Google Navigation. More InfoIn contrast, RIM focused little of differentiation per se in providing its first public glimpse of BlackBerry 10, with only a passing reference to the speed bumps of the iPhone's Home button and Android's Back button. Rather, it spoke of productivity, mobility and flow. The apparent seamlessness, fluidity, and HTML-friendliness of BlackBerry 10 have led some to compare it to early demonstrations of the now exiled webOS; there are some valid and disconcerting parallels. However, RIM is in far better financial health than Palm was at the launch of webOS and, based on what we've seen so far from QNX on the PlayBook, there's cause for optimism that RIM's new OS will offer far better responsiveness than webOS ever did. Perhaps reflecting the strong foundation of its underlying plumbing, RIM has made a better case for true multitasking than we've seen from competitors. In the marathon that is the smartphone wars, Nokia may not have won the most recent lap, but at least it has run it. Choosing Windows Phone has allowed the handset company to manifest its comeback approach faster than RIM while letting Microsoft pick up the brunt of attracting developers. But RIM claims no regrets, noting that it is more convinced than ever that it took the right path in going it alone. When compared to today's menu-driven smartphone experience, BlackBerry 10 may be an ocean away. But RIM is designing that ocean so that BlackBerry users in particular will want to dive in. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director and principal analyst of the NPD Connected Intelligence service at The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. |
| Samsung's Focus 2 arrives at AT&T today, a slice of LTE-equipped Mango for $50 Posted: 20 May 2012 02:28 PM PDT
Not long after Samsung's SGH-i667 "Mandel" looked like it would never see the light of day, the Windows Phone 7.5 device made its official debut at CTIA, dubbed as the Focus 2. As expected, the phone is officially on sale today at AT&T retailers across the US, giving folks another option aside from the flagship Lumia 900 for a fix of LTE and Mango on the network. To refresh your memory, you'll find a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and VGA camera up front, and a 5MP shooter on back that capture 720p video. Internally, there's a 1.4GHz single-core CPU (exceedingly par for the course for Windows Phone at this point) and a 1,750mAh battery to hopefully ensure you'll have enough juice to get through the day. Despite the speedy connectivity, we'd be remiss not to mention that the Focus 2 packs a paltry 8GB of non-expandable storage and only comes in Glossy Pure White -- but for fifty bucks under a new two-year agreement, we won't kvetch too much. Our full review is coming soon, so hit the source link for more details in the meantime. |
| Voyager Mobile shakes off network issues, launches a few days behind schedule Posted: 20 May 2012 01:50 PM PDT
It's tough being the new kid in town -- ask Voyager Mobile, an up and coming MVNO that had its launch delayed by a "malicious network attack" last week. The tenacious firm may have missed its planned May 15th launch, but managed to pull things together in time for the weekend, piggybacking unlimited talk, text and data off of Sprint's CDMA and WiMAX network for $40 a month. A basic unlimited voice plan is also available to the tune of $20, without data allowances, of course. Phones are available too, albeit without subsidies -- Samsung's Epic 4G Touch or Galaxy S II will each set you back $550, though an assortment of more affordable devices can be had from $120 and up. Tempted to jump ship? Check out the source link below and let all your MVNO dreams come true. |
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