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- HTC One XL coming to Germany, drags LTE with it
- Jury issues verdict in Android suit, finds that Google doesn't infringe Oracle patents
- AT&T begins refarming 2G spectrum in New York City
- Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE pre-orders begin shipping to eager subs
- GameFly to begin publishing smartphone apps, will launch its own Android game store
- Opening the Book(Book) on Twelve South: between the covers of a Mac-exclusive accessory maker
- AT&T launches Samsung Galaxy Appeal GoPhone, available at Walmart on June 5th for $150
- Google Search for iPhone gets the 2.0 remake, full-screen search and swipes aplenty
- Gigabyte to unveil X11 on May 31st as lightest laptop ever, spooks us with talk of 'sixth element'
- Seagate to buy LaCie for $186 million, expand its storage empire
- Social Bicycles announces availability by end of summer, we go hands-on (video)
- Amazon adds 'hundreds' of Paramount movies to Prime, signals a Clear and Present Danger to free time
- Samsung rumored to tweak Galaxy Note 10.1 inside and out
- Nokia World broken up into smaller events, bumped up to September 5-6
- Incantor brings World of Warcraft to real life (hands-on)
- MIT's LiquiGlide could spell the end of slow-moving ketchup nightmares (video)
- NTT DoCoMo bids for 700MHz spectrum, will drop two big-ones if it succeeds
- Delorme's inReach two-way satellite communicator gets iOS support, sends iPhone texts from Timbuktu (video)
- Army spy blimp to launch within weeks: 300 feet long, $500 million, 'multi-intelligent'
- NHK working on Hybridcast interactive TV platform (video)
- NVIDIA outlines Kai platform, hopes to make good on quad-core $199 tablet promise
- Douglas Coupland's V-Pole unifies wireless connectivity and EV charging in an LED streetlight
- Casio Japan says its new Exilim EX-ZR300 compact camera is fast and furious
- Kyocera Hydro bares all for the FCC
- Lenovo beats PC market with 46 percent profit surge
- Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab to launch in UK next month
- Robo-fish swim into the ocean's funk, so you don't have to
- RAMPAGE 6 notepad runs Android 2.3 in a rugged package
- Hillcrest Labs takes its TV motion control system to China, becomes TCL's new best friend
- Microsoft details Windows 8's pre-boot world, helps you skip the F8 F8 F8 routine
- Mobile security researchers present Android Malware Genome Project at IEEE
- Researchers power microbots made of bubbles with lasers
- PSA: Windows Phone Marketplace now requires Windows Phone 7.5
- Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what's up and sideways (video)
- Engadget HD Podcast 300 - 05.22.2012
- Ion launches Air Pro WiFi, helps you document your morning commute (video)
- VIA Technologies outs $49 APC Android barebones, nods towards Raspberry Pi
- Frontline investigates the cause of cell tower deaths tonight (video)
- Dragon Drive! lets you take the wheel, while Nuance takes dictation
- NASA app goes 2.0, the safest launch this century
| HTC One XL coming to Germany, drags LTE with it Posted: 23 May 2012 11:13 AM PDT In the US, Asia and Australia they've already had their fill of the HTC One XL. But, in Europe, they've had to make do with the lame ol' HSPA+ One X. That is, until now. German carrier Vodafone has announced that it'll be the first to bring the XL home, complete with triband LTE in tow. Just like the American "One X," the new Euro XL ditches the quad-core Tegra 3 for a 1.5GHz dual-core S4, primarily because the NVIDIA solution doesn't support LTE. Though, as an added bonus, we're sure it helps extend the life of that 1,800 mAh cell inside. Vodafone will get the handset first in early June in a nice matte black, while Deutsche Telekom and O2 Germany will score the device later -- potentially in white. If you want yours contract free, it'll cost you €699 from Vodafone or €659 from HTC. |
| Jury issues verdict in Android suit, finds that Google doesn't infringe Oracle patents Posted: 23 May 2012 11:05 AM PDT It appears that the jury has come to a conclusion in the Oracle v. Google trial, determining that Android does not infringe Oracle patents. Judge William Aslup of the US District court for Northern California exonerated the search giant following a trial that lasted three weeks, ruling that Google did not infringe on six claims in US Patent RE38,104, along two claims in US Patent 6,061,520. Jurors were dismissed following today's ruling, with the trial's damages phase reportedly set to begin on Tuesday. The lawsuit dates back to 2010, when Oracle filed against Google for copyright and patent infringement related to Sun's Jave code. Developing... |
| AT&T begins refarming 2G spectrum in New York City Posted: 23 May 2012 10:57 AM PDT As mobile operators continue to move toward the promised land known as "the future," it grows ever more important for them to make some room for it. AT&T announced today that it has started the process of refarming its 2G 1900MHz spectrum in New York City, which should alleviate some of the growing demand on the carrier's 3G and 4G networks within the city. AT&T isn't volunteering specific details on how long the transition will take, and it's only saying that the freed-up bandwidth will be used for high-speed services. There are still plenty of customers on 2G-only devices that will be affected by the transition -- they may still have service for now, but it will likely degrade as the process goes forward -- but the company is reaching out to them and offering alternative options, such as free 3G-capable phones. Let's just hope those don't come with fresh contracts attached. Drift your eyes below for the full press release. AT&T Continues To Focus On New York City Wireless Experience Re-allocation of Network Resources Helps Improve Customers' Wireless Experience NEW YORK, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- AT&T* has set the pace, delivering the mobile Internet to more smartphone customers than any other U.S. provider. In addition to voice calling, AT&T customers are connecting to the mobile Internet more every day, using smartphones, tablets and other networked devices to access apps and the web to manage their personal and business affairs. To meet that exploding demand and enhance call quality and data speed, AT&T is re-allocating some radio frequency, or bandwidth, from its 2G to its more advanced 3G and 4G networks in New York City. "Dedicating more capacity to our advanced wireless networks will help more of our customers in New York City have a better experience overall," said Tom DeVito, vice president and general manager for AT&T in New York and New Jersey. "By re-allocating network resources from our 2G network to support our newer, advanced networks, we're moving capacity to support the voice and mobile internet services our customers want." This will help customers have an even better overall experience with both voice and the mobile Internet. AT&T has been proactively reaching out to affected customers who use 2G devices in New York City to provide them with more details and a variety of options for upgrading their devices, including discounts on new ones while keeping their mobile numbers. AT&T is encouraging customers to make the move to a better overall experience. |
| Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE pre-orders begin shipping to eager subs Posted: 23 May 2012 10:40 AM PDT True to its word, Sprint's begun to issue shipping notifications for pre-orders of its beleaguered flagship, the EVO 4G LTE. Word of the impending device arrivals continue to flood our inbox, lending credence to that ambiguous "on or around" May 24th arrival date, no doubt restoring the faith of wary subs. Whether the Hesse-led co. can fulfill backorders of the sought-after Android handset is anyone, but customs' guess. So be it by blood pact, money under the table or the good graces of legal counsel, we're sure all parties involved are working frantically behind-the-scenes to make this handset's roll out an uninterrupted success. |
| GameFly to begin publishing smartphone apps, will launch its own Android game store Posted: 23 May 2012 10:18 AM PDT GameFLy To Publish Mobile Games For iOS And Android Platforms And Launch GameFly GameStore For Android "GameFly is dedicated to giving consumers the best user experience possible, and to be their single destination for console, PC and mobile gaming needs," said Sean Spector, GameFly co-founder and SVP of Business Development and Content. "We plan to be a leading player in mobile games by launching our retail GameStore for Android and helping to fund mobile developers of all sizes to publish, promote and sell their smartphone and tablet games." GameFly is currently accepting submissions from mobile game developers at GameDev@GameFly.com, and expects to publish its first title this summer. The GameFly GameStore will be available for Android phones and tablets by this holiday season. GameFly's Game of the Day feature was launched on the popular GameFly mobile App in April, enabling iOS users to discover high quality games or find great deals on titles they may have missed. |
| Opening the Book(Book) on Twelve South: between the covers of a Mac-exclusive accessory maker Posted: 23 May 2012 09:45 AM PDT The year is 2009. In history books, it'll widely be recognized as the year that most of America -- heck, the world -- would prefer to forget. Job after job was lost, bank after bank fell, and humanity as we knew it plunged into "the worst recession since the Great Depression." It's also the year that Palm attempted a comeback with webOS, and as it turns out, the year that yet another accessory company was born. While such an occurrence may be forgettable on a macro scale, economic researchers and lovers of technology alike have reason to take notice -- and, indeed, ask questions. So, that's exactly what I did. Beyond growing a technology startup in a me-too field during the worst economy that I've personally been a part of, it's also not often that I find compelling consumer electronics companies far outside of New York City and San Francisco. Twelve South just so happens to be located in a nondescript nook in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina -- just a beautiful trip over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from historic Charleston. Three years after its founding, the company now fittingly counts a dozen employees on its roster, and despite entering a market flooded with iAccessory after iAccessory, it has somehow managed to grab its own slice of an increasingly large niche. As with all good success stories, this particular outfit has plenty of twists, turns and run-ins with Lady Luck to tell about; for those interested in seeing how the "stay small" mantra is keeping Twelve South firmly focused on the future ahead, take a peek beyond the break. Channeled beginnings I traveled down to the Lowcountry to have a peek into the daily lives of the folks that keep one of the smallest, albeit well-recognized-in-its-niche accessory makers, alive and kicking. For one, it's pretty interesting that a design-focused accessory maker not only threw down roots in South Carolina (instead of the conventional NYC / Chicago / LA / SF options), and two, the amount of focus this company exhibits is tremendous. Saying you're "Apple-exclusive" is one thing; saying "Mac-exclusive" is another. In fact, it was only recently that Twelve South issued its first iPhone accessory – the vintage-themed BookBook -- and it took an awful lot of convincing to get the green light from co-founder Andrew Green. But I'll get to that in a moment.
Green launched the company with his wife Leigh Ann, and even today they share not only a home, but an office. Role models, anyone? At any rate, the two followed interesting paths leading to one of the biggest port cities in the American southeast. It (roughly) began as the two worked in New York (Mr. in marketing / publishing, Mrs. in fashion). After some years, Griffin (yeah, the iTrip Griffin) came calling, and soon after, Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) brought the couple to the area they still call home. According to Andrew, his years working on accessories for those two outfits gave him gobs of perspective, and it was soon after Philips swallowed up DLO that he fully realized the joy of staying small. Griffin was small. DLO was small. Philips was decidedly un-small. He holds no ill-will towards corporations of any size, but he confesses that his own happiness has been elevated while working in companies where decisions can be made over lunch. Small-scale risks can be taken when the minimum order quantity isn't in the thousands. And, most importantly, he feels that the ability to adapt, innovate and create products that people don't even know they want yet prevails in small environments. Thus, it's no surprise that he works alongside just 11 other people, who just so happen to share his intense passion for creating beautiful, useful products for Mac loyalists. Surviving a startup Perhaps unsurprisingly, finding funding for a peripheral maker in 2009 wasn't easy. Impossible, depending on who you ask. That said, kids can't really do much to prevent the 'rents from tossing their college funds into a tech startup, and for all intents and purposes, that's what happened here. With a one-year runway and three prototypes in hand, a lot had to happen between then and now. And, as Green humbly admits, a lot of things just fell into place. The couple just so happened to know a metalworker in Tennessee, and using some far-flung contraption, he was able to whip up the earliest look ever at the BookArc; to cover the harsh edges, they scoured a Lowe's home improvement store for pliable tubing. Mix in a pinch of DIY instincts, and they were looking at the doodad that would eventually win over buyers for Apple's own retail outlets. His days with Griffin and DLO provided him access to a smattering of contacts at both Apple and with turnkey manufacturing facilities in mainland China. The call to Cupertino, however, wasn't returned with as much gusto as Green had hoped. After twiddling their thumbs, the founders finally landed the sales meeting they longed for and, amazingly, Apple Retail wanted a pair of Twelve South's products on store shelves -- including the aforesaid BookArc. "How soon?" I asked. "Immediately," Green said. "We walked out there asking ourselves: 'Did that really just happen?'"
For those keeping count, that year-long financial runway was at least one-fourth over, and suddenly -- with no website, no physical presence, no Chinese language skills and no confirmed manufacturing partner -- these two had no choice but to truly, actually launch their company. My eyebrows rose a bit, expressing a confusing wave of excitement, anxiety and concern as Andrew detailed the situation to me . "Yeah," Andrew said. "Yeah..." Within a week, the two had booked a trip to China and were meeting up with the only known contact they had in the Asian manufacturing circle. The facility was top-notch and would handle construction, packaging -- the works. The problem with that level of service is, of course, the price. "We weren't anywhere close," said Green. "Suddenly, we found ourselves dropped like a hot potato by the only people we knew in China. We sat in our Shenzhen hotel room, staring at one another, thinking 'Oh, shit.'" I interrupt his story to express my amazement at the situation, conveying the lack of poise I can only assume I'd exhibit in the same situation. But it seems that the old adage of "It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to it" applied here as well. "I rummaged through any remaining contacts I could find on a WiFi hotspot down the street, and called a guy I had talked to a good while back," Green said. As it turns out, this Hail Mary led to a cab picking the Greens up from their hotel the following morning. Upon looking at the proposal, the two let out what I can only imagine were monumental sighs. "We finally had something to work with," uttered an obviously relieved Green. Stay smallThe phrase "Stay small" is not plastered along the walls, nor is it tattooed across the foreheads of those within the company. But it is, however, amongst my favorite tunes from a little-known band by the name of The Receiving End Of Sirens. It's also an unofficial mantra of the Greens, and it's incontestably the most amazing part of my visit. You see, there's a stark difference when looking at startups that had to raise capital from return-hungry angels, and one that's started with a trio of college funds. Instagram also had around a dozen employees in the early days of 2012; by April, it was purchased for a billion dollars by Facebook. Twelve South will never be purchased for a billion dollars. In fact -- if I had to bet -- Twelve South will never be purchased, period. I've interacted with countless founders, co-founders and so-called co-founders over the years, and while the general spiel is usually the same, few genuinely stick close to the ethos that they started with. At the end of the day, it's about the almighty dollar, and there's obvious incentive to grow revenue in as many (legal) ways as possible, or possibly even seek a suitor or IPO. It's as if this is all a foreign concept at Twelve South. Looping back to my earlier point about the iPhone-compatible BookBook, the Greens founded their company with one primary goal: to serve the intensely loyal and as Andrew Green puts it, "massively underserved" Mac market. "Everyone has a product that works with iPhone or iPod," Green stated, "but what about the Mac? Every time I'd walk into an Apple Store, I'd see heaps of 'Mac-compatible' accessories. Mac users don't want compatible. They want exclusive. There are tons of companies that serve the PC market -- and that's great -- but we saw very real potential to commit to the Mac market with our products." To date, the company offers but a handful of products. The BookBook family is the best-selling, according to Green, and has expanded from serving MacBooks to iPads and iPhones. For those unaware, it's a rigid case for each of the aforesaid products, but on the outside, it looks like a worn, well-loved book. Assuming it doesn't become huge, it also serves as a lovely anti-theft measure -- it's about as unassuming as they come, and while iBooks may entice thieves, standard books... don't. The BookArc is perhaps its second-best product (in my humble opinion), enabling MacBook loyalists to use their products in a closed-lid scenario, while giving the laptop a cute, space-saving place to reside. In a nutshell, all of its products are solutions to problems that Green and co. had. "We don't do focus groups. We don't build products for the sake of design. We build solutions to problems that we run into during day-to-day Mac use." The thing is, though, these products are really good That's not Andrew telling me to say that. That's me canvasing Twelve South's product line and just being honest. For Mac, iPad and iPhone users willing to pay a premium for well-thought-out wares that aren't just built for the sake of satisfying shareholders' desire to keep something new on the shelf, these are just about as clever and classy as they get.
The conversation dovetails into me asking a number of prying questions. Things like: "Do you get a heads-up from Apple on design changes? Did you fully expect that serving the Apple community alone would be able to carry you? Have sales skyrocketed along with Apple's skyrocketing profits?" The Greens did an admittedly fine job of dodging what they weren't allowed to speak about outside of NDA (that's a Non-Disclosure Agreement, for those who abhor legal acronyms) but I got the impression that Apple gives no one -- accessory makers, anyway -- a heads-up about incoming form factors. He recalled a period of time during his prior work where at least one major peripheral outfit gave the go-ahead to produce a new range of iAccessories based only on leaked design images. Turns out, they weren't even remotely close to accurate. "Obviously, we don't have the kind of scale here to try things like that. We take our time," he said. The next question must have felt obvious: "Well, what if you had the opportunity to branch out... to make accessories for companies other than Apple?" "We're not interested in that," he said. In fact, he has been approached by the non-Apple world; designers looking for a design house, companies with earnings in the billions and even one particular CEO of one particularly important consumer electronics company. Green remains humble, but I'm aghast. "So you're saying there are companies that would take your products right now and adapt them for use elsewhere, but you won't do it?" I asked. "We've thought about it, and we've had plenty of back-and-forth about it," Green said. "But it all comes back to one main decision: do we want to be a nimble, innovative company or a logistics company?"
Green's been in this business long enough to know the difference. "I don't want to spend my days thinking about how to get so many shipping containers to so many companies," he added. "I want to think about creating new stuff. We could certainly create a spinoff company that maintains our DNA but creates for other companies, but then, we're diluting the very stuff we're making today." He tells me he's still working on plans to actually end-of-life a product -- something he really hasn't had to worry about just yet -- and it's obvious what a painful personal experience this is to him. It's as if each product is a child, and deciding when it's time to let 'em go is never an easy task. I take one last walk around the office, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Twelve South will almost certainly never be bigger than it is today. By choice. It just doesn't compute in a startup realm fueled by high-finance fantasies and absurd valuations. But, it seems to me that I've stumbled upon a duo that understands the pressures that come with expansion, and a duo that genuinely has no desire greater than being awesome at what they initially set out to do. "So you're telling me you're choosing to stay small as a matter of personal fulfillment?" I asked. "Yes." This article originally appeared in Distro Issue 41. |
| AT&T launches Samsung Galaxy Appeal GoPhone, available at Walmart on June 5th for $150 Posted: 23 May 2012 09:22 AM PDT What's in a name? For the Samsung Galaxy Appeal, everything. The moniker of AT&T's new Android GoPhone fits the manufacturer's current legal situation perfectly, though admittedly its side-slider QWERTY-packing form factor is the least likely of Sammy's lineup to catch the attention of Cupertino's team of suits. Joking aside, the 4.3-ounce Appeal offers Android 2.3, a 3.2-inch HVGA (that's 480 x 320) display, 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7225A processor, 3MP rear camera and 512MB of RAM. It's also made with 80 percent recycled material and has a microSD port and 1,300mAh battery. The Appeal will begin its wireless sojourn on June 5th at Walmart for $150, and will pop up at other AT&T outlets beginning July 15th. Head below to find the legal team-approved press release. AT&T Announces Its First Prepaid Side Slider Smartphone, Samsung Galaxy Appeal™ DALLAS, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning June 5, AT&T* GoPhone customers looking for a prepaid Android smartphone will have another option with the Samsung Galaxy Appeal™, available at Walmart. The Galaxy Appeal will also be available in all other AT&T GoPhone distribution channels beginning July 15th. The Galaxy Appeal is the first smartphone offered with AT&T's GoPhone service that features a slider QWERTY keyboard that makes it perfect for texting and emailing. It operates on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and features a 3.2-inch touchscreen. The 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with 3x zoom lets you capture important moments and allows for video recording at 24 frames per second. Additionally, Galaxy Appeal's plastic parts are made of 80-percent recycled material and the phone ships with reduced packaging material compared to other Samsung devices, cutting back on paper usage. Customers who want to get the most out of their smartphones while still keeping their budget in check can benefit from AT&T's new GoPhone smartphone plans and data packages. The Galaxy Appeal brings together the convenience of full-keyboard texting and the rich Android experience and apps with AT&T's affordable data plans: 1GB for $25 per month All data packages are available on the $50 Unlimited Talk & Text nationwide plan for GoPhone smartphones and the $25 Unlimited Text with 250 minutes nationwide GoPhone plan. They also include unlimited Wi-Fi usage at thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots from your smartphone. Additional Specifications: GSM Quad-band: 850/900/1800/1900MHz |
| Google Search for iPhone gets the 2.0 remake, full-screen search and swipes aplenty Posted: 23 May 2012 09:01 AM PDT Google gave its official search app an iPad remake late last year, and now it's smaller iPhone and iPod touch devices getting the new UI's treatment. As of Google Search App 2.0, the smaller iOS devices see a big emphasis on full-screen navigation, with an automatic full-screen mode and a dedicated full-screen photo search making the most of the limited display real estate. You can now swipe back to search results like you could with the iPad, and it's overall much faster in the app to hop between different search types as well as web apps like Calendar or Gmail. There's still something in it for you if you've already been deep into the iPad port's interface, as the tablet and the iPhone alike can now save photos directly to the iOS camera roll. You'll need at least iOS 4.2 to live in Google's non-Android mobile universe, but those that measure up can leap in through the source link. |
| Gigabyte to unveil X11 on May 31st as lightest laptop ever, spooks us with talk of 'sixth element' Posted: 23 May 2012 08:43 AM PDT Gigabyte is clearly hoping to carve out a name for itself in a very crowded ultraportable space; it sent us word of a media event for a new X11 laptop in its native Taipei on May 31st, just a few days ahead of Computex. The PC designer claims that the X11 will be the "lightest notebook on Earth," a pretty audacious claim considering the featherweight competition. Most of the braggadocio, we suspect, is rooted in the choice of material: Gigabyte is promising rather ominously to "conquer the 6th element," and unless it's financing the sequel to a Luc Besson movie, we're reasonably sure the firm means extra-light carbon fiber. Other details are scarce, including whether there's any relation to the U2442 Ultrabook due this summer. We'll know in just over a week. |
| Seagate to buy LaCie for $186 million, expand its storage empire Posted: 23 May 2012 08:21 AM PDT Seagate and LaCie have gotten friendly before -- the former company's drives are in the LaCie 2big Thunderbolt HDD, for instance -- but the storage makers are about to get even cozier. Today, Seagate announced its plans to buy a 64.5-percent share in the French company, which is currently valued at $186 million. The acquisition will combine the two outlets' product portfolios and, according to the press release, "accelerate Seagate's growth strategy in the expanding consumer storage market, particularly in Europe and Japan." The deal should go through by late 2012, and Seagate will bring over LaCie CEO Philippe Spruch to head the consumer storage products division. Seagate and LaCie Announce Exclusive Agreement with Intent for Seagate to Acquire Controlling Interest in LaCie Seagate has Offered to Purchase LaCie CEO's 64.5% Ownership Position; Seagate to Subsequently Commence Tender Offer for Remaining Outstanding Shares CUPERTINO, Calif. & PARIS-- Seagate Technology plc (NASDAQ: STX) the worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions, and LaCie S.A. (Euronext: LAC), a leading manufacturer of consumer storage products, today announced an exclusive agreement with the intent for Seagate to acquire a controlling interest in LaCie. Seagate has offered to purchase from Philippe Spruch, LaCie's chairman and CEO, and his affiliate, all of their shares, representing 64.5% of the outstanding shares of LaCie. Following receipt of governmental approvals1 and the close of this transaction, Seagate would commence an all-cash simplified tender offer (followed as the case may be by a squeeze-out procedure) to acquire the remaining outstanding shares in accordance with the General Regulation of the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). "With the proliferation of devices and content being shared and stored today, consumer demand for high-quality branded storage solutions continues to grow" Ricol Lasteyrie & Associés was appointed today as independent expert by the board of directors of LaCie, to deliver a fairness opinion on the price that would be offered in the context of the tender offer, including in the perspective of a potential squeeze-out procedure. The transaction would combine two highly complementary product and technology portfolios, adding LaCie's line of premium branded consumer storage solutions, network-attached storage solutions and software offerings to Seagate's array of mainstream consumer storage products. The combination would accelerate Seagate's growth strategy in the expanding consumer storage market, particularly in Europe and Japan, and add strong engineering and software development capabilities, as well as relationships with several key retailers. The transaction is expected to be neutral to Seagate's fiscal 2013 earnings per share. Following the close of the sale of his shares to Seagate, Mr. Spruch would join Seagate and lead the company's consumer storage products organization. Reporting to him would be Patrick Connolly, who currently serves as vice president and general manager of Seagate's retail group, as well as Pierre van der Elst, who currently serves as deputy general manager of LaCie. The financial terms of the new position of Mr Spruch are not determined as of today and would therefore be described subsequently, including in the tender offer documentation. "Seagate has a strong commitment to the growing consumer storage market and bringing the most dynamic products to market. LaCie has built an exceptional consumer brand by delivering exciting and innovative high-end products for many years. This transaction would bring a highly complementary set of capabilities to Seagate, significantly expand our consumer product offerings, add a premium-branded direct-attached storage line, strengthen our network-attached storage business line and enhance our capabilities in software development," said Steve Luczo, Seagate chairman, president and CEO. "We are also excited that Philippe, who is a true visionary and leader in the consumer storage business, would join Seagate to run our consumer storage products organization." "With the proliferation of devices and content being shared and stored today, consumer demand for high-quality branded storage solutions continues to grow," said Philippe Spruch, LaCie's chairman and CEO. "We are excited about the potential for this combination to benefit customers and employees by creating significant scale and opening up new markets. We look forward to making the resources of a much larger company available to our customers around the world." LaCie will initiate the information and consultation process required by its employee representative council in relation to the contemplated transaction, in accordance with French law. Upon completion of this process, Seagate and Mr. Spruch would execute a definitive share purchase agreement and finalize the purchase of the controlling interest held by Mr. Spruch and his affiliate. This share purchase transaction is expected to close in the third calendar quarter of 2012 pending completion of the relevant governmental reviews. Seagate would then commence a tender offer for the remaining outstanding shares of LaCie (followed as the case may be by a squeeze-out procedure), subject to a clearance decision from the AMF. The tender offer is expected to be completed in the third calendar quarter of 2012. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in the United States (antitrust filing), France (approval of foreign investments by the Ministry of Finance) and other jurisdictions (antitrust filing in Germany) and to other customary closing conditions. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisor and Allen & Overy LLP served as legal advisor to Seagate in connection with the transaction. De Pardieu Brocas Maffei A.A.R.P.I. served as legal advisor to LaCie. |
| Social Bicycles announces availability by end of summer, we go hands-on (video) Posted: 23 May 2012 08:06 AM PDT When last saw the Social Bicycles (SoBi), there wasn't a heck of a lot to report on. The whole thing was little more than a concept, a Kickstarter page and an early prototype. Flash forward just under a year later, and it's beginning to look a lot like a real, consumer-facing product. The New York startup showed off its bike and a couple of apps today at TechCrunch Disrupt. The concept here is not too dissimilar from a Zipcar -- you locate a bike using the Android or iOS app, find it on the street, enter your PIN, pull out the lock and you're good to go. If you're feeling particularly enterprising, you can can pick up bikes to rent up for $1,300 a piece, if you order less than 50 or $1,100 per, if you go for more. The wireless data, meanwhile, runs $15 per bike, per month. The company has both consumer and business-facing apps. On the administrative side of things, you can track the bikes and set boundaries for return. Incentive programs are set up, giving customers credits, should they do something like get a bike from outside a designated hub and return it to one. On the consumer side, you'll get your activity stream (bike locked, unlocked, et al), routes and social sharing, via Twitter, Facebook and Google+. You can also reserve your bike from the app -- though, should you not have your smartphone on you, you can still get a bike by entering account information into the keypad. The bike itself is pretty close to the final production model from what we're told -- one that looks a lot like the company's early renders. It's not a bad looking bike -- though perhaps not one you'd want as your permanent ride. It's roughly 40lbs, with a white curvy frame -- according to the company, the body itself is largely a proprietary design, including the metal basket that's welded to the front handlebars. There's no chain on the bike -- instead it relies on a shaft drive to move the wheels. The keypad is located above the rear wheel. To the left of the numbers are indicator lights letting you know whether it's locked or unlocked -- once unlocked, you can pull the metal "u" bar out from just underneath. To the right of the keypad is a "hold" button, in case you want to park it for a minute while grabbing a cup of coffee. Beneath this is a repair button you can hit, should you get a flat or have some other trouble. The bike is largely kinetically powered, though there's a solar panel on the back, for when it sits idly for a bit. Social Bicycles tells us that the bikes are set to arrive in Buffalo, NY and two west coast markets by the end of the summer, so stay tuned.
Zach Honig contributed to this report. |
| Amazon adds 'hundreds' of Paramount movies to Prime, signals a Clear and Present Danger to free time Posted: 23 May 2012 07:49 AM PDT Amazon is keeping its pace of expanding Amazon Prime's video collection every few months, and today it's Paramount's turn to swell the ranks. Instant Video is getting 'hundreds' of Paramount's movies, including both relatively recent movies like Nacho Libre and Mission: Impossible III as well as back catalog titles like Breakfast at Tiffany's and Clear and Present Danger. As always, the movies are watchable anywhere you've got broadband, and they don't add a premium to the $79 yearly Prime subscription. Just be prepared to explain why you're watching Urban Cowboy on your Kindle Fire at the airport. |
| Samsung rumored to tweak Galaxy Note 10.1 inside and out Posted: 23 May 2012 07:31 AM PDT It certainly looks like Samsung has redesigned the 10.1-inch version of its Galaxy Note, which it promised back at MWC. At a German event this week, a slimmer version of the tablet was snapped sporting a built in S-Pen slot that had also been sweating off some extra pounds. So much so, that the company will retail a dedicated pen holder to make your electronic doodling more comfortable. We've also heard unconfirmed rumors that the biggest change to the tablet was internal -- with the Galaxy S III's quad-core Exynos chip replacing the original dual-core innards we'd seen previously. We reached out to the company on that point to see if it could shed any light, but its people weren't able to make any comment ahead of its official debut. [Image Credit: Eraser112] |
| Nokia World broken up into smaller events, bumped up to September 5-6 Posted: 23 May 2012 07:17 AM PDT We hope you hadn't planned too much of your late summer around the original Nokia World 2012 schedule, because the timetable has just been given a big shakeup. Instead of holding one, monolithic event in late September, Finland's phone giant is splitting the show into smaller, more targeted events. The first will start much earlier than planned, running between September 5th and 6th in Helsinki, but don't expect any big Lumia introductions: the early show is focused on carrier and store partners rather than any opportunities for a public hands-on. Details of more events are coming in the weeks ahead, and some of those gatherings we imagine will be more about new devices than wheeling and dealing. |
| Incantor brings World of Warcraft to real life (hands-on) Posted: 23 May 2012 06:51 AM PDT There's plenty of cool stuff to see on the floor of this year's TechCrunch Disrupt, but nothing's likely quite so eye-catching as Incantor, a mobile game that utilizes your smartphone and, naturally, a magic wand, to bring fantasy-style action to the real world -- or as the game's creators put it, to "bring World of Warcraft to real life." The wand speaks to your handset via Bluetooth, detecting your gestures and generating "spells." Hold your phone in portrait, and you'll get personal information, including your character level, spell bag, etc. Flip it to landscape, and you'll get a Google Map overlay, showing you other players in your area. There are 13 different game play modes in all, and you can play as a group or solo. Moveable Code was only showing off one wand at the show, but the company expects to make 10 available in all, representing different classes. Interested parties can find out more at the Kickstarter link in the source below. Beta testing will begin in early Q4, with widespread availability coming by year's end. The wand, which offers up feedback based on gameplay (including interactions with other players), should run you around $60 when it hits the market. You can play the game sans phone, but we're told its not quite as fun. Either way, sparring, quests and games capture the flag should get people outside a bit more than PC-based MMORPGs. Sunscreen, however, is not included. Check out a video of Incantor's creators demonstrating the game after the break.
Zach Honig contributed to this report. |
| MIT's LiquiGlide could spell the end of slow-moving ketchup nightmares (video) Posted: 23 May 2012 06:29 AM PDT |
| NTT DoCoMo bids for 700MHz spectrum, will drop two big-ones if it succeeds Posted: 23 May 2012 06:02 AM PDT NTT DoCoMo is applying to extend its network to the 700MHz spectrum after losing out the coveted 900MHz band to smaller rival Softbank. If successful, the communications giant will have to fork out 150 billion yen ($1.9 billion) to make the necessary infrastructure changes to allow 3.9G devices to work on its network. While it can't be too happy at having to make do with the weaker frequencies, it does expect to pocket nearly $5 billion in profit this year, which ought to cushion the blow. |
| Posted: 23 May 2012 05:35 AM PDT If you're an iPhone or iPad owner, you might have been disappointed that the Delorme inReach two-way GPS communicator launched with app support only for Android users. That's fine if you're trekking with a Casio G'zOne Commando, but not so hot if you're of the Apple mindset and get stranded canoeing down the Amazon. Thankfully, Delorme just posted an iOS version of its Earthmate app that will let your Cupertino-designed gear send either text messages or SOS beacons through a paired-up inReach unit. As before, the handheld relies on its own GPS positioning and embedded locations in messages to keep friends and rescue crews updated anywhere the device can get an Iridium satellite lock-in. It'll still cost you $250 for the device and $10 per month to stay linked up; even so, there's a real chance you'll be texting your friends from your iPhone in Mali, assuming you haven't had to call a rescue helicopter first. DeLorme inReach™ Two-Way Satellite Communicator Now Connects With Two-way messaging, interactive SOS, global coverage and YARMOUTH, Maine – May 22, 2012 – DeLorme, an innovation leader in inReach turns an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into a global two-way Users can send and receive messages to and from cell phones, email "DeLorme is now extending the unique inReach two-way SOS, personal inReach, launched in the fall of 2011, is the first inReach is a game-changing communication solution for anyone whose In the event of an emergency, the interactive SOS capability of the Because inReach provides reliable two-way connections through Iridium, "This is an excellent example of how Iridium global connectivity, Since late last year, inReach has earned several prestigious awards Suggested retail price for inReach is $249.95, with annual satellite inReach is available in the U.S. and Canada at better retail and The DeLorme Earthmate App is available free from the App Store on To view an informative video, visit: http://tinyurl.com/inReachVideo |
| Army spy blimp to launch within weeks: 300 feet long, $500 million, 'multi-intelligent' Posted: 23 May 2012 05:04 AM PDT It can't go faster than 34MPH and it's already a year late for its planned deployment in Afghanistan, but Northrop Grumman's Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) is now set for its maiden flight. The test run is scheduled for sometime between June 6th and 10th over Lakehurst, New Jersey, whose residents ought to be forewarned that it is not a solar eclipse or a Death Star, but simply a helium-filled pilotless reconnaissance and communications airship that happens to be the size of a football field. After floating around for a while, the giant dirigible is expected to journey south to Florida, where it'll be fitted to a custom-built gondola that will carry the bulk of its equipment, and by which time her enemies hopefully won't have come into possession of an air force. |
| NHK working on Hybridcast interactive TV platform (video) Posted: 23 May 2012 04:32 AM PDT NHK is working on Hybridcast (an entirely different system to the Hybridcast 3D-delivery setup it demonstrated last year), a system that uses the internet to make vanilla TV broadcasts interactive. It works by pushing HTML5 overlays to your tablet and TV, so you can play along with quiz shows or follow a travelogue from the comfort of your couch. The company is planning to build a set-top-box with the technology ready for sale next year, with integrated TVs hoped to arrive from Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, Sharp and Mitsubishi shortly afterward. You can see what the residents of Japan can expect by watching the video after the break. |
| NVIDIA outlines Kai platform, hopes to make good on quad-core $199 tablet promise Posted: 23 May 2012 04:02 AM PDT When NVIDIA's Jen-Hsun Huang talked of $199 Tegra 3 tablets, we were nothing but skeptically hopeful. Now, it seems those were more than just words. During a recent stockholder meeting, VP of Investor Relations, Rob Csongor, revealed the firm's strategy to deliver on this budget quad-core promise. Announcing the "Kai" platform, Csongor stopped short of giving specifics, but implied that the architecture or hardware borrows much of the "secret sauce" from Tegra 3, and will enable lower-priced higher-performance devices. Jump on the source link, and listen in from about 33 minutes, if you want the full spiel. |
| Douglas Coupland's V-Pole unifies wireless connectivity and EV charging in an LED streetlight Posted: 23 May 2012 02:57 AM PDT It's still very much a concept, and not something being described as a business venture, but author / designer Douglas Coupland is hoping that his new "V-Pole" design will serve as something of a model for cities looking to build out their technology infrastructure. As you can see, it's a rather nondescript (albeit brightly-colored) pole on the outside, but Coupland sees the inside being packed with an array of the latest technology, including Alcatel-Lucent lightRadios for wireless connectivity (both WiFi and cellular), an LED street light on top, and connections to nearby wireless charging stations for electric vehicles. As for the "V" in the name, that stands for Coupland's home city of Vancouver, which he sees as a natural fit for the pole -- something the city's mayor apparently agrees with. |
| Casio Japan says its new Exilim EX-ZR300 compact camera is fast and furious Posted: 23 May 2012 02:02 AM PDT Casio's apparently feeling a need for speed as the company just announced its new zippy compact camera, the "Exilim" EX-ZR300. According to Casio Japan, the 16.1-megapixel shooter boasts a startup time that's just a shade under a second and can take continuous shots at .26-second intervals. The EX-ZR300 also features a 24-300mm, f/3.0-5.9, 12.5x zoom lens that can focus as quickly as .12 second. For lighting buffs, ISO range starts at 80 and can go all the way up to 12,800. In short, this compact camera is quick and sensitive enough to capture those blackmail-worthy moments at the next company party. Users can also transfer their incriminating evidence wirelessly thanks to Toshiba FlashAir technology. Want video to go with your embarrassing photos? You'll be happy to know that the EX-ZR300 can shoot video up to 1080p as well. Expect Casio's compact |
| Kyocera Hydro bares all for the FCC Posted: 23 May 2012 01:05 AM PDT What's a spankin' new Android phone to do hot off its CTIA 2012 debut? Why, stop by the FCC for an inside-out coming out party. The Kyocera-crafted handset outlined in the docs looks to be the recently unveiled Hydro, as the device's model number -- C5170 -- matches that of the unit we got hands-on with in New Orleans. The filings don't spill much of the middleweight mobile's guts, but we were able to discern radios for CDMA 1900MHz, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth, as well as the existence of a 1,500mAh battery. We're still in the dark as to where this waterproofed, ICS-laden phone'll end up, but if our magic 8-ball's any indication, all signs point knowingly to Sprint. Hit up the source below to rifle through the RF tests for yourself. |
| Lenovo beats PC market with 46 percent profit surge Posted: 23 May 2012 12:16 AM PDT Yep, it's party-time in Beijing once again. While the PC industry as a whole reportedly grew by a tight handful of percentage points over the past year, Lenovo has somehow managed to continue its long-running growth spurt, with shipments up 44 percent and operating profits up 46 percent. Sales of both laptop and desktop (including IdeaCentre all-in-ones) grew roughly equally, helped along by blossoming demand in emerging markets, while fledgling smartphones and tablets also proved popular in Lenovo's homeland. The manufacturer reckons it's now second in command of the market behind HP, although it conveniently disregards Apple's iPad from its ranking. |
| Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab to launch in UK next month Posted: 22 May 2012 11:50 PM PDT Acer has been known to celebrate the Olympic Games with special-edition tech, so we weren't exactly surprised when the company launched a festive version of the Iconia Tab A510 this April in anticipation of the Summer Games in London. Now that the event is just two months away, the Tab is preparing to make its UK debut. According to the Inquirer, it will be available through Carphone Warehouse in June. To jog your memory, this version has the same specs as the original Iconia Tab A510, including a 10.1-inch IPS display, Android Ice Cream Sandwich and a 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 CPU. There's also the same 5-megapixel camera and 32GB of onboard storage. The main difference, of course, is that this version sports an engraving of the five Olympic rings, and Acer also pre-loads a trial of Eurosport channels so users can get coverage during the Games. When the Iconia A510 Olympic Tab launches next month, it will reportedly go for £350 (about $552) without a SIM. |
| Robo-fish swim into the ocean's funk, so you don't have to Posted: 22 May 2012 10:58 PM PDT Gene Roddenberry would have you believe that space is the final frontier. But really, the deep blue sea is more apt for that distinction. And without mega-rich hobbyists to fund exploratory plunges into those uncharted depths, science has had to seek out an alternative, more cost-effective means. Enter the robotic fish. Measuring five feet in length (1.5 meters), lasting up to eight hours and costing about $32,000 (£20,000), these cyborg swimmers are made to boldly go where no man should -- that is, into contaminated waters. The project -- a joint collaboration between the University of Essex and Strathclyde, the Tyndall National Institute and defense contractor Thales Safare (cue ominous Jaws soundtrack) -- aims to cut down on the time it traditionally takes to collect samples and determine corresponding levels of water pollution. The sensor-laden bots apparently swim just like the real thing and, if a recent trial off the coast of Gijon, Spain pans out, could very soon "school" their mass-produced way into other maritime endeavors. No word on whether these automated pesce will be able to detect the piscio in your pool, but there's always the purple water for that. |
| RAMPAGE 6 notepad runs Android 2.3 in a rugged package Posted: 22 May 2012 10:14 PM PDT The last time we heard from SDG Systems, it was shilling its Trimble Nomad with Android 1.5. The company's new device, the RAMPAGE 6 (confusingly, it's also known as the Mesa Rugged Notepad), thankfully includes a less prehistoric build of the OS. The notepad runs a customized version of Android 2.3 on a 5.7-inch display, and it lives up to the "rugged" in its name with IP67 protection ratings for water and dust. Other specs, however, are less heavy-duty: the RAMPAGE 6 packs an 806MHz processor, 256MB of RAM and 4GB of Flash memory. An SD card slot, USB host and client ports, a headphone jack and a 9-pin connector are also on board. The standard model will offer Bluetooth and WiFi, while a Geo configuration adds in GPS and a 3.2MP camera. When the devices launch later this year, SDG will also sell a Geo 3G version, which includes that third connectivity option. Considering that the Trimble Nomad went for a steep $1,200 -- and that SDG's devices are targeted more toward developers than consumers -- it's safe to assume that the RAMPAGE 6 won't be the slate you take along on your morning commute (unless that commute involves crossing the desert on camel). Juniper Systems Partners with SDG Systems to Produce the RAMPAGE™ 6, the Mesa Rugged Notepad® with Android (AOSP) Operating System Juniper Systems is proud to announce its partnership with Pennsylvania-based SDG Systems. This partnership will bring to market the Mesa Rugged Notepad® with Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system, a rugged handheld computer known as the RAMPAGE™ 6 and distributed exclusively through SDG Systems. Logan, UT - May 22, 2012 – Juniper Systems is proud to announce its partnership with Pennsylvania-based SDG Systems. This partnership will bring to market the Mesa Rugged Notepad® with Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system, a rugged handheld computer known as the RAMPAGE™ 6 and distributed exclusively through SDG Systems. Availability of the RAMPAGE 6 is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012 and its first public presentation will be at the Esri International User Conference in San Diego, July 23–27, 2012. "Our new partnership with SDG Systems will further enhance our ability to provide the best rugged handheld computing solutions to our customers. By working together, we have created a very unique and in-demand handheld computer with the Android (AOSP) operating system, now known as the RAMPAGE 6," said Rob Campbell, President and CEO of Juniper Systems. "Leveraging the Android expertise of SDG gives our customers an original and powerful data collection device and we couldn't be more excited about the opportunities this new partnership will bring." The Android (AOSP) 2.3 operating system on the RAMPAGE 6 offers many advantages for data collection, including easy multi-tasking, a modern user interface, rich programming environment, multi-platform development, abundant application data storage, open source flexibility, and the opportunity for a custom Android interface developed by SDG Systems. Additionally, its optional kiosk mode allows only certain applications to be accessible by the user, successfully creating a single-purpose device without distractions. "SDG Systems is proud to develop and distribute the RAMPAGE 6 as our very first SDG-branded handheld computer. Collaborating with Juniper Systems on a product as unique and dependable as the Mesa Rugged Notepad has made this experience very rewarding and we're excited to put the SDG name on it. Our decision to develop Android (AOSP) for the Mesa was based on its extreme ruggedness, quality design, and dependability. I am confident that the RAMPAGE 6 will live up to those standards," said Todd Blumer, President and CEO of SDG Systems. The RAMPAGE 6 will feature the many advantages and benefits of the Mesa Rugged Notepad, including a large 5.7 inch viewing display, IP67 ingress protection rating for water and dust, integrated 2–5 meter GPS receiver, optional integration of a 1D/2D barcode scanner, and optional Class I, Division 2 certification for use in hazardous locations. |
| Hillcrest Labs takes its TV motion control system to China, becomes TCL's new best friend Posted: 22 May 2012 09:01 PM PDT It's only been a few days since Hillcrest Labs open sourced its Kylo web browser for TVs, and now the company's back with yet another announcement. Well, this time it's more about TCL who's just declared its top TV market share in China. Much like the Roku 2 and LG TVs with Magic Motion remote, Hillcrest's Freespace engine has been outted as the enabling technology behind TCL's recently announced V7500, a 3D smart TV series featuring a heavily customized Android 4.0.3 and a 7.9mm-thick bezel. This means users can interact with and play games on this slim TV via motion and cursor control on the remote (there's also voice control here but it doesn't look like Hillcrest has anything to do with it). There are no dates or prices just yet, but TCL better be quick as Lenovo's got something very similar ready to ship soon.
Hillcrest Labs Selected by TCL to Bring Motion, Gesture and Cursor Control to Android™-Powered Smart TVs - Hillcrest's Freespace® MotionEngine™ Used in TCL's First Domestic Android-Based Smart TVs and Motion Sensing Remotes - Rockville, MD – May 23, 2012 – Hillcrest Labs today announced that TCL Multimedia ("TCL"), one of China's leading TV and consumer electronics brands, is using Hillcrest's patented Freespace® motion software for TCL's Android™-based Smart TVs, including its flagship V7500 Android 4.03 Smart TV, and motion sensing remotes. The Smart TV system will be available in China this month and in other markets later this year. TCL and Hillcrest have entered into a worldwide license agreement for TCL to use Hillcrest's Freespace in-air pointing and motion control solution in current and future products. TCL Android Smart TVs and motion remotes feature Hillcrest's Freespace MotionEngine™ Smart TV software and Freespace Gesture Recognition Engine, which enable motion, gesture and cursor control to be used to navigate and interact with an array of Smart TV content. This includes the TV menus, Web browser, games, and a wide variety of Android applications. The Freespace MotionEngine Smart TV software provides precise motion data for mouse-like point-and-click functionality, and motion gaming applications. The Freespace Gesture Recognition Engine allows users to perform simple gestures to accomplish various tasks, which can include virtual controls such as twisting the remote to adjust volume, as well as alpha-numeric in-air gestures to change channels, switch applications or function as passwords to login to individual user accounts. "As China's market leader in Smart TVs and consumer electronics, we are proud to work with TCL and contribute to its line of Android-powered Smart TVs," said Chad Lucien, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hillcrest Labs. "Together, we are providing more compelling options and a simpler user interface for Smart TV users. Our collaborative efforts are a concrete example that high-precision, inertial motion technology is the ideal choice for Smart TV user interface navigation, motion gaming, gesture control, and more." "Our flagship TCL V7500 Smart TV and our Android Smart TV product line have set a new standard for innovation in the Chinese market," said Warren, Wang, General Manager of LCD Business Unit at TCL. "As a world leader in motion software and products, Hillcrest's Freespace technology and expertise exceeded our high standards for both quality and innovation. We are proud to collaborate with Hillcrest to provide revolutionary yet intuitive user experiences for our Smart TV users." Advantages of Hillcrest's Freespace MotionEngine Smart TV Hillcrest's patented MotionEngine software is a fully featured motion processing software product that can be added to a wide range of devices, including Smart TVs, Blu-ray and streaming media players, smartphones and tablets, game controllers, and more. The MotionEngine software interfaces with an array of MEMS sensors, including accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetic sensors, to produce high quality, application-ready motion data for a variety of use cases. TCL's new Android Smart TVs utilize Hillcrest's Freespace MotionEngine Smart TV software and Gesture Recognition Engine to provide the most advanced motion, gesture and cursor control capabilities. System benefits include: · Simple Navigation of Smart TV User Interfaces: Advanced motion processing provided to the TCL Android Smart TV motion remote by Hillcrest's MotionEngine Smart TV software translates natural hand movements into precise onscreen actions, replicating computer mouse-like functionality on the TV. This allows users to easily select icons and control objects placed anywhere on the screen. · Relaxed User Experience: TCL Android Smart TV users do not have to point the remote at the screen to control the cursor, and there are no "line of sight" requirements. This allows the user to sit, stand, recline, lie down, or move around the room while maintaining full control of the Smart TV user interface. · Comfortable Controls: The TCL Android Smart TV can be controlled by small movements of the wrist and simple button clicks. Hillcrest's patented features, including orientation/roll compensation and adaptive tremor removal, create a more comfortable and less fatiguing user experience. The Freespace MotionEngine is the same software embedded in the new line of Roku 2 streaming media players and LG's Smart TVs. Other companies that have licensed Hillcrest's technology for use in their products include: Eastman Kodak, Logitech, SMK Electronics, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Universal Electronics (UEI), and others. Hillcrest's global intellectual property portfolio includes more than 60 issued patents, with more than 200 applications pending. Hillcrest has received numerous awards and recognitions including the prestigious CES Innovations Honoree Award multiple times, EE Times' ACE Award, PC World's 100 Best Products and Greatest Tech Designs, Popular Mechanics' Editors Choice, ECN's Reader's Choice Tech, and many others. Additional information about Hillcrest's broad portfolio of natural motion control products is available at: www.hillcrestlabs.com. Follow Hillcrest on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HillcrestLabs or Twitter at @HillcrestLabs. TCL Multimedia Surged to Top Five Global LCD TV Market Share, and Expected to Further Benefit from the Latest Energy-saving Home Appliance Subsidy Program HONG KONG, May 20, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings Limited ("TCL Multimedia" or "the Group", HKSE stock code: 01070) announced that according to the latest DisplaySearch report, as of the first quarter in 2012, the Group's global LCD TV market share increased from 4.9% to 5.6%, bringing its ranking up to No. 5 from No. 7 in 2011. Its TV market share in the PRC Market was 18.1%, driving its ranking up to No. 1 from No. 2 in 2011. Its LCD TV market share in the PRC Market was 17.5%, pushing its ranking up to No. 2 from No.3 in 2011. It is the first time a Chinese TV enterprise has been ranked in the top five in terms of the global LCD TV market share. The improvement in market share was attributable to the Group's continuous focus on enhancing "speed and efficiency" of its operations and marketing strategies and to its dedication in the optimization of its products, marketing strategies, sales channels, costs and brand image, which resulted in satisfactory increases in sales volume in both the PRC Market and the Overseas Markets, especially the Emerging Markets. The Group's monthly sales volume of LCD TVs in the first four months of 2012 amounted to 4,630,009 sets, up by 70.4% year-on-year, of which the sales volume of LCD TV in the PRC Market and the Overseas Markets increased by 29.5% and 163.7% year-on-year, respectively, to 2,444,947 sets and 2,185,062 sets, respectively, far exceeding the average growth of the industry. In addition to the rapid sales growth, the Group continued to improve its product mix and the proportion of high-end products continued to increase. In April 2012, the Group's sales volume of LED backlight LCD TV as a percentage of the total LCD TV sales volume was 72.0%. The sales volume of smart & internet TV and 3D TV in the PRC Market reached 339,279 sets and 145,064 sets, respectively representing 45.9% and 19.6% of the total shipment of LCD TV in China. Furthermore, the Chinese government has just announced a new energy-saving home appliance subsidy program with subsidy amount of RMB 26.5 billion to promote the consumption of five types of home appliance that fulfill the energy-saving standards, including LCD TVs, air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and electric water heaters. In this regard, TCL Multimedia is committed to the development of energy-saving and environmentally friendly products. All LED backlight LCD TV products the Group launched this year have satisfied the National Level 1 Energy Consumption Standard. More than 200 models of TV products have been accredited with the standard. Also, its entire range of LCD TV products will be designed in line with the standard in the future. Since the Group owns both TCL and Rowa brands in the PRC Market, it is expected that the Group will benefit considerably from the implementation of the energy-saving home appliances program, which will further boost the growth of the Group's high-end TV sales. |
| Microsoft details Windows 8's pre-boot world, helps you skip the F8 F8 F8 routine Posted: 22 May 2012 08:09 PM PDT Microsoft has been going into very exacting detail as to how Windows 8 works, but one area it hasn't explored much is what happens before you even see the Start screen. As user experience manager Chris Clark notes, the days of mashing F8 repeatedly to reach a pre-boot configuration are (mostly) over: you can invoke it either through an "advanced startup" in settings, through Start menu shortcuts or, if your PC is truly sick, let it show automatically. At least on systems blessed with UEFI instead of an aging BIOS, you'll get a lot more to tinker with as well, including going straight to the command prompt, recovering from a system image or booting from external storage. The emphasis on choosing your environment before you hit the power button is virtually necessary. A Windows 8 PC with a solid-state drive leaves just a 200-millisecond slice of time for any user input, and Microsoft would rather not have users caught in an infinite loop of restarting their systems as they unsuccessfully try to boot from USB drives. You'll likely discover the pre-boot space first-hand when the OS ships later this year, but for now you can check the source for more. |
| Mobile security researchers present Android Malware Genome Project at IEEE Posted: 22 May 2012 07:13 PM PDT |
| Researchers power microbots made of bubbles with lasers Posted: 22 May 2012 06:27 PM PDT They may not be "robots" as most have come to expect, but these so-called microrobots developed by a team of researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa do have at least one thing in common with many of their mechanical counterparts: lasers. As IEEE Spectrum reports, the bots themselves are actually nothing more than bubbles of air in a saline solution, but they become "microrobots" when the laser is added to the equation, which serves as an engine of sorts and allows the researchers to control both the speed and direction of the bubbles. That, they say, could allow the bots to be used for a variety of tasks, including assembling microstructures and then disappearing without a trace when the bubble is popped. Head on past the break for a video of what they're already capable of.
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| PSA: Windows Phone Marketplace now requires Windows Phone 7.5 Posted: 22 May 2012 05:42 PM PDT Microsoft warned us last month that it would be snipping legacy OS support in Windows Phone Marketplace within a few weeks, and it just made good on that heads-up. As of now, you'll need at least a Windows Phone 7.5 device to shop for, review and update apps, no matter how much you want that fix for Ilo Milo. The company still argues that the cutoff is needed to improve speed and security in the Marketplace as well as lay a foundation for a better Windows Phone future. Given that virtually every handset on the market can get 7.5 today, if it doesn't already ship with 7.5 preloaded, you have every good reason to grab the update through Microsoft's desktop apps and stay in the Marketplace downloading parade. |
| Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what's up and sideways (video) Posted: 22 May 2012 05:06 PM PDT We love finding out how things work, and arguably one of the most important parts of the smartphones and tablets we thrive on is the accelerometer gauging our device's orientation. Imagine our delight, then, when we see the University of Illinois' Bill Hammack (i.e. The Engineer Guy) giving a visual rundown of how accelerometers work. Although it's certainly the Cliff's Notes version of what's going on in your Android phone or iPhone, the video does a great job of explaining the basic concepts behind three-axis motion sensing and goes on to illustrate how MEMS chips boil the idea down to the silicon form that's needed for our mobile hardware. Hammack contends that it's one of the coolest (and unsung) parts of a smartphone, and we'd definitely agree; you can see why in the clip after the break. |
| Engadget HD Podcast 300 - 05.22.2012 Posted: 22 May 2012 04:37 PM PDT 00:05:20 - TiVo's Stream transcoding box and IP connected extender make their debut at Cable Show 2012 Hear the podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ion launches Air Pro WiFi, helps you document your morning commute (video) Posted: 22 May 2012 04:14 PM PDT Ion's officially releasing its Air Pro camera that we put through its paces back in March. The sports shooter is designed to be strapped to a helmet or extreme-sports gear to document your extreme adventures in high definition. It'll also come with 8GB of free storage from MiMedia to share your death-risking achievements over the internet. Budget models are available starting at $230, but for the full package (with the WiFi module) it'll set you back $350 from today. Oh, and if you'd like to see what you're expected to do with the gear, you can head past the jump for test footage. No Strings Attached: Sleek, Connected and Cloud-Based Action Video Camera Launches in US New ION AIR PRO camera makes it easy and fun to capture and share HD videos and stills of life's most moving moments Additional ION AIR PRO features that set it apart from others in the market include: |
| VIA Technologies outs $49 APC Android barebones, nods towards Raspberry Pi Posted: 22 May 2012 03:49 PM PDT Android might have already spilled over into the desktop world in one form or another, but what if you want something a little more project-friendly? VIA Technologies has developed the APC, a Neo-ITX-based barebones system running a custom version of Android 2.3 optimized for mouse and keyboard input. The board is compatible with Mini-ITX and MacroATX form factors, and comes with a VIA 800MHz processor, 512MB RAM, 2GB flash memory, and built-in (up to 720p) graphics. HDMI, VGA, 4 x USB, audio out / in, microSD and Ethernet come along for the ride too, for a reasonable spread of connectivity. Best of all? The whole lot will only cost $49. No word on when pre-orders will open, but drop your email in over at the source link to find out when they do. |
| Frontline investigates the cause of cell tower deaths tonight (video) Posted: 22 May 2012 03:31 PM PDT
You probably don't give much thought to the towers that blanket us with wireless signals and the technicians that climb up them, almost constantly, to upgrade the equipment. The PBS investigative journalism series, Frontline, does and tonight on your local PBS HD affiliate the findings from their investigation of the numerous fatalities will premier -- check out the embedded preview and then the local listings for specific time and channel. Who's to blame, what can be done to prevent it and more will be covered, as well as discussed via an online chat with the film's producers on Wednesday the 23rd at 1PM ET, with one of our very own moderating the panel. Feel free to leave questions for the producers and then join us tomorrow via the embedded chat after the break. <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=9780bbae2b" href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=9780bbae2b" >Cell Tower Deaths Chat</a> This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Dragon Drive! lets you take the wheel, while Nuance takes dictation Posted: 22 May 2012 03:12 PM PDT Do you like your cars smart? Are you itching to drive something a bit more K.I.T.T. than KIA? Well, this summer the glory of your Hasselhoff-soaked, '80s dreams will become reality, thanks to the folks at Nuance. Utilizing the same natural-language voice software currently employed across select mobile phones and TV sets, the outfit's hatched a new platform, dubbed Dragon Drive!, specifically for connected autos. The hands-free tech will support six languages at launch, with more to come throughout the year, giving drivers the ability to dictate texts and emails, as well as manage multimedia and navigation without ever lifting a finger from the wheel. So far, the company hasn't outed any initial partners for the voice recognition service. But if you're in the market for a high-end vehicle and your very own virtual Synergy, rest assured, your needs are going to be met. Hit up the break for the official presser and video tour.
Nuance Unveils Dragon Drive!; Powers More Intuitive, Intelligent Connected Car Revolutionary Automotive Platform Combines Nuance's Dragon and Natural Language Understanding Technologies to Voice-Enable Message Dictation, Directed Content Search, Music, Navigation and More Burlington, Mass. – May 22, 2012 – Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) today unveiled Dragon Drive!, Nuance's new automotive-grade natural-language voice platform created and designed specifically for the connected car. Dragon Drive! enables automotive manufacturers and suppliers to deliver eyes-free, hands-free message dictation and direct access to content, music, and navigation – all powered by the same core technologies at the heart of Nuance's successful Dragon Dictation and Dragon Go!. |
| NASA app goes 2.0, the safest launch this century Posted: 22 May 2012 02:48 PM PDT When we're not looking up at the stars, we're likely looking at a screen, so any chance to combine those two is greeted with open arms. As it happens, we've been thumbing NASA's iOS app for a while, and now it's finally gotten an update. Users of the iPhone / iPod version can enjoy -- among other things -- a new interface, weather forecasts in the sighting opportunity sections and printing support. So, if you missed the action this morning, perhaps you can print off a memento? |
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