Sponsored
Engadget News |
- ICANN shows the full generic TLD application list, Google's bidding splurge
- Windows RT licenses reportedly costing $85, sends OEMS hunting down the back of the couch
- Aviary launches photo editing application on iOS, turns Android plugin into an app
- iCRAFT robotic feeding arm (eyes-on)
- ARM vows Mali-450 graphics will liven up mid-range smartphones
- Galaxy Note 10.1 up for pre-order on Amazon US: $549 with quad-core CPU in tow
- Amazon reportedly adding music rights to Cloud Player, could close gap with iCloud
- Nokia Lumia 610 review
- ConnecTV officially launches, gives you more ways to bug your buddies
- Storage Options pads out its budget ICS slate lineup by two
- Insert Coin: The Kick, an iPhone-controlled camera light
- Samsung aiming for complete mobile domination with rumored Facebook competitor
- Amazon Prime Instant Video gets MGM Studios movies and TV shows, dances with a few wolves
- Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display review (mid 2012)
- Congressmen tell ITC to lay off Microsoft in Xbox patent litigation
- iFixit tears the MacBook Pro with Retina Display to pieces, gets a few shocks on the way
- Renault Zoe EV motors nearly 1,000 miles in 24 hours, charges nine times
- An ARM core in an AMD device? It just happened, but not the way you think
- Acer unveils $450 Iconia Tab A700: 1920 x 1200 display and Tegra 3 under the hood
- Chrome Web Store adds offline app section, more markets and greater analytics for developers
- Netgear melds 802.11ac WiFi with cable modem, gives us a cable gateway we'd actually like
- Engadget Mobile Podcast 141 - 06.12.2012
- EIZO FORIS FS2333 23-inch gaming monitor helps you see what evil lurks in the shadows
- Three UK offers flat-rate plan for unlimited European data roaming
- A123 Systems' new lithium ion tech keeps EV batteries cool, your wallet in check
- Apple denied stateside Galaxy S III injunction
- Voddler's Lumia-exclusive video streaming app debuts for European Windows Phone users
- Sony outs Xperia Ion HSPA for poor 4G-lacking citizens (video)
- Sony Xperia tipo dual shares SIMs, still fits in tiny pockets
- Sony Xperia miro unveiled ahead of time, light on details
- Layar lays the AR on thick with worldwide Stiktu app rollout
- Microsoft patent application could match online moods with emotionally-targeted ads
- Apple Thunderbolt Software Update causing sporadic errors, frozen boot screens
- DOJ looking into whether Comcast, other TV giants are unfairly (knee)capping Hulu, Netflix
- TecTiles: programmable NFC stickers for select members of Samsung's Galaxy
- Tesla gives Model S Signature drivers a year of free data, reveals their cars' true colors (video)
- Plans for European Extremely Large Telescope approved, is indeed extremely large
- Mac Pro refresh irks Andy Hertzfeld, Apple confirms revisions 'likely' in 2013 (update)
- Paramount Movies Ultraviolet app released for Xbox 360
- PSA: Which iOS 6 features can my device run?
| ICANN shows the full generic TLD application list, Google's bidding splurge Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT ICANN told us that June 13th was the golden day that we'd get to see all of the initial applications for generic top-level domains (gTLDs), and the full list has surfaced on cue. The early roster shows a lot of competition for certain domains -- we're seeing a baker's dozen in companies trying for .app alone. Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and other companies are understandably trying to protect their brand names, but we're just now seeing the full extent of Google's gTLD madness: we're counting 101 instances in which the search firm has tentatively pulled the $185,000 trigger. ICANN still has to settle on which bidders get the domains they want, though, and there's no certainty that Google will fulfill its dreams. When even the cherished .lol domain has a challenger, you know the competition is getting fierce. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Windows RT licenses reportedly costing $85, sends OEMS hunting down the back of the couch Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:24 AM PDT Windows RT, which we're obliged to remind you is the version that runs on ARM hardware, will reportedly cost between $80 and $95 for OEMs to license. Whilst at Computex, VR-Zone asked various companies the cost differences between building Android slates (which Google offers for free) and Microsoft's latest variant. The anonymous enterprises responded with figures between $80 and $95 -- averaging out at $85. If true, then Metro-powered tablets will cost several hundred dollars more than their Android-running rivals -- which would certainly hamper its entry into the market. [Image Credit: Time / Reuters] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aviary launches photo editing application on iOS, turns Android plugin into an app Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT Last we heard, Aviary was being chosen to replace the deceased Picnik as the main photo editor on Flickr, and now the startup is getting ready to launch its first iOS app and give its previous Android offering a major boost. The Jeff Bezos-backed company has just announced its entry into the application game, giving iOS and Android folks access to an array of its image editing tools -- much like Apple's iPhoto on Cupertino devices or Photoshop Express on ones powered by Google's OS. Naturally, you'll be able to do run-of-the-mill tidbits such as cropping, rotating, sharpening and blurring, which are bundled alongside others like cosmetic tools, one-tap auto enhance and "gorgeous effects." It's also worth noting Aviary was once present on Google Play as a plugin, but has now made the change to a full-on, feature-packed application. Those interested in taking the fresh app for a spin can hit either of the source links below, where a mighty free download awaits you. Introducing The Official Aviary Mobile App Aviary provides a mobile SDK (software development kit) for developers to easily inject a photo editor within their app, all without the fuss of developing it on their own. Aviary's SDK offers a customizable pre-built user interface which is designed to blend seamlessly in any app, on iOS, Android, and WP7. Developers can now focus on the core of their app, while letting Aviary provide the photo editing tools. Since we released our mobile SDKs (currently available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7), we've received overwhelmingly positive feedback from partners and users alike: everyone loves the convenience of being able to use Aviary within their favorite mobile apps! That said, we still heard from a lot of people who wished they could occasionally use it as a standalone photo editing app on their phone. Beyond the editor features you probably already know and love (lightning fast editing, one-tap auto enhance, beautiful effects, all the tools you need in the palm of your hand), we've thrown in a couple extras to show off what Aviary can do: - Scroll through your recent photos in a cover photo-like view from the home screen. (It's way faster and more satisfying than your phone's default gallery view.) - Adjust settings to customize and rearrange the order of the tools in the editor. If you're a developer, this will help you get a sense for how easy it is to customize our tool list in your app. Or if you just love Aviary's text tool and use it all the time, you can move it to the first page of the editor so you can get to it with just one tap. You can install the app from the App Store or from Google Play. Have fun, and don't forget to let us know what you think! You can submit feature requests here, or reach out to us directly at contact@aviary.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iCRAFT robotic feeding arm (eyes-on) Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT We're back for another day of exploring the Northeastern University labs. We checked out a handful of projects yesterday, including the HyCycle, a runner-up in the school's Capstone award. Today we checked out the winner: iCRAFT -- that's short for eye-Controlled Robotic Arm Feeding Technology. The project was developed by a group of seven electrical and computer engineering students looking to create an inexpensive solution for helping the disabled and elderly feed themselves at home. As the Apple-esque name implies, the project utilizes eye-tracking to help the user feed him or herself. The hardware side of the project involves a robotic arm and controller (which run a combined $640), a hacked Creative webcam and IR light (around $114), three bowls, a water bottle and a custom built power supply. On the software side, the team used the open-source ITU gaze tracker software, combined with a custom GUI. The whole thing is designed to be simple to use right out of the box -- though, being in prototype stage, there were naturally a few hiccups in the process. It didn't work perfectly when we demoed it today, but it certainly wasn't much more buggy than what many companies try to pass off as finished products.
The whole setup worked pretty well off the bat. We sat down, let the system calibrate for our eyes (which managed to track our gaze through a pair of glasses), a reasonably quick process. Once calibrated, the team's simple GUI pops up on the monitor, featuring four big blocks: a yellow bowl one, a blue bowl two and a red bowl three. Along the bottom is a big green rectangle labeled "Rest." The crosshair that signifies what you're looking at has a tendency to jump around and can be slightly distracting, but after just a few minutes we were able to get the hang of directing the pointer to the desired location. We found that picking blocks one or three on either end of the screen was actually easier if we looked past the monitor's bezel. Once you've locked in and stare at one block long enough for the indicator gradient to fill up, the arm goes into action. Is swings the plastic spoon at its end toward the chosen bowl, lifting up and plunging into the food. According to the students, the system has a "scooping algorithm," which ensures that it evenly distributes its position, so you get the whole bowl's contents for more clingy food like rice or cook oatmeal. The arm then slowly raises the food-filled spoon, bringing it around and then gingerly moving it toward the user's face. Once extended, new options appear on the screen, allowing the user to return the food to the bowl (in the case of a changed mind or wrong selection) or to get a drink from the Hydrant Bottle. One issue we encountered here, was that that the arm, once extended, would sometimes interfere with the eye tracking, making it difficult to select a new option, but the team assured us a higher-end camera or a more optimal positioning could easily rectify the problem. All told, the system cost the students about $900 to put together. Mass produced, they expect that price to drop down to around $800 to $850 -- that's a pretty big drop from the $3,500 to $6,000 that similar systems often cost. But while the system is designed to work instantly, it's certainly not a complete replacement for human help. After all, someone still has to cut up the food and put the bowls out. Rather, the system is meant to simplify the process and offer a greater degree of freedom and control over the act of eating. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARM vows Mali-450 graphics will liven up mid-range smartphones Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:28 AM PDT ARM is still cooking its next-generation Mali-T604 mobile graphics, but it has what could be a massive lift to performance coming considerably sooner through the Mali-450 family. The architecture is almost almost literally two Mali-400 chips (the same that powers the Galaxy S II) grafted together, and the maximum eight cores accordingly run up to twice as quickly as what we saw just a year ago. The real achievement might be just be targeting the Mali-450 at a more down-to-Earth audience: where the 400 was all about conquering the high-end, ARM wants the 450 to focus on mid-range and even entry-level phones. Design work for the new Mali video should be done before the end of 2012, although it'll be up to chip manufacturers to carry the torch and finish work that likely won't show in phones and tablets until 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Galaxy Note 10.1 up for pre-order on Amazon US: $549 with quad-core CPU in tow Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:02 AM PDT Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 was recently caught on camera, which indicates that it's well along the production pipeline. Further evidence: the ICS tablet is up for pre-order on Amazon US. The asking price is $549, and the retailer says it will be available "within 3 to 5 weeks." In line with earlier rumors, it looks like Samsung swapped the Note 10.1's original dual-core processor for a quad-core CPU, though as Unwired View points out, Amazon probably meant a Samsung Exynos processor rather than the Intel Xeon currently listed. Ready to shell out for this S Pen-equipped slate? Click on through to the source link to see the product page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon reportedly adding music rights to Cloud Player, could close gap with iCloud Posted: 13 Jun 2012 09:37 AM PDT Amazon's Cloud Player app just made its way to the iPhone and iPod touch, but the company's web-based music service still lacks the license deals that make Apple's iCloud a more seamless experience. While iCloud scans a user's hard drive to match songs and stream them from iTunes, Cloud Player requires listeners to manually upload copies of their music to the cloud. According to CNET's "industry sources," Amazon is looking to close that gap by inking agreements with major labels and has already made deals with EMI and Universal Music Group. This story is still very much in the rumor phase, but obtaining those licenses certainly sounds like a logical step for a service meant to make enjoying files across several devices easier. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT More InfoLumia, Lumia, Lumia. Who would have thought, way back at Nokia World 2011, that the name would come to ring as affectionately as it does today? The first three releases in the family, the 800, 710 and, most recently, the 900, all provided such a fluid, well-rounded experience that we found it easy to overlook certain weaknesses in their spec sheets. Low-res 480 x 800 displays and single-core processors were largely forgotten in the face of a fresh aesthetic and matching OS that stood out from the smartphone crowd. Which brings us to Lumia number four: the 610. As a budget phone currently going for free on a £15-per-month contract in the UK, it's been built on Nokia's belief that Windows Phone will run on almost anything: the merest of Snapdragon S1 processors (clocked at just 800MHz) coupled with a few crumbs of RAM (256MB). Overall, those specs make previous Lumias -- with their S2 chips, 512MB and 1.4GHz clock speeds -- look almost futuristic. The question is, can WP really come this cheap and survive intact? Read on and you'll find out. Hardware
The price of the Lumia 610 evidently isn't enough to get Nokia's design wizards out of bed in the morning, but it'll still buy you a decent-looking handset. Our white and chrome review sample is perhaps the blandest of the bunch, while the more colorful variants -- like the magenta one we saw in our hands-on -- have tinted chrome edges and hence make a bolder entrance. Leaving the colors aside, this is actually quite a derivative design that has nothing in common with the chic appearance of the 800 or 900. The shape and size is much like that of the 710: the thin rear cover is Samsung-like (without calling out any model in particular), the plasti-chrome edging is BlackBerry Curve-flavored and the front panel looks kinda like an HTC Trophy from 2010. All these sources of inspiration have one thing in common: what they lack in beauty, they make up for with build quality, and the Lumia 610 follows that pattern to the letter. All the corners and edges are gently rounded to offset the handset's 12mm (0.5-inch) midriff. There's some flex in the chassis, resulting in creaking noises if you squeeze it, but it's not enough to do any harm to the impression that this is a solidly constructed device that will stand up to daily wear. Overall, we wouldn't be surprised if many people preferred the rounded feel of the 610 to that of the 710, which looks duller and feels slightly more blocky in the hand. The only real niggle we have regarding the 610's build is the large indented earpiece at the very top, which accumulates fluff and dust constantly and has to be blown out -- a problem the 710 shares but to a lesser degree. Slide off the rear cover and you'll see the familiar 1,300mAh battery and a micro SIM slot, but -- as expected -- no expandable storage. This leaves you with 6.21GB of usable space. That's the same as the Lumia 710 and double what you get with the ZTE Tania, but if you can't imagine life without at least 16GB, then budget Androids with microSD slots are two a penny. All the hardware buttons are down the right-hand side of the chrome edge: you get a volume rocker, then the power / standby button in the middle, and finally a camera button at the very bottom, which we'll come to in the camera section below. Along the top edge, you have the 3.5mm headphone jack, into which you can plug the cheap, black-colored supplied headset. Beside the jack sits the micro-USB port for charging and syncing. On the rear cover, you can see holes for the 5-megapixel camera and small LED flash, plus the speaker grill at the bottom, which emits tinny sounds that crackle too easily at high volume. Turning to the all-important front face of the device, we see that we get capacitive navigation buttons for the primary Windows Phone functions: Back, Home and Search. This is a departure from the 710, which uses hardware navigation buttons, and whether that's a good thing will depend on personal preference. For this author, a fluid UI is paramount and capacitive buttons win because they feel more like navigating the touch panel itself -- there are no jarring shifts from a light touch on the panel to a hard press for navigation. So, notch up one more small, but significant, win for the 610. Display The layout of Windows Phone is all about skinny fonts and bold tiles surrounded by vast, calming expanses of black or white space. You need a panel with good contrast to do it justice, and both the Lumia 800 and 710 came well-equipped for the challenge: the 800 has a ClearBlack AMOLED panel, while the 710 had a ClearBlack TFT. The humble 610, meanwhile, has a display that isn't especially clear or black.
It's no different from a budget panel circa 2010. There are dark ripples of uneven backlighting along the bottom. The LCD itself looks like it's been covered in extra-thick glass borrowed from the Popemobile and the result is too reflective and washed-out. That said, the 480 x 800 resolution is fine for the 3.7-inch screen size, and overall we can at least say this display gets the job done without any major issues. Performance, battery life and reception If there were nasty surprises with the Lumia 610, this is where you'd expect to find them. When the disco's over and the lights come on, it's already proved itself to be an acceptable-looking device, but how well does it move? Surprisingly, the 800MHz processor delivers a mostly smooth Windows Phone experience -- even though it is noticeably slower than the 710 during basic navigation. You'll occasionally find yourself staring at a blank screen for half a second, but that's a small sacrifice to make when you consider the price of the handset and how just useful that next screen will be when it finally arrives. This experience is borne out in benchmarking, with WP Bench awarding the Lumia 610 a score of just 54 -- far, far below the 710.
The low specs don't really matter until you reach the Marketplace and discover that your phone doesn't have enough memory to run every app you might want. This shouldn't come as a surprise, however, because we've been reporting on this little controversy for a while and indeed the 610's limitations are readily admitted within the OS and Marketplace screens. You also have to bear in mind that it's better than the alternative: downloading apps only to discover that they crash or don't work properly. Nevertheless, with the 710 selling for perhaps only a smidgen more than the 610, and coming as it does with a full complement of 512MB RAM, this poses a serious dilemma. You may not need Skype -- especially since the 610 has no front-facing camera -- but what else could you be excluded from in the future? Angry Birds and PES 2012 currently won't run either.
We used the 610 without problems on the Three network in the UK. It handles GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and WCDMA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 bands, with data over EDGE and HSDPA 7.2Mbps. Call quality was flawless and HSPA data speeds were as fast and stable as with any other non-HSPA+ phone. Sometimes, however, a tardy data connection (not the fault of the phone) exacerbated the weak processor (definitely the fault of the phone) to make browsing too slow to be practical. The SunSpider test for browsing speed gave the 610 a time of 11,434ms -- an appalling score, although one which exaggerates the actual scale of the problem. The desktop version of Engadget.com took a while to render whenever we scrolled or zoomed in, but we were still able to read it -- although it'd definitely be preferable to set Internet Explorer to look for the mobile versions of a website wherever possible. Overall, the browsing experience doesn't destroy the 610's credibility, but it underscores, yet again, that the 710 delivers a lot more power for similar money. As you can tell from the table above, battery life was remarkable. We'll re-test the WP Bench rundown score in case there was a fluke or error, but we doubt it'll make much difference. With moderate to heavy usage, there'd rarely be less than 50 percent of battery juice remaining at the end of the day -- a major benefit from the weak processor. Camera Good cameras in phones aren't cheap, and if you take a lot of snaps on your handset then you're in the wrong place. While the weakness of the processor is disguised by the OS, it comes right to the fore as soon as you press the dedicated camera button. Doing so brings up the camera, but only after a roughly three-second wait. Once there, you can either tap the screen once to set focus and exposure for that zone and take the shot (by far the fastest option), or you can press the camera button halfway to lock focus (but not exposure) and then fully to take the shot. If the camera button also locked exposure, it'd make a lot more sense, but frankly that's the least of our worries.
More urgently, images are hard to focus consistently and are slightly washed out and unrewarding to look at -- just like those from the Lumia 710. They're noisy if ambient light is anything less than abundant, and overall they're a patch on stills produced by higher-specced Windows Phones like the Lumia 800 or the Titans. The 610 also lacks processor-hungry features like a panorama mode. Video is smooth and autofocus does its job, but the resulting footage is only VGA -- there are webcams these days that can deliver the same. Once again, the 710 wins hands down, delivering crisp 1280 x 720 video. Software Fortunately, as we've mentioned, the processor handles Windows Phone Mango admirably, which means that all the fundamental benefits of that OS apply here (although bear in mind the RAM caution above). The UI is easy to understand, with just two home screens: the main one containing the live tiles that you're free to pin and organize as you like, and the second containing an alphabetical list of all your apps. There's also a multi-tasking screen, activated by pressing and holding the Back button, which allows you to switch relatively quickly between different apps you've loaded up. Moreover, the WP keyboard is the best typing experience you'll find on a phone of this size, bar none. Office and SkyDrive are a combined force for productivity. When you open Office, you can create, view and edit not only locally-stored documents, but also documents that are synced with your cloud storage -- either SkyDrive, Office365 or OneNote. Each of these has its own strengths: SkyDrive is a good repository for all file types; 365 is mainly an enterprise solution; OneNote is perfect for simple but sophisticated note sharing across platforms, not least because there are OneNote apps for Android and iOS. There are lots of other extras that you only discover over time. For example, the Lumia 610 comes with a recent version of Windows Phone Mango that can handle wireless tethering, allowing you to share a cellular data connection with other devices via WiFi. Also, as with previous versions, if you hook the phone up to your dash or audio system over Bluetooth, it will -- if you so choose -- interrupt your music if you receive an SMS and even read the SMS out to you. It requires no set up and works well, although responding using WP's cloud-based speech recognition is more hit and miss. We've been banging on about this for a while, but it deserves to be reiterated: Nokia's apps are not bloatware, but are valuable additions. Just look at Drive, for example: a fully-fledged voice-guided navigation system with free offline maps for a large number of countries. Mix Radio is another boon: free, well-presented and sensibly categorized music streaming whenever you have a WiFi connection. Wrap-up On a more expensive proposition, the weak camera, capped RAM and slow browsing performance on this device would be deal-breakers. On the Lumia 610, however, they're things you can learn to live with. The handset delivers a stunning OS, good phone functionality and a healthy battery life all packaged within an acceptable design. It never once feels like a dumbphone trying to play smart -- it's smart to its core and will deliver all the communication and productivity benefits that you could want in this category. The only factor that precludes a wholehearted recommendation is actually the Nokia Lumia 710. Due to a quirk of history, that better-specced phone can be had in the UK for a just a couple of pounds more per month (£17 versus £15, or just £99 Pay-as-you-go), and yet it delivers a superior LCD panel, a much quicker processor and 720p video recording. The only major sacrifices with the 710 might be its hardware buttons and slightly less bold design, but these are purely subjective. So, it all comes down to price: if you know that Windows Phone is what you want (hello, like-minded person); if none of the aforementioned issues put you off; and if you can find the 610 much cheaper than the 710 -- perhaps as a SIM-free bargain -- then you can feel safe in taking the plunge. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ConnecTV officially launches, gives you more ways to bug your buddies Posted: 13 Jun 2012 08:41 AM PDT We went hands-on with the ConnecTV app while it was in open beta earlier this year. Now the social TV app is officially, uh, official -- launching nationwide with backing from television's old guard. Although ConnecTV doesn't double as a remote a la Dijit or BuddyTV, it does play nice with Facebook and Twitter, allowing users to socially rave about Alton Brown's cherry couscous pudding or razz followers of a rival team while watching a game on TV. ConnecTV says the app also syncs with content from Apple TV, Boxee, Hulu, Netflix and Roku from the past seven days. Do note that "nationwide" currently means integrated content from 85 local stations across the US' top 40 TV markets. ConnecTV also plans to expand that number to 215 stations. The app is available for free for PC browsers and the Apple iPad, with iPhone and Android smartphone and tablet versions set for release within the next 45 days. For more details, feel free to dip your toes into the celebratory PR after the break. ConnecTV Launches Biggest Social TV Network Nationwide Partnership with leading television broadcast companies to provide content and promotion LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ConnecTV today announces the largest-ever rollout of a social media platform for television with backing by the leading U.S. broadcast companies. The platform synchronizes social engagement, complementary content and program promotions with television programming from any source, in any market across national cable networks, regional sports networks and local stations affiliated with ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW and MyNetworkTV. The coast-to-coast rollout establishes ConnecTV as the most dynamic and engaging social network for television viewers in the U.S. How ConnecTV works: ConnecTV is the only social network that works across all channels and all shows for both real-time and time-shifted television viewing. ConnecTV is available as a free download for the iPad from the Apple App Store, or for any PC browser at www.connectv.com. ConnecTV will be introducing versions for the iPhone and Android smartphone and tablets in the next 45 days. "Local engagement is at the heart of all social media, from Twitter to Facebook to Groupon," said ConnecTV Co-Founder Ian Aaron. "ConnecTV is the only social TV network with a true investment in the local viewing experience and an unparalleled strategic partnership with the leading media companies in America." Viewers of ConnecTV on partner stations beginning with the top 40 markets will immediately receive additional social television benefits that include synchronization of local news, weather, sports and entertainment programming along with social polls. A total of 85 local ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW and MyNetworkTV stations will be integrated into the ConnecTV experience at launch with plans in place to grow to 215 stations in communities across America. "Television programming is driving the social media conversation, but those conversations continue to be fragmented across myriad platforms and provide little local context," said Alan Frank, President and CEO of Post-Newsweek Stations on behalf of Pearl. "We see ConnecTV as a way for our communities to come together in a single, standardized digital extension of our broadcast platforms, and engage in dialogue around the information and entertainment most relevant to them." ConnecTV partners include a consortium of nine leading U.S. television broadcast groups known as Pearl. The companies include: Belo Corp., Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television Inc., Media General Inc., Meredith Corp., Post-Newsweek Stations Inc. and Raycom Media. Together, Pearl broadcast partners represent more than 200 local ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW and MyNetworkTV affiliate stations in 45 of the top 50 markets reaching 76 million households. As part of their ConnecTV partnership, Pearl will expand and coordinate the affiliate base of participating local broadcasters, integrate local content, deliver on-air, on-screen and on-line promotions and sell complementary second screen advertising that synchronizes with the broadcast. The combined technical capabilities of the ConnecTV platform provide a unique social and content user experience designed to transform television into a highly interactive second screen experience, in tandem with a live or time-shifted program. While all ConnecTV users will enjoy an extraordinary viewing experience, TV fans who watch along with ConnecTV's local partner stations will have the advantage of heightened benefits, including: Social conversations sparked locally by on-air personalities and station production staff surrounding news, sports and entertainment topics of the day. About ConnecTV About Pearl SOURCE ConnecTV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Storage Options pads out its budget ICS slate lineup by two Posted: 13 Jun 2012 08:22 AM PDT We know, we know. More Android tablets. But if you're in the UK and looking for a budget Ice Cream Sandwich slate with reasonable specs, you might want to listen up -- Storage Options has added two Android 4.0 tablets to its already-crowded lineup. The 8-inch Scroll Engage, at £130 ($200), slots between the existing 7-inch Excel and 9.7-inch Extreme models, with the same Cortex A8 1.2GHz processor and 1024 x 768 resolution. However, the eight-incher packs new Mali-400 dual-core graphics and doubles the RAM to 1GB. The bigger 9.7-inch Elite matches these, but totes a larger IPS panel at the same resolution, alongside 16GB of storage -- twice the amount found on the existing Extreme. A slightly heftier £200 ($305) price tag seems to be the only other difference between the two tablet siblings. So, before ponying up those pounds sterling, hit up the sources to suss out all your options. The latest Scroll tablet devices bring more choice to a growing Android 4.0 portfolio Storage Options, the UK-based technology brand, has announced two new additions to its 2012 tablet line up and new generation of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) devices. The Scroll Elite and Engage have joined the popular and award-winning Scroll tablet portfolio providing a greater variety of features and sizes from which to choose. As Storage Options' latest tablets to run on the new Android 4.0 platform, the Scroll Engage and Scroll Elite offer a wide array of new and improved Android OS features. Users of the lightweight and slender aluminium devices will benefit from faster performance and response times across multiple applications. The Scroll Elite, which is the same size as the hugely popular Scroll Extreme (one of the first Android 4.0 devices available on the UK and Ireland market), boasts a 9.7" capacitive screen and 16GB of inbuilt memory, expandable to 32GB through a micro SD card. It also boasts the latest IPS (in-plane switching) LCD screen technology which enables the user to enjoy vivid and natural images. The smaller Scroll Engage has been packed with features and offers a much more portable solution with its 8" capacitive XGA screen and Cortex A8 1.2GHz, Mali-400 dual core graphics processor. This highly intuitive device supports rich, flash-based content, all major video and eBook formats and even 3D gaming. Paul Evison, head of brand for Storage Options commented: "We have been busy working to enhance and extend our tablet offering since the launch of the first Scroll around 18 months ago. We wanted to be able to offer our customers a range of devices of varying sizes, features and pricing options on the latest Android operating system and I think our offering is one of the strongest on the market in this respect. We now have four really great tablet models, the 7" Scroll Excel (which was rated as the Gadget Show's best budget tablet in November 2011), the new 8" Scroll Engage, the 9.7" Scroll Extreme and the new 9.7" Scroll Elite. The key for us has always been to provide good quality and powerful tablets at affordable prices, backed by an established, responsive UK-based support team and judging by our success it's a model that our customers seem to like." Both the Scroll Elite and Scroll Engage are available now at a number of retailers including Amazon.co.uk, Dabs.com, Hughes Electrical and Scan.co.uk. The Elite has a suggested retail price of £199.99 and The Engage only £129.99. As with all Storage Options products, these devices are supplied with clearly-written and annotated manuals and are backed by a local-rate technical support phone line serviced by experts based in the UK. About Storage Options Storage Options is a UK-based technology brand created with a vision of offering great value, high-performance products without compromising on quality or service. Since Storage Options arrived in the UK in 2010, the brand has gone from strength to strength successfully growing its customer base and expanding its product portfolio into many new areas. The brand's aim is to deliver great products that meet expectations, offer exceptional value for money and provide the good service and support expected by UK and Irish customers. Further information is available on their website http://www.storageoptions.com or you can follow Storage Options on Twitter and Facebook. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insert Coin: The Kick, an iPhone-controlled camera light Posted: 13 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Lighting in photography or movie making is often the reserve of pros who can either afford a studio's worth of equipment or who have the know-how to generate just the right effect with one light. Rift's Kick light mostly tackles the latter by using a control you (probably) already know how to use: your iPhone. If you opt for the WiFi-toting Kick Plus model, an iOS app can control one or more lights for basics like brightness and color temperature -- but it really comes into its own when you want a dash of color or to record video. A Kick can sample color from a palette, a video or directly from the iPhone's camera; temporal effects like a lightning storm can spice up an amateur horror movie. If you're only looking for a straightforward white light to back up production for a traditional camera, the Kick Basic will let you control the rudiments from buttons on the light itself. Unless you're just looking for a sticker reflecting your support, every pledge tier is directly tied to buying a Kick light in advance. Early buyers can put down $89 to get a Kick Basic in black or white, or $139 for the Kick Plus. The more you buy, the cheaper it gets: $180 or $280 will land a pair of Basic of Plus lights, and stores can pay $4,300 or $6,500 to get a hefty 50 units of either model. If you're starting on a small-scale movie production or just have to have properly-lit subjects for street photography, head on over to the Kickstarter source link and chip in. Previous Project Update: We always like it when an Insert Coin project reaches its target early, and so we're happy to say that Sensorcon's Sensordrone mobile device has pushed well past its $25,000 goal. Pledges are still open until July 21st, though, and will let you get in on the first wave of regular production orders if you jump in now. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung aiming for complete mobile domination with rumored Facebook competitor Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:43 AM PDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon Prime Instant Video gets MGM Studios movies and TV shows, dances with a few wolves Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:27 AM PDT Amazon is building steam on its Prime Instant Video additions, as it's following new Paramount content just a few weeks ago with video from the MGM Studios stable. The new movies and TV shows mostly reach deep into the back catalog with classics like Dances with Wolves or the definitive spaghetti Western, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. A few more recent titles have crept into the collection, mostly in TV: if you're a fan of the Stargate universe, you're set. MGM video is folded into the $79 yearly Prime subscription and will let you relive Thirtysomething on a raft of devices, including your PS3. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display review (mid 2012) Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:55 AM PDT Product categories come and go, grow and wither, revolutionize the world and then slowly fade into a state of cold, quiet, everlasting obsolescence. It happens all the time, sometimes over the course of just a year or two (see: netbooks) and, while companies have made billions by establishing truly new categories, rarely has anybody rocked the world by splitting the difference between two very closely aligned ones. That's exactly what Apple is trying to do here. The company's MacBook Pro line is one of the most respected in the industry for those who need an ostensibly professional laptop. Meanwhile, the MacBook Air is among the best (if not conclusively the best) thin-and-light laptops on the market. Now, a new player enters the fray: the MacBook Pro with Retina display. It cleanly slides in between these two top-shelf products, while trying to be simultaneously serious and fast, yet slim and light. Is this, then, a laptop that's all things to all people, the "best Mac ever" as it was called repeatedly in the keynote? Or, is it more of a compromised, misguided attempt at demanding too much from one product? Let's find out. Hardware
When physically placed between the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch Pro, it's clear that this new guy (who, for now, is simply called "MacBook Pro with Retina display") leans far toward the latter when it comes to design. With both closed, at a quick glance you would almost not notice there's anything different between this new Pro and the also-new-but-yet-old one. Still, it doesn't take long to spot the thinness -- or the lack of the slot-loading optical drive on the right. That thickness measures in at 0.71 inches (1.8cm) while the width is 14.13 inches (35.89cm) and the depth is 9.73 inches (24.71cm). Those figures compare quite favorably to the old 15-incher (at 0.95 inches thick) and it's very nearly as thin as the Air, which is 0.68 inches at its thickest. Weight? A healthy 4.46 pounds (2.02kg). That's just over a pound less than the full-sized MacBook Pro and about 1.5 pounds more than the 13-inch Air.
That may sound like an even split between the two sister models, but in reality the new Pro feels considerably heavier than the Air and not that much lighter than the old Pro. That said, much of this depends on where you're coming from. If you're an Air user, carrying this around is going to feel burdensome. However, if your regular daily driver is a current 15-inch Pro (or, heaven forbid, a 17-incher), the new Pro could feel like a refreshing reduction in curb weight. And, with even more resolution and performance than the outgoing 17 inch model, we think this new model makes for a more than compelling alternative. In exchange for your pack getting a little lighter, you're not being asked to give up all that much. Yes, the optical drive is the most obvious omission, the only physical media you'll be supporting here is the SD slot located conveniently on the right. The lack of ROM support helps this new model to be as thin as it is -- and provides room for the extra batteries needed to keep that Retina display brightly and brilliantly backlit. Also gone is the Ethernet port, replaced by a Thunderbolt adapter that is not included with the laptop. (It'll cost you $29.99.) Likewise, the FireWire 800 port has been removed, replaced by a separate Thunderbolt adapter. Leaving all those things behind will be difficult, but stay strong, road warrior, because the new Pro is there to help, supporting your love of modern standards with two USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt ports. (Interestingly, Apple chose not to make the USB ports blue, as they're both 3.0 and, therefore, there was no need to differentiate.) Inside is an 802.11n radio providing some of the fastest wireless connectivity available, but there's no option for 3G/LTE broadband. Those who want to roam past the confines of a hotspot will have to bring their own modems. There's the now-standard single headphone jack on the left side and the soon-to-be-standard MagSafe 2 connector. This new connector is a few millimeters shorter than the old one and a few millimeters wider. Apple says this is needed because of the laptop's thinner profile and, indeed, the new Airs also make the change to MagSafe 2. But, since the old Airs got by just fine with the slightly chubbier connector, and since there's still plenty of room for the relatively massive USB ports, we're just not seeing the need for a redesign right now.
Whatever the reason, all those scratched-up, white, plastic power bricks you've accumulated over the years won't work here -- at least, not without a $10 adapter. That's a bummer, but there is some good news: the new MagSafe is no longer the same size as a USB port. Where the last design would grab and hold the end of whatever USB cable you pointed its way, the new MagSafe wants nothing to do with them. That, at least, is some true progress. Settled between all these ports and interconnects is the keyboard, which hasn't really changed from the current Pro. That's a good thing. Apple has shown itself extremely proficient in crafting fine, island-style keyboards on its portable machines, and neither that layout nor feel has changed with the new Pro. Well-weighted and nicely spaced keys make for a great typing experience -- even in the dark, thanks to the backlighting. On either side of the keyboard are the speakers, said to be louder and more effective than those in the previous Pro. We didn't notice a huge change here, but they're certainly more than capable of turning your hotel room into an impromptu dance party -- albeit one without too much bass. Beneath it all lies the glass trackpad, which feels just like it always has: really good. MacBooks have the best touch experience in the business, hands down, and this latest one is no different. Display Sure, it's a quarter thinner and lighter than before, but the real story with this new laptop has nothing to do with external dimensions and everything to do with internal density. Pixel density, to be specific, a figure measured at 220 ppi. That's far lower than the 326 ppi the iPhone 4S delivered when it introduced the world to Retina and, indeed, the 264 ppi rating on the new iPad.
But, held at the appropriate distance, this new panel is said to meet the mystical requirement to be labeled "Retina" and, while that threshold for pixel-invisibility seems to be slinking lower, we're not here to be cynics. We just know one thing: the new display is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Text is incredibly sharp and clear, 1080p video is amazing and images, of course, look great -- when they're of a high enough resolution to do this 2880 x 1800 panel justice. Curiously, you can't actually select that resolution in the OS any longer. Where on other Macs you can explicitly select what display resolution you'd like to use (optionally going lower than the native resolution of the panel), here we have a slider with five positions ranging from "larger text" to "more space." In the middle sits "best" which presents apps, icons and text in roughly the same size as you'd find them on a non-Retina display -- rendered in a higher resolution. It's perhaps more friendly for novice users, but remember: this is a laptop with the word "Pro" in the name. Let's not ignore the fact that this new display has much more to offer than just additional pixels. Viewing angles are expanded compared to Apple's other high-end displays, so the annoying drop in contrast that happens from odd vantage points is all but abolished. Contrast, too, is boosted and, interestingly, glare reduced. Yes, this is still a glossy display and no, there still isn't an option for matte glass. But, Apple promises a reduction in glare here from previous Pros. Indeed, this laptop does have less glare than the thicker Pros, but it's no better than the current Air, which already takes advantage of the new, reflection-reducing construction. You might, then, want to turn off that lamp behind you. Performance and battery life We tested both the base 2.3GHz and higher-spec 2.6GHz quad-core Ivy Bridge CPUs that are on offer (there's an even faster 2.7GHz build-to-order model for another $250), and neither disappointed. In fact, you'd have to be a seriously jaded desktop user to want more oomph from your on-the-go machine. The new MacBook Pro handled absolutely everything we could throw at it and did so with aplomb. General productivity tools fly and more... intensive things run impressively well.
We ran all the major benchmarks and saw some big, big numbers. For the 2.6GHz model, Geekbench gave us an average of 11,591 -- that crushes the 9,647 we scored with the last MacBook Pro, which is itself far from sluggish. The new 2.3GHz model wasn't far behind with a score of 11,082. Xbench was similarly close: 486 for the higher-spec'd model, and 457 for the lower. Finally, the SSD delivered write speeds hovering around 390MB/s and reads topping out at 440MB/s. That's properly fast.
Paired with those quad-core chips is 8GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M Kepler unit with 1GB of GDDR5 memory. Also on tap is integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, the hotter of the two GPUs toggle on when the situation demands. To create such a scenario, we installed one of the hottest games of the moment, Diablo III, and cranked it up to full resolution and full graphical details. We did, however, make one exception: anti-aliasing. When you're running at 2880 x 1800, there's no real need. We were quite happily surprised to see the frame rate hovering between 25 and 30 fps as we explored a few towns and crawled a few dungeons -- perfectly playable at an obscene resolution. Turning it down to something a little more reasonable, 2048 x 1280, netted 40 to 45 fps and running at a relatively mundane 1280 x 800 delivered frame rates over 70. This, then, is a quite passable gaming machine. Still, it only took a few minutes of hacking and slashing to get the bottom of this unit warm, and then noticeably hot. That, of course, caused the redesigned fan system to pop on, which draws in air from a pair of vents on the left and right sides of the bottom of the chassis and blows it out through the hinge. It's been optimized to create a less obnoxious sort of whirring noise. Indeed it's a subtle and unobtrusive white kind of sound, but it's definitely not silent. In fact, the fan doesn't sound particularly different than that on the current MacBook Air, though a few decibels less obtrusive. Still, you'll always know when your system is really cranking. Despite all that performance, we were still impressed by the battery life. In our standard rundown test, which involves looping a video with WiFi on and the display set at a fixed brightness, we netted an impressive seven hours and 49 minutes on the 2.6GHz model. We're still testing the 2.3GHz model, and plan to update this review with final results once we have them. Software Right now, the new MacBook Pro is running Lion, but buy yours now, and you'll find a free upgrade to Mountain Lion in your inbox. We already know quite a bit about Mountain Lion, which is, as of this writing, about a month away from launch. But what we didn't know was the high-resolution support needed for these Retina displays. As of now, that support is sadly far from pervasive.
The primary Apple apps -- Safari, Mail, the address book, etc. -- have all been tweaked to make use of all these wonderful pixels. Sadly, little else has. While we got assurances that third-party apps like Adobe Photoshop and AutoCAD are in the process of being refined, right now, seemingly every third-party app on the Mac looks terrible. Yes, terrible. Unlike a PC, where getting a higher-res display just means tinier buttons to click on, here OS X is actively scaling things up so that they maintain their size. This means that non-optimized apps, which would otherwise be displayed as tiny things, instead are displayed in their normal physical dimensions with blurry, muddy edges. You do have some control over this scaling, with five separate grades to choose from, but none will make these classic apps look truly good. At least, not until their developers release the updates they're no doubt frantically working on at this very moment. Take Google Chrome, for example. You might forgive the buttons and UI elements for being ugly, but even the text rendered on webpages is blurry and distorted. It's bad enough that you won't want to use Google's browser until it's updated, which will surely leave some cynics wondering if indeed this isn't a ploy to get folks to spend a little more quality time with Safari. Good thing Safari's about ready for its own update. Configuration options The Retina display MBP starts at a lofty $2,199. For the money, you'll get a 2.3GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, seven-hour battery and dual graphics -- Intel's integrated HD 4000 and NVIDIA's Kepler-based GeForce GT650M, paired with 1GB of video memory. Of course, the three-year Apple Care Warranty is sold separately, for $349. If money is no object, you can select the highest-tier model for $2,799. Though this has the same battery, graphics and 8GB of RAM, it steps up to a 2.6GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, and doubles the storage capacity to 512GB. Not impressed? You can upgrade further to a 2.7GHz CPU for $250 or select 16GB of RAM, to the tune of $200. You can also max out with a 768GB SSD, provided you're willing to part with an additional $500. For those keeping track at home, that brings the outside cost to $4,098, the extended warranty included. Disappointingly, you can't add the higher-capacity SSD to the lower-spec CPU. And, since the storage is proprietary, swapping in your own will not be a particularly easy task. If you want more than 256GB of storage, you'll just have to step up to the 2.6GHz model. The competition You say you're looking for a laptop with a 15-inch screen, top-notch build quality and a pinch-thin frame? Fortunately for those of you who feel paralyzed by choice, that criteria whittles down your options to two notebooks, tops. The only other contender we can think of is the 15-inch Samsung Series 9, which starts at a more palatable $1,500. At 3.5 pounds and 0.58 inches deep, it's barely thicker than the 13-inch version, which is saying a lot, since that's one of the thinnest Ultrabooks in its own right. The 15-inch Series 9 is far skinnier and lighter than the MacBook Pro, then, but it matches the MBP in build quality, thanks to a rock-solid unibody aluminum chassis and some funky aquamarine keyboard backlights. Ultimately, too, both deserve to be handled with kid gloves: whichever machine you choose, you'll find the smooth metal finish is quite vulnerable to scratches and greasy fingerprint smudges. It's with the display that the MacBook Pro starts to justify its higher starting price. On its own, the Series 9's matte, 400-nit 1600 x 900 panel is still worlds better than what you'll find on most laptops. Certainly, it's a triumph for Ultrabooks, which tend to get saddled with subpar displays, even on higher-end machines. Still, the Series 9's SuperBright Plus screen can't compete with the MBP's tightly woven pixels and wide, wide viewing angles. On the inside, too, the new MacBook Pro offers potentially better specs, with options for twice the RAM and a more spacious 768GB solid-state drive. It's also offered with multiple Core i7 processor options, whereas the Series 9 is only available with Core i5, and with integrated graphics only. These unflattering comparisons aside, the 15-inch Series 9 is still one of our favorite Windows machines -- heck, one of our favorite laptops, even. It remains a sterling choice for Windows fans, or anyone who's willing to spend $1,500 on a notebook, but not $2,200-plus. The two are also well matched when it comes to battery life: the difference in runtime is only about 20 minutes. Even so, if the Retina display MBP is aimed at people who demand the very best, it sweeps at least two key categories: specs and display quality. If it's discrete graphics you're really after, we also recommend checking out the HP Envy 15, which starts at $1,350 (not counting promotions) and can be configured with Ivy Bridge Core i5 and i7 CPUs, a 1GB Radeon HD 7750 GPU, up to 16GB of RAM and either an SSD or spinning hard drive (storage options max out at 300GB and 1TB, respectively). Here, too, you'll find a better display than most laptops have to offer, though the IPS-quality Radiance panel has noted color calibration issues, and the 1080p resolution is still no match for the Retina display. Wrap-up  Is this the best Mac ever? You can't ignore the Air as an amazing piece of machinery, especially with the new, higher-powered Ivy Bridge processors and faster SSDs tucked inside its wedge profile. But, this new Pro is on another level of performance. With a quad-core processor and up to 16GB of RAM it's a proper beast -- a proper beast that you can throw in your messenger bag and carry around all day without spending all night complaining about an aching back. That said, this is not exactly a small machine, heavy enough that those happy Air users who've been feeling tempted might want to take a swing by their closest Apple Store and lift one themselves. It's expensive, too. If you want a machine with enough storage to keep up with all that processing and gaming power you'll be looking at a price of $2,800 -- and that assumes you can resist all the upgrades. So, then, is this a laptop that's creating its own new product category? Not exactly. This is a laptop that stands poised to kill an existing one, one that Apple has dominated. The new Pro is good enough to make the old Pro (even the updated version) look and feel obsolete. It pushes and redefines the category, raising the bar higher than even its brethren can jump. If you can afford the premium and aren't set on a 13-inch model there's no reason to buy any Pro other than this Pro. Zach Honig and Dana Wollman contributed to this review. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Congressmen tell ITC to lay off Microsoft in Xbox patent litigation Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:28 AM PDT If the ITC didn't enjoy being told what to do by the FTC, it's probably less thrilled that Congress (and Apple) has joined in. The ITC found that the Xbox 360 violated four of Motorola's patents back in April, and when a final ruling is made, could see the console banned from sale. Several members of the chamber have voiced their disapproval of any such ban, with similar words of support coming from Apple's lawyers, accusing Motorola of abusing FRAND patents. After this deluge of letters, we're half expecting ITC chief Deanna Okun to start shouting "Don't tell me what I can't do!" at passers-by. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iFixit tears the MacBook Pro with Retina Display to pieces, gets a few shocks on the way Posted: 13 Jun 2012 05:58 AM PDT Barely two full days have elapsed since Tim and the gang announced the gawkily-named MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and already the screwdriver-wielding mavens at iFixit have torn one apart. What did they find? The Samsung-made SSD and Hynix RAM are non-upgradeable, forcing you to decide how much of both you'll need now and in the future. Meanwhile, the battery is glued to the housing and that gorgeous display is fused into the assembly, so it'll be expensive to replace should the worst happen. Speaking of its power reserves, this laptop is packing 95 Wh of juice -- capable of seven hours of life and shocking the engineer silly when he tried to disassemble it. If you'd like to see the intermediate stages of this gadget-autopsy, head on via our source link. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renault Zoe EV motors nearly 1,000 miles in 24 hours, charges nine times Posted: 13 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Even amongst siblings, Renault's shown it's game for a little competition. With a 994 mile trip completed earlier this month on a test circuit, the company's Zoe EV broke a record for the longest distance an electric car has covered in a 24 hour period, according to France Mobilite Electrique (translation via TreeHugger). Think the French automaker's vehicle pulled off the feat on a single charge? Try nine half-hour rapid-charge juice-ups that each provide a roughly 130 mile range in a controlled test-circuit environment. The EV is rolling out in Europe this fall for those who don't mind a little stop-and-go. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| An ARM core in an AMD device? It just happened, but not the way you think Posted: 13 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT Yes, you heard right. AMD just added to ARM's burgeoning heap of gold coins, having licensed the British company's Cortex-A5 design for use in its own hardware. While this might sound like a dramatic capitulation on the part of the struggling giant, particularly after yesterday's news, it probably isn't. AMD says it'll use the ARM component solely for adding better security features to its next generation of business-focused laptops and tablets. A spokesperson told us the company's "commitment to x86 hasn't changed," referring to the fact that it'll continue to use its regular in-house chip architecture for the primary task of running applications. The Cortex-A5 will be one tiny core squeezed in amongst everything else on the future 28nm silicon. It'll be dedicated to running ARM's proprietary TrustZone technology, which protects sensitive apps from tampering -- stuff like mobile payments, DRM, and nudge, nudge corporate documents. Rather than invent its own system for doing the same thing, AMD reckoned it'd be easier to work with ARM's, and who can blame it? If we remember rightly, even Intel made a similar call five years ago. [Tentacles via Shutterstock] AMD Strengthens Security Solutions through Technology Partnership with ARM – Industry-first Collaboration to Extend ARM TrustZone Security Technology into x86- based AMD Offerings, Enabling More Secure Computing Experiences and Significantly Expanding the Security Ecosystem SUNNYVALE, Calif. - June 13, 2012 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced it will integrate a new security solution into its future products to meet the increasing need to provide consumers and businesses with secure access to their content and worry-free online transactions. Through a strategic technology partnership with ARM, AMD will integrate the established ARM® TrustZone® technology into future Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) via a system-on-a-chip (SoC) design methodology. This industry-first collaboration will help accelerate broader ecosystem support by aligning x86 hardware with the world's most broadly-adopted mobile security ecosystem. By adopting the industry-standard approach to security that TrustZone technology embodies, AMD and ARM will provide a consistent approach to security spanning billions of Internet-connected mobile devices, tablets, PCs and servers − whether they are powered by ARM processor-based solutions or AMD x86 APUs. AMD plans to provide development platforms that have TrustZone security features on select APUs in 2013, expanding further across its product portfolio in 2014. In a presentation this week at the AMD Fusion Developer Summit 2012 (AFDS), AMD Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mike Wolfe described AMD's vision to advance computing security by enhancing AMD's existing security technologies. This is expected to include developing a platform security processor using an ARM CortexTM-A5 CPU that features TrustZone technology, to monitor and help protect against malicious access to sensitive data and operations at the hardware level. "With AMD's support for, and inclusion in, the expanding TrustZone ecosystem, consumers and businesses can rest assured their data and content are secured by an industry-standard security solution that spans a multitude of devices and operating systems," said Wolfe. "This example of AMD's ambidextrous strategy, which leverages our history of x86 and graphics innovation while also embracing other technologies and intellectual property, will help drive a more secure computing experience for our consumer and businesses customers." "As technology becomes more important to our everyday lives, security needs to be present in every single device. The challenge that the industry faces is how to make this a reality," said Ian Drew, executive vice president, strategy, ARM. "Through this technology partnership with AMD, and the broadening of the ARM TrustZone technology ecosystem, we're making another important step towards a solution. The aim is to make security accessible and consistent for consumers and business users across all computing devices." Industry Support Demonstrates Market Need In recognition of the first time hardware will be aligned to an industry-standard security solution between multiple processor architectures, the technology partnership has garnered wide support from industry leaders and influencers. "At Alipay, we strive to provide safe and reliable online payment services to hundreds of millions of registered users for the tens of millions of transactions they make every day," said Stephen Zhu, senior director, Alipay. "By incorporating security at the hardware level, AMD and ARM are providing an added level of protection and taking us one step closer to achieving this goal." "Hardly a week goes by without the emergence of another scary story regarding stolen identities or some other computer-related security breach – such as last week's hack of social career networking website LinkedIn that resulted in millions of stolen passwords," observed Nathan Brookwood, Research Fellow at Insight 64. "The bad guys have figured out that it's easier to steal money from a bank's computers than from the bank itself. AMD's move to integrate ARM's TrustZone technology into future APUs will allow systems containing those APUs to attain the same level of hardware-enforced security as today's most advanced devices, and will allow the users of those systems to sleep more soundly at night. ARM TrustZone Brings Security to Millions of Devices ARM TrustZone technology - a system-wide approach to security - is a key component of the ARM architecture and is integrated into the ARM Cortex-A processor series. Launched in 2004, TrustZone is a result of ongoing co-development that ARM carries out with a wide range of companies and has been implemented in a wide array of devices to date. The aim of the TrustZone ecosystem is to drive industry alignment and scalability. This will enable billions of TrustZone technology-based devices to meet the system security needs of consumers, service providers, enterprises and device manufacturers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer unveils $450 Iconia Tab A700: 1920 x 1200 display and Tegra 3 under the hood Posted: 13 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT With new laptop announcements coming practically every other day as of late, a tablet unveiling is a nice change of pace. We have Acer to thank for that, as it's lifting the curtain on the 10-inch Iconia Tab A700. As you might recall, we first saw this slate at CES, where we got some quality hands-on time. Like the earlier Iconia Tab A510, this slate has an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and runs Android 4.0, but it's the first Acer tablet with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. The A700 also features Dolby Mobile 3+ technology and 5.1-channel surround sound, and there's an HDMI port for watching locally stored video on a bigger screen. The 32GB version of the Iconia Tab A700 will cost $450, and it's up for pre-sale starting today. Editor's Summary: Vibrant, precise images brought to life on 1080p Full HD Display with 1920 x 1200 resolution SAN JOSE, Calif., June 13, 2012 – Acer America today debuts the Acer Iconia Tab A700 tablet with a premium 10.1-inch full HD 1080p display. The Acer Iconia Tab A700 presents high-quality images in a new level of clarity and realism with a remarkable 1920 x 1200 resolution that delivers 55 percent higher pixel density compared to 1280 x 800 displays. This results in sharper images and greater details in everything from websites and text to photos and video. The bright and detailed visuals are further enhanced by Dolby® Mobile 3 with 5.1-channel home theater surround sound capabilities. Powered by an NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 quad-core processor and running Android 4.0, the Acer Iconia Tab A700 delivers industry-leading performance and responsiveness for running multiple apps, smooth HD video, fast web browsing and console-like gaming. The tablet can be used as a central part of a digital life; it can be connected to other displays via the HDMI port, and to other devices via its micro-USB port for syncing and transferring files. Plus, consumers can enjoy additional content with the convenient MicroSD card slot. "Consumers have embraced their tablets as a mobile hub for their daily lives, and the full HD display on the Acer A700 will give customers a fresh new perspective on the apps, games and digital media they enjoy," said Paul Tayar, director of product marketing for connected devices, Acer America. "Customers looking for a no-compromise tablet will get the features and performance they want in the new Acer A700." Visually Stunning Display Paired with Incredibly Rich Sound The Acer Iconia Tab A700's full HD 1080p LED backlit display gives customers a visually rich experience; 1080p videos and photos look more vibrant and realistic, and social media networks and online shopping will be enjoyed with more clarity and precision. Many of the most popular Android apps – such as 3D games, reading and digital media – already support 1080p, so they can be enjoyed in greater detail on the new Acer A700 tablet. Ensuring an optimal viewing experience, the Acer A700's display has a 16:10 aspect ratio, 800:1 contrast ratio and a wide 178 degree viewing angle. Plus, the display is a 10-point touch capacitive screen, so it delivers a remarkable degree of accuracy and responsiveness. In addition, customers can share video stored on the Acer Iconia Tab A700 on other monitors, displays, and TVs via the tablet's built-in micro HDMI port. The new tablet also supports dual-displays, so customers can share videos and photos on an external display. Plus, the tablet can be used as a console to play the latest games on a TV. The A700's display is complemented by the tablet's impressive sound capabilities. It comes with Dolby Mobile 3 and is 5.1-channel surround sound ready, so it can be connected via HDMI to an external sound system for a high-fidelity audio experience. The excellent audio can also be enjoyed through the stereo speaker. The sound recorder captures audio in a variety of environments. Students can record lectures and panels discussions, since the Acer Iconia Tab A700 will record multiple voices while suppressing background noises. While in concert mode, the tablet can record sound from further away such as a children's school performance. Sound capture is also improved for video conferencing, so friends and families feel like they're nearly face-to-face. NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 Quad Core Processor, Features for Performance, Power The Acer Iconia Tab A700 features the industry-leading NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 Mobile Processor that provides a unique Super 4-PLUS-1™ Quad Core CPU design with a fifth Battery Saver Core. The processor dedicates up to all four cores to demanding tasks such as watching video and playing next-generation graphics-intense mobile games. Plus, the high-performance 12-Core GeForce NVIDIA GPU delivers incredibly detailed graphics and imagery, while the tablet's full 1GB of RAM(2) contributes to its fast mobile performance. As a result, the Acer A700 is incredibly responsive, delivering smooth video playback, fast navigation and console-quality gaming on-the-go, with performance rates that are 2.6 times faster and graphics that are three times faster compared to previous generation processors. The fifth Battery Saver Core handles less demanding activities, ultimately using less power and improving battery life. Plus, the 9800 mAh battery extends the tablet's battery life for all-day usability of up to 10.5 hours of video playback, or nearly 8 hours of web-surfing(1). Customers can use the integrated GPS and e-compass to enjoy location-based services and maps. The tablet easily connects to Wi-Fi networks with reliable Acer 802.11 b/g/n wireless technology. Connections Make it Expandable, Feature-Rich The Acer A700 comes with 32GB of flash storage integrated into the tablet, so customers have extra room to store games, photos, music and videos.(2) Plus, additional content can be accessed from the Micro-SD card reader that supports up to 64GB Micro-SD cards.(2) The micro USB 2.0 port can be used to transfer data and files on and off the tablet, and can also be used to charge it. The Acer A700 has two integrated cameras: the 5MP rear-facing camera is auto-focusing, and provides the ability to take snapshots while recording HD video, while the 1MP fixed-focused front-facing camera is great for video conferencing, as it features an improved zoom. Customers can capture video and photos, enhance them on the go, and then conveniently store them in Google+ and upload to other social networks. Suite of Extras Boost Productivity The Acer A700 tablet comes with the apps that make it a productivity booster. Polaris™ Office 3.5 allows customers to read and edit documents on the go. The tablet also comes with Evernote, a personal assistant that lets customers easily capture and save web pages, photos, ideas and documents and then store them to the cloud for access from other devices. Printing from the tablet is seamless with Acer Print, which is compatible with 87 percent of brand name printers in the market and supports a wide range of printing formats (doc, pic and browsers). In addition, the tablet features integrated Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate), so it can connect to a variety of other devices, such as headsets and printers. Intuitive Experience with Android™ 4.0, Acer Ring and clear.fi Running on Android™ 4.0 OS, the Acer Iconia Tab A700 delivers many benefits, such as intuitive navigation, fast browsing, as well as enhanced app and folder management options. The unique interactive Acer Ring interface is a welcome addition to Android 4.0, as it can be customized by users to launch favorite apps, programs and websites through a single one-touch button. Additionally, the Acer Ring's screenshot feature can be used to capture images of an app, web site and even photos from a video conference. The chassis' soft-touch finish has a patterned texture that makes it comfortable to hold. It easily fits in a purse, briefcase or book bag, as it weighs just over 1.47 pounds and measures 10.23 (L) x 6.89 (W) x 0.43 (H) inches. Available in U.S. Starting at $449.99 The new Acer Iconia Tab A700 is available for pre-sale starting today in two models – the Acer A700-10s32u (silver) and Acer A700-10k32u (black). The tablets are available at http://us-store.acer.com/ and at national electronics retailers in the United States at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $449.99 USD. Customers can purchase the portfolio case to protect the Acer A700 tablet. The sleek design prevents slipping on surfaces and also allows convenient access to the connectors and ports. It is available through Acer at a price of $39.99. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chrome Web Store adds offline app section, more markets and greater analytics for developers Posted: 13 Jun 2012 04:46 AM PDT Just two months ago, Google added badges to its Chrome Web Store to denote whether a specific app offers offline functionality. Now, the company is making it easier for users to specifically root out these apps with a new offline section in the Chrome Web Store. The change won't be immediately apparent to many, as the "Offline Apps" section is nested within the "Collections" portion of the store, but once here, users will find a host of familiar titles such as Angry Birds, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Offline Google Mail, along with selections such as Nitro for task management, NYTimes for news and Space Invaders for those who like to kick it old school. Along with the new collection, Google is also making life a bit sweeter for developers. First, it's announcing the availability of the Chrome Web Store in Turkey, Ukraine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. Along with this, devs will find new analytics tools to view the trending performance of their titles throughout the past 90 days. For a bit more insight, feel free to hit up the source link below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netgear melds 802.11ac WiFi with cable modem, gives us a cable gateway we'd actually like Posted: 13 Jun 2012 04:24 AM PDT If you're reading this, you're likely the sort who looks down on the hybrid cable modem and WiFi gateway your cable company foists upon you: it's like setting your wireless network in stone. Netgear is hoping to make that all-in-one experience a little more pleasurable by merging the best of two very fast worlds. It's planning to show a cable gateway (not pictured yet) that unites a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, no slouch in itself, with even speedier 802.11ac WiFi to share the connection in the home. The router side has all the familiar extras, such as DLNA media sharing, guest networks and shared USB storage, but it's clear the real perk is simply making sure the hundreds of megabits per second in bandwidth from that cable pipe carry through to your future laptops and tablets. Netgear hasn't said how close it might be to shipping the cable gateway, but it'll be showing the practical device at the ANGA Cable trade show this week -- along with a 1.2Gbps download, 320Mbps upload cable modem that could give even Google Fiber a run for its money. NETGEAR Showcases Industry's First 802.11ac Cable Gateway NETGEAR will demonstrate industry leading products including DOCSIS3.0 Gateways with 24 x 8 channel bonding and 802.11ac wireless delivering connectivity up to three times faster than 802.11n SAN JOSE, Calif., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced that it will showcase several innovative solutions for cable operators, including a groundbreaking DOCSIS3.0 gateway integrated with 802.11ac wireless technology, at the ANGA Cable show taking place June 12- 14 in Cologne, Germany. In addition, NETGEAR will also demonstrate its 24 x 8 channel bonded DOCSIS®/Euro-DOCSIS gateway to support up to 1.2Gbps downstream and 320Mbps upstream data rate. The NETGEAR 802.11ac DOCSIS3.0 gateway supports wireless connectivity that is up to three times faster than today's 802.11n routers. With multiple antennae and dual band WiFi, the cable gateway increases the coverage area for HD streaming in the home while enabling consumers to download web content from any device in the home significantly faster than it would take on a similar 802.11n device. Other advanced features of the NETGEAR 802.11ac DOCSIS3.0 cable gateway include: * NETGEAR Genie®: This app for PCs, Macs, iOS and Android® smartphones and tablets enables home users to control, monitor, repair, and manage their home networks easily through a simple, elegant dashboard. NETGEAR is also showcasing its most advanced cable gateway that supports 24 x 8 DOCSIS3.0 channel bonding to support up to 1.2Gbps downstream and 320Mbps upstream data rates. This translates to up to three times higher data rate on the downstream compared to currently deployed products. These higher speeds enable advanced services for the residential and business customers of cable operators, resulting in additional revenue opportunities for the operators. "Cable operators are increasingly being asked to address two critical challenges – superior wireless connectivity in-home and competition from FTTH technologies. NETGEAR's next generation cable gateway solutions are designed to help our cable operator customers squarely address these challenges," said Michael Clegg, Sr. VP and GM, Service Provider business unit at NETGEAR. "With 802.11ac now a reality, in-home WiFi connectivity is set for a quantum leap and will revolutionize the way we consume content wirelessly. NETGEAR's leadership in the industry, and collaboration with key partners, enables us to introduce the innovative solutions that our cable customers require to successfully meet their subscribers' expectations." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Mobile Podcast 141 - 06.12.2012 Posted: 13 Jun 2012 04:00 AM PDT  We won't beat around the bush: it's been busy around here. So busy, in fact, that we're a a few days late, coming at you all crazy-style: on a Tuesday? You probably already know a little sumthin' sumthin' about what happened on the west coast, but do you know what happened on the third coast...of Taiwan? Please, allow us to deliver the goods. 00:03:30 - WWDC 2012 keynote roundup Hear the podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EIZO FORIS FS2333 23-inch gaming monitor helps you see what evil lurks in the shadows Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:43 AM PDT How seriously do you take your gaming habit? Is it extreme enough to warrant the purchase of a monitor specially designed to highlight baddies hiding out in the shadows? Well then EIZO's about to make your day, as its FORIS FS2333 23-inch display packs intelligent imaging technology to amplify your FPS and RTS needs precisely where it counts. The full HD 1920 x 1080 IPS screen employs a a trio of techniques dubbed Smart Insight, Smart Resolution and Smart Detection to increase the visibility of enemies shrouded in shadow without compromising on contrast, adjust for excessive blur and sharpen the focus of onscreen activity, respectively. Of course, the dedicated set wouldn't be complete without much needed ports for DVI-D, D-Sub, HDMI (x2), audio I / O and a remote control. There's no word on pricing just yet, but interested parties can look forward to a July ship date for this made-in-gamer-heaven monitor. Official presser after the break. EIZO Brings Competitive Advantage to Gamers with 23" FORIS FS2333 LED-Backlit Monitor fs2333.pngHakusan, Japan, June 12, 2012 – Eizo Nanao Corporation (TSE: 6737) today introduced the FORIS FS2333, a 23-inch full high-definition (1920 x 1080 native resolution) home entertainment monitor. The FORIS FS2333 is designed for gaming as well as other leisure activities such as watching movies and editing photos. It features all-new tone mapping technology called "Smart Insight" with five settings for RTS (real time strategy) and FPS (first person shooter) games that EIZO co-developed with Fnatic, one of the world's leading professional esports teams.
Smart Insight automatically identifies dark areas of an image and improves visibility. Important details in the shadows such as the location of an opponent become easier to spot so gamers can react more quickly. Because Smart Insight uses tone mapping, it improves visibility in dark areas while preserving image details without reducing contrast. This is a significant improvement over conventional gaming monitors which attempt to achieve improvements in visibility by applying gamma correction uniformly across the image resulting in blur and low contrast in dark areas. The FORIS FS2333 comes with two other "Smart" technologies called Smart Resolution and Smart Detection. Smart Resolution is EIZO's own super-resolution technology that analyzes an image for noise and blurring and then corrects the blur without accentuating the noise. This feature is "Smart" because it adjusts only those areas where it is needed. It even distinguishes skin tones and text from other content and optimizes how they are displayed. Smart Detection identifies where on the screen a video or game is being played and applies super-resolution processing to sharpen the image while leaving other areas untouched. The FORIS FS2333 uses an IPS panel and a mercury-free LED backlight. The IPS panel offers vivid display of color and wide 178° viewing angles. The gray-to-gray response time is just 3.4 ms, the fastest for a monitor of this size with an IPS panel. The input lag, which is the difference between when a signal is input into the monitor and then shown on the screen, is just 0.05 frames. Other features gamers will enjoy include speaker and headphone jacks, a remote control with access to the on-screen display menu, and multiple connectivity options with dual HDMI inputs, one DVI-D (digital), and one D-Sub (analog) input. A scaling function is included for those who play games at less than the monitor's native resolution of 1920 x 1080 but want to take advantage or the monitor's 23-inch screen size. The scaling function enlarges the image while maintaining the aspect ratio or expands it to fill the entire screen. An ergonomic stand allows for positioning the screen at an angle most comfortable for the user. It includes 60 mm of height adjustment, 25° of tilt and 344° of swivel. It also comes with a handle on the backside which makes it simple to carry the monitor to a gaming event. For amateur digital photography enthusiasts, this monitor is compatible with EIZO EasyPIX, an optional color matching tool consisting of calibration software and a color sensor. EIZO EasyPIX calibrates the monitor's brightness, color temperature, and gamma to specific values.
See product page for more details. FORIS FS2333 Additional Features 250 cd/m2 brightness and 5000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Availability The FORIS FS2333 begins shipping in July. Date of availability varies by country. EIZO will unveil the monitor at DreamHack Summer 2012 from June 16 – 19 in Jönköping, Sweden. Visitors to DreamHack can try it out in the EIZO booth located in Hall B03:04. The FORIS FS2333 will also be featured in two other upcoming esports events that EIZO is sponsoring – the HomeStory Cup 5 in Krefeld, Germany from July 5 – 8 and the North American Star League (NASL) Season 3 finals in Toronto, Canada from July 14 – 15. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three UK offers flat-rate plan for unlimited European data roaming Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:23 AM PDT Three UK is doing its best to stop you getting bill shock on your holidays by introducing a flat rate for European data roaming. The Euro Internet Pass will allow users to consume unlimited information in any "supported country" on the continent for £5 ($8) per day. Users can start using the plan from today, simply by texting the operator when you arrive at your destination, flip-flops in hand. There are some caveats however, the allocation lasts until midnight UK time, streaming probably won't work and you aren't allowed to use tethering -- your office will just have to struggle on without you. THREE OPENS UP THE INTERNET IN THE EU. New Euro Internet Pass makes the fear of using data on your smartphone in the EU a thing of the past. June 13th 2012: From today, Three pay monthly phone customers will be able to enjoy the benefits of the internet on their smartphones whilst holidaying in the EU without the fear of running up a massive bill. For just a fiver a day, customers can tweet, tag, browse, book, update, upload, search, send, and Google as much as they want without worrying about how much they're spending. So, if you're trying to find that perfect pizzeria, you can just Google it and track it down on a map. If you can't remember the word for donkey in Spanish, download a translation app. Or, if you really can't resist finding out what's going on at work, you can pick up your emails whenever you like and wherever you are. But best of all, you can make everyone back home insanely jealous with loads of gloaty "look where I am right now" type status updates and photos. Thomas Malleschitz, marketing director at Three said, "We love the mobile internet at Three and we want our customers to enjoy it on holiday as much as they do at home. The Euro Internet Pass gives our customers the freedom to use the internet in the EU without having to think about how many megabytes or gigabytes they are using or where the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot is. "We've been campaigning for lower data roaming rates and welcome the new regulation from Europe. These changes promote competition and allow us to offer our customers a better deal so they no longer have to worry about running up a massive bill when using the internet". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A123 Systems' new lithium ion tech keeps EV batteries cool, your wallet in check Posted: 13 Jun 2012 02:55 AM PDT EV battery maker A123 Systems has had a rocky history as of late following a Fisker battery recall, but it may just be turning the corner with a new lithium ion advancement. Nanophosphate EXT widens the temperature range that A123's lithium iron phosphate-based batteries can withstand before losing power: an EXT battery musters 20 percent more power than before when it's as chilly as -22F and can keep over 90 percent of its original capacity after 2,000 full charges, even if it's been run in a blistering 113F heat. The longevity has its obvious advantages for anyone who lives in an extreme climate, but it could also lead to cheaper EVs and hybrids -- the less cooling a car battery needs, the lower the up-front cost and the lighter the car gets. Full production won't start until the first half of 2013, though that's ample time for companies to at least think about slotting Nanophosphate EXT battery packs into 2014 or later cars such as the Atlantic. A123 Systems Introduces Breakthrough Lithium Ion Battery Technology That Optimizes Performance in Extreme Temperatures WALTHAM, Mass., June 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries and systems, today introduced Nanophosphate EXT™, a new lithium ion battery technology capable of operating at extreme temperatures without requiring thermal management. Nanophosphate EXT is designed to significantly reduce or eliminate the need for heating or cooling systems, which is expected to create sizeable new opportunities within the transportation and telecommunications markets, among others. "We believe Nanophosphate EXT is a game-changing breakthrough that overcomes one of the key limitations of lead acid, standard lithium ion and other advanced batteries. By delivering high power, energy and cycle life capabilities over a wider temperature range, we believe Nanophosphate EXT can reduce or even eliminate the need for costly thermal management systems, which we expect will dramatically enhance the business case for deploying A123's lithium ion battery solutions for a significant number of applications," said David Vieau, CEO of A123 Systems. "We continue to emphasize innovation with a commercial purpose, and we expect Nanophosphate EXT to strengthen our competitive position in existing target markets as well as create new opportunities for applications that previously were not possible to cost-effectively serve with lithium ion batteries." Unlike lead acid or other advanced battery technologies, Nanophosphate EXT is designed to maintain long cycle life at extreme high temperatures and deliver high power at extreme low temperatures. According to the testing performed to date at the Ohio State University's Center for Automotive Research (CAR) and the very low observed rate of aging, cells built with A123's Nanophosphate EXT are expected to be capable of retaining more than 90 percent of initial capacity after 2,000 full charge-discharge cycles at 45 degrees Celsius. CAR has also starting testing the cold temperature performance of Nanophosphate EXT, which A123 expects will deliver a 20 percent increase in power at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. "Based on our analysis, the performance of A123's new Nanophosphate EXT at high temperatures is unlike anything we've ever seen from lead acid, lithium ion or any other battery technology," said Dr. Yann Guezennec, senior fellow at CAR and professor of mechanical engineering at the Ohio State University. "Nanophosphate EXT maintains impressive cycle life even at extreme high temperatures without sacrificing storage or energy capabilities, especially as compared with the competitive leading lithium ion technology that we used on our head-to-head testing. If our testing also validates the low-temperature power capabilities that A123's data is showing, we believe Nanophosphate EXT could be a game-changing battery breakthrough for the electrification of transportation, including the emerging micro hybrid vehicle segment." Nanophosphate EXT is based on A123's proprietary lithium iron phosphate battery technology, which offers high power, long cycle life, increased usable energy and excellent safety as compared to other available battery technologies. Nanophosphate EXT is designed to extend these capabilities over a wider temperature range, enabling customers to deploy more advanced solutions that increase performance in applications that frequently experience battery cycling at extreme temperatures. Because Nanophosphate EXT is designed to reduce or eliminate the need for costly thermal management, it is expected to deliver these performance advantages while also increasing reliability, minimizing complexity and reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) over the life of the battery system for a number of applications, including those within the transportation and telecommunications industries. * Transportation-Nanophosphate EXT is designed to augment the performance advantages of A123's solutions for electric and micro hybrid commercial and passenger vehicles. By enabling increased power at low temperatures, Nanophosphate EXT is expected to substantially improve the cold-cranking capabilities of A123's lithium ion 12V Engine Start battery. This would eliminate what has historically been the only performance advantage of lead acid in starter battery applications, and is expected to considerably increase the value proposition of A123's Engine Start battery as a lighter-weight, longer-lasting alternative to absorbent glass mat (AGM) and other lead acid batteries. This is expected to reduce TCO for micro hybrid applications, which represents a growing subset of the global electric vehicle market-According to Lux Research, the worldwide market for micro hybrids is projected to reach more than 39 million vehicles in 2017, creating a $6.9 billion market for energy storage devices. In addition, Nanophosphate EXT is expected to enable automakers to significantly reduce or completely eliminate active cooling systems in electric vehicle battery packs. A123 expects this to lower cost, reduce weight and improve reliability, providing automakers with a cost-effective solution that A123 believes will increases efficiency and minimize system complexity without sacrificing vehicle performance, battery life or driving range. Strategy consultancy Roland Berger forecasts that the global automotive lithium ion battery market will reach more than $9 billion by 2015. * Telecommunications-Nanophosphate EXT supplements the advantages of A123's lithium ion battery solutions for telecommunications backup, which are designed to replace the lead acid batteries deployed at new and existing global cell tower sites built off-grid or in regions with unstable power. These sites typically require diesel generators to support the batteries, and due to the lengthy charge time necessary for lead acid batteries, the generators are often forced to operate for extended periods. In contrast, A123's solutions charge about six times more quickly than lead acid, which significantly reduces generator run time and lowers fuel costs by 30 percent or more. At cell towers in extreme temperature environments, Nanophosphate EXT further reduces operating and maintenance costs by minimizing or eliminating the need for air conditioning or heating. In higher-temperature climates, for example, the cost of installing and running the air conditioning necessary to properly cool the lead acid batteries can represent up to 50 percent of the total power consumed at each cell tower site. A123 believes that Nanophosphate EXT has the potential to significantly expand the global addressable market for its telecommunications backup solutions to more than $1.2 billion by 2016. "From the introduction of our breakthrough Nanophosphate battery chemistry to our envelope-pushing work developing ultra high power batteries for Formula One racing to our introduction of megawatt-scale grid energy storage systems, A123 has been at the forefront of battery and energy storage innovation. Today we announce another milestone, and believe Nanophosphate EXT to be a significant breakthrough," said Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang, co-founder of A123 and professor of materials science and engineering at MIT. "Lithium ion has always had a number of significant advantages over lead acid and other advanced battery technology, but its performance limitations at extreme high and extreme low temperatures have prevented it from addressing a number of important applications. Nanophosphate EXT changes this dynamic, and highlights why we believe continued lithium ion battery R&D is critical for discovering next-generation breakthroughs that can fundamentally change how the world uses energy storage." Availability A123's Nanophosphate EXT technology is scheduled to enter volume production in A123's 20Ah prismatic cells during the first half of 2013. A123 is also evaluating plans to potentially offer Nanophosphate EXT across its complete portfolio of cell products. For more information, please visit www.a123systems.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple denied stateside Galaxy S III injunction Posted: 13 Jun 2012 01:52 AM PDT Judge Lucy Koh has denied Apple's request for a domestic sales ban of Samsung's latest flagship. Her Honor put her foot down, saying that adding any more litigation to the already overcrowded docket would cause the courtroom action to be postponed again. Cupertino subsequently relented, eager to get the trial proper started, which is currently slated to begin on July 30th. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voddler's Lumia-exclusive video streaming app debuts for European Windows Phone users Posted: 13 Jun 2012 01:33 AM PDT Need an extra reason to give a Nokia Lumia some serious consideration? Today, Voddler has announced the official debut of its Windows Phone app for citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Spain. Designed in conjunction with Nokia, the app is exclusive to Lumia owners and provides access to thousands of movies on demand. While many selections are available only as rentals, penny-pinchers will also find a wealth of free, ad-supported videos. Unique to this version, users may partake in a social feature known as Movie Night, which allows like-minded friends to schedule and coordinate movie viewing, chat and then review the flicks. Lumia users will also be treated to four months of Voddler Plus, a subscription service that eschews the ads of free titles and allows individuals to download movies for offline playback. Voddler Plus typically costs 79 SEK (€7.90) per month, so it's not a bad way to dip your toes into the water. Properly situated Lumia owners may download the app today in the Marketplace. For everyone else, feel free to dream of a life more Scandinavian in the PR after the break. Voddler launches unique video app for Nokia Lumia smartphones Jun 12, 2012 01:50 EDT Voddler, the leading next-generation video-on-demand (VOD) service, today launched a unique video app for Nokia Lumia smartphones. The app brings social back to online movie watching with its Movie Night-feature, which allows friends to synchronize their online viewing. Voddler Movie Night, which only is available to Nokia Lumia consumers, lets friends share movie moments whether they are in the same room or continents away. The app, which Voddler has developed in partnership with Nokia, also offers unique content for Lumia users, including four months of Voddler's membership program Voddler Plus and two movie tickets, so the customers easily can start their first Voddler Lumia Movie Night. With its unique Lumia-app, Voddler takes mobile film watching one step further. The app offers the same unparalleled viewing experience that Voddler customers are used to from other devices, but more importantly, the Lumia-app introduces the new social concept Voddler Lumia Movie Night. The feature lets friends blend physical and online viewing by scheduling joint movie nights, using the mobile device not just for watching movies but also for scheduling, coordinating, chatting, reviewing and more. - Watching movies just got social again, also on your mobile! Our app combines the inherent communication strength of a mobile device with online video's flexibility to let you and your friends decide when and where to watch, said Marcus Bäcklund, CEO of Voddler. In addition, all Lumia-users that create or login to their Voddler-account from their Lumia receive four months of Voddler's membership program Voddler Plus (value 79 SEK or 7.90 EUR/month), which gives more of the regular Voddler. Included in the app download is also two movie tickets – Lumia Tickets –so the user easily can create their first Voddler Lumia Movie Night. The Voddler Lumia app is initially available in Voddler's current markets – Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Spain – with more European markets on the road map for 2012. The app can be downloaded to the user's Lumia directly from Marketplace: just search for "Voddler" in marketplace. The app is Voddler's first Windows Phone-app, and completes Voddler's mobile range, which already has apps for iPhone, native iPad, Android, Symbian and Meego. The newly released Windows Phone-app is exclusive to Nokia Lumia, and is not available on other Windows Phone-mobiles. Stockholm-based Voddler is a next-generation cloud-based VOD-service, with a patented technology that enables streaming of high quality video content to computers, smart phones and a full range of other internet connected devices. In two short years, Voddler has gathered over 1.3 million registered users in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland – and recently opened Spain as its fifth market. Voddler has agreements with over 30 content owners and offers customers the latest blockbusters, the best classics and the most loved TV-shows from the world's leading film studios, including the Hollywood giants. Voddler offers the most current releases as easy rentals, leaving a dominant part of the Voddler catalog as ad-funded and offered at no charge to the viewer. Voddler also offers offline functionality, so viewers can download Voddler movies and bring them wherever they go. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony outs Xperia Ion HSPA for poor 4G-lacking citizens (video) Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:57 AM PDT Sony Mobile casually dropped onto its website that in addition to the expected Xperia Ion flagship, it's also releasing an Xperia Ion HSPA. The handset's only readily apparent feature is its reduced modem, and in every other way looks to match its 4G-enabled brother, with a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 12-megapixel camera and Gingerbread. Whilst its designed to consume the same AT&T friendly frequencies, this one's destined for a rest-of-the-world arrival to sate the lust of global Sony fans in countries where they do everything a little slower. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony Xperia tipo dual shares SIMs, still fits in tiny pockets Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:44 AM PDT It looks like Sony's not quite finished today, with two more phones sneaking out on its YouTube channel ahead of any official fanfare. The Xperia tipo dual (and its single-SIM version, the tipo) keep things small and simple, with a 3.2-inch 480 x 320 TFT screen and 800MHz Snapdragon processor. Both, however, will be running Ice Cream Sandwich out of the gate -- embarrassing Sony's bigger (presumably pricier) smartphones. The sub-100g (3.5-ounce) frame houses 3.2-megapixel camera and 2.5GB of user-accessible memory, expandable by microSD. A dedicated hardware key will switch the tipo dual between those SIMs, while you can also automate the phone to swap between them at different times of the day. There's no launch date or pricing yet, but you can take a video tour of both phones below.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony Xperia miro unveiled ahead of time, light on details Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:34 AM PDT The Xperia miro's moved up its coming-out party a whole nine days thanks to Sony Mobile's Facebook campaign. Loaded with ICS, the phone is outfitted with a 3.5-inch display, 5-megapixel camera, a front-facing "chat cam" and comes in shades of black, gold, pink and silver. Integrated Facebook features and customizable illuminations are also promised, but the lid hasn't been lifted on more detailed specs. As of now, the social-minded phone is only slated for release in Europe, but look out below for some additional glamour shots or head past the break for the video unveiling. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Layar lays the AR on thick with worldwide Stiktu app rollout Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:07 AM PDT Layar's no stranger to the AR game. The company's been acting as an enabler of sorts, putting its Player and Creator dev tools into the hands of the masses across iOS and Android for some time. Now, the outfit's making Stiktu -- a social app that attaches augmented reality tags on everyday objects -- available outside of its previously defined European borders for worldwide consumption. Users who download the platform will be able to set virtual drawings, images or text to objects and leave those invisible markers behind for other curious parties to scan and discover. The practical applications aren't exactly obvious, but as a crowd-sourced scavenger hunt, it'll do just fine. Hit up the source below to download the goods on your platform of choice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft patent application could match online moods with emotionally-targeted ads Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:13 PM PDT It's a match made in marketing heaven: users let their guards down within the internet's virtual walls and ads are served up to complement their fickle mental states. At least, that's one possible version of your hyper-targeted digital future, if a patent application, filed by Microsoft back in December of 2010, is any indication. The USPTO documents outline a system wherein users' online activity would be monitored and associated with a corresponding tone, their reactions recorded and an overall emotional state affixed to that behavior. This information, once properly indexed, would then be fed into a large database containing user-identifiable emotional profiles used to deliver mood-specific ads. Clearly, this proposed endeavor all but screams privacy concerns and begs the inclusion of a giant, blinking opt-out clause. Color us paranoid, but we'd rather not see the day when our PCs know we're having a particularly gloomy Sunday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple Thunderbolt Software Update causing sporadic errors, frozen boot screens Posted: 12 Jun 2012 10:05 PM PDT Software updates can be a bit of a mixed bag -- just ask anyone who's ever been on the other side of a botched firmware install. While many users react with itchy trigger fingers to download the goods, the more prudent (read: hardened) prefer to hold off in the event potentially crippling bugs creep on out. So, it comes as no great surprise that Apple's recently issued Thunderbolt update version 1.2 -- intended to add support for a Gigabit Ethernet Adapter -- is subjecting a portion of frustrated users to unexpected errors and frozen boot screens. Currently, the only officially sanctioned remedy seems to be a fresh install of OS X Lion. So, if you haven't already taken the plunge on this minor feature add-on, you'd be well advised to wait it out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DOJ looking into whether Comcast, other TV giants are unfairly (knee)capping Hulu, Netflix Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:32 PM PDT The Department of Justice may have taken Netflix chief Reed Hastings' net neutrality complaints about Comcast as a lot more than just sour grapes. It's reportedly conducting an investigation into whether Comcast, AT&T and other TV providers are anti-competitive in their data restrictions. The Wall Street Journal cites primary concerns that Comcast's Xfinity TV cap exemption might unfairly punish competing services, but also claims that officials are worried the caps themselves steer viewers away from internet video, helping the incumbents cling to legacy TV for just a little while longer. On top of its cap anxiety, the DOJ may be looking into policies requiring traditional TV subscriptions just to watch online. None of the involved parties have commented on or confirmed the investigations, so there's no guarantee of any full-fledged lawsuit. Still, while TV operators insist they're being fair and need to keep data use in check, that might not deter legal action when the DOJ has supposedly questioned Hulu, Netflix and other relative newcomers who feel they're being squeezed. When Sony postpones its IPTV goals after fretting over US data caps, it's hard to imagine that there aren't at least a few raised eyebrows in Washington. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TecTiles: programmable NFC stickers for select members of Samsung's Galaxy Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:01 PM PDT NFC's a curious thing. That once heavily buzzed about feature's found a home in many of the handsets that occupy Android's swiftly rotating throne, but eager users wielding those enabled devices haven't been given much to do with it. Visa's payWave aside, Samsung's finally cooked up a means of making the near field tech a more integrated and efficient aspect of our modern lives -- well, the lives of other Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II (T-Mobile only), Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S 4G and Galaxy S Blaze 4G owners, to be precise. Enter: TecTiles. In tandem with its flagship's impending US launch, the company's going to be offering packs of branded NFC stickers at retail that can be programmed with useful actions and placed wherever adhesive is welcome. Need to set up a seamless Foursquare check-in for your place of business, leave a message on the fridge for members of your family, effortlessly transfer your contact info or even silence your phone automatically at a meeting? That's where Sammy's stickers come in handy, sidestepping the multitude of taps it normally takes to enter data or navigate a mobile UI with a simple close encounter of the NFC kind. If the implementation sounds eerily familiar, that's because you may have seen it before in the form of Smart Tags -- Sony's own spin on the communication tech. As you might imagine, there's an app to manage each individual TecTile's settings that will be made available after an initial pairing. And, according to one of the company's reps, each unlocked sticker can be programmed up to 100,000 times, a high enough ceiling that should get you plenty of mileage, glue willing. Naturally, there's a limit to this initial rollout's NFC-love and that's where things could get pricey, given that each TecTile can currently carry only one function at a time. Plans are underway, however, to expand beyond this limitation by enabling multi-functions in future iterations of the tacky tech -- whenever version 2.0 touches down. For now, though, you'll have to make frugal use of the stickers, considering they'll be marked at $15 for a pack of five. So, if you're still standing undecided on a Galaxy S III purchase despite its litany of capabilities, then this long-overdue feature could very well prove to be the wallet-tipping point.
Samsung Mobile Puts All The Pieces in Place to Bring NFC To The Masses Inexpensive, easy to use Samsung TecTiles™ Programmable NFC Tags can be customized to launch apps, send text messages, share contact information, change phone settings and more, with an NFC-enabled Galaxy smartphone DALLAS - June 13, 2012 - Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) is helping consumers realize the potential of NFC technology today with the creation of Samsung TecTiles™ and the TecTile™ programming application. With the largest user base of NFC-enabled devices in the United States and TecTiles available in all four major carrier stores and at major online retailers at the launch of the Galaxy S III, Samsung is ensuring NFC becomes a part of daily life. With a simple tap of an NFC-enabled phone to a TecTile, consumers are able to automate everyday functions of a smartphone including sending a "headed/at home" text message, silencing the phone when entering a meeting, setting an alarm, and dimming the display when going to bed. Samsung TecTiles will transform how businesses large and small engage with consumers. On premise, TecTiles enable consumers to check-in on Facebook® or foursquare®, connect to Wi-Fi® or download content. Off-premise, businesses can use TecTiles as a way to market to and engage with consumers by enabling reward programs and to download discount offers or content. "With millions of NFC-enabled Samsung Galaxy smartphones currently in the market and the arrival of our flagship device Galaxy S® III, Samsung saw an opportunity to expand the value of NFC beyond mobile payments," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. and worldwide[1]. "The launch of Samsung TecTiles is another example of Samsung's ability to innovate new products and applications that improve the way we use our mobile devices for everyday tasks." Samsung TecTiles are easy to program with any NFC-enabled smartphone and the free application, which can be found in the Google Play™ marketplace. TecTiles can be reprogrammed as often as needed to complete any of the following functions on an NFC-enabled phone: Settings & Applications · Change phone settings (Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, ringer/media volume, screen brightness, etc.) · Launch an application · Join a Wi-Fi Network · Show a message
Communication · Make a call · Send a text message · Start a Google Talk™ conversation · Share a contact or business card
Location & Web · Show an address on a map · Open a web page · Foursquare or Facebook check-in
Social · Automatic Facebook "Like" · Update Facebook status · Post a tweet or follow a contact on Twitter · Connect on LinkedIn®
Samsung NFC-Enabled Android TM Smartphones · Samsung Galaxy S® III on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon · Samsung Galaxy S® II on T-Mobile · Galaxy Nexus TM on Verizon, Sprint and GSM Unlocked · Nexus TM S ® 4G on Sprint · Samsung Galaxy S® Blaze ® 4G on T-Mobile
Pricing/Availability Priced at $14.99 for a pack of five, TecTiles programmable NFC sticker tags are now available for purchase online and in-store at AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. The Samsung TecTiles app is now available for download at the Google Play store.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tesla gives Model S Signature drivers a year of free data, reveals their cars' true colors (video) Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:41 PM PDT Although Tesla has already delivered the first Model S to its eager owner, the fledgling automaker is still offering a steady stream of treats to those patiently waiting for the official June 22nd date. Drivers who spring for the Signature Series trim level of the EV sedan now get a year's worth of mobile data at no extra cost, a bonus no doubt helpful for buyers who get lost on the first drive. Regardless of which Model S might eventually find the driveway in the future, Tesla is providing a look at how it paints the car's chosen color. Each aluminum shell is dipped in an electro-coating solution, baked in an oven, water-sealed and given its final clear coat paint by robots -- no dealer will be charging extra for weatherproofing here. It's all appropriately futuristic, and you can get a peek at the whole process in the video after the break as well as at the source. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plans for European Extremely Large Telescope approved, is indeed extremely large Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:29 PM PDT We see a lot of "world's largest" claims around here. And this isn't even the first one for a telescope. But this one is actually for the world's biggest optical telescope, and that somehow makes it easier to grasp the magnitude of. At a cost of 1.1 billion Euros, it doesn't come cheap, but the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) has just been given the go ahead -- and truly lives up to its name. The mirror it uses will measure 39 meters across (four times that of typical mirrors,) comprising nearly 800 hexagonal pieces, and will swallow 12 times more light than the current biggest in existence. This, of course, means that it will be able to peep galaxies much farther away, and those in the process of formation in much more clarity. The project was approved by the European Southern Observatory council, which got the nod from ten countries in the continent, with others provisionally giving the thumbs up pending government backing. The telescope itself, however, will be located atop Chile's Cerro Armazones mountain in the Atacama Desert once completed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mac Pro refresh irks Andy Hertzfeld, Apple confirms revisions 'likely' in 2013 (update) Posted: 12 Jun 2012 05:39 PM PDT
Yesterday's speed bump to the Mac Pro might've come as a disappointment to many power users, but we're given reason to believe that a more substantial upgrade is on the horizon. While it's somewhat uncharacteristic of Apple to comment on unreleased products, company representatives have confirmed to both David Pogue and Forbes that a new Mac Pro Update: Apple has since circled back to Forbes to clarify that only the Mac Pro is targeted for an update in 2013. As for the iMac, we're merely left to hope that an Ivy Bridge refresh is already in the pipeline. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paramount Movies Ultraviolet app released for Xbox 360 Posted: 12 Jun 2012 05:02 PM PDT It appears that Microsoft is picking up the pace on the addition of video streaming apps for the Xbox 360. After it took months for many of the more anticipated apps from the first wave like HBO Go, Verizon and Comcast to arrive, a new app from Paramount has been released just days after it was part of the next wave announced at E3. The Paramount Movies app is a console based version of its Ultraviolet service already unleashed on the PC and iOS, letting users stream digital copies from their cloud libraries. While the overall Ultraviolet sign-up process and its multiple logins hasn't gotten any easier, once we created a ParamountMovies.com account we were able to stream a copy of Hugo unlocked by the Blu-ray 3D version in HD just by signing into the free app (XBL gold subscription required) on the Xbox 360 -- no antiquated discs necessary. There's no word on the other apps Microsoft announced were headed to the Xbox 360, but we'll keep an eye out for the arrival of WatchESPN all the same. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSA: Which iOS 6 features can my device run? Posted: 12 Jun 2012 04:30 PM PDT So you're eagerly awaiting iOS 6 in the fall, but you'd like to know just how many features you'll end up skipping if you cling on to your existing iPad, iPhone or iPod touch for one more generation. Apple has gone to the trouble of alerting would-be upgraders just what features they'll get when they check for the update this fall, and we've compiled it in a chart for an at-a-glance view of what you'll need. The short answer: you'll want an iPhone 4S if you're craving every iOS 6 feature. Some feature gaps are defined by obvious differences like the absence of cellular hardware, but the performance limits of the iPhone 3GS or fourth-generation iPod touch turn their upgrades into a patchwork. There's also a pair of questions about iPod touch support and whether or not "iPhone 4 or later" explicitly rules out the media player; we'll update should we know more. Either way, it's evident that Apple is bending over backwards to support burgeoning markets, but also that anyone who bought in 2010 or earlier is feeling the pressure to pick up something new -- especially original iPad owners, who can't upgrade at all.
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Engadget News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment