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- D-Link expands Cloud lineup with two new routers and NAS drive
- Verizon support blames Samsung for locked bootloader in Galaxy S III
- AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note ICS update coming tomorrow, offers Premium Suite
- Nikon WU-1a wireless mobile adapter for D3200 review: using Android as a remote trigger / wireless display
- Thorsten Heins talks BB10 delay, promises to 'reinstall faith in RIM' in January with full touch device
- Facebook App Center goes globetrotting with 7 new countries, blankets all of the English-speaking world
- Huawei Ascend D1 now up for grabs in China, headed to Russia next month
- LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne
- AT&T U-Verse iPad app adds more streaming video, new sports and sharing features
- Twitter for iOS 4.3 gets early teases from Twitter itself and the App Store, promises gobs of in-tweet content
- Engadget Giveaway: win one of two Meizu MX 4-core phones!
- Nokia: it 'won't be long' before Verizon gets its due, and we'll have more gear in the fall
- Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer
- Microsoft confirms Windows 8 will reach RTM stage in August, consumers in October
- Fujitsu unveils the Stylistic Q702 hybrid tablet and the LifeBook T902 convertible laptop
- Apple reportedly shutting down unauthorized third-party beta sales, restricts iOS 6 to licensed devs
- Sharp settles LCD price fixing dispute with Dell and others for $200 million
- Nokia 808 PureView now available stateside, $700 via Amazon
- Bing Fund taking shape to help Microsoft search for the next big thing in online services
- Is Google selling the Nexus 7 at a loss?
- UK Judge says Galaxy Tab 'not as cool' as iPad, awards Samsung win in design suit
- This is just like word wrap, except that it works with photos (video)
- A bevy of Nokias allegedly leak into a developer app: 'Lumia 1001' tops theoretical new lineup
- Sony Xperia acro S jumps through FCC hoops
- Chinese androids wear tracksuits, play sports, but not at the same time (video)
- Face.com kills developer APIs and Klik app three weeks after Facebook acquisition
- Samsung T699 may become Galaxy S Blaze Q, compete for silliest phone name ever on August 15th
- HP unveils four new business and consumer all-in-ones with Ivy Bridge insides
- How would you change the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1?
- Verizon website pushes Galaxy S III availability back two days, still shipping pre-orders
- Refresh Roundup: week of July 2nd, 2012
- Inhabitat's Week in Green: rise of solar power, cardboard forts and a Death Star ping pong ball
- AllThingsD: New Kindle Fire will feature 1,280 x 800 resolution, ship in Q3 2012
- Dracula, The Mummy and six other horror classics coming in a Blu-ray set October 2nd (video)
- Switched On: The Netbook Legacy
- Alt-week 7.8.2012: Solar flares, trapping dark matter, and life-sized Lego trees
- Roskva electric motorcycle revealed in Norway with carbon fiber chassis and clothes
- The Avengers Initiative Second Screen app goes live on iTunes in time for Comic-Con
- Timbuk2 Power Commute and Power Q bags will juice your tech from here to...
- Toyota sends out free Entune upgrade, adds three apps and voice control
| D-Link expands Cloud lineup with two new routers and NAS drive Posted: 09 Jul 2012 11:28 AM PDT D-Link is expanding its Cloud lineup today, announcing two new routers and a two-bay NAS device. The Cloud Gigabit Router N300 is capable of up to 300 Mbps, while the Cloud Gigabit Router N600 hits 600 Mbps. Both products include a USB port for sharing content over a network, along with DLNA support and Gigabit Ethernet ports. The routers will also feature the company's mydlink Cloud Services functionality, which lets users keep tabs on their networks via an app for Android and iOS. D-Link also introduced the new ShareCenter 2-bay Cloud NAS, which supports up to 3TB hard drives and handles RAID 1, RAID 0, Standard and JBOD configurations. Like the two routers, the 2-bay Cloud NAS offers DLNA support and works with the mydlink mobile app for monitoring your network remotely. According to SlashGear, the N300 will go for £64.99 (about $100), while the N600 will cost you £84.99 (about $131). The NAS should set you back about £89.99 ($139), and all three devices will be available for pre-order on July 16th. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verizon support blames Samsung for locked bootloader in Galaxy S III Posted: 09 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT Verizon cleared up its stance on locking the bootloaders in phones using its network earlier this year. In short: it encourages OEMs to do so, to keep its network humming along as Big Red feels it should. Well, it seems that VZW Support is telling a different story, as it's laid blame for the Galaxy S III's closed bootloader squarely at Samsung's feet, claiming that it's locked "per the Manufacturer." Now, that doesn't explicitly state that VZW had no part to play in denying users access, but it surely seems like this is a game of PR pass the buck to us. Of course, as we reported earlier, there's a workaround to be had by rooting the GSIII, which revealed a vulnerability allowing non-stock ROMs to be flashed to the device. But it's only a partial workaround, as the kernel's encrypted and implementing a full custom ROM experience is neither for the unskilled nor the faint of heart. We reached out to both Verizon and Samsung for comment on the matter, but have yet to hear back. While you wait for official word, feel free to check out the ongoing conversation at the source link below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note ICS update coming tomorrow, offers Premium Suite Posted: 09 Jul 2012 10:30 AM PDT How much better will that Samsung Galaxy Note be when you have Ice Cream Sandwich on it? AT&T users are about to find out, as Samsung confirmed to us that the long-awaited upgrade will be knocking on their doors beginning tomorrow (with a few lucky testers getting it later today). As for the new features, the Galaxy Note's latest refresh won't offer anything we weren't already expecting: in addition to the standard suite of ICS features, it'll also come with the same Premium Suite we saw show up on the international Note a couple months ago. The new Suite offers some huge improvements in S-Memo and S-Note, as the latter is now integrated with Wolphram Alpha. Sadly, the software features we've seen highlighted in the Galaxy S III series (S-Beam, S-Voice, Smart Stay and so on) are nowhere to be found, but at least you'll have plenty of other new items to keep you occupied for a while. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 09 Jul 2012 10:15 AM PDT In the world of DSLR shooting, you can certainly catch one's attention by mentioning one of two things: a wireless display, or a remote trigger setup. Neither of these are exactly fresh concepts, but Nikon has chosen a curious beast to highlight one of its most promising accessories to date. The $60 WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter primarily allows two things to happen. First, it enables your Android phone or tablet (and soon, iOS device) to act as a wireless display. You shoot an image, and within seconds, that image is ready for your ogling on a far larger display than the 3-incher found on the D3200's backside. For those looking for a far better way to review each shot without pulling out the laptop, this is it.  The other function -- the one we at Engadget were most intrigued by -- is the ability to use a mobile device to wirelessly trigger a shot. The adapter relies on WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) in order to converse with one's Android device, enabling a connection even when you're away from a cellular data signal or WiFi network. Frankly, we were overly bummed to see the entry-level D3200 gain compatibility before full-frame shooters like the D800, D3S and D4 -- after all, it sure seems that professionals would be seeking these features more than novices. In the end, however, it's probably best that more spendy clients be kept far, far away from the disappointment. Join us after the break as we explain. Introduction and compatibility Just so we're crystal clear, the WU-1a is only compatible with a single Nikon DSLR. That DSLR is the D3200, a lower-end unit that's selling for around $700 with an 18-55mm kit lens. The camera itself is pretty stout for the price -- plenty of megapixels, a compact frame and a reasonably outstanding 1080p movie mode. But there's no denying that it's a novice-to-amateur rig. Those who make ends meet shooting weddings, sporting events and similar engagements are probably dipping into the D800 / D3S / D4 territory, which makes the decision to exclude every body except the D3200 from the WU-1a's compatibility list all the more baffling. We're guessing the outfit's just using the D3200 as a guinea pig to see how it goes over before potentially making a similar dongle for other units. The unit itself is wonderfully miniscule. It's smaller than the diameter of a US quarter, and no thicker than the side panel to which it attaches. Speaking of which, you will have to open the left side panel to plug this guy in, and that door flap will just remain awkwardly propped open the entire time that you're using it. Sure, it'd be amazing if it were integrated directly into the D3200's body instead of being an optional, direct-connect apparatus, but perhaps that'll come to fruition in the D3200's successor. We have to say, though, that the WU-1a is shockingly easy to lose. It's tiny. Really tiny. Make sure you carve out a special place for it in your camera bag -- the only thing more painful than spending $60 on one, is spending another $60 for a replacement. Setup First-time setup is a breeze. Plug the module into the D3200, flip the camera on, and surf over to the WiFi section in the Settings menu of any Android 2.3+ device. (For what it's worth, we tested the unit and the app on a Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.1, and it worked flawlessly even with Jelly Bean.) If you're lucky, you'll see a "Nikon" network show up in the list; a simple tap will have the two talking to one another. If they aren't, there's a quick press-and-hold-and-pray scenario that's spelled out in the user guide. If you routinely switch Android devices, you may have to reset the WU-1a entirely to connect it to a new product. Otherwise, you may only see a "locked" network showing up in your WiFi settings. Simply holding the single button on the WU-1a for 10 seconds will achieve the reset.
You'll also need an app, of course. Searching for "Wireless Mobile Adapter" will lead you to a poorly titled "WirelessMobileAdapterUtility" program from Nikon. As of today, only the Android build is available; we're still hearing that the iOS edition will be out at some point in the fall of 2012. The app itself is lightweight ... almost to a fault. We'd call it spartan, in the effort of accuracy. If your connection is solid, you'll see all four of the available options lit up; if not, you'll be prompted to hop into WiFi settings and patch things up first. As far as multi-device setup goes, this was one of the easier ones that we've encountered. App usability We knew from the outset that the WU-1a has a pretty limited feature set. What we didn't know was precisely how limited that feature set is. The WMAU app gives you four options up front: Use the camera to take pictures, Take pictures remotely, Share pictures and Download pictures from the camera. We'll walk through each one below. When you select the first, "Use the camera to take pictures," you'll simply continue to use the D3200 as you would. Compose a shot and take it. From there, however, your Android device will automatically suck down the full resolution version of the photo. In our experience, ~10MB JPEGs took just two to three seconds to transfer over. The upside here is that there's no compression in the transfer; the downside is that the app provides no customization options whatsoever in this department. Wish that you could force it to send over resized versions instead of clogging up your Galaxy Nexus' internal storage? Too bad. Using this mode allows you to easily review the shots you're taking at a macro level, with the ability to pinch-and-zoom in tight on images to inspect minute details. If you notice something that's not quite perfect, you can easily tweak your camera and reshoot. It's an ability that professional wedding and landscape photographers would adore, but alas, it's only available to the market that would purchase a D3200. We'd actually recommend using an Android tablet to best take advantage of this; being able to zoom into a full-res image on a TF700 or the like would be hugely valuable if you're trying to scrutinize details mid-shoot. The "Take pictures remotely" option is supposedly toggle-able by just sliding a switch while in the mode that we just spoke of. In our experience, the slider didn't work. At all. Perhaps it's a bug that's only seen with Android 4.1, but there it is. We had to back out to the main menu, and select the 'remote' option. From here, our D3200 took around two seconds to send over a live view of what its lens was seeing, but annoyingly, you only get what amounts to a thumbnail view of the proposed shot. We're guessing it's a pixel-for-pixel representation of what would appear on the D3200's own VGA-level display, and there's no scaling whatsoever. So, even on a pixel-packed Galaxy Nexus, you still can't get a "better look" at what's downrange until you shoot the image and then review the full-resolution result. Along with the live view look, you'll also see the shutter speed, aperture, available image space and battery level. Of note, all of these values are treated as live; if you spin the camera around in Aperture Priority mode, you may see the shutter speed move as the camera compensates for changing light levels. In our experience, the live view look -- and the live changing of the values -- was ridiculously fast. Lag was practically imperceptible. Once you've lined up the shot you want, a tap on the circular on-screen button will fire the camera. Be aware, however, that the same shutter lag seen when capturing an image while using the live view option on the rear of the DSLR is present here, too. This is effectively an extension of live view, so that shutter lag will be unavoidable when using this app. Bummer. It's also stupefying just how bantam the on-screen shutter button is. Just look at the blank, unused space in that screenshot above, and then ask yourself: "Why?" We have no good answer. If Nikon won't allow the live view look to be expanded, at least make the shutter button size customizable. It'd be hugely valuable to have the entire bottom of the screen act as a trigger, so you can focus on what's downrange of the lens instead of how to direct your fingernail to land on the speck-of-a-button that'll trigger the shutter. Sadly, that's just the start of the bad news. In what can only be described as a ghastly oversight, Nikon doesn't allow the WMAU app to control any of the settings. Hoping to change ISO sensitivity, aperture or shutter speed via the app? Keep dreaming. At this point, you're probably wondering what exactly the point of this app is given the severe limitations of control, and that's a fair thing to wonder. Worse still, in our testing with the Galaxy Nexus, the app refused to work properly while the D3200 was in "Manual" mode. Regardless of what settings we chose on the camera itself, it reverted to shooting at 1/30 of a second at f/5.6. Settings chosen in the other priority modes transferred properly. That's a shame, too, because one of the things we were hoping to accomplish here was to use an Android phone as a remote trigger for long-exposure shots at night. The idea was to pop the D3200 into manual mode, force the shutter to stay open for 30 to 60 seconds while on a tripod, and use the camera to trigger the shutter as to avoid camera shake from mashing the button on the body itself. Plan: foiled.
It's also worth mentioning that the app outright ignores any shutter mode outside of a single shot. Select continuous, or the famed 10-seconds-and-then-shoot, and the app just ignores it. Even if you've selected one of those alternate modes, pressing the shutter button in the Android app fires off a single shot right away. It's just another disappointment in an experience that came to be defined more by what it lacked than what it offered. Moving on to the third menu option, "Share pictures," we're happy to say that this actually does seem to work as advertised. Choose it, and you're able to sift through shots you've imported from the D3200 and share them via any number of services -- Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Evernote, you name it. Of course, you can bet your carrier will compress that 10MB JPEG before it ever hits your social network of choice, so if you're looking to actually retain some level of quality in your share, we'd still recommend doing it the old-fashioned way: by using a real computer with a legitimate broadband connection. The fourth and final menu option, "Download pictures from the camera," is useful when you've shot a gallery's worth just before connecting to your phone. In our experience, it sucked down 35 full-resolution JPEGs without so much as a hiccup. You'll need to allow two to three seconds per image, but if you've got the time, it seems to work swimmingly. (Also, if you're looking for these snaps on a Mac or PC later, you'll find 'em within the newly created Nikon_WU folder -> Capture.) You may also notice a litany of poor reviews in Google Play, mostly concerning crashing or disconnect issues. Those folks aren't liars. While our first day with the unit was largely trouble-free (from a connection standpoint), subsequent days weren't so kind. We routinely had to reset the module for our Galaxy Nexus to connect, and upon setting the image mode to RAW or RAW+JPEG, the app itself crashed. From there, it became even more troublesome to reconnect, even with a module reset and a reinstallation of the app. In case it's not obvious: no, the setup doesn't support RAW files at all, but all sizes of JPEG seem to play nice. Wrap-up Nikon has a ton of work to do if it hopes to make the WU-1a truly usable. And if we're being honest, we genuinely hope it does. The concept here is magical. Enabling users to turn a smartphone or tablet that they're probably carrying around anyway into a remote viewfinder and shutter trigger is downright brilliant, and if the package were executed properly, it'd be worth every penny of the $60 asking price. Being able to view full-resolution images on an Android phone or tablet (and again, soon on your iPhone, iPod touch and / or iPad) is wonderful. It enables the kind of in-the-field previewing that professional shooters have always dreamed of, helping them to spot problems on a larger panel and make tweaks on the fly.
But the other half of the app -- the wireless triggering -- is dreadfully implemented. You can't change any of the camera's settings from the app itself, you can't adjust the size of the live view preview being beamed over, and you can't adjust the size of the inexplicably small on-screen shutter button. It also ignores the camera's "Release Mode" settings -- a crucial oversight in every sense of the word -- and wouldn't respond to our settings while the D3200 was in Manual mode. The potential for this to be a differentiator for Nikon is huge. Having a remote trigger and viewfinder in your pocket at all times is an amazing idea, but the software simply has to improve by leaps and bounds before we'd recommend it. Moreover, the WU-1a truly needs to be available for Nikon's full-frame / professional assortment of bodies. Clients that buy those are most likely to appreciate this feature set, but until the company works out the significant limitations, there's no need in longing for body compatibility expansion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 09 Jul 2012 10:14 AM PDT Despite all the doom and gloom at RIM of late, CEO Thorsten Heins is a long, long way from throwing in the towel. After denying a "death spiral" and responding directly to Globe & Mail reader questions, he sat down with CIO's Al Sacco to talk about what he sees coming next year -- and why we're going to have to wait another couple of months for BB10. The reason for delay, he says, "is not because we added stuff to it. The delay is because our software groups were actually so successful in coding the various feature components... we got overwhelmed by integration efforts." In other words, the company didn't add too much stuff, there simply was too much stuff. That's a very different state of affairs. That being the state of play, the decision to delay again was a natural one, says Heins. "What I commit to the public out there is that when we ship BlackBerry 10, we will do it at high quality." And he, of course, has high hopes for what they ship. "In January with the full touch device and the QWERTY coming, I think we will reinstall faith in RIM." That seems to imply a January release for the device, or at least a final media unveiling, which could make the 2013 CES RIM's last, best hope. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 09 Jul 2012 09:54 AM PDT Facebook's App Center is having its passport stamped quite a lot lately. Just days after the HTML5 app portal set foot in the UK, it's making the leap to seven more countries. Brazil, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Taiwan and Turkey will all get a crack at using web apps both on the desktop as well as in the Android and iOS native clients. The new group is coming onboard in the next few weeks. In the meantime, countries where English makes a frequent appearance -- Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US -- now supply the App Center for every single user. To help speed along the virtual customs claims, Facebook is trotting out a translation tool to get developers on the right track. It shouldn't be long before App Center is a mainstay of the entire Facebook world, even though we may end up cursing the company after hour three of a Jetpack Joyride marathon. App Center Now Available in More Countries The App Center is now available to everyone in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. People in these countries will now see the App Center bookmark on the left side of their home page on Facebook.com and in the Facebook apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android. Approximately 80% of people active on Facebook each month are outside the U.S. and Canada. The global rollout of the App Center will continue over the coming weeks so that more people can discover high quality games and apps with friends. In the month since the App Center initially launched, it has helped millions of people discover new mobile and web apps. Specifically, game developer Kixeye has seen a lift in the quality of organic installs, and found that App Center traffic produces better than average revenue per user for its games War Commander and Battle Pirates. Similarly, a growing percentage of new players in Disney's Marvel: Avengers Alliance are originating from the App Center, and those users are more engaged than those who come through other channels. Today we are accepting submissions from developers with translated apps for the App Center. (More information on our Developer Blog here.) Some of the most popular apps and games on Facebook were built by developers based outside of the U.S., such as Diamond Dash (Wooga, Germany), Bubble Witch Saga (King.com, U.K.), Jetpack Joyride (Halfbrick, Australia), Angry Birds Friends (Rovio, Finland), Ninja Showdown (Noritown, South Korea), Soundcloud (Germany), Spotify (Sweden), and Deezer (France). The App Center makes it easier for people around the world to discover the best apps and games for them, wherever they are. Once the App Center is available in your country, you can access it via the bookmark or by going to www.facebook.com/appcenter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Huawei Ascend D1 now up for grabs in China, headed to Russia next month Posted: 09 Jul 2012 09:35 AM PDT Being related to that considerably powerful Ascend D Quad could spark some sort of a double-edged sword effect on Huawei's lesser-specced D1, but if all those cores the former has to offer mean nothing to those in China, the latter wouldn't be such a bad choice. In case you've forgotten -- unlike its beefier, quad-core-loaded brother -- this 4.5-inch (1280 x 720) Ascend D1's only sporting a dual-core, 1.5GHz TI OMAP CPU, which is paired next to 1GB of RAM and a tasty bite of Google's 4.0 treat. According to Huawei, the device is set to hit online shelves throughout the Great Wall starting today, with Russia being its next stop come August and "other markets to follow" sometime after. Be sure to pay the source below a visit if you're planning on grabbing one of these for yourself. Huawei Ascend D1 goes on sale in China Arrives in Russia in August Beijing, China, July 9, 2012: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today announced that the Huawei Ascend D1, its latest flagship dual-core Android 4.0 ICS smartphone, will be available to consumers in Russia through LANCK Telecom from August, with availability in other markets to follow. The Ascend D1 goes on sale today in China through various e-commerce platforms including Huawei's online shopping mall – Vmall.com. The Ascend D1 is a speedy all-rounder, combining good looks and performance with an exceptional audio visual experience. Powered by a Texas TI OMAP 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU and 1GB RAM, the Ascend D1 offers a mobile cinematic experience with its high-definition 4.5-inch, 1280 x 720 high-definition IPS+ Corning® Gorilla® Glass display providing crystal clear images even under direct sunlight. Its Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and Audience earSmart™ voice technology ensures you never miss a word. With a design inspired by streamlined sports cars and measuring just 64.9mm in width, 8.99mm thin and weighing approximately 132g, the Ascend D1 is extremely comfortable to hold. Its 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, and 1080p full HD video-capture and playback capabilities enables you to record your special moments in clearer, richer detail. With its 1800mAh battery and a proprietary power management technology, the Ascend D1 keeps you on-the-go for up to 30% longer compared to industry average by adjusting power consumption according to usage needs. The Ascend D1 is also featured an 8GB ROM and a slew of business applications. And with a navigation system that uses both the Russian satellite positioning system GLONASS and the standard US-run GPS, you will always know where you are. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne Posted: 09 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT LG has an ongoing smartphone problem: despite a few valiant efforts (the G2x comes to mind) the company continues to live in the shadow of rival Samsung. Most of this malaise can be attributed to hit-and-miss hardware combined with lackluster software (we're looking at you, Spectrum). Last February, at Mobile World Congress, LG spiced things up with an attractive collection of devices including the Optimus L7, Optimus Vu and Optimus 4X HD -- the latter being one of the first quad-core handsets announced. Now, six months later, we live in a world where the global versions of HTC's One X and Samsung's Galaxy S III dominate the superphone market and share the quad-core crown. With me-too features like a Tegra 3 processor, 4.7-inch HD display, 8-megapixel camera and Ice Cream Sandwich on board, the Optimus 4X HD appears ready to play in the big leagues. Does it succeed or is it just a flash in the pan? Is it all style over substance or does it bring something unique and meaningful to the table? Hit the break for our full review. Hardware
If Samsung's Galaxy S III occupies the curved, organic, pebble-like end of the design spectrum, LG's Optimus 4X HD is the polar opposite -- angular, manufactured, slab-like. With this handset, it's easy to assume that LG's skating where the puck used to be (the squarish Galaxy S II) until you notice the family resemblance -- the Optimus L7 and Optimus Vu share the same aesthetic. As with the One X, there's something instantly likeable about the 4X HD's proportions. Where the Galaxy S III's graceful lines take a while to grow on you (the white one being our favorite), LG's quad-core Optimus grabs your attention from the onset. Our white review unit (it's also available in black) is particularly striking -- this is a safe, but elegant design, the kind of phone you'd expect James Bond to accessorize his tuxedo with. Build quality is solid, with no flexing or creaks but the One X's machined, polycarbonate unibody still trumps the Korean competition -- like the Galaxy S III, the 4X HD's plastics look and feel a little cheap for a flagship. In front, the Optimus 4X HD is all Gorilla glass. A white bezel surrounds the 4.7-inch display, interrupted only by three backlit, capacitive buttons at the bottom and the proximity sensor, earpiece, LG brand and 1.2-megapixel front-facing shooter up top. That silver LG logo looks like an afterthought right below the earpiece's tastefully recessed white mesh grille. It's worth noting that those capacitive keys are invisible until backlit and difficult to see in bright sunlight so you'll have to memorize the order: back, home and menu (from left to right). Yes, like Samsung with the Galaxy S III, LG's clinging on to some vestigial menu button instead of rightfully providing a recent apps key. While a long press of the home button brings up the recent apps list, the 4X HD's key layout is the exact reverse of the Galaxy S III's. Why is it that, two Android versions beyond Gingerbread, manufacturers still can't agree on button placement? Here's a hint Samsung and LG: Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean already provide a standard key layout -- use it. Flip the Optimus 4X HD over and you're greeted by a vast, white, textured and removable plastic back cover adorned with an 8-megapixel autofocus camera mounted in a flush, machined aluminum pod and flanked by a single LED flash (top left), another LG logo (embossed and centered below) and two horizontal slits covering the mono speaker (bottom left). Like with the earpiece on the front, the attention to detail and the fit and finish are impressive. The battery door's edges are beveled and contribute to about half of the handset's 8.9mm (0.35-inch) thickness, making the 4X HD extremely comfortable to hold despite its chiseled build. Speaking of thickness, it's not the only measurement that's on par with the competition -- at 141g (4.97 ounces) and 132 x 68mm (5.2 x 2.68 inches), weight and footprint are also similar. Pop the back cover off and you'll find an NFC antenna embedded in the back of the door, with matching contacts on the phone next to the standard SIM holder and microSD card slot above the removable 2,150mAh Li-Ion battery. What's left of the sides of the Optimus 4X HD -- the flat half that's not a part of the beveled back cover -- is delimited by two chromed-plastic rims, one following the edge of the front glass, the other meeting the seam of the battery door. This white plastic area is host to various connectors and buttons: a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, secondary mic and power/lock key on top; a micro-USB / MHL port, primary mic at the bottom; a volume rocker on the left; and nothing on the right. Here again, LG shows impeccable craftsmanship, with a subtle, recessed, pyramid-like pattern adorning the white plastic left and right sides, and the volume rocker protruding just enough to be located by feel. Sadly, the Optimus 4X HD's "True HD IPS" capacitive touchscreen falls short of the One X's phenomenal Super LCD 2 and the Galaxy S III's brilliant Super AMOLED displays. It's certainly a fine 4.7-inch, 1,280x720-pixel panel in its own right -- non-PenTile and bright, with deep blacks, natural colors and respectable viewing angles. The problem is glare, especially in direct sunlight and when looking at the screen from vertical angles greater than 30 degrees. We suspect that this is the result of the display not being bonded to the front glass -- a glaring omission (pun intended). This deficiency can somewhat be overcome by boosting the screen brightness, but at the expense of battery life, of course. Spec-wise, the Optimus 4X HD ticks pretty much every superphone checkbox other than LTE -- but hey, that's what LG's Optimus LTE II is for, right? Under the hood lurks NVIDIA's now-familiar 1.5GHz quad-core (4-PLUS-1) Tegra 3 SoC powerhouse, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage, quadband HSPA+ 21Mbps (850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100MHz) plus quadband EDGE (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz) unlocked radios, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GPS / AGPS and NFC. Practically speaking, this means you'll be able to enjoy the 4X HD almost anywhere in the world except on AWS 3G networks like T-Mobile in the US and Wind in Canada (we used an AT&T SIM without any issues). While the microSD card slot can be mounted as a USB mass storage device, the only way to access the 16GB of internal flash is via MTP or PTP. The usual array of sensors tops off the features list, including ambient light, proximity, compass, accelerometer and gyroscope. Unfortunately, there's no notification LED.
Performance and battery lifeFrom the moment we put our mitts on the Optimus 4X HD, it was clear that this handset is no slouch. That's to be expected, considering the athletic Tegra 3 chip hiding within. Still, LG has a history of riddling its top-notch hardware with sub-par software. Thankfully, the company's mild Ice Cream Sandwich customizations have kept the stock performance (and experience) mostly intact. The 4X HD feels snappy across the board, as confirmed by our suite of benchmarks. Other than AnTuTu, Most results match what we recorded on the global version of HTC's One X.
Radio performance matched our expectations, with no issues to report. Calls sounded loud and clear in our tests, and noise cancellation worked particularly well. The built-in speaker is somewhat tinny sounding, but gets the job done. We saw download speeds of up to 6.2Mbps and upload speeds around 1.3Mbps on AT&T's 3G network in and around San Francisco and Los Angeles -- in line with other unlocked HSPA+ devices we've used on the US' largest GSM carrier. Battery life, however, is less stellar. In our standard rundown test, where we start with a full charge and play a video in a loop with the display brightness and volume set to half, a 75 percent or better 3G signal, WiFi and GPS enabled but disconnected, and Bluetooth disabled, the Optimus 4X HD's 2,150mAh battery lasted six hours and 21 minutes. That's on the lower end of the spectrum when compared to the current crop of high-end Android phones. Also, while this result is similar to what we observed with the Tegra 3-equipped One X, HTC's flagship only packs a 1,800mAh cell. We managed to get about 14 hours of moderate use from the 4X HD -- that's checking email and social networks, occasional calling and texting, taking a few pictures and light web surfing. This means most folks will be able to use LG's quad-core Optimus for an entire day on a full charge but power users will likely want to pack a charger. Camera
The Optimus 4X HD camera is mixed bag. While there's nothing wrong with the hardware -- a modern 8-megapixel sensor and autofocus lens paired with a single LED flash and capable of recording HD video at 1080p -- the software is flawed. There's really no problem with the user interface, which is comprehensive and intuitive. Our gripe comes from an autofocus strategy which provides zero flexibility. The shooter is continually re-focusing but there's absolutely no way to prevent this. There's no dedicated two-stage camera key, no way of touching and holding the on-screen shutter button to lock focus and exposure then releasing it to take the shot. Even touch-to-focus is broken, focusing only briefly where you point but then returning to that continuous focus leitmotif before you even have a chance to snap the picture. Needless to say, getting the camera to focus on anything but the middle of the frame is an exercise in patience and frustration. Let's hope LG fixes this soon. It's too bad, really, because the resulting shots are quite lovely. Colors are perhaps a little soft but white balance and exposure are pretty accurate. Low light performance is decent enough -- noise only rears its ugly head in the most extreme of circumstances. The Optimus 4X HD features HDR, panorama and burst modes, the latter capturing about four to five frames per second. When it comes to moving pictures, the 4X HD records 1080p HD video at 30fps with continuous autofocus and mono audio. Image and sound quality are certainly fine for content encoded at 10Mbps -- there's some excess sharpening and more autofocus hunting than we're comfortable with, but nothing that can't be remedied with a software update. As it currently stands, LG's quad-core Optimus falls short of the Galaxy S III and One X in the camera department, but there's still some untapped potential. SoftwareWe were pleasantly surprised with LG's UI 3.0 skin running on top of Ice Cream Sandwich when we reviewed the Optimus L7 recently and we're happy to report that the Optimus 4X HD follows suit. Billing itself as "unobtrusive and simple", this latest UI is leaps and bounds ahead of anything we've ever sampled from LG before -- both in terms of experience and performance. What you're getting then is mostly stock Android 4.0.3 with a few embellishments -- some actually useful, others purely cosmetic. The quick settings menu in the notifications tray is definitely a worthy feature. By default it lets you access the QuickMemo app (used to annotate what's on the screen and save the result as a picture, Galaxy Note style), switch sound profiles, enable / disable WiFi and turn Bluetooth on / off. Of course it's fully configurable with several other settings to choose from, such as airplane mode, GPS, NFC and hotspot. Also useful are the four customizable quick-access apps on the lock screen. The launcher adds several tweaks, including some reminiscent of CyanogenMod (the 5x6 app grid option) and our favorite -- the ability to create folders in the app tray by simply dragging and dropping apps. Oh, and five apps can be packed in the dock, up from the default four. On the more cosmetic end of things, you're able to select different transition effects for the home screen and one of five clock widgets for the lock screen. There's a download tab in the launcher, in case you lose track of what you've installed. When it comes to pre-installed apps, LG's kept clutter to a minimum. Keep in mind that our review unit is being sold unsubsidized -- carrier versions will likely feature additional bundled apps. LG's apps include Application Manager (to add / remove some of the shipping apps and widgets), Cell Broadcast (to send / receive cell broadcast alerts), LG Tag+ (to program the supplied NFC tags), Memo (for note taking), RemoteCall Service (lets an LG customer support rep control your handset for diagnostics), SmartShare (for DLNA functionality), and SmartWorld (LG's app store). Yahoo!'s Finance, News and Weather apps also come pre-loaded, along with Polaris Office. Only some of these apps can be uninstalled, but all of them can be disabled. You'll find even more info about UI 3.0 in our Optimus L7 review. Wrap-up It's clear that with the Optimus 4X HD LG's trying to step things up a notch and break away from an embarrassing string of forgettable smartphones. From a design standpoint it's a hit -- the 4X HD is refined and well-crafted, with great attention to detail. At this price point (€490 / $590) we'd prefer fancier materials, but this also applies to Samsung's Galaxy S III. Spec-wise it fits the bill, at least on paper. The display, while better than most, misses the mark when compared to the screen on HTC's One X, mostly due to excess glare. Battery life is a little underwhelming as well, despite the generous 2,150mAh cell. Finally, we'd like to see a software update to unleash the camera's full potential, especially when it comes to the autofocus. Regardless of these limitations, the Optimus 4X HD packs a serious punch in terms of performance -- it runs one of the fastest and least offensive Ice Cream Sandwich skins we've encountered to date. Ultimately, LG's flagship may not have toppled Samsung's Galaxy S III and HTC's One X from the quad-core throne, but it's definitely made it to the royal court. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AT&T U-Verse iPad app adds more streaming video, new sports and sharing features Posted: 09 Jul 2012 08:47 AM PDT AT&T launched an iPad app earlier this year and it's recently been updated with a few new features for subscribers to the service bringing it closer to the vision of the ComplenTV app we saw demonstrated at CES. Now, it can link directly to your U-Verse TV box to pull in up to the minute companion content for any sports events might be watching like scores, reviews of previous games and schedules, or share what you're watching to Twitter and Facebook. Also available for all iOS devices is an expanded lineup of video on-demand content including HBO®, Cinemax®, Starz, Encore, Movieplex and Music Choice videos. Also recently added for the iPhone and iPod touch is a full remote control with DVR and guide controls, just like the iPad app already had. There's more details on the free apps in the press release after the break, or in their descriptions on iTunes. Dallas, Texas, July 09, 2012 The remote control is no longer the main device sitting next to you on the couch. Your iPhone or iPad is quickly becoming an integral part of TV watching, and AT&T* U-verse® TV customers now have access to several new features and content that bring their TV and wireless experiences together, including: An expanded lineup of on demand premium and TV content available through the U-verse App for iPhone and iPod touch and AT&T U-verse App for iPad at no extra charge, including HBO®, Cinemax®, HBO, STARZ, ENCORE, MOVIEPLEX and Music Choice videos. The ability to now link your iPad to your U-verse TV receiver with the AT&T U-verse App to access up to the minute sports companion content and scores from various leagues for today's games, a review of yesterday's games, and to see who is playing tomorrow. The ability to now share information about what you are watching with friends on Facebook, and now, on Twitter through the AT&T U-verse App for iPad. The ability to use your iPhone or iPod touch to control your U-verse TV with a full-featured, intuitive U-verse remote control with channel, guide, DVR, interactive app and on-demand controls, now available on the U-verse App for iPhone and iPod touch. The capability is already available today with the AT&T U-verse App for iPad. AT&T also continues to add more content on U-verse.com, with live feeds from FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network. The networks are now available for U-verse TV customers, who already receive the service at home, when they log-in to the site. "The second-screen complements and enhances TV by letting viewers explore and have a deeper experience with the content they care about, on the device they use most." said Jeff Weber, President of Content and Advertising Sales, AT&T Home Solutions. "With our U-verse apps, you can pull up more info about shows, share about what you're watching, and whether you're in or outside the home, you can access compelling content. And it's included as part of your U-verse TV packages." The U-verse App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The AT&T U-verse App is available for free from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore. AT&T U-verse TV was the fastest growing TV service in the country in 2011** and is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider. And AT&T U-verse TV ranked "Highest in Residential Television Service Satisfaction in the North Central, South and West Regions," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudiesSM. For additional information on AT&T U-verse - or to find out if it's available in your area - visit www.att.com/u-verse. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 09 Jul 2012 08:22 AM PDT Twitter has been making a push for expanded tweets in mobile, and there's now some very strong indications that its native apps' tweets will get extra-stuffed in the near future. Some skulking around the future App Store layout from 9to5 Mac reader Sonny Dickson has shown an as yet unreleased Twitter 4.3 release carrying "more interactive experiences" for links within certain posts -- in other words, expect a multimedia extravaganza if a friend really digs that New York Times article. Notifications should also get a much-needed refinement through an end to overly aggressive alerts in-app while bringing in selective, by-user notifications to find out when Mark Zuckerberg finally posts again. While Twitter has stayed mostly hush-hush on the update, the company's own corporate development VP Kevin Thau couldn't contain himself: his attempt to one-up Facebook this weekend showed a slightly redesigned iOS app that most certainly isn't sitting on our own devices. Controversies from The Next Web over the update's identification of third-party apps notwithstanding -- we don't know if it's intentional -- all signs point to Twitter on iOS (and no doubt Android) getting a tune-up before long. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Giveaway: win one of two Meizu MX 4-core phones! Posted: 09 Jul 2012 08:01 AM PDT How would you like to use a phone that virtually nobody else in North America has? For this week's giveaway we're offering a rare treat: Meizu hooked us up with a pair of its MX 4-core smartphones! It's a great opportunity to grab an Android device that has yet to be sold on this side of the Pacific (it's currently shipping in China only), and it's got some great specs to go along with it: 1.4GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, pentaband 21Mbps HSPA+, 1,700mAh battery, 8MP rear camera and VGA front-facing cam. You'll definitely want to leave a comment below in order to enter the contest. Good luck! The rules:
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| Nokia: it 'won't be long' before Verizon gets its due, and we'll have more gear in the fall Posted: 09 Jul 2012 07:48 AM PDT Most talk of a Nokia Lumia for Verizon has been relegated to small-scale rumors and incidental CDMA references. Nokia's Worldwide Developer Relations head Richard Kerris has rather suddenly brought the elusive subject into focus through an interview: he tells Neowin that it "won't be long" before the can-you-hear-me-now network gets a taste of an experience that has previously been limited to the GSM side of the US telecom world, like AT&T and T-Mobile. We're not getting a roadmap for any Verizon devices just yet, to no one's surprise, but Kerris is more than willing to share when we can expect the next wave of Nokia devices. We should expect a refresh of the line sometime in the fall, and whatever's arriving in the spring will purportedly be good enough to have people "climbing over themselves" to get it -- just in case Nokia's role as a Windows Phone 8 partner for the fall launch and beyond wasn't clear enough. The question-and-answer session touches on a handful of other subjects, including a hint that the near-mythical Windows Phone with PureView may be a bit closer to reality, so click on through if you'd like a peek at where the Lumia is headed next. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer Posted: 09 Jul 2012 07:32 AM PDT Microsoft has already expressed its fondness for Perceptive Pixel's gigantic capacitive touchscreens, which became apparent during a live demo at the company's Windows 8 presentation at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, but now that friendship has become a bit more official. During Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference keynote in Toronto this morning, Steve Ballmer announced that Perceptive Pixel would be coming in-house, with Microsoft acquiring the display maker. The move seems to be in line with the company's recent shift to hardware manufacturing, beginning with last month's Surface introduction and its reinforced commitment to the recently renamed PixelSense smart table solution -- MS has just seized an opportunity to get a bit more hands-on. Full (limited) details are in the press release after the break. Microsoft to Acquire Perceptive Pixel Inc. Perceptive Pixel's large-scale, multi-touch hardware and software technology will unlock new collaboration and productivity scenarios. REDMOND, Wash., and NEW YORK - July 9, 2012 - Microsoft Corp. and Perceptive Pixel Inc. (PPI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire PPI, a recognized leader in research, development and production of large-scale, multi-touch display solutions. "The acquisition of PPI allows us to draw on our complementary strengths, and we're excited to accelerate this market evolution," said Kurt DelBene, president, Office Division for Microsoft. "PPI's large touch displays, when combined with hardware from our OEMs, will become powerful Windows 8-based PCs and open new possibilities for productivity and collaboration." Founded in 2006 by Jeff Han, a renowned pioneer in multi-touch technology, PPI shipped its first multi-touch workstation and large wall solutions in early 2007. In 2008 its technology gained widespread recognition for transforming the way CNN and other broadcasters covered the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In 2009 the Smithsonian awarded the company the National Design Award in the inaugural category of Interaction Design. PPI's patented technologies are used across a wide variety of industries such as government, defense, broadcast, energy exploration, engineering and higher education, and its expertise in both software and hardware will contribute to success in broad scenarios such as collaboration, meetings and presentations. "We are incredibly excited to be working together on our mutual passion to build technologies that enable people to collaborate and communicate," Han said. "By joining Microsoft, we will be able to take advantage of the tremendous momentum of the Microsoft Office Division, tightly interoperate with its products, and deliver this technology to a very broad set of customers." Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. About Perceptive Pixel Inc. Perceptive Pixel Inc. (PPI) is a recognized leader in interaction design, having pioneered the development of large-scale, unlimited multi-touch devices that came to prominence during the historic 2008 U.S. presidential elections. PPI's advanced multi-touch technology platform enables professionals to get closer to their content, removing barriers to understanding, communication and collaboration. PPI is privately held and headquartered in New York. For more information, visit www.perceptivepixel.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft confirms Windows 8 will reach RTM stage in August, consumers in October Posted: 09 Jul 2012 07:07 AM PDT Speaking during Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference keynote in Toronto, Corporate VP and CFO Tami Reller announced that the software giant will release Windows 8 to manufacturers next month. She also confirmed the previous October ship target -- that being the timeframe that consumers can expect to pick up a Windows 8-equipped machine, or presumably upgrade from a previous version of the OS. There's not much to report beyond that -- manufacturers will see Windows 8 next month, while the rest of us will need to hang tight until the fall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fujitsu unveils the Stylistic Q702 hybrid tablet and the LifeBook T902 convertible laptop Posted: 09 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT Back at Computex last month we saw dozens of Windows 8-ready Ultrabooks on display: sliding-ones, touchscreen ones, foldable ones. Curiously, though, there were virtually none aimed at businesses -- you know, one of Microsoft's key customer groups. Today, though, Fujitsu is unveiling not one, but two devices aimed at the corporate crowd: the Stylistic Q702 laptop/tablet hybrid and the LifeBook T902, a convertible laptop. Starting with the Q702, it's an 11.6-inch tablet that works with an optional keyboard dock and also supports pen input. Yes, that's a form factor we know all too well at this point, but this one at least manages to differentiate itself with business-friendly features like TPM, Intel Anti-Theft technology, Computrace support and built-in WWAN and LTE connectivity (so far, we know AT&T, Verizon and Sprint will be on board). Under the hood, it runs Ivy Bridge processors (Core i3 or i5) with 4GB of RAM and an SSD with up to 128GB of storage space. As you'd expect of an 11.6-inch Windows tablet, the resolution is 1,366 x 768, though Fujitsu also added Gorilla Glass coating and ratcheted the brightness up to 400 nits. On its own, the 1.88-pound tablet is rated for 4.5 hours of runtime (the dock adds an extra 5.5). Speaking of which, in addition to a built-in battery, the dock adds two USB 2.0 / 3.0 ports, Ethernet jack and VGA. Moving on, the LifeBook T902 replaces this guy with a higher-res 13-inch Gorilla Glass display (1,600 x 900 this time) and is powered by Ivy Bridge processors (i5 and i7 chips, to be precise). Inside that 4.1-pound body you can cram up to 16GB of RAM, along with optional WWAN or LTE radios. It's also home to a modular bay, which you can use to add a spare battery or hard drive, or maybe even an optical drive. Fujitsu rates the battery life at up to 11 hours, but that's assuming you go ahead and buy that second battery. Here, too, you'll find security features like TPM and Computrace support, but unlike the Q702 tablet it adds a fingerprint sensor and IT-friendly vPro chips. The Q702 and T902 will both ship with Windows 7, but are naturally upgradeable to Win8. Look for both to arrive sometime in the third quarter, with the Q702 hybrid starting at $1,099 and the T902 going for $1,899 and up. Full PR after the break, along with a press shot of the convertible.
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| Apple reportedly shutting down unauthorized third-party beta sales, restricts iOS 6 to licensed devs Posted: 09 Jul 2012 06:49 AM PDT Apple has been arguably more generous when it comes to software sneak peeks than it has been with hardware, but while dues-paying developers are given the go-ahead to download operating systems ahead of their release, consumers have had to sit tight until after each iteration hits GM status. Some internet entrepreneurs have taken it upon themselves to game Apple's system, however, which until recently appeared to have been loosely guarded, with third parties selling beta access for years without intervention. iOS 6 is shaping up to be the end of the line -- Apple has reportedly begun targeting businesses selling early access, citing copyright infringement and contacting hosting providers to shut down sales sites. The operations can be quite profitable, with income approaching six figures for iOS 6 alone, so it's likely that we'll see businesses open up shop under different domains in an attempt to continue to collect. Still, if you're running such an operation of you're own, it may be worth your while to peruse Apple's non-disclosure agreement in full -- a site shut down could be but the beginning of the company's actions to control OS releases, and prevent third parties from illegally capitalizing on Cupertino's creations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sharp settles LCD price fixing dispute with Dell and others for $200 million Posted: 09 Jul 2012 06:35 AM PDT In an LCD panel price fixing tiff that's been raging on for what seems like time incarnate, Sharp has settled with Dell and two unnamed companies for $198.5 million to make it go away. Japanese panel makers like LG, Samsung and Toshiba are also defendants in the legal dragnet, and numerous fines and settlements totaling more than a billion dollars have already been paid out to the likes of AT&T and the US Department of Justice. This decision comes hot on the heels of an $87 million setback in court for Toshiba -- a ruling that may have taken the edge off of Sharp's defense. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia 808 PureView now available stateside, $700 via Amazon Posted: 09 Jul 2012 06:07 AM PDT Finnish phone purveyor Nokia has delivered on its promise to bring its flagship camera phone to US soil, with or without carriers' support. The company is offering up the PureView 808 on Amazon, complete with Carl Zeiss optics and Nokia Belle, for a cool $700 contract free. That's no small tariff for a device running a slightly antiquated mobile operating system, but if you've got a soft spot in your heart for Symbian -- and fancy yourself a photographer -- page through our review then head over to Amazon for the purchasing details. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bing Fund taking shape to help Microsoft search for the next big thing in online services Posted: 09 Jul 2012 05:47 AM PDT Microsoft's Online Services Division (OSD) hasn't exactly had a lot of good news to share lately, most painful being the recent $6.2 billion write-down thanks to the aQuantive acquisition, so it's turning to a higher power for its next bet. The company appears to be creating an angel incubator called the Bing Fund, which would foster startups that could "bring a wave of innovation to OSD" -- which currently includes MSN, adCenter and, of course, Bing. While the company is being slightly coy about the details of Bing Fund, hosting only the tangerine teaser shown above at BingFund.com, some digging by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley has revealed that Rahul Sood will be the chief cherub of this angel fund, stepping away from the Entertainment and Devices Division (aka the Xbox Division). Who better, we say, than the open-minded Voodoo PC founder who famously cut his chocolate birthday cake with a MacBook Air and later said: "Every executive in the PC industry should use an Apple notebook." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Is Google selling the Nexus 7 at a loss? Posted: 09 Jul 2012 05:29 AM PDT Andy Rubin has already made it known that Google isn't planning to profit from the Nexus 7's hardware -- according to him, it's being sold at cost. However, a teardown conducted by TechInsights (and reported by Fudzilla) suggests that the true extent of our 'discount' may have been underplayed, because the Nexus 7's parts alone reportedly add up to around $184. That's just $15 below the current asking price for an 8GB model, before you even get to all the added costs like packaging, distribution, support, marketing and the tidy $25 Google Play voucher that comes as part of the bundle. Now, these figures may not be reliable, because who knows what deals Google and ASUS managed to negotiate, but still, it's further evidence (in case you needed it) that this tablet makes for a smart purchase. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Judge says Galaxy Tab 'not as cool' as iPad, awards Samsung win in design suit Posted: 09 Jul 2012 05:14 AM PDT How's that for the ultimate backhanded legal award? A judge in the UK handed a win to Samsung in an intellectual property dispute, calling the Galaxy Tab "not as cool" as the iPad, and therefore not likely to get confused with Apple's tablets. Adding insult to lawsuit win, Judge Colin Birss said that Samsung's slates "do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design." The Galaxy Tabs are distinct from the iPad given their thinner form factors and the "details" on the backs of the devices, according to the judge. If Apple's not happy with his too-cool-for-suit ruling, he also gave Cupertino 21 days to appeal. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This is just like word wrap, except that it works with photos (video) Posted: 09 Jul 2012 04:37 AM PDT If you regularly snap pages of hardcopy text on your smartphone for perusing later, then an Android app being developed by Fujifilm may just tick your literary boxes. Called GT-Layout, it automatically carves up a photo containing text so that each character becomes a separate image. These sub-images can then be reformatted with line breaks to fit your screen area and preferred level of zoom -- so you don't have to pinch and pan so much and there's no need for OCR. Want to try it? Then you'll have to wait. GT-Layout is reportedly coming in an update to Fujifilm's Dropbox client, GT-Document Lite, but there's no sign of it appearing there just yet.
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| A bevy of Nokias allegedly leak into a developer app: 'Lumia 1001' tops theoretical new lineup Posted: 09 Jul 2012 03:39 AM PDT There's nothing easier to photoshop than a phone display, but a Nokiapoweruser reader claims to have RDA screenshots leaking five (count 'em) different upcoming Nokia smartphones. The reputed models shown -- without any other proof -- are the Nokia 510, Nokia Belle 805 and Lumias 920, 950 and 1001. These are on top of another we already saw from the same type of source, the Nokia 910, giving us a Bizarro world view of Nokia's entire possible WP8 lineup, before the company has even issued a peep. We'd love to ruminate about potential specs and pecking order, but since we're talking about an entirely abstract slate of phones, go ahead and invent your own. [Image credit: Nokiapoweruser] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony Xperia acro S jumps through FCC hoops Posted: 09 Jul 2012 02:40 AM PDT Water and dust-proof certified, Sony's Xperia acro S was bound to survive the FCC's prodding and poking. The examination confirms some Euro-centric, but AT&T-friendly, HSPA radio bands and offers up some (oddly squashed) real-word glimpses at a phone that's got already going under two different names. Yep, this 4.3-inch phone's already launched in Japan as the Xperia acro HD, although there's been no word on a release on US shores. Radio test fans can hit up the source for yet more details and some side profile shots. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese androids wear tracksuits, play sports, but not at the same time (video) Posted: 09 Jul 2012 01:37 AM PDT When we last caught up with the Beijing Institute's family of bots, their abilities extended to slow (but pretty) tai chi moves. Returning three years later, we see that they're coming along nicely: BHR-4 is still going through the old graceful routines, but now he's wearing a human face and fetching sportswear to look like one of his creators. The 140-pound android beats certain Japanese alternatives by having both a fully-actuated body and a face that can mimic emotions, like surprise and fear when someone tries to give it a decent hair cut. Meanwhile, brother BHR-5 doesn't bother with appearances, but instead has graduated to playing ping-pong in the hope of one day taking on rivals from Zhejiang University. He uses high-speed image processing and 32 degrees of freedom to pull off rallies of up to 200 shots, and he'll do his utmost to impress you in the video after the break.
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| Face.com kills developer APIs and Klik app three weeks after Facebook acquisition Posted: 09 Jul 2012 12:41 AM PDT A ripple went through Face.com's developer community three weeks ago when the company was acquired by Facebook. After all, what earthly reason would the social network have for continuing third-party developer support of the product? None, as it turns out -- API support for the firm's mug recognition software will be dropped in early August, and its iPhone app, Klik, is now gone from the App Store. Despite recent assurances to the contrary (pictured above) Face.com pulled the plug in order to devote its resources to Zuckerberg and Co., according to an email it sent to developers. Naturally, the sudden reversal has inflamed that group, with prominent members tweeting language like "boycotting" and "months of work wasted." There's a sliver of hope, however, for forlorn developers -- at least one member of the community says he's been granted an API extension through October. In the meantime, developers will likely be venting -- and won't even be able to track that rollercoaster of emotions anymore. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung T699 may become Galaxy S Blaze Q, compete for silliest phone name ever on August 15th Posted: 08 Jul 2012 11:40 PM PDT T-Mobile might have just gone with the nuclear option when it comes to ridiculous smartphone names. Apparently not content to let Sprint's Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch hold on to the crown for unnecessarily wordy titles, Magenta is reportedly launching Samsung's T699 as the Galaxy S Blaze Q. Yep. If you've stopped giggling, you'll be glad to know TmoNews' leaked photos and details at least hint at a serious QWERTY slider attached to the silly name. The Android 4.0 hardware should be a slightly detuned Galaxy S III, with the familiar 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and 720p display being tempered by a more restrained 1GB of RAM and a 5-megapixel back camera. As long as a store layout document proves accurate, we'll have the choice of snagging a Blaze Q at T-Mobile on August 15th... assuming the store clerk doesn't get tongue-tied first. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HP unveils four new business and consumer all-in-ones with Ivy Bridge insides Posted: 08 Jul 2012 09:01 PM PDT HP announced a raft of new Ivy Bridge desktops back in April, but it had a few more all-in-ones up its sleeve. Today the company is unveiling a mix of business- and consumer-targeted machines: the Compaq Elite 8300, Compaq Pro 6300, Envy 23 and Pavilion 23. Let's tackle the business models first. Starting at $879, the 23-inch Compaq Elite 8300 is available with second- or third-gen Intel processors and integrated or discrete graphics options. A $929 configuration comes with a multitouch-enabled display. The Compaq Pro 6300, going for $799 and up, doesn't offer touch functionality, but it includes corporate-friendly security software via HP ProtectTools and, like the Elite 8300, can be configured with either Ivy Bridge or Sandy Bridge CPUs. The 6300 features a 21-inch LED-backlit display and an optional 2-megapixel webcam. The Compaq Elite 8300 will go on sale September 10th, while the 6300 will hit stores on September 3rd. On the home PC side of things, there's the $950 HP Envy 23, which sports a 23-inch 1080p screen and a free-standing design with edge-to-edge glass. Beats Audio is on board, and the model is available with Ivy Bridge or AMD trinity processors, up to 2TB of storage, an HDMI-in port, a Blu-ray drive and a TV tuner. Like the Envy 23, the $650 HP Pavilion 23 has a 23-inch 1080p panel and is configurable with up to a 2TB hard drive and either Intel (up to Core i5 Ivy Bridge) or AMD CPUs. Both models will go on sale August 5th. You know the drill: head past the break for the full press release and our hands-on photos.
Dana Wollman contributed to this report. PALO ALTO, Calif., July 9, 2012 - HP today expanded its all-in-one desktop PC portfolio with business and consumer designs that deliver multimedia-rich performance, trusted reliability and enhanced security in a small footprint. The new all-in-ones are designed as cost-, space- and energy-efficient alternatives to a "Customers have been asking for all-in-one PC designs that do not compromise on Products announced today are: - HP Compaq Elite 8300 All-in-One, HP's highest-quality all-in-one business PC, - HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One, offering the optimal combination of productivity, - HP ENVY 23 All-in-One, an ideal PC for consumers who demand a sleek design and - HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One, offering essential features and processing power for Smart designs for accelerated business efficiency Powered by third- and second-generation Intel® Core™ vPro™ processors that provide With its added touch functionality, the HP Compaq Elite 8300 Touch All-in-One employs The HP Compaq Elite 8300 Touch All-in-One provides a solution for healthcare patients to The HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One Business PC is a mainstream business-class all-inone designed for reliable and consistent computing. The non-touch PC sports third- and second-generation Intel Core processors with optional discrete graphics for solid performance and simple manageability for growing business environments, including government organizations. It offers a 21.5-inch diagonal, full HD, LED backlit display, internal stereo speakers and optional 2MP webcam. The new business all-in-ones include multilayered client security features that safeguard Each of the announced desktops is preinstalled with Microsoft® Windows®. Microsoft also Both PCs offer wireless capabilities and exclusive features such as the HP TrueVision HD Pricing and availability - The HP Compaq Elite 8300 All-in-One Business PC starts at $879 and is expected to be - The HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One Business PC starts at $799 and is expected to be - The HP ENVY 23 All-in-One starts at $949.99 and is expected to be available at HP - The HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One starts at $649.99 and is expected to be available at HP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How would you change the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1? Posted: 08 Jul 2012 07:11 PM PDT We've got a big, no, massive soft-spot for the GX1 around these parts. It was being reviewed during this year's CES and our man behind the lens rapidly became the object of our envy. In fact the only thing that really made us wince when testing it was the $950 price for the kit model -- otherwise we could feel our wallets opening obligingly. But how about those of you who did opt for one of these beauties? Does your experience match our own, or were there some unexpected bumps along the way? Now's your chance to share them with us. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verizon website pushes Galaxy S III availability back two days, still shipping pre-orders Posted: 08 Jul 2012 06:26 PM PDT Looking forward to picking up a Galaxy S III from Verizon this Tuesday? You'd better reschedule. According to the carrier's website, Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphone won't be available until July 12th, contradicting the previously stated July 10th shelf date. Don't get frustrated just yet though, we're hearing reports from readers that their phone has already shipped, or in some cases already arrived, suggesting that pre-orders are sticking to Verizon's original schedule. Stuck waiting? Look on the bright side, you have two extra days to read up on circumventing that Verizon-exclusive locked bootloader, right? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refresh Roundup: week of July 2nd, 2012 Posted: 08 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
Other platforms
Refreshes we covered this week
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| Inhabitat's Week in Green: rise of solar power, cardboard forts and a Death Star ping pong ball Posted: 08 Jul 2012 05:00 PM PDT Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. It was a big week for superlatives in clean tech and green architecture -- particularly in Europe. First, construction on The Shard, architect Renzo Piano's shimmering, 72-story skyscraper, wrapped up in London, making it the tallest building in Europe. A nighttime celebration, complete with a laser light show accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra was held. Just about a mile down the river, construction is moving forward on Blackfriars Station, the world's largest solar bridge. The historic bridge is being fitted with a solar array that will produce 900,000 kWh of clean electricity per year. And in Germany, solar producers have set a new world record, pumping an astounding 14.7 TWh of electricity into the grid during the first six months of 2012 -- 4.5 percent of the country's total power production during that period. The rise of solar power in Germany is directly related to the country's phase-out of nuclear power plants -- however in Japan, the issue of nuclear power is back in the news. Two months after Japanese officials shuttered the country's final nuclear power plant, two reactors have been restarted, sparking protests in Tokyo. Meanwhile, a new independent report on the cause of the Fukushima Nuclear disaster places most of the blame on the Japanese government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company for allowing the plant to be so vulnerable in the first place. In other energy news, a team of researchers at Harvard has created an amazing hydrogen fuel cell that keeps running even after its fuel supply is exhausted. Researchers at the University of South Carolina are working on developing a cotton t-shirt that could charge mobile gadgets. And in perhaps the week's biggest blooper, a state representative from North Carolina legalized fracking by mistakenly pressing the wrong button. Whoopsie! In one of the most-watched architecture developments in the US, California Gov. Jerry Brown fast-tracked construction approval for Apple's massive new disc-shaped Cupertino campus in California. In Syracuse, N.Y., the US Postal Service announced that it plans to plant an 11,300-square-foot green roof on a local post office. And in Thailand, architects Achawin Laohavichairat, Montakan Manosong, and Peerapon Karunwiwat came up with a design for a beehive-style apartment that would that live off the waste of existing buildings. In other news, this week we were surprised to learn that cleaning your teeth with seaweed can be better than toothpaste. (It won't give you that minty-fresh aftertaste, though.) We also had our minds blown by this incredibly detailed Death Star made from a single ping pong ball. We were charmed by Case of Bass, a company that transforms old suitcases into stylish boom boxes, and we rolled our eyes at this $1 million vacuum cleaner that has its own rap song. Finally, we saw a larger-than-life LEGO forest spring up in Australia and we had a blast reviewing the Bildopolis Big Bilder -- a kit for making awesome forts out of cardboard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AllThingsD: New Kindle Fire will feature 1,280 x 800 resolution, ship in Q3 2012 Posted: 08 Jul 2012 04:01 PM PDT Rumors and scuttlebutt are already afoot: Amazon is ramping up to release a Kindle Fire successor later this year. It certainly seems reasonable enough; come November the original $200 slate will be a year old, outpaced by the young Nexus 7. According to AllThingsD, however, Amazon aims to keep things fresh -- updating the tablet with a thinner profile, a 1,280 x 800 resolution display and a built-in camera. According to sources "familiar with Amazon's plans," the tablet is slated for a late Q3 launch, agreeing with its previously rumored July / August debut. The finer details -- like the unit's price and internal specs -- are still MIA, but we'll let you know if the rumor mill churns out anything new. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dracula, The Mummy and six other horror classics coming in a Blu-ray set October 2nd (video) Posted: 08 Jul 2012 02:47 PM PDT Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection will arrive on shelves October 2nd, and pack eight classic horror movies, all restored so they can be seen in the highest quality possible. Among the releases is Creature from the Black Lagoon restored for Blu-ray 3D (yes, like Dial M for Murder it was originally shot and released in 3D back in 1954), as well as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man and Phantom of the Opera. This is all a part of the ongoing Universal centennial celebration that's seeing its vaults unleash many of our favorites for the first time in high definition. After the break you can check out a featurette detailing the process undertaken to prep Dracula for Blu-ray release, as well as a press release with details on all of the flicks and which extras are included for each movie. Of course, the downside of a pack like this is that it's pricey -- the MSRP is $160, but it's available for preorder on Amazon currently priced at $112. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120628/LA32327) From the era of silent movies through the present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection honors the studio's accomplishments with the most iconic monsters in motion-picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Featuring performances by legends of the horror genre, including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester, these eight iconic films also feature groundbreaking special effects and innovative makeup that continue to influence filmmakers into the 21st century. Sure to be a Halloween favorite for years to come, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection is the ideal gift for film buffs and horror aficionados alike. Synopses and Bonus Features Bonus Features: Dracula, the 1931 Spanish version, with Introduction by Lupita Tovar Kohner Bonus Features: The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster Bonus Features: Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed Bonus Features: Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed Bonus Features: She's Alive! Creating The Bride Of Frankenstein Bonus Features: Monster by Moonlight Bonus Features: The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked Bonus Features: The Creature From The Black Lagoon in 3D About Universal Studios Home Entertainment Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Switched On: The Netbook Legacy Posted: 08 Jul 2012 02:30 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In describing Toshiba's decision to exit the U.S. netbook market, Engadget eulogized that it was "a sad day for those who like their computers tiny." Toshiba, a pioneer in the ultraportable market with the Libretto and Portege, produced what were among the best-regarded netbooks despite entering the market late. Indeed, even with the many aspersions cast upon netbooks by one-time friends (such as Dell and Toshiba) and perennial foes (such as Apple) alike, the accelerating exit of netbooks will leave a void in the marketplace. Many consumers saw the value of a 10-inch device with an integrated keyboard that can run Windows apps, available new in some configurations for $250 or less. And yet, even as major PC companies flee the field, accessory makers such as Logitech and Zagg, as well as overfunded Kickstarter projects such as Brydge or Incase's Origami case, present new ways to unite the iPad with its most conspicuous missing component: the keyboard. It seems incongruous that a 10-inch netbook is undesirable whereas a 10-inch tablet paired with a keyboard for which it is not optimized is. And most keyboards for the iPad use Bluetooth, the use of which is verboten on flights (even as WiFi has been approved). While the iPad is often blamed for (or credited with) killing the netbook, it may be thought of more as the facilitator of an assisted suicide. Even as the netbook served to drive units and market share, few in the PC industry embraced it -- from Intel, which ensured that the device class remained severely limited, to PC vendors that found the products unprofitable. In addition to feeling competition from the iPad and other tablets, netbooks were also attacked on the portability front by ultrabooks and on the affordability front by larger laptops with more aggressive pricing. Netbooks never got any respect. While Steve Jobs rebuked the netbook at the iPad's introduction, the iPad owes a bit of debt to the little laptops. The netbook demonstrated the potential of an inexpensive, portable second computing device, with a screen size of about 10 inches, intended primarily for media consumption and light productivity. Their small size and low weight made them popular fixtures at coffee shops while their low prices made them justifiable to those who might have had a desktop at home but wanted occasional portable computing. Despite the relatively low levels of investment they commanded, netbooks improved in some of their weak areas in their short heyday. While their small chassis and relatively energy-inefficient processors (compared to ARM-based smartphones and tablets) made for disappointing battery life at first, this improved somewhat over the years to enable suitable stamina for the limited usage for which they were positioned. Netbook keyboards, while often a bit cramped, have still offered a more familiar, effective on-the-go typing experience compared to screen-based ones. Most netbooks used hard drives and Atom processors and relied upon a fan -- again, given the low price points, often not a high-quality one. The small footprints of netbooks were also usually accompanied by a less-than-svelte profile, particularly as vendors tried to beef up the battery life. More recent entrants, though, such as the ASUS X101, had thickness measurements that were in line with their other dimensions. While some of the early netbooks, including the first ASUS Eee PC, used homegrown user interfaces atop various Linux distributions, they proved no competition for Windows, especially after Windows 7 undid the many wrongs of Vista and got Microsoft on the lower-resource train that will soon pull into the next Metro station. Having Windows on a netbook allowed users to take advantage of the same apps they used on a full-sized laptop or desktop even though some would occasionally run into issues such as large dialog boxes that ran off the screen and other user interface glitches. However, without support for system-on-chip architectures such as those from ARM or those coming to market from Intel, Windows-based netbooks were hard-pressed to compete with the sleek form factors and long battery life of the iPad and leading-edge Android tablets. In 2009, when Android was in its infancy, Switched On discussed the poor prospects for the OS on netbooks. And even though the software has matured and staked out larger displays since then, the clamshell continues to be largely the domain of Windows and OS X, as Switched On discussed last fall. The ASUS Transformer line, the first of which won the 2011 Switchie Award for Product of the Year, costs twice that of a netbook's opening price when configured with a keyboard. Particularly given the constraints of today's Intel processors, Apple has created a great ultraportable in the 11-inch MacBook Air, but at three to four times the price of the lowly netbook. That leaves Microsoft, and while the company is focused on the Metro makeover for Windows 8, its tablets and tablet-clamshell hybrids include cost-increasing touchscreens; Surface is a good example of this. Despite its embrace of the keyboard and portability, pricing will almost certainly be equal to, if not north of, the iPad. Windows 8 running on Intel SoC hardware or, once its app portfolio is established, Windows RT may provide the right combination of app and hardware support to remake the populist portable. Particularly with some companies pursuing detachable keyboards as a means of keeping their toes in both the laptop and tablet market, the term "netbook" may fade as it gives way to terms with fewer negative connotations such as "ultrabooks" or "hybrid tablets." We'll get the portability and gain versatility, while the companies will get a more sustainable profit margin. But there are still some who want a clamshell that is as compact, cheap and thin as Ramen noodles, but with the kick of a fra diavolo sauce. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director and principal analyst of the NPD Connected Intelligence service at The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alt-week 7.8.2012: Solar flares, trapping dark matter, and life-sized Lego trees Posted: 08 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days. This week we swing by some superhero news, look at how solar panels might shape up in the future, explore a Lego forest and see how to grab dark matter just using some household gold and strands of DNA. Not only that, we discover how the sun likes to celebrate the fourth of July with its own firework display. This is alt / week While the majority of the science community had its eyes firmly fixed on one elusive atomic unicorn, small steps were being made in finding another -- dark matter. Scientists have hung a lot of theory on this invisible peg, and its very nature is also what makes it hard to find. After all, how do you find something that neither emits nor absorbs light? Well, as it happens many great minds are trying to figure that out, and one of the latest approaches comes with a bunch of cunning. The coordinated effort involves University of Michigan's Katherin Freese and Harvard's George Church, along with some DNA and some gold. Obviously. The gold is laid out in a thin sheet, with the DNA hanging below it in threads, and the idea is that the clumsy dark matter will collide with the gold atoms, forcing it out of the sheet and cutting through the DNA like grass. As each strand of DNA has an identifier, this also means the trajectory can be worked out. Simple.
Us mere mortals might never get radioactive powers, but we can distil energy from the sun, and that's pretty heroic. This week we saw a new study come to light that could lead to the improvement of photovoltaic (PVT) solar systems. Although PVT panels can provide both heat and power, they're much better suited to the latter. To address this imbalance, Joshua Pearce from Michigan Technological University, along with Michael Pathak and Stephen Harrison outlined a solution that uses amorphous -- or thin film -- silicon. Despite being lighter, cheaper and greener, this type of silicon suffers from the "Staebler-Wronski" effect, where efficiency declines in light. No good for solar panels obviously. The new study, however, discovered that by heating the thin-film silicon to about 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) which is the solar-thermal operating temperature, the Staebler-Wronski effect was largely negated. A further 10 percent increase in efficiency was achieved by spike annealing -- essentially baking -- the cell once a day. This means that the thermal energy created by PVT panels is improved, and it also means that, in the future, they could be used for both purposes, meaning less roof-top real estate, and a happier planet (and possibly wallet). From one hot topic, to another: solar flares. This week, of course, many of us were enjoying fourth of July celebrations. Space.com reports that the sun has been putting on its own fireworks display, with impressive flares being seen firing off from sunspot AR1515. The eruptions registered in as a class M5.3 solar storm (with X being the only class higher). The sunspot responsible is about 100,000 kilometers long (roughly eight times the earth's diameter,) and the flares come at a particularly active phase of the current 11 year solar cycle, -- which is expected to peak next year. So, compared to that, San Diego's "display" this year might look relatively tame. Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt / week? Working on a project or research that's too cool to keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com European Spallation Source AB: Opposites Repel: ESS Scientist Discovers New Magnetic Phenomenon STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the first time, a novel magnetic state has been discovered, where the most basic concept of magnetism - that opposites attract - does not hold true. The phenomenon has been discovered and described by an international team of scientists lead by ESS Director for Science Dimitri Argyriou. The discovery holds promise for tomorrow's memory and sensor technology, enabling devices from phones to cars. The finding was reported in Nature Materials. Phones, cars, TVs and kitchen appliances - most of the tools we use have small computers inside, and they all require memory. Product development proceeds at breakneck pace, and the computers have to be ever smaller, smarter, more energy efficient. In pursuit of tomorrow's data-handling technology, researchers at the European Spallation Source have unearthed a novel magnetic phenomenon. No one can say what the next big breakthrough in data-handling technology will be, but a class of materials called multiferroics are promising candidates. One such material is terbium ferrite, which can store information so that it can be written with electricity and read magnetically, at a low energy cost. This may revolutionise memory and sensor technology - but a lot of research is required before the concept can be used in applications. An international research team lead by Dimitri Argyriou, Director for Science at ESS, Sweden, has used neutrons to probe the inner workings of terbium ferrite. They found that at an atomic scale, the atoms arrange themselves in a grid of microscopic domains, each of which behaves like a small bar magnet. These magnets do not line up in the same direction, as one might expect. Instead, adjacent domains have opposite magnetic directions, placing north next to north and south next to south. The scientists were also surprised by the overall domain structure: they are unexpectedly large (albeit on a microscopic scale) and display extremely sharp domain boundaries. - I was expecting domains perhaps 30 times smaller than what we observed, says Dimitri Argyriou. And the domain boundaries are exceptionally sharp - I've never seen anything like it. The structure shouldn't be stable, and yet it is. Pursuing this mystery, the team of professor Maxim Mostovoy, a theoretical physicist at Groningen University, the Netherlands, provided a surprising insight. The unusual structure observed - large domains with sharp domain walls and alternately arranged magnetic moments - is stabilized by a novel magnetic phenomenon. Surprisingly, the opposite poles of a domain repel each other. Rather than red attracting white and red repelling red as with bar magnets, in terbium ferrite, opposites repel. – Our discovery has many implications, says Maxim Mostovoy. We think that this interplay between iron and terbium atoms can be used to make new, more versatile multiferroics that can cover the increasing demands of lean technology with low power consumption. This discovery previews the discoveries that ESS, the European facility for research with neutrons under development in southern Sweden, will bring. – Without neutrons, this discovery would have passed us by, says Dimitri Argyriou. We need more powerful neutron sources in order to probe deeper into such new states of matter. Once built, ESS will help us unearth new phenomena like this one, which remain hidden from us today. This is one example of the many new things a facility like ESS will help us discover, not only in magnetic materials, but in a broad range of fields of science and technology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roskva electric motorcycle revealed in Norway with carbon fiber chassis and clothes Posted: 08 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT The choices in the electric motorcycle market just keep getting juicier, and while you'll still have to stick with the more established brands like Brammo, Zero or BRD if you're looking to make a purchase, a hot new prototype has just been unveiled that threatens to make them all look a little bit... pedestrian. It's called the Roskva from a team of five students at the University of Life Sciences (UMB) in Oslo, Norway. Like a MotoGP bike it has an all carbon fiber unified frame and bodywork that weighs less than 25kg and even rolls on carbon wheels. A 94HP motor provides the oomph and delivers a top speed of about 112MPH, with a maximum range of 62 miles. No word on when or if the thing might make it into actual production, but we can say for sure that there's a second picture of the thing just waiting for you right after the break, still in that same garage that is far, far neater than ours. [Image credit: Henrik Holmberg] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Avengers Initiative Second Screen app goes live on iTunes in time for Comic-Con Posted: 08 Jul 2012 10:36 AM PDT As promised, Marvel and Disney have delivered The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App for iPhone and iPad ahead of Marvel's The Avengers Blu-ray release September 25th. While much of the content will be released over time between now and then, it already has some character profiles and animated special effects deconstructions for users to paw through, as well as an Item 47 game for Comic-Con attendees. There's a list of features after the break, or you can hit iTunes for the free app right now -- if you prefer a Flash experience for PCs or other devices, it should be available at MarvelSecondScreen.com (currently redirecting to the Marvel site) once it goes live. App Overview: Second Screen transforms the movie watching experience by allowing viewers to explore the story behind the film perfectly synched on a second device, like an iPad™ or laptop, without interrupting their enjoyment of the movie. By accessing the Second Screen companion application on their Internet-connected device, consumers are able to dive deeper into the film by engaging with key elements of the movie. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timbuk2 Power Commute and Power Q bags will juice your tech from here to... Posted: 08 Jul 2012 08:14 AM PDT Whether it's a tropical vision quest, or a summer jaunt in Europe, the well-traveled gadgeteer faces one eternal scourge -- power. Timbuk2 hears this, and has partnered with Joey Energy to bring you two new travel bags (the Power Commute and Power Q) with internal chargers. Okay, you don't need to have the crunch of sand underfoot to benefit from one of these, in fact, dashing across town will also be a much more liberated affair, knowing that you don't need benevolent weather, or have to pack a dedicated device. The power supply has been designed to deal with the rough and tumble of the outside world, and claims to power pretty much anything that charges over USB. The Joey T1 claims to be able to provide about two full mobile charges, and both of the new bags come laden with all the tech-hiding covey holes you'd expect, costing $199 when they launch in October. Timbuk2 Unveils Bags with Joey Energy Power Supply at OR Summer Market The San Francisco-based manufacturer, announces a partnership with Joey® Energy to offer the first series of purpose-built bags with a power supply to charge a variety of electronics while on the move. As a result of this collaboration, Timbuk2 will unveil two new bags at OR Summer Market 2012 – the Power Commute and Power Q. "There are a few 'battery' and power bags on the market, however none are from existing or trusted manufacturers in a lightweight, simple and compact format that also charges different brands and types of technology while on the go," says Timbuk2 CEO Mike Wallenfels. "Timbuk2's core consumer has a nomadic lifestyle. It made sense for us to partner with Joey Energy to offer the most innovative charging capabilities designed to keep consumers moving in two of Timbuk2's top selling bag styles." Not for individual sale, the Joey® T1 power supply is designed with rugged electronics and a tough, water resistant case. Offering a very slim design and wire with a satellite USB port, the Joey® T1 unit features include: • Energy on the Move – Consumers can charge the T1 before a business trip or vacation to provide up to weeks of charging while in the bag. No more searching for power outlets while on the go. "We're passionate about developing innovative solutions for people's frenetic lifestyles," said Joey Energy Co-founder and Outdoor Industry Veteran, George Farkas. "Timbuk2 customers are highly mobile people who don't want to spend their days searching for wall outlets, nor do they want to carry multiple wall charge cables for the electronics in their bag. We're pleased to be partnering with Timbuk2 as they align with our mission to keep people moving and do so in a smart, stylish and functional way." Available in October 2012 on www.timbuk2.com and in February 2013 at select retailers, Timbuk2's new Power Line includes the Power Commute and the Power Q: Timbuk2 Power Commute - A TSA-compliant messenger bag with a Joey® T1 Power Supply. Available in Black/Gunmetal/Algae Green Power Commute design features include: Timbuk2 Power Q – Timbuk2's best-selling pack with a Joey® T1 Power Supply. Available in Black/Gunmetal/Algae Green Power Q design features include: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toyota sends out free Entune upgrade, adds three apps and voice control Posted: 08 Jul 2012 05:07 AM PDT Got a Toyota with Entune? Then keep an eye on your mailbox. We're getting word that a free upgrade has started to be sent out to customers. The refresh adds some of the apps we first heard about back in January last year: iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com and OpenTable. As well as being able to enjoy more radio, book movie tickets and restaurant tables, a new voice recognition update means you can do even more while keeping your eyes on the road. Toyota says that it'll be upgrading most models, if you want to know for sure, tap up the more coverage link for the breakdown. |
You know who else's DNA got messed up? That's right, Spider-man. With the latest installment in the movie franchise hitting cinemas this week, we were 
While the sun's energy is generally considered good for most trees, we're not sure the ones you see below will react in quite the same way. Broken Hill -- a small mining city in Australia -- has suddenly found itself surrounded by forest. Not just any old arboreal collection either, these trees are of the rare "life-size Lego" variety. All part of 
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