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Engadget News |
- AUO, LG, Toshiba pay $571 million to settle LCD price fixing lawsuit, broken record keeps skipping
- HTC Vertex pops up in benchmarks, might bring a slice of One X muscle to tablets
- Insert Coin: Pear brings Bluetooth to your Apple-compatible speaker dock
- Twitter comes to Nokia Series 40 feature phones, lets you hashtag with the best of them
- Sprint confirms HTC EVO 4G LTE in white, battle of exclusive phone colors rages on
- NBC's 2012 London Olympics second screen and streaming apps for Android and iOS launch today
- New 2012 iPhone body reportedly leaks, gives the glass front its time to shine
- Marvel Cinematic Universe 10-disc Blu-ray box unveiled, Tesseract and all
- Amazon Game Connect links free-to-play, MMO games to store accounts, turns 1-Click into way too many
- AT&T scores red Galaxy S III, pre-orders start July 15th
- Toshiba unites PC, tablet and TV design groups, aims for hub of digital harmony
- Japanese company releasing do-it-yourself Pius electric vehicle, name sounds vaguely familiar
- Samsung T699 passes federal inspection, lacks naming conviction
- Microsoft's first international store set to open this fall in Canada
- LUMOback smart posture sensor hands-on (video)
- Google Maps adds walking directions for 44 African countries on web and mobile
- EEG headware probes your neurons, shows interrogators your cranial contact list
- O2's continued outage reminds us to spend less time connected, (try) to call our mother
- July 12th, 1962: the day two continents smiled at each other
- Triple-screen gaming setups put under the microscope, deemed an attainable luxury
- Klipsch gets vibrant, intros S4i Rugged in-ear headphones
- Q2 and Q4 Xbee controllers have the gimbals to handle your most unwieldy robotics projects
- Angry Birds land on Samsung Smart TVs, wage war with gestures
- Former Windows Phone Director Robert Williams joins Amazon, stirs rumor pot
- New York MTA announces smartphone-based ticketing trials aboard Metro-North Railroad
- Dropbox rewards early Pro members by stopping their bills
- IDC and Gartner: PC market flattened out in Q2 while Apple, ASUS and Lenovo remain the stars
- Sony unveils first medical-grade OLED monitor, surgery gets rendered in all-too-vivid color
- Garmin GLO Portable GPS and GLONASS receiver: location refresh rate 10 times faster than typical GPS
- Samsung Galaxy S, II and III pitted against one another in DisplayMate shootout
- Toshiba's new 2.5-inch AL13SE hard drives: up to 900GB of 10,500RPM storage
- BMW brings iDrive Touch, 3D maps to ConnectedDrive, LTE integration coming soon
- Sprint Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade reportedly arrives tomorrow
- Kobo updates Touch eReader software and Desktop app, heads to Italy this fall
- Chrome OS version 20 hits stable release channel, brings Google Drive and Aura UI for Cr-48s along
- Project 1640 offers new way to search for planets beyond our solar system
- Cinema rig takes the heat out of your NEX-5N, lets you slide in the accessories
- Telefonica's Tuenti social network kicks off global expansion, rolls out mobile apps
- Insert Coin: Cardboard Robot brings craning, plucking and learning with a dash of whimsey (video)
- Philips W732 Android 4.0 smartphone coming to China, has 2,400mAh battery for extended web surfing
| AUO, LG, Toshiba pay $571 million to settle LCD price fixing lawsuit, broken record keeps skipping Posted: 12 Jul 2012 10:55 AM PDT The way LCD price fixing lawsuits keep popping up and settling in short order, you'd think they were going out of style. The latest motley group to face a reckoning includes AU Optronics, LG and Toshiba, the combination of which has agreed to pay a total of $571 million to eight separate American states to either avoid the the legal wrath of a class action lawsuit or to pay an outstanding fine. Allegedly, the trio kept LCD prices artificially high between 1996 and 2006, hiking the prices of PCs and TVs in the process. There's a slight twist here: while keeping the display builders honest is the primary goal, the class action status will net some direct rewards for the public. Americans who claim to have been wronged in the scandal can get "at least" $25, which goes a lot further towards buying an LCD than it did six years ago. |
| HTC Vertex pops up in benchmarks, might bring a slice of One X muscle to tablets Posted: 12 Jul 2012 10:31 AM PDT HTC has been stoking the fires of anticipation for its return to tablets, and that small flame is quickly turning into a full conflagration. A slab nicknamed the Vertex has surfaced in benchmarks with a 1.3GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 and a 1,280 x 752 usable resolution that's noticeably wider than the similarly Tegra 3-equipped One X's 720p display. Other than Android 4.0 (and a probably Sense 4.0), however, there's scant else to go on. The last murmurs of a Vertex from the fall had it carrying a rear 2-megapixel camera and a front 1.3-megapixel shooter, but it's been long enough now that we wouldn't count on that still being true -- or that the new benchmarks necessarily reflect what we might get. Let's just hope that the resulting device is more competitive than the pricey Jetstream. |
| Insert Coin: Pear brings Bluetooth to your Apple-compatible speaker dock Posted: 12 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. What a lovely set of speakers. Let me just dock my smartphone right th... Or perhaps you happen to own one of the thousands of devices not equipped with a proprietary Apple dock connector. Well, when it comes time to slide your Android or Windows Phone into place, the only sound you're likely to hear is the screech of a 30-pin plug scratching up the case. If the speaker rig packs Bluetooth, you can use that instead, but if you own one of many that don't, you'll probably want Pear. Drawing some name and design inspiration from an arguably more popular fruit, Pear brings Bluetooth connectivity to any dock connector-equipped speaker set, drawing power from the port so it can pair with virtually any smartphone or tablet, letting you play your tunes while keeping your handset in hand. It offers a range of 30 feet indoors or up to 75-feet outside (there's a video proving the feat at the source link below), and works with any apps and devices that offer Bluetooth output. The wireless gadget's designer is turning to Kickstarter to raise the funds necessary to launch Pear into production. The team has already developed a working prototype, so there's proof that you're not backing vaporware, and a $30 pledge can net you one of 250 early bird devices. After that initial run, you'll need to hand over 40 bucks (which also happens to be the expected retail place) for an arctic white or jet black Pear. The developers are hoping to raise $40,000, to cover their prior investments and push the device to the manufacturing stage (no, it won't be "made in the USA"), so if you want to see Pear pop up in a speaker dock near you, hit up our source link below to make your pledge. You can also jump past the break for a quick intro video, and an update on a previous Insert Coin project. Previous project update: Our last Insert Coin product, the Cardboard Robot, is halfway towards its $10,000 goal. More than five weeks remain, so there's plenty of time to pledge your support. |
| Twitter comes to Nokia Series 40 feature phones, lets you hashtag with the best of them Posted: 12 Jul 2012 09:31 AM PDT Got a Nokia Series 40 handset and a bad case of Twitter-envy (twenvy?)? Fear not, the service announced today that it's bringing its micro-blogging magic to the feature phones, promising a zippy native experience. You can download Twitter for Nokia right now from the Nokia Store for free, to sign up, tweet, follow and generally get your Twitter on. |
| Sprint confirms HTC EVO 4G LTE in white, battle of exclusive phone colors rages on Posted: 12 Jul 2012 09:27 AM PDT Not to be outdone by that red Galaxy S III over at AT&T, Sprint has confirmed that its inadvertent ad posting wasn't just a fluke: it's bringing out a white version of the EVO 4G LTE. Strictly speaking, it's more of a aluminum-with-white-accents trim, but we'll let that slide given that the back and kickstand are now decidedly less smudge-prone. The white EVO will cost as much as that Galaxy S III variant (and the black EVO) at $200 on a contract. Sprint will start selling the white hue on July 15th -- and unlike AT&T, it should have phones on shelves rather than leave customers to online window shopping. |
| NBC's 2012 London Olympics second screen and streaming apps for Android and iOS launch today Posted: 12 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT NBC mentioned it would deliver two complementary mobile apps for its extensive London Olympics coverage and now they have arrived. Available for Android phones and tablets as well as the iPhone and iPad, they're built on Adobe technology to deliver the information and live streaming video, as well as handle the TV Everywhere authentication with the cable providers that's necessary to view all of the content. The NBC Olympics Live Companion is specifically designed to operate as a second screen for users to pull up stats and extra info on while they watch TV, and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app delivers video of every event streaming live to users wherever they are. It supports multiple camera angles, social features like the Facebook tie-ins NBC announced yesterday and users can even switch between the two apps at will. Check after the break for a quick video preview of some of the technology at work, and if you're planning to tune into the games, hit NBC's Olympics site now to sign in and authenticate so once the Opening Ceremony kicks off, all you'll have to do is press play. NBC OLYMPICS LAUNCHES TWO APPS TODAY FOR LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES NBC OLYMPICS LIVE EXTRA NBC OLYMPICS
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| New 2012 iPhone body reportedly leaks, gives the glass front its time to shine Posted: 12 Jul 2012 08:38 AM PDT Remember that tall, mostly aluminum 2012 iPhone shell that appeared to have leaked? It's back. This time, KitGuru has unearthed what it claims is a "test sample" with the glass front panel roughly intact. We've seen the darker steel sides, aluminum back and new dock connector before, but the front gives us a much better sense of how the finished product (if real) will turn out. Sitting next to an iPhone 4S, it's suggested that the new model would stuff in that bigger screen more through a better use of the available area -- there's much less blank space than on the iPhones we've known since 2007. While we still don't know for sure if the design shown here is close to what will go hand-in-hand with iOS 6 in the fall, we're starting to see enough smoke that there's bound to be a fire nearby. |
| Marvel Cinematic Universe 10-disc Blu-ray box unveiled, Tesseract and all Posted: 12 Jul 2012 08:10 AM PDT Just as the listing on Amazon foretold last month, Marvel and Disney today revealed the case for their 10-disc Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled box set. It features not only a glowing Tesseract cube contained in the S.H.I.E.L.D.-issue containment case, but also six brand-new pieces of art (for each flick - Marvel's The Avengers, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man 1 & 2, The Incredible Hulk) designed to adorn each disc case, Criterion-style. If you're headed to Comic-Con this weekend you'll probably be able to get a look at it yourself, hit the source link for a few more pictures of the case and artwork before deciding whether the current $139 price on Amazon is too much or just low enough to have this sitting on your disc shelf. While you decide between this and the Avengers solo release on the same day, September 25th, don't forget to snag the accompanying iOS second screen app now. |
| Amazon Game Connect links free-to-play, MMO games to store accounts, turns 1-Click into way too many Posted: 12 Jul 2012 07:42 AM PDT Amazon must have a lot of free time for gaming during its summer vacation: just a day after unveiling GameCircle as a cloud infrastructure, it's trotting out Game Connect to make buying game content that much easier. Once it's integrated into a title, the new platform will let customers buy content in free-to-play games, or subscribe to massively multiplayer online games, directly from their Amazon accounts -- no copy-and-paste juggling involved, even if the game account has to be made on the spot. A handful of game developers have already lined up, including Super Monday Night Combat creator Uber Entertainment and World of Tanks' Wargaming.net. If you're engrossed in gaming enough that you'll need 1-Click to buy virtual goods and MMO renewals that much faster, Amazon has you covered... although you may also want to slow down and relax. |
| AT&T scores red Galaxy S III, pre-orders start July 15th Posted: 12 Jul 2012 07:07 AM PDT Not a fan of the white or "Pebble Blue" shells the Galaxy S III is packed in, looking for something a little more sultry perhaps? Well, if you're an AT&T customer, you've got a new choice in fingerprint-highlighting plastic -- Garnet Red. The shade of maroon we were promised is exclusive to Ma Bell, and you can pre-order it starting July 15th at the usual price point ($199). If you want to get a glimpse of it in person first, you'll have to wait till July 29th when it officially hits shelves. |
| Toshiba unites PC, tablet and TV design groups, aims for hub of digital harmony Posted: 12 Jul 2012 06:42 AM PDT Toshiba is one of the few Japanese tech giants to be riding high from a cash standpoint, but the company is still looking for ways to trim the fat -- not to mention get some fresh design in the process. The firm is merging the design team for its Regza TVs into the same western Tokyo facility that houses its PC and tablet groups. While there's a certain amount of cost-cutting involved, the shift will help "fusion products," Toshiba says, where TV influences PCs and tablets (or vice versa) like so much chocolate getting into peanut butter. The only amount of discord left might be in Toshiba's TV production, where quality and production controls are being outsourced and more of the production itself is leaving Japan. As much as we'd argue that the Excite 13 is almost too much like a TV to begin with, we'll only find out whether or not there's merit to Toshiba's design nirvana after the groups get cozy with each other later this year. Toshiba to Reorganize its Digital Products Facilities in Japan 12 Jul, 2012 Tokyo Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced that it will implement a series of functional reorganizations of its Digital Products business facilities in Japan that will enhance operating efficiency and the performance of its Digital Products businesses, including the LCD TV business. Outside Japan, Toshiba will accelerate the establishment of a global-level development and production system positioned to take full advantage of business opportunities in emerging economies and other high-growth markets on a worldwide scale. Under this reorganization, Toshiba will carry out the following measures in Japan to enhance the efficiency of design and development, quality and production control and after-sales services. * Within the year, the LCD TV design and development function at Fukaya Complex, in Saitama Prefecture, will be transferred to Ome Complex in western Tokyo, Toshiba's development hub for PC and tablets. This integration will allow product developers to draw on TV, PC and tablet technologies and accelerate development of fusion products for the global market that meet regional needs and trends, and value-added services. The number of models of digital products and product platforms will be reviewed to bring greater efficiency to design and development and to optimize use of R&D resources. * Part of technical service operations for LCD TVs in Japan, until now split between Fukaya Complex and Toshiba Multimedia Devices., Co., Ltd., a group subsidiary in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, will be concentrated at the Aomori site within the year. * Quality and production control functions for Digital Products businesses will be decentralized and localized at facilities outside Japan, a shift away from currently concentrated operations at Japan's Ome Complex. Toshiba will also continue to reinforce its LCD TV manufacturing facilities and their capabilities in Indonesia, Egypt and other countries and make effective use of ODM production in other countries, as steps toward establishing a highly-competitive, global production system. Employees in Digital Products businesses affected by the reorganization in Japan will in principle be reassigned within Toshiba Group. This will include transfers to divisions involved in emerging economies and value-added services. Toshiba's Digital Products business operates in a fast-changing global environment that has recently seen significant demand decline in the Japanese TV market, rapid price erosion, significant demand growth in emerging economies and a diversification of devices with the growing popularity of new devices such as tablets. Toshiba constantly monitors these trends and promotes proactive business transformations that allow it to respond effectively to change. Toshiba will continue to carry out business reform that accelerates the establishment of sound business foundations and improved profitability. |
| Japanese company releasing do-it-yourself Pius electric vehicle, name sounds vaguely familiar Posted: 12 Jul 2012 06:19 AM PDT That homemade bug-zapping lightsaber not quite floating your boat? Then how about building your own electric vehicle? That's the opportunity that MODI Corporation in Japan hopes to sell when its "Pius" kit car -- not to be confused with the Toyota Prius -- becomes available next spring. Specs from the official site for the "micro compact car" reveal a vehicle that's 885mm tall, 1,230mm wide and 2,500mm long. Range on a full charge is 25 kilometers or a little over 15 miles. Top speed is 35km/h, which sadly disqualifies it from the list of vehicles Doc Brown can use for time travel. The company expects to sell the one-seater to colleges and mechanic schools for use as a learning tool on how EVs work. MODI Corporation hasn't provided pricing for the vehicle but announced that it will be available in six colors, including white, red and blue. Yes, it isn't quite up to snuff with Drayson Racing's 850-horsepower B12/69EV. Then again, we don't think they have do-it-yourself kits for that one. |
| Samsung T699 passes federal inspection, lacks naming conviction Posted: 12 Jul 2012 05:48 AM PDT The obtusely-named Galaxy S Blaze Q rumored to be coming to a T-Mobile store near you, has appeared at the FCC labs. It tallies with the magenta mobile network, packing AWS, GPRS 850 and 1900 radio bands. No disassembly shots this time, so you'll have to combine the above body outline with your imagination to make a stab at how the rest of the handset will look. As we saw earlier, the phone is set to pack a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, while a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and 720p display should ensure the rest of the hardware passes muster. A launch is rumored for next month, but until then, schematics and radiowave tests are yours to explore; hit up the source for the full filing. |
| Microsoft's first international store set to open this fall in Canada Posted: 12 Jul 2012 05:18 AM PDT Living it up in the True North and wishing there was a Microsoft Store near you to take advantage of that subsidized Xbox 360 deal? Or, you know, give Windows Phone a run for its money? Well, if all goes according to plan, you might be able to do just that pretty soon -- this fall, to be exact. According to Canadian Reviewer, Redmond's own Tedd Ladd has told the site his company's about to open up one of its decorated retail shops in the Land of Poutine later this year, with Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto being chosen as the place to help kick things off internationally. Currently, all of Microsoft's 20 B&M stores are in the US of A, so this would mark the outfit's first outside of the States -- and surprisingly enough, Ladd also mentioned this will be the 31st when it opens, perhaps hinting that there's some more on the way. |
| LUMOback smart posture sensor hands-on (video) Posted: 12 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT We first met Andrew Chang -- one of the co-founders behind LUMOback -- when he approached us at the end of our panel at SXSW and offered to show us his smart posture sensor. He was wearing it right then and demoed it for us on the spot. We were impressed enough to stay in touch. Fast forward four months and the device has launched on Kickstarter and already surpassed its $100,000 funding goal. We recently caught up with Andrew to learn a little more about the device's evolution from mockup to pre-production and to get some hands-on time. While we didn't get the chance to wear the smart posture sensor ourselves, Andrew gave us a thorough rundown and brought along various iterations of the device which you'll find in the photo gallery below. LUMOback is an 8.5mm thick appliance roughly the size of a credit card that's worn like a belt and rests against your lower back. It's packed with sensors, a vibration motor, an iOS-compatible Bluetooth 4.0 LE radio and a Li-Ion battery which provides about 4 days of operation on a charge. The only visible components are a single capacitive button, an LED and a micro-USB charging port. It's splash resistant and features an adjustable elastic strap. The hardware may be interesting, but it's the software that really makes LUMOback useful. Paired with an iOS device over Bluetooth, the smart posture sensor monitors if you're running, walking, standing, sitting or laying down. When you're standing or sitting, it knows if you're slouching and optionally alerts you by vibrating. It even measures how much you're slouching and to which side, and knows if you're laying on your stomach, back, left or right side. Best of all, the app logs your posture over time, gives you feedback, and lets you journal how you feel. There's a social networking component as well, and you're able to share some of that information with others. Andrew and his team are still tweaking the hardware and the software (nothing we saw is finalized yet), but the LUMOback smart posture sensor should cost between $100 and $125 when it ships this fall. Hit the break for our hands on video, and be sure to check out the screenshots gallery below.
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| Google Maps adds walking directions for 44 African countries on web and mobile Posted: 12 Jul 2012 04:46 AM PDT Whether it's on two wheels, under cover or across the cruel watery mistress, Google Maps wants to get you there. But what about the long, arduous pedestrian plod? Well, from today, 44 African nations will never need to put a foot wrong, thanks to the introduction of walking directions to their web and mobile versions of the mapping service. The search giant is keen to remind you that the new feature is still in beta, so if you end up somewhere else, you might need to rely on other methods to find out where you are. |
| EEG headware probes your neurons, shows interrogators your cranial contact list Posted: 12 Jul 2012 04:22 AM PDT You might pride yourself on your poker face, but there would be no way to hide from a skull-probing EEG helmet being developed by Veritas Scientific. The device takes advantage of a well-known medical response called P300, which causes your brain's voltage to drop a split-second after you put a name to a face or object. Simply by showing you a slideshow of different images, interrogators could tell whether or not you recognize a particular individual -- or maybe that LTE-connected railgun hidden in your trunk. The company is pursuing military contracts and hopes to have a prototype ready in time for this year's war game exercises, but meanwhile you might want to start thinking of a way to install that tinfoil hat inside your skull. |
| O2's continued outage reminds us to spend less time connected, (try) to call our mother Posted: 12 Jul 2012 04:10 AM PDT Ever wondered what life was like before the mobile phone? Well for swathes of O2 customers in the UK, that has been their reality since mid afternoon yesterday. Okay, network outages happen. It's a fact of modern-day life. But a nationwide problem that persists for so long is a horrible reminder of our digital dependency. The BBC reports that the problem O2 is facing relates to a core network element called the HLR, or Home Location Register. Essentially a big fat database of who's allowed onto the network. It seems that one of these has headed south, and has failed to be resuscitated. This means that while the problem can affect users from Lands' End to John O'Groats, there will be users in the same locations totally unaffected. Naturally the operator has been throwing out the apologies like rice at a wedding, but with such a long bout of radio silence, and a few MVNOs to answer to, it's more a case of "Oh no" than O2. We contacted the firm for comment, and they advised us that all aspects of the service, including 3G, will be restored by this afternoon. So when your Twitter suddenly floods with updates, you can let the world know you're back on. Update: For the sake of completeness, here's the latest update from from O2 --
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| July 12th, 1962: the day two continents smiled at each other Posted: 12 Jul 2012 04:01 AM PDT We'd probably all agree the Internet is the real revolution of the modern era, but today marks an older, parallel milestone that also brims with significance. On July 10th, 1962 -- back when JFK fretted over Russian missiles in Cuba and Bob Dylan sang In My Time of Dying -- NASA pelted the Telstar 1 satellite out into orbit, following a team effort by AT&T, Bell Labs and the British and French post offices. Two days later, the world's first transatlantic TV signal made its way from Maine to Brittany, via a quick stop-over in the heavens, and a new age of international communication was born. Kennedy forgot his troubles for a moment to tidy his hair and grin at France, who replied with a chirpy performance by Yves Montand. It didn't last long: Telstar 1 gave up its spherical ghost after just a few months and 400 transmissions, but by then, of course, the message had been delivered.
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| Triple-screen gaming setups put under the microscope, deemed an attainable luxury Posted: 12 Jul 2012 03:45 AM PDT Can't help salivating over gaming setups with three screens? The Tech Report knows your hunger, and aims to satiate your cravings with a detailed look at the triple-display efforts of Gigabyte's GeForce GTX 680 OC and ASUS' Radeon HD 7970 DirectCU II Top. The high-end GPUs ran Battlefield 3, Arkham City, Rage and a few other games through the wringer -- competing on temperature, game performance, noise level and more -- outputting each title in a glorious extra-wide resolution, with a few quirks on the side. The Tech Report emerged from the gauntlet reluctant to relinquish its additional displays, extolling the trial as the first "next-generation gaming experience" they've had in a while. What's this mean for you? The author sums it up nicely: "In a few short years, surround gaming has gone from being somewhat of an exotic luxury to something far more attainable." If snagging a multi-panel gaming setup is your goal, venture on to the source below where an unabridged, 11-page breakdown awaits. |
| Klipsch gets vibrant, intros S4i Rugged in-ear headphones Posted: 12 Jul 2012 03:22 AM PDT The last we saw some colorful headphones from Klipsch was when it introduced the purple Lou Reed X10i in-ears last holiday season. Just in time for the summer, the headphone maker is unleashing a rugged version of its S4i earbuds -- and in four vibrant finishes, no less (red, yellow, orange and blue). Although this water-resistant S4i variant seems practically identical to the S5i Rugged in-ears, we're told that internally they pack the same 8.5mm dual magnet drivers as their namesake. Naturally, the in-ears feature an iDevice-compatible inline remote / mic, but you'll merely get a basic case in place of the flashlight-equipped version reserved for the S5i. The S4i Ruggeds are set to go sale before the month's out, and best of all they're just priced at just $99. Hit up the press release after the break for more info in the meantime. Klipsch Introduces All-New Vibrant, Rugged Headphone INDIANAPOLIS (July 11, 2012) - Klipsch, a leading global speaker manufacturer, today announces the launch of the Image™ S4i® Rugged, the company's latest in-ear headphone model engineered to withstand the elements. Combining award-winning sound, weather resistance and advanced mobile technology, the Image S4i Rugged is crafted to motivate and support the most daring outdoor enthusiast. Sporting tough, ruggedized rubber moldings on the exposed surface of each ear bud, the all-weather Image S4i Rugged works to resist moisture to ensure full functionality no matter the conditions. Offering an extra-large three-button remote, the headphone grants Apple iPhone users seamless call and music control during activity. Located on the back of the remote is a directional mic for hands-free, crystal clear phone calls. Perhaps the most vibrant Image headphone model to date, the Image S4i Rugged is available in a yellow, orange, blue or red finish. "Whether rock climbing or dirt biking, there's no question one's music library enhances the experience," said Chris Aiello, Klipsch product manager for headphones. "With the Image S4i Rugged, we intend to offer the most extreme outdoor enthusiasts the acclaimed audio they too deserve, while also allowing them elements of personal style and, most important, durability." Boasting the patented oval ear tips for which Klipsch is known, the Image S4i Rugged allows for hours of comfortable, long-term wear. Unlike circular-shaped ear tips that put stress on the pressure points inside the ear, Klipsch's patented oval ear tips naturally fit the contours of the ear canal, providing comfortable long-term wear. These ear tips also offer superior noise isolation (or passive noise-cancellation), blocking out almost all ambient noise and providing excellent bass. Offering the same award-winning acoustics as the Image S4, the Image S4i Rugged is equipped with an 8.5mm dual magnet micro-speaker. This advanced audio technology covers a wide frequency range, while delivering dynamic detail for strikingly realistic sound reproductions. The Image S4i Rugged's audio works with virtually any device that has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack; however, the mic and three-button remote support select Apple products. Included with purchase are four different-sized oval ear tips, a nylon zipper case, clothing clip and two-year warranty. The Image S4i Rugged retails for $99.99 (U.S. MSRP) and will be available at authorized retailers and http://www.klipsch.com in July 2012. |
| Q2 and Q4 Xbee controllers have the gimbals to handle your most unwieldy robotics projects Posted: 12 Jul 2012 03:02 AM PDT Yes, we've seen an XBee radio interface with RC robots before, but Quantum Robotics' open-source Xbee handheld controllers have enough gimbals, push buttons and toggle switches to leave us starry-eyed. The Q2 and Q4, both open for funding on Kickstarter, use a XBee wireless transceiver to transfer data and a Parallex Propeller to act as the main processor, and both models put most controllers to shame with a ton of options. While the Q4 uses four PlayStation-style joysticks, the Q2 sports two RC gimbals, and both can be modified to add extra functionality based on the project at hand. Clearly, the more complicated the robot, the more fun these controllers are -- take a look at the Q4 interacting with a hexapod and a robotic arm in the video below. |
| Angry Birds land on Samsung Smart TVs, wage war with gestures Posted: 12 Jul 2012 02:25 AM PDT If your contempt for green swine runs deeper then you can express on a smartphone, maybe its time you took the war to something bigger. How about a Samsung Smart TV? According to the firm's Flickr page, Rovio's Angry Birds are once again taking their war to your living room, and will be utilizing the the platform's motion control features. Sounds like Sammy's Smart Interaction setup is good for a bit more than changing channels and browsing the web from your couch. Don't own a Smart TV? Sit tight, your Xbox and its fancy Kinect sensor will have their day on the battlefield soon enough. |
| Former Windows Phone Director Robert Williams joins Amazon, stirs rumor pot Posted: 12 Jul 2012 01:48 AM PDT We're no CSI, but if we were Amazon, planning to make a phone, we'd definitely want to make sure developers were happy, that we had some weight in the patent world, and had an idea of the end design. With that all sorted, we'd likely hire a senior Director of Business Development from a major competitor -- which is exactly what has happened. Robert Williams, formerly of said position at Microsoft Windows Phone is joining his fellow WP alumni, Brandon Watson, over at camp Bezos as Director of the App Store. Of course, this could just be a strategic move on behalf of the company's Android market, and the Amazon phone is still very much just a rumor, but with more pieces of the puzzle starting to fit, and the book seller's ability to turn things on their head, we're far from ruling it out just yet. |
| New York MTA announces smartphone-based ticketing trials aboard Metro-North Railroad Posted: 12 Jul 2012 01:11 AM PDT Like big sodas, paper ticket stubs may soon become a thing of the past in New York. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced that, come next month, its employees will begin trials of a smartphone-based ticketing system aboard the Metro-North Railroad. While the grand experiment is currently closed to the public, it's said that railroad workers will use their Android, BlackBerry and iPhone handsets to purchase rail tickets, which may then be validated directly from their smartphone. During the trial, the new system will be compared to the current purchasing scheme that combines both ticket machines and on-board purchases. Should everything prove successful, the MTA will expand the Metro-North's new system to all-comers. Transit-minded folks will find the full PR after the break. MTA Metro-North Railroad To Test Smartphone Ticketing This Summer Images on screens of iPhones, Androids and Blackberries Offer New Options MTA Metro-North Railroad, working with transit mobile ticketing specialists Masabi US Ltd., will begin testing a smartphone app that will let people buy their train tickets anywhere, anytime and never have to hold a piece of paper. This technology will allow customers to use today's phones to quickly and securely buy and display electronic tickets thereby avoiding queues at ticket machines or having to use cash on-board trains. "We are as excited to begin testing the next generation ticket selling technology as we were when we introduced ticket vending machines a quarter of a century ago," said Metro-North President Howard Permut. "Our customers adapted quickly to TVMs and the machines became the preferred way to buy tickets. The latest test is intended to ensure that the newest technology will be equally easy to use, as well as secure and reliable." During the pilot, railroad employees will act as users and will be able to download the free app to their iPhone, Android or Blackberry phones. Through the app, these users can buy any type of ticket, one-way, round trip, 10-trip, monthly etc., with any origin and destination using their credit or debit cards to make the purchase. The time and date stamped electronic ticket shows up on the purchaser's phone screen as a secure image that a conductor can validate visually. The electronic ticket also shows as a bar code that can be scanned by a conductor's hand held device to verify that the barcode is valid. "Smartphones have the potential to transform the public transit systems across the United States. Passengers will be able to quickly and easily find, buy and display tickets on their phones wherever they are without having to worry about carrying cash or waiting in line, thereby providing a better commuter experience," said Giacomo Biggiero, Director of Masabi US Ltd. "We're delighted to be working with the MTA." Next month, railroad staff will begin testing the mobile ticketing technology including a time measurement study to compare the new method to current on-board ticket selling, collection and inspection. Efficacy and anti-fraud measures also will be tested. If successful, Metro-North will seek to expand the program to its customers. Masabi US Ltd also is working with Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to introduce smartphone rail ticketing system this fall. Masabi's technology also supports the future move to contactless "near-field communications" technology when these handsets become more widely available, allowing tickets to be checked or gates opened by simply tapping a compatible device against a reader. The company's technology also is used by 13 of the UK's transit agencies, including Virgin Trains, Cross Country Trains, Chiltern Railways and thetrainline.com. For more information see www.masabi.com/us |
| Dropbox rewards early Pro members by stopping their bills Posted: 12 Jul 2012 12:33 AM PDT Just how loyal must you be to deserve Dropbox's latest slathering of free storage? Well, that's not exactly clear, but some early subscribers to the 25GB Pro option have been receiving emails congratulating them on having "a ton of cred" and telling them they'll "no longer receive a bill" for the rest of time -- unless of course they choose to upgrade to one of the doubled-up plans announced yesterday. Generous? Sure, but then again it wasn't exactly fair that folks were paying for 25GB when some non-premium members were swanning around with upwards of 50GB simply for buying a nice phone or uploading a few photos. So, consider it justice. |
| IDC and Gartner: PC market flattened out in Q2 while Apple, ASUS and Lenovo remain the stars Posted: 11 Jul 2012 11:58 PM PDT Microsoft's Steve Ballmer might be working overtime to keep Apple at bay, but the PC market that his company largely built is hurting, if you ask researchers at Gartner and IDC. Both estimate that shipments of traditional computers dropped by a tenth of a point in the second quarter of 2012 -- not a good sign when Intel's Ivy Bridge processors and a wave of Ultrabooks were supposed to usher in a PC renaissance. While the exact numbers vary, the two paint a partly familiar picture of the world stage: HP and Dell are taking a bruising, while ASUS and Lenovo are making huge leaps forward. Depending on who you ask, though, Acer is either kicking Dell down to fourth place or occupying that all too comfortable spot itself. The economy and tablets are once again blamed for making would-be PC upgraders jittery, although this time it may also be the wait for Windows 8 leading some to hold off. If there's a point of contention, it's the US figures. Gartner and IDC alike agree that Acer, Dell and HP all took a drubbing. The two analyst groups are at odds with each other when it comes to everyone else, though. Apple will have gained market share to as much as 12 percent, but either increased or shrank its shipments; it's Lenovo or Toshiba completing the top five outside of the usual suspects. Accordingly, take results with a grain of salt until all the PC builders have reported in. Nonetheless, if the groups have the same reasonable level of precision as they've had in the past, Microsoft may have to defer its ambitions for a little while longer. |
| Sony unveils first medical-grade OLED monitor, surgery gets rendered in all-too-vivid color Posted: 11 Jul 2012 11:25 PM PDT OLED screens are virtually everywhere, and they're steadily getting bigger, but it was tough to find any in hospitals until now. While Sony's 25-inch PVM-2551MD might not have the most glamorous name, it's the first and only OLED monitor with FDA approval for use in surgery. No, it's not just to give the doctor something more pleasing (or disgusting) to look at while she's removing a gallstone -- the organic display can be a genuine help for surgery through the higher contrast, virtually non-existent blur and more faithful color reproduction versus the LCDs it's meant to replace. Us patients likely won't see the now-shipping 2551MD for much longer than it takes to go unconscious, so it might be hard to appreciate; if it helps surgeons finish operations faster and with fewer mistakes, however, we could all reap the rewards. Sony Announces World's First Medical-Grade Monitor Utilizing Breakthrough OLED Technology New Surgical Display Expected to Bring Significant Viewing Benefits for Surgical Procedures PARK RIDGE, N.J., July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics is announcing the world's first medical-grade monitor, model PVM-2551MD, based on Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. The new 25-inch monitor, which recently received FDA 510(k) clearance, is expected to deliver significant benefits for a variety of surgical procedures and combines all the noted advantages of Sony's OLED technology -- true-to-life color reproduction, high resolution, and virtually no motion blur. "Already showing tremendous advantages for surgeons in other parts of the world, the new Sony OLED monitor will now enhance surgical viewing in the U.S., and become the 'must have' medical display," said George Santanello, general manager, Sony Medical Systems Division. "A number of Sony's key technology resellers and integrators have already evaluated the display and noted the significant benefits of OLED versus traditional LCD, so we're excited about getting the product into operating rooms across the country." The majority of surgeons, both in and outside the U.S., who were asked to evaluate Sony's OLED monitors, reported that they prefer OLED's advanced technology for its stability of color imaging and high quality contrast. This technology is expected to set a new standard for medical displays, particularly for applications such as endoscopy, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, and thoracoscopy, as well as general surgery procedures. Sony's OLED technology is already extremely successful in a range of commercial applications such as critical reference monitoring for video production, with more than 10,000 units delivered worldwide. Now the company expects to see the same rapid adoption by the medical industry. With its much quicker response time than LCD, one of the greatest advantages of the OLED monitor is its ability to display quick motion with virtually no blur. Additionally, the monitor incorporates Sony's revolutionary TRIMASTER EL technology (EL standing for electroluminescence), enabling it to achieve pure black, faithful to the source signal. By providing superb color reproduction, especially for dark images, surgeons can observe very subtle details such as the faint color difference between various tissues and blood vessels. This ability to achieve true-to-life color reproduction and reduced blur is expected to support quicker, more confident decision making for surgeons which is ultimately best for patients. Other features and advantages of the OLED monitor include the following: * Self-luminous, emitting no black when displaying images and displaying a high level of contrast The Sony OLED medical-grade monitor, PVM-2551MD, is currently available for sale with pricing available upon request. |
| Garmin GLO Portable GPS and GLONASS receiver: location refresh rate 10 times faster than typical GPS Posted: 11 Jul 2012 10:54 PM PDT If you're a pilot, there's even a GLO for Aviation package, which throws in a mount, power cable and six-month trial for its Pilot navi app. The standard receiver will launch in August, priced at $99, while those with wings can skip the queue and nab their version now for $139. Garmin® GLO™ Portable GPS and GLONASS Receiver Brings High-Integrity GPS Capability to Mobile Devices OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced GLO™, a portable GPS and GLONASS receiver that brings Garmin's industry-leading GPS technology to mobile devices. "GLO solves that problem by leveraging two independent satellite networks and Garmin's industry-leading GPS technology to provide the most accurate and most frequent position updates available for a mobile device in the cockpit." "As the first wireless GPS receiver with the ability to receive signals from both the United States' GPS satellite network and Russia's GLONASS satellite network, GLO provides the most comprehensive satellite coverage available," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales, "Whether you're driving through an urban canyon or flying an airplane at any altitude, GLO ensures that your mobile device maintains a strong, reliable GPS signal." When using both GPS and GLONASS satellites, the time it takes for the receiver to "lock on" to a position is (on average) approximately 20 percent faster than using GPS alone. Furthermore, when using both GPS and GLONASS, the receiver has access to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone. This is particularly helpful for users who need reliable satellite navigation in challenging environments such as deep canyons or urban environments where a large portion of the sky is blocked by solid objects. GLO wirelessly connects to Apple® and Android™ devices via Bluetooth. It offers a 12 hour battery life and a position update rate of up to 10 times per second (update rate may be limited by the host device). This is 10 times faster than the internal GPS receivers of most mobile devices. For pilots, an exclusive GLO for Aviation package is available, which comes with a mount, power cable and a free six-month trial of Garmin Pilot, Garmin's aviation navigation app for Apple and Android mobile devices, available in the App Store℠ and Google Play. "GLO will be especially popular with pilots. Mobile applications such as Garmin Pilot™ have further advanced the use of iPads® and other smart devices as navigation tools in the cockpit. But because the internal GPS receivers in these devices are not optimized for use in flight, the GPS signal can be less accurate and slow to provide updates," said Carl Wolf, Garmin's vice president of aviation sales and marketing. "GLO solves that problem by leveraging two independent satellite networks and Garmin's industry-leading GPS technology to provide the most accurate and most frequent position updates available for a mobile device in the cockpit." GLO is expected to be available in August at a suggested retail price of $99. GLO for Aviation is available immediately at a suggested retail price of $129. For more information, visit www.garmin.com. |
| Samsung Galaxy S, II and III pitted against one another in DisplayMate shootout Posted: 11 Jul 2012 10:08 PM PDT Feeling nerdy? Good, because the folks at DisplayMate have put together quite the comparison of the three different AMOLED displays featured in the Samsung Galaxy S, II and III smartphones. While the study places an emphasis on quantitative measures -- and thus leaves more subjective qualities out of the discussion -- the comparison is nonetheless an insightful look into the progression of Samsung's AMOLED display technology. Curiously, some elements remain unchanged, such as color gamut, which is 138 percent of the sRGB standard across all displays and is to blame for images that appear over-saturated. In terms of color temperature, DisplayMate reveals that while Samsung is trending closer to a white of natural daylight, even the Galaxy S III -- which measures 7,900 K -- is still far too bluish in comparison to an ideal 6,500 K. Believe it or not, but there's one area that DisplayMate suggests is subtly worsening over time, and that's light reflection. The issue is nearly moot, however, as the 5 percent reflectance of the Galaxy S III is but a small shift from the previous iterations, and what's more, this remains among the lowest reflectance in the industry. We'd be fools to try and summarize all of DisplayMate's findings, but if you're curious to learn more -- and we hope you are -- be sure to hit up the source link below. |
| Toshiba's new 2.5-inch AL13SE hard drives: up to 900GB of 10,500RPM storage Posted: 11 Jul 2012 09:24 PM PDT Toshiba Announces Next-Generation 10,000 RPM-Class Enterprise Storage Hard Disk Drive Series 2.5-Inch HDDs Offer up to 900GB Capacity, 6Gb/s SAS Interface with Improved Performance and Reliability for Mission-Critical Server and Storage Applications IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toshiba's Storage Products Business Unit, a division of Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., and a committed technology leader, today announced the AL13SE series of 2.5-inch 6Gb/s SAS interface hard disk drives (HDDs), which offer enterprise-class performance in capacities ranging from 900GB1 to 300GB. "The increased performance and reliability of the AL13SE reflect our collaboration with our key partners to deliver small form-factor hard disk drives that address market requirements for mission-critical storage." Designed for even the most demanding mission-critical applications, the AL13SE series features an operating reliability rating of 2,000,000 power-on hours2, a 25% increase over prior-generation drives. System compatibility is also assured through usage of the industry-standard 512 byte sector size. In keeping with Toshiba's leadership in power efficiency design, the AL13SE Series uses Supported Enhanced Power Condition State technology to lower RPM idle speed. "The AL13SE Series provides enterprise customers with capacities up to 900GB that support a broad range of enterprise applications," said Joel Hagberg, vice president of marketing at Toshiba's Storage Products Business Unit. "The increased performance and reliability of the AL13SE reflect our collaboration with our key partners to deliver small form-factor hard disk drives that address market requirements for mission-critical storage." The AL13SE series is also available mounted in a 3.5-inch bracket3 for use in legacy based 3.5-inch servers and storage enclosures, providing the same 10,000 RPM class spin speed, 6 Gb/sec SAS interface, and reduced power consumption benefits available with small form factor drive technology. For more information on Toshiba's line of industry-leading enterprise-class small form factor hard drives, visit www.toshibastorage.com. Product Specifications* AL13SEB900 AL13SEB600 AL13SEB450 AL13SEB300 Average seek time: Read (typ.) 3.7ms *Specifications for the AL13SE Series 3.5-inch mounted bracket models are available at www.toshibastorage.com.
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| BMW brings iDrive Touch, 3D maps to ConnectedDrive, LTE integration coming soon Posted: 11 Jul 2012 08:22 PM PDT Hot on the heels of the news it'll be the first auto company to sport Nuance's Dragon Drive! on some of its fancy rides, BMW's now announced a handful of improvements and additions to its elegant ConnectedDrive infotainment system. For starters, the German outfit's bringing an all-new feature dubbed iDrive Touch (available in China this month, elsewhere at some point next year), giving drivers the ability to use a multitouch pad for easier overall navigating throughout the console, do some numbers / text inputting and use pinch-to-zoom capabilities while using the maps application. Speaking of which, BMW is also introducing "3D City Models," this will essentially give folks behind the wheel a "realistic depiction" of streets and buildings around their location area -- however, it's worth mentioning these tidbits will only be useful in "select locations." What's more, BMW's said the new enhancements are getting a speed boost thanks to LTE integration, but that'll have to wait until November of this year. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to give the PR below a quick read. BMW ConnectedDrive 2012 1. BMW ConnectedDrive – a new milestone in networked mobility. BMW ConnectedDrive has been setting the pace in the field of automotive connectivity for many years now, and is renowned for forward-looking in-car concepts and technologies that maximise customer benefit. The new functions mark another milestone in the BMW ConnectedDrive success story and once again demonstrate how the BMW Group is striving to retain its status as the leading innovator in this area. The new generation of the BMW Navigation system Professional boasts more powerful and impressive performance than ever, featuring a design rendered entirely in 3D, a modified display and control concept as well as a host of extra Navigation, Office and Multimedia functions. 2. The new-generation BMW Navigation system Professional. 2.1 Taking display and control into the third dimension. It was back in 1994 that BMW became the first carmaker to offer a built-in navigation system when it made such a system available for the BMW 7 Series. The functionality of navigation systems from the BMW Group has increased enormously since that time, so that route guidance is now just one of a whole array of functions designed to interconnect driver, vehicle and the outside world as intelligently as possible. The new generation of the Navigation system Professional is yet another milestone achievement for the BMW Group. The new-generation BMW Navigation system Professional instantly makes a winning impression, boasting a new design and an optimised control concept that give its various displays an even more sophisticated, even sharper, even more attractive look. The readouts appear against a black background in a very reduced layout, and the state-of-the-art feel is further intensified by an atmospheric lighting effect. Overall, the new display concept makes the contents even clearer to read and the functions even easier to use. For the first time, the individual menus are structured entirely in virtual, three- dimensional spaces and calculation is performed in real time. Quite apart from allowing smooth scrolling and browsing, the high-performance system with a 1.3 GHz processor and dedicated 3D graphics chip features top-quality animations and dynamic transitions to make the whole operating experience an immensely enjoyable one. The previous system's proven menu navigation has been deliberately retained for the new generation of the BMW Navigation system Professional, while new functions have been added to enhance the system's capabilities and enrich the customer experience. For instance, a new spatial dimension has been added to the way in which the menu levels are displayed: when sub-menus are selected, they appear dynamically from the right, while the corresponding top menus fade into the background on the left, where they are still visible. In this way, the tactile feedback for the user is accompanied by a direct visual confirmation of their interaction with the vehicle, information which furthermore allows them to clearly see their current position within the menu structure on the display. 2.2 Navigation that breaks new ground. Besides the new menu display, the route guidance graphics and the map views within the navigation function have also been modified and improved by the addition of various interactive options. The split-screen portion of the central information display, for example, now includes new display functions for the navigation mode. While the driver is still entering the destination by selecting the country, city and street, the chosen destination additionally appears in the map view on the split screen for easier orientation. If necessary, the driver can use a zoom function to change the section of map shown and check that the selected destination is the intended one. High Guiding and 3D City Models. For the purposes of actual route guidance, the familiar guiding function using arrows in the split screen has now been supplemented by a High Guiding variant, which clearly flashes up detailed navigation information in the multifunctional instrument cluster display, the central information display as well as the Head-Up Display. High Guiding is automatically activated when the vehicle comes within a certain range of the next navigation instruction: from a distance of 300 metres outside built-up areas and 150 metres in built-up areas, the reduced arrow display switches to a detailed bird's-eye perspective of the surrounding area. The driver furthermore receives precise directions for changing lane at the right time. As the driver draws closer to the event, the display gradually shifts from the bird's-eye map view to an overhead view of the traffic situation for optimum orientation and guidance. A dynamic display of the vehicle's present position calculated in real time serves as an aid that allows drivers to closely track their progress throughout the turn-off phase. The new navigation view option "3D City Models" features a realistic depiction of surrounding streets and buildings to help drivers get their bearings, provided such a visualisation of the city in question is stored in the vehicle's database. The extended toolbar – putting extra functions at the driver's fingertips. In navigation mode, there is now an extended toolbar that, for the first time, allows the map contents to be customised quickly and easily without having to exit from the map view. The desired change takes effect immediately, and the driver is able to effortlessly switch the view to suit the current situation and the information required. The moment the driver selects the icon for the extended toolbar with the iDrive Controller, a second toolbar appears as an extension of the original icon bar. This can then be used to open additional selection options in the same view, which were previously only accessible via Option menus. The settings here allow the user to call up Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) or weather information, for instance, to display POIs, or quickly switch from the overhead map view to the bird's-eye view. Depending on the data required, drivers are therefore able to activate individual features, quickly find the necessary information, and then return to their preferred map view. Interactive map and PIE menu. The new BMW Navigation system Professional also adds several new functions to the interactive map view. The iDrive Controller can now be simply turned to alter the map scale or tilted to move the section of map in the display, even in a diagonal direction. Another new feature of the interactive map view is the ability to call up special functions directly from the map itself. All the driver has to do is select a point on the interactive map and the PIE menu will open up in front of the map, providing quick and easy access to a wide range of actions. Depending on the information stored, the driver just has to click to show points of interest in the vicinity, view details for them (where available), start navigation to them, change the map view or display the current location or destination. And should any additional data be available for the selected location, such as a telephone number, website details or an email address, the driver can retrieve this information with a click too, then visit the homepage, for example, or write an email. The real beauty here lies in the system's straightforward, intuitive and quick operation. RTTI – Real Time Traffic Information. The latest generation of the BMW Navigation system Professional once again employs RTTI technology for calculating routes and diversions accurately and reliably by factoring in the real-time traffic situation for both route guidance and calculation of the arrival time. By using the 3G mobile network and the vehicle's built-in SIM card, RTTI offers the benefit of faster data transmission combined with more extensive coverage. What's more, the new system extends beyond motorways and major highways to cover country roads and even a large number of urban routes as well. 2.3 Office functions: Connection of two telephones and new-look calendar. The arrival of the new BMW Navigation system Professional also sees new functions being added to the BMW ConnectedDrive Mobile Office portfolio. It is now possible to have two telephones connected to the vehicle simultaneously, in which case the contact details from both are combined into a joint contact list for phone calls and emails. Calendar and contact information is imported in next to no time thanks to the high-performance hardware, meaning that both telephones are fully readied for in-vehicle use as quickly as possible. The calendar from an integrated smartphone is now displayed in an enhanced, new-look format. Appointments are visualised in the same way as in popular email programs, while the daily view and calendar navigation have been further simplified, too. 2.4 Multimedia – more music, favourites and extended radio functionality. On the multimedia front, a 20 GB hard drive makes for a far richer in-car entertainment experience. Meanwhile, the Music collection search function has been reprogrammed to allow the desired track to be located for playback even faster than before. The extended toolbar principle is once again employed for fast access to additional sub-menu options, as well as even greater simplicity and ease of operation. New playback functions have been added for a more pleasurable entertainment experience. If the driver likes the song that's currently playing, for instance, and would like to hear more of the same, simply activating the new "More like this" function generates a new playlist containing similar tracks from the Music collection. The facility for saving favourites in the Music collection by clicking on the "Add to favourites" star icon during playback is another new feature. All favourite tracks can then be found together by going to the Playlists menu item. For the first time, FM radio programmes are accompanied by graphics in the central information display's player screen, just like digital radio. Where FM radio stations broadcast the necessary data (via radio text or radio text+), the artist, album and genre cover will now be visualised in the same way as they are when listening to DAB radio or using a top-of-the-range device. And even if no data is transmitted by the station, a generic genre cover and the station name will be displayed for a neat, high-quality effect. Besides the online functions, widgets can be displayed in split-screen mode. These miniature versions of the BMW Online browser apps have been optimised for the split screen, and blend harmoniously into the high-quality display of the remaining contents. It is initially planned to include a clock as well as a Panoramio widget, with further widgets set to follow. 3. BMW iDrive Touch Controller – fingertip control at its finest. The introduction of the BMW iDrive Touch sees the development team at the BMW Group integrating a touch-sensitive pad into the iDrive system's central control unit, the iDrive Controller, for the very first time. Measuring 45 mm across, the multi-touch surface makes certain in-vehicle control functions more intuitive, faster and easier to use. Incorporating the touchpad into the iDrive Controller means it is ergonomically positioned where it is easy to reach: with entry, selection and confirmation being performed in the usual way using the control knob's rotate-and-press mechanism, the direct proximity to the touchpad means there is no need for any fumbling around. The touch surface will initially be made available for the Chinese market from July 2012 and will add various convenience-enhancing functions to the iDrive Controller, including handwriting recognition as well as navigating in maps. One year later, availability of the iDrive Touch and these new functions will be extended to almost all other markets. At this point, a function for surfing the internet is also due to be added, which will allow the mouse pointer to be controlled in exactly the same way as on many handheld devices. The handwriting recognition function enables characters to be entered with the finger by simply "writing" them on the surface of the touchpad. Whereas previously this could only be done with the "Speller" – a circular arrangement of letters in the display – by turning the control knob, the touch-sensitive surface now recognises the letters and the Speller instantly jumps to the right point of the alphabet. To further reduce driver distraction, a voice output repeats the character that has been recognised. The handwriting recognition function is a tremendous boon for the Chinese market especially, which is why the BMW iDrive Touch Controller is making its debut there. With several thousand characters and as many as 21 strokes per character, entering text is a far more complex task than with the Latin alphabet. The reason the iDrive Touch Controller is of such great benefit in China is that the sequence of strokes for starting Chinese characters is basically set in stone, meaning that the selection of characters is already narrowed down considerably with the very first stroke entered by the driver. The choice is further refined with each additional stroke, allowing rapid selection of the relevant character. Map navigation. Apart from recognising handwriting, the iDrive Touch also makes it possible to navigate freely within the route map shown in the display and zoom in on it, too. The scale is changed using the two-finger pinch gesture already familiar from many laptops und smartphones. If there is a traffic jam ahead, for example, the driver can adjust the scale of the displayed portion of map using the touchpad, move the view to the hold-up and take a look at the suggested alternative route. The driver can also use touch control to mark the points of interest (POIs) stored in the map, then press the control knob to confirm his choice and display more detailed information. The later version of the iDrive Touch will furthermore allow the mouse pointer to be moved across the display while surfing the internet, just like on a home PC. Pressing the iDrive Controller will then have the same effect as clicking with the mouse. 4. The BMW LTE Car Hotspot brings ultra-high-speed mobile internet to the road for the first time. The BMW LTE Car Hotspot ushers in the next generation of mobile internet, and will make the BMW Group the first car manufacturer to bring the high- speed mobile internet experience to the road when it is launched in November 2012. All that is required apart from the BMW Car Hotspot is an LTE-capable SIM card, which is inserted into the hotspot. Once it has been put into service in the vehicle, the adapter works just like any hotspot, meaning the passengers can enjoy LTE high-speed internet access on any devices they connect up. The hotspot additionally comes with a built-in battery pack and antennae, allowing portable use for up to 30 minutes outside the vehicle without an external power supply. A standard USB power supply unit even enables fully autonomous use without the need for either vehicle or battery. Users connect their device via WiFi to the BMW LTE Car Hotspot, with its Long Term Evolution technology for going online. Of course, the adapter also allows multiple devices to be linked up simultaneously, so that the LTE internet connection can be shared by all passengers. Meanwhile, the galvanic connection to the vehicle aerial not only improves reception, it reduces radiation inside the car, too. The BMW LTE Car Hotspot fits into any BMW centre console with a phone base plate, and can be retrofitted quite easily without changing the aerial and without a great deal of installation work. Even older BMW vehicles can be easily equipped with the latest in mobile internet technology by adding this accessory. In areas where LTE is not yet available, the adapter will switch to the UMTS or GSM network. Streaming music or videos from the internet to a mobile device or to the vehicle is already a reality today, with the data being transmitted over the mobile phone network. The bandwidth of the present UMTS 3G standard is restricted, however, meaning that media often cannot be streamed in optimum quality. And because sufficient network coverage isn't available everywhere, not only is video playback sometimes in low resolution, it is jerky too, while music streaming is plagued by pauses. Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology will soon put an end to such annoyances. Also known as 4G, LTE is one of the fourth-generation mobile standards, and therefore represents the next generation in communications technology after GSM (2G) and UMTS/HSPA (3G). What makes LTE so special is its exceptionally broad bandwidth combined with very low latency: 3G is currently only able to achieve a theoretical data transfer rate of 14 Mbit/s, whereas the maximum with LTE is ten times that. With speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s and latency of just a few hundredths of a second, LTE paves the way for a mobile internet experience that matches – and in some cases even surpasses – that offered by a home PC with dedicated broadband line. Coming soon: LTE for the SIM card integrated in the vehicle. This will also herald benefits for the mobile services already being offered today under the umbrella of BMW ConnectedDrive, making them faster, more effective and even more widely available. Server-based services, such as in-car video and music streaming, will become even more attractive and easier to use as a result of the high bandwidth and low latency offered by LTE. By incorporating LTE technology into its vehicles, the BMW Group is ideally poised for taking the portfolio of BMW ConnectedDrive in-vehicle services to a whole new level. 5. Product debut: Message dictation function. The new generation of the BMW Navigation system Professional adds various new speech functions to the BMW ConnectedDrive Mobile Office portfolio, most notably a dictation function that employs a full speech recognition system to simply transcribe the driver's words. The dictated text can then be sent by SMS or email. There is furthermore a voice memo function for making recordings up to two minutes long, which can then either be sent in an email or archived. Meanwhile, the new, more intuitive voice control allows virtually all functions of the BMW Navigation system Professional to be operated more simply, easily, quickly and, most importantly, safely than ever. Dictation function – writing by speaking. People are communicating increasingly by email or SMS, both privately and for business. The BMW Mobile Office functions already made it possible to have messages from a Bluetooth-connected mobile device displayed in the vehicle and read out. With the arrival of an automotive world first in the form of the dictation function, this feature is now complemented by a full speech recognition system. For the first time, this gives drivers the ability to dictate text freely and compose short text-based messages simply by saying what they wish to write. The speech recognition technology is supplied by the company Nuance under the name Dragon Drive! Messaging, and the recognition work is performed on a remote server while the text is still being dictated. The sheer volume of the cloud server's vocabulary is of tremendous benefit for a full speech recognition system, as it allows it to draw on millions of words without having to take up any memory space or computing power in the vehicle. Just a few seconds after dictation has been completed, the transcribed text will appear in the display and can also be read out if desired. Needless to say, drivers have a number of easy-to-use editing tools at their disposal for conveniently putting the final touches to emails and SMS messages. The range of office functions offered by BMW ConnectedDrive has been expanded by another speech-based feature, too. The voice memo function, in contrast to the dictation function, allows the driver to make direct voice recordings of up to two minutes in length and send them straight away by email if required. The great beauty of this is that it allows the driver to make a quick note of any ideas or to-do lists with an additional facility for forwarding them to whoever they may concern – without any great distraction from what's happening on the road. Alternatively, drivers can simply take the recorded memos with them on a USB stick when they leave the vehicle. The improved voice control offered by the Navigation system Professional is designed to enable more intuitive operation of practically all functions by allowing the driver to phrase commands or questions in whole sentences (in German or English at present) and call up multiple functions with a single utterance, in the same way that the navigation destination can be entered with just one statement. The result is a voice control system that is even more intuitive and easy and convenient to use, making it safer too. All the driver has to do to phone someone, for example, is say the command: "Connect me with John Smith", whereupon the system recognises both the desire to make a phone call and the person the driver wishes to speak to. This works regardless of which order the first and surnames are registered in. The system then double-checks that the displayed number should be dialled before placing the call. The already sophisticated method of destination entry has also been further simplified and speeded up. The prompt "Navigate to London, 63 Park Lane" is sufficient to complete entry of the navigation destination. It is even possible to start composing an email or SMS message by voice control regardless of the current position in the menu structure. This can also be done by stating the intended recipient's name when in Contacts and selecting their email address, which the system then automatically adds to the address field. All that now remains to do is to enter the subject and text of the message using the dictation function. The upshot of this is that speech can now be used to activate or initiate virtually all functions and actions – from tuning in to a radio station to modifying route criteria. What's more, the system is as unerring in its answers to questions such as "How do I adjust the sound settings?" and "Are there any traffic messages" (when in the map view) as it is with system-related queries instigated with a simple "Help" or "What can I say here?" Voice control at the BMW Group. The BMW Group has built up many years of experience with voice control of vehicle functions. The introduction of full-word commands in 2006 was followed by a further milestone in 2009, when the BMW Group became the world's first carmaker to offer a system capable of understanding an entire address – i.e. town, house number and street – read out in one go. By so doing, the BMW Group once again set a new standard for rapid, precise entry of navigation destinations. The voice-controlled search for music on the internal hard drive introduced in 2009 was another unique feature, and in 2010, voice control was extended again to include external music players. The overriding aim of voice control is to facilitate easy, quick and, most importantly, safe operation of the increasingly complex array of infotainment functions, especially for navigation, entertainment and telephony/communication applications. 6. Third-party apps – "BMW ready". In 2010, the BMW Group became the first carmaker to enable comprehensive, application-based integration of the Apple iPhone into vehicles. Apps extend the range of in-car services using the smartphone, making it possible to use features such as web radio, GoogleTM Local Search or FacebookTM safely and easily in the vehicle. But that's just the start, as the application-based concept is designed to allow the use of "external" apps, paving the way for third-party services to be integrated into BMW and MINI models. With these third-party apps, the range of functions can basically be expanded at will: updating the app or installing another compatible app simply adds new functions, without having to make any modifications to the vehicle itself. By integrating these third-party apps, the BMW Group gives customers the option of continuing to use the preferred service providers already familiar to them when driving in their car, too. In future, this will allow the wide array of infotainment functions that BMW drivers enjoy when at home or out and about to be smoothly transferred to their vehicle. Software Development Kit for third-party apps. In order to ensure optimum integration of third-party applications into the vehicle, the BMW Group offers providers a special Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK contains guidelines and specific tools that are intended to help the third-party providers develop compatible, vehicle-adapted versions of their apps. Following an approval process, the applications are certified by the BMW Group for MINI Connected, BMW Apps or Rolls-Royce Connect and made available to load on the smartphone. The prerequisite for all apps is that they meet the requirements for distraction-free operation. The SDK consists of the framework as well as the necessary development tools (e.g. a simulation of the iDrive control logic in the vehicle [HMI]). The framework seamlessly integrates the apps into the display and control concept, thereby allowing them to be operated using the iDrive Controller and the steering wheel buttons. The app is also able to use the audio system and process vehicle data. Deeply embedding the app in the BMW display and control concept in this way forms the basis for optimum usability during the journey. BMW Apps go Android/Expanding to include Android. From July 2013, smartphones powered by Android platform will also be able to benefit from application-based integration. With a market share of more than 50 per cent, Android has become the most prevalent smartphone operating system. The BMW Group is therefore vigorously driving forward development in this area. By extending application-based smartphone integration to Android users as well, BMW now covers the bulk of the smartphone market and is opening up BMW apps to an even wider community. The first concrete results are currently taking shape. The BMW Group specifically chose Samsung as its pilot partner for Android integration. The company is the world market leader across all mobile phone segments, including Android powered smartphones, making it an obvious choice for the BMW Group to join forces with Samsung for the launch of the app-based integration of Android. Android integration will be gradually rolled out to include further manufacturers. The BMW Group is once more highlighting its leadership claim for in-car smartphone integration. Leading the way for many years. Opening up the platform for apps from other providers once again underlines the leading role played by the BMW Group when it comes to integrating mobile devices and internet-based services into the vehicle. The BMW Group became the first carmaker to enable integration of the Apple iPod into its vehicles' audio systems back in 2004. And in 2007, the BMW Group gave an exclusive presentation of the first technology for integrating the iPhone into its in-car infotainment system in time for the phone's launch. |
| Sprint Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade reportedly arrives tomorrow Posted: 11 Jul 2012 07:37 PM PDT After seeing many other Galaxy S II variants get upgrades to Samsung's TouchWiz'd edition of Android 4.0, tomorrow should finally be the day for owners of Sprint's Epic 4G Touch. While the date has been rumored before, now TechnoBuffalo has posted the image above showing off the date and details, while Phandroid also points out that source code for the FF18 update has already arrived on Samsung's servers indicating a release is imminent. That the update is showing up just in time to still be out of date now that Jelly Bean is officially shipping however, still puts just a little drizzle on the parade. |
| Kobo updates Touch eReader software and Desktop app, heads to Italy this fall Posted: 11 Jul 2012 06:53 PM PDT Kobo's clearly been focused on important stuff like being bought by Rakuten and launching in Japan as of late, but the e-reader manufacturer's got a few bits to announce this week. At the top of the list is a software upgrade for its neglected Touch eReader, which brings a new wish list feature, so you can set aside titles for future purchase. A newly redesigned home screen promises to streamline things a bit and the Bookshelf feature has gotten a bit more customizable, letting you organize selections by genre, author and interest. The Kobo Desktop app, meanwhile, has gotten some tweaks to its profile quiz, to better help the company recommend books to suit your taste. The company also announced that it'll be bringing the Touch eReader to Italy, courtesy of the Mondadori Group. At launch, 30,000 titles will be available in Italian. Italian e-reading enthusiasts will be able to snap up the Nook / Kindle competitor for €99 in the fall. |
| Chrome OS version 20 hits stable release channel, brings Google Drive and Aura UI for Cr-48s along Posted: 11 Jul 2012 06:24 PM PDT If you're a Chrome OS user who doesn't live on the bleeding edge, it's finally time to experience the latest version 20, which most notably adds support for its Drive cloud storage. Also mentioned as included in the upgrade is offline support of Google Docs, Pepper Flash upgrade, access to the new Aura UI on Cr-48 systems and other tweaks. Tighter integration with Drive and Docs may address a few of the issues noted in our review of v19, Chromebook and Chromebox owners can check it out as it arrives on their machines over the next several days and let us know if that's the case. |
| Project 1640 offers new way to search for planets beyond our solar system Posted: 11 Jul 2012 05:58 PM PDT It's taken more than six years of development, but a new imaging system for the Palomar Observatory's 200-inch Hale Telescope finally started capturing images last month, and promises to aid significantly in the search for planets outside our solar system (otherwise known as exoplanets). With the suitably mysterious name of "Project 1640," the new instrument is the first of its kind that's able to directly spot planets orbiting distant suns -- as opposed to existing systems that use indirect detection methods to determine the orbit of exoplanets. To do that, Project 1640 effectively blots out the light from stars, which allows astronomers to more clearly observe what might be around them, including objects up to 10 million times fainter than the star itself (the image on the right above is a nearby star captured with the imaging system in place, compared to the same star captured without the new system on the left). Those curious can find more specifics on just how that's accomplished in the official announcement linked below. |
| Cinema rig takes the heat out of your NEX-5N, lets you slide in the accessories Posted: 11 Jul 2012 05:34 PM PDT The Sony NEX-5N, with it's goodly APS-C sized sensor and decent video quality, still has a couple of knocks against it as a video cam: its bitty size makes it hard to rig up and it doesn't dissipate heat well. Tinkerer Richard Gale has addressed those tics with his prototype NEX-5N cinema housing, by adding a heat sink and fan to stop the overheating problem and a possible anamorphic adapter and matte box to accommodate filters and gels. The provisional £1,500 price ($2,400) would get you the housing, NEX-5N with kit lens, 5" Sony LCD, and accessories, while the anamorphic kit with the matte box is still just a concept with no price tag. Neither idea will happen unless he gets enough orders, but wearing the boxy black outfit might finally give the petite mirrorless cam a shot of big-boy film cred.
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| Telefonica's Tuenti social network kicks off global expansion, rolls out mobile apps Posted: 11 Jul 2012 05:12 PM PDT It may not be that well known over here, but the Telefonica-owned Tuenti social network is big in Spain, where it has 13 million users and rakes in over 40 billion page views per month. Now it's hoping to make itself better known elsewhere, today kicking off a major expansion that will see it made available around the world in nine different languages. What's more, it's also announced some new mobile apps for the occasion, including integrated messaging and dedicated Tuenti apps for Android and BlackBerry, with iOS and Windows Phone versions promised in the "coming weeks." As TechCrunch notes, the social network is similar to Twitter in many respects, with status updates (or what Tuenti calls "moments") limited to 140 characters, but it also veers a bit into Facebook territory as well, focused more on the notion of friends than followers. You can sign up and give it a go yourself at the source link below. |
| Insert Coin: Cardboard Robot brings craning, plucking and learning with a dash of whimsey (video) Posted: 11 Jul 2012 04:51 PM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Cardboard Robot has lowered it's crane claw boom on all the Kickstarter money business, and said "Hey, let's have a little fun here, too." It's a robotic arm kit consisting of four stepper motors, a controller, USB computer connection, and a structure made from corrugated cardboard with a claw or smartphone camera mount. While able to pick up small objects like socks and stuffed animals or crane a smartphone around, the fanciful bot's main function seems to be the fun of piecing it together, with its pliable surface also safer for working with kids. To that end, the mech's maker said that not only would it be easy to build, but the source code would be included for tweaking and with every $3k raised, one of the kits would be donated to a US school. So, if you want your own carton-y bot arm kit for learning and light plush toy duty (assembly required), the minimum pledge is $175 -- check the Kickstarter source to see how to pony up, or the video after the break.
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| Philips W732 Android 4.0 smartphone coming to China, has 2,400mAh battery for extended web surfing Posted: 11 Jul 2012 03:59 PM PDT The terms "Philips" and "phone" aren't as synonymous as they used to be in the US, but the manufacturer does crank out a smartphone from time to time in China nonetheless. Following the Gingerbread-based W632, Philips is now readying the W732: the smartphone features Ice Cream Sandwich, a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 WVGA LCD IPS panel, 1GHz single-core MediaTek MT6575, 5MP camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA / 5.76Mbps HSUPA and dual-SIM support. Its most intriguing claim, however, is that its 2,400mAh battery, combined with a few other power-saving methods, will best a Motorola RAZR Maxx at battery life when surfing the web (lasting for 10.5 hours, according to the company). It's still not going to beat the Maxx in overall talk time, but Philips claims its choice of LCD IPS over AMOLED should see significant power savings when looking at the browser, due to the prominence of white screens that drain the battery faster on AMOLED-equipped phones. We'll be eager to see how that turns out, but it's destined only for China at the moment. Head to the source link for all the details. |
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