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Engadget News

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• Research shows that lab-engineered muscle responds to a workout
• Editorial: Engadget on EyeTap, Project Glass and the future of wearable cameras
• UK judge forces Apple to state on its site that Samsung didn't copy the iPad
• Inside NASA's Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center
• Google Fiber is coming on July 26, Kansas readies to open its pipes
• Happy birthday, Intel -- celebrate like the rock star you are
• ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0
• YouTube add face blur tech to its videos, creates anonymous copies of your clips
• Apple snaps up land for Texas campus expansion plans
• iPad prototype renderings from early-2000s revealed in Apple / Samsung court filings (updated)
• O2 apologizes for 'unprecedented' outage with 10 percent refunds
• Samsung updates MultiView camera lineup with MV900F point-and-shoot for $350, we go hands-on
• Import ban on select Motorola Android products starts today
• Ofcom: Texting is more popular than talking
• Google hires designers from Cuban Council to work on Google+
• Vibrating glove gives piano lessons, helps rehab patients regain finger sensation and motor skills
• Perkins Smart Brailler helps the blind learn to type, closes the digital divide
• Sony unveils 2012 Walkman range: Android 4.0 F series and refreshed entry-level E series (eyes-on)
• AT&T unveils Mobile Share, lets you add 10 devices to a single plan
• HTC slaps Apple with two more patents from acquired HP portfolio
• CyanogenMod 10 builds start offering sugary sweets to Samsung Galaxy S III users
• VestGuard UK Ballistic cover will protect your iPad from tablet-related gunplay
• AT&T CEO responds to paid 3G FaceTime rumor, says it's 'too early' to talk pricing
• Washington to become first US state to enroll voters through Facebook
• iBike Powerhouse starts shipping: a workout coach for your set of wheels
• Sony postpones Nasne NAS due to quality control issues
• Nissan Leaf, GE WattStation embroiled in charging damage shocker, invite other EV puns (update: full GE statement)
• SteelSeries announces Sensei RAW gaming mouse duo, glossy and rubber options for $59.99
• Vodafone Australia promises Nexus S Jelly Bean upgrade on July 19th
• Rogers offers 6GB Super Plan, guarantees that Galaxy S III will stay busy
• D-Link Cloud Router 5700 marks the outfit's first foray into 802.11ac WiFi, now shipping for $190
• Never get lost in a Walgreens again with Aisle411's new indoor navigation app
• Panasonic's Lumix lineup grows: DMC-G5 Micro Four Thirds, DMC-FZ200 superzoom and DMC-LX7 hands-on and sample shots
• Etymotic Music•Pro 9-15 earplugs bring high-end hush to audiences, lets us enjoy speed metal safely
• Grace Digital's MatchStick speaker dock for the Kindle Fire hits Amazon
• Swarming quadrocopters complete trial recon mission for Japanese police (video)
• RIM gets patent for logic-based text prediction, BlackBerry 10 keyboard now preserved for the ages (update: not so ambitious)
• Griffin outs Binder Insert case for the iPad, brings Trapper Keepers to the 21st century for $25
• Fujitsu intros RakuRaku accessible smartphone for the elderly

Research shows that lab-engineered muscle responds to a workout Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:09 AM PDT It's fairly well known that if you want to get ripped, you gotta pump some iron. But what's more of a surprise is that lab-engineered muscle also responds to a workout. Researchers at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Institute for Regenerative Medicine have been looking at a way to help the body grow new muscle, and found that cells derived from muscle tissue (on a bio-compatible material) responded to "exercise." The research also showed that when tissue was applied to mice with reduced back muscles, those which received the exercised flesh enjoyed significant recovery benefits over those that just received the "sedentary" cells. The scientists who conducted the study suggest that if this was done on an equivalent human scale, muscle would have recovered to 70 percent of the force of native tissue within two months -- what they consider a significant amount. So if you ever need a transplant, perhaps that Thighmaster in the loft will finally come to use.

Editorial: Engadget on EyeTap, Project Glass and the future of wearable cameras Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT Summer in Paris -- you can't walk a block on Champs-Élysées without locking eyes with at least one camera-equipped tourist. But Steve Mann's shooter wasn't dangling from his shoulder and neck; it was mounted on his head, with a design strikingly similar to Google's Project Glass. Unlike that mainstream Mountain View product, however, Mann's version has reportedly been around in one form or another for 34 years, and was designed with the objective of aiding vision, rather than capturing stills and video or providing a bounty of database-aided readouts. It's also street-ready today. While on vacation with his family, the Ontario-based "father of wearable computing" was sporting his EyeTap as he walked down the aforementioned French avenue, eventually entering a McDonald's to refuel after a busy day of sightseeing. He left without his ranch wrap, but with seriously damaged hardware. What allegedly occurred inside the restaurant is no doubt a result of the increasing presence and subsequent awareness of connected cameras, ranging from consumer gear to professional surveillance equipment. As Mann sat to eat, he writes that a stranger approached him then attempted to pull off his glasses, which, oddly, are permanently affixed to his skull. The man, at that point joined by one other patron and someone that appeared to be a McDonald's employee, then pushed Mann out of the store and onto the street. As a result of the attack, the eyewear malfunctioned, resulting in the three men being photographed. It wouldn't be terribly difficult for police to identify those involved, but this encounter may have greater implications. McDonalds has since launched an investigation into the matter and seems to be denying most of the claims, but it'll be some time yet before the full truth is uncovered. Still, the whole ordeal got us at Engadget thinking -- is the planet ready for humans to wear video recorders, and will it ever shake a general unease related to the threat of a world filled with omnipresent cameras? Join us past the break for our take. Tim Stevens Classroom bullies don't stop us from wearing normal glasses. A couple of French bullies in McDonald's should not make us doubt the future of projects like Google Glass. We have to be careful when looking at Steve Mann's story and pondering questions like "is the world ready for X?" We can't let the actions of a few close-minded bullies force us to hit the brakes on a progression of technology that many of you are obviously excited about. Classroom bullies don't stop us from wearing normal glasses. A couple of French bullies in McDonald's should not make us doubt the future of projects like Google Glass. That said, we cannot let their Luddite antics color what is a genuine privacy concern amongst much of the populace. Recording (and publishing) private conversations is a dubious thing legally, and while we've seen Google having some success at changing legislation to suit its future-minded goals, this is a rather different proposition. Until the world has developed some sort of Laughing Man-like technology for dynamically obscuring faces and blocking conversation recording, it's clear that the world is not quite ready to release projects such as Google Glass upon the streets. But, the world very definitely needs to start having conversations about how it's going to handle technology like this because it's coming -- and soon. For once, it'd be nice if society were actually ready for it. Zach Honig It was just shy of four months ago that Google first grabbed our attention with Project Glass, launching a mock-up demo video on YouTube to show us what the company had in store. Calendar appointments, text messages, walking directions and even subway alerts popped up as a man went about his day -- the implications were certainly promising, from a convenience perspective. But then, at the end of the demonstration, the wearer hopped in a video call, sharing a live feed of a sunset through the same eyewear that was mounted to his head for the entire day. Project Glass wasn't just about accessing Google services hands-free -- it was about sharing your life with others as it happened, with the people you encountered indoors and out being broadcast around the world in realtime. Privacy? Forget about it. Even in your own home. Google Glass may now have a name, but we've known to expect something like it. One day. Which also happens to be the title of Mountain View's harmless YouTube intro -- Google Glass: One day... But just a few weeks after our first glimpse at Glass, we learned that day could come in 2013. Google I/O attendees had an opportunity to pre-order a Glass Explorer Edition for $1,500. Beginning next year, several thousand people could be streaming video and photos to their Google+ profiles while walking down city streets, through airport checkpoints, from tables at a restaurant, lecture halls on campus, even business meetings. That's not to suggest that these individuals will be reckless with their newfound live streaming abilities, but the potential exists. And so will the fear. No shirt. No shoes. Project Glass. No service. Constant monitoring puts anyone on edge, and even if some subjects and strangers are disciplined enough to avoid lashing out, not all will be. Glass attacks will stream live to the web alongside birthday parties, shopping sprees, graduation ceremonies, copyrighted Hollywood flicks at the theater. If your eyes can see it now, Project Glass will see it, too. One day... Darren I touched on it when I was spouting off about Google's revelations at I/O, but I'm 100 percent convinced that the world just isn't ready for Project Glass. Or, anything similar to it. I've seen privacy advocates explode for things much, much less invasive, and while we're gradually becoming okay with security cameras in places like fuel stations and street corners, there are still those that cry "Big Brother!" whenever possible. And therein lies the crux of the argument. Who here is to say that Project Glass is okay, but CCTV is not? Who is the final judge on drawing that line in the sand? Do we have the proper legal infrastructure to make these decisions, or is it ever possible to truly rule correctly on what is and isn't okay to film? My guess is that it'll be ambiguous for as long as humans roam this planet, and it'll never make us entirely comfortable. One of the bigger issues Google (and whoever else tries this) will have is education. There's a zero percent chance Google itself can truly educate the world on Glass, and that it's not always recording. There's no conceivable way the TSA lets a baggage handler at DTW wear these to work. It's just a matter of time before that "No Smoking" sign at your favorite eatery is amended to say "No Wearable Cameras." Something tells me Glass will only ever be welcomed in places where wearable cameras already are; we've no qualms seeing a head-mounted GoPro on the slopes or the racetrack, but take one into a public washroom and you'll probably get some disconcerting looks. Google seems to think it'll change the way the world works by letting us wear a camera that can record whatever we want. Something tells me reality will force those dreams back a few notches, making it more of a GoPro competitor than a portal to the future. I won't say that I'm happy or sad about it, but I'm pretty sure humanity isn't ready for anything more significant. Jamie I can't deny that the prospect of playing with a pair of big G's specs excites me. I imagine strolling around a museum or gallery, artifacts in one eye, Wikipedia in the other. OK, maybe that example's a bit poetic, but it's tame given the possibilities. We're in the smartphone age now, and wearable computers are the natural, complementary progression of the always-on lifestyle. But, just because I get it doesn't mean I want it. It's not because of the worldwide CCTV argument -- it's what effect such integrated hardware will have on us, the consumer. I just can't see life-streaming to an absent audience taking off, leaving us nothing more than a conveniently located camera. Especially one that will likely be of lower quality than your average point-and-shoot, just as obvious and with on-board storage for those paranoid about pumping to the cloud. There are endless ways to determine where I am right now. From the IP of this very computer and the cameras in this building, to the GPS on my phone and the Oyster turnstile at the tube station across the way. Head-mounted computers won't revolutionize global surveillance -- it's just a visual cue to the ugly reality. It's not the camera that worries me, it's the uncooked data. Besides, it's not the camera that worries me, it's the uncooked data. I'm sure my Google profile is terrifying enough, and forever hungry. It's a bit unsettling, and more accurate than I'd want to admit, to think that my experiences in life are increasingly a service tailored by some giant, faceless corporation. The scenarios are endless. Could Glass enhance my time in a new city? Or will I be getting the 'Google knows best' version. Am I stopping at this restaurant because I want to, or because Yelp is pushing me through the doors based on my habits, location and user reviews? I can't escape connectivity running my life. I rarely get event invites outside Facebook, big G itself runs my calendar and falling out of sync is a growing concern. But I still like my games with a controller, my streaming through Ethernet cabling and prefer Lo-Fi photography to Instragram filters. I want to play, but I'm just not ready to experience RL through information feeds and AR-tinted lenses. Philip I couldn't have been more conspicuous. I was an official photographer for a huge state fair, walking the grounds and capturing images of general merriment. I was armed with my largest and most professional gear, a clipboard full of photo release forms and a badge that essentially said "I'm not a creepy dude, I swear." Signs were posted at all entrances notifying everyone that photo and video crews may be capturing visuals for marketing purposes. Yet, one day, when I snapped a fairly routine shot of two kids enjoying a science display, their father jumped in between, Batman-style, and politely (but firmly) asked what I was doing. He accepted my explanation, but declined to allow his children to be photographed for marketing purposes and requested the photos I had taken be deleted. It was a rather peaceful conclusion that could have easily turned as violent as the one in Paris. And that was with me being Mr. Obvious Photographer Guy. This is the world EyeTap and Project Glass are trying to enter. I'm not quite sure we're ready for the aftermath. If I had to guess, I'd give the general public about two weeks after Project Glass' launch to start raising privacy concerns. That could lead to news reports and enough of those could lead to congressional hearings. In the end, I fully expect a government mandate requiring devices like these to have "recording" lights, or some other way of easily determining when it's capturing or not. Heck, I could see a market for devices for those looking to avoid the Glass' gaze – devices (perhaps GPS-based) that prevent nearby wearable cameras from capturing images at a certain location. And I expect court cases. Lots and lots of court cases. This is the world Project Glass and similar products are trying to enter. I'm sure Google had nothing but the best of intentions when it set out to create a camera to record everything. I'm just afraid the company may not like what it eventually sees. Jon Fingas The defining moment for Project Glass, in my mind, wasn't the jump from a blimp -- it was when Google showed a mother playing with her child and recording the moment for posterity. The effects of that scene on the child weren't exactly traumatic, but the footage represents the fundamental disconnect between Google's thinking and ... well, the rest of us. Google thinks you'll want to record much of your life's private moments and keep that constant connection to the internet; as of today, I and most of the people I know would balk at the idea. While I certainly wouldn't advocate mangling someone over wearing video-capable glasses, that collective aversion mentioned earlier no doubt manifested itself in the EyeTap incident. Some of us just don't like the idea of being recorded in public, even if it's a casual phone photo or snapshot. Imagine how it would feel to know that there's a real chance people are recording you at any moment you leave home, and that it would be hard to tell if they were. You'd be slightly paranoid, wouldn't you? Yes, the novelty still has people on edge to start with, but that reasonable expectation of privacy could persist well into the future, even in CCTV-dominated countries like the UK. You'd be slightly paranoid, wouldn't you? It's one thing to conduct personal experiments. As potentially intrusive as they can be, they're singular events. Project Glass is intended as an (eventually) mainstream product, however, and I just can't see that widespread adoption happening without something short of a sea change in society's values regarding openness. Google likes the idea of an always-worn internet connection for the sake of its business; that doesn't mean it's right for the common good. Myriam Joire There's no doubt that what happened to Steve Mann at that McDonald's on the Champs-Élysées is wrong -- assault is wrong -- but it reinforces my belief that most people aren't ready for something like Project Glass. Major cultural differences are at play here, in terms of understanding privacy and technology. I grew up in France (I'm a French citizen), spent half my adult life in English Canada (I'm also a Canadian citizen) and the other half in the US. Culturally, the French are extremely sensitive about privacy and tend to distrust anyone (person, company, government) that's perceived as threatening privacy -- sometimes with violent results as witnessed here. This is reflected in France's strict privacy laws. In my experience, folks in North America are more easily willing to give up some privacy for the sake of convenience. As a result it's going to more difficult for tech like Project Glass to be accepted in some cultures than in others. To the average, non tech-savvy person, something like Project Glass is indistinguishable from magic. But there's also another divide at play here beyond privacy -- one I've touched upon in the mobile podcast recently -- and that's people's understanding of technology. Most folks have no clue what happens under the hood of their car yet alone how their smartphone works. I'd argue that to the average, non tech-savvy person, something like Project Glass is indistinguishable from magic. This fosters one of two reactions: curiosity or fear -- and in the wise words of Yoda "fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering." I think we're likely to see more violent behavior around tech like Project Glass before we see acceptance. Personally, I'm willing to give Project Glass a try -- I've always wanted to be a cyborg after all, so bring it on. My only concern is the Google-only tie-in. I'd be more comfortable with a device that's more open. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

UK judge forces Apple to state on its site that Samsung didn't copy the iPad Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:22 AM PDT Apple is being forced by a British judge to tacitly state that Samsung didn't copy its iPad design. According to Bloomberg, Judge Colin Birss said that Apple has to post a notice both on its website and several British newspapers and magazines, to help correct the "damaging impression the South Korea-based company was copying Apple's product." The online part will reportedly stay there for six months. Apple lost its case against Samsung in the UK earlier this month, with the same judge awkwardly branding the 10-inch Android tablet "not as cool" as the iPad.

Inside NASA's Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT At the dawn of the Space Shuttle program, NASA's Launch Control Center (LCC) was placed off limits for public tours. On June 15, however, busses embellished with Kennedy Space Center (KSC) decals began whisking visitors off to the control complex for the first time in more than three decades – nearly a year after the final shuttle mission last summer. More Info NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours The end of an era: what the space shuttle means to Engadget Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off one last time (video) After clearing a security checkpoint, our bus wheels its way deep into Kennedy Space Center, NASA's 240,000-acre property on Merritt Island, Fla., that doubles as a wildlife refuge. The monolithic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) comes into view and grows larger as we approach. Referred to by NASA employees as the heart of the operation, the VAB houses spacecraft as they're pieced together. Once complete, a 6-million-pound crawler-transporter sidles up to the structure, gets fitted with the craft and ferries it over a gravel roadway to the launch pad 3.4 miles away. The LCC, which staff dubbed the brains of the system, is adjoined to the VAB by a slim corridor protruding from its boxy, white exterior. NASA's Launch Control Center Our bus sits in the complex's parking lot while the previous tour wraps up -- our guide points out that the kinks in timing are still being worked out. Primed with a quick history lesson and peppered with trivia, we pull up and file into the LCC. Plaques for each mission that embarked on journeys from Launch Complex 39 and a mural depicting the history of human spaceflight greet us. The plaques for the most exciting missions, however, were still to come, the tour guide assures. A security detail joins the group before we venture any further. Though activity in the building has been dialed back since the Space Shuttle program's mothballing, it's still a secured federal facility where work continues on commercial launches and preparation for future NASA missions. Following security protocols, our chaperone leads the way with a guard at his side. As we ride an elevator, the guide contemplates aloud who else has stood within its confines: astronauts, presidents and scientists. The doors open, revealing the entrance to the nerve center and a message etched into a pane of glass: "The greatest launch team in the world enters through these doors." Lo and behold, there it is: Firing Room 4, one of four veritable ground zeros for NASA launch countdowns. The room -- captured on television, historic photographs and portrayed in films -- is at the same time larger than life, but smaller than the imagination has led to believe. A constellation of computer consoles is crammed within, each station laden with knobs, displays, keypads, buttons, dials and a dedicated phone. A screensaver we spot reveals that NASA is still partial to Windows XP. These are the windows, according to its architect Martin Stein, "through which you can see mankind's future." Though we can't wander the room, we're briefed on its layout, carefully shepherded through the consoles and towards the Launch Director's perch above the other terminals. The 1,600-step pre-launch manual, known as the S0007, is on display in a set of 10 beefy binders. Its pages hold launch contingencies and the classic roll call associated with the critical "go" or "no go" decision. And of course, the launch clocks hang on the walls -- running a ghost countdown to simulate the hours before an actual mission. Aside from the clusters of computers, the towering angled windows that frame a spectacular view of the crawler way and launch pad dominate the room. These are the windows, according to its architect Martin Stein, "through which you can see mankind's future." After a final gaze at the innards of the firing room, we're ushered outside and into the bus. A consistent message is echoed throughout the tour: Reports of NASA's death are greatly exaggerated. Despite the shuttle shelving and reduced federal funding, it's stressed that NASA isn't packing up shop -- our guide is quick to point out that employee parking lots aren't empty. In fact, tours of the LCC may cease if commercial missions make use of the facility and as the Orion project (NASA's shuttle successor) gears up for manned spaceflights to an asteroid, the Moon and Mars. Kennedy Space Center may not be as busy with launches as it once was, but it's still busy inspiring the next generation of intrepid astronauts. Still, it's hard to shake thoughts of what NASA would be doing with more cash in its coffers. However, construction at the visitor center is proceeding at full steam ahead. A 65,000-square-foot exhibit that'll house the Space Shuttle Atlantis is aimed for completion in the summer of 2013. Kennedy Space Center may not be as busy with launches as it once was, but it's still busy inspiring the next generation of intrepid astronauts. "Do come back," the tour guide urges with his parting words. "Great things will continue to happen right here." This article originally appeared in Distro Issue #48.

Google Fiber is coming on July 26, Kansas readies to open its pipes Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:39 AM PDT We're always being told we need more fiber in our lives. For most people, that might constitute a second bowl of cereal in the morning -- for the lucky Google Fiber-receiving residents of Kansas City (or Kansas City) however, it means big spoonfuls of super fast internet. While the project has been in the virtual pipes for a while, finally it looks like we're ready for the next step. July 26th, Google advises, is the date for diary. Better pencil that one in, and consider any last-minute hardware upgrades.

Happy birthday, Intel -- celebrate like the rock star you are Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:20 AM PDT Any idea what was going down in 1968? Preparations for Woodstock. Oh, and the birth of Intel -- a giant of a company that somehow raked in $2.8 billion in its Q2 earnings yesterday. We're guessing it'll find a way to splurge a bit to celebrate yet another year of silicon production, and maybe -- just maybe -- it'll publish a spin-off series on AMC based on the masterpiece embedded above. Happy birthday, Intel. Here's to CPU.

ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0 Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT If this is the "advanced gaming smartphone" that ZTE teased a few days ago, then we can't help but feel a little miffed. It'd be fairer to describe the Grand X as the most advanced phone in ZTE's growing budget line-up, and if you look at it from that perspective then it's rather more impressive. For £190 PAYG with Virgin Mobile in the UK, you're getting a 4.3-inch qHD LCD touchscreen, dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 processor (no Nexus 7 guts here unfortunately), microSD expandable storage (plus of 4GB built-in and 512MB RAM), 5-megapixel rear camera and VGA front-facer, sub-10mm thickness and -- ta-da! -- stock Ice Cream Sandwich, albeit accompanied by legacy Gingerbread navigation buttons. We'd have liked to see the proper, up-to-date Android 4.0 button layout, but in any case the absence of ZTE's Kanzi skin or indeed any other customization is a welcome change, because Google juice tastes fine served neat. Now, we already did an early hands-on with this phone in June (not to mention its previous incarnation, the Mimosa X) and noted its fluid operation, solid build quality and capable display, and all of those things remain true in the retail-ready handset we've seen in the UK. The budget scene has certainly come a long way since last year, but do we expect the Grand X to have an easy ride on the market? Probably not -- at least not when phones like the Orange San Diego are offering a more modern processor, more RAM and better pixel density for just £10 more. That said, if a pure and uncluttered version of the OS is a priority, and if you can get this phone on a great deal when it arrives at Phones4U and Virgin Media stores at the beginning of August, then the Grand X is certainly worth a look. ZTE Grand X UK version ZTE Grand X hands-on Show full PR text ZTE Grand X dual-core smartphone launches in UK ZTE Grand X handset delivers great video and gaming with a fast dual-core chipset and large high-quality screen - available from Phones 4u and Virgin Media 18 July 2012, London, UK – ZTE Corporation ("ZTE") (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, has launched the ZTE Grand X dual-core 4.3-inch screen smartphone in the UK, bringing high-end mobile video and gaming experiences to a wider audience. The ZTE Grand X combines an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core chipset with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) to deliver a rich mobile multimedia experience - a world of entertainment in one device. The powerful processor delivers fast download speeds and video processing and, combined with the 4.3-inch 16 million colour Sharp screen (960x540) and cinematic surround-sound Dolby Mobile Sound technology, enables the Grand X to provide a compelling mobile entertainment experience. The NVIDIA Tegra processor means games run fast and smooth, and one-touch access to the Tegra Zone gives mobile gamers quick access to the world's best mobile games. The ZTE Grand X incorporates a variety of connection capabilities including Bluetooth, WiFi and DLNA which enable users to share content across multiple devices such as TVs and displays, printers, cameras, and other mobile and multimedia devices. The smartphone also allows users to capture, play and share content using the HD video capability. "ZTE Grand X brings high-end mobile video and gaming within the reach of a whole new audience," said Mr. He Shiyou, ZTE EVP and head of the Terminals Division. "It provides a world of entertainment in a single device – combining high quality and a wide range of functions for a great mobile multimedia experience." Using the NVIDIA Tegra chipset, the ZTE Grand X is able to provide consumers with best-of-class graphic quality for watching movies, browsing online and photo sharing. Gaming on the handset delivers authentic and sharp images; the lens is dynamic, and content is rendered for a high-impact interactive experience delivering console-quality on all games. "With ZTE's Grand X handset, buyers have the best of both worlds: an amazing, high-end user experience at a cost that will be noticeably lower than handsets with similar specifications. With the Grand X, you have all the benefits of a powerful processor combined with a large, high-quality screen and high-end design," said Scott Hooton, Chief Commercial Officer, Phones 4u. Jamie Heywood, director of mobile at Virgin Media said, "We're enjoying a great partnership with ZTE, having already launched two handsets with them this year, and their latest phone, the Grand X, is a fantastic addition to our extensive smartphone range. Coupled with our best ever 'Premiere' tariff* from just £27 a month and boasting unlimited data as standard and inclusive insurance at no extra cost**, Virgin Media customers can stay connected on the go all day every day without worrying about hidden costs." Other features of the Grand X include Facetones which shows friends' latest social media updates and photos when they call; and Evernote which enables users to save voice notes, memos, photographs and music in the cloud so they are always accessible. The ZTE Grand X is a class-leading, feature-rich handset and will be available on contract through Phones 4u and Virgin Media stores across the UK from beginning of August at highly competitive monthly tariffs. Availability will be announced near the time. Specifications: Processor: NVIDIA Tegra 2, Dual-core (AP20 Dual Core 1GHz) Display Size: 4.3" – 16M QHD (960 x 540) Modem: NVIDIA i450 (HSDPA Cat14, 21Mbps) Weight: 110g Dimensions: 127mmx64.6mmx9.9mm Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi, DLNA Camera: Dual Camera 5MP AF Flash/0.3 MP User Memory: 4GB + up to 32GB Micro SD RAM: 512 MB Storage: 4GB, expandable to 32GB (Micro SD) OS: Android 4.0 (ICS) Battery: 1650 mAh Li-Ion Others: Dolby Mobile Sound / HD Voice / HD video capture and playback / Facetones / Evernote / Documents to go / Tegra Zone (Gaming Marketplace)

YouTube add face blur tech to its videos, creates anonymous copies of your clips Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:36 AM PDT YouTube has added another feature to its enhancements tool, allowing you to automate the process of blurring out people's faces in your photos. Its makers are quick to add that it's still an emerging technology, and that it may still miss out on faces depending on lighting obstructions and video quality. YouTube cites footage from human rights issues for bringing the idea forward, where identification of those involved could prove dangerous. You'll be able to preview how it looks, and if you choose to include the blurred option, a new copy is made to avoid losing the unedited original. The feature is rolling out to the site today -- now you just need a decent video camera. Show full PR text YouTube Blog- Face blurring: when footage requires anonymity As citizens continue to play a critical role in supplying news and human rights footage from around the world, YouTube is committed to creating even better tools to help them. According to the international human rights organization WITNESS' Cameras Everywhere report, "No video-sharing site or hardware manufacturer currently offers users the option to blur faces or protect identity." YouTube is excited to be among the first. Today we're launching face blurring - a new tool that allows you to obscure faces within videos with the click of a button. Whether you want to share sensitive protest footage without exposing the faces of the activists involved, or share the winning point in your 8-year-old's basketball game without broadcasting the children's faces to the world, our face blurring technology is a first step towards providing visual anonymity for video on YouTube. Blurring faces on YouTube is simple. Once you've chosen the video that you'd like to edit within our Video Enhancements tool, go to Additional Features and click the "Apply" button below Blur All Faces. Before you publish, you will see a preview of what your video will look like with faces blurred. When you save the changes to your video, a new copy is created with the blurred faces. You will then be given the option to delete the original video. This is emerging technology, which means it sometimes has difficulty detecting faces depending on the angle, lighting, obstructions and video quality. It's possible that certain faces or frames will not be blurred. If you are not satisfied with the accuracy of the blurring as you see it in the preview, you may wish to keep your video private. Visual anonymity in video allows people to share personal footage more widely and to speak out when they otherwise may not. Because human rights footage, in particular, opens up new risks to the people posting videos and to those filmed, it's important to keep in mind other ways to protect yourself and the people in your videos. YouTube is proud to be a destination where people worldwide come to share their stories, including activists. Along with efforts like the Human Rights Channel and Citizentube that curate these voices, we hope that the new technologies we're rolling out will facilitate the sharing of even more stories on our platform.

Apple snaps up land for Texas campus expansion plans Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:03 AM PDT Apple may not be doing much talking about its big Texas expansion plans itself, but we're still getting a fair bit of information about them. Following an impromptu announcement from Texas governor Rick Perry earlier this year, the Austin Business Journal is now reporting that Apple has closed a deal with Riata Vista LP for three large plots of land next to its existing campus in Austin. That sale was reportedly finalized on June 20th, but specifics otherwise remain light, with no word yet on a sale price or the exact size of the land. As we've heard previously, though, Apple is investing over $300 million into the campus, which will eventually result in the creation of 3,600 new jobs.

iPad prototype renderings from early-2000s revealed in Apple / Samsung court filings (updated) Posted: 18 Jul 2012 07:39 AM PDT It's a strange bit of history that the concept of an Apple tablet led to what we know as the first iPhone. It's a fact that Steve Jobs made mention of back in 2010, at an appearance at All Things D, realizing that Apple was capable of building a handset based on the technology it pieced together for a multitouch display. Now, thanks to Apple / Samsung court filings (you know that whole little kerfuffle between the companies) and digging by the folks at NetworkWorld, some early concepts for an Apple slate have come to light. The dates of the mockups are a little nebulous at the moment, but during his deposition, Jonathan Ive, puts them at somewhere between 2002 and 2004. Check a few more angles and a stiff case usage in the gallery below. Update: Our friend Anand Shimpi of AnandTech pointed out that the first iPad prototype used a Pentium M processor. We sure have come a long way. The Early 2000s iPad

O2 apologizes for 'unprecedented' outage with 10 percent refunds Posted: 18 Jul 2012 07:22 AM PDT O2 is sorry for last week's service issues. Really, really sorry. Like, giving you back 10-percent of your bill sorry, if you happened to be among the affected. The UK operator noted in a blog post today that it has identified all those users who were impacted by the "unprecedented" downtime and will be offering up 10-percent off of their July subscriptions, to be applied to their bills in September, the monetary equivalent of three lost days. Pay & Go members, meanwhile, will also be getting something back in September: a 10 percent bonus on their first top-up that month. The company's also offering up customers a £10 O2 in-store voucher, available during the month of September. More info and apologies in the source link below.

Samsung updates MultiView camera lineup with MV900F point-and-shoot for $350, we go hands-on Posted: 18 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT When we were first introduced to Samsung's MultiView series with last year's MV800, we were certainly intrigued by the original design -- the LCD flips up to face directly forward, resting just above the main camera module and enabling front-sided operation, for self-portraits and the like. What the camera appeared to offer in ingenuity, however, it lacked in image quality -- shots looked quite mediocre during PC-based reviews, and when viewed on the low-res capacitive touchscreen display. This year's iteration, the MV900F, promises improvements down the 800's list of shortcomings, ranging from an f/2.5-6.3, 25mm 5x optical zoom lens to added WiFi, which brings the model's social feature set in line with other Samsung SMART cameras. There's also a 16.3-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor on board, along with that 180-degree MultiView display, this time equipped with a 3.3-inch WVGA AMOLED panel. Physically, the camera is similar in appearance, but it's noticeably larger, to accommodate that larger touchscreen (the MV800 included a 3-inch display). We were able to take an early look at the MV900F, and the display improvements were immediately noticeable. We weren't permitted to review sample shots on a computer, but with so much room to grow from its predecessor, it's safe to say that this lens/sensor combo should yield a noticeable image quality boost. The front-facing display is certainly the star of the show, even enabling gesture controls -- you can zoom in and out or capture a shot just by waving your hand (there's a tutorial on-board, but the movements aren't difficult to master). There's also a handful of WiFi options, including Facebook integration, along with instant uploading to sites like Picasa and YouTube, and integration with Samsung's other products, including TVs and Galaxy smartphones. Video capture has also been boosted from 720p to 1080p, letting you take full advantage of HDTV playback, while a variety of photo and movie filters let you get creative in-camera, including a twilight mode that combines three sequential frames in order to snap steady shots in low light. The camera is set to ship in late August for $349.99, and will be available in black and white, so if you were considering the MV800 but opted to hold out while Samsung worked out the kinks, this may be the time to jump. Catch the MV900F in action, including those nifty gesture controls, in our hands-on video after the break. Samsung MultiView MV900F hands-on Show full PR text Samsung's MV900F Camera Delivers Beautiful Portraits from Any Angle, Plus Built-In Wi-Fi Sharing On-the-Go Easy Stylish Design with MultiView Display, 3.3-inch Touch Screen Make Capturing High-Quality Images a Snap, or Thanks to New Gesture Control, a Wave RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., July 18, 2012 – Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the availability of the MV900F, the latest digital camera to join the company's Wi-Fi enabled SMART line-up. Following the success of Samsung's MV800, the MV900F also features Samsung's innovative 180-degree MultiView display, making it easy to capture and share creative self-portraits from any angle. The MV900F's shooting flexibility does not end with its rotating display. With Samsung's unique Gesture Shot, which uses motion-sensing technology, users can zoom and snap a photo with simple hand motions from across the room. Featuring advanced creative functionality and Samsung's Wi-Fi connectivity, the MV900F is a leader in the compact camera category. With an F2.5 bright lens to capture crisp, detailed photos even in low-lit environments, a powerful 16.3M pixels BSI CMOS sensor that produces high-quality photos and video, and a wider 25mm lens for fully framed images, the MV900F is a high-performing and versatile camera. The 5x optical zoom also makes it easy to shoot distance subjects. "The MV900F's stylish design and incredibly bright and fast lens, makes it the ideal camera for a night out on the town – as it will capture fantastic videos and photos, even in dimly-lit places. Now more than ever, we want to share these experiences instantly with friends and family, so the MV900 will take images consumers will be proud to share using the camera's SMART Wi-Fi features," said Reid Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Mobile Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America. "The unique MultiView display, intuitive touch screen and cutting-edge SMART camera technology means that superior quality images can be captured from any angle and shared at any time." Creatively Capture Group and Self-Portraits The innovative 3.3-inch, 180-degree flip-out display on the MV900F helps shutterbugs easily capture and frame images from any angle, whether it's a large group of friends or a full-body self-portrait. Additionally, taking self-portraits or group shots are easy thanks to Samsung's unique Gesture Shot, which applies motion-sensing technology so that users can control the camera remotely using hand gestures alone. By simply making a circular hand motion, users can control the camera's zoom functions. When the shot is properly framed, users move their hand up and down to snap the photo. Even when subjects aren't ready for their close-up, the MV900F has a range of functions to easily create professional beauty shots. With Samsung's new Beauty Palette feature, users can choose from ten different make-up options to smooth, brighten and add color to profile shots directly in the camera. No computer needed – all the editing is done using the intuitive touch screen display. Designed for All Lighting Conditions The 16.3-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and brighter F2.5 lens help deliver top-notch image quality even in low-light situations without the typical bleaching effect of artificial light. The Low Light Shot mode automatically selects the camera's best setting when shooting in low light conditions. By taking three continuous shots and merging them together into one, this feature helps to create an image without the blurs and noise. In addition to low-light settings, the MV900F is also designed for ease of use in the brightest sunlight. The upgraded display boasts a 3.3-inch WVGA AMOLED touch display for seeing clearer images even in intense light. Instant Sharing without Compromise The first camera in the MultiView line to incorporate Wi-Fi technology, the MV900F instantly connects with Facebook, Picasa, Photobucket and YouTube and devices without the need for pesky wires or cables. At the touch of the SMART LINK button, or through the easily navigated touch screen, it is easier than ever to instantly share and securely store pictures. The MV900F seamlessly interfaces with Samsung's line of SMART televisions, Blu-ray players, mobile PCs and smartphones for a truly unique and integrated ecosystem with painless sharing and synching across all devices. Create, Play and Share with Added Creative Options Boasting 1920x1080 Full HD video recording at 30fps, the MV900F creates high-quality movies that users would be proud to share. Combining the best of still photography with dynamic videos, the Motion Photo feature cleverly brings subjects to life while everything else in the background appears at a standstill. Thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity, video masterpieces can be uploaded to YouTube in no time. Pricing and Availability Available in sophisticated white and black models, the MV900F will be available in late August from authorized Samsung retailers for $349.99 MSRP. For more information on the MV900F, please visit www.samsung.com.

Import ban on select Motorola Android products starts today Posted: 18 Jul 2012 06:27 AM PDT It's been a few months since the International Trade Commission affirmed its decision to ban a selection of Motorola's Android portfolio from import, but the ruling will only start in earnest from today. While the ITC mentioned the likes of the Google-powered Atrix, Xoom, Droid 2 -- alongside a whole pile of lesser-known models-- the exclusion covers all Motorola devices that infringe on Microsoft's patents for email-based meeting scheduling. Motorola has stated that it has already been proactive in ensuring its phones remain available in the US -- the ruling won't affect devices already in stock. In its own words: "In view of the ITC exclusion order which becomes effective Wednesday with respect to the single ActiveSync patent upheld in Microsoft's ITC-744 proceeding, Motorola has taken proactive measures to ensure that our industry-leading smartphones remain available to consumers in the U.S. We respect the value of intellectual property and expect other companies to do the same."

Ofcom: Texting is more popular than talking Posted: 18 Jul 2012 06:02 AM PDT Ofcom's annual report into the communications habits of Britons has revealed that it's not just geeks who stare in annoyance when the phone rings. The general consumer is now abandoning voice calls is favor of texting in a big way, making five percent fewer calls than they did the previous year. The numbers also showed that on average, people send 50 texts a week, smartphone ownership was up 12 percent and tablet purchasing shot from 2 to 11 percent in a single year. The trend isn't slowing, either, given that a whopping 96 percent of 16 to 24-year-olds prefer SMS and Facebook to talking -- giving us hope that we'll soon be spared having to listen to that guy's conversation during our morning commute.

Google hires designers from Cuban Council to work on Google+ Posted: 18 Jul 2012 05:38 AM PDT The folks at Mountain View have worked with the well regarded designers at Cuban Council before, but now Google is taking the partnership one step further by hiring several of the firm's employees. The search giant has acquired the contracts of a number of the company's designers explicitly to work on Google+. The details of the deal haven't been revealed, so we have no idea how many members of the staff will be setting sail for the shores of Goog or how much the psuedo acquisition set the company back. But, we do know that at least some of the firm that once designed the Facebook logo, Evernote's website, Rdio's mobile apps and helped define the beautiful WebOS UI will now be dedicated to keeping Google+ ahead of the aesthetic curve.

Vibrating glove gives piano lessons, helps rehab patients regain finger sensation and motor skills Posted: 18 Jul 2012 05:08 AM PDT We've seen a good number of electronic gloves before, and now researchers at Georgia Tech have devised one to rehabilitate patients who suffer from paralyzing spinal cord injuries while teaching them how to tickle the ivories. Christened Mobile Music Touch, the black mitt pairs with a keyboard and cues individual fingers with vibrations to play notes. The handgear also buzzes constantly for several hours to stimulate recovery while users go about their day, similar to another yellowjacket-developed solution. After treatment, some patients could pick up objects and feel textures they hadn't been able to -- especially remarkable since, according to the university, little improvement is typically seen a year after injuries are sustained. Folks who learned to play the piano with the device also experienced better results than those who did without it. Project leader Dr. Tanya Markow believes that the rehab's success could be caused by renewed brain activity that sometimes lies dormant. For the full skinny, head past the break for the press release and a video of the gauntlet in action. [Thanks, Timothy] Show full PR text Musical Glove Improves Sensation, Mobility for People with Spinal Cord Injury Georgia Tech researchers have created a wireless, musical glove that may improve sensation and motor skills for people with paralyzing spinal cord injury (SCI). The gadget was successfully used by individuals with limited feeling or movement in their hands due to tetraplegia. These individuals had sustained their injury more than a year before the study, a time frame when most rehab patients see very little improvement for the remainder of their lives. Remarkably, the device was primarily used while the participants were going about their daily routines. The device is called Mobile Music Touch (MMT). The glove, which looks like a workout glove with a small box on the back, is used with a piano keyboard and vibrates a person's fingers to indicate which keys to play. While learning to play the instrument, several people with SCI experienced improved sensation in their fingers. Researchers at Georgia Tech and Atlanta's Shepherd Center recently completed a study focusing on people with weakness and sensory loss due to SCI. "After our preliminary work in 2011, we suspected that the glove would have positive results for people with SCI," said Ph.D. graduate Tanya Markow, the project's leader. "But we were surprised by how much improvement they made in our study. For example, after using the glove, some participants were able to feel the texture of their bed sheets and clothes for the first time since their injury." Markow worked with individuals with SCI who had limited feeling or movement in their hands. Each suffered a spinal injury more than a year prior to the study. The eight-week project required study participants to practice playing the piano for 30 minutes, three times a week. Half used the MMT glove to practice; half did not. The MMT system works with a computer, MP3 player or smart phone. A song, such as Ode to Joy, is programmed into a device, which is wirelessly linked to the glove. As the musical notes are illuminated on the correct keys on the piano keyboard, the gadget sends vibrations to "tap" the corresponding fingers. The participants play along, gradually memorizing the keys and learning additional songs. However, these active learning sessions with MMT were not the primary focus of the study. The participants also wore the glove at home for two hours a day, five days a week, feeling only the vibration (and not playing the piano). Previous studies showed that wearing the MMT system passively in this manner helped participants learn songs faster and retain them better. The researchers hoped that the passive wearing of the device would also have rehabilitative effects. At the end of the study, participants performed a variety of common grasping and sensation tests to measure their improvement. Those who used the MMT system performed significantly better than those who just learned the piano normally. "Some people were able to pick up objects more easily," said Markow. "Another said he could immediately feel the heat from a cup of coffee, rather than after a delay." Markow believes the increased motor abilities could be caused by renewed brain activity that sometimes becomes dormant in persons with SCI. The vibration might be triggering activity in the hand's sensory cortex, which leads to firing in the brain's motor cortex. Markow would like to expand the study to include functional MRI results. The glove has evolved in recent years under the leadership of Georgia Tech's Thad Starner and Ellen Yi-Luen Do, as well as Deborah Backus, director of multiple sclerosis research at Shepherd Center. The initial concept, Piano Touch, developed with the team by then master's student Kevin Huang, demonstrated that people could easily learn to play the piano by wearing the glove and feeling its vibrations. It didn't take long for Starner to see the larger health benefits. "Equipment used for hand rehabilitation may seem monotonous and boring to some, and doesn't provide any feedback or incentive," said Starner, who oversees the Contextual Computing Group. "Mobile Music Touch overcomes each of those challenges and provides surprising benefits for people with weakness and sensory loss due to SCI. It's a great example of how wearable computing can change people's lives." Starner is an associate professor in the School of Interactive Computing. Do is a professor in the Schools of Interactive Computing and Industrial Design.

Perkins Smart Brailler helps the blind learn to type, closes the digital divide Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:31 AM PDT Most digital Braille devices are built on the assumption that the legally blind already know how to write in the format -- if they don't, they're often forced back to the analog world to learn. PDT and Perkins hope to address that longstanding technology gap with the Perkins Smart Brailler. Going digital lets Perkins build in lessons for newcomers as well as provide immediate audio feedback (visual for writers with borderline vision) and text-to-speech conversion to give even an old hand a boost. Logically, the leap into the modern world also allows transferring documents over USB along with traditional Braille printouts. Smart Braillers will cost a weighty $1,995 each when they first ship in September, but it's hard to put a price tag on mastering communication and fully joining the digital generation. Show full PR text New Leading-Edge Tech Device Helps People Who Are Blind Learn Braille Product development leader PDT partners with Perkins Products to bring first-of-its-kind technology to the world's most widely used braille writer, improving quality of life for people who are blind CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PDT, a leading product development firm, has worked with Perkins Products to equip the world's most widely used braille writer with first-of-its-kind multi-sensory technology designed to make learning and teaching braille easier. Literacy through braille is critical to enabling people who are blind to find employment and achieve financial independence. The new Perkins SMART Brailler® will start shipping to U.S. consumers in September and is expected to have a significant impact. It was developed in conjunction with the American Printing House for the Blind. Approximately 11.4 million Americans are blind or visually impaired, according to the World Health Organization, and one person goes blind every 11 minutes. Those numbers are expected to jump as the baby boomer generation ages, overall life expectancy increases, and medical advances make it possible for more babies to survive premature birth. "We know that reading braille can be the difference between employment and unemployment for people who are blind. But there aren't enough ways for people to learn braille," said John Freese, PDT Program Manager. "What PDT did was bring new technology together with an established Brailler to make it easy to learn braille, with the goal of empowering people who are blind to lead full and fulfilling lives." Studies show that about 70 percent of people who are blind are unemployed or underemployed. Yet 80 percent of those who use braille are employed. Despite this, braille use has declined, in part due to a shift from specialized schools for people who are blind to mainstream schools where there are too few qualified teachers. Current high-tech braille products only work if users already know braille. The new Perkins SMART Brailler® gets even new users connected instantly to braille. PDT worked with teachers, parents and consumers who are visually impaired throughout the roughly two-year development process. The SMART Brailler® features instantaneous audio and visual feedback and Acapela text-to-speech (in English, and a range of other languages), plus downloadable lessons for braille beginners, and electronic document saving, editing and transfer capability via USB. Because it is built around a Perkins Next Generation Brailler®, the new device also generates hard copy braille as the user types. The impact will be felt worldwide. John Godber, Head of Products and Publications for the UK's Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), says, "This is the biggest step forward for learning braille since the invention of the Perkins Brailler" in 1951. With this new assistive technology, sighted teachers, classmates and parents can also work alongside students, providing a new level of learning support and making the inclusion of students who are blind into mainstream classrooms far more possible than ever before. Perkins Products Vice President & General Manager David Morgan says, "We are convinced that this truly levels the playing field and de-mystifies the braille 'code' to allow a shared learning experience for all – student, parent, teacher, friend. Adults who are losing their sight get a big screen and large text to learn braille independently." In 2008, PDT worked with Perkins Products to develop a lighter, more efficient and durable Next Generation Perkins Brailler that is now actively used in classrooms and homes around the world. Because the Perkins Brailler is used globally already, adaptation to the SMART version will be seamless. Special training is not required. Learn more at http://www.perkins.org/smartbrailler/.

Sony unveils 2012 Walkman range: Android 4.0 F series and refreshed entry-level E series (eyes-on) Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:10 AM PDT The Walkman F800 is Sony's latest PMP; a 3.5-inch Android media player that replaces the company's middling Z series. Perhaps the most intriguing point is that the new media player will arrive with Android 4.0 from the start, alongside the usual raft of WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options. Storage choices range from 8GB, through to 16GB and 32GB, with 4.5 hours of video playback apparently possible on the handhelds. It's the new flagship media player for Sony, and will launch in Europe priced at around £210 ($279). The noise-cancelling E series (and an even-more-bare-bones version) has also been refreshed. The hardware hasn't changed that much, aside from a larger 2-inch LCD screen, but there's a whole raft of new patterns and colors. The petit slabs will arrive alongside a new dock that will run off the PMP's own battery, augmenting the existing built-in speaker. If you liked the E series, but need something a little more wireless, then the just-announced Bluetooth-toting Walkman S770BT may hit the spot. Aside from that addition, the device otherwise lists the same specifications as the E series. Sony tells us that all three Walkman families will be available in Europe starting today -- and we managed to handle both the new noise-cancelling E474 (£80, or around $80) and the F800 last week. Unfortunately, we were only able feel around the device, as unfortunately neither were powered up. The F series feels a lot like a solidly-built smart phone, with a matte black finish -- the device arrives in just the single color option. Meanwhile, the E series attacks the rainbow, with a range of patterns. These feel predictably lighter, and should slip into pockets very easily. Take a closer look at the PMP pair in the galleries below. Sony Walkman refresh 2012 Show full PR text Latest Walkman® MP3 players from Sony with Android™, Bluetooth® and digital noise cancelling Walkman® F800 Series: Web-enabled with Android™, 8.9cm/3.5" multi-touch LCD and S-Master MX Digital Amplifier Walkman® S770BT Series: Wireless listening with bundled Bluetooth® headphones Walkman® E570 Series: Brilliantly clear sound with digital noise cancelling Walkman® E470 Series: Vibrant colours and 36 hours battery life1 Walkman NWZ-E470 Experience your perfect summer soundtrack, with the new range of Walkman® MP3 audio and video players from Sony. Whatever your tastes, you'll be satisfied by legendary Walkman® sound quality. Clear Audio technologies by Sony assure richly-detailed sound, with deep, powerful bass, crystalline highs and reduced leakage between stereo channels. Walkman® even restores those subtle high frequency details that get lost when you're listening to heavily-compressed digital music files. This summer's line-up of MP3 audio and video players by Sony includes the sleekest, slimmest Walkman® models ever. Just 7mm thin, the new S770BT and E570/470 Series take up little space when they're slipped into a pocket or bag. With up to 36 hours play time1 from a single charge, there's plenty of stamina to keep you entertained on long journeys. And if you're looking for a supreme listening experience, Walkman® F800 Series brings you an exciting world of ultra-detailed hi-fi sound, Wi-Fi connectivity and apps. All new Walkman® models are compatible with Music Unlimited from Sony Entertainment Network, allowing easy access to the millions of music tracks on offer2. As part of a simple monthly subscription, Music Unlimited lets you transfer your favourite personalised playlists and ad-free radio channels to Walkman®, so you can enjoy a world of music discovery even when offline. It's easy to load up your existing media collection, too. Walkman® supports drag-and-drop transfer of music, photos, videos, podcasts and playlists from iTunes (non-DRM content only) or Windows® Explorer. Walkman® F800 Series Walkman F series Treat yourself to an extreme on-the-go entertainment experience. Powered by AndroidTM 4.0 ("Ice Cream Sandwich"), the web-enabled Walkman® F800 Series lets you enjoy a generous range of pre-installed apps, from email to maps and media gallery. Connect wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth® and download more from an ever-growing choice on Google PlayTM. Interacting with your media collection, apps and games is a pleasure, thanks to the large, highly-responsive 8.9cm/3.5" multi-touch screen, plus plenty of processing power for smooth, speedy responses. You'll enjoy crisp highs and full, thumping bass powered by S-Master MX Digital Amplifier and five Clear Audio technologies. You can even share your sounds out loud via the built-in xLOUD® speaker system that cuts distortion and unpleasant clipping for clearer listening. Walkman® S770BT Series S 770 Supplied with colour-matched in-ear Bluetooth® headphones, Walkman® S770BT Series lets you enjoy your favourite sounds without a tangle of wires. Even when your Walkman® is in a pocket or bag, it's easy to make fumble-free volume adjustments or skip tracks with handy controls on the headphone cord - while Walkman® stays safely hidden. At home or on the move, Walkman® S770BT Series can also stream high-quality sound to other Bluetooth® compatible devices3, like speaker docks, home audio systems or your car audio system. Walkman® E570 Series Walkman NWZ-E570 Immerse yourself in a world of pure, uninterrupted music when you're commuting into college or just relaxing at home. Walkman® E570 Series can reduce background sound levels by 98%4, thanks to its unique combination of built-in digital noise cancelling technology, and the high-quality noise cancelling headphones that come supplied. Walkman® E470 Series Walkman NWZ-E470 Enjoy a perfect introduction to the world of crisp Walkman® sound and powerful bass with slim, colourful Walkman® E470 Series. It's packed with fun features like Karaoke mode and synchronised lyrics display to help you get the party started. New to Walkman®, there's even a choice of entertaining games to enjoy on the bright, detailed 5.1cm/2" LCD screen while you listen. Also available, Walkman® E473K includes a portable speaker dock with eye-grabbing new styling that's great for sharing your sounds out loud, whether you're indoors or relaxing in the garden with friends. Powered by the MP3 player's internal battery, the dock delivers punchy sound with rich bass while being small and light enough to carry with you anywhere. Walkman NWZ-E473K The new Walkman® range of MP3 audio and video players from Sony is available in Europe from 18th July 2012.

AT&T unveils Mobile Share, lets you add 10 devices to a single plan Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:01 AM PDT We knew it was coming and even Ralph de la Vega himself publicly admitted that it was in the pipeline, but today AT&T has whipped the covers from its new shared data plans. Mobile Share will enable customers to use a single data allocation across all of their devices, with unlimited calls and text. You're entitled to use up to 10 devices on a single plan, of which at least one must be a smartphone. Users can pick how much data they expect to use each month, paying an additional levy to add the rest of their family's handsets (or just your own, if you're Steve Wozniak). Fortunately, tethering is included as part of the plans. The new plans will roll out in late August and will sit alongside the current individual and family offerings, with the company allowing current customers to make a switch without forcing them into a contract extension. AT&T also noted that those lucky customers that are still on a grandfathered unlimited data plan can stay on those plans, even if they upgrade to a new phone at the subsidized on-contract cost. We've got the pricing structure and PR for you for you after the break if you're sweaty-palmed in anticipation for the launch. First, Choose your monthly Data Amount Mobile share with Unlimited Talk & Text 1GB 4GB 6GB 10GB 15GB 20GB $40 $70 $90 $120 $160 $200 Each Smartphone + + + + + + $45 $40 $35 $30 $30 $30 Additional data: $15 per GB Next, add more devices to your plan Basic and quick messaging phones Laptops, LaptopConnect cards and Netbooks Tablets and gaming devices $30 each per month $20 each per month $10 each per month Show full PR text AT&T GIVES CUSTOMERS MORE CHOICE WITH NEW SHARED WIRELESS DATA PLANS New Mobile Share Plans Allow Customers to Easily Share Data Across Smartphones, Tablets and Other Devices New and Current Customers Not Required To Choose or Switch to Shared Plans DALLAS, JULY 18, 2012- AT&T* customers will soon have more options in choosing the plan that's right for them and their mobile devices. With new AT&T Mobile Share plans, available in late August, new and existing customers can share a single bucket of data acrosss martphones, tablets, and other compatible devices, plus get unlimited talk and text. AT&T Mobile Share plans make it easy for customers to manage their data, voice minutes and texting, without needing to keep track of multiple plans. Customers can select one of the new shared data plans or choose one of AT&T's existing individual or family plans. Current customers are not required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension. There are no changes to AT&T's device upgrade policy, which means customers eligible to upgrade to AT&T's best device price are not required to switch plans. The new plans will also be available for business customers. With AT&T Mobile Share plans, customers start by choosing how much data they want each month, then choose up to 10 devices to attach to their shared plan, one of which must be a smartphone. Each plan includes tethering and unlimited domestic calls and texts for smartphones and basic or quick messaging phones. The larger the data bucket you choose, the less you pay per gigabyte and the less you pay for each smartphone added to the shared plan. AT&T Mobile Share allows customers to essentially build a plan to fit their devices and usage. Customers who are more data-centric can choose a larger data bucket. Customers who typically use more voice than data can add multiple smartphones and basic phones and opt for a smaller data bucket. "We offer customers a broad choice and the best lineup of plans, now enhanced by Mobile Share," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility. "With these new plans, the more you share, the more you save. They'll be a good fit for a variety of new and existing customers. But if customers want to stay on their current plan or choose from our existing plans, they can do that, too. It's their choice. "Today we think of people's smartphones and tablets sharing a bucket of data. But in the future we'll see health care monitors, connected cars, security systems and other devices in the home all connected to the mobile Internet," said Christopher. "Our Mobile Share plans are simple, easy and a great value for individuals or families with multiple mobile Internet devices." Mobile Share plans give customers more control over how, where and on what device they use data - which has become more important as people use more data devices. You can choose to use more of your data bucket on your tablet, for example, or tap into your databucket only when needed for devices you use occassionally. And by consolidating data plans, you can take advantage of any data you currently have unused each month by efficiently sharing it across devices. "The 'more you share, the more you save' concept is one that will resonate well with customers because of the value provided through the Mobile Share data plans themselves and in smartphone connection fees," said Roger Entner, Founder and Lead Analyst of Recon Analytics. "AT&T also is providing its customers with flexibility and choice by keeping its existing data plans and not requiring customers to move to Mobile Share unless they want to. It's a win-win for both AT&T and its customers." To help customers track their data usage, AT&T keeps users informed with courtesy alerts as they near their data allowance for the month. Also, customers can check their usage at anytime online, through the myAT&T mobile app, or by calling *DATA# from their mobile phone. Each data plan also includes access to more than 30,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots - the nation's largest Wi-Fi network** among wireless carriers - at no additional charge. Wi-Fi usage at public hotspots, home or office does not count toward the monthly wireless data plan usage. Customers can learn more about the new plans and determine which plan is best for them at www.att.com/mobileshare.

HTC slaps Apple with two more patents from acquired HP portfolio Posted: 18 Jul 2012 03:34 AM PDT While it's not quite as protracted as the long, slow slug-out between Apple and Samsung, HTC's patent contentions with Cupertino have just been augmented, with two more filings tossed into the pot. The IP in question originally belonged to HP, before being scooped up by the Taiwanese phone maker and pertains to Apple Remote Desktop and Apple Profile Manager along with other embedded network features in iOS and OS X. Apple's run of luck in this area might not be the greatest just now, but then they do say things come in threes.

CyanogenMod 10 builds start offering sugary sweets to Samsung Galaxy S III users Posted: 18 Jul 2012 03:28 AM PDT Early builds of CyanogenMod 10 have sprung up to enable users to get that buttery-smooth Jelly Bean experience onto your Samsung Galaxy S III. Work is further along on the international edition of the quad-core CPU, while the US variants are still in need of some work. That said, if you're determined to free yourself from the watery shackles of Nature UX, you can get started right away -- but it might not be all that polished just yet.

VestGuard UK Ballistic cover will protect your iPad from tablet-related gunplay Posted: 18 Jul 2012 03:22 AM PDT If you find yourself in the position of regularly having your iPad shot at, VestGuard UK sure has the tablet case for you. The Ballistic cover is made of "cutting edge uni-directional aramid fibers processed to a high tolerance in VestGuard's state of the art facility" that make it possible for the case to stop bullets from a 9mm handgun. In other words, the company's bulletproof claims are "not a metaphor," as stated in the post-script of its press materials. And judging from its current selection of products, which include body armor, de-mining helmets and Kevlar gloves, the company knows a thing or two about heavy duty protection. Not a lot in the way of information on availability at the moment, however, since the covers are not quite ready for sale.

AT&T CEO responds to paid 3G FaceTime rumor, says it's 'too early' to talk pricing Posted: 18 Jul 2012 03:06 AM PDT AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has responded to rumors that Ma Bell plans to add an additional levy upon those planning to use FaceTime over cellular. Speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm conference, he's quoted as saying that he "heard the same rumor," but that it was "too early to talk about pricing." Of course, given that response, it looks like the company has at least been mulling an additional levy for the feature. At present, he says his primary focus is to work with Apple on ensuring the video calling technology works smoothly across his company's data network, with iOS 6 due to arrive later this year.

Washington to become first US state to enroll voters through Facebook Posted: 18 Jul 2012 02:42 AM PDT Washington state has commissioned a Facebook app to provide another avenue for its residents to register to vote. Officials will soon post the software, developed by local company Microsoft, on the Secretary of State's page and allow users to like it in order to spread the word. Once it's ready, residents looking at using it will need to allow Facebook access to their personal info and provide a driver's license number or state ID number, which the social network will use to put them on the voter rolls -- but it would have no access to government databases, according to an election director. The state's current online system already saves up to $2 per voter registration, so on top of getting more out to vote, the new effort should keep even more dollars in the coffers.

iBike Powerhouse starts shipping: a workout coach for your set of wheels Posted: 18 Jul 2012 02:41 AM PDT Velocomp's iBike Powerhouse, the cycling computer that integrates with your wheels to bring you workouts such as the descriptively named Brazilian Butt, is finally ready to ship. Introduced back in January, the Powerhouse works with an app for the iPhone or iPod touch (hence the iMoniker) to measure your pedal rates and other health stats, with preset workouts guiding you through 45- to 90-minute rides targeted toward your fitness level. The regimens also include tips and video demos from cycling pro Hunter Allen. The $279 package, available through the iBike site, includes a case for the iPhone or iPod touch, the Powerhouse computer itself, the app, a wireless speed sensor and a handle bar mounting system. Though the system comes with two pre-loaded workouts, you can buy more for $9.99 a pop through the iOS app. Head on down to the PR for more info. Show full PR text Velocomp , a leading sports technology company and creator of the iBike Dash CC Cycling Computer, announced today that it is now shipping iBike® POWERHOUSE, the world's first intelligent cycling fitness system that automatically adjusts to your exercise goals. Based on assessments of your fitness level, the revolutionary iBike POWERHOUSE works with your iPhone and iPod touch to measure, guide and motivate you to achieve important health, appearance, and fitness goals. The POWERHOUSE method maximizes the benefit of each ride and shortens the time needed to achieve results. iBike POWERHOUSE combines iBike's patented power measurement and analysis technologies with automatically-adjusting, goal-oriented cycling plans - all delivered through the incredible display and computing power of the iPhone/iPod touch. Choose Your Goal-Based Plan – iBike POWERHOUSE Guides You Step-by-Step Working out with iBike POWERHOUSE is easy. Select a goal-based plan, from "iSlim," "CycleMax," "Express Fitness," "Brazilian Butt," "Weekend Warrior," and "Zero to 20 miles" -- just some of the plans available. Then, over a period of 4-6 weeks, iBike POWERHOUSE guides you through a series of 45-90 minute bike rides. During each ride, you are directed to pedal at specific levels of effort (power), customized to the plan's goals and your measured fitness level. So, a "couch potato" will start out at a challenging but lower level of effort, whereas a fitter cyclist will start the same plan at a significantly higher level of effort. Fitness Plans Designed by Power-Cycling Coach Hunter Allen iBike POWERHOUSE's fitness plans are designed by Hunter Allen, one of the world's foremost power-cycling coaches. Allen's plans have been proven over nearly 20 years of coaching cyclists at all levels -- from beginner to world class. And, in addition to the structured ride information for each plan, videos are included with tips from Allen for getting the most out of your cycling. iBike POWERHOUSE is a complete system, including: · A water/shock resistant "smart case" for the iPhone/iPod touch. · Patented electronics that perform all cycling measurements, including power. · The iBike POWERHOUSE app that interacts with iBike's electronics. · A wireless speed/cadence sensor. · Handle bar mounting system. · The ability to listen to music or take phone calls while cycling* "The iBike POWERHOUSE is the only product that creates cycling plans customized to your fitness level and goals, and that automatically adjusts as you improve," said John Hamann, CEO, Velocomp. "iBike POWERHOUSE is a must for anyone who owns a bike and who wants to achieve measurable improvement towards health and fitness goals or improve their overall cycling."

Sony postpones Nasne NAS due to quality control issues Posted: 18 Jul 2012 02:09 AM PDT Due to a quality control hiccup just one day before the Nasne was due for release in Japan, Sony has been forced to postpone it. The product combines a networked recorder with 500GB of storage and can be used to stream TV and other media to a range of Sony devices including the PS3, Vita, VAIO, Tablet and Xperia phone ranges -- potentially becoming a key example of Kaz Hirai's "One Sony" strategy. Judging from the official explanation of the problem, it sounds like some goods were simply damaged while being transported and hence the delay shouldn't last long.

Nissan Leaf, GE WattStation embroiled in charging damage shocker, invite other EV puns (update: full GE statement) Posted: 18 Jul 2012 02:03 AM PDT Hopefully, you haven't paired up your Nissan Leaf with a GE WattStation for charging; if you have, you might want to power up with Ye Olde Wall Outlet for a short while. GE has confirmed to the New York Times that some Leaf drivers have encountered "problems" after charging up their EVs from WattStations. What problems? GE isn't going into detail, but a Nissan regional manager claims that the the charging systems of 11 Leafs have been damaged after plugging into a WattStation. Whether or not there's a crisis or a coincidence is still up in the air at this stage. Nissan isn't issuing any warnings or recalls, and GE will only say that it's "actively working" with the automaker to find the root cause. All the same, we'll be cautious until the companies turn a new... you guessed it. Update: GE reached out to us with the full statement, which you'll find in the comments below. The company is mostly touching on what it mentioned earlier, but it's adding that the WattStation meets the needed SAE and UL standards. Other EVs haven't encountered problems to date.

SteelSeries announces Sensei RAW gaming mouse duo, glossy and rubber options for $59.99 Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:26 AM PDT SteelSeries has unveiled a pair Sensei RAW mice for all of those intense Diablo III gaming sessions. The duo takes aim at those who seek a serviceable mouse without the customization that the original Sensei's 32-bit ARM processor affords. Glossy and rubberized anti-sweat variants both feature a 6.5-foot braided cord, CPI toggle for on-the-fly tweaks, three zones of custom LEDs, a pro-grade laser senor and programmable controls / sensitivity. If you fancy simplicity in your gaming mouse, you can snag either of the RAW options now for $60 via the source link below. SteelSeries Sensei RAW gaming mouse Show full PR text STEELSERIES SENSEI [RAW] GAMING MOUSE AVAILABLE NOW Award-Winning Sensei Design with Core Hardware Essentials, Available in Glossy and Rubberized Editions CHICAGO – July 17, 2012 – SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality, competitive gaming peripherals, today announced that the SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] Glossy and Rubberized Editions are available now online for $59.99/ €59.99 in the SteelSeries Web Shop. The SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] features the core essentials of a premium-quality gaming mouse, but for users that may not require all of the customization that the 32 bit ARM processor inside of the SteelSeries Sensei has to offer. The Sensei [RAW] will provide users with the same Sensei shape and size as well as: BEST-IN-CLASS HARDWARE From tournament-grade switches for intense clicking, to a pro-grade laser sensor and a CPI range from 1-5,700, the SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] delivers the best in gaming performance. Flip it over to find XL-sized UPE material feet for a smooth and consistent glide. Give it a tug or roll over it with your desk chair; the 6.5ft anti-tangle black and white cord is braided nylon. ILLUMATATION Its bright-white LED illumination is featured in 3 zones and can be configured with multiple levels of pulsation. Powered by the SteelSeries Engine software suite, users are equipped with advanced customization options and the ability to create and store an unlimited number of profiles. GRIP OPTIONS The SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] has an ambidextrous, all-grip design and is available in 2 different versions, each offering a very distinct feel for the user. For gamers who worry about sweaty palms, the SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] Rubberized features a rubberized black, hand-sweat resistant coating that allows for an exceptional grip and soft-touch comfort even during the most frantic gaming sessions. The SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] Glossy features a glossy black, smooth exterior that both looks and feels sleek.

Vodafone Australia promises Nexus S Jelly Bean upgrade on July 19th Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:38 AM PDT While Google hasn't said when it will be bringing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to devices other than the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7, a blog post from Vodafone Australia has revealed a date for the update on the Nexus S. Vodafone's chart says Google's rollout taking its Nexus S from 4.0.4 to 4.1 is scheduled for 1PM AEST (11PM ET by our reckoning) on July 19th, at the same time updates are getting pushed for other devices (the original Galaxy S, for example, is getting the Value Pack update), even while its Galaxy Nexus JB update is still apparently under testing. That difference should be enough to tell you this doesn't necessarily mean anything is on the way in other territories, but Nexus S owners should probably stay on alert for updates all the same. [Thanks, Onel]

Rogers offers 6GB Super Plan, guarantees that Galaxy S III will stay busy Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:19 AM PDT Cellular promos come and go. Rogers, however, wants to make sure that its 6GB Super Plan is one to remember: the carrier is offering the 6GB of monthly data that has become its summer tradition, only this time as part of a bigger plan that tucks in 200 minutes, unlimited messaging and the usual evening and favorites perks for voice calls. At $60, the combo isn't just a better deal than usual, it's impossible to build otherwise -- the closest that exists is a $73 monthly plan that tops out at 3GB. The promo's August 8th cutoff date doesn't afford much breathing room for would-be adopters, but it should let new Galaxy S III buyers milk that LTE for all it's worth.

D-Link Cloud Router 5700 marks the outfit's first foray into 802.11ac WiFi, now shipping for $190 Posted: 17 Jul 2012 11:43 PM PDT D-Link has fulfilled its promise to support the newfangled 802.11ac wireless standard. The company has pulled the curtain back on its first router that's compatible with the aforementioned tech in the Cloud Router 5700. Boasting performance of up to 1,750Mbps (that's 1,300 ac + 450 n), the kit implements a 5Ghz band for cutting out the clutter and houses four Gigabit Ethernet ports alongside a single USB receptacle around back. A handful of apps are included to help you get the most out of the purchase -- like the Cloud App for home network monitoring and the D-Link SharePort mobile software for streaming from USB storage units. Looking to snag one for the purposes speeding up your home network? You can do just that from either Amazon or Newegg for $189.99 as fast as your fingers will click.

Never get lost in a Walgreens again with Aisle411's new indoor navigation app Posted: 17 Jul 2012 11:12 PM PDT Getting lost in a supermarket the size of a small country isn't anything to be ashamed of, but Aisle411 will spare your blushes with an indoor navigation app for your local branch of Walgreens. Designed to save you time and ensure you can find the products you need, it'll even pinpoint the location of products on shelves to ensure you can avoid distractions. It's available gratis from today on both iOS and Android App Stores, just in time for your next sojourn for supplies. Show full PR text aisle411 Smartphone App Delivers First Nationwide Indoor Mapping and Navigation Within Walgreens 7,907 Stores PALO ALTO, Calif., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- aisle411, the premier mobile retail navigation service, today announced that its virtual mapping and navigation smartphone app is available to use in all of Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) 7,907 drugstores nationwide, further delivering on its promise to provide the most convenient shopping experience for customers. With aisle411's in-store mapping platform, customers can use their smartphones to view maps of any Walgreens store, allowing shoppers to locate products down to a particular section of each aisle. Walgreens is the first national retailer with all of its stores mapped in a mobile application. "Retailers are constantly looking for solutions to enhance their customer's store visits and improve convenience," said Nathan Pettyjohn, CEO of aisle411. "aisle411 allows retailers to empower their shoppers by providing information such as product locations right in customers' hands, making the shopping experience more convenient and fun. aisle411's unmatched scalability made it the perfect solution to accommodate Walgreens nationwide deployment, providing a solution for nearly 8,000 stores." A national survey commissioned by aisle411 discovered that nearly 84 percent of shoppers have difficulty finding products on store shelves and more than 20 percent of shoppers leave the store without their full purchase intent. aisle411 empowers anyone with a smartphone to find products and promotions quickly and easily in retail stores with a unique in-store search and comprehensive mobile retail shopping solution. The aisle411 app is available for free from the iPhone App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aisle411/id394218369?mt=8 and the Google Play store at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aisle411. "We are always looking for new ways to utilize technology to deliver a better shopping experience and help customers with their health and daily living needs," said Abhi Dhar, Walgreens chief technology officer. "With aisle411, Walgreens further delivers on its goal of providing the most convenient shopping experience by simplifying store visits and saving customers' valuable time." News Highlights: Walgreens is the nation's largest drugstore chain. Nearly two-thirds of Americans live within three miles of a Walgreens store. Fiscal 2011 sales were more than $72 billion. Walgreens is the first national retailer with all of its stores mapped in a mobile phone application. aisle411 has developed the first nationally scaled solution for in-store search and navigation enabling brands to connect with shoppers in-store with relevance, understanding a shopper's immediate purchase intent. aisle411 provides consumers with an easier shopping experience, retailers with the technology to deliver better customer service, and brand advertisers with detailed shopper analytics for enhanced delivery of customized content. Supporting Resources: Google Play/Android Market: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aisle411 iPhone App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aisle411/id394218369?mt=8 Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/aisle411 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aisle411Inc About aisle411 Founded in 2008, aisle411 was first to market with a mobile product search service using retail product location information to help consumers save time and money. aisle411 provides a comprehensive in-store search and navigation solution for consumers via mobile technologies with support for iOS and Android devices. With offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Palo Alto, California, this innovative market leader is positioned for rapid growth across retail locations in the U.S. and internationally. Additional information is available at: http://www.aisle411.com/ About Walgreens As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America's first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 7,907 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Panasonic's Lumix lineup grows: DMC-G5 Micro Four Thirds, DMC-FZ200 superzoom and DMC-LX7 hands-on and sample shots Posted: 17 Jul 2012 10:25 PM PDT It's been nearly half a year since Panasonic's Lumix series of cameras got any new members, but today the company is introducing three more shooters to the family. First up is the DMC-G5, the latest addition to the company's Micro Four Thirds lineup. It's the successor to the G3 and packs a 16-megapixel sensor capable of shooting 1080p videos at 60fps and stills in up to 6fps bursts at a max 12,800 ISO at full resolution. The G5's LVF has a proximity sensor to automatically switch between it and the camera's 920,000-dot capacitive screen depending on which one you're using to frame your shots. When the G5 goes on sale next month, you'll have your choice of black, silver and white models. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 hands-on In addition to the G5, Panasonic's also introducing a new superzoom camera, the DMC-FZ200 and a high-end DMC-LX7 point-and-shoot. The FZ200 replaces the FZ150 and pairs a 12-megapixel sensor with a 25-600mm constant f/2.8 aperture Leica Elmarit lens with nano surface coating to reduce flare and ghosting. It has a 24x optical zoom and shoots 1080p video at up to 60fps along with stills in up to 12fps bursts, though its max ISO is only 6,400. Meanwhile, the LX7 has arrived sporting a 10-megapixel sensor and a 24-90mm, f/1.4-2.3 Leica Summilux lens with the same nano surface coating as the FZ200. Like its Lumix brethren, it shoots 1080p video at 60fps, and shares the same maximum 12,800 ISO as the G5. It'll be available in black and pearl white when it ships in August. We got to spend some time with all three, so join us after the break to learn a bit about what its like snapping pics with this trio of Panasonics. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 hands-on Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 hands-on We're big fans of mirrorless cameras (this editor carries around an NEX-C3) and the new G5 looks to be another quality entrant into the market. It's a lightweight camera, but its body is quite a bit bigger than its main competition from Sony, the NEX-5N. Like the Sony, the G5 has a touchscreen round the back, and it is an absolute pleasure to use. It might just be the finest LCD we've seen on any mirrorless camera, with stellar viewing angles and crisp, color-correct reproductions of whatever you're shooting. Sure, it still suffers in direct sunlight, but it's got a handy feature that allows you to touch-to-focus while you're using the LVF, giving you the best of both worlds. Its spun-metal shutter button is handsome, but we would have liked a bit more definition between its two stages, as a few times the camera took pictures when we were only trying to focus our shots. The build quality is quite good, and lends the G5 a solid feel, but it is a bit bulky -- even with Panasonic's svelte 14-42mm X-series zoom lens mounted on the front. Such an impression may largely be due to the fact that we carry around a comparatively thin NEX-C3, but the G5 doesn't feel that much smaller than entry-level DSLRs like Sony's A37. Regardless, we found shooting with the G5 to be quite easy, as it's got programmable buttons and a lever right behind the shutter button, plus a thumb dial to provide easy access to controls and settings. Those hardware controls were much appreciated coming from someone who regularly suffers Sony's arduous wheel-based UX. As for the results after a day of shooting? Our pictures turned out pretty darn well, if we do say so ourselves. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get a sample video during our time with the G5, as the camera couldn't hold focus -- Panasonic's rep confirmed that the camera hadn't gotten the firmware update needed to correct the problem. Regardless, you don't have to take our word for it, just take a look at our gallery of sample shots. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 sample shots While the G5 was the main attraction, we also got to squeeze off a few snaps with the FZ200 as well. It's about the same size as the G5, with slightly different button placements, and shares its Lumix sibling's build quality. Naturally, the Micro Four Thirds camera also has a bigger sensor with a higher ISO than the FZ200, but it makes up for such lesser specs with its built-in 25-600mm fixed f/2.8 aperture lens. Because of that glass, Panasonic touts the camera as a good back-up for pro photographers, but given that this humble editor is far from a professional, we can't confirm whether such folks will want to carry one around with their D800 or new 1D-X. What we can do is vouch that its lens really is quite capable -- few photo subjects in view were out of range of its considerable optical reach. The unit we used was a pre-production model, but we had little trouble getting quality photos with the thing, and shooting video was also easy peasy. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 sample shots These photos were taken using a pre-production camera model and do not reflect final picture quality. Panasonic let us snap a few pictures with Panasonic's DMC-LX7 point-and-shoot as well. It's a handsome little camera, well-built, and it actually feels more solid than both the G5 and FZ200. While it has a smaller sensor than either of the larger Lumixes, it still produced quality results, and we can certainly see its appeal for folks looking for a capable, pocketable camera. Don't believe us? Take a peek at the gallery below. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 sample shots Show full PR text The Panasonic LUMIX G5: Setting a new standard in Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Cameras New 16M digital Live MOS sensor & Venus Engine 7 FHD provide superb pictures quality for photo and video taking especially in low light situations 18th July, 2012– Panasonic has today launched the LUMIX G5, a truly revolutionary digital single lens mirrorless camera. Offering outstanding image quality delivered by state-of-the-art technology, full creative control, and a wide range of shooting options provided by the LUMIX G system, the LUMIX G5 will help you take your photography to the next level. Setting a new standard in system camera image quality The LUMIX G5 demonstrates the true potential of Mirrorless System Camera image quality. The newly designed 16.05-megapixel Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Sensor means images will be cleaner than ever, while the incredible processing power of Venus Engine VII FHD maximises the potential of your images and videos. With the perfect balance between the sensor and image processer, the LUMIX G5 provides an ISO range of 160 – 12,800, allowing stunning image quality even in low-light situations. Boasting a high speed AF system "Light Speed AF", you'll never miss the perfect moment with the LUMIX G5. A wide range of AF modes are available, including multiple-area AF, Face Detection, and AF Tracking meaning the LUMIX G5 can lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves. Additionally, the LUMIX G5's rapid burst shooting capability - at six Frames per Second (FPS) at full resolution or up to 20 FPS in reduced resolution - can capture multiple shots of fast-moving subjects with stunning clarity. The quality advances of the LUMIX G5 are not restricted to still photos. The sensor and Venus Engine enhancements mean that the camera can record in Full HD 1080/50p, with stereo sound, producing professional movie quality with minimal noise. With outputs in both AVCHD progressive and MP4, the LUMIX G5 provides wide compression and compatibility options. The long recording times, instant access controls, advanced AF system and LUMIX G lenses specifically designed for movie shooting, means the LUMIX G5 is the perfect option for capturing beautiful movies with ease. Putting you in control of your creative photography The LUMIX G5 provides high precision digital processing functions in a compact, classically designed and easy-to-grip chassis. Its intuitive automatic shooting modes, full range of advanced features, and innovative user interface give you the power to maximise your creativity. With a choice of using either the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) with eye sensor, or the high resolution, 3.0-inch free-angle LCD to compose your shots and movies, you can capture the moment as the situation demands. Meanwhile, the revolutionary touch control shooting - including full-area touch focusing where the focus can be set immediately to the subject, or to the background, by just one touch of the large LCD screen even when using the EVF – gives you the control to compose and create stunning images. Be part of the LUMIX G Microsystem As part of the LUMIX G system, the LUMIX G5 will provide you with access to the world's largest range of Micro Four Thirds lenses and accessories, making sure you have the right set-up to capture every moment. These include Panasonic's new LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm lens, offering F2.8 brightness throughout its entire zoom range. Key Features · A new standard in digital single lens mirrorless camera image quality: With a new 16.05-megapixel Live MOS sensor; the Venus Engine VII FHD image processor; and an ISO range of up to 12,800, the LUMIX G5 provides stunning image quality, even in low-light situations. · Never miss the perfect moment: With highly precise, light speed Auto Focus and six FPS burst shooting at full resolution, you'll never miss the perfect shot · Capture your memories with Full HD Movie capability: The LUMIX G5 offers Full HD recording in full stereo in both AVCHD (1080p at 50 FPS) and MP4 (1080p at 25 FPS) formats - widening your editing and storage management options · Creative control: The LUMIX G5 lets you capture great photos from the very first shot with iA+ (Intelligent Auto Plus) mode. Auto Focus can be set with one touch, Face Recognition will remember the settings for your friends and Intelligent Scene Selector will automatically switch to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. New features on the camera, such as the Function Lever allow you to intuitively control power zoom lenses; zoom into an image when in playback mode; and navigate the user interface · You choose how to shoot: With the in-built Electronic Viewfinder you can frame the perfect portrait with your eye close to the camera, while the 3.0-inch free-angle touch LCD screen means you can take shots from above your head and below your feet with perfect clarity · Classic design: Compact, easy-to-grip and with a classic design, the LUMIX G5 is designed to be your companion on all of your photographic adventures _____________________________ Panasonic LUMIX FZ200 – pushing the boundaries of high-speed super-zoom photography 18th July, 2012– Panasonic's LUMIX FZ200, the latest addition to its super-zoom compact digital camera range, is designed to be the ultimate high-speed option to capture spur of the moment events in stunning image quality. With 12 megapixels, outstanding low light performance, a 24x optical zoom LEICA DC lens, and Full HD video recording, magical moments and dramatic scenery can be captured with ease and precision. Go further with the advanced LEICA DC lens The LUMIX FZ200's exceptional 24x zoom LEICA DC lens lets you go further, with a F2.8 aperture available throughout the entire zoom range. With this wide zoom ratio, alongside Panasonic's optical image stabilisation technology POWER O.I.S., the FZ200 will give you clear, crisp, blur-free zoom shots whether you're bird-watching or capturing live sport. Additionally, the 25mm ultra wide-angle lens has around twice the shooting area as a standard 35mm lens, providing enhanced shots of sweeping landscapes and city vistas. Low-light capture Pushing the boundaries of low light capture, the LUMIX FZ200's improved 12-megapixel high-sensitivity MOS sensor and Venus Engine, maximise both the sensitivity and speed of image processing. With image capture available at up to ISO6400, the FZ200 puts beautiful nighttime photography in the palm of your hand. High-speed photography, wherever you are In addition to the wide zoom range and image quality advances, the high-speed functionality of the LUMIX FZ200 means you'll never miss the perfect moment. With light-speed Auto Focus you can capture dynamic moments with precision, while Burst Shooting at 12 FPS in full resolution means subjects such as fast-moving sports stars or wildlife, can be captured with ease. Creative control in your hands The LUMIX FZ200 has a wide range of options that can maximise the level of creativity and control possible in a fixed lens camera. These include an enhanced Panorama Shot feature, perfect for capturing landscapes and vast architectural details. In addition, the camera offers 3D photography and advanced editing options through Panasonic's Creative Control Mode during recording and Creative Re-touch Mode in playback. Taking fixed-lens photography to the next level With such a large zoom ratio including an F2.8 aperture throughout the whole zoom range, superb low-light performance and high-speed functionality, the FZ200 is the perfect option to take photography to the next level in a fixed lens camera. From football games at night to wildlife far in the distance, the FZ200 will help you capture dynamic, beautiful scenes with the upmost clarity. Key features: · Advanced LEICA DC lens: The full range F2.8 24x optical zoom LEICA lens pushes the boundaries of fixed lens photography. With an intelligent zoom of 48x and nano-surface coating, to reduce flare and ghosts, the FZ200 is perfect for crisp, dynamic photography · Superb low light performance:The improved 12-megapixel high-sensitivity MOS sensor, Venus Engine and ISO sensitivity of up to ISO6400 mimimises noise in low-light situations · Advanced image stabilisation: Power O.I.S, available throughout all capture options including zoom and video, maximises the hand-shake correction power of the camera · Rapid capture: Fast moving subjects and objects are now easily captured thanks to industry-leading technology incorporating 12 FPS burst shooting · Full HD movie recording: The LUMIX FZ200 provides stunning 1920x1080 50p Full HD video recording with Dolby Digital audio. With recording options available in AVCHD Progressive and MP4, you get the widest compression and compatibility options · Full creative control: A wide range of manual and creative modes put the photographic control in your hands – including Creative Control features and 3D photography · Quality build and long stamina: The LUMIX FZ200 has a strong chassis and a bright, free angle 3-inch LCD. The camera also provides an operational standby for the capture of over 500 images with its 1,200 mAh stamina battery __________________________ Panasonic's LUMIX LX7 – Expanding your power of expression 18th July, 2012 – Panasonic's LUMIX LX7, its newest and most advanced premium compact digital camera to date, puts creative expression in your hands with state-of-the-art imaging technology and advanced manual controls. With an outstanding LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX lens offering an F1.4 maximum aperture, high sensitivity for superb low-light photography and versatile shooting functions to boost your creativity, the LUMIX LX7 is built to the highest specifications. Raising the bar of image quality The LUMIX LX7's newly designed LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX F1.4-2.3 lens - in combination with the 10.1-megapixel high-sensitivity MOS Senor and Venus Engine VII FHD - provides stunning image quality even in low-light situations. With an aperture of up to F1.4 you can achieve beautiful shallow depth of field shots, extending the creative expression of your photography. The bright, high quality lens is also perfect for macro shots of intricate objects such as flowers and insects, as well as for dimly-lit scenes that require greater exposure such as inside dark woodlands and historic buildings. Meanwhile the 24mm ultra wide-angle lens with Nano Surface Coating gives you a wider range of composition options, with minimised distortion at edges of wide landscape shots, so you can get stunning, true-to-life images with outstanding crispness and clarity. High sensitivity, high quality Featuring a 10.1-megapixel high-sensitivity MOS Senor and an ISO range of between 80 - 12,800, the LUMIX LX7 provides further advances in premium compact camera image quality, enabling high resolution and minimising noise even in low-light situations. These advances also provide vastly improved video recording performance, with 1920x1080 50p Full HD Video Recording in both AVCHD Progressive and MP4 outputs. Full creative control The LUMIX LX7 has been designed to provide you with the highest levels of control over defocus, brightness and colour to maximise the potential of your creative photography. With the Aperture Ring and Rear Dial, you can enjoy full control over the camera's aperture range by managing the levels of light very precisely to create beautiful defocus effects. Additionally the LUMIX LX7's Internal Neutral Density filter allows you to intuitively amend the shutter speed, enabling beautiful images of ski scenes or flowing water for example. Maximising creative expression in a fixed lens camera The LUMIX LX series is renowned for continually raising the bar for what is possible in premium compact camera photography. With the LUMIX LX7, we believe we have created the ultimate creative compact camera for the enthusiast. The advanced and bright LEICA lens, alongside the other imaging advances, provides superb image quality whatever the situation. Meanwhile the extended level of control provided to the user when composing shots means it's the perfect option for those looking to maximise creative expression in a compact camera. Key features: · Bright, high quality LEICA lens: The Leica DC VARIO-SUMMILUX 24mm Wide-Angle lens, with an aperture of up to F1.4, provides the most expressive and high quality shooting potential · Advanced low light performance: With a newly designed 10.1-megapixel MOS sensor, Venus Engine VII FHD and an ISO range of 80-12,800, the LUMIX LX7's improved light sensitivity minimises noise even in the most challenging environments · Full HD video recording: Powered by the Venus Engine VII FHD image processor, the LUMIX LX7 features 1920x1080 50p Full HD Video Recording (including both AVCHD Progressive and MP4 outputs), with Creative Movie Control for intuitive editing · Maximising creative control: The LUMIX LX7's Aperture Ring and Rear Dial provide you with full control over the camera's aperture range to create beautiful defocus effects. The Internal Neutral Density filter allows you to intuitively amend the shutter speed, and there are a variety of other creative modes.

Etymotic Music•Pro 9-15 earplugs bring high-end hush to audiences, lets us enjoy speed metal safely Posted: 17 Jul 2012 10:13 PM PDT Premium electronic earplugs usually find their homes with musicians eager to preserve their hearing at all costs; anyone within the crowd has more often been left to either use cruder plugs or cover their ears. Etymotic wants to bridge that difference with the Music•Pro 9-15. The combination of ER-9 and ER-15 earplugs matches its namesake not just through the choice of components, but through active noise cancellation that removes 9 to 15 decibels from the sound only when the rock gets too raucous: listeners can hear fellow concert-goers and even boost their volume without skewing the sound of the band. Pricing plays its own part in reaching out to the crowd, too. As high as the new Music•Pro set's $399 price might be compared to a typical pair of ear blockers, it's low enough that a dedicated fan of virtual Tupac can afford to go to the concert protected rather than voluntarily take on some hearing damage. Show full PR text ETYMOTIC LAUNCHES MUSIC PRO™ ACTIVE EARPLUGS First-of-its-kind hearing protection offers music professionals and avid listeners unprecedented hearing protection with built in intelligence Elk Grove Village, IL - July 16, 2012- Etymotic Research, an innovator in hearing wellness solutions, announces the launch of its MusicPRO™ Electronic Musicians Earplugs. Designed for music professionals and avid listeners, Music∙PRO earplugs combine two of Etymotic's passive custom hearing protection products - the ER-9 and ER-15 Musician's Earplugs™. The result is a pair of intelligent, high-fidelity active sound-reduction earplugs that allow natural hearing when sound is safe and provide automatic protection from both loud, sustained music and sudden, loud percussive sounds. The soft sounds of music and speech are amplified in the enhancement mode. The Music·PRO is priced at $399. Music·PRO earplugs are ideal for musicians--especially symphony and jazz conductors and players-- front-of-house personnel, entertainment industry support staff, security personnel and audiences. Music·PRO earplugs can be switched between two levels of protection. One provides natural hearing when sound levels are safe and either 9- or 15-dB sound reduction when sounds exceed safe levels. "Music-induced hearing loss is preventable," said Dr. Gail Gudmundsen, Managing Director, Audiology Division, at Etymotic. "Etymotic has been providing the world's only truly flat, passive hearing protection for more than 25 years. With Music·PRO active earplugs, we're pleased to launch the first electronic earplugs that allow musicians and listeners to hear their music naturally and be protected with no loss of clarity when it exceeds safe levels. No other devices can do that." Music·PRO earplugs come with a large selection of eartips that fit the majority of ears. These intelligent earplugs provide clear, high-fidelity sound quality using high-definition balanced-armature drivers, high-sensitivity microphones and wide-dynamic-range compression K-AMP® signal processing with a bandwidth of 40 Hz - 16 kHz, unprecedented in any personal listening system and all hearing aids. Features of Music·PRO 9-15 earplugs: * Protection is active only when hearing is at risk * Automatic activation of 9- or 15-dB flat attenuation, depending on the mode selected Benefits: * Dynamics and timbre are unaltered * Protection from extremely high-level sound, e.g., cymbal strike Etymotic's hearing protection products were honored with a Design and Engineering Innovations Award in the Health and Wellness category at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show and the prestigious 2010 Safe-in-Sound Award for decades of innovation in hearing loss prevention from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Hearing Conservation Association. The Music·PRO is priced at $399 and will be available for purchase at Etymotic.com, Amazon.com, Etymotic's network of hearing solution providers and select retailers and music specialty stores.

Grace Digital's MatchStick speaker dock for the Kindle Fire hits Amazon Posted: 17 Jul 2012 08:58 PM PDT We heard back in March that Grace Digital's FireDock for the Kindle Fire would be available in July, and it turns out that was at least partly true. The device is now shipping from Amazon (at a $30 discount of its $130 list price), but it's been rebranded with the even more Kindle-esque name of MatchStick. It remains unchanged otherwise, though, packing the same rotating cradle designed specifically for the Fire (despite the silver-framed device in the press image above), an aux input for other devices, a pair of 3-inch speakers with a 16 watt class D digital amplifier, and an optional lithium-ion battery pack that will be available in August.

Swarming quadrocopters complete trial recon mission for Japanese police (video) Posted: 17 Jul 2012 08:09 PM PDT Formation-flying quadrocopters have already given us hours of entertainment, but now they've also accomplished something serious. Earlier this month, mini choppers developed at Japan's robot-loving Chiba University assisted in an emergency drill that simulated an explosion at a chemical plant. Four machines and a host computer (shown off after the break) used spherical markers, image processing and a heck of a lot of math to autonomously scan the site for survivors. The researchers claim the exercise went "very well" and that the local police force would like to "introduce this system" for genuine reconnaissance. That could include monitoring volcanic eruptions or inspecting power lines, but alas there's no mention yet of using quadrocopter swarms to sneak up on yakuza. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

RIM gets patent for logic-based text prediction, BlackBerry 10 keyboard now preserved for the ages (update: not so ambitious) Posted: 17 Jul 2012 07:13 PM PDT For those of us who aren't fans of swipe gestures, the highlight of BlackBerry 10 is undoubtedly a unique keyboard that's often a step ahead of its user. It's a good thing for this last camp that RIM was just granted the final version of a related patent for logic-based text prediction. Instead of simply hunting for typos, the patented keyboard guesses the next word based either on the context of the words around it or on other criteria, like common expressions. About the only time the technique doesn't predict words is for passwords -- RIM would rather not be that clever. While there looks to be a few differences in the practical implementation of the patent as we've seen it in a pre-release BlackBerry 10, theory and reality are close enough that RIM won't be worried about anyone else poaching its seemingly mind-reading technology anytime soon. Update: We've dug deeper, and it's more focused on simple frequency logic and auto-complete shortcuts (think "ttyl" generating "talk to you later") rather than anything too complex. BlackBerry 10 isn't so secure, then, although these are still quite important typing techniques.

Griffin outs Binder Insert case for the iPad, brings Trapper Keepers to the 21st century for $25 Posted: 17 Jul 2012 06:27 PM PDT Just in case you're not quite ready to rid your studies of tree pulp, Griffin has announced the Binder Insert case for your Five Star zipper notebook. The enclosure secures the iPad 2 or third-generation model in a 3-ring binder for easy camouflage of those in-class Angry Birds habits -- or for switching back and forth between a slate and the blue-lined white stuff. A stylus loop and access to the dock connector, volume controls, headphone jack and camera are also taken into consideration around the case's edge. In order to get your learning setup just so, be ready to part with $24.99 in order to grab one. Griffin Binder Insert case

Fujitsu intros RakuRaku accessible smartphone for the elderly Posted: 17 Jul 2012 05:53 PM PDT While there are a number of ways to make existing smartphones more accessible for the elderly, there are very few on the market designed specifically with them in mind. There's devices like the Jitterbug, but they're not particularly "smart." Fujitsu's latest entrant in its RakuRaku line, however, is loaded with friendly features and hardware designed specifically with the elderly in mind -- and it runs Android. When it lands in Japan this August it'll sport a customized UI with large text and oversized virtual buttons. Even the few physical buttons are large and easy to operate for those whose agility may be waning. The screen is even able to distinguish between accidental touches and purposeful taps. To see the device in action check out the video after the break. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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