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- Alt-week 7.21.12: Outer space, flying hotels and federal trolls
- Visualized: Samsung Galaxy S III blasted with X-ray, doesn't gain superpowers
- Vodafone walks us through a phone's Android 4.0 upgrade, explains our protracted thumb-twiddling
- Firefox 15 beta boasts support for Opus audio format, reduces add-on memory leaks
- Star Trek: The Next Generation Comic-Con trailer tries to make season one (and two) look exciting (video)
- United upgrading Gogo in-flight WiFi on its premium service fleet, speeds will reach 9.8 Mbps
- Star Wars-themed GPS steers Japanese geeks away from the dark side
- Jelly Bean now available to Nexus S via OTA download, we coat our phones in more sugar
- Nokia Drive 3.0 arrives with My Commute, your Lumia is no excuse for being late (video)
- Did the Galaxy Note II's impressive benchmarks briefly get leaked?
- Comcast Xfinity TV Player for Android updated with beta support for Jelly Bean, Nexus 7
- Sprint's rumored LG LS860 'Cayenne' shows up once more, reveals hint of ICS
- FCC Fridays: July 20, 2012
- Ford's 2013 C-Max Energi rolls out 95 MPGe, arrives later this fall
- Acer Aspire S5 review: is this innovative Ultrabook worth $1,400?
- Digg to get a complete redesign, relaunch in August
- Nintendo's Iwata says being first in next-gen race is 'not important at all,' pricing is
- Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5pm ET!
- Qantas to hand out free iPads to all passengers on Boeing 767s, save fuel and our sanity (video)
- Apple's third-gen iPad now available in China, gets a peaceful introduction
- Samsung set to reveal next US Galaxy device on August 15th
- KDDI unveils ICS 'Smart TV Box' for cable providers in Japan, available later this year (video)
- Samsung denied a second time, Galaxy Tab ban stands
- IRL: Canon EOS 7D, Snapseed for iOS and Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TS4 rugged camera
- BlackBerry 10 gets voice commands in latest dev update (video)
- Google acquires Sparrow, the Apple-focused email app maker
- ASUS Transformer Prime, TF300 and Infinity TF700 getting Jelly Bean in 'the coming months'
- Lenovo CEO spreads the wealth, distributes his $3 million bonus to lower level employees
- Dell M4700, 6700 documents leak, ruins the surprise for laptop fans
- Ikea beefs up 2013 catalog with companion AR app, doesn't translate Swedish furniture names (video)
- iGills accessory turns iPhone into a dive computer, lets you film underwater
- Amazon, Warner deal brings Fringe, The West Wing to Prime Instant Video exclusively
- Distro Issue 49: a visit to the craft and hackerspace at Artisan's Asylum
- ASUS spills jelly beans on why Nexus 7 has no rear camera, cites added cost
- Rdio Android app updated with playlist and search improvements, puts new releases in grid view
- LG outs IPS7 Series monitors: 23 or 27-inch IPS, minimal bezel, MHL mobile link, 8-bit 1080P
- T-Mobile USA gives black HTC One S to hard-working staff, leaves other Americans turning green
- Nintendo 3DS gets first downloadable titles next week: Super Mario and Brain Training sequels
- DirecTV and Viacom deal brings MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the rest back on the air
- Samsung Jasper for Verizon leaks on Twitter, dual-core Snapdragon and ICS in tow
| Alt-week 7.21.12: Outer space, flying hotels and federal trolls Posted: 21 Jul 2012 11:30 AM PDT Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days. Whether you've got your head in the clouds, or your feet firmly locked on terra firma (or is that terrorist firma?) the last seven days in Alt have something for you. We look at a massive aircraft, that could revolutionize air travel as we know it, as well as look back at a real-world project that heralded a significant shift even further up in the sky. There's the NASA logo that never came to be, and lastly, for those less fond of heights, we hear how a US government department is heading in the other direction -- albeit culturally -- all in the fight against terror. This is alt-week. If you didn't manage to follow the whole Space X Dragon mission, then a handy video featuring the highlights of the recent journey found its way onto YouTube this week. Watch the world's first ever commercial spacecraft to visit the International Space Station make its journey from the comfort of your chair, train or car ride -- whatever, just as long as it's not you driving. Seeing it all unfold so quickly -- along with the rousing music -- we're not going to lie, we got a little lump in our throats.
There was a time when projects like Space X were the reserve of dream and fantasy, and this next vehicle -- for now at least -- also sits in that category. We've seen the Aeroscraft before, but this week CNET reminded us of the mega-ship, and seemed optimistic that it might even be coming soon. We're not reserving our ticket on the airborne hotel just yet, but if we did, we'd be joining another 179 passengers on the 20-ton, 310 foot long craft. It certainly looks a little more comfy than the Dragon, that's for sure. Okay, so this week it all seems to be a bit up in the air, so to speak, and it continues -- in a round about manner -- with this story relating to a redesign of the NASA logo. Despite being originally crafted by design firm Base back in 2010, it recently resurfaced online, and drummed up quite a bit of social media support. Despite the public backing, and the creator offering to hand over the branding to the space agency, sadly it declined. We don't know why, but there is something stylishly simple, yet futuristic about it. Just a shame we'll never see it adorning the side of any spacecraft. Now we can finally get out feet back on the ground, as we look at something much closer to home. In fact, something we're all sadly a little too familiar with -- Trolling. Wired reports that the US government has launched a new initiative to deliberately frustrate frequenters of known extremist internet forums in the way that only trolls know how. The article then goes on to explain that there's been no actual results to date, and that project budget is miniscule compared to even the most basic of regular military options, but we can't help but think any terrorist who give up after a flame war, wasn't really cut out for the job. Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt / week? Working on a project or research that's too cool to keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com [Image credit: jasmine22bear (Instaview)] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visualized: Samsung Galaxy S III blasted with X-ray, doesn't gain superpowers Posted: 21 Jul 2012 09:23 AM PDT Tearing down a gadget normally presents a Catch-22 of having to destroy what you love to see how it works. As it turns out, there's a clever way around that clause: when you have access to digital mammography X-ray machines beyond the hospital, like reader Alex does, you can get a peek at a Galaxy S III's insides without having to dissect that Hyperglazed beauty layer by layer. The resulting scan stresses just how tightly packed Samsung's Android flagship is when it's all put together, but it also carries a slightly ethereal, Ghost of Smartphones Present aura, doesn't it? While we doubt that Charles Dickens would ever have imagined this kind of spirit, you can gaze upon a much larger, even more detailed version of the supernatural Samsung after the break. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vodafone walks us through a phone's Android 4.0 upgrade, explains our protracted thumb-twiddling Posted: 21 Jul 2012 07:01 AM PDT We're used to seemingly interminable waits for phone firmware upgrades for carrier-locked phones. What is it that takes so long? Vodafone UK isn't promising a quicker process, but it's offering a rare walkthrough of just what itself (and many other carriers) do to rubber stamp a firmware upgrade. Using the Huawei Ascend G 300's Android 4.0 update as the reference point, Vodafone explains that the actual network testing lasts a week or less, depending on the scope of the upgrade -- it's the requirements for branding and carrier-specific network settings that introduce additional overhead. Android phones that skew closer to Google's stock OS (like the G 300) tend to be easy updates, although Vodafone warns that the verification process is typically getting longer, not shorter. There's not much consolation here for phone owners around the world still using Android 2.3; if you'd rather skip the carrier update process entirely, however, you know where to turn. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Firefox 15 beta boasts support for Opus audio format, reduces add-on memory leaks Posted: 21 Jul 2012 05:19 AM PDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 21 Jul 2012 02:34 AM PDT Undecided about buying the first season (or two) of the remastered Star Trek: The Next Generation? We understand, but perhaps this pair of trailers will change your mind. The increase in quality is obvious to see, with the recomposed special effects and 7.1 DTS HD even offsetting the pain of re-watching episodes like Shades of Gray and Haven. The second set also includes a reunion talk, interesting just to see how much the stars of the show have changed in the intervening two-and-a-half-decades. You can watch both after the break, but if you decide to hold off until season three, we won't tell anyone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United upgrading Gogo in-flight WiFi on its premium service fleet, speeds will reach 9.8 Mbps Posted: 21 Jul 2012 12:07 AM PDT It won't be enough to cancel out the Engadget editor using in-flight WiFi to upload photo galleries (sorry, guys), but it should make web surfing from coach a little less tedious. United has just announced that it will be upgrading its Gogo in-air WiFi service to take advantage of Gogo's enhanced ATG-4 service, which promises to bump speeds from the current 3.1 Mbps to 9.8 Mbps using directional antennae, dual modems and EV-DO Rev. B. Before you get too excited, though, keep in mind that United has so far only committed to retrofitting its premium service fleet, which includes 13 planes that fly between New York's JFK and either LAX or SFO.
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| Star Wars-themed GPS steers Japanese geeks away from the dark side Posted: 20 Jul 2012 09:28 PM PDT As if George Lucas wasn't already milking his money-printing franchise for all it's worth, comes this GPS gem out of Japan. To the (presumed) delight of fanboys everywhere, navigation maker Dinos has inked a licensing deal with Lucasfilm that conjures up an all-out, Star Wars-themed car nav system. From the orchestral theme music at startup to the voice guidance performed by the original Japanese VO actors (Darth Vader and C-3P0 only), the 5-inch LCD mount is pretty much the memorabilia stuff of a grown-up, scifi geek's wet dream. There's even a mode selection option to let users pledge their allegiance to either the "Empire" or the "Rebels," in addition to 20 different custom vehicle indicator icons. Sounds fluffy enough, but the unit also does double duty as a OneSeg TV tuner and can even be used as a standalone set. It's on sale now for 39,800Yen (US$507), but unless you're living in the Land of the Rising Sun, this import's just kitsch for kitsch's sake. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jelly Bean now available to Nexus S via OTA download, we coat our phones in more sugar Posted: 20 Jul 2012 07:55 PM PDT It's already possible to force Android 4.1 onto your Nexus S without much trouble, but for those of you that prefer life on easy street, then kick up those heels: many carriers have now made Jelly Bean available for OTA installation. The good news comes from Google itself, which has listed T-Mobile, Three, Rogers and Vodafone among the carriers. It doesn't stop there, however, as MobileSyrup also reports that Mobilicity and Wind users are also receiving a similar bit of Android 4.1 love. We've confirmed the rollout here in the US with T-Mobile, where the 114MB download is currently only available for download via WiFi. Seeing that it's Friday night, seems like a perfect opportunity to take Google Now for a spin, no? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia Drive 3.0 arrives with My Commute, your Lumia is no excuse for being late (video) Posted: 20 Jul 2012 06:25 PM PDT Nokia gave us a hint of Nokia Drive 3.0's commuter-friendly additions all the way back at Mobile World Congress in February. It's been quite the wait, but the update is at last lurking in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Although developed at the same time as Google Now, the Drive update will feel like a small slice of Android 4.1 for Lumia owners through its predictive routing: it can learn when you leave for work and how driving habits will affect the trip, giving a heads-up about traffic jams before you turn the ignition. Windows Phone reasserts itself through the option of pinning favorite destinations as tiles on the home screen, and an automatic switch between day and night modes is just as new. Drive's My Commute feature will initially work only in the US, but it should be available within the next day or two for any Lumia owner -- so those being denied Windows Phone 8 still won't have any justification for being late to the office. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Did the Galaxy Note II's impressive benchmarks briefly get leaked? Posted: 20 Jul 2012 04:56 PM PDT Well, Samsung has something up its sleeve, we know that much. Whether or not we're looking at a new Note remains to be seen, but it's safe to assume Sammy will update its phablet line as it approaches its first birthday. So it's no wonder people's suspicions were piqued when a mysterious device made a brief appearance at GLBenchmark.com with the model number GT-N7100. The original Note was N7000, so obviously many are guessing this unnamed Ice Cream Sandwich device is its successor. All the details have since been pulled, but PhoneArena managed to snag a screenshot. Whatever it turns out to be, we know it's got a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos 4412 processor with Mali-400 graphics -- the same you'll find inside the Galaxy S III. The one spec that does leave a bit of doubt however is the resolution, which is listed at juts 1280x720, instead of the 1280x800 of the original. In the benchmarks it manages to eke out scores slightly higher than the GSIII, which makes sense thanks to its higher clocked CPU. Now it's just time to sit back and play the waiting game. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comcast Xfinity TV Player for Android updated with beta support for Jelly Bean, Nexus 7 Posted: 20 Jul 2012 04:11 PM PDT Comcast subscribers who have already received their Nexus 7 tablets or are sporting Android 4.1-powered phones should cast an eye towards Google Play for an updated version of the Xfinity TV Player app. Version 1.0.2.001 adds beta support for Jelly Bean in general and the Nexus 7 tablet specifically. It also fixes a nasty bug that would leave users stranded after upgrading their operating system, and promises a UI designed for 7-inch tablets in the next update. We saw Netflix get a compatibility update for Jelly Bean the day it launched, and Sky Go only just made the jump to supporting Ice Cream Sandwich, whether or not you have access to this app, have early adopters spotted any other laggards that might stop working when a long-awaited upgrade hits devices? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sprint's rumored LG LS860 'Cayenne' shows up once more, reveals hint of ICS Posted: 20 Jul 2012 03:39 PM PDT Well, look who decided to make a sudden appearance yet again. Not long after receiving a quick, unexpected visit from the legendary (and very crafty) Mr. Blurrycam, the purported Sprint-bound LG LS860 has decided it was due for another showing. This time around, though, the Cayenne's a little more revealing than during its previous exhibition, flaunting its powered-on 4-inch, WVGA screen and what appears to be a flavor of Android 4.0 running on the background -- this would allegedly be paired alongside a dual-core, 1.2GHz S4 CPU, which is a slight change from what we'd previously heard. As far as whether or not LG's Cayenne will be involved in the next wave of LTE-enabled slabs headed to The Now Network -- for that, our friends, we'll have to wait to find out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 20 Jul 2012 03:12 PM PDT We here at Engadget tend to spend Phones
Tablets and peripherals
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| Ford's 2013 C-Max Energi rolls out 95 MPGe, arrives later this fall Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:46 PM PDT There's no question America's favorite Motor Company faces a hefty amount of competition in the eco-friendly cars department, but the outfit is hoping to lure some green humans away from its adversaries with the upcoming C-Max Energi series. Interestingly enough, but not surprisingly, Ford's touting the 2013 Energi's cheaper price tag -- when compared to something like a Toyota Prius V -- as one of the ride's features, though it's also hoping its combined 550-mile range (PHEV-20) and expected 95 MPGe are good enough reasons for you to spend a cool Update: As one of our dear readers pointed out, the $25,995 price is for the C-Max Hybrid. Meanwhile, we're still waiting to hear just how much the Energi will cost at the time of launch. Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid Expected to Deliver 550-Mile Range and Nearly Double Electric-Only Range of Prius Ford's first-ever plug-in hybrid - the all-new C-MAX Energi utility - is the only vehicle of its kind that customers can drive from Sacramento to San Diego on a tank of gas and make the average commute on electricity alone DEARBORN, Mich., July 20, 2012 - The new Ford C-MAX Energi is expected to achieve more than 20 miles of electric-only range - nearly double the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid - and a 550-mile overall range to become the first hybrid vehicle ever that can be driven from Sacramento to San Diego on a single tank of gas and make the average American commute without gasoline. With a maximum electric-only speed projected to top that of Prius plug-in, C-MAX Energi drivers might be able to reach wherever they're going a little faster, too. Topping it off, C-MAX Energi delivers fuel economy that is the equivalent of 95 miles per gallon (MPGe) combined city/highway. John Davis, chief nameplate engineer for Ford's compact cars and utility vehicles, said it's all designed to improve the driving experience: from making the 550-mile trek down Highway 99 from Sacramento to San Diego to the daily 20-mile one-way trip to work - the distance some reports suggest the average American commutes. "We are proud C-MAX Energi is the first plug-in hybrid that can deliver a 550-mile overall range and more than 20 miles of electric range as it gives customers great flexibility to commute to work, then take off for a road trip while passing many gas stations along the way," says Davis. "C-MAX Energi is a great symbol for the leading fuel economy we're delivering across our lineup to give customers the power of choice to save money at the pump." C-MAX Energi is part of Ford's first dedicated line of hybrid vehicles in North America and will soon be available for order at Ford's certified electric-vehicle dealerships. C-MAX Energi operates just like a traditional hybrid with two key differences - owners must plug in the vehicle using its charge port and C-MAX Energi has a larger battery pack. Power of choice C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi figure prominently in Ford's rollout of five electrified vehicles this year. Ford's other electrified vehicles include: Focus Electric: Production began late 2011; America's most fuel-efficient compact with 110 MPGe city; charge time of four hours with the available 240-volt charging station - nearly half the time as Nissan Leaf "Ford's electrified vehicles offer a great combination of efficiency, performance, technology and affordability that we believe will help spur adoption of these advanced vehicles," says Kevin Layden, director, Ford Electrification Programs and Engineering. "C-MAX Energi not only offers leading efficiency, it has 50 more horsepower than the Prius plug-in hybrid along with class-exclusive technologies such as our hands-free liftgate and active park assist for easier parallel parking." Maximizing experience More than 144,000 units of the five-passenger C-MAX gasoline and diesel versions have been sold in Europe since late 2010. Though Ford is concentrating on hybrid versions of C-MAX in the U.S., the designs of C-MAX Energi and C-MAX Hybrid are based on the gasoline- and diesel-powered European version. C-MAX Energi also benefits from 20 years of research and innovation behind the software and hardware technology it offers, incorporating many of the nearly 500 patents Ford holds in the area of hybrid technology. The car's powersplit technology - which allows for more efficient operation of the vehicle - consists of more than 200 patents alone. Like C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi has projected total system horsepower of 188 that stems from the combination of a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor. When powered by gasoline, the C-MAX Energi uses the all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine - powerful and fuel efficient and among the most advanced non-turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains Ford has ever offered. Because owners plug in to charge the advanced lithium-ion battery in C-MAX Energi, the vehicle is able to achieve increased electric mode and total range. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter, more efficient and more powerful than nickel-metal hydride batteries used in first-generation hybrids. They also promote faster charging times. C-MAX Energi sets itself apart from other hybrids in other ways, too. For example, it offers the latest generation of SmartGauge® with EcoGuide. Designed to help drivers get the most from C-MAX, information such as instantaneous fuel economy can be displayed on one of two 4.2-inch LCD screens, helping drivers more closely monitor how their driving behavior affects the vehicle's efficiency. In the right cluster, redesigned imagery of green leaves shows overall driving efficiency. The left cluster shows Brake Coach, a feature that helps drivers optimize their use of the regenerative braking system so that driving range can be enhanced through proper braking techniques. Available for C-MAX Energi is the MyFord® Mobile smartphone application that allows users to monitor charging, receive alerts, find charge stations, plan trips and do more from their smartphones or computers for an effortless transition to an electrified vehicle lifestyle. C-MAX Energi will be produced at Ford's Wayne, Mich.-based Michigan Assembly Plant alongside the new C-MAX Hybrid, Focus, Focus Electric and Focus ST. More information about MAP can be found online here. Customers interested in C-MAX Hybrid should visit here. A video featuring C-MAX can be viewed online by clicking here. # # # About Ford Motor Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer Aspire S5 review: is this innovative Ultrabook worth $1,400? Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:00 PM PDT With dozens and dozens of Ultrabooks on parade, you'd be forgiven if one skinny laptop with an ultra-low voltage processor started to look like the next. Even so, it's tough to forget the Acer Aspire S5: of all the ultraportables we've seen these last nine months, this is the only one with a motorized port cover. Yeah, that one. It's an intriguing product, to be sure, and the stakes are especially high given that $1,400 price: you'd have to really enjoy that form factor (and everything else) to choose it over some less expensive ultraportable. So is it worth it? Is that drop-down door anything more than a gimmick? Questions for the ages, and ones we'll tackle in our full review after the break. Hardware
Back in January when it was announced at CES, the S5 was touted as the "world's thinnest" Ultrabook, at 15mm (0.59 inches) thick. Nearly seven months later, we're not sure the S5 still qualifies for that title (the 13-inch Samsung Series 9 widens to 0.5 inches), but no matter: it still cuts a skinnier figure than most of the Ultrabooks we've tested. In contrast to last year's Aspire S3, which costs about half the price, the S5 marks an improvement in craftsmanship, with magnesium alloy now covering the lid, bottom and palm rest. No doubt, it feels sturdier than the S3, but the build quality is still unremarkable compared to other Ultrabooks, especially other high-end ones. You might argue, for instance, that the S5's plastic keyboard deck and bezel are part of the reason it weighs a light 1.35kg (2.98 pounds), but the Series 9 is made of unibody aluminum and still weighs about four-tenths of a pound less. Ditto for the new MacBook Air, which weighs 2.96 pounds, or the metal-clad ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A, which comes in at 2.86 pounds. We could go on, but you get the point: the S5 feels durable, but lacks the design flair you'd expect from a premium machine. Obviously, the conceit of the S5 is that most of its ports are tucked behind MagicFlip, that motorized drop-down door on the laptop's rear edge. Ignoring for a moment how annoying it is to have all the key sockets located back there, it's a pretty good selection of ports: in addition to two USB openings, it has Thunderbolt and full-sized HDMI sockets, both rarities for Ultrabooks (heck, Thunderbolt ports on PCs are rare, period). Not all the openings are hidden, though: on the notebook's right edge, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the power button and memory card reader sit on the left. Thought you'd find the power button on the keyboard deck? That space is home to the button controlling the drop-down door (much more on that later, of course). Keyboard and trackpad Since Acer released its first Ultrabook last fall, the company has unveiled two more models, each of them marking a step up in overall quality. But one thing's remained constant: that flat, cramped keyboard. The keys here are quite lacking in travel, though they're easy enough to master. All told, they're no shallower than the ones on the Series 9, which we neither loved nor hated. The problem is, unlike Samsung's layout, which is fairly well-spaced, the S5's arrangement gets mighty crowded, especially toward the periphery were many essential buttons lie. The Tab key is tiny, for instance, as are Caps Lock and the four arrows, which you could easily miss if you tried to hit them without looking. Also, this keyboard isn't backlit, though you'd probably expect it to be on a machine this expensive. As much as we wish Acer would re-think its Ultrabook keyboards, the company at least got the trackpad right. The large pad responds smoothly to one-finger navigation, as well as multi-touch gestures like two-finger scrolls and pinch-to-zoom. Occasionally, the cursor would stop short on the screen before we got to whatever it was we meant to click on, but we mostly carried on without many incidents. We'd also add that the built-in touch button is easy to click and makes a quiet, low-pitched sound when pressed. Display and sound Given how pricey this machine is, you'd expect Acer would have gone all out (or at least met us halfway) when it came to display quality. A high-resolution screen would seem to be in order. IPS quality, too, or perhaps one of those Shuriken panels with the narrow bezels. Instead, what we have here is a run-of-the-mill, garden-variety TN screen with 1,366 x 768 resolution. Everything about this display is common, from the standard resolution, to the reflective finish, to the width of the bezels. It would've been fine on an $800 system, but given that you can find lovely, higher-res screens on the MacBook Air, HP Envy Spectre 14, Samsung Series 9 and the entire ASUS Zenbook Prime family, we don't understand why Acer cut corners here. (Actually, we do: this could be a trade-off to going with a more complex design and a RAID 0 SSD configuration, but we're not sure either of these was worth settling for a mediocre screen.) The sound coming out of the Dolby-enhanced speakers is a bit tinnier than we're used to, which is quite the feat. Aside from a metallic sound, we were able to make out a faint, buzzing distortion even at medium volumes. One other interesting thing to note before we sign off on display and sound quality: the S5 is one of the few Ultrabooks we've tested recently that does not include Intel's Wireless Display technology. If you had no intention of streaming 1080p video to a big screen, carry on, but it does seem like an odd omission from what's supposed to be a high-end machine. Performance
At $1,400, the S5 comes with some top-shelf specs to match its lofty price tag, including a 1.9GHz Intel Core i7-3517U CPU, 4GB of RAM and -- here's the kicker -- dual 128GB, LiteON-branded SATA III SSDs arranged in a RAID 0 configuration. Cutting straight to the chase, this is the speediest disk performance we've logged on any laptop, of any size. We actually ended up running ATTO more times than usual because we initially couldn't believe the scores: at their best, the two SSDs reached peak read speeds of 875 MB/s and writes as fast as 700 MB/s. In real-word use, those numbers are matched by a 12-second boot-up. And yes, our scores landed in this ballpark every time we ran these tests. No flukes here, kids. For those of you who are curious, Acer confirmed to us that you cannot switch to a RAID 1 configuration: in the BIOS, you'll see options for RAID, along with IDE and AHCI. When we switched to our other standard benchmarks, the S5 still notched some stellar numbers, though this time they fell a little more in line with other top-performing Ultrabooks. For example, its score of 12,895 in PCMark Vantage falls less than 600 points short of the 2012 MacBook Air's high mark -- hardly a dramatic difference. Likewise, its score of 5,071 in 3DMark06 is among the highest we've seen from an Ivy Bridge machine. Not that that's saying much: even with the default settings (read: 1,024 x 768 resolution) Call of Duty 4 chugged along with frame rates in the twenties -- just good enough to be playable. MagicFlip
In practice, pressing a button to expose key ports is more tedious than innovative. Imagine, for instance, that you want to connect a portable hard drive. You can't just plug it in; no, you need to press the button, wait a second or two for the door to open and then reach around to the back of the laptop to find the USB socket. If you can't do it by feel, you'll have to turn the laptop around so you can see the ports -- an awfully big hassle just to plug in a peripheral. One thing we weren't aware of when we first got hands-on with the S5 is that the motorized door will open on its own to expose the vents when the machine gets too hot. And yes, we mean "when," not "if." We first experienced this within minutes of unboxing our system -- installing a program and running Chrome was enough to trigger the overheating mechanism. It happened again about 30 seconds into a game of CoD 4. The good news is that the machine stayed tepid enough that we could use it comfortably for extended periods of time, but in exchange for cool operation you'll have to put up with a good deal of fan noise. To be fair, once the ports are fully exposed, it shouldn't have much bearing on your ergonomic experience and obviously, we'd all rather our machines not overheat. Still, as brief as this interruption is, it can be distracting to feel your computer rise beneath your fingers while you're trying to work. And there is, of course, an easy solution for that: just build the ports into the sides of the laptop and not worry about laying claim to the "thinnest Ultrabook" title. When the S5 was first announced, one of the most common responses from our readers and editors alike was, "What happens if the motor gives out?" Acer rates the door for 15,000 cycles, tested with 50 pounds of pressure -- a claim we naturally didn't have the time or automated equipment to test. We will say that the motor makes a grating sound that doesn't inspire much confidence in the resilience of the various underlying parts. On the bright side, we appreciate that the door automatically closes when you shut down the computer or close the lid, even if you forgot to press the button to do it manually. Battery life
The S5's three-cell battery is rated for up to 6.5 hours of battery life, which is shorter than what many other 13-inch Ultrabooks promise. Indeed, its runtime is as uninspiring as the performance is fast. In our standard video playback test, it barely made it four and a half hours -- a poor showing compared to the 13-inch Series 9, which lasted seven hours, and the new MacBook Air, which managed six and a half. Even middling ultraportables can outlast the S5 by at least an hour. In fact, this is, quite literally, the shortest runtime we've recorded on a 13-inch Ultrabook since we tested Acer's own S3 laptop last fall. Software and warranty Though it might not be the worst offender, the S5 does come with a good deal of bloatware. Pre-installed programs include CyberLink's MediaEspresso media converter, an eBay shortcut, Evernote 4.5.2, Fooz Kids (a children's gaming platform), Norton Online Backup, Skype 5.5, Nook for PC and a trial of McAfee's Internet Security suite. And, like other Acer machines, the S5 comes with the company's clear.fi media streaming software. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that the S5 is the first Acer laptop to support AcerCloud, the company's recently launched service that backs up your photos, music, videos and documents online. It's free, and storage is unlimited -- well, limited only by how much you can store on your local machine. You can, of course, access all this stuff remotely, provided your computer isn't completely powered off. In particular, with the help of a mobile app you can see your files on an Android phone, even if the two devices are not connected to the same WiFi network. Rather, AcerCloud attempts to create a peer-to-peer connection whenever possible and, failing that, uses a security token in the laptop to play middleman between your notebook and phone. For now, this service is only available in North America and China, but it's expected to roll out to other markets worldwide sometime in the fourth quarter. Getting AcerCloud set up involves creating an account, a mercifully brief process that only requires you to give your name and email address, and to create a password. (Interestingly, as we progressed through the setup, McAfee popped up, asking if we wanted to grant AcerCloud access.) After creating our account, verifying our email address and using check boxes to confirm what we wanted to back up, we were up and running. As for the warranty, the S5 is covered by a one-year plan, which is pretty standard for a consumer laptop, regardless of the price. Configuration optionsThough Acer usually offers its laptops in various pre-configured versions, the S5 is only available for $1,400 with the specs we tested here (a Core i7 CPU, 4GB of RAM, the 64-bit edition of Windows 7 Home Premium and 256GB of solid-state storage). As is the case for almost every other Ultrabook we review, the drives, RAM and battery were not designed to be user-replaceable. Again, that's true of most every laptop in this class, but we'd rather remind you, lest anyone wind up disappointed. The competition
You want high-end Ultrabooks? Let's talk high-end Ultrabooks. Even for a high-end machine, the S5 is pricey; we can think of several excellent alternatives that drip quality but still cost slightly less. For starters, there's the 13-inch Samsung Series 9 beginning at $1,300, which weighs just 2.55 pounds and has a higher-quality aluminum build. The Series 9 also leads the S5 (and every other 13-inch Ultrabook) in battery life. Its keyboard is equally flat, but better-spaced. And while its performance isn't rated quite as highly, it's also capable of 12-second boot-ups. If you're willing to consider a bigger screen, you might also want to check out the HP Envy 14 Spectre or even the 15-inch version of the Series 9, which measures just 0.58 inches thick. Though we haven't yet tested a 13-inch equivalent, ASUS' Zenbook Prime lineup also looks mighty promising. We'll refrain from breaking down every specific configuration listed on Amazon, but suffice to say we're particularly excited about the UX32VD ($1,350 at Amazon), which combines a 1080p IPS display with an NVIDIA GT 620M GPU. For the OS-agnostic, we'll include the new MacBook Air in the high-end category: its battery life is on par with the champion Series 9, its keyboard and trackpad are comfortable and the performance is some of the fastest we've seen, even from among Ivy Bridge machines. Regarding screen quality, a pain point for Acer's S5, the Air has the same 1,440 x 900 display as past generations. That's not the absolute best you'll find -- not with the Series 9 and Zenbook Primes on the market -- but it's still a step up from the S5. Wrap-up More InfoThe Aspire S5 has some key ingredients that might have made it a great Ultrabook: a thin shape, an impressive port selection and blazing I/O performance. Unfortunately, though, Acer seems to have invested its energy in all the wrong places. Instead of a higher-resolution display or finer build quality, it focused on stuffing all the ports behind a door in the back -- a design choice that feels gimmicky at best, and tiresome at worst. In exchange for a skinny silhouette, it settles for a three-cell battery that barely lasts four and a half hours on a charge. Even the RAID 0 SSD configuration might well have contributed to the high price, and that's a shame since the S5 probably could have delivered strong performance even with a more standard setup. (875 MB/s read speeds? Maybe not, but that 12-second boot time? Quite possibly.) As is, the S5 suffers from some serious usability flaws, and nothing really justifies that $1,400 price except, possibly, that screaming SSD setup. We look forward to possible redemption with the upcoming S7 series, but in the meantime we're certain you can find a better ultraportable for less money. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Digg to get a complete redesign, relaunch in August Posted: 20 Jul 2012 01:37 PM PDT Well, that was fast. Not two weeks after Digg was bought out by Betaworks (parent company to Bit.ly, among other startups), we're learning the crowd-sourced news aggregator is poised to relaunch as soon as August 1. In a blog post, the 10-person engineering team promises an overhaul of the site, once a litmus test for what was popular on the internet. Most interesting, perhaps, is the revelation that while Digg will not be a rebadged version of News.me, the aggregation app already owned by Betaworks, the two services will eventually be folded into one product. And while the team isn't revealing how, exactly, the new Digg will differ from the old, they did promise it would eventually receive personalization features similar to what News.me already offers. Other than that, Betaworks didn't share any specifics, but luckily, you'll only have to wait two weeks to find out what's in store. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nintendo's Iwata says being first in next-gen race is 'not important at all,' pricing is Posted: 20 Jul 2012 01:12 PM PDT Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently talked about how the Wii U's second screen was nearly scrapped due to cost concerns, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to once again hear him talk about the importance of pricing. While unfortunately not divulging a specific number, Iwata tells Gamasutra that the "pricing of Wii U is going to be one of the most important elements when it is going to be launched," adding that "the environment is different. Wii U is going to be launching in a different environment than when the Wii was launched." He also talked about the timing of the console's release (coming well before Microsoft's and Sony's next-gen consoles), saying that "being first in the next generation race is not important at all." So why now? Iwata says somewhat immodestly that "one of the reasons we believe this is the time for Nintendo to launch the Wii U is it's going to be important for the world," adding that its "focus is on how we can make our new console different" than its competitors. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5pm ET! Posted: 20 Jul 2012 12:51 PM PDT Miss us last week? We missed you, too -- but last Friday's loss is today's gain, as we've compiled a whole pile of interesting mobile news that need to go through the podcast gauntlet. Myriam, Brad and Joseph are back on the mics for episode 146, ready to rant and rave about a whole bunch of stuff. Don't miss it! July 20, 2012 5:00 PM EDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qantas to hand out free iPads to all passengers on Boeing 767s, save fuel and our sanity (video) Posted: 20 Jul 2012 12:29 PM PDT Qantas just upped the ante for its Australian counterparts Jetstar and Virgin in the airline tablet wars. Following an earlier trial, the transporter plans to hand out free iPads to all of its passengers -- not just the high-flyers in business-class, like with Jetstar's iPads or Virgin's Galaxy Tabs -- on every Boeing 767 aircraft in the fleet. The rollout, which starts in the last quarter of the year, will let those bored in the back seats watch an equally free 200 hours' worth of QStreaming audio and video. Don't confuse the gesture with a sudden bout of altruism on Qantas' part, however. The pound-and-a-half weight of a current iPad sheds the tremendous amount of weight that would normally be needed for a conventional in-flight entertainment system built into the headrest, which on a typical 375-seat 767 could see the iPads pay for themselves within years, if not sooner. The option will give many Aussies something to look forward to for their domestic summer vacations. In the meantime, hop past the break for a Qantas video explaining how QStreaming worked during the original trial run. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple's third-gen iPad now available in China, gets a peaceful introduction Posted: 20 Jul 2012 12:09 PM PDT Just as we'd heard earlier this month, today's finally the day Cupertino starts offering its renowned, pixel-packed "new" iPad in Chinese territory. Of course (unless you've been living under a mighty rock), you'd know the launch comes a tad bit later than expected, after months of dealing with Proview's trademark conundrum -- and despite having those imperative certifications since way back in March. All legal kerfuffles aside, Apple's third-generation slate has arrived, opening the glass doors to anyone in China looking for 2048 x 1536 reasons to spend their hard-earned yuans. Notably, word on the internet is there's no fresh eggs being thrown this time around, so you should be a-okay if you do end up in one of those fancy retail shops. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung set to reveal next US Galaxy device on August 15th Posted: 20 Jul 2012 11:52 AM PDT We just received a "save the date" email from a Samsung US representative that revealed a new Galaxy device will be seeing the light of day on August 15th. We didn't receive any details on what it could be, though this is most likely a US-bound device -- the email says "please join Samsung Electronics America for a major announcement and unveiling of the newest Galaxy device." With that tidbit in mind, we have a couple ideas: first, it may be the Galaxy S Blaze Q, since internal docs pin the phone's release on same exact day. With that being a T-Mobile exclusive for now, however, we're unsure that it'll be the recipient of so much pomp and circumstance. There's also a possibility that we'll see the Galaxy Note 10.1, which was announced at MWC in February and previewed in March. While we'd love to see the Galaxy Note 2, the odds of it being the mystery device are incredibly slim since the phablet is rumored to launch on the worldwide stage at IFA 2012 later in the month. Gotta love the guessing games that leave us in suspense and keep us on our toes, right? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KDDI unveils ICS 'Smart TV Box' for cable providers in Japan, available later this year (video) Posted: 20 Jul 2012 11:39 AM PDT We've seen a fair share of Android-powered set-tops in our time, but KDDI (with the help of Panasonic) has taken a slightly different entertainment route with its recently unveiled Smart TV Box. Similar to some Google TV boxes, which the Smart TV Box isn't, KDDI plans to bring this one to cable providers in Japan to act as the main unit in living rooms, with the testing phase set to commence as soon as next month. KDDI's Smart TV Box is powered by an undisclosed dual-core chip and feeds off of a tasty bite of Mountain View's Ice Cream Sandwich. As far as ports and other features, there's HDMI and three USB ports on board, while Ethernet (WiFi, too) keeps you connected and a built-in hard drive takes care of all your DVR needs. Like we said earlier, trial runs will start in August, but the Japanese company expects to have the brick officially up-and-running in a number of households later this fall. In the meantime, though, there's a soothing video for your viewing pleasure just past the break.
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| Samsung denied a second time, Galaxy Tab ban stands Posted: 20 Jul 2012 11:04 AM PDT This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IRL: Canon EOS 7D, Snapseed for iOS and Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TS4 rugged camera Posted: 20 Jul 2012 10:34 AM PDT Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.  And we're back! Most of us Engadgeteers are freshly returned from a staff retreat to the countryside, and for whatever reason, we're in the mood to gab about cameras. This week, Steve explains his love for Canon's 7D, Darren makes a case for Snapseed and Dana takes Panasonic's rugged TS4 shooter into the Puerto Rican rain forest. Canon EOS 7D For starters, it's never fun to bob and weave through camera menus, but the 7D's are the least bad I've used, as the settings only comprise a single, easily scrollable page. That makes programming it a little less tedious than some of its competitors, and Canon also wisely endowed it with three custom settings directly on the main mode selector dial. All my favorite settings for ISO, picture style, bracketing, etc. can be dumped onto those presets for wholesale shooting changes in one click (think: going from indoor to outdoor snapping, or shooting high speed video). So, while programming the DSLR still isn't high on my list of favorite things to do, at least I can get it over with quickly. Even after that, using Canon's top APS-C shooter is pure gold. For starters, it's so brawny that I never feel I have to treat it with kid gloves out in the field. The ergonomics are second to none, with manual adjustments as convenient as can be and all the buttons in the right place for one- or two-click setting changes. Once I'm ready to open fire, it responds instantaneously, kicking out eight frames per second in continuous mode -- making it great for action and obviating the need for a tripod during bracketed HDR shooting. And whether you're a fan of DSLR video or not, it's a no-brainer here (focusing aside), and you can snap still photos even as you're capturing video -- an especially handy trick if you're filming kids. In short, the camera feels like a full-bore pro camera that happens to have a non-pro-sized sensor. -- Steve Dent Snapseed for iOS Turns out, I figured correctly. Snapseed is a really powerful, really quick photo editing app. The navigation takes a few minutes to grok, but afterwards, the gesture-based system becomes second nature. The filters here are (by and large) not gimmicky, and the ability to fine tune 'em to your liking is a major boon. Tilt-shift and center focus modes are super fun to mess around with, and there's a 1:1 crop function that tidies your photo up for direct uploading to Instagram. I've also been duly impressed with how quickly the app implements changes and renders previews. Yes, it's five bucks, which is more than free. But, it's one of the few paid apps I've come into contact with that I find myself using daily, and I'm actually excited about it. You've got a zillion photo editing options on the App Store, but if you're looking for a solid bet, this is it. -- Darren Murph Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 I ended up taking the Panasonic TS4, a $400 flagship built to withstand six-and-a-half-foot drops, temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (a useless spec to me) and immersion in water as deep as 40 feet (bingo!). To that end, it works as promised. I dropped the thing at least once, and not because I was trying to be a smartass reviewer, but because I can be clumsy sometimes. In any case, it survived, and doesn't have many scratches to show for it. I also didn't have any issues turning the camera on underwater or using it after I was back on dry land. Still, no amount of R&D can prevent condensation on the lens from spoiling a shot or two. As for image quality, I've never had any illusions that ruggedized cameras take particularly good photos, so I wasn't surprised that my vacation photos all needed a bit of editing once I returned home. The TS4 particularly struggled in the tropical sun, losing shadow details while washing the background in white. A round of auto-enhancing helped restore that dynamic range but alas, the colors were a little more balanced before I started in with the post-processing. All told, my shots were good enough for Facebook, though I didn't necessarily need a $400 point-and-shoot to achieve that kind of quality. -- Dana Wollman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BlackBerry 10 gets voice commands in latest dev update (video) Posted: 20 Jul 2012 10:08 AM PDT Those lucky enough to have their hands on a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device were treated to a nice little software update this week. While some were having trouble just getting it installed, others were able to fire it up pretty quick and found a nice surprise waiting for them -- voice controls. Hold down the play/pause button on the side and you'll be prompted to speak a command and offered a unified search interface. Sound familiar? It should, Android and iOS have both hopped on the speech recognition bandwagon, and its becoming an expected feature of a modern mobile OS. The fine folks over at N4BB were able to give the suspiciously familiar sounding virtual assistant a run through and, lets just say it's a bit rough around the edges. Of course, thanks to the limitations of the alpha quality software there wasn't much to actually test anyway. To see it in action check out the video after the break. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google acquires Sparrow, the Apple-focused email app maker Posted: 20 Jul 2012 09:11 AM PDT Well, we can't exactly say we saw this one coming. Sparrow, maker of popular email apps for iOS and Mac OS X, has just announced that it's been acquired by Google. Expectedly, details on the acquisition are being kept under wraps at the moment, but company CEO Dom Leca has confirmed in a blog post that Sparrow will be joining the Gmail team at Google to "accomplish a bigger vision." Fans of the company's apps will be glad to know, however, that the team will "continue to make Sparrow available and provide support for our users" while also working on new things at Google. That does sound like most of their attention will be focused elsewhere, though. You can find Leca's full statement on the matter at the source link below. Update: The Verge was able to get some notion of a cost for this deal, with "under $25 million" being a figure assigned to this, a figure that wasn't inflated due to a bidding war. (That should answer those wondering if maybe Google bought this out from under Apple.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS Transformer Prime, TF300 and Infinity TF700 getting Jelly Bean in 'the coming months' Posted: 20 Jul 2012 08:35 AM PDT Hot on the heels of HTC confirming a Jelly Bean upgrade for select handsets, ASUS released a statement (pasted after the break) assuring tablet owners that all of the company's new tablets, at least, will be upgraded to Android 4.1. So far, the outfit is committing to updating the Transformer Prime, along with the Transformer Pads TF300 and TF700. Though ASUS is careful to say it's considering other devices, it's still not promising to upgrade the original Eee Pad Transformer or Eee Pad Slider. No word, exactly, on when users will get a taste of Project Butter and Google Now, except that it should happen within "the coming months." Hopefully, of course, that's just an outside estimate: after all, ASUS isn't known for saddling its tablets with heavily customized skins, which can bog down the upgrade cycle.
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| Lenovo CEO spreads the wealth, distributes his $3 million bonus to lower level employees Posted: 20 Jul 2012 08:31 AM PDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dell M4700, 6700 documents leak, ruins the surprise for laptop fans Posted: 20 Jul 2012 07:59 AM PDT If you've had an eye on a new Business-focused Dell laptop but wanted to see the inside of one before purchasing, now you can. The company has (prematurely) outed documents for its rumored M4700 and M6700 portables well before they've been officially announced. The owners manual for the latter includes detailed teardown information that shows you how to disassemble the unit -- much like what we saw for the XPS 13. It's almost as if Dell knows we're watching, the naughty tease. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ikea beefs up 2013 catalog with companion AR app, doesn't translate Swedish furniture names (video) Posted: 20 Jul 2012 07:24 AM PDT While many might reckon the days of paper-based catalogs passed with the advent of the web, Ikea's clinging onto its tome for yet another year, but will dust its latest issue with augmented reality. It looks like its 2013 catalog app will arrive with some new camera-centric features on both phones and tablets -- the brief preview video shows a pair of devices that look decidedly iPhone and iPad-esque. The app uses image recognition software from Metaio (avoiding the jarring monotones of QR codes) to identify specific pages and throw in some lightweight extra content, from cutaway views of furniture to "inspirational" video shorts. The agency behind the app has much loftier ideas for the future, including streaming live cooking shows or concerts into Ikea's imaginary rooms. Take a preview tour after the break, but sorry, no meatballs (or hotdogs) at the end.
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| iGills accessory turns iPhone into a dive computer, lets you film underwater Posted: 20 Jul 2012 06:58 AM PDT Not quite ready to leave wandering the briny depths up to robots, but still crave some undersea tech? The freshly released iGills Smart Diving System can help. With a polycarbonate housing and free companion app, the setup turns your iPhone into a fully featured recreational dive computer and logbook that can plunge up to 130 feet into the drink. Once connected to the waterproof case's 30-pin dock, handsets gain access to depth and temperature sensors in addition to six buttons for in-app navigation. Not only does the software provide vital dive information, it also allows users to take stills and videos of their underwater excursions through a glass camera port. If you're pining for an iOS-assisted diving experience, the iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S-compatible rig will set you back $330. Check out a quick clip of the accessory, complete with requisite rock music, after the break. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon, Warner deal brings Fringe, The West Wing to Prime Instant Video exclusively Posted: 20 Jul 2012 06:32 AM PDT The battle between Amazon's Prime Instant Video and Netflix Watch Instantly continues to heat up, with Amazon following up a slew of rollouts on new devices like the Xbox 360 and the addition of a queue by locking up some exclusive TV content from Warner Bros. According to the press release (included after the break) Amazon's agreement means episodes of Fringe and The West Wing will be "On Prime Instant Video First" and not on other streaming services for the summer. Stats show and Netflix has repeatedly indicated that subscribers view more TV content than movies on these types of services so content exclusives may become even more important differentiators. Other shows specifically named include Dark Blue, Alcatraz and The Whole Truth, hit up the Prime site to see any other less prominent names that may have escaped mention. On Prime Instant Video First: Amazon Announces Digital Video License Agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, Bringing Acclaimed TV Shows Exclusively to Kindle Fire and Prime Customers Both Fringe and The West Wing will be available exclusively on Prime Instant Video for the summer, giving Prime members and Kindle Fire customers exclusive access to favorite titles that have been previously unavailable. Prime Instant Video includes more than 18,000 movies and TV episodes available for Prime members to instantly stream and enjoy at no additional cost. To start watching Prime Instant Video now, visit www.amazon.com/PIV. Customers who are not Prime members can enjoy a free one month trial of Prime and all Kindle Fire customers enjoy a free month of Prime right out of the box. "Since launching Prime Instant Video, we've continued to expand both the quantity and quality of video content for our Prime members," said Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon. "Bringing Fringe and The West Wing – two shows with a devoted fan base – to Prime Instant Video first, is another way for us to add value for Prime members and to continue to give customers content they love." "We are thrilled to count Amazon as a digital distribution outlet for our television group," said Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. "As more and more television content is enjoyed by fans across a myriad of subscription channels and platforms and on numerous devices from televisions to tablets, deals such as this give consumers the opportunity to discover, catch-up, or simply enjoy a favorite series again and again."
Prime customers can access Prime Instant Video on Kindle Fire or any of the hundreds of compatible Amazon Instant Video devices, including the Roku, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gaming console. For a list of compatible Amazon Instant Video devices visit here.
About Amazon Instant Video Amazon Instant Video is a digital video streaming and download service that offers Amazon customers the ability to rent, purchase or subscribe to a huge catalog of videos. Customers can choose from more than 120,000 titles to purchase or rent and content ranges from new release movies to classic favorites, major television shows, entire seasons, or even day after air TV. Prime Instant Video is Amazon's video subscription offer-it includes more than 18,000 movies and TV episodes selected from the full assortment available at Amazon Instant Video. This subscription offer allows US Prime customers to stream as many Prime Instant Videos as they like, at no additional cost.
About Prime Amazon Prime is an annual membership program for $79 a year that offers customers unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items including books, home and garden products, electronics, video games, clothing, and much more. Amazon Prime members also get access to unlimited instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV episodes and access to tens of thousands of books to borrow for free, as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates from a Kindle device. Customers who receive free Prime shipping benefits through our Amazon Student or Amazon Mom programs can upgrade to an annual paid membership to receive Amazon Prime's digital benefits.
About Warner Bros Domestic Television Distribution: Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) is one of the leading suppliers of entertainment programming to the domestic television marketplace, distributing first-run syndicated series, off-network television programs and theatrical motion pictures to local broadcast television stations, as well as to pay, cable, satellite, broadcast networks and digital platforms throughout the U.S. WBDTD handles the domestic distribution of television series produced by Warner Bros. Television, Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Horizon Television; selected HBO Independent Productions and the Lorimar Television library; current feature films from Warner Bros. Pictures; and the Studio's unmatched motion picture library.
About Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes – still with all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core processor.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distro Issue 49: a visit to the craft and hackerspace at Artisan's Asylum Posted: 20 Jul 2012 06:30 AM PDT While Yahoo was busy hiring its new CEO away from Google, we were hard at work crankin' out this week's edition of Distro to help feed your slate reading desires. Let's just say that if a C&C gantry router that implements a Wiimote piques your interest, you're in for quite the treat this time around. We head north to Massachusetts to visit Artisan's Asylum for a glimpse of the craftiness and general hackery that takes place in an old office supply warehouse. We throw down the review gauntlet for the Nintendo 3DS XL, LG Optimus 4X HD and Sony VAIO T13 and offer some detailed reactions on said trio. AllThingsD's Mike Isaac has a go at the Q&A, "Switched On" discusses the next Office, Steam's annual sale occupies "Reaction Time" and "IRL" returns. As you might expect, all of the requisite download links await your clicks below. Update: Make sure you're downloading the newest versions of the Distro app when they're made available. This will allow you to keep tabs on all of the content and functionality packed into each issue. Distro Issue 49 PDF This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS spills jelly beans on why Nexus 7 has no rear camera, cites added cost Posted: 20 Jul 2012 06:03 AM PDT Google's Nexus 7 tablet may be receiving OnLive Universal Controller support soon. What the Jelly Bean-flavored device won't be getting, however, is a rear-facing camera. Now ASUS is offering an explanation for the omission -- and no, it isn't to prevent users from looking like a doofus when snapping photos in public. ASUS apparently faced two options for a rear-facing camera: go cheap or go for quality. The company says it decided against sticking a lower-end camera at the back of the device because it would compromise the user experience. Adding a high-quality rear camera, on the other hand, would increase costs too much, so that proposition was nixed as well. The good news is that apps such as Instagram are finding ways to make things work with just the Nexus 7's front-facing camera. In the meantime, here's a little ditty from Google that just might help put a smile on your face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rdio Android app updated with playlist and search improvements, puts new releases in grid view Posted: 20 Jul 2012 05:33 AM PDT Much like its desktop counterpart, Rdio's Android app is constantly being tweaked -- adjusting its style, adding features and generally doing the whole mobile update dance. Among a slew of standard bug fixes, the streaming music service's latest app update promises playlist editing improvements, including the ability to jump directly from a song in a playlist to its parent album, clickable activity stream URLs and more complete search results. The update boasts some user interface improvements as well, placing new releases in a grid view. Ready to upgrade? Hit up the Google Play at the source link below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG outs IPS7 Series monitors: 23 or 27-inch IPS, minimal bezel, MHL mobile link, 8-bit 1080P Posted: 20 Jul 2012 05:08 AM PDT LG has announced a new series of IPS monitors, the 23- and 27-inch IPS7 series, with a mishmash of specs aimed at mobile, HD and professional users. Foregoing WQHD resolution in favor of plain jane 1920 x 1080, the panels feature a so-called Cinema Screen design with a 1.2mm (.025-inch) bezel, half-inch depth, a mobile high-definition (MHL) link, fast response times and color calibration software for professionals. If it's trying to to tap the pro market, the monitors lack some features like dual-link 2560 x 1440 resolution and 10-bit, 1.07 billion color graphics like the Dell U2711 or HP ZR2740w, for instance -- but then they could turn out to be considerably cheaper than those rivals. We'll just have to wait to find out the pricing. LG INTRODUCES NEW IPS MONITORS WITH CINEMA SCREEN DESIGN AND MHL CONNECTIVITY IPS7 Series Features Superb Lifelike Colors, Stylish Design, Smarter Connectivity SEOUL, July 20, 2012 -– LG Electronics (LG) announced the global roll-out of its premium IPS7 series monitors, launching first in the Asian markets of Korea and China, including Hong Kong. The IPS7 series features LG's own CINEMA SCREEN Design, with an almost invisible bezel for an unobstructed entertainment experience and a sophisticated, modern appearance. The IPS7 series also delivers lifelike color consistency and representa-tion across a wider viewing angle, thanks to LG's own IPS technology. The addition of Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) makes it easy to connect external devices, like smartphones, for immersive viewing on a larger screen. "By combining CINEMA SCREEN Design and MHL functionality with the industry's leading IPS technology, the IPS7 series is able to offer stunning design and performance," said J.J. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the IT Business Unit of the LG Home Entertainment Company. "With the rapid growth in the number of mobile smart devices such as smartphones and tablets, the availability of content has greatly expanded. LG's IPS7 expands the user experience, enabling viewers to take full advantage of this content-rich environment." Alluring Design with Latest Connective Technology Addressing the need for easier connectivity, LG has provided the perfect solution with today's newest technology: MHL. With Mobile High-Definition Link technology, IPS7 series owners can easily connect mobile devices to the monitor with a single cable to the HDMI input port. With MHL, photographs and movies stored on smartphones can be viewed on the larger monitor screen. The IPS7 series even charges connected mobile devices while users enjoy their favorite content. Full Entertainment Experience with Lifelike Colors and Ultimate Visual Comfort And IPS panels excel under a wider range of viewing angles when compared to their TN counterpart. Users can play games or watch videos while sitting, standing or lying down without experiencing any color shift or distortion. Color Calibration Ready | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-Mobile USA gives black HTC One S to hard-working staff, leaves other Americans turning green Posted: 20 Jul 2012 04:33 AM PDT International HTC One S buyers might look at the black version like it's humdrum, but if you're an American who's had no realistic choice but to get the gray T-Mobile edition, black is a rare and coveted thing. T-Mobile knows this all too well, and it's using the micro arc oxidized hue as an incentive for loyal employees: work diligently enough, and a black One S with native T-Mobile HSPA+ is yours. There's no word from the TmoNews tipster as to whether or not the color will ever reach the buying public, which could make it a rare collector's item for Android lovers -- not to mention a mild form of torture for HTC enthusiasts. The optimistic among us are hoping that it's a sign of phones to come and that both black as well as gray can live in harmony on T-Mobile shelves. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS gets first downloadable titles next week: Super Mario and Brain Training sequels Posted: 20 Jul 2012 03:43 AM PDT As Nintendo attempts to get its eShop up to speed with Sony's PS Vita provision, it's finally announced a July 28th launch date for its first two downloadable games. Alongside the in-store release of the 3DS XL, the full versions of both Super Mario Brothers 2 and the latest iteration of Dr. Kawashima's Brain Age / Training will be available for online purchase in Japan, priced at 4,800 yen (around $61) and 3,800 yen ($48), respectively. Nintendo already offers a mixed bag of retro titles and demos to download, but this is the first time it'll wheel out fully-fledged 3DS games. Announcement of sale (Download Version) Nintendo 3DS card software (Minami-ku, Kyoto, President: Satoru Iwata Corporate Headquarters), Niokimashite Japan, from 9:00 am Saturday, July 28, two of the following title, the sale of software download version of the Nintendo 3DS Card Nintendo Co., Ltd. We are pleased to announce that more start. ● "New Super Mario Bros. 2" Version software download, in order to be able to save to SD memory card is inserted into the Nintendo 3DS, do not have time or want to play more than one soft carrying at the same time, replace. It will be released the same day at the same manufacturer suggested retail price respectively (boxed version) Nintendo 3DS card software so far, that the time of purchase depending on your preferences, you can choose either . To purchase software download version has the following three methods. To purchase the "download card" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DirecTV and Viacom deal brings MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the rest back on the air Posted: 20 Jul 2012 03:12 AM PDT After a week or so of increasingly contentious negotiations Viacom and DirecTV have come to some sort of agreement, returning the missing channels to satellite TV subscribers as of... now. Naturally, each side is sticking to its guns, and even with a long term deal inked they still disagree on the number of channels involved. So who won? The exact financial numbers have not been revealed, but you can check out the dueling press releases after the break. The contested Epix package is an option (but not a requirement) for DirecTV, while the satellite broadcaster is happily adding access to Viacom content on mobiles, PCs and "other media devices" as a part of its DirecTV Everywhere service. Thanks to support from other pay TV providers, DirecTV is taking the more aggressive position, but we'll wait for the inevitable "people in a position to know" to chime in with some dollars and cents figures before calling a victor. Update: As expected, Bloomberg reports "people with direct knowledge" claim the new agreement is another seven year contract priced at more than $600 million per year, about 20 percent more than what Viacom was getting before. At least one analyst called it a win for both sides -- we'll see how subscribers fared if (when) there's a rate hike any time soon. DIRECTV and Viacom Reach Agreement to Renew Carriage of Viacom's Networks All 26 Viacom Networks, Including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, CMT, Logo, Spike, New York, NY – July 20, 2012 -Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB) today announced that the company has reached a long-term agreement to renew carriage with DIRECTV. All 26 Viacom networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, CMT, Logo, Spike, TV Land, MTV2, VH1, VH1 Classic, Palladia, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, TeenNick, Tr3s and Centric, will return to DIRECTV's channel lineup immediately. As part of the overall carriage agreement, DIRECTV has an option to add the EPIX service to its entertainment offerings. Viacom is extremely pleased to bring its programming back to DIRECTV subscribers, and thanks everyone affected by the disruption for their patience and understanding during this challenging period. ### DIRECTV and Viacom Reach Agreement for Return of Viacom's 17 Channels Including Extensive New Digital Rights for DIRECTV Customers EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DIRECTV has reached a new long-term agreement with Viacom to restore 17 channels (including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Spike, CMT, TV Land and ten other channels) that Viacom had taken away from DIRECTV customers on July 10. Viacom has returned all affected networks. Financial terms were not disclosed. In addition to the channels' return, DIRECTV customers will also gain the ability to see Viacom programming on tablets, laptops, handhelds and other personal devices via the DIRECTV Everywhere platform. Carriage of the EPIX movie channel is not required as part of the new agreement. "We are very pleased to be able to restore the channels to our customers and thank them for their unprecedented patience and support," said Derek Chang, executive vice president of Content Strategy and Development for DIRECTV. "It's unfortunate that Viacom took the channels away from customers to try to gain leverage, but in the end, it's clear our customers recognized that tactic for what it was." Chang added, "The attention surrounding this unnecessary and ill-advised blackout by Viacom has accomplished one key thing: it serves notice to all media companies that bullying TV providers and their customers with blackouts won't get them a better deal. It's high time programmers ended these anti-consumer blackouts once and for all and prove our industry is about enabling people to connect to their favorite programs rather than denying them access." The dispute helped generate significant public support from hundreds of thousands of customers and also, surprisingly enough, many high-profile DIRECTV competitors. The 850 small and independently owned local cable systems that make up the American Cable Association joined the anti-blackout chorus, as did Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Mediacom. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Jasper for Verizon leaks on Twitter, dual-core Snapdragon and ICS in tow Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:48 AM PDT Such is the natural order of things. First the blurrycam, then the FCC sighting (albeit the Sprint version) and if you're lucky, a final juicy leak. This is the story of the Samsung Jasper for Verizon. Details of the mid-range chin-heavy phone just showed up on Twitter, and claim the device will have a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon MSM8960 processor, a mediocre 800 x 480 display and Android 4.0. The skinning looks lighter than some other Samsung attempts, and the buttons along the bottom are also a deviation from other recent big hitters. While the DNA all seems a bit familiar, it seems Verizon will finally have a version to call its own. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There's no question DSLRs are excellent shooters, but there's just one little snag: let's just say they have some body size issues. Personally, I have a pair of slim, capable non-DSLR options within reach -- a Sony NEX-5N and a Canon S100 -- so it's tempting to leave my much (much) heavier 18-megapixel 
Look, 
Until recently, I couldn't remember the last time I shot with a point-and-shoot. For one thing, I use an NEX-C3 for events and product photography, and my status as a gadget reviewer means I can use a borrowed One S here or a Galaxy Nexus there for more casual shooting. None of that would have sufficed in Puerto Rico, though. I had a holiday planned, and snorkeling was on the itinerary, as were zip lining, late-night kayaking and hiking through El Yunque. Only a compact camera would do, and it had to be a durable one, at that.
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