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- Facebook improves photo viewing with larger images, takes cues from Google+
- Editorial: NBC's Olympics and the steely grip of old media
- Samsung Omnia M with Windows Phone makes UK debut on August 1st, exclusively at Phones4U
- Microsoft seals Perceptive Pixel deal, welcomes PPI team to the Office Division
- Hangouts come to Gmail, let you launch virtual meetings from your inbox
- Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1pm ET!
- Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile review
- Skobbler brings maps to Nook Tablet, Color with ForeverMap 2
- ASUS Tablet 810 with Windows 8 transforms its way past the FCC
- E3 loves LA, staying through 2015
- Ubisoft UPlay may accidentally contain web plugin exploit, Ezio would not approve
- Google Wallet hack hits Verizon Galaxy S III
- Apple reports 3 million Mountain Lion downloads in four days, 'most successful OS X release'
- Kuratas, the 13-foot mech: unleashes your inner Ripley, costs $1.35 million (video)
- CIA dragonfly drone almost beat modern UAVs by 40 years, was swatted (video)
- US soldiers to wear blast sensors in Afghanistan, collect shock data
- HTC shuts Seoul office, leaves Korea to the Koreans
- Engadget's first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones!
- Samsung spills details on Odyssey and Marco Windows Phone 8 devices
- Mysterious 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears in Vietnam
- Data-hungry crowds spoil Olympic TV coverage, archers alerted
- Microsoft intros Wedge Mobile Keyboard, whose case doubles as a stand
- Microsoft outs Bluetooth-enabled Sculpt Touch Mouse, matching Sculpt Mobile Keyboard
- Microsoft details the Touch Mouse's upcoming support for Windows 8 gestures
- Apple reveals 'Purple' phone prototype in court filing, to prove it didn't copy Sony
- Sharp Aquos SH-10D makes pit stop at FCC, earns stamp of approval
- How would you change the Droid RAZR Maxx?
- Refresh Roundup: week of July 23rd, 2012
- Visualized: the iDevice influence on Apple's bottom line
- Switched On: For OUYA, it's game on
- Defcon 20 visitors get their own 'pirate' cellular network in Ninja Tel, exclusive One V to match
| Facebook improves photo viewing with larger images, takes cues from Google+ Posted: 30 Jul 2012 11:29 AM PDT Facebook has offered photo sharing in one form another since shortly after the site's launch, but while certain features have been added over the years, such as tagging and downloads, image formatting has remained mostly unchanged. Until today. Facebook has announced that it will roll out a new tool for thumbing through galleries across the site, presenting photos in a new square format with the option to "highlight" certain shots to increase their footprint on the page. Google+ users may recognize the format, which bears some resemblance to the tool on that site. We haven't seen the feature go live on Facebook just yet, but eager social networkers can preview it today at the source link below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Editorial: NBC's Olympics and the steely grip of old media Posted: 30 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT Owners and stakeholders of Big Media have thick skins. So the persistent trending of #NBCFail, and the riotous reading that the tweet stream provides, is probably bouncing right off their leathery hides. For one thing, the complaints were surely foreseen. They are largely the same criticisms NBC withstood in previous Olympics -- over-curating, ill-placed commercials, tape delays, scandalously inane commentary, and a generally inferior Olympics presentation compared to other countries. The unspoken shrugging answer, of course, is financial. The lessons learned from that answer say things about how slowly institutional power inches into the future, the impatience of the digital class, brand ecosystem as a preeminent business battleground, and the ideology breakdown of the International Olympic Committee. When the web got rolling in the '90s, it was clear that disintermediation was going to be its great leveling effect. The roles of value scavengers that got between customer and product would be reduced or eliminated. The principle of direct access has proven out in some ways -- just ask the music labels, or several other business agencies that couldn't or wouldn't adapt to consumer empowerment in the connection era.
At the same time, if there is a lesson I have re-learned more times than any other during 20 years online, it is that change happens slower than idealists expect. Futurism plays out in theory more smoothly than in fact. NBC's role in curating the 2012 Olympics for the American audience demonstrates that old-media values hold sway as forcefully as ever when the dollars have enough zeroes in them. NBC paid nine zeroes to extend its exclusive Olympics presentation rights through 2020. (Actually, $4.4 billion.) That bare fact shines stark light on the values and assets in play. NBC knows that it has little value in this equation. The two primary business values of the Olympics are: the event and the audience. The role of media in a digitally connected world, ideally, is to bring audience and event together with no blockage or artificial friction. But the Olympics reality is all frictional and intermediary, because NBC's two assets are inherently low-value: machines (broadcasting technology) and commentary (the witheringly maligned hosts). The internet as an unaffiliated global medium solves both the machinery issue (with internet infrastructure and web services), and the commentary space (with social media). In a flat view uncolored by business opportunism, NBC brings zero value to the challenge of exposing a global event to a hungry national audience.
By necessity, then, NBC treats its licensed content like an immense lump of clay. It sculpts value by shaping the clay profitably. Because the monumental investment is risky, NBC must concentrate its bets through three profit lenses: Audience (American home television viewers), Time (evening prime), and Interest (glamorous events and competition celebrities). That is why, on the first Saturday night, NBC's main TV outlet seemed pathologically fixated on Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte commentary instead of using valuable U.S. prime time to show us, you know, actual sports. A huge portion of the audience probably enjoyed the skewed curation, but my Twitter feed was spitting bile. NBC spokespeople threw tweet-darts right back, citing the live internet feeds of the games. Not a bad point, but here is where NBC's strategy is the most uncompliant with free-information ideals. By limiting stream access to cable or satellite subscribers (with NBC / CNBC packages), this scheme enforces ecosystem buy-in that opposes any idea that the Olympics belong to everyone. You must be on the grid; worse than that, you must be on one of NBC's grids to reach another of NBC's grids. The have-nots, whether by necessity or cord-cutting choice, are mostly blacked out of the Olympics experience in their homes.
So we're left with a first-world problem for the haves, and aggravated resentment for the have-nots. None of us, on either side of that divide, is a customer of NBC. NBC's customers are its advertisers. And whether or not NBC's licensing bet pays off, old media plants a massive victory stake in the ground, pushing aside technology's rightful role of connecting the world in shared moments, impervious to the sharpened sticks hurled by the digerati. But honestly, is there a clear-cut right to NBC's arguably wrong strategy? I've seen calls to boycott the TV coverage, but ratings for the first two prime-time sessions were through the roof. There is obviously a willing audience for The Phelps & Lochte Show, one that suffers no dissatisfaction from shunting aside badminton and skeet shooting. Jeff Jarvis wrote, "The problem for NBC as for other media is that it is trying to preserve old business models in a new reality." Not trying, Jeff: succeeding. The old model still evidently works in large-event, must-watch scenarios. Where is the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in this? It is on the receiving end, $4.4 billion richer, selling out the idealist's wish for a global, real-time community around one of civilization's oldest and most-sanctified celebrations of human skill and comradeship. If there is one institution with the clout to insist on universal joining of every individual who can reach a screen, it should be, and must be, but isn't, the IOC. For the fomenting digerati, #NBCFail might be the wrong hashtag. Brad Hill is the VP, Audience Development at AOL. He is the former Director and General Manager of Weblogs, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Omnia M with Windows Phone makes UK debut on August 1st, exclusively at Phones4U Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:36 AM PDT We're well aware that a relatively large portion of the UK (and the world) is highly focused on this Olympic event at this very moment, though something tells us a few of you might take some time from the 2012 Games to properly welcome Samsung's Omnia M. The Mango-flavored device will be making its official debut across the pond in a couple of days, coming as an exclusive to the renowned Phones4U -- at least for the time being. As far as pricing goes, Sammy's 4-inch Windows Phone handset is set to be up for grabs for as much as £290 SIM-free or, if you're looking to go the monthly route, it'll be a freebie with a modest £20.50 plan. Best of all, Phones4U's taking orders right now, so anyone interested can pop one in at the source link below. Phones 4u will be the first retailer to range the Samsung Omnia M with Windows® Phone when it arrives in the UK SAMSUNG OMNIA M AVAILABLE IN STORE AND ONLINE AT PHONES 4U TWO MONTHS BEFORE ANY OTHER UK RETAILER FROM 1st AUGUST 2012 MONDAY 30TH JULY 2012: Phones 4u can today confirm that it will be offering customers the highly anticipated Samsung Omnia M when it arrives in the UK on 1st August. Phones 4u will exclusively stock the Omnia M, Samsung's latest handset running Windows Phone 7.5, for two months before any other UK retailer. The sleek Samsung Omnia M wraps up a powerful 1GHz CPU processor performance under a sophisticated design, which incorporates a beautiful 4.0" WVGA Super AMOLED screen. This Windows Phone is ideal for everyone and the perfect all-round entertainment phone thanks to its ability to run powerful Microsoft services including Xbox®, Zune® and Bing® for all your gaming, apps, music, movies and super-fast searching on the go. Perfect for social media savvy users, the Omnia M boasts SNS integration, meaning users can snap pictures using the 5MP camera and share them seamlessly via Facebook, Windows Live and Twitter. You can watch a Phones 4u review of the Samsung Omnia M here. Available free on contract from £20.50 a month or SIM Free from £289.95, the Samsung Omnia M will be available from Phones 4u from 1st August. Customers can order the Samsung Omnia M from Phones 4u online now for delivery by 1st August. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft seals Perceptive Pixel deal, welcomes PPI team to the Office Division Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:12 AM PDT In case you haven't noticed, Microsoft's been in a blissful shopping mood lately -- and while we already knew the company had snatched up the creator of that enormous 82-inch touchscreen, today's the day a more formal introduction is taking place. Via its Official Microsoft Blog, the Redmond-based outfit is suitably welcoming the Perceptive Pixel team aboard the Office Division, also announcing that PPI's Founder, Jeff Han, will be joining as a "general manager" and reporting to Kurt DelBene. Naturally, we're still wondering what exactly the acquisition will bring to the table, but if Perceptive Pixel's previous doings are any indication of what's to come, we can expect some more delightful novelties to come out of Microsoft's HQ in the hopefully-not-so-distant future. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hangouts come to Gmail, let you launch virtual meetings from your inbox Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:40 AM PDT Google's been adding a lot of features lately to get us to Hangout, from providing digital moustaches to scheduling virtual soirees. Now, the company's aiming to get folks video conferencing from their inbox. That's right, you can now start a Hangout with up to nine friends or colleagues straight from Gmail with a click of a button. Users can expect better quality as compared to Gmail's old peer-to-peer video chats, and it provides access to people with an Android or iOS device and those on Google+ in a web browser. The new feature has already started making its way to users, and the rollout will continue over the next few weeks. Still not ready to mix your Hangouts with email just yet? Perhaps the pair of videos after the break will persuade you.
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| Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1pm ET! Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:26 AM PDT It's the Great Western Podcast today: Boise's local tech wizard Zach Lutz joins Myriam in Seattle and Brad in Salt Lake. No matter where we're at, the trio of mobile editors are tied together by the common string of wireless understanding. Join us shortly as we hunker down and chat about the latest happenings in the world of phones and other smallish gadgets. July 30, 2012 1:00 PM EDT This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile review Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT More InfoThe Samsung Galaxy Note is among a rare breed of smartphones that need no introduction. It's polarizing, memorable and single-handedly responsible for the popularization of the term "phablet." It's also the indisputable king of that category, having recently defended its throne against LG's Optimus Vu. Aside from the Note's sprawling display, much of its appeal lies in the tight software integration with the S Pen stylus, which endows the phone with notepad-like functionality. The first (and second) time we reviewed the Galaxy Note, it featured Android 2.3. Since then, it's received an update to Android 4.0, along with a new set of productivity apps dubbed the Premium Suite. Now as the phone arrives at T-Mobile (for $250 with a contract and after a $50 rebate), we're taking the opportunity to review not just the new variant, but in this case, the latest OS as well. You already know much of the Galaxy Note's story, but now the question remains: just how much of the text has been re-written? Let's find out. Hardware We first met the Galaxy Note at IFA nearly a year ago, so its arrival at T-Mobile is quite tardy indeed. Like the AT&T version, it's based on a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 that's part of Qualcomm's previous generation of chips. We'll discuss performance in greater detail a bit later, but suffice to say this modest hardware, transplanted to support T-Mobile's bands, leaves us with a phone that no longer feels cutting-edge. If you were to run down the spec sheet and compare the Galaxy Note on T-Mobile to its AT&T sibling, you'll be hard-pressed to spot any meaningful differences. Both phones offer 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and an empty microSD card slot. As ever, the Note has a beefy 2,500mAh battery, and we're happy to report that its NFC hardware remains intact, too. As we've alluded to, the only worthwhile difference in this particular Galaxy Note is the new-found support for T-Mo's AWS infrastructure. This time around, you'll find 42Mbps HSPA+ connectivity across the 2100MHz, 1900MHz, 1700MHz and 850MHz bands. Cosmetic stylings reveal a similar story: for better and worse, this is the same US variant of the Galaxy Note that you've already gotten to know. Button placement remains the same, along with the location of the camera pod, sensors and S Pen. While it's hard to ding Samsung for demanding consistency across its US lineup, we genuinely prefer the physical home button of the global Galaxy Note, which was eschewed in favor of an all-capacitive scheme for the US variants.
Unfortunately, the location of the speakerphone grille also remains the same -- as ever, its placement directly adjacent to the S Pen makes it difficult to feel around for the stylus. Also, a charging / notification light would've been a welcome addition. All in all, though, these are minor quibbles, but Samsung could've used this refresh as an opportunity to make these improvements, and it's a shame that didn't happen. As for the one cosmetic difference you will notice, T-Mobile's logo sits up top, in place of AT&T's branding (naturally). It goes without saying that the Galaxy Note's massive 5.3-inch display is by far its most polarizing feature -- you'll either love the added real estate or resent the extra girth. This is the same 1,280 x 800 Super AMOLED screen used on all the models, which is to say it's of the PenTile variety. All told, the sub-pixel layout means little in practice, as text appears sharp and colors are incredibly vibrant. It's worth pointing out, however, that display technology has advanced since the introduction of the Galaxy Note, and the difference is plainly obvious when you compare the phone to newer contenders like the Galaxy S III and One X. While we'd previously marveled at the bright whites of the Note's display, it appears somewhat murky with predominant yellow and blue tones when compared to newer, more advanced handsets. Don't let this serve as too much of a deterrent, though: unless you hold the two phones side-by-side, the Galaxy Note's display is still utterly drool-worthy. With respect to the Galaxy Note's hardware, we're left with one final elephant in the room: its physical size. If you're familiar with the AT&T variant, you already know what to expect, as T-Mobile's is exactly the same, down to the sub-millimeter. As we've said, it's not for everyone: those with large hands will likely be overjoyed by the jumbo-sized proportions and the expansive virtual keyboard. Those with smaller hands, meanwhile, may struggle at first to maintain a proper grip. That said, while the handset may strike some shoppers as slightly unwieldy, anybody intrigued enough should be able to adapt quickly enough.
Performance and battery life Much of the goodwill surrounding the Galaxy Note is due to the fantastic performance of the original, global model, which packs Samsung's homegrown Exynos processor. Still, the story changed a bit when we reviewed AT&T's variant, which is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon S3. While the phone's performance remained respectable, it simply couldn't match that of the original. This is true for T-Mobile's version as well, which features the very same internals as the AT&T model.
In real-world usage, the Galaxy Note is a capable performer -- albeit, not a very graceful one. While apps often open quickly, transitions and animations often stutter. Similarly, web pages often load and render without hesitation, but you're bound to notice slight hiccups during pinch-to-zoom. Curiously, the T-Mobile variant consistently delivered lower benchmark scores than its AT&T counterpart, though the difference was negligible. Compared to faster phones such as the Galaxy S III and One X, it's hard to classify the Galaxy Note as a powerhouse. It's a shame, then, that Samsung didn't update the T-Mobile variant with a Snapdragon S4, which could've have secured the Note's place alongside other top-tier devices. Instead, you'll need to ask yourself whether the unique advantages of the Galaxy Note outweigh the performance hit. Despite the massive 2,500mAh cell, battery life is stil just a bit better than average. In our standard rundown test, the phone managed to stay alive for a little more than eight hours, which is directly on par with AT&T's model. Similarly, during real-world tests with moderately aggressive usage, we could typically expect 28 hours of uptime before needing to scramble for an outlet. Overall, T-Mobile's Galaxy Note should be sufficient for people who already charge their phone each evening. If you forget, though, you'll be kicking yourself the next morning. On the whole, call quality for T-Mobile's Galaxy Note is adequate, though if you have particularly discerning tastes, you'll likely prefer AT&T's variant. Every time we a call placed over T-Mobile, we noticed a small amount of distortion and echo in the background, and while we were always able to carry on a conversation without much trouble, it was a constant annoyance that we were never able to escape. It's worth mentioning, however, that we also perceived a subtle but persistent hiss from the earpiece on the AT&T version, which we didn't notice here. Even so, though, we found that hiss on Ma Bell's model easier to ignore. Camera At this point, you're likely familiar with the 8-megapixel camera of the Galaxy Note, which likewise is the same fantastic setup that's also featured in the Galaxy S II. Needless to say, it's hard to take a bad photo with this phone, and it's easy enough, even, to capture truly gorgeous shots. Not only is the camera a solid performer in auto mode, but those who wish to fine-tune their photos will be delighted to find advanced features that include light metering, EV and ISO controls. Better yet, the interface of the camera app is completely customizable, which allows you to pin your most frequently used settings to the main screen, mitigating the need to dig through menus.
Not only does the camera capture an incredible amount of detail with accurate color reproduction, but its sensor is capable of taking in an appreciable amount of light -- so much so that you'll often be able to forego the flash in low-light settings. The camera's performance at nighttime is similarly impressive, which is further enhanced by the optional night scenery mode that captures HDR photos. Naturally, there are a number of other goodies to discover, such as the ability to take panoramas and macro scenes. Touch to focus is also in the mix, as is face detection, blink detection and an auto timer.
The Galaxy Note is capable of capturing video at 1080p, though by default it's set to record at 720p. While both modes deliver excellent imagery, we generally found the 720p setting to be the preferable of the two, which we perceived as being more lifelike and natural. Make no mistake, the Galaxy Note is no slouch with respect to its performance in 1080p, but unless you have a specific need to record at the higher-res setting, you're best off sticking with the default. Regardless of your shooting mode, you'll be glad to know that the internal microphone captures a great deal of sound with good clarity. Software Before diving into the new features contained within Android 4.0 for the Galaxy Note, let's get one thing out of the way: while the new software brings a number of useful additions, the overall changes to the user experience are rather subtle. In other words, if you'd managed to get caught up in the hype of an entirely new lease on life with Ice Cream Sandwich, you'll be in for a bit of a letdown. Much of this is due to the fact that Samsung's TouchWiz dominates the user interface, which underwent only minor revisions with the transition to Android 4.0. That said, the phone embraces a number of Ice Cream Sandwich's marquee features, including Face Unlock and Android Beam. There's also a new utility for monitoring your data usage.
While we've historically railed against custom Android skins, we're hard-pressed to pooh-pooh the Galaxy Note. Not only is the interface handsome and functional, it's tailored for this large-screen device in ways that stock Android just isn't. This includes not only the spacious icon layout, but also the custom widgets and non-standard apps, (calendar, etc.), which make the overall experience feel cohesive -- and dare we say it -- special. It's no secret that the S Pen is the cornerstone of the Galaxy Note, and much of Samsung's work to improve the software experience can be directly tied to the S Pen itself. You've likely heard of Premium Suite by now, which consists of S Memo, S Note and an add-on app known as My Story. While S Memo remains largely similar to the previous version on Gingerbread, Samsung introduced a clever new widget that allows users to quickly jot or type notes, as well as take voice dictations. Meanwhile, while My Story is a nice concept that allows users to easily send fanciful greetings to others, it's limited in its usefulness, as it only allows you to interact with My Story users. Perhaps it's for this reason that the app isn't included by default on the Galaxy Note and must instead be downloaded via Google Play. Naturally, this leaves us with S Note, which can best be described as S Memo on steroids. While you might be scratching your head, wondering why Samsung didn't make these two apps one and the same, S Note is significantly more complex, and thus, takes much longer to load. All new notes are based on templates such as greetings, diary entries, recipes and travel logs -- and man, are they graphically intensive. That said, you'll be hard-pressed to find such extensive content creation apps available on other smartphones, and the ability to combine text, imagery, drawings and written annotations is one of the most compelling features of the Galaxy Note. Not only can S Note be used for play, it also brings serious productivity features such as an equation analyzer, shape recognition and integration with the Wolfram Alpha logistics engine. Oddly enough, this component can't accept entries from the keyboard, and instead, you'll be forced two write all queries by hand. Those who prefer jotting down notes as opposed to typing them, however, will greatly prefer S Note over S Memo, as the more powerful app brings the ability to convert handwritten words to text on-the-fly. This easily trumps the method in S Memo that requires you manually invoke handwriting recognition. By default, the T-Mobile Galaxy Note uses Swype as its keyboard, which is a rather perplexing decision, seeing as how Samsung's own keyboard is vastly superior -- save for the ability to trace words, anyway. Not only does the Samsung keyboard take advantage of the extra real estate by providing a dedicated fifth row for numbers, it's also context-aware in that it presents a dedicated "www. / .com" key in the web browser. Users will also find the ability to write their text entries with the stylus, which is just one more way that Samsung's software has been thoughtfully integrated with the Galaxy Note. Finally, new in the latest software release is the option to condense the keyboard on either the right or left-hand side of the screen for one-handed text input -- a feature that's been extended to the phone dialer as well. At the end of the day, while Samsung's revisions in this latest software release are by no means revolutionary, they provide enough refinement to keep the Galaxy Note among the most intriguing and compelling smartphones available today. Wrap-up We're more than a little disappointed that Samsung didn't take the opportunity to update the Galaxy Note with modern internals ahead of its debut on T-Mobile. What was once a premiere superphone is now beginning to show its age. As such, T-Mobile customers who insist on top-notch performance are left with no alternative other than the Galaxy S III (and to a lesser extent, the One S). That said, for those of you who appreciate the Galaxy Note's innate advantages -- namely, its productivity features and beautiful, spacious display -- Samsung's super-sized smartphone remains peerless. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skobbler brings maps to Nook Tablet, Color with ForeverMap 2 Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:31 AM PDT We've seen attempts to bring mapping functionality to Barnes & Noble's Nook Color in the past, but Skobbler's going full out with the arrival of ForeverMap 2 for that device and its more clearly defined tablet successor. The app utilizes WiFi positioning, offers route guidance and features both global and local maps. The standard version is free and a pro version can be picked up for $5, offering up added functionality like unlimited offline map downloads. Skobbler also used today's launch to announce that it's working on broader implementation by making it available to Nook app developers. skobbler Debuts First-Ever Map Solution for Barnes & Noble's NOOK Tablet & NOOK Color skobbler, a leading provider of mobile map-based solutions, today announced the launch of ForeverMap 2™, a brand-new digital map app for the critically acclaimed NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color by Barnes & Noble, Inc. With a robust set of features, including intuitive route guidance, Wi-Fi positioning, as well as local and category search functionalities, ForeverMap 2 is the first-ever digital map app for NOOK, enabling users to experience and explore their surroundings like never before through their NOOK devices. ForeverMap 2 is available for download on NOOK Apps™ for FREE. ForeverMap 2 offers an unparalleled map experience, delivering online access to global (continent and country) and local (state and city) digital maps. The deep search functionality in ForeverMap 2 enables route calculation, local search, address search and category search. Wi-Fi positioning is also supported to enhance route guidance and map interaction. A premium version, ForeverMap 2 PRO, is also available for $4.99, and provides unlimited access to downloadable maps for offline use. The offline feature is an ideal tool for travelers and on-the-go NOOK users, allowing them to maintain access to ForeverMap 2 without a data connection. Central to ForeverMap 2 is the OpenStreetMap data which powers the app. Much like Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap is a collaborative, crowdsourced and global project of over 650,000 contributors dedicated to revolutionizing digital maps by creating a free, editable and interactive map of the world using data from satellites, GPS logs, local knowledge, and other sources of geographic information. "We're thrilled to be the first to bring a powerful, free map solution to NOOK customers," said Marcus Thielking, Co-Founder of skobbler. "With an intuitive interface, detailed maps for easy-reading and route guidance, and installable maps offering unmatched offline use, ForeverMap 2 isn't just the first-ever pure map app for NOOK, it's the most advanced map solution available today - period. We've combined the most sophisticated map engine in the market with OpenStreetMap's vast dataset, and have brought a next-generation map to NOOK that features unparalleled performance and superior visuals." "ForeverMap 2 by skobbler is more than just the first-ever pure map app available on NOOK," said Claudia Romanini, Director, Developer Relations at Barnes & Noble. "It signals a brand-new opportunity for NOOK App Developers to create location-aware apps, products and services that help our millions of NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color customers experience and navigate their physical surroundings in unique and innovative ways. We're excited about the potential here." In June, skobbler announced the beta release of GeOS, a new access technology platform that allows app developers and web service providers easy, yet powerful implementation of OpenStreetMap data into their products. GeOS is a one-of-a-kind "operating system" for commercial use of OpenStreetMap, making use of the crowdsourced data intuitive, affordable and secure for developers to build services with it. Like skobbler's suite of existing OpenStreetMap-based products, including the internationally renowned GPS Navigation 2 and the recently launched Maps by skobbler, a web-based map powered by OpenStreetMap data, ForeverMap 2 was built using GeOS technology and showcases the utility of the platform for third-party developers seeking to integrate location-based features and functionality into their products and services, as the total user base for consumer location-based services is expected to reach 1.4 billion users by 2014.* GeOS will be publicly available in Q1 of 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS Tablet 810 with Windows 8 transforms its way past the FCC Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:02 AM PDT ASUS must want its Windows 8 tablet family to move together as one. The Tablet 810 has swung past the FCC just two days after a visit by its younger brother, the Tablet 600. While not what we'd call a stunning revelation, the filing for the 810 (as the TF810C) shows a WiFi-only device with the expected NFC for quick peripheral syncing. The 11.6-inch transforming slate is still devoid of a few key details in spite of having its wireless life laid bare -- namely, if and when it reaches the US. Clearing the approval hurdle, however, leaves few obstacles to ASUS being one of the first out of the gate with an Intel-based Windows 8 tablet after October 26th rolls around. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E3 loves LA, staying through 2015 Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:33 AM PDT Video game journalists worried about not being able to make their annual trek to Amoeba Records and Secret Headquarters Comics can breathe a collective sigh of relief -- through 2015, at least. The Entertainment Software Association, the organization behind E3, announced today that it will be keeping the massive gaming show in Los Angeles for another three years. Next year's show will be hitting the LA Convention center on June 11th. More info and some quotes from a very happy Southern California mayor after the break.
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| Ubisoft UPlay may accidentally contain web plugin exploit, Ezio would not approve Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:02 AM PDT If you've played Assassin's Creed 2 (or other Ubisoft games), you may have installed more stealthy infiltration than you bargained for. Some snooping by Tavis Ormandy around Ubisoft's UPlay looks to have have discovered that the service's browser plugin, meant to launch locally-stored games from the web, doesn't have a filter for what websites can use it -- in other words, it may well be open season for any maliciously-coded page that wants direct access to the computer. Closing the purported, accidental backdoor exploit is thankfully as easy as disabling the plugin, but it could be another knock against the internet integration from a company that doesn't have a great reputation for online security with its copy protection system. We've reached out to Ubisoft to confirm the flaw and learn what the solution may be, if it's needed. For now, we'd definitely turn that plugin off and continue the adventures of Ezio Auditore da Firenze through a desktop shortcut instead. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google Wallet hack hits Verizon Galaxy S III Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:31 AM PDT
Verizon may not want you to have Google Wallet on your phone, but that won't stop intrepid rooters and hackers from shoehorning the app into Big Red's handsets. Mike Beauchamp and Dustin Evans took some time away from their recent Kansas City trip (to check out Google Fiber, of course) to get the Mountain View mobile payment solution up and running on a Galaxy S III. Is it more difficult than rooting your device and installing the app? Just a bit. Beauchamp's video doesn't offer much in the way of instruction, but it does show it being used to buy breakfast at Mickey D's. Thankfully, it looks like some folks over at the XDA forums have documented the solution, just check out the more coverage link. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple reports 3 million Mountain Lion downloads in four days, 'most successful OS X release' Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:50 AM PDT We heard some rumblings ahead of the weekend from third-party sources, and like clockwork, Apple has kicked the week off with its weekend box office returns. According to Cupertino's numbers, the latest version of OS X hit 3 million downloads in four days, making for "the most successful OS X release in Apple's history." Price has surely played a role in Mountain Lion's speedy success, running $20 for 200-plus features, according to Apple's numbers. That list includes big additions like Notification Center and AirPlay Mirroring and a selection of smaller tweaks to the decade-old operating system. More information can be found in the customarily self-congratulatory press release, after the break.
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| Kuratas, the 13-foot mech: unleashes your inner Ripley, costs $1.35 million (video) Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:43 AM PDT Suidobashi Heavy Industries has put the finishing touches to its latest project, the 4.4-ton Kuratas. Mobile suit obsessives around the world can thank artist Kogoro Kurata and robotics expert Wataru Yoshizaki for the robot frame, which has space to house a pilot inside. The mech's touchscreen UI even includes a Kinect-based movement interface and the shudder-inducing "smile-activated" twin BB gatling guns. You can customize your own diesel-powered beast in the dystopian gang colors of your choosing, but be advised: the $1.35 million price tag doesn't include further customization options like a faux leather interior, cup holder or phone cubby. The Kuratas does, however, come with the ability to make phone calls direct from the cockpit, so you can tell your enemies that you're coming for them.
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| CIA dragonfly drone almost beat modern UAVs by 40 years, was swatted (video) Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:09 AM PDT US intelligence agencies were just as obsessed with drone spying 40 years ago as they are nowadays -- only then, it was pipe-smoking entomologists and watchmakers who were in charge of building prototypes. Back in the '70s, the CIA needed some kind of miniature flyer to deliver an audio bug, and after considering (and rejecting) a faux bumblebee, decided that a robotic dragonfly would be the best option. The wee UAV used a "miniature fluidic oscillator" as a motor and was propelled by a small amount of gas. It was somehow guided by a laser beam, which served double-duty as the "datalink for the audio sensor payload," according to the CIA Museum. Unfortunately, the insect-based mech proved too difficult to control, especially with any degree of wind, and was eventually scuppered -- all that's left of the now-declassified project is in the video after the break.
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| US soldiers to wear blast sensors in Afghanistan, collect shock data Posted: 30 Jul 2012 04:17 AM PDT Starting next month, around one thousand frontline personnel in Afghanistan will begin testing the Soldier Body Unit, a sensor kit for recording the effects of explosions on the human body. While that's not the most pleasant of subjects, the blast sensors have been rushed out to collect as much data as possible before soldiers head home in 2014. The US Army's Rapid Equipping Force and the Georgia Tech Research Institute, which developed the sensors, hope to gather info on concussions and traumatic brain injuries to improve aftercare. This will also be used at source to stop super-soldiers heading back out after a concussion and increasing the probability of an even worse injury. Further sensors will be carried on military vehicles, to help measure the effects of IED blasts on passengers. Adding two pounds in extra equipment probably won't make the Soldier Body Unit too popular, but it's thought the kit could weigh in at half a pound once it's been refined. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HTC shuts Seoul office, leaves Korea to the Koreans Posted: 30 Jul 2012 03:45 AM PDT Having already pulled out of Brazil and shut down a research building in North Carolina, HTC has now closed its office in the South Korean capital of Seoul. The move is part of the Taiwanese manufacturer's efforts to "streamline operations" and focus on selling One-branded handsets in markets where it stands a better chance of success -- rather like Nokia's geographic retreat following its commitment to Windows Phone, but here on a much smaller scale. It's not yet clear how many jobs will be lost, but HTC says it regrets the "direct impact on people who have contributed to the growth HTC has experienced in the past several years." As it stands, analysts reckon that Korean manufacturers like Samsung, LG and Pantech rule a 90 percent share of their home market, leaving HTC with just one or two points that evidently weren't worth clinging onto. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget's first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones! Posted: 30 Jul 2012 03:00 AM PDT You asked, you pined and here it is -- welcome to our first (but certainly not last) UK competition. To kick off proceedings, we have three of Sony's latest flagship, the Xperia S, to offer up to our readers on the eastern side of the Atlantic. As it's our first competition for Britons, we advise that you read up on the rules after the break, then just leave a comment below to enter. Unfortunately, the adorable robot isn't up for grabs in our giveaway (we asked), but if you manage to track down a similar automaton around the UK, Sony's running a separate contest where you can net a free Xperia U in exchange -- visit the more coverage link for hints. Good luck! The rules:
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| Samsung spills details on Odyssey and Marco Windows Phone 8 devices Posted: 30 Jul 2012 01:08 AM PDT If you thought the Apple and Samsung legal tussles weren't getting interesting enough, another filing has revealed that the father of all smartphones Galaxy has at least two Windows Phone 8 devices in the pipeline. According to the filing that's been unearthed by The Verge, both are running on a dual-core 1.5Ghz Qualcomm MSM8960 chipset -- which is currently Samsung's chip of choice for LTE regions. The Odyssey looks set to be Samsung's high-end Windows Phone, with a 4.65-inch high-definition Super AMOLED display and NFC ready for Microsoft's own mobile payment plans. Meanwhile, the Marco will apparently forego the near-field delights and house a humbler 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED screen, for a presumably gentler price. According to the legal documents, both devices are gearing up to launch in Q4 of this year -- after we've seen Windows Phone 8 in its entirety. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mysterious 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears in Vietnam Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:45 AM PDT The last we heard, all notions of a 10-inch PlayBook had been shelved, with rumors suggesting that RIM wanted to concentrate on its BB10 plans and next-gen smartphones instead. However, we've just received these images from Tinthe, showing off something that looks very much like the bigger BlackBerry slab. A handful of photos, comparing the tablet to the existing 7-incher and an iPad, were sent in by forum member quang3g, who appears to be involved in BlackBerry sales. Looks-wise, the hardware's largely unchanged, aside from the bigger footprint and a screen ratio that appears closer to the iPad competition, rather than the widescreen shape that arrived on RIM's first tablet. According to the brief teardown shot, there's a potent 7,250 mAh battery housed in the still-slim 10-inch frame, while it's worth noting that the tablet also includes a SIM holder and cellular radio -- though there's not enough meat here to discern whether it deals in 4G or 3G (HSPA+) radio waves. While we wait for the official word on the existence (or cancellation) of this flavor of PlayBook, you can take a skeptical sideways glance at several more pictures of the tablet at the source below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data-hungry crowds spoil Olympic TV coverage, archers alerted Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:30 AM PDT With an opening ceremony celebrating social media and a guest appearance by the father of the world wide web, you would think the games are pretty Twitter-friendly. Well, not so much, as the hordes of London have been told to keep non-urgent texts and tweets to themselves to avoid disrupting TV coverage for those who weren't lucky enough to score beach volleyball tickets. The recommendation comes after broadcasters bumbled through the men's cycling road race due to a lack of available data from the cyclists' GPS. The information bottleneck appears to be related to one specific network and sharing the data burden has been discussed, although probably not via Twitter. The IOC knows that telling the masses not to log on likely won't have any impact -- so, what's next for the data haters. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft intros Wedge Mobile Keyboard, whose case doubles as a stand Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:01 AM PDT As we've seen, there will be no shortage of tablet / laptop hybrids on offer when Windows 8 starts shipping this fall. But since those keyboard docks will typically be sold separately, that means you're also about to see loads of third-party alternatives. Not to be left out, Microsoft just announced a Bluetooth mobile keyboard, along with its smallest-ever mouse -- both of which can be used with any Windows tablet. Starting with that Wedge Mobile Keyboard, it resembles Zaggmate's iPad case from 2010, in that it has a hard case to make it more travel-resilient. Here, though, the casing is made of flexible rubber, allowing it to double as a tablet stand. Putting it over the keys also turns the keyboard off, allowing you to conserve battery life. On board, you'll also find hotkeys specific to certain Windows 8 features, such as the Charms Bar. And, as the name suggests, the keyboard rises a bit in the back, thanks to the battery door on the other side (this takes two AAA cells, by the way.) One caveat: though you can use it with Windows 7, 8 and RT, and even Mac OS X, but it's not compatible with Vista. Sorry, folks. In a similar vein, the tiny Wedge Touch Mouse has a matching soft-touch surface and is also Bluetooth-enabled. Like other mice in Microsoft's lineup, it has BlueTrack technology, allowing it to be used on a wide variety of surfaces. The mouse, which runs on a single AA battery, also shuts down whenever you power down whatever device it's paired with. These products will ship "soon," according to Microsoft, with the keyboard retailing for $79.95 and the mouse going for $69.95. For now, we've got a bunch of photos below for your viewing pleasure. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft outs Bluetooth-enabled Sculpt Touch Mouse, matching Sculpt Mobile Keyboard Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:01 AM PDT Lots of hardware news coming out of Microsoft today. No, not that kind of hardware; just a lot of mice (and keyboards, too). In addition to that spiffy Wedge mouse and keyboard, the company just announced two products as part of a new "Sculpt" line. First up, there's the Sculpt Touch Mouse, which isn't all that different from this, except it works over Bluetooth, as opposed to a USB dongle. Unlike last year's Touch Mouse, which got a software update today, this doesn't have a full touch surface so much as a touch strip, so complex three-fingered gestures are out. Still, you can use it to swipe up and down, and from side to side. And, like other products in Microsoft's lineup, it has BlueTrack technology, which allows it to be used on almost any surface. Interestingly, you'll need Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows RT to use it, meaning Vista users are outta luck. Meanwhile, the Sculpt Mobile Keyboard is similar to last year's Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000, only this time around it has hotkeys specific to Windows 8. Both products will be available "soon," and will retail for $49.95. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft details the Touch Mouse's upcoming support for Windows 8 gestures Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:01 AM PDT We already knew that Microsoft would be upgrading its Touch Mouse to support Windows 8 gestures, but the outfit never confirmed which finger movements, exactly, would be built in. Now, Redmond is explaining it all, even though the mouse won't actually get updated until Win8 goes on sale in late October. According to the company, you'll be able to swipe two fingers to the right to toggle between open programs, and two to the left to expose those Charms. Sliding three fingers up and down will allow you to use Semantic Zoom. (Naturally, you'll be able to swipe from side to side to move through the tiles on your Start screen, but you probably already guessed that.) We have a Touch Mouse here at Engadget HQ that we're just itching to update, but until those drivers drop three months from now, it seems we'll just have to find something else to keep us entertained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple reveals 'Purple' phone prototype in court filing, to prove it didn't copy Sony Posted: 29 Jul 2012 11:26 PM PDT The previous batch of sketches revealed during Apple v Samsung suggested the iPhone may have actually borrowed ideas from Sony, but a new filing goes back even further into history to show that's not the case. The Verge spotted that the latest raft of paperwork includes a "Purple" prototype [above left] that was made around August 2005 and bears several hallmarks of the iPhone that finally appeared. The Sony-styled prototypes came later, and were apparently just an "enjoyable side project." AllThingsD has also drawn together around 100 prototypes from Apple's deposition, which offers some interesting insights into what the iPhone could have looked like. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sharp Aquos SH-10D makes pit stop at FCC, earns stamp of approval Posted: 29 Jul 2012 10:10 PM PDT NTT DoCoMo announced a roster of phones this past May, and among them was Sharp's Aquos SH-10D. After spending some quality time with the FCC, the handset now has paperwork that could allow it to travel stateside. Along with a quartet of oddly angled corners, the phone packs a GSM and HSPA+ / WCDMA radio, 4.5-inch screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 12.1 MP rear-facing camera and a 0.32 MP frontward-facing cam for those awkward, Facebook-bound self-portraits. Hit the link below if you'd like to rifle through the FCC results yourself. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How would you change the Droid RAZR Maxx? Posted: 29 Jul 2012 07:42 PM PDT A common topic of discussion at Engadget towers is our editors love-hate relationship with Motorola's Droid RAZR Maxx. The 8.9mm smartphone is beautifully slender, but it's seriously hampered by a lackluster display, weak camera and the company's gaudy skinning of Android. However, it has one saving grace that means it's the go-to phone for more than one of the team here: its battery. That 3,300mAh juice pack outlasts nearly every other smartphone in the pantheon, which makes it essential for long journeys or trade shows. But how about you out there? Can you overlook its flaws, or is there a complaint about this handset that you just have to get off your chest? Grab the candle and bang on... in the comments below, of course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refresh Roundup: week of July 23rd, 2012 Posted: 29 Jul 2012 06:15 PM PDT Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
Other platforms
Refreshes we covered this week
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| Visualized: the iDevice influence on Apple's bottom line Posted: 29 Jul 2012 04:44 PM PDT Apple's Q3 earnings last week rang loud and clear: iDevices are paying Cupertino's bills. The customary numerics laid down the bare facts, citing an 84 percent increase in iPad sales since 2011 and a similar 28 percent jump for the iPhone. Of course, well-organized tables of sales data aren't for everyone, but who doesn't love a good chart? Stuart Carlton took it upon himself to graph the percentages of Apple's revenue that each of its product categories fill out, producing the above criss-cross of colored statistics. The graph compares Apple's Q3 sales data going back several years, and a second chart (after the break) compares the iPhone, iPad and iPod's share of the revenue directly with the rest of Apple's fare. Read on to take in the data for yourself, or hit the source link below for Carlton's own commentary. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Switched On: For OUYA, it's game on Posted: 29 Jul 2012 02:30 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In discussing the varied routes Android has taken to the television, Switched On recently touched on OUYA, the cuboid game console that will run Android games. The project has surpassed the $5.5 million mark on Kickstarter and once seemed poised to pass the Pebble smartwatch's record for overall funds collected just like it broke the record for funds collected in the first day. Such a war chest will be useful in avoiding the fate of a long list of companies that failed at various times in the videogame console business, even after a wave of success. One reason why many of these companies faltered is that they could not attract the key franchises and compelling titles, much less exclusives, that drive an industry some deride as stagnant. OUYA, its backers say, is different, because it eliminates the licensing fees needed to launch titles on a platform. For many of these games, though, garnering revenue may be more difficult as OUYA insists that at least some gameplay, be it even a timed demo, be offered without charge. That may be enough to satiate a lot of casual players. Developers who wish to offer a complete free-to-play version may have to embark without details at this point as to whether, or how, advertising will support such games. That could shift much of the financial burden for such games to in-app purchases and subscriptions. It may not be a major investment to tweak Angry Birds for the OUYA. Indeed, that title has already been implemented on the Roku 2 and even on Samsung's gesture-driven televisions. But consumers have shown limited interest in playing casual smartphone-style games on the big screen. Furthermore, interest in purchasing another device to enable such games may wane as technologies for transferring media from smartphones and tablets to the TV -- such as AirPlay and WiFi Display -- mature. If smartphone-class games aren't compelling enough, why not bulk them up? OUYA's Kickstarter page says it wants games to be cheaper, but that could be a relative descriptor. Developers can, of course, pour more time and money into their games, particularly if they are freed of other costs such as licensing fees and development kits. More InfoHowever, such investment must then be weighed against the ROI (return on investment) offered by competing and often more established platforms, like console game stores and general PC app stores, fast-growing tablets, the burgeoning base of smart TVs, and even the Web itself. And all this effort would be for the speculation of OUYA volume and an unknown percentage of its users who will clear the progressively taller hurdles of discovering the app, downloading the app and paying for a premium aspect of it. As of this writing, about 43,000 people have already preordered an OUYA via Kickstarter. Even if the console had continued to attract backers at the rate its opening brisk pace, it would have attracted about 180,000 preorders when the campaign ends, but will instead end far off that mark. Developers may be excited by a maverick move in the console space, but, even with less friction, sound business propositions ultimately determine the difference between a successful game machine and a hacker's plaything. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is principal analyst at Reticle Research, an advisory firm focused on consumer technology. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defcon 20 visitors get their own 'pirate' cellular network in Ninja Tel, exclusive One V to match Posted: 29 Jul 2012 12:46 PM PDT The annual Defcon hacking meetup produces its share of unique creations. You know you're in for something special when even your entrance badge is an adventure. Defcon 20 might be winding to a close, but about 650 guests may just have the fondest memory of all: access to a private, ad hoc GSM carrier from Ninja Networks. While the collective's Ninja Tel is really an invitation to a party at the Rio Hotel, where the lone cell site operates out of a van, it lets the privileged few call and text each other to their hearts' content over cellular and WiFi. The network operators can unsurprisingly eavesdrop on any of the completely unencrypted calls -- this is a hacker's convention, after all -- but we don't think guests mind after getting an equally rare, customized HTC One V for free to make the calls in question. The Android 4.0 phone gets unique perks like triggering a nearby vending machine with Qualcomm's AllJoyn or making apps on the spot through Google's Integrated Development Environment. Owners can even reflash the One V to hop on AT&T or T-Mobile afterwards. Just don't expect to see Ninja Tel popping up in your hometown anytime soon; when Defcon shuts its doors, the cellular network shuts down. |
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